Chapter 5

"Things Change"

Severus was a centaur of habit. Just because he had a disgusting colt stinking up his cave didn't mean he would break the routine he'd kept for years. After he had awakened his less than welcome guest, he'd set out into the forest as he did every night. He enjoyed the cool mist of rain that rolled over him as he trotted, and put the upsetting thoughts of his company out of his mind as he went about checking his traps and patrolling the woods. He hadn't gotten too far along on his route when a soft voice called out to him.

"Severus? Wait for me!"

He massaged his temples, already feeling his stress level rise.

"What are you doing? Get back to the cave!" he barked at the impertinent boy. The colt's head tilted to the side and his eyes narrowed as he stared unabashed. Severus realized it was the first time the boy had really seen him. Severus, who'd been nursing the unconscious boy back to health for the past four days, had seen quite enough of the colt.

"My leg doesn't hurt anymore. I thought…I thought I might come along with you," the colt explained hesitantly. Severus sighed loudly and began to walk again – unconsciously slowing his pace.

"Fine, but you had better be quiet."

The colt was wise enough not to reply. Instead, he trotted a few paces until he was right on Severus's flank, his green eyes wide as he stared at the forest lit by the full moon. Even Severus would admit it was haunting. He wasn't surprised the colt didn't want to wait in the cave alone.

Thankfully, the excursion was without incident. Something was prickling at the back of Severus's neck, but he assumed it was merely the presence of the colt that was disturbing him. They had trekked quite a ways into the forest, and Severus was proud that the potion he'd made for the colt's leg wound seemed to have healed it nicely. At least, the colt didn't complain of any discomfort. Severus also assumed the cure he'd given him for his head was also effective, as the colt had been clear headed and eager to explore once he finally awoke.

They were almost to the last trap when his keen hearing picked up on a scuffling sound. Harry must have heard it as well, because he froze, green eyes wide and bright. Motioning for Harry to remain where he was, he moved silently through the underbrush, his bow pulled taught. The forest was a dangerous place if one was not prepared.

Harry took a small step backwards and a twig cracked under his hoof. Cursing, Severus knew his cover had been blown. He leapt forward, arrow drawn, ready to kill if necessary...

It was Hagrid.

Both of them quickly lowered their bows, nodding by way of greeting.

"Greetings Severus, how 'ave you been?" Severus, who was never one for trivial conversation, merely nodded stoically by way of greeting. "Don' suppose you know anythin' bout this?" Hagrid asked, using his bow to point to the silvery puddle at their feet. Severus's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Unicorn blood," he identified, trotting forward to investigate further.

"When my father hears of this…" the blonde boy trailed off and his eyes went wide upon seeing Severus standing silently over the little pools of blood. The enormous centaur was as tall as Hagrid, though not nearly as broad. A few seconds passed and another student joined the group – a young girl with bushy brown hair. She was quickly followed by a freckled red head and a mousy looking blonde. All four of the children stared in wonder at Severus, their eyes wide and their jaws slack. Through with his inspection, Severus sneered at the children. Moving impossibly fast, he circled around behind them causing the posh blonde to let out a little shriek of fear. The mousy one whimpered.

"Children, Hagrid? This deep in the forest?"

Hagrid at least had the decency to look apologetic.

"Dumbledore's idea for a punishment," Hagrid replied. Still hidden from Hagrid's view, Harry made another noise that caused Hagrid to raise his bow. Severus noticed the children instantly shrank back with fear, and thought to himself that this was a rather severe punishment. The forest was home to man-eaters. Hagrid, though strong and welcomed by most in the forest, was not enough to guarantee their safety.

Harry cursed softly when he snapped another twig and the monstrous two-leg turned his bow on him. He lowered it when he managed to discern that he was another centaur. He sent a curious look at Severus.

"Got company, Severus?"

Severus glared in response, moving from behind the children to stand in front of Harry. In the face of such strangers, he wasn't holding up too well. Severus could see he was trying to hide it, but he was sweating bullets and his green eyes were shocked and large. Hagrid, completely unaware of what panic he was causing, was still looming over him and only scaring him further. Once he'd stepped between the half-giant and the colt, Severus could practically feel the boy's relief. In fact, his reaction to the two-legs wasn't much different from the children's reaction to him. Severus could still hear the mousy boy's knees practically knocking with fear.

Severus was nearly shocked out of his coat when Harry's hand rested gently on his flank. He turned quickly, looking to see why the boy had touched him, only to realize he wasn't really even paying attention to Severus. His hand trailed for a few inches across his flank, then dropped carelessly as the boy mutely walked towards the silvery puddles. As he did so, he came full into the moonlight. The bushy haired child's eyes went, if possible, even wider.

"You're beautiful!" she exclaimed, obviously without thinking. Startled out of his strange trance, Harry turned to look at her in surprise. So entranced by the unicorn blood, he'd obviously forgotten the presence of the two-legs.

Severus, too, was slightly surprised by the remark. His beetle black eyes scanned over the small centaur, trying to see what had captivated the girl. His eyes narrowed as he stared, and he realized the girl was correct in her assessment. Lit by moonlight, his strange visitor had an unearthly glow radiating from his pale, unusually hairless skin. His eyes, though Severus couldn't see them at the moment, were the same dark green as the forest around them. His black coat was glossy – not particularly well groomed after his stay with Severus, but still iridescent like a raven's wing in the night. His black tail, thick and wild with curls, just barely touched the ground. Similarly, the locks of his mane seemed to twist and curl as if defying gravity. Even Severus had to admit, the colt was enchanting to look upon. Then he turned, and Severus realized it was not his body that had impressed the girl. His eyes, so full of bottomless sadness, looked at him questioningly.

"It's too much blood. She's either dying or dead. No animal would do this – not even a werewolf," as he spoke, his voice filled with unbridled anger. It was awe inspiring to see the change come over him. Since his arrival, Severus had felt there was something strange about him, something he couldn't quite grasp. Now he recognized it. This colt had power. Thick, pure, raw and mesmerizing magical power. It positively radiated off him. Reiki himself had touched this boy.

Harry had never felt such hot rage. A two-leg had slaughtered a unicorn, the sisters and brothers of centaurs and horses, the angels of their world. No sin could be as evil, as unthinkable. It was believed by centaurs that unicorns were the guardians of good, departed souls. When a unicorn was murdered, the pure soul it guarded died as well. The soul would then wander into the darkness, forever lost without the pure light of the unicorn's soul to guide it. It was a double murder.

Fueled by anger, and furious that Severus did not seem at all affected, he cantered off along the trail, hoping against hope he would find her in time. He could hear Severus and the two-legs following behind him, but he was singularly focused on the trail. His heart began to thud hard against his ribs, his breath shortening until he was running without breathing at all.

And then he saw him. Hunched over the body, not even kind enough to put her out of her misery, was the turbaned two-leg from his dream. Greedily, he scooped the blood into vials, stopping only when Harry thundered into the clearing. His eyes widened with fear, as he knew his time had come. The light of justice shone in Harry's eyes. Just as the others entered the clearing, Harry whirled around and struck the man with a powerful back hoof. His skull cracked cleanly as he was tossed backwards. He fell, bleeding beside the unicorn. Furious at the idea that his filthy blood might mingle with hers, Harry was quick to drag his body away, dumping it like trash in the bushes.

He emerged back into the clearing, breathing raspy and his eyes half crazed. As he sunk to his knees, no longer able to support his body, the last thing he heard was the heavy hooting of an owl. His world and that of the two-legs had just collided, and there was no turning back for him now.

Severus's mind raced to take in all the implications of what the colt had done.

Professor Quirrell was dead, and had obviously been serving Voldemort. Voldemort, however, was believed to be dead by most of the population. Harry had just murdered a two-leg. The wizards would be out for his head. Being classified as a "beast" had that drawback. Hagrid's eyes met with Severus's, then trailed to the prissy blonde boy. His mouth was hanging open, his ice blue eyes were excited by the bloodshed.

He was a Malfoy, Severus realized, and would thus report all this to his father. Lucius Malfoy, it was well known, was not known for showing kindness to his enemies. He would wish to seek favor with Voldemort by seeing that murderer of Quirrell was punished. With his political power, Harry would be executed in three days time. Severus was just wondering what in Reiki's name they were going to do, when the bushy haired girl pulled her wand out quietly.

"Oblivious!" She said quietly, pointing the spell straight at Malfoy.

Smart girl.

He blinked foggily, then opened his eyes.

"I can't believe Professor Quirrell attacked that centaur and killed a unicorn! Has he gone crazy?"

Draco's eyes narrowed at the scene in front of him, the battered body of his previous potions master off in the bushes, the slaughtered unicorn, and the unconscious centaur. Then his expression relaxed, and Severus knew the spell had worked. Hagrid looked as though he was slightly confused as to why Hermione had altered Malfoy's memory, as did Neville and Ron. Dismissing them for the moment, Severus moved to check on Harry. His breathing had steadied, and most likely he'd just passed out because of the adrenaline rush being too much on his weakened heart and body.

It took some doing, and a helping hand from Hagrid, but they eventually managed to get him up onto Severus's back.

"I suspect you'll be wantin' to come back to the school with us?" Hagrid asked. Severus nodded wordlessly. Not only did he need to report to Dumbledore, but Harry needed the medi-witch to look him over. Besides, Hagrid really wasn't enough protection for four children in the forbidden forest on a full moon.

Harry was still unconscious when the small group made their way back to the castle. Dumbledore was already waiting for them on the grounds, expression solemn, eyes twinkling. Severus had a feeling his life was about to make a turn for the worse.

A/N: This one took awhile to get through. I was actually planning to put off their meeting with the wizarding world for at least another chapter, but I think I shall do it this way instead. Well, now you know who's filled in Harry's spot at Hogwarts. In this story, Neville is the Boy-Who-Lived, and Hermione's still one sharp cookie. As usual, Draco is a malicious little snot, Dumbledore is twinkly, and Ron and Hagrid are vaguely confused. Ah, good old Hogwarts.