A/N: I know this is a somewhat shorter chapter, but it really was the best place to end it. I'll try to write more soon. Enjoy!
It was the last night before Harry was leaving for the Burrow. He was definitely ready for a break. He felt like a house elf, helping rebuild the castle and fix up professors' classrooms. He was also looking forward to some time where he could not study but not feel too guilty for sitting around and doing nothing. He knew he'd be plenty occupied at Ron's. And he was nervous about seeing Ginny. He hadn't been able to spend any time alone with her after the battle before everyone left, and he hadn't written her over the summer. He didn't know what he would say. He could imagine Hermione rolling her eyes at him and saying, 'Boys,' in that tone she had. But Harry knew he wasn't any good at being in a relationship. Cho had been an unmitigated disaster. He'd already incurred Ron's wrath once for breaking up with Ginny before they left on their horcrux hunt. In fact, he wasn't even really sure he and Ginny were back together. She'd kissed him that once before he'd left, and then once during the battle, but…did that mean they were a couple again? So that brought him back to not writing. Really, what could he say in a letter that wouldn't just sound completely stupid?
Dear Ginny,
I know we kissed that one time for my birthday and then that other time during the battle, but I'm not really sure we are a thing. Are we a thing again, now?
Cheers,
Harry
Right. That would definitely earn a Hermione eye roll.
So Harry was restless. He stared at the ceiling in the dark, the moon casting shadows across his covers (he had no need to draw the curtains closed, since he was alone in the dorm). He decided he'd take a stroll as a cat, just to have something to do. He was again reminded of how nice it was not to have to slink around under the invisibility cloak. The only drawback was that he didn't have access to his wand or the Marauder's Map as a cat. He got up to open the bedroom door and then without any effort at all, he changed into the cat and left.
Most students probably assumed that the castle was quiet at night. They'd be wrong. Harry had always known that, though, since he'd been sneaking around under his cloak since Christmas of his first year at Hogwarts. Not only was there the occasional teacher (did they ever sleep?), but there were the ghosts, who seemed oblivious to the time of day, and there were the portraits. The portraits were reasonably quiet during the day, or at least in comparison to the din the students caused, the portraits seemed quiet. But at night, they chattered away unconcernedly. Some of them slept, of course, but many of them carried on meaningless conversations with whoever else was in their frame, or even traveling to a different frame to have a companion.
Harry had been meandering around the castle hallways, passing under picture frames, hearing fragments of conversations that were so loud in the deserted hallways he couldn't hear the soft steps come up behind him.
"Cat," Snape's voice sounded amused. "Out for a midnight stroll?"
Harry's head snapped back to look at Snape. He tried to frown, but was pretty sure cats couldn't really do that. He didn't want to be found by Snape. Now he knew he'd have to go down to Snape's quarters, because he figured Snape would be suspicious if the cat he'd had in his rooms twice suddenly ran away from him. And the last thing he wanted to do was alert Snape that there might be something unusual going on.
"Rowrr," Harry answered him.
"Looking for mice?" Snape walked up to Harry and squatted down, taking Harry's head in both hands and massaging around his ears and jaw and neck. Harry felt the purr coming before he could stop it, and his body vibrated involuntarily. "Why don't you leave those to Mrs. Norris, mmm?" Snape scooped Harry up quickly and began walking. "Don't worry," he smirked, "I'll let you leave when you're done eating my food."
Harry resigned himself to whatever amount of time he would have to spend with Snape and didn't fight back. Instead, he found himself thinking how odd it was that, held so close to Snape's side, he could feel the warmth of Snape's body through his robes, and although they were walking at a brisk pace, he didn't feel at all concerned that Snape might drop him. Snape had sure, confident hands. A product of being a Potions Master, Harry supposed.
"You can keep me company while I edit," Snape explained to cat-Harry as they rounded the corner before Snape's office.
Snape wanted company. Snape had kidnapped a stray cat to keep him company. Snape was weird.
Snape set Harry down as soon as they were inside his private rooms. This time, Harry didn't dart underneath anything, but followed Snape into the kitchen, where he waited for Snape to get the tuna. He sat staring up at Snape, his tail flicking. Once the scent of the tuna hit his nose, he unconsciously licked his lips.
"Quite the patient cat, aren't you?" Snape smiled sideways at Harry. "Perhaps you're not a stray. Maybe one of the students' who are here over the summer. You wouldn't be so well-behaved if you were a stray, would you?"
If I was, would you kick me out? Harry wondered to himself. "Mrowr," he said to Snape.
Snape carried the plate of tuna out to the sitting area and once again set it on the couch next to him after he had sat down. Harry didn't wait for further invitation before he leapt up and began eating the food. Snape silently summoned a periodical and conjured a glass of what Harry assumed was wine and then began to read.
Suddenly, the flames in the fireplace flashed bright green.
"Severus?" a face appeared in the flames.
Snape stood immediately and went over to crouch down by the fireplace.
"Severus, are you there?" the face said again.
"Yes," Snape answered.
"Might I come through? I've something to discuss with you," the man (for Harry now realized it was a man's voice) asked.
"Yes, yes, come through," Snape rose and dusted off his trousers as he stood back to make room for whoever was about to come through the floo.
Harry's stomach nearly lost its tuna when he saw Lucius Malfoy step out onto the hearth rug.
"Thank you," Lucius said as he brushed the ash off his shoulders.
Snape nodded, sitting back down next to Harry. Lucius didn't wait to be asked to sit before lowering himself into the armchair across from the sofa. A smirk appeared on Lucius's face.
"I didn't know you had a cat, Severus," Lucius made eye contact with Harry, who was fighting everything inside him not to bound over and claw the man's eyes out.
Snape glanced down at Harry. "Not mine, strictly. A stray who wandered in from the forest. Comes in to eat from time to time."
"What's his name?" Lucius asked.
Snape looked back down at Harry thoughtfully. "I'm not sure," he mused. "I suppose I could call him 'He-Who-Has-Not-Yet-Been-Named'." *
Lucius snorted. "He is black, you could call him Dark Lord."
"I call him Cat," Snape returned Lucius's snort.
"Yes, well, enough of your cat," Lucius crossed his legs elegantly. Harry figured that anything the Malfoys did would seem elegant. Lucius could probably pick his nose and make it seem practically royal. "I find myself in a dilemma," he began. "I believe you could be of some assistance to me."
Snape raised an eyebrow.
"As you know," Lucius continued, seeming just slightly uncomfortable. Harry figured asking for help was probably in the top ten on the list of humiliating things for a Malfoy to do. "As part of the terms of my," he cleared his throat, "agreement."
Snape made a soft sound and crossed his arms.
"My permits have been revoked. I need to have them reinstated. If I cannot trade, my business will be bankrupt by the end of the year." Lucius looked like he might be sick.
"I fail to see how I could be of any assistance, Lucius," Snape stated blandly.
"I need someone who can influence the new Minister to reconsider these particular terms of my agreement," Lucius explained.
"I fear you overestimate my clout, my friend," Snape smiled thinly. "There are few beyond the small Order of the Phoenix circle who would listen to an argument from me for leniency on a Death Eater."
Lucius's hand curled tightly on the head of his cane. Harry wondered if he'd managed to reattach his wand to it.
"Shacklebolt was a member of the Order, was he not?" Lucius ground out.
"He was," Snape affirmed, "but I doubt he'd be open to changing the terms for the Death Eater that housed the Dark Lord for the many months leading up to the final battle."
Lucius's face was a thundercloud.
"In fact," Snape continued, "I was under the impression that parole itself was the court's way of showing you mercy. Wasn't your original sentence five years in Azkaban?"
"Yes," Lucius hissed, "but what good is being out of Azkaban if I cannot run my business? My permits cannot be reinstated for another two years! I'll have no source of income!"
"Find someone else to obtain the permits and run the business while you serve the terms of your parole," Severus shrugged in suggestion.
"Who would want to become the head of a lucrative business for just two years and then give everything up?" Lucius sounded like he thought Snape's idea was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.
"I'm sure you could find someone," Snape said placidly. "Surely you have friends at the Ministry that you could call favors in from?"
Lucius gave Snape a look that held some sort of secret communication. Snape shook his head and almost laughed.
"Not me, Lucius," Snape protested. "I've no interest in becoming involved with you. With your business."
"Severus," Lucius seemed unaccustomed to rejection. Harry wasn't surprised. "You," he growled.
"I don't owe you anything," Snape cut him off. "I testified on your family's behalf to keep all three of you out of prison. That more than covered any debt there may have been between us."
Lucius scowled openly at Snape. "Think of Draco," Lucius finally tried. "Without being able to work for me, he'll have nowhere to go once he finishes with this year."
"Draco will manage just fine, I'm sure," Snape sounded completely unconcerned. "He's always been quite resourceful."
"And what of Narcissa? What about her comfort?" Lucius tried not to sound desperate.
"I was not under the impression that the Wizengamot had forbade her from working," Snape crossed his legs, leaning a bit further back on the sofa.
Lucius's eyebrows rose up near his hairline. "Narcissa? Work? Have you lost your mind?"
"She's an intelligent witch," Snape sounded as if he was telling Lucius something the man didn't already know. "And her reputation is not quite as tarnished as yours or Draco's. She could find someone willing to employ her."
Lucius fumed for a moment. "I had expected more from you, Severus."
"I'm not sure why," Severus drawled. "You made the nature of our friendship perfectly clear after you found out about my Vow with Narcissa."
"You did not need to interfere!" Lucius whispered furiously.
"Actually, I did," Severus disagreed. "Lucius, out of respect for the relationship we have had over the past few decades, I did what I could to keep you, your son, and your wife out of Azkaban. I do hope that we continue to remain friendly in the coming years. But you are mistaken if you think that my position – or I – can be manipulated to suit your ambitions any more. I have great faith that you will land on your feet."
Lucius looked mutinous. Both men were silent for a few moments. Finally, Lucius composed himself.
"I see. Well, Severus, do you think you could at least keep an eye out for Draco this year? I can only imagine what he will have to deal with while he's back here. Just having to deal with Potter will likely tax his restraint, never mind the other students who like likely have it out for him as well."
At the mention of Harry's name, Harry felt Snape tense slightly.
"I'm sure Draco will have no difficulty handling Potter, or any other student. But yes, I will keep an eye on him," Snape agreed.
Lucius nodded. "I'll be on my way, then."
Snape stood and Lucius followed. Lucius made his way to the fireplace and took a handful of floo powder. He gave Snape a scrutinizing look and Snape gave a thin smile back. Then Lucius threw the powder into the grate and a second later, he was gone.
Snape let out a suffering sigh and turned back to Harry. "Tuna not to your liking?" he nodded at the half-finished plate.
Harry had been so engrossed in the conversation he'd forgotten to eat. He didn't want Snape to suspect anything, so he turned back to the fish and hastily ate the rest. He couldn't believe the way Snape had acted toward Lucius! He'd expected that they would have been best friends. He thought Snape would be happy to help Lucius in any way he could. He couldn't believe that Snape had basically said he didn't care if the Malfoy family became destitute. Of course he'd said he would watch out for Draco. That didn't surprise Harry at all. He knew McGonagall had ordered Snape to be fair, but he was sure Snape would find a way to favor Malfoy anyway. He didn't doubt that Malfoy would be able to get away with taunting Harry, harassing him, and ruining his work. Harry grimaced at the thought.
Harry watched as the empty plate in front of him vanished and then he heard it clank in the sink. Snape didn't sit back down on the sofa, though, instead he headed toward his office door. He didn't invite Harry to come along, but he left the door open behind him. Soon, Harry heard soft, classical music from the office and he jumped down off the sofa and made his way toward Snape to see what he was doing.
Snape was at his desk leaning back in his chair. He had his wine glass in one hand, swirling it around slowly. The other hand was resting on the arm of the chair. His eyes were closed and his head was resting against the head of the chair. He breathed in deeply and then sighed.
Harry just watched him, feeling confused. It was like there were two Snapes. He didn't understand how one person could have two separate personalities. He knew Snape was a good actor; he'd fooled Voldemort into thinking he was loyal, but Harry'd always figured that Voldemort (and anyone else Snape knew) got to see the same Snape that Harry had seen every day since he'd met the man September 1st, 1991. But this Snape – the Snape that Cat saw – he was a completely different person. He didn't scowl, he didn't insult, he didn't ridicule. He was relaxed. He was funny. He pet and fed cats. And it made Harry angry. Snape was capable of being civil. He was perfectly able to be nice. He was sarcastic, sure, but he could function without being mean or cruel. And now that the war was over, now that Snape didn't have to pretend to be loyal to Voldemort anymore, there was no reason to be a prick to anyone. Unless Snape was just so much of a bastard that he wanted to make anyone who he didn't like's life completely miserable. Unfortunately, Harry knew Snape was exactly that much of a bastard.
Harry was snapped out of his reverie when Snape shifted forward and put his wine glass down on his desk. He picked up a quill and bent over his desk, scratching corrections on the paper in front of him. Curious as to what he was doing, Harry walked around to the front of the desk and hopped up. Snape looked up at him, smiled, and then bent back down and continued working. Harry looked over what was on the paper. It looked like potion recipes. He looked at the notes Snape was making. Harry realized they were the notes from the Half-Blood Prince's textbook. Snape's textbook. Snape was editing potions based on his younger self's adjustments. Why? Surely Snape had all that memorized by now. He probably brewed most of those potions once a week. Why would he need to edit them?
"Rowrr?" Harry pawed at the paper.
"Editing my work, Cat," Snape explained to Harry. He put down the quill and folded his hands atop the desk, looking seriously into Harry's eyes. "Perhaps now that my reputation is on the mend, someone might be interested in publishing my work."
Harry was sure if he'd been himself his jaw would have dropped to the floor. As it was, he simply licked his lips.
"Probably foolish, I know," Snape nodded. "You'd read it, wouldn't you, Cat?" Snape's hand snaked up and began rubbing Harry behind the ears. Harry leaned into the touch instinctively. It wasn't like he wanted Snape petting him. It wasn't like he liked it. Well, cat-Harry liked it, but Harry-Harry definitely didn't. "Well, you'll keep my secret, at any rate," Snape smiled smugly and stopped petting Harry. "Of course, you're free to tell your friends," he allowed. "But just the cats," Snape admonished. "Let's not have you spreading my secrets among all the species."
Harry's heart rate quickened. Would he keep Snape's secrets? He had to. He couldn't tell anyone how he had found out these things about Snape. He had to keep Snape's secrets, because Harry had secrets of his own.
A/N: * This line comes from a fanfiction from one of my most favorite authors, oliver snape. The story is "A Grim Old Cat" and this line is honestly the funniest thing I think I've ever, ever read in any fanfiction ever. I just had to use it, but I can't claim it as my own, so I hope oliver snape isn't too furious with me...I did give credit!