Chapter Text
It was the time of day between the end of last class and before the evening meal, a time when Pippa was able to steal away from the library for a little while to make her way down to the dungeon to Severus' office. As she expected, she found him seated at his desk, marking homework assignments.
"A galleon for your thoughts?" she asked as she closed the heavy door behind her and made her way over to his desk. The black bundle of fur that had become a constant companion gambled along after her. Pippa might not have had any great love for the dank cold office, but the young cat loved it here. There was always something to get into or chase about.
He didn't look up from the work he was grading, "It would appear word is getting around." he said dryly, finally putting the papers down to look up at her.
"Well, honestly, did you think it wouldn't?" she replied as she sunk into one of the chairs on the other side of his desk.
"No, but I didn't expect to find stick figures of us snogging on my chalkboard this morning."
Her hand moved to her mouth, trying to hide her smile, "Oh, dear." she murmured.
"Now my entire seventh year Gryffindor-Slytherin class has a week of detentions as no one would either own up to it or give me the guilty party." he set his quill down, not looking anywhere nearly as amused as she did.
The kitten, which she had, against his wishes, named Princess, jumped up onto the desk and started attacking his quill with a vengeance.
Seeing her smile, he frowned slightly, "You find it amusing?"
"Yes, and no. I hate that you have to spend time on detentions, as it takes away from your time with me. I'm entirely too selfish that way. But, you can hardly fault me for wanting it to be out, so I don't have to feel like I'm sneaking around like a naughty student anytime I want to come down here to see you. An even more selfish part wants people to know you're happy, even if it is horrible for your dour reputation. I know."
"Does this look like my happy face?" he asked, sarcastically. It was not a happy expression.
She laughed, but her tone sobered up a little, "No, but you know what I mean. You're alive, you survived. No one would begrudge you the indulgence of actually living a little."
Princess had made quick work of his quill, decimating the end of it. Bored now, she moved on to paw at his wand, which was resting on the other side of the pile of parchments. He quickly picked her up and held the tiny ball of fur to his chest, scritching between its ears distractedly. He looked like he wanted to keep his cross look, but the rumbling happy purring of the kitten helped to lighten his mood.
"You're really going to stick with that name then? Princess?" the look on his face suggested there could be at least a hundred better names out there.
"Of course. She's my little princess."
"And any play on words is completely unintentional?"
"I'd like to think it’s clever." She paused for a moment and then added, "She's very clever too. She can already find her way down here on her own. All you need is a little cat door, and I could use her to send messages to you."
"And that would do nothing to further the rumors along." he said with a hint of sarcasm.
"I think the time for that is past. You're going to have to learn to adapt. But, if you want, I could do something to reinforce the vampire rumor, maybe paint some bite marks on my neck?"
The cat had tired of the petting and crawled up onto Severus' shoulder to gnaw on his hair.
Laughing again, at the cat this time, she couldn't help but add, "You're going to have to make an honest woman out of me eventually. Then everyone will know. So, what's the point?" she, at least, seemed confident that things were progressing in that direction. She got up from her chair and went around to his side of the desk, collecting the kitten who was messing up his hair. Then, without a care, slipped into his lap.
"Don't tell me Draco and Astoria's wedding invitation has infected you?" He asked, shifting in his seat slightly to be able to wrap an arm around her. He would be lying, to himself, if he said he hadn't given some thought to their future as well. In his mind, though marriage was still a great deal down the road.
"It doesn't consume my thoughts, but don't forget who you are speaking to, dear. This is one of those 'witch-things'. It is the next logical step, is it not?" she teased as she nestled in against him, petting the cat distractedly as they spoke.
The prospect of marriage still unsettled him some. As she liked to point out, almost every day, he wasn't the same man he was a year ago. He didn't know if he had changed enough or how much change it would take to become someone more marriable. He was thankful at least that she wanted it and was no longer cross with him about the bracelet misunderstanding.