~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~
Sable sighed as she walked in to Severus' room for her third detention. She paused slightly as she saw Harry Potter sitting in a desk. A few days ago she had found out who the three people she had talked to were. She sat down on the other side of the room as him. Severus looked up and saw her, then stood up.
"Good, you are both here," He closed a drawer then looked at them. "You are to wash every table, chair, cauldron, floor, wall, and anything else that needs to be cleaned. You know where the supplies are, I expect you to finish by the time this is over. Now get to work."
Sable watched as Severus walked out of the classroom. She sighed and stood up, walking to the cleaning supplies were kept in a cupboard. Harry followed her, grabbing a broom when he saw her grab a rag and table top cleaner. The room was silent as they started to work as far away from each other as possible while still working efficiently. Harry suddenly stopped sweeping and looked at Sable.
"Look, ah, Sable," Harry sounded awkward. "I'm really sorry for what Ron said before. He didn't mean it, he-"
"Yes he did," Sable didn't even glance at him. "I'm not an idiot you know."
"Well, he doesn't know you," Harry continued. "And he shouldn't have jumped to conclusions about you like that."
"But I'm a Slytherin, and all Slytherins are evil bastards," She said sarcastically. "And you three are Gryffindors, and Gryffindors are all great heroes. Right?"
"No," Harry frowned. "I mean, some people might think that, but I know it's not true. I just wanted to apologize for what Ron said."
"It's okay," Sable sighed, moving to another table as she finished cleaning the one she was working on.
"So, is the offer still up?" He kept speaking as he saw her confused expression. "To be friends, you know? I'm not holding what you did to the common rooms against you."
"Sure," Sable grinned. "Is everyone still mad about that?"
"Most are," Harry admitted. He finished sweeping, moving to the cupboard to switch it with a rag and table cleaner. "They'll get over it eventually."
"Maybe," Sable shrugged. "Do your friends still hate me?"
"They don't hate you" Harry scrubbed at a particularly dirty spot on a table. "Ron was just jumping to conclusions, and Hermione never even said anything against you."
"She didn't say anything to defend me either," Sable pointed out.
"Yeah," Harry shrugged. "They'll come around."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sable was in bed, staring up into the dark. Her housemates were all asleep in their beds. She sighed as she thought of her pets. Keishin and Brendan were sleeping beside her bed, but Doyle and Brone weren't with her. She visited Brone a lot, but she hadn't gotten to visit Doyle since she had left for school. Also, she missed spending time with Severus, even if he wasn't;t exactly the role model parent.
Sable stood up quietly and glanced around. No one was awake. She snuck into the common room and out the door into the halls. The darkness shielded her from the view of most people as she made her way down to where Severus' rooms were. She paused as she reached the doors before knocking gently. The door swung open a moment later and Severus looked out.
"Sable! You're not supposed to be out at night!" He scolded.
"But Sevvy," Sable frowned and hugged onto him tightly. "I missed you and Brone. Let me stay here for a while? I'll go back later. Please?"
"Sable..." Severus sighed and stood back, letting Sable enter. "Fine, but just this one time."
"Thank you, Sevvy!" Sable bounded into the room and immediately to Brone's cage.
"That snake misses you," Severus watched as Sable took Brone out of his cage.
"I miss him too," Sable smiled and sat down with Brone climbing over here. "Sevvy, when am I going to be able to visit Doyle?"
Severus sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not sure, Sable."
"Can't we go tonight?" She looked up eagerly. "Now would be a great time! Please, Severus?"
"Sable, we'll get in trouble," Severus sat down in a chair. "Maybe some other time."
"But Severus!" Sable frowned. "You promised you'd take me to see him, and you haven't yet. We won't get caught. And if we do, you can say you came and chased me when I came out here."
"Sable..."
"Please, Sevvy?" She begged. "Please, I really miss him."
"Fine," Severus gave in and stood. "Let's go now before it gets too late."
Sable stood up and put Brone back in his cage, whispering a promise to come back. She stood up and followed as Severus lead her out of his rooms, down the halls, out the front door of Hogwarts, and finally Apparated them to their old cabin. There was a rustling of bushes and grass and Doyle came bounding out, yipping happily at Sable. Sable grinned and hugged the hyena, kissing the top of his head over and over.
"I missed you, Doyle!" She whisper-shouted. "You're a good boy! I'm sorry it took so long for me to visit. I promise to visit you whenever I can."
"Sable, we can't stay long," Severus warned as he watched the two.
"I know."
Sable played with Doyle for 10 minutes before Severus said it was time to go. Sable sighed and kissed Doyle goodbye, promising to come back as soon as she was able to. Severus Apparated them close by Hogwarts and walked Sable back to the Slytherin common room. Giving Severus a hug and a thanks, Sable went back inside.
"What were you doing out there?" Draco's voice came from out of the darkness.
"Hi Draco," Sable continued walking, pausing as a hand came out from the darkness to stop her.
"What were you doing?" He asked again. "No one's allowed after curfew."
"I was out."
"I noticed."
"Why does it matter to you?" Sable pulled back from his hand to see his face. "You haven't shown any interest in talking to me before, why now?"
"Look, Sable..." Draco sighed and backed up a step. "I'm sorry about that, really. I've been working on telling everyone you aren't that bad, but nobody will listen to me. They all saw you talking to the Gryffindors, and now especially since you were talking to Harry Potter of all people! Half the Slytherins are followers of Voldemort, and Harry Potter is the one who fucking defeated him!"
"I don't see what that has to do with you talking to me," Sable huffed.
"Look, I'm sorry I was a jerk," Draco looked uneasy at saying that. "It's just how I was raised. I was talking to Vincent and Gregory, and I've convinced them that you're not all that bad."
"Not all that bad?" The words tasted bland on her tongue. "Thanks, I guess. A little late, but thanks."
"I said I was sorry!"
"After ignoring me and making fun of me with your little buddies," She said buddies sarcastically.
"I never made fun of you with them," Draco's voice was barely audible.
"Sure," Sable shrugged then turned toward her room. "Whatever you say, Draco."
"Wait," He took a deep breath as she turned back around, glaring at him. "I'm sorry. I really am. I'm not going to ignore you anymore. I'm willing to be our fiend, and so are Vincent and Gregory."
"You mean it?" Sable eyed him skeptically.
"Yes," Draco nodded.
"Okay."
"So where were you?" Draco asked after a second of silence.
"I was visiting my other pets, if you smut know," Sable shrugged.
"Oh," Draco paused then continued. "Maybe I could see them sometime? I mean, if you wouldn't mind?"
"Sure," Sable grinned. "I can take you to see Brone tomorrow if you want. Doyle is a bit harder to see. Anyway, I need to go to bed."
"Okay," Draco nodded and followed as Sable made her way to the room. They whispered goodnights and then were sound asleep.