Title: Minnaloushe Part 6

Rating: G

Disclaimer: Awww! Shadow, would you like a tuna treat? Here you go baby. No, none
of you other characters can have a tuna treat. You'll just have to go ask JK Rowling for
one, you being her characters and all.

Authors Note: Sorry about the last chapter being called Evil Miss Kitty. That was the title
when I first started writing it for a list. I changed it for this site(obviously) but I forgot to
change it in chapter 5.


There are some things that the students of Hogwarts knew by instinct. There are some
things that never have to be spoken. They knew never to misbehave in front of Mrs. Norris,
the caretakers cat. Somehow their misdeeds always got back to Filch. They never use the
bathrooms next to the Defense against dark arts classroom. Things lived in those toilets that
would frighten away a full size mountain troll. And when two Ravenclaw fourth years saw
Professor Snape storming down the hallway towards them after dinner, they knew instinctively
to flatten themselves against a wall and hold their breath. The more they looked like a piece
of the wall, the less likely they were to be given detention for looking at him strangely.

He passed by them without blinking. In his left hand, he held the gray kitten that they both
recognized as Shadow. No wonder the potions master looked so angry. They had both had
potions class that day and they knew what the kitten had been like.

Snape continued on down the hallway without noticing the Ravenclaws. When he finally
vanished around a corner, they both sighed in relief. "Well," said Katrina Ridgewood, a tall,
dark haired girl. "goodbye Shadow. It was nice knowing you." The two students left the
hall then. They didn't want to be there when Snape came back.

**********

Snape marched up to the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore's office. In his
outstretched hand, Shadow struggled and yowled and swiped at Snape with her paw, but the
furious teacher held her fast. "Peppermint stick!" He barked as the gargoyle came into
sight. It opened hastily before Snape took the opportunity to kick it. He took the stair three
at a time and burst into Dumbledore's office with as much force as an erupting volcano.

"Headmaster, I can't do this. It's a complete nightmare! This little monster is more
destructive than Neville Longbottom AND the Weasley twins put together! You have to help
me figure out some...arghh!" Shadow had finally managed to twist herself around so that she
could bite Snape's thumb, and she bit him hard. Snape let go and Shadow dropped to the
ground once again. She glared at him and growled a little before stalking off to find someplace
warm to sleep.

Dumbledore sat and watched all of this, quietly. He rose from behind his desk and indicated
to Snape to have a seat in one of the big leather armchairs. Snape scowled, but sat all the same.
"Severus, have a lemon drop. You deserve it." The kind wizard offered a dish of lemon drops.
Snape held a hand up to decline, and his mentor placed the dish back on his desk. "Then
perhaps some tea." He reached into a small drawer in his desk and pulled out an entire tea set
complete with cream and sugar and a steaming pot of irish breakfast; Snape's favorite. Snape
accepted the cup without comment.

"Now then, lets see here. Shadow! Shadow! Here, kitty!" Wherever Shadow had run off
to, she was not coming back. "Severus, why don't you try?"

"Sir, I'd really rather she stay wherever..." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. The meaning
of such a slight movement was obvious. There would be no arguing with Dumbledore tonight.

"Shadowfax!" he called out half heartedly. Shadow poked her head out from underneath
a pile of books on the floor. She looked at Snape for a few moments. Then, when it became
clear that he wasn't going to try to throttle her, she cautiously made her way over to the two
wizards.

Snape watched in confusion and Dumbledore raised his eyebrows again, this time in surprise.

"Well now isn't that interesting?" He asked.

"What's going on? I thought you said that whatever was effecting this cat would wear off
in a few days. "

"It has, Severus."

Snape looked as though he had been bitten again. "What did you say?"

Dumbledore smiled. He reached down and began to stroke Shadow between the ears.
Shadow responded by purring. The Headmaster's smile widened. He picked up the kitten
and set her on his lap. For a few moments he just sat there, petting Shadow. "Ah, Severus,
Fawkes is a wonderful pet and a wonderful friend, but there are times that I wish I had a cat.
They're so very relaxing."

"You're joking, right?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with this cat. Whatever magic was
put on her has worn off. "

"But she won't..."

"She won't leave. I know. That's because she's your cat." With those words, Dumbledore
picked Shadow up and placed her on Snape's lap. Completely relaxed, she curled up and fell
asleep.

"No. I don't want her. You can have her. Potter can have her. The wolves can have her
for all I care!" He jumped to his feet, sending Shadow to the floor. Shadow looked up at him
soundlessly. For the first time, he noticed that she looked angry at him. You have problems,
you know that?> her expression seemed to say. She rubbed up against his leg once and then
marched off to find a place where she could nap without being hurtled through the air.

"Cats are like wands, you know. The cat chooses the wizard. Shadow has chosen you.
You can't get rid of her now."

Snape stood, crestfallen for a moment before he collapsed back in the armchair in defeat.
"You have...no idea...how much chaos this cat has caused." He rested his head in one hand.

"I've always thought a pet would be good for you Severus. Here's my chance to prove it.
Shadow's not a bad cat, she's just young. She doesn't understand the rules. You have to
teach her the rules...train her to behave."

"How?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "I thought you'd never ask."