Dog Days
Chapter 6 of 31
quaffswinegailyDumbledore has a word.
ReviewedDog days
Disclaimer: No characters were hurt in the making of this story.
The Christmas holidays had been miserable for Severus. He’d spent a horrible time in a bleak, cold house in the bosom of his dysfunctional, arguing family. The relationship with his parents was strained. Money was tight, and his father had made it clear he expected Severus to get a proper job when he left school in a few months; he would not support Severus if he did not give up his connections with the magical community. Tobias’s irritability grew as their finances dwindled. Severus’s mother cowered in the kitchen, whispering her blessings and crying as she stroked her son’s sulking head. At the end of the holiday, Snape left Spinner’s End with few regrets, glad he would not have to return for another Christmas.
He returned to Hogwarts with some trepidation.
On the one hand, Lily had not owled him during the holidays, and he missed her. He hoped he would get the chance to make amends with her soon. Lupin had tried to intercede for him but with no luck so far. He actually looked forward to catching up with Lupin to discuss a few changes he wanted to make to their research. The more time they had spent working together, the more they had talked, and Lupin’s dry wit had become apparent. More than once, they had been shushed by Madam Pince when one of Lupin’s wry comments had started them snickering behind their books in the library.
On the other hand, he had received an owl from the headmaster requesting a meeting to discuss something Mademoiselle Bien-Aimée has brought to my attention.
Now, as Severus stood at the bottom of the headmaster’s staircase, his stomach roiled with anxiety. Which indiscretion was he in trouble for? Was it the store cupboard incident, the name calling or the kiss? He touched his finger to his mouth again as he recalled the zingy-honey sensation of her lips on his.
You are not a coward, Severus Snape. He gathered his courage and muttered the password to the gargoyle.
As he stepped into the headmaster’s office, Professor Dumbledore approached him with open arms, beaming.
“Severus, my boy, thank you for coming. Come in and sit down.”
Snape sat on the offered chair with his head lowered, awaiting his punishment.
“Mademoiselle Bien-Aimée can’t be here this evening because she has to prepare for the full moon. She has brought to my attention something that happened at the Yule Ball, which she wishes me to discuss with you.”
Severus knew what was coming. His shoulders slumped in expectation of a discussion about appropriate behaviour from senior students followed by humiliation with twinkles. It had been only a brief kiss which he couldn’t avoid. In fact, as he recalled it, she had invited him to join the dance.
“How long have you been a Legilimens, Severus?”
Snape’s head snapped up to look at Dumbledore, who was standing in front of him.
“Pardon?” He had no idea what the barmy old duffer was rabbiting on about.
“Which spell did you use to enter Mademoiselle Bien-Aimée’s thoughts?” the headmaster asked.
“Spell? I’ve no idea what you are talking about, sir,” Snape replied, confused.
Dumbledore looked at him speculatively, stroking his beard.
“Hmm. So you are a natural Legilimens, just as she thought. Good. Good! This could be very useful.” He rubbed his hands together and started to pace up and down the room.
Snape watched the Headmaster’s prowling, perplexed.
“It appears you have an unusual skill, young lad. Legilimency is usually performed using your wand and spellwork. Being able to read another’s thoughts without casting a spell is very rare indeed and usually only occurs between people who are intimate.” Dumbledore paused in his pacing, giving Snape a questioning look. “You haven’t... No, no... She would have told me,” he muttered.
“You will meet with me fortnightly for private tuition to hone these natural skills. You can go now, Mr Snape; we will start next week. I will answer any questions you have at our first meeting.”
Dismissed, Snape got up to leave. Dumbledore called to him as he put a hand on the door knob.
“Severus, I advise you should always ask before you enter someone’s mind. It’s polite, like knocking even if the door is open.”
Leaning against the stone wall at the bottom of the stairs, Severus’s mind raced.
A Legilimens? What did that mean? Had he actually read his professor’s mind? If he had, he didn’t understand what she had been thinking.
He needed to talk to someone. Normally it would be Lily, but she still wasn’t talking to him, the sulky bint. Lupin would be a good sounding board, but he had done another vanishing trick.
Mademoiselle was an option. She knew already, but he didn’t feel comfortable with the idea. Besides, the headmaster had said she was busy.
Instead, he set off for the library to do some research, head down, brow furrowed, deep in thought. Rounding a corner, he walked straight into James Potter and his Gryffindor cronies. He hurriedly tried to back track, but was soon surrounded.
“Where are you going, Snivellus?” asked Potter, getting right up into Snape’s personal space.
“Nowhere.”
“Right. You’re going nowhere. A useless half-blood like you will never get anywhere.”
“Guess where we’re going, Snape.” Black sneered in his face.
“To hell, with any luck,” he muttered.
“Wrong! Bad luck. Guess again,” taunted Pettigrew.
“Enlighten me.” Snape sighed. “The suspense is killing me.”
“James and I are on the school Quidditch team, and we’re going to play in Moravia,” Black boasted.
“Moravia?”
“Are you deaf or daft? We’re playing the Moravian Mistixs.”
“I think you’ll find the national team for Moravia is the Chequered Eagles. The Moravian Mistixs on the other hand are—”
“Shut it, half-breed!” Three wands were pointed at his face. “We didn’t ask you for a lecture, you wassock. You didn’t even make the team, loser.”
Their laughter eventually died away as they left him in the deserted corridor; his only started after they had gone.
A/N: Blank.
"What, no smartass comment?" asked my beta, Sunny33.
No, none. I’ll leave that to the boys.
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Latest 25 Reviews for A Man's Best Friend
353 Reviews | 7.7/10 Average
Damn so he came back cured of the love that he had,but stilled loved them as a friend.I am not sure I understand how he was cured from being dead...did he not really die cause of the Blaze? I loved the story,felt a little rushed at the end,but it was supposed to be a one shot right!! Great work thanks!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks for taking the time to read to the finish and review. I wrote this story three years ago, so perhaps would take more time on the ending now. Maybe one day I'll revisit it.
I think they could have been a triad. Do you ever write those stories? You would write a great one I know!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I haven't yet. Maybe one day.
i like the older Snape and I am sure Hermione does too!!Great story!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
He matures rather well.
If he had lived would Lupin have been thier third? I would like to think so...I LOVE this story!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Perhaps... or maybe not...
i love the way you incorporate canon and fanon!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you very much. I appreciate your reviews.
poor Severus and poor(Hermione?)
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Indeed.
I never liked Lily, a real friend would have forgiven!! I hate the fact Severus never recoved from her loss and went to his death alone on a dirty floor...Thank goodness for fan fiction!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Fan fiction just lets us explore other options.
i was not expecting the unicorn to hurt our Severus!! I think it is for the good in the long run!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Here's hoping...
Hermione?
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Really?
Response from deedeebug95 (Reviewer)
Hahaha!
oMG, this really could have happened this way!! Poor Severus this is breaking my heart
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
It's certainly a possibility.
like the start of this!! How dare they shave Severus' hair!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I know. Oily and lank though it may be at times, we do love his hair.
If the professor knew how the dance went, why would she not be prepared to be kissed by Severus? It seems odd that a professor would dance this dance with a student. Obviously she has some kind of magical sight that Severus can pick up on when he touches her. Legilimins? Could they have gotten away with a kiss on the cheek? She should chastise Snotter for trapping her and Severus and taunting him right in front of a teacher. I know I need to just buck and deal with the tragedy that is Silly Lily Evens the idiot girl who has no ability to judge character and Severus Snape. I still don't like it though. F the Gryffindors. I hates them all!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm sure they woudn't have let them go with just a kiss on the cheek.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm sure they woudn't have let them go with just a kiss on the cheek.
Lily is such a little airheaded dolt! She has no common sense! She knows Severus better than that! She should know he wouldn't say such a thing! And that Snotter deserves to be killed by Voldemort. The world is better off without his kind of riff raff. I know that sounds stinky, but I'm a fat, greyheaded, crotchety and cantankerous old broad so I get to say things like that.
"That little whiper snaper probably smokes dope like all them other little pimply faced reprobates! All those young people are are on dope, damn it!" 
That's the mood I'm in and it's late. So I'd better go to bed before I do or say anything else antisocial. 
If you knew the week I've been having you'd understand.
Some little wanker stole my car and got it impounded for driving with no licence and for possession. He also just happens to be married to my idiot, enabling daughter who makes excuses for the little A-hole. I have no idea who raised these damn kids of mine!
Just freeking kill me now before I ever have to live with with any of the ungrateful leeches. I'll have bed sores and a wet diaper all the time.
I could totally kick that drunk, skinny little ass of his if I wanted to, you know... he's a little putz and I weigh more than he does. All I have to do is knock him down and sit on his face until he suffocates. He just better hope I don't cough, sneeze or laugh while I'm at it! Oops! it's too late. There I went and said something else antisocial. Somebody make me go to bed! I have to work tomorrow so I can buy diapers and wipes for my spawn's babies.
If you have to have kids, for the love of god don't have girls! Drama Drama Drama! I'm just warning you now. Kids are over freeking rated.
It's time for sleeping pills. I can't believe how late it is and I'm still up bitching... 
Now you know why I read Harry Potter fan fiction. In my head magic is fixing everything right now and Snape thinks I am the sexiest thing he's ever seen!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I hope this manages to take you away from real life dramas, if only for a short time.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I hope this manages to take you away from real life dramas, if only for a short time.
What special gift does she have? Oooooo, I know! She must be a werewolf! No wait. She does't smell of dog. But maybe she just knows how to keep the smell away. Hmmmmm. Touching Snape's face would have been OK if he had been a 4th grader but, teenager? Does she uderstand teenage male hormone function? Or should I call it a disorder? Just kidding. When I was a girl I didn't know what not to do around boys. I don't think I got wise until my mid 30's. I'm thinking she must be at least that old, however or she wouldn't have been thinking the things she was thinking. Women at the bottom of the hill wouldn't notice such attributes. Interesting.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Teenage male hormones... does anyone understand them?
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Teenage male hormones... does anyone understand them?
Hmmmm. She wants to let Severus know that Lupin is a Werewolf? I sincerely hope she isn't the one behind the prank that almost killed the young Severus.
Why would Dumbledore want the two boys to work together? Training them for something? Are you saying that the speech on the first day of potions isn't Severus Snape's original work?
I am very surprised he would use someone elses speech, but I guess if she turns out to be someone he truely admires I suppose he might use it to honor her. Maybe it caught his interest so well that it inspired him for life and he uses it hoping to inspire other young people the way he was. I guess we will find out. Black is such an arse! No wait, worse, he's a vulgar dick head.
I take it we won't be super attached to Sirius Black in this story. That's fine with me. I read for the love of Severus Snape and the love of Snape/Granger romance.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Hopefully all will become clearer as the story moves on.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Hopefully all will become clearer as the story moves on.
Bummer! They shaved his beautiful long black hair. Hasn't the poor man suffered enough assault to his dignity? I wonder why they let him out of Azkaban for the funeral? Is it to humiliate him? Is he out of Azkaban but under house arrest with guards? It must be shocking to Hermione to see Snape sobbing. I guess you'll tell us how he survived the war. An ausicious beginning!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
This has got to be one of the most gorgeous convoluted twisty exciting mind bending epic stories I've ever read!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I'm delighted you enjoyed this and appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I'm delighted you enjoyed this and appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
I started reading this just before bed time, telling myself that I'd only read a chapter or two then off to bed... its now 5:30AM and I just finished! I just couldnt stop reading! I loved it. I really enjoyed every word! Great job and I look forward to reading more from you!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm absolutely delighted. Thank you very much. Now, go and get some sleep!
What a fun roller coaster! Thanks for posting it where we can read it.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
You're most welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thanks for taking the time to stop and leave a review.
Charming story! I've definitely never read anything like it. I love the Portkey idea, and how the story flowed between the past and the present. Thanks.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks for reviewing. This was my first ever long fic. I hope you enjoyed it.
I'm not sure if I loved the story more or the A/N! Fabulous write;)
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I really appreciate your review. A/N: must remember to give everyone squishy hugs for reviewing...
Thank you for a happy ending - Severus & Hermione wedded, and Remus brought back, as well as Remus finding another special person to love and share/continue a new life with! I can't believe you intended this first to be only a one shot - thank Merlin's Beard that you got carried away or we all would never have had this wonderful, creative adventure in our ff lives - big heartfelt thanks! Looking forward to more of your multi-chaptered works as well as all others!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
It was a one shot, but the darned thing wouldn't lie down. Normally I struggle to string more than a couple of words together, so this was a bit of a one off. Thanks very much for your encouragement. Cheers, qwg
Ah-ah, Quaffie. I told you quite a few chapters back that you couldn't kill off Remus and you told me to get some new specs or something of that ilk because your prologue dictated that the lovely werewolf had shuffled off his mortal coil or pelt or whatever. Hmmmph. I'd like you to know lassie that I have 20-20 vision....and hindsight and can see through walls too. I enjoyed this ending but I secretly thought that Remus was going to end up with Harry. No??? Anyway thank you for a wonderful story. I have thoroughly enjoyed both Remus and Severus' and indeed our banter over the last few months and look forward to hearing from you again in the near future. Best wishes, Love Ali xxxxx.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Fie on you, and your xray, 3D, perception... glasses... thingies. It was very tempting to set Remus up with Harry, or in a threesome, but Jo was looking a bit left out. And being a true Aussie sheila used to wrangling crocs and dingoes, I reckoned she'd be able to manage his scrawny, flea-bitten hide.And the bloomin' happy ending fairy took over...I'm away to sink into the slough of despond, or onto the couch, or anywhere out of this infernal summer heat. Thanks for all your edifying reviews.Cheers, qwg
So glad this was more than a one shot! I've loved every minute of it. I'm really loving this unicorn magic. You should explore it more in future stories. Beautifully written and one of my favorite fics.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm very glad you liked it. The story just kept expanding - in some part due to sunny33, who read the original, and never made a comment, but the look on her face just said 'crap ending, write some more' - so I did (but not exactly what she wanted).As for more unicorns - not sure if I trust the mutant horse much - we'll wait and see.Thanks for all your lovely reviews.Cheers, qwg
Yay for you! Your first long fic and it went out on top. This was an even better ending than expected. I have to have my happy ending, always, and I knew you would let Severus and Hermione end in that fashion, but I was so pleased to find that they were able to have their friend back, even if it was through a portrait. THEN, you went and did one better by bringing him back for real. I, for one, am pleased that this one-shot got carried away. Feel free to let that happen again ...
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Darn! The happy ending fairy got a bit over exuberant, didn't she? I'll have to go and think up something evil she can't tamper with. I hope you enjoyed the read. Really, it shouldn't have worked - a story about a time travelling poisoner, a dead werewolf and a hard drinking wizard with memory defecit. What a load of tosh!Thanks for all your wonderful reviews, they are much appreciated.Cheers, qwg