A/N Here's part 8. It's VERY short. Just some fluffy exposition stuff. There will be more
drama in the next part . While you're waiting for that part, feel free to read On The Side.
If you like Snape stories, you'll like that one. It's on my author page just above Minnaloushe.
Cheers!


Title: Minnaloushe Part 8

Rating: G

Disclaimer: Same as before.


News traveled fast in Hogwarts. By lunch that day, Snape had taught three classes. In each
class, Shadow would test the limits with Snape, trying to get away with whatever she could
before getting squirted. Everyone was talking about it while they ate.

"Do you think he'll still be doing it tomorrow when we have potions?" Neville asked of Ron,
Harry and Hermione. "It's just that I don't know what's funnier, the mental image of Shadow
attacking Snape with love, or Snape with a water gun. I don't care if he yells at me, just as long
as I get to see it!" He smiled brightly as he finished off his potatoes. The three friends looked at
each other. "Well, it does paint a picture, doesn't it?" Hermione admitted.

Ron smiled. "Come on, Shadow! Don't loose that indomitable will, you little spit fire!"

**********

the Gryffindor's weren't disappointed. The next day, Shadow was still testing Snape's patience.
Twice, she tried to claw her way up Snape's robe. She tried to run off with Goyle's quill once.
She kept chewing on Dean Thomas' feet and she even tried to chase Trevor, Neville's pet toad.
She gave up on that rather quickly once she realized that Trevor didn't run away, so he was
really no fun at all.

Every time Shadow would do something wrong, Snape aimed his water gun and fired. It became
more interesting the second day because Shadow started to anticipate the attacks. Several students
got hit with cold water when Shadow scampered out of the way at the last moment.

By the end of class, Harry noticed something odd. Snape seemed to be enjoying himself in his
own bitter way. Maybe he just enjoyed inflicting discomfort on something smaller than himself.
Maybe he was just feeling good about restoring order to his class, but Snape definitely seemed a
little less mean. He still wasn't a pleasant person. He sneered a lot, and took points off of Gryffindor
for no reason. Still, there was something almost imperceptibly different about the way Snape was
acting; almost like he was having fun.

Harry regarded Snape for a moment at the end of class. No one else really seemed to notice
the change. Harry sighed and shook his head in frustration. It was probably just his imagination.
Snape going soft over a kitten?> He thought to himself as he walked out of class. Not bloody
likely.>

**********

Shadow came to Hogwarts in mid October. By January, she had become as familiar to the
students and staff as Mrs. Norris. She learned how to behave in the potions classroom. It took
her several weeks, but she also learned that there were certain students she could trip without
being punished.

"Five point from Gryffindor for your clumsiness, Mr. Longbottom."

"But..."

"Ten points."

"Yes sir."

What Shadow was most pleased to learn was that good behavior and helpful behavior were
rewarded. She was a cat, and as such, she could read body language better than any human.
She knew the difference between students who were paying attention, and students who were
very convincingly pretending to pay attention. Whenever she spotted a wayward student, she
would casually hop up on the table beside them drawing Snape's attention. For patrolling the
classroom, Shadow usually received a distracted pat on the head. If she did a good job, she
could expect some tuna after class. The only thing she could not quiet understand was the
difference between Slytherins and the other three houses. If there were rules to be followed,
everyone was going to follow them, including, apparently, Snape. Snape started taking points
away from his own house when Shadow caught Slytherins misbehaving. Of course, he never
took as many points from Slytherin as he did the other houses, but some people noticed and
appreciated the change.