CHAPTER 4 - JAMMED

'He looks pale.'

'Nah, that's his natural colour.'

'I ought to give McLaggen a good whopping.'

'Calm down Ginny, there's nothing more we can do. What's done is done.'

'But that didn't make it right.'

'You think Potter will mind if I have his soup?'

'Peakes!'

'Sorry, Jack. But I'm hungry!'

'Look I think he's waking up!'

Harry moved his head to one side, stretching slightly. His whole body was aching. He cleared his throat and slowly opened his eyes. At his bedside were Ron and Hermione, and the rest of his team. They all looked at him with apparent relief and worried smiles.

"Harry. Mate. How are you feeling?" Ron questioned.

"Like shit."

Everyone laughed. Harry was confused. He remembered flying in the rain, then being hit by a bludger. But he thought it was the beater's job to keep the bludgers away from their teammates.

Harry sat up gingerly, noticing for the first time that he was in clean clothes and sheets.

"What happened?"

"You were hit by a bludger." Ginny informed.

Jack continued. "McLaggen took Peake's bat and hit the bludger at you."

"He thought he knew how to play beater better than I do." Peakes said angrily. "He yanked it outta me hand and whacked the thing. He didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, let alone hit it straight. It just so happened that you were in the wrong place."

"But you don't have to worry about him, Harry," Jack assured. "I've kicked him off the team. He's not worth keeping."

Harry digested the information. He remembered the pain. He shivered as he remembered the feeling of not being able to breathe properly. He remembered how gentle Snape's hands were…

"We're just glad you're okay." Hermione smiled.

"Harry, would you mind if I had your soup? I'm starving!"

Harry looked at Peakes and grinned. "Sure go ahead."

"Brilliant!"

"Alright, that's enough!" Madame Pomfrey came charging out of her office. "This boy needs his rest. I won't have the lot of you disturbing him!"

Harry's friends bid him farewell as they were shooed away. 'Be sure to get some rest Harry, we wouldn't dream of disturbing you!' Ron shot sarcastically. Harry smiled. Hermione told him to get well fast, and she wished him a Happy Hallowe'en.

Hallowe'en. Was it today? Already? It had only been October 29 when he got hit by the bludger. Had he been asleep for all this time?

There was a click as the hospital wing door was pushed open. Snape walked through, his robes billowing, followed by McGonagall and Dumbledore. They were all smiling (with the exception of Snape), apparently relieved that the boy who lived was still alive, and that the daily Prophet wouldn't read 'Harry Potter killed by Bludger.'

Dumbledore sat himself at the edge of Harry's bed and placed an aged hand on his leg. "Harry my boy. How are you feeling?"

"Better, Sir. Thank you."

"You gave us quite a scare, Potter." McGonagall said shakily. "There was one point…well-we thought you wouldn't make it."

Harry looked confusedly at his choked up transfiguration teacher. Then he looked to Snape for answers.

"You have been asleep for nearly two days. Your body couldn't handle the strain, despite our efforts. At one point you stopped breathing. I daresay, Potter, that you are fortunate to be having this conversation."

Harry stared blankly. He had almost died.

"Now if you will excuse us, I must examine Potter's wounds."

McGonagall and Dumbledore nodded. Before he got up to leave, Dumbledore leant in close to Harry and whispered, "It was Severus who would not give up on you. He stayed with you until he was sure you would make it. You have him to thank, Harry."

Snape and Harry were quite alone. Neither moved. Harry was overwhelmed with emotion. Snape had saved his life…again. Would his life forever be governed by the actions of this man? But Harry couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not. After all, Snape is a Slytherin and a former death eater of Lord Voldemoert. And he isn't exactly the best person with whom to strike a reliable friendship. Harry never quite figured out his motives. But of late, his dreaded potions professor seemed to be doing the right things, and Harry's couldn't fault a person for trying.

"Thank you, Sir."

Snape nodded. "How are you feeling this afternoon?"

"Uh, a bit uncomfortable actually."

"That is to be expected. You suffered severe trauma and your body is rushing to repair it. Potions and healing incantations only heal the immediate wounds. The bruises and scars must heal on their own. Unbutton your shirt."

Under normal circumstances that phrase would have sounded very inappropriate. And had this happened last year Harry would have outright refused. But Harry knew that Snape only wanted to examine his wounds, nothing more. He didn't feel threatened in any way. So he slowly removed his shirt. His breath hitched when he saw how badly he'd been hit. His entire chest and torso was discolored and bruised, and he was sure his back was no better.

"You were struck point blank in your rib cage at approximately a 45 degree angle. The impact shattered your ribs and cracked your sternum. You then fell several feet to the ground. The landing caused your splintered ribs to penetrate your lungs, causing massive internal bleeding."

Snape sat beside Harry and began feeling his lower chest. Harry was shocked at how tender he was. Simply resting a hand on his skin sent waves of pain through his body. Snape began pressing harder. Harry yelped. He tried pushing Snape's hands away and distancing himself from him.

"Potter, you must let me do this."

"It hurts when you press," Harry said painfully. The sudden movements had strained his lungs and his breathing was labored.

"I am aware of how in pain you must be. But if I do not assess your progress then I will not be able to help you heal."

Harry nodded, defeated.

"Perhaps if you lie down it will hurt less."

Though Harry highly doubted that lying down would make a difference, he did so anyway. Snape continued pressing and Harry tried his hardest to remain still. He writhed; he curled his toes and clenched his teeth. When Snape pressed on a particularly bad spot Harry cried out and tried once again to push Snape away. Snape pressed a cool hand to Harry's forehead.

"It's done. You're making good progress. You heal quickly."

"I always have."

"Then you're very lucky." Snape handed him two vials and one jar. One is a painkiller; the other is to speed up your immune system so it can repair the damage at an accelerated rate. This is a soothing salve. Apply it to your chest as many times as you see necessary. It will also help fade the bruises."

"Thank you."

"And for Merlin's sake, eat something. God knows your body needs the energy."

"Yes Sir."

"And Potter; we will still hold our weekly session today. I shall be here at 8:30."

Harry could have sworn he saw the smallest smirk on Snape's face as he left. What had just happened? Why was Snape taking a turn for the better? It wasn't important at the moment. Now Harry turned to bigger things. Today was Hallowe'en, and the perfect night to act out his plan. Harry was ready. He'd been planning for months. Bo Breblan had given him his last few pieces of information and he had delicately put the whole thing together.

The reason Harry had chosen all Hollow's eve was because he'd read that more magic forces were at work on this night, more than any other night of the year. And if Harry's plan was to succeed, he would need all the magical influence he could get. In fact, events seemed to be playing in his favor; as he was in the hospital wing he could easily escape without anyone noticing. Not for a while, anyway. This meant that he didn't have to give Ron or Hermione an excuse as to why he was going to be absent for a couple of hours. And since everyone knew by now that he was in the infirmary he wouldn't have to make an appearance at dinner. All he had to do was sneak out, grab a few select items from his dorm, and find a secluded place. If he timed it right, he'd be back in the hospital wing before Snape.

The clock read 6:08 p.m. Now was as good a time as any. Besides, he had to adjust to the fact that his injuries would make him slower. Quietly, just in case there was someone outside, Harry grabbed his wand and his shoes, not bothering to put them on, and snuck out on the hospital wing. He tried controlling his breathing. The painkiller only did so much and his chest protested. But adrenaline filled Harry and the pain was dulled. Now he was taken over by pure thrill. He was determined not to get caught.

Outside the sun was almost set and the light in the castle came from the candles along the halls. So far Harry hadn't run into anyone. But he had deliberately taken a more complex route, taking hallways that were less frequented than others. Harry peaked around the corner to where the Fat Lady sat in her frame. Just as he had suspected, Violet was with her. And as usual they were well on their way to getting good and pissed. But Harry wanted to speed up the process or he might be standing there a while. He jogged back a couple corridors (his ribs paining him slightly) to where there was a portrait of a fine French gentleman. In his hands was an unopened bottle of Chartreuse. Harry knew that Chartreuse was so high in alcohol that even the sturdiest of men tipped after only a sip.

"Excuse me, Sir."

The man in the portrait wiggled his nose and peered at Harry, astonished that he was being spoken to. "May I be of service young man?" The portrait said in a heavy French accent.

"Well actually I was hoping you could help someone else." The portrait listened intently. "There are some ladies down the hall in the Portrait of the Fat Lady. They're awfully lonely and would very much like some company."

"Lovely ladies in need of male companionship, eh? I will be there right away!"

Harry followed after him and watched as the Fat Lady and Violet fluttered their eyelashes and giggled in girlish delight at the handsome young man who stopped by their painting. Then Harry saw them open the Chartreuse and say a toast to sobriety and fidelity. Five minutes later and the three of them were sufficiently buzzed. Harry walked up to the portrait and said "farfelu."

The Fat Lady waved a hand dismissively and swung open to admit him. It was exactly what Harry wanted. If anyone were to remember seeing him it could ruin his whole plan. Hopefully the Fat Lady was so drunk that she'd wake up the next morning not to remember a thing. Harry crawled through the portrait hole and peered at the Griffindor common room. Harry breathed relief when he spotted no one. The only inhabitant was Crookshanks, who meowed when he saw Harry. Harry knew that since everyone was at dinner, it was very unlikely for anyone to be in the dorm room. And indeed, it was quite empty. Harry rushed to gather his things. He threw a pair of robes over his shirt and shorts. He got Breblan's book and stuffed it in his pocket, along with his wand. Lastly he grabbed his invisibility cloak from out of his trunk and draped it over him. The Fat Lady didn't even notice as her portrait was swung open and no one came out…

Harry was out of breath as he reached the Room of Requirement. It was the perfect spot, as no one would be able to find him. He walked back and forth three times saying "I need a place to become an animagus…"

Then a door appeared. Harry wrenched it open. He was standing in a small nicely lit chamber. There were three mirrors standing in separate areas. The mirrors all had different designs. One frame has been carved into birds, while the other two definitely had an African feel. The ceiling was marvelously painted with gold animals of every species, it seemed. There were vertical hyeroglypgs along the wall, and Harry couldn't help but gaze in wonder at the intricacies of what he saw. Books and old papers were stacked on corners. The room even smelt of Magic, felt like magic. The centre of the room was empty. On the floor were elephants and horses forming a circle, in the center of wich was a pentagram. It was perfect.

Harry cast his cloak to one side and stood in the center of the room, looking at himself through a mirror. Just as all the books instructed, Harry looked at himself intently, becoming aware for every part of his body. He clenched every muscle one at a time. He ran his tongue along his teeth and against the walls of his mouth. He took note of how the saliva slid down his throat and how his longish hair tickled the back of his neck.

Normally it was said that the animal chooses the wizard, But Bo Breblan had different ideas. He theorized that if the wizard had enough magical ability that he could force himself to be any animal he wanted. And the man had put his theories into practice. So Harry visualized the animal he would become in his mind. He saw its powerful hindquarters. Its muscles rippled under his intricately patterned coat. His sloping neck lead to an elegant head with bright black eyes. His smart ears balance out his strong shoulders. Harry began to visualize himself as that animal, feeling the muscles as his own, swishing his tail back and forth, stomping the ground with his powerful hooves.

Harry was sweating as he struggled to keep control. He searched deeper in himself than he ever had to find enough magic to make this work. He had prepared himself mentally. He knew he was ready. And he wanted this to work! For the slightest moment Harry felt the deepest seed of magic and he felt himself begin to change. As he transformed he thought he saw an image of Sirius flash in front of his eyes. He didn't force it, nor did he resist. He let it happen. It wasn't painful, but it felt odd as his body stretched and changed to adapt to this new form.

Harry opened his eyes and jumped at what he saw. He was not any animal. He wasn't human. He stared confused, petrified. His animal of choice had been a zebra. And indeed he had the telltale stripes. But his coat was thick and supple and he had all the defining qualities of a canine. Had he somehow become both? Harry turned to the side somewhat awkwardly on four paws. Examining himself in the mirror he saw the powerful muscles of a horse, yet he was slender and well defined, and his face was unmistakably wolf.

Harry looked at himself from every angle. He shook his head and wiggled his ears. He lifted his lip to examine his teeth to see that they were those of a carnivore. To Harry's knowledge nothing like this had ever happened before. He didn't even think it was possible to transform into a hybrid animal. Breblam himself had managed several different transformations, but never something like this! But he had been sure of what he'd wanted to change into. Why had this happened? As more questions races through Harry's head he became more at ease with his new form. He liked the way he looked. He felt light and maneuverable. In fact, he felt like testing his new capabilities.

The wind bellowed in Harry's ears as he sped across the grounds. His claws dug deeply in the damp earth and his hindquarters pushed him forward with such strength that he thought he was flying. He barely felt the ache in his chest. He zigzagged and turned and ran so hard that he could hardly breathe. It was the most liberating feeling in the world.

Harry rested at the edge of the forest. Never before had grass felt this soft. And the Forbidden forest behind him wasn't frightening anymore. He had a clear view of Hogwarts with all its shining lights. As a human he would have seen it as his home and his refuge. But as an animal he saw it quite differently. It was still his home but it was more beautiful than ever. His dark eyes sparkled brilliantly. Being an animal made him perceive things quite differently. And that's exactly what Harry had wanted.

The pain he felt was not human pain. His chest was not stinging with the pain of human reasoning. It was simply pain, and it was manageable. And the pain of losing Sirius was not human mourning. Harry felt the loss. But at that moment he couldn't comprehend the concept of mourning, nor the concept of never seeing him again. His emotions were reduced to the simplest equation. If he is sad, he is sad. If he is happy, then he is happy. Harry was still Harry. He still had the same memories and experiences but everything was clearer; simpler. For the first time in a long time Harry really breathed relief. He sniffed the ground and rubbed his face in the soft grass, relishing this feeling of simply being.

After a time Harry knew that he needed to head back up to the school. He didn't know the exact time but he was aware that the moon was getting higher, so the time must be late. He managed to sneak back through the doors and into the Room of Requirement without being spotted. Then Harry looked at himself in the mirror and thought his hardest to turn back into his human self. Nothing happened. He tried again. Still, nothing happened.

Harry thought he wasn't concentrating hard enough, so he really put his mind to the task, straining to see his human body and feeling its nuances. When he opened his eyes he was still in his animal form. He began to panick. He retrieved Magus Me and managed to find the section on reverting back to human form. He read it and re read it. By all accounts he had done everything right. Yet he wasn't able to change back.

The clock read 8:23.

'Shit!' Harry thought. Snape was going to be there soon. If he didn't find Harry exactly where he had left him he was going to have the entire faculty in an uproar. Not only that, the whole school would be frantically looking for him.

Without thinking, Harry grabbed his wand in his mouth and made for the hospital wing. By the time he got there Snape had already arrived and was speaking frantically with Madame Pomfrey.

"He must have left."

"Left? Poppy, he's severely wounded. We need to find him."

"I'll call the Headmaster right away."

"No!" Poppy froze. "This behavior is very like Potter. I may know where he is. I will advise you if I find him. Until then you are not to tell anyone he is missing."

Harry darted from the door where he'd been listening to behind a statue of a hippocampus. He waited until Snape had stormed out of sight before making his way to the one person that could possibly help him…

Harry scratched at Hagrid's door. He could hear Fang barking on the other side. He heard the scraping of a chair and heavy footsteps approaching. The door opened and Hagrid looked down at him wide-eyed.

"Blimey! What do we 'ave here? I've never seen your kind before."

Fang trotted up to greet him. The boarhound sniffed Harry thoroughly and Harry took a whiff himself, noticing that his sense of smell was heightened.

Harry entered the hut, not wanting to be seen. He dropped his wand and indicated with his nose that Hagrid should have a look at it. Hagrid bent to pick it up and held it in the light.

"This is Harry's wand! Where'd you get it? Did you get into the castle?"

Frustrated Harry paced in an effort to urge Hagrid deeper in his thinking. Hagrid took the gesture as a desire to be petted. So he laid a giant hand on Harry's fur and stroked it. Then Hagrid stopped and leaned closer to Harry. On the dog's forehead was a lightning shaped scar.

Hagrid looked at the wand in his hand then back at the scar. His face paled.

"Harry?"

Harry wagged his tail 'Yes yes! It's me, Hagrid! Put it all together!'

"Blimey…Well, the wand. 'N then the scar. But how? But y…you're not allowed - how did you…what are you? Well that would explain why fang liked you right of the bat. He's usually skeptical of other dogs he don' know."

Harry thought that Hagrid might faint. The giant rubbed his face and whispered 'Blimey' several times.

"I don' know what to do, Harry. What am I supposed to do?"

Harry didn't know what Hagrid could do for him either. He had assumed since Hagrid liked animals that he would be able to do something. Harry was beginning to regret revealing himself to Hagrid when there was a resounding knock at the door.

"Quick Harry, you gotta hide!" Hagrid rushed frantically to find a spot for Harry. "Quick, up here." Hagrid urged. It was a large enough storage space in a wicker structure near the ceiling. Harry managed to jump in it and Hagrid draped a blanket over him, effectively obscuring his sight.

The person knocked again, this time more persistently.

"Keep yer socks on, I'm commin'!" Hagrid opened his door. "Professor Snape. What a surprise!"

Harry's guts sank and his heart was beating out of his chest. Although he was an animal the his primal sense of fear of this man was not abated.

"Good evening Hagrid. I am here to acquire some information."

"Of course, professor. Anything I can help with. But you won't find anything of interest in this ol' hut. No sir. Everythin's normal here!"

"Yes, I'm sure. May I come in?"

"Oh, yes…ahem, of course!"

"I will get straight to the point. I am looking for Potter. He had a meeting with me this evening and he never showed up."

"Well he's not with me! I thought he was in the hospital wing. Nasty things those bludgers."

"Only, when I went to the hospital wing he was no longer there."

"Well maybe he's in the Griffindor common room? He hangs around there a lot."

"I am well aware of which house Potter is in."

"Of course."

"But first I thought I'd check to see if he came here."

There was an akward silence. Harry couldn't see past the blanket and couldn't see Snape's features; though Harry was sure he didn't look too pleased.

Then he heard Snape whispering, but he couldn't quite make out what he was saying. Harry Leaned forward and extended his ear to listen better.

"…well aware that Potter often comes gallivanting here late at night. He does not have permission to do so, and certainly not while he's wasting my time. I would advise you to…"

There was a loud series of cracks and Harry fell to the ground in a heap of blanket and broken wicker. Harry untangled himself and looked sheepishly at the two men. 'Just play the dumb animal, Harry, and you'll get through this in one piece.'

"And what is this?"

"Oh him? Don' mind him. He's my new companion."

"That you keep in your pantry?"

Hagrid glanced nervously at Harry. "Well he seemed to like it up there."

"Tell me Hagrid, where did you acquire him?"

"I found him. Yesterday night. In the forbidden forest."

"Really." Snape seemed unimpressed. He walked up to Harry and Harry backed away instinctively. Snape took note of a limp in his left fore-limb. Hagrid noticed as well.

"He was hurt when I found him. Hungry little guy too. So I brought him home and fed him."

"I've never before encountered such a creature. What species is he?"

"Well he's uhhh…well I don't know exactly what he is."

"I see."

Hagrid was nervous. He kept twiddling Harry's wand in his hands. Snape noticed and gracefully took it from him.

"This is Potter's wand."

Harry thought it was over. Snape had figured him out. He was out of Hogwarts forever.

Snape pointed the wand at Harry to touch his lightning scar. The man looked Harry right in the eyes.

"Mr. Potter, I presume. An animagus, how extraordinary."

"Please professor, you can't tell no one. It would be the end of Harry." Hagrid begged.

"Wouldn't that be a shame. Mr. Potter, I am ordering you to revert back to your human form."

Harry looked at Snape as if to say 'I can't, Sir.'

Impatient, Snape whipped out his own wand. "If you will not do it, then I will do it for you, Mr. Potter. Antimagus Incantatem!" Snape bellowed. White sparks shot out of his wand and hit Harry. But Harry didn't change back. He was truly stuck.

"It seems that Potter is incapable of reverting back."

"He musta donnit fer a reason!" Hagrid pleaded.

"But seeing as Mr. Potter can't speak, we can't be sure. Therefore we must assume his intentions."

Harry felt so drained. There was no way to defend himself verbally, and he couldn't write his words on parchment. He was stuck literally and figuratively. He looked pleadingly into his professor's eyes. With all his might he implored the man to give him the benefit of the doubt.

There was a flash in Snape's eyes, however brief, that spoke of understanding.

"Potter, meet me in my study in ten minutes. Take care not to be seen!" And Snape left Hagrid's hut, his robes billowing menacingly.

"I won' tell anyone, Harry. Promise," Hagrid smiled. "You take care o yerself. If there's one person who can help you it's Snape."

As Harry headed out he thought he heard Hagrid say tearfully 'Jus' like his father.'

But Harry wasn't anything like his father. His intent had been to become a hoofed animal, like James. But his carefully constructed plan and preparation backfired.

Harry peered through a castle window near the entrance hall and noted the number of students walking past. If he had any hope of remaining unseen he'd need to find an alternative route. But Harry was always full of ideas…

AU: Plz R&R I don't know what you think of my story if you don't! Thanks for reading:)