Disclaimer: The plot is ours, but the majority of the main characters belong to the imagination of J.K. Rowling. We do not gain any profit from writing this story.

Summary: With the Grimoire in safe hands and James Potter expelled, Severus Snape, Lily Evans, and their friends expected that their remaining time at Hogwarts would be smooth sailing. Unfortunately, the intentions of a few detestable individuals will make their lives more arduous. With the help of a few new friends, they all must join together to fight against the rising tide of evil in the Wizarding World.

A/N: This story is A/U and is NOT canon compliant. If you don't like Sev/Lily fiction, don't read it.

Alliances Form and Strategies Planned

Alethea27

Marius had just come out of his study after Mitzi had announced that lunch was ready. He joined Vesper at the dining room table. He was working at home as was Mrs. Staffington. He just didn't have the heart to go back to his office just yet even though all the damage had been repaired, aside from the fact his Order of Merlin, First Class, had not been found in the wreckage. He never expected to see it again. Minister Bagnold had offered to replace it, but he had refused, saying it would not be the same. Marius had just seated Vesper when there was a tapping on one of the windows in the dining room and they saw an owl there. He went over and slid up the window and the owl flew in, landing on the back of his chair and holding out its leg that had a note attached.

"Is it from Severus?" Vesper said, recognizing the owl as being one of Hogwarts. They had both been worried after that note from Dante.

Marius took the note off the owl and it quickly flew back out the window. He opened it and quickly scanned it contents. "Merlin's staff! I cannot believe Dumbledore actually did this!"

"What has happened?" Vesper asked and he handed her the note. She read it then said in a shocked tone, "Dumbledore actually made Dante the head boy?"

"It appears so. Apparently he has been bamboozled in the same way Madam Maxime must have been," Marius declared.

"Now I am even more worried about Severus and his friends especially after that business at Platform 9 ¾ when the train was leaving."

"I am having a word with Dumbledore immediately after we finish lunch. We are not doing James Potter all over again!"

"I'm going with you," Vesper stated. "We will tell him about that threatening note we got from Dante and demand that he appoint a different head boy."

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

Dumbledore had just settled behind his desk, intent on doing the paperwork that seem to have doubled each time he turned around, when his floo sounded. He sighed and hoped it wasn't Charles Potter with some complaint about Merlin only knew what, but it was Marius and Vesper Prince. "May we step through, Albus?" Marius inquired politely.

"Of course, Marius. Vesper," he replied nodding his head. "Always good to see you. What can I do for you?"

"We just found out you appointed Dante Yalarad as head boy." Marius said. "This is completely unacceptable, Dumbledore. He is an unreformed bully and should not be allowed to have the power of head boy because of it."

Dumbledore's eyes hardened. "Dante has changed since that happened fourth year. I got a very good reference from Madam Maxime which led to my decision to make him head boy."

"Well, apparently he only showed the side he wanted her to see because he has threatened Severus and his friends," Vesper said sharply. "He stood outside on the last car as the Express was pulling out, smirking at us and patting the left side of his chest and that's when Marius discovered the note in his pocket."

"Do you have this note?" Dumbledore asked.

"No, it set itself afire immediately after we read it," Marius replied.

"I'm sorry, but you have absolutely no proof of this alleged threat or that Mr. Yalarad issued it," he replied "I realize you do not like Dante, but I will not allow your prejudices to influence my decisions."

"There were others beside us who saw the note," Vesper said. "Augusta Longbottom, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, and Walburga Black were all witnesses to the incident."

Dumbledore huffed. "You can always withdraw Severus and have him tutored at home for this year if you disagree with my decision. I can provide you with a list of available tutors."

"We are not going to do that. Severus has a right to go to Hogwarts and he has a right to feel safe, that the headmaster and the professors are looking out for him and not allowing a bully like Dante Yalarad to run wild as you did James Potter!" Vesper said, her eyes narrowed in anger.

"Be warned, Albus, if anything happens to Severus, Lily, or any of their other friends and Mr. Yalarad has any part in it, you will find yourself standing before the Board of Governors and you will be explaining your decision to them!" Marius said as he took his wife's arm in preparation to flooing back to Mirrorvale.

As they left, Dumbledore strode back to his desk, bristling with anger.

*~* Page Break ~*~*

Severus, Lily and their other friends, headed for the seventh floor to the Room of Requirement.. Severus had only been able to give them snippets of his talk with Bartholomew Braider and Sebastian Holmes and what they had discussed.

After a careful look around to make sure Dante or none of his friendlies were lurking about, they passed the portrait of the Fat Lady, turned and went down another corridor and stopped opposite the painting of Barnabas the Barmy. Dorian walked up and down three times and stopped expecting to see the doors appear, but the wall remained blank. Severus tried it, and then Sirius, both with the same results. Reg frowned and complained, "This the third night we haven't been able to get in there."

"I wonder if something happened to it over the holiday?" Peter said.

"I don't see how it could," Remus said. "It's magical so it can't break down."

"I'm going to call Clive," Severus said. "Maybe he knows what's going on with this."

"Good idea," Tav said.

Severus called Clive who popped in and said, "How can Clive help Mr. Severus?"

"We haven't been able to get into the Come and Go Room for three nights now. The door doesn't appear after we walk up and down three times while telling it what we want."

"That means somebody else is using it," Mr. Severus. The doors go away after somebody goes in the room and come back when they is ready to leave."

"Is there anyway you can pop in and see who's been using it?" Dorian asked.

Clive shook his head, sad that he couldn't help them. "The only reason I's can do it when you's are in there is because I's follows the sound of Mr. Severus voice when he calls me."

"I guess we'll have to find another place to meet," Lily said. "At least for now."

Clive ears perked up and he started dancing around happily. "Clive can fix you up a room in the dungeon and you be the same as Slytherin House."

"What?" Caddaric asked.

"I don't get what Clive's saying either," Frank said, looking at the Slytherins in confusion.

"I think he's saying that he can extend the wards that surround Slytherin House, that make its entrance invisible," Irene said, looking at Clive.

Clive nodded his head several times and said,"Clive can so nobody can bother you's while you's in there."

"Sounds good to me," Jane said.

"And we won't have to worry about running into Dante coming up here," Emily added. "Given how much he hates us Slytherins."

Severus nodded. "Bartholomew did say we should keep a low profile and avoid any confrontations with Dante."

"Lead the way, Clive," Sirius said with a wave of his hand. "The dungeon's close to the kitchen, too."

Reg rolled his eyes. "Is that all you think about, Siri? Food?"

"Hey, when I get hungry in the middle of the night now, I don't have James' Invisibility Cloak to sneak down to the kitchen anymore."

They followed Clive down to dungeon. He took them down the first hallway nearest where the entrance to Slytherin House was located and opened the door to a large room. He went in and began snapping his fingers and the torches in brackets on the wall lit up, comfortable couches, armchairs, a coffee table and end tables appeared. With a snap of his fingers, he cleared out the fireplace. "Clive will get some wood and light a fire." He popped out and while he was gone, Severus repaired, cleaned, and enlarged a cauldron he'd found in a corner so Clive would have somewhere to put the logs he was collecting. Clive popped back in with an armful of logs.

"Do you need any help with those, Clive?" Caddaric asked as he and Frank moved forward to help him.

"No, Mr. Caddaric. Clive gets wood for Slytherin House all the time." He placed a few logs in the fireplace and then snapped his fingers to light it while Frank put the rest of the logs into the cauldron for him. For his last decorative feature, Clive snapped his fingers and four shields appeared on the wall over the couch that featured the crest of each of their houses.

"Wow! This is really cool, Clive!" Dorian complimented him. "Thank you!"

"You is welcome, Mr. Dorian. Clive will go outside and extend the wards now."

"Can we watch how you do it?" Emily asked.

Clive nodded and they followed him outside into the hallway. "Once the wards is here and you goes inside, the door will be gone. You's is going to need a word to get in when somebody is already here," Clive said.

"You mean a password, like all the houses have?" Reg asked.

Clive nodded. "Clive can make it open the door for you then."

The group thought about it for a few minutes then Lily giggled and said, "I know! How about Dante?"

Severus laughed, too. "Yeah, even if he found this room and even with an ego as big as his, he'd never think we'd use his name as a password."

Clive nodded and then did some strange motions with his arm and added the password, 'Dante' as the room's password. "You is all set now. I's made the room like Slytherin House."

"Thanks so much, Clive, this was a great idea!" Remus said."

"Okay, some of you go inside and close the door," Severus requested.

Lily, Alice, Irene, Emily, and Jane went inside the room and closed the door. It disappeared much to Severus' delight. Severus went up to where the door had been and whispered the password. The door appeared again and he opened it. Lily, Irene, Jane, and Emily came back out into the hallway.

"It works great, Clive," Severus said. "Thank you for doing this for us."

Clive nodded then said, "You is welcome. Clive will bring you some snacks from the kitchen now."

"Fantastic!" Sirius replied, rubbing his hands together.

They all went inside, dropping their rucksacks and book bags on the floor and sank down into the comfortable furniture. Clive returned with plates, a pitcher of pumpkin juice, a big bowl of crisps and dip, and a plate full of various kinds of cookies. "They's all have a Refilling Charm on them," Clive explained as he set the food down. He bowed then popped out again.

Sirius sighed and put his feet up on the coffee table. He looked over at Severus. "So what about your talk with this Bartholomew Braider?"

Severus, Dorian, Tav, and Reg, explained what they, Sebastian, and Bartholomew had talked about.

"He told me if we want to pull Sam and his friends away from Dante, it has to be me that starts it because, true or not, I'm looked on as the leader of this group by the United," Severus explained. "He suggested I start with Michael Ashdown."

Remus replied. "If you remember, he was the one that Dante caused to fall down the main staircase our first year. I can't imagine he'd voluntarily want to be anywhere near Dante after that."

"He's not a bad person," Frank added. "He likes to prank people, but his pranks aren't mean like James' are and he doesn't prank the same people all the time either."

"Getting him alone will be the problem though," Pete said. "Because he sticks pretty close to Sam and the others in that group."

"Maybe, he sticks close to Sam because he thinks Sam can protect him from Dante," Remus said with a shrug. "I can't say I blame him either."

"Maybe you can slip him a note in class," Lily suggested. "Asking for a meeting with just him."

"If I can do it without Sam seeing it since he sits behind me," Severus replied.

"We can form a chain of sorts to pass the note up from you up to Sirius," Lily suggested. "And then you can pass the note to Michael as your desk is right next to his."

"Sam does read a lot during class so when I see he's reading, I'll pass the note to Peter," Severus said.

"And I can pass it to Jane since she's closer to me than Frank or Remus."

"I'm at the end of the row so it wouldn't work with me," Remus said.

"I can pass it on to either Emily or Lily then," Jane said. "And one of them can get it to Sirius."

"I'll slip it to him when whatever the professor is looking somewhere else," Sirius said.

"Sounds like a plan," Dorian said. "But what class are you going to do it in? I'd advise skipping McGonagall's. That woman has the eyes of an eagle!"

"Flitwick's class. too," Reg said. "I know he'll ignore some things, but passing notes isn't one of them."

"So what about this new guy, Professor Schell?" Jane asked. The fourth year's had classes with him tomorrow.

"He's really sharp," Tav said. He and Dorian had already had Defense with Gabriel. "I don't think I'd try passing any notes in his class either."

"Why not Binn's class?" Caddaric asked. "He doesn't notice anything outside of the Goblin Wars anyway."

"Good idea," Severus said. "That would probably be the best class to do it in without the risk of any of the others professors seeing it and grabbing it. I don't think Binn's would notice if the entire castle collapsed on him! He still be standing there still lecturing about the Goblin Wars without even a pause."

"Where are you going to meet him if he agrees?" Emily asked.

"I was thinking about the second level of the library. There are study carrels up there that aren't used ever or else I'll let him decide wherever he wants to meet me," Severus replied. "I'll also tell him he can send me a note in whatever way he thinks is the safest way from Dante finding out."

"Can't ask more than that," Sirius said.

"We asked Bartholomew if Dante had any weaknesses and his only one is Athena, Bartholomew's sister. Apparently, they're betrothed," Severus said.

"That doesn't help us," Lily said glumly.

"No, and that would make Yalarad all the madder if we pulled something on his fiancee," Alice pointed out. "We just want to defend ourselves not be bullies about it."

"He also said that Doherty has quite a gambling problem," Tav said.

"I was thinking about that last night," Dorian said. He looked at Severus. "I told you when we first met that my dad was a Wizard and my mum a Muggle."

Severus nodded. "I remember. It was the opposite of my parents."

"Well, what I didn't tell you was that even though my dad is a Wizard, he decided he wanted to work with Scotland Yard rather than working with Magical Law Enforcement or being an Auror. He's a Detective Sergeant with Scotland Yard...it's kind of like the Muggle version of MLE," He explained to the Pureblood's.

Sirius sat up straight suddenly. "I've read about them. They were the ones trying to catch that Ripper fellow in the late 1880's."

"And they failed spectacularly at it, too!" Dorian replied. "Dad said it's been the biggest blot on their record ever since! Anyway, I was thinking maybe Doherty might go into the Muggle world to gamble. It's be the perfect place. If he loses he can just disappear back into the Magical world and doesn't have to worry about anybody threatening to break his legs, smash his hands, or beat him bloody if he doesn't pay his gambling debts."

"Merlin!" Jane exclaimed. "Muggles do that?"

"No, but a lot of the gambling is run by criminals and they get real nasty if you owe them a lot of money and you don't pay your debt. I was thinking about asking dad if there was some way he could pick up Doherty's trail if he does have one. If he does, I don't know what we can do with the information, but it might come in useful at some point."

Severus nodded. "Especially if he's using his magic to win in Muggle gambling joints, that's a violation of the Secrecy Code and that would be cause for an arrest by MLE. Speaking of gambling, Bartholomew warned me never to let Dante con you into a game of Pool with him because he's really good at it and he'll use your debt to get something he wants from you, or I suspect, you'll have to do something for him no matter if it's something illegal." He pointed his finger at Sirius, who was smirking. "Don't even think about it, Sirius, because I'm sure you don't want to trudge home at Christmas time and have to tell your parents you lost the entire Black fortune, playing pool with Dante."

"Nor do you want mum hearing about you even thinking about gambling, Siri," Reg warned. "I don't think you want her flooing here like she did your first year and don't think I don't remember that either!"

Sirius face turned bright red and there was a sudden sharp, phantom pain in his bum as he recalled his mother's walloping first year.

"I think, too, it might be a good idea for us to start casting the Boomerang Charm on ourselves again," Caddaric suggested.

Everybody sighed, but agreed he was right.

"I'd like to cast the Pee Pee Charm on Dante during a meal," Peter muttered. "And then listen to everybody laughing at the head boy for peeing his pants! But I know he'd hit me with something three times worse in addition to me probably getting six months of detention from Dumbledore."

"Yeah, seems like Dumbledore is only interested kissing Dante's bum, just like he did Potter's," Sirius said.

"Well, we know what we're up against and we do have somewhat of a plan to deal with it and that's better than nothing," Lily said.

"What about Roland Summerset?" Alice asked suddenly. "We've got to get him away from Dante. I know he doesn't have a lot of confidence after James bullied him so bad, but we can't just stand around and let him be used by Dante either."

"Maybe you can talk to him, Lily," Remus suggested, "I think he has a crush on you and he might be more willing to listen to you."

"I'm willing to try if I can find a time where I can talk to him out of earshot of Dante."

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

Horace ducked into the floo in his office in Slytherin House to go to Minerva's quarters. She had let him, Filius, and Pomona know that she was calling a meeting of the houses on the sly. They usually met once a month, but this was a special meeting that he assumed Albus knew nothing about. He stepped out of the floo after removing the ashes from his clothing. He saw he was the first one to arrive.

"Please sit down, Horace," Minerva said. She poured him a cup of tea and offered him the plate of her shortbread cookies.

A few minutes later, Filius arrived and a few minutes after him, Pomona stepped out of the floo. The last one through was Poppy Pomfrey.

Minerva poured them tea and offered them the plate of shortbread. She straightened up and said, "I'm sure you're wondering why I called this special meeting."

"I'm assuming it has something to do with Albus' appointment of Dante Yalarad as head boy," Filius ventured.

"Yes, he didn't even consult with me as he usually does and just decided on his own to appoint Dante!" Minerva snapped. "I would have told him that I think despite what Madam Maxime said, he is an unrepentant, manipulative, bully and not good head boy material!"

"The thing that upsets me so much is that we all submitted the names of excellent students who were more deserving of the position than Dante is and they just got tossed aside without even being considered, I suspect, when Dante decided he wanted to strut back into Hogwarts!" Pomona said in an aggrieved tone.

"I believe you're right about Dante, Minerva," Filius said. "I was in the Entrance Hall the night of the Welcoming Feast when Dante and his friends trudged in late and muddy. I was not going to let them go into the feast, but he smirked and flashed his head boy badge at me. I was still not going to let them in when Albus mysteriously appeared and Dante gave him some tale about how they had helped Mr. Campbell round up his sheep that had gotten out and that's why they were late and muddy."

"So that's where Albus went in the middle of the Sorting," Minerva said.

"Albus believed him and ordered me to allow them into the feast once they had cleaned up," Filius continued. "I know Mr. Campbell's sheep do get out from time to time. He thinks they're magical, but I think they've just discovered that the lock on his gate is faulty. However, I did check with him the next day and he said he sheep hadn't escaped that night."

"So Dante lied, not at all surprising," Horace said. He shook his head. "I'm afraid we're in for another bumpy year of favoritism and lies just like the first two years with Mr. Potter. The Prince's are apparently so worried about Severus that he's gotten his own Black Cloak now."

"Yes, I noticed him at the feast that very first night," Pomona replied. "And I think it's a very sad commentary and very much a shame when a child feels that unsafe."

"All of us will have to keep a close eye on Dante and make sure he isn't bullying or threatening any of the other students, particularly the younger ones," Minerva stated.

Filius held up his hand. "But not to the point where it sends Sherwood and Marcus up here, complaining that Dante isn't being given a fair chance."

"We need to be very discreet about it then," Minerva replied.

Poppy, who had been silent until this moment, said, "And I had best be extra vigilant when I escort Mr. Lupin to the Shrieking Shack and when he's in the Infirmary afterwards. Mr. Yalarad does not need to make the burden of suffering from Lycanthropy any heavier for Mr. Lupin and I will not allow it!"

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

The next day, after lunch, the fourth year Slytherins and Gryffindors waited outside the Defense classroom. Remus peeked in, but Professor Schell was not present yet. "Shall we go in and sit down?"

"Not looking forward to this at all," Sirius muttered as he took a seat in the last row. Remus and Frank sat in the desks on either sides of him. "My stomach feels really queasy."

"Calm down, Sirius," Remus urged him. "He's not going to start anything with you about your dad and if he does, Frank and I will report him to McGonagall."

Frank nodded. "You bet! We're not putting up with another Hardbroom!"

Sirius nodded and then took a deep breath and slumped back in his desk.

Severus, Lily, Peter, Jane and Emily took seats in the row in front of Sirius, Frank and Remus.

The United came in, talking and laughing. They sat down in the front two rows.

Everybody quieted down as Gabriel came out of his office and down the stairs into the classroom, holding a sheaf of parchment in his hands. He stopped short as he caught sight of the class. Sam and his friends were seated up front while Severus and his friends were seated in the very back. He noticed Black Donal standing near to Severus. Several students who weren't friends with either groups were scattered in the middle, including Mary, Lisa, and Daniel. The students from the families that favored this rising dark lord were sitting together. He laid the parchment on his desk and grinned. "Why don't you all move up towards the front. I can assure you I don't bite."

Remus still winced a bit at that joke even though he'd heard it numerous times. He got up along with Frank and Sirius.

Severus got up, frowning. He knew Gabriel had been a good friend of his mum's, his grandparents were very fond of him, and he had seemed very nice when he and Lily had met him at Mirrorvale, but after hearing Sirius' story about what had happened at 12 Grimmauld Place, he wasn't so sure now that he could trust Gabriel. In fairness to Gabriel though, Sam might have been influenced by Dante to confront Gabriel about his father's death.

Once everybody was seated, Gabriel called roll then said, "In this class I will not only be teaching you about the Unforgivable Curses and other certain dark arts, but I am going to show you how to counter the ones that can be countered. These will be intensive studies for which I will need have your parent's or guardian's permission." He waved his wand and the parchment flew off his desk and landed in front of each of the students.

Emily raised her hand and when Gabriel nodded at her, she held up the sheet of parchment and said, "Professor, my mum's a Muggle. She doesn't even know what Unforgivable Curses are and she won't sign permission for something she doesn't understand."

"My parents will not sign period!" Daniel said. "And there's going to be a lot of parents outraged because you're teaching their kids how to be a Death Eater."

Avery rolled his eyes, sneered, and then said loudly, "That's what happens when you keep thinning your bloodline with Muggles."

"Detention, Mr. Avery, with me tonight at seven o'clock," Gabriel said without bothering to look up.

Avery's mouth dropped open, but he knew better than to respond.

"The students whose parents don't want their children to be taught about the Unforgivable Curses can use the time as a study period. Miss…" Gabriel looked down at his register. "Miss Dewhurst, I can explain to your mother in person what Unforgivables are and why I feel it's necessary to teach about them, as well as the other topics in my intensive studies. Are you connected to the Floo System?"

Emily nodded. "Mum had us hooked up to it as soon as she found out I was a witch."

"If you can either Owl or floo your mum, we can set up a time to meet," Gabriel replied. "I believe Professor Slughorn will allow you to use his floo if you ask him."

"I'll do that and let you know," Emily replied. "Thank you, Professor."

"You're welcome, Miss Dewhurst." Gabriel replied. "Are there any other questions regarding this matter?" Gabriel looked around the room for any other raised hands. "Alright then. I will not be starting new lessons until your next class. Today, I'm just going to see where you are because you've had a different defense professor every year, two different ones your first year, I understand. I'm going to pair you up doing offensive spells." He looked around the room again. "And Mr. Pettigrew, if you start to feel unwell, please let me know immediately and you can stop."

Peter smiled in relief. "Yes, Sir."

"These are offensive spells you've learnt here. I want no spells cast that you've learned from someone at home and absolutely no dark spells. I see any of those and you'll be doing detention with Mr. Filch for a month," Gabriel warned. "Please stand." He waved his wand and the desks moved to either side of the room, leaving the center unencumbered.

Severus got paired with Sam, but Sirius was paired with Sebastian while Peter fortunately got paired with Jane. Avery got paired with Frank and Mulciber with Remus. The LeStrange twins each got paired with one of the United. Emily got paired with Michael Ashdown and Lily got paired with Adam Wilkes who smirked, twirled his wand, and obviously thought she was no match for him. Lily wiped the smirk off his face by disabling him with the Jelly-Legs Jinx.

"You may not want to underestimate your opponent in the future, Mr. Wilkes," Gabriel said as he walked past them.

Sam got Severus first with a Knockback Jinx and he landed on his bum, but he quickly cast the Twitchy Ears Hex at Sam that stopped him in his tracks.

"Very good, you two," Gabriel said.

Jane had cast a Tripping Jinx on Peter and then he cast the Babbling Jinx on Jane.

"Good work, Miss Lillibridge and Mr. Pettigrew," Gabriel complimented them.

Mary MacDonald had been paired with Renner Dain and he quickly disabled her with the Inpediment Jinx. He picked up her wand that she'd dropped as she froze and politely handed it back to her when in a few seconds she could move again.

"Come on, Troyer, you're not even trying!" MacTavish complained loudly after he disabled her with the Leg-Locker Jinx and she just seemed to be staring off into space. He wondered why he'd gotten stuck with her. She was the ultimate scatterbrain!

"I don't care," Lisa yelled back. "I'm going to be very wealthy when I get married and I won't need to know any of this stuff anyway!"

"You will need to know it if you're planning on passing my class, Miss Troyer," Gabriel said.

Frank had disabled Avery with an Incarcerus while Remus got Mulciber with a Hair Growing Jinx that caused his hair to grow so fast that it grew over his eyes and down to his knees.

"Quite inventive, Mr. Lupin," Gabriel complimented him.

Gabriel looked at the clock and then told the class to stop and resume their seats. He waved his wand again and the desks slid back into their original spots. Gabriel leaned against the front of his desk. "Most of you did well, but a few of you will need some extra tutoring, I have some older students that will tutor for a small fee. I will check with them and let you know. For tomorrow, read the first chapter on Obscurials and write three feet of parchment for the next class on what they are, how to recognize one, and what to do if you do come across one."

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

Charles sat looking at the bank's ledger with satisfaction. While he had many smaller accounts, Lord Brownlow was definitely his largest depositor. His antique business was obviously very successful as he came in monthly to make deposits, always of 40,000 or 50,000 Galleons. They had had Lord Brownlow over for dinner last week and Mavis had been very impressed with him as he had brought them a very expensive bottle of wine as a gift and had brought James a Quidditch helmet from China that was fully protective yet lightweight and designed so it would give him a full view of the Quidditch pitch. Nobody would be able to sneak up on him without him seeing them first. James had also enjoyed Lord Brownlow's description of the Chinese Quidditch teams. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his office door.

"Come in," Charles called. Mrs. Highcrest had already left for lunch.

Mavis came in. "Hello dear," she said. "I was doing some shopping and I thought I would stop and see if you were available for lunch."

"As a matter of fact I am," Charles replied. He closed the ledger and put it into his desk drawer, locked it, and then cast a spell on it that prevented anyone from opening it but him.

He and Mavis walked out of his office and he locked it, casting the same spell on it as on his desk drawer. They took the stairs down to the lobby and walked outside. "Where would you like to go for lunch, dear?" Mavis asked.

"I have a standing reservation at the Golden Opulence restaurant to wine and dine new clients," Charles replied.

"Oh yes! Marie Savoy-Hartman has spoken about their Saffron Risotto and it sounds absolutely delicious!" Mavis exclaimed.

As they entered the restaurant, located above Flourish & Blotts, the Maitre d' came over immediately, leading Charles and Mavis to a table near a large window, overlooking Diagon Alley. He gave them each a menu.

As they looked the menus over, Charles said, "I was checking my bank's ledgers this morning and we are doing very well, in no small part thanks to Lord Brownlow."

Mavis smiled and replied, "Yes, we are the talk of our set. Everyone is wondering about your newest client."

"And they shall have to continue to wonder as I promised Lord Brownlow complete privacy," Charles stressed.

"Of course," Mavis agreed then said, "Mr. Cadwaller says James is doing really well at his lessons."

Charles nodded. "I think getting away him from all those bullies he was facing at Hogwarts has done him a lot of good. He can concentrate on his studies now instead of worrying about those bullies always laying in wait for him."

"Nor does he have to worry about the professors favoring these bullies over him," Mavis added.

When their meal was served, Mavis had ordered the Saffron Risotto that her friend had praised, and when the waiter had left, Charles said, "I thought you had a meeting of the Witches Aid Society to attend today."

"I did, but I decided not to go. You know that Vesper Prince, Walburga Black and those Yalarad women are all members and I just cannot stand any of them! Of course, nobody attending will even mention the disgrace of Walburga Black having the front door of 12 Grimmauld Place blown to bits by that brat, Sam Yalarad, with the encouragement of her former boyfriend!"

"What's this?" Charles asked.

"Gabriel Schell. Rumor has it that he wished to marry her, but she was already betrothed to Orion and Pollux threatened him with dire consequences if he didn't stay away from his daughter."

"Well, well, well, that's quite the disgrace!" Charles said gleefully. "And when you consider how high in the air she's always held her nose!"

"She well deserves any scorn she gets, I am sure!" Mavis declared. "I am certainly relieved that James is no longer at Hogwarts with that Dante Yalarad being back. He sounds like an absolute brute!"

"Yes, especially since he will obviously join that Death Eater-in-training, Snape and his disciples!"

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

The next morning the flock of mail owls flew in hooting loudly. One of them detached itself and flew over to the Gryffindor table and landed next to Lily. "Hi, Ringo!" Lily said. He offered his leg and she took the letter off and gave him a slice of bacon. "I probably shouldn't give you that because I do know Dad gives you a snack every time you even stretch your wings."

Ringo consumed the bacon strip and then flew off again. Lily shook her head. "Honestly, I'm going to have to put Ringo on a diet when I get home before he gets too fat to fly pretty soon!" She opened the letter and another letter fell out. Lily picked it up and squealed in delight. "It's from Tuney! She tore it open.

"What does she say?" Alice asked.

"She says she's sorry she hasn't written, but she's been really busy going to fashion shows, visiting designers, and viewing new styles and trends. She says she isn't too impressed with the trendy styles because they'll only last one or two seasons at the most."

"You said Petunia was studying to be something for the store where she works?"

"She's training to be a buyer for the boutique she works at. That means she'll eventually decide what styles of clothing the store will carry." Lily giggled suddenly.

Alice raised her eyebrows in confusion and Lily leaned closer to her and whispered, "Mum and Dad must have written Tuney about he who must not be named." She nodded at Dante. "Tuney wrote that if we need her to floo over and punch Dante in his conk, she's willing to do it. Salem took her on a tour of the Wizarding section of Paris last time he visited so she could actually floo here if she wanted."

"I loved to see that arrogant berk get knocked on his arse by Petunia!" Alice whispered back.

"Me, too!" Lily agreed.

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

Silas Attenborough sat on one of the wide outside windowsills outside, hidden by a large bush. The glass was frosted so he couldn't be seen from the inside and he was amusing himself blowing smoke rings.

"Hey, Attenborough, you know that's a punishable offense, don't you?" A demanding voice asked.

Silas looked up and saw Dante Yalarad with his arms crossed and with a cheshire grin. He unconcernedly blew another smoke ring into the air. "You caught me so turn me in. I'll get a week with Filch and lectures about the evils of Muggle cigarettes from Flitwick and Pomfrey. Big hooey! Been there, done that."

"I won't turn you in...if you're willing to do me a favor," Dante replied smoothly.

"What kind of favor?"

"I need somebody to keep an eye on Snape and his friends and let me know what they're up to."

Silas jumped down from his perch, tossed his cigarette down, ground it until it was out, and then marched over to Dante and stopped in front of him. "I ain't nobody's bitch, Yalarad!"

"You might want to rethink things, Attenborough. I can make thing go easy for you or hellish for you. Your choice."

"Well, Yalarad, my dad works for MLE and guess what I can do for you? You're 17 or almost 17?"

Dante's expression hardened.

"I can tell my dad that you were making sexual advances to me. Do you know that Wizarding society takes a very dim view of adults bothering kids that way? Unlike Muggle society which puts you in jail for a few year and fines you, the Wizarding World cuts off your nuts! Now that wouldn't do your girlfriend or whatever much good, would it? So you leave me alone and leave Snape and his friends alone and I'll keep my peace. Got it?"

Silas expected Dante to be outraged, but to his surprise, the head boy simply laughed. "You are a devious little eagle, aren't you?" Dante backed slowly away from Silas. "Don't fret. I'll leave you be, for now. You may share a namesake with my uncle, but don't think it will keep you safe. You'll come to regret this, Attenborough! You and that cousin of yours."

"Go fuck yourself, Yalarad!" Silas yelled, using a rude Muggle gesture.

"You first!" Dante called back, walking away

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

Severus was on his way to the Great Hall for lunch when he heard someone call his name. "Hey, Snape."

He turned to see Silas Attenborough hurrying up to him. He took a hold of Severus' shoulder, nodding towards a small alcove. "Let's go in here."

"What's the problem?" Severus asked.

"I had a run in with that douche canoe, Dante Yalarad, this morning. He wanted me to spy on you and report back to him. He really has a big boil on his arse about you and your friends. Look, all of my friends are Muggles, the wrong side of town type Muggles, you know? I really don't want much to do with the majority of people in this place, but Irene is my cousin and I don't want Yalarad bothering her." Silas was silent for a few seconds then continued, "I got him to back off by threatening to tell my dad, who works for MLE, that he was making sexual advances to me. I told him to leave me alone and leave all of you alone and I'd keep my peace. He went off with his arse on fire, but I'm not sure how long it'll last."

"Thanks, Attenborough," Severus said. "You might have slowed him down somewhat because now he has to find another snitch."

Silas nodded and ducked out of the alcove.

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