An owl swooped through the trees after a rat. The rat scuttled through the growth at the edge of the forest. The hairy creature then squealed vanished under a low bush, but not because of the diving owl. Owls are silent. A noise startled the owl back into the tree and the rat under the bush.
"Stop, please. I can't run anymore." A boy with pale hair and a pale, pointed face choked. His breath was forcing its way brutally in and out of his chest faster than he could control. His heart thudded inside of his ribs.
A dark man looked over his shoulder. Hogwarts' outline still marred the horizon, but he knew the boy needed to rest. "Very well," he said quietly "but a few moments only, Malfoy."
The boy sank to the ground, letting his shoulders find the tree behind him. He drew his legs up to his chest, folded his arms across his knees, and buried his face in the crook of his elbow.
"Are you crying?"
"I'm not." He snapped defensively, but, the catch in his voice betrayed his lie.
Severus Snape exhaled slowly and went to stand over Draco Malfoy, staring down at the white blonde hair visible above the pale arms. Draco could feel the man watching him. He raised his head slowly to the face looking down at him, Snape's black hair falling over his face like ink spilling over pale parchment.
"You did it," said Draco in a choked whisper. "You really killed him."
Snape merely shrugged and turned away, taking a few steps to stand with his back to his young companion, perhaps to hide an expression. Draco shuddered and buried his face again.
"I was supposed to do it… it was supposed to be me… my… my family… What… what will he do?" His shoulders trembled violently.
Drawing a long, heavy breath, Snape answered "I don't know. Your father is safe for now. Your mother will have no-doubt heard of this and could have time to take flight."
"But… he'll find her."
"By the time he does it might not matter anymore."
Draco felt numb and ill. The cold air was singeing his lungs and going to his head, making him weak and giddy. "Professor?" He asked quietly.
Snape snorted, horse-like, in a dark mirthless laugh. "Do you really think I'm a professor now?"
There was a cold feeling that crept over Draco as that truth dawned on him. A teacher was a figure of authority and control, even protection. Somehow the realization that the man with him had lost that title only increased his sense of helplessness. A fresh wave of tears broke against him.
Snape shook his head irritably and walked back to Draco, this time kneeling down and lifting his head up so that their eyes met. There was no warmth in his voice, but it still rang with firm conviction. "I have been charged to help and protect you, and I will. Now get up, it's time to move again."
Faster than his own thoughts, Draco threw out his arms and wrapped them around Snape's neck desperately, clinging there for a few long moments. Snape rolled his eyes upwards and rested a white hand on the back of Draco's pale hair.
"Alright boy, alright… there's no time. Let's move."
Draco nodded and followed Snape into the darkness until they both vanished. The rat ran out from under the bush and the owl swooped noiselessly after it.
