Hello again!

Thanks as usual for the reviews and feedback. Also thanks for the well wishes on my illness. I'm supposed to go to a specialist this week and try and schedule more thorough testing to figure out what's wrong. Nothing serious, just my entire intestinal tract and several digestive organs have become inflamed repeatedly leaving me unable to eat or sleep due to pain and nausea for several hours to several days. So it isn't like I'm dying or anything, just really, really uncomfortable. It doesn't fit the initial diagnosis due to the symptoms so the ER wants the specialist to do more inasive tests to find the true cause.

Moving on, this chapter is lighthearted, mainly just some laughs and no real plot. But it's fun!

If Someone Cared Enough

Chapter 122: Fuzzy, Fluffy, Cute Chaos

The first week back at school proved just as mundane and not extraordinary as one would expect. Between the homework and opening classwork of the semester there was little excitement unless you were a first year caught up in the wonderment of setting foot on Hogwarts soil. For those that had been within those hallowed halls for several years already, it was less like journeying out to a grand adventure and more like returning to a second home; welcome, familiar, predictable.

Rarely did anything truly interesting happen at the beginning of the year. No, Hogwarts itself seemed to have a set traditional woven into it's very being to explode with some scandal or havoc closer to exams. It was almost as if the founders enchanted the very stone for it to happen, perhaps as a way of testing students long after they'd been lulled into a false sense of security and complacency.

This is why Severus was so surprised to be dealing with a fiasco so early in the year.

"Rudolf," He sighed, pinching his brow as he took in the destruction that was once the boathouse by the Black Lake, "Stop pestering it and let the ruddy creature be until the professors arrive."

Said ruddy creature was a very grumpy infant Zouwu that Rudolf had apparently smuggled into school instead of his cat familiar and which was currently attempting to make itself a bed out of the shredded remains of the several boat sails and fishing nets.

"He's just cranky," Rudolf insisted, risking another step closer to the creature, "He needs a nap."

Rudolf held out a stuffed lion toy, "Here Oolong, here boy. Don't you want Mr. Fluffles?"

The poorly named Oolong simply growled, something that would have been fearsome if he was full grown but with his chubby kitten tummy and stubby limbs, along with his oversized feet and mane, just looked pitifully adorable. Still, one should never underestimate a creature based on their sized, the damage already done to the boat dock standing as a great example of that.

"Rudolf," Severus said commandingly, "Put the toy down and step back. When an animal wants space, you'd best give it to them."

Huffing, Rudolf did as he was told, placing the lion toy on the ground in plain view of the kitten-sized beast.

After a few moments of wary staring, the Zouwu slowly got down from his makeshift den and slinked across the floor. Once he was within reach of the toy, Oolong lash out and took hold of Mr. Fluffles with his mouth before turning tail and darting back into his den, managing to burrow under one of the torn up sails.

Lily giggled from her place behind Severus, calmly holding back the throngs of curious students, "Maybe now he can get some sleep."

Severus tsked, looking around the boathouse, "It's going to take a while to put things to rights in here. I hate how these things warp time when they jump around."

"I mean look at this," Severus gawked, jabbing a finger at the boat mast sticking through the wall, "Who knows where the rest of that thing is; it's not sticking out the other side of the wall. He warped it somewhere and Merlin help us if we have any idea where that is."

The sound of running feet brought the group out of their chuckles at Severus exasperation.

"My word!" McGonagall uttered in surprise as she took in the extent of the damage, "What on earth happened here?"

Slughorn and the new DADA professor sidled up alongside her, the former panting heavily and red in the face.

"What's this about a Zouwu?" the DADA professor, Professor Anatoli asked, wand already drawn.

Lily quickly jumped in his way, "It's only a baby. It's hardly dangerous at this age."

"That's up for some debate," Severus muttered, still scowling at the mast embedded in the wall.

"It's true," Rudolf joined in, "He's only a month and a half old; they can't do much harm at this age."

McGonagall took one look at Rudolf and sighed, "Mr. Scamander….I might have known you'd be behind this."

Rudolf had the good grace to look moderately ashamed.

Professor Anatoli cleared his throat, "Where exactly is the creature?"

Severus pointed to the shifting mound of shredded sails on the other side of the room, "I'd start looking there."

The professors all took a few cautious steps forward and Slughorn let out a low curse as the floorboard beneath him creaked loudly.

The wiggling beneath the sails stopped, going deathly still.

"What possessed you to bring such a beast into the school, Mr. Scamander?" McGonagall hissed, "Does your father even know you have this thing?"

Rudolf shrugged, "Well he's probably noticed by now that the litters a cub short."

"And if Newt has any awareness of how reckless his son is, then he's most likely headed here as we speak," Slughorn pointed out, still staring with trepidation at the lump under the sails.

Severus caught some movement in his periphery and threw his arm out to catch some creeping students, "Not so fast."

A first year whined, "But it's just a baby."

"Just because it's a baby doesn't mean it can't maim you," Severus said bluntly, "It's only a month old and it's already bigger than a Great Dane."

"I love that breed!" came a happy, deep voice behind them.

Severus honestly wasn't surprised the commotion had caught Hagrid's attention.

Lily smiled at the groundskeeper, "Hello, Hagrid."

"'Ello, Lily. Severus," the half giant greeted, "Saw everyone hanging out here and got curious."

McGonagall shushed him, "We're a little preoccupied at the moment, Rubeus.

"I noticed," Hagrid said with a good natured chuckled, "All crammed in here like sardines, you are. You're not down here fishing, are you? Because I already got today's catch for the kitchens."

McGonagall sighed, "No, we're—"

"Even got a few extra for myself."

As Hagrid proudly held up his basket of trout, the shuffling within the Zouwu's nest resumed, startling everyone. The blankets shifted from side to side before the lump slid forward and the very edge of one layer of sails lifted up slightly. A pair of golden-orange eyes peered out at them from the darkness beneath the sails.

Hagrid tilted his head, intrigued, "Ello, now. What do we have here?"

The Zouwu cub's head popped out of the bed, eyes zeroing in on the fish in Hagrid's hand.

"Hagrid…" Severus said softly, "Maybe you should put that fish dow—"

All at once, Oolong burst from the nest of sails and leaped into the air, sending many students squawking and ducking for cover and Slughorn flat on his fanny, "Good heavens!"

Oolong made a beeline straight for Hagrid amid the panicked shouts of the group, but rather than attack as they feared, the little Zouwu came to a screeching halt at Hagrid's feet and sat back on his haunches.

Oolong chuffed expectantly, eyes wide and fixated on the fish.

"Why aren't you just precious," Hagrid cooed, as much as a mountain of a man could coo, "Tiny little thing, aren't you?"

"Be careful, Hagrid," Anatoli cautioned, "Zouwu's are quite dangerous in the wild."

Oolong chuffed again, batting at the basket of fish.

Hagrid laughed, "You must be hungry, hm? Well here you go."

He held out one of the trout in his basket, chuckling as the Zouwu cub gobbled it down immediately before looking up for another.

"Well I suppose I've got plenty to share," Hagrid laughed, offering the cub two more fish.

Satiated after three helpings, the Zouwu chirruped happily, rubbing itself against Hagrid's legs and making the man melt into a figurative puddle.

"Come here, you," Hagrid said, scooping up the creature.

"Uh…Hagrid, that might not be the best idea…" Lily tried to warn him.

However, Oolong seemed to mind being held very little if the way he snuggled into Hagrid's beard was any indication.

Rudolf looked thoroughly downtrodden by this development, "I've never been able to get him to warm up to me that much. How come he's so fond of you?"

"It's because I'm hairy," Hagrid declared, chuckling as Oolong nuzzled his neck, "Reminds him of his mum, I bet."

"Well," McGonagall interjected with probably more calm than she actually felt, "Seeing as the immediate crisis has been alleviated…Hagrid, would you be amendable to watching—"

"Oolong," Rudolf supplied helpfully.

McGonagall rolled her eyes, "Oolong with Professor Anatoli until Newton arrives?"

"Newton Scamander?" Hagrid repeated excitedly, paying no heed to the cub now gnawing on his fingers, "I haven't seen him in ages. Brilliant man he is; has such a way with the animals. Do you suppose he'll have time for a cuppa tea?"

"Possibly," McGonagall replied, "Perhaps after he's given his son a good talking to."

Rudolf cringed.

"Whatever possessed you to bring such a beast to school?" McGonagall asked, "For Merlin's sake, look what it's done to the boathouse alone!"

Rudolf shuffled his feet, "I thought I could bond with him…dad is always making friends with magical creatures. And the Zouwu at home has a whole big litter, she won't miss one."

"You're father has had years of training," Slughorn chided gently, already putting the boathouse to rights with some careful and practiced wand waves, "As for that creature's mother, I don't think she'll appreciate you taking one of her babies."

"But he's almost old enough to leave his mum anyway," Rudolf argued, "I was just borrowing him."

Severus huffed, "He's not a library book; he's a wild animal. There's a reason your father gives them their own habitats instead of keeping them in the house like pets. They aren't domesticated like kneazles."

"Wisely said, Mr. Snape," McGonagall agreed, "Thank you for keeping things under control until we arrived. You too, Ms. Evans."

"We were at the right place at the right time," Severus noted, "If we hadn't been heading for the greenhouses we never would have heard the commotion."

McGonagall nodded, "Greenhouse, yes. I take it you'll both need a note for Professor Sprout explaining your tardiness?"

Lily smiled, "That would be appreciated. Thank you Professor."

McGonagall wrote up a quick explanation and handed it to them before corralling the remaining students back up towards the school, one hand firmly on a pouting Rudolf.

Hagrid cooed kindly at Oolong, enjoying the cubs affectionate nuzzles as he walked back with Anatoli to his hut to wait for Newt.

"Got to prepare some teacakes," he muttered to himself, "I hope I have enough flour."

Severus and Lily watched him go with exasperation and amusement respectively.

Severus folded his arms over his chest, "Remind me to just get Hagrid to handle all future creature features, would you?"

Lily giggled, "He does have a way with most animals. I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to ask Mr. Scamander to let him keep Oolong."

"Don't even joke about that," Severus warned as they began their trek back up the hill from the lake, "That thing would have Hogwarts in a pile of rubble in a week." He scowled at the laughter his comment evoked from Lily.

Lily nudged him, "Oh come on, Oolong was a cutie."

"A fat furry menace," Severus mumbled, "Just waiting to snack on a bunch of unsuspecting first years."

"I don't think they eat people, Sev," Lily corrected with a playful roll of her eyes, "They're more drawn to small prey like owls and sheep."

"Then feed him my owl," Severus offered dourly, "With any luck, he'd choke on the evil bastard."

"Euripides bit you again, didn't he?" Lily asked knowingly.

Severus pulled back the collar of his robe, showing off a bandage just below his ear, "He's got a taste for blood and now he wants my flesh."

"Strange…he's always nice to me," Lily remarked, "Could be because I'm not a grumpy sourpuss."

"Or because you're a woman," Severus replied tartly, "And he's clearly playing gendered favorites."

Lily continued to giggle so Severus lightly pushed her, making Lily trip over her own feet and barely manage to stop herself from falling into a bush, "Hey!"

Severus feigned innocence, "What?"

Lily glared at him.

"Don't you nonchalantly 'what' me, Severus Snape," she scolded, wagging a finger, "It's very rude to push a lady."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Severus denied impishly, "But I will make sure to remember such advice should I ever meet a lady."

"Why you little—I'll get you for that—"

"Alright there, Evans?" James asked, appearing before them far too suddenly.

It wasn't the most dignified position to be found in, what with Lily pulling back on Severus collar with one hand and holding a fistful of leaves in the other. Severus had a hand on Lily's face to try and hold her off, but she had managed to get a foot onto one of his legs to boost herself upwards roughly around the time James made an appearance.

James looked expectantly at the too, an eyebrow quirked, "Having a tiff?"

"More like a friendly disagreement," Lily replied, climbing off Severus. She settled for tossing the pile of leaves into Severus's face since she lost the opportunity to shove them down his shirt.

James grinned, "Leaves down the shirt, eh? That's a classic; I've done it to Sirius plenty," he stepped forward conspiratorially, "It works best if you have a night crawler hidden in there."

"Don't give her ideas," Severus interjected, smoothing his robes, "May I ask why we are being graced with your presence, Potter? I'm sure as Head Boy it's important you stay on top of all your schoolwork."

James puffed his chest out proudly at the reminder of his esteemed role, "Yes, well you two weren't in Herbology. It's not like either one of you to skimp off from class, so Professor Sprout was worried. So I, being the concerned and responsible Head Boy I am, offered to go look for you. You're both my charges after all."

"We're not you're charges," Severus sighed, "We answer to the professors and headmaster above all."

"Yes, but I am in charge of you," James stated matter of factly and with much pride, "Can't have two of my prized prefects missing class, now can I?"

"That's very…considerate of you, James," Lily said tiredly, trying to maintain a cordial smile, "It just so happens we were on our way to class—with notes from McGonagall explaining our tardiness."

"Best give them here, then," James said, attempting to sound authoritative, "Got to make sure they're legitimate."

At the pair's blank looks James laughed, "I'm joking! Of course I trust my best prefects."

Severus could feel a vein ticking in his forehead.

"What exactly did hold you two up," James asked curiously, as he fell into step with them, "There was some chatter in the hall about a magical creature. Hagrid try breeding some new species again?"

"No but close," Severus griped, crossing his arms, "Rudolf Scamander smuggled in another one of his father's furry friends."

James whistled, "Knowing him it must have been a doozy. Remember when he brought in those Cornish Pixies right around Christmas?"

Lily sighed, "He thought they could help decorate the tree in the Great Hall."

"Instead they hauled students up by the ears and left them hanging by their britches from the branches," Severus said with a scowl, "And managed to wedge Professor Flitwick up a chimney."

James snickered, oblivious to the twin disapproving glares he received from Lily and Severus, "Rudolf does know how to liven up the place. So what did he bring this time? A Hippogriff chick? An Ashwinder?"

"A Zouwu," was Severus clipped reply.

James tripped, staring at Severus in shock and surprise, "Bloody hell, how is the place still standing?"

"It was only a baby," Lily clarified, "Barely a month old. They can't do much damage at that age."

Severus snorted, "Tell that to the boat house. Bet you anything that they find the other half of that mast in Thailand or something."

"The point is," Lily pressed on, narrowing her eyes at Severus, "that no one got hurt. But we did need to keep the peace until a professor could come help out. That's why we're late."

James nodded, "Shame I missed it. Must have been pretty exciting."

"Not the word I would have used for it," Severus drawled.

"Yeah but just picture it; me, taming a beast. How amazing would that be?"

"James, it's a baby," Lily reiterated, "You would have scared it half to death trying anything foolish."

"And it would be ten times as dangerous when scared," Severus said wisely, looking James sternly in the eye, "There's nothing more dangerous than an animal that's spooked. That's a wild creature, Potter. They're not pets for a reason."

James waved him off, "I know; they're not domesticated and all that junk. But seriously, how fantastic would it be to own one of those things?!"

Severus bit back a sigh while Lily shook her head. It seemed James would always have a reckless streak a mile wide and zero sense of self-preservation.

Professor Sprout lit up with a bright smile when the trio entered the room, "There you are! I was beginning to think you two had dropped my class."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Professor," Lily said sweetly. She held out the note from McGonagall, "Sorry we're late, Professor. Official prefect business."

Sprout examined the note with interest before nodding her head, "I figured you wouldn't skip without a good reason. Really, that Rudolf…such an impish boy."

"Oh well," she said with a sigh. She gestured towards the workbenches, "Take a seat and get your gloves on. Today we're potting offshoots of Hogwarts very own Whomping Willow."

She pointed to a large bucket at the end of the room, filled with many skinny, flailing branches.

"Now some of the saplings branches have gotten quite tangled from all the swinging around," Sprout said, pulling on her gloves, "So we'll need to carefully get them apart. I'll be teaching you the proper procedure for subduing a Whomping Willow, so pay attention."

Severus and Lily squeezed themselves in between Remus and Mary on the work benches, ignoring James attempts to waved them over to sit by him. Thankfully, James seemed to be of the mind that they just didn't see him and shrugged before joining Sirius in conversation.

"He's serious about this buddy thing, isn't he?" Severus quietly said out the side of his mouth.

"Seems like it," Lily said, "But still, it's better than being harassed and hexed all the time, right?"

Severus scoffed, "Doesn't mean he won't be dogging my steps any less though, just slapping me on the back and calling me his pal instead of hexing me blind and calling me a bastard. Sort of a tossup on which is more appealing at this point."

Lily elbowed him, "Dealing with him being 'nice' is loads better than him trying to get you killed or expelled. Admit it."

"Not until my dying breath," Severus said stubbornly.

Lily, annoyed with Severus stubbornness, found far too much amusement when later on a willow sapling managed to get tangled with Severus hair during potting.

No real reason for this chapter other than to highlight the beginning of Severus's responsibilities as a prefect and James start at this whole 'friendship' plan. That and an excuse to write about baby monster kitties.

Sort of have to pull the lesson plans for the school out of my ass at this point since we missed out on seventh year courses in canon. So I have no idea what they'd be teaching seventh years and had to do a bit of googling for complicated but not expert potions and dangerous but non lethal magical plants students could work with.

Review please.