Chapter 3

"Severus! Harry!" Dumbledore smiled broadly as soon as his two visitors stepped from the winding staircase, immediately preparing three cups of Darjeeling with a wave of his wand, "How nice of you to drop by! Please have a seat!"

"Thank you, Albus," Severus said curtly, already irritated by his mentor's overly cheerful manner.

"Professor Dumbledore." Harry smiled warmly, "We found an answer to the Raven riddle!"

Severus shook his head, as Dumledore and Harry abandoned the topic at hand in favour of an intense discussion of lemon drops and various sweets. Listlessly he observed a piece of dust dance through the air and pinched his nose, adding some more wrinkles to his already creased forehead. Gryffindors. Was there anything worse than Gryffindors?

"Potter, Albus," he glared at the two, "If you wish to continue this line of conversation you will have to accept that I will excuse myself." He glared pointedly at the bowl of sweets on the table. "I have more interesting things to occupy my time and mind with."

"You really should try some of these, Severus," Dumbledore opened a chocolate frog, giving it a nudge into Snape's direction. The potion master's glare intensified as the animated sweet jumped over his black robes, leaving dark brown stains in its wake.

"Thank you Albus," Snape said dryly, "Having a chocolate frog ruin my robes has always been one of my deepest desires."

Harry snickered quietly, wincing as his irascible teacher glared at him. "Sorry Sir," he smiled apologetically, "I didn't know you had a sense of humour."

"Headmaster," Snape sighed exasperatedly, "If we could perhaps return to the topic of the raven? Mr Potter believes to have found a clue."

"Very well, Mr Potter," Dumbledore's blue eyes were twinkling in anticipation, "What did you find?"

"We have to find the guardian of Merlin's heir. If he supports me, we'll win." Satisfaction lit Harry's eyes. "We should be able to do it."

"I doubt that finding an immortal raven is going to be as easy as your Gryffindor mind percieves it to be, Mr Potter."

"If we find Merlin's heir we find the guardian," Harry insisted, crossing his arms over his chest, "Merlin was the most powerful wizards of all times, someone must have written down who his descendants were."

"Ah, yes," Dumbeldore smiled, a serious look on his face for once, "There is only one problem, I'm afraid..." the old wizard trailed off, shaking his head.

"Professor Snape already told me that either all wizards and witches or none of them are Merlin's heir." Snape forced himself not to smirk as surprise flooded Dumbledore's face, "But there has to be a way of finding the right heir."

"Harry," Dumbledore sighed and threw an unreadable look at Severus, "That is not the only problem. Not even all wizard historians are sure that Merlin really existed." He smiled sadly, "There are no written records, no direct relics, nothing that would truly proof that he really existed, except for the tales that were passed on from generation to generation."

"And of course the fact, that there are some reports of people actually having seen a misterious fog south of the cloister of Glastonbury and the peak of a mountain rising from this mist, even though there should be nothing but the sea there." Snape paused, completely ignoring Harry and the tea as he glared at the headmaster, "As well as the fact that all other legends that were only passed on by telling them contained at least some grain of truth."

"Severus," Dumbledore smiled gently, "As refreshing as your altruism is from time to time, I'm afraid we can't go on a wild goose chase like this. We have to find some substantial information. Something we can work with. Do you honestly expect me to send members of the order on a search like this without any proof or clues?"

"Yes."

Harry choked, staring at his teacher. What was happening? Snape was defending him and his ideas? To the headmaster? Did wonders never cease?

"Compose yourself, Potter," Snape said coldly, taking the cup of tea out of Harry's hands, "And if you're unable to drink without spilling the tea all over yourself I suggest you start drinking in private. You are not a pretty sight."

"Severus!" Dumbledore once more captured the attention of his visitors, "I believe that Harry's drinking habits are none of your concern. And it seems we are going to have a visitor." He waved his hand at the door, which immediately opened to admit the newcomer.

"Headmaster! Headmaster!" Trelawney gasped as she burst into the room, eyes wide open and hands gesturing wildly as she ran through the room. Harry had to suppress a giggle as Snape rolled his eyes at the agitated Divinations teacher.

"The time is coming," Trelawney suddenly announced, eyes rolling back in her head and her voice dropping a whole octave, "Soon things will draw to an end. The bird will lead you to the chalice! The bird!"

The sound of Severus' teacup shattering on the floor was the only sound as Trelawney swayed, struggled to keep her balance and fell. Shocked the three men stared at the unconscious woman on the floor.

"No occlumency lessons for you today, Potter," Snape said finally, breaking the eerie quiet. Soundlessly he got up and stalked out of the office, ignoring the surprised stares Dumbledore and Harry were giving him.

xxxHP/SSxxx

Severus inhaled deeply as the cool evening breeze ruffled his dark hair. He knew it was cold but he didn't feel the chill. He needed to calm his mind. Shivering Severus stared at the lake, absentmindedly counting the ripples on the water. The whole situation was becoming more and more absurd. Voldemort had nothing to do with Avalon and yet Avalon seemed to be deeply involved. Sighing he stepped into the water, relishing in the feeling of the cool waves against his bare feet.

He had left his heavy, black robes in his quarters and was wearing nothing but simple, black trousers that ended halfway between his knees and ankles and a leather bracelet that covered his Dark Mark. A dark blue half-moon was etched into the worn leather, right above the mark. The faded moonlight cast silvery highlights on his scars and revealed a rare smile on his face. The students would probably have a simultanious heart-attack if they saw him like this. He stretched his tense muscles once more, standing motionless for a few moments before turning and running towards the Forbidden Forest as fast as he could.

The air rushed past him in a cold carress, the trees around him blurred to scetchy shilhouettes of black, silver and dark blue as he moved soundlessly over the uneven ground. He never saw them but he could feel the Dryads joining him on his run, following him with the joyous abandon that was typical of their kind. The rustling of the leaves and his heart-beat thundered in his ears enhancing the subtle sound of magic weaving itself around them. The forest was dangerous but he knew that he was safe, knew that Aragog's children would not dare attacking him. He laughed out loud as he crossed a clearing, delighted to renew his connection with the land. There were so many things in this forest even Hagrid didn't know. On and on he ran, a scarred shadow ghosting through the play of shadows and moonlight on the mossy and damp forest soil.

Breathing heavily he finally slowed down, a fine sheen of sweat glistening on his skin. The run had exhausted him more than he had thought. Still grinning he continued back to the lake at a leisurely pace, staring at his surroundings as if he saw the ancient trees for the very first time. He stopped as a swirl of leaves appeared at is side, becoming thicker and thicker, before suddenly falling apart to reveal a lithe figure. The man was about half a head smaller than Severus with hip-long dark brown hair and almost black almond-shaped eyes. Small twigs and leaves were tangled in the long strands and the muscular figure was dressed in nothing but a skirt of leaves. Severus smiled, bowing deeply to the dark-skinned figure.

"Riveroak," he said, his breath still ragged from his run, "It is, as always, a pleasure to see you."

"Well met, human," whispers of wind ruffled through the leaves as the Dryad returned the bow, "Much time has passed since you last ran with us."

"And yet I always return to your company." Severus sat down on a rock by the lake, motioning for the other man to join him. "Will you continue to keep me company?"

"I am sorry my friend," the Dryad shook his head, sending some leaves and berries raining to the ground, "I love running the forest with you but other things are calling upon my time. I will have to leave you."

A shadow fell over Severus' face as he nodded his uderstanding and stretched his legs till his feet were resting in the chilly water. "I won't keep you if you have other obligations." He said simply, allowing his gaze to drift towards Hogwarts. The castle loomed on the hill like an ominious shadow.

"Will you soon run with me again?" Riveroak asked, eyes glittering as he already stepped back towards the trees.

"I will," Severus whispered, knowing that the Dryad would be able to catch the softly-spoken words. "I definitely will."

xxxHP/SSxxx

Harry shivered and wrapped his invisibility cloak tighter around his shoulders in a desperate effort to get warm again. The night was unusally chilly and his pyjamas were not nearly warm enough. A faint, pale blue lining had already appeared on the horizon and announced the approaching dawn. He had woken shortly after midnight, trembling like a leaf and still in the throes of a nightmare he had forgotten as soon as he had been fully conscious again. The throbbing pain in his scar, however, had remained and after aimlessly wandering through the school corridors for hours his feet had carried him out of the castle via one of the secret tunnels. He had to get out, get some air.

Harry had memorized all secret tunnels from the Marauder's map after Lupin had given it back to him, knowing that Snape would confiscate it again if he got the chance. Sighing he took the well-worn path towards the lake, dreading the fact that he had to be back in his dorm before the others woke. Ron would be frantic if he wasn't there in the morning. A sad smile crept onto Harry's lips. He loved his friends dearly but sometimes their concern for him became almost suffocating. Sometimes he just had to get away for some time. Had to get away from being the Boy-Who-Lived, the hero of Gryffindor and go somewhere where he could just be Harry, could be alone with his thoughts or share them with someone who did not care about his connection with Voldemort. Strangely enough he had found just that in his tentative friendship with some of the mer-people. Ever since the events of the Tri-wizarding Tournament he had sometimes snuck out of the castle to visit them and had found some of the younger ones to be both, quiet and patient listeners, who were always willing to face the horrors of his nightmares with him.

Harry froze dead in his tracks as the lake came finally into view. It simply couldn't be. He squeezed his eyes shut, shook his head and counted slowly to ten. It didn't help. He was still seeing the same thing. Snape.

xxxHP/SSxxx

"What do you want?" Severus hissed, easily slipping into Gaelic as he stared hatefully at the animal that had just apeared out of nowhere. A big raven was sitting next to his knees, cocking its head and gazing thoughtfully at him from unreadable pitch-black eyes. The raven shook himself, its feathers glistening blueish in the moonlight and cawed at Severus.

"Speak or go," Severus growled, still not switching back into English, "I know who you are and I know that you have no business here. This war does not concern you."

"You are wrong," the raven suddenly answered in the same, ancient language, "Every war concerns me. Why should I stay out of this one?"

Severus shuddered, the cold voice chilled him to the bone. "This is the war of mortals," he ground out, "These affairs are not for you to meddle with."

"Everything that catches my interest concerns me," the bird insisted, a wicked gleam suddenly appearing in its fathomless eyes, "And this matter has certainly captured my attention."

"Stay away from me." Snape hissed with barely concealed hatred.

"But why should I?" A cold laughter rose from the animal's throat. "This is all quite interesting. And this young hero of yours... have you never considered leading him to your master? Never considered turning him? He could be powerful if he succumbed... more powerful than Dumbledore hopes and Voldemort fears."

xxxHP/SSxxx

Harry's eyes were wide with shock as he stood glued to the spot, watching as Snape jumped up and lashed out at the raven. The potion master's face was twisted into a mask of hatred as he yelled something after the bird in the strange language they had been using. The dark-haired teenager watched helplessly as Snape glared after the bird, who had taken to the air and was now flying away towards the forest, its laughter stille echoeing in the air. Only after his teacher had turned around and stalked back to the castle did he manage to move, slowly walking back towards the direction of the tunnel, all thoughts of visiting the mer-people forgotten. What had he just seen? Was the bird the raven they were loking for? Was that the reason why Snape had defended him to the headmaster? Had he known all along? And if he had, why hadn't he just said anything? And why did he quite obviously hate the bird?