Somewhere

Ok so this chapter is specially for Dragonsnurse
I had this written up ready for the weekend but I just found her comment so I had to put it up early (Don't worry you'll still get one this weekend!)

so anyway...

Dragonsnurse -- i laughed so damn hard when i read your comment! my cheeks physically hurt and i'm starting to get a headache... thank god i'm alone in the house!! but no I actually get my marks next thursday but since I got this up so quick *checks mail* (in about three hours actually!) I'd like him tied to my bed for next thursday when I get back! That way I can either let off steam or celebrate....

severus: oh dear
isis: oh dear indeed!

ok so on with the show!

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Flitting backwards and forwards he revelled in the feel of the cool night air flowing over his wing membranes. Chattering to the other bats he suddenly realised how late it was. He’d spent hours flying over the castle and forest, trying out all different forms of bird, then running through the trees later on as a deer, the smells of the forest washing over him. Quickly descending he said his farewells to the bats, changing into the wolf and dropping like a stone to the floor, only to land gracefully on all fours and set off at a run towards the castle. It was then that he heard them. Far away he heard a single howl, followed by a second and a third, then more, building to a crescendo. Towards the end a few wavering howls could be heard, echoing the others, pups taking part for the first time. running into the castle and through the corridors he could still hear them on the edge of his subconscious. Running down to the dungeons he stopped in front of the training room and scratched at the door to be let in. getting no response he tried the one on the left and was pleased when the door opened to reveal Severus.

“There you are. I was about to send out a search party. Well I suppose you ought to come in. are you changing back or will I be entertaining a wolf for the rest of the night?” he asked stepping aside to let Harry enter.

Padding into the room he gave him a wolf grin and inhaled deeply, memorising the smells of the man he loved, looking round at his domain. If it was possible a look of shock must have been on his face. The room was red! Ok so it wasn’t a Gryffindor red but it was red none the less. All the walls were the same deep rich colour, like drying blood and a thick, plush black carpet lined the floor. One half of the back wall was covered by a bookcase that was crammed to bursting, while a small, neat desk sat in the corner. In the grate a huge fire roared to keep the chill of the dungeons at bay and around it two leather armchairs and a large sofa were arranged, all in worn comfortable looking black leather. Straight in front of him he could see a door and another one to his right. Changing back he turned to look at Severus.

“It’s red,” he said.

“Your powers of observation are astounding.”

“Ha ha funny man.”

“Well if you will insist on stating the obvious.”

“What I meant is that I expected it to be green and silver, not red. How very Gryffindor of you,” he smirked.

“No, unfortunately it just so happens that my favourite colour is the Gryffindorks house colour. An unhappy and unfortunate coincidence at best.”

“Hmmm… it’s nice, warm and cosy.”

“Whatever you say. The door in front of you leads to my bedroom and is strictly off limits. The other leads to the kitchen and dining room. My personal lab is also through there. Again off limits. Please do not make it a habit of frequenting these rooms. You are lucky that you’re here now, so please take a seat and I will get us something to drink. Tea or coffee?” he asked.

“Haven’t you got anything a bit stronger? I never got the hang over I wanted after my birthday or at least not the right kind.”

“Very well. I only have Firewhiskey I’m afraid, apart from a very fine and old bottle of elvish wine, which no, you are not having,” he said.

“Firewhiskey will do. I don’t really need my taste buds,” he smiled.

Fetching two small glasses and the bottle of Firewhiskey he poured two fingers of the amber liquid into the glasses and handed one to Harry who took a sip and shuddered.

“That’s the stuff. Say goodbye taste buds,” he said, making explosion noises.

“Fool. You wouldn’t know quality if it danced naked in front of you wearing a tea cosy.”

“I know that JD is a damn site better than this,” he said swirling the amber liquid in the glass.

“JD?”

“Jack Daniels. It’s a muggle drink. Really nice, I’ll try and get hold of some.”

“And just how do you plan on smuggling it into the castle? I do believe the legal drinking age in the muggle world is eighteen as well so how do you plan on buying it in the first place?”

“I have my ways,” he grinned.

“Should I be worried?”

“I suppose that depends.”

“I’ll ask no more.”

“Good. Wouldn’t want you busting open my smuggling ring,” he laughed, smiling at the other man over the rim of his glass.

“Indeed. Let’s change the subject shall we? Your training is progressing well.”

“I know. See I am a quick learner, some things just take me a little longer to grasp the basics.”

“You have applied yourself well to, something that you seem unable to do in my classroom.”

“Yeeeahhh… weather’s been nice hasn’t it?” he smiled.

“Don’t change the subject.”

“Pot, kettle! You just did it yourself.”

“Yes, but I am older and far more experienced therefore I am allowed,” he smirked.

“That’s bull and you know it.”

“Enough. I will not descend into petty banter. How was your exploration of the grounds?”

“I forgot! There are wolves in the forest. I heard them on my way back and I think they have pups. It was amazing out there. Everything is so much more… more! I can’t explain it in any other way. Did you know that there’s a colony of Pipastrels living in the rafters of the astronomy tower? I went flying with the, and bugs really don’t taste bad as a bat, just kind of bitter. Oh and I saw a family of unicorns in the trees. Two adults and a juvenile. Do you think I could be a unicorn?” he asked, giving Severus no chance to reply before the image was in his mind. seconds later a stunningly beautiful unicorn stood in the dungeons of Hogwarts.

“NO!” Severus shouted, reaching out to stop him but already knowing he was to late. In the blink of an eye Harry changed back and stood looking at him blankly.

“What?”

“That’s not possible,” he whispered.

“What’s not possible?”

“You shouldn’t have been able to do that. You should have been stuck. That’s why no one has a magical creature as their animagus form. Anyone who’s tried before has been unable to change back. You shouldn’t be here,” he whispered quietly, shaken at the thought that he had almost lost his Harry.

“But I am. I managed it and I’m still here,” he said gently, and I love you, I wouldn’t ever leave you he thought, daring to hope that one day he might be able to say it out loud.

“Please, don’t try that again, or at least not without warning me first,” he said quietly.

“In that case I’m going to try something else.”

“If you must, but may I ask what?”

“A thestral.”

Focusing on the strangely regal creature he felt the beginnings of the increasingly familiar tingle as he shifted into the shape of another being. Suddenly smells were stronger, noises clearer and yet his vision was blurred, like before he’d had his vision corrected and he forgot to put his glasses on. Surely that couldn’t be right? Severus had said that they communicated through body language. Strange, he’d have to check that out. Walking around the room he sniffed inhaling the multitude of smells. While not as good as the wolf’s nose it was still far better than his own. If was after about the fifth time that he tripped on something that he changed back.

“There’s something weird about that,” he said as he sat back down on the couch.

“About what?”

“You told me that thestrals communicate through body language but my vision was really blurred when I tried that my vision was really blurred.”

“That is strange. When you take on an animals form that is all you should take on. Does this always happen?”

“Every time. I gain their eyesight, hearing, sense of smell, everything. I almost become the animal.”

“It must be your wild magic. As for the thestrals I can’t help you. All I can say is that that is the commonly held theory and you should go visit them at some point.

“Hmmm… I will do. So do I get the pleasure of remedial potions this year?”

“We’ll cut it down to once a fortnight but yes you will still be doing remedial potions. It seems though like you can guard your mind well enough so we shall just use it to further your training. In a couple of months we’ll start training you to do some wandless and wordless casting.

“Cool. Right I’m off. Everyone gets back tomorrow and I think Hermione and Ron are going to rip me a new one because I didn’t talk to them at all over the holidays so I don’t think it’s going to be an early night. I’ll try and make up for it tonight instead.”

“Very well. If you get the chance come and see me before everyone returns. I have something that you might like, if I can find it that is.”

“Ooo! I like presents,” he grinned.

“In that case go away so that I can find it.”

“Ok, I think I’ll go and see the Headmaster before I turn in and pester him for a bit.,” he said, changing into the wolf and walking over to the door.

“I’m not doing it this time. Learn to open them first!” he said as Harry quickly changed back to open the door.

“Meany,” he muttered changing back and running out into the corridor.

“Close the damn door!” he yelled, but he’d already gone.


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To the reviewers

kunitsu -- hehe I had to have lots of teasing just because that's what it's like in my circle of friends... and i'd probably do that if i was harry!

Werewolf Mistress -- don't ever say i don't deliver!

bumblebee -- *pounces on you* OMG a fellow Rickman fan! that voice!!! the voice! it's enough to turn you into mush!! look up 'The Bell' by mike oldfield. he narrates one version.... i never knew anyone could make glockenspiel sound sexy! even my darling and adorable lesbian friend agrees with me! *dies* he's heaven......
errrr.... sorry about that! anyway i'm really glad you're enjoying it and harry could communicate with animals in my other story but you never actually got to hear their conversations.... i just thought that in the long run it'd be a lot of fun!

AshiTenshi -- hehehe having more than one makes it more fun!