Severus' Penance

AN: Thanks to SnapesBeatrice for doing the beta. *hugs you*

This ficlet is for my dear friend, zauza, who provided a prompt and asked for a drabble at the beginning of September. *meeps* I am so sorry it took so long!

Minerva was prowling the corridors one night as a tabby cat when the oddest toad caught her attention just outside her old quarters. The rooms now inhabited by Hermione Granger and, more often than not, Severus Snape.

Any passerby at that moment would have seen the tabby cat put on quite a disgruntled expression. Unlike many others, Minerva knew exactly what transpired between her two colleagues and could only feel intense relief that it had all worked out. She was even happier that they had decided to marry. That would cut down the load of complaint letters she received by at least a third.

Focusing her attention on the toad, she noted that it seemed very aware for a creature of such mean intellect. Had it been a person, Minerva would have said it was looking mournfully at the concealed entrance, uttering the most pitiful pleas for entry.

After an accident during her Transfiguration apprenticeship which had resulted in St Mungos’ first case of human toad poisoning, Minerva had no little ill will towards the species in general. However, since she actually did like to have fun every now and again, Minerva could not resist snapping at the creature, making sure to miss by only a whisker.

To her infinite surprise, the toad didn’t hop away or even blink, but instead turned a very baleful glare in her direction. There was even something in its eyes daring her to try it again.

When Minerva only sat herself down and peered more closely at the creature in puzzlement, it seemed like it was trying to speak to her.

Croak! it grumbled. Was it really possible for a toad to look irritated?

Intrigued, but still not particularly concerned, Minerva decided to inspect the toad as a cat before resorting to a magical force with what was probably a student’s beloved familiar. It simply wouldn’t do for either Hermione or Severus to come out of those quarters and find their superior doing a variety of spells on an innocent animal.

She delicately sniffed it.

It smelled like toad.

Just as she was about to very hesitatingly lick it, the toad jumped away as fast as it possibly could, managing to convey an absolutely horrified expression on its squashed face while croaking frantically.

Deciding that enough was enough, Minerva transformed back into a human and drew her wand. As she ran a few quick diagnostic spells, she realised that the toad was, indeed, human. Turning her wand to it once more, the toad grew and grew until a very dishevelled, tired-looking Severus Snape materialised before her, scowling darkly.

‘Took you long enough,’ he groused, pride obviously very sore at being found in so vulnerable a position. ‘For a while there I thought I had mistaken you for Mrs Norris, such was the speed of your deduction.’

Minerva bristled at such insubordination, but she had known Severus for a long time, and had learnt when and when not to push him.

‘Now that you’ve satisfied your curiosity, you’d best turn me back,’ he added spitefully. ‘Hermione would be incredibly upset to come out here and find me human.’

‘What did you do this time?’ Minerva asked archly. She, and most likely the rest of the castle, were quite well acquainted with Severus’ various infractions since Lucilla’s birth. It was difficult to avoid overhearing heated disagreements that took place in the Entrance Hall.

‘I reduced one of the teacups you gave her on acquiring her Mastery to fine dust.’

Five seconds later, there was a toad sitting outside the door and no cat in sight.