Disclaimer: Star light, star bright I wish I may I wish I might, own the delectable Severus Snape and have some fun with him tonight.

AN: Thanks to my loyal reviewers and special thanks to my beta Midnight Lilly.

Chapter 21 I Wanta' Go Home

So hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, let me go home
Why don't you let me go home
(Hoist up the John B's sail)
Hoist up the John B
I feel so broke up I wanna go home
Let me go home

Beach Boys "Sloop John B"

Alexis collected a picnic basket from the kitchen and headed out onto the grounds. She found the same clearing as yesterday and sat down to wait for the big, black dog. She was daydreaming about Snape and strawberries and whipped cream. She was startled from her dream when a very cold, very wet nose was touched to the side of her neck.

"Yeow!" Alexis shouted and jumped to her feet.

Snuffles was staring at her with a doggy grin, tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth, ears up and tail wagging madly.

Alexis gave him a dirty look, "You think that's funny do you?"

Snuffles seemed to grin even bigger.

"How funny would it be if I took my basket back to the castle with me before I emptied it?"

Snuffles ears flattened, his head dropped, and his tail thudded to a stop. He let out a piteous whine and flopped to the ground.

"I will take that as an apology," Alexis opened the basket and started taking out sandwiches. Placing them on a napkin she put them on the ground within easy reach of Snuffles.

Snuffles jumped up and wagged his tail politely as thank you and started gulping down the meal. Alexis had brought a big bowl this time, placing it on the ground she flicked her wand said "Agua," and the bowl immediately filled with water. When Snuffles had emptied it the bowl again immediately filled with water.

"I'm sorry I can't stay long today. I have to get back to the castle." Alexis scratched his ears and behind his head in the spot that no dog can reach but that always seems to be itching.

Alexis picked up the basket and gave Snuffles another scratch behind his ears. Snuffles escorted her to the edge of the forest and watched her until she got to the main entrance. He then turned and made his way back to his den.

Alexis moved into Gryffindor Tower. The house elves had contrived with the castle to create a room for her off the common room. It was situated immediately to the right as you came through the portrait hole. Alexis had talked Slinky and Knobby into creating a hidden entrance to her room from the hallway.

The Gryffindors as a group seemed to be taking her presence with a mixture of relief and reluctant acceptance. An adult's presence would put a damper on some activities but would also provide an additional measure of safety in case Sirius Black came back.

Alexis had worked with Flitwick and they had charmed a mirror in her new room to make a noise and then show who was entering or leaving through the portrait hole. It was aggravating first thing in the morning and immediately after dinner because the chime was constantly going off.

Alexis soon found herself in the role of house mother. She found the first and second years felt more comfortable coming to her with their problems than going to Professor McGonagall. They didn't want to bother McGonagall but they had no problem what so ever bothering her.

She was soon dispensing advice for the lovelorn, hair and makeup charms, and help with homework. The sixth and seventh year boys were particularly inventive in their reasons for seeking her out. However, it is hard to hit on someone who insists on mothering you. A few "now Stanley, don't forget your hanky, you know how your nose runs when it is cold out," and "remember to take your wellies because you have herbology today and the weather is foul," soon convinced the budding lotharios to turn their attention to a more receptive audience.

Alexis used the Gryffindor's Quiditch practice as an excuse to meet up with Snuffles and make sure he had something to eat. She found that she could keep an eye on Harry, feed Snuffles and stay relatively dry if she hid out under the spectator stands. She had to make sure she stood downwind of anyone going back to the castle though. Snuffles usually insisted on a good scratching which resulted in her carrying a strong doggy order back with her.

By the end of the week and Alexis had settled in her new rooms and new responsibilities. The only complaint she had was she wasn't seeing all that much of Snape. In fact it was as if everyone were conspiring to make sure they had absolutely no time alone. Her teaching assistant schedule had been changed so that all of her classes were with the third year Gryffindors. Dumbledore wanted someone with Harry as much as possible. Alexis was just waiting for the order to start standing blindfolded in the bathroom with him while he showered every morning.

Tuesday night Alexis had snuck Snape into her room. It had not gone well. Alexis had Snape down on the bed and half-stripped when someone had set off the door chime. In the mirror Alexis saw Ginny Weasley walking out into the corridor. Earlier in the week, Alexis had overheard two of the second year girls complaining about Ginny's nightmares and how she would wake the dorm up with her crying.

Alexis had been torn between the very sexy Snape and the lost child. Snape had told her to go tend to the problem. By the time Alexis had comforted Ginny and gotten her back to bed, Snape had gone back to his own rooms.

That was the last attempt they had made to really be together.

Alexis was trying to figure out a plan to get Snape into the potion's store closet for at least a good snog, when Snuffles started growling.

Hearing a wet, squelching noise behind her, Alexis smiled as she saw a soaked and frustrated potions master joining her under the stands.

Snuffles growled and lunged to his feet to place himself between Alexis and Snape. Alexis grabbed Snuffles around the neck and held him back, "Snuffles! That is enough! Severus is my friend. Now sit!"

Snape had stopped dead in his tracks staring with horrified disbelief at the large, black dog snarling at him. "What is that?" he asked with icy disdain.

"I told you about him. This is the dog I was playing with Sunday." Snape had a hard time understanding Alexis as she was still struggling to hold back the beast.

"I thought you meant Hagrid's hound, Fang." Snape had his wand out and was pointing it at the slavering canine.

Alexis was now sitting on top of Snuffles using her body weight to keep him from going after Snape. She grabbed a convenient ear and gave it a hard twist. Snuffles yelped and immediately stopped fighting.

"That's better," Alexis was panting for breath. "You can put your wand away Severus. Snuffles will not bother you," Alexis added a tug to the previously twisted ear.

Snuffles huffed and grumbled and gave her a totally disgusted look.

"Stop that or I won't bring you any dinner tomorrow night," Alexis threatened, "now go lay down over there."

Snuffles slunk over to a dry spot and curled up. However he didn't take his eyes off of Snape. His intent glare followed Snape as he made his way over to help Alexis to her feet.

"Just what are you doing with that flea bitten sorry excuse for a dog?" Snape snarled.

"He no longer is flea bitten thanks to your pestilence potion. Once I've fed him up some more he won't be sorry looking either," Alexis defended her canine companion.

"I hope you are not planning on bringing him into the castle. I refuse to share my rooms with that mongrel," Snape sneered.

There was a rumbling growl from Snuffles as he heard that Snape was planning on sharing rooms with Alexis.

"Hush Snuffles. Severus is my friend. If you want to continue to be my friend you are going to have to get along with him," Alexis admonished.

"Hmmm, I thought we were more than friends," Snape pulled Alexis into his arms, eliciting another growl from Snuffles.

Snape started nuzzling Alexis neck to the intense displeasure of Snuffles. It was only a moment before he stopped and pulled back with an expression of great distaste, "Alexis, I'm not sure exactly how to phrase this…"

"But I stink," Alexis finished for him. "I'm sorry Sev. If I had known you were going to meet me here I would have brought something to negate my new doggy perfume."

"Yes and if I had known that you were going to be rolling around with a smelly dog, I would have brought you a bath in a bottle."

"Quidditch practice is almost over anyway. Hold your breath and give me a kiss to last me until this weekend. I am going to tell Dumbledore I have to have at least five hours to attend to personal needs."

Snape smirked at that and pulled Alexis into a long, toe curling kiss. He was really getting into it when he felt something warm and wet hitting his leg. Jumping back, he looked down to see Snuffles with his leg still cocked from having relieved himself all over Snape's trousers and shoes.

"Bahh! I am going to stuff and mount that mangy cur," Snape was pulling his wand out.

Alexis stepped in front of him and looked up at him with pleading eyes, "He is just a dog, Sev. He didn't mean anything by it."

Snape glared at her in disbelief, "He didn't mean anything by it?!"

"Sev," Alexis reached up and placed a kiss on the corner of his mouth, "are you really," another kiss, "going to let a dumb animal," kissing the other corner of his mouth, "get you to lose your temper?"

"Yes!" was the emphatic response.

"Sev, go up to the castle, take a hot shower, change your clothes and then pour yourself a strong drink." Alexis gave him a final kiss and urged him back toward the castle. Alexis watched Snape as he stalked off muttering and cursing under his breath.

Turning back to the dog who was happily wagging his tail, "That wasn't very nice."

His tail wagged even harder and he rolled over to show his belly.

"Being cute isn't going to work this time. That was a very naughty thing you did," Alexis was shaking her finger.

Snuffles wiggled on his back squirming his way towards her.

Alexis still wasn't falling for it, "You had better just be glad that Severus doesn't realize what you did. At least in doggy terms that is."

Snuffles had stopped his wiggling and was just staring at her.

"Male dogs only urinate on specific objects for one reason. To let others know that they have claimed that object or territory. If Snape realized that you had "marked" him as yours, I don't think I could have stopped him from stuffing and mounting you."

Alexis finished gathering up her things. Leaving the usual supply of sandwiches, she relented and gave Snuffles a pat on the head and scratched behind his ears. For some reason, no matter how much Snuffles begged, Alexis would not indulge him in a belly rub.