Yay! A chapter on a probably never-ending series of one-shots! Each chapter, the pairing will be different. Mostly slash. Expect TMR/HP (my current favorite), HP/DM (A close second), HP/SB (not slash), HP/SS (could be slash, might not be), RL/SB (because they belong together), HP/RW (only a thought, however), RW/DM (Another favorite), HG/PP (probably not a romance), RL/SS, SB/SS, JP/SB, JP/SS, JP/RL or anything requested. Enjoy! Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, and will probably never. If I did, I wouldn't be writing a fanfiction.
Harry though he was imagining things when he first spotted the doe. It stood, almost hidden but shining brightly, between the thick and snow covered tree trunks. He scanned it a moment, and although his inner conscious said it wasn't Dark Magic, he was reluctant to go closer. Curiosity, however, won. Harry grabbed Hermione's wand and took a few cautious steps towards the patronus doe.
Seeing no threat, he approached slowly, keeping an eye on the doe and for movement in amongst the trees, while he kept his ears at attention for sounds of another person. Throughout his approach, the doe merely watched with innocent, silver eyes. He came to about three metre's away or so, and the doe began to move along a path deeper into the forest. Harry stole a quick glance at the tent before following, muttering the lumos spell under his breath.
The patronus led him through the dimly lit forest to the banks of a frozen river, where the frosty surface had turned translucent to the dark water beneath. The doe, once standing in the middle of the lake, turned into a bright orb then disappeared under the water. Hesitantly, Harry approached. Beneath the murky water under the ice there was something gleaming. He squinted for a closer look, and when he realised what the shape had to be, he let out a whoop of joy. Under the dark waters Harry spotted the gleaming shape of Godric Gryffindor's sword.
Harry hastily pulled out Hermione's wand and cast a summoning charm. Nothing happened, yet Harry wasn't surprised. Something, in his mind perhaps, had been nudging him towards a different approach. An approach of what a real Gryffindor would do. Harry wondered if Dumbledore had placed the sword under the ice, knowing he would stumble upon it.
'Diffindo!' Harry said, pointing the wand at a patch of ice above the shiny sword. He then shed his clothing, set his glasses down to a safer spot, and threw one foot into the water. He yelped in surprise - it was colder than he could've imagined. Harry readied himself before taking a deep breath.
When Harry dived under, he wasn't prepared for the ice-like coldness that made his skin crawl and his body scream in protest. He kicked downwards with numb legs with his long arms reaching out in front of him, groping for the sword or ground around it. His lungs screamed, and his vision had become more blurry than usual due to the eerie water he had now submerged himself within. He felt something cool slide along his body and cover him for a moment - almost like the thing was holding him before pushing him down and giving him a boost. He turned to look at whatever it was, but saw nothing more than a hint of red-tinged green and raven black around it. Mentally shrugging, he kicked harder and stretched his arms out. Again, he felt something warm touching him - this time over his lightning shaped scar. He ignored the warmth the small brush sent through his body.
He fingers touched the hilt of the gleaming sword gently, but before he could reach out and grab it, something was getting tighter and tighter around his throat, constricting his wind pipe. He brought his free hand to brush it off, when his body began to float up. His arms were flailing as he realised the horcrux had began to pull him up by the throat. Harry panicked, and thrashed while trying to pull the locket off.
He bashed his head back, and feeling it hit a hard surface, inwardly groaned. The horcrux had pulled him up to where the ice hadn't been melted. In his mind, Harry cursed Voldemort to a long and painful death. He pounded his hands against the ice, making muffled noises from the back of his throat, and tried to pull himself along towards the break in the ice. He felt his head bang against the ice again. This time, his vision further blurred and stars dotted his sight. His arms, still attacking the ice, became weaker and more feeble.
Suddenly, he felt clothed arms around his body dragging him up. Harry wondered if Hermione had noticed his absence and somehow managed to find him. They dragged him out of the water, and without a second to waste he began spitting up water. He heaved as the person handed them his glasses. He smacked them on quickly, to take a look at his saviour.
Ron stood before him, dripping yet and carrying the silver sword. He had a embarrassed grin on his face, which held a twinge of disbelief.
"What the bloody hell were you doing?" He asked, shock evident in his higher than normal voice. Harry fought back a laugh, and explained to Ron about the silver doe and sword.
"Bloody hell… the way you're going, You-know-who will be too late." Ron said, and Harry playfully shoved him.
"Do you think Dumbledore left the sword there knowing you'd turn up eventually?" Ron asked, and Harry shrugged. He wanted to believe Dumbledore had knowingly put the sword in the river, knowing Harry and Ron would find it.
"Maybe. But who sent the doe?" This time, Ron shrugged.
"Well, it was a good thing they did, otherwise I wouldn't have found you." He said. Harry raised a questioning eyebrow.
"I regretted leaving you as soon as I left. Didn't go back though - snatchers found me." Harry raised an eyebrow at this, and Ron recounted his story of battling the snatchers, hearing Hermione's voice, turning up in the forest and finding the doe. "And that's when I found you and pulled you out of the water." He finished.
Harry stared at a spot behind Ron, drinking in his words. He tried to think of anyone who would have a doe patronus, but no one came to mind. He fidgeted with the horcrux chain that he'd retrieved it from the ground next to the hole.
They sat in silence for a moment. Ron's eyebrow's in a frown, and Harry with a thoughtful expression. In the corner of his eye, Harry saw the silhouette of a person, then a flash of raven black and red-tinged green. He stared in complete shock for a moment, absentmindedly touching his warm scar with his fingers. The person disappeared, and at that moment, Harry realised the cold something had been a person, and who that person had been.
An inappropriate grin settled on his face as he watched the spot where the young version of his enemy had been standing.
Finished! Sorry for the mistakes that are bound to be there! Also, for those who skipped the earlier notes; I take requests - no matter what it is.