Chapter 2: Lions versus Snakes    

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Lions Versus Snakes

Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson were the current fifth year prefects for Slytherin House. Markus Flint and Angela Burner the seventh year prefects and Edward Worthington and Katie Morson the sixth year ones. Severus gave these six time to introduce the first years to the personal rules of Slytherin house, show them the dorms and generally get them used to the house before he entered.

He waited perhaps half an hour before scooping up the sleeping kitten and heading for the Slytherin Common Room. Coming to the brick wall, he murmured the password he had set at the night before and stepped inside. Despite being situated under the lake, the Common Room was well lit, decorated sedately in green and silver, the house colours and filled with fire places and comfortable leather couches and chairs. Nothing like the gaudy, over decorated Gryffindor house.

As per usual, the prefects had gotten the whole house sitting comfortably in the Common Room, all over the couches and on the floors.
“Greetings” He murmured, moving to stand in front of the large, main fire place.
“Welcome to Slytherin House, I am Professor Snape, the Head of Slytherin House and Potion’s Master for Hogwarts” He said for the benefit of those who did not know him.
“Your prefects have introduced you to the rules of our house and understand how we present ourselves to the rest of the school” He said, stroking Silver absentmindedly.
“I ask that you abide by those rules religiously in your time at Hogwarts, Slytherins are not well liked, and house unity is one of the few things we have to protect ourselves against the other houses” He explained.
“If you have inter-house problems, I ask that you speak to a prefect or if that is not an option myself. My door is always open to you, though I do hold office hours and spend one evening a week in the Common Room in order to help with homework, answer questions or give advice” He said, continuing to stroke the sleeping cat.
“This year, Slytherin has a new addition, this is my familiar Silver” He lifted the kitten sightly.
“I ask that you treat him as the mascot of this house, though he is not a snake” This caused a few of the younger years to giggle.
“Watch out for him, he is a curious little kitten and often wanders into trouble” This caused some more laughter.
“We’ll protect him Professor” Flint said, grinning lightly at the small cat.

“Do you have any questions?” Severus asked, looking over the students.
“What kind of cat is he?” A brave little firstie asked, his blue eyes sparkling.
“He’s a Geoffroy cat, normally a wild cat, native to South America” Severus explained, “He’s a kitten, so just a baby” He added, wanting to impress upon the snakes that Silver needed looking after.

“When are Quidditch Tryouts?” A second year asked, Luke Dante if Severus remembered correctly.
“I believe we decided on the second weekend of September, so two weeks” Severus said, looking at Flint for conformation. The Captain nodded, and Severus looked around, offering to answer any more questions.
“When do we get our schedules?” Another firstie asked, this time a female with brown curly hair.
“Tomorrow morning after breakfast, I will be handing them out, if you have any questions or concerns you can talk to me then” Severus said, glancing down as Silver woke up and squirmed out of his lap. He sighed, smirking a bit as the little kitten bounced around the room, exploring everything curiously as only a kitten can do.
“He’s adorable” Pansy said, wiggling her fingers at the kitten as Silver crawled onto Blaise Zabini’s lap and batted at the Italian boy’s robes.
“He sure is” Blaise said, smiling softly at Silver’s antics.

Severus still couldn’t believe that this kitten was Harry Potter. He and Harry had had a few conversations, but it was much safer to have Harry remain as Silver, and the more Harry remained as Silver the more carefree and happy the boy seemed. He sighed, watching Silver played with the Italian’s fingers and Pansy cooed. It was almost hysterically funny seeing Harry Potter play in the laps of his enemies, but Sev was learning a lot about Harry this little while. Harry presented the ‘Golden Boy’ persona, but it wasn’t him. He didn’t detest Slytherin, just pretended to because the perfect Gryffindor didn’t like Slytherins. He was good at Quidditch and pretended to love the sports because his father loved the sport. But Harry was a lot more complex, a lot more deep and broken then that. Silver gave Harry a chance to escape being Harry Potter-Golden Boy, and Sev was fine with giving him that opportunity.

Shaking himself from his musings, he realized that the entire house had gathered around Blaise to look at their new mascot. He smiled, watching as Silver adored the attention. Harry hated attention, and people touching him, which Sev had learned the hard way, but Silver adored it, and Sev knew it was helping him, which he was thankful for. Harry had a lot of issues, many of the revolving around the years of abuse he had suffered at the hands of his Uncle, but being Silver helped him realize that the Dursleys weren’t normal, families weren’t like that, and that this, what he was experiencing with the students, was normal, not rare. If anyone could heal the broken boy turned kitten, it was Slytherin house.

“Come on then” He finally said, gently moving his students aside to claim the kitten.
“I’ll see you all tomorrow morning. I suggest you all get to bed, classes begin early” He said, picking up Silver and cuddling him lightly, though if anyone accused him of it, he would deny it vehemently. He smiled lightly, bidding his students good night and carrying Silver back to their rooms.

HP/SS

Once inside he removed the small collar from Harry, but the kitten didn’t turn back for a few moments.
Finally Harry appeared, stretching lightly and looking at Severus with a small smile.
“Who knew Slytherins could be so nice” He mused, sitting down next to Severus and curling up. He’d grown to accept Severus as a father figure in the month they’d spent together and he felt safe with the man. Even as Silver he didn’t generally trust many people, especially men or older men. Umbridge also terrified him, but she tended to cuddle the life out of the poor kitten and he avoided her like the plague.

“Behind closed doors, we are just like everyone else Harry, the preconceived notions of the rest of the world have made Slytherins behave in a certain manner outside of the safety of their house” He explained, letting the boy cuddle against him.

“So have you thought about it?” He asked, looking at Harry curiously.
“The adoption?” Harry asked, arching an eyebrow at Severus.
“Yes, so that you don’t have to return to the Dursleys” Sev said cautiously, Harry still refused to discuss what had happened to him at their house, but most of it he could piece together.
“Ye-yes I have” Harry said, pulling his knees to his chest, “I’d like you to adopt me Sev, but I want to stay as Silver this year, like we planned. I don’t want to be-be around the Gryffindors right now” He said, looking pleadingly at his soon-to-be guardian.
“Of course Harry, you can stay Silver as long as you need to” Severus said, hugging the boy lightly. Who knew that in only a month, Severus Snape would be willingly adopting Harry Potter, but he knew the boy needed to be adopted, needed him. And in some strange way, Severus Snape needed Harry Potter.

HP/SS

Breakfast the next morning was the usual chaotic affair, students rushing about, eating quickly, receiving and bickering over their schedules.

Sev glanced down at his list of classes for the day, he had double potions first with his fifth year Slytherins and unfortunately the Gryffindors. Potions for the Slytherins were always taken with the Lions, but the fifth years were by far Sev’s worst class. He sighed, rubbing a hand over his forehead before rising and going down the table handing out timetables.
“Any problems please come and see me during office hours” He said to the students, ignoring the complaints about who they were paired with.
“Sir, where’s Silver?” Draco asked, looking over his Head of House which normally had a familiar furry head peeking about.
“In my quarters for now, he should be in the classroom during Class, but I thought the Great Hall would be a bit chaotic today for him” He said, smiling at his students curiosity over his familiar. He smirked, wondering how Draco would react if he knew that Silver was really Harry Potter.

HP/SS

Severus swept into class as he normally did, robes billowing behind him, though the effect was ruined due to a small kitten poking its head out of one of his sleeves. He stopped at the front of the room, turning and letting his black gaze sweep over the students, especially the Gryffs.
“Today we will be brewing the Blood Replenishing Potion for the Hospital Wing. Those that are brewed correctly will be used, un-usable potions will be vanished and result in a mark of zero for the class. Instructions are on the board” He tapped the black board with his wand, and spidery script appeared, outlining the instructions on how to make the potion.
“You may begin” He said, setting Silver on his desk while he waited for the mad scramble for ingredients to end. Once the students had started, he’d stalk the classroom as he normally did, making sure that nothing to disastrous happened. 

Stalking through the aisles, Sev’s attention was focused on the miscreants brewing potions and not on his familiar who had wandered close to the Gryffindor side of the room as he followed different scents. Tail flicking, the little cat moved about, weaving carefully around peoples feet and under tables as he explored.

“Everyone DOWN!” Severus shouted after examining Neville Longbottom’s cauldron. His potion was bubbling violently and one look was all Sev needed to know that the potion was a bout to explode. Students and Professor alike flung themselves to the ground as a bang sounded and the boiling, bubbling mess flung itself upward, out of the cauldron and all over the nearest furniture. Due to Sev’s warning, students had managed to hide under desks, and no one was badly hurt, except Neville who was shaking from fear more then anything. As Severus rose, banishing the remainder of the potion and carefully glanced around the classroom before motioning for students to get up. A loud yowling spit the air, causing Severus’ heart to jump into his chest.

“Silver?” He glanced around, noting the kitten lying in a heap near Longbottom’s cauldron, his fur patchy as he was covered in the potion. He whimpered as Severus cursed, kneeling down next to the kitten.
“Shh” He murmured, summoning a wet rag and carefully wiping away the excessive potion, a small sigh escaping him. The poor kitten was covered in burns and looked to be in a lot of pain. He gently scooped him up, going to his desk and digging around for a pain numbing potion. Taking an eyedropper, he measured out the perfect amount of potion before coaxing Silver’s mouth open and getting him to swallow the potion.
“Shh little one, you’ll be fine” Severus said, summoning a burn cream and carefully rubbing it over Silver’s burns. When his familiar was taken care of and spelled asleep, he glanced around the classroom.
“Those of you who finished the potion, bottle it and put it on my desk, everyone else banish your potion and write me a ten inch essay on why Unicorn Blood should not be added to a blood replenishing potion” He snarled, his worry over Silver making him more annoyed then before.
“Thirty Points from Gryffindor for endangering lives by not paying attention to the instructions” He snarled at Neville.

He went back to his desk, looking at the sleeping kitten with a sad smile, poor Harry, nothing ever seemed to go right for him. He knew the boy couldn’t shift back tonight, injured in his animagus form meant he needed to heal and recover in the same form, shifting bodies would be detrimental to his health. To prevent shifting he’d leave the collar on, it would be best.

Scooping the kitten up, he wrapped him in a soft blanket, he needed to dress the wounds, but he’d do that in his private chambers, not out here. Walking into the hallway, he heard crude giggling and paused, glancing around he noted the Weasley boy standing not far off with Longbottom, and Granger. He frowned, stepping forward a bit in order to overhear the conversation. He was a spy for a reason after all.

“Good one Nev, you got Snape’s little rat” Ron was saying, Neville was shaking his head.
“It was an accident Ron, I’d never hurt an animal” Neville protested, “I don’t even know how Unicorn’s Blood got on my desk, I didn’t grab it” Neville was saying softly, looking distraught.
“I hope Silver’s alright” He added, his cheeks reddening a bit.
“Who cares?” Ron said, shrugging dismissively, “He’s just a stupid cat, Snape’s cat” He added, pulling a face.
“Hope it dies, anything that likes Snape has to be evil” He said, shuddering dramatically.
“Ronald” Hermione huffed, “Silver doesn’t deserve that, he’s just an innocent little cat” She said, “A rare kind of cat actually” She had immediately begun researching all about Geoffroy’s cats, curious about Snape’s new familiar.
“Who cares” Ron said again, “Cat’s just another snake, which means its our enemy” He said, before striding away from the others, leaving them to follow in his wake.

Severus sighed, he’d have to keep poor Silver close, it seemed the Lions were targeting his familiar, he had suspected it, but now it seemed they were willing to sabotage their own classmates potions in order to get that done.
Sighing, he cuddled Silver closer and walked towards his rooms, thinking about what he could do to protect Silver. He knew the little kitten would be upset to know that his friends were willing to harm him just because he was Sev’s familiar. He always knew Weasley had a temper, and now that Harry Potter was gone, Weasley had stepped into his role as ring-leader of the trio with relish. He’d always suspected Weasley was using Harry, now he just needed to prove it.

HP/SS

A knock on the door caused Severus to glance up, he had finally gotten Harry all treated, and the poor kitten was more bandage then kitten at the moment. He sighed, shifting lightly and glancing   back at Silver before opening the door.
“Yes?” He asked, rather surprised to see Draco, Pansy and Blaise standing there.
“Hello Sir, we were just wondering how Silver was doing” Pansy said, peeking into Snape’s quarters.
“Ah, he’s resting now, would you like to come in and see him?” He asked, stepping aside as the three students rushed into the room, nearly flattening him. Smirking he followed them back, rolling his eyes as Pansy’s cooing woke the kitten. Silver glanced around, mainly aware of how bloody sore he was, though the pain numbing potion was still working though beginning to wear off.
“Poor kitty” Pansy said, looking curiously at Severus, when he nodded, she scooped up the kitten, gently stroking his patchy fur, avoiding the bandages.

“Do you really think Longbottom screwed up the potion that bad sir?” Draco asked, sitting next to Pansy and smiling lightly as Silver stretched out between them, his head resting on Draco’s lap.
“No, I think someone added the blood to the potion. Longbottom would never know the difference and he generally messes up potions” He said as Blaise sat near Pansy’s feet, stroking one of Silver’s paws.
“So you think someone did this deliberately?” Draco asked, scowling, “Someone will have to keep a closer eye on him” He nodded at the now purring kitten.
“I know” Sev said, “Would you three be willing to help? Make sure when I’m not around someone keeps an eye on him?” He asked curiously.
“Of course” Blaise said, “We can keep an eye on him” He glanced at the Professor. “Are you still coming to the Common Room tonight?” He asked, Sev sighed, “Yes I suppose so, would you keep an eye on him while I help the first years?” He asked the trio.
“Of course” Pansy said, still carefully stroking Silver’s fur, “He’ll be safe with us, or anytime he’s in the Snake Pit” She winked at him, “No one would mess with our mascot in our own dorm” She added, scooping the cat up as Sev gestured for them to leave.
“Alright, come on then” Severus said, ushering them out of the room. He let Pansy carry his familiar, though he grabbed a bottle of milk, one of Silver’s favorite treats, laced with pain potion and Silver’s blanket, in case the kitten got tired or cranky.

Walking into the Common Room, he watched in awe as the Snakes converged on Silver, cooing and generally mother henning. He smirked, no one hurt a snake and got away with it.

Sitting down one one of the couches, he handed off the items he had grabbed to Blaise and made himself comfortable, keeping a careful eye on his familiar, though he trusted his Snakes not to hurt the little kitten.
“Does anyone need any help with homework?” He asked curiously, smiling at the firsties, “Or have any questions about anything?” He added, not many teachers assigned homework on the first day.
“Sir?” Millicent Bulstrode approached, setting an example for the first years.
“I have a question” She said, sitting down and showing him the Transfiguration homework she had been trying to do. Soon two heads were bent over it, and the first years felt much better about approaching their Head.

HP/SS

Pansy was reigning supreme on the other side of the Common Room, Draco and Blaise sat with her, though she was the center of attention with the adorable kitten wrapped in a blanket nursing on the potion laced bottle.

“He’s so cute” Daphne Greengrass, Pansy’s best female friend cooed as she rubbed Silver’s stomach through the blanket.
“Who knew Professor Snape would get such a sweet familiar” She added, chuckling at the sleepy yawn the kitten gave. Though the girls were the most vocal in commenting on the cat’s cuteness, the boys were not above noticing it.

“So, Professor Snape thinks the attack on Silver was deliberate. The Lions hate Snakes, it stands to reason that they would try and hurt our new mascot and Head’s familiar”  Draco was murmuring to the group of guys standing around them.
“We need to keep him safe, he’s as much of a snake as we are” Blaise said, nodding at the kitten who had fallen asleep and was purring softly.
“We keep an eye on, just like we would any younger student” Markus Flint said, glancing at the kitten, “He’s our responsibility as much as he’s the Professors” Adrian Pucey, Chaser on the Quidditch Team and a sixth year added.
“So we’re agreed. We keep an eye on Silver and protect him” Draco said, “Professor Snape already asked us too, he doesn’t want anyone else thinking they can get away with attacking our mascot” Draco murmured, glancing at the kitten with a soft smile that was alien outside of the Slytherin Common Room.
“Agreed” Echoed from the group and then the chatter fell into different subjects, mainly Quidditch and the Lions.

HP/SS

Eventually Severus finished helping students and spent a few minutes just talking with his oldest prefects before collecting a very sleepy kitten and bidding his students good night.
“Come on Silver” He murmured, cuddling the kitten for a moment once he was in his rooms, before setting him in the cat bed he had transfigured out of an old pillow. The bed was set up in his room, in case the kitten needed anything, and with him being so beaten up, Sev wanted him nearby.
“Sleep well brat” Sev murmured, scratching him lightly behind the ears before ‘noxing’ the lights and settling into bed himself.