Now a small example of Snape and Howard's life. Hope you like it. And hope you like Howard. I do ^_^

Snape entered his living room and walked to the big fish tank near his bookshelf. He peered in. Bugger. No crab. Snape told himself to calm down. It could be anywhere. But it couldn't have gone far. It was a goddamn crab, it moved approximately with the same speed as a fruit fly in a treacle tart. If not even slower. He cursed violently, surprising himself. He rarely used such strong language.

'Right. Get a grip of yourself,' he murmured.

He lowered himself on all fours and started crawling along the carpet. He felt immensely stupid, but the crab would have to be found. No getting around that. He didn't want to wake up one night, feeling something nippy and clawed dragging itself across his belly. Nor did he want to step on it, because no matter how irritating the damn thing was, it was still his little Howard.

He heard rustling. In the farthest corner. The little bastard was eating his chocolate again! Snape felt like he could strangle the little whelp! Why did Howard have to eat his own chocolate so fast? If he just ate it sparingly, he wouldn't have to eat Snape's bit as well. He approached the corner quietly, stretched out his hand and-

'Got you!' He yelled triumphantly. He went to the sofa, sat down and opened his hands. Howard looked at him with black, shiny eyes, trying to look innocent.

'So. What have you got to say for you defence?' he asked. It just stared. Snape glared.

'Spit it out, Howard. Is the defendant guilty or not guilty?'  Two dumb blinks. The crab wriggled free and climbed up Snape's arm to his neck. There he tried to put his small scissors around Snape's pale neck, but failed miserably. Heaving out a little crab-sigh, it walked back to Snape's lap and stretched the small arms out, trying to get a small hug. It blinked again. Snape sighed.

'All right, I forgive you. But next time you had better stay away from my candy, or you will suffer the consequences.' He got up and put Howard back in his tank. He felt his stomach rumble. 'Food,' he thought. Howard would be all right for a while if he went to get something to eat. The crab had done its running for the day.

Howard's POV

I miss Severus… Bored… I glance at my food dish. Depressingly empty. Sigh. I glance up. Oh! Severus forgot to close the lid. I use one of my climbing trees to get out. I stand on the glass surface. Where to? I smell… I smell… Chocolate… Severus's chocolate. I already ate mine. But Sev will be angry… He'll forgive me. I walk to the edge. It's a long fall to the floor. But I jump, curl my legs and- *fut*. Land and roll over on the soft carpet. I smile to myself. I feel a bit dizzy. I shake my head and get up. Now… where was I going to? Ah, yes, the chocolate. I scurry to the shelf. I have to struggle little to get on the lowest shelf, but it's worth it. One slab of chocolate. I smell it. Delicious... I start munching happily. Then I hear noise. Severus! He's back. I feel a jolt of joy in my stomach which turns into horror when I realise that soon he'll notice I'm gone, and he'll see where I am and what I am doing. I try frantically to find a way out of this mess, but before I come up with anything a hand grabs me. I let out a small crab-scream, though Severus doesn't hear me. He sits down and glares at me. He wants to know what I have to say to this. I just stare at him happily. My Severus. I struggle to get free and walk closer. I want to hug him. But he's too big. I go back, and try to signal an apology. He sighs.

Right. I'm forgiven, I'm not hungry anymore and my Severus is here. Lovely. But what now? He's getting up! Nooo, I want to sit here! He puts me back in my tank. I stare at him pleadingly, but he doesn't notice. He looks thoughtful. He walks out. Oh thanks a bunch. What about me? I'm still bored. And Severus isn't here anymore. Damn.

And I never got that hug…

A/N. I'm not really sure if crabs blink.