Inhale.  Exahale.  Up. Down. 

Pressed against the professor's chest, Shadow let himself be lulled by the slow rhythm of the man's breathing,  At first, he'd just been happy to be settled there against him, rolled up in a ball, but he'd felt Snape's uneven breathing stop several times before starting up again.

What had Dumbledore been thinking?  With a bit of bad luck, this spell could've been totally incompatible with his Man In Black; had he even bothered to find our beforehand?  Shadow didn't like the way the man's eyelids were nervously fluttering, and even less, these times when his breathing stopped.

Swearing at the Headmaster, he'd settled on the wizard's chest, staring at his face with his green eyes.  Was Snape dreaming?  What else could he be thinking of anyway?  Lily?  Voldemort?

Mealtime in the Great Hall had come and gone, but Shadow hadn't wanted to leave his post.  Not to mention that he hadn't the slightest desire to see Dumbledore or Remus now.  The two of them were probably very happy with the situation—Severus out of commission for a few days. 

A little 'pop' on the other side of the door attracted his attention.  Quickly flicking his ear, he heard a high-pitched voice call him.

"Harry Potter, sir?"

Dobby.  He was most likely bringing him his meal. With a little leap, Shadow jumped from the professor's bed and went to join the elf in the dining room. He transformed right away when he saw the familiar figure.

"Dobbly, you brought me something to eat?"

The elf nodded eagerly. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to prepare a tray for you, Harry Potter!  He said that Harry Potter must ask if he needs anything else!"

Harry shook his head.  "No, Dobby, this will be fine, thanks." Then after he'd thought for an moment, he added, "But I'd like you to do something for me."

Dobby's eyes widened, full of hope. "Anything you want, Harry Potter, sir!  Dobby would do anything for you!"

"Yes, yes," Harry cut in with a smile.  "Dobby, I'd like you to go take a look at Professor Snape in his room.  I'd like you to tell me if his magic…if it's damaged, or something like that."

The house-elf looked at him skeptically. "Harry Potter, Professor's Snape's magic is damaged—Dobby has already seen it.  But Dobby will go and see…"

The little creature slipped softly into the room, then came out a few seconds later, seeming troubled. 

"Well?" Harry asked earnestly.

"The magic of Professor Snape is coming back slowly…but it will always be damaged," the elf said.

Disappointed, Harry sighed.  "Yeah, that's what Dumbledore told me.  It's not serious, Dobby.  Thanks."

"But there is something else," the elf went on. "The magic of Professor Snape has changed and is still changing."

"Changed?" Harry asked, intrigued. "How?"

"It is less black, Harry Potter," Dobby murmured. "Less dark, less like the bad wizard…"

"Like Voldemort?  That's what you mean, that he's pulling away from him?"

"The Mark has changed, Harry Potter," he replied simply.

Harry felt his heart pound harder.  "And me, Dobby—how does my magic feel?"

The elf fidgeted nervously.  "Harry Potter's magic has changed as well.  But it is just stained…it hasn't faded.  It will become white again, like Harry Potter."

The boy fell heavily into an armchair. "Yes, Dobby," he said at last. "It will change, you needn't worry."

"Oh, Dobby is not worried!" the elf replied enthusiastically. "Dobby knows!"

Harry smiled in spite of himself.  If there were ever only one person left who believed in him, it would be Dobby.

"Say," he said, suddenly inspired, "do you know where Ron and Hermione are?"

"Dobby does not know, but he can find out," the elf told him.

"Please," Harry agreed.

Dobby quickly disappeared, then reappeared a few seconds later. "Harry Potter's friends are in Gryffindor tower," he said proudly.

"Great.  Could you take me there?  But…" he added after thinking for a moment. "Dobby, I'd like you to do something for me, if you're not too busy."

"Harry Potter only has to ask!" the elf squeaked ecstatically.

"I'd like you to come regularly and check that Professor Snape's all right.  I don't trust this spell," he explained.

Dobby nodded energetically. "Dobby will come to see the professor every quarter-hour, and alert Harry Potter if he is not all right!"

"Perfect," Harry smiled. "I hope that won't pose a problem," he said as he transformed into the black cat, right before the elf's dumbfounded eyes.

"Ohhhhh, Harry Potter is truly very powerful!  Very powerful!" he squeaked, then after reaching out to lay a hand on the cat's back, he Disapparated them both from the dungeons with a crack.

As Dobby had said, Ron and Hermione were in the common room; she was studying in an armchair while he was playing chess against himself. Both of them automatically turned their heads at the sound of Apparition, and jumped to their feet when they saw the new arrivals.

"Harry!"

The cat blinked at Dobby, who disappeared immediately, intimidated by the witch and wizard hurrying toward him. Shadow trotted to meet his friends, and jumped agilely on the back of a chair to bring himself up to their level.

"Harry, are you all right?  We've heard horrible stories, and it seems the Minister himself came here this morning—is it true?"

Shadow swished his tail in frustration. News definitely traveled fast…especially the bad sort.  But Snape had asked him to be careful, and he had to admit that the Gryffindor common room didn't seem like the ideal place to talk about this sort of thing.  Nor was it a good place for him to transform, that was for certain.

So he contented himself with meowing as he hung his head.  His two friends seemed to understand, because their faces quickly darkened with worry.

"Were you hurt?" Ron asked.

Harry shook his body to prove he was in perfect health, making Hermione smile.

"No, you even have shiny fur!"

"And a wet nose," Ron added with a mocking smile.

Hermione couldn't keep from laughing softly, especially after the cat rolled his eyes in a manner so typically…Snape-ish.

"Harry, is Snape all right?" the girl asked kindly. "From what people are saying, you were attacked by an enormous wolf in the middle of Diagon Alley!"

The cat's hair stood on end, and he circled in place twice in an attempt to show how upset he was.

"Hmmm, I think something really did happen," Ron said perceptively.  "You really don't want to transform, mate?  It'd be so much easier to talk that way—we're safe here."

But Hermione silenced him with a gesture of her hand. "No, he's right, you never know.  We'll have to find a place.  The Room of Requirement."

Shadow meowed and bounded enthusiastically at the girl.  She smiled and reached out to pet the cat's head as Ron glared disapprovingly.  Her eyes connected with Shadow's, and for an instant, Hermione saw an insistent gleam in the green eyes that made her instinctively look down to the collar the cat wore on his outstretched neck.  A plate, she noticed.  It hadn't been there before.  Her eyes quickly spied the two words: Shadow Snape. A flicker of comprehension crossed her face as she exchanged another look with the cat.  She could've sworn he smiled!

Careful not to look in Ron's direction, she nodded imperceptibly, seeming thoughtful.

"We only have a half-hour before classes start," Ron pointed out. "We have Potions just after…I don't suppose you're coming?" he asked Harry.

The cat shook his head in a sign of denial.  When Snape would be back, maybe…  For now, he had no desire to see what would happen if he lost control of his powers again in the midst of the other students.  And given the Slytherins, it surely wouldn't take long for that to happen….

All three of them headed for the door, the cat trotting between the two teenagers, when the portrait swung open to let in some students who were laughing uproariously.

They took a step to the side to let them pass, and Harry felt his heart squeeze suddenly. 

Ginny and Dean, holding hands.

Before he was able to hear what the two lovebirds were saying, Shadow jumped through the opening and took off down the corridor, Ron and Hermione at his heels, shouting for him to slow down.  At the end of the hallway, he stopped, his heart racing.  What had come over him?  Ginny could do what she very well liked—it was none of his affair.  Even with Dean.  Especially with Dean.  So why had he had such a furious urge to throw himself at the boy and scratch at his face with his claws?

His two friends finally caught up with him, out of breath.

"Harry, not so fast!  Don't get so far away from us, it's dangerous for you to be alone!" Hermione protested frantically.

"It was only Ginny and Dean, criminy, no need to get so upset!" Ron exclaimed.  Hermione hid a small, knowing smile, and Shadow held back a groan. They could just think what they wanted.  He had the right to be paranoid if he liked, bloody hell, he'd been attacked by a wolf just that very morning!

"You want to climb up on my shoulder?" Ron asked, clearly attracted to the idea.

But the cat took off, his steps more placid and his tail straight up.  He only rode on his Man In Black's shoulder; it was an act he didn't intend to perform with anyone else.  And besides, there was a certain classiness to being perched on the Potions master's shoulder that wouldn't be the same with Ron…even given the best intentions in the world.

When they reached the Room of Requirement, Ron and Hermione only had a few minutes before the start of class.

"But Potions is still not as horrible as if it were Snape," Ron admitted when they finally had peace and quiet.  "Slughorn's classes are really fascinating; I didn't think Potions could be so interesting.  And he's not bad for a Slytherin.  He really likes Hermione," he added with an affectionate smile for the girl.

Hermione blushed, and hurried to add, "Yes, Professor Slughorn doesn't seem to have the same prejudices as the other Slytherins about Muggle-borns.  He was Head of Slytherin before Snape, though.  To be honest," she said apologetically, "no one here is in a hurry to see Professor Snape come back.  The Slytherins don't talk much, but they still talk, and what they're saying…if I were in Snape's place, I'd be wary. I don't know what they're planning for when he comes back, but it's not anything good."

" Well, they'd best be careful about themselves," Harry said with a frown.  "Snape isn't the sort to let things go.  He doesn't need to play favorites with the Death Eaters' children now.  He's already warned them they could be expelled if they cause problems."

"Most of the Death Eaters' children have left," Hermione pointed out. "But that won't stop students from thinking he's a traitor, and what's even worse, a traitor to his House."

"I'm already aware of that, and so is he, thanks," Harry said with a wave of his hand.

"By the way, where has he gone?" Ron asked.

Harry hesitated for an instant…but this was Ron and Hermione.  Of course he could trust them.

"In his rooms, unconscious.  Don't repeat that to anyone, all right?  It's really not the time for something to happen to him."

"Unconscious?" Hermione gasped. "Does Madam Pomfrey know?  Yes, of course she does…what happened to him?  It was the attack this morning, wasn't it?  Still…"

"Hermione, stop," Harry said. "Yes, it was the attack this morning, indirectly.  It's complicated, and I can't really explain, but he'll most likely be out of commission for a few days.  The other news…is that I'm finally back at Hogwarts.  For good, I think."

"That's great!" Ron exclaimed.  "You can do some exploring at night in your cat form!"

"Not so fast!" Hermione interrupted.  "Harry is still in danger at Hogwarts.  No going out and about on your own, you hear me?"

"I've already had that lecture, thanks," Harry grimaced. "I'm not stupid.  I'll stay in my other form the rest of the time, and I won't be going to classes right away. Oh, and I'm sleeping in Snape's rooms until I'm told otherwise."

"That won't work," Ron grumbled. "You have to get the Quidditch team together!  We're already behind the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs.  You absolutely have to get busy!  Oh, I don't know if you're aware…   McGonagall told us you're the Captain this year.  Congrats, mate!"

"I know," Harry said with a smile. "I'm going to take care of things as soon as I can, really.  I suppose McGonagall can hang around during practices, so it won't be too risky.  Severus was supposed to come, but he won't be able to right away."

"Snape at our practices?  Have you lost your mind?  He'll squeal to his team!" Ron said indignantly.

"No, he's not like that.  But that's not a problem for now.  Maybe you should go—you're going to be late."

"Yes," Hermione admitted regretfully. "Meet us in the common room after class, Harry.  I'll give you my notes.  Do you want us to take you somewhere?"

Harry hesitated for a moment. "Yeah, the infirmary.  I'll go see Remus after all.  I'd like to know what he has planned for Defense class this year."

"Are you planning on continuing the Defense club?" Ron asked with interest.

"I don't know yet.  I haven't really had time to think about it.  Everything happened so quickly this summer," Harry confessed.

Hermione nodded, and made an imperceptible nod with her chin towards the boy's bracelet.  "Yes, very quickly.  You should take time and think about all that, Harry.  No need to rush."

Harry couldn't help but frown.  It was just a medallion, for goodness sake.  Preferring not to answer, he took his cat form again and headed for the door.

The corridors were bustling with students at this hour, and Shadow felt more nervous moving through them than he had when he'd been with Snape.  His friends stuck close by him, but he sensed they were as tense as he was as they headed quickly for the infirmary.

A few people whispered and pointed at him, while others—Slytherins—frowned as he passed by.  But no one dared to raise a wand, and they finally reached the infirmary door without incident.

"You'll be all right, Harry?" Hermione asked, relieved.

He meowed softly and headed for the open door.

"See you later, mate," Ron said as they left.  "Don't go anywhere alone.  I don't know about the Slytherins, but I saw a few girls looking at you, and they had that look in their eyes…if you don't want cuddled to death, follow my advice!  A pink ribbon is sure to be in the works."

The cat was shocked by a little cough that sounded suspiciously like a laugh, then the two teenagers left him with a final wave goodbye.  Feeling more relaxed, the cat entered the infirmary without a sound.  Preferring not to take any risks, he slipped underneath the beds to furtively make his way to Remus.  But he stopped short when he got to the bed: it was empty, the curtains drawn wide open and the bed made.  The professor had left.

Swishing his tail, he was getting ready to turn back and call Dobby, when he heard a familiar voice a bit further away.  Curious, he stepped forward until he reached another bed, around which the curtains had been drawn.

"Take off your shirt, Mr. Malfoy.  I can't take care of you if I can't see your wounds!"

"Then just give me a healing potion," the boy growled.

His ears at attention, Shadow slid surreptitiously toward the bed, slipping his head underneath the curtain.

Draco!  Draco seemed even paler than usual, his fingers clenched on his shirt, and his jaw tensed, slightly bent over as he stared at the mediwitch.

"You don't give me orders, young man, and you're going to do what I tell you!  Immediately," Pomfrey directed.

Draco hesitated for a moment, but the pain seemed to get the better of him.  He opened his Slytherin-colored shirt, revealing a large burn on his shoulder, the angry blisters seeming to literally boil.

Pomfrey frowned and began to cast healing spells.  "You were attacked, Mr. Malfoy.  Who was it?"

"Mind your own affairs," the boy hissed, ill-tempered.

"Oh, but it is my affair, young man!  The person who did this to you is dangerous, and I fully intend they be severely punished!  This curse is definitely a dark spell, and without question, offensive.  You'll not have me believe that it was a matter of a mistake or a prank."

"What good will that do?  He won't go after anyone else, if that's what's bothering you.  Stay out of it, and give me something to sleep tonight.  That's all I’m asking," Malfoy groaned.

"You'll take that up with the Headmaster.  I'll do nothing more as long as you refuse to tell him," the witch said stubbornly.  "Other wounds?"

Draco let loose a furious groan, and re-buttoned his shirt and robe before striding from the infirmary.

Shadow waited until the mediwitch had left before he took his turn to head for the door: this little visit had definitely been useful.  Who could've attacked Malfoy, and why?  And especially, why was he refusing to say who?  That really didn't seem like him.   After what he'd done to Buckbeak in third-year, and his perpetual whinging around Snape…  A vague feeling of pride and triumph filled the cat. Now it would be his turn to go see Snape when he had problems.

Deep in his thoughts, he reached the door and hesitated for an instant.  What to do now that Remus wasn't there?  Maybe he should go up and see Dumbledore and talk to him about what'd happened that morning?  He didn't want the man to think he was totally out of control, but there was something about the idea of being in that office alone with the Headmaster that made his fur stand strangely on end.

He wanted to go and talk to the Headmaster.  He wanted to be able to do it, even without Snape. Face his recent nightmares all alone and know he could do it.  He wanted Severus to be proud of him, and he wanted to be proud of himself as well.

He stepped out into the corridor with determination, before he had a chance to change his mind.  He shouldn't be walking about alone.  On the other hand, Dumbledore's office was only one storey up and a few corridors away, which were empty at this time of day.  No need to disturb Dobby for such a little thing, he decided.  Without waiting any longer, he took off at a run in the direction of the staircase.

Sticking close to the walls, he brushed against the suits of armor, making them rattle as he passed by, clearly surprising them.  An axe blade narrowly missed crashing into him, and he took off at full speed, vaguely uncomfortable at being so close to the ground in the castle that suddenly seemed so huge…

Behind him, a rhythmic noise accelerated along with him.  A suit of armor, he tried to convince himself, it was just a suit of armor.  Suits of armor—did they breathe?  Was it really breathing he heard there, just a few feet away?  His heart racing, he tried to speed up, as that feeling of a presence behind him becoming increasingly oppressive.

In a flash of fur, he shot past the gargoyle, which opened the office door without question.  His tail had scarcely made it through when it closed quickly behind him.  It seemed to Shadow that the something behind him had just let out a growl of frustration.

Panting, he sat with his tongue hanging out as he caught his breath.  Were cats really supposed to let their tongues hang out?  Oh, it didn't matter, he'd do what he wanted—no one was asking him to be a perfect feline!  Trying to calm the beating of his heart, he was about to go into the office when the sounds of voices made him freeze in place.

Someone was coming through the other door that led into the office.  Dumbledore, he realized, and someone else.

"Perhaps you should talk to him about it, Professor," the Headmaster was calmly saying.

"No, no, he wouldn't understand."

Shadow felt his heart speed up again.  Remus!  So this was where he was.  Without thinking, he hid behind a tapestry.

"Harry is a particularly intelligent boy," Dumbledore argued.

The cat froze again.  They were talking about him.  He'd come at a good time. Interesting, as people always seemed to want to talk about important things concerning him when he wasn't there.

But when Remus answered, he thought his heart would stop.

"I can't, Albus!  He's my son!  I can't tell him that, not now when he…when Severus…  He wouldn't understand why I left him the hands of those monsters all this time."

"He's bound to end up learning about it.  And it will be worse if it's not from you."

"If only I could've…if I'd known…" The words seemed to stay stuck in his throat.

Shadow felt his head spin.  Remus.  His son.  He was…Remus' son.  He'd abandoned him at the Dursleys, when he was his son?  No, it was impossible, it couldn't be true!  Not Remus!

"It's too late to change the past," Dumbledore replied firmly, his voice seeming far away to Shadow.  "The only thing you can do now is try to repair the damage that was done, and try to become closer to him."

"That won't be easy, after what Severus has done."

"I never said it would be easy, my boy.  But it's necessary.  If no one stops him, he'll be irrevocably drawn to Voldemort and his powers.  He's already taken more than one step in that sense; you're well aware of what happened this morning."

Shadow had to lie down this time, his paws giving way beneath him.  So that was what Dumbledore had meant by 'out of control'?  His new powers were making him like Voldemort?  Dobby and Severus had been wrong…what he'd done to Fudge that morning had been the proof of it.  He felt his heart drop into the pit of his stomach.  Just when things seemed about to work out…and here everything had become complicated again.

"I know," Remus said wearily. "Once again, I owe a debt to Severus. He saved my son, but I can't help but think he's not a good choice for Harry."

The boy couldn't hold back the wave of burning anger that engulfed him.  How dared he, after the conversation they'd had?  And Remus himself realized that Severus had saved him!

"Don't bother yourself about Severus, Remus," Dumbledore replied. "He and Harry share many things, and despite their former animosity, they're now linked by a great natural affection."

"I don't like that," the werewolf grumbled.

"Would you happen to be jealous?" Dumbledore asked. "You shouldn't take it this way.  Severus is doing his best for Harry, and I must say he's succeeded magnificently.  I've recently discovered a whole new side to our Potions professor, and I have to say that I'm extraordinarily touched by it.  You should follow his example, Remus.  Watch him with Harry.  You could draw some precious lessons from it."

Shadow was overcome by a surge of affection for the old wizard.  An affection he'd perhaps forgotten for a bit too long.  No, Dumbledore wasn't a bad man, and he wasn't stupid either.  He understood how much Harry needed Severus, and what he provided for him.

Remus groaned.  "It's so ironic.  Severus and Harry…"

"Ironic, perhaps, but hardly surprising.  I only hope the latest reversals of the situation won't affect their new understanding."

"I doubt it.  Harry seems especially protective of this relationship," Remus grumbled.

"Come, my boy, a cuppa will do you a great deal of good," Dumbledore said cheerfully.

"Add a healthy dose of calming potion," the werewolf growled.  "I'll need it if I have to see Harry."

This was too much for Shadow.  Remus certainly wasn't the only one who needed a potion.   How could he?  With as little noise as when he'd entered, he slipped toward the door, which opened automatically.

It closed behind him, an instant too soon for him to hear Dumbledore reassure Remus as he tapped him on the shoulder.  "Harry will understand, my boy.  He knows all too well that one doesn't always have a choice, even when it comes to one's own children.  You didn't set out to abandon Loki to the wolves, no more than Lily and James chose to leave Harry with the Dursleys.  You have a second chance now, and I'm persuaded he'll be able to understand perfectly how much that means to you."

Remus looked down at his cup of tea.  In the end, Severus' presence in Harry's life might perhaps make things easier for him.

***

The cat sat in front of the door in shock.

Remus.  He was Remus' son.  His father was alive.  He'd been alive all this time.  He hardly looked like Lupin, though.  Harry Lupin.  So that was his real name?

He shook his head.  No, he didn't want…  He couldn't…   Guilt swept over him.  Remus hadn't wanted it this way, that's what he'd seemed to mean to say. But why wasn't he happier?  He had a father, clearly alive, and it was Remus!  If he'd had to choose, this was surely the person he'd have put at the top of the list.

Or almost, he corrected himself.  Almost.  Shadow shook his head; the emotions roiling around inside of him were becoming too complex for his cat persona.  He had to get out of here, and quickly, go home and take his human form!  Without thinking further, he rushed toward the door that opened before him, and slipped along the corridors, without a second thought for the creature he'd imagined he'd heard earlier.

He didn't hear it this time, too confused to think of anything but the scene he'd just happened upon.  Lost in his thoughts, he ran without thinking, and continued on, totally stunned when he realized he'd just gone through the door to the girls' toilets…on the second floor.  This little detail was impossible to miss, given that Moaning Myrtle was standing just a few steps away, leaning in over a student who seemed to be having difficulty staying on their feet.

If he thought he couldn't be any more surprised today, he was wrong.  In the instant of indecisiveness before Moaning Myrtle began to wail, Harry had time to realize two things.

First, the student leaning against the sink was Draco Malfoy.

Second, he was crying.

Shadow was too dumbstruck to summon the energy to react; he remained frozen at the sight of it, in the dead center of the room.  A second later, the scene was broken by Myrtle's shrill screams as she noticed Harry.

"Dirty beast!  Get out of here!  Go on, you mangy cat!  Horrible little rat!

The ghost rushed toward him, hissing an icy breath, and Shadow had to take a leap to avoid her, but never took his eyes off of Draco.

The boy had turned around, paler than ever, and stared at him with a murderous look as he clenched his jaw.  "Potter…"

It was almost amusing, the way Draco managed to brush his tears away with an aristocratic wipe of his sleeve.  Harry would've seemed like a total peasant, had he tried the same thing.

But Draco didn't seem to see any humor in the situation.  He took a step towards the cat, and Shadow felt the fur on his back stand on end.

"Having fun playing alley cat in the castle, Potter?" he hissed from between his teeth. "And without a bodyguard, what's more."

His tone was clearly menacing, but Harry couldn't help but notice that the boy hadn't drawn his wand.

"So, Potter, where did you leave your precious master?  He gave you permission to stroll around off your leash?  Not very smart," he drawled, still hoarse from crying.  "But our dear Head of House told us to watch over you—I'd be furious with myself if something happened to you.  Come over here, pretty kitty."

With these words, he bent down toward the cat, hand outstretched, a nasty smile on his face.  Shadow was tempted to pull away, but he didn't make a move.  Out in the corridor, something moving had attracted his attention.  Someone was watching them!  A quick glance was enough to identify the spectator: Luna Lovegood.  But instead of intervening, the girl contented herself with an encouraging smile for Shadow, before disappearing again.

What was she thinking? Harry wondered, flabbergasted.  He was cornered by Draco, bloody hell!  Draco was still coming toward him.  Shadow gathered his wits about him.

No question of giving in; Malfoy didn't even have his wand in hand, and Shadow wasn't exactly a defenseless little cat.  The moment the hand was about to touch his head, the cat let out a savage growl, and Draco hesitated for an instant.  Just an instant, before moving forward again.  That was all the cat needed: without waiting any longer, Shadow lashed out and scratched at the hand with a paw full of claws.

Draco cried out in pain and surprise, his left hand flying forward suddenly to give the cat the same treatment.  A bit too reflexively, Harry thought.  Malfoy probably was in the habit of using a heavy hand to force obedience out of animals and other inferior creatures.

But Shadow's reflexes were just as good, and the sharp little teeth joined the two paws, claws still out, cutting quickly into the boy's left arm.  His back feet worked at the shirt, pushing up the sleeve, which the cat saw made the Slytherin let go.

The Mark.  Draco had it, there on his forearm, the edges well-defined and regular.  The boy pulled back, quickly pulling his sleeve down over his bloody arm.

His gray eyes seemed to want to strike the cat down on the spot.

"Satisfied, Potter?  Did you see what you wanted to see?" he sneered.  "Even as a cat, you're incapable of hiding what you think.  You always imagine you're better than everyone else…but let me tell you something: you aren't.  Your new power is nothing, nothing compared to what the Dark Lord has in store for you.  If I were you, Potter, I'd get far away from here.  Far enough so you'll never meet up with me again, if possible.  To the bottom of the last shabby little doghouse.  That would be so much better than what's waiting for you when he takes you again."  Unhurriedly, Draco brandished his wand.

The cat's eyes gleamed.  Had the boy decided to ignore Snape's threats?  Once again, Malfoy seemed to read his thoughts.

“Oh, your dear master can't do anything to defend you now.  Actually, Potter, he'll never be able to do anything for you again—haven't you understood that yet?”  With a deliberate gesture, he bared his arm, a grimace of a smile on his face. "Whether he wants it or not, he's a Death Eater.  He belongs to the Dark Lord, and that'll never change.  Never, you hear me?  No one ever leaves the Dark Lord!  He'll come for him, Potter, and he'll make him regret it.  Snape will beg for him to forgive him and take him back.  He'll crawl on his knees just for the honor of dying in his Master's good graces!"

Shadow didn't feel the fur as it stood up on his back again, but he was entirely aware of throwing himself at Malfoy, turning his nose up at the wand leveled at him. Draco opened his mouth, probably to cast a spell, but he didn't have a chance.  A voice sounded out from the doorway, making the two of them jump.

"What's going on here?"

They turned to face Professor Slughorn, who seemed particularly irritated and confused.

Draco immediately put away his wand, trying to appear as innocent as possible.

"Nothing at all, Professor.  Professor Snape's cat and myself were simply having a bit of fun.  These little critters are so playful, you know…" he said as he ran a hand through his hair, shooting a mocking look at the cat.

The professor's nostrils flared, and his pudgy fingers tapped nervously against his crossed arms.  "Mr. Malfoy, I seem to recall you asked to be excused to go to the infirmary.  If you're feeling better, return to your common room.  I don't want to see you dawdling in the corridors."

With a quick nod, Draco headed for the door, but not before turning one last time to face the cat. "Run away as far as you can, Potter," he hissed in a low voice. "Loki is on hot on your heels, and if he finds you, there won't be a tree high enough for you to hide in."  Doing an about-face, he left with his head held high.

With a sigh, Slughorn turned to Shadow.  "Mr. Potter, Professor Snape must've expressly instructed you to not wander the castle alone.  Consider yourself lucky that charming young lady came to find me, after having been warned by our favorite ghost," he said with a wave toward Moaning Myrtle, who was fidgeting in a corner of the room.  Were ghosts able to blush?  Shadow could've sworn she was.

"Now, follow me.  Since you seem determined not to stay in your rooms, you may as well do something useful."

Harry followed the professor at a trot, vaguely reassured, but he couldn't keep his thoughts from rambling.  Had Malfoy really wanted to attack him? How could he have the Mark, so young?  Why hadn't he left for Durmstrang like the others?  How could Dumbledore…  Dumbledore.  Remus.  He felt a shiver of cold run through him.  This little adventure had almost made him forget the scene he'd stumbled upon only a few minutes ago.  This day was completely mind-boggling.  What would he find out next?  If only he could talk to someone…

Hermione and Ron, he thought.  But what could they do?  No, he had to talk to Dumbledore…but Dumbledore had hidden what he'd known about Remus from Harry.  And Dumbledore never sorted out problems—he created them.

He wanted to talk to Severus.  He needed to talk to him; Snape would know how to answer to help him see things so that they were both simple and complicated at the same time, but still not so jumbled up.  He would know what to say to him.  Indeed, he'd probably not say anything specific, but he would be there, and Harry knew it.

Most of all, he wanted Severus' advice.

A little pang in his chest brought him back to reality.  The professor was asleep, and probably for a good while.  He was going to have to deal with this on his own.  What would Severus have said to him if he'd been there?

To stay calm and control himself, certainly.  To empty his mind and not do anything stupid. For that, it was already too late…   Not to give in to anger.  But he wasn't angry, just too shaken up to know what to think.

Well, as for not thinking…emptying his mind seemed to be the best thing for now, pushing all he'd learnt into a corner of his mind, and putting off thinking about it again until he was calmer.  After all, none of this information was urgent…but to forget that Remus was his father?'

Yes, he realized.  For now, that's exactly what he wanted to forget.  For a few hours, for the time it took him to find a place where he could shout and throw things at the walls.

Trying his best to remember the techniques Severus had taught him, he followed Professor Slughorn into a roomful of students.

Oh, the Potions room.  He hadn't realized they'd come all this way.  All eyes turned to him, and he quickly found the faces of his two friends in their usual places.

He shot a questioning look at Slughorn, who answered him with a nod and a happy smile.

"Well, well," he began, the cat sitting a few steps away with a challenging look in his eyes. "It appears we have a surprise guest for our lesson today.  As Professor Snape's cat has encountered a few little troubles while roaming the corridors, he'll stay with us until the end of this session, as well as Miss Lovegood.  No need to instruct you that it's strictly forbidden to pull his tail or any other stupid prank. Have I made myself understood?"

A murmuring ran through the room, and the professor seemed to take that as agreement.

Tail held high, the cat trotted to his usual place as the pupils looked on, wide-eyed, then jumped to the desk between his two friends.  Hermione let out a muffled, little laugh, and Ron sported a large smile on face as soon as he recovered from his surprise.

"Harry, you weren't supposed to be out walking alone!" the girl whispered earnestly. "Snape will be furious when he finds out!"

"Oh, you're going to catch it for that," Ron continued. "I don't know what got into you, but it's not even been two hours since we left you.  I'll have to check with the twins, but that must be some sort of record…"

The cat flicked his tail, offended.  He had serious reasons to be worried…reasons about which he didn't want to think just now.  There were enough things here to distract him anyway.   Slughorn's class had begun again, and the students were once again bent in over their cauldrons as they concentrated.  Intrigued, Shadow took a step across the table to glance into Hermione's cauldron.  The bluish potion was simmering gently, and Harry hadn't a doubt that it'd be perfect.

To his left, he heard Ron murmur, "I don't know what Snape would think of a cat on a Potions table, but I'd be surprised if it were all right with him."

Shadow would've liked to laugh; if Ron only knew how many times he'd jumped to the laboratory table to watch the Potions master.  Enough times, in any case, to know that the boy's technique of cutting his roots wasn't a good one at all.  Slughorn had said to thinly slice them, not dice them!

With a nudge of a well-placed paw, he made the piece of root that Ron was trying to cut fly off the table.

"Hey!  That won't do, what's got into you?"

"Ah, ah," Slughorn said cheerfully from his perch on his platform.  He was without a doubt less intimidating than Snape, but no less vigilant because of it.  "It seems we have here a cat proficient in Potions!  Not surprising, of course."

With a lively step, he came to Ron's desk.  "These roots are much too thick, young man.  Your feline friend has perhaps saved your potion."  Casting a critical eye at the cauldron, he added, "Perhaps not.  Whatever the case, you'd do best to follow his instructions.  This cat is well-schooled!"

Patting his chest, as if reassured, he headed for Hermione's cauldron.  "Very good, Miss Granger; add a bit more powdered horn.  There, that's perfect!"

Satisfied, the professor left to inspect the other tables.

"Little traitor," Ron hissed at the cat. "Since when do you know so much about potions?  Don't expect me to give you fishcakes as a reward."

The cat snorted critically, then carefully leant in over the boy's cauldron.  Ouch, it was far from being as good as Hermione's.  A noxious green smoke wafted up from the cauldron to irritate the cat's nose, causing him to sneeze violently into the potion.

For an instant, he thought the sneeze had made him dizzy.  But when he opened his eyes again, it was to see Ron's flabbergasted face through a cloud of dense smoke.  Uh-oh…something had gone wrong…  Someone cast a spell, and the fog quickly disappeared, bringing into view an almsot apocalyptic sight.  The cauldron had literally exploded, pulverizing the table and everything on top along with it.

Shadow looked desperately for Ron, blown into the aisle by the explosion.  Their eyes connected, and Shadow knew the worst was yet to come.

Green.  Ron's hair was green.  Slytherin green, actually.  Oh, Merlin, Ron was never going to forgive him for this!

"Very interesting," Professor Slughorn said delightedly, as he drew near to the desk, or rather what was left of it.  "Here's what happens when one mixes cat fur with extract of Dutch werewolf saliva; you'll note, by the way, that if the potion had been correctly prepared, our two artists would've actually had blue hair."

Two?  Shadow jumped, startled.  How so, two?

"As it happens," the paunchy little man went on, "we now have two new candidates to wear Slytherin colors!  I'm sure Professor Snape won't have any objections!"

With these words, the room burst into laughter, Gryffindors included.

Slowly, praying to all the deities willing to listen that Slughorn hadn't actually said that, Shadow looked down at his paws.

Green.  The most beautiful Slytherin green—the professor was right.  A strangled gasp made him turn…  Behind him, Hermione, who'd finally recovered from the shock, had just broke out into uncontrollable laughter.

Irritated, the cat shot the girl his most withering look.  Clearly, he still lacked practice.  When he looked back to Ron again, Hermione was wiping tears of laughter from her cheeks, unable to get ahold of herself, while the entire class seemed to be having a hard time becoming serious again.

Shadow thought with a certain bitterness that this was probably one of the first times in Hogwarts history when the students of all four houses were able to agree on laughing at the same thing.  All but one, he corrected himself, leaping out of the way to avoid a furious Ron.

"Little…just you wait, you little rat!"

Without waiting for the rest of it, Shadow slipped to the back of the room.  What was with them all calling him a rat today?"

"Oh, he's so cute!" chuckled a student as he passed by, making his fur stand on end.  He had to restrain his temper, he thought, as he heard the laughing increase.  Puffing up his back with green fur probably wasn't the best idea.

Behind him, Ron didn't seem to have given up on the idea of a swift and decisive vengeance, and the cat had to jump underneath a desk, praying that it didn't belong to a Slytherin.

A second afterward, he found himself being lifted from the floor and wrapped in protective arms, apparently female ones.  He lifted his eyes and met the happy, ethereal ones of Luna Lovegood.

"Oh, it's incredible!" she said ecstatically. "You look just like a Swamp Bazul!  I'd like so much for Daddy to be here to see this!  You have to let me take a picture; you could make the front page of his paper, you know!"

Perfect, just what he needed.  Shadow struggled valiantly until he caught sight of Ron's triumphant face, his wand pointed straight at him.  It was Luna who saved the day.

"Ron, you wouldn't dare.  Really, you know green cats bring good luck!"

"Green cats?" the young man exclaimed.  "Because you know so much about them, green cats?"

"Well, it's well-known that the blue ones of Tanzania molt in spring and become green, but a bit paler than Harry, of course."

Silence fell over the room.  Of course, everyone had known since his arrival at Hogwarts that Snape's cat was none other than the Boy Who Lived…but the taboo of saying it outright that'd seemed to hang over the subject had not yet been breached, even less so in the middle of a class.

"Thanks, Luna," Ron hissed as he lowered his wand. "I'm sure everyone's positively enthralled by that precious bit of information."

"Oh, you know, you should try playing the lottery or something like that, to try out your luck.  Since you've taken the potion with green cat fur in it.  Unless, of course, the fur didn't become green until afterward.  It's hard to know, but it's certainly worth a try!  I would, if I were you!" the girl advised him amiably.

Ron shook his head incredulously. 

"Well, with that valuable instruction," Slughorn announced, "today's class is over.  Mr. Weasley and…the cat, I regret to inform you that the coloring of your hair and fur are irreversible.  At least until they grow out, of course.  But I think with the ingenuity of your brothers, Mr. Weasley, it won't be hard for you to find a way to hide your new colors.  On that note, I wish you all a good day."

Slughorn left the room with quick little steps, leaving the two wizards dumbfounded.

Ron once again turned to Shadow.  "You little…how…bloody hell, I’m sure you did this on purpose!"

Shadow meowed in protest, but his reply was in vain.

"You're happy, huh, a right Slytherin cat!  You can be proud of yourself.  You're not the one who has to go back to the Gryffindor common room with this!" he said with a vehement gesture toward his hair.

Contrite, the cat did his best to widen his eyes, in the most perfect imitation he could muster of a cat full of remorse.  Lost cause.

"Stop that!  Who do you take me for—Hermione?" Ron said indignantly. "You don't expect me to believe those puppy dog eyes work with Snape, do you?"

Hmmm.  Actually, they were rather effective, especially when it came to food.  But that probably wasn't the sort of argument to calm Ron down just now.

Rubbing a paw against his nose, he faked a little sneeze, his eyes full of apology.

"Not on purpose, not on purpose," Ron grumbled.  "You're lucky Snape wasn't the professor.  That I would've never forgiven!"

The cat looked up, smiling.  He was coming out of this rather well.

"You can't go up by yourself," Ron said. "I'll go with you to the common room. Hermione has to give you your class work.  Even though I doubt you need it, Mr. Potions master apprentice."

Relieved, the cat headed for the door, followed by his friend.

"Oh, Merlin," Ron sighed, "I suppose there's no way of cutting it off. I'll really have to send Fred and George an owl tonight, so they'll send me some dye.  Doesn't matter what color—anything but this Slytherin green."

Shadow meowed as he swatted Ron's robes with his paw, making the boy nod.

"Yes, Gryffindor red, why not?  That could be funny.  I'll still be curious to see Snape's face when he sees you like that, mate," he said as he laughed softly.

But the cat lost his cheerfulness.  Oh, he was sure Severus would find the situation very amusing…when he woke up.  If he'd been there today, he would've certainly not let him get so close to a cauldron, nor so close to other students.  A bit paranoid, no doubt, but at least he'd still be black.  He was seized by a flash of realization at the thought.

Yes, Snape would've certainly wanted to do those things to protect him.  But when had Harry ever been coddled in the past?  Snape certainly wasn't going to scold him.  Even though he'd been in his cat form, this day had been so typical of his everyday life…accidents, incidents, traps.

If Snape had been there, even despite his reservations, they would've probably had a discussion on how to spy on people's conversations; he would've most certainly taken the time to discuss with Harry what he'd overheard.  He would've done it so the news would've seemed less serious, less shocking, and he would've been at his side to support him.

Ron and Hermione were there, of course, but the difference was exactly like walking the corridors with them versus Snape.  With Severus, he felt protected in a different way…as if the Protego he'd cast in the dungeon had never stopped.  As if a magic bubble still surrounded him and protected him from the outside world.  He and Ron and Hermione made a good team, but Severus was there for him, as an adult.  The idea was really disconcerting, but comforting as well.

What would Snape think of the fact that Harry's father was alive, and that it was Remus?  He probably wouldn't like the news.  Was he going to regret his offer to make them a family?  Would he regret getting close to him?  And Remus didn't seem to like the idea of Snape at his side.  Since Remus was there at Hogwarts, he was probably going to sort out the problem with Harry's guardianship.  Maybe he'd even end up forbidding him to see Severus.  But Harry wouldn't accept that.

No, certainly not.  He didn't know what he thought of Remus after his revelations, but one thing was for sure: he knew how he felt about Snape, and there was no way he was giving that up, even for his true father.  Severus was the one who'd watched over him, since the beginning, who'd come to save him in the cemetery, who'd case the Protego!  And that wasn't all.  He could communicate differently with Snape than with other adults.  Maybe that was because of his cat form, but he picked up on the little signals from Snape's body, the tension in his shoulders, his imperceptible smiles.  He was His Snape.

Around his neck, the collar jingled.  Yes, he was Shadow Snape.  And Severus was his owner, no matter what Remus said about it.  Harry wouldn't allow it.  He needed his Man In Black, who needed him as well.

Determined, he took off at a trot, Ron at his side, and finally reached the Gryffindor common room.

If he'd been more attentive, he probably would've been alerted by the unusual silence of the room when he first opened the door.  If he'd not been so deep in thought, he probably would've been forewarned, and avoided what happened when he entered the room.

They'd barely taken a step into the room when dozens of clicks could be heard, quickly followed by a wave of flashes.

This time, he was a done in, Shadow thought dramatically.  He'd always dreaded this moment, knowing all too well that it'd inevitably come.

The day when he was going to have to write and ask Voldemort to come and finish the job, or give him a mask and a new identity.

Preferably very quickly, before Snape woke up.