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So, without further delay.


Chapter five: A New Home

Hermione had awoken on a green couch, next to a fire. She smiled happily stretching her paws before noticing another person in the room. She turned to see the woman she had seen last night talking with a man in his forties that wore complete black.

"...Was wondering when you decided to drag in some mangy cat off the side of the road, Minerva"

Minerva. Such a pretty name.

"Did Albus agree to this or does he not know that you decided to take a detour of the alley cats in London?" He quirked an eyebrow. Hermione scowled at him.

"Ooch Severus, she's hardly a cat at all; barely a wee kitten"

"...So Albus doesn't know?"

"No, and you be best not be telling him until I have"

Hermione watched as the man rolled his eyes as he sipped on his glass. Was he drinking? Hermione hissed thinking back to her uncle and his awful drinking habits.

He took notice of her posture and smirked.

"Looks like the mangy things up" He commented.

Hermione hissed again before noticing the thick blanket wrapped around her. It was so comfortable and warm compared to anything she had previously experienced and was quickly lulling her back to sleep in her exhausted state.

"I suspect she's hungry" The woman walked into the adjacent kitchen of the quarters and removed milk from the from the fridge before placing it into a feeding bottle. She removed her stick again and began waving it. Hermione stared in confusion as she placed it down in front of her.

"There we go" She smiled down at the kitten as she gently picked Hermione up in the warm blanket and held her like a baby. She placed the bottle near the kitten's lips allowing her sustenance. Hermione felt as though she was in heaven after months of torture and abuse. She smiled internally, finishing off the bottle before howling for more.

Minerva chuckled, "My you're a hungry girl" She tried to pat the kitten again but it crouched down frightened it was going to be hit. Severus saw the reaction and took a sip of his Fire Whiskey. No wonder his colleague had taken the pest in. A small kitten afraid of human contact. Most likely a sob story.

"Will you be looking for a new owner?" The dark man inquired. Minerva refreshed the warm milk and continued feeding her. Hermione's tiny paws tried grasping onto both sides of the glass bottle as she continued feeding her.

"I haven't decided. I need to get Poppy to do a once over on her first before deciding anything" She sat down next to the animal and continued to feed her. Severus tapped his fingers against his firewhisky thinking.

"If you decide to get rid of it, let me know" He muttered taking another sip of his whisky. She smirked, "Thinking of adopting are we, Severus?"

"Just keeping the potions stores stockpiled"

Minerva shot him a dirty look before turning her attention to the small animal beginning to curl itself up in it's blanket to continue sucking on the bottle. Minerva looked to Severus before eyeing the kitten wrapped in the towel. Her eyes were closed as she continued to drink hungrily.

"Could you feed her Severus, please. She's beginning to weigh down on my arm" She stood up forcing the kitten into Severus' hands. He growled having to place his whisky down and grab the cat. Minerva passed him the bottle before she got comfortable once more and picked up her tea. Severus narrowed his eyes as her.

"I hardly doubt your arm is tired" He clicked his tongue. She waved her hand at his before sipping her tea. He sighed in anger before hearing the meows of the kitten no doubt likely wanting Minerva to feed her. He rolled his eyes as he put the bottle back to the kitten's mouth before ignoring her.

"Oh, I almost forgot" Minerva placed her cup down before running out of the room. Severus rolled his eyes before staring down at the kitten in his arms. It's brown eyes watched Severus with every movement as she continued feeding. He couldn't blame her, unlike Minerva he wasn't soft and cuddly, or motherly for that matter. No, the kitten will have to put up with it. He stared at her for a bit. He had only ever nursed a crow back to health before and even that was done in the shadows at his home as he would have to hide the bird from his abusive father who would no doubt of killed the bird had he of found it. Severus was only seven then but knew better not to be hopeful for any happiness come his way.

Flash!

Severus blinked, knocked out of his thoughts. He stared up angrily at Minerva as she held a black polaroid camera in her hands waiting for the picture to be printed.

"Minerva" He gritted his teeth in anger. Both the flash had caught the kitten and him off guard and both seemed quiet upset. However, Minerva ignored the two and walked around the room waving the picture back and forth until the colour soaked through.

"Ooch, hush you. We barely have any nice pictures of you" She lectured him as he glared at her.

"I did not inquire for my photo to be taken"

She smiled at him before staring down at the photo. She had caught it at the right angle. Severus staring down at the young kitten whose eyes glinted back towards his in curiosity. His arms were wrapped around the poor kitten in comfort as he fed her the bottle.

"Beautiful" She muttered. Severus had practically been like a son to her after he graduated and began working at the school. Minerva had never been able to have children after the first wizarding war decided her innate mothering could be spent on him.

"You are not to share that photo with anyone" He sneered at her her. She chuckled. "I'm adding it to Albus' and mines photo collection but be warned I will be showing it to Poppy later" She smiled even wider as he growled at her.

After placing the items back in her room she continued to sit with her friend. She watched in silence as the kitten polished off the bottle before he passed her back to Minerva. She smiled placing the kitten down beside her and wrapped her up next to her now cleaned teddy bear, hoping she would get some more rest from her exhaustive state. She looked over to Severus as he picked up his firewhiskey.

"Honestly Severus, you could use a familiar"

"I see no need for such thing"

"A friend who you could talk too"

"I have friends besides you, Minerva"

"Oh please, I have seen you constantly avoid the other staff during the feasts"

Feasts! That perked Hermione's ears.

"If Poppy would stop swaddling me at my, there lack of, eating habits, alongside Sibill trying to coax me into her tower then I would"

Minerva rolled her eyes at Sibill's name. Yes, the woman had a thing for Severus for the last ten years.

"And I have barely seen you talk to Fillius or Hagrid"

"Too cheerful" He rolled his eyes.

"...Besides that Minerva, who do you not avoid at the table?"

"I'll have you know that I do not avoid any of the staff" She placed her hand to her side not paying attention to the kitten who got the fright of her life when the hand hit her back. She was flung back to the whipping her uncle had given her. Hermione instantly shot off, hiding under the furniture in fear.

"Scaredy-cat" Severus bit harshly finishing off his drink.

Minerva sighed at the poor kitten's reaction.

"I should get Poppy to look her over"

"And what does Poppy know about animals?"

Minerva rolled her eyes.

"Apparently more than you" She threw powder into the floo requesting Poppy to visit her quarters as soon as possible.

Severus stood up brushing his robes, muttering about cat hair on his robes before sculking off.

Minerva had spent the rest of the few minutes she had on her own coxing the small kitten from her hiding spot.


Poppy's eyes rolled as she saw her best friend clasping a small cat into her shirt. It's small body clinging onto the older woman for dear life as Poppy stared at it.

"I really don't know enough about animals, Minerva. I can cast a quick diagnostic spell but it may not be accurate. You should really take her to a vet"

Minerva nodded, sighing as she removed the kitten's claws from her robes before placing the cat down on the table. Hermione howled in annoyance before she felt a warm feeling wash over her. She watched as the other woman swished a stick at her. Hermione rolled her eyes. Another stick.

"Hmmm..." Poppy stared at the sheet.

Minerva's eyes lit up in concern.

"Is something wrong with her?"

Poppy licked her lips before looking over to the animal.

"She has a few injuries from likely being out on the streets but it says the cat is five. She would be fully grown by at least one" Poppy stated.

Minerva checked the list seeing the dates the brakes and injuries occurred.

"She's been abused Poppy. Perhaps her small stature is the outcome of a combination of nutrient deficiencies and the abuse" Minerva suggested.

"That is a possibility. She does however have a few stress fractures throughout her body and hairline fracture on her right leg. Most have healed naturally unfortunately but it may be a possibility she'll have to have surgery to realign some of her bones that have not grown in line. The nutrient deficiency: I'm sure Severus could whip up a potion for that"

Poppy waved her wand at the kitten. In an instant a purple splint was placed on her left front leg. The medi-witch then flicked her wand again, attempting to heal some of the cracks in the cats bones. The kitten whimpered in pain as warm sensation crept over her.

"That should help reduce some of the inflammation and let her bones heal. The splint can come off next week, provided Bear gets plenty of rest and is not overbearing too much on her paws"

She turned to Hermione. "That means no running around you" She accused the Animagus. Hermione's mouth dropped in shock at the splint. She wondered if her bones would be crushed if she tried to change back now that the splint was on. She thought better of it knowing it was a likely consequence.

Poppy glanced back at the paper

"Hmm...it appears the diagnostic spell has also picked up a magical signature" Poppy bit her lip.

"Magical? As in Bears a part of our world?"

"It appears so"

"It may be likely that Bear is a Kneazle then, or at least half of one. Kneazles do generally have a longer period as a kitten before they mature. It may be that Bear's just fallen behind due to her injuries and deficiencies" Minerva exclaimed thinking of asking Hagrid for some advice on Kneazle care.

Hermione ears picked up at the words magic and our. She knew she was not normal but to say she was magical instead of a freak was something amazing to hear from her stance. She knew she was special. She had always wondered if there was anyone else who could do magic. Now she had found them. She smiled on the inside before turning to her carer.

Minerva snickered as the cat jumped back onto her lap and curled up into a ball.

Poppy chuckled.

"She obviously likes you"

"She does get nervous if I put my hand too close to her but I think she's quiet a loving cat" She ran her hands down the cat's back feeling the animal shudder before turning on it's side. Minerva sighed before continuing to pat the animal on its belly.

"Well, if you need any further help please let me know," Poppy took her leave.

Minerva stood up from her seat and decided to take a walk to the headmasters office would do her some good. She carefully placed on her green outer robes before placing the kitten gently into one of the pockets along with her now clean up teddy.


"Dark Chocolate" Minerva rolled her eyes as she spoke to Eagle guarding entrance to her husbands office. She stairs rose and she made her way in. She had caught her lover at his desk reading over another complaint from the ministry of magic.

"Good evening, Albus" She smiled gently pecking him on the cheek.

"Hello Tabby" He stood up kissing her back.

She took a seat opposite him lazing back in the chair.

"How was your meeting with Cornelius this afternoon?"

"It appears Mr Malfoy is after Cornelius' position as Minister of Magic and is currently stirring up an outcry for muggle-born restrictions on certain jobs within the ministry" Albus rubbed his brow.

"Seeing this will limit job opportunities for our newly graduated muggle-borns"

Minerva scratched her neck.

"Would it make much difference. Muggle-borns are quiet rare. We only have maybe one or two a year and that is if we're lucky" She reminded him. Albus leaned back in his chair.

"Lucius is seeking more power over the ministry. I can only imagine it is for nothing good" His wife nodded in agreement.

"Now, I feel as though you have something intriguing to show me"

Minerva smiled affectionately at her husband. He was a man that no one could fool. She wondered why he had been put in Gryfindor when he was perhaps more of a Slytherin at times.

"You always know, Albus" She smiled at him. He leaned back in his chair bringing his hands to meet in the middle.

"I caught him moving in your robes pocket when you walked in"

She chuckled light before reaching into her robes pocket and removing the fluffy animal.

"Her"

"Her" He repeated as Minerva placed the kitten on his desk. He leaned forth, adjusting his glasses as he inspected the small cat. The kitten was roughly around the height of hand with long tufts of fur that no doubt would have to be brushed every second day, it's glowing brown eyes did nothing but scream innocence. He watched as it continued to hold onto it's toy bear, refusing to leave it. He noticed the long purple, immobile splint on her front paw making it difficult for her to properly grasp her teddy.

Albus laced his fingers through his beard before humming in curiosity.

Bears' eyes flicked back and forth attempting to avoid eye contact with the man scrutinizing her. He leaned out offering her hand to sniff. When she didn't he arched his eyebrow. A normal cat reaction would be to small wouldn't it?

He leaned his hand over her patting her head gently as it crept lower trying to avoid the contact.

"Quiet a nervous little cat"

Minerva nodded before leaning forward and gently threading her hand through it's thick fur, careful to avoid her back.

"I think she's been abandoned or abused. Poppy performed a diagnosis scan on her and found several broken bones and nutrient deficiencies. I'm surprised she's still alive. She probably covered in scars underneath that thick fur of hers and she's very underweight" She felt sorry for the poor animal who had already lived quiet a tough life already.

"I've been trying to feed her as much as possible. She's quiet good with being bottle fed for now until she gets her strength up"

Albus nodded watching as the cat watching the strange bird with wonder.

"Did you find out how many months she is?"

"Poppy said she was five years old"

He nodded.

"She said because of the combination of abuse, neglect and vitamin deficiencies, she may be quiet underdeveloped for a Kneazle"

Her husband nodded.

"And you would like to keep her?"

She thought about it considerably. She had wanted to have something other than Albus and student's to come home to. Something that was at least dependent on her. Her student's were but she could never call them hers nor her husbands.

"I'm considering it. I think worse comes to worse, I will find a new home for her. I'm thinking Severus could use a roommate" She joked.

Albus chuckled lightly.

"I do believe that. I'm sure Severus could use the company. I believe you both could" He stared into his wifes eyes. He knew she had always longed for children. They had tried for so long but Minerva found that she could not bare children after their forth miscarriage. A cat was not a child but he hoped it would fill apart of that gap they had both been feeling.

She nodded pulling the cat onto her lap as Hermione continued to stare at the bird not particularly taking in their conversation.

"Poppy said that she has a magical core"

Albus stared down at the cat in shock.

"A kneazle? That would explain the long tuft of hair"

"Perhaps, maybe half kneazle"

"Have you chosen a name yet?"

"I thought Bear would be appropriately considering her fascination for her toy, that along with her looks" She scratched the cats head. In return, Hermione purred satisfied with the woman's menstruation.

"I couldn't agree more"

She spent a minute patting the cat in peace before she looked at the time seeing that dinner would be soon.

"Shall we?" She looked up to him knowing that he could read her. He nodded placing his quill on the side before standing. Minvera gave her new kitten one last pet before placing the animal into her large pocket along with the teddy.


I was thinking of either turning this into a SSXHG fic or just leaving it as a Severus mentor one. Let me know what you guys think