Voldemort has managed to get his hands on a creature that could grant him immortal life but there is more to this than the animal being a simple potion ingredient. This creature is also a wizard and Severus just can't let him die when Voldemort's hide out is raided. He now finds himself at the mercy of the animal's blood but that's only the beginning. Snarry HP/SS Slash.
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AU from the end of fifth year but set before Harry's seventh year. So, the events of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince did not happen. Hope that's not too confusing. ;-)
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There was once a creature known as a bahkeeta, many have called them a half breed due to the fact that they were born human. These creatures mature quickly due to having dog like genes. They however do not age like dogs, in fact, if they are not killed they can life a very long life span. The male of these creatures had the ability to change into the form of a winged dog, while the female can change into a dog without wings. The bahkeeta easily lived in both the magical and muggle worlds and did so until the Fifteen century.
A potions master, by the name of Matthew Madison, made an extensive study of the bahkeeta. He found that the creature's feathers and blood could be used in a potion that he called the Eternal potion. Which would make the drinker immoral to disease, advanced healing and old age. The records of the healing properties in the bahkeeta's blood had already been well recorded. Their blood however couldn't combat old age related issues to anyone else beside their mate.
The Eternal potion, however, made it possible fora human to have an almost immoral life. As much of a break through the potion was to the magical world, the bahkeeta suffered for it. Within a hundred years only about a hundred of the creatures survived and many went into hiding. It wasn't until the Seventeenth century that it was found that the creature was extinct. Hunted for their blood and feathers.
There has, however, been cases of muggles showing signs of being a bahkeeta but without the physical transformation. It is believed that the only surviving bahkeetas could be found in squib lines, this however is a theory that hasn't been proven. In saving their children they had sacrificed their other form and learned to hide what they were.
The potions board and the Ministry of Magic deemed that if a bahkeeta, should a magical line ever appear, they would be placed under the same laws as a witch or wizard. If anyone forced a bahkeeta to give up a part of itself they would find themselves in a cell in Azkaban for life.
There were unconfirmed reports of female bahkeetas born without their dog form but with the need of a mate in the early eighteenth century. Those lines however died out without confirmation of the rumours by the early nineteenth century. Since the feathers for the Eternal potion were needed from the male bahkeeta form the law hasn't been needed…
xXx
"Have you heard, Snape. Rodgers captured a male bahkeeta!"
Severus eyes focused sharply on the Death Eater in front of him. The other man squirmed under Severus's intense black eyes.
"Is that so, Banker." Severus sneered. "And how did Rodgers come across such a creature?"
"Oh, he was traveling through Surrey when he came across it," Banker explained quickly. "It was playing with some of the neighbourhood dogs and since muggles can't see their wings, they didn't know the dog wasn't normal."
"And where is the creature now?"
"The dark lord has it down in the lab." Banker replied then added with a smirk. "Oh, he wants to talk to you too."
Banker gave him a nod before walking off to do whatever the simpleton did. Severus made his way down to the laboratory, if the Bahkeeta was still playing then it mustn't be very old. Severus felt kind of sorry for the creature, it would have been taken away from its family and friends and knowing Rodgers. It would have been stuffed into a cage with no food and water.
Severus knocked at the lab door once he reached it and pushed his way through. The Dark Lord and Rodgers stood in front a small dog cage. A large dog the size of a Great Dane lay inside it, its wings curled around its body. Severus was surprised that Rodgers had managed to shove the animal in such a small metal cage. The creature was larger than he was expecting.
"My Lord," Severus greeted, his head bowed.
"Ah, Severus." Voldemort said cheerfully. "Come in and see what Rodgers found."
Severus stepped up closer and looked the animal over. It looked to be on the skinny side and he would have to spell the cage larger so that it would be able to move. Not to mention look it over for injuries once the Dark Lord left.
"It seems to be in good health," Severus commented, looking the animal over.
"It put up one hell of a fight," Rodgers reported with a sneer. "I think it broke one of its wings in the struggle, you might want to look at that."
"Which one?"
"Left. Watch it, it's more cunning than a snake when provoked." Rodgers warned. "Took a chunk out of Falcona's leg, the idiot."
"How soon can you have the Eternal potion done, Severus?" The Dark Lord asked with a glint in his eyes.
"I'll have to look it over first, my lord." Severus answered. "It must be in near perfect health before I can use any of its feathers or blood. If it has a broken wing, as Rodgers reports, then that must be healed before a potion can be made."
"Very well, Severus. I'll leave it with you."
"Thank you, my lord." Severus offered with a bow as Voldemort left with Rodgers behind him.
Severus pulled his wand and spelled the cage bigger so that when the Bahkeeta woke up. He could change back into human form and be able to stand and walk around. Once that was done, he carried on with some other work while he waited for the animal to wake. It was a few hours later when he heard a clicking sound. He looked over at the cage to see brown eyes looking back at him.
"You can change back if you wish," Severus told the creature. "After I look at your wing."
The animal continued to stare at him without moving an inch. Severus sighed and moved closer to the cage. The Bahkeeta stood, its wings tucked tightly into his sides. His left wing was held slightly lower than the other one and Severus noticed that he wasn't putting as much weight on his right hind leg. He held his head low as he stared at Severus.
"I need to look at your wing," Severus told him, feeling odd talking to the dog like this. "If you cooperate I will not have to spell you asleep."
The creature growled low in his throat as he bared his teeth at him. The two stared at each other, not giving an inch.
"Very well," Severus conceded after a few minutes. "You bring this upon yourself."
Severus had his wand out and the creature was out cold before it could blink. The Bahkeeta slumped to the side, breathing deeply. Severus opened the cage and stepped in. He left the door open to give him an escape route just in case.
The wing was broken and so was a rib, there were a few scraps and cuts but nothing too concerning. He gave the dog a few potions to help with his healing before he looked him over. Severus stroked the dog's side, the fur felt like silk under his fingers and the feathers were just as soft.
The animal was beautiful, his fur was pitch black and his wings were a dark grey. He had pointed ears like a German Shepard but with a short coat and the build of a Great Dane but longer. There was a strength in his body even if he looked skinny. There was a sense of power around the creature and it hit Severus that he was looking at an animal that hadn't been seen for hundreds of years. He ran his hand over the fur one last time before leaving the cell.
He called up a house elf to bring some food up and a bowl of water as he got back to his work. The elf reappeared and placed a bowl of beef stew in the cage along with some water and left. Not long after that the bahkeeta woke, just as silently as last time.
When Severus turned to check on him, he was sitting up looking at Severus with intelligent brown eyes. Severus carried on with his work aware of the eyes on his back. Once he'd finished his potion, he made his way over to the cage with a chair in his hand.
He placed the chair down, just out of reach of the bahkeeta, near the cage. He looked the creature over trying to determine his age. It looked fully grown and yet had been found playing with dogs. He didn't feel up to trying to work out how old he was by checking his teeth.
"I'll rather talk to you face to face, than face to muzzle," Severus smirked. "It's like I'm talking to Black."
The bahkeeta cocked his head to the side then let his tongue hang out of the side of his mouth as he panted slightly. The two stared at each other before the bahkeeta laid down and continued to stare at him.
"How old are you?"
The bahkeeta just panted slightly.
"What about family?"
The bahkeeta flicked a pointed ear at him.
Severus was getting frustrated.
"Are you going to eat?" Severus snapped.
The bahkeeta yawned, showing off his impressive teeth before he settled his head on his paws.
"Are you afraid to face me like a man," Severus sneered. "Has your form affected your mind?"
The bahkeeta didn't move, Severus gave a frustrated growl as he shot to his feet. His chair crashed to the ground and the bahkeeta flicked an ear at the display.
"Very well, if you do not wish to speak to me, I shall see you tomorrow," Severus drawled.
He slammed the door as he left.
Severus arrived early the next day. He opened the door quietly, so that didn't disturb the bahkeeta. His torches flared around the room as he entered. He looked over to the cage to see the creature curled up on his side, a slight shiver running down his body. Severus frowned, he'd forgotten how cold it could get in the dungeons. He pulled out a blanket from a cupboard along the wall and walked over to the cage. He spelled the blanket over the winged dog, being careful not to wake him.
He slid out the untouched food with a sigh. He would have to convince him that the food wasn't poisoned. He wasn't sure how long it had been since the animal had eaten something. He walked down to the kitchen, more for the walk then for the need.
He returned to the lab with a fresh bowl of bacon and eggs and some toast. The animal was still asleep so he slid the food into the cage. He turned away to start on one of his potions. He was half way through his potion when he felt eyes on his back.
"The food isn't poisoned. You are worth more alive than dead," Severus called over his shoulder, without looking away from his potion.
He heard no noise from behind him so he guessed that the bahkeeta didn't take his advice.
"If you do not start eating," Severus drawled. "I will have to force you too which will not be a pleasant experience for either of us."
The bahkeeta growled lowly in challenge and he glanced over his shoulder.
"Don't think for a minute that I will not force that food down your throat."
The bahkeeta whimpered behind him. A few hours later he heard a licking sound as the dog ate its breakfast. Severus felt satisfied that he'd won that battle. The bahkeeta went back to sleep as Severus worked on his list of potions.
A loud bark, nearly made him drop a very expensive ingredient. He whirled around to yell at the dog when he came face to face with the Dark Lord. The bahkeeta barked and growled at the older wizard, spit flying from his jowls as he pushed against the bars with claws and teeth.
"My lord," Severus intoned with a bowed head, ignoring the bahkeeta.
The Dark Lord was looking over the creature, the animal was going mad. His brown eyes were wide as he tried to get to the Dark Lord. Severus could now understand why the bahkeeta was such a dangerous creature. He knew that if the dog wasn't locked up in the cage, he would have torn the Dark Lord to pieces. Severus shivered at that wild look in the beast's eyes.
"Has it done this before," Voldemort yelled over the bahkeeta's barking.
"No, my lord."
"Curio!" Voldemort spat.
The bahkeeta was flung back with a yelp of pain. He squirmed, yowled and yelped until the spell was lifted a minute later. He lay in a heap, panting on the floor, with his wings rustling as he breathed heavily.
"Maybe that will teach it a lesson," The Dark Lord stated smugly.
"Yes, my lord," Severus reluctantly agreed.
It also set back when he could use the mutt's blood, but he wasn't going to say that to the Dark Lord. Or he would find himself in the same state as the dog.
"Can I help you, my lord?" Severus asked as he looked over at the still shaking beast.
"Just wanted to see how you were coming with the potion, Severus." Voldemort answered mildly.
"The bahkeeta did have a broken wing." Severus replied evenly. "It will have to be fully healed before I can start anything, which will be in about three weeks if no other setbacks occur. Its blood can still be used for healing but not for the Eternal potion."
The bahkeeta watched them with burning brown eyes, which made Severus believe that he knew exactly what they were talking about. He wouldn't be surprised since the animal did have a human form even if it didn't want to change. It was hard to think of the animal as a wizard, not after his display before.
"Very well," Voldemort consented. "Keep me updated on your progress."
"Yes, my lord."
Severus didn't let himself relax until after the Dark Lord left. He turned to the bahkeeta, the animal's brown eyes were watching him cautiously from the back of the cage as he crouched there. He could still see the slight shivers running down his spine.
"Don't do that again," Severus scowled.
The bahkeeta growled at him, the sound raising the hair on his arms.
"I mean it," Severus insisted. "He will kill you and hope for the best if you keep up that behaviour."
The bahkeeta whimpered and settled down on the bare floor of the cage.
xXx
Severus looked after the bahkeeta for the next two weeks without incident. The bahkeeta never turned back to its human form and Severus never asked again. At the end of the two weeks Severus could tell that the animal was feeling a bit caged. It would spend his time pacing up and down the cell, watching Severus.
The bahkeeta whined at him now and again, until Severus had had enough.
"Fine," Severus snarled, whirling on the innocent looking winged-dog. "If I let you out will you stop that aggravating sound?"
The bahkeeta stopped and looked to be thinking it over before nodding his head.
"And you will not try and maul me or escape?"
The bahkeeta lowered his head in agreement.
"On your magic?" Severus demanded and the beast nodded.
Severus eyed the dog for a few minutes before striding over to the door to the lab and locking it with a powerful locking charm. He then slowly opened the bahkeeta's cage door, wand aimed at the creature in case he decided to go back on his agreement.
The animal cautiously stepped forward under Severus's eyes until he stood in the middle of the lab, then he spread his wings out. The breath caught in Severus's throat, he hadn't realized how large the wings were. He stepped forward without thinking.
The bahkeeta glanced at him before flapping his wings slightly. He stretched his back and Severus could tell that the cage had been too small for him to stretch completely. He could also see the power in that slim body as he curled his wings back along his sides and looked at him with those intense brown eyes.
"Why won't you change?" Severus asked.
The winged dog just turned his head away and sniffed the air slightly. The beast could tear him apart but as he watched it sniff around he couldn't imagine that.
"You do know that bahkeetas have mates?" Severus remarked and the dog glanced over at him. "I would guess by the fact that you were found playing with normal dogs that you are only young? Do you have a mate missing you?"
The bahkeeta didn't react as he sniffed along the floor. He crawled under the table that Severus normally had his food at and sniffed around in interest.
"If you are only young," Severus continued. "That means you still have growing to do."
The bahkeeta moved back out from under the table and over towards Severus and he tensed. The dog's head easily came up to his waist as his brown eyes focused on him. He knew on some level that there was a human mind behind those eyes and yet the image of him trying to get at Voldemort came to mind.
"I have old potion texts here on the potion the Dark Lord wants me to make," Severus said calmly and the dog growled. "I am still trying to translate it. I need a dozen feathers and a fair amount of your blood to make the potion."
The bahkeeta sat down with his tail behind him as he rustled his wings. Severus knew he should feel fear as he looked at the beast and yet he didn't.
"Can I check your wing and ribs?" Severus asked softly.
The dog looked at him for a long time before nodding and spreading his wings. Severus moved forward and carefully ran his fingers over those silky wings. Gently feeling the bone that had been broken. The bahkeeta whimpered slightly as he hit a sore spot but didn't react in any other way.
Severus moved to the front of the beast and ran his hand down his chest. Feeling the dog's warm breath and those teeth so close to him but the bahkeeta just let him gently press on his chest and feel the bones. He'd healed well, it was just the wing that needed to heal completely.
Suddenly the dog's head was close to him and he froze as the animal sniffed him. He realised at that moment that he'd put himself into a dangerous position. He then started badly and fell back on his ass with a yelp as the dog licked his neck. He looked up at the winged dog with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth as he curled his wings along his form.
"Bloody beast," Severus muttered. "Now, back in the cage. I have work to do and if the Dark Lord comes along and that door is locked. We'll both pay the price."
The bahkeeta cocked his head to the side before moving to his feet and back to the cage. He moved in and curled up in the blanket that Severus had placed in there. Severus closed the locked the door before moving back to the main door and undoing his spell.
xXx
Severus slipped down the hallway with his cloak up and mask on as the sounds of fighting sounded out in the house. Death Eaters scrambled down the hallways as Severus struggled to make it down to the lab. The Aurors were attacking the house and he had to get to the bahkeeta. He didn't know what drove him but he needed to get down there and get him away from both Voldemort and the Ministry.
He finally made it down to the lower levels and the noise of fighting dimmed slightly. Suddenly the house shook, reminding him why he had to hurry. He finally got to the lab and flung the door open. A loud growl sounded from the cage and he quickly pushed his mask up and the beast stopped growling and stared at him. Hackles still raised and head lowered.
"We have to get out of here," Severus said quickly as he slipped the mask back down.
He flicked his wand at the cage and the door sprung open. The bahkeeta rushed out and was quickly at his heels as Severus ran back out into the hallway. Two death eaters suddenly barrelled around the corner and the winged dog was on them in seconds. He pulled the first one to the ground with a snarl as Severus flicked a spell at the other.
The man screamed as the bahkeeta ripped into him before jumping to the side as the other death eater cast a spell. The beast couldn't move as smoothly in the small space but neither could the other man as Severus spell had him skipping to the side and into the path of the bahkeeta's jaws. The beast pulled him to the ground without hesitation and the man's screamed.
"Avada Kedavra," Severus hissed and the man went still under the dog.
The bahkeeta didn't even paused as he jumped at the first death eater. He clamped his jaws down on his neck and then they were moving. Severus pulled ahead of the dog as he led the way. Just as they were coming into the living room, the bahkeeta slammed into him, knocking him to the side. He heard a loud yelp as a spell flung the beast into the wall and Severus heard a crack as the dog hit.
He quickly flung a spell at the death eater and he fell as the dog pulled himself up and panted. He shook his head and stumbled and Severus felt a bolt of concern run through him.
"Move!" Severus snapped.
Dazed brown eyes looked at him and Severus cursed. Two more death eaters appearing had them moving and Severus flicked his wand at the window and blew it out. He ran out of the house with the dog close behind. Severus could hear his panting breaths a step behind him.
The bahkeeta suddenly yelped and Severus turned back to see him crash to the ground as Lucius Malfoy stood there with a grin on his face.
"Going somewhere?" Malfoy drawled as he came closer and Severus brought his wand up. "So, we did have a traitor in the ranks and stealing the Dark Lord's prized possession as well."
Severus flicked his wand but the blonde calmly brought up a shield. Malfoy was a very skilled dueller. The bahkeeta slowly moved to his feet and growled with his head lowered.
"Does the doggy want to play?" Malfoy taunted.
The bahkeeta stalked forward as he rustled his wings but Severus could see that he was in pain.
"What a shame that the Dark Lord wants it alive," Malfoy purred. "Would have made a nice trophy."
Malfoy flicked his wand and the dog sprung to his left as Severus cast a stunner and Malfoy laughed. He didn't see the other spell Severus cast and the red light smashed into him. The dog followed shortly after it. The beast landed on Malfoy, driving him to the ground, then sprung back. He flapped his wings to get some height and slightly to the side, just missing the green spell the blonde threw at him.
Severus cursed and rushed forward as the bahkeeta landed and snarled as Malfoy pointed his wand at him. Severus saw red as he flicked his wand but Malfoy had a shield up quickly. The bahkeeta launched himself at the man and Severus cringed, waiting for him to hit the shield.
He didn't, he went straight through and Malfoy crashed to the ground again, then the dog was bolting towards Severus. He turned and ran after him without a backwards glance. They had to get passed the wards before Severus could apparate. He could hear the panting breaths of the beast and looked down at him and shivered at the blood on his coat.
They made it over the wards and Severus grabbed the dog and apparated them. He heard a yelp and a pain spike through him before they landed in a heap. Severus grabbed his side as pain flared and the bahkeeta untangled himself from him.
The dog quickly stood over him and looked around, every line of his body tense as he sniffed. Severus moved until he was sitting up and pulled his shirt up, already seeing the blood and winced. The bahkeeta, once he'd assessed that nothing was going to harm them, turned to him. His brown eyes looking him over as Severus cursed. He pulled out his potion's pouch but his hands were shaking too much from pain and shock.
At some point a cutting charm had hit him and deeply. The bahkeeta moved close to him as Severus fumbled the potion, he was trying to get out. He tensed as the beast lowered his head to his side then started when he licked the wound. Severus tried to push the dog away but a growl froze him. The bahkeeta pulled back slightly. His brown eyes locked on him before lowering his head again and licking the wound.
Severus panted then started to feel sluggish. He grabbed the dog's neck but he kept licking the wound, cleaning it. He looked down and paled when he saw the damage. He was sure not even his potions would save him now.
"Stop," Severus gasped but the dog kept going.
Severus flopped back to the ground as he felt light headed. The dog pushed his shirt up further with those large teeth before going back to licking the blood and wound. Severus could feel himself slipping and wondered if it had something to do with what the bahkeeta was doing or blood loss. He went to grab for the winged dog again but missed as the darkness took him down.
The bahkeeta paused as the wizard passed out before licking the wound clean and changing into the form of a young man with shaggy black hair and green eyes. The man looked down at the potion master before patting down his pockets until he found a small knife and slipped it out.
The man hesitated slightly before nicking his wrist and shifted behind the potion master. He gently helped Snape swallow down his blood, watching as the wound slowly closed. He felt exhausted and he wasn't sure where they were as he looked around the clearing. They had landed in a forest area and he couldn't see any houses and he was too tired to look.
He looked back down at Snape before making sure the wound had healed before healing the small cut on his wrist. He pushed his hair back from his face, revealing the lightning bolt scar on his brow, before sighing and changing back into his other form.
He laid down next to the potion master and waited for him to wake as he kept an eye out for danger. There was nothing he could do until then. He wasn't going to leave the man until he was safe.