Chapter 1 ~ A Decision
"A dog, Severus?" Hermione asked as she sat across from her husband at the breakfast table. She wasn't completely drawn up against it because her rounded belly was in the way.
Snape took a bite of banger and chewed slowly before answering her.
"Yes, a dog. I want our child to have a pet and protector to grow up with," the dark wizard replied.
"But a dog? I don't do dogs, Severus. I prefer cats," Hermione said.
"You do dogs now," was Snape's curt reply. "It will be good for our offspring. Having an animal to associate with might lessen interaction with dunderheads in his or her early developmental years."
Hermione sighed. A dog. But her husband was adamant about it and she didn't feel like arguing.
"Well, I want to pick it out, then," she demanded.
"Fine, but make sure it is a dog that will grow to be sizable. I don't want a rat that can fit into a teacup. It will have a job to do, and if it can be stepped on like a bug, or carried off by an owl, it will be of no use to us."
"Fine. I'll go down to the wizarding animal shelter later today," Hermione said as Snape wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up. He was wearing his teaching robes. He still worked at Hogwarts as the DADA teacher. Hermione was on maternity leave from the Ministry, where she worked in the Magical Law Enforcement department.
Snape walked around the table, leaned down and kissed Hermione, one pale hand resting on her extended belly for a moment. He broke the kiss and looked down at the bulge, his normally hard eyes softening.
"Have I ever thanked you for this?" he asked her.
"A million times," Hermione said with a smile as she covered his hand with her own.
"A million and one," he replied, kissing her again then straightening and looking severe as he unnecessarily fixed his robes. Hermione smiled up at him. Her husband could do tenderness, but afterwards he just had to do something to show he was still snarky, as if he had to prove to himself he wasn't going soft.
"I'm off to Hellswarts," Snape said. "Remember, no teacup rats."
Hermione chuckled as he Disapparated.
Hellswarts.
"Here's what we got in pups," the skinny, blond keeper said to Hermione as they walked through the noisy shelter. It was basically a room with cages on either side and a walkway bisecting them. On a far wall at the end of the walkway hung a variety of collars, muzzles and leashes in all sizes and colors. Bags of kibble covered a wooden work table. Another door led into another room full of cages and there was a distinct animal smell in the air.
"Oh, they're adorable," Hermione said as she looked at a cage full of Jack Russell-type puppies with forked tails. They barked and wriggled and pawed at the chain link gate, all excitement and cuteness.
"Do they get very big?" she asked as they whimpered and whined for attention.
The keeper shook his head.
"Not really," he replied. Hermione looked saddened.
"Oh, then they really won't do. My husband wants a dog that can protect the household," she said.
"Oh, well they can do that all right," the keeper replied. His brow furrowed as one of the pup's eyes turned red.
"Ah, you'd better back up, Miss," he said, actually pulling Hermione back from the gate.
"What? Why?" Hermione asked, a bit disturbed he had almost yanked her away. Just then a long tongue of fire shot out of the cage, right where she had been standing.
"That's why," the keeper said. "These dogs spew fire. We call them Dragon dogs. But getting them trained up is a bit of a chore. You have to have good fire insurance, and keep plenty of burn salve on hand for the first year. And disciplining them can be a tricky thing."
"I'll bet," Hermione said, looking at the adorable wriggling pups with new eyes. That would definitely be trouble. Besides, she wouldn't want her baby around an animal that could accidentally or purposely roast it.
"I think I'll keep looking," she said to the keeper, who nodded.
"Well, I have other things to see about. If you need anything just give a shout or go to the front office."
"Okay. Thank you."
The keeper departed and Hermione wandered through the shelter, looking at all the adorable puppies. They all seemed to whine, "Take me home! I love you!"
They were all so adorable. How was she ever going to pick just one? But Snape would have conniptions if she brought a dozen puppies home. Then she noticed a cage separated from the others, tucked in a corner with dim lighting. There was a yellow tag on the latch. Curiously she walked over and read the tag:
"Euthanize at4 pm," the tag read.
"What?" Hermione hissed, then looked into the cage. It had a very dark corner.
"Come out," Hermione coaxed. "Here, boy. Come here," she said softly, beckoning with her fingers.
A little whimper rose from the darkness. It was a sad and a little fearful sound.
"Come on, I won't hurt you," Hermione breathed. She saw movement, then the pup walked forward, but not completely to the gate. Its tail wagged a bit nervously.
Hermione blinked for several moments before she recovered her composure..
"Oh my goodness . . . you poor thing," she said compassionately. "You poor little thing."
A/N: Just a funny little story that popped into my head. I'm trying to write it out. It won't be too long, and it's a no-sex story. (Sorry). But it might be entertaining. Thanks for reading.