Hidden Friends

Gabriel sighed, the sound coming out a strange huff, as she padded along the halls of Hogwarts to the Infirmary. The infuriating man had gotten attacked by something in the Forbidden Forest again. No doubt he was collecting potions ingredients. You’d swear now that Voldemort was gone he’d be fine, but no, if it isn’t Death Eaters, its something else.

She remembered in their sixth year, he’d gone and nearly gotten himself trampled by a heard of unicorns, and of course fifth year when he’d nearly been killed by Remus during a full moon, then of course in seventh year, he had gotten excited about gathering Aconite for the Wolfsbane potion. It had to be collected at night, on a new moon, only it was Acromantula’s that time, funny enough.

Her Animagus form helped a lot when getting around. Being on four paws, rather than two was an advantage she thoroughly enjoyed, and used any chance she got.

Drawing close to the Infirmary doors, she paused as her ears picked up the hushed voices of Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonnagall and Poppy Pomfrey.

"Albus," Minerva sighed. "Does anything ever not happen to the boy?" Her tone was slightly scolding, as if she blamed Albus himself, but soft and humorous as she glanced down at the dark Potions Master. He looked extremely peaceful when asleep, the usual frown or sneer not marring his face.

Albus chuckled quietly, placing a gentle reassuring hand on her shoulder. "No worries, my dear. Severus can handle himself well, but he does seem to have the worst luck when doing the most mundane and simple things." He shook his head bemusedly with a gentle smile.

"Come, we'll let him get some rest. He's been quite busy with his research lately, and has gotten too caught up. Between that and the Order missions to find remaining Death Eaters, he's exhausted."

"Yes, yes," agreed Poppy, yawning despite herself. "It's late enough as it is. No more visiting. Out with you both!"

Her sharp exclamiation seemed to have disturbed the man they were talking about and he stirred slightly in his sleep, a frown appearing. They immediately quieted, waiting until he settled once more.

Gabriel slunk in quietly and sat waiting in the corner by the door, watching from the shadows as her tail curled around her feet. She would wait patiently until they left, as she usually did.

As they passed, Gabriel could see the faint worry on Minerva's face. Having only vaguely heard about what had happened, she wondered if everything was alright. Seeing Minerva's expression was not reassuring. Being limited to the emotional capacity of a four legged creature, when she grew anxious she couldn't help but let out an involuntary whine.

They started at the noise and their heads swivelled about looking for the source. When Albus spotted her, he gave her a warm smile, bending down to give her a scratch behind her ear, which she thouroughly enjoyed.

"Albus! What is a wolf doing in here?" Poppy whispered furiously.

Albus just continued to smile and his eyes twinkled at the appreciative rumble from the pleased animal. He turned his head slightly towards her, "She is a companion to Severus. She visits from time to time. Not to worry, she won't cause any harm."

Only members of the Order knew that Gabriel was an Animagus. Unregistered as she was, she could easily get about to do secret missions. But this dark wolf with the soft white paw was her own little secret. The only one the others hadn't seen aside from Albus. The damned old man knew bloody everthing, and he was happy enought to keep the secret.

The ability was unusual to say the least, in that she could change to be any animal she wanted. Many thought it was just a rare ability and were content enough to leave it at that, and she was happy to oblige them. But this was Gabriel's favourite form when not wanting to be recognised as she was. Even by Severus himself. She was simply his companion when visiting, having befriended him in their first year as the wolf.

Albus rose and ventured out, his eyes twinkling when he looked back to Gabriel with a brief nod. She cocked her head the side in a simular fashion to bemused dog, watching as Minerva followed. Poppy looked undecided, whether she wanted to toss her out or leave her be. Gabriel made the descision for her by padding softly over to Severus' bed. She propped herself up on her two front paws, using the bed for support as she nudged him lightly with her wet nose. He sighed and mumbled incherently, automatically reaching out and finding her head before stroking it, relaxing as he felt her familar soft fur.

His eyes opened lazily, and he spotted her with her head resting on her paws on the bed. He quirked his lips in a small smile and shifted a bit in the bed, wincing as he put pressure on his wounded leg. He lightly patted the matress, and she took the hint to leap up and onto the bed, curling up against him as he turned and buried his face into her comforting warmth, his hands buried in her fur. He drifted sleeply.

Poppy would have never believed it if she didn't see it. The man had completely forgotten where he was and simply accepted the comfort of the strange animal, whereas, normally he wouldn't have even smiled at her or thanked her, merely shouted and whined until he was let out of the Infirmary. Hell, the only time she saw him smile was if he was deducting a lot of points from the Houses after a particularly nasty act, and he always looked positively wicked.

Actually, now that she thought about it, she remembered a few occasions where Severus Snape as a student had been curled against something in the dark of the hospital wing, though she could never see what it was. Anytime she had gone to check, it wasn't there anymore. She started to believe she was seeing things. What she never reaslied was that Gabriel had simply shifted to something smaller whenever she approached.

Sometimes, Poppy thought she saw a shadow in the corner, seeming to watch over him from time to time, even if it was only somthing minor like a head cold. This latest one could have been fatal, where it not for Firenze out walking at the edge of the forest. Upon hearing the man's shouts for help he managed to get close enough to see what was wrong and to help. Firenze had said it was Devil's Snare that had crept up and latched onto him. He was lucky it he had been nearby, and from the look of Severus' leg, it seemed so.

She shook her head and departed to her office to check on some potions she was sorting, before heading to her quarters. The day was long enough already without adding more thoughts like this.

Severus sighed softly, inhaling the familiar earthy scent that seemed to belong to his friend, who buried her nose next to his hair, nuzzling him gently. It was strange. One day he had been sitting by the lake, and he was, though he denied it, sulking and upset after being cornered again by those idiots Black and Potter. It was never fair, he was always treated like an outsider, like he never belonged, that he was ugly, weird and unwanted by all.

He had sat down, hiding against the tree, staring out at the black lake, watching the sun go down.

He had never noticed the small black wolf silding around the grounds, her paws padding softly on the grass as she trotted about, her tail wagging happily as she enjoyed her surroundings. Gabriel had just been on another stroll, and upon venturing towards the lake, she had suddenly spotted the sulking boy no more her age watching the sunset. She cocked her head slightly as she peered at him, and her tail wagged slightly as she recognised him as Severus Snape. the poor boy looked upset. The animal side f her wanted to play, and she listened to it. Slowly, so as not to startle him, she had made her way casually down to the lake.

Severus had seen something out of the corner of his eye, and though outwardly not showing any sign, he watched the animal carefully, seeing her approach the lake shore. He turned his head when she made her way over, and he subtley enclosed his hand around his wand in case it attacked. She didn't though. Merely stopped and stared at him curiously, her head cocked to one side. She seemed undecided as she put one paw forward, but then shifted it back seeing his look.

He was wary of her, she noticed. Well, who wouldn't be if an animal came along. So, though disappointed, she did somethin that surprsied him. She turned and just sat looking out at the lake.

Severus was confused, his hand still clenched around his wand. After a few minutes were she didn't do anything but sit, he decided to let it lie. And after an hour, he had gotten up to head back towards the castle. He remebered that as he wandered up the hill, he took a quick look back, but found the wolf was gone.

The next time he sat by the lake, he was soon inturrupted by the presence of the wolf again, only this time she sat slightly closer.

Two weeks went by and nearly every night you could see the small, dark boy and wolf sitting side by side looking out over the lake. Only one saw this, and his eyes never ceased to twinkle from then on when he saw his Potions Master and his companion by his side.

Anytime Severus was feeling lonely and a need for company aside from the meddling old coot, she would be there. Even when he was sick, or worse, grievously injured. She seemed particularly protective of him then, staying with him no matter how much of a scolding she got by Poppy Pomphry. On some occasions, Gabriel would be herself, and on the pretense of feeling sick she would venture into the hospital wing and casually check on him. And Severus was clueless as usual, but she didn't mind, as long as he was safe.

Gabriel felt Severus shift slightly, his grip becoming loose, and she thought he had gone back asleep. He was still awake as she found out when he started stroking her, starting from her head and down her back, lightly threading his fingers in the softness, her eyes closing in bliss. She love it when he did that, he had such gentle hands.

"So where have you been, my friend?" he asked softly, his low voice comforting her.

She didn't answer as usual, her thoughts focused by the hand that trailed down her back. She thought she had lost him for a while, getting the letter from Albus soon after the incident. He knew she would want to know, and that Severus might need his companion. So she had up and left as soon as she could, hoping the man hadn't gotten himself killed this time.

Soon they would all be heading to Headquarters in Grimmauld place for the summer and she looked forward to all the company, even his. He never like her, often taunting her, tormenting her and treating her as if she didn't exist, but she was used to it. He was like that with everyone.

She wanted to answer that she had been near him, although not in this form, but settled for a little huff as she blew air through her nose.

He chuckled softly. "Don't want to tell me? That's alright. Your here now. I'm glad...I thought for a while...I thought I was going to die," he admitted softly. "I couldn't reach my wand, and it had happened so quickly. I was so close to the Acromantuala's nest and they had heard my shouting...if it weren't for Firenze's timing..." he trailed off, his hand absentmindedly stopping his petting.

She whined softly, and started to lave his face liberally with her pink tongue. 'Please, please don't say that,' she thought sadly. How could anyone not see this man for who he really was, hiding under all his sarcasm and anger?

He smiled softly and gently pushed her away, turning and pulling her closer to snuggle into her warmth again, before drifting off into a heavy, dreamless sleep. Just as he was drifting off, he added softly, "Thank you, my friend."

After and hour, she moved and shifted back to her own form, making sure he was not disturbed in his sleep. She knew he slept very little, due to dreams and nightmares. Sometimes even the Dreamless Sleep potion didn't help much. Any of the times he had been with her, even asleep as he was, had somehow calmed him and allowed him to sleep, so she stayed with him as long as she could before disappearing once more. Sometimes she got uncomfortable in her positions and shifted back to her origianl form to either leave, or get more comfortable.

The first time she did this, she was only going to turn and leave him asleep, but he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer, burying his face into the crook between her shoulder and neck. She had stilled, wondering if it would be able to tell the difference in her and wake. But he just slept on. She had relaxed, and cautiously settled into him as he tightened his grip on her.

She remembered how he felt. His strong, hard body pressed against her, his long arms wrapped around her and his warm breath drifting over her skin. She must have bitten her lip raw trying to control her arousal. It was such simple contact, but knowing who this man was and how she reacted herself, it was bloody hard to do. It didn't help that every now and again he would shift and his hands would wander to find a bit of her skin. Her belly, hand, arm, neck. She had had to be careful not to wake him when he became bolder. His hand had actually slipped under her shirt and he trailed his hand up to cup her breast, thumb barely brushing her through her bra. She had been dozing lightly herself, and jolted a bit at the contact. She had distangled herself from him as gently, and quickly, as possible and left as soon as she was on her feet. She couldn't have allow it. He didn't even know it was her. Hell, he didn't even like her.

It seemed tonight was no different as he settled on her chest, his arm loosly over her stomach, his leg gently resting on hers, as he slept. He mumbled something and seemed to be waking up, but she quickly brought her hand up to let her fingers thread through his hair. He gave a contented sigh and hummed his approval as he settled once more, his arm tightning a bit more.

She smiled softly, shaking her head. Suddenly she heard the small creak of a door, and looked up to see the smiling face of Albus Dumbledore walking up to them.

"Are you alright, my dear?" he whispered.

She smiled and nodded in return. He opened his mouth to say somthing further, but was inturrupted by a small grunt as Severus complained. Gabriel's brow furrowed in confusion, wondering what was wrong, when she suddenly silently chuckled, realising he was complaining that she had stopped stroking his hair. So she started up once more and saw him smile.

"Do you ever think he'll know it's really me?" she asked softly, her eyes becoming sad.

Albus seemed to consider this a moment, before shrugging slightly. "I'm not sure, my dear. Perhaps in time, and if he is given enough hints, he will," he added, his eyes shining with amusement. "Now, don't forget to get some sleep yourself my dear."

Gabriel smiled again. "I won't. I promise Albus," she added, seeing his no-nonsense look. He nodded, and with another glance at the sleeping man, his eyes shining, he left the two to rest.


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(Ok, i just did some slight edits to make the chapter flow easier. I didn't have a beta for the first few chapters so i'm going over them myself a bit.) Okay so i suppose my first real attempt at fan fic. please tell me what you think!! i don't know where i'm going with this really, but i like the feel of it. Any one want to help please do. Thanks xxxxx

Wolfsoul xxx