Chapter 11: Oh Deer!
The spring semester started up with the exciting news that Harry and Hermione were now dating. Neville returned to his dormitory one night to find Harry sitting on the windowsill, gazing out at the darkened grounds. He also noticed that the giant black dog had stretched himself out on the teen's four-poster bed, asleep. The other three dormmates were already in bed, asleep. "Hey Harry, something bothering you?" Neville asked, taking a seat on the edge of Harry's bed. He gave the dog's warm side a gentle stroke, trying not to wake the dog.
"Just thinking. I'm not exactly sure what is going on." Harry looked over at his godfather lying on the bed. "Are you sure he's asleep?"
"I think so." Neville nodded, removing his hand from the dog's side. He went over and sat on the windowsill facing Harry, his knees drawn up. "Are you referring to what we overheard at the Burrow?"
"Yeah, I fear my dad is keeping something from me. But why would he do that?" Harry looked troubled.
Sirius, who had been feigning sleep at this point, listened closer, a little too tense to easily pass for sleep.
"He must have a reason. Maybe this Snape character is really bad news. From what Hermione said, he was right in with You-Know-Who." Neville pointed out with a shrug.
"Yeah, I just wish he would confide in me. He knows how much I've handled the past two years. How bad can Snape be, really?" Harry asked.
At these words, Sirius transformed into his human form and sat up, looking serious at the boys, who looked a little startled. "Harry, there's something you have to know. I can't let you go on thinking Snape isn't too bad. You dealt with Voldemort"-he paused while the two boys gave a little shudder at the name, "when he was weak. Snape is a full grown wizard that has gone as bad as a person can go. He would kill you without a second thought if you got in his way. Your dad couldn't live with himself if you died and he hadn't done everything he could to protect you."
"Why would he want to kill me?" Harry asked.
"You look very much like your father, Harry. Snape has had a decades long animosity against your father, one that sprung up from James's less than admirable behavior at school. Snape learned the worst Dark Magic from his master and I do not want him to come near you. Ever. Understood?"
"Hang on, Sirius." Neville interrupted. "When we eavesdropped on you, you said they need to be protected. Who were you referring to?"
Sirius gave a small sigh of resignation, and relented. "Neville, Snape is Voldemort's"-again he paused at the shudder, "right-hand man. You were the cause of his downfall. Snape would want to get revenge on you any chance he got. You're in more danger than Harry, and that's saying something.
"What are you going to do if you find Snape?" Harry asked, anxiously.
"I will make sure he gets what he deserves. The Dementor's kiss." Sirius said angrily. "He has caused enough trouble to deserve it."
"Sirius." Harry said at once, getting to his feet. He approached his godfather and gave him a hug around the waist. After a moment, Sirius wrapped his arms around his godson. "Please, don't get yourself hurt just to protect me, okay?" He asked, his green eyes meeting Sirius's dark ones with a plea.
"I can't promise you that, Harry. When I became your godfather, I vowed to my best friend that I would protect you with my life. And I have no intention of breaking that vow."
Harry saw that his godfather was dead serious, so he stepped out of the hug, looking resigned. "I can't let you get hurt again."
"Harry, what?" Sirius asked, startled.
"Sirius, I can't stand the idea of you getting hurt!" Harry said, very aware that his voice was growing in volume. "You have to promise me that you won't go after Snape. Please!"
Sirius gazed at his godson, his heart swelling with pride at the boy that stood before him. He was forcibly reminded of teen years ago in this very dormitory, saying those exact words. The echo of the words reverberated through the years, reminding him of that dreadful prank James had played on Snape that had almost resulted in his expulsion. With a shake of his head, Sirius brought himself back to the present. "You are so like James." He gave an amused chuckle.
"This isn't funny, Sirius!" Harry insisted, striking out with his fist. Sirius caught Harry's fist to prevent the boy from lashing out further. "Let go of me!"
"Not until you calm down, Harry." Sirius said firmly. "Now listen to me." Harry finally met Sirius's gaze. "I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. And that includes getting hurt if it means you're safe. There's no argument in that Harry. It's my decision and you won't change my mind."
"But Sirius-"
"No buts. You're tired and need to sleep. In the morning you'll feel better." Sirius promised, releasing Harry's fist. "Go to bed."
Harry sighed in resignation and crawled into bed. Sirius transformed into the dog and curled up in the corner, giving Harry some space. Harry waited until he heard Sirius's canine snores which meant that he was really asleep and got out of bed quietly. He met Neville's eyes and snuck to the dormitory door with Neville following. Harry carefully opened the door and slipped out of the dormitory. They tiptoed down the spiral staircase and out of the dormitory without meeting anyone along the way.
"D'you reckon we should have brought our cloaks?" Neville whispered, glancing over at Harry.
"We don't have time to go back, Sirius could wake up if we try." Harry pointed out in a whisper. "We'll have to risk it."
Harry led Neville through the castle, hiding from Filch as they the caretaker passed by them. They reached the entrance hall quickly, opening the huge wooden doors silently before slipping out into the darkened grounds. The moon was almost full illuminating their path well as they ran across the grounds toward the Forbidden Forest. "Harry, why are we heading there?" Neville asked, pulling up short.
"If there's any place an escaped criminal would hide is a place that no one would go into," Harry replied. "My dad taught me that. C'mon, we have no choice. We can't let Sirius face Snape."
Harry and Neville slipped into the forest, igniting their wand tips at once. Following the trail, they quickly went too deep for moonlight to penetrate through the canopy. "What now?" Neville whispered, pointing the wandlight at Harry's pale face..
Before Harry could answer, a twig snapped. Neville gave a squeak of fright, spinning in the direction of the sound.
"It was probably a deer or something, Neville." Harry sighed. But he cast a nervous look in the direction before beckoning Neville onward.
After what seemed like hours, both Harry and Neville were getting tired. Harry sank onto a fallen tree trunk, shivering with cold. "This was a mistake, I don't think we should have gone in here. We're lost and who knows whether Snape is actually in the forest."
"You should pay better attention to your surroundings, Potter." said a cold voice from nearby. Harry's wandlight shot up, throwing sharp relief on a sallow face curtained by elbow length black hair. "You never know what's in the forest that might want to…hurt you."
"Stay away from us." Harry stammered, stumbling back and falling over the trunk. "J-just stay away from us!"
"Or what?" Snape answered coldly, raising a black eyebrow. "I don't see Dumbledore here. It's just the three of us."
The sound of hooves and large paws sounded loudly in the forest, echoing off the tree trunks. A huge, four-legged animal charged, aiming its antlered head at Snape. A huge black shape followed suit, fangs bared.
Snape reacted quickly, whirling his wand in with lightning-quick reflexes. Two bangs sounded and a flash of red light fired from his wand, hitting the two creatures. Both collapsed at once, transforming into two pale creatures. "You were never a match for me." Snape answered coldly as he approached the figures. He bent down and whispered something to them in turn. A flash of silver in Snape's hand before disappearing again. Harry could not tell what was happening, but suddenly Snape looked up as though he heard something. Indeed, another set of hooves could be heard and a smaller creature came out of nowhere knocking Snape off his feet. It cantered to Harry's side as Snape struggled to his feet, turning the wand on the newcomer. As his wand lit up the creature, Harry saw his eyes widened in shock and fear. He took flight, disappearing into the shadows again.
Harry turned his wand light to the new creature. A fawn colored doe stood beside him, looking down at him with familiar green eyes. "W-who are you?" He asked in wonder.
In a matter of seconds the doe transformed, revealing the long fiery red hair and startling green eyes of a woman. Harry gaped in shock as he realized that his mother was the doe. "Mum?"