Author's Note: Still suspense-filled, but not quite the cliffhanger of the previous section. Hope you readers enjoy!

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

Section 15: The Morning After

That morning at breakfast something seemed strange to Harry. He couldn't shake the feeling of panic, and even Ron and Hermione noticed a certain air of tension in the Great Hall. They talked quietly amongst themselves, wondering why the professors looked so preoccupied.

"And Snape and Leiko are missing."

"Ron, they were missing last night at dinner and no one seemed concerned. I'll bet they're just..."

"Don't say it!"

Ron and Harry didn't want to hear about what Hermione thought the two professors were doing. Some things were better left unsaid, unthought, and, in this case, unknown. Although it was a bit late for that last one, Harry thought. Hermione gave the boys a look and continued.

"I agree something's happened to upset the professors, but there's no reason to assume it involves either Snape or Leiko."

"What are the odds of them being missing and Dumbledore looking so worried? It has to be connected."

"Ron...hey, here comes Snape now."

The trio turned to see a very disheveled Snape enter the Great Hall. He was paler than usual and his customary scowl had been replaced by a grim look of concern. Something was definitely wrong. The Potion's Master never looked that concerned; at least, not that the students had seen. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched with curious eyes as their potions professor took his seat at the head table. The man seemed unconcerned with the stares he was getting as he sat glumly, poking at his food.

"Ok...so maybe something did happen to Leiko. If she'd been with Snape they'd have shown up together, right?"

"You'd think so. Maybe they had a fight? I saw bite marks on his neck and they looked pretty nasty."

"They didn't have a fight, Hermione."

Two pairs of eyes came to rest on Harry, looking curious and surprised.

"How would you know that? I mean, why else would anyone bite Snape unless they were angry?"

Harry sighed. It wasn't that he really cared about keeping what he'd witnessed in the hospital wing secret, he just didn't want to remember having witnessed it. With a slight grimace he managed to get the words out of his mouth.

"When we were in the infirmary after Voldemort's attack I saw something. I'd rather forget it, but...Leiko was biting Snape. For fun."

He let the words sink in. Harry hoped his friends wouldn't ask for details. He really didn't want to discuss it. Ron and Hermione stared at him in confusion, then realization filled their eyes and they just stared.

"You actually saw them..."

"No! They were just biting each other. And neither one was happy with my choosing that moment to wake up. Leiko said she'd kill me if I told anyone, but I don't think it matters anymore."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, each lost in thought and trying not to think about what Harry could have seen if he'd awakened a few minutes later. Finally, Ron broke the silence.

"So if the bite marks are from...fun...then either they got too rough or something else happened to Leiko."

"Do you suppose that Rave gryffin caught them? I got the feeling she didn't like Snape the one time I saw the three of them together. She could have taken Leiko away from Hogwarts to get her away from him."

"I can't see anyone, even Ravindra, forcing Leiko to do something she doesn't want to."

Harry was right, the others admitted. Rave might be huge and powerful, but, from the rumors, Leiko was a larger gryffin and they all knew first-hand how strong her will was. Even if she was currently human Rave might be hesitant of separating Leiko from something she wanted.

"We've got to find out what happened. It could be nothing more than a broken bone for all we know."

"True, but..."

"May I have your attention, please."

All eyes turned towards the Headmaster, who was standing at his place and looking very somber. The room quieted quickly and Dumbledore continued.

"Today's Care of Magical Creatures class has been canceled, as have all Potions classes. Students are expected to study during the time usually allotted to these classes. Also, you are all to stay clear of the gryffin Ravindra. She is not in good spirits and I have no wish to see students in the hospital wing with talon marks."

The Headmaster sat down and the room erupted into excited whispering. Why were the classes canceled? Snape seemed fine, so why cancel Potions? And where was Professor Leiko? Had something happened to her? Could that be why Ravindra was dangerous, worry for her sister?

Ron, Hermione, and Harry remained silent. They stared at each other, making a silent agreement. They had to find out about Leiko. Harry decided he'd find Rave and ask the red gryffin, even if it did put him at risk of ending up in the infirmary again. He liked the new professor and, in typical Gryffindor fashion, felt it was up to him to help her.

"So...we find Rave during our 'study' time then."

Harry gave Ron an approving but surprised look. Sometimes it was scary how the three of them tended to think alike. Perhaps it came from spending so much time in each other's company. Still, they were Gryffindors.

Strange, thought Harry. Was that why he was so desperate to find the missing gryffin? Because he was a Gryffindor?

The trio finished breakfast and headed to their first class of the day, still planning how they would go about discovering what had happened to Professor Leiko.