Chapter 10- Veterinarian

Snuffles was mentally castrating himself for being so foolish as to have snuck out of the tower and going after Mrs. Norris. He had been really, really.. ! Snuffles stopped and quickly looked up at the stormy expression on Snapes face. If he was right about what he waws seeing he had better be careful or Snape would have him castrated when they got to Diagon Alley. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"Professor... um, do you think it wise for us to see this Vet? Harry inquired bravely as he tried to keep up to the long strides of the furious Potions Master. "And how do we transport Snuffles while in Diagon Alley" Harry ventured to ask and then as the glinting black eyes bore down on him he fought the impulse to shy away. "Especially as Snuffles would draw a lot of attention what with the stretcher and all I mean."

"Don't worry Potter! I am not any happier about this situation than you are." The obviously still irate Potions Master spat. "You heard the Headmaster's orders. We have to go together to Diagon Alley with your Dog Father in tow. But first I wish to mend what injuries I can before we leave the castle. Then I'm sure he won't be so obvious other than being a very large, shaggy black, undistinguished breed of dog."

Stopping halfway down the main floor corridor near a group of windows Snape lowered the the stretcher down onto the floor and glowered at the injured animagus. "Well at least now I understand... The exposure to Dementors for so long during your residence at Azkaban has further eroded what little common sense you had in your under-evolved brain."

Snuffles growled slightly at the implied insult as he wasn't any more happy than Snape was with the situation. Harry whispered. "Don't Snuffles. You'll just make things worse."

Snuffles gave him a look of disgust. ''Things couldn't get any worse. Now Snape knew his real identity and who in their right mind would trust a Death Eater! Oh right... Dumbledore did. But then he was the one to reveal Snuffles human identity so...''

"Don't bother to try and analyze the situation Mutt. You just might burn out whatever is left of what you use for brain cells ." drawled Snape which caused both Snuffles and Harry to stare at him. "Honestly I should have guessed you weren't just a dog right from the start. Dumbledore has a tendency to give second chances to pretty well everyone who he thinks can be helped. Of course those second chances often come with a steep price."

Harry screwed up his eyes as he thought out what the Potions Master was saying. "Soooo ... He gave you a second chance even though you took the Mark?"

"Yes. He did. But like I said second chances come with a steep price." He pondered a moment , should he tell this Golden Boy? May as well tell part of it. "One of mine is to keep you, Potter safe even though you persist in getting yourself and your friends into life threatening situations. " He smirked as he turned to the black dog. "I wonder what price your second chance will be... Black!"

Snuffles blinked as a mixture of thoughts whirled around in his head, ''Dumbledore didn't...wouldn't make him pay for his protection. Would he? He said he believed in my innocence! Of course after all these years he had left me in Azkaban without a trial... Anyway I'm a Griffindor, not a snake or Death Eater...'' He shook his head in frustration. "Snape was just playing with his mind..thats it."

"Oh, so you are keeping an eye on me for Dumbledore and for the sake of your second chance?" Harry's face blazed as he felt insulted somehow.

"Not quite Potter. You may think I am, but it is for your Mothers sake that I do what I do to protect you Potter." Answered Severus as he reached into the voluminous pockets of his robe and pulled out some vials and set some aside on the window sill while replacing the ones he didn't want, muttering softly to himself. ''Sleeping Draught...no, better not. Strengthening solution...yes, and some blood replenishers, Dittany, wound cleaning potion, bruise Paste.'' He looked at the small container and then at Black as he commented in an off-handed manner, "If you were in human form I'd use some of this Bruise-healing paste that the Weasley twins created."

He smirked at Harry's wide eyed flabbergasted expression as his mouth opened and shut without saying anything. "Yes Potter you do make an excellent imitation of a goldfish, now if only your brains have evolved higher than one- I would like you to assist me in giving Snuffles these potions to keep him stable till we arrive at Dumbledores' suggested ..healer."

Unable to believe what he was seeing, Harry was entranced by the sight of the vials filled with different varieties of potions that kept coming out of Snape's pockets. It was as if he carried a whole Apothecary with him. Snapping out of his trance he quickly knelt down and held Snuffles so the potions could be downed Snuffles unwilling throat. Harry was startled as Snuffles large pink tongue slurped across his face .

Snape picked up the first vial. Shaking his head he observed the pair sourly. For a bare moment he wondered why he hadn't lost his temper after finding out about the deceptive 'prank' played on him by the Headmaster and Black. Too bad Dumbledore didn't elaborate further on his reasons why he had wanted him to look after the mutt in the first place for the brat who continues to live in spite of every foolish and dangerous things he did, especially since the Ministry had a warrant out for Blacks arrest. Severus frowned. 'Then again it wouldn't be him in trouble for harbouring Sirius Black. Why should he bother to enlighten me, I'm just a Slytherin, former Death Eater and his spy within the Dark Lords circle.'

Snuffles had to admit that he felt much better after taking those vials of rotten tasting potions that he was sure was made that way just so Snape could practice torturing everyone without getting into trouble with Dumbledore. Personally he would have spat them out into Snapes face if he could, but for Harry holding his muzzle shut after each time one of those vile disgusting mixtures were poured down his throat. At least Harry hugged him afterward and he tolerated the brightly coloured leash as it was attached to his collar by his Godson.

Snape banished the empty vials back to his lab and then snapped. "Well come on you two let's get this over with before the rest of your admirers are up to delay us."

Harry glowered but bit back his comment that he idea of going with Snape wasn't very appealing either.

He would prefer going with just about anybody else but it occurred to him that the Headmaster expected the three of them to co-operate and get along with each other. He seemed to think that if they spend time around each other that they would find out that they would have a lot in common and become friends... Yeah right.

Diagon Alley

The Vet had been expecting the great Harry Potter and Potions Master Snape as Albus had courteously Floo-called him about the emergency. Herriot Dodds was very easy going and yet very professional in looking after both magical and non-magical creatures. He had studied to be a veterinarian in the muggle world as his parents had declared that he had so little magic in him that he was considered a squib. Since he never got a letter from Hogwarts he believed the assessment. As it turned out, he found out when aiding a neighbours little crup - he had just enough magic in him to heal injuries in small magical creatures too.

"Snuffles injuries looks better than what Albus has described. He said that Filch's cat is a real scrapper when she wants to be. I take it she came out on top of the situation without much harm!"

"She seemed fine when Filch took her away with him." Harry explained as Snape was obviously not going to enlighten the veterinarian. "I know Snuffles shouldn't have started fighting with Mrs. Norris but when she raised her hackles and spat at him when she saw him, naturally he would have to defend his honour."

Yes. Nasty situations do happen when Cats and dogs have their little spats." said the friendly looking squib Veterinarian as he checked critically over the condition of the shaky dog. "I see now you have been treating him already..." He looked up at the dark dangerous look of the scowling Potions Master and quickly added'. "I commend your initiative in that you have lowered the chances of infections and blood poisoning. It looks like all I really need to do now is put in a few stitches."

While Snuffles was prodded and poked by the sympathetic Veterinarian he alternately barked and pouted. At least that is what it looked like he was doing .. pouting that is. His mouth was puckered up and his large expressive brown hound dog eyes were staring mournfully at Harry in the office with unshed tears forming in them and then he growled and glared at Snape while the vet stitched up a few of the more noticeable rents in his hide.

Harry felt terrible as He couldn't say much what with Snape standing there glaring at both of them as if they had planned to get into this situation. Snuffles was just staying in character, after all.

While waiting for the Vet to finish Severus did some thinking. " I know that Potters dog father is going to try and make me feel like I am to blame for his misfortune. He should count himself fortunate that I didn't let it slip that his flea bitten hide was really a disguise for a most loathsome excuse for a wizard- Potter's God-father Sirius Black. But I foolishly promised -Er, was coerced by Albus that I wouldn't say anything. If anybody is to feel guilty this time it isn't going to be me.' He looked at Harry's stricken face. The boy's thoughts showed clearly on his face. "Potter don't blame yourself. It was Snuffles choice to go after that cat." Snape said gruffly.

Harry looked up and nodded sadly as the vet gave Snuffles a pat on the head and told him that that he was going to be fine. After verifying that nothing else was urgently needed to be done they left the examination room.

While Snape paid the vet bill, Harry kept quiet even as he was thinking. " Still, I feel that I am still responsible, even though deep down I know that my Godfather loves me deeply and wouldn't blame me, but yet ..I still feel feel guilty. Even though I know I am just imagining what I'm thinking, It seems as far as he is concerned it was my fault for not telling him to stay away from that cat."

As they left the Vet's office, it seemed to Harry that Snape stayed just far enough away from them to disassociate himself from the fact that everybody was staring at him and Snuffles who was obviously sulking, as the dogs large head was down, practically dragging the floor. His whole body slumped as if he had been misused.

Once they left the office Harry managed to get Snuffles to keep walking in between Snape and himself even though it was obvious that neither of them really appreciated being so close to each other.

The three of them were halfway down the street as Snuffles persisted in moving slowly when the devious mutt sat down abruptly in front of Florean Fortescue's where he sat sulkily while giving Harry sad puppy dog eyes. Harry did his very best to coax him along while Snape gave both of them thunderous looks.

After awhile it was obvious that Snuffles was not going to budge and Snape definitely did not want to draw any more undesirable attention than necessary by causing a scene in public. thinking to himself that he was a fool and becoming soft, he grouched at Harry to just hurry up and get whatever it was the mutt wanted so they could return and to get something to eat themselves since they had missed breakfast.

Harry looked at Snape in shocked amazement as if he had grown two heads after all he thought after all this that Snape would have just used a charm like Petrificus Totalus on Snuffles even though there were some onlookers watching them with amusement dancing across their faces. He shocked Harry even more as he withdrew some galleons and handed him the money to pay for the two treats.

Harry didn't think Ron or Hermione would believe him If he told them what Snape just did. In fact he was sure they would have suggested that he commit himself into Saint Mungos for evaluation as he might be suffering from an imminent mental breakdown.