See part 1 for disclaimers, warnings, etc.

The Stormcrow

A harry potter fic

Chapter 4

Wing and a prayer

"Potter? Oh bloody hell"

Harry stared at the crow, which spoke in the voice of Professor Snape.  This was…unexpected to say the least.  If anything, he had thought Snape's Animagus form would be a snake, or a vulture.  But Harry supposed that a crow would be equally fitting. They ate carrion, didn't they? He knew Snape was a spy for the Order, and if he were here that meant there had to be something going on that involved both Harry and the Order, and Voldemort.  Harry's lips tightened. Maybe he would get a fight tonight after all.

Snape, for his part was silently cursing that book-toting interfering fool Destiny with a creativity that would have astounded his students had they heard. Of all the places to end up, why did it have to be Potter's backyard? He didn't know why the Dark Mark hadn't been removed when Albus had released him from the enchantments that made him appear to be a mortal human.  But when he found out, there would be Hell to pay, literally.  He became aware that Potter was talking to him.

"I'm sorry Professor," Potter said, his voice was stiff, "I didn't realize you were Animagus." He stopped, confused. He hadn't realized that an Animagus could speak.  The night insects had resumed their steady chirping.

Snape was staring at his with an odd intensity, his black eyes glittering in the dark.  "You can see me Potter," he stated rather than asked.

Harry nodded, confused and getting more irritated.  "Yes sir, you are a crow," he offered a bit lamely.  Now that he got a closer look at the bird however, he could tell that this was not your everyday garden-variety crow.  Snape was a bit larger, and there was a thin white V on his breast that ran from shoulder to shoulder.  He realized he was staring and braced himself, expecting Snape to tear into him for being out late alone, for being clumsy, for existing.  He was opening his mouth to argue when it dropped open in shock when instead the crow started laughing.  It was a harsh, mocking laughter and Harry backed away.

"Potter, I think Christmas has arrived early for me.  Thank you very much."  And with that cryptic remark, turned and walked away leaving Harry with his mouth hanging open.  However, shock was replaced by returning anger as he watched Snape just leave without so much as an explanation.

"Wait a minute!" Harry demanded, striding after Snape, who didn't even glance at him.  "Why are you here?  Does it have to do with Voldemort?  Is he after me again?"  He was not going to let Snape get away without answers. Harry was tired of being kept in the dark.  No more!

"Contrary to your overblown opinion of yourself, not everything I do has to do with you, Voldemort or even the Wizarding world.  Rest assured, I am here purely by accident, and will trouble you no further."  Snape didn't stop walking, and though the crow's legs were considerably shorter than the boy's, Harry still had to hurry to keep up.  Their shadows ran behind them under a streetlamp that was swarming with bugs. 

"Then why are you here?"

"That is none of your business, sufficient to say it was not intentional."

Anger surged though Harry. He had had enough of being treated like a child.  He almost hexed Snape when he noticed something peculiar.  "You are hurt," he said, there was an unmistakable note of gloating in his voice.

The crow faltered, just for a step. "What makes you say that?" he asked as he resumed his stride. 

"Because you aren't flying," Harry said.

"For you information I am not hurt. However, it would not be a good idea for me to fly at this time," the crow said smoothly enough for Harry to know that Snape was lying through his beak.  "Now leave me alone."

Not giving up, Harry changed tactics.  He couldn't believe he was actually challenging the Potions Master, but the crow was far less intimidating than the man.  "Then why not change back, you're Animagus right?  If you were your normal self, you could just Apparate and go wherever you are going. "

The crow stopped and Harry skipped to the side to avoid stepping on him.  "Potter, even your feeble brain should be able to comprehend the phrase Leave Me Alone" Snape snapped as he glared up at Harry, his black eyes flickering. 

"No," Harry said, gripping his wand tighter. He wanted answers, and Snape was going to give them to him.

The crow glanced at his wand then back again.  Deciding that Harry was serious, Snape shrugged his wings.  Thunder rumbled in the distance. "If you must know, this is my True Form. I cannot change back."

"True Form? You mean you were always a crow?" Harry asked, puzzled.

"Stormcrow, actually." Snape corrected.

"What's the difference?" 

"I suppose since Stormcrows don't explode, breath fire or eat people, you wouldn't know anything about them, would you," Snape replied with scorn. Harry flushed, and though he longed to leap to Hagrid's defense, he knew Snape had a point. 

"Then tell me," Harry said, impatience marred his attempt to be calm.

"Not here Potter," Snape said, glancing meaningfully at the streetlamp swarmed with bugs.  Memories of Rite Skeeter surfaced in Harry's mind.  "There are ears everywhere and I have no intention to telling any and all who might be listening what I am."

Harry bit his lip, thinking. "Come with me," he said.  The Durselys were all sleeping and he hated to bring Snape into his home but thanks to all the wards around their home, it was the safest place he could think of to talk. 

Snape followed Harry but it was soon apparent that though the bird was not hurt, the magical attack had taken its toll on him.  Seeing Snape stagger slightly made Harry growl in irritation under his breath as he stooped down and held out his forearm.  "Here, get on," he said.

"Never," the crow snarled.

"We will be out here all night if you don't," Harry pointed out, trying to be reasonable despite his growing urge to throttle the recalcitrant crow.  He held his arm steady.  Snape looked at Harry for several long seconds. Then without saying a word, he stepped on to Harry's arm and gripped the sleeve firmly with his feet.  They made good time after that, neither of them talking until Harry stood at the front steps of the Dursely home.  "Be quiet, they won't like that I brought another bird into the house," he warned.

Snape just turned and looked at Harry, his eyes were flickering with some dark amusement.  "I wouldn't worry about that, Potter," he said. "They probably won't be able to see me anyway."

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Because only very special people can see me in this form," Snape replied, a menacing glee in his voice.

"Who?" Harry asked, his throat sounded dry. He wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer to that question.

"People whose lives are about to be destroyed," Snape said.

TBC

Next: Harry finds out what a Stormcrow really is.

Thanks for all the reviews!

Lise carew:  as you can see, Snape is not one of the Endless, he serves Destruction.  I thought about it and Snape's personality doesn't really fit any of them, maybe with the exception of Desire and I have no wish to even go there.

Melissa Jooty: The Sandman comics are well worth the effort to find and read them.  And Snape is my favorite, so yes I intend to give him lots of interesting things to do.

Wyrm: remember, Dream himself was held captive for 80 or so odd years. And the Endless can be killed.  So they are not invulnerable. Makes for an interesting scenario no?