Summary: See first chapter

WARNINGS! : All previous warnings apply. Yaoi/boyxboy love, OOCness, the usual

Disclaimer: Still the same. I only own the teddy bear slippers in my closet. : )

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I am sooooo sorry this took so long!! I had major writers block, but I finally got over it and I tried to make this one longer. : ) Well, I hope you all enjoy it!! : D

Severus awoke when the train jerked to a stop.

He quickly stood up and grabbed his box. He made his way swiftly to the door and climbed off the train.

He didn't have to worry about extra bags or anything because he had sent them through the floo earlier.

Severus decided to just walk the rest of the way to Spinners End. He doesn't want to apparate because of the snake.

Severus lives about 10 minutes outside the town, on the side opposite the train station. If you were to walk from one end of the town to the other, it would only take about15 minutes.

There aren't many shops in the town. There is a grocery store, a pet store, a clothing store, a pharmacy, a small doctors office, a post office, a city hall, and there is a large fountain in the center of the town square.

As he makes his way past the pet store he pauses before going inside.

"Hello. What can I…You!" the pet shop owner exclaims in surprise as he sees who has walked into the shop.

"Yes, it's me. I decided to come back for the summer." Severus says coldly.

"Well, I'm glad your back Severus, even if it is only for the summer. So what can I do for you? You certainly didn't come in here just to pay and old man like me a visit. And what do you have in that box there?" the shop keeper asks in a friendly voice.

Severus relaxes a bit, just marginally , then says "I wasn't sure I was still welcome here…"

"You'll find that most people still don't like you, but that won't be any different from before. My wife and I still care for you. We, like everyone else here, still don't know what really happened, but we never liked your father anyway." The shop keeper says, coming over and patting Severus on the back.

"Thank you." Severus says quietly, awkwardly.

The shopkeeper smiles and says "Well, now that that's dealt with, I'll ask again, what can I do for you? And what's in the box?"

Severus chuckles a little saying "You always were to the point. I finally got a snake. I just came into here to grab the stuff I'm going to need to care for, and feed, it."

The shopkeeper smiled, nodding and proceeding to start rushing around the shop adding items to a steadily growing pile on the counter.

Severus just shakes his head and goes to stand by the counter, out of the way.

Severus was carefully putting the box on the counter, being sure to keep it a safe distance from the still growing pile, when an elderly lady came bustling into the room, from the back.

"Alec, when are we getting that next shipment of hamster food?" she asks, not even noticing Severus standing off to the side.

"They should be here in the next couple of days. Rose, guess who came back?" Alec says, pausing in his rushing.

"Who?" Rose asks curiously, her back now fully to Severus as she follows Alec's movements.

Alec waves his hand in the direction behind her, before bending down to grab something off of a bottom shelf.

She turns around and her eyes widen as she exclaims "Severus! Your back!"

Severus smirks gently saying "Hi Rose. How have you been?"

She rushed over to him and started poking and prodding him.

"I've been fine. Now don't try to distract me young man! I can tell you haven't been eating properly again! You're here for the whole summer? Good. You will have to join Alec and I for dinner a few times. And I'll be sure to bring over many meals." Rose says in almost one whole breath.

"Your pretty spry for an old lady." Severus comments affectionately.

"You watch your mouth young man! You're supposed to respect your elders!" Rose says, mock sternly.

Then she smiles and says "Now are you going to stand there looking like a bat or give the women who's practically been a grandmother to you a hug?"

Severus rolled his eyes but uncrossed his arms and holds them open. Rose promptly moves into them and engulfs him in a gentle, caring hug.

"How have things been Severus? I've been so worried about you."

Severus sighs and gently wraps his arms around her saying "Difficult. Things have been very difficult. But I am still alive, and that's what counts."

They stay there for a few minutes, one person giving as much comfort as possible, and the other taking the rarely given comfort.

After a few minutes Rose pulled away saying "So what are you doing back? I honestly never expected to see you again. Is everything alright?"

Severus chuckles and says "I just needed a break. You don't need to worry so much."

Alec came over, and after assessing the pile of items he put together, he turned to Severus saying "I think that'll be everything you need. You'll also need to come back about once a month for food."

Severus looked at the pile and snarkily replied "I think that's enough stuff to spoil a whole pit full of snakes let alone keep one snake alive."

"Oh stop whining Severus. I know as well as you do that you want the snake to live in comfort." Alec says, moving behind he counter to do the calculations for all the items.

Severus harrumphs and crosses his arms. It would have been sulking, but as Severus Snape does not sulk, it obviously wasn't sulking.

That didn't stop Rose from commenting on it however.

"Stop sulking Severus. It isn't becoming of a man your age." Severus opens his mouth to say something but she cuts him off. "Yes, you were sulking. Don't try to argue with me dear, you won' win."

Alec chuckles and says "She's right you know. So how 'bout you don't even try, and show us your snake instead."

Severus just sighs and thinks 'It's like trying to argue with Albus.' Out loud however he says "Alright." He pulls the box closer to himself and slowly, carefully starts opening it. He is unsure if the snake will attack or not.

When he finally opens it completely he peers in to see the snake peering almost woefully back at him.

Severus pauses, taking a minute to admire the snake, as he had not seen it yet.

It is a smooth black, except for a few scars running across its back and one on its head. If it were to stretch out completely it would probably reach roughly 2 to 2 ¼ feet long.

The snake seems to glare at Severus before yawning and closing its eyes as if to sleep.

When the snake yawned Severus could see its teeth. Just from seeing those he assumed that, even if the man who he bought it from hadn't told him, he would still know the snake is poisonous. The snake's teeth are two inches long, and even from a glance are easily identified as hollow, and ready to be filled with poison in a second. But the real give away are the poison sacs behind the teeth.

Ever so slowly Severus lowers his hands into the box. As his hands move gradually lower the snake's eyes snap open and it stares at Severus, hissing.

"Hush, I'm not going to harm you." Severus says calmly and soothingly.

The snake continues hissing for a few seconds before calming down. It slowly raises its body up, and starts flicking its tongue, tasting the air around Severus' hands.

Severus just stands there patiently waiting to see what the snake will do.

After carefully tasting the air around Severus' hands for a few minutes it calmly lowers itself back into a sleeping position, though not closing its eyes, as if giving Severus silent permission to pick it up.

Severus slowly lowers his hands the rest of the way into the box. He slowly brushes his hands over the snake's skin. With the snake watching his every movement he slowly slides his hands under I, gently lifting it out of the box.

When he finishes pulling it completely out of the box he looks over at Alec and asks "Would you be able to tell me its gender? I need to know that before I can name it."

Alec nods and holds out his arms to take the snake. The snake looks warily at the outstretched arms, only moving when Severus angles his arms so that the snake could either move on its own or slowly slide down onto Alec's arms, as Severus is a bit taller than Alec.

The snake reaches out, tasting the air around Alec's hands before slowly slithering onto his outstretched arms.

After inspecting the snake, Alec gently hands it back to Severus saying "It's a male. It's also very docile, which is unusual for a wild snake. You should count your blessings, but also keep an extra close eye on it. Snakes are very cunning Severus."

Severus nods saying "Believe me; I am well aware of how cunning a snake can be."

He gently puts the snake back in the box, deeming to name it later. The snake closes his eyes and is asleep before Severus even finishes fully closing the box.

"He is a beautiful snake Severus. He also has an air of intelligence about him. Take good care of him, and I bet he will protect you in return." Alec says wisely.

Severus just looks at him for a moment before nodding slightly in understanding.

Severus pays the amount Alec asks for all the items, not knowing for certain but highly suspecting that he lowered the actual price. Then, after promising to come back within a week, if for nothing more than a visit, Severus makes his way out of the store with bags full of all the stuff he bought.

When he gets out of the range of site of the shop, he ducks into an alley, shrinks the bags, and then continues on his way.

Finally he is making his way to the place he hasn't been to for over 25 years. Spinners End.

Hey, I obviously haven't had Severus name the snake (Harry) yet, I just can't seem to think of a name. If you have any ideas please send them to me!! I would appreciate it sooo much!! Thanks all!!