Wow!!! It's the next chapter!!! I haven't updated this since the beginning of time!!! Wow!!! Amazing!!! Well, if you don't know exactly what's happening, please read the first two chapters, considering by this time you probably forget. Oh well!!! I'll just go on and write now...

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Disclaimer: I don' own Harry Potter or any of the Harry Potter characters. The only thing I own are new characters and the plot. But the plot is co-owned by myself, Stripe, and Katt. So there! Muahahahaha!!! (Oops...sorry! Got too carried away there!)

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Part 9

"...and that's the...watch out!"

"Eww...I think you should quarantine Stripe."

"Hagrid would know a cure!" shouted Fred.

No! I mean, Hagrid wants to do his best, but he can be a bit too much sometimes...

"Good idea!" cried Ron, a glint of something or other in his eyes.

"Albus, what do you think? Should we?"

"I think we should ask Stripe first, shouldn't we? What do you think, eh, little tiger? Should we?" The tiger shook her head emphatically.

"I think Stripe's in denial," suggested Harry.

"Definitely in denial," said Ron.

"it's her decision, denial or not." (Stripe was you-know-what-ing.) "Ill give you and George a room together until you feel better, okay?"

Stripe didn't even respond. She was trying not to do anything, especially move. Unfortunately, this wasn't working well...

"She's gonna blow!" shouted Erin. And she did.

"Okay...maybe not with George, eh?" said Dumbledore (who was happy at not getting puke on his robes because of a repelling charm). "How about with Katt, Katelyn, and Emily? Sound better?" She nodded her head, tiredly. "All right, then. Girls, you will be in your regular room with Hermione. Boys, you will all be in your own rooms, also. Go on, now; there are some nightwear there already."

All of them being tired, they trudged up the Gryffindor Tower stairs to their rooms. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were behind them, Dumbledore carrying Stripe in his arms. (Stripe had decided to play it safe and not moving on her own.)

Part 10

They had all hoped it was the twenty-four hour flu. In twenty-four hours Kasey had only gotten worse. And to top it off, she wouldn't eat.

"Albus, school starts in two days. Her decision or not, she's not getting better. It's time we let Hagrid see her. I'll stand by to make sure nothing happens to her."

"You may be right, Minerva. Very well, go ahead. If she's sleeping try not to wake her."

Dumbledore gently levitated Stripe off her comfortable bed and took her down to Hagrid's hut, McGonagall following."

"Oi, what's goin' on, here?" cried Hagrid. "Oh, hello, Professor, sir. What can I do for yeh?...What a cute kitten!"

"Hagrid, we've found a Siberian Tiger, but she seems to be sick..."

"Why, I'll take care of 'er! I'll do my best to make 'er better, Professor! Don' ya worry!"

"Not a bit, Hagrid. Now, just make sure she's well taken care of."

"Don' worry!" Dumbledore left. Now it was only Hagrid and Stripe. (McGonagall had silently left the scene.)

"Hey, little 'un! What should I call yeh, hmm? How about...Snowy?...umm...oh! I know! How about...ohh...no...umm...what do you think, little 'un? Hey, that's it! I'll call you Little 'un!"

(Kitty groan!) "Well, I think it's cute!" Hagrid picked up the little tiger, now named "Little 'un," and held her close. I'm suffocating! thought the tiger cub. Ahh! Get me outta here, now!

Suddenly, the "Little 'un" was gone!

"Where'd she go?"

**********

Well, I'm not in Hagrid's arms any more, thought the tiger cub. Ughh...my stomach...where am I? It looks like the Potions room... She was too queasy to get up and check, though.

Right then, Sirius walked in and took a seat. He seemed a lot younger.

Well, I might as well try to get his attention. The "Little 'un" mewed softly.

"Ohh." Sirius picked up Stripe and hid her from the incoming professor. "I'll have to show you to James. Of course we'll give you to Professor Dumbledore. For we are good students, aren't we?" He snickered. "James," he whispered, "look what I found."

"It looks familiar...Like...Stripe!"

"Uhh, Professor, I don't feel well," said Sirius, suddenly stooping down and holding his stomach.

"Maybe Remus and I should take Sirius to the hospital wing," suggested Prongs.

"Yes, you three may go." They went to the hallway.

"What is it you two?" said Remus, once they were out of the classroom.

"Empty classroom first." They slipped into an empty classroom. Luckily, Peeves wasn't there. "Sirius, you change and see why she's here," said James, placing the tiger down.

Sirius then changed, immediately hearing her say Padfoot, where am I? I feel sick...I think I'm going to... But she never finished her sentence. Luckily, Padfoot had moved out of the way.

Eww... said Padfoot. What's wrong?

Don't ask...not now...sick...

But how did you get here?

Umm...ughh...app...apparated...time travel...

Okay... He changed back to his original form. "Well, she apparated and time traveled in her animagi form. But she's really sick. I think she's stuck in her animagi form."

"Okay, so now is it time to go to Dumbledore?" asked James.

"Yes, James!" They left for Dumbledore. But they were intercepted...by Snape.

"Well, well, what are we doing?"

"Can it, Snape," said Sirius.

Snape just glared. "What's that?" he asked, looking at the tiger that Remus was holding. "Let me see."

"You might make her sick."

"Let me see her." He glared at him.

"All right, then, if you insist." He moved his arm slightly giving Snape a better view.

"Aww..." James and Sirius' mouths fell open.

"What?!"

"Well, it's cute. Don't know why it's with you, though." he sneered. "Huh, pretty kitty, yes..."

The three were getting extremely freaked out. The "pretty kitty" wasn't comprehending the situation. "Can I hold her?"

"We're bringing her up to Dumbledore; she's sick."

"Ohh...you poor kitty...you're not feeling well, yes you pretty baby...Do you want me to hold you? Hmm, pretty kitty?"

Kasey, who thought he was making fun of her, grinned wickedly at him. Unfortunately, Severus interpreted the grin otherwise.

"Here, kitty, come to Sev!" Severus reached for the tiger. The Marauders, too dumb-struck too what they were seeing and hearing, didn't respond. I mean, a young Severus, with an almost benevolent look on his face and talking civilly, almost sweetly, was just too much to take in! (At least, it was for them.)

Once Severus had a firm hold on the kitty, he rushed away, in case the threesome got out of their shock.

Once the kitty realized what was happening...well... "Aww...poor baby, you really are sick...you're okay, yes, you're okay. That's a good kitty...oh, sorry, Lily."

"Hi, Severus...Stripe!?"

"Oh, is that her name? Hey Stripey! Aww...poor kitty's sick! I'm taking her to Dumbledore."

"Why don't I come with you?" she offered.

"Well...all right." They walked in silence.

"Can I hold Stripe please?" asked Lily, sweetly, batting her eyelashes. (It always worked!)

"Well...all right." He reluctantly let go of Stripe. Lily took her immediately. She whispered into the tiger's ear, "Just hold on while I ditch Severus over here." The kitty nodded slowly so as not to get sick. "Severus, maybe you should go get Stripe a warm towel; she seems a bit cold." Snape nodded and hurried off. Lily rolled her eyes and hurried up to Dumbledore's office.

"Good day, Miss Evans. What brings you here today?" Lily moved the arm blocking Stripe from view. "Hmm...nice to see you again, Kasey. Now if you could change..."

"The ting is, Professor, she appears to be sick..."

"Which means she can't change back. I see...that is most definitely a problem..." All of a sudden Snape came charging into the room with an armful of warm towels.

"Boy...Lily...you sure...walk fast..." panted Snape.

"Umm...yeah...I didn't want to wait because...I didn't want Stripe to hurt a second longer than she needs to."

"Aww...that is so sweet...poor little itty bitty kitty!" Dumbledore gave Snape a strange look, but then went back to his normal placid self. "Yes, it's okay now; Sevvie's here," crooned Snape as he began wrapping up the cat. "Yes, it's okay now, I'm here. That's a good girl..."

"Severus, maybe a pillow would help?" snape dashed out of the room.

"Maybe we should have Hagrid...never mind," he said when he saw the look of pure terror that crossed the tiger's face. "How about Pomfrey?" A shake of the kitty's head confirmed the negative. Dumbledore was slightly worried about this; there was most obviously a reason Kasey was afraid of Hagrid, and he could se why Madam Pomfrey wouldn't work.

Right then Snape came charging back in. "I'm back!" he announced, quite needlessly. His arms were piled high with different pillows. There were foam ones, silk ones, feather goose down ones, just about every shape, size, and color imaginable. "I hope she likes one of them!" he announced.

She immediately perked at the sight of one large and round silken pillow and curled up in its comfort.

"Aww...I'm so glad little kitty's comfy-wumfy!" He gently stroked her back, then scratched behind her ears. She, being disillusioned by her sickness, enjoyed it. I mean, what kitty wouldn't mind a gentle scratch behind her ears?

Lily and Dumbledore were, needless to say, dumbfounded. But Dumbledore regained his composure first. "Well, Severus, where did you get that green silk pillow? It's very nice."

"Oh, it's from my bed." Lily almost died. Kitty, in ignorant bliss, had no idea what they were saying. He only gave her his pillow, right? Right. Anyway, he thinks she's a cat. That's it. The end. Right? In her mind, it was. Anyway, hurling made you tired, and she was most definitely tired. In a moment she was past the stage of ignorant bliss and asleep on top of the pillow, curled up under the towel she had been tucked in with.

I wonder how high of a temperature she's running, mused Dumbledore. Well, we can always find out...

But, he really didn't know what he was getting himself in to, did he?

Conjuring a thermometer, Dumbledore gave it to Snape. Snape used it. "There's got to be something wrong with this thing. That's not possible. Headmaster...it can't be right."

"What is it, Severus?"

"Stripe's temperature...it's three degrees below normal..."

"You do know that a tiger's temperature is lower than a human being's; the thermometer's marked with a baby tiger's normal temperature... "

"Yes, Professor, but she's still three degrees below a normal baby tiger's temperature. Should I get more towels and blankets?"

"I was just about to suggest that myself, Severus. Go on, now; we need to keep her warm!"

"Of course, sir!" He left in a rush. It took him no more than two minutes to reappear with half the blankets and towels in Hogwarts. "Will...this...be...enough?" he panted.

"I believe this will be enough, Severus. Now don't worry about all of this. She will be fine."

"Dumbledore, may I stay with her?"

"Are you sure you want to, Severus?"

"Very sure, Professor. May I?"

"Well, if Stripe consents..." Right then, Sirius, James, and Remus appeared.

"Ohmygosh, ohmygosh...!"

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

*THUD!* This last noise caused Stripe to wake up. "Hey, pretty baby! Yes, you're okay now; you're okay! You want me to stay with you?" The tiger purred quietly. "Do you want to eat, hmm?"

"Good idea!" said Lily. She conjured up a bowl of milk and placed it in front of the tiger. The tiger made no move towards it. "Now what are we going to do?"

"Bottle?" suggested Remus, the first one to wake up from his fainting spell.

"Perfect idea!" Dumbledore conjured a bottle and poured the milk from the saucer into the bottle.

"May I feed her, Professor?" asked Snape.

"Well, I don't see why not..." Snape scooped up the tiger in one arm, holding the bottle in the one hand.

"C'mon, pretty, drink the milk, c'mon." Kasey looked at the bottle, and decided to try it. "That's a good girl! You're just so cute!" One ear was flopped over, nd her eyes were innocently wide as she sucked on the bottle. "That's a good girl! Yes, such a cute girl! Aww...Professor, do you think we could get a picture of this? She looks so cute!"

"I don't see why not. She does look particularly cute at the moment..."

"I've got the camera!" shouted Snape. "Could you take the picture, Lily? The pictures you take always look good."

"Umm...sure..." She grabbed the camera from Severus' hands, hoping to get a copy of this to blackmail both of them.

She sized them up, telling Severus to push his hair behind his ears and shift Stripe more to the left, closer to him. Then, *click*, the picture was taken. (Their fate was sealed...not! At least, we hope not!)

"Ohh, look! It was the last picture! Professor, can I go and get it develpoed?"

"Of course, Lily. Go on." She left, the camera in her hands, a grin on her face. (Now it's sealed.) Meanwhile, Stripe was innocently sucking away. She wasn't comprehending any of it right now, other than the fact that she was comfortable. "Severus, I have a proposition. I'll take care of her while you have classes, and you can take care of her the rest of the time."

Snape looked down at her, thinking about his answer. "Okay...I guess so..."

"I believe you have Divination."

"Oh...yeah..." He handed both tiger and bottle to Dumbledore.

"Now don't you worry; I'll be back!" he shouted over his shoulder as he left the office.

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*Wipes forehead with a towel.* Well, that was long!!! And I think the next chapter (which I'm already writing!) is gonna be even longer!!! (gasp!) I hope you liked it!!! Please, if you have anything to say about it, please tell me in a review. And if you are going to flame me, please tell me WHY you are flaming me. I like to have a reasonable explanation to back things up!!! PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!! The only way you're gonna get the next chapter is by reviewing!!! I want at least one!!! Thanks a lot in advance!!!