Diagon Alley. Day. As Snape starts teaching in Hogwarts. Hermione decided to purchase a cat to keep her company at home.
Her foot entered the Magical Menagerie shop, her eyes scanning for a cat she liked to buy, a memory she got from this shop was that she purchased Crookshanks for the first time here.
She never sees Crookshanks since the battle. She misses that half-Kneazle cat, not knowing if he survived the battle or not. Dead or alive, no one knows.
"Minister Snape, how are you doing?" approach the witch behind Hermione, she turns to that witch. "It's good to see you, what kind of pet would you like to choose, Minister".
"Do you have any kind of cats? I lost Crookshanks for so long, I totally miss him. He's a good cat I never had. Losing him is very painful".
The witch nodded, she suggested. "Come. I show you, Minister". She smiled. Hermione follows her behind, then stops.
"Not much to choose the kind of cats you like, most of them are Owls for the post. There". the witch point at the display. Hermione walks closer to get a better look at the cat. "The only we've got".
"Tabby cat?" ask Hermione to the witch.
"Isn't she beautiful, Minister?" Hermione nods and smiles. The witch sees a silver gray striped tabby cat jump on Hermione's arm.
The witch smiles and worries because Hermione is heavily pregnant. Her condition will worsen if the cat scratches her for no reason.
"The cat senses you because of your pregnancy, she chose you, Minister".
"I'll take her". Hermione and the witch then walk to the counter. "What is her name by the way?"
The witch spoke. "Pyewacket, Minister".
Dungeon. Potions. As Professor Snape paces imperiously, the students in their first years sit in dead silence because they know who the real Severus Snape was.
Cold, cynical, malicious, bitter, and sarcastic, he had the ability to keep a class quiet without effort.
What the first year students know about him, he tended to hold grudges and was extremely spiteful toward those whom he disliked.
In particular, he disdained Gryffindors students, considering them to be arrogant and attention-seeking. Like he does to the trio.
The students' eyes stare at Snape.
"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion making..
"I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death". their eyes can't blink at Snape. "Clearly all of you think about what I was before".
Smirking. Before he started teaching, last night he received a letter from Hermione, she advised him not to wear his old dress in flowing black robes which made him resemble an overgrown bat.
The letter also said, never tried to scare the students with his bad behavior. He promised Hermione not to do so. But clearly this first year student was already scared of him.
He wasn't wearing his old dress. He's dressed like a muggle does. Casual and colorful with his young figure better than his older self. Why are they still scared of him anyway?
"I am here not trying to eat you alive". he could hear the students gulping and sweating, that makes him want to laugh so hard over their pale faces. "Can't you relax a bit?"
One of the students dared to shoot and hand up the air asking Snape a question, he turned. "Yes Mr. Turner?"
"Are you really the real Professor Severus Snape?"
Snape nods, he is the real Severus Snape. What kind of question is that? Everyone, meaning everyone in the wizardry world knows who Severus Snape was.
"You don't look like the real Severus Snape our parents describe".
"What makes you say that, Mr. Turner? I am what I am. I am Severus Snape. Just the way I look now, my new appearance since".
The Turner boy looked confused, Snape spoke again. "I promise my wife that I will not act like my older self that your parents used to know me".
The students look at each other. Snape sighs. "Or you rather I turn back cold, cynical, malicious, bitter, and sarcastic while I'm teaching the class".
Snape gives them a choice, take it or leave it.
"NO! NO! NO!" the whole class screamed, making Snape back away from them. "You way better like this. We want you like this, Professor Snape. No change! No change!"
Smirking. He nodded. "Now turn to page 75". as he circled around the class. "How to brew your potions properly without exploding the cauldron or someone who stood beside it".
"Hermione! Oh, Minister Snape. What can I help you with in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes". George bowed to her. "Trying to spill out the beans. Oh, Hermione, we got a new product. It's right up there". he pointed above their head. "Interesting?"
Hermione laughs, stroking her belly. It hurts when you try to laugh so hard while pregnant.
"I'm visiting, that's all George. I hear Charlie just got back from Romania and is helping you here".
"Well yes. He's upstairs. You purchasing a cat aren't you, Hermione. Ears everywhere, actually it's was Charlie saw you at Menagerie shop. Tabby Cat. Remind me of someone I saw before, anyway.. was Snape teaching again".
"The rumor never stops spreading. Yes, he did". She breathed. "I cannot believe that either". her eyes caught Charlie walking downstairs towards them. "Charlie".
He smiled. "Minister Snape. Hermione. I'm sorry I know you hate people calling you that". he turned to George. "Someone needs you in the aisle upstairs". George rushed upstairs, Charlie looked around the shop. "Sometimes Billy or Percy is here to help George".
"Yeah Ron. He went to help Harry. How's your doing with the dragon, Charlie?"
"Training, yes. Next week I trained the Dragon in Bulgaria. I also heard Viktor Krum was there too for the training". he smitten, Hermione blushed. "You two are still in contact, aren't you?".
Hermione blushed again, she spoke. "You know my husband was the type of jealousy obsessed man. He never likes when I mention Viktor Krum's name right in front of his face".
"What kind of husband is not jealous of his wife flirting with other men".
Shrugged. "No matter what, Charlie. I love my Severus. Say hi for me to Viktor Krum".
"I will. Did George just tell you about the cat". she nodded. "I actually walked past the shop. Saw you there". he looked down at her belly. "Cute belly".
"Thank you. What about yours?" Charlie shook his head, there's no one he was thinking about or missed. He likes himself, period! "I don't think about it. Got lots of nephews and nieces around the house that are acceptable".
Hermione nods. Charlie gave her something. "I brought something for the baby. I urmm.. from muggle store". he handed her the package. "Unisex. Is that what they say about".
"Baby clothes? how do you know what to buy".
"Ron's wife. I can't ask Harry since he's a man, men don't know anything about baby stuff. So I ask her".
Hermione gives Charlie a hug and thank you for the gifts. She will write to Snape about this. After meeting with the Weasley's, she went home with a smile.
Snape's house. Night. Snape stepped out from the fireplace, his eyes quickly searching for Hermione around the house, she didn't know he'd come home for a while.
Every fireplace from Snape's house was connected to Hogwarts and other places the family desired to go in and out.
He stood in the middle of the darkness in the living room and was quiet.. too quiet. There's no sound made around the house that he could hear.
Curiously Snape was. He glanced over his watch, which is showing eight-thirty at night right now. He was staring at the stairs from below. Does his wife already went to bed at this time?
"My love.." he murmured. He was shocked when he saw a Tabby cat staring at him back. The cat was standing on the small table exactly beside the fireplace where he stepped out.
The cat was eyeing him sharply. "Minerva? what are you doing in my house!"
He hears footsteps creep behind him, he turns. It's Hermione. She crossed her arm on chest, leaning on the side of the frame.
She smiled. "That's not, Minerva, Severus".
"Truly? Why is this Tabby Cat in our house?".
"I brought it from Diagon Alley today. I want something keeping me company while you are away. So I purchased the cat. I was about to tell you in the letter. Guess.. you are here tonight".
Snape studied the cat. "This cat looks like Minerva without the letter 'M' on its forehead".
"I noticed. Just.. it wasn't her. Just a normal cat I adopt. If it was Minerva I would know". eyeing her husband. "What brought you here, Severus?"
Grit his teeth, he approaches her. "This..!" a passionate kiss he gives to his wife.
Snape carried her in arm to their room, and didn't care how much her weight gained, but he must be careful not to hurt her or the baby.
They both miss each other. He'd been staying in Hogwarts for days and for him it's like forever.
He wishes Slughorn to return to Hogwarts as fast as he can. He doesn't want to be apart from his wife anymore, too painful as he leaves her behind.
He cannot concentrate while teaching in class, his mind never stops thinking about who needs him more than the students need him.
This must be ended. He wants his normal life back.