Tonight I Wanna Cry

A/N: Usual disclaimer, I own the plot and OC\'s.

Thanks for the reviews, I love reading them.

Also, this takes place in Harry\'s 6th year so be warned, there might be OotP spoilers.

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Chapter 5: Better Life

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Snape woke to a familiar sound and noticed Bridget asleep comfortably in his arms. He smiled inwardly, and thanked the Gods for finally making something good happen to him. He glanced over her at the clock, next to his four-poster bed, 9am. He had not slept that late, without the aid of a potion, in a long time. Bridget shifted slightly in his arms and rolled over and looked sleepily into his dark eyes. Severus kissed her forehead, \"Good morning, Kyca\" Bridget smiled at Severus\' use of the nickname he had given her after a mutual night of intoxication.

Bridget muffled a slight groan as Severus tried to get out of bed. She tried to grab him to pull him back into bed but grabbed a pillow instead. She playfully placed it over her faced and whined. Severus stood at the edge of the bed and looked at her with an amused smirk on his face. Bridget peeked at him through the pillow and chucked at him playfully. Snape caught it as Bridget erupted in a fit of giggles. She rolled out of bed and grabbed her robe from off the floor and put it on. Bridget wondered around the room looking for her bra and underwear, while Snape dressed quietly.

They both went into his study, Severus summoned a house elf and got breakfast sent to his rooms. Bridget fed her owl who had delivered her morning post, apparently somebody told her owl that she was here, probably Jagger. They ate in silence for a while. \"So what are your plans for today?\" Snape questioned, in hopes of being able to be with her all day.

\"Well nothing, I had planned to shop a bit for things I didn\'t really need.\"

\"If you want, I can go with you, I have been meaning to go to the apothecary for some supplies.\"

\"Sure, you are being mighty daring to come with me shopping.\" Bridget smiled wickedly at him while playing around with a piece of bacon.

\"Yes, well I surely hope you don\'t have to go into a sweet shop again after that purchase you made yesterday and I will try and keep you out of Flourish and Blotts at all costs.\" Bridget blushed and winked at him, knowing that he really would try and stop her at all costs because she would literally be in there all day.

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Severus and Bridget arrived at the Leaky Cauldron not long after they were finished eating breakfast. They walked straight through and headed toward Diagon Alley, for a peaceful day together. Bridget noticed Fourish and Blotts, she started to casually drift towards the store, in hopes that Severus wouldn\'t notice. He caught on soon enough and made a graceful step in front of her. She giggled and muttered, \"You can\'t help a girl for trying.\"

Just as Severus turned, there was Remus Lupin, smiling at him. \"Ah, Severus, nice to see you out today.\" He glanced to Bridget, \"Who might this be, Severus?\"

Bridget looked up at the disheveled man, \"Bridget Caelan, and you are?\"

\"Remus Lupin, nice to meet you.\"

Bridget smiled and made their excuses claiming that \"they\" really had to be going and that \"we\" have plenty to get done. Remus smiled and nodded, he thought to himself, \"Well Snape has finally managed to find himself a woman, what is up with me then?\"

Bridget and Severus walked into the Apothecary, Bridget stayed close to Severus, avoiding the weird \"creepy crawlies\" as she informed him. Severus paid for his supplies and left, Bridget instinctively grabbed his hand. Severus would usually frown on such displays but today was an exception. Bridget smiled to him as they walked down the streets of Diagon Alley, hand in hand.

Bridget and Severus walked past the Magical Menagerie. Bridget looked in and noticed several squirming, young, hound-like creatures. \"Severus, lets go in, I would like to look around a bit.\" Severus sighed and followed behind her. Bridget grabbed a bag of owl pellets and headed straight for the puppies.

A salesperson walked up next to her, \"I see you have noticed our newest arrivals, then.\"

\"Yes, they look like a hound, what are they?\" Severus could tell that Bridget was extremely interested in the dogs. He hoped that the salesman wouldn\'t say the dreaded word, \"Hamiltonstoväre\". He was certain that is what they were. They had talked about buying one when they were together. Severus had no objections, considering Bridget had very cleverly won him over on the breed after she said the magic words, \"Severus, they are almost always quiet and they don\'t drool.\"

\"Well ma\'am, these are Hamiltonstoväre puppies. They are registered and show quality. They are nearly 18 weeks old and we have health guarantees for the whole litter.\"

Bridget smiled and grabbed Severus\' arm and started to shake it like a rag doll. \"How much for the males?\" Severus knew that all hope was lost, Bridget will be purchasing one. He knew that if he valued his life at all, he would not persuade her otherwise.

\"Well miss, our males are 550 galleons.\"

Bridget continued to look at the puppies, clearly not driven away by the price. As she scanned the pups, one pup looked at her and headed straight to her. It was hopeless, she was sold, she had to have him. \"I\'ll take him.\" The salesperson picked up the pup and placed it in Bridget\'s arms. Instantly she starting cooing softly at him.

Severus had to admit it, it was hopelessly adorable. He pet the pup, that was happily squirming in Bridget\'s arms. As Severus started to pat the puppy\'s head, the pup began to lick his hand. Bridget giggled, \"Severus, he likes you already.\" Severus sighed and gave her a weak smile.

Half an hour later, they left the shop, with the puppy and all of the supplies that went with him. They flooed directly to Snape\'s quarters at Hogwarts. Bridget plopped on Severus\' black sofa and placed the pup on the floor. Severus sat down beside Bridget and watched the pup wander. \"How long are you going to stay?\" Severus questioned hopefully.

\"I don\'t know, I really don\'t feel like going back to Nashville.\" Bridget sighed as the pup tried to get up and join them on the sofa.

Severus tensed instantly, \"Then don\'t go back. I would like it if you stayed.\"

\"Oh, Severus, I would love to stay but what about the other professors and the students? Also, what about him, can he stay here?\"

\"I will talk to Dumbledore. Yes, the pup can stay, I know how long you have wanted one. I\'ll go talk to Dumbledore right now, you can stay here and think of a proper name for him. I don\'t think \'pup\' or \'you\' will be very appropriate.\" Bridget smiled at him as he left to speak to Dumbledore.

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Severus said the traditional candy themed password to Dumbledore\'s office. Severus began to head up the spiral staircase, while constantly thinking the typical \"what if\'s?\". The big one that kept on coming back to him was \"What if he says that she must return to Nashville?\" Severus reached the door and knocked. He heard Dumbledore say \"Enter\". Severus walked in as Dumbledore\'s blue eyes looked at him happily.

\"Ah, Severus, my boy, what can I do for you.?\" Dumbledore looked at Severus and smiled, his blue eyes twinkling the entire time. Dumbledore indicated to Severus to have a seat.

Severus sat down and began. \"Well, sir, Bridget has returned. I asked her to move in and she accepted. Is that alright?\"

Dumbledore smiled, almost as if he knew that was bound to happen some day. \"Severus, I am happy for you. I take that you have explained to her everything.\" Severus nodded and Dumbledore continued on, \"Of course she can stay, I will alert the staff to her presence. If she is seen by the students, then I leave it in your hands as to how to inform the students.\"

Severus thanked Dumbledore and left. As soon as the door was shut, Dumbledore mumbled to himself, \"Finally, he is got what he always wanted.\"

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Severus opened the door to his quarters, to find Bridget rubbing the puppy\'s belly. \"Bridge?\" Bridget looked up at him and smiled. She picked up the pup and carried him over to Severus. \"He said that it is fine, you can stay.\" Bridget kissed him gently on the lips. \"So, does he have a name yet?\"

Bridget smiled, \"Yes, I think I am going to call him Jack.\"

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A/N: Plot bunnies will come out next chapter. :) Also, Hamiltonstoväre are an actual breed of dog. They are a rare Swedish Foxhound. They have marking like a beagle but the personality of a lab. They don\'t drool and rarely bark. Currently there are only 2 in the United States and are increasing in popularity in Europe. They are solitary hunters so it seems fitting that Severus and Bridget would have one.