A buddy for Severus

As always, all canon characters belong to JKR.

Thanks to June for all of her wonderful suggestions and help.

Chapter 3 – A buddy for Severus

Severus was livid! The entire walk back to the castle he didn’t speak a word, and Hermione knew that was not a good sign. He walked quickly ahead of them, mumbling curses the entire way. He could still taste the urine on his tongue. Hermione sped up, knowing she had to get to their room first. She’d thought she heard Severus saying something about an orange fur-lined robe.

“Severus, please slow down!” she yelled.

Severus stopped and turned. He looked even angrier, which she hadn’t thought possible. Hermione looked down at Odin and Sage, and handed them the blanket and small picnic basket.

“Kids, why don’t you take this to the kitchen and ask the elves to make you both something to eat.”

With that, the children nodded and ran to the castle, thinking they would ask for Black Forest Cherry Cake, or maybe an ice cream sculpture with the tiny paper umbrellas and fruit.

“I’m sorry. You’re having a horrible time, and it’s all my fault,” she said apologetically.

“Not entirely your fault. Your cat’s incontinence is to blame for our picnic gone awry,” he said, then turned and began walking back towards the castle.

Hermione trotted after him, then caught him by the arm once she caught up.

“I’ll send Crooks to my parents. Will that make things better?” she asked hopefully.

Severus sighed. He would have liked for her to send all of their guests back, but he supposed that the furball would be a good start.

“Well, that’s a start.” He kissed her on the forehead and went back on his way.

Hermione watched as he walked alone. She thought for a moment, then decided he might have a better time if he had one of his friends here. After all, she fully realized that Harry, Ron, Neville and Ginny were really her friends. And Albus and Minerva were much older than Severus, and more like his parents than anything. The Snape children had each other. No, her husband needed a buddy of his own to play with, and she knew just the person to call.

Severus had sequestered himself in the Count’s lab, thus leaving Hermione to her plotting. She went to the living room, where the fireplace was quite large and was comfortably used for flooing. First, she sent Crooks on his way. He wasn’t very pleased, knowing she’d picked Severus over him. So right before she sent him through the Floo to the Grangers’, even though he was stowed securely in his traveling container, Crooks coughed up a furball which hit Hermione square in her mouth, which she happened to have open at the moment. Score two for Crookshanks. After gagging, and barely keeping herself from throwing up her breakfast, she took a handful of Floo powder and prepared to throw it into the grate for her second task.

Before she could throw the powder in, Ginny walked into the living room.

“How did the picnic go?” she asked. Ginny sat on the couch in front of Hermione. The only Weasley daughter had grown into a beautiful young woman. At thirty, she recently broke up with her third boyfriend in less than a year. Ginny was looking for Mr. Right. Unfortunately, most of the men she dated were looking for Mrs. Right Now. While she occasionally went to dinner with Harry and Neville, there was something still so immature about both young men. She often found herself wishing she’d find a man like Severus. Well, not exactly like Severus, but someone older and surer of himself. Not to mention, she wanted to know what a wizard with experience was like in bed. Being best friends, Hermione and Ginny often talked to one another about their sex lives. And from what Hermione had told her, Ginny definitely wanted an older man.

Hermione looked at Ginny, and placed the Floo powder back in its glass container.

“Well, remember when I told you Crooks was using Severus’ side of the bed as his personal sandbox?”

Ginny smiled and nodded.

“Today, Crooks went from peeing on the bed to peeing in our picnic basket.”

Ginny gasped.

“Oh, no!”

“Oh, yes.”

“Where is Crooks?” asked Ginny.

“I just sent him to my parents’ home for the rest of our holiday.”

“I’m guessing Severus also isn’t too happy about all the extra company either, is he?” Ginny knew that their former Potions professor didn’t like having too many people around during his holidays. After spending nine months of the year surrounded by dunderheads, he valued his alone time. Ginny understood that feeling; growing up in a small home with six older brothers made her value her own privacy.

“I’m afraid that’s my fault,” Hermione admitted. “I wanted for all of us to be together during the holidays. My parents were too busy with their practice, and I thought it would be nice to have a houseful of friends. I didn’t even think about what Severus may have wanted. Now he’s miserable.” Hermione once again took a handful of Floo powder and smiled. “But, I think I have a solution. I’ll just invite one of his friends to spend the holiday with us.”

“Hermione, he doesn’t have that many friends. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him talking about anyone other than…” Ginny’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “You’re inviting him?”

“That’s right.”

“Wait, let me just go to my room. I need to fix my hair. Oh, and I’ve nothing decent to wear.” Ginny ran out of the living room, hell-bent on making herself look like anything but a frumpy red-haired spinster.

Hermione smiled. She knew of Ginny’s infatuation with the older Malfoy and realized this might be just the thing to do, for both Severus and Ginny. She looked toward the fireplace and threw in the Floo powder.

“Lucius Malfoy’s estate.”

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I couldn't resist getting Lucius in on the fun. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.