Author's Note: You will notice I do not use "chapters" exactly...I call them sections. And so here is section two for the enjoyment (or horror) of the readers.

Admissions: HP chars belong to J. K. Rowling, Leiko to me, and Ravindra to my soul-sister Rave.

Summary: Snape meets a gryffin in the Forbidden Forest and she follows him back to Hogwarts. After being injured she is allowed to stay in the school. But why is the Dark Lord interested in the newcomer? And will she regain her former power before it's too late?

Section 2: Gryffin No More

Leiko followed Snape through the Forbidden Forest, always watching the man for any threatening movement. She knew he didn't yet trust her and honestly couldn't blame him. Even among her own kind a fifteen-foot draconic gryffin was something to be wary of. She admired the human for his nerve and control in facing her. Most humans would either have screamed in terror or tried to run. This one had challenged her, and she liked that. The strong of will were much more fun to be around than those filled with fear.

"We should be near the edge of the forest. I take no responsibility for you, so if someone hexes you don't go blaming me. It'll be your own fault for insisting I show you the school."

By now the distrust in Snape's voice had lessened. He and the gryffin had been conversing during their walk and it seemed the more she talked, the more Snape felt he could trust her. Perhaps she was just a silver-tongued monster, but somehow he didn't believe that. She seemed to radiate power, which made him think that something so strong had little need of deceit to get what she wanted. Most wizards would undoubtedly call this foolish, but he was not most wizards.

"I can see some children playing on the grass. Students, I'd think, and a few even seem to be studying. They've got books out."

"You can see them at this distance? We haven't even cleared the trees yet."

"Yes, I can see them. Eyes of an eagle, you know. Come on, Snape, pick up the pace. I'm tired of walking through these trees."

Snape watched his large companion squeeze between two giant trunks. It was amazing she could find room to stand amongst the close-growing trees, let alone walk. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to move at a slightly faster rate.

They emerged from the forest and the gryffin paused, her eyes revealing the wonder she felt. The school, Hogwarts, was an impressive castle of ancient origins. The entire place smelled of strong magic, which temporarily robbed her of her of conscious thought.

"Leiko? Are you coming any further or have you decided that students are too frightening to deal with?"

That snapped her out of it. She rumbled in a half-growl at Snape, then followed him towards the castle. They had not gone far when a student spotted them. Thinking the potions master was about to be attacked by a monster, the youth yelled to those around him for help. Leiko heard the children's cries and turned her head just in time to spot a blond boy point his wand at her. She saw a flash, then screamed as pain ripped through her body. She felt the power within herself react, coming to the surface in a purple glow. As the glow enveloped her she passed out into unconsciousness.

"Malfoy!"

Snape was furious. He'd just seen a member of his own house attack his new acquaintance. When the curse hit, she'd screamed and passed out. He'd watched in shock as her body became surrounded by a purple fog, which seemed to warp her into a much smaller form. He ran to her side, cursing Malfoy's stupidity and trying to decide what to do first, punish Malfoy or tend the gryffin, assuming she was still alive.

"Ughhnn..."

The pile of feathers groaned and moved slightly. What had once been a towering gryffin was now a charred heap of burnt feathers. Snape cautiously brushed the burnt matter from the moving body beneath. He took one look at what the gryffin had become gasped in surprise. She was human! And a nude one at that. He quickly removed his outer robe and lay it over the female figure.

"You! Go get Pomfrey. Now!"

Snape pointed to a random student and snarled his orders. He didn't know why he was reacting so strongly to the gryffin's predicament, but he did realize that she needed medical attention. He observed that her breathing was normal, if shallow, and that there didn't seem to be any obvious injuries to her body. Strange. He was positive Malfoy's curse had been meant to kill. Perhaps he'd transfigured her instead. But no, that made even less sense. No wizard, even a student, would try transfiguring a gryffin if they thought it was attacking. Snape decided that the answers to his questions lay in the glowing purple fog that had surrounded her after the attack. He'd have to wait 'till she awoke to ask what that fog was, and how it was connected with her suddenly becoming human.

"Get out of the way! Go on, all of you back into the school. Now, what is going here?"

Snape looked up to see Madam Pomfrey staring in slight disbelief at the sight of himself kneeling over an unconscious woman. He quickly stood and backed off a few steps.

"She's a gryffin, originally. Malfoy hit her with a curse and she turned into this."

Pomfrey gave Snape a long look, not sure if he was serious about the woman having been a gryffin. She'd never heard of such a thing. If the beast was hit by a curse, it didn't explain why it would turn into a woman.

"Alright Severus, let's get her inside. You can go into more detail while I tend to her injuries."

Snape followed Pomfrey and the former gryffin into the hospital wing, wondering what had happened and how much of their meeting to reveal.