Chapter 53: The Doe

Illustration for Chap 53

".......Lily was kneeling down on the grass, her hand held out, and, about a foot away from her, ears twitching nervously, was a small red doe. The same doe, unless he was mistaken, that had led them onto the right forest path when they had first got lost in the forbidden forest. Of course, Lily had claimed the deer had saved their lives on that occasion.
Neither Lily, nor the deer noticed him.
With bated breath, he saw the animal approach her. The morning light fell softly on the doe's red back as she placed one delicate foot forward, her large, liquid eyes fixed on Lily, who was saying something in a low, crooning voice.
Just as Lily's hand was about to touch the creature, it started, ears twitching in his direction, followed by the delicate head. Her liquid, brown eyes gazed at him for a split second as it prepared to flee. He cursed under his breath, thinking that he must have made a sound, or was standing downwind or something.
Lily, following the doe's gaze, noticed his dark figure standing there, almost blending in completely with the darkness of the forest behind him. She was saying something to the deer in a low whisper. He strained to hear.
'….my friend. You can trust him.' She was saying.
Why was she talking to a doe? Why was it there at all?
But the animal seemed to understand, for the pre-flight tenseness in her body vanished, and she gazed calmly at him. Lily took this opportunity to caress her. The animal did not run away, but turned her gaze to Lily once more.
Severus just stood there mesmerised by the sight of Lily, hair aflame in the early morning sun, smiling at the forest creature, who tolerated her soft strokes as he was sure no wild animal, deer especially, would ever allow. "


Note : waved her magic IT wand and fixed the glaring copying mistakes on this deviation. Thanks Sam!


Character copyright JKR