Twisted, broken branches snapped underfoot; limbs furiously ripped from majestic torsos that reached impossibly high into the dark canopy above by long gone passers by. The dark man, wand extended, strode purposefully through the undergrowth, uncaring of the small forest animals scurrying fearfully out of his way, and of the dark, luminous-eyed shapes moving almost imperceptibly closer, the instinct to remain in the shadows for a moment overridden by curiosity as to what drove the black figure so far into the forest.
To any such creature, a mysterious stranger alone would not warrant such intrigue; the forest was not unused to those shrouded in darkness, visiting to locate a particularly rare and dark creature, or simply for the ear-shattering silence provided only by the complete privacy required to carry out their various misdeeds. However, from the moment he had stepped into the forest this man had radiated fury to all its inhabitants, anger seeping from his every pore and translated through the language of strong strides, the fierce sweeping of his cloak and the flashing of his black eyes.
The shroud-like quiet was in an instant punctured by a distant howl; the dark man was instantly on his guard, stepping backwards into the relative safety of the shadows. Once the silence again descended, an almost imperceptible expletive passed his lips, followed by a violently spat "Potter", before the man continued his swift yet thorough scouring of the paths of the Forbidden Forest.
After a few short moments, which to the uncomfortable observer seemed to extend into the hours, the man, apparently dissatisfied with his current direction, made a harsh turn to the left, even deeper into the forest. At that very moment, an impossibly white light advanced behind the man, who immediately swung around, wand tightly gripped, a curse already bubbling upon his thin lips. However, he abruptly dropped his wand and fractionally relaxed his posture upon the sight of a misty, ethereal outline of a phoenix. The phoenix regarded him thoughtfully, before releasing not the sweet sound expected of such a bird, but the deep, melodic voice of an aged man.
"They have been found; you are required immediately at the castle. Voldemort" - at this point the dark man visibly recoiled, as if the word had stung – "succeeded in luring Harry to the Ministry. Fortunately the Order arrived in time, and the children are for the most part unhurt. However, please make haste, Severus, there are a few matters that need your immediate attention." The phoenix paused, as if deliberating whether to continue. "Sirius Black is dead." With that final pronouncement, the mist dissolved, leaving only darkness once again.
Severus Snape stood stock still for a few moments, the contrast between his pallid face and jet black hair and robes making him appear almost statuesque in his pause. The only indication of any reaction to the phoenix was a slight twitching in his jaw, the only characteristic of his inner turmoil at the news of his old enemy's death. In the gloom, it was impossible to make out the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, nor the momentary gleam in his eye, before he turned on his heel and headed swiftly away.
The forest watched the dark man sweep away with intrigue, the distant shimmering lights dancing on his patent black boots like fireflies. Even the Forbidden Forest itself, for all its dark mystery, could not discern the secrets of Severus Snape.