Chapter four: Days with Severus

Hermione found out that spending days with Professor Snape weren't too bad after all. Each morning he would wake up, give her breakfast, play fetch and head to class. After he would teach what he'd call dunderheads he'll come back give her lunch and go back to class. When the golden trio came to his class after lunch, he would dock more points because Hermione, her human self would not be there due to a potions accident that Ron convinced her to do. After the last class and after he ate dinner he would finally come down to his quarters and spend quality time with his puppy. Since a week as gone by and no one came to claim the puppy, he decided to keep her as his own. It was a Friday night when he came down from a meeting with Albus, he was frustrated not only because the war was approaching, but because one of his precious Gryffindor students is missing. He plopped down on the couch, Hermione, the white German Shepard puppy jumped up and snuggled against Severus.

"You know little puppy, Hermione hasn't come to class all week, Albus apparently checked her dorm and she was nowhere to be found. We've started to search the castle, and so far, no signs of her anywhere. I knew something was amiss when she didn't show up for her detention. This isn't like her. In all the years she's been here not once has she missed a class, skips meals or ditched her good for nothing friends. I can't believe I'm saying this, but…little puppy, I'm actually worried about her." Severus confined in her. Hermione was beside herself. Never would she imagine Professor Snape being worried about her.

"You? Worried about me? I never knew you had a heart!" Hermione barked and wagged her fluffy tail, she laid her paw on his chest, underneath that chest she rested her paw, was his heart. Severus gently grabbed it and caressed it.

"You don't think I have a heart do you puppy? On the outside I'm mean, snarky, uncaring bastard that I reveal to the outside world. I only do that to protect myself because of this Godforsaken war. I am a spy, for the light, not for evil my little puppy. I made a huge mistake a long time ago, when I thought all I ever wanted was power. After losing Lily, oh God, how I loved her. I was determined to never love again, to never reveal my true identity to the world around me. But I soon realized that the power that I wanted was wrong…obeying the Dark Lord, killing innocent people, women, children, breaks my heart, but I can't show any emotion, for if I do…Lord knows…I'd be dead in a split second. After this war I tell you my little puppy…once the Dark Lord is dead…I will show my true light…I am hoping to clear my name…I may not want help too easily…I'll be stubborn at first…that's just part of my nature….I'll find love…I want to love again…you may find this uncharacteristic of me…well…I'm tired of being alone…but every time I get close to someone, they either betray me, or get hurt…I can't allow that to happen." Severus Snape poured out his deepest darkest secrets to his puppy. Hermione listened and was dumbfounded by this revelation. As she gotten to know him the last few days, her whole perspective of him had changed. She leaned her head up against his chest, and nuzzled it, trying to give him a hug. Severus smiled brightly and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her little head softly.

"I think it's about time to give you a name my little puppy. Since no one has come to claim you. I've thought about it…I think the best name for you is Shiloh….yes…Shiloh is the perfect name for you." Severus said. Picking up the puppy and leading her to his bedroom.

"It's time for us to get some rest. Sleep well Shiloh." Severus said. Hermione curled up against him, sighing in relief and disbelief this strange, but…wonderful side of Severus. "I could get used to this." Hermione thought to herself as she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, someone was banging on his door. He sprang up from his bed and grunted in aggravation.

"Who in the hell is that this early in the morning, on a Saturday!" Severus gotten up, put on his robe and opened the front door to his chambers. Only to find out it was one of his Slytherins brats…not just any brat…Draco Malfoy.

"What do you want? It's 7:00 in the morning on a Saturday!" Severus barked at him.

"Professor…There's trouble in the common room. This time it wasn't me." Draco said hurriedly. Severus grunted and before he left the men heard a barking sound in his living room.

"Do you have a dog Professor?" Draco asked curiously. He looked in and saw the white German Shepard standing behind him almost ready to pounce.

"WOOF WOOF WOOF!" she barked at him, teeth and claws showing. She never liked Draco Malfoy.

"Calm down Shiloh, He won't attack me." Severus said to her and turned back to Draco.

"I'm coming." Severus said, shutting the door behind him, leaving Hermione in his quarters.

Once he gotten to the Slytherin common room, he couldn't believe his eyes. It was completely destroyed. Now, who in their right mind would come and destroy the Slytherin common room?

"Is everyone okay?" He asked, just as he said that he heard a scream coming from the first year's girls dormitory. He ran up the stairs and into the room. He saw a first year on the floor, seizing, shaking violently. He rushed to the young first year and kneeled down

"Elizabeth! Can you hear me?!" Severus asked as he tried to do some healing spells on her. She gave him no response but she kept seizing. Once he noticed none of the spells would work he'd picked her up and ran to the hospital wing.

"POPPY! POPPY! COME QUICK!" Luckily Poppy had just finished tending an ill student and helped Severus bring Elizabeth to a bed.

"You've done healing spells?" Poppy asked as she tried doing what Severus done in the common room.

"Yes…nothing has worked…help her." Severus pleaded. Soon, Elizabeth started foaming at the mouth.

"Oh no…This can't be happening…"Poppy said.

"She's been poisoned."

TBC…

A/N: I am so sorry for the long awaited update! I've had major writers block, but I think it has come back! More coming soon! Please review and tell me what you think. I know Severus OOC, but this is my story. ;)