HP: It's a snake, not a badger.

Chapter 18 The Last Day as a Cub

The cruel adult held the cub in his arms to warm his hands, and Snape felt he had discovered a new use for the child.

Their slightly cool hands were folded in the cub's arms, and their warm bodies provided excellent warmth. The two relaxed and sat on the sofa in the principal's office.

"Albus, you're not a child anymore. As the principal, can't you be a little more responsible? Nobody's stopping you from pursuing love, but you still have responsibilities to fulfill!"

Professor McGonagall didn't want to go along with Dumbledore for the first time. At his age, he was still pursuing passion and went to find a lover without saying anything, making her worry for so long. He didn't even think to send a letter afterwards. It was too much.

Gellert, sitting next to Dumbledore, frowned, about to speak when Dumbledore reached out and twisted his waist, and his expression immediately changed.

"Mr. Grindelwald, Albus is seeking thrills, but are you just as immature? The two of you are almost two hundred years old combined, and you are not even half as mature as little Ellie."

"You can't say that, Minerva. Allie will get me the medicine and remind me to eat on time." Snape couldn't help but add fuel to the fire. Seeing Dumbledore speechless only fueled Professor McGonagall's anger. The cub in his arms, sensing the adult's intention, narrowed its eyes and said to Professor McGonagall, "Professor McGonagall, they're glaring at me. I'm scared."

Emerick pitifully hid in Snape's arms, only to find Professor McGonagall turning to comfort him, looking even more pathetic.

McGonagall was furious, especially when she saw the two people opposite her staring at Emeric with dark faces. "You dare to yell at the child? Especially you, Albus, where were you when little Ellie had problems and needed help? If it weren't for Severus watching over you, I'd like to see how you explain this to the students' parents."

Snape wore an obvious look of pleasure, and Emerick's mind conjured up a new formula: Dumbledore's misfortune = Severus's happiness. He prepared to test the formula's accuracy. "Professor McGonagall, don't be angry, it's all my fault. Please don't scold Grandpa Albus and Grandpa Gellert anymore. I shouldn't have been curious."

Snape then explained, "Grindelwald is Eri's father's godfather, so according to seniority, he should indeed call these two grandfathers."

Emeric has been good at stirring things up since childhood, and the close relationship between the three of them reignited McGonagall's anger, which had subsided. This time, McGonagall's face turned completely black.

"Albus, please finish processing the documents before your vacation ends. I need to take a break. Also, Mr. Grindelwald, Ellie is your grandson. Please inform his two fathers what happened. Parents have the right to know."

The ever-hardworking witch turned the tide, giving Dumbledore the energy to rekindle his old flame and process the documents, while Grindelwald had the energy to mend the rift and soothe the anxious parents.

The two, one big and one small, were happily eating cookies and drinking tea, happier than anything else to see the two old men in trouble. Emeric, seeing that things had gone well enough, told McGonagall to calm down, "Professor McGonagall, don't be angry. Here, have some cookies. Grandpa Gellert and Grandpa Albus will definitely feel bad, and they'll behave themselves."

With just one sentence, she dug two pits. Upon hearing this, McGonagall looked completely delighted, but the two who were tricked were not so happy.

Dumbledore was a little better; he felt somewhat guilty for leaving McGonagall to handle school affairs alone. Grindelwald, on the other hand, just wanted to beat the kid up. After knowing him for so many years, didn't he know what Emeric was thinking?

"Minerva, what did you call Ellie and me here for? If there's nothing else, I'll take him back first, you two can continue chatting." After watching the commotion, Snape prepared to leave. Many young wizards would catch colds when school started, and he needed to replenish the infirmary's supplies.

"Of course something happened, Severus. I almost forgot because I was so angry. Have Albus check on Airi's condition. He should be back to normal by tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Snape couldn't help but hug the child in his arms tighter and immediately handed him back. He lowered his head and used Occlumency to control his emotions, giving a self-deprecating laugh. He hadn't expected to be so reluctant to part with the child.

After the examination, the two went straight back to the cellar. Emeric had already noticed Snape's strange behavior, but he hadn't said anything in the headmaster's office. He knew how proud his professor was, so he needed to wait until they were alone.

Severus

Emeric hung himself on Snape, blocking the latter's view of grading homework.

"I don't want to grow up, because you won't talk to me anymore when I grow up. Can you let me stay like this forever?"

"Even the most powerful wizard can't stop time. So what do you mean I'll ignore you? Did you remember something? Don't pretend."

"Is it that hard to guess? If you were a student like me from PolyU, why aren't there any of my things in the cellar? You just don't like me, you like kids."

Snape laughed in exasperation once again. He couldn't understand what was going on in the cub's head, what it meant to dislike him and like children. He clearly didn't like either of them. If Emeric hadn't trusted him, who would want to take care of children?

Thinking this, he blurted it out, and unsurprisingly, Snape was defeated once again. Emeric hugged him and cried, nestled in his arms like a sad little dumpling, trembling as he sobbed.

As usual, he wiped her face, patted her head, and kissed her, trying to coax her, but to no avail. Snape then realized that in the past, it was the cubs who were willing to be coaxed by him, but this time he was truly heartbroken.

"Sigh, when you turn back to your current state, will you still be the same? Stop crying, or you'll lose your voice."

The man's deep voice came from above the cub's head, and the helplessness and concession in his tone immediately appeased him. Of course, how could the cub, who loved to take an inch and then a mile, give in so easily?

"Can I still sleep with you tonight? I'm scared."

"Yes, you're still a child."

"Once I turn back, will I still be able to...be with you?"

"Of course, you are my student, and I have no reason to stop you from coming to my office."

"Then...can you give me a kiss every day?"

"Sure, it's just one a day. No, adults don't need a kiss every day."

He said it too easily, without listening to anything Emerick was saying. He only realized it was wrong halfway through agreeing. It's okay for a child to kiss, but what's the big deal about kissing a boy who's about his height?

"Then you have to promise me one thing: when I turn back, if I get scared, you have to comfort me just like you do now."

Everyone knows that Emeric is daring and always goes wherever there's excitement.

Whenever Snape dealt with a fight, Emeric would be watching from a short distance away, popcorn in hand. When Snape was arresting a couple, he could look up and see Emeric watching with binoculars.

Thinking of this, Snape rolled his eyes where Emeric couldn't see, and replied, "Of course, I'll comfort you if you're scared."

Emeric put away the tape recorder with satisfaction. Although he didn't know why, he felt that this thing would come in handy soon. He trusted his intuition. After all, God's intuition was partly equivalent to prophecy, and even if it was only a quarter, it was still God's bloodline.

(Soon comes the big surprise I've been waiting for, hehehehehehehehe. When Stryker wakes up, he'll find someone in his bed, sleeping with him in his arms, and he won't be wary of Ellie, hehehehehehe)