Author Note: HAPPY HOLIDAYS, HP4FREEK! Your Secret Santa, Wicked.
"NO!"
Hermione gave him the pouty look he so often detested. "Please, Severus? It's beautiful!"
The tall man stood like many moons ago, his arms crossed in front of his chest, his eyes staring at her down the bridge of his long nose. "And exactly how do you plan on taking care of the beast?"
Hermione shrugged, "I'll think of something. In the meantime, can we keep her in the dungeons? Just think, she can follow you on rounds and help you with that terrorizing way you keep the dunderheads at bay."
Severus saw some logic in that as he glanced to the feline. It was beautiful…well, to Severus, anything that was black was beautiful. He thought of any night of the week, Friday, in particular. The large cat could walk stealthily behind him and, with its piercing green eyes, strike fear in the little Hufflepuffs, the likes of which even Severus could admire. He looked back to his wife of two years. "I suppose. However, we need to clear it with the Headmaster."
"Oh, Severus! I'm sure he would allow it! I'll train her to keep her claws retracted in company, that is, unless you command her to use them. I know she'll make a great protector! Let's name her Jamie!"
"Jamie?" he sneered.
"It's the name of a close friend of mine that I had to leave behind in the muggle world. She loved panthers!"
He sighed. "Very well."
And so, weeks went by, and Severus found himself in the presence of the large, plush, jet black panther as he combed the dark corridors looking for innocent, or not so innocent, children to scare half to death.