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 (Alternative Universe) and is NOT canon compliant. If you don't like Sev/Lily fiction, don't read it.

Oncoming Storm

The first meeting of the Dueling Club was a roaring success. Everyone practiced their stances for proper 'Code Duello' duels, nobody lost their cools and got into any fights, and the tensions between Sam and Sirius appeared to be calming down.

Gabriel walked to his classroom, and went inside. He had forgotten a few assignments he meant to grade that night. He walked towards his office, but then stopped. He wasn't alone.

Gabriel swirled around with his wand pulled out and pointed it to the right corner of the classroom.

It was darkened, but he felt a presence there. "All right, come out from the shadows. Slowly now, and toss your wand!"

The figure pulled out their wand and held it aloft. There was a cracked gemstone inlaid in the pommel of the wand.

Gabriel knew in an instant who this person was. "I figured you'd show up once I came back." He put his wand back into his arm holster.

"I hope you didn't lose sleep over it dearie," Robert Gold stepped out from the shadows of the dimly lit classroom. He was still dressed in a simple robe as always.

Gabriel shook his head, "Worrying about you would be like wondering if the Sun would ever rise again. Not even worth thinking about, to be honest." Gabriel stared at Robert Gold up and down, "What are you doing here?"

Robert crossed his arms, "I heard that you knocked the taste from Charles Potter's mouth." He moved closer to Gabriel, almost as if he glided above the floor.

Gabriel chuckled, "Yeah that's true, but I'm guessing that's not the real reason you're here."

"You always were an observant fellow, Gabriel." Robert pulled an envelope from his coat pocket, and handed it to Gabriel. "Belle's improved formula for Mr. Lupin's chronic upset stomach."

Gabriel took the formula, "I'll give this to Poppy, and Horace. Hopefully they will have some batches ready for Remus soon."

Robert looked around the classroom, "Oh you've redecorated. I don't like it."

Gabriel chortled, "Well I apologize that my sense of style doesn't meet your standards. I just didn't want the classroom to look so dreary all the time."

"You took down that skeleton hanging from the ceiling!"

"Yeah, it was a hazard." Gabriel explained, "One stray hex, and the damn thing would have come falling down!"

"I liked that skeleton, it brought the whole room together!" Robert playfully griped.

Gabriel scoffed, "Brought the room together, yeah right."

Robert looked at Gabriel, "I haven't heard from you in…what? Nine, maybe ten years? Then one day, you owl me, and ask me to run a background check on someone."

"I included a how-do-you-do." Gabriel gabbed back at Robert. "Do you have it?"

Robert Gold pulled another envelope from his coat pocket, revised it to it's full size, and then handed it to Gabriel.

The current Defense Professor opened the envelope and began to glance through the inquiries Robert made into one Dante Yalarad.

"This is all about his time in France while attending Beauxbatons?"

"Yes, I had one of my men look into him, and it's not good." Robert further explained. "While in school he was the model student…"

"I'm guessing when he wasn't in school, his dark side came out to play?"

"You'd be correct, dearie." He shook his head, "Young Mr. Yalarad ran afoul of several unfortunate souls who crossed his paths."

Gabriel turned the page of the file. "Ten fights in his first semester attending Beauxbatons. All of these fights were off campus. Why wasn't he ever charged?"

Robert crossed his arms, "Because someone paid off the right people to make those charges go away." He walked over and turned the file to the next page. "After his last altercation, Dante apparently straightened up. He had never gotten into any trouble inside Beauxbatons or outside of it."

"Someone definitely straightened him out," Gabriel mentioned.

Robert looked at Gabriel inquisitively. "Sherwood?"

Gabriel shot his head up, "No. Sherwood would have had Dante own up to everything he did, and would have made him repay those he had wronged."

Robert nodded, "So, you're looking for someone else who gave Dante an attitude adjustment."

Gabriel looked through the files some more and found something odd. "It says here that during his time at Beauxbatons that he would leave the school every day at the same time at night for…"

He turned the page, "Special tutoring sessions. What were these sessions? I don't see them on the papers."

"At first my agent, Damien Firth, wasn't able to figure that out; however after a little digging on my end I was able to figure it out." Robert straightened up. "He was being tutored on the art of dueling."

Gabriel's eyes widened, "Who the hell would agree to teach that little sociopath to duel?"

Robert answered, "Izan Ramos, that's who."

"Izan Ramos? The Spaniard?" Gabriel mentioned Izan Ramos' Dueling moniker.

"The same. From what I gathered, Izan was hired to teach Dante how to duel."

"Why the hell would Madam Maxine allow this?"

"It's possible she didn't know," Robert pointed out. "From what I gathered, it was Madam Maxine's deputy head, one Cyril Saint-Pierre, who gave permission for Dante to attend these sessions."

Gabriel shook his head in frustration and then stopped. He had just thought of something.

Robert noticed this, "What is it?"

"Izan Ramos was Vesper's last opponent she faced as an opponent on the National Dueling League circuit before she retired."

"Oh I know, it was on that same day that I became the All-Around Champion. Her duel was the main event, and I was in the crowd." Robert sighed, "I don't duel professionally anymore, but what I would have given to face her as an opponent. She was a six time All-Around Champion at the time of that win, and she retired on top."

"If I remember correctly, Mr. Ramos wasn't at all thrilled to have lost to Vesper. On record, for saying it was embarrassing to lose to a witch."

"Well that's what happens when a man has a shallow ego," Robert chucked.

Gabriel turned to Robert, "Thank you for this Robert. I'll be sure to send this to Marius, he's been trying to find a connection between his family and whomever is behind Dante's current campaign."

Robert Gold shook his head, he had been caught up on what had been going on between Dante Yalarad and the Prince Family. "Do you think Ramos is behind this?"

"If he isn't he'll lead us to whomever is. Has anyone seen Izan Ramos recently?"

"Well he was supposed to be giving lectures on dueling symposiums across Scandinavia, but he canceled his tour a few months ago."

Gabriel scoffed, "And nobody has seen him since?"

Robert nodded, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

Gabriel sighed, "Can you keep your ear to the ground? Y'Know, when you aren't doing your secret agent thing?"

Robert sighed, "For the last time, I am not a secret agent. Quit reading those Ian Fleming novels!"

Gabriel raised his hands jokingly, "You got it Mr. Bond! Certainly don't want to get on your bad side!"

Robert Gold chuckled, "I appreciate it Felix."

Gabriel and him shared a laugh between friends.

"I will be busy for the next few weeks, but I will keep an eye out for Izan Ramos." Robert pulled out a pocket watch, "I have to go."

"Assignment?"

"No, Belle is waiting for me at our apartment. Our kids are with her mother for the night."

"You lucky little devil, you."

Robert gave a cheeky grin before heading toward the door.

Gabriel asked him, "What if I need to get a hold of you? Where will you be?

Robert stopped, "I'll be going underground for a while, but if you need to get a hold of me. Send an owl to 'The Giant's Toe' in West Berlin with your letter addressed to a 'Mr. Alexander Faulkner.' I'll be there in three days. That will be my base of operations while I'm on assignment."

Gabriel shook his head and went to shake Robert's hand, "Stay safe, stay vigilant…"

Robert shook Gabriel's hand in return, "Stay hungry." He quickly made his way out of his former classroom, and out of Hogwarts.

Gabriel took the file back to his quarters, grading those assignments could wait. He had some reading to catch up on.

-/-/-/-/-/

Severus was with Black Donal the day after the Dueling Club.. Black Donal told Severus that Professor Slughorn had called for him. "From what he told me, he had someone he wanted you to tutor."

"Did he say who it was," Severus asked Black Donal.

"No, but I'm sure you'll find out."

They walked into the Potion's Lab, and found Professor Slughorn. "Ah Severus, I'm glad you made it. Did you enjoy your first Dueling Club meeting?"

"Yes I did, professor!"

"Good lad, I was never one for Dueling, but it is quite a good bit of sport."

Severus shook his head, "Black Donal said that you wanted me to tutor someone?"

"Yes Severus, if you can find the time, as well as find it in yourself to do so."

Severus looked confused, "What does that mean sir?"

"I am aware that you have some bad blood with Dante Yalarad as of late. Just know that I, along with the other professors, are doing our best to curtail his actions, and the actions of Cassidy Doherty."

Severus understood and was glad to hear that something was being done about Doherty and Dante. "You're not asking me to tutor either one of them, are you?"

"Oh no, I would never allow that, Severus," Slughorn assured his pupil. "However, I am asking you to tutor his young cousin, Agamemnon Yalarad."

Severus looked at his Professor. Slughorn had inadvertently given Severus an in to help him in his task to get Sam away from Dante. If he can get Agamemnon on his side, he could probably get to Sam's other family members a lot easier as well.

"Severus, if you don't feel up to the task, I can ask Bartholomew to tutor young Mr. Yalarad."

"No Professor, I can do it."

Horace studied Severus' face, "You're positive you can do this?"

Severus shook his head, "Yes Professor Slughorn."

Horace shook his head, "Very well. Please be here tomorrow at eleven o'clock in the morning and you can get started with Mr. Yalarad then."

Severus smiled, and left with Black Donal.

"Do you think this will give us an edge to try and bring Sam away from Dante's influence?"

"I think it will Black Donal, I'll bet money on it!"

-/-/-/-/-

Jane and Emily were walking back down to the dungeons after they met with their friends that afternoon. Severus had told his friends about the fortunate turn of events with Severus tutoring Agamemnon Yalarad.

Jane crossed arms, she was still not convinced about this peace talks with The United. "Say what you will Emily but I'm not trusting any of them."

"I'm not saying trust them right off the bat, but if we have any chance of knocking Dante off his pedestal then we'll need all the help we can get."

Jane nodded, and as they entered the Slytherin Common Room they saw Desdemona Yalarad on one of the couches, studying her Charms textbook. She was wearing a pair of reading glasses as she did so. "Then let's not waste any time." She walked over to the couches. "Do you mind if we join you?"

Desdemona looked up and shook your head. "No, please sit anywhere."

Jane and Emily sat next to Desdemona. "What are you working on," Emily asked her.

"My Charms coursework, I have to give an essay about the Scourgify charm, and its practical applications." Desdemona explained. "But that's not why you want to speak with me."

"No, it isn't," Jane bluntly mentioned.

Desdemona took her glasses off, "Then what's on your mind?"

"Your brother."

"What about him?" Desdemona smirked, "He's got a fiancé, so he's off the market."

Jane recoiled, "As if I would ever be attracted to that sack of pus!"

Desdemona frowned, "There's no call to be nasty. I was just joking."

Emily could sense the rising tension in the air and quickly. "Let's keep focused here. Desdemona, I wanted to talk to you about Dante, and well…his personal history with Slytherin House."

Desdemona crossed her legs, and sat up. "All right."

"Well, we are just concerned…that with Dante's past run-ins with Slytherin House…" Emily was trying hard to find the right words to not step on her toes.

"You're worried that he's going to come after the Slytherins like he did before?" Desdemona leaned back in her seat.

"Well yes that was one point," Emily admitted.

Desdemona uncrossed her legs. "I'll be honest, I was concerned about that as well, so I told my mum, and she got on my dad. Leading to him basically telling Dante that if even so much as messed with Slytherin; that they were going to pull him from Hogwarts immediately."

Jane and Emily were shocked at this revelation, but their shock didn't last long. When someone walked over to the three girls. "Yalarad, beat it."

It was Corban Yaxley, a sixth year Slytherin who was rumored to have taken over as leader of the Wannabe Death Eaters in Hogwarts.

Desdemona was told by Dante to give Yaxley a wide berth, so that's what she was going to do. She got her things and got up from the couch. Desdemona looked at Jane and Emily, "Good talk."

She left them as Corban Yaxley took her place on the seat. "I'm not going to mince words. I want a talk with Snape, and you two will deliver the message."

"What message?" Severus walked in with Black Donal.

"Ah Snape, just the person I was looking for." Yaxley looked at him. "I want to talk with you."

"About what?"

"Your girlfriend's sister, and the stunt she pulled…"

"Petunia? What about her?" Severus crossed his arms.

"At first nothing, I was shocked to see someone step up to Dumbledore, but even more shocked to see someone step up to Dante." Yaxley shrugged, "When I heard it was Evan's sister, I thought, oh well too bad she isn't Pureblood like us…"

Corban Yaxley looked mad, "Then I hear that Evan's sister is a muggle. A fucking muggle."

"If you're mad about a muggle being able to floo into Hogwarts, then you should take that up with Dumbledore," Severus pointed out.

"That goes without saying, but this transgression will not go unanswered, Snape."

Severus gave Yaxley a good imitation of his grandfather, "You stay away from Lily's family!"

"Someone has to pay for this, and if you are strongly against me going after your whore and her family….well then that leaves only you."

Jane slapped Corban across his face, "How dare call Lily a…"

Jane didn't get to finish that as Yaxley grabbed her by the throat. Before he could say anything Emily, Severus, and Black Donal had their wands fixed on him.

"Let. Her. Go " Severus wasn't kidding.

Corban Yaxley was outnumbered, but for some reason he wasn't sweating anything. "Or what Snape? Are you going to hex me blind?"

"We will do a lot more than that if you don't let her go!"

Corban rolled his eyes, and let Jane go. She, and Emily both shot up as they kept their wands trained on Yaxley. "So what now Snape, are you going to get Slughorn? Lillibridge will probably be in more trouble than me as she just slapped me."

Severus looked at Jane, "Jane, do you want to get Slughorn?"

Jane looked back at Severus, "I could do without a detention if I am being honest." She rubbed her neck, "His lily-livered grip barely hurt me."

Corban snorted, "We'll get you sooner or later Snape. You have Yalarad to worry about this year, so it may not be today or tomorrow. When Dante's gone, you will get yours. Make no mistake about it."

Severus gathered Emily and Jane and along with Black Donal they left the Slytherin Common Room.

-/-/-/-/-

Marius was in his home office, still working from home. His office was nearly ready to work from again. He decided to take this chance to redecorate his office space, and Vesper was all but willing to help her darling husband.

She picked out all the colors for the new paint, and managed to salvage the furniture by having the torn up furniture reupholstered.

The fireplace roared to life as Gabriel's head appeared in the floo. "Marius, are you there?"

Marius walked into the living room, "I'm here Gabriel. Is something the matter?"

"Well, not with Severus, but I've got a problem I could use your help with."

Marius nodded, he had heard from Black Donal about the altercation between Gabriel and Charles Potter. "I see, come on through Gabriel."

Gabriel emerged from the floo and dusted the spot from his clothing before walking further into Mirrorvale. "Where's Vesper?"

"She is out at my office redecorating after it was ransacked.." Marius looked sternly at Gabriel, "I heard about you knocking Charles Potter out from Black Donal. Now before we get into this business, I want to know one thing!"

Gabriel stiffened up, he didn't think Marius would be mad at him. When Dumbledore and McGonagall talked to him, he could tell that they were only giving him a half hearted talk about what happened.

Marius grinned, "How did it feel to knock out that son of a bitch?"

Gabriel smirked, "It felt good."

Marius smiled, and the two walked into his office. "Would you like something to drink, Gabriel?"

"Chai Tea, if you'd be so kind?"

Marius nodded, he called Mitzi for some tea, and she popped back in with a pot of chai tea with some biscuits.

They sat down at Marius' desk, and drank some tea before they continued their conversation.

"Now what is it that you wanted to talk about, Gabriel?"

Gabriel finished his cup of tea before reaching into his coat pocket, retrieved the letter informing him that Charles Potter was suing him, and handed it to Marius. "Read this."

Marius took the letter and couldn't even get through the first paragraph before scoffing, "What a bunch of Thestral shite. He wants One Hundred and Fifty thousand galleons for emotional distress, hospital fees, and 'indirect damages to Charles Potter's reputation.'"

Gabriel looked uncomfortable, "Yeah. So, be honest, does he have a case?"

Marius sat back in his chair, as he took a sip of his tea. "He could possibly have a case for common assault, but with the stunts he pulled last year with Robert's tournament, and the trouble his wretched son got into the previous years before…" Marius shrugged, "I wouldn't be surprised to see this didn't even get to court."

Gabriel relaxed some and sighed softly.

"However, I am concerned that he could be possibly setting you up for a shakedown."

Gabriel looked perplexed, "What now?"

"A shakedown, basically him telling you to pay him a set amount of money or else he'll press charges against you." Marius shook his head, "It's a common scare tactic bullies in law tend to use."

"A set amount of money? Marius I'm barely destitute! Before taking the DADA position, I made just enough money as a rancher to feed and clothe myself. Besides, even if I could pay him off, I wouldn't give him anything!"

Marius shook his head, he wouldn't want to pay Charles Potter a damned thing as well. "Here's what you should do. Write to Charles Potter's solicitor, and tell him you've retained me as your council, then…"

"Marius, wait. You can't be my legal council." Gabriel turned his hands, "You are too close. Your impartiality will be called into question."

Marius didn't bat an eyelash, "I appreciate that, but they can't really play that card on the basis that we know each other. In fact there was a case that I was the legal counsel for Vesper and…"

"Marius," Gabriel took a sharp breath. "You're too close because of what Potter said, leading me to hit him!"

Marius looked at Gabriel, "What did he say? Was it about me? Cause I couldn't care less about what that idiot has to say about me!"

"It wasn't about you."

Marius sat upright in his seat. "What did he say about Vesper?"

Gabriel sat up as well, "He didn't say anything about Vesper either."

Lord Marius Prince looked intently at Gabriel, "What did he say about my grandson?"

Gabriel groaned, "Marius you don't want to hear what he said…."

Marius held a hand up silencing Gabriel, "What did he say?"

"He called Severus a mutt, and went on to say that if Eileen hadn't married below her station, he wouldn't exist. After which I promptly got up, and slugged him one."

Gabriel could tell that Marius was seething. Insulting his own character was nothing, he didn't care. It was when someone insulted Vesper, or Severus that Marius did care. But to insult Eileen, that's going too far in Marius' book.

Marius got up, and took out his wand. "Please excuse me."

Gabriel shot up to stop him, "Marius wait! Don't go off all half-cocked! This is just what Charles Potter would probably want! We can't play into his hands!"

Marius looked at Gabriel and groaned, he was right. If Marius went over to Potter Manor and hexed Potter blind then he'd be in jail for the night, and would deal with a litany of legal woes from Charles Potter.

He put his wand back in his holster, and took his seat back behind his desk. "Fine."

Gabriel sat back down in his own chair.

"But I swear I am going to sue that man for slandering my daughter!"

"By all means, hell you can have him served at my little meeting with Potter and his solicitor in a few days."

Marius looked at Gabriel, "I will have Lord Bosworth represent you for this meeting."

"No, I don't want you to call in a favor like that. Instead I'd like for you to just accompany me to the meeting."

"Not as legal counsel?" Marius raised his eyebrow, "What are you thinking?'

"If Charles Potter wants to shake me down, let's return the favor twofold, and see if we both can't get what we want out of the deal."

"Okay, I see you have something planned, so I'll trust you. Was there anything else you wanted to tell me?"

Gabriel reached into his coat pocket again and pulled out the file that Robert Gold gave him. He realized it, and handed it to Marius. "Robert Gold came by and gave me that. It details Dante's movements after he left Hogwarts."

Marius opened the file and quietly read the contents, and his eyes widened, "Izan Ramos trained him on how to duel?!"

"It appears so," Dante nodded.

Marius held his head as he felt a migraine come on. "Ramos always held a grudge against Vesper for defeating him in her last match in the National Dueling League." He looked at Gabriel, "You think Ramos is behind all of this?"

"No, Marius. If what I'm thinking is happening, it's much worse."

"Out with it man, what's going on?!"

Gabriel cleared his throat, a bead of sweat forming at his brow. "Someone has it out for your entire family, not just you."

Marius heard every word, and leaned back in his chair.

"There's a puppet master behind Dante Yalarad, but for the life of me I can't figure out who."

"But there is someone pulling the strings." Marius opened a drawer, pulled out a bottle of bourbon, and poured two finger fulls of the alcohol in with his tea.

He offered to fill Gabriel's cup, but the defense professor put a hand over his cup, "No thank you."

Marius put the bourbon away before making quick work of the contents in his cup. He felt the liquid burn down his throat, as it steeled his nerves.

"Whoever this is, has been finding others with bones to pick with you and your family."

Marius took a breath, "It makes sense. With me, it is Dante, and with Vesper, it's Izan Ramos. Thankfully, Severus is being kept out of this."

Gabriel remained quiet.

Marius looked at him, "Severus is being kept out of this, right?"

"I don't know." Gabriel his tea to alleviate his drying mouth, "I made some inquiries into some of the people that have a bone to pick with him. James Potter is still at Potter Manor being tutored under his parent's eye, albeit poorly. Michael Mulciber is in Durmstrang, far away from causing any sort of harm to Severus."

"Okay, that's good. There's nobody with a grudge against Severus out there waiting to strike," Marius sighed.

"That's what I thought too…until I made an inquiry into Haldana Hardbroom," Gabriel mentioned.

Marius' head shot over to Gabriel, he had honestly forgotten about her. "What did you find out about her?"

"That up until two and a half weeks ago she was in the poorhouse; renting a dingy apartment overlooking Knockturn Alley."

"Up until two and a half weeks ago? Then where is she now," Marius asked

"She's living it up at the Paramus Waldorf Grand Hotel in Birmingham. Witnesses say that she left her apartment in Knockturn Alley, vowing never to return, because a mysterious benefactor had given her a substantial amount of money and lodgings at said Grand Hotel."

That worried Marius, "Is that where she is now?"

"No. My intel tells me that she left the country late yesterday morning, and she did damn well to cover her tracks as to where she was heading."

Marius felt his blood run cold. "Should I withdraw Severus from Hogwarts?"

"That's a bad idea Marius, that's your nerves talking for you. Severus is more safe in Hogwarts then he would be out here. In there, he has Black Donal, me, his friends, Hagrid, and the other professors there keeping an eye out for him." Gabriel calmed Marius' nerves, "Breath, I won't let anything happen to him."

Marius took a breath to steady his resolve. "What can I do out here?"

Gabriel looked around and saw a board with names and cases that Marius had participated in. "Were you trying to narrow the suspect list on your end?"

"Yes, but I have been involved in so many cases it has been hard to narrow the pool of suspects!"

Gabriel took a piece of parchment and a quill on Marius' desk. "When did you start your career in law?"

"After I turned 25, I was recruited to join Morgan, Munce, and Materby Law Offices."

"And starting out, you helped out with other cases. You didn't have your own cases until later, right?"

Marius shook his head, "I was 29 when I started getting my own cases."

Gabriel was finishing a timeline, "And Dante was asked to leave three years ago?"

"That sounds about right."

Gabriel gave Marius a timeline. "Here. Pull all the cases from when you started getting your own cases, all the way until three years ago. You're looking for people who verbally threatened, or spoke out against you."

"Right, I'll do that." Marius sighed, "What do I tell Vesper."

Gabriel sighed, "Tell her to practice her dueling."

"I'm being serious."

"I am too." Gabriel scratched his brow, "Keep your Black Cloaks close when you head out in public. Constant vigilance is key."

Marius sighed, he knew Gabriel was only trying to keep them all safe.

"And check your wards, if you suspect them faltering, get Andre. He'll help you restore them to full strength." Gabriel looked at the clock, "I got to get back to Hogwarts."

Marius stood up, when Gabriel did. He hugged the man. "Keep Severus safe, Gabriel."

"I will Marius, I promise." Gabriel hugged the only man who was more of a father to him than his real father ever was.

He departed, leaving Marius looked at the timeline Gabriel gave him. He had a long career, and plenty of people who would love to get any measure of payback on him, or his family.

Marius put the timeline on his desk, and collected his coat. He decided to join his wife at Diagon Alley.

-/-/-/-/-

"You what?!"

Sirius Black groaned, he shouldn't have told Regulus what he'd done. "I challenged Dante to a game of pool, but he declined my challenge."

Regulus sighed, "Oh thank Merlin, okay that was stupid Siri! You're lucky he didn't take you up on your offer!"

"I did challenge him to any different game of his choice," Sirius mentioned.

"...You idiot! What if he stacks the game against you?!" Regulus rubbed his temples, "Siri what were you thinking?!"

"I wanted to make sure that Dante would never mess with Remus again! I knew Severus and the others wouldn't take action, so I did."

The two were in the Great Hall waiting for their friends to arrive for lunch. Regulus shook his head, "And you thought that challenging a deranged psychopath to a game would help?'

"Well….yeah." Sirius sighed, he slumped in his seat. "I had to do something, and apart from hexing the bastard blind, that's what I went with."

Regulus was about to start another tirade, but saw Jonathan Yalarad walking over towards them, "Siri." He got his brothers attention.

Sirius looked over and got up to face John, "What do you want?"

Jonathan sneered, "To send a message. My brother has picked his game, and he is gracious enough to allow you to choose the time and the place."

"Is that right?" Sirius crossed his arms.

"He also wants you to pick up a deck of cards," Jonathan added.

"Oh is that right?" Sirius looked at Jonathan. "Why should I?"

"Because he doesn't want you to claim he cheated when he beats you fair and square, Black!"

Sirius growled under his breath, but Regulus stepped in. "We'll get the cards."

Sirius snapped, "And I choose the Gryffindor common room. He won't be able to get away with anything with Professor McGonagall nearby."

"Very well, I'll let him know. What about the time?" Jonathan asked him.

"Tomorrow, after classes let out for the day."

"Very well," Jonathan began to walk off.

"Hey!"

Jonathan turned to Sirius, "What?"

"Aren't you going to tell me what the game is?"

"No," Jonathan shook his head. "I don't have to tell you shite!"

Sirius lost his temper at that moment, shot up out of his seat, and grabbed Jonathan by the scruff of his neck.

"Siri!" Regulus rushed over to try and get him to let Jonathan go.

"Tell me what he's got planned, you little turd!"

Other students were starting to take notice of Sirius grabbing Jonathan. "Siri let him go!"

"Hey!"

Regulus grimaced as he turned to see Sam walking into the Great Hall with Nathan Clearwater and Renner Rain behind him.

Sirius turned to see Yalarad, Clearwater, and Dain walk towards him.

"Let my cousin go Black!" Sam gave Sirius his one and only warning.

Sirius growled, and reluctantly let Jonathan go.

Jonathan kicked Sirius in the leg before running over to this cousins and Nathan.

"Oww! You little scumbag!" He held his leg where he was kicked. Sirius went for his wand, but Regulus stopped him.

"Stop Siri!"

Sam looked mighty pissed, "Whatever you're reaching for had better be a sandwich cause you're gonna wind up eating it!"

The tension was thick between the former friends, and it was nearing the tipping point.

Jonathan wasn't helping the situation as he was effing Sam on, "Go on Sami, show the Black Bastard who's King!" Sam sighed and cuffed John over his head. "Oww! What was that for?!"

"For trying to start shite." He directed him over to their side of the table where The United normally ate. "Sit down and shut up," Sam told him. He looked over at Nathan and Renner and nodded. He walked back to the other side of the table, and they followed him.

Regulus sighed, and then looked at his brother, "What the hell was that Sirius?"

"What?" He looked at Regulus.

"You're letting your emotions dictate your actions again! You're acting crazy or something!" Regulus got his things and started to leave.

"Regulus, wait." He tried to stop his brother, but Regulus slapped his hand away.

He pointed at Sirius, "Get your stuff together!" Regulus then left his brother, having lost his appetite.

Unbeknownst to the brothers, they were being observed by Dante who was chuckling to himself. "It's almost too easy."

Cracks were forming in Snivellus' group, and Dante was going to take advantage of them.

Thank you for reading. Please review.