A/N: Apprentice of the Mad Hatter requested a drabble with Sev disappearing after the Final Battle; he gets turned into a Roc (bird is from Persian legend and appears to be the coalition of several bird species). Harry finds him years later and doesn't realize it.

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.

BaRaaHP BaRaaHP BaRaaHP BaRaaHP

Harry was beyond frustrated; after ten years of Healing, he got fed up with his ungrateful patients. He decided to travel, picking up Portkeys to various major cities and attractions...

-Himalayas; Base Camp of Mt. Everest-

More relaxed than he'd been in years, Harry had slept the full night through and would attempt to climb the infamous mountain with his Sherpa guide.

"Harry, not that it is any of my business, but why?"

"Why not? I've spent a decade of my life pleasing other people; now I'm here for recreation and to enjoy the cold, crisp mountain air," he replied easily, "Besides, I could always see something I've never seen before." Tai Ping nodded, a smile on the old, weather-worn face.

"There are rumors of a giant bird..."

"I've seen worse." Harry scoffed, his mind flashing back to Voldemort's torture sessions for a mere moment. "Much worse, in my time. A bird's the least of my problems."

"You are wise beyond your years. Care to tell as we hike?"

"Hell, it's not as though you'll believe half the crap I'll tell you anyway..."

They made it to the second base camp, making good time and setting up before the sun set. Harry hummed as they ate dried foods and swallowed half-frozen water.

"You know, that's the longest I've ever spoken to someone."

"Lead an interesting life like that and you try to find the time to sit still. And you say that is not even all of it?"

"No, that's only to my fourth year of boarding school."

"Write book."

"Ha, as if that would ever sell." he snorted, snuggling deeper into his sleeping bag so that only his head poked out.

"Never know; could be on booklist..."

The next morning dawned even colder than the first, prompting Harry to cast several Warming Charms.

"Brrr... Do we have to stick our noses out in that, Tai?"

"Yes," came the inexorable answer from the stout Sherpa. "It help wake you up."

"I'm already awake, bloody mental... Never mind. What's for breakfast?" He hissed at the cold, and then smiled as the sun broke from its cover of clouds. "Alright, maybe you're not entirely mental."

A snort was his reply as they packed away the camp. "You're the one; only crazy people climb this mountain." Harry giggled, but agreed with his Sherpa.

"Yeah, so that makes you one of us." Tai Ping genuinely laughed, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening as he slapped his thigh.

"Ah, I like you. Honest but funny, yes?"

"What? I'm honest because it's not what most people want to hear. Bah, platitudes are useless when it comes to being a Healer; either it's within your ability or it isn't." A harsh shriek rent the air, making Harry and Tai Ping jump. "Okay, I take it that's the giant bird?"

"Harmless, some say." The terrible shriek echoed again, this time with a note of pain.

"Damn my 'Hero' tendencies... They're going to get me killed. Point-Me giant bird." His wand spun to the South, where they'd just come from. "Merlin hang it all. Coming with?" Tai grinned, shaking his head yes.

"Not missing this for Buddha himself." Harry ran back down the path they'd created, readying his wand as it pointed steadily to a fissure in the glacier they'd passed.

"Difindo!" The fissure widened, revealing a pitch-black Roc with a trapped talon. "Sa sa, great one. I'm here to get you out." The massive bird turned its razor-tipped beak and wary onyx eyes on him; screeching as it spotted the wand. "Okay, okay, no wands." He dropped his holly and Elder wands onto the cleared ground, holding up his hands. "Wandless it is, hmm?" He flexed his fingers and concentrated hard, the trap unsnapping and being Banished with the same flick of his hand. Blue blood seeped from the obviously bruised foot as well as having several lacerations and deeper wounds. "Who did this to you? Bloody bastards have me to answer to after I fix you..." he muttered darkly, slowly reaching for the injured foot. A warning trill sounded and then he found himself picked up by the back of his jacket. "I'm a Healer... though I've never worked on a Magical Creature, there's always a first for everything, right? I swear on Merlin and the Simgurgh."

He was set down and nudged closer to the black-scaled talon. Sinking into his magic, he sent out a light inquiry and received permission. Working at a swift pace, yet Healing as precisely as possible, Harry stood in Trance for quite some time; many of the smaller blood vessels were torn and needed more attention than anything else. By the time he snapped out of Trance, he found himself cocooned by the Roc's warm wing as the wind howled outside. A low churr was followed by the massive beak nudging him. "I'm fine... Just give me a few hours of sleep and I'm fit as a fiddle." He managed before a welcome oblivion swept over him.

-PoV-

Severus cradled Potter, his mind forming more than Roc and predator-type thoughts in a decade. What was that idiot boy-No, he was a man now... That fact stubbornly refused to leave his mind, invading even the most private recesses with this information.

Potter had Healed him. When had Potter changed Career Options? Most likely during his absentee years; had they even held him a funeral? There had been no body as Severus's Roc Heritage had kicked in at the very last second, sending him into convulsions. He'd hung on grimly as the agony-inducing transformation continued... It was less painful than a session with the Dark Lord. He'd heard that news from some Wizarding hikers. As for the bastards who trapped him? Oh, he would lead Potter there and wreak havoc upon the poachers...

Potter checked his talon which felt quite well. He pulled his foot away, turning it to inspect for damage. He rewarded Potter with a soft cree.

"Oh, good. Can I get my wands back?" Severus stepped back mantling his wings as he dipped his head in agreement. "Whoa, did you just-You did. Huh." Potter shrugged nonchalantly, "I meet the one Roc that understands human speech. Lucky me." Severus hissed sharply, half-extending his wings as he expressed his displeasure. "Okay, okay. I get it. You remember which way those bastards went?"

He nodded again, arching his crest as Potter absently sank sender fingers into his winter plumage and scratched at a spot that had been bothering him for months. The croon that involuntarily escaped had Potter chuckling. "Hedwig did the same thing before she died. You wouldn't know her, but she was my first friend and familiar. I've got a European hawk now named Dionysis, but he answers to Dion mostly." And Potter was off, chatting with the Sherpa guide as he led them up to the poacher's. He was surprised to find that Potter's main girl had abandoned him for some idiot who she routinely pushed in Potter's face. Another interesting tidbit was that Potter didn't mind what sex he dated... Severus smirked internally and stowed that away for further inspection. "I mean really, if they'd see past this-" here Potter raised the side-swept bangs to reveal a very faded scar, "But I've yet to meet someone besides the Weasley Clan, with the exception of Ginny."

Severus trilled lowly, sending the signal they'd agreed on. The hunters were barely awake packing Shangri-La Fae and other Magical Creatures into tiny crates. He shrieked in rightful wrath; cutting the cages without harming the occupants with his deadly talons. Then he whirled on the poachers, using everything in his arsenal to injure the Wizards & Witches who dared to steal his feathers and harm innocent Creatures. The Fae gazed at him with otherworldly pupil-less pearlescent eyes of varying colors as his chest heaved from the effort of taking down the hunters.

Bright One, we thank you for your service. He flattened his proud crest, shaking his head as he spoke Rocanik.

Do not thank me. I was heedless of your lives as I battled the thieves.

They took your feathers, Great One.

Indeed. As I have stated before, I am not worthy of the honor you bestow upon me. The Fae giggled softly, sounding like tiny bells.

It is why we call you such. You seek no recognition when it is granted to yourself, foisting the spotlight upon others. We know who you are, Great One. Go with the One whose touch Heals; he has much to heal from himself. The company will... do your heart some good. He opened his beak to retort when the reclusive (known to be indirect prophets) Fae vanished right under his beak.

"What were those?"

"Shangri-La... The best word for them are faeries or Fae. The Roc is honored highly amongst their kind." Severus hummed, relaxing in Potter's presence.

-PoV-

What shocked Harry the most was that the Roc followed him back to his home in the Irish wilds.

"I'm not feeding you," he told the majestic bird firmly, "Go home." Harry pointed back towards the Himalayas. "Seriously. What am I gonna tell Ron and 'Mione if they see you out here on my land? Hmm?" The Roc churred as it settled in his huge barn. "That's supposed to be for-Okay, I might have built it for you to roost in. Can I give you a name?" The regal bird dipped its head as Harry thought. "Boy or-You're definitely a guy. Please don't do that again... Umm, Stephan? No; too human. Oh, how about Silas?" An surprisingly enthusiastic cree was the Roc's reaction. "Silas it is then. 'Mione's gonna kill me."

-A Week Later-

He kicked up his feet on the sinfully soft footstool only to sigh as his doorbell rang. He did have Muggle neighbors, though not many.

"Potter residence, may I help you?" This was his elder neighbor, Mrs. O'Connor. "Ma'am."

"Harry, I was wonderin' what tha' big ol' barn was for, lad."

"Dion's been injured lately. He needs to fly around and get used to using his muscles again." he lied straight through his teeth, hoping Silas wasn't in the barn with everything he had. "Does it bother you? I can take it down if you li-"

"Dinnae worry aboot it so much laddie. If your bird's injured, who am I to complain? No view obstructer, as far as I see."

"Oh, sorry." She patted his cheek with her withered hand before tottering down the steps. All she knew about him was that he lived alone, had a hawk, and practiced medicine in Dublin. Harry slumped against the door, opening it again as that infernal bell rang again. "Potter-Ginny?" She stood there with a posture that made his spine wince in sympathy. "What're you doing here?"

"My husband wants to meet you, shake your hand, and then get a few pictures signed." He stood straight and towered over her, green eyes like glacial chips of ice.

"No. You know the answer is always the same."

"I'll tell your Muggles about that Magical Creature barn you built by hand."

"So? Dion's been injured. Vet said he needs to exercise his wing and familiars count as Magical Animals in the Registrar as far as I know, Ginny." he said coolly, blocking her path into his house. "I'm taking you out of my Wards." Firmly shutting the door in her face, he Banished her name from the list. He chuckled sadly as he heard the Wards activate and literally boot her out of his vast property with a very unfeminine blue streak. Thank goodness Ron and 'Mione gave advanced warnings... A letter popped into existence on his table, making him smile. Right on the dot; he opened the letter with a careless flick of his wrist and set out the plates.

By the time his best mates Floo'd in, dinner was ready as he added the finishing touches by hand.

"Mmm, smells great. What's for dinner this time?"

"Risotto, crab legs and strawberry shortcake for dessert." They made small talk and Harry spilled everything about his adventures across the world. "Well, I think that's-" A blood-curdling screech rent the night air, making Harry flick the Elder wand out from its forearm holster. "Shite, that's Silas' night-terrors!"

"Silas?" they asked in unison.

"Later." he snapped, barreling out of his back door, heading straight for the barn. "Stop here." The wand went away as Harry reached out a soothing hand to the trembling black Roc. "Silas? Shh, it's okay." A weak churr was his reward before the massive beak and head were in his lap, the heavy weight forcing him to sit down. "I'm here. Shhh..." He stroked from beak-tip to crest slowly, repeating the process until Silas slumped into a deep sleep, gleaming chest feathers rising and falling gently in a regulated pattern. "Careful not to wake him up. You can come in now."

"Harry, is he what I think he is?"

"A Roc? Yeah. He followed me from Mt. Everest to here."

Ending A/N: Hmm, I'm alright with this one. As always, folks, ASK ME FOR DRABBLES!