Fire & Ice: War Games

A soul chilling wind violently slashed against the frozen terrain, leaving none unscathed in its wake. Dark, angry grey clouds blanketed the enraged heavens above the iced hell. The golden orb of the sun had long since forsaken the small patch of earth. The primal howl of the cold wind was the only sound to be heard in the dismal world on the edges of oblivion. A drizzle of flurries skirted across the albino landscape under the influences of the northern wind. Sapphire eyes surveyed the desolated paradise as snow crunched beneath padded hooves wrapped in leather gloves. The beast’s rider ed bed back and forth with the movements of the creature.

A wisp of curling smoke rose into the sky above on the horizon as the figure’s head dropped and rested on his chest. A rebellious strand of dirty blond hair fluttered in the breeze as the beast stumbled through the frozen quicksand. Icicles clung to the creature’s long, straggly fur and dangled from the rider’s cloak. Ice coated his eyelashes as the wind cut across against his numb face, driving loose strands of hair into his eyes. The creature groaned as it stumbled, slipping to the earth amongst a cloud of snow powder. Shaking its’ great bulk of dark yellow hair vigorously, the beast struggled back onto its feet.

Beady eyes glazed over as he closed the battered and worn journal. Retying the soft leather straps across the dust coated book, he smiled to himself as his eyelids fluttered close. His dirt smothered fingers traced the faded gold lettering on the bottom of the aged and wrinkled leather covering. The sound of footsteps jerked him from his private revel. Stuffing the cobweb blanketed journal into his robes, his face twisted as he felt the first signs of brown fur breach the surface of his skin. The bones in his body snapped soundlessly, shrinking as they reformed themselves. A short, pale tail cut through the fabric of his trousers in the rear as short, black claws grew from his fingertips.

His body melted as it shrank from its’ original size to accommodated that of his Animagus form. Short brown fur coated his new body as he scurried across the library floor, away from the Restricted Section. How the journal had come into his possession, he wasn’t sure. He wasn’t a fool to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially when it meant his life or his death. He smiled, showing his buck teeth from beneath the whiskers of his new form as he scurried along the dimly lit corridors of the castle.


“How are you feeling, Mr. Snape?”

“Better, thank you.”

“It’s quiet here, don’t you think?”

“It almost reminds me of home, Professor.”


“Where is home?”

“West coast, along the Irish Sea.”

“Sounds lovely.”

“It was.” Severus frowned, staring out across at the distant horizon as the sun slowly sank beyond the tree line.

“I don’t think that I understand.” In truth, the conversation was far more intimate then she had ever gotten with the Slytherin boy. This fact alone seemed to spur the Transfigurations Mistress into trying to open the boy up with her as much as possible. Minerva McGonagall ignored the small voice deep within herself telling her not to push too hard with the raven haired boy.

“Never mind!” Turning, he stalked back inside and away from the magical illusion of spring.

The Transfiguration Mistress sighed as she followed the Slytherin back inside the warm cottage. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I’m not going to force you.” McGonagall bit her tongue, it was already too late to keep that promise. She had broken it when she had pushed Severus into revealing more about himself then he was ready to. On instinct, the Slytherin had raised his defenses and was pushing her away again.

“I want you to know, that I am here if you choose to and I’m here if you don’t.” McGonagall fought the urge to grab the boy by his shoulders and shake him until he had spilled all of his secrets, all of his fears. Instead she sighed as the bathroom door slammed behind Severus.

Years spent teaching the young minds of her world, she knew how critically they viewed the world around them, or rather, those who were abused by their families. The conversation, though short as it was, spoke volumes to her experienced ears. After the incident in his fifth year, she had begun to belittle herself for not seeing it sooner. Sooner or later, he would be willing to tell his story and she only hoped that it would be sooner.



Frozen pine needles crunched softly beneath his paws as he stalked closer to his target. Snow dust fell from his fur as he crunched at the edge of the woodlands and watched the familiar figures interacting on the cottage porch. Silvery grey ears twitched slightly as he strained to hear the snippets of conversation coming from them. Demonic yellow eyes narrowed on the sallow skinned boy as he slipped inside the cottage.

A tree branch shook above his head, dropping clumps of snow onto his backside. ‘How does he look?’

‘Horrible. Old Voldie-moldie most have done a real number on him.’

‘He should be with us, Howler, and not with the professor.’

‘I know that.’

‘She’ll hand him over to the aurors the minute she gets the chance. She doesn’t know him like we do.’

‘Ripper says he stays with old McGonagall. Until he says otherwise, Shadow stays where he’s at.’

‘How very un-Gryffindor of you, since when did you start following the rules?’

‘Merlin help me, Lucky, because if I ever catch you in your anmigus form I’ll make a hat out of you.’

‘Sounds to me like you’re starting to get a little soft spot for our Slytherin friend.’

‘So much for Hufflepuffs’ loyalty.’

‘Go get yourself fixed and spare us your mood swings, Howler.’

‘I’m not the one who has problems with the mood swings.’ The branch of his head shook as Lucky slipped back down the tree. A thin coat of snow fell on his grey furred body, validating his glowering glare as the tan body slipped down the tree trunk.



Worried, Minerva McGonagall knocked lightly on the bathroom door. “Mr. Snape?” Silence blanketed the cottage as the seconds stretched with no answer. “Mr. Snape, answer me.” She paused, holding her breath as she waited for his reply. The witch’s heart thundered in her chest, “Severus!”


A/N

mother: Yes, I post currently on 5 different sites. They\'re listed on my user/author\'s page.

This chapter beta-ed by Kate.

This was actually ready to be posted last Monday, but because of site problems.....