III.
"He pets you?" Harry asked in disbelief. Sirius nodded again, glass resting on his bottom lip before he took a sip. "Like, proper pets you - scratches you behind the ears and coddling you kind of pet?"
"Scratches my belly and all he does," Sirius confirmed, eyeing the sleeping Professor Snape in the old Queen Ann.
Harry gaped. "I don't believe you," he decided, shaking his head. "Snape doesn't coddle anyone and he certainly doesn't scratch anyone's belly. You're lying Sirius!"
"Ask Remus when he comes back! He'll tell you."
"He knows it's you, right? He hasn't forgotten that you're an Animagus or anything, has he?"
Sirius shrugged. "He didn't forget when I fell asleep on his legs last night and accidentally transformed back into a grown man."
Harry snickered. "Wait until I tell Ron! He'll never believe this."
"Watch," Sirius announced with glee, transforming into Padfoot.
He crossed the room to where Severus slept, book resting cover up across his knees which were propped on the stool. Padfoot nudged his head against the Professor's right hand which dangled over the rest. He gave it a quick lick, then rose on his hind legs to nuzzle against Severus' leg.
Severus cracked an eyelid tiredly to acknowledge Padfoot's presence. He lazily moved his fingers across Padfoot's head, digging them behind his ears to scratch repetitively. He mumbled something brief then shoved Padfoot's head away, rolling himself slightly to the left and dropped off back to sleep.
"Doesn't count," Harry declared when Sirius smirked at him having returned.
"What do you mean? That was 1 out of two."
"1 of 3 - he didn't coddle you like a baby or scratch your belly.
"And he won't ever do that when nosey brats loiter in his living room," Severus announced from across the room, eyes still closed and a small smirk which only Sirius would register playing on his lips.
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Thanks Ben! I hope you come back for more and enjoy this chapter.