Harry cursed his luck. Of course on the second day he had his new cat at Hogwarts it would go 'explore', leaving him to try and find him in the huge castle.

"Lightning Bolt!" He called. He had ironically named his cat Lightning Bolt after he found out how fast the cat could move. Here one second, gone the next. Ron never let him forget that he basically named his cat after his scar. Harry just rolled his eyes every time Ron mentioned it. He didn't care, the name fit the multicolored cat. The cat lived up to the name well, always running around and appearing seemingly out of nowhere.

Suddenly Harry heard a meow. "Lightning Bolt!", Harry called again. He heard another meow. His heart sank when he realized it came from the dungeons. Or more specifically near Snape's office.

With dread he approached. His fears were confirmed when he saw his cat rubbing against an unamused Snape.

"Lightning Bolt!", Harry called in a mixture of relief and fear. "Come here kitty!"

Snape looked on, now looking slightly amused as Lighting Bolt ignored him and continued rubbing against Snape.

"Am I right to assume this is your cat Mr.Potter?", drawled Snape.

Harry nodded slowly as he fruitlessly tried to get his cat to walk over to him. He tried calling to him again, trying to put more authority in his voice, "Lightning Bolt come here!"

Again the cat ignored him still rubbing against Snape's legs, now purring. Harry tried a number of thing to get the cat to willingly leave Snape's side. The entire time Snape looked on, offering no assistance. Finally Harry gave up and awkwardly crouch walked over to where the stubborn cat was. He grabbed the cat round the middle and picked him up. When he was fully standing he held the cat somewhat like a baby.

"Sorry about that, sir," Harry mumbled. "I haven't had him for long so he likes to ignore me when I try to get him to do something."

"I hadn't noticed Mr.Potter.", Snape answered dryly.

Harry flushed as Snape walked towards him. "Now if you wouldn't mind, it's time for dinner. Despite what some students may think, I do need to eat."

Harry moved out of his way while mumbling an apology. He walked away lightly scolding his cat.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Harry where were you?", was the first thing Harry heard when he sat down at the Gryffindor table after having put Lighting Bolt back in the common room.

Harry just responded, "Long story.", before eating.

Ron and Hermione shared a look. Ron just shrugged and went back to eating. Hermione on the other hand wouldn't let it drop.

"Harry did something happen?", she asked worryingly.

"I'll explain later, just let me eat first ok?", Harry answered.

Hermione finally dropped the subject, to Harry's relief. He didn't want to talk about his suspicions where everyone could hear them. He suspected it would cause some people to have heart attacks.

When they climbed up to Gryffindor tower, walked into the third year dormitories and locked the doors.

"So what happened?", asked Ron.

"I think Snape has a soft spot for cats.", answered Harry.

Ron's mouth fell open as Hermione gasped, "What!?"

Harry looked at them in confusion and repeated what he said, slower this time, "I think Snape has a soft spot for cats."

His friends stared at him in shock until he said, "What? I mean I know it's Snape but it can't be that shocking. Lots of people like cats."

Ron sputtered in the background as Hermione inquired, "Harry, what could have possibly led you to think this?"

"Earlier, before dinner, Lightning Bolt ran out of the common room. I didn't want him to get lost on his second day here so I went out to look for him. He ended up in the dungeons, near Snape's office. When I arrived he was rubbing against Snape's legs. I tried to calling to him but he wouldn't listen. I crouched down and tried everything I could think to get him to stop rubbing against Snape's legs. After I ran out of ideas Lightning Bolt was purring. Then I crouch walked over to him and picked him up. The entire time Snape didn't say anything mean. After I picked him up he made a passive-aggressive remark about what some students say about him and his eating habits and left.", Harry explained seemingly confused about what happened.

"It was weird. He barely said anything you would expect him too. Like how I 'can't even control a small cat'. I literally told him that Lightning Bolt doesn't listen to me most of the time! He didn't say anything mean! Not a word! Just 'I hadn't noticed, Mr.Potter.', that's not mean, that literally pointing out a fact! He must have a soft spot for cats, it's the only explanation!"

Ron and Hermione shared a look of disbelief. Then Ron spoke,

"Mate? No."

The next day the next day Harry had a plan to prove he was right. He would let Lightning Bolt loose in the castle again then he would follow him under the invisibility cloak. Hopefully Lightning Bolt would head to the dungeons and run into Snape again. Then, because they would be alone, Harry could find out if Snape did have a soft spot for cats.

Hermione, however pointed out that he had no use for the information. Why would he need it? Blackmail? ("Harry you better not blackmail Snape.")

Harry brushed off her concerns- ("Of course I'm not going to blackmail Snape! That's crazy Hermione, I would never do that.")- he just wanted to know if he was right. If he was right, it would make Snape 10x less terrifying. There was no harm in that.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Finally his last class before lunch ended. He quickly speed walked to the common room. He grabbed his invisibility cloak. He then found Lightning Bolt terrorizing Scabbers in a corner.

Lightning Bolt had taken sides with Chrookshanks and took every chance he got to torment Scabbers. Ron complained but Harry brushed it off as cat instinct. Cats and mice didn't get along. Like cats and dogs; or cats and birds. Or cats and snakes....

Harry finally brought his wandering mind back to the task at hand. He placed the invisibility cloak around him and Lightning Bolt. When they were near the dungeons he waited until it was practically deserted before letting Lightning Bolt down.

The small cat stood there for moment, confused by the sudden change in scenery. He quickly gathered his bearings, recognizing the dungeons from the other day. He then took off in the direction of Snape's office again.

Harry mentally cheered. So far his plan was working. He followed the cat hoping Snape would be there.

For once luck was on his side, for once he turned a corner there was Snape. Harry grinned under his invisibility cloak.

Lightning Bolt noticed him immediately as well. Instantly he meowed and made his way towards Snape. When he reached him he started to rub against his legs and purring.

Harry practically held his breath, waiting to see what Snape would do. If he bent down to pet Lightning Bolt it would mean Snape did have a soft spot for cats, if he didn't it meant Harry was wrong and Hermione was right (as usual).

As Harry watched, still hidden, Snape quickly glanced around him, seemingly checking to see if anyone way around. His eyes lingered where Harry was standing for a moment and Harry froze sure he was caught somehow. However the moment passed and Snape resumed his search. Finally Snape concluded that no one was around and did not bend down to pet Lightning Bolt. Oh no, he crouched down. Harry gasped slightly at the sight of the terrifying Snape, the man who made first years cry, crouch down to pet a cat.

Snape's head shot up and glanced around again, lingering on Harry for a moment longer than necessary. Slowly Snape stood up and started walking towards him. Harry had about 10 seconds to panic before they both heard footsteps.

Snape froze and schooled his face into an expression of impassiveness as a student turned the corner.

"Professor Snape! Good thing you're here, I was looking for you! I was worried you'd be at dinner.", suddenly the student noticed Lightning Bolt. "Is that your cat professor?"

Snape sneered slightly, but to Harry it was fake. After what he had seen not minutes ago how could it not?

"No this is not my cat. I believe it is Mr.Potters.", Snape answered still sneering, "Yesterday the same cat came up to me when Mr.Potter appeared looking for him."

"Harry Potters cat!?", exclaimed the student, "Wow!"

Snape rolled his eyes, "What was it that you needed Mr.Gold?"

The student, Mr.Gold, started, "Oh! Uh... I wanted to ask you about something you mentioned in class earlier."

Snape nodded, "Very well, follow me, we can talk in my office."

Snape turned and walked away with Mr.Gold following him. Harry let out a breath he had been holding. That had been a stressful past few minutes. He took off the invisibility cloak and picked up Lightning Bolt as he turned and walked away.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Snape was not fully listening as the student talked about the lesson from today's class. He could have sworn he heard someone when he had been petting Potters cat. Lightning Bolt was it?

Either way he had not seen anyone. Suddenly he heard a footstep from behind. He quickly turned his head to see Harry Potter take off an invisibility cloak, pick up his cat and walk away. So had been right, someone had been watching him.

He sighed. Of all people it had to be Harry bloody Potter who learned of his fondness for cats. He sighed again and went back to discussing potions with Mr.Gold. Hopefully nothing would come of this.