Whoa, seven alerts and four reviews and that was one chapter one! I was so jazzed I decided to add chapter two right away. In regards to the reviewer about the suggestion of naming the kitten Evans, let me just say that I know some people who gave some really strange names to their pets. I don't want to make that person mad, it is simply a statement.

Chapter Two- A New Term

Snape spent the rest of the summer grading papers and devising lesson plans and almost always in his pet's presence. Almost always as the kitten had a tendency to disappear from time to time. Snape never saw him leave or return. He would just notice his absence.

He had yet to choose a name. The kitten had perked up when McGonagall suggested the name "Evans." Snape didn't want to use that name because it further connected the kitten to Potter.

On the night of August thirty-first, Snape said, "Listen, boy. I don't want you tagging behind me while I teach classes. I have a reputation I must maintain."

The kitten said nothing. He merely curled up in his bed and fell asleep.

&&&&

Snape looked out at a sea of faces at the welcoming feast the following night. He easily picked out several faces. He saw Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Weasley, Granger, and of course Potter.

As Dumbledore had the students welcome back Remus Lupin as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Snape thought about his pet. He had ordered him to remain in the office during the feast. He didn't bother locking the door- the kitten usually listened to his instructions.

&&&&

Snape didn't see the kitten upon returning to his office. He wasn't worried. He was probably under the bed. He left the door open a crack. He wasn't sure why he did this, but he let the matter go. As he sat down at his desk, reading, he felt something brush past him. He looked down and saw the kitten rubbing his head affectionately on his legs.

"Oh, there you are," Snape said, patting the head a couple of times. Content with his pet's whereabouts, Snape climbed into bed and fell asleep.

The kitten was still in bed when Snape got up the next morning. As he headed for the door, he glanced back to see the kitten just sitting up. He called, "Remember boy. Do not set foot in my classroom."

His morning was somewhat enjoyable. He began teaching the first year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs in a double Potions class, then a single period with third-year Slytherins and Gryffindors, and finally his seventh-year N.E.W.T. class before lunchtime arrived.

He ate very little because he was anxious. His sixth-year class was after lunch and he wanted to see who was in it. Unable to take this waiting, he got up and headed down to the dungeons. He moved about the classroom, setting it up for the class. As the bell rang to signal the start of class, he opened the door and stood beside it to let his students in.

The first one in line was Draco Malfoy. The pale boy gave a smug smile and a slight roll of his head as he entered. Snape responded with a similar smirk. His smirk turned into a scowl when Harry walked into the room.

'He passed his Potions O.W.L. enough to get into my N.E.W.T. class! This is unacceptable!' Still scowling, Snape stalked into the room. He immediately set them to a complicated potion before sorting the vials of potions his seventh-years had handed in.

After fifteen minutes, Snape decided to check his students' progress. He circled the room, smiling at the Slytherins, nodding at the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, and scowling at the Gryffindors.

As he loomed over Potter's cauldron, the boy asked, "Did you get my present, sir?"

"Yes," was the answer.

"Do you like him?"

Snape ignored the question as he examined the potion. The color was wrong.

"You do still have him, don't you sir?"

"Of course I do, Potter. I'm not the kind of person who would throw a helpless kitten out onto the street." With a swish of his robes, he continued his rounds.

&&&&

Harry watched Snape walk away before returning to his potion with a small smile on his face. So, Snape did like the kitten. Harry figured Snape wouldn't throw it out, he asked in order to find out if Snape liked his gift.

'He must have him in his office. Everyone would thing he's going soft if he had a kitten following him around.'

&&&&

September passed in a blur for both students and teacher. For Snape, it passed extremely quickly. He was busy teaching students, grading papers, giving and taking points, and caring for the kitten. He still didn't choose a name, just called him Boy when addressing him. The kitten didn't seem to like being called by gender, but he listened to Snape anyway.

Around mid-October, Snape was making lesson plans when a silver tabby cat walked in. Snape saw it, ignored it, and returned to his work. After an hour, he glanced up to see both cat and kitten gone. Unconcerned, he turned to the house points he had given and taken that day.

&&&&

"Potter, your attempt is not working. It's best if you give it up."

"But, professor, it has only been two months. We need to give it more time. Besides, I think he likes me a little bit more."

McGonagall sighed. "I don't know. Oh, very well Potter," she said when Harry gave her a pleading look. "We'll give it more time. We'll talk again in two months before Christmas break."

"Thanks, professor."

Something tells me that Harry really wants Snape to like him a little bit or at least treat him like a regular student. Will this come to past? Stay tuned.