Chapter Four
Albus Dumbledore flooed back to his office with Minerva McGonagall and Nymphaedora Tonks behind him. "At the very least, the Dursleys will be out of harms way," he said glancing back at the two other Order members who were behind him.
"We can only hope," Nymphaedora replied.
"Yes we can," Albus agreed. "Well I do hope that Severus found Harry and his familiar by now."
"If they left when the Dursleys said they did then it's likely they reached the Forbidden Forest by now unless they were injured," Minerva said.
Fawkes squawked before pointing his beak to the desk and Albus frowned before walking over to it and lifting up a letter clearly written in Severus's handwriting. He read it before sighing with relief and glancing at the other Order members. "Severus has Harry," he said. "From what his note says, Harry's familiar came to him and guided him to where Harry was. Harry had been injured but Severus healed him."
"It's a good thing that Harry was found by a member of the Order rather than a minion of the dark lord," Nymphaedora said.
At that moment, the floo flared to life and Severus stepped gracefully out of the fireplace that led into Albus's office. "Headmaster, welcome back," he greeted the Headmaster in his usual smooth albeit cold voice.
"I just read your note, Severus. Is Harry still with you?" Albus asked.
"Yes but we have bigger problems," Severus said. "Lucius Malfoy paid me a visit just after I brought Potter and his familiar back to Hogwarts. You-Know-Who knows that accidental magic occurred at the Dursley household and two animals left the house. He has all of his agents looking for Potter in any form and Potter's familiar. He also wants me to report back on anything that I discover from you when you returned. He does not know, however, that Potter was right beneath his nose when he visited me."
"That is a good thing," Minerva said. "So I don't see what the problem is?"
"The problem is that Potter heard everything," Severus replied curtly. "I could see it in his eyes, he thinks I'm a traitor because of what he overheard."
Albus narrowed his blue eyes. "He isn't old enough to know about the Order," he said.
"I know this," Severus retorted curling his lip. "But he will come to you with this information once he regains his human form, I know he will. That is another problem, I cannot seem to figure out how Potter changed so I cannot figure out how to change him back."
"He will have to stay in your quarters for the time being then, Severus," Albus said. "If he leaves then there will be a greater chance that Voldemort," Severus flinched, "and his agents will find him. Voldemort would never think that you would watch over Harry personally after all."
Severus sneered. "I have no wish to watch over the Potter brat," he snapped.
"It is only until we can turn him back into a human, Severus," Albus said. "I am sure Harry's familiar will help you to watch over him as well since she seems quite protective of Harry."
Severus growled angrily.
"It will not be that long," said Minerva. "I can take a look at Harry and see how he transformed before we can think of coming up with a spell that can transform him back."
"He deserves an explanation of what he heard although," Albus said. "I think it is time Harry Potter knew about the Order of the Phoenix."
"Is that wise?" Minerva asked. She glanced at Severus. "How much of your conversation with Lucius did he hear?"
"All of it most likely. Potter has an uncanny ability to listen to conversations that are none of his concern," Severus sneered.
"If he heard everything then he deserves to know that you are not a traitor, Severus," Albus said. "We can have him swear an Oath to keep what he leans a secret although we may have to wait until he's back in human form in order to do that. Severus, I want you to tell Harry about the Order and about your part in it."
Severus inclined his head briefly in reply. "There is no telling if he will believe me, Albus," he said. "Potter is very stubborn and it will be hard pressed to convince him that I am speaking the truth."
"I am sure he will be able to understand so long as you take the time to explain everything to him," Minerva said. "He's an intelligent boy after all."
Severus nodded sharply. "I'd best get back then," he said. "There is no telling as to when he will call me again."
Albus nodded and watched as Severus turned around before disappearing into the green flames of the floo.
Harry glanced up as Snape walked back into the office approximately ten minutes after he left. Hedwig stayed at his side as Snape sat down behind his desk before examining Harry for a long moment. "I find it odd that you transformed yourself into a dove of all animals, Potter," he said.
Harry merely glared at him.
"Did I not say to stop glaring at me like that? I told you I would explain what you overheard but I had to speak with Dumbledore first, more to gain his permission than anything," Snape snapped.
\Listen to him, we can trust him,/ Hedwig hooted. Harry nodded slowly deciding it would be best if he listened to his familiar.
"I will start with what Dumbledore wanted me to speak to you about first, the Order of the Phoenix."
Harry's eyes filled with surprise. \What's that?/ he cooed before he remembered that Snape couldn't understand.
He did, however, get the gist of what Harry was trying to ask. "The Order of the Phoenix is an order created by Dumbledore during the First Wizardring War, your mother and father were a part of it."
Harry's eyes went wide at that.
"At first, I was not apart of the Order," Snape admitted. "As you heard, I was a follower of the dark lord for quite a while until I learned of what is known as the Prophecy. I truly believed that it was utter nonsense but I figured it would keep the dark lord busy, I had no idea that he would actually believe the prophecy to be real, considering it was uttered by Professor Trelawney."
Harry remembered that the Divination professor couldn't even predict her own future let alone the future of someone else.
Snape was silent for a long moment as he examined Harry. "I was a very good friend of your mother's, Potter," he said finally. "We grew up together on the same street and I was the one that first told her she was a witch. It wasn't until I called her something that I really wish I hadn't that she turned her back on me and I, filled with grief, joined the Death Eaters. A few months later, she came to me and gave me her forgiveness before asking that I become your unofficial godfather, she was about three months pregnant with you at the time."
Harry's eyes shot wide with shock. Snape is my godfather? He thought surprised beyond belief.
"We would have made it official but at the time I was still a Death Eater. It was only after I delivered the prophecy to the dark lord and he decided to act upon it that I realized what I had done. The dark lord had narrowed down the possibilities of those who will go against him to your family and the Longbottoms. He immediately decided to go after your family."
Snape was silent for a long moment while Harry stared at him with utter horror in his eyes.
"I went to Dumbledore immediately," he said. "I told him of what I had done and I told him that the dark lord was going after your family. That was when I turned my back on the Death Eaters and Dumbledore made me his spy, sending me back to the dark lord's side to get information on him that could help the Order."
Harry's eyes were now huge with shock. So Snape isn't betraying us. He was a spy all along, he thought gazing at Hedwig who lowered her head as if sensing what he was thinking.
\I told you, Harry, I trust him,/ Hedwig hooted softly.
Harry glanced at Snape for a long moment, a question coming to his mind and he once again wished he wasn't a dove so that he could ask Snape it. Snape was examining him, clearly waiting for a reaction of some sort but Harry figured that Snape figured his reaction wouldn't come unless he could speak to Snape and be understood.
"Dumbledore is going to bring your Head of House over to see if she can figure out what caused you to transform into a dove and see if we can transform you back. Until then, you will be staying in my chamber as the dark lord would not think to look for you in my care considering my position," Snape added.
Harry, still in shock by Snape's confession, slowly nodded, wondering why Snape decided to tell him all of this. Clearly seeing the question in his eyes, Snape sighed. "For once, I wish you could speak to me, Potter. It is very unnerving to see you throw a questioning glance at me and I am unable to determine what you are trying to ask," he said curtly.
Harry cooed angrily as if to tell Snape that it wasn't his fault.
"Actually, Potter, it is partially your fault as it was your magic that transformed you into a dove," Snape said. Harry blinked, wondering if Snape had somehow read his mind. "And I can assure you, Potter, I did not read your mind but I can read you like an open book sometimes."
Harry, if he could, would have scowled at that.
Hedwig touched his wing with hers. \Calm down, remember, you can trust the human Snape,/ she hooted.
\I'm not entirely sure if he is speaking the truth, Hedwig,/ Harry cooed back.
At that moment, the floo flared to life and Harry lifted his head as Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore walked into Snape's office. McGonagall examined Harry for a long moment. "Harry?" she asked quietly.
Harry lowered his head in assent.
"Oh my, I do wonder how this happened," Dumbledore exclaimed before he stretched out a hand and touched Harry's feathers.
"I'll see what I can figure out," McGonagall said. "But it will be hard as we do not know of the nature behind this transformation. We know that it was accidental magic but we need to figure out what caused that accidental magic before I can figure out how this occurred."
Snape sneered. "Well, for one we know it's obvious he's an animagus," he said. "That much is for certain."
"Indeed," McGonagall agreed. "We will have to be careful though. If we do it wrong then there's a chance that Harry will be a dove forever."
Harry blinked his eyes a few times.
"I thought Animagus's usually took the form of their Patronus," Albus said.
"That is true," McGonagall agreed. "But very few animagus's do not transform into what their Patronus is, such as Harry here since his Patronus is a stag but he transformed into a dove."
Snape snorted. "Everything about Potter is unique," he said.
Harry glowered at Snape who merely shrugged as if to say 'Well it's true.'
McGonagall pulled out her wand before waving it over Harry and murmuring a spell under her breath. Harry felt the magic wash over him before he closed his eyes as the magic dissipated.
"Hmmm, from what I can deduce, Harry transformed approximately five hours before we arrived at the Dursleys, which was around the exact time the wards fell. I think that the wards and Harry's transformation were interlinked with each other. Unfortunately, I can't see a way to counteract it. The only thing I can think of is that Harry may have to transform back on his own. I have determined that he has drained much of his magic however so he does not have the strength to transform back. I'm not entirely sure if I'm correct so we may want to have Poppy take a look at him."
"I will contact her right away," Dumbledore said before he glanced at Snape. "May I use your floo?"
Snape inclined his head and Dumbledore disappeared into the living room of Snape's chambers.
"If he has drained his magic somehow then he will have to rest for quite a while to regain it in order to transform back," Snape said.
McGonagall nodded.
Dumbledore came back into the office at that moment with Madame Pomfrey just behind him. "We were lucky, Poppy just came back from her vacation about ten minutes ago," he said before he glanced at Pomfrey. "We want to clarify what Minerva found out about Harry here."
Pomfrey frowned. "Is Harry the dove?" she asked.
"Yes," Dumbledore replied.
Pomfrey pulled out her wand before waving it over Harry and she frowned as she put the wand away. "His magic is depleted, it appears that he used his magic to keep himself from feeling pain."
"That must be how he managed to fly all the way to the island on a broken wing," Snape murmured. "His magic was keeping him from feeling pain so that he could make it to the island."
"Severus, I am sure you have a proper potion that can help Harry to regain his magic," Pomfrey said. "Do you suppose you can alter it to where it would still work but it can be ingested by a small bird?"
"I will see what I can do," Snape replied.
"Very well then I suppose that is all we can do for now. If you need anything else then don't hesitate to floo call me Severus," Pomfrey said.
"We will leave you now, Severus," Dumbledore said. "Keep me updated on Harry's progress in regaining his magic and let me know when he transforms back."
"Yes Headmaster."
"Also it would be a good idea for you to let me know if Voldemort," Snape flinched, "contacts you again."
"I know that, Albus," said Snape. "He has not yet contacted me since Lucius paid me a visit."
Dumbledore nodded. "I am sure Harry's familiar will keep Harry fed so that he can regain his strength quicker," he said. He glanced at Hedwig as if to ask her and the owl chirped an affirmative in reply.
"All right, we will take our leave now. Good evening, Severus," Dumbledore said before he, Pomfrey and McGonagall left Snape's office.
Snape examined Hedwig and Harry for a long moment. "I suppose I will have to find a suitable place for you two to stay, Potter," he said. He winced slightly before clasping his forearm and Harry cooed in surprise.
"That will have to wait, Potter. Stay in this office and I will be back as soon as I can," Snape said through gritted teeth before he got to his feet and walked quickly out of the room.
Harry hopped off of the desk before hopping to the doorframe in time to see Snape finishing putting on the Death Eater robes and mask that he remembered seeing in the graveyard at the end of last year. Hedwig was at his side also watching the scene until Snape disappeared into the green flames.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: I warned you this was an extremely AU story
Darth: that's cool
Blaze: yup it is and sorry this was such a short chapter. Also, the potion that was requested by Pomfrey is something I made up because I'm not sure if it's actually used so don't flame me for that, PLEASE!
Darth: I like it
Blaze: so please review and I will post the next chapter as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it will be anytime soon