Bird's Eye View

Chapter Five – Bird's Eye View

Suddenly before my eyes – Hues of indigo arise – With them how my spirit sighs

As the sun began to rise, varying hues of rose and gold colored the horizon. If one looked up high enough, the rest of the sky was painted in a deep indigo. The usually bright stars had long faded as the early morning began to arrive. Most everything was still and locked in a peaceful slumber. All that could be heard was the gentle beat of a bird's wings as it made its way through the Forbidden Forest.

Smoky puffs of air appeared, but evaporated just as quickly into the chilled early morning, as the bird continued to make its way through the forest. Suddenly, it dived beneath the forest's thick canopy, quickly weaving its way in and out of the gnarled branches and lush foliage. Noticing a break among the trees, it propelled its body forward and up, breaking through the canopy once more.

Dark eyes glittered sadly at the sight of the oncoming dawn before bringing its wings in close to its body as it turned around and headed back toward the way it came. The edge of the forest soon came into view and the beautifully manicured lawns and gardens of Hogwarts lie just ahead of it. Stretching out its wings, the bird slowed down to a glide before landing on one of the higher treetops right at the edge of the forest.

Shimmering ebony feathers rustled with and against the cool winds that whipped throughout the treetops. Heaving a heavy sigh, the bird stretched out its wings before hopping off the branch and dropping easily back into the winds. Flying high above the school grounds, the bird soon brought its wings in close to its body once more as it quickly barreled toward the ground below. Suddenly its wings flared, allowing it to easily glide alongside the castle before landing gracefully on one of the windowsills in the outer corridors.

Fluttering its wings a bit, it then took off at a glide once more and quickly made its way inside through one of the open windows. It swiftly made its way down the corridors before heading down the narrow stone staircase that led right into the dungeons. The occasional gentle beat of its wings was all that could be heard throughout the otherwise silent dungeon halls. It then came to a stop in front a large ornate wooden door. It continued to beat its wings as it hovered in front of the door before it let out a loud squawk.

The slumbering painting snorted in response before settling itself once more. The bird angrily flapped its wings as it moved forward to peck at the painting sharply before squawking even louder. The painting finally jerked awake and eyed the bird curiously just before a sinister smirk crossed its lips.

"Password," it rasped softly.

Squawking loudly the bird moved forward and continued to peck angrily at the painting. A few small tears and numerous obscenities later, the painting swung open in response, allowing the bird enough space just to pass through before slamming shut.

The bird's wings fluttered like mad before they gave way to long flowing dark robes. Heaving a heavy sigh, Severus Snape pulled himself up to his full height, smoothing out his outer robes and running his fingers through this wind blown hair. Pursing his lips, he sneered silently as he pulled a few twigs from his hair before shrugging off his heavy robes.

It was still early yet, but he was in desperate need of a shower. Groaning, he threw himself into one of the wing-backed chairs before going to work on his boots. Kicking both off, they fell carelessly near the hearth, his socks soon following the same path. Heaving himself out of the chair, he padded softly toward the bath. Long, elegant fingers deftly undid the numerous buttons on his frock coat before it fell onto the floor in an ungraceful heap. His customary white shirt, trousers, and undergarments soon joined the coat on the floor.

Kicking the pile of clothing to the side, he padded across the room to the mirror and gave his face and upper body a critical glance before shrugging and heading over to the shower. Stepping right underneath the showerhead, water suddenly began to cascade out of the nozzle, over his head and shoulders before running down the rest of his body.

Bringing up his hands, he placed both palms flat against the wall in front of him, his long sinewy arms stretched out in front of him, as he bent his head down. Yawning, the water slipped through his hair causing it to fall and form a curtain around his face. Suddenly he flicked his head back before slicking back his hair and reaching for the shampoo nearby. He leisurely went about the task of washing his hair, long fingers running through the soft locks while gently brushing against his scalp. However, by the end of the day it would all be for naught, hanging greasy and limp around his shoulders. Spending all day in the damp dungeons with all the steam and exhaust from the potions projects did a serious number on his hair.

Sighing, he stepped back underneath the spray and went about the task of rinsing all the soapy suds from his hair. Reaching for the soap, he went about the task of cleansing his body. He quickly worked the soap into a frothy lather before scrubbing at his chest and arms. His ministrations slowed when he gently ran over what once was the Dark Mark on his forearm, now nothing more than a pale scar that would more than likely fade, given enough time. He jerkily shook his head, as if to clear it, and quickly finished bathing before removing himself from the shower.

He snapped his fingers, and one of the towels moved swiftly across the room and directly into his hands. Drying his hair and upper body quickly, he then wrapped the towel around his waist before heading over to the vanity on the opposite side of the room. Whispering softly, he cast a quick drying charm, causing his hair to dry instantly. Running his fingers through the thick locks, he brushed it back with a sigh before exiting the bathroom.

Stepping out into his bedroom, he crossed the floor and walked up to his closet. He then began to dress, pulling on his undergarments and a fresh pair of black trousers. This was quickly followed by a black linen button down shirt, the cuffs flaring a bit at the ends. As he went about the tedious task of buttoning up the numerous buttons, he heard the fireplace within his bedchambers flare with life.

Cursing silently, he turned and crossed the room only to find Albus Dumbledore's face hovering back and forth gently in the flickering emerald-colored flames. Rolling his eyes heavenward, he threw himself into one of the wing-backed chairs and raised a brow in askance.

"Ah, good morning, Severus, I trust you slept well," the Headmaster said delightfully.

"What is it you want, Albus?" he asked, deciding to skip the pleasantries.

"Yes, well... I'm glad I was able to catch you. As you know, this is a Hogsmeade weekend, and like most of the children, Hermione will be making her way into town. However, I believe she will also be making a trip into Diagon Alley. Since it is a Saturday, and I know how you..." Dumbledore was instantly cut off by a snarling Snape.

"If you expect me to play the part of a babysitter for that Gryffindor, you've got..."

"Oh, no, no, Severus... I was merely informing you of Miss Granger's possible trip into Diagon Alley later today. I didn't want you running into one another accidentally and then having you jump to the wrong conclusions," he said reasonably.

"Really, Albus, I don't just jump to conclusions; you know that I'd give the girl a chance to explain herself," Severus responded silkily.

"Be that as it may, you and I both know that Hogsmeade weekends can sometimes bring out the adventurous side in certain students; they think just because they're allowed into town that they're also allowed to make impromptu trips into Diagon Alley – I just wanted to prevent an unnecessary confrontation."

"Is that all, Albus?" he drawled lazily.

"Yes, it is... Enjoy your day, Severus."

With that, the Floo connection was cut, leaving Severus alone once more. Sighing, he stared sightlessly into the empty fireplace for a few lingering moments before rising up out of the chair. Walking back over to the closet, he resumed buttoning up his shirt. When finished, he then pulled on a pair of dark socks and topped them with his customary boots. Once finished, he gave himself the once over and was pleased with the result. Weekends were about the only time he indulged in dressing in something other than his customary teaching robes.

Giving the clock on the wall a quick glance, he saw he had already missed breakfast within the Great Hall. He quickly shrugged if off, never really eating breakfast in the hall on the weekends anyway. Snapping his fingers, his outer robes instantly flew to his fingertips as he made his way to his private lab. Satisfied that everything was either brewing properly or still fermenting, he quickly made his way out of his rooms and out into the dungeons. He swiftly made his way out of the bowels of the castle and onto the grounds. Most of the students had already begun to make their way into town, so his walk to the gates was fairly quiet. Once past the gates, he scanned his surroundings quickly before disappearing with a quick snap.

Moments later, he reappeared in a small alcove right near Gringotts bank. Stopping a minute, he righted his robes and ran his fingers through his hair. Satisfied with the result, he stepped out of the shadowed area and fully into Diagon Alley. Although his business today was entirely in Knockturn Alley, it was best to Apparate into Diagon Alley first. One really never knew what they might stumble upon. He swiftly made his way through the crowds until he felt something or someone slam directly into him. He let out a muffled curse, and when he looked down, he couldn't help but wonder if someone up there hated him. The young thing standing before him began to apologize profusely; that is until she caught sight of the person who she ran into.

"Pro... Professor Snape," she stammered.

"You seem to be stuttering quite a bit as of late, Miss Granger," he drawled softly.

"Oh, well, yes – hold on a second... What are you doing here?" she asked curiously.

He stiffened immediately and pulled himself up to his full height. Where does this nosy little Gryffindor get off? She's the student wandering about Diagon Alley, on Hogsmeade weekend no less, he thought to himself. Crossing his arms over his chest, a brow rose in question as he looked down at her disdainfully.

"What am I doing here? I think the real question is what you are doing here. Though this is a Hogsmeade weekend, which does not give Hogwarts students the right to make their way into Diagon Alley whenever they see fit... I suggest you start explaining yourself." He knew very well what she was doing in Diagon Alley, recalling his conversation with the Headmaster only a few hours before, but it was always enjoyable to see a student squirm, especially the Hogwarts resident know-it-all.

"I had some business to attend to; Professor Dumbledore gave me permission to use the Floo Network from his office to the Leaky Cauldron. I was just finishing up and was about to make my way back to Hogwarts. I have the identifica..." she said, already reaching into her robes.

"No, that won't be necessary. However, I suggest that you do not linger for too long," he quickly reassured her, not wanting to be subject to one of her lectures. It was moments such as these that he almost felt bad for Potter and Weasley.

"Of course, sir," she said.

Giving her one last lingering glance, he bid her good day before brushing past her. He quickly made his way toward Knockturn Alley's entrance, even though he could still feel her eyes fixed upon him. It probably wasn't the best idea to just casually stroll into an alley devoted to Dark Arts items with a student watching him, but with the war over and all known Death Eaters locked up in Azkaban, he figured he'd risk it.

Even though it was about mid-morning, the residents of Knockturn Alley were in top form. Severus had already been on the receiving end of offers from two different witches that were ready to give him 'a good time.' Not bothering to respond to either of them, he ignored the obscenities that flowed past their lips as he continued to make his way deeper into the alley. Finally arriving at his destination, Borgin and Burkes, he quickly made his way inside. The silence of the shop was deafening as Severus slowly made his way through the establishment, his booted foot causing the old floor to strain and creek underneath his weight. Severus headed straight for the counter in the back, not even giving the rest of the store a second glance. He was here for one item and one item alone.

"Mister Borgin," he greeted politely.

"Ah, Professor Snape, what can I do for you today?" he rasped softly.

"I've come to pick up the book I had you order a few weeks back," Severus replied.

"Oh, yes, I remember now... Be just a moment," Borgin said as he shuffled his way toward the back of the store. He soon returned with a rather small leather-bound book with some discreet faded gold lettering that ran down its spine.

"Here we are," Mister Borgin said, placing the book up on the counter, leaving it for Severus's inspection. Severus silently reached for the book; he began flipping through the pages before nodding once, obviously pleased with what he saw. He then reached into his robes and tossed a small pouch of Galleons onto the counter. Then, slipping the book into the folds of his robes, he left the shop and headed back out into Knockturn Alley.

He swiftly made his way down the narrow alleyway before making a left, which brought him even deeper into Knockturn Alley. As he rounded the corner, the only tavern in the alley came into view. The Gilded Serpent; he couldn't help but chuckle silently at the name. Gilded, or gild, was basically another name for gold. He always came to associate gold with Gryffindors, all loud and blustering. It never failed to strike him funny that a primarily Slytherin establishment, as it were, would associate themselves with such a color. Severus entered the darkened pub and quickly headed directly to the bar.

"Shot of firewhisky," he requested silkily.

The bartender nodded and pulled out an already open bottle of the amber liquid.

"Open a new bottle," Severus ordered quietly.

"Ah, right... I be beggin' yer pardon, sir," the bartender said, already putting back the opened bottle and reaching for a new one. He then retrieved a glass and was about to pour out the liquid when Severus spoke again. "Leave it," Severus rasped out, dropping a few Galleons onto the bar. He then picked up both, the glass and bottle, as he headed back toward one of the more secluded corners of the establishment.

Severus set the bottle and glass down on the tale top as he dropped into a chair nearby. He then lazily poured out a glass of the drink, bringing it to his lips. His eyes fluttered shut, enjoying the slight burn as the alcohol made its way down his throat. Though it was fairly early in the day, he didn't really indulge in drinking while school was in session, so he felt this guilty pleasure was justified. Sighing, he settled back in his seat, his eyes scanning the establishment as he let his mind wander.

Even with the war over, his life remained painfully complicated. It wasn't as if he thought everything would instantly right itself after so many years of fighting and lies. At the very least, some things should have simplified themselves. It had been a little over a year since the Dark Lord's demise, and yet a large aspect of his life was still tethered to the mad man. The book in his pocket was proof enough of that. Shaking his head slightly, a hand came up to gently rub at his temples, as he could feel the beginnings of a headache coming on.

Knocking back another shot, his thoughts then turned to the young Gryffindor, Hermione Granger. Severus couldn't help but groan silently as his mind began to wander back to the previous evening. This is bloody ridiculous; she's a student for Merlin's sake and a Gryffindor at that. All her blubbering was probably over some teenage melodrama that will more than likely sort itself out before the weekend is over. However, as his thoughts continued, he still couldn't help but be bothered by her actions in the Astronomy Tower. Angry with himself for even giving this girl a second thought, he rose abruptly from his seat and quickly exited the tavern without a backwards glance. Pulling himself up to his full height, Severus began to quickly weave his way through the narrow passages of Knockturn Alley and back out into Diagon Alley.

Severus made his way back to the Apparition point, giving the small alcove a quick glance; he cast a charm and was pleased to find that no one else was in the immediate area. His eyes fluttered shut; long dark robes gave way to shimmering blue-black feathers. The gentle beat of the bird's wings was all that could be heard in the small alcove. He easily made his way up and out of the alcove and into the open air. Not even giving Diagon Alley one last glance, Severus made his way towards Muggle London.

He soon came upon a rather old and abandoned looking building, and he brought his wings in close to his body. Severus spotted a broken window and swiftly made his way inside. Hovering for a moment, he allowed his eyes to adjust before weaving his way through the darkness and down to the ground floor of the building. Once again, feathers gave way to long dark flowing robes. Pulling himself up to his full height, Severus smoothed out his robes as he made his way across the large floor. Just a few yards away at the opposite end of the building were a series of small enclosures, one of which hopefully would be occupied. Reaching the largest of the makeshift doors, he raised a sure hand and knocked soundly. After a few minutes of waiting, Severus raised his hand to knock again when suddenly the door swung open. The Potions master was greeted by a small, older Indian gentleman, who looked up at him with wide eyes before nodding silently and gesturing for him to come inside.

The old man slowly, but confidently, made his way about the small space. He headed toward what looked like a kitchen. Severus looked around the small room with a clinical detachment. A soft croaking voice coming from the opposite side of the room offered him a seat; without a word Severus settled himself in one of the nearby chairs. The old man then returned with two cups of scalding hot black tea, setting one of the delicate pieces of china down on a pedestal table near Severus' chair.

Severus nodded his head in thanks, but never made a move for the cup.

The old man then seated himself; Severus looked on with watchful eyes as the old man began to silently sip at the hot beverage. It was then he took in the old man's appearance. The old Indian man stood at about 5'3" tall, if that, dressed in long, flowing, white linen robes. His dark, olive-colored skin was a stark contrast to his long, flowing white hair, which fell around his shoulders softly. However, it was the man's eyes that drew you in, such a deep color of brown they looked almost black. Licking his lips thoughtfully, the old man looked at Severus with expectant eyes.

"Well, we both know that this is not a social call. As we've only spoken briefly in the past, allow me to introduce myself. You may call me Abhijat... Mister Snape," Abhijat said politely.

Severus quirked a brow and nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"I see no reason to bother with inane pleasantries then. According to your last letter, you said you had something of great interest to me," Severus said, getting right to the point.

"Ah, yes, but of course... everything comes with a price," Abhijat said breathily.

"I'd like to see this... grand artifact first, if you don't mind," Severus replied silkily.

Abhijat eyed the wizard across from him, not an expression marring his face before a small smile began to curl around his lips. He slowly got up out of his chair and then toddled over to a small closet, tucked away in the corner of the room. When he returned, there in his hands was a small wooden box.

The craftsmanship of the piece was magnificent; it was a dark cherry wood polished to a high gloss shine. Around the outer rim, on top of the piece, was thin silver leafing. Whereas the four corners on top contained four rather large rough emeralds, the center of it all was an ancient Wizarding family crest. Severus' dark eyes widened at the sight of the small box; he then looked up at Abhijat in askance. The man nodded once before handing the box to Severus and taking his seat once more.

"As you can see, it is clear as to who the original owner was. This is only a piece of the puzzle that you are attempting to put together... but it is a rather large piece," Abhijat said cryptically.

"Name your price." Severus looked up at the old man before him and asked.

Abhijat eyed the young man in front of him. He knew that whatever amount he requested, he would receive it. However, there was something that held him back; a strange emotion swirled in the obsidian eyes in front of him, which in turn caused him to make this particular decision.

"All I ask for is that you keep in mind as to who the original owner was... I also ask that you remember who sought out this particular item; remember his teachings and beliefs."

"That's all you would ask of me in exchange for such an object?" Severus asked skeptically.

"Ah, but this is not just any object; you and I both know that. Yes, it does hold great value, but in reality, I have no use for it, nor could I make it work for me in any way except to sell it, as was my original intentions with you. However, I feel as though giving it to you as a... gift of some sort would serve both of us better. At least in the long run, anyway," Abhijat finished with a small smile.

"Why do I feel as though I'm possibly making a deal with Satan himself?" Severus muttered softly.

"I assure you, young man, I am not Lucifer in disguise... though I suppose that's something he himself might say, so as not to draw attention," Abhijat said with a laugh.

Severus's eyes kept darting between the box and the old man. In reality, he could just get himself together and leave this place as quickly as he came, leaving the box behind. Though in his heart of hearts, he knew that really wasn't an option. Keeping his eyes trained on Abhijat, Severus slipped the box into his robes and quickly rose from his seat. It was clear that this visit was rapidly coming to an end.

"I'm afraid that I must be going, but I thank you for this," Severus said, gesturing the breast of his robes where the box was hidden.

"No need to thank me, just keep my words in mind," Abhijat intoned softly.

Severus nodded once before slipping out the makeshift door and back out into the large open ground floor of the abandoned building. Crossing the large concrete floor, he once again made his way to the opposite side of the building. His steps quickened, and it wasn't long before his robes again gave way to large black wings. With a loud squawk, Severus slipped back through the open window and out into the open air. His body soared upward, and he landed gracefully on top of the abandoned building. Wings fluttered wildly when again feathers gave way to long flowing robes. Giving his surroundings a quick glance and security charm, he was satisfied that it was safe, and without a word, Severus disappeared from the rooftop with a quiet snap.

...:::...

Cinnamon-colored eyes fluttered shut as a gentle wind picked up and caressed her face. Sighing softly to herself, Hermione slowly made her way through one of Hogwarts' more obscure gardens. Though Professor Sprout was absolutely meticulous when dealing with the gardens, this one really only contained night-blooming plants; it was known that Professor Snape frequented such gardens when collecting plants for certain experiments. So, of course, all gardens of the like were avoided by all students, and normally, that also included Hermione. However, it being Saturday, and during the day, there wasn't much of a chance of running into the Potions master in that particular garden among the numerous ones littering Hogwarts grounds.

Silently making her way through the rows of rose bushes and deeper into the garden, she found a bench tucked away underneath a weeping willow. Deciding to stop there, she settled herself on the bench, placing her bag on the ground beside her. She took out a small, non-descript book from the side pocket. Hermione then placed the book on the bench beside her while she retrieved the lunch she had tucked away in her bag. She then began to nibble absently on the chicken sandwich before picking up her book and beginning to read.

She could have just as easily taken lunch in the Great Hall, but more than likely that's where Harry and Ron would be. After the incident in Hogsmeade that morning, Hermione wasn't looking forward to running into either of them anytime soon. Then of course there was the fact that she basically had hexed two Hogwarts students. Now that didn't equate to expulsion, but it did mean a major loss of House points followed by a severe punishment if a staff member discovered what had happened. She truly doubted that Harry and Ron would go running to tell on her, but one never knew.

For a long while she was surrounded with the comforting sound of outdoor silence when suddenly a loud snap, followed by an even louder squawk filled the air. Her head jerked up, and she was greeted with the sight of a black bird lying pitifully on the ground near the snapped branch. Hermione's eyes widened when she caught sight of the poor thing struggling to right itself on the ground. Setting her lunch and book aside, she quickly made her way over to the animal and dropped to the ground. As gently as she could, she took the bird into her hands. That seemed to help the bird untangle itself, and it instantly looked up at her with its piercing dark eyes. Smiling softly, she ran a finger down its breast, brushing against its soft feathers.

"Well, hello there, that was a bit of a nasty fall, wasn't it?" she asked rhetorically.

The bird merely cocked his head to the side and let out a low croak, sitting docilely in Hermione's palm. Rising from her kneeling position, she walked both of them back over to the bench and placed the bird gently in her lap. Breaking off a piece of her sandwich, the young witch then offered the small morsel to the bird seated comfortably on her legs. A clipped squawk escaped the bird's throat as it turned its head away from the offered food. Hermione looked down at the bird, genuinely perplexed as to why it wouldn't take the bit of food. Shrugging, she murmured, "Suit yourself then," before popping the small piece into her mouth.

Hermione continued to eye the bird curiously, still nibbling on her lunch. She couldn't help but be curious about the bird that seemed content to just sit in her lap while she finished her lunch and yet not have any of it for itself. Finishing her sandwich, Hermione brushed away a few stray crumbs and picked up her book once again, content to just have the bird continue to sit docilely in her lap.

As the afternoon wore on, the bird began to wiggle and twist about in the young witch's lap. Hermione tore her eyes away from the book she had been reading and looked down at the bird curiously.

"What's gotten you so excited?" she asked.

In response the bird fluttered its wings and cocked its head to the side before letting out a low croaking sound.

"If you're hungry now, it's your own fault, you know?" she said matter of factly, a small smile curling on her lips.

Again the bird fluttered its wings a bit in response.

"Well, I can't very well read your mind, now can I?" she asked, rolling her eyes heavenward. I've really gone and lost it, talking to a bird as if he can actually carry on a real conversation. She was pulled from her thoughts when she felt the tiny bird waddle up a bit higher on her thighs before turning its back to her in order to face the book she was holding in her hands.

"I'm sorry; I'm still not following you," Hermione said, chuckling softly.

The bird then leaned forward and began pecking at the book softly.

"You... you want to read with me?" she asked curiously.

Dark eyes turned to stare directly at her. Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she continued to stare down at the small bird in her lap. Licking her lips, she nodded her head, and a sunny smile soon curled on her lips.

"Well, alright then... Creighton James Ethan Pryce was one of the first wizards to be internationally recognized as a Potions master..."

So there they were, a young witch and a small bird, soaking up the last of the autumn sun before winter truly set in, never noticing the shadow that slowly began to slither away, keeping this particular new development in mind.

End of Chapter Five

Author Note: Once again thank you to my betas, you really do make the story flow better. Abhijat is an original character that you may be seeing more of in the future.

Southern's Notes: There's that shadow again! I'm wonder if it was Snape or if the bird was Snape or what. I'm intrigued about the old bloke he went to visit and about the object he received. Looking forward to more.

Next: It's now Sunday, and everyone decides today is a good day to talk...