Authors Note: Thanks to Ravenclawgirl-18 for beta reading my story so you won't have to wade through all my spelling mistake! And guess what I still own nothing but the idea to this little story. You all know who owns the characters. As usual, I will try to upload daily but I have a lot of work at the moment so I might not get around to it on some days but I'm sure reviews will motivate me to find the time. ;P

The picture was googeled shadowPhoenix to see if I find a good picture but it isn't mine. I can only wish I could draw that well.

Warning: this will be slash

Shadow Phoenix

Chapter 1

A strange bird

Severus is sitting in his private quarters with some red ink and a quill ready to mark the essays of those dunderheads Dumbledore insists to be taught. He is enjoying the peace and quiet for a moment before a flash of blue light catches his eyes. There, in front of his fireplace, is a bird that most certainly hadn't been there a moment before.

"How did..." The man mumbles more to himself than anyone else. He has no idea how it got there but it's clearly hurt. Its wing is lying at a strange angle and the bird isn't moving it, not that he is moving much in general, the bird moves so little that Severus isn't sure if the damned thing is alive until it lifts it's head a little before dropping it again. Severus has no idea how that bird got into Hogwarts never mind his rooms but it looks strangely like Fawkes just that instead of being red and golden, this bird is black and blue.

"You're hurt." He says as calmly as he can and walks closer to it. The bird tries to move away and cries out with a strange but melodic sound that forces Severus to fight tears and apparently also to be reminded of his mother dying. "Hush, don't be afraid." The man says calmly in a voice meant to calm the distressed wild bird. "I just want to help you. Everything will be okay." He pulls his wand. Summoning a soft and warm cushion under the bird and slowly moves it up. "Stay calm. I'll take you to someone that can help you."

The bird moves its head slowly to look around before resting it again. Severus frowns wondering if the birds head is hurt too, considering that he seems to be strangely calm considering that it must be in a strange location, unless it used to come before Severus started to work here a few years ago. But he is most certainly in the company of a stranger since Severus would remember having seen a bird like that. Either way, Hagrid must be the best choice to take care of a hurt creature. After all, it is the only thing that oaf of a man is good for.

Severus keeps his wand on the cushion while levitating it in front of himself on his way through the dungeon of the castle. They are close to the entrance when he hears Minerva call out to him angrily. "There you are Severus. I was looking for you. Why did you deduct that many points from..."? Her voice quiets for a moment before asking curiously "What is that?"

"I assume your guess is as good as mine." He grumbles upset about the interruption. He wants to get this bird to someone else so it won't be his responsibility if it dies. "And I removed those points because I caught that good for nothing idiot of a sixth-year prefect you've got practice levitation charms on one of my first years. He better be grateful that he only lost 100 points and got a month of detentions. And I strongly suggest to choose the next prefects more wisely."

"In that case I shall inform his parents as well." The stern looking older women says. "Now about that bird like creature. Where did you find it and what happened to it?"

"I don't know what happened to it, nor do I know how it managed to do what it did, but I did see it appear out of thin air in what looked like a burst of blue flames right in front of my fireplace. I was about to bring it to Hagrid since he seems to be a more suitable caretaker then I am." Severus replies while the bird only moved its head slightly to look at Minerva once before its eyes are mostly closed again.

The woman eyes the hurt creature for a moment "It looks a lot like Fawkes. Bring it up to Albus. I get Hagrid and send him up for assistance. I doubt the bird should be out in a weather like this. The snow is getting worse."

"If you say so Minerva." Severus replies and turns around glad that it will also keep him from having to go out into the snowstorm. A few more stairs and hallways later Severus stops in front of an ugly gargoyle and grumbles "Toffee." The gargoyle jumps to the side and the stairs behind start moving. Severus steps on them and a little later enters the office that in his opinion has too much clutter in it. "Albus, Minerva advised me to bring this hurt bird like thing that appeared in my private room in a burst of blue flames to you."

Albus stands from behind the desk and walks towards the floating cushion. The bird seems to be afraid once he notices him getting closer and moves a bit away. Unfortunately, while being big enough to rest on it, the cushion doesn't leave enough room for this and the bird falls towards the ground. Severus tries to grab it instinctively even though he is too far away. Once again though, a blue flame appears. This time first around the bird and a second one in front of Severus and within his hands that had reached out. Both man stare at the bird that settles and calms in the man's arm.

The old man chuckles "How very interesting. I've only read about such a creature once. And that was in a fairy tale. I never dared to hope they exist!"

"And what do you presume this is?" Severus drawls.

"Well my boy." The old man replies "I'm afraid I'm not 100% sure if it's what I believe it is. But in the book, there was a man who was one of those very rare natural animagus that can turn into a magical animal. He was a Phoenix animagus and once he was particularly depressed and due to that turned into a shadow Phoenix. At least that's what the author had called it. It was described to look like your friend there. It seems like he could find the one person that could help him by flashing like Fawkes does. Just that his flames were blue at the time." Albus grins. "The tale was of how a Phoenix is born the first time. The wizard dies happily, his body burns naturally soon after and a Phoenix is born from it. One that never again turned into a wizard."

"I've never heard of a shadow Phoenix." Severus replies. "Nor that a Phoenix is born as a wizard. That would imply that Fawkes once upon a time was a wizard."

"Neither have I heard of one, apart from that admittedly very old fairy tale." The man says. "I've never even considered it to be true even though Fawkes seems to like it when I read it to him everytime he got reborn. But I thought that to be because he's intelligent and a bit like a child at those times and who wouldn't like a story that has someone like oneself in it."

There is a knock on the door before Hagrid enters saying. "McGonagall told me to get up here. Said Snape here found somethin' I'd like to have a look at."

"Of course," Albus cheers "Maybe you can clear this up. Tell me my old friend, what kind of bird does Severus have there?"

"I don't know Professor." The half giant says after taking a closer look. "But it looks an awful lot like Fawkes does don't ya think. Its wing looks funny. I think it's broken."

"Can you take this thing and fix it?" Severus grumbles.

"I'm sure Hagrid will be just as agreeable to assist you in taking care of that bird as I am, but it came to you. Severus my boy, we can all agree that it is a magical creature from the way it came here so similarly to how Fawkes flashes, but that bird choose you. It came to you for a reason and so you must keep it. And of course, give it a name.

Here the bird raises its head a little and looks at Severus expectantly before his eyes close again a moment later and its head nearly drops back down "I doubt the bird would appreciate it in the long run. I have little to no experience in taking care of anyone or anything. Never mind a delicate and wounded magical creature." Severus replies.

"And yet it chose you." The old man says before turning to another bird that the newly arrived one hadn't noticed. "Fawkes my dear. Is that a Shadow Phoenix?" The magnificent red and gold bird thrills beautifully. "Is it a female?" This time it stays silent. "Is it a male then?" Another beautiful thrill can be heard. "There you have it Severus. It is a Shadow Phoenix and a male one. Fawkes wouldn't have thrilled had he been uncertain. And being a Phoenix himself I'd say he is an expert on the subject." Albus cheerfully turns back to Hagrid. "Any suggestions about the wing?"

"I can go grab some sticks and fabric to bandage it up." The huge man says and is about to leave.

"Don't bother." Severus grumbles and once again uses his wand. This time to magickly bind the birds wing to his body. A pained thrill can be heard from the bird and he tries to move only to hear Severus say. "It's okay. It's over. It won't hurt again." Severus is reminded of a beating his father had given him once while the birds pained thrill is heard and he can see that Dumbledore as well as Hagrid look pained and saddened.

The bird settles in the man's arms again and looks at his wounded wing. He thrills again, the sound is nearly the same as the one before but a bit more even. Still it sounds like a very sad melody and Severus somehow remembers the moment he held Lily's dead body in his arms.

"It's okay little one." Severus sighs. "Let's just hope you won't regret flashing to me. In case you do, I suggest to go here next."

"I do wonder if the rest of that fairy tale has at least some truth to it." Albus muses still looking a little sad. "If that is the case the wizard he used to be died in a rather deep depression, possibly trying to kill himself. Or he is a wizard in a deep depression."

"Why don't you try to undo a possible transformation?" Severus suggests.

"Maybe when he is healed." Albus says after a moment of thought, "The transformation could be painful right now."

"As you please." Severus replies, "If he is an animagus however, he already has a name."

"If he is a real Phoenix he might too." Albus replies, "He might be old enough to survive countless wizards in that case and possibly was named a few times. But either way, you can't just call him bird. Every creature deserves to have a name. And I'm sure you'll find a name he'll approve of."

The bird looks at Albus before turning to Severus and then looks back at the older man. He looks curious about this topic. Severus just sighs and questions, "Any suggestions?"

"He is your responsibility, so the honour to name him falls to you." Albus chuckles.

Severus sighs and replies, "I'll think about it." He watches the bird and doesn't look too happy about the honour of naming him or rather the responsibility of taking care of him. The bird looks at him and thrills again sadly before closing his eyes again. Severus sees that Albus as well as Hagrid look sad again just like he feels like he's all alone in the wold and wonders if a Shadow Phoenix's thrill has that effect on everyone like a normal Phoenix's melody can relax people. He also wonders if those reflect the bird's feelings since when the bird must have felt pain he remembered a beating and now he just feels alone which might hold true for the bird if he realises that Severus isn't all that happy about keeping him.

"I don't know if the fairy tale is true, but he certainly does sound depressed enough to leave little wonder how an author that met a Shadow Phoenix was inspired to write it." Albus states.

"Either way," Severus grumbles, "Any suggestion on how to take care of him? Like food or what I might need to acquire for him?"

"Fawkes usually hunts for his own food," Albus sighs, "I doubt however that your friend can, at least not in his current state. I do wonder what hurt him that much." Albus muses before he turns towards his own Phoenix, "Fawkes my dear, could you get some extra food for our new guest and flash it to Severus?" Silence meets them and Albus sighs, "I guess that is a no and you'll just have to try different things Severus. Just try something and Fawkes only needs the perch he has, I still have an old one. I'll have an elf send it down to you until you can get him a nice one of his own."

"I thank you and will take my leave if you don't mind." Severus grumbles and turns towards the door to leave.

"Of course," Albus says to the man's back. "But don't hesitate to contact me should you have further questions."

"Of course, not." Severus grumbles ironically. "You have been a well of wisdom so far and known everything about this bird or how to treat it."

A moment later the Shadow Phoenix is carried back to where they had come from and by then there is already a perch like the one Fawkes had, just a little less magnificent

A little later Severus tries to hold out different things to the bird and it does try to eat some of the fruits it is offered. It doesn't look easy to eat them with his peak but it hadn't looked twice at the worms, bugs or slugs. All of those have been offered to him by Severus too.

Once the bird has eaten a bit and was given a bit of fresh water Severus leaves it and picks up some books and settles in a comforter by the fire trying to forget his new responsibility for the moment. The bird watches him only for a moment before he gives a sad sounding thrill and flashes over to him and settles on his knee and investigates the book before craning his neck towards Severus. In the book is a picture of a bird that looks exactly like Fawkes and Severus wonders if the bird is intelligent enough to understand that he picked a book that might give him some information about this bird.

Severus sighs and starts to read out loud what he reads about a Phoenix and the bird on his lap returns his gaze towards the book.

The bird hardly seems to notice how the man starts to pet him after reading for a moment and quickly seems to fall asleep. The part about a Phoenix is quickly finished and Severus summons another book with information on Phoenixes. He has some that have more information about magical creatures that he never read since he only cared about the parts of them he could use. It goes on like this for quite some time until Severus mumbles, "I do wonder if your tears work the same as Fawkes'." He continues petting the bird for a moment in silence. It takes a while before the bird wakes up again and Severus says, "I'm still not sure how to call you. But I considered a few names while I read this. Some of them I had to rule out since they are hardly fitting for a bird like you. They are either too common or too meaningless."

The Shadow Phoenix thrills and moves his head to the side. The man just sighs and then says, "How about, well, I still think the name itself is too common for a majestic bird like yourself. But I had to think about what Albus said. About you being as sad as your thrilling suggests and possibly even being able to turn into a Phoenix like Fawkes if you are a wizard." The man sighs, "I thought a name that might bring you luck and good fortune would be fitting and thought about Felix. There is this potion you know that is called Felix Felicitas and is a Luck Potion that would give whoever drinks it a few hours of luck. During that time, nothing the person attempts fails." The bird thrills and moves his head against Severus' face seeming grateful for a name. "Well, it's time for me to go to dinner. He moves the bird towards the perch but before putting it down he asks, "Would you like to stay here?" The bird stays silent. "Would you like to join me?" Felix thrills. "As you wish." The man sighs and holds the bird walking once again out of his rooms.

During dinner, all the other Professors ask questions about the Shadow Phoenix. Some of them already heard from Minerva that Severus found a strange bird and Albus of course is curious about the name and Severus is glad to hear that the man seems to appreciate the choice too. He would hate to get lectured about it in front of the others.

Felix is fed a few bits and pieces from Severus' plate, only fruits though since Severus assumes that spices might not be good for the bird's stomach. Very soon a routine develops. Every morning Severus retreats his charge's broken wing. It always hurts a little and the bird always thrills for a moment even though it usually is very quiet, for which Severus is very grateful considering how his thrills make him feel. They go together to breakfast and very soon no one seems to care about the Shadow Phoenix and apart from Severus who feeds him bits and pieces from his plate, hardly anyone seems to notice the bird. Only Albus occasionally says something about it. After breakfast Severus carries Felix towards the dungeons where the old perch Albus send them is placed in a back corner. Felix stays there while the class is in session but during a free period for the Professor, Felix sits on the desk and seems to listens to the Professor read out the essays loudly for the bird and Felix hears him grumble about whatever dunderhead wrote it. The Shadow Phoenix always looks at the papers.

During lunch the bird is once again at the table and gets fed from Severus' plate before they return to the class room where the activities from the morning continue. Later in the afternoon after the last class, Felix gets to listen to the commentary of Professor Snape on those essays again. After that they leave for dinner where Felix once again enjoys some fruits from Severus' plate before Felix and Severus return to the dungeon where Severus reads out passages from his potions book or brews for the infirmary. At some point, he even tries to use some of Felix's tears after asking him for some and it seems to work the same way Fawkes' tears do.

After that Severus usually leaves for a few hours to patrol the hallways after curfew and insists that Felix stays and rests for the time being. And even though the bird with a broken wing is left on the brand-new perch Severus bought only for him, Felix always sleeps in Severus' bed by the time he returns from those rounds. Three month of that have passed by the time the wing doesn't seem to hurt anymore, at least the bird hasn't thrilled in pain when the bandage was changed for some days now and Severus leaves the bandages off and asks him to try and move the wing. A moment later Felix is soaring through the room thrilling. The thrill still makes Severus feel sad but this time it only reminds him of playing alone in his room as a child. It's not quite as bad and he hopes that it's because Felix is feeling better.

A knock on the door stops Felix in his flight and he elegantly lands on the perch. Severus opens the door and lets Albus in. "You mentioned you wanted to see if the wing is healed?"

"It is." Severus replies and points towards Felix who for the first time in month doesn't have his wing bound to his body. "He even flew a moment ago, and from the look of it, he's never done anything else in his life."

"I'd still like to try out that spell and see if he could be an animagus." Albus says, "We both know that nothing bad can happen to him. If he isn't one nothing should happen." The old man draws his wand and points it towards the Phoenix. He casts the spell and while the light is flying towards the bird, Felix flashes away towards Severus and lands on his shoulder thrilling and such reminding Severus of his father's face when he was particularly angry. "Don't worry, Felix, I promise this won't hurt." Albus says and tries again with a similar result. Felix flashes back to his perch a split second before the spell hits him. "Maybe you should try Severus. He might trust you more than me."

"I have a feeling he doesn't want us to use that spell on him." Severus says but does as asked and draws his wand. Once again Felix flashes away just this time he reappears in front of Albus angrily thrilling and scratching the man's arm with his sharp talons. "Enough Felix." Severus chides and the bird returns to him. "As I said Albus, I fear he doesn't want to be changed back."

"I take it you assume he's a wizard?" Albus asks.

"More precisely a child." Severus replies and considers how the bird seems to be constantly around him and intend on sleeping in his bed. "He acts like one in many ways. I fear even younger then the children that attend this school."

"Any idea whose child he is?" Albus questions surprised.

"I assume a muggle born." Severus replies, "You would have heard if he's the child of a light family and I would have heard from the other side of the spectrum if a child went missing and there aren't many in between and those children would have appeared in the Prophet."

"We still need to find his family and return him though." Albus says resulting in Felix flashing away from them and Severus is glad to see a gleam of blue light from the gab under his bedroom door.

He raises his voice just enough to let Felix hear, "He will stay." After a surprised look from Albus he adds, "His wing was broken Albus and the way he acted at first compared to later on I assume he was used to little or no food and had a concussion to boot. The way he fled from this room and avoided being found out by flashing away from our spells shows that he fears being returned to wherever he came from. Albus, he was abused! I refuse to send him back there."

It is quiet for a moment and Albus sighs. "I understand. I still think we need to make a formal appeal though. You need to have legal custody of him for him to eventually attend this school and if he is as young as you say, he should still get an education wouldn't you agree?"

"I doubt he's older than ten." Severus replies, "And he already shows interest in books and I would assume that he can read well enough. I will find out who he is eventually but it will take time to earn his trust fully."

"Then I'll just assume that he is indeed a Shadow Phoenix for now." Albus replies making clear that he will give him as much time as he needs unless someone else finds out the truth. As the headmaster, he would have to find out who the boy is and get in trouble should he be found out to have kept it a secret. Not that the same doesn't go for the Professor. But he too could pretend not to assume anything.

Felix flashes back into the room the second the door closes behind the old man but stays a careful distance from Severus and rests on his perch wings half stretched to flee. "Don't worry Felix, I'll protect you. I am curious who you really are and about your age but I will protect you."

Felix doesn't move apart from relaxing his wings a little and looking away. "Don't worry, we have time." The professor gets out a book and sits down, "Come read with me." Felix flies to him and settles on his lap while the man opens the book and starts to read.

A few days' later another visitor shows up. Lucius and his son Draco. "Severus my friend." The blond man says "Could you watch Draco for the weekend? He is getting on our nerves begging to spend some time with his godfather."

Severus sighs and eyes the Shadow Phoenix in the corner and says, "I guess you won't leave me with much of a choice anyway."

"Correct." The blond man says noticing the Shadow Phoenix. "What is that you have there?"

Severus sighs and says, "Just some creature, Albus charged me with taking care of for a while." He moves over towards it and whispers into his ear, "You are more than that, I just don't want him to know."

"And what is he?" The blond man questions.

"I have no idea." Severus lies smoothly. "Some bird Albus stumbled upon while it was still hurt but Fawkes wasn't too fond of it so he dumped it on me. I heard he's done it before and it appears it is my turn now."

"Oh well." The blond man says eying the strange bird, "At least it appears to be an interesting creature and most importantly a quiet one."

"I agree. It most certainly could be worse." He agrees before looking towards the younger of his guests, "How are your studies coming along?"

"Very good." The five-year-old boy beams and continues to speak in his child like manner. "My tutor says so and I can read."

"I'm pleased to hear." Severus replies. "I expect you to excel in your studies once you enter Hogwarts."

"I will." The boy says.

"I'll take my leave." The older says, "Narcissa wishes to go on a trip while Draco is gone so I'm roped into accompanying her."

"In that case, you better leave." Severus says, "We all know how impatient she can be."

"I shall see you on Sunday then to pick up Draco." The older of the two blonds says before looking towards his son, "Be a good boy and listen to your godfather." After that he leaves without any further good bye.

The boy walks over to the bird on the perch. "Does it have a name?"

"His name is Felix." Severus replies. "If you brought any books, you should read some for him. He likes to listen and look at the book while I read out loud."

"Really?" Draco asks curious before taking out a tiny suitcase from his pocked. "Unshrink it Uncle!"

"Of course," Severus replies and draws his wand to silently unshrink it.

The bird watches as Draco grabs his favourite book and opens it. He starts to read, more slowly than Severus and every time he makes a mistake he doesn't notice himself, Felix thrills. "Uncle he can read." Draco says after a while.

"I'm aware of it." Severus replies, "And you should practise more if a bird can read better than you."

Draco pouts, "I just started to learn, I bet that thing is older than me anyway." He is quiet for a moment before he changes the topic rather obviously "Can we go fly?"

"Tomorrow." Severus replies, "If the weather isn't too bad and if you practised your reading and your numbers."

"Yes Uncle." Draco cheers and continues to read a story. A true one about his favourite hero. He is just a boy his age that survived a very bad curse, but with that he had defeated a very bad man. Draco is exited since he knows that someday he'll meet that boy. After reading to the bird about the boy-who-lived and how he defeated the most powerful wizard of their time he asks, "Uncle, what do you think this Harry Potter is like?"

"Probably even more spoiled then you are." Severus grumbles.

"Father told me to try and befriend him when we get to Hogwarts." Draco tells his Godfather. "I wonder if he really is powerful."

"I doubt it." Severus says, "I assume he was simply lucky to survive."

"But he defeated the dark Lord." Draco insists, "You know that father was only a servant to him and this boy defeated him as a baby. He must be powerful."

"Which is why I'm assuming he was simply lucky." Severus insists, "There is no way that a baby that age could otherwise have defeated him."

"But if he's powerful, do you think he'll protect me?" Draco questions. "Father seems to fear that the dark lord will return some day, and that he'll want me to become a death eater too just like grandfather and father."

"I doubt that Potter boy would do anything for you." Severus replies and wonders if Lucius really wants to protect his son from such faith or if it's just to make sure the boy won't accidentally let on that he's still loyal to the maniac, "Your father was a death eater and Potter will hate anything related to the dark Lord and Slytherin by extension. And I fear that includes you."

"Why would he? He doesn't know me yet." Draco wonders.

"And you don't know muggleborns and still you hate them." Severus replies. "He'll be raised to hate us just like you're raised to hate muggleborns without thinking about it for yourself."

Draco is quiet and Felix seems to listen to the conversation. He flies over to the boy and lands on his shoulder looking at Severus like he wants to say that he'll protect the boy. "I like your bird." Draco says after that and pets the Shadow Phoenix.

"I can see that." Severus replies with a grin, "How about we see who of you two is better with numbers. Since we already established that his reading is superior."

"I'm good with my numbers." Draco says and eyes the bird. "But he's older I bet. He had more time to learn."

"I'm sure you'll do fine and don't be disappointed if the bird is better." Severus says wondering if Felix really is older. He told Albus that he assumes the bird to be a child, but he doesn't know for sure yet. The way he avoided that particular spell might be considered as prove but at the same time the bird might disapprove of being spelled with anything. Especially since Severus had used spells to bandage his wing which must have hurt the creature. Maybe it's just a bird after all. But then again, he never flashed away to have his wound treated. He must have understood that it was for his own good which means he would have understood what this spell was about and had a reason to avoid it.

He sighs and starts to ask a few mathematical questions. Just easy adding and subtracting with numbers smaller than 20 since Draco only started to learn math a few months ago. The bird stays silent and Severus wonders if he ever learned any numbers. He had read to the bird out loud and the bird had looked into the book. Maybe that is how he learned to read rather than reading along from the beginning. Maybe the animagus, if one at all, is even younger then he assumed. Maybe even younger than Draco. At first the bird might not have known how to reply but he didn't even give a thrill when Severus asked if Draco's answer was correct.

Severus had read about natural magical animagus in books a few times after his rounds at night when Felix had already slept and found out that they are very rare and there are only a few of them recorded. If this fairy tale Albus talked about was true it must have been a long time before anyone started to record such things. He also learned that those who discovered their abilities, were in their early teens. But this child was clearly acting like a much younger child and would have attended Hogwarts if he were that age. Unless he's from another country and went to another school and him being missing just never reached them in this distance. Severus also found out that they are not only very rare but also, usually, magically very powerful. The last time it was a Dragon animagus and that was no one else than Merlin himself who according to the book learned of his ability at the age of 13.

A Phoenix wasn't recorded yet, which isn't a surprise considering that less then ten were recorded but it was mentioned that legends were known about others and there it was mentioned that one was indeed a Phoenix who had lived as a 'real' Phoenix after his wizard live had ended. But that wasn't proven to be fact and more likely than not made up. At least according to the Author of the scientific book Severus had read and Severus wonders if that person too had read the same fairy tale Albus had but the authors dismissed it at least mostly.

Very interesting however was that before Merlin there had been a Greek witch named Adrasteia who could turn into a Griffin since she's been 15. She is also described to be very powerful but not quite as powerful as Merlin and, by comparing all of those recorded cases, the Author assumed that the power level not only determines the ability to manifest but also how early it manifests meaning that if Felix really is a wizarding child below his teens, he's more powerful then Merlin! Severus sighs and wonders if Felix is only a Shadow Phoenix after all and decides to try some other spell on him in a few days to see how he'll react to that.

The next day Severus does as he promised and goes outside with Draco and Felix to fly a little certain that Felix will enjoy to stretch his wings no matter if he's a genuine bird or not. Draco and Severus leave the castle and Felix flies onto Severus' shoulder and shivers. It's still cold even though the snow finally melted and spring is approaching. "It's cold." Draco whines and orders, "Do a heating charm Uncle."

Severus does as ordered for once without any complain about the boy's tone and then points his wand towards Felix to redo the charm, mostly to see if the bird will let him. The Shadow Phoenix isn't moving an inch until after the charm hits him and then he starts to fly around them instead of moving as close to Severus' warm body as possible. He sighs filing away that information for later since he must watch the blond boy on a broom for now.

Draco and Severus mount their brooms and start to fly a little. Draco is a good flyer for his age but he is still young and Severus refuses to let him fly alone even if he himself isn't the best and probably won't be able to catch him if he falls. But he can cushion his fall enough to prevent anything worse than a bit of a fright that might stop the boy from flying anytime soon.

They fly around the grounds a little and Severus sees some of the students look at him in surprise. He just frowns and decides to be particularly strict towards them to ensure that his reputation won't suffer. They circle the quidditch pitch high enough to see that the Gryffindors are practising and return towards the castle. They aren't far from the pitch when a sudden strong gust of winds hits them both and Severus just about manages to stay on his broom but after catching himself he sees Draco fall to the ground screaming. Severus is about to charm the ground and ensure a soft landing when he sees Felix fly towards the boy and grab him with his talon right before they both flash away in a burst of blue flames.

Praying that neither is hurt he flies as fast as he can towards the castle entrance and runs towards his rooms praying that Felix brought the two of them there safely. He enters and hears Draco's cries from his bedroom and rushes into it. The boy is holding the remains of his broom that, as Severus finds out later, was retrieved by Felix while Severus had run down towards them. Draco looks up towards Severus once he notices him and cries, "My broom is broken."

Severus sighs in relieve seeing Felix right next to the boy and both clearly unharmed since their worse problem is a broken broom. "Just be glad it isn't your neck that is broken." Severus says and spells the broom pieces away. "I'm sure your father will get you a new one soon."

"I want a new broom now." Draco wines. "I want to fly with Felix again."

Severus sighs, he had seen how the bird had flown circles around the boy and how Draco had laughed about it and enjoyed to watch the bird.

He is about to say that Draco can come again to fly with Felix once he has a new broom when a knock is heard from his door. He goes towards it to see who is visiting and is surprised to see Albus outside. Usually the old fool summons him when he needs anything. "Hello Severus, I noticed that you were absent from meals and found out that you spent them here with your godchild who is visiting. I thought I bring you a collection of old fairy tales I used to enjoy and let you read it to the boy while he's over. I'm sure it must be boring for a child his age here and hope he'll like it and certainly won't know them yet since they aren't as well known as the tales of beetle the bard. I do believe his father will find them more appropriate too since sadly there isn't a single muggle in them. To be frank it sometimes seems as though they don't exist in those tales."

Draco, being the curios boy he is, is already standing behind Severus and asks, "Will you read it to me and Felix now please?"

Glad that the boy seems to have forgotten about his broom for the moment Severus replies, "Fine. But only one story."

"Yeah." Draco cheers and says, "Come here Felix, Severus will read to us." He smiles up, "What story will you read?"

"I would suggest to read the Shadow Phoenix." Albus says.

"Are you sure that is a wise choice?" Severus questions.

"It's just a tale and I'm sure the child will enjoy it since the Shadow Phoenix does resemble your Felix." Albus replies. "But be aware Draco that it really is only a fairy tale."

"Did you here that Felix? You're in the Fairy tale!" Draco cheers, "Or at least a bird like you. I wonder what happened to it. Please read it Uncle please?"

"Fine." Severus grumbles wondering how Felix will react to the story.

He sits down in the comforter in front of the fireplace after Albus excused himself claiming that sadly he lacks the time to listen to a fairy tale. Draco sits down on the carpet in front of the fireplace and Felix settles next to him instead of on Severus' lap to look at the book for the first time. Severus watches him, it's the same place he arrived at and he wonders if Felix is thinking about it too. He takes a deep breath and looks for the start in the story and begins to read. He must admit that Lucius wouldn't find a fault in it. There really is no mention of a single non-magical person in the story. Only about a young boy the tender age of 8 when he discovers his ability to turn into a Phoenix with golden and red fathers. To Severus' surprise the boy is called Fawkes and he wonders if Albus had read this story before he met his Phoenix. In the story Fawkes was happy as a child but in his teens his parents died and he was left penniless and had many hardships to endure. He lost his smile and when turned his feathers were black and blue while the fire that would let him go where he pleased turned blue too. At some point, he is so sad that he wishes to die but instead decides to spend his days as a bird and flashes away not caring where to, if only he'd find happiness there. That is when he meets a young witch and slowly falls for her over the years he spends in the younger girls presents and while he watches her grow up.

But not all is well. An evil elderly but powerful wizard appears about 3 years after the Shadow Phoenix arrived with the young witch that by than is 17 years old. The old wizard threatens everyone around there. He insists that the young beautiful witch is given to him or he will kill everyone else until she agrees to wed him. The Phoenix turns back into the wizard he really is and over powers the evil wizard to safe the witch he loves. She in turn likes the handsome man and had already liked the bird that had been with her prior to the change. She decides to marry her saviour and the man once again is happy and regains his original Phoenix form whenever he changes and after a long and happy life he dies of old age in the arms of his wife and moments later his body bursts into flames and a chick is born from the ashes. His personality changed and he never again changed into a wizard but from that day forward, the bird was reborn from his own ashes whenever it died to live on for eternity.

"He should have come to me rather than Dumbledore." Draco says a few moments after the fairy tale ends. "I'm prettier than the old fool. He would much easier fall in love with me and be happy."

Severus can't help but chuckle. "Maybe that isn't what he's looking for."

"But what is he looking for then" Draco wonders.

"A home where he's loved." Severus states. "A place where there are people like him, people that will care about him the way he is, like we both do." He looks more at Felix than Draco when saying that, wondering himself if it could be what the bird was looking for. If he is a muggle born the odds are high that some muggle got angry about some of his accidental outburst, which with a strong magical power tend to be more frequent and on occasion more violent. He also files that information away in his head and says, "But this is a mood point since as Professor Dumbledore said, it is only a fairy tale."

"I wish it wasn't though." Draco sighs, "I wish Felix was a wizard. We could be best friends than and he'd safe me from the dark Lord and marry me."

"To me it seems like you two managed to become friends just fine the way he is now." Severus sighs. "And now get ready for dinner, it's getting late."

"You think the old fool will borrow me that book?" Draco questions.

Severus sighs, "He might be persuaded to lend it to you if you ask politely."

"Can we eat in the great hall than?" Draco questions "I'll ask him than!"

"If you wish." Severus relents, "But you need to hurry and get ready."

The next evening Draco is picked up and talks about nothing else than Felix and how he saved him and played with him and how he can read and everything else he did with the bird until Lucius just groans and asks him to go ahead through the floo and tell his mother already. The boy leaves and Lucius just looks at Severus, "Did he really nearly fall?"

"I was there and ready to cushion his fall." Severus insists, "He was perfectly safe but yes, he did fall and Felix did flash him back here. I do believe he exaggerates. Felix did thrill a few times while he tried to read but I assume it has more to do with the bird being used to my reading that is by far more fluent than his attempt to deceiver the words."

"I thought as much." Lucius says, "A bird that reads, imagine that. I do wonder if that bird is some form of Phoenix though."

"I will do some tests now that I saw him flash like Fawkes does." Severus replies, "We'll see if he's useful for my potions."

Lucius leaves shortly after and Severus is glad to be alone with the bird and looks at him opening the folded parchment he had found on his bedside table that morning. "You're welcome." He says pointing towards the note that thanks Severus for giving Felix his name. "I would like to know your real name though."

The bird moves restless but doesn't change into a wizard. "Please trust me." Still nothing happens. Severus sighs, "Fine, maybe you'll trust me enough in time. I promise you though, I'll never send you back to whoever hurt you before you came to me."

The bird thrills and settles on Severus' shoulder right before the man rises to walk towards the great hall.

A few weeks pass since Severus got that note and he starts to teach Felix some simple math and finds him to be rather intelligent and a quick study even though reading seems to be more his strength. He can add and subtract numbers from one to 10 by the end of the first week mostly correctly and with only little time to think about the answer. Severus also sometimes places a short text before him and asks yes and no questions about it afterwards noticing that Felix seems to understand everything he reads himself just as easily as if Severus had read it for him and that he is much faster with reading it than Draco had been.

Severus had hoped that Felix would give him some more hints about who he is or something else to go by but nothing was forthcoming so he decided to do something to hopefully get something out of him. One evening, just after curfew, nearly a month after Draco had been there Severus gets once again ready to do his rounds. He places Felix on his perch as always but before leaving he places a quill and a piece of parchment on the table and says, "After improving your reading and your numbers I think it is time to work on your writing considering that the first note was just about readable but the script was far from being elegant. You do need to work on that. I understand that you are reluctant to do so in anyone's present so I leave you to do it while I'm on my round. I promise not to return for the next hour and would like to find, upon my return, a short essay about what you like to do best."

He chose to do an easy topic with which Felix can avoid to give up any information about himself to start but will eventually include things about Felix himself like where he lived or who was living there with him and some more details about his family if this works. He leaves for his round and doesn't return for nearly two hours to give the boy plenty of time to change back into a bird should he so choose. By the time he returns, Felix is, as always, sleeping in his bed but the parchment is lying on the table where it was, but now with a similarly unreadable script as Draco's. Maybe even a bit less readable just like the last note. On it stands, 'I like it best to be with my Sev. I like to read with you and that you give me from your tasty food. It is much better than the hard bread and cheese my Aunt and Uncle used to give me maybe once a day. I also like to fly with my Sev and his Draco. I wish, my Sev were my daddy.'

Severus reads it and has a hard time to fight the tears that threaten to rise to his eyes. He takes a deep breath before he looks at the Shadow Phoenix lying in his bed and takes both notes he has now and leaves for Dumbledore's office.

As soon as Albus asks him to enter he says, "Felix is most certainly an abused boy and I assume that he was either left uneducated or is about Draco's age."

"How do you know?" Albus questions.

Severus silently hands over the first note and after Dumbledore read it he explains when he got it and that he had been waiting for other notes that didn't come and what he had done that night before he hands over the new note. He also mentions how he had to teach him to calculate even simple equations.

After reading the second one Albus sighs, "I see. Do you think that the Muggles authorities even knew about him? If he was left uneducated, then I guess he was given birth to at home and in secrecy!"

"Either that or he really is young enough to explain it." Severus replies, "He might even be younger than Draco. The way he wrote, I mean the wording not the hardly readable chicken scratch, does indicate a similarly young age. Older children wouldn't wish for some stranger to be their, well you read it. Either way, he was abused that much is clear."

"We need to find out who he is and where he came from to officially get custody of Felix transferred to you." Albus says. "And we need it fast. I'll have to contact the authorities soon otherwise. I can't pretend not to know anything and neither can you Severus."

"I plan to get him to write more and possibly more about himself too." Severus replies. "Maybe I can even get him to write more by tomorrow."

"Do try." Albus replies. "I'll give you about a month either way."

"Thank you." Severus says and rises to return to his quarters before the sleeping boy wakes up and notices that Severus is still gone and possibly worries. He does try to get the boy to write more about himself and where he comes from but all he gets when asking for a name in further essays is that freaks don't have names or that he can't be a boy again because he's never been a good boy and only a freak. Severus tries multiple times to tell the boy, that still refuses to change from his animagus form, that he is in no way a freak and that he is most certainly a very good boy and that he wants to help him and make sure that he mustn't go to that Aunt and Uncle that he mentioned in that second note again but that he need to know who he is to do so. Still, Severus doesn't even find out the child's age since the boy strictly ignores any questions about it or about his family.

The month is nearly past when Albus comes down to him one evening saying, "Severus, I need your help."

Surprised at the shaken appearances he lets the man enter and questions what has him so worried only to hear, "It seems Harry Potter is missing. I have an old friend of mine watching his home and she hasn't seen him for a long time and now found out that he has run away for some reason, or so his family claims. I fear the worst and we must find out if he was taken. His family probably wouldn't say anything about magic being involved and to avoid being found out rather claim him to be a runaway. We must go at once."

"Do I have to join?" Severus sighs and eyes Felix. "I rather not leave Felix."

"I understand." Albus says, "Maybe you can take him along but I might need your expertise. You know most of Voldemort's old followers and are suited best to find out if the boy really ran away for some reason I fail to see or if he was taken by one of them and possibly even know by whom."

"Fine." Severus grumbles and holds out an arm for Felix who flies over and lands on it having heard every word. "But I hope the boy didn't just run away because he didn't get the game he wanted or some such nonsense or so god help me I will teach him some manners."

They leave the castle and walk towards the gates were Albus says, "You should hide Felix, we are going to a muggle neighbourhood and our robes will draw enough attention as it is."

Severus casts a simple notice me not spell but does as asked and engulfs the Phoenix inside his robe, not to hide him since the spell does that, but to avoid the Phoenix getting scared or flying off after the strange feeling from apparition. The bird does thrill disapprovingly after arriving there and moves inside of the robes and Severus shushes him as good as he can and keeps him hidden inside his robes until he settles while he and Albus walks towards the door of Number 4 privet drive.

Albus knocks and Petunia opens the door paling a little she looks around and lets both man inside before saying, "He isn't here. He disappeared a few weeks ago."

Albus is about to ask some questions when he hears the Shadow Phoenix thrill and this time the melodic melody doesn't sound sad, it sounds terrified and the next second Severus is engulfed in blue flames and gone with the Phoenix. Albus stares at the spot he's been at and says, "Oh my, I guess the trip was too much for Felix, never mind, Severus will probably be back momentarily so let's continue. Did little Harry have a reason to run away or do you think he was taken?"

In the meantime, Severus is surprised to be back in his quarters with a clearly distressed Felix in his arm. "Shush, shush, everything is fine." Severus tries to calm him.

The bird still thrills terrified for a moment longer before he calms. "Is everything all right now?" Severus questions when the bird calmed down and Felix thrills and Severus sighs. "Would you rather stay here alone or stay with Minerva?" The thrill is just as terrified as before and Felix starts to fly on his shoulder and pull him towards Severus' bedroom. "I get it you want me to stay, but Felix, I can't. You heard that there is a boy missing and he is in grave danger. Some very bad wizards want to harm him and we must find him. Also," Severus takes a deep breath, "I knew his mother. This child's mother was a friend of mine and even if that friendship ended before her death due to something I did, I still liked her greatly and she died to protect her son. She loved this little boy, a boy about Draco's age, so much that she gave her live for her son and I swore that I would make sure that her sacrifice wasn't for nothing. I must protect her son, for her sake. I have to go find him."

Felix looks deep into his eyes for a moment before Severus sees a blue light around him and his shape changes into that of a little boy. A smaller boy than even Draco is. Once the light is gone the little boy with back messy hair looks up. Green eyes, eyes that look just like Lily's look at him from a face that is so much like James Potter that Severus doesn't even need to see the scare that peeks out from the messy hair. "Then don't leave me." The boy says, "And don't ever make me go back."

"I swear, you won't have to return to them." Severus replies shocked that this boy, the Shadow Phoenix animagus that had come to him, is the son of his old school-rival. The son of the man Severus thought he hates most and the woman he loves most. He tries not to show the shock and says, "But you can help me make sure of it, just please tell me what happened the day you came to me. Tell me everything that happened including how you broke your arm."

The boy looks at him for a moment and then mumbles, "I asked a question, I know freaks aren't supposed to ask questions, but I did."

"Firstly, you are not a freak and I forbid you to address yourself as such. Now go on, what did you ask?" Severus questions.

"I wanted to know why Dudley was allowed to go to preschool and I wasn't. I heard them talking that I would have to go to primary but I wanted to know why I couldn't go to preschool like Dudley got to go." Harry whispers, "I should have known it's because I'm a freak and he's a good boy."

"I told you not to call yourself a freak. You are a good boy." Severus insists, "Don't let anyone else tell you differently."

"Aunt doesn't think so." Harry mumbles, "She slapped my head and I tumbled."

"She hit you hard enough to tumble?" Severus wants to know outraged.

Harry just looks surprised before saying, "Oh, I'm clumsy I always tumble when she slaps me, I'm not as big and strong as you."

Severus takes a calming breath at those words and the way he speaks like it's the most natural thing in the world that he would tumble after being slapped. After that Severus asks, "And what happened then? That can't be all to get a broken arm."

"I'm stupid, I asked by the stairs. I tumbled all the way down." Harry says with shrug like it should be obvious, "Aunt was angry I hit a picture with my foot on my tumble. She locked me in my cupboard."

"Your cupboard?" Severus asks too outraged about hearing that the poor boy was punished for hitting something when they push him down the stairs to even talk about that any further.

"The one under the stairs. That's where my bed was." Harry says, "Dudley needed two rooms and got them for being a good boy and Aunt Marge, Uncle's sister, sometimes comes to stay and needs a guest room. And Aunt and Uncle shared a room. That was all. There was no room left for a freak. I had the cupboard under the stairs. I like it, I can hide the broken toys I got from the bin between stuff in it. The one's Dudley didn't want no more."

Severus once again has to take a calming breath. It wouldn't do to show the child how angry he is becoming considering that he'll most likely assume the anger to be directed towards himself. "You aren't a freak!" Another deep breath later he asks, "And you ran from that cupboard to me?"

"No." Harry says, "My arm hurt but my head started to feel funny and after a while my tummy too and I threw up. But I only made a little mess. I didn't have that much in my tummy to make a big mess. Uncle was still mad and threw me out and said I wasn't to come back until I was a good boy." Severus closes his eyes, he can just picture the small boy in those tatted oversized clothing sitting outside in the snow. He still remembers that it had been snowing everywhere that night since he knows how bad it was here at Hogwarts and how happy he had been that he didn't have to go outside to find Hagrid after running into Minerva. "I wanted to get back inside and Dudley is praised for being a good boy when hurting the freak. But I'm the only freak around so I wanted to hurt myself to become a good boy." Severus stares at the boy unable to say anything and prying that this is only a nightmare. That Lily's little boy, this little boy in front of him, did not just say that he wanted to hurt himself. "I tried to climb the garden shed, it's a really big one. I thought that be enough and when I got up thought I'd either be a good boy after that or with my real mummy. I hoped it would be with my mummy. That is if freaks can go to where good dead people go but Aunt said I'm as useless as mummy and daddy so I hoped I would get to go where useless freaks go. But I didn't get to go there. I just saw blue light and I was here after I let myself fall. I didn't know I was a bird till later. I don't remember when. Everything was still a little fuzzy in my head. I think I fell from somewhere and tried to hold on to something and saw a wing and then was in your arm and saw more of my new me."

"That's okay Harry." Severus says unable to hear more of this.

"Felix." The boy says, "I'm Felix. I've never been called Harry. I never knew it was me you wanted to find when Albus came."

Again, Severus takes a deep breath. "Felix," He says fighting to keep his voice steady. "You did very well in telling me this and I swear you won't return there. Now I need you to be a good boy and drink this." He takes out a dreamless sleep and the boy eyes it sceptically. He had been in the room when Severus taught some of his older students to brew it and assumes the boy knows what it is. "Please trust me Felix." Severus says and the boy takes the potion in shaking hands and drinks. Soon after he's asleep and Severus once again leaves to re-join Albus at the Dursleys. Just this time, he doesn't want to find a boy. This time, he wishes he could kill those blasted muggles.

Authors Note: I wonder what Severus will do when he gets there. Who votes for the house to be still in one piece when he leaves again? And what will Dumbledore do when he finds out that Harry was abused? Will he try to make him go back due to the blood wards or will he stick to the 'He flashed to Severus he has to stay with Severus' theory? And if he does, what will others think? Will Remus or some other light family complain? What about Severus being a spy? It will be hard to spy on Voldemort and pretend to be a loyal death eater while raising the boy-who-lived! Where will the poos hurt and terrified little boy go next? Or will he get to stay with 'his Sev'? And maybe even more importantly will he be as powerful as Severus assumes? And will Harry eventually be a real Phoenix when his live as a wizard ends?