Severus glowered at Minerva from across Black's battered kitchen table. Her face was perfectly neutral, but the barest of twitches in her temple betrayed her - given the opportunity she would be doing a fine impression of the cat that got the canary.

The owner of the table, on the other hand, was gaping at him as if he'd just grown an extra head.

"You're an Animagus?" Black spluttered, as if he couldn't believe that Severus could master a spell the Marauders had managed to crack at sixteen.

"Yes," he hissed dangerously, daring Black to ask the next logical question.

Ever the brainless Gryffindor, Black ploughed on. "What form?"

"A bird..." Severus ground out painfully, glaring daggers at Minerva, ready to hex her at the first sign of a giggle; but her face remained passive.

"Well, that's perfect!" Black exclaimed, jumping up and pacing the length of the hearth. "You'd be able to listen in on Death Eater meetings unnoticed!"

Severus barely caught the words Minerva muttered into her cup of tea.

"Not unless they start meeting in nunneries..."

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For the Animagus Showdown! I just love twisting fanon cliches! You all know I speak the truth.

Severus Snape is the intellectual property of JK Rowling. His Animagus form is the product of my deranged imagination.

PS Hmmm I think that the shot of Snape would make a nice desktop - what say you? What colour should I make the background if the demand is great enough?