A/N: Thank Lady Uraquentha for this next chapter! She asked for a Pegasus! Harry, and this is what came to mind. Set during the summer before HBP! Hope you all enjoy this!
DISCLAIMER: No matter how much I wave my wand, I will never own Sev and our favorite green-eyed Wizard. *sobs*
WARNING: Yaoi is an important part of these. Please desist in flaming.
-Ryder
P.S. There may be more than one title that gets a continuation; Dragon's Might, Dragon's Might II... etc.
FoF FoF FoF FoF FoF FoF FoF
A stallion, blue-black in the summer light, reared and took off, powerful legs pumping with an effortless energy to outrun the disgruntled Wizards. Severus cast a Charm, causing the beautiful creature to scream in anguish as it's wings were held in place by thick ropes.
"The Dark Lord wants it alive." he hissed from beneath his mask. The stallion breathed heavily and flung his head high. Spittle flew out and landed on the lesser Death Eaters too slow to use a simple Shield Charm. Wild green eyes met his own ebony as he knocked it out.
The Pegasus quickly regained consciousness, exploring the stall with a thoroughness a regular wild horse wouldn't. Intellegent eyes shone from the bound and muzzled creature. He reared and let out a muffled challenge scream as the Dark Lord entered the stable.
"Beautiful, Severus, is it not?" the sordid drawl of the Dark Lord had him shuddering on the inside.
"Exquiste, Milord."
"This is the one that has been killing my lower ranks. See, there, that scar? The beast is willful, but I want to tame it."
"Milord... It will take time and effort."
"No, not to me, my Potions Master. A gift for your ever-suffering job." The stallion stilled, it's haunches quivering. "It fears you already."
-PoV-
Harry was panicking on the inside. His Animagus form had never been revealed to anyone; not even the Master spy in Voldemort's camp. Would he be recognized for who he was? The tell-tale streak of white in his forelock was not a common trait in Pegasi, after all; his lightening bolt scar even less so. Thankfully Voldemort had pointed out the one on his upper leg, the Basilisk scar from second year quite large in this form.
"What are you, really?" he heard Snape mutter, blowing air out through his nose on instinct alone. "Who are you? No horse is that smart." Harry whickered lowly, nudging the man with his nose, bound as it was. "It is rather silly of me, but my gut is telling me you're extraordinary." He pranced about in the fresh hay and heather, willing Snape to come closer. As if drawn by a spell, a strong, slender hand slid along his face, unbuckling the nasty harness and freeing him. Pressing his nose against the surprisingly warm chest, he huffed softly, closing his eyes as those hands rubbed everywhere.
"Snape!" He startled at the harsh voice, neighing in anger.
"Shut up, idiot. The Pegasus does not need your witless, gormless face to confuse it further. He is a gift from the Dark Lord. What did you need, Crabbe?"
"A Potion."
"Which one?" the snarl was barely contained as Harry backed away from the bars at hearing the name. Crabbe Sr. was notorious for torturing animals.
"Poly-Polystuff."
"Here. Now get out of my sight." Harry snorted, then walked back up to the bars and shoving his nose back into the man's chest. That scratching had done wonders for his lather-soaked hair and he was eager for more. "What's this? Do you belong to someone?" The scratching resumed, coming away with burrs and briars and crusted lather when Snape looked. "I think you need a bath." Next thing he knew, he was being led out of his stall carefully and with only a leading halter. He shied away from any Death Eater that came near him, but nudged Snape as soon as there was no one around. Snape was quick to catch on that he was being trusted.
"Crazy Pegasus. I have no idea why you are even still here." The lead was quite loose and Harry easily could have taken off without protests. But something, somewhere very deep within him, told him not to leave the man alone this summer. The bath was duly given and he was dried off carefully, the towels drawn down his legs and in broad swirls on his coat. He whickered, pleased with being clean. Fairly trotting back, they found that the stall had been closed and the other, more open stall was now clean and ready for use.
-Two Months Later-
Harry grew used to having Severus (he'd finally gotten used to the man having a first name) groom him on long days; of an entirely new name (Sparta) and the Death Eaters themselves. He avoided the touches of all the others, Voldemort included. But the man (Severus had come up with a potion to make the monster look like he had previously) wouldn't give up on touching him.
"Severus?"
"Yes, Milord?"
"Have you taught Sparta to avoid any touch but yours?" Severus raised an eyebrow and shook his head, continuing to curry him. "No, Milord."
"Strange." Once more he reached out a hand, only for Harry to bare his teeth and shuffle away from the touch. He leaned into Severus, lifting his hooves up and down in an agitated manner. A pat from the familiar calloused hands calmed him. "Very strange. You may take him home."
Harry trilled loudly as he ran through the open pasture, his wings bound by soft cotton. The other horses ignored him entirely. He cantered along the white fence, spotting Severus with nothing in his hands. Nose shoved into the comfortable chest, he was right where he wanted to be.
"So affectionate... I wish I could release you." Soft steps had him pressed even further against the tall man. "Is that a no?" He huffed an affirmative, luxuriating in the feeling of those long fingers sifting through his mane. "I swear you can understand what I'm saying." A drowsy whicker was his reply this time.
-PoV-
The Boy-Who-Lived had disappeared... and yet his friends weren't the least bit worried. They had smiled politely, but had offered no information other than to try a Point-Me spell when he got home. Following the ridiculous advice, he was surprised when his wand pointed out to Sparta's pasture. Sparta? Surely not. His Pegasus was extremely affectionate and always knew when he needed that odd form of hug. Never in a million- His wand stubbornly pointed to the pasture; the Point-Me could not lie. Sparta's ears pricked up and the high tail swished as he made his way over to the fence. The bound wings blended in well. Making a quick decision, he released the wings. Sparta snorted, stretching the wings and then wrapped them around him.
"I know who you are now." The Pegasus nudged him and his fingers automatically sifted through the thick, unruly mane. "I mean it." He blinked in surprise when he found his fingers in unruly human hair.
"Knew it wouldn't last."
"Why on Earth did you stay, Potter?" The teen shrugged, pulling away from his caress.
"I felt something... in here. It told me not to leave you alone this summer." The teen tapped the area over his heart, a faint smile on those lips. Without the glasses, Severus could see the resemblance to Lily. "What?"
"You look more like your mother," he murmured without thought. "and less like your father without those atrocious glasses." The smile brightened the teen's face, making him even more like Lily with the dimple on the left side.
"I'm glad. Remus said I was getting to look more like Mum. He also... He also said that you and Mum were best mates."
"Caught that, did he?" his tone was back to acidic in mere seconds.
"Please! Everyone tells me about Dad, but not Mum. I think she'd want you to tell."
"Hmph. Not out here, certainly. Come inside, Potter."
"Harry."
"What?"
"My name is Harry. Not Potter." The brat insisted, tugging on all kinds of heartstrings that Severus usually kept repressed, as he pushed with that wry smile.
"You are my student-"
"Not now. Come on. I know you too well; I'm Sparta, remember?" That little fact remained, did it not? Severus thought dryly to himself.
"Fine, Harry. Then I insist you call me Severus." he quipped, vaulting over the fence with ease.
"I never did know how you did that." Potter-Merlin damn it, Harry-commented as he followed in much the same manner.
"Years of practice, insufferable brat. What do you think?" they made their way to the cottage in silence.
-PoV-
Harry plopped onto the floor with his cup of sweetened tea, looking at the man he considered a close friend now.
"Well?"
"Hush. I am trying to think." the reply was not as harsh as it would have been months ago.
"Lily was... beautiful. Don't get me wrong, but your snob of a father didn't deserve her. She had her faults, as do we all, but hers were mostly harmless. Lily had a temper, hair-trigger, much like your own. You get the wandering the halls and breaking the rules from your father. She paced when she worried over something."
"I do that."
"Really?"
"Yeah, when I need to think. It's soothing, makes a rhythm so I can think without twitching restlessly." he explained, blushing when that dark gaze turned on him.
"Lily offered a similar explanation of it, once. She was studious, got good grades, and was kind to a fault. Never expected it to be returned, of course, but she was anyway."
And then he opened up about the quiet moments in the Hogwarts Library, which every one of the Marauders avoided except for Remus; the walks around the lake, happy adventures from when they grew up across and down the street from each other... Harry was amazed at how much made sense now.
"You loved her." Color flushed the high cheekbones, dark eyes uncomfortable.
"That is a-"
"Not a lie. The truth. You didn't want me to know it. You're doing this for Mum. I'm happy that you are."
"Why? When it was I who condemned her to death?" Harry shook his head.
"Voldemort did. You might have pushed it along... But ultimately? It was his choice to target the Half-Blood. He just as easily could have chosen Neville."
"Longbottom? What does he have to do with-"
"Both of us were born at the end of July. He's only a day older. Like I said, not your fault; bet you Mum would back me up on this."
"Always to the heart of things, no? It seems to be an Evans trait."
"Guess so, Severus. Now, how are we going to explain our new friendship to everyone else?"
"Friendship? There is not- A friend? Is that how you see me?" Severus stood, panic buried beneath a mask.
"Yeah. How can I not? We've spent so much time together." The thought seemed to occur to his Professor, who sighed and sat down again.
"Training. Ordered by Dumbledore; no other excuse will do."
"Huh. And what about Sparta?"
-PoV-
If Severus didn't know any better, he'd say that the brat was one of his home-grown Snakes from his House.
"You'll have to transform some of the time. That is all there is to it."
"And miss classes? 'Mione would kill me..."
"Training, remember? Doesn't she already do most of your homework?" he asked skeptically.
"No! I do my own. I just... dumb it down." the quiet admission from the teen shocked Severus into almost snarling his reply.
"You are saying that you deliberately lower your intellect? I insist, as your friend, that you put it to use. Even if it is only for my class." he stated with authority. "I mean it."
"Okay. Dumbledore's supposed to stop by, uh, the Dursleys today. Can you take me there?"
"Certainly. Inside or out? Come now."
"Inside, in the second bedroom. Can you do it silently?" Severus rolled his eyes; of all the inane...
"That would be a yes."
They quietly Apparated back. Severus was shocked at the state of Harry's room. Locks bolted the door from outside and there was a cat-flap on the bottom of the door.
"What? It's better than the summer of sec-Hedwig!" The snowy owl chugged softly as she affectionately nibbled the teen's fingers.
"Finish that sentence."
"Umm, I'd rather not. You like you're about to murder them as it is."
"Dumbldore knows of this?"
"No. Even if he did, what could he do? Aunt Petunia told me he was the one who dropped me off here." the nonchalant answer made his blood boil. This was the last straw... A rough pounding on the door had him hiding behind it.
"BOY! Some freak is here asking for you!" bellowed a male voice Severus instantly recognized; Vernon Dursley.
"Coming!" The locks were opened and Harry dragged out by his collar. Dumbledore's voice drifted up, telling Severus that he had to go before he was detected.
He visited often, keeping a good distance from the Burrow wards. Harry transformed and they sat together, taking comfort from each other's presence. He had a niggling feeling that the teen's friends encouraged this.
"Severus?"
"Yes, brat?"
"About last year... I want to apologize for that memory I saw."
"Hmph. Why are you apologizing?" he drawled, carding his fingers through the unruly hair as they leaned on each other.
"I... I was invading your personal-"
"Shut up, please. So, this is an apology for not only invading my personal space, but your inattention to detail as well? If anything, it should be your father apologizing to me. As he is not here, you have no obligation to do it for him; do you understand?" he said, braiding the much longer hair absently.
"I guess. It was kind of... embarrassing to watch my Dad act like Dudley. I hate bullies."
"Your father must be rolling over in his grave. He must find it irritating that you and I are on cordial terms." he teased, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Harry giggled softly as he curled into Severus's side. "'Cordial terms?' You sound so stuffy. We're friends and that's that. No need to overcomplicate it, yeah?"
"No, not really."
-PoV-
Harry breathed in the Hogwarts air, a smile on his face. Severus was arranging more 'lessons' so that they could talk. He remembered over the last few weeks that they'd gotten really close...
-FLASHBACK-
"Harry, time to go!"
"Coming, Mrs. Weasley!" he called back, rolling his eyes when Ron said it at exactly the same time, only with Mum. "Really, Ron?"
"Come off it. You want to say Mum too. She's been waiting for you to, you know."
"I... Umm..."
"'Salright. Just give it some time, yeah?" with a clap on his back, they set off to Diagon Alley.
Harry knew that Severus was following, which made him feel a lot safer, so he relaxed. When they got back to the Burrow, he ran out of the back door and called out where he was going. Transforming, he put on a burst of speed that made him let loose a trill just for the hell of it. Severus just shook his head, patting the ground next to him. Harry flopped down ungracefully, human again in the blink of an eye. The petting continued for some time, then Harry heard Ron and Hermione walking up. He didn't even lift his head. Ron laughed and Hermione giggled.
"Harry, you look like a puppy." she chided softly, a smile on her face.
"Mmph. Don't feel like moving."
"Boneless, mate, you look boneless." Harry grimaced at the reminder of Lockhart. "Not like second year, but a good kind."
"Hmm. Sev, a little to the-Ah... It feels good. You have no idea."
"I don't think he'd do the same with us, Harry." 'Mione laughed, adopting a similar pose with Ron. "But I agree with you; it does feel good."
-END FLASHBACK-
-PoV-
He stood in front of Dumbledore, his face an impassive mask.
"Lessons? Severus, where in Merlin's name did you get that idea?"
"He has not Occluded his mind! Therefore, he is a liability more than an asset. Surely you realize this?" he hissed scathingly, using his rough tongue. "If the Dark Lord can see into his mind, he can catch wind of Order moves."
"Ah. But we'll see if Mr. Potter even wishes to continue lessons with you. Meet me here after dinner."
He watched Harry like a hawk all throughout dinner. Trelawney gave him a shrewd look, then her eyes rolled back in her head as her voice changed to a horrifying, familiar gravelly tone.
The winged one allies with the cobra as Beltane fades,
the Power he knows not manifests at the high moon
All those are not what they seem
Double-crossed then double-crossed again
The Battle begins as Yule ends...
The entire Hall had fallen silent, Harry's eyes going wide. They were in for it now...
Ending A/N: Umm, sorry of it didn't turn out quite right! Blegh. I love/hate this one. Again, as always, ASK ME FOR DRABBLES! Your own or a continuation!