Chapter 9: Reunions and the Dark Hunter

Seventh year was up and running, potions was absolutely hideous, and Harry didn't seem to be having any problems. But being that his boyfriend was the potions master, needing help on potions wasn't hard to get. It was about mid November when Severus started to prepare for a very difficult potion.

Harry chuckled as he watched Severus saunter about the deserted classroom; preparing for the next day's hideous lab. "Severus, you've been planning this potion exercise for three weeks. I think it is completely ready and I think that being that our class is first thing in the morning, could we please go to bed?"

Severus sighed and glanced at his young boyfriend. "This is an extremely advanced potion, dearest; lots of things could go wrong tomorrow. I want to make sure that I have as many antidotes on hand as I can before the class starts." Severus smiled. "Come on, let's retire."

Harry and Severus walked into Severus' rooms and stripped quickly. Harry laid down first and then Severus joined him; they fell to sleep instantly. The next morning went uneventfully as the Gryffindor-Slytherin potion class commenced. Severus had everyone make the potion, helping or commenting as he went around; as the potions were at a simmer he addressed the class.

"Now, this potion if made improperly can create about sixty different poisons and curses, so if you feel different tell me immediately." Severus glanced around, his eyes stopping on Neville; he had personally helped the boy during most of the class so as to avoid serious harm. "Drink a flute of the potion and then wait five minuets; by that point you'll know if you concocted a successful potion or if you didn't. Remember you will vanish, so make sure that you are watching your mirrors."

As everyone drank the potions Severus held his breathe, knowing that he could outlast the five stressful moments for the potions to take effect. Severus glanced at each table, while he was waiting, checking that everyone had the visibility serum; everyone did. Harry, Hermione, Draco, Blaise, Ron, and Seamus suddenly disappeared. Severus exhaled as he saw Neville vanish; and then he paled. Dean Thomas had just collapsed, as many others started to show signs of other poisons and curses. The seven who had vanished drank the serum and they started to help get students their proper anti-poisons or anti-curses. Severus was with Dean, sorting his symptoms and looking for a match, he couldn't figure out what was affecting the young man.

Draco walked over and gasped instantly. "Professor, that's the death curse," Draco whispered into Severus' ear, pausing with near fear before continuing, "only an extremely powerful wizard can counter it and it would have to be a dark wizard due to the other effects of this potion." Severus sighed. There was nothing anyone could do.

Suddenly Draco was shoved to one side, by Harry holding his wand. "Severus move," his voice commanded quickly. Severus gasped, Harry was hardly ever commanding. "Severus, now, we don't have time for you to be dim-witted."

Severus moved aside, looking into Harry's eyes. They were black. Black, Harry was summoning dark powers to save Dean. "Harry don't do anything stupid, remember when to pull back!"

Harry just nodded and pointed his wand at Dean. "Avada Cracia..." Dean twitched for a moment more in pain and then he slipped into unconsciousness. "Dean will be fine when he wakes up, Severus." Harry swayed and toppled over, Severus caught him.

"Ron, Blaise, take Dean to Poppy, I'll take Harry to his rooms." Draco smirked. Harry's rooms were the same as Severus' rooms.

Two days had past with Harry oblivious to the passage of time. Harry shifted in bed to find himself restrained. He smiled; it was Severus and it was about four in the morning. Morning, love, his mind whispered. Severus smiled and hugged Harry. I couldn't help but to do it, Severus, I hope you know that. Also I want you to know that by doing it I have initiated the start of my dark rising.

"I know, Harry, I know. I could sense it, the dark powers within you, rising up to be more dominate." Severus smiled. "You only have DADA to look forward to today, Harry, since we were the only two teachers who actually had finals on the week before Christmas brake."

Harry sighed. I should go and talk to Remus before the final, I told him I'd turn mine in early and that didn't happen.

"Yes it did, Harry, I knew about your arrangement with him so I dropped it off yesterday morning, since you finished your paper last week. You do realize that he's not up yet, right?"

Yes, I know and thanks, love. Harry stood and walked over to the closet, getting dressed. He looked down to see the Marauder's Map, as it was always lately—open to Hogwarts, so he could see who was about and where. He blinked and grabbed the map; his robe was unbuttoned as he raced through the hallways to Remus' chambers. Remus!

"What Harry?" Remus' voice echoed from the other side of the door. It opened to Remus standing in a pair of slacks and very tousled hair. "What's the matter?"

Harry opened his mouth but no sound came forth. The damn map is busted! I looked at it and someone whose on it cannot be! Harry chocked out a sob. I'm getting sick of this, Remus.

"Why do you say that the map is busted, Harry?"

It says that SIRIUS BLACK is at Hogwarts! Look— Harry held the map up and sure enough Sirius' name was floating over footsteps that were slowly trudging around the grounds.

Remus sighed. "I'll see what I can do with it, Harry."

Harry nodded and hugged Remus. Thank you, Remus, it still hurts... Remus only acquiesced softly and held Harry. I'll see you in class then?

Remus smiled. "Yes, I'll see you in class... Oh, and by the way, I loved your final paper." Harry smiled and left.

Two days later Harry, under the Invisibility Cloak, slithered into Remus' office where he and Minerva were talking. The map was laid closed besides them, much to Harry's delight. Something had been bothering his older friend and so he wanted to know what it was.

"So, Remus, are you still beating yourself up over Sirius?" Minerva asked softly.

"Of course I am, Minerva, it hurts to see your lover die... you know it does."

"Yes, yes, I know, but it's been almost two years, Remus. Why are you still acting like it was yesterday?"

Remus shuddered and then roared. "Because, damnit, we were to be married a year ago today! It will always hurt around this time for the rest of my life, Minerva."

"Oh, Remus..."

"I loved him, Minerva; I would give my life to bring him back, to let him live instead of me. I would die any a number of horrible deaths if it would bring him back... I would die to the Cruciatus, or suffer dieing twenty times to the Avada... Merlin, I'd do anything to bring him back..." Remus sobbed, unable to continue.

Harry slowly backed out of the room, and walked down to the pitch. He raised his wand and called out, "Accio Map." The map flew into his hand and he smiled. "I solemnly swore that I am up to no good." Harry shivered as he gazed about the map. Finely he saw it, Sirius Black was marked over near the lake, the mark wasn't moving. He sighed and moved swiftly towards it. keeping his eye on the little flag.

Harry slipped up to the shore and sighed as he didn't see anything near. He glanced at the map again to see that the flag was floating under the tree over near the leftmost edge of the lake. Harry walked over and was about to call out when a Grim fled from under the tree, out towards the castle.

Harry was about to panic when suddenly he remembered that when Sirius was transformed he could easily be mistaken as the grim. He was the right size and had about the right eyes, from what Harry had seen. "Snuffles...?" he called softly. At first nothing happened and then, without warning, that gigantic dog had leaped and toppled Harry to the ground.

It's teeth were barred and it was growling. It's eyes were glowing blood red. Harry moved his arms and tried to push the beast off of him, but it would have none of it. He coughed, unable to breath. "Snuffles, I can't breathe." It moved it's forepaws off of Harry's chest and whined. Harry gasped in several lung-fulls of air and frowned. "If you are Snuffles, human Sirius Black, bark once, please."

It cocked it's head to one side and barked. Harry smiled and wrapped his arms around his companion's neck. He pulled his wand out and sighed, "Lumos." Snuffles started to wag his tail now that he could see Harry more clearly; he knew who it was and he licked Harry's cheek. Harry laughed and put his things aside, keeping the lights on them. "Sirius...?"

He simply sat down besides Harry and panted a few times. Nothing else happened. "Can you transform back to being a human, Sirius? One bark is always yes."

Snuffles walked a circle around Harry and then barked twice. Harry frowned. "So you can't change back or you won't...? One is can't."

Snuffles walked around Harry again and barked once. "Do you know why you can't?" Another singular bark, yes. "Could Minerva help with a spell or something to turn you back into a human?"

A long pause, one bark. Minerva, can you hear me?

"Yes, but how are you hearing me?"

I'm concentrating on you, so I can talk to you.

"Oh, what can I do for you Harry?"

If an animagus was trapped in transformation, how would one change them back?

"A transfiguration charm that targets the human side of the animal and forces them back into human form... Why?"

What is this charm?

"It's the bloomsbane charm, Enab Smoolb, why?"

I can't tell you, yet. Thank you Minerva.

"Your welcome, Harry."

"I have the spell that will turn you back, do you want me to cast it?"

Snuffles nudged his head under Harry's hand. Harry scratched his ears, then one bark. "Enab Smoolb."

Suddenly Sirius was sitting next to Harry; alive and real, but needing grooming. "Harry...?"

"Sirius!" Harry screeched and hugged the older man, squeezing slightly. "How are you alive?"

"I never died, Harry, the veil only made me vanish for a single year and then I was shot back but as Snuffles and I couldn't turn back..."

"We should go to see Remus right now, he'll be so happy to see you."

"No Harry, not yet. You and I have something that we need to do... Something your father wanted me to do if something ever happened to him."

Harry gazed into Sirius' eyes. "What is it Sirius?"

Sirius smirked evilly. "I'm to teach you to transform into an animal of your own... you should be able to be an animagus, Harry, being that your dad was one." Harry smiled but looked to the ground. "What is it Harry?"

"I just realized that you happen to hate the person I'm dating."

"Who is it...?"

Harry sighed. "Severus Snape."

Sirius smiled. "I thought so, I saw you two having a picnic a few weeks ago by the lake; its fine, we got along better then most people thought we did. Actually, James, Remus, Severus and I were like a set of Marauders ourselves: it would be like you to date him." He laughed. "I'll just have to teach you quickly then, so he doesn't have a reason to worry."

Harry and Sirius spent the rest of that night and the next three days working in the forbidden forest; being that Severus could talk to Harry anytime because Harry was always connected to his thoughts he wasn't worried that Harry had vanished. Harry on the other hand was happy, spending the first part of Christmas brake with Sirius. He was so close to transforming, all he needed to do was get the last point and then he would be able to roam around with Sirius in animal form.

Sirius sighed; they had been working for the last six hours on trying to get Harry to convert into his own animal state. He was exhausted with the exertion of energy that was required to teach a young man to shift from human to animal. "Harry, let's take a brake."

Harry nodded and leaned back against the tree. "It seems hopeless doesn't it?"

Sirius smiled. "No, Harry, not hopeless. You've shown that you have the ability and the magic to do it; all we need to do is to find it... locating the magic will activate the ability."

Harry chuckled. Something was whispering within him, guiding him to a place deep within his own soul. It was his magic, his newest magics, telling him where to look. He stood and walked a few feet away from where Sirius was sitting; he sighed. "Let's try once more, please..."

He stood and walked next to Harry; a low chuckle. "All right, Harry, but just once more." Harry smiled and as they started to go through his body to see if they could accomplish anything, Harry growled deep in his throat. Sirius backed away from Harry, fearing that initial sound of pain. Harry snarled and turned away from Sirius only to drop to his knees. He gasped and then started to claw at his skin. "Harry...!"

Harry cried out in agony as he suddenly started to change. He shifted into a black fluff-ball. Sirius paled and changed himself so as he could talk to the transformed Harry. Snuffles advanced the creature before him, unsure.

Harry, he yowled softly, can you hear me?

Snuffles, is that you? Harry asked softly in his mind. What happened?

You succeeded in transforming, but into what is anyone's guess.

What colour am I, Snuffles? Harry growled.

Snuffles blew air out of his nose in the version of a dog's laugh. You do remember that dogs can't see colours, right... but, in human form, I saw you as black and fluffy. Snuffles snarled.

Harry mimicked Snuffles' laugh and frowned. Hermione has a Polaroid camera in her trunk, go back to human form and call it to you... then take a picture of me then use my wand to develop it. I'll try to shift back after you've taken the photo.

Snuffles quickly turned back into Sirius and then did as Harry requested. Once the photo had been shot, Harry growled and shifted back into human form. With one slight miscalculation, his cloths were gone. Luckily his robe was besides him, so after he had donned the cloth he went to look at the picture which was just then developed.

Sirius frowned and handed the picture to Harry, who laughed. "I look like a Siberian tiger, but I couldn't be because they aren't black... why am I so fluffy?"

Sirius grinned. "You might need to be brushed, but I agree you might be a black tiger... why don't you transfigure me a grooming comb and then transform back and we'll see what's under all that fur?" Harry laughed and made the brush. He cringed and then shifted, it didn't hurt this time. Sirius smirked at the large creature and ran the brush down his back, and then he started to brush his sides and so on for an hour. When he was done, Sirius took another photo of him and then asked softly, "Could you please change back?"

Harry shifted and was glad to notice that his robe was still clinging to his body. "What did you discover?"

"A black Siberian tiger... look at yourself now that you aren't fluffy."

Harry looked and chuckled; "I guess I'm the first black one in history..."

Sirius laughed and then looked at Harry. "You'll need an animal name, like Snuffles, and an alias, like Padfoot."

Harry yawned. "Can I just think about it for a while and then decide?"

"Yeah, let's get some rest." The next morning Harry awoke to the feeling of being watched; Sirius was already awake and dressed, he also had a pair of slacks, a shirt and some boxers for Harry to wear under his robe. Harry quickly got dressed and then chuckled. "What is it, Harry?"

"Oh, I was just thinking that my alias should be Shadow."

Sirius grinned and whispered, "I like it but you still need a name for your feline self."

Harry growled, "Hunter."

Sirius blinked and nodded. "Hunter is a good name for a tiger..."

"Sirius," Harry started in a hushed voice, "are you ever going to let me take you to see Remus? You know he hurts, thinking you're dead and that he'll never get to spend the rest of his life with you like he had planned."

"Let's go up to see him together, as our animagus selves, and then we can talk." Harry laughed and shifted into his tiger form; Sirius into his grim form. They started towards the castle in a run, Snuffles was having trouble keeping up with Hunter but Hunter just slowed his pace and continued on their way. They entered the castle with only a few students' eyes on them.

Hunter led the way to Remus' rooms, being that he had been there more then Sirius had. Hunter jumped into the door, causing it to open, and walked in to see that Remus was looking at a portrait of Sirius. Snuffles went over to Remus instantly, with sad puppy-dog eyes, and nudged his hand. Remus ignored the sensation of a dog's head against his hand, thinking it was only his imagination.

Snuffles whined and Remus looked down and gasped. "...Snuffles...?" he screeched.

Hunter roared softly and plopped himself down onto the main chamber's rug. Snuffles licked Remus' hand and barked softly.

Remus swivelled in his chair causing himself to flop on the floor besides Snuffles. He wrapped his arms around the dog's neck and started to cry. "Merlin, I wish that you weren't just my imagination... or else I wish that you could stay with me forever..." Remus chocked on a sob. "If I never get the chance to say it... I love you, Snuffles... but I love your human form more, I love Padfoot..."

As Remus cried this into Snuffles' coat, Snuffles shifted back into his human form. "Merlin, I love you too, Moony... and never doubt it."

Remus jumped in Sirius' arms; "My...goddess...Sirius...are you real?"

Sirius laughed and kissed Remus passionately. When they came up of air, Sirius voiced, "Yes, Moony, I'm real."

Remus hugged Sirius, tears streaming his eyes. "How long are you going to be here...?" Sirius frowned not comprehending what Remus was asking. "When do you have to go back to the spirit world?" Remus clarified.

Sirius chuckled. "Ask Harry, he can better answer that then I can."

"No one knows where Harry is though."

"Have you looked at the other creature in this room, Moony? Hunter, come here please." Hunter gracefully rose from his spot and walked to Sirius, then sat. "Remus, this is Hunter... Or should I say, Harry Potter."

Hunter growled and then shifted back into human form; grinning when he was sure that all of his cloths had come with him. "Hiya, Remus."

Remus' eyes grew slightly larger and then he laughed. "I should have known that you'd be an animagus at some point in his life... Hunter, huh?"

"Yeah, that's my animal name... Otherwise I'm Shadow."

"How long do I have with Sirius, Harry?"

Harry smiled tenderly. "For as long as you both as you both shall live," he chuckled softly before continuing, "he's not dead, Remy and he won't be leaving unless, of course, you're with him..."

Remus grinned evilly and said, "We should get Scales up here, don't you think, Padfoot?"

"I wholeheartedly agree, Moony." Remus quickly wrote a note on some parchment and told Hedwig, who had mysteriously appeared when Hunter had turned back into Harry, to take it to a certain Snake. She flew off and soon Harry realised that he might not want to know who Scales was. "He should be here soon, don't you think, Moony?"

"Yes, he should be... Dobby!" Remus finished. Dobby appeared and bowed his head. "Get us some scotch and four glasses."

"Yes, of course, sir."

Harry opened his mouth to speak but there was a knock on the door. Harry shivered and shifted back into being a tiger. "Come on in, Scales, we have company."

Suddenly Hunter realised that he recognised the odour that was coming from the entity known as Scales, it was Severus. He hissed softly and circled around Severus as he walked in the door. Severus paled at the large cat and cringed. "What did you need...Oh...Merlin, Padfoot?"

Sirius laughed and hugged Severus, "I'm a lot harder to kill then people think, Scales."

Severus chuckled. "I can see that... Harry will be happy to see you."

Remus smirked. "I think that you'll be frightened to see Harry again though, Scales. Every sly inch of him..."

Hunter took the cue to rub his face against Severus' knee, trying to get the proper attention. Severus looked down. "When did you get a tiger, Moony?" Remus handed Severus and Sirius each a glass of scotch and chuckled.

"I'd like you to meet Hunter, an animagus like ourselves," Sirius sneered.

"What's his name or do I know him?"

Remus and Sirius shared a look. "I think you know him. His alias is Shadow, but I doubt that bit of information helps at all. He's a student of yours."

Severus looked into the dazzling green eyes and frowned. He recognised those eyes; they were the same as his lover's eyes but for being almond shaped. "Harry...?"

Hunter shifted quickly and hugged Severus. "Scales, huh?"

Severus gasped. "When'd you learn to do that?"

"These past few days; I've been with Sirius getting the art mastered." Severus drank his glass quickly and sighed.

"Oh, really and you couldn't tell me, I find it hard to believe that you've been hiding something so simple from me...but we'll just have to discuss it later. Goodnight, Moony, Padfoot."

"G'night, Scales, Shadow, sleep well."