5 Years later

The ferret which lay dozing by the fire raised its head in alarm as the young man came stumbling through the door and collapsed on the armchair besides the fire. Casting aside the mask that he wore, he stumbled towards an armchair, slumping into it he dropped his head into his hands, his body shaking with sorrow. Not even stopping to sniff the mask the ferret launched itself at the man desperately trying to offer some support.

"What is it Severus? What's wrong?" I asked, his despair was so great that I could almost smell it "Severus please tell me you're worrying me." I got no reply though and so I began to nip at the arm that was blocking access to his lap.

"Owh!" he exclaimed, lifting the arm to escape from the onslaught of my bites but yet granting me the access I desired.

"Please Severus! What is it? I swear if someone's hurt you I'll bloody kill them. Who is it I'll bite there ankles!" I said my fur bristling in my anger. True Severus was a difficult boy, well young man now but he was sensitive, though he tried to hide it and I cared for him deeply.

"I don't think you should try that Sophie," he chuckled though I could detect no humour in his laugh, "I doubt a ferret could best the Dark Lord."

"Well you were an idiot to join him in the first place, didn't I tell you!" I was settled on his lap now, slightly calmer.

"I know."

I was up again in an instance. It must be really bad if Severus was admitting that I was right, and with no sarcastic comment either. If possible I was even more worried than before.

"What is it?" I asked gently, aware of how upset he was.

"What have I done Sophie? I've made the biggest mistake of my life. I joined that madman, and the things I have done for him" at this he shuddered and I buried myself in his lap, hoping to offer comfort "Terrible things that I will regret till my dying day, and yet it was so good at first I felt so free."

"Severus what has happened?"

"I've been regretting it for a while now, and suffering because of it. The Dark Lord regularly reminds me that I now belong to him. But now… he is planning on attacking the Potters."

"The Potters?"

"The boy with the glasses who threw you into the fountain."

"The one who gave you so much trouble at school? The one who hurt you?" I was hissing now, the Dark Lord had the right idea, I would kill the man who had inflicted so much pain on my master while he was at school, or at least bite his ankles.

"And his wife. Lily Potter."

"Pigtail girl?" I had quietened instantly "the one who you made potions with?"

"Yes, the only person ever to show me kindness, my only friend."

I sank back onto his lap (I had been standing in my anger at Potter), I remembered the girl. She was the only person whom Severus had ever told about our bonding. I had thought that they would mate but apparently they were only friends. I recalled the night that Severus had found out she had been going out with the spectacled one. He was furious. I had liked her though, she was kind to me whereas the other students would tease Severus over owning a ferret and kick me because of whom my master was. "What are you going to do Severus?"

"I don't want this anymore Sophia. I want to get out of this life, and help the Potters if only because of Lily's kindness. But I do not know how, I am a marked man" he said rubbing his left forearm.

"Dumbledore" I said, sitting up in my excitement. "He will help you Severus, he can see the good in people he will forgive you."

"I do not seek forgiveness I only seek to help."

"That may be so but everyone needs forgiveness and I am sure that Dumbledore will be able to offer you something to do in order to help", I exclaimed

For a long time we just sat there, he staring into the fire and stroking me. I, leaning into him trying to offer him consolation.

"I will do as you say," he finally said and without wasting time he set me on the floor and left.

That night the Potters gave there lives in the defence of their son. Even though Severus had gone to Albus Dumbledore it was not enough, while the rest of the wizarding world rejoiced at the defeat of the Dark Lord Severus sat in front of the fire mourning the loss of his friend Lily, lost in his guilt at not having acted sooner, with me on his lap.

11 years later

I raised my head from its position on my paws when I heard the door to the dungeon chambers slam shut but lowered it again when the cause of the ruckus entered the room.

"I can't take much more of this," he moaned throwing himself into an armchair in front of the fire. I yawned widely, to which I received a disdainful scowl and moved to settle myself closer to the fire; though they were normally quiet the dungeons were incredibly cold. My fur was still sleek and shiny with youth even though I should have been an aged ferret by now, one of the benefits of being raised in the wizarding world and this did keep out the majority of the cold but it didn't help to be literally on the level of the cold flagstone floor.

"What is it now Severus?" I asked, in such a way to show explicitly to the man brooding in the leather armchair that I really wasn't that interested.

"Another year of dunderheads who can't tell a draught of peace from a hiccup solution and I'm the one who has to try to prevent any fatal accidents." He sneered.

"After being stuck with you for 18 years you don't think I would know that it is something else that is bothering you, and stop sneering it does nothing for your features," I chided him curling into a tight ball.

"Potter!"

M head shot up at that. Now there was a name I hadn't heard in quite a while.

"What about the Potters they died years ago," I said confused.

He gritted his teeth clearly trying to reign in his rage.

"Their son, he has just joined the school, he looks just like James Potter and from what I have seen seems to be acting just like him as well." He was barely containing his rage now his hands gripping the arms of the chair so tightly his hands were white at the knuckles. I however, calmly un-curled myself, strolled over to him and placed myself firmly in his line of sight. Mainly by climbing onto his lap and placing my face directly in front of his.

"You need to stop this now Severus before it gets out of hand. The sins of the father are not that of the son. It is not the boy's fault that you suffered at the hands of his father."

He merely grumbled to himself. I glanced at him mischievously, there where many advantages to our bond as well as our ability to hold conversations in our mind but we could also tell what one another was feeling and I could tell that he had been calmed by my words even though no one else would be able to tell, not that anyone else would be able to see that I could tell him anything. Well apart from Dumbledore who Severus trusted enough to know about us. So it was merely a matter of cheering him up.

Grabbing his wand from his pocket I threw myself off of his lap and ran out of the room.

"Sophia!" he yelled running after me, clearly not amused. I however was having the time of my life. Dashing around his private study I dodged him easily and soon had him chasing after me throughout his chambers, however my fun was stopped promptly when he collapsed back into his armchair, panting. Dutifully I returned his wand and perched on the back of the chair which he was sitting in.

"Bloody hell Sophia! I'm not as young as I used to be," he panted.

"Your 32 Severus not even middle aged for a wizard" I replied. He scowled at me.

"Unbelievable, most wizards would be pleased to hear that and yet you scowl," I sighed "anyway will you consider what I said?"

"Yes," he replied sharply, his eyes glaring however his gaze softened when he looked at me "Yes I will, you are right I suppose"

"Miracle of miracles you actually just admitted I'm right!"

Laughing he reached for the book on the side table and began to read to me.

I closed my eyes and curled up again. I was content.