Lily's Defender, Part 2

by Alethea27

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

19. Secrets and Shakedowns

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.

Secrets and Shakedowns

Alethea27 and The One and Only Enigma

Things were not going well for Severus and his friends. Sirius and Remus had gotten into a huge shouting match in one of the first floor bathrooms when Remus had heard about what Sirius had done. He had almost left before the end of term, determined not to be a part of any of Sirius' foolishness, but once again had been talked out of it which had made the rest of the friends angrier with Sirius. Regulus was not speaking to his brother either until Siri found his common sense. Frank and Caddaric looked on helplessly, not wanting to take sides, while Peter tried his hardest to get the warring sides talking to one another without yelling, but he was unsuccessful. Dorian and Tav also tried reasoning with Sirius, but gave up when they got the cutting edge of Sirius' tongue. Severus also tried to facilitate peace, but there was too much anger and he had no more luck than Peter had.

Irene, Lily, Alice, Jane, and Emily stood by while the rest of their friends acted like fools and tore into each other needlessly. They were never going to be able to form any kind of an alliance with the United if they kept fighting among themselves.

"Siri's acting like a moron and putting himself in danger for his stupid pride! He's got no idea what kind of "game" Dante's got planned and he'll have no time to prepare for it!" Reg exclaimed, slumping back in his chair. "I have half a mind to floo mum and dad to tell them what's going on, except Siri would probably never speak to me again."

Severus, Dante, and Tav all nodded. Severus had no siblings, but Tav and Dorian did and knew what a problem they could be sometimes.

"This is just what Dante wants to see," Tav declared. "And your brother is giving him exactly that."

"I know," Reg said. "Is there anyone in this entire castle that can talk some sense into Siri or am I stuck flooing my parents for help?"

"Professor McGonagall, maybe?" Dorian suggested with a shrug. "But Sirius' pride is on the line and he probably wouldn't even listen to her. Even if she tells Dante whatever he has planned is not going to happen, he'd carry it out anyway."

Severus nodded. "He would and there's no way we can find out what he has planned either because he'll be keeping his cards close to his vest."

"Yeah, and he won't even tell Doherty because his tongue all but falls completely out of his mouth when he's drunk," Dorian added. "I don't know how he manages to keep the secret of his cheating the Muggle gambling houses under his belt."

"How's your dad's investigation of Doherty going?" Reg asked.

"Dad is pretty sure it's him. He put up posters of Doherty, asking for information on him, and he's gotten quite a few complaints, not from the criminal bigwigs themselves, but from their lieutenants. He's going to be working with these lieutenants to get constables set up in the gambling houses as staff and he's reaching out to the Aurors so they can work with him. Dad said the only remaining problem is to figure out how Doherty is leaving and returning to Hogwarts without setting off any of the alarms. He doesn't remember any secret passages out from his time at Hogwarts."

Severus shook his head. "That's going to be a problem." He thought for a moment then said, "We can ask Clive if he knows of some way of sneaking out and if he doesn't, we can ask him if he'll ask the other elves, especially the elder ones who have been here for a long time, if they would know of a way. The elves know more about this castle than even the headmaster."

Tav laughed. "We can ask Clive tonight when he brings Gabriel's his ginger snaps."

Just then Black Donal approached his young master. "Severus, you have a visitor outside of Slytherin House."

"Who is it?" Severus looked at the clock, he wasn't expecting anyone.

"It's Silas Attenborough."

Severus nodded, he turned to his friends. "Excuse me please, I'll be back in a moment."

Severus and Black Donal went out to the hallway into the Dungeons. There outside was Silas Attenborough puffing on the last but of his cigarette. "Great timing."

"Attenborough," Severus nodded. "Black Donal said you wanted to speak with me?"

"Yeah, but can we go somewhere a bit more private?"

Severus nodded, and the two went into a well hidden alcove where Black Donal kept watch for the two of them.

Severus also put up a silencing charm to keep the conversation just between the two of them. "What did you want to talk about?"

Silas sighed, as he rubbed his head. "It's not good." He began to tell Severus what he had overheard from Dante Yalarad, and to say Severus was levelheaded was an understatement.

"He said what?"

Silas Attenborough lit another one of his cigarettes and puffed on it before answering. "Dante said that a correction in Sam's attitude was needed, he said he was going to stoke the flames in Sam, and get him back solely on his side."

Severus was in an alcove with Silas Attenborough for the second time. He had flagged down Severus to tell him what he had just heard. Black Donal was outside of the alcove, standing watch for the two of them.

He was concerned about what Silas had told him. "I don't like the sound of that. It appears as if he intends to initiate some sort of false flag operation to frame me and my friends as the bad guys. To make him seem more of a victim in Sam's eyes."

"Maybe he plans on doing something involving The Black Brothers. From what I heard, Sam has it out for their father, Orion Black."

Severus shook his head softly, "It's true, but I don't want to speak any more on the matter. It's not my story to tell."

Silas nodded in understanding. "I understand. It's funny, most people would spill their guts telling what they know, and assuming what they don't." He took another drag from his cigarette, "Yet, you keep your mouth shut when you aren't in a position to speak. The world might be a bit better if more people were like you, Snape."

Severus gave Silas a small smile, "Thank you."

Silas stretched his arms, "Okay well, that's all I have for you now. I'll keep my ear to the ground, and my eyes open for any new developments."

"Thank you Silas." Severus rubbed the back of his neck, "You're putting yourself at risk by spying on Dante and his cronies."

Silas finished his cigarette, "Well, when the blighter decided to try and make me into one of his spies, he essentially dragged me into his little vendetta against you and your family." Silas sighed, "Just keep doing what I asked you, keep Irene safe."

He shook his head, "I will Silas, I promise." Severus tapped his neck, "I just wish there was some way I can make this up to you."

"You can get me some cigarettes," Silas joked.

Severus Snape laughed, "Sorry Silas, I don't think I can do that."

Silas Attenborough shrugged, "Can't blame a guy for trying." With that Silas left the alcove, he bade his farewell to Black Donal before slipping off into an empty hallway.

He went to get another cigarette, but found that he was out. "Bugger all."

Silas patted his pockets before he found another pack on his person. Luckily it was unopened. As he was about to rip it open, he was bumped into by two students.

Silas looked to see it was Delsin Myers and Ramsey Clarke. He grimaced, ever since he told Dante off, these two had been watching his every move. He had to shake them, whenever he wanted a moment to himself.

The two sneered at Silas before walking off, having done what they wanted to do.

Silas scoffed before turning his attention to his now empty hands. "Son of a bitch, hey!'

Myers and Clarke both sped off with Silas in pursuit. As that was his last pack of smokes before he could get more before the trip to Hogsmeade.

Silas panted as he kept on pace with the two miscreants. Obviously, the cigarettes were catching up to him. "Fuck this," Silas muttered. He took out his wand and shot off a stinging hex at Ramsey's ankles.

"Oww fuck!" Ramsey shouted as he dropped the cigarettes he stole from Silas.

"Bloody eagle! Let's go Ramsey!" Delsin shouted as the two ran away.

Silas caught his breath as he walked up to the pack off cigarettes that Ramsey Clarke had stolen from him. He picked them up and inspected the box. It wasn't opened or tampered with, and none were missing.

He opened the box, and took out a cigarette. It seemed all right, but examined it closer. It seemed unmolested, and good to go.

Silas out the cigarette I'm his mouth and lit it with his wand. He went to find a spare room to enjoy that cigarette in peace.

Delsin Myers and Ramsey Clarke turned around the corner to see Silas Attenborough walk into another room.

"You switched them, right?" Delsin asked his compatriot.

Ramsey held a box of cigarettes in his hand, they were the original pack that Silas had. "Oh yeah."

"So what do those cigarettes do anyway," Delsin asked.

"From what Dante told me, let's just say they are known to…take the breath away from someone!" Ramsey grinned. "Attenborough will have quite the time breathing after finishing that pack!"

The two laughed as the took a cigarette from the pack in Ramsey Clarke's hand.

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

Lily, Alice, and Mary were studying for a test in Charms when there was tapping at their window, Lily looked up and saw Guinevere. She got up and opened the window and her owl hopped in. She expected to hear some nasty comment from Mary, but her nose remained buried in her Charms textbook. Lily took the message off of Guinevere and gave her a treat and then she flew out the window again to the Owlry.

"Who's your note from?" Alice asked.

"It's from Salem. He says he'll be glad to escort Tuney to the Hogsmeade Weekend. I wrote mum and dad about the ball and they went to Gringotts and had some money for my dress converted into Gallons which they'll give to Salem." Petunia had already agreed to help her and Alice pick out their dresses.

"Mum told me to tell Gladrags to take it out of their Gringotts account," Alice replied. "You ought to get an account set up at Gringotts, too."

"If I decide to do it, maybe I could ask Sev's grandparents to help me with it, but I won't really need one until I'm out of school and have a job."

Mary looked up from her book, an annoyed look on her face, "Will you two quiet down? I'm trying to study."

Lily looked at Mary and asked, "What are you studying?"

"Charms, but I just can't seem to get the hang of this Summoning Charm," she complained.

"I can help you if you'd like," Lily offered. "It's in the movement of your wand and you've got to have a clear picture in your mind of what you want to summon. Let me demonstrate. "Accio Alice's Herbology book!" The book flew off Alice's bed and into Lily's hand. "Here, you try it now."

Mary tried summoning her hairbrush from across the room and it moved off her dresser, but then wavered and fell to the floor. "Merlin's Staff!"

"Try giving your wrist a twist as you say the incantation," Lily advised. She went over and picked up the hairbrush and put it back on the dresser. "Can I take hold of your wrist and demonstrate the movement?" Lily asked politely.

Mary shrugged and replied, "I guess."

Alice looked on in interest, thinking that if they could get Mary on their side, it would be less likely she'd fall into Dante's grasp.

Lily gently took hold of Mary's wrist and did the correct wand movement and twisted Mary's wrist slightly while saying, "Accio hairbrush." The hairbrush flew off the dresser and into Lily's hand. "Okay, now you try it." Lily said as she put the hairbrush back on the dresser.

Mary did the wand movement as Lily had shown her while saying, "Accio, hairbrush." Her hairbrush flew off the dresser and into her hand. "I did it!"

"You did. Good job," Lily said. "Anytime you need help, just ask."

"We'll be happy to help you in anyway we can," Alice added.

Mary slumped down on her bed with her head bowed and mumbled, "What I really need is real friends. I thought James was my friend." She laughed nervously. "I even imagined him being more than that, but after he got expelled, all he ever wanted to know was about your group. He never once asked about me and I haven't heard from him at all during the this summer."

Lily and Alice looked at each other, neither was surprised to hear that about James. "James has always thought only of himself," Lily said.

"What about Trotter and MacTavish?" Alice asked.

"She's a total twit!" Mary exclaimed. "She doesn't care about anything but the latest fashions. She's already betrothed to some rich Pureblood so she doesn't care about school. MacTavish prefers to be by himself. He's a really odd duck."

"I suspect Lisa was taught not to be very bright," Lily said.

Mary still had her arms wrapped around herself. "Dante scares me. I think he's really evil."

Alice waved at Lily. She came over and cast a silencing spell around them. "Why don't we invite Mary to join our group? I know she's ruffled a lot of feathers, but so did Sirius and we forgave him, and he's our friend now. Besides it would prevent Dante from using her."

"True, but we'd need to check with the rest of the group first," Lily replied.

Alice nodded. "We can do that after class tomorrow...if we can get them to pause their own arguing."

Lily sighed. "We can only try." She canceled the silencing spell, went over to Mary's bed and sat down next to her. "Alice and me would like you to join our group, but we need to check with the others and you might have to offer an apology if they agree. Sirius did."

Mary's face lit up. "Would you tell them that I'm willing to make individual apologies because I was wrong about everybody."

The next day, after class, the group met. It was so nice meeting in because there was no way Dante could come in and claim they were doing something illegal. But there was now splits in the group that needed to be healed very badly.

Gabriel sat at his desk, going over his teaching plans for his next classes. Clive popped in with snacks and drinks for the teenagers and tea and ginger snap cookies for Gabriel.

"Clive?" Dorian called.

"Yes, Mr. Dorian?" Clive replied happily.

"Do you know of any way, a student could sneak out of Hogwarts after curfew, without setting off any of the alarms, especially the one the headmaster has?"

Clive thought for a moment then shook his head, his ears drooping a bit. "There's an old door in the dungeon that Mr. Hagrid goes in and out, but it makes a loud sound every time Mr. Hagrid opens it."

"Clive, could you ask the other elves, especially the elder elves who have been here a long time, if they know of any way?" Severus asked him.

Clive's expression brightened and his ears straightened again. "Clive will be happy to do that for, Mr. Severus. Clive will ask tonight and tell what he found out tomorrow."

"Thanks, Clive," Severus said. Clive bowed and popped out again.

Lily stood up and said loudly, "I want everybody's attention."

Gabriel looked on observantly. He'd been waiting for the witches to take control and kick some Wizard arses.

Alice, Irene, Jane and Emily got up and stood beside her. They were sick of all the fighting among their friends.

"We've had it with this childish squabbling and arguing. You're playing right into Dante's hands because this is exactly what he wants. Okay, what Sirius did is stupid, Remus, but he did it for you. Sirius, you don't use your brain and you let your temper control your life and you make idiot decisions when it does. The best thing we can do now is to forgive him, put our heads together, and figure out what we can do to help him get out of it."

Frank and Caddaric nodded. "We don't know what he planning, but we do know he likes games, manipulating people, and blackmailing them," Frank said. "We all need to apologize and get on with trying to form an alliance with Sam and his friends."

Remus cleared his throat and then said, "I still hate what you did, Sirius, but at the same time, I can appreciate that you're trying to save my backside."

Sirius dropped his head down in shame. He really messed up this time, hurt Remus and all the rest of his friends and after they were good enough to give him a second chance and be friends with him even after all the crap he and Potter had pulled on them the first two years. He looked up and around at everyone. "I really am sorry for what I did and you're right, Lily, I let my temper get the better of me and now I've gotten myself into Merlin only knows what kind of a mess."

Reg sat down beside Sirius. "I'm sorry, too, Siri. I got too worried I was going to lose you and I don't want that to happen. I was all set to tell mum and dad, but I won't unless Dante demands our house or something."

"I know, little brother," Sirius replied, patting Reg's shoulder. "I've been a real dumb arse."

"All apologies accepted," Alice announced. "Now Lily and I have something else we'd like to propose."

"Which is?" Severus asked.

"We'd like Mary to join our group," Lily said. She held up her heads to ward off the explosion she knew was coming. "Look, I know she's been rotten to us the last three years, but she doesn't have any friends at all now. She knows Potter was just using her and neither MacTavish or Trotter give a hoot about her. Right now, she's going to end up just another convenient tool for Dante if we don't help her."

"How do you know she isn't already Dante's tool?" Jane demanded.

"Because she said Dante scares her and she thinks he's really evil," Alice replied. "And she wasn't faking it. She was scared and was shivering when she said it. I believe her because we all know she isn't any good at pretending."

"We can put her on a probation period like we did Sirius," Lily said. "We can warn her that under no circumstances can she have anything to do with Potter or Trotter or she's out.."

"That sounds fair to me," Remus spoke up.

"I noticed she's been studying really hard and doing her homework," Frank pointed out. "And she hasn't lost us any points like she did the last two years."

Severus nodded. "My grandfather always says when an enemy offers a truce and their intentions are good and honorable, you should accept it."

"I've always found your grandfather to be a very wise man," Gabriel commented.

"I think Mary realizes what's going on more than we gave her credit for," Irene added.

"I agree that we should give her a chance," Emily said.

"I think we should give her a chance," Caddaric spoke up. "If she starts up with Potter again, then she'll have to leave."

Tav nodded. "Potter's a definite no. No contact with him by Owl Mail, by floo, or meetings in Diagon Alley when we're out of school."

Jane made a face. "MacDonald's made it plain she hates Slytherins and I don't trust her."

"That's understandable," Dorian replied. "I don't think any of us are going to trust her right off the bat, but I'm willing to give her a chance to see if we can."

"Maybe, if she's willing to leave off with the 'all Slytherins are born dark' crap, I could give her a chance," Jane replied.

"We can make that one of the rules for being our friend," Emily replied.

"I've noticed that Mary looks lonely this year," Peter said thoughtfully. "I kind of been feeling sorry for her and even though she's been pretty nasty to me in the past, I'm willing to give her a chance."

"You all gave me a chance even though I suffer from lycanthropy so I think we should give Mary a chance," Remus stated.

"Does anyone else have anything else they want to add?" Severus asked. There were no responses so he continued, "Everybody who thinks we should give Mary a chance and offer her our friendship, raise your hands."

Every hand went up even though Jane looked somewhat reluctant.

"Mary said that she's willing to apologize to us for her previous behavior and will even make individual apologies if necessary," Lily revealed.

"An apology certainly wouldn't go amiss," Severus replied.

Gabriel leaned back in his chair. "You know, it's really great how you kids have settled your differences and I think offering Miss MacDonald your friendship will go along way."

He turned to Severus next. "I've also been thinking about what you asked me, Severus, about how you could get Sam away from Dante. The thing is with Sam, that despite his outer appearance, he doesn't have a lot of self-confidence and Dante exploits this at every turn. I'm sure he's doing his best to undermine Sam because when their grandfather, Sherwood, passes through the veil, Sam is the heir and I'm sure, at some point, he wants to be able to claim that Sam is incompetent and somebody else is needed to head the family. I know Sam knows, deep inside, that Dante's not a good person, but confronting him about it won't work. It needs a softer touch. Perhaps Miss Evans or Miss Goshawk would be willing to talk with him and gradually bring him around to the fact that he and his friends need to get as far away from Dante as they can."

"I can do that," Lily volunteered. "Sam and I have had some good talks in the Common Room when Dante's not around."

"I can, too," Irene offered. "Sam's so smart and I never understood why the Hat sorted him into Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw."

Gabriel smiled to himself. Actually, that would work out very well as Sam had recently confided to him that he was attracted to Irene.

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

It was time.

It was the allotted time that Sirius would face off against Dante Yalarad in his mystery game of cards.

He made his way from his last class towards the Grand Staircase.

Sirius pulled out the deck of cards and played with them in his hands. He was thinking about what Dante had in store for him, when he bumped into someone. "Sorry, please excuse…"

He looked at who he had bumped into and it was Sam Yalarad.

Sirius stiffened up, and clenched his open hand. He wasn't in any mood to hear any crap about his father. Sam looked a bit miffed, but not angry at Sirius. He looked down and saw a deck of cards in his hands.

The two former friends stood each other up before Sirius backed away. He had bigger fish to fry. As he did, Sam surprisingly spoke up.

"Don't play him."

Sirius stopped in his tracks and turned to face him to ask what he meant by that, but Sam had already walked away.

He was standing there in disbelief, Sirius couldn't understand what had happened. However, he got back on track and walked to the Grand Staircase.

"Sirius!"

He turned around and saw Lily walking over to him with the rest of their friends in tow. "Is it time?"

"Yeah, it's the allotted hour. Don't want to keep the Head Menace waiting "

"Are you sure about this?" Severus Snape followed in the path of his beloved, with Black Donal and the rest of his friends following them. "You'd have to be insane to do this.

"I'm sure, Sev." Sirius rubbed the back of his neck. "But…"

Remus looked at Sirius, "But what, Sirius?"

"It's probably nothing, but I ran into Yally Boy."

"Sam? What did he say?"

Sirius hesitated as if he himself was unsure how to answer. "He said not to play him."

Severus thought aloud, "Do you think he was warning you not to play Dante?"

"Maybe, I don't know." Sirius frowned, "Or maybe he was trying to trick me?"

Remus kneaded his hands nervously, "What exactly is this game Sirius?"

"It's a card game, Rem! And he told me to bring the deck of cards with me. The way his brother told me, so that way I can't say that he charmed the cards and cheated!"

"Speaking of Dante's younger brother, you did us no favors by roughhousing with him!" Severus looked annoyed, "I was speaking with Jonathan Slink about him allying with us, and he was a bit concerned that he'd be accosted by you as well."

Caddaric nodded, "Luckily I was there and I was able to dissuade his concerns on the matter. Luckily, Jed isn't very well liked in The United, except for Dante and his contingent of goons."

"Right, and I am sorry. I mean it, I flew off the handle there."

Regulus went over and put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "It's okay Siri, but let's exercise caution going into this."

Sirius nodded and then looked at his friends, "You guys coming?"

"You must be stupid if you think we'd let you go into the lion's den all by yourself," Remus exclaimed.

Everyone followed Sirius up the Staircase and into the Gryffindor Common Room.

"I hope you know what you're doing Siri," Regulus said as he followed his brother into said lion's den.

"I hope so too."

They entered the common room and found it to be strangely unoccupied. Which was weird as normally it would be packed with students, but there was only one person there, sitting on the couch opposite of the fireplace.

"I was wondering if you'd show up, Black." Dante grinned as he sat back in the couch, his leg laid across his lap.

"Yeah I'm here," Sirius growled.

"And I see you brought an audience, how quaint."

Frank looked around, "Where is everyone?"

"Well, they are leaving us alone. I asked everyone to leave the common room alone so that we can have this place to ourselves for the time being." Dante smiled, "That's what respect does, Longbottom. You speak, and others listen, and act."

Severus crossed his arms, "It's not respect, it's fear."

Dante shrugged, "Both produce similar results, so who am I to argue with that." He turned to Sirius, "You have your cards?"

Sirius held them in his hand, "What's the game?"

"Nothing too complicated for your little peabrain, Black."

Remus held onto Sirius' shoulder, to hold him back, and to comfort him.

Dante stretched his arms above his head, "One game of War."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Why war? Why not poker, or blackjack, or something else?" Sirius was suspicious of Dante's choice of game.

"It's a game of chance, Black. It's pure, it all boils down to sheer luck whether you win or lose."

Sirius was thinking about it. "If I win you'll leave Remus alone?"

"I swear on my magic that I'll leave your…" He turned to Remus. "Fleabag, alone."

Remus couldn't help but gulp in nervousness.

Sirius' nostrils flared, "Alright I'm game. Let's do…"

"My God, you are headstrong aren't you? You haven't even asked what happens when you lose!"

Everyone but Dante stiffened.

Sirius looked at his opponent, "What do you get if you win?"

Dante smiled, "That is the Sixty four thousand galleon question, isn't it? What do I get when I win?"

"If you win," Sirius corrected him.

"When I win, Black. I want you to do one simple thing." Dante sat up from his seat, "You will call for your father, and ask him one question."

Sirius was quiet, "Ask him what?"

"Where was he at the time when my Uncle, Silas Yalarad, was killed at Horzant Alley."

Sirius glared at Dante. "He was there! I don't know what Schell said to you and Yally Boy but…."

"Sirius…"

He looked at Dante, surprised to have been called by his name. Dante's eyes looked emotionless, as if all joy and pleasure had been drained from his body.

"I have it on good authority that your father wasn't there. Lord Orion Black wouldn't tell Sam, he wouldn't tell his fellow aurors, and he wouldn't even tell my Aunt Xandy. He might tell you, and you will tell Sam. He deserves that."

"He doesn't deserve anything, he nearly killed my father!"

Dante looked at Sirius, "Okay, let's turn the script, Sirius. Say your father was killed in the line of duty. The one person who was supposed to have his back wasn't there to help him, and he refused to answer any questions about his disappearance. Wouldn't you want answers?!"

Sirius looked at Dante. He knew deep down if his father was killed and someone knew something he'd go to the ends of the Earth for answers. Even deeper, he could sympathize with his former best friend, "But my father isn't dead. He's still alive, so… ask for something else."

"I don't want anything else," Dante crossed his legs. "Either agree to the terms of fuck off."

Sirius looked at Regulus, who looked back at him before slowly giving him a nod.

He took a breath, and tossed the cards at Dante. "Go play with yourself Yalarad."

Everyone sighed in relief as Sirius went back to his friends.

"Come on guys, let's go."

Dante took the cards out of their case and began to shuffle them. "You really are Snape's pet now aren't you?"

Sirius stopped in his tracks.

Severus held his shoulder, "Sirius don't let him rile you up."

"I heard that you used to be this little hellion along with Jimmy Potter, but…what happened? Did…did Snape neuter you?"

Sirius growled under his breath, "I got a second chance and took it. Whereas you are wasting yours."

Dante smiled, and in a moment he tossed the cards up into the air. They scattered across the room, and with a wave of his hand, the cards sprung to life and surrounded Severus, Sirius, and their friends. "I have no second chance, I am still on my first."

Severus rolled his eyes.

Dante noticed this, "Something to say, Snivellus?"

"You may talk this big game, Yalarad, and sure you may have found out a secret or two. But at the end of the day, with all this talk and no action…I think you're putting on airs."

The cards all pointed at Severus as Dante sneered, "You think I'm bluffing Snape?" Back Donal readied himself to defend Severus and the others if need be.

"Yeah," Severus affirmed his previous statement. "I think you don't know a damned thing about any of us, or our families!"

The cards surprisingly one by one all gently went to Dante's hand as he looked at Severus. "Very well Snivellus, it appears you need a demonstration," Dante grinned, and cleared his throat. "Pettigrew and his family are being evicted from their family home because his parents can't afford to pay their mortgage."

Peter's face flushed, "You be quiet!"

Lily looked at Peter, "What is he talking about Peter?"

"It's nothing! He's….it's nothing."

Dante nodded over at Frank Longbottom, and Remus Lupin as the last cards landed on the forming deck. "Did those two tell you that Dumbledore asked them to spy on you and your Slytherin friends to see if you were ever in support of Lord Voldemort?"

Everyone looked at Frank and Remus. Severus was a bit shocked to have now heard this.

"What's the meaning of this bullshite?" Dorian asked the two. "You never told us this before!"

"That's because we weren't going to do Dumbledore's bidding," Frank defended his and Remus' action, or inaction.

Dante glanced at Emily as he put the deck of cards in the case, "Dante glanced at Emily as he put the deck of cards in the case, "Emily Dewhurst's mother is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments for Lung Cancer at Nottingham General Hospital, and her chances are not that great!"!"

Emily felt tears sting her eyes and she choked back a wall of tears, "Stop!"

Severus was horrified, and snapped at Dante, "Shut up!"

"What's wrong Snape? You said I was bluffing, right? So I'm just proving you wrong! That I know about your secrets, or are you talking about the secrets that parents keep from their children?" Dante pointed at Dorian, "Dorian Andrew's father is being investigated by internal affairs for some missing evidence in a few of his cases."

Dorian looked flabbergasted, "What?! You're lying!"

"Am I?" Dante crossed his legs. "An Investigation doesn't mean he's guilty, it just means he's being looked over by a fine tooth comb." He clasped his hands together as if he was in prayer, and looked at Black Donal. "The former Black Cloak Alexander Magnusson, your Black Cloak's father, left several unpaid debts behind after his death totaling in the tens of thousands of galleons, that his three remaining sons struggle to pay back."

Black Donal kept calm as he refused to give into Dante's tactics.

Dante's face hardened, "But let's actually talk about communal secrets. Something you all know, that I'm sure you wouldn't want anyone else to know!" He pointed at Irene Goshawk, "I know you, and all your little co-conspirators found the Grimoire of the Elements."

Severus Snape felt his breath catch in his throat, his mouth grew dry, his heart began to pound, and sweat grew at his forehead.

He wasn't alone, everyone was panicking. How the hell did Dante know about the Grimoire?

Irene croaked, "The Devil told you that." Severus winced, he was hoping to play dumb, but now they couldn't.

Dante laughed, "Not quite, Goshawk."

"Well good luck trying to find it! It's somewhere safe that you won't be able to get your hands on it!"

Dante chuckled, "If the Grimoire is where I think it is, then you'd be right. I won't be able to get to it, but let me ask you something. What would happen, huh? If I were to go to Dumbledore? Tell him where the Grimoire of Elements rests, and how it got there? Not only would he find innovative ways to make everyone's life here miserable for the next four or five years here at Hogwarts. He would literally and figuratively rain hell down upon your family to get his hands on the Grimoire, and those spells and incantations."

The common room was quiet, everyone was in shock.

Dante gripped the deck in his hands, "But no, I must be lying because Snivellus Snape said so! So, Snape, I must ask you. Am I lying?"

Severus looked up at Dante, but did not say one word.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." Dante rose up from his seat. "I'm going to go and get ready for dinner. Revealing secrets does work up a mighty appetite." He walked towards the door parting the crowd of slack jawed youths, and tossed the deck of cards to Sirius on his way out. "The offer still stands Black, but only for a limited time."

Sirius caught the deck of cards wordlessly as he watched Dante leave. Thinking to himself, that perhaps he should have played.

~*~*Page Break*~*~

Marius Prince was with Black Leif as they walked down the street of Diagon Alley to the meeting place where Gabriel would be meeting with Charles Potter and his legal counsel.

They stopped outside 'The First Bank of Diagon Alley.' Marius swore that he would never step foot into this establishment, but if he was going to help Gabriel, he had no choice.

"I can't believe we are doing this, can you?" Black Leif asked Marius.

"No, but I feel it's best if you stay here outside. I'll have Gabriel with me, and let's face it, Charles Potter is no real threat."

Black Leif nodded, "As you wish my Lord."

Marius entered the bank and walked over to the receptionist. "Excuse me Madam."

The receptionist, a young woman, smiled at him. "How may I help you sir?"

"I am here to speak with Charles Potter. He is currently in a meeting with someone, and I am to join in."

"He is up in the conference room with his legal counselor, Barnabus Hinx."

Marius sighed internally, Barnabus Hinx had a reputation for being a shifty lawyer with a hidden agenda. Marius wondered why Potter would hire someone like him. Perhaps no other lawyer would wish to take him as a client.

"Which way is the conference room?"

"Down the right hallway. It leads past the teller's windows, and the conference room will be the third door on your left."

"Thank you Madam," Marius thanked the young receptionist and walked down the hallway.

He recoiled in shock after seeing the gaudy artwork littering the walls of the hallway. Charles Potter was no interior decorator.

Marius walked over to the third door and knocked.

The door opened to show a woman, who seemed to be a secretary of some kind.

"Who is it, Mrs. Highcrest?" Charles Potter called out.

Mrs. Highcrest told her employee, "It is Lord Prince, Lord Potter."

"He's with me."

Marius heard Gabriel speak from inside, and he could have swore that he heard Charles Potter's teeth grind in anger. "Let him in."

Mrs. Highcrest opened the door wider to allow Marius in. He walked inside and looked at the conference room before sitting next to Gabriel.

The conference room was adorned with Gryffindor Colors, which was to be expected. However what drew Marius' attention was the wooden conference table. It was some sort of mahogany, it was intricately carved, and had a white Italian marble counter top that was inter-laid into the top of the table. It was beautiful, and it was probably expensive…more expensive than Charles Potter could probably afford.

He sat down beside Gabriel, and looked disdainfully at Charles Potter. He saw that Barnabus Hinx was sitting next to him with his briefcase out, with several pieces of parchment in his hands. "Lord Prince," Barnabas bowed his head in respect.

Lord Prince returned the gesture.

Barnabus Hinx was a small pudgy little man with a balding head. His features reminded Marius of a walrus.

"My client, the esteemed Lord Charles Potter, had just informed Mr. Schell that he would graciously lower his demand of one hundred and fifty thousand galleons to a simple one hundred and twenty-five thousand galleons. On the sole fact that my client is very gracious and generous."

"How gracious of him," Marius sarcastically quipped. "However from where I sit, he doesn't appear to be in any pain."

Charles Potter frowned, but Barnabus put a hand on his arm. "My client suffered through his treatment at St. Mungo's. He had to go under special surgeries to make sure his face wouldn't be disfigured, and underwent an orthodontic procedure to fix several loose teeth in his mouth."

"Is that so?" Gabriel smirked, "is he able to eat solid foods?"

"Erm," Barnabus looked at his client, and Charles hesitated, out of confusion, but gave his lawyer a nod. "Yes, he is."

"Okay so, he'll be able to do the following when I say this," Gabriel looked at Charles Potter. "Eat shite!"

Charles Potter looked to have blown a gasket, but Barnabus Hinx was barely able to keep him under control. Hinx looked at Marius, "Tell your client to mind his tongue!"

Marius raised an eyebrow, "Client? Who said he was my client?"

Charles and Barnabus shared a look. "Then what the hell are you doing here," Charles Potter asked him, his voice laced with attitude.

Marius smirked, "I wanted to be here to see the look on your face when you read the letter."

At that moment the door knocked again. Mrs. Highcrest went to the door, and spoke with the receptionist, who gave her a letter she had received by Owl Post.

"That letter."

Mrs. Highcrest gave it to Charles Potter, as Marius and Gabriel shared a look and did their best not to laugh at what was coming. Mrs. Highcrest was dismissed and went back to her office.

Charles Potter opened the letter and read it's contents, growing angrier and angrier as he did so. "You're suing me?!"

"Yes, I am," Marius responded.

Barnabas read the letter and it's contents. "You're suing my client for Slander. May I ask why?"

"For the defamatory comments he made against my grandson, and my daughter!"

Barnabus thought aloud, "And I assume these are the same comments which led to Mr. Schell assaulting my client."

"The very same."

Barnabus Hinx looked at the letter and back at Charles. "Would you excuse us for a moment?"

Marius shook his head. He and Gabriel both left the room to allow Charles Potter and Barnabus Hinx to speak. The door closed behind them, and Gabriel looked at Marius. "I thought you weren't going to sue him?"

"I wasn't, but when I told Vesper about what he said. She was adamant that I either file a suit against him, or she was going to make Mavis Potter a widow."

Gabriel nodded, "Remind me to never get on Vesper's bad side."

"Gabriel, let's be honest, you don't need a reminder."

The two shared a laugh before hearing some shouting coming from inside the conference room.

"Sounds like Charles Potter doesn't like what Hinx told him," Gabriel pointed out.

Marius looked at him, "You still haven't told me what you have planned here. What's your endgame?"

Gabriel grinned, and whispered it to him.

Marius' eyes widened before sharing a grin with Gabriel, "That's devious!"

Gabriel smiled, "Yes it is."

"How are you going to be able to pull this off?"

"Well, with Ol' Hinxie in there whispering into Potter's ear, it was next to impossible. However, with you introducing your own lawsuit into the matter; it will make Potter more agitated which is what I want."

After a few moments more, the door opened and Barnabus Hinx was there, albeit a bit flustered. "We are ready to continue."

Marius and Gabriel followed Barnabas in who was quickly waddling towards his client, who was sitting down, arms crossed, and was looking mighty displeased at all things considered.

"My client, Lord Charles Potter, and myself have come to the following conclusion. If Lord Prince were to drop his lawsuit against my client. Then in turn, my client will drop his lawsuit against you Mr. Schell. Is that alright with you?"

Gabriel kept a blank expression on his face, "No, it isn't. It's especially not what your client wants either."

Charles Potter scoffed as he kept looking away.

"What my client wants is none of your business!"

"You're right, but I know what he needs. He needs a chance to prove everybody wrong."

Marius saw that Gabriel had gotten the attention of Charles Potter, as he turned his head to face him.

"Did that get your attention Potter? Good." Gabriel set his stake, "You want to prove them all wrong. The doubters, the detractors, the naysayers, and every single person that has ever crossed you."

Charles Potter leaned forward in his seat, "Keep talking."

"My Lord," Barnabus tried to stop him, to change his mind.

"Shut up." Charles Potter ordered his legal council, and he looked at Gabriel. "You obviously have some sort of idea, so out with it."

"I'll give you something that Robert Gold wouldn't."

Charles Potter was intrigued, to say the least.

"A duel."

That made Charles Potter's eyes flash. A duel. He would finally show his detractors who's the boss. He would show them. He would show them all!

"Absolutely not! My client will not be…"

"Barnabus, be quiet!" Charles Potter sneered at Gabriel. "What happens if I win?"

"...I'll leave Hogwarts."

"What?! Gabriel don't talk crazy," Marius nearly jumped out of his shoes when he heard that.

"I know what I'm doing, Marius," Gabriel calmed Marius. "I'll break my contract and go back to where I came from. Never to be seen or heard from again."

Charles Potter loved the sound of that, but he wondered. "And if you win?"

"You never come back to Hogwarts. No trespassing, no coming in to complain to Dumbledore, no talking to any of the staff or students." Gabriel smirked, "And the Potter line is banned from ever attending Hogwarts again!"

Charles balked at Gabriel's demands, "A Potter has been attending Hogwarts for every generation! It's tradition!"

"Those are my conditions. Accept them, or fuck off."

Barnabus tried in vain to reel in Charles' temper, but failed. "All right Schell, you're on! When and where?"

"This Saturday, at Hogwarts. We will do this during my Dueling Club meeting, so there will be an audience."

"The better that there are witnesses to see your downfall Schell!"

"And students, to learn from your mistakes, Chucky." Gabriel smirked, "In fact bring your friends, your family, and any other people you can think of. I know I'm inviting a few friends and family to it. They'll want to see your arse get kicked."

"In your dreams, Schell!"

"My dream, your nightmare." Gabriel shrugged, "Now if that's settled. We'll be off."

With nothing else to be said, Gabriel and Marius left the conference room, and the bank. They exited the building and met up with Black Leif.

Gabriel lit a cigarette with his wand and took a drag.

"Gabriel, I must admit I'm a bit concerned. What if Potter tries to cheat? You know he doesn't fight fair," Marius pointed out.

Gabriel blew out smoke before answering "He can try, but I'll have Filius referee the duel. He won't allow Potter to get away with any of his shenanigans."

Black Leif asked Gabriel, "What do you think will happen? Once you trounce the blighter?"

"He'll have no choice but to accept it. His honor, no matter how distorted, dictates it." Gabriel chuckled, "If he asks for a rematch, which I'm betting on, I'll be in the position to separate him from his most dangerous asset."

Marius widened his eyes, "His ancestral invisibility cloak?"

Gabriel nodded as he took another drag. "I take that away from him, and his only weapons are his wallet and his big mouth." He laughed as he finished his cigarette.

Black Leif turned his head, "What's so funny?"

Gabriel blew out the remaining smoke from his mouth."This next session of the dueling club is going to be special, so it's going to have a special name assigned to it!"

Marius looked at him, "What will it be called?"

Gabriel smiled.

Thank you for reading. Please review.