**All Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowling.**

Chapter 7

Madame Cali's Bistro was a beautiful restaurant. A handsome waiter escorted them to a small table in the corner of the restaurant. The place was decorated beautifully. Each table had white roses as the centerpiece, the lights we dim and almost looked as candle light, and the restaurant smelled wonderfully.

"This place is lovely Severus."

"It is one of favorite," he quietly replied as he read over the menu.

Athena packed up the menu that laid to the right over her. She opened it and began to read it; she suddenly noticed she couldn't read it! It was all in French. "Severus I can't read this menu. Might they have one in English?"

"I'll help you," he said as he leaned onto the table. He began telling her some of the entrees and such.

"I didn't know you could speak French?"

"I can speak many languages my dear. French, Italian, Greek, Latin, Spanish, and many, many more."

"That's amazing, could you maybe teach me someday?"

"Maybe."

The waiter then approached the table and said, "Good evening, my name is Michael and I shall be your waiter for this evening." The rest of the evening went wonderfully. The food and wine were exquisite and the music was lovely. If you were someone passing by the table you would have that Snape and Athena were on a date.

After dinner they decided to head back to the Inn to rest. On the way the passed a small pet shop that contained an assortment of animals. "I think I might be stopping there tomorrow," said Athena as they kept walking.

"Why? Don't you already have an owl?"

"Yes, but I always wanted a puppy." Severus rolled his eyes. "What's the matter with wanting a puppy?"

"Seems childish."

"Well it isn't, I assure you! Now I'm quite tired and would like to head back to the Leaky Cauldron."

"My thoughts exactly."

After arriving back into their room at the Leaky Cauldron, Athena headed towards the bathroom, while Severus sat in an old leathery-looking chair with some old looking book. Athena later came out of the bathroom, her reddish hair dripping with water, in a blue fluffy looking bathroom. "Forgot my clothes," she laughed, as she grabbed the pile and headed back into the bathroom.

All he did was mutter, in a sarcastic tone, "Women!"

Several minutes later, Athena came out of the bathroom. "What are you reading Severus?"

"A book," he muttered in an irritated tone.

"Which one?"

"Why do you care? You wouldn't be interested in it anyways."

"How would you know? Hmmm? You don't know me, you nothing about me, and I may be interested in that book, whatever it is," she stated soundly. He rolled his eyes and the continued to read. Athena then went into her bed and fell asleep.

About a half of an hour Severus turned around to make sure she was asleep, which she was. He stood up from his chair, stretched, and laid his book on the end table next to the chair. He stared at the sleeping Athena; she looked very peaceful, very beautiful. Wait he wasn't allowed to think these thoughts, he wouldn't let himself. He then quickly headed into the bathroom for a shower.

*~*~*~*~*

The next morning, Athena woke early and decided to tour Diagon Alley on her own. (She also wanted to stop at that pet store.) She noticed that Severus wasn't in his bed, so she had to move quickly. She left a note on the night stand saying she headed to tour Diagon Alley on her own and not to worry.

About 45 minutes later she was in Diagon Alley. She was quite proud of herself; she remembered which bricks to tap and everything. The first thing she did was head to the pet shop. A small, old, woman stood at the front desk. "Hello my dear, can I help you?" croaked the old woman.

"Yes, I'm looking for a puppy,"

"You're American, I can tell by your accent. You do know how to take care of a dog right?"

"What the hell is the problem with you damn British? Hmm? American witches and wizards are just as capable as you damn Brits!"

The old woman glared at her underneath her orange-penciled eyebrows. "It isn't the British who have the problem Miss. It's you damn Americans and your damn attitudes."

"If you haven't noticed it's the twentieth century and muggle American politics are allies with British politics. Does Prime Minister Tony Blair say anything to you?"

"I don't deal with muggles, nor there politics or whatever they call it."

"Look, can I just see some nice puppies before I get more agitated than I already am?" The old woman nodded and headed towards the back of the store, Athena followed.

"We don't have many puppies, they only kind we have are ones without magical powers. There are 7 puppies altogether." Athena looked into the pen of puppies. She then saw an Australian Shepard with bright blue eyes and an assortment of colors of fur.

"I would like that one," said Athena.

"The Aussie? Are you sure? They are beautiful dogs, but can misbehave at times."

"That is fine with me. How much is he?"

"11 galleons," croaked the old woman. Athena dug through her purse and pulled out 11 galleons and gave it to the old woman. The old woman placed the money in her pocket and picked up the puppy and handed it to Athena. "Now you need a dog license, a leash, and a collar with tags, that all together will be 5 galleons." Athena, again pulled the money out of her purse and handed it to the old woman.

Several minutes later, and several forms, the puppy was legally hers. She placed the collar on the dog and the leash and headed out of the store. "Hmm," she said the to puppy as she petted him, "I'll have to think of a name for you because I can't be calling you little girl huh?"

The two headed down the street looking at shops, the puppy happily walked along. Suddenly someone grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. It was Severus. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"

"Shopping," she replied, "I wanted to stop at that store and buy a puppy, which I did." She then pointed to the puppy at her feet.

Severus looked at the dog and looked at her. "I've been looking for you everywhere! I am able to get us back to Hogwarts today instead of two days from now."

"How?"

"Fudge is heading out there to talk to Dumbledore, I ran into him and started to talk to him. He is flying out on brooms in three hours. We need to leave now."

"Severus, I can't!"

"Why the bloody hell not?"

"I'm afraid of flying, and I can't take the puppy flying."

"You can hold him right?"

"Yes, and it's a her."

"Whatever, alright you can share a broom with me. Don't worry about the luggage alright, I'll shrink it and place it in my pocket."

*~*~*~*~*

They arrived at the Ministry where, Fudge and several other ministry officials stood brooms in hand. Severus shrunk the luggage and placed it in his pocket, he then placed the puppy under a sleeping charm. Assuring Athena that she would be all right.

Severus then grabbed a broom and got on, "Come on Athena." She reluctantly got on the broom, clutching the sleeping puppy in her arms. She got on in front of Severus. He wrapped an arm around her waist and began to take off. The soared high above the city, high above the clouds. He steered the broom and followed the group towards Hogwarts.

Athena hated brooms! She hated them with a passion, along with disapparation, she much rather take a train or a muggle airplane. But she actually felt safe there with Severus, that thought almost scared the living shit out of her. Yet she felt safe with his arm wrapped around her, she felt content, she felt happy.