Disclaimer: I own nothing! Nothing from Harry Potter, nor any actual place mentioned in the story.
Author's Note: I have evil plans ahead. Lovely little plot twists. Lastly, Thank You EmeraldStorm7 for reviewing. I hope I continue to keep you and other interested. I understand some places in the story are already owned and have other actual history. But for my own amusement, and for ease of my writing, these historic sites will have new stories.
"Well? What did you say?" Draco demanded of Severus after the sorting had ended. Dumbledore had already started the speech about sticking together.
"I told her no." Severus looked Draco straight in the eyes. "Dumbass, of course I said yes. Wasn't this the plan?" Draco couldn't help but grin before they heard the Headmaster call for the Potion's Master.
"Professor McGonagall has stepped down from Deputy Headmistress, as well as Transfiguration. Our new Deputy Headmaster is Professor Severus Snape." Dumbledore boomed. The older Snape stood, and gave a stiff bow before quickly sitting back down. The younger Snape could feel his father's eyes on him. "Our new Transfiguration Professor is Nymphadora Tonks."
Both Draco and Severus' heads snapped to attention. Nymphadora was their cousin, and not much older than them. The pink haired witch walked in from the side door, and bowed slightly before taking McGonagall's seat.
"Is she even qualified? I thought she was an Auror." Draco half sneered. Severus eyed his older cousin suspiciously. What was she doing here? And why didn't he know. His father told him everything. Yet as he looked at his father, he could see he was just as confused. He would ask his father later.
Severus watched as Hermione hung a poster on the wall. It was Viktor Krum, the Quidditch star. And it was signed.
"With love, your Loving Viktor?" Severus asked her. Hermione jumped slightly. She fastened the poster with magic, and then turned to him.
"We dated shortly after the Triwizard Tournament. It lasted about a year… I couldn't marry him. I mean, come on. I'm still in school." She rambled on. Severus, by now, had lost interest in the girl. At least in a romantic sense. She was linked to a famous Quidditch star, and Severus was way less amusing. He had amazing Quidditch skills, but he would never be famous for them.
"I see." He murmured. Hermione gave him a hard look. Severus dumped a bag onto his bed. Slowly, he divided the contents between his desk and his night stand.
"And you?" She asked quietly. Severus was unsure of what she was asking.
"I'm not with anyone. I'm too busy with my studies." He curtly replied before he turned away. She stared at him for a minute.
"Don't forget our date at Hogsmeade." She insisted before she walked out the door. Severus stared after her for a while. What was she getting out of this? Giving him this much attention? He shrugged and pulled out a piece of parchment from his desk. He stared at her list again. What was a dry erase board? He quickly copied the list to his mother, as well as some food for her to send. He grabbed his owl from the cage and sent the letter off.
Severus almost jumped onto the desk when something brushed up against his leg. Looking down, he found a very large cat. The ginger colored animal seemed to be purring slightly so Severus gently petted him. He never liked cats before, and it surprised him that he liked this one.
In another part of the castle, deep in the Dungeons, Draco was cloistered in the common room. He felt like he was missing a part of himself with Severus in the Head Boy's room. Pansy was prattling on about a new set of robes her parents had bought here. Zabini was telling Crabbe and Goyle about his new step-father.
And all Draco could think about was Severus. It wasn't in an incest-like way, more of a spiritual way. If only they had a way of speaking to each other in their minds.
"That's it!" Draco jumped up. Everyone stopped talking and stared at him. He held his head high. "I found a letter from my father. He's stated that we could enchant the flames to give off more heat, and glow in a green light." Draco covered. Quietly, he made his way out of the common room.
Severus awoke with a start. The cat was sleeping on his chest. He laid there for a while, not evening thinking. And suddenly, an image of a happy Hermione with several black haired children running in tow, chasing after the purring cat on his chest, appeared in his mind.
"Crookshanks!" Hermione called out. The cat lazily lifted its head off of Severus' chest. Severus looked up at her, trying to recall the image. "Get off of him!"
"'s fine." Severus murmured. Hermione picked her cat off his chest, accidently brushing her fingers along the firmness of chest muscle hidden by his robes.
"H-he doesn't normally act like that. I think he likes you, smart little kneazle." Hermione tried to apologize. Severus slowly rose from his laying spot.
"We need a couch. And I think I may get me a cat… What breed do you suggest?" Severus pondered to her. Hermione's eyes shifted slightly.
"Either a full Kneazle, or a Himalayan. Siamese aren't very friendly." Hermione explained. Absentmindedly, she sat at Severus' desk and shuffled through the papers. What she saw astonished her. "You like architecture?" Several floor plans were laid out on the desk. Severus' face turned scarlet.
"Not in the sense you're thinking. Those are family homes. My family's homes." He half whispered. Hermione's jaw dropped, but she quickly closed her mouth. He organized them in order of home and floor plan. "Kilkenny, in Ireland. James Butler lost it to my umpteenth great grandmother, his own illegitimate daughter. There is a tapestry hanging in the great hall hand woven by her." He spread out a few sheets for Hermione to see the extent of the castle, and land. "Château de Chambord in France. In 1547, to pay back some debts owed to my Family, Henry the Second of France sold it to another umpteenth great grandmother after she became pregnant with his child." He spread out a few more sheets and watched her stare in amazement. "Falkland Palace in Scotland. Oh, I know. 'Why don't you live there while at school?' Like Royalty of old, Mother and Father like to travel around between the houses… "
"Let me guess. Your umpteenth grandmother was sold it?" Hermione guess. Severus chuckled.
"Au contrair. Umpteenth great grandfather was an illegitimate son of Charles the Second. It was given to him as a present." Severus couldn't help but smile. He finally laid out the last plans. "This one is newer. I have no clue how the family obtained it, but Castle Howard belongs to us as well. I assume a little magic helped with receiving it."
"So blackmail?" Hermione questioned as she fingered the last floor plans. She noted they were all hand drawn.
"No, not quite. I think more along the lines of some memory charms." Severus was serious. Hermione looked up into his face.
"And you get the pick of whatever castle you wish to use?" She responded. This time he would shock her.
"No. They're all mine. As in, I own them, and they all are all connected by strong magic." Severus reorganized the papers, letting the information soak in.
"What of your siblings?" Hermione always had care for those who she felt weren't being treated fairly.
"Each has a house of their own once they are of age. Once out of Hogwarts, I plan on traveling the world for a year or so with Draco." He sat back near the fire. She seemed deep in thought for a few minutes. The room was quiet, with just the cat purring by his feet.
"I see. So no time for romance?" It was barely audible, and she quickly stood up, promptly storming from the room. He stared down at Crookshanks, and silently, they both shrugged. A harsh sounding knock pounded on the door, and opened to reveal Draco.
"I've got it. We need to find a spell that will let us communicate in our minds." Draco insisted seriously. The cat nudged his cousin's foot. "This isn't yours?"
"We'll speak to father about a spell. And no, this lovely beast is Hermione's. I'm gonna get a Kneazle or a Himalayan." Severus replied.