Disclaimer: Still don't own anything to do with Harry Potter, except this particular story. And even then, who would want that? (I made a funny!)

Thanks to: kidarock, Padme Snivvey, and BlazeFourPaws.

Tally ho!

Severus knocked at Rolanda's door rather nervously. 'Am I too early?' Severus thought. 'I'll just come back later,' Severus turned to leave, but Rolanda opened her door and rushed him inside.

"Oh, Severus! You made it!" Rolanda exclaimed, "Well, it's not like you couldn't, you live in the castle and all!" Rolanda beamed at him. "Griffith just published his first book today, I'm so happy for him!"

"Wasn't it his birthday the other day?" Severus asked.

"Yes, he received the news of his book signing tomorrow just before I arrived to give him his present; he was so excited he could barely keep still! I'm afraid to say I'm quite nervous for him- just sisterly instincts, I suppose." Rolanda sighed and sat at a chair near a very large window- it took up most of the wall space! "Please, sit, Severus."

"Thank you; that is a beautiful view!" Severus marveled at the sights before him as he sat down across from Rolanda to get both she and the grounds in the picture. He took a blank sheet of parchment, placed it on a drawing board, and dated it. He was about to start sketching, but Rolanda interrupted him.

"Please, wait; I'll be right back." Rolanda dashed to a smaller window on the adjacent wall and allowed an owl to enter. As she read the letter, Severus took the time to look around.

Like most witches and wizards, there was a fireplace, and also a portrait which was currently uninhabited, but that would change soon. A narrow bed was near the fireplace, with- a cat? No; there are feathers, a beak- Rolanda had a gryphon! Severus noted the striking similarity between Rolanda and this gryphon's eyes, and made a quick sketch while it was looking at him. On the wall, a SilverArrow racing broom was mounted, surrounded by Quidditch trophies, plaques, and ribbons. The rest of the wall space was taken by bookshelves, except for where Rolanda's dresser rested.

Rolanda had finished reading the letter and allowed the owl to rest on a perch which looked like a cross between a small jungle gym and scratching post, probably specially designed for gryphons.

"Well, how have you been? It seems so odd that we live so closely together and yet we barely know each other, doesn't it?" Rolanda asked as she sat back down.

"Oh, well, I guess I haven't been doing much; just teaching, I suppose." Severus replied as he took out a fresh sheet of parchment. "How long have you had that gryphon?"

"Oh, Gawain has been with me ever since I was a little girl. There was a forest outside my home where I used to play with my brothers and sisters; I found a trail that led to an area of the forest that I wasn't allowed to be in. So naturally, I followed the trail. I thought that I would find a hart or other rather harmless animal at the end, but instead I discovered a creek, where I found a fully-fledged gryphon. I knew how dangerous wild gryphons are, so I gathered a pocketful of stones, a stick, and a bushel of leaves before tracking it back to its eyre.

"When I had caught up with the gryphon, its eggs started to squeak; it became very protective and chased me away. I ran back to my house and took Griffith's broom. When I went back outside, he noticed and threatened to tell our mother where I had been; so I took him with me for an aerial view of a gryphon hatching. I think that moment sparked Griffith's love of gryphons,"

Severus' mouth twitched.

"What's so funny, Severus?"

"I'm sorry; but, well, it's funny." Severus said solemnly before letting out a light chuckle.

"Oh, I had never noticed!" Rolanda began to laugh, too. The ruckus sparked Gawain's curiosity, and he came over to investigate. Severus was amazed to observe as it walked over- it was the size of a cat when it was on the bed, but now it was larger than a Great Dane!

When Severus had stopped laughing, he said "Then what happened?"

"If you've ever seen a hatching, you know it takes a very long time. We descended very slowly, hoping to get a better view. By the time the eggs hatched, we were inches off of the ground. Griffith had taken the stick and leaves that I grabbed earlier and made a makeshift torch to hold out in front of us. The smoke had a soothing quality on the parents, making them less territorial and placid enough to even allow us to come and sit right next to the nest!

"The last egg to hatch was closest to us, and when it did it scented Griffith and I. It crawled to us and lay down in my lap. Unfortunately, the torch went out and Griffith and I were about to be chased away, but we were already on the broom and back to our home."

"So you took the hatchling with you?" Severus queried.

"No, Griffith did. He reasoned that its parents wouldn't raise it because it smelled like humans, but I think he just wanted to keep it. The way I saw it at the time was that if those gryphons nested on the ground, they were probably odd enough to accept the hatchling we stole. It didn't really matter in the long run; my parents raised many animals, including domestic gryphons." Rolanda stroked Gawain's head gently as her eyes misted over. "That was my favorite part of summer: coming home to all of those animals." She gave her head a quick shake and smiled. "My turn: how long have you been drawing?"

Severus smiled. "I started drawing when I was in my second year at Hogwarts. I was doodling when I should have been taking notes in Potions, and Professor Burke confiscated it. When I came back after class to retrieve it, she told me that I was talented, I worked very hard at my drawing ever since, and when she left, I gave her a portrait that I had been working on for some time."

"I remember her! She was one of my favourite teachers, even if I didn't like Potions. I was sad to see her go." Rolanda interjected and ran her hand down Gawain's sleek black body. Ears pricked forward, he looked a Severus with such intensity it was almost as if he could see through him. Rolanda noticed this and cupped Gawain's face in her hands and kissed his beak, making purring noises. "Gawain's harmless under normal circumstances, you have nothing to fear."

Severus had made another quick sketch of Rolanda and Gawain during that moment, and then returned to his nearly completed portrait. "You probably get this a lot, but I really have to know. Why did your hair turn gray at such a young age? I remember you in school, and your hair was black."

"I don't get that asked as often as you might think." Rolanda hesitated. "I was in an accident." Rolanda couldn't hold Severus' gaze and averted her eyes. "How have your classes been?"

Severus' brow furrowed in concern, but if she didn't want to tell him he knew better than to force her. "Potions isn't everyone's favorite class, you know. Despite that, I enjoy teaching it."

"Would you teach an Art Class over Potions?"

"No, I wouldn't" Severus was putting the final touches on Rolanda's portrait.

"You would be great."

"No one would come if they found out their salty old Potions professor was teaching it." Severus stated.

"You mean they would discover a great part of you which would have otherwise remained hidden." Rolanda replied.

"That too; your portrait is finished." Severus couldn't hold Rolanda's gaze as he handed the parchment to her.

As Severus started to leave, Rolanda dashed up and gave him a hug. "Thanks,"

Severus smirked. "You're welcome, Rolanda." Gawain trotted up and rubbed against his legs, making a noise that sounded suspiciously like purring. Severus bent to put a hand on the gryphon's back, and was surprised when this gesture was accepted. Unfortunately, Severus had a very large stack of essays he had yet to grade, so he swept out of Rolanda's quarters without another word.

"Goodbye, Severus."

Well? Whaddaya think? I tried to make it longer than I normally would have- how did I do? Should I work on quality over quantity, or is this good? I NEED FEEDBACK!