#Onyx Thanatos Theodore Lerins:

Appreciate the feedback. Agreed, less drama hence the rewrite. I want 'Snapeykins' too :P

Apologies in advance, this chapter has some serious cuteness associated with it.

Harry woke the next morning feeling just as bitter as ever, he didn't care that it was his birthday, he just couldn't get in the mood to be happy. He had dreams about yesterday and he didn't enjoy reliving the horror and embarrassment of finding someone you cared about, emotionally and physically was just basically using you. He huffed and rolled over, he could hear the water running which meant Snape was having a shower and the thought made him feel a little better. He wasn't really sure why, perhaps it was the familiarity of waking up this way like he always did, or if it was the thought of Snape in the shower. Oh god, he thought he his lower half twitched at the image. He knew he was going to have to work on squashing these thoughts if he was going to survive at all around the man.

He waited his usual half hour from when Snape got out of the shower and ducked in there himself. He let the hot water run down his body and he let a moan escape at the feeling. He didn't care if the man heard him, this felt incredible right now. A few minutes later he stepped out and toweled himself dry before wrapping it around his waist. For the life of him, he could never remember to bring his clothes with him whenever he had a shower and it was just his luck that on days like these, Snape was in the living room and looked over when Harry came out of the shower, clad only in a towel.

He thanked his lucky stars though that the man didn't say anything and he slammed his bedroom door shut before taking a deep breath and set about getting dressed for the day. He settled for all black and shoved on his black tee over his head before jumping into his black jeans. He found humor in his outfit however, Snape had his own black robes he wore all the time and when he looked at himself in the mirror after putting on his black converse sneakers and running a hand through his hair so it stuck up he could have probably passed as a younger Snape. Of course the eyes would always be a dead giveaway. Sighing again and with his stomach growling as he hadn't had much for dinner that night he walked out into the living room with Snape who was reading in his chair.

"Morning, sir." Harry said quietly standing by the couch.

"Good Morning, Harry." He replied not looking from his book and Harry felt a little disheartened.

"Uh, I'm going up to breakfast, sir." Harry said awkwardly, not really sure if he sounded pathetic by announcing this.

"As was I." Snape said, marking his book and putting it beside him before standing.

"Sleep well?" He asked walking towards Harry and giving him the once over.

"Guess so." Harry said looking down and Snape walked around him.

"I would have preferred 'it was great, sir', but I can live with that I guess." Snape mused, smiling a little as he regarded Harry's outfit and Harry looked over to him before following him out into the corridor.

Breakfast was a slow affair and Harry managed to stomach a piece of toast before everything became unappealing and he pushed his plate away and letting his head fall onto folding arms on the table.

McGonagall looked on with sadness, over the holiday period, she hadn't seen Harry this deflated and she wondered if she should make the effort to try and cheer him up. She, of course knew it was his birthday today and had planned to give him a present he was sure to appreciate, but that was going to be tonight when they were going to give him a little party to celebrate. She looked over at Dumbledore knowingly and whispered something to him, who in turn whispered something to Snape who spat out his coffee with a cough and looked at the Headmaster with wide eyes, composure be damned.

"It's what?" He whispered so only the other man could hear.

"It's his birthday and Minerva wishes to – "

"Oh Merlin." Snape interrupted and the Headmaster looked at him suspiciously before smiling and giving him a pat on the shoulder.

"There is still time." Dumbledore whispered and Snape nodded, the reason for the Headmaster to bring it up forgotten.

After this ordeal, which Harry was completely oblivious to why Snape had had that outburst, Harry sadly stood and walked out of the hall. He was a little upset because even though he hadn't written to his friends they would always write to say Happy Birthday although he guessed this year was different. He was just at entrance way when he heard McGonagall calling after him and she asked if he could help her. He shrugged and agreed to help her and they walked to her classroom. With the door firmly shut behind them and standing by her desk, McGonagall spoke and it definitely wasn't what Harry had been expecting.

"Potter… Harry." She corrected before she started. "I wish to bid you a Happy Birthday." She said and Harry looked up at her and smiled.

"Thank you, Professor." He said quietly and started to wonder why he was there.

"Seeing as it is your birthday, I had a present for you, not the traditional sense, but a present none the less and I was wondering if you would like it right now." She was looked very sure of herself and Harry couldn't help but smile.

"Okay, sure. Thank you, Professor." A true smile coming to his face as she walked behind her desk and held up a potion.

It was odd, out of everyone he would have thought that Snape would give him a potion of some kind, not that the man would have known it was his birthday anyway, he would have said something when they were in the living room.

"I know what you must be thinking, but I promise you it is not. Before you ask as well, I have talked with the Headmaster about this so there is no need to worry." She said as she handed Harry the vial with a red ribbon around the top.

"What does this do?" He said curiously looking at the potion, it wasn't anything he'd seen before and he was intrigued.

"Well, I thought that will everything going on, you might feel the need to get away." She looked at him sadly, and he knew what she was meaning. "Therefore, I wished to offer my help, this is a potion that will last a few hours, so it's not permanent but will allow us to find your Animagus form." Harry's head snapped up and he stared at her with wide eyes.

"Animagus? Like Sirius?" Harry said, not really believing what she was saying and she simply nodded in return.

"The permanent ability will take a little longer than simply taking a potion but I thought you might like to try it out for the afternoon." Her voice was kind and caring, not at all the strict witch he was used to and he couldn't help but smile.

"This is amazing, thank you. Can I take it now?"

"Of course." She smiled and he uncorked the stopper and sniffed it, it didn't smell overly pleasant but he lifted it to his lips and felt the potion flowing down his throat.

There was nothing for a second and he was about to say something, until he felt a strange tingling sensation in his stomach and the world started to grow in front of his eyes. He closed his eyes as he felt his body shrinking and stretching at the same time and new part emerging. It was a purely odd sensation but one that made him excited. He heard a delighted shriek from above him once he felt the pulling stop and he opened his eyes to find himself at shin height to his Head of House. He looked up at her tall frame and she bent down and felt a hand rest on his head. He looked down and saw that he had small little paws and light grey fur.

"I'm going to pick you up, Harry." She said in warning and found a hand under his chest as he was picked up.

He immediately felt he must be small if her hand was able to pick him up, he felt a hand resting under his rear legs, yes he had four legs, and was brought round to the other side of McGonagall's desk and placed on top of some papers. He looked round and found her reaching into her desk drawer and bringing out a mirror. She placed the hand mirror in front of him and he opened his mouth in shock and a little mewl escaped out. He was surprised by this but it didn't deter him and he checked himself over. He had four working legs with paws, grey fur, a thin tail, black nose, two pointy ears on the top of his head, little sharp teeth and the brightest of green eyes he had ever seen. He was a kitten. Well, a teenage kitten, he wasn't that small but because he was undernourished in the past, it had obviously stunted his growth a little. He wasn't going to lie, he looked cute.

"I look adorable." He meowed and looked over to McGonagall who looked at him quizzically and he realized she couldn't understand him. But she's an Animagus as well, he remembered and he jumped up and down looking at her expectantly.

As if sensing that was what he was trying to say, she smiled and disappeared on her seat, only to jump up onto the table in her tabby form and sit in front of Harry, even though she was twice his size. She meowed and Harry could understand and it blew his mind away.

"How are you feeling, Harry?" She meowed.

"Fine. Furry." He meowed in reply.

"This is a universal form, Harry. You will be able to blend in anywhere. How do you like the idea?"

"I love it." He purred and rolled onto his back and looking up at the ceiling.

McGonagall changed back and was sitting in her chair, shooing Harry off the papers that were in front of her. She told him the potion would wear off in about eight hours so he had enough time to play around in his form. He was elated and set about jumping all over her desk and knocking things over.

"But how about you run about the floor for a while." She said and picked him up, placing him gently on the floor.

"Don't go outside of the classroom, I don't want to lose you." She continued, slightly humored before working through the papers on her desk.

She had already sorted out the Animagus books and papers that Harry was going to need when he finally completed the transformation, now all she had to do was wait and within a few days he would be following in his Godfathers footsteps. She smiled; he looked absolutely adorable in his form. She had kept it from the other Professors, only the Headmaster knew and she wanted it to stay that way. Although she suspected there would be a few curious looks when she took him into the hall at lunch.

A few hours had passed and Harry was exhausted. He had run the parameter of the room several times and explored the little cracks in the stone work before collapsing on his side. He had slowly made his way over to his Head of House and patted her foot wanting to be up on her desk as he had a nap. She simply chuckled at him and picked him up carefully, watching as he walked over to a corner of the desk that was clear and curling into a ball. It was another hour until Harry was woken by someone coming into the classroom and Harry's heart skipped when he recognized the voice.

"Good morning, Minerva. The potions you required." Snape said stiffly as he walked up to the desk and placed them on the edge.

Harry looked up at him and then looked to McGonagall who was smiling knowingly at her papers before steeling her features and looking up at Snape.

"Much appreciated, Severus. Thank you." She said.

"A new pet, Minerva? Thought you were more of a mouse person." Snape said coolly looking down at Harry.

"Yes, well, cats are my familiar." She said going back to her work.

"Hmm." Was all Snape said and Harry locked eyes with him for a second before looking away. He didn't want to blow his cover.

"Was there something else you needed, Severus?" McGonagall asked, looking up from her work.

"No." He snapped and turned to leave the room.

Harry looked up at him as he left feeling a little amused, he knew his eyes could give him away, but at least he didn't have a scar or anything on his forehead with this form, it really did mean he could be anonymous. He turned back to his paw and had the sudden urge to lick it, so he did, then he rubbed his eyes but stopped when he wanted to lick somewhere else. That would not be okay in the presence of his Head of House. He mewled quietly as if to laugh and then lay on his side with his paws stretched out straight and proceeded to fall asleep.

He was shaken a while later and McGonagall told him it was lunchtime. He meowed happily, he was starving although he didn't really know what he'd be allowed to eat. Now that he thought about it, where was he going to eat. He meowed again as he was picked up and like before, she answered his unspoken question.

"You will be with me at the Head table, there will be some milk for you there." She smiled and they made their way through the castle.

Harry was quite comfortable up at the Head table and he was happily drinking the bowl of warm milk that was in front of him. He was situated directly in front of McGonagall, but because the table was so wide he was a good distance away without being in her lunch. He meowed again in content and lay down on his front, crossing his two front paws in the process and looked over at the door when Snape walked in.

"Honestly, Minerva. Couldn't you have left that flee ridden thing in your classroom?" Snape said disgusted as he came up to the table.

Harry mewled sadly at the words, letting his head droop onto his paws and Snape looked over at him as he sat in his seat, his eyes narrowing and he carefully poured himself some water and drinking it slowly as he eyed Harry in his kitten-like form.

"Don't listen to him." She whispered and Harry turned to her before standing and motioning towards Snape with his head.

"If he kicks you off the table, it won't be my fault." She whispered again, but it was loud enough for Dumbledore and probably Snape to hear as well this time.

Harry smirked to himself. He didn't really mind if Snape knew about his form or not. If he wanted to hide, he wasn't going to hide from Snape. Not now. So carefully, with a lowered body as if he was going after his prey he walked over to Snape, passing the Headmaster and sitting in front of the man's place setting.

Snape looked up, a little disgusted and frowned at Harry. He wasn't intimidated however, something about being in another form in front of Snape made him feel a little safer and he doubted Snape would be so cruel as to throw a sweet little innocent kitten off the side of the table.

"Shoo." He said quietly and threw a hand at him.

Harry didn't move though, and he sat there looking straight at Snape. A simple 'meow' escaping his little mouth. Snape sighed and ran a hand through his hair, he didn't want to have to deal with this as well as a missing Harry. He hadn't seen the boy since breakfast and he'd left early so he had no idea where he'd gone. He hoped now that he would turn up at dinner, he usually did even if he didn't eat much.

"Say, Severus. How is our young Harry doing after yesterday?" The Headmaster asked and Harry's eyes went straight over to look at the Headmaster.

He didn't want to hear this conversation, but he knew it would be suspicious if he walked away or made a fuss. He sighed in his kitten form and sunk down onto his front, putting his head on his paws and looking about the table for anything exciting.

"Jade." McGonagall's voice called and he looked over to her, it sounded like something someone would call him.

He stood and made his way back over, forgetting about the conversation Snape and Dumbledore were having about him and was handed a little piece of chicken meat that he ate quickly and licked his lips, gods that was good, he thought and wagged his rear end in excitement, wanting some more.

"Where has that blasted boy got to?" Snape said to himself as he went to stand. Harry usually came to meals now, much to the insistence of Snape so it was odd he didn't turn up for lunch.

"I wouldn't worry yourself, Severus." Dumbledore said in full confidence knowing Harry was currently sitting on the table devouring some chicken.

"He is closer than you think." He continued cryptically and Snape looked at him as if he'd lost his mind.

That was until he looked just to the side of the Headmaster and saw the kitten on the table. It couldn't be, he thought confused. However, considering the actions before and those almost fluorescent green eyes it had to be him. He finally understood now why Minerva had asked him to brew that potion for her; he had no doubt that she was going to help him transform. An idea popped into his head and he smirked before heading off out of the Great Hall and outside.

It was three in the afternoon when Harry transformed back, he felt a jolt in his stomach and ran over to McGonagall who placed him on the floor just in time for him to change and he lay on the floor panting slightly at the pain of having his bones moving back into place.

"That was wicked." Harry said before McGonagall said anything and then he laughed.

This was by far the best present he'd ever had and he couldn't wait until he had finally mastered the Animagus transformation so he could change whenever he wanted.

"We can start on your transfiguration tomorrow, but for now, I sense that Professor Snape is eager to see you before dinner.

"He is?" Harry said looking a little confused as he stood.

"I don't believe he knows about this." She said, looking at his pointedly and he smiled in understanding.

"Okay, well thank you, Professor. This is honestly the best present ever." He beamed and all but ran out of the room. He was so excited.

Harry had got back to Snape's quarters but the man wasn't there. Harry had thought this odd because he was always usually in the living area or his lab, but after checking both he realized he was alone. Seeing as the man wasn't there, and suddenly feeling a little sleepy he pointed his wand at the fire and it roared into life. He went and lay in front of it before laying down on his side like he would have done as a cat and let the warmth sink through his skin. Soon enough he was asleep.

Harry woke a few hours later and groggily looked up at the time to see it was just about dinner. He stretched and clicked his body with a smile on his face, it felt so good there in front of the fire. He looked about the room but the man was still nowhere to be found and he sighed, it wasn't like Snape to not be around and he certainly felt the loss of the man not being there. Standing, he decided to head up for dinner not that he was hungry, Snape's lack of presence had dealt to that.

He stepped into the hall and then stopped, he couldn't believe what he was seeing and he had to stop himself from gaping. All the staff were sitting at the Gryffindor table and there was a small pile of presents in the middle. Harry smiled and felt a warmth spread through his chest, this didn't last long however when he realized that Snape wasn't there but he tried not to let it get to him.

He started walking towards the staff and they turned and smiled at him, some wishing him a Happy Birthday as he approached them. Something brushed the side of him and Snape stalked past him, not even acknowledging his existence and he watched the man with longing as he walked to the edge of the table and sat down. Apparently the man hasn't changed if he's ignoring me, he thought sadly and came to stand at the empty spot on the Gryffindor table. Hagrid gave him a sideways hug and the Headmaster who was sitting in front of him smiled and wished him a Happy Birthday.

"You didn't think we had forgotten did you?" The Dumbledore spoke and Harry hid a shy smile.

"Couldn't forget a thing lik' tha' now could we?" Hagrid said from his right and Harry smiled.

"Thank you, I really wasn't expecting this." Harry said and took a seat.

"Presents then dinner, Harry." McGonagall said and Harry nodded before opening the gifts in front of him.

The first present was from Hagrid and he was given a Dragonhide wand holster that fitted to his forearm, Dumbledore gave him a tin of god awful sweets that he was currently addicted to, Flitwick gave him an advanced Charms book that covered Charms not taught in the classroom, Sprout gave him a an Aloe Vera plant so he could tend to his own smaller wounds, and Pomfrey a potion with a note attached that said 'for furballs'. He had to cover up a smirk and gave her a knowing look of thanks and she inclined her head. There were a few other presents from the likes of Hooch, Vector and Sinistra but nothing from Snape. He should have known the man wouldn't get him anything seeing as he had already opened his living quarters to Harry for the entirety of the summer, but the thought still upset him.

Suddenly his presents were gathered up by a House Elf and dinner appeared in front of them. Harry's mouth was drooling, it was his favourite and he immediately knew that Dobby had been in on this, there was no one else that knew what his favourite was. He noted everyone was tucking in and he took a sneak glance at Snape sitting at the end but the man was paying no attention to him. He couldn't work out why he was feeling so upset about it, he was Harry's Professor, a snarky bastard who had unwillingly given up his home… someone who had been there for him, called him Harry multiple times and comforted him, only to now be ignoring him. He was conflicted between hating the man right now, and having romantic feelings towards him. It was all too much and he felt his appetite dwindling but he knew that he couldn't just stop because everyone had put in so much effort to comfort him.

Soon enough, there was a large chocolate cake that appeared and Harry blew out the candles before it was divided up amongst everyone and the tucked in. Harry almost moaned after one bite, it was delicious and he felt he could eat it for the rest of his life. Finally, a real smile broke out on his face and he savored every mouthful of the delicious cake.

After dessert Harry was stuffed and he had to slouch on the table to hold himself up. The Headmaster chuckled and stood as did the others and they all dispersed from the hall, retiring for the night. Harry did as well not before a hug from Hagrid and was soon left standing in the hall with Snape. He looked over to the man who was regarding Harry carefully before Harry sighed and started back towards the Dungeons not waiting for Snape. He just couldn't shake the disappointment.

Snape followed closely behind Harry the whole way to his quarters and when they got in, Harry went to go straight to his room. He could see his presents laid out on his bed so he was going to have another proper look through them, however he stopped when Snape spoke.

"I haven't forgotten." And Harry turned around.

Snape was standing by his chair and sunk down onto it with a book in hand and Harry looked at him confused. The man pointed to the black fur rug in front of the fire and Harry saw a little black box with green ribbon around it sitting in the middle of it so he went over and sat in front of the fire.

"Happy Birthday." Snape said from behind his book and Harry looked up to him before focusing on the box.

Odd, it looks like jewelry, he thought idly before he opened it. He gasped as the silver inside caught the light from the fire and he gently picked it up. By the weight of it, it was a pure silver necklace with a round tag pendant that had Jade written on it and Harry frowned. That's what McGonagall called me earlier, he remembered and he looked up to Snape again.

"Professor McGonagall informed me of what she has offered you." Snape started and put his book down so he could look at Harry.

"It's…" Harry was lost for words, he immediately felt bad for how the animosity he felt towards the man at dinner.

"We can't have you running through the castle un-named now can we?" He continued with a smirk and Harry looked confused for a second so he elaborated.

"When you change into your form, the necklace will transform into a collar." He finished and picked up his book to continue reading.

Harry was blown away, he didn't know what to say and currently his mouth was not cooperating. He inspected it in his hands, the chain was long enough so that the pendant sat on his breast bone almost like a dog tag so it wouldn't be seen under his uniform which was good because then he could wear it all the time. He slipped it on over his head and smiled as he looked at it upside down. It was simple but beautiful, and the fact that Snape had given it to him, literally blew his mind.

"I don't know what to say, sir. It's – "

"Please, think nothing of it. It is a simple gesture." Snape interrupted whilst concentrating on his book and Harry looked at him disbelievingly.

How can he say that? Harry was astounded but knowing the man he wasn't going to push it. He smiled down at the pendant and held it in his hand before shifting the box it came in and laying next to the fire, something comforting about the heat made him want to lie in front of it. He was facing away from the man, so missed the small smile that was upon his lips behind the pages of the book he was reading.