A/N: Longest chapter so far. After popular demand, Gingerhead leaves Snape in peace for a while.

Introducing another original character of mine, Sparky the Sparrow.

Gingerhead is not going to meet Snuffles or Crookshanks, as this story is set during CoS. He'll meet Fangs, though. And Gilderoy...

Gingerhead belongs to no one. Don't let him hear you suggest otherwise...

Limyaael, shadowycat, Songbreeze Swifteye, Elliot, Misst, Evermind, Papilio, Corgi, Bahamut, HH Hermione, thank you all for your reviews.

A note: Despite Peeves' singing, Snape is not gay in my story. Not in this, not in any of my other stories. Peeves just likes to tease him. And so do I.

CHAPTER 6: That time of the month.

"And stay out!"

The door to Snape's dungeon closed with a loud bang and Gingerhead was left standing in the cold corridor, hardly believing his eyes. He mewed and scratched at the closed door asking to be let back inside, but the Potions Master ignored him.

After a while, the cat finally gave up, turned around and walked away.

~*~

Gingerhead's POV.

He tricked me.

I don't believe this. He tricked me.

I knew I shouldn't fall for the valerian root again, but what can I say? I'm an addict.

I was only bound to run after the root he threw out of the door.

Oh, well. Let him have his nap. I'll get back to him tonight.

Meanwhile, how can a cute guy like me have fun around this castle?

I know! A stroll in the gardens. A romantic place and with luck I might see that cutie again, hopefully without her obsessive human.

Hello!

Who are you? You smell nice! Any food for a starving kitty?

~*~

Madame Sprout raised her eyes from the warm soil she had been working on, planting the autumn bulbs and weeding the marigolds. She saw a huge orange cat purring loudly, eager to rub his head against her hand.

"Hello, kitty," she said with a smile. "You're Snape's cat, right? What's the matter, handsome? Hasn't Severus been feeding you enough?"

The cat replied with a loud, demanding mew.

"Let me see," said the plump woman, searching her pockets. "Here it is, kitty. Half a tuna sandwich, all that's left from my snack. Help yourself," she said and offered Gingerhead the sandwich.

Luckily for her, her reflexes were still good and she managed to retrieve her hand with all fingers intact. With a hint of suspicion in her eyes, she glanced at the cat before returning to her work. After sometime, she finally managed to plant all fifty bulbs. As she stood up to inspect her work, she saw in shock that the bulbs had been dug out and Gingerhead was looking at her with a proud expression in his yellow eyes. Before she could scold the cat, he walked in the middle of the fresh soil, dug a hole and used it as a toilet.

~*~

Gingerhead's POV.

What? What did I do now?

I thought we were playing 'hide and seek'. You hide the bulbs, I seek them out.

See? All fifty of them are out of the ground. Now, where's my reward? I haven't soiled my glorious fur for nothing, you know.

Any more food? No?

OK, so I'll get my own snack.

Hey, mister sparrow, do you want to check my teeth for fillings?

~*~

Sparrow Sparky's POV.

Oh, brother, it's that cat again. First I have to dodge the owls, then that blasted cat.

Get lost, creep!

~*~

Kneeling back on the ground with frustration clouding her face, Madame Sprout failed to notice the wagging tail and the focused expression of the assaulting cat. Gingerhead locked on the flying target, put all of his strength on his hind legs, and leaped in the air. Of course, the bird was far away by then. Gingerhead landed among the marigolds, panicked and clawed his way out, much to Sprout's despair who saw her beautiful flowers being shredded to a salad.

Gingerhead walked out, shook his fur free of flowers and checked the air above.

Naturally, Sparky flew low once more, unable to resist the opportunity to tease the cat.

Gingerhead jumped again, only this time he used Sprout's back as an accelerator to gain height. The witch cried out as she felt his sharp claws shredding her back and her robe, but the cat had already jumped on the branches of a nearby pine tree and from there on the castle walls.

Sparky kept teasing him and Gingerhead followed him across the highest places of Hogwarts, until he could not go higher. To his despair, the sparrow could go higher and flew away leaving him on top of a remote tower.

~*~

Gingerhead's POV.

When will I learn to follow my mind and not my stomach?

If I get that bird on my claws, I'll make him really sorry for this.

On the other hand, this is a great view.

What are those people doing down there?

Broomsticks? They learn how to fly?

I wonder if I can do that... After all, my sense of balance is far superior than this of the bipeds. And then Sparky won't have a chance.

I wonder if I can get their attention. If one of them comes to my rescue, I can, ahem, borrow the broomstick and track down that damn bird.

Hello!

~*~

Ginny Weasley raised her head, alerted by the sound of a cat in distress. With horror in her eyes, she addressed the flying instructor.

"Madame Hooch, that poor kitty is trapped up there on the tower!"

"Isn't that Snape's cat?" asked Colin Creevy.

"Perhaps the poor cat is trying to get away from Snape and hid up there," said Ginny again. "Merlin knows what kind of tortures he puts the cat through."

"Ms. Weasley, I'm sure that Professor Snape would never torture an innocent, defenseless cat," said Hooch with a stern voice. "Don't worry, I'll get the cat down in a minute."

Mounting her broomstick, Madame Hooch rose in the air and flew to Gingerhead. After a moment of hesitation, the cat walked in her arms, under the cheers of the first-year Gryffindors below. As she began her descend, Sparky made another low pass. Gingerhead moved out to catch him, Hooch reached out to catch Gingerhead and lost control of her broom. At the last minute, she managed to steady herself on the broomstick, while a panicked Gingerhead was mewing in horror, clawing her chest and neck.

Bloodied, she finally landed on solid ground and the cat jumped off the broomstick, sat on his back, raised his leg and began to wash his privates.

Only then did Hooch notice the stinking wetness on her robes.

~*~

Gingerhead's POV.

I was not scared.

I just have a weak bladder.

I don't see why you make such a fuss.

But I suppose I can't borrow your broomstick now. Or can I?

OK, don't shout. I'll go back inside.

~*~

Gingerhead, hungry and bored, entered the staff room and walked to the fireplace, looking forward to a nap before dinner.

However, the sleeping form of a silver tabby cat caught his eye.

~*~

Gingerhead's POV.

Hello there!

What is a nice kitty like you doing in a place like this?

Oh, you smell nice!

Here, sniff my behind.

Do you want to play doctor with me?

Of course you do. Why wouldn't you?

~*~

Severus Snape woke from his nap by a persistent knocking on the door. Mumbling curses, he threw his robes over his "Go, Slytherin!" T-shirt and matching briefs and went to answer the door. And he found himself face to face with a very angry Madame Sprout.

"Snape, restrain your cat, or you'll find yourself with a bad case of poison ivy rush on your scrawny behind!"

Still not fully awake, Snape could only stare at her.

"What? What cat?" he finally managed to say.

And then Hooch came from around the corner, equally angry.

"Snape, if you don't do something about that cat, by Merlin's beard, you'll wake up one day with my broomstick up your-"

Before she could finish her threat, McGonagall's voice was heard from some distance.

"Severus Snape!"

What is this? Snape thought, completely confused. An infectious case of PMS?

When Minerva came into vision, the other two women saw in horror that her always tidy hair was a mess, her face and hands were full of scratches and a terrified expression had twisted her features. Gingerhead came right behind her, mewing affectionately.

"Snape, your cat, he tried to-" Her voice broke. "He tried to-" But she never finished her phrase. Her voice broke once more and she hid her face in her hands, completely humiliated.

Snape looked at Gingerhead, who rubbed his head against his leg. Minerva's animagi form? Of all the cats in the castle, you had to make a pass at her?

Sprout embraced McGonagall's trembling shoulders, as they started to walk away to comfort her.

"Wait until the Headmaster hears of this, Snape," Hooch warned him. "I'll see that both you and your cat get fixed!"

"How many times do I have to say this?" Snape shouted in despair. "He's not my cat!"

Gingerhead ignored him and entered his dungeon through the open door, making himself at home.

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