The cat lazily flicked an ear. With a loud noise, the Man In Black had just disappeared right before his eyes! Was that strange…or what?

The question could wait. He yawned, displaying a wide mouth equipped with small sharp teeth. He was feeling good, warm, and comfortable; he was not hungry anymore and his injuries were nothing but a distant memory.

He vaguely mused that the situation was exceptionally pleasant. He felt a little befuddled… something was scratching his neck. He raised a leg before awkwardly putting it back on the ground. Scratching… ah yes! Frantically kicking with his hind leg, he rid himself of the unpleasant sensation, making the strange thing around his neck jingle. Ah, relief!

It was strange, really, how the least little move seemed unfamiliar. He snorted and sat up on the jumper, dispelling the last traces of sleep. He quickly glanced around him: the room was huge, illuminated only by an air vent and torches affixed to the stone wall. A cauldron was heating slowly in a corner, there were shelves everywhere, along with small vials, odd instruments, and books… The room was full, yet orderly.

Familar, and yet foreign.

He whipped his tail in frustration. Had he ever been here before? No.

But where had he been before?

He thought he could remember a small room, a window, bars, the full moon… and after that? Everything was a blur. He could see himself runing toward a large building, light, so light, and yet his leg pained him with every step... something kept telling him that he should find refuge there, at the manor. He'd heard a noise and hidden under a bush. Then the Man In Black had caught him and brought him here... Right, but before that?

The cat licked his nose with his tongue. He couldn’t remember before that. Did he even have a name?

Cat, the Man In Black had said.

Strange person, this Man In Black. He had a deep, sometimes threatening, and at the same time, entrancing voice. A voice that frightened him, but discouraged him from runing away. Where did he know this voice from? Something deeper resonated in his memory, but he couldn’t put his finger on it... or his paw, rather.

Leaving the matter for now, the cat looked at his dish. Empty. Too bad, maybe there would be more fish when the Man In Black returned? What to do in the meantime? Well, what were cats supposed to do? And why was he even wondering? He was a cat, for Merlin’s sake!

His fur stank of the salve that the Man In Black had put on it, and he decided that thorough bath would be a good way to remedy that. Concentrating, he gave an enthusiastic lick to his leg, then started to cough : no way! This was totally absurd, he had hairs on his tongue! What was he thinking? The Man In Black had washed him eariler and it had been fine that way! How on earth did cats manage to... damn, he was a cat!

Perplexed, he lounged for a moment. The vials definitely reminded him of something... they were definitely worth having a closer look.

Gathering his courage, he tried to jump onto the table, before crashing to the ground with a total lack of dignity.

Appalled, he checked quickly around him: great, nobody had seen him. Well, he had miscalculated the distance; that could happen to anyone, couldn’t it?

Gathering himself, he crouched and made a leap that landed him on the table, one leg giving out under his weight. His heart was pounding in his chest; maybe his leap had been lacking in grace, but here he was! He paused briefly; the leap had appeared phenomenal. When he'd jumped, his take-off had been incredible... how many times higher than his height had he sprung? It was like flying with a ... a... he couldn’t remember. No matter, it was perfectly normal for a cat. Cats were good jumpers. And elegant, too. Indeed.

Sensing that his legs would obey him again, he started to explore the huge wooden table. Staggering a bit, he navigated himself between the vials. A plethora of smells accosted his nose, and the fumes made his eyes blurry; his head was starting to spin. He had to sit for a moment... He sat his behind on the table when he felt something against his... his what? His tail, damn it, his tail which he had totally fogotten, and which had just knocked over a vial! He jumped to catch it, and stretched out his... paw? Stunned, he watched as the vial crashed to the stone floor below him, and then fragmented into thousands of tiny bits, making a frightening sound.

“Potter! You are not here to destroy everything you touch! Fifteen points from Gryffindor !”

From the depth of his mind, the voice paralysed him. Who? What? But the doors of his memory had shut again, and the cat could only stare, dismayed, as the potion seeped in between the tiles. Something told him that the Man In Black wasn't going to like this…

Opting for the innocence card, he hastened to jump to the floor and climbed back onto his jumper, where he curled up in a ball, his tail around him. He would best remember its existence, as it was useful for balance when jumping , but also took odd liberties when he forgot to control it!

His nose tucked under the object of his concern, he eventually went back to sleep.

It was the same noise that awakened him again : CRACK!

He started. He didn’t like waking up with a jump. His eyes sought out the origin of the noise: the Man In Black had just reappeared! Oh, maybe he was going to have something to eat! The memory of the vial crashing to the floor suddenly hit him, and he hid his nose in his fur again, pretending to sleep. Not him. Didn't do anything. No no no, slept on the jumper, didn’t move ! At all.

Assuming the most innocent of expressions, he waited, tracking the Man In Black out of the corner of his eye.

Snape put the heavy leather bag on the table. He would have to quickly find the necessary ingredients for the Dark Lord's potions; he was going to run out of time… and the master was not by nature a patient man. Especially now that Potter had once more slipped through his fingers.

His eye was caught by fragments of glass on the floor.

" Potter!” he roared, before correcting himself, “Cat!”

The cat lifted an innocent and surprised nose.

" Who else, you little hypocrite!”

Grabbing the cat by the scruff of his neck, he lifted him to eye-level.

“So? I can’t take points from you, you stupid and disgraceful animal, but I am very tempted to put you outdoors!”

The cat gave him an unhappy and confused look. Snape examined him more closely: his wounds were beginning to heal, but they were probably still painful. Why did cats have to be so curious and systematically ruin the potions most difficult to brew?

Groaning, he put the cat back on the floor and started to gather up the debris.

It was definitely a bad day. And now, he had to go and find Dumbledore to make his report, which would only afford him a measure of relief. At least, Dumbledore did not have that dreadful habit of cursing people with Cruciatus when he was unhappy...

He threw a suspicious glance at the cat who had taken refuge under a closet.

He had taken on the responsibility to heal this cat and could not decently put it back outside in this state… The corner of his lips curled slightly.

" Very well, my little friend. We are going to kill two birds with one stone.”

Cutting a new piece of fish, he put it in the bowl, followed quickly by two potions. A few drops of artificial flavoring on top of it...

" Dinner is served! "

Forgetting his fear, the cat rushed to the dish and began to empty it as quickly as possible.

"No style, no dignity. The spitting image of your human counterpart. "

He watched the cat finish its food with a slow smile. Hardly had he swallowed the last bite, than the cat suddenly felt drowsy… He had no time to think about reaching his jumper before he was already asleep, his head in the empty dish.

Snape lifted him and gently laid him on the jumper.

" Lion or cat, one is never wary enough with a Slytherin, let that be a lesson for you...”

For a moment, he watched the black cat who had curled up into a ball. One less thing to worry about. What a pity he couldn’t deal that easily with human problems, in particular a certain Gryffindor student...

Snape scowled. Potter. It was time to go and find Dumbledore... With a determined gesture, he threw another fistful of Floo poweder in the fireplace.

“Dumbledore’s office, Hogwarts!”

One stride later, he was in the Headmaster’s office. The portraits watched his arrival with curiosity; Fawkes greeted him with a welcoming song to which he had become accustomed. The Potions Master was surprised to realize that this very room was the most soothing place he had ever known. The only place where he could, for a few moments, stop pretending and feel safe.

A feeling that was mainly due to the presence of the long, silver-haired wizard who was looking at him benevolently , a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

" Severus, what a pleasure to see you! Come in, take a seat!” The man's relief was obvious.

Snape did as he was told. He suddenly felt very tired and accepted the comfort of armchair with gratitude. Dumbledore seemed to understand, and he gave the Potions Master a moment to relax.

"Tea, Severus?”

Snape shook his head and straightened up. The muscles in his back were aching; the sleepless nights had not been kind to him, and the Cruciatus curses the Dark Lord seemed so fond of hadn’t helped much, either.

" He was not captured,” he finally announced, forestalling the questions to come. He saw the old wizard relax in his turn, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His relief was short-lived, though, and worry, even if slightly lessened, returned to his weary look.

" Thank Merlin. Are you sure?”

" Absolutely. Your information was correct, Lucius and Bellatrix left empty-handed. "

Snape saw the Headmaster frown.

" Yes, they were on duty that night. They are the most diligent watchers of Privet Drive. A great privilege... the Dark Lord bestows on them a high degree of trust. In any case, they actually witnessed the destruction of the wards that protected Potter, when his uncle told him he was no longer welcome at home. It took them only a few minutes to make sure that the coast was clear and enter the house of these damned Muggles… "

He paused to take a deep breath.

" Apparently, Potter took advantage of those few minutes to flee, however he did it. Probably by Disapparating, I can’t figure out any other explanation...”

Dumbledore nodded.

" That is a possibility. However, Harry doesn’t know how to Disapparate on his own, someone would have had to come and collect him; someone who would have known about the failing of the wards before Lucius and Bellatrix, and been faster than they. Anyway I look at it, I do not think it is plausible.”

" Not very likely, no, " Snape acknowledged. “Lestrange and Malfoy are not what you could call beginners, and their zeal was beyond reproach. Evidently, that was not the Dark Lord's opinion...” he added with a dark smile.

"No," Dumbledore said softly , "I suppose, in fact, that Voldemort has not appreciated the outcome of this little adventure…"

" Mild understatement,” Snape muttered. “Bellatrix and Lucius were terrified at the idea of having to explain to their master how close they came to handing him Potter on a silver platter. They'd thought for a moment that they won the Death Eater Finale Cup... just before the Snitch escaped. It is safe to say that even if Potter was still at Privet Drive, Lestrange and Malfoy wouldn’t have been in any shape to ensure their guard there for a long time. The Dark Lord was very upset, and he generously shared his disapointment with his circle.”

Dumbledore’s expression became pained as he intensely watched his Potionsteacher.

" And I suppose, Severus, that you were not immune to his wrath…”

Snape didn’t blink.

" Voldemort seems to share the common belief that I am responsible for Potter’s fate. It was thus logical that I would equally share Lucius and Bella’s punishment; all the more because I didn’t have any satifying news to bring to appease his dissatisfaction.”

Dumbledore suddenly seemed even older and more tired that a moment before.

" Severus, my boy… I know we are asking much from you… a bit too much, perhaps. "

Snape shrugged in annoyance.

" My choices were made a long time ago, and I didn’t need anyone to enforce them. No need to waste your pity on my fate, Dumbledore. You and I know perfectly well it is still too merciful compared to what it could be... and we don’t have more time to waste on this matter. Now that we know what did not happen to Potter, we need to know what actually occured in that house. As exceptional as this child is supposed to be, he couldn't have disappeared in the blink of an eye.”

Dumbledore shook his head.

"No, it's unlikely. It is a great relief to know that he is not in the hands of Voldemort, but his disappearance remains alarming. I have no doubt that Harry would have headed straight for the Burrow or Hogwarts if he had had the opportunity to do so, and if he had been rescued by an ally… why did this one not bring him back to us? No, I am afraid that Harry, wherever he is, is not safe … but if Voldemort has not yet managed to find him, there is still room for optimism. We must now begin to consider all possibilities, to follow all leads. Can I count on you, Severus?”

“Of course,” he dryly replied.

.

Snape sank a little deeper in his chair as he thought. Over the years, the boy had become an expert on sneaking around the castle, but could that really have helped him to escape the Death Eaters? James' invisibility cloak would have been useless…
He tapped his finger against his cheek. A very distrubing idea had just crossed his mind...

“Albus, is there a possibility, even a slight one, that Potter could be an Animagus?”

The Headmaster raised an eyebrow.

“An Animagus, Severus? Well, although his father and godfather managed to become one right under my nose and beard, Harry has been nearly constantly under watch since his arrival at Hogwarts. Considering all that has happened to him since then, I doubt very much that he was able to acquire that skill without me knowing it.”

Snape kept on staring off into space, unsettled.

" Any reason for you to think about that, Severus? "

" Perhaps,” the Potions Master said. “I trust your judgment, Albus, however, I ask you to consider my question carefully ... Is there any chance it could have happened?”

The old wizard threw him a piercing glance through which a growing curiosity sparked.

" Well, I think there is only one way to be sure. It is ten in the morning, I think that Mr Weasley and Miss Granger must be awake by now.”

He stepped to the fireplace and threw in a handful of Floo powder.

" The Burrow!”

Pushing his head into the green flames, Dumbledore cast a quick glance around him.

" Molly! I do hope I am not disturbing you? "

" Professor Dumbledore! Do you have any news of Harry? " asked the plump woman who was busily preparing the breakfast table.

" Severus just came back with some reassuring news ; we still don’t know what happened to Harry, but Voldemort played no part in his disapearance. "

Molly Weasley let out a loud sigh of relief and threw herself into the nearest chair.

" Thank Merlin… Ron and Hermione will be so relieved ! I'm at a loss over what to do to keep them from trying to find him on their own! They're sick with worry... as we all are.”

" Precisely, Molly. Are the children awake? I would like to talk to them for a moment in my office, if you don’t mind.”

" Of course. I’ll get them. "

A moment later, the voice of Mrs Weasley could be heard, and Ron and Hermione rushed into the kitchen.

“Good morning, Mr Weasley, Miss Granger.”

" Professor Dumbledore! " they both exclaimed at the same time. “How is Harry? Where is he?”

"I regret to say that I do not know yet, but we are now sure that he was not kidnapped by Voldemort. "

The two teenagers let out a cry of relief.

" If you have a moment, would you two come to my office, please?”

Puzzled, the two children nodded, and then stepped through the fireplace as soon as Dumbledore’s head had disapeared.

The first thing Ron saw as he stepped into the Headmaster's office was the Potions professor, sitting in his armchair with his legs crossed. Ron couldn’t help but make a face and then turned to Dumbledore with a questioning look.

A reassuring smile on his lips, the Headmaster motioned for them to sit down.

" Ron, Hermione, I know that Harry’s safety is your main concern.”

Both teens nodded with conviction.

" I also know that he considers you as his best friends and keeps no secrets from you. " Dumbledore went on, “However, I have a question to ask you. A very important question about Harry. No matter the answer, I beg you to tell me the truth... You understand, I think, that it is now a matter of life and death, don’t you?”

Again, Ron and Hermione nodded, more and more intruigued.

" Good… the friendship between the three of you shares many common points with the one that once bonded Remus, Sirius and James. I also know that you do not disagree with that comparison, and that you will gladly follow in their footsteps. Ron, Hermione, did Harry ever think about becoming an Animagus like his father?”

Ron and Hermione stood with their mouths gaping. The two wizards were watching them closely, mindful of their reactions.

" No! " Ron was the first to cry out. " No, not at all! We talked about it when we found out about Moony, Prongs and Padfoot, but... no, we would have never had the patience, the time...” He shot Hermione an apologetic look. “Well, I suppose it would have been easy for Hermione, but... no!”

.

Hermione, recovered from her surprise, agreed.

" No, Professor. Harry never seriously considered it. And he couldn’t ever have done it without us knowing,” she said in a firmly.

Dumbledore nodded and turned to Snape.

“Does this answer your question?”

Snape nodded. He had carefully watch the two adolescents and he was sure they were not lying.

The idea was stupid, really, but the coincidence of this cat showing up at his place the very same day Potter had disappeared, with that mark on his forehead and his green eyes...

Bah. It was ridiculous, of course; half of the cat population had green eyes, and the mark itself was not extraordinary. It was probably rare, mildly amusing, but nothing exceptional.

He sighed; he'd been asked to explore every lead, and he would do it, even the most unlikely of them.

" Thank you for your time, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley. You can go back to the Burrow, and tell Molly that I thank her for the pies she sent.”

" Mum doesn't know what to do to keep her mind busy,” Ron groaned. “But... Professor, as you just said, you can trust us about Harry’s safety. Couldn’t we help with the serach?”

" My boy, you just have. I'd like nothing better than to ask for your help, but we don’t have the slighest lead right now. You will be more useful by staying available in case we need other information about Harry.”

Ron nodded his head reluctantly, and Dumbledore saw a glimmer of understanding flash in Hermione's eyes. The girl was not fooled by the scheme to keep them at the Burrow, but the pretext had been genuine nonetheless.

They both said goodbye to the Headmaster, and with the promise that they'd be contacted the moment he learned something about Harry, they went back through the fireplace.

Snape hadn’t budged an inch, but had sunk back into his armchair. The accumulation of strain and tension had finally got to him.

Dumbledore looked at him sympathetically.

" Severus, may I ask you what made you think that Harry might have become an Animagus? "

Snape suddenly felt ridiculous. A black cat with a funny mark on his forhead, who was good at breaking potions vials ? He would rather die than to admit he was sheltering a feline version of the Golden Boy, and that he had even entertained the notion that this skinny fleabag could have been the boy...

He shook his head to get rid of the idea.

" No matter. Albus, if you don’t need me for the moment… "

" Of course, my boy, " Dumbledore hastened to answer. “You deserve some sleep! I will contact you if we need your help. Do not worry about anything, you’ve already done a great deal for us... and for Harry.”

Severus groaned.

" Potter is nothing but a symbol. A symbol and a weapon that I am not ready to give up. As for sleeping, that is not for today. The Dark Lord might not be happy with my spying for the Order, but he still needs his Potions Master. Now, if I may...”

Dumbledore nodded reluctanctly, and watched the professor walk stiffily to the fireplace. Snape worried him. Physical and nervous exhaustion would get the better of him, if his anger didn’t do him in beforehand...