Chapter 2: Explanations

As Severus joined the Order meeting, all eyes were either trying to avoid him, or ogling him. He shifted a bit uncomfortably, not used to being someone with ethereal beauty. Sitting down next to Dumbledore, he flinched slightly as Molly came over to him and touched his shoulder. "Have a crust of bread, Severus."

The woman thankfully didn't linger. He didn't like anyone touching him. And for good reason. The only ones who touched him had hurt him in some form or another, whether physically or mentally. All except Dumbledore… but the man never touched Severus unless he absolutely had to. He, however, didn't grab any bread. He was hungry… just not for bread.

"Ah… our charge is in definite good hands, am I right to assume this?" Dumbledore chuckled, amused.

Severus ran a hand through his now exceptionally long bluish black hair. In doing so, he caused some of his feline scent to brush against Lucius and Draco. Both shivered slightly. Lucius even closed his eyes and inhaled for a moment. Veelas were always turned on by any elvish relative species and their scent. Finally Lucius blinked and reigned in his attraction. Severus didn't need a Veela. He needed a mate.

Draco, however was struggling a bit more. Even Harry seemed to be having a hard time dealing with Severus' total about face. He wasn't sure why though. He hadn't hit 17 yet, so hadn't come into his inheritance. Maybe Severus' scent was pleasing to humans too.

Lupin came into the room and sniffed. Lupin didn't care too much for the scent, neither did Sirius for obvious reasons. Crossing cats with dogs was something completely rare or nonexistent. The thought of it made both of them cringe inwardly.

Dumbledore finally stated, "So, it is a done deal. Severus, while you were still up there with the little ones, Lucius and Harry have decided on what they are going to teach the new charges and it will stay that way even when the other creature students come. Lucius, you have the floor."

Lucius smiled slightly and explained, "I am going to teach the boys proper etiquette and weaponry. Not all creatures can command a wand, so I am fully versed in other weapons of choice."

Severus nodded slowly, finding the sense in the choice.

Lupin decided something and he cleared his throat before saying, "I guess I am to be the one to teach them Defense against humans and certain creatures that I have studied. Who knows what this new power will use for his benefit. I will also teach them how to harness their inner strengths, whatever they are."

"And I will teach them how to fight." Harry said with a scowl on his face, as if thinking he shouldn't be the one to do so, but his own opinions he kept to himself.

Severus nodded, until finally he said, "Then I will teach them everything I know as a cat dragon. They will need it, I think." He didn't know what good it would do, but he would at least try. He had promised Lily long ago that he wouldn't ever be a cat again unless he used it to protect. With the exception of finding a mate of course. Lily never barred him of that.

"Severus… why did you keep your appearance hidden for so long?" Draco asked softly.

All eyes turned to Snape and he sighed bitterly. "I have my reasons."

And the disgruntled man left it at that. With the firm set of his lips and withering glare, everyone knew to let the topic drop. It must be a touché subject.

Draco felt himself pout inwardly and sighed. Why were people keeping more secrets to themselves nowadays? He thought that when he'd reached his inheritance, everyone would start treating him like an adult. Was that so bad of a hope?

Dumbledore finally asked Severus, "Will the boy be fit to start his lessons on Monday?"

Severus thought for a moment before answering. Softly he said, "If he doesn't have another one of those spells, probably."

"What was wrong with him, the poor dear?" Molly asked.

Everyone was silent, waiting anxiously to hear Snape's answer. He finally leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms securely around his middle. "He is suffering from a rare cat dragon affliction. It usually only happens to mature males or females that have been exposed to intense and prolonged pain and who are from rare dark pedigrees. What happens in normal instances is that the cat, like any human, blacks or blocks out the memory and the pain, making it easier to cope with. Unfortunately, this affliction prevents the cat from doing so. Instead, that cat has to relive every single pain filled memory whenever they have an intense nightmare or severe panic attack. My guess is that the memory is so terrible that it has caused his body to try and self destruct whenever he views it too closely. To have happened to one so young….." He left the rest of the sentence unspoken.

Everyone around the room understood what he had left out. It meant simply that the cub upstairs had been traumatized in a way no child should have to go through.

Harry said softly, "I know how it feels."

Ron and Hermione looked at him sympathetically. They knew what he had gone through.

"Is there a cure?" Siri asked gently.

Severus regarded Harry and Draco closely. Finally he looked away, as if saying the ball's in their court now. Harry said, "Occulamency helps a bit."

"And destroying the prat helped too." Draco murmured.

Lucius added, "I think there really isn't a cure per se. Just a bit of a lessoning in the whole mess. Eventually one must grow stronger and accept the fear of past and embrace it before it finally disappears. In her case, it might help if he had a mate."

Molly gaped at the man.

Before she could voice her outrage, Dumbledore nodded. "Mates tend to lesson each other's burdens with positive encouragement and mental touching. It's rather like saying that 'someone is always there for them'. Do I have it right, Severus?"

Blast the man for keeping him in the conversation! And why the hell were they talking about this in the first place? Rubbing the bridge of his nose and sighing tiredly, the man clarified, "In a sense, yes. But, there is more to it than that. With feline mates… it depends on the social structure as well as the power that the mate has. If the mate is incredibly strong and has a high status, then that mate can easily destroy the corresponding mate's fear, thus obliterating the condition."

He then added as an afterthought, "However… being as young as he is, he may not have that particular option. Most male carrier felines from Patriarchal societies are married off at a very young age or sent off as concubines. Others from Matriarchal societies are taught to deal with their pain and endure it by themselves before taking a mate. It is my guess that those two have been conveniently orphaned and have been dormant in their abilities until something happened to wrench not only Arasmus' but Kael's powers into affect. If this theory is correct then they will need to be protected at all cost. Most cats, light or dark, in the area would find their scents all too tempting… being just newly awakened and unmated."

"Is there a way to be mated without actually consummating it? Just allowing the connection between one's mind so that the disease would be cured? And so that one could defer the unmated males in the area from being too attracted?" Hermione asked.

Severus shook his head sadly. "Unfortunately no. It is all or nothing. Bonding is a highly intimate sexual experience. It combines not only the body and mind but the soul and power of the individuals." He then thought for a moment and slowly smiled. Everyone in the room gaped at him like a fish. He coughed lightly and turned to Albus. "There may be a way to mask their scents, but I am not sure if Lupin or Black is up to it."

Lupin blinked. What was that supposed to mean? Siri grumbled, "Arrogant git." Before glaring at him.

"What is it, Siri?" Lupin asked softly.

Siri gave Snape another withering glare before uttering, "He wants us to be in close quarters with them in dog or wolf form."

Lupin's eyebrow rose a notch. "But that is impossible for me. In my wolf form I have no control over my actions and would be way too dangerous around the cubs."

Snape said, "Black, your stupidity astounds me. Do you think me a complete idiot in thinking that I want Lupin in wolf form around them?" At Sirius' irritated sulking expression, he continued, "For once in your life it would be appreciative to everyone if you actually used the grey mass in your mutted head you conveniently call a brain." Having properly chastised the animagus mutt, he explained, "What I meant is that while in human form or in Black's case, mutt form, you two could be around them enough to rub some of your scents on their things or themselves."

"That brilliant idea might well work, Severus." Albus commented. Then he suggested, "We might want to convey our idea to the cubs and see if they can work around the difference in scents."

"I am sure that they will be fine with it if explained the situation." Severus stated confidently.

"How can you be so sure? Cats hate wolves and dogs." Sirius growled.

Severus gave him a very absurd innocent look. "I assure you that push comes to shove, they would rather choose smelling like a mutt than being ransacked with vicious prospecting single males on the hunt for unmated male carriers. Plus, I think wolves and cats have a bit of similarity whereas dogs and cats do not."

"And what would that be?" Sirius snarled, his fists clenched.

"Wolves and cats tend to use their brains, a feature that dogs usually lack (Snape's own prejudice, not the author's!)." Severus said with a smirk.

"Siri, calm down. He's only bating you for the fun of it." Lupin suggested.

Before Siri could comment, Potter went to a different subject, not wanting his godfather and Snape to get into a fight. Although, some of the comments were less barbed than usual, which meant that the cat was actually enjoying the pointless banter. That was a serious change from six months ago. Perhaps, Snape had come to grudgingly respect Sirius. Either that or he at least tolerated him. He asked Snape, "What is it that you did to alleviate Arasmus' pain up there?"

Severus blinked, not in the least happy with the change of subjects. Why he was having to explain himself to a bunch of twits was beyond him. He mentally bit his teeth and bore it. "One of my talents of being a rare dark cat dragon is the ability to absorb any creature's pain. I basically drained it from his body and accelerated the attack towards completion."

He caught everyone staring at him with mixtures of astonishment and awe. Bloody brilliant. Now he was a hero.

Damn it all Hell.

"Bloody Hell." Ron gasped out.

My sentiments exactly, Mr. Weasely. Severus thought numbly as he gave Dumbledore a withering glare. "Could we please change the subject and press on to much more pressing matters than myself and the cubs?"

"Of course." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled infuriatingly as he calmly went on to the subject at hand.

Oblivious to much of the discussion of their welfare that was being said downstairs, Kael gently wiped Arasmus' brow with a cool wash cloth. The boy's long crimson-black hair was slicked with drying sweat and his friend gently pushed it away from his face. Looking out at a magicked window, he saw very little stars due to the light pollution of London. Sighing softly, Kael wondered about the male cat that had helped them.

In their studies, Arasmus and Kael had found out that the males of their species were usually very cruel jealous creatures who treated carriers like crap. Literally. Even when Arasmus and him had stumbled across a few mated males six months ago, curious to see what they were like, naïve as it was, the brutes owned up to their descriptions. But… this male was different. Professor Snape seemed to be a bit insecure when it came to certain things, but he was very powerful and very experienced. He seemed to have an air of someone confident and settled in his ways, yet at the same time vulnerable. Kael knew that the male had been very tempted and attracted to his friend, but he had held himself back, without any thought.

So… maybe the books weren't all true. Either that or they hadn't found the right books to explain things. Kael had briefly heard the Headmaster saying that four of the people downstairs were going to tutor them… teach them how to protect themselves. Oh he knew that the old fart probably wanted them to be turned into weapons too, but that didn't bother him much. It was better to be a weapon and a shield than a cowering unmated carrier huddling in the dark, scared out of his wits.

Sighing, he just hoped that his friend could stand mental training. Physical wasn't hard for either one of them… but mentally…. Arasmus had been always the stronger of the two when it came to mental gifts and abilities, but after what happened…. Would he be able to get past his fears and be able to strengthen his mind?

Kael briefly wondered if the male cat downstairs would teach them something. He looked to be extremely skilled with his mind and his body. Maybe he could also teach them some of their heritage?

Sighing softly, he snuggled against his best friend and drifted off to sleep. His troubling thoughts disappeared as he gave into exhaustion, his arms wrapped around his friend's arms protectively.

The next morning had Draco and Lucius visiting Severus at Hogwarts. The man was down in the dungeons brewing what looked to be some Pepperup potion and some healing …. Soup… or potion. You really couldn't tell unless you were a potions master. Severus was scowling intently at the soupy potion that looked a bit green and lumpy.

Draco grimaced and Lucius chuckled as the boy asked, "Uncle Sev, what is that foul smelling potion you are making?"

Severus, not looking up from stirring, replied sarcastically, "It was supposed to be a creature healing potion."

"Supposed to be?" Lucius inquired, advancing into the room to look at the murky goop.

"I'll have to modify it somewhat." Severus grunted and banished the contents, leaving an empty lonely looking cauldron. "Creature healing potions always tend to be a bit temperamental."

"I see." Lucius hid his mouth with his hand, amused beyond belief.

Severus either was losing his touch as a potions master, or that male carrier cub was on his mind quite often. He figured it was probably the latter. Severus never ever lost his touch with making potions. Being on the front page of Potion's Weekly nearly every week was a testament of that.

Draco arched an eyebrow. "Is the healing potion supposed to be for the new creature students?"

"Yes." The older man waved his hand irritably. Sighing and pinching his nose, he sat heavily down in his chair and muttered, "The Headmaster suggested that I make some potions to help them out just in case they fall ill or have other needs that must be quenched."

"Other needs?" Draco asked, curious.

Severus gave Lucius a look of incredulously. The older Veela had the impeccable grace to look a bit sheepish. Severus finally said patiently to Draco, as if he was speaking to a simple minded toddler, "Usually creatures have certain needs that make them different from humans. For example, a vampire could need bloodlust potion to help them from biting people, a fairy might need elixirs and tonics to help them with their magic, a cat might need nasal salves to keep them from getting clogged up with all of the scents in the air of Hogwarts. And…." He pointedly looked at Draco, "A Veela such as yourself might need an antithrall or antilust potion to keep you from getting unwanted attention."

Draco blushed to the roots of his hair. "Sorry I asked."

Severus sighed and murmured, "It's not your fault, Draco. I am just pressed for time and stressed."

Lucius gently laid a hand on the man and was a bit surprised when the man didn't reject or flinch at the comforting action. "It'll be alright, old chap." He withdrew his hand and got out a packet from his robes. Handing it to Snape he explained, "The Headmaster suggested that I deliver this to you. It is a list of all of the new creatures attending this fall and who will be our private students during the latter part of the summer. I hope it proves useful."

"Thank you, Lucius." Severus fingered the packet and briefly wondered if the ground truly was going to open up and swallow him whole.

"Oh, and Severus… Mr. Arasmus Laisren told me to tell you that he is very much looking forward to having lessons with you. He was a bit put out when he found out that you were busy making potions, but he understood. I daresay you may have collected a fan." He gave the man a large shit eating smile before both blondes made a hasty getaway. Not running of course. Malfoys only ran when the absolute need was imperative.

Severus growled and let out a frustrated snarl. First he had Potter and his friends teasing him, then there was Albus with his madly twinkling eyes, then there was the dogfather and his werewolf sidekick, and NOW he had two Malfoys running around making havoc.

Those blasted twits had no idea how hard this was for him to deal with.

Finally realizing that he had his hands clenched on the packet, he forced himself to relax the hold. It wouldn't due to destroy the informative packet, especially when it had vital Intel about the creatures he'd be tutoring. Opening it up to the first page, he warily looked over the front index.

Students, Classes, Ages, Creature Type and Index:

Stanley Wordsworth: First Year, 11 years old, Half Veela/Half Sea Nymph - Page 4
Angela Stone: First Year, 11 years old, Grif-falcon -Page 6
Theo Stone: First Year, 11 years old, Grif-falcon -Page 7
Andrew Silverthorne: Second Year, 12 years old, Werewolf -Page 10
Marcus Holloway: Second Year, 12 years old, Half Vampire/Half Earth Dragon-Page 12
Ingrid Johnson: Second Year, 12 years old, Werephoenix -Page 14
Mahogany Bay: Second Year, 12 years old, Pegagryph -Page 16
Daniel Abrams: Third Year, 13 years old, Half Werewolf/ Half Wereeagle -Page 18
Betony Abrams: Third Year, 13 years old, Half Werewolf/ Half Wereagle -Page 19
Celine Estonia: Third Year, 13 years old, Blue Dolphin -Page 21
Sebastian Larson: Fourth Year, 14 years old, Black Unicorn -Page 23
Melony Nguyen: Fourth Year, 14 years old, Water Dragon -Page 25
Lina Nguyen: Fourth Year, 14 years old, Water Dragon -Page 26
Chad Normandy: Fifth Year, 15 years old, Vampire -Page 28
Arasmus Laisren: Fifth Year, 15 years old, Tigerapanthera Dragon -Page 30
Kael Laisren: Fifth Year, 15 years old, Solar Lion Dragon -Page 32
Mavric Anderson: Sixth Year, 16 years old, Dark Wood Elf -Page 34
Chelsea Kitridge: Sixth Year, 16 years old, Veela -Page 35
Orion Blackwood: Seventh Year, 17 years old, Flame Dragon -Page 37
Samuel Elijah: Seventh Year, 17 years old, Wolfric Demon -Page 39
Isaiah Zachariah: Seventh Year, 18 years old, Engrela Cat Dragon -Page 42

21 new creature students. And the oldest was a rare demon cat dragon. Beautiful. Just bloody beautiful.

The rest of the creature children weren't going to be so bad. The Wolfric Demon might be someone to worry about, but it could have been worse.

Honestly, it could have been.

Curious as a cat ever can be, Severus looked through the packet, skimming through each child's history and what their mannerisms were like. He grimly felt appreciation for Albus at least concocting this useful info packet, but he still was a bit irritated.

Especially when he found not one set but two sets of twins amongst the list. He just hoped to whatever God there was in Heaven that they weren't anything like the Weasely twins. He found himself drawn reluctantly to Arasmus and Kael's summaries. Interesting as it was, Severus knew that the boys weren't siblings, even if they did share the same last name. They were cousins. The last name had been given to them after they had been adopted by the same matron. Unfortunately, Albus only gave basic facts as to their home lives. He would have to dig deeper, he realized.

Damn the old fool for doing this to him. Sighing, he stretched and rubbed his tired eyes. Fighting the urge to groan in exhaustion and frustration, the disgruntled cat reflected on the meager but useful information he had gathered. So… both Arasmus and Kael were adopted and abandoned not once but three times before their last 'parents'. That took place only a year ago. How strange that both of them have managed to stay together this long without being separated into different families. Not that that is a bad thing. Those two are inseparable.

He briefly snorted at the obvious notation by Albus: 'Take extra care, both have been abused.' That much he had gathered from just a first meeting. Though the Lion seemed to be a bit more stable in the mental area, he seemed to shy away from touch… especially from older males. Even when the males were obviously human. And he had a pretty good idea of the reason why. Pretty male carriers as mature as him would be a target for any pedophile, muggle or magical. It disgusted him tremendously, but he shook off the thought.

Arasmus was a special case to be sure. Well… he had his work cut out for him, and that was putting it politely. And by Merlin's arse hole he was going to make sure these children were trained so much that any idiot would think twice before messing with them. Even if he had to beat it into their thick skulls.

Finding a bit of determination, Severus went about figuring out the course plan for the two carrier felines, wanting to finish it before he had to present it to Lupin, Harry, and Lucius.

*Sorry if the plot is a bit long, but there's a reason. Please let me know what you think.*