Chap 6 Hagrid's news

Severus spied Miss MacLeod in the hall, presumably on her way to her class. Walking quickly alongside of her, he cleared his throat. He held back a smile as he saw her looked up only to look away again quickly, but unfortunately not before she began to blush. "Miss MacLeod, it may be my imagination, but I do believe you have been avoiding me." he said softly "Is there anything I should know about?"

"No, nothing. And I haven't been avoiding you." she responded, still not looking at him "I've been avoiding the gossip, if you must know."

"Gossip, really, you have been here a total of two days and already there is gossip about you, that must be a record. Even for you." Snape said expectantly.

"Oh really. Well I don't suppose you would have anything to do with....." she started angrily and trailed off when she saw the glimmer in his eyes. "You know Sev, I really hate it when you do that." she finished, an exasperated look on her face as she saw him start to smile.

"I see your temper has not improved since you were last here Miss MacLeod" he said sarcastically "I must say I am surprised. I would have thought you had learnt to control it by now.

"Oh I am very good at controlling my temper Professor Snape, with the minor exception of people baiting me into trouble." MacLeod replied with an angelic look on her face.

"Are you implying something Miss MacLeod?"

At this point they were at the entry of MacLeod's classroom. "I have a class to teach Professor, is there something you wanted to talk to me about, or was it your intention to simply drive me mad?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you would be going to Hogsmeade this Saturday?" Snape asked hesitantly "If you are, I would be more than happy to reintroduce you to the sights." .

MacLeod smiled warmly "Severus, I would be honoured."

She watched him as he walked away, with a small smile on his lips and a sparkle in his eyes. Here we go again she thought, well at least this time things shouldn't get to out of hand, after all, Sirius and James weren't at school anymore, and even if they were, they are all adults now, and Remus had always been the voice of reason so she was pretty sure things were safe. She shook her head as she remembered the ongoing war between Severus and Sirius....and wondered how any of them managed to survive. "Well the only thing I ever knew for sure about a Hogwarts man was never give them a tube of superglue" she said to herself as she made her way up stairs for her next class.

The next morning Harry, Hermione and Ron were running to Hagrid's for Care of Magical Creatures. "So, what do you think it will be this time?" questioned Harry

"With Hagrid who can tell, maybe a skunk ape, or a kelpie..." Ron began.

"Or a bonnacon, or kobold" continued Harry.

"Please, its bad enough, don't give him any ideas" pleaded Hermione.

"'ello Harry, Ron, Hermione. Ready for class" boomed a cheerful Hagrid "We'll be raising Drakes this year. Professor Snape'l need some o'ther blood fer potions."

"I don't suppose you mean drakes as in male geese. Do you?" said Hermione hopefully, a frail smile crossing her lips.

"Nah, Drakes is like tiny dragons, and Prof. Dumbledore got me a special permit, so's I can raise and keep 'em. In fact Miss MacLeod's been helping me with 'em. They loved t'be sung to."

"Um Hagrid, they don't breath fired, do they?" questioned Harry, remembering his last encounter, he didn't really feel like having any of his hair burnt again.

"No' exactly, though mind you, if the conditions 'r jes right. POOF! They'll belch ya a flame er two." Hagrid beamed.

"Lovely" Hermione said as she went to find a spot as far in the back as possible.

"Hey Hagrid," Ron asked "you said Miss MacLeod was helping you. Will she be here for this class to?"

"Uhm, yeah. She's been singing to 'em fer me. Seems they p'fer a woman's voice. She may show up frem time ta time." he finished as they began walking towards the make-shift stable.

"Oh, I guess she's doing it to help Snape then." said Harry fishing for information.

"Snape, well I guess, maybe. Thou I doubt thas'it." replied Hagrid.

"Well you know she and Snape used to date, at least that's what I've heard." answered Harry.

"Her an Snape? Harry wot put that idea in yer head. Sure they wen' out a few times in school, but nothin' serious." replied Hagrid sounding shocked "In fact, if I rem'ber right, it was Sirius and her always t'gether. Yep. Your mom 'n dad, and her 'n Sirius."

Harry stopped where he stood. "What do you mean, her and Sirius? I thought she and Snape where together?!"

"Nah, now mind Harry, its goin' back a few years, but I rem'ber. Cat MacLeod and yer Mum wer like sisters." Hagrid began "An' ye'd hardly see one with'ow the other. Same wi' James n'Sirius. Only nat'ral tha' they'd start ta date each other. An' another thing, I know you've heard 'bout yer dad and Sirius playin' pranks, well let me tell ya now. Cat n'yer mum put 'em both ta shame a few times." Hagrid laughed " alway wonder'd wha' woulda happened if she hadn't left like tha'. Oh well, wait 'til ya see the Drakes Harry, ya gonna luv 'em."

"Hey Ron, did you hear that?" whispered Harry excitedly, "I wonder why Remus didn't tell us about MacLeod and Sirius?"