Peorth

Severus glared at the students as they arrived, making sure that the Weasley twins were looking at him when he gave them a specially tailored glare just for them. The pair were probably the best at Potions in their year, but they were wasting talent by insisting on using that knowledge to make their practical jokes.

But the two boys just grinned at him and nodded so he knew they would be down to use the lab that night or the following night. It was only after the fourth explosion in their common room that they had approached him to ask if they could use the student lab twice a week. He had agreed with the understanding that they had to keep a grade of at last EE in their potions class and that they could not prank him. The agreement meant there was less explosions and he could keep an eye on them.

A burst of pleasure along the bond he shared with Peorth almost made him smile. But years of controlling his emotions meant he only stopped glaring for a split second. The cub still liked to be in the same room as him, but the bond had matured enough so that they could now spend time in separate rooms and Peorth no longer needed Severus in sight. Which was why the cub was off exploring all of the new people.

While Peorth still had a problem being around just the teachers, he seemed to enjoy having so many students surrounding him. Severus supposed that despite Peorth not being human, he was more comfortable with the students as they were closer to his age.

Although Peorth was having a good time, Severus was already bored and was relieved when Minerva finally led the first years in. Glancing around the table, he noticed the DADA professor’s empty chair and briefly wondered where Quirell was. He did not really care and put the thought out of his mind as he concentrated on how many new snakes he would have to worry about. Most of them were a foregone conclusion. If Malfoy and his lurking goons or Parkinson’s spawn got in anywhere else he would have been shocked.

Finally Minerva called out the one name he had been dreading, Harry Potter. But no child stepped up. Minerva called again and the crowd of new students shuffled, but still no one came forward. With a small sigh the deputy headmistress carried on with her list. Severus looked over at Albus to get his reaction and frowned when the Headmaster caught his eye. Severus had no doubt he would be the one going to find the precious Golden boy. The brat was probably at home thinking he was too high and mighty to travel on the train like the rest of the students.

The Headmaster stood up and welcomed the students back to Hogwarts. Before finishing the speech with his usual nonsense, Dumbledore’s words caught Severus’ attention.

"As many of you may have noticed, Professor Quirell is not here. I am sorry to report that Professor Quirrel will not be returning this year. He passed away at St. Mungo’s after an unfortunate accident. Until a permanent replacement can be found, I will be teaching Defense against the Dark Arts.

Now before our banquet begins, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

The hush that had fallen over the hall after the Headmaster’s announcement about Quirrel was broken by laughter. The food had just appeared when a scream from the Gryffindor table interrupted the normal running of the feast. Severus looked over at the red and gold table and smirked when he saw Peorth standing on the table being protected by the Weasley twins from their older brother, Percy.

"Ah yes, one last thing. I knew I was forgetting something. This is Peorth, a Panivco cub that is bonded to Professor Snape. I will not tolerate any violence towards him and if that doesn’t scare you, then I am sure that Professor Snape would love to use you in a potion. Now Peorth, as we are trying to eat so why don’t you return to Professor Snape’s side. I am sure you will see the twins again soon."

Severus smiled at the positive trill and opened his arms so that he could catch the flying cub. He ignored the students as he greeted the cub and was covered by Peorth’s scent. The small cub became even more possessive after they had been apart. He settled Peorth on his knee and put the cub’s food where he could reach it. Peorth ate like he always did, ravenously and as if he were never fed.

Looking up at the stunned students, Severus knew that teaching would be interesting with his newest addition. But looking down at Peorth, he knew he would not change it for the world.

+++

Severus made his way up to Albus’ office. After the welcoming feast he had welcomed the Slytherins, old and new, made sure they all knew to stick together. Peorth’s presence was met with a mixed reception by his house, but overall had gone well. He had returned to his rooms to find the summons from Albus. The summons had notbeen a surprise, but he would have preferred that Albus had found someone else to go get the Golden boy.

Peorth was behind him, chirping happily to Severus about something. The wizard was not sure what the cub chattering on about, but as long as the cub was happy, Severus did not care. A muttered, "Twizzle stixs" moved the gargoyle and they rode up to the Headmaster’s office together. It was the first time Peorth had been to Albus’ office and he could feel how excited the cub was.

"Ah Severus, Peorth, I’m glad you are here. Peorth, why don’t you introduce yourself to Fawkes while I talk to Severus."

Peorth padded over to the perch and Severus smiled as the pair started to make an assortment of noises at each other, obviously speaking a common language.

.

"Now Severus, as you have probably guessed, I need you to go to Number Four Privet Drive and check on Harry Potter. I have checked with Gerty, the food trolley lady, and George, the conductor, but neither of them saw him on the train or at the station. I think we can therefore assume that he did not even make it to the station.

I need you to go to Privet Drive and ask the Dursleys, his guardians, where he may be. The last sighting of him was from Hagrid when he dropped the boy off after taking him to Diagon Alley for his supplies. Severus, it is very important that we find him."

"I know Albus, I may have not liked James Potter but I know Harry Potter is still the ‘Boy who lived’. May Peorth stay here?"

"Of course. It looks like he had a new friend," Albus commented, the sparkle in his eyes brightening as he motioned to where Fawkes was sat next to Peorth on the floor, the pair chirping at each other. All Severus could feel through the bond was happiness and he was glad that Peorth had another friend, an animal one.

"Yes it does," he said and called to the cub. "Peorth." Severus smiled when emerald eyes met his.

"I need to go and look for a student, I’ll be back as quick as I can. Will you be all right with the Headmaster and Fawkes?"

He felt the anxiety and fear over the bond but Peorth gave an affirmative trill.

"It will be okay, Peorth, I’ll be back soon."

Peorth gave another affirmative chirp and bounded onto Severus’ knee, licked his chin, and then returned to Fawkes’s side. Severus relaxed slightly as Peorth’s anxiety lowered slightly and he left the office.

His role as a spy allowed him to know his way around the back routes of Hogwarts, so it took him only fifteen minutes to reach the edge of the apparation wards. Severus changed his outer robe to a long black coat and decided he looked muggle enough for a short visit. He could feel the level of

anxiety from Peorth rise slightly the further away he got, so it was with a deep breath that Severus apparated away to Privet Drive.

He had only been there once before, and that had been years before to help the Headmaster set up the blood protection and other wards on the house. Seconds after he arrived he realised that there was something wrong. It took him a few moments longer to realise what the sinking feeling was: he could not feel Peorth.

It was an unnerving sensation that he did not like in the least. He could still feel the bond stretched unbearably thin but he could feel nothing from his cub. After weeks of constant companioship, this unbearable feeling of loneliness was not going to make this confrontation with the Dursleys and Potter any easier.

Number Four Privet Drive looked like every other house in street: a polished car on the drive, perfect garden and a woman twitching at the curtain, looking out, probably at him. He knocked on the door and waited patiently for someone to answer. When a person did, it was a tall, thin, horse faced woman that he assumed was Lily’s sister. The woman did not have even a passing resemblance to the beautiful witch with whom he had attended school.

"Can I help you?"

"Are you Petunia Dursley?"

"Yes," she answered with a tight lipped smile.

"I am here to enquire about the location of your nephew? Harry Potter?"

Severus was shocked when she suddenly let out a screech of what sounded like "Vernon!" The husband’s name, if he wasn’t mistaken.

The entire house seemed to move as a large man appeared at the door. He was quite possibly the largest person Severus had ever seen who was not part giant.

"What is it, Petunia?" the man thundered.

"He’s one of them, he was asking about the boy."

Vernon went purple. "Get off my property! The boy isn’t here, he went off with that giant freak and never came back. If you ask me that freak did something to the boy."

"Did you contact the police?"

"Why? We were glad the boy was gone."

Severus stared at the man and realised that he was not going to find Harry Potter here. He also wondered if he had been so right about Potter’s home life. The boy had been missing for a month and they had done nothing.

"Where are his belongings?"

"We burnt them after he left, ungrateful brat. We put a roof over his head, give him food and never get any thanks. We even risked infecting our Dudley with his freakishness."

Severus glared at the overweight man. He knew he should be more angry but the ache of the stretched bond and the overwhelming feeling of loneliness was overriding everything. He had checked, Potter was not there, and now he wanted to be back with Peorth. So he just turned and left.

Severus walked around the corner and cast a spell on the house. The rude muggles were telling the truth. There was only three people in the house and none of them were wizards. He sighed in annoyance and apparated back to the edge of the Hogwart’s wards.

As he arrived and felt the bond between him and Peorth spring back into life, anxiety and fear were the predominant emotions he could feel. His return to the Headmaster’s office took little over ten minutes, as he was almost running half the time. The second he entered the room, he felt the familiar small, winged body hit his own, claws digging into the jacket as the cub started licking Severus’s face.

Severus ran his hands over the furry body, trying to calm not only Peorth, but also himself. Their bond had not been ready for such a distance between them.

Severus sank into a seat and frowned when Peorth jumped off his knee only to stand between his legs to try and get under his jacket. It took a minute for him to realise that Peorth wanted to be in the coat, under his waistcoat. He opened the cloak and enlarged his waistcoat so that the cub could lay on his chest, licking at Severus’ neck.

The Potion’s Master looked up at the Headmaster who was smiling at them, that damn sparkle in his eyes.

"What happened at the Dursleys’s?"

"Potter wasn’t there and they claim he hasn’t been there since Hagrid picked him up for the trip to get his supplies."

+++

Laying on his human’s chest, Harry knew he should feel bad for not telling them where he was but he was too scared that his human would hate him. He could not bear the thought of never having Severus with him. It had been horrible while he was gone.

"Hagrid said he walked Harry to the house, even saw him go in." Dumbledore responded.

Yes he did, Harry thought, but he did not see Vernon beat him so badly he broke bones.

"Well he isn’t in the house and I don’t think they even know where he is. We could question them under a truth serum but I doubt we will get any further helpful information."

The Headmaster nodded, "I trust your judgement Severus, I will try a searching spell and hope that will do the trick."

Please don’t let him find me, Harry wished as hard as he could, burying face in Severus’ neck as he felt a jolt of something go through him. The shock was similar to the one had felt when he had turned into his animal form. It was a strange feeling but one he liked.

"How is Peorth?" The Headmaster asked His human.

"Feeling better. How was he when I was gone?" Severus asked. Harry could feel worry and love across their bond.

"He was fine for the first fifteen minutes or so, chattering away at Fawkes."

If Harry could have blushed he would have. He had spent the first few minutes asking about Fawkes and Hogwarts and then the following ten minutes telling the bird how wonderful his Human was. He had the distinct feeling that Fawkes had been indulging him like a parent would a small child.

"Then suddenly he froze and cried out. Severus, I have never heard a sound so painful. If I had known I would have sent someone else. Not even Fawkes’s most powerful song could calm him."

It had been the scariest the feeling in the world, even more awful than the thought of being nailed in his cupboard for weeks. Suddenly Severus had not been there. Harry had been alone.

"He continued making those sounds until a few minutes before your return. Then he sat and stared at the door until you came in."

Severus sighed and stroked Harry’s neck and head. He was comfortable inside Severus’s waist coat with his wings pulled tight to his back. Luckily, Harry had worked out that if he wanted, he could make the wings slightly smaller and more manageable and only when he wanted, he could return them to their real size for flying.

"I guessed so much from his response. Our bond is still too fragile and he is still too young to be on his own. I also suspect it was the sudden distance when I apparated."

"I guessed as much. Why don’t the pair of you return to the dungeons. I am sure

some time together will make Peorth feel better."

"Thanks you Albus, we’ll see you at breakfast."

Harry just snuggled deeper as Severus stood up, smiling as the strong arms of his Human held him in place. He heard a a goodbye from Fawkes and replied in turn, promising to come back and visit the brightly coloured and friendly bird again. The bird was the only being he could actually talk to with words.

The walk to the dungeon was quiet. Strong arms held him in place and love and safety flowed steadily over the bond. Once they were safely back in their rooms, Severus opened his waistcoat as he sat down and started rubbing Harry all over. Harry arched and purred as he stroked, glad Severus was back and hoping that the Headmaster would never find him.

+++

Severus smirked at the purring cub. He reacted so well to touch. Severus found himself constantly checking the bond for Peorth’s presence. It had been hard enough for him to go without the bond with all his training, he could not imagine how bad Peorth would have felt.

"Do feel like taking a bath together?" He asked, feeling that both of them needed some quality time together.

He got an positive mew from his bond mate and watched as the small cub bounded into the bathroom. A few seconds later he could hear water as the bath started to fill. Severus smiled and undressed in bedroom, before walking into the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Peorth was already in the slowly filling bath, splashing around like a small child.

Severus drizzled some relaxing and calming oils into the filling bath. It had taken a few attempts to get the cub used to the unusual smells but now Peorth adored the different scents.

"I’m sorry for leaving you alone, Peorth," Severus said softly as he sat on the edge of the bath and dangled one hand in the water. He checked that Peorth had not changed the temperature too drastically as the cub had done in the past few weeks. It was almost as if Peorth was exploring to the find the perfect temperature.

The cub nuzzled his hand and Severus felt nothing but affection and relief through their bond. The young cub had not taken offence at his trip. But he was not going to be leaving Hogwarts without Peorth again anywhere in the near future.

With one hand scratching Peorth behind one ear, he waited for the bath to fill. Severus wondered about Quirell and what sort of fatal accident the stuttering fool could have had. He would have to ask the Headmaster in the morning. He did not like Quirell, but he did not think the man would have been idiot enough to kill himself by accident.

Chapter Five: Slytherin and Gryffindor

Harry ran around the classroom waiting for the next class to show up. It wasn’t the first class of the day but it was the first with the first year Gryffindors and Slytherins. Hagrid had told him he probably would have been in Gryffindor so this was his first chance to meet his potential year mates. Plus Draco, the blonde Slytherin from the night before would be there.

“Peorth settle down,” Severus said as he was scooped up into those strong arms. They shifted until Harry could lay comfortably in his Human’s arms without his wings or limbs in an uncomfortable position for him or Severus.

He lay contentedly in Severus’ arms as the students filed in, some with lions on their robes (Gryffindors) and some with snakes on their robes (Slytherins). He thought it was amusing that the Slytherins were all on one side and the Gryffindor’s were all on the other side of the room.

“You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making," he began. ”I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses ... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death -- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach. As you know from Yesterday’s Feast, this is Peorth, you will treat him as you do Albus Dumbledore. No-one will abuse him in anyway or I will use you as potions ingredients.”

Harry purred in contentment as the strong fingers worked into his neck and sent his feelings of amusement at the horror and fear on the students’ faces. “Mr Weasley where would I find a Beozar?”

Harry swung his head to look at a Gryffindor redhead whose mouth was so far open that he looked like a fish, a blank look in his eyes. He realised that the other boy had no idea where you would find a Beozar, if he even knew what it was even as he concentrated as hard as he could to send a picture of a goat with its stomach highlighted. He felt pleasure and a proudness coming from Severus, obviously his human liked that he knew the answer.

But he wasn’t the only one, there was a bushy haired Gryffindor waving her hand in the air like she was trying to get Severus’ attention, the young boy knew it would do no good. Severus wanted the redhead to answer.

“I don’t know.”

“In a goat, it will save you from poisons Mr Weasley, try again, What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?”

Again the redhead looked blank, Harry tried to decide what his human could make with asphodel and wormwood, trying to remember their properties and how they would react with each other. Then it came to him and he sent a picture of Severus sat in his chair sleeping with some comical “Zzzzzzzs” coming from his mouth.

Harry felt his human bite back a chuckle, while still managing to glare at the first year Gryffindor.

“A sleeping draught so powerful it is known as the draught of the living death and once again Mr Weasley, what is the difference between monkswood and wolfsbane?”

Harry knew this one straight away and sent an image of the plant he had seen in many different forms. He got a positive answer from his bonded and relaxed into the soothing motion of Severus’ hands.

“And once again Mr Weasley you have proved your incompetence. Can you answer the question Mr Malfoy.”

Harry looked over as the blonde Slytherin answered the question, he knew the boy was called Draco and that his bonded had a special relationship with him. When they had visited the Slytherin Common room the previous evening, he had met the blonde and knew there was something about the blonde that made him want to get to know the other boy.

“They are both the same thing, Aconite.”

“5 points to Slytherin, well why aren’t you writing this down?” Severus roared and Harry watched as the class started scribbling notes down. Severus lectured for quarter of an hour, telling the class about what they would be doing, “Get your cauldrons out, you will work alone and make the potion on page 223.”

The class started making the potion, Severus stalked around the classroom carrying him around. Harry tolerated it for one circuit of the dungeon room then wriggled until his bonded placed him on the floor. “Remember not to eat anything and be careful where you put those wings.”

Harry gave his bonded ‘Do you think I’m stupid’ blast through their bond and bounded off, he knew better than to eat potion ingredients, he had learnt that lesson before. He moved around the classroom, sniffing the students and potions, trying to work out what they were making before giving up and jumping on the seat next to a bushy haired Gryffindor. She had her book open and jumped slightly when he leaned over to read what the potion was and how to make it.

“Professor your Panivco cub is on my desk,” she said timidly.

“He will not do anything to damage you or your desk Ms Granger,” his bonded replied in a snide tone, “He is merely curious about the Potion.”

“Okay professor,” she replied but sounded slightly nervous.

Harry continued to read the page until he was sure he understood what the class was doing and then jumped down and carried on around the classroom, trying to determine what stage everyone was at. He paused at a Gryffindor who was practically shaking, Harry could smell the fear coming off the boy. He watched as the boy lifted some pine needles from his pile of potion ingredients. Harry only just managed to grab the boy’s wrist before he added them. If he had added the pine needles while the heat was still on it would explode and they would both be in pain.

He felt the boy’s fear jump rapidly but he guessed the boy was too scared of Severus to bother his professor. Harry pulled the boys hand to his Potion’s text book and motioned to where the heat needed to be turned off first. “Thanks,” the boy said and Harry decided to stay next to the boy to make sure he didn’t have any other ‘accidents’.

+++

Severus knew that Peorth was helping the Longbottom boy with his potion but didn’t mind, there was no way that he could help the Gryffindor without scaring the boy further and throwing away his reputation as a greasy git. He didn’t want any of the students getting seriously injured, even the Gryffindors.

For future lessons he would spend some time going through the potion with Peorth first then he could help Longbottom and hopefully he wouldn’t loose too many cauldrons to the scared Gryffindor.

When they finally left his room and Peorth returned to his arms, sending happy thoughts through their bond, Severus smiled at him, “I’m glad you enjoyed helping Longbottom, that will be your task in this class from now on.”

He got a yelp that Severus knew was positive and the distinct feeling that Peorth liked the Longbottom boy.

“Well we have dinner now and then a visit to the Slytherin Common room to see how the first years coped with their first day.”

Peorth sent him a picture of Draco and a query.

“He will be there.”

Severus hoped that Peorth and Draco got on well, they had only interacted once but as Draco hadn’t tried to hurt Peorth, he was very hopeful.

+++

Severus walked through his own entrance to the Slytherin common room, Peorth following behind him and was pleased that he hadn’t walked in on any fights. While his snakes always stuck together outside the common room, inside was often a different story, there was constant power shifts, between families and years, especially at the start of the year when older members left and new ones started.

It was Draco who noticed them first, the small blonde came over to them and stuck his hand out to be shook, his best Malfoy mask on. He knew it was essential in Slytherin to hide your emotions but he would miss his smiling godson.

“You can still hug me Draco, I may now be your professor but you will always be my godson.”

Draco gave him a smile and quick hug before stepping back and pulling his Malfoy mask back down, although it wasn’t quite as firm as before and Severus saw his godson smile as Peorth greeted him like an old friend. The cub was stood on his hind legs with his forelegs on Draco’s shoulders and was nuzzling the boy’s face.

Draco actually giggled and wrapped his arms around the cub’s neck, Severus watched the pair affectionately. He could fee Peorth’s pleasure at being this close to Draco and the blonde’s pleasure was obvious on his face.

Severus sent Peorth an image of staying with Draco while he spoke with the rest of his Slytherins, finding out if any of them had any problems. Maybe he could even leave Peorth here while he went and saw Quirrels body, Albus had told him the location of the body at lunch time but he didn’t want the youngster to have to see what Albus told him was not a pretty sight.

+++

Harry kept an eye on his human as he sat with Draco, the young boy smelt nice, not nice like Severus smelt nice but still nice, a nice that caused a funny feeling in his stomach. He was sat beside Draco while the other boy did his transfiguration homework. He remembered that Professor McGonagoll, the head of Gryffindor taught transfiguration, she had always been nice to “Peorth”.

Apparently they had been changing a wood match to a metal needle, Draco was explaining what they had done and what their homework was, how you changed the shape of an item. He enjoyed listening to Draco tell him about transfiguration, just like he liked listening to Severus tell him about Potions, not only because they smelt and sounded good but because it meant he was learning about magic.

Harry looked over at Severus and grinned, he could feel how proud Severus was about his Slytherins. he wondered if Severus would had liked him as a boy if he had been in Slytherin but then again Hagrid had sid that he would be in Gryffindor like his parents had been. So if he was a boy, he would be in the house Severus disliked the most, it would just be another reason for Severus not to like him.

He lifted his head from where he was reading Draco’s neat writing as Severus walked over and stood beside them, smiling in a way that didn’t show in his body but Harry could feel through their bond.

“I need to go and see the Headmaster, will you be all right to stay here with Draco?”

Harry could feel that Severus had to do go and see something he didn’t want Harry to see but it wasn’t because he no longer wanted Severus, it was because he didn’t want to upset Peorth. He gave a positive chirp and nuzzled Severus’ hand briefly before going back to reading Draco’s essay.

“Good, I shouldn’t be too long, just stay close to Draco.”

Harry nodded and looked up as he felt Severus moving away, he knew that Severus wouldn’t leave the school without him so didn’t try to pull Severus back, he wouldn’t be alone this time.

+++

Severus made his way back to the Slytherin common room to get Peorth, all the while wondering what sort of accident Quirell had managed to have in a locked room on his own that had melted away the back of his head. He had potions in his collection that could melt away someone’s skull but he hadn’t been able to detect any of them on Quirell’s body. He locked the memories of the body behind his shields, he had learnt that while h couldn’t shield Peorth from his mind, he could hide certain memories from his bonded. Memories that he wouldn’t let the young cub see, images that would haunt the youngster.

“Python,” he said to the common room door and strode through, using his bond to track Peorth and Draco to the Blonde’s bed, doing Potion’s homework by the sound of it. “Hello you two.”

Peorth bounded up and flung himself at Severus, nuzzling at his neck and face, letting him know that he had been missed. Severus smiled into the black fur and ran his hands over the furred sides, calming his bonded. The cub finally settled, sitting contentedly in his arms, a steady stream of happy thoughts about Draco, magic and Severus coming across their bond.

“Say goodnight to Draco.”

Peorth leaned over and licked Draco’s forehead then settled back into Severus, his wet nose resting against Severus’ neck.

“Goodnight Draco, we will see you in the morning.”

“Night Uncle Severus, Peorth,” Draco said, he looked sad, Severus guessed it was because Peorth was leaving rather than him.

“I am sure that Peorth will come and eat Breakfast with you, just ask for a bowl of fruit for him when you order your own breakfast.”

Draco gave him a grin and reached up to stroke Peorth’s back before they left. Peorth was content to sit his arms, he could feel how tired his cub was, it had been a long and exciting day for the youngster. Back in his room, he placed the dozing cub in his bed and sat at his desk to finish lesson plans for the following day.

Hours later laying in bed covered by his still sleeping cub, Severus smiled, it had been a good first day, even if the location of Harry potter was still worrying the staff.

Chapter Six : Hermione

Severus sat at his desk trying to work, trying to mark the first year essays and finding it very difficult because Peorth would not settle down. His cub was restless, Peorth wanted to go out and fly, he wanted to run but most of all Peorth wanted to play with him.

Severus wanted Peorth to run and fly, to use some of his extra energy but he couldn’t take his bonded out because he had too much work to do. He had to finish marking the first year essays, then the fifth year ones and finally start some of the potions for the hospital wing that took days rather than hours.

He grabbed Peorth by the scruff of the neck on his cub’s next pass and pulled him onto his knee, holding the small wriggling body until Peorth settled down. “I know you want to go out and fly but I have things that I have to do so what I am going to do is charm both my door and the door to the Slytherin common room so that you can open them. I trust you will be able to explore on your own and return to me when I call you.”

He got an affirmative and excited yelp in reply then a small tongue licking his face in thanks. Severus smiled and stroked the soft fur, letting Peorth know over the bond that he loved Peorth too. Because he did, for the first time since his mother’s death, he loved someone, even if it was only a Panivco cub.

He carried Peorth out to the door and placed him on the ground at his feet so he could manipulate his wards until it was simple for his cub to enter, “Peorth listen carefully, the door will now open when you press this button and then this one. Try it now.”

Peorth obediently pressed the circle in the corner of the frame with his nose and then red house in the left corner. The door swung open and Peorth grinned at him, before bounding off towards the Slytherin common room. Severus grinned internally before following at a more relaxed pace, more suitable for the head of Slytherin.

+++

Harry walked along the corridor trying to find the library so he could get a book about basic charms, Severus only had books on advanced charms. He had been exploring for about half an hour and had found all sorts of fun rooms. After Severus had charmed the Slytherin common room door he had visited Draco for a while sitting with the blonde while he did Herbology but then Draco had decided to take a bath so Harry had decided to explore the school.

He liked taking baths but didn’t think Draco would want to bathe with him, he knew that Draco smelt nice but so did Neville, not to the same extent as Draco but still nice. They smelt good like Severus did but no where near as strong, he wondered if he would form some sort of bond with them like he did with Severus just not as strong.

“Well if it isn’t the Greasy git’s little pet,” a voice said from behind him, Harry turned and recognised the first year Gryffindor that hadn’t known the answers to any of Severus’ questions.

The boy was with two other first year Gryffindors and all of them were looking at him like he was to blame for whatever was wrong in their world. He could feel himself getting more and more scared and suddenly it wasn’t the boy any more, it was his uncle and he advancing on Harry.

Harry did little more than whimper and try to curl up and protect himself as the three boys started kicking him, trying to hurt him. A swing from on of his wings easily could have knocked the boys over and he had very sharp claws but fear had taken over. He didn’t even realise it had stopped until there was soft hands on his head and a female voice was telling him that it was okay and the horrible boys had gone,

Harry managed to uncurl enough to look up and recognise the Gryffindor know it all but he supposed she was all right if she had stopped the boys from hurting him.

But Harry couldn’t stop shaking and whimpering, where was Severus? Where was his human? The girl was nice but he wanted his human. His human would look after him, would stop the pain and shaking.

And then suddenly he was being swept up and into strong arms, Severus he cried mentally and buried his face into the man’s robes, everything would be okay now, Severus would make everything okay. He could feel himself relaxing as those strong hands rubbed his neck and wings.

+++

Hermione Granger left the library with just enough time to return to the Gryffindor Common room before curfew, leaving a few spare minutes of course, just incase she got lost of course. She liked the library because she liked to know what was going on around her, what had happened in the past and because none of the other Gryffindors in her year had yet to start studying there.

She wondered where Harry Potter was, she had read about him and while the rest of the Gryffindors assumed the boy was getting special training, Hermione wasn’t so sure. The teachers had looked as surprised as the students that he hadn’t come forward at the sorting. She wondered if it would have been different in the common room with him there, wondered if Weasley wouldn’t pick on her so much and the girls wouldn’t pick on her.

But she knew things would probably be exactly the same, the same as it had been in her old school, she had hoped here would be different.

Hermione had just turned the corner from the library corridor when she heard his voice, she recognised the tone and voice: Weasley.

“Well if it isn’t the Greasy git’s little pet.”

Hermione ran towards the voice as she heard the sounds of whimpering and kicking. She found three of the boys in her year beating up the Potion Professor’s pet, she didn’t care what it would gain her, only that she had to stop them. She knew that she couldn’t overpower them but she was better at magic than them, she had just read about a spell and just hoped she could do it.

Lifting up her wand, Hermione concentrated as hard as she could and shouted the spell, “Expelliarmus.”

Hermione gave a sigh of relief as the three boys flew away from the cub and landed on the other side of the corridor, unconscious. The cub, Peorth was curled up on the ground, whimpering and shaking, she wrapped him in her arms, stroking his head, trying to calm him. She had no idea what to do now, the boys wouldn’t be out of the way for long and she couldn’t carry Peorth.

Just as she was about to get up and try the levitating spell she had just learnt, Peorth was being pulled from her arms. She looked up, ready to fight the boys off but sighed a breath of relief when she recognised Professor Snape. The cub also obviously knew who it was because he made a sound that was both relief and pain and buried his face in the professor’s robe.

“What happened Miss Granger?”

Hermione looked up at those onyx eyes but couldn’t say anything, she didn’t want to to the truth and be disliked even more from her own house but neither could she lie to a member of authority.

+++

Severus had finished his marking and was getting a drink of water when he glanced at the clock and noticed it was nearly curfew, time for his cub to come back from where ever he had been. He was about to call out through the bond when the first pain hit him, reaching along the bond all he could feel was pain and fear. Severus glared at anyone who was silly enough to look at him wrong as he followed the bond to his cub. He used occumencly to block Peorth’s pain from his body without blocking their bond, he knew that Peorth needed the bond, he was scared.

He found him near the library in Granger’s arms, it obviously wasn’t girl who had hurt him as Peorth had calmed down slightly but it didn’t stop him from sweeping the cub into his arms. Severus felt the relief that his arrival had caused across the bond and smiled internally as Peorth buried his head in Severus’ robes.

He looked down at the Gryffindor still on the ground, “What happened Miss Granger?”

The bushy haired Gryffindor just stared at him, she didn’t move or say anything and Severus had no idea how long they would have stayed like that if a moan hadn’t drawn their attention to a the three other Gryffindor’s on the other side of the corridor, Weasley, Thomas and Finnegan.

“Peorth what happened?” He asked quietly of the cub still buried in his robe. In reply he was sent a series of images, it was flashes of what was obviously the three Gryffindors that were still moaning on the floor attacking him interspersed with flashes of a grossly overweight man that his cub was petrified of and looked strangely familiar.

Leaving Granger where she was, he approached the three males as they returned to their feet. “As Miss Granger is not speaking perhaps you would care to tell me what happened?” He demanded in his coldest voice.

He knew what Peorth had told him but he wanted to know what the brave and courageous Gryffindors would say and how many more points he could take off them. He would have gone for expulsion but doubted the headmaster would let him, points and detention would do for now. Of course a letter would go home to all their parents and the Howler from Weasley matriarch would be fun to listen to.

“We found him like that, Granger thought we were attacking him and attacked us.”

Severus sneered at the redheaded idiot, he couldn’t even lie well. “Fifty points from Gryffindor, each, for beating up a defenceless Animal and three weeks detention with Filch for lying to a teacher.” Argus would appreciate the help and opportunity to torment the first years. Severus knew he had to get Peorth to the Infirmary and let Poppy have a look at him so decided that would do for now, as he was walking back past Granger another thought occurred to him. She deserved some sort of reward, “Miss Granger every night for the next ten days at seven I will be working on some potions for the infirmary you are welcome to help if you wish.”

The girl stuttered for a few seconds then finally replied, “Yes sir.”

Severus nodded and strode towards the Infirmary, smirking at the gullibility of Gryffindors. She was clever enough to help him and do work that he would have to charge most people for but she would think of as a treat.

He reached the Infirmary within a few minutes, calling for Poppy as he walked in. “Severus, what’s wrong?” She asked as she came out of her office.

“Three of the first year Gryffindors thought it would be a good idea to beat Peorth up,” Severus replied putting the small cub on one of the beds.

“Oh you poor thing,” Poppy said as she started fuss over the small cub, who was tolerating the hands but Severus knew wanted to be back in his arms.

“I’ll stay right here Peorth, but you’ll feel better after Poppy has fixed you up.”

Peorth whined but stayed still and let Poppy check him over. “Nothing too serious, a few cracked ribs and some bruising.”

“Serious enough,” Severus growled, stroking the small head roughly, trying to comfort Peorth but feeling too angry. How dare those Gryffindors hurt his Cub?

“He was injured when you found him I believe.”

“Yes, Hagrid healed him.”

“Do you remember how he did it?”

“Healico-Summa.”

Poppy just nodded and waved her wand, saying the spell, a few seconds later Severus felt Peorth relax as the pain from his ribs disappeared. “There is not much i can do about his bruises.”

“I have something from Hagrid that will help,” Severus replied.

“Good, I think he would prefer to be back in your quarters, there is no reason for him to be here.”

“Thank-you Poppy.”

“I trust that the perpetrators have been punished.”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

Poppy chuckled, she knew that tone from the younger wizard, the students would regret hurting what Severus classed as his.

+++

Harry lay on the floor in front of the fire, strong hands rubbing the familiar cream into his bruises stopping them from aching so much. He snuggled further into the thick rug that smelt like his human and allowed the hands to relax him. But he was slightly worried, he knew that Severus had been to see his family and that when he had been telling Severus what had happened some images of his uncle had seeped through. He just hoped that his human wouldn’t make the connection, he wouldn’t be able to stand Severus hating him.

There was a bang on the door and Severus left him in front of the fire to enter it, he tipped his head back and listened, trying to work out who it was.

“Minerva,” His human said.

“Severus may I come in?”

“Of course.”

Harry listened to the footsteps and looked over as Severus came in followed by the cat smelling lady, Professor McGonogall, the head of Gryffindor. “How may I help you Minerva?” Severus asked he returned to his place and carried on rubbing the cream into Peorth’s skin.

“Give Gryffindor their one hundred and fifty points back, you can’t remove that many points for being out after curfew when it wasn’t even curfew yet.”

The hands on his back froze and Harry could feel the anger coming from his bonded, not anger at him but at the Gryffindors who had beaten him up and pretty much everyone else in the world.

“I think I will add another week of detention on for that.”

“Detention?” Minerva asked.

“I not only took fifty points off them each but also three weeks of detention with Argus.”

“Severus that seems a bit much for being out after curfew especially when it was still before curfew.”

“Yes I would agree with you if that was why I had punished them.“

Minerva sighed, Harry could almost see her getting angry at Severus, “So why did you punish them?”

“Your precious Gryffindors attack Peorth, we have just been to see Poppy and thankfully he only had a few cracked ribs. I don’t even want to know what state he would have been in if Miss Granger hadn’t stopped them.”

“Miss Granger stopped all three of them from hurting Peorth?” Minerva asked in shock.

“Yes.”

Slowly the confused look vanished from Minerva’s face to be replaced with an angry and determined look, “Those three will regret ever lifting a finger to harm Peorth. Have you done anything about Miss Granger?”

“She is coming to help me with potions for the next week and a half.”

Minerva nodded, “I will see you in the morning.”

Harry watched her leave and butted his head against Severus until the hands carried on stroking the cream in. Harry was worried about Severus finding out but he was warm, his human was there and he was safe so he slowly drifted off, trusting Severus to carry him to bed. Life was good, was his last thought before sleep had him.