Disclaimer: Same as in chapter 1 applies here and to all following chapters.
Chapter 2
Sunday evening before dinner, Professor Snape approached Gale about her punishment for cursing Pansy Parkinson and breaking Brendan Tretch's arm after his attempt to pull down her hood. She was ordered to his office after dinner and wasted no time in obeying after everyone was finished.
"Sit down," he gestured as she entered.
Gale did as told and took the seat in front of his desk. There was a short silence when Professor Snape steepled his fingers and frowned.
"I would rather like to see the face of the person I'm talking to, Miss Glider, so if you would please lower your hood," he said with that silken authority she liked to hear.
"I beg pardon Professor, but I'd rather not," she said carefully.
"And why not," he asked raising his brow.
The entire time he's taught her up until now she had never hesitated in anything before and it mildly surprised him that she did now.
"I… it's…"
She frowned at herself; her tense posture was evidence she was struggling with something when she seemed to finally make up her mind.
"I'm waiting."
"Sir, if I really must show you, will you promise to keep it a secret?" she asked finally. "If you do, I'll lower my hood."
Professor Snape considered a moment, wondering what would make her so paranoid and nodded.
"I promise I won't tell," he said a tad annoyed.
Gale shortly made fists with her hands before slowly raising them to the rim of her hood. She hoped her decision based on a foolish infatuation with the dark Professor wasn't going to turn out to be a huge mistake. She was about to lower the hood when Professor Lockheart suddenly burst into the office in that annoying and pompous way of his. Gale jumped and Professor Snape's expression turned deadly.
"So sorry to intrude Professor Snape, but—oh, you may go," he said to Gale. "This may take a while."
She glanced at Professor Snape who looked furious.
"You will serve a two week detention," he said glaring at Professor Lockheart. "And we will continue this conversation another time."
Giving him a curt nod she quickly left the office before she drowned in the murderous intent practically oozing from his person. She vanished from sight for the rest of the day.
Making sure absolutely no one was watching Gale emerged from the forbidden forest under the cover of evening darkness. She hurried all the way to the castle and stopped dead in the courtyard. Headmaster Dumbledore stood just beyond and he looked as though he had seen everything.
"Good evening, Miss Glider," he smiled. "Isn't it a bit chilly to be outdoors so late?"
"I needed some fresh air," she said slowly. "But I made sure to return before curfew."
The Headmaster regarded her for a moment.
"Well then," he said finally. "May I escort you to your common room?"
"Yes, of course."
Unsure of whether or not he really believed her she walked by his side as they made their way down to the dungeons. It was there that she heard a blood freezing voice and stopped dead.
"Come… come to me… let me rip you… let me tear you… let me kill you…"
"Are you alright, Miss Glider?" asked Dumbledore.
Gale looked up and down the corridor.
"Didn't you just hear that?" she asked confused.
"Hear what?" he inquired.
Gale looked at him puzzled.
"It's nothing," she said finally.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I must be getting tired," she lied.
They walked the rest of the way and he smiled at her.
"Well, I bid you good night, Miss Glider," he smiled.
"Good night sir."
…
Over the next week, Gale served her detention every evening after dinner. Her tasks ranged from cleaning the potions classroom to playing scribe as Professor Snape took stock of his ingredients. For some reason he refrained from asking her to reveal her face during this time and she liked him even more for it. She didn't know what it was that attracted her to him, but she was content just being around him, even if it was in detention.
It was Saturday morning when Professor Snape found himself wondering about Gale's whereabouts when she failed to show up during breakfast. He realized he'd been watching her almost everyday and wondered if it was really just his curiosity for the potions she drank. True he was also considerably curious as to what was under her hood but that wasn't all either. He was genuinely interested in this child who seemed wise beyond her years. The way she acted and the constant air of manners just seemed odd for a twelve year old. Even young Malfoy was a true child more than not and that boy tried to play the grownup.
Professor Snape's research into her family gave him no answers as try as he might all he found was what was already known; that her father was Salem Glider, a simple wizard in the employ of the Ministry of Magic. No mother, no siblings, no other relatives. The only thing he knew that others didn't was that Salem was also a Death Eater who was smart enough to go into hiding after the fall of the Dark Lord. Like so many others it was hardly even worth a second thought.
It was shortly after the students had begun eating at lunch when Hagrid came rushing through the door up to the teacher's table.
"Sorry for bein' late Dumbledore, sir, but I had seen a student head straight into the Forbiddn' Forest. I tried t' go after them, but I couldn't find 'em anywhere, sir, and they haven't come out since."
Dumbledore set down his fork and stood to look through the tables. He found one student missing; Gale Glider.
"You've done the right thing Hagrid, thank you," he said.
Dumbledore calmly walked over to talk to Snape without making a big fuss and related the story to him; Professor McGonagall listened in.
"Good heavens, what does she think she's doing?" she cried.
"Calm down Minerva," said Snape. "I'll go look for her."
"How about you take Professor Lockheart with you," suggested Dumbledore. "He is the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher after all."
"Are you mad?!" the other two shouted in unison.
They quickly apologized and Dumbledore just smiled.
"Very well, but you're not going alone," he said.
"I'll go with him," offered McGonagall.
"Well, if we don't go soon we won't have to go at all," said Snape getting to his feet.
Together with Hagrid the two Professors put on their traveling cloaks and headed to the edge of the vast forest.
"We'll split up here and met back in an hour," said Professor Snape. "If you find her call out or give a signal or something."
Taking out their wands, or in Hagrid's case, raising his crossbow they went their separate ways into the forest. Professor Snape heard the others calling out Gale's name for a while until he had gone far enough to where the forest was left to its natural sounds of distant creatures and the wind in the trees. They searched for four hours without a trace of her and regrouped at the castle. By that time news of her disappearance had spread throughout Hogwarts and the Headmaster called the remaining Professors and all of the 7th years to a meeting in the Great Hall.
"As you no doubt know by now, one of Hogwarts' students has entered the Forbidden Forest and not returned," he announced. "The first search party has been unsuccessful; now we shall all enter the forest. The students I ask to go in pairs of two. Should any of you run into trouble, send up a re flare; should you find Miss Glider a green one."
Another six hours had passed and still no sign. By now it was full winter night and it had gotten harder to search. Even Professor Snape had begun to get a bad feeling. With none of the other's around to hear, he began to call out for her. It was so dark he finally pulled out his wan and illuminated its tip with a simple magical word. No sooner had the light spread around him that something sparkled. It turned out to be a fist sized silver scale on a silver chain as he dangled it in front of his eyes. His examination was put on hold when a distant roar echoed among the trees. It seemed out of place and he quickly pocketed the scale to venture after the sound. The closer Professor Snape came, the more frantic it became until it sounded as though it were just beyond the next few trees. The clearing came so sudden Snape stumbled right in and as soon as he laid eyes on it he staggered back in awe. Trapped and thrashing before him in a giant spider's web was a silver dragon. Professor Snape approached it with caution. They were extremely rare these days and he couldn't begin to imagine how one would get caught in a web. It squirmed and roared when its pale blue eyes fell on the awestruck wizard. They just stared at each other for a timeless moment; then, without warning, it raised its head as high as it could and spat a great ball of liquid ice in Snape's direction. He quickly ducked and heard something hit the ground behind him. Hoping the stories about the good nature of the silver dragons was true, Snape turned his back on it and found a five foot frozen spider on the ground.
"You have my gratitude great dragon" he said turning back.
The dragon rumbled a low growl.
"You may keep your gratitude wizard," it said. "But perhaps you could help me out of this web?"
By the sound of its voice it appeared to be a female. Canceling the illumination, Snape stepped up to her and cast a fire spell. The web ignited and burnt to ashes in an instant, freeing the seven foot beast. Shaking off the ashes she straightened up majestically, tucking her wings close to her side. Again Snape could only be in awe as he took in the sight. Her face was made up of smooth shiny plates that went all the way up to two equally smooth and shiny horns jutting back out of the top of her head. Frilled ears twitched and her nostrils flared in her beaklike nose as she regarded Snape. She lowered her head a bit so their eyes were leveled.
"Now you have my gratitude, wizard," she said. "Tell me what brings you so far into this dangerous forest."
"I'm a Professor of the school close to his forest and one of my students has broken the rules by coming in here," said Snape. "She has been missing since noon."
The dragon raised its head and looked around, its tall neck frill shortly lowering before rising up again.
"Are you the only one looking for her?" she asked.
"No, as a matter of fact the entire staff and upper students are looking for her," he said annoyed.
"Perhaps she had to do something she couldn't do in a school," suggested the dragon mater of fact.
"Then she should have come to me," snapped Snape. "Instead she rather gets herself killed in this bloody forest."
"You seem worried."
Before he could answer there came a strange clicking sound from all around them. Taking out his wand, Professor Snape illuminated the tip and held it up, revealing they were surrounded by thousands of giant spiders slowly moving in.
The dragon stepped up beside Snape and slightly opened her wing.
"Climb on," she said. "It's time we left this place."
He was in no mood to battle with a hoard of spiders and awkwardly saddled her back. Using her powerful haunches, the dragon kicked off and spread her mighty wings. With powerful wing strokes they climbed high into the sky where she caught a current and glided. Snape felt like flying on a glorified horse as they soared over the treetops.
"I can scope the woods as we fly," she said loud enough for him to hear.
After three more hours the search was broken off and everyone returned to Hogwarts in low spirits. It wasn't much longer when the dragon swooped down along the edge of the forest and landed. Snape slid off, glad to have the ground back under his feet.
"I'm sorry we didn't find her," said the dragon stretching her wings before folding them close.
"As am I," he said quietly. "Thank you for helping."
Snape turned to leave when she raised her tail to stop him.
"If you would please keep our meeting a secret," she said. "There are many who hunt us still."
"Yes, of course."
When he returned, the Great Hall was filled by the others with the students making up different stories of Gale's demise. As he walked up to the teacher's table everyone fell silent.
"Have you found her," asked Dumbledore.
"No, not a trace," he said.
The doors opened again and two grim looking Ravenclaw girls came.
"This is all we found," said Christine holding up a shredded cloak.
Dumbledore held up his hands for silence.
"In regard to the new evidence I must regretfully admit there is little hope of finding Miss Glider and—"
Headmaster Dumbledore was interrupted by the doors opening yet again and a wave of gasps arose as Gale staggered into the room dressed in a green traveling cloak. Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape hurried up to her as she fell to her knees.
"What on earth were you thinking you idiot girl?" spat Snape, but there was actual concern and relief in his voice.
He and McGonagall helped Gale to her feet.
"Not now," said Dumbledore. "We will speak about this when you are well, Miss Glider. Please escort her to the hospital wing Severus."
"No," said Gale stepping back on her own. "Please, I only need a little rest."
"I'd rather you let Madam Pomfrey take a look at you," said Dumbledore. "But I won't force you."
"I'll escort her to the common room then," said Snape.
As Snape and Gale left, Dumbledore turned to the rest of the group and thanked them for their help.
"You could have been killed," said Snape sternly as they made their way down into the dungeons. "That forest is off limits for a seriously good reason."
…
The next morning Gale went straight to the Headmaster's office as Professor Snape had told her to do the night before. Professor McGonagall seemed to have been waiting for her by the stone gargoyle and with the password, led the way up to the office. The Headmaster and Professor Snape were already there when they entered.
"Miss Glider," greeted Dumbledore. "Please, have a seat."
Gale sat down in silence and Professor McGonagall took a seat in an armchair.
"Severus."
Professor Snape stepped away from the window and crossed his arms.
"What you did last night was irresponsible, stupid and dangerous," he said angrily. "What more, you put others in danger as well! You could have been killed; there are dangers in that forest that could easily best any witch or wizard, not to mention a witch in training!"
Gale sank more and more into her chair as he went on.
"Now tell us what possessed you to go in there," he said more calm.
Gale didn't know what to say; the truth was out of the question, but she couldn't really lie to him either.
"I… it's…"
The temperature in the room suddenly plummeted and the Professors warily got to their feet.
"She ha no other choice," came a dark rasping voice. "She entered the forest to speak with me."
"Who said that, show yourself!" ordered Professor McGonagall.
"Darken the room. I cannot go into daylight."
Gale felt a wave of relief crash over her and visible relaxed as Headmaster Dumbledore gave Professor Snape the quiet order to darken the room. Once the room was void of daylight, Professor McGonagall conjured enough candles to see properly.
"The room is free of daylight," said Dumbledore.
Professor McGonagall gave a short cry as an 8foot humanoid rose up out of Gale's shadow. It seemed its entire being was made up of darkness and it had no visible features aside of small pointed ears and red glowing eyes.
"A Nightwalker," recognized Snape as he took a step back.
The creature stepped up right behind Gale and put a massive clawed hand on her shoulder, its unblinking eyes surveying the Professors one at a time. Then it rested its gaze upon Dumbledore.
"What gives you the right to take a child into the Forbidden Forest," demanded Professor McGonagall with instinctive dislike.
"I told you, I needed to talk to her and time was not my friend," he said. "She knew it was against your rules, but I charmed her mind, told it to come."
"You used an unforgivable curse?" asked Dumbledore grimly.
"An equivalent."
At the look on their faces Gale quickly stood up.
"Please Headmaster, he only needed to talk to me," she said quickly. "Kiasa didn't do anything else an—"
"Then how do you explain this?" interrupted Professor Snape as he held up her torn cloak.
"She lost it when she came to me," said Kiasa.
Professor Snape glared at the nightwalker.
"Then why was she so weak when she returned?"
Kiasa's eyes flared dangerously and it seemed the temperature dropped even more.
"You tire me wizard," he growled darkly. "I explained her disappearance. She is not at fault and therefore is not liable to be expelled. I am done here."
Kiasa let go of Gale and sunk back into the shadows; the temperature began to rise as it should have been. Professor Snape lifted the barrier and the room grew bright with daylight. Gale took her seat and remained quiet.
"He's right," said Dumbledore after a long uncomfortable silence. "You entered the forest against your will and therefore I will not expel you. However I wish to impress upon you the real danger involved in associating with a nightwalker. These creatures are evil by nature and I can't imagine how you've come to be on neutral terms with this one."
"I understand the dangers, sir," said Gale quietly. "But Kiasa isn't like the others; he's always been with me."
"Why didn't you ever mention this before?" asked Snape with a frown.
"I'm sorry…"
"Is there anything else you've failed to mention?"
"No sir."
"Then you are free to go," said Dumbledore taking his seat again.
…….
Hope you enjoyed and I'd appreciate your input.
Later Days, Imako the Demon Wolf