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painless_j on behalf of aubrem:
One Thousand Reasons
By Icarus
Harry ducked behind a boulder as the spell skimmed overhead, white-hot and singeing. It sprayed across the rock behind him in a splash of white, turning it ochre and rancid as the mosses died. The attack paused, and Harry heard a low gasping breath off to his left. A greasy dark figure was curled at the base of the boulder.
"Snape," he whispered.
"Hsst! Find your own refuge, Potter," Snape hissed at him. His black eyes gleamed in the dark. "Perhaps your aim is to bring the attack down on me you spiteful little wretch, but rest assured: unlike your besotted fans, I will take no extraordinary measures to save your hide."
"I ought to leave you here," Harry said, stripping off his outer cloak. "But I'm not like that. I'll transform, and you can climb up and we'll get out of here."
"Transform?" Snape sat up a little, clearly startled. Then he sneered. "Taking after your family and marking every tree, are you? You Animagi are all alike. You think it's a solution to everything."
"Take it or leave it, Snape," Harry said, in a tone that Hermione would protest. "You go ahead and transform yourself then."
Snape froze.
Harry added in the cold sudden silence, "Professor McGonagall told me you learned. After you found about Sirius'."
"Black would have never gotten away with so much had he not had the audacity to attempt that in school!" Snape uncurled from his crouch at the base of the boulder. "If you know so much, then surely you know it is not necessarily useful. No one, not even Dumbledore, can choose the form."
Harry bundled his cloak around his waist and drew his wand, nodding absently. "You can climb up onto my fur and hang on."
Snape paused, his eyes sliding to the left and right, as if seeking escape or guidance. Finally he said, "Very well."
Within seconds the dark shadow of Snape shrank and elongated on the ground, wriggling. It lightened and squirmed. Harry took a step back. At his feet was a writhing, silvery centipede, almost a foot long. It crawled towards him, rising up on its front legs eagerly as Harry backed away.
After a long moment, it darkened and Snape appeared in its place.
"Afraid, Potter?" he said in a low, pleased voice.
"I'm afraid I might step on you," Harry said in disgust.
"I would not recommend it." Snape leaned closer until Harry could see his yellow teeth. "This particular variety is especially poisonous."
"I'm not afraid," Harry said, and hardened his jaw. To prove it, he drew his wand and circled the complex patterns in the air. His body began to stretch and lengthen, fur bristling along his face, itching.
Then Harry stamped his hooves, tossing his antlers a bit, trying not to let the whites of his eyes show. But he couldn't help it in this form. Stags were fast; but they were also hunted and afraid.
"Then the more fool you," Snape answered, and seized an antler. He smiled. "Stay absolutely still as I climb," he said in Harry's ear. The ear flicked. "Or else I won't be able to prevent the bite."
painless_j on behalf of aubrem:One Thousand Reasons
By Icarus
Harry ducked behind a boulder as the spell skimmed overhead, white-hot and singeing. It sprayed across the rock behind him in a splash of white, turning it ochre and rancid as the mosses died. The attack paused, and Harry heard a low gasping breath off to his left. A greasy dark figure was curled at the base of the boulder.
"Snape," he whispered.
"Hsst! Find your own refuge, Potter," Snape hissed at him. His black eyes gleamed in the dark. "Perhaps your aim is to bring the attack down on me you spiteful little wretch, but rest assured: unlike your besotted fans, I will take no extraordinary measures to save your hide."
"I ought to leave you here," Harry said, stripping off his outer cloak. "But I'm not like that. I'll transform, and you can climb up and we'll get out of here."
"Transform?" Snape sat up a little, clearly startled. Then he sneered. "Taking after your family and marking every tree, are you? You Animagi are all alike. You think it's a solution to everything."
"Take it or leave it, Snape," Harry said, in a tone that Hermione would protest. "You go ahead and transform yourself then."
Snape froze.
Harry added in the cold sudden silence, "Professor McGonagall told me you learned. After you found about Sirius'."
"Black would have never gotten away with so much had he not had the audacity to attempt that in school!" Snape uncurled from his crouch at the base of the boulder. "If you know so much, then surely you know it is not necessarily useful. No one, not even Dumbledore, can choose the form."
Harry bundled his cloak around his waist and drew his wand, nodding absently. "You can climb up onto my fur and hang on."
Snape paused, his eyes sliding to the left and right, as if seeking escape or guidance. Finally he said, "Very well."
Within seconds the dark shadow of Snape shrank and elongated on the ground, wriggling. It lightened and squirmed. Harry took a step back. At his feet was a writhing, silvery centipede, almost a foot long. It crawled towards him, rising up on its front legs eagerly as Harry backed away.
After a long moment, it darkened and Snape appeared in its place.
"Afraid, Potter?" he said in a low, pleased voice.
"I'm afraid I might step on you," Harry said in disgust.
"I would not recommend it." Snape leaned closer until Harry could see his yellow teeth. "This particular variety is especially poisonous."
"I'm not afraid," Harry said, and hardened his jaw. To prove it, he drew his wand and circled the complex patterns in the air. His body began to stretch and lengthen, fur bristling along his face, itching.
Then Harry stamped his hooves, tossing his antlers a bit, trying not to let the whites of his eyes show. But he couldn't help it in this form. Stags were fast; but they were also hunted and afraid.
"Then the more fool you," Snape answered, and seized an antler. He smiled. "Stay absolutely still as I climb," he said in Harry's ear. The ear flicked. "Or else I won't be able to prevent the bite."