Rauma: Sorry for those of you who have read this, I just did this because before the chapters weren't even long enough to be called chapters, and I hate it when that happens when I'm reading, won't happen again, sorry again Thanxs!

Reminder: Yes yes Severus and Harry both belong to JK I know I know...pouts

Chapter 5: Beauty Can Dance

Severus still hadn't told Dumbledore about what had happened at Potter's home. He felt he didn't really had to know. It wasn't really something he decided that Potter wouldn't like to be questioned about him. Besides, those were his home matters and the boy was already puffed up enough that he didn't need people fawning all over the boy.

He got out of bed and found that he could swing he legs over his bed and find his feet already in his slippers that he wore to keep the cold floor from turning his toes into icicles with toenails. Before he would have had to make the small slip out of bed. Severus looked over his shoulder and found the giant lion that was destroying the bed springs. He shook his head.

"You were annoying before...now this, what am I? A Potter magnet? Bloody hell I didn't ask for this" snarled Severus lowly.

Voldemort was still running about, spreading fear and doubt. Doubt that nobody would ever destroy him, for Potter was in hiding really at the moment. Also, funny as it was, doubt of Voldemort ever making his move. Severus was still holding his position in the circle. Fighting for it really, Lucius was a strong competitor when it came to the Dark Lord's limelight. All the better for his son.

Lucius cares so much for Draco yet treats him worse than spit thought Severus. Though he ruled it out because that's how Lucius thought a well-reared man should be raised. Though the mother, she's most likely the reason, why Draco hasn't been beaten to a loved pulp by his loving father.

"Sick and twisted really" said Snape as he shaved. The magic blade glided over the potions masters face. There was no hair left. Until the lower cheek shaving came. He usually cut himself.

He did.

"Ghhrrr!" seethed Snape as he dabbed at the small cut with a piece of toilet paper.

XXX

"You were annoying before...now this, what am I? A Potter magnet? Bloody hell I didn't ask for this"

'Yeah yeah, I get it already Snape, bane of your slimy existence and the slug stuck to your boot, I get it' said Harry as his one eye opened.

'Why do you hate me so much?' asked Harry. Though before he could come up with a reasonable answer, he heard Snape make a noise then the sound of ripping toilet paper. Then the metallic smell of blood entered Harry's nose. The bed screamed as he jumped off the bed. The floor screeched as he made his way to the bathroom.

XXX

One second, he was dabbing at his small cut and the next and giant tongue was licking his cheek form over his shoulder. He was standing at the sink, yet the lion on his back two legs easily came two feet above his head.

"Potter, stop it, it's not that bad, just a nick" growled Snape. He managed to elbow the lion in his chest as hard as he could.

XXX

'Snape that tickles, stop it, fine, I'll get down, I just wanted to help' said Harry. Actually Harry hated the sight of blood, it didn't make him feel queasy or anything, he just decided that he didn't like blood in that instant.

Snape took his foot and shoved Harry out the doorway by his foot. Harry didn't budge.

"Potter, if you want to watch me use the facilities I suggest you stay if otherwise..."

Though the lion was already gone.

XXX

Snape walked into the Great Hall to find Harry was halfway through a giant bowl of some gutsy mush. Meaning you had to have some real guts to partake in the act of eating it. A certain professor was helping him eat it.

"Potter, off!" said Snape. Minerva stopped eating and hissed at Severus. He waved her away, she scratched him.

"Ouch! You're crazy! What are you doing anyways?" hissed Severus.

The cat merely stretched and transformed into her human form. With a smirk, she pulled a red leather rope out of her pocket. The dark lion Potter looked up and immediately got off the table without finishing and fled from the hall. The enormous animal made it from halfway of the Great Hall to the entrance in five gallop-like steps.

Severus watched this with horrified silence. Minerva held up...a leash...

"Minerva you can't actually be thinking that I will use a leash on Potter?" asked Snape. He stood stock still and upright. His eyes were spiting fire and cats.

XXX

'Oh goodie, I'm not only being treated like a household pet, I'm pretty damn sure this is some form of demented bondage' said a very disgruntled Harry.

XXX

"Potter...oh Potter!" called Severus. The damned boy...lion, ran out of the hall before he even had a chance to look over his shoulder.

XXX

'He doesn't actually think he's gonna put that thing around my neck does he?'

Harry was standing over by Hagrid's paddock.

'Hello Harry'

Harry could feel his tail twitch, then he slowly turned to find himself nearly face to face with Buckbeak, the size difference wasn't that much, though Buckbeak was still bigger. The Hippogrif was more majestic, yet with the spoiling acts of Hagrid...

Comes arrogance...

Harry quickly bowed his head. The bird/horse merely nodded in thanks.

'HE'S OVER HERE!' Buckbeak squawked. So much for the majestic type, more like the suck-up.

'Jeez, keep it down, do you want the bat to flap on over here?! - ' , Harry saw the billowing man already jogging over.

'I want treats, Hagrid always gives me treats when I'm good to teachers!' said Buckbeak. Harry ignored this pet-like happiness, he must retain his human mind. Yet treats do sound yummy...

'Stop Harry you're a boy, a human boy, or at least at heart...for now' he reminded himself.

'You know it's a bad sign when you start talking with yourself there right? Well actually, there's some debate among the Centaurs, you know them, of course you do, you're the Harry bleedin' Potter, anyways , the Centaurs are saying it's quite a good sign when individuals talk to themselves, sign of intelligence they say...I say it's some kinda psychopathic horse crap, no offense to me of course, I'm brilliant and beautiful, though I believe you are delusional Mr. Potter...Absolutely loony, oh here he is. Give me treats, treats for Merlin's sake!' said Buckbeak, he nearly started slurring the words together at the end of his babble.

A pair of arms reached around Harry's neck and the next thing he knew...

XXX

"Potter, move it I want to go back up to the castle" snarled Severus. The lion sat down, complete dead weight. Snape looked over his shoulder, he stood stock still and clenched his fists.

The lion got up, and walked over to stand in front of Severus. He rubbed up against the older man.

"Potter, what are you doing, off...down" he ground out. Really, this was making him nervous. Hairs on the back of his neck started to stand up.

The lion was in a circle around the Potions master...then growled.

Then he started to run...

Severus was tangled in the leash trying to get free. He was dragged by Potter on the green grass, the hind claws coming dangerously close to his face.

"POTTER STOP!" he yelled, the lion paid him no heed.

The lion kept running full pelt until Severus managed to get untangled and turned him self around, now he was in trouble of getting a mouth full of dirt. There was a rock coming up in front of Severus on the ground. A very big rock that wouldn't make Severus feel any better if he hit it the way he was being dragged.

So, in the last possible minute and with a pull and a grunt...

This is wrong, I'm riding Potter! With a leash!

Severus felt rocky and bumpy the way he was sitting, the lion didn't slow down, the large furry jaws came at Severus...

Instead of biting his balls off, as the Potions Professor thought he would, the lion merely snatched the leash out of Severus's hands. Potter had full control now. Severus locked his legs on the lion and leaned forward on the lion. To avoid the small slipstream the lion was creating.

"POTTER STOP!" screeched Severus.

Even though the Professor was screaming for the end...He was enjoying this. The way the air flew through his hair. The way the sun on his back made him warm. He lifted up his face a bit and let the wind wreak havoc with his hair. He felt so free. The dungeons hid him from this feeling. Kept it away. Severus felt weak and connected. He felt why the birds flew; how the wind must make them feel so free and in charge, he felt why horses can run free; how the ground beneath them that gives them power, such grace. He felt it, and he understood it. Gaining this type of knowledge made Severus feel like he was reaching his arms out into eternity. Into the sunset and forever onwards. Through the phantasms that the afterlife held. Through the stars. He could touch them and feel why they made you feel so insignificant when you saw them in their mystifying beauty. He felt faint, and shaky, yet at the same time, a buzzing feeling that was electrifying him. Shocking him into the sky...so

"Beautiful..."

XXX

Harry felt the Professor slide off his back.

He gradually stopped and trot back over to the Professor on the ground. The poor man was stirring and seemed shaky and tired. Like he just ran a couple thousand miles...Harry laid down beside Snape and the man rested his raven-haired head on Harry furry forearm. Harry kept his head up, as though watching-over and protecting the exhausted man.

XXX

Severus opened his eyes. He saw the lion watching out for him. It was already dark out and the smell of dewy flowers wafted into his nostrils. He saw the stars and moon above him that had decided to descend upon them. Blessing them with the magic of the night. The clouds were giving the moon it's phantom like gaze over the sleepy landscape. Making everything glow a white. It reflected off the lake. Like diamond crystals while the stars above it shimmered and dance.

XXX

Harry was taking in the awe-inspiring nighttime laid out before them. Like Merlin himself had put each and every firefly perfectly over by the water. Making beautiful sounds echo over the distant landscape. A faraway howl, of some lamenting creature. Such beauty even in sadness, though it only made the night more breathtaking. It almost as if the Earth had stopped spinning and holding a concerto of it's own.

For the crescendo, Harry felt the Professor sit up and lean against his dark body. Though the Professor moved lightly and carefully. As though not trying to upset the night. Not to scare off the creature that is beauty that had decided to dance in their presence. It's plumes; the warm caress of the wind, it's eyes; the stars, it's very soul; the sky...

"Beauty truly has shown herself this night Potter, truly..."

'I believe you Professor'

Rauma: Sry again, I hate short shit...Makes no sense.