~OOooOO~
Severus Snape looked carefully around him as he left the castle and went toward the Forbidden Forest. He walked quickly, looking neither left nor right. He strode into the forest and made his way to a small clearing. He made a peculiar clicking noise in his throat and a small white wolf crept out of the forest. The wolf paused and then began to change shape, until a man stood where the wolf had been.
"Have you been able to convince Draco to leave Potter alone?"
Severus shook his head in the negative. "No. He still insists on tormenting him, even though Potter refuses to retaliate. May I tell him..."
"Not yet, my friend, not yet."
"Has he returned?"
"Also not yet. It is but a matter of time." The man looked hard at Severus. "Is it true that the second oldest Weasley is Potter's soul mate?"
"It is. Potter nearly died at the beginning of the term, but Charles was able to save him."
"The boy must be protected at all costs, my friend. Make certain that your godson does nothing to harm him or his soul mate. I am trusting you with this. Our lives will depend upon it."
Severus nodded. He looked about and stepped closer to the man. "Is there any way to stop him?"
A negative shake of the head was his answer, the man's long hair moved slightly with the motion. He sighed. "I wish there were. I will not go through this again, Severus. His forces are growing in strength again. I am finding my role as spy to be difficult. Be thankful that you are here, in relative safety."
"When he does come back, this will be the first place he will come."
"No, he will need a human form first. That will be impossible without the blood of his enemy, taken by force. Potter must be kept safe!" The man looked around and transformed back into the white wolf. He crept up to Severus and licked the man's hand before slipping back into the forest.
"Luck go with you, my love."