That, however, wasn't what me got put into the slammer in the first place. See, I did hard time in Azkaban Prison, the only catch being, I didn't do it. Oh come on don't give me that look, I know what you're thinking "Right.. that's what every prisoner in that horrible place would say." but for me.. it really is the truth. I would have died before I betrayed Lily and James, but out of my own stupidity I made a really bad decision, switching with another friend of ours on who would be secret keeper. Anyway, the point is.. I went to Azkaban for the crime he committed.

Now if you've never been to Azkaban.. I don't reccomend going. It's not a good place. If you looked it up in the muggle theasarus I swear the synonym is Hell. Everyone there is guarded by Dementors.. these awful, horrible creatures that feed on everything happy and good. Pretty soon if you stay around them long enough.. they'll make you crazy and you'll die in your own sorrow.. or possibly hang yourself from the rafters like the guy in the cell next to mine did, but you didn't need or want to know that did you? No, of course not, who in their sane mind would.

Point being.. I think the only way that I kept myself from going stark raving crazy was that I knew I was innocent.. well.. that and I happen to be what's called an animagus. Means I can turn into an animal, but keep my human mind at the same time. Which, that's really where the story begins. I happen to become a great big black dog. It's kinda a funny point since my name is Sirius, which is the Dog star, and my last name is Black.

Well whenever the Dementors started getting to me, I just took on my dog form. They can't see so they never even noticed. Plus, dog emotions are harder to tap than human emotions.. so they naturally thought I was getting weaker. Kinda like the old muggle fairy tale Hansel and Gretl where the evil witch had Hansel locked up in a cage trying to fatten him up to eat him- by the way.. I don't personally know any witches that would do that.. unless you count my Mother dearest and that's a whole other story in itself!- anyways, Hansel kept giving her this old bone instead of his arm and she thought he was still too skinny to eat and he ended up getting out with a little help from Gretl. However, we didn't get chicken in Azkaban, or anything like it, and the closest thing I had to a Gretl was my cousin Bellatrix and she was a prisoner too and also working for the enemy. Although teasing her sure was fun because her cell was catty-corner to mine and if I sat right I could see it. Anyway, I'm rambling aren't I.

I finally saw this picture of the guy who framed me and it was just too much. If I was going to have to stay in Azkaban forever or die of the Dementor's Kiss then I might as well be able to commit the murder I got put in here for, right? So I decided to escape. Now I didn't just want to escape to kill mind you. Really, I'm not a violent person- unless you're a death eater that is. I wanted to see my godson, Harry, Lily and James' son. If I hadn't lost count of the years I knew he'd be turning thirteen in just a few days.

So, I began to plan. Now escaping Azkaban isn't easy. It's set way off on an island up in the North sea. It's not to keep the prisoners in but to keep other people out, away from the dementors- for their own safety. I had one window, tiny, but when you looked out you could see land probably a few miles off. It was a good swim, and I wasn't very strong and it was part of the Atlantic Ocean and the tides were really bad. I didn't even know if I'd make it.. but it would be better than living out my days in that miserable place thinkin' What If?

One night when they opened my cell to put food in my dish I streaked out of there in my dog form and never looked back. I hit the water paddling and kicking with all my might and I was dead scared. I don't think I've ever been so scared in all of my life.. A couple times I just wanted to let the black, velvetty water close over my head and have it done with, but no matter how cold I got or how tired, I didn't give up and I was never so relieved as when I crawled out onto that bank and shivered and shook, drying my coat off. I slept in a cave hidden in some bushes that night and when the sun rose I found out a bunch of bats lived in there and I wasn't a welcome house guest at all! I found out in the form of Guano.. which in case you don't know... is bat poo. Yuck! Sick! yes, I know we've all got to do it but... come on guys manners please!?

It wasn't until I saw a wanted poster, close to a nearby town that I realized I couldn't go around as myself. I was really thin, to the point of wasting away, I needed a hair cut- BAD, and I reeked, plus I was in a ragged prison jumpsuit.. what's your first clue Sherlock? So it was then that I began life as a dog. James always hinted I should make the change permanent.. now the tail I could live with.. but the fleas.. they're murder! However, this was going to have to do for awhile. I decided I needed to go over and check on Harry first before I did anything else, my conscience just wouldn't let me have it any other way. Now, took me awhile to find out where he was, but in the end I found out he was still with his Aunt, Lily's sister. I had it in good confidence from a cat, who heard it from another dog, who heard it from an owl who heard it from a carrier pigeon.. and... Oh well you get the idea.. but I found out.

Now I needed a place to stay so I staked out a small area in some comfortable bushes under a tarp in the alley between Wisteria Walk and Privet Drive. I was pretty comfortable there and the dustbins were right out front so food wasn't a problem. Yes, living in Wisteria Walk as a dog really wasn't bad at all. There were Mrs. Figg's cats to chase, long night hours to run and exercise- the first time I'd been able to in years and I needed to get some strength back- I could look at Harry through his bedroom window- I was sure it was him cause he looked just exactly like James did at that age, glasses and all, except Lily's eyes of course, and I could even look at the cute cocker spaniel down the street in number five's window, so life was pretty darn good, even if I WAS living it as a mangy mutt.

Unfortunately, all good things must eventually come to an end and my "good life" acuna mattata.. whatever.. came to an end with a woman named Marjorie Dursley. She'd come to Privet Drive to vist her brother Vernon Dursley, Harry's uncle. She collects and breeds dogs, and I guess she thought I'd make an interesting new addition.. I however, disagreed. What else could I do.. I guess you just have to say it's a dog's life. However, except for the pink hair bows.. it wasn't too bad- you quote me on that and I'll deny it! Anyway.. I guess you're about ready for me to get on with the story now right... Well.. here goes nothing.

~*~*~*~

I was laying there in my little hide out chewing on a bone I'd gotten from my favorite dustbin, it's outside Ms. Arabella Figg's house. She's a squib and she was put here by Dumbledore to help guard Harry except he of course has no idea about that... yet anyway. Well, she's got all the best scraps because she has those cats and she feeds them like they're humans. Not that I'm complaining! In any case, I was just minding my own business and chewing up that bone when all of a sudden... I looked up and I saw a new cat...

Now this feline was standing herself up on the ridge of a picket fence a little ways away. She had a white belly and an orange overcoat and tail. She was walking that thing one foot in front of the other like a tightrope walker waks her high rope and her tail was even up for balance. What dog could resist?! I was so busy staring at that blasted cat I didn't notice the big white truck that had pulled up in my alley facing out at Wisteria Walk. Big black letters on the side of that white truck read, "Dog Pound," Now for a dog living on the streets- a stray basically- that's no good news. For a dog living on the street that's really a human in disguise and a wizard to boot that's called his worst nightmare! Did I notice? nooo.. Blasted little cat. So of course I leaped out barking and going nuts and just like I expected the thing howled and hissed pitifully before falling right down into the bushes on the other side of the fence, where of course, I couldn't get it. I didn't mind really, I just enjoy scaring and chasing them. Perhaps it's part of the dog nature coming out in me or perhaps I just always did like to cause chaos and anarchy, after all... I'm a Marauder.

Now, I was so busy with the cat that I didn't see the ugly man sitting inside of the truck with a great big pole, and on the end of that pole was a great big net! Now I swear.. the guy was honestly not a pretty picture. I'd been in prison for twelve years and I looked better! He had had bad acne at some point and popped the pimples too by the look of it. He'd been eating sour cream and onion chips and you could smell it on his breath. He had a three day shag of whiskers, you know right when it crosses the point from being cute stubble but not yet a beard that looks really really horrible? Yeah that. He was wearing a brown uniform too and coveralls to top it off. Now none of this really mattered at the moment that net came down over me with a smack and I was caught... really caught. Wait.. I NEVER get caught.. I'm smooth.. I'm cool.. I'm Black, Sirius.. Black.. -.. I'm sitting under a Dogcatcher's net. Just bloody brilliant!

Being in people jail is bad enough, but DOG jail?! I don't think so buster! I was barking up a fit and writhing around on the ground trying to break that net, but it held strong. Ok Sirius 'ole boy, you've got the brains of a human- USE 'em! So I did. "I've been chasing you through three cities dog! People been complaining about you running amok!"

Really, very funny, and this is going to be number four. I growled my most vicious growl and leaped up onto the guy, bringing the net with me and sunk my teeth in a very sensitive place right between the legs.. bullseye! "Mummy!!!" cried the Dog Catcher in a very very high squeaky voice as he fell forward onto his knees and let go of the pole and net contraption.

Sorry, mate, that's what happens when you make catching dogs with better things to do, places to go, and people to see, your life mission. With one last strangle I was free of that net and walking off at a brisk pace down the street. I felt a little bad leaving him there on his knees on the sidewalk. Being a man I can commiserate and all. However I didn't feel bad for too long because he was up again and calling on his CB or phone thingy or whatever it was.. for recruits to come help hunt me down! Well, a dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do!

Unfortunately outsmarting the dog catcher wasn't going to be the last of my troubles, little did I know.. I, of course, now had to find a new place to live. I didn't like that too much because I'd picked out the place I wanted, best place in the whole neighborhood, but it would be too risky to go back there after what had just happened. So I dug up all my good bones- after all, can't afford to leave a stash, and carried them a street over. The next place I found wasn't nearly as good as the one I left and I knew it. It was a gap in a crumbling garden wall at Four Privet Drive where the Dursley's lived. The only thing was there was standing water and it was summer, the beginning of August- mosquito heaven. Oiii.. They're nearly as bad as fleas!

Now you mustn't think that I just played all the time, only 99% of it.. ok I'm kidding, actually I played very little. Instead I watched the inhabitants of Four Privet Drive trying to familiarize myself with all their day to day habits. Lily had told me all about them before, but remembering details of her horrible sister and family that I'd been told back when we were in 7th year was like trying to search for one paper in a whole big filing cabinet. It only took me a few days to figure out who everybody was.. and like a dog, I could instinctively tell whether they were good or bad, trustworthy or not trustworthy. It didn't make up for the mosquitos or that dog catcher moving me out of my spot, but it was helpful. There was Vernon Dursley, patriarch of the family, he had a very little amount of neck and a whole lot of mustache and beady little eyes. When he got upset his face went puce and this vein in his temple flared up. There was his wife Petunia- who took after me with a rake that afternoon when she saw me slinking back to my little area. She had a whole lot of neck, handy for spying, and a horsey face. Then there was their charming, well mannered, sweet (who am I kidding?! not, not, and most definitely NOT), son Dudley, He was.. er... I don't know any nice way to put it, fat and had plastered blonde hair down over his face and his beady eyes like his father. He ate a lot and spent even more time in front of the muggle television watching something he called "movies". Then there was the absolute worst of the house, but I could gather she wasn't a permanent resident and she was visiting for a week. I also found out, a little late, that she had a fondness for dogs, breeding them sometimes, other times just adopting them.

There was one member of the house I liked though, there was Harry. He was very quiet and spent a lot of time in the windowseat of his bedroom at Privet Drive just watching out over the street. At night when I played I would see him up with a flashlight, or his wand, beneath the bedcovers writing his summer holiday homework. The thing I noticed right off was that they didn't treat him well, they were horrible to him. They treated him like Mum used to treat our old house elves. I mean.. he wasn't in rags, but the clothes were too big and I know for a fact they didn't feed him hardly enough to live on. Little did they know he had a birthday cake stored under his bed. I could smell it all the way out in the yard and it was driving me insane! The last time I'd had tea and cake...well.. needless to say it was enough to make me want to sneak into the house and go cake hunting. However I don't think that's "normal" dog behavior. I refrained.

It was a couple of days after my move to the crumbled garden wall that the real trouble struck. It was after dinner which Harry hadn't been in attendance for even though they'd had their food out on the patio that night. I saw why a bit later. He was washing dishes at the sink, just inside the door. I kept sneaking out of the bushes a bit more trying to get better looks at my godson. I wanted more than anything to go and see him, to tell him the truth, but if he knew about me- which I was quite sure that he did- who was he going to believe, me against the entire Wizarding World.. right.

It was unfortunate that Marjorie Dursley looked up right at that moment and saw me. Caught. I froze in position, one paw up as I prepared to take a step, ears raised, tail up. I guess she thought I looked spunky or perky or.. whatever. She snapped her fingers at Harry and he came over to her a dish towel stuck in his belt loop. He ran a hand through his extraordinarily messy black hair. I'd figured out why he was putting up with it a few days before. He wanted his Uncle to sign his Hogsmeade permission form and his Uncle had said if he was on good behavior all week he would do it.

"Boy, go over and get that dog for me." Harry didn't move for a few minutes, just staring wide eyed at me, well he would.. I'm pretty big when I'm transformed.

"That... dog?" he pointed at me.

"Yes THAT dog." Marge rolled her eyes, or at close as a grown up that's not a Marauder can come.

Harry sighed and resigned to his fate, came after me. Now I could have, should have run far and fast, anything to get away from there. Guess what. I didn't, run I mean. I just couldn't do it when his emerald eyes met my gray ones. Of course I didn't exactly expect what ended up happening to me either. If I'd been a divination pupil I think I might have played dead or something. However, I didn't.

Harry slowly held one hand out and whistled softly. I appreciated that he was being...well.. solicitous I suppose you could say. He didn't make any sudden movements, seemed he had a way with animals or possibly just good manners. I whined slightly, but didn't back off or go closer. I wanted to bound into his arms, but that would look odd, being a stray dog. Honestly, I am really smart, as McGonagall said, I just don't "apply" myself.

He reached out and patted my head, I could feel him shaking. I guessed he'd had bad memories with Aunt Marge and her dogs. Slowly he reached out and picked me up, not an easy feat considering my size and that he had yet to his his growth spirt, again like James, probably about when he was 16 I figured. He seemed surprised to find out I weighed next to nothing. That part had carried over. "You feel like you haven't had a good meal in ages. Me either, but I've got birthday cake so I manage." He said with a slight smile.

Marge patted my head and looked me all over a real expert, but it made me cringe even still. "This ones been through the mill he has, poor dear." She crooned, made me want to be sick. I wondered if she was familiar with dog sick, not a pleasant sight even coming from me. I couldn't think about that anymore at that moment because there came a great big knocking at the front door and Marge trailed after Vernon and Petunia to answer it with them.

On the other side was a sight I didn't wish to see. It was that dog catcher! I sunk down and growled low in my throat, unable to resist.

He yelled, "Good he's home, you'll be adopting him then, good good, alls well that ends well." and before any of the Dursley's could say anything to correct him he took off down the path towards his big white truck with the black letters. Guess he didn't want to give me a chance to take another whack at him. Well, I don't exactly blame him. Still, anybody that would become a dog catcher's a bloody git. No offense but...

"Well, Marge, looks like you've um.. got yourself a new dog." Vernon said.

"Looks like it.. and a good one I'd wager." She said looking at me.

Really? She had a new dog? News to me, Who is it?! It was right then I realized "it" was ME! They meant ME. I'd been officially adopted by Marjorie Dursley. Uh-oh...

~*~*~*~*~

It didn't take Me more than a few hours to learn just HOW big of an uh-oh it was that I'd gotten myself into.

I don't think I'd been sitting in the Dursley's living room for more than five minutes while the three adults, with Dudley pushing awkwardly through the room trying his best to Eavesdrop but finding it difficult for one of his particularly large size to do it unnoticed. From my position lying on the hearth rug and scratching a bothersome flea with one back leg I could hear just fine, something about my... stinking? I leaned down and took a whiff of my mangy, matted fur which looked a whole lot like the mess of hair I had at the time. Messy? yes. Homewrecking? Definitely.. but.. Smelly?!- alright... maybe I did have a peculiar odor, but you try eating out of the dustbins for a week with no where to shower and see what you smell like- bet it wouldn't be any posy!

Anyway, right about that time, Marge swept out of the Living Room and headed up the main stairs and into the second story of the house leaving Vernon and Petunia alone. "Vernon, Really! I can't have that.. that.. thing in my house!"

"Petty, darling, please.. it's only for a few days more and I-.."

"Vernon! Ripper's bad enough! Look at the size of him! He's got homewrecker written all over him."

"Pet, Darling, please, be reasonable. He doesn't look like he's going to cause anyone a bit of trouble let's just live and let live. I really don't want to get into it with my sister, you know what she can be like."

Uugghh, If they kept this up much longer I honestly was going to get sick. Petty, pet? ick! Ok it was bad enough on those few nights when Lily and James were sitting in the same arm chair in the Common Room by the fireplace snogging for all they were worth- though normally they found more private places- but this! It was disgusting. I whined and put my paws over my eyes as they leaned in for a peck on the lips. When I say peck, I mean peck. You'd think they were afraid of kissing because it might spread germs or something like that.

As much as I was wishing to get out of that living room and knowing I couldn't slink off without being nabbed by one of the two of them, that wasn't nearly as bad as what happened to me next. Now honestly, you have to believe me, I had intended to be a good dog while I was there, make sure Harry would be alright and get on to Hogwarts about the time he and the boy (whom coincidentally I'd gathered from Harry's snowy owl, Hedwig, was Harry's best friend) would be arriving. This was good. I could kill two birds with one stone. Well, after what that despicable Marge woman did next.. I knew I had to be on the offensive from them on.. but oh was it a painful lesson!

She swept back into the room, her giant bust leading her like the prow of a great ship and her rather cumbersome, skirt covered, behind bringing up the rear. "Now come here sweetie, yes we're going to get you all cleaned up and nice.. that will feel goood won't it. Come on.. it's time for your bath."

Bath?! please Merlin tell me she didn't just say that? I was imagining it right? The bloody old hag giving me a bath?! NEVER! alright.. I wasn't imagining, but this only hardened by resolve to fight back, not just for Harry's sake, but my own. Unfortunately, there wasn't much I could do at this exact moment.

But for that moment there was not a thing I could do, so I ended up following her quite agreeably up to the bathroom, only turning long enough to catch sight of the Dursley's horrified faces as Marjorie Dursley brought me right into their Master bathroom and shut the door behind her. I thought it was funny too- until I realized that this meant my chance of escape from this horrible thing dog owners call a.. bath.. what it really means is a "wash the fur right off my face session" Well I made up my mind right then and there that I wasn't going to do it, but how was I supposed to get her to understand?! It wasn't like I could talk or anything. I dug my claws into the rug and held fast, setting my legs firm as the hair on the back of my neck bristled and I barked.

Marge eyed me critically as she turned on the water and pulled some doggy shampoo out of her huge purse. I wondered, if she hadn't brought one of the many dogs she apparently had- for I could smell them on her- then why did she had shampoo.. oh well, one of the many mysteries I shall never have solved I suppose. "I know you don't want a bath, but I promise it'll be harmless," And with amazing speed an agility for someone her size and age she picked me up and plopped me down into the bathtub.

It felt so amazing I just wanted to lay down in it and relax. I didn't even notice that I wasn't in the water for a full minute before it was as black as my coat, then again, what's to happen to a man who literally hasn't taken a bath in 12 years. If the girls ever got mad because we didn't take a shower for a few days, they would have have pitched a fit to know that I didn't take a shower the entire time I was in Azkaban. Getting naked in the shower with a dementor?! I don't think so! And even so being a highly secured prisoner they probably wouldn't have let me. I know for a fact they let some of the guys only serving a couple years terms take showers. Anyway, point being- I was filthy. Marge just sighed and drained the water out of the tub and filled it (complete now with a black bottom) full of more warm water. She did this five times until it remained a murky gray color. I knew the warm water and relaxing were just too good to be true. Well, of course I was right. This time she took to me with a wash cloth filled with dog soap as I whimpered and cowered against the edge of the tub trying to get out of her grasp. "That hurts!!" I wanted to yell as she washed my face so hard I thought it was going to be pink by the time she was satisfied with me.

She kept rinsing my coat over and over again. Now I was planning to get her soaked by shaking, but I have to give her a little credit, she knew what I was going to do before I'd moved and got a towel around me before I could do it. She may have been rude and self-centered, but the woman knew her dogs I'll give her that much.

Unfortunately for me there was one thing the bath hadn't helped- fleas. Sure, it provided some temporary relief, but the majority of them were still in my coat, I could feel them. You would think you coulnd't feel something so tiny, but believe me when it's digging into your skin and sucking your blood you can tell, no matter how small. I was infested with the critters thanks to the dust-bins and the standing mosquito water.

I guess it was next that she did the part I really can't forgive, the part that made me kinda lose my temper a little. Now I'd been good so far. Think about all the stuff I'd put up with 'till now?! But this's the straw that broke the camel's back. She got down on her mutton chop, fat knees right beside me and pulled out some beautiful pink lace ribbons. Now I love pink as much as the next guy- but not for me, and not to wear! I wondered where she was getting all of this stuff. Her bag was like the muggle book of Mary Poppins! I didn't really realize what she was planning until it was too late. Marge Dursley had fastened the brilliant pink ribbon around my neck and pinned it. Pink! Lace! It wasn't just around my neck either. It was alll over.

"There you go now my beautiful Priscilla.. prissy for short.. yesss.. you're such a good dog aren't you?" Honestly! You keep muttering and I WILL be a murderer! Pink hair bows and girl names! Couldn't she tell I was a boy- apparently not! Then again.. I wouldn't want her looking either!

So of course I had to defend myself. I did it when she stood up. One little nudge in the back of the knees. You know that spot where you'll get very er.. unbalanced if you get hit there. Over she went into that murky water while I sat back feeling rather satisfied with myself as she surfaced, coughing and choking and looking revolted. "You wicked wicked puppy!! pooor thiing.."

If I had been a person, I really think I might have stuck my finger down my throat at this point. It was really disgusting, the more trouble I caused the more she hung onto me! It was like trying to fight my way out of devil's snare! But while she was flailing around trying to get up and falling down and slipping over and over, I made my escape, leaning up and pushing the knob over to release myself from the bathroom torture chamber I'd been enduring for the last half hour. Of course I wasn't dry and I ran through the halls shaking off every drop I could, soaking everything in sight.

I ended up in the Living Room to catch Vernon Dursley yelling at Harry, their faces inches apart and a vein pulsing in the older man's temple. He seemed to think Marge keeping me was somehow all related back to Harry, which of course Harry was firmly denying. I hated seeing him yell at Harry like that, so I began to bark, loud. This, of course, interrupted his flow of words and he looked over, clearly annoyed with me. The expression on his face at realizing I wasn't going to be quiet was priceless!

Later that night after the majority of the house had gone to bed, I decided it was time to wreck some more havoc while everyone was asleep and take advantage of being the only one awake in the house at the time, or anyway, so I thought. I padded almost silently up the stairway and noted that Petunia and Vernon had left their bedroom door cracked a bit. Perfect! bloody brilliant! I gave a little push with my nose and the door swung. I got behind it in time to keep it from making a huge noise though. Vernon grunted in his sleep and something about his plum colored pajamas made me want to fall over laughing. I settled for a bark like laugh, quietly of course, before crawling up onto their bed and beginning to scratch at the fleas once again. I think I saw one or two drop out... oops. What's a dog to do?

Unfortunately, I think I moved around a bit much because Petunia woke up. Well, she of course went totally off the wall, barking mad she was and between the two of them they had me thrown out in the yard before I could say Holy Hogwarts! Now I'm not very susceptible, but I'd had little to eat, I was exhausted, wet, cold, and yes... now sick. I hadn't been outside for more than a few minutes when I began to sneeze. Let me tell you, being sick as a dog isn't anymore fun then being sick as a person.. it's worse in fact, no medicine or soft bed to sleep it off in.

Little did I know as I shivered and shook outside in the cold someone was watching me through his bedroom window. Pretty soon I heard the door ease open...When I loooked up there was Harry. He was in old sweat pants that looked about five times to big for him and an old raggedy t-shirt. He was barefoot and his messy black hair was hanging unmanagable down in his face which was pale under the moonlight. It was a full moon. I thought of Remus off somewhere all by himself, still not knowing the truth, being miserable alone. It made me just feel all the more guilty about how things had turned out, how I'd managed to screw everything up even though unintentionably.

Harry whistled softly and crooked his finger at me. Lile the good dog that I was (despite the fact that I was a little muddy now from being outside and the fact that I'd "Lost" my horrid pink bows) I padded silently through the grass up to him. Harry smiled and got down on one knee so that he could pat my head. "Hey there, what're you doing outside huh?"

I just let out a soft bark, about the best I could hope for without waking the house, and followed him back inside. He shut the door behind him and headed back up to his room with me following after. When we arrived at the door to his room I leaped up onto the bed and gave him one of those stubborn, "Dare me to move" looks.

Harry just chuckled, "You look like you could talk to me.. alright. You can stay." He must have noticed my ears and tail go up because he ammended quickly, "Only for tonight! I can't start liking you, I just can't because you know you can't stay for long. She's going to make you go away with her when she leaves in two days and you know it. You're too smart not too. She will take you away and I'll be alone again, at least until I go back to school anyway."

It was enough to make me want to give up the idea of going after Peter altogether. I seriously considered it. Would it be so bad? I could stay with Harry as his dog. It was then that I realized that was exactly the low down cowardly thing Peter had been doing for twelve years as Ron Weasley's RAT! No! Never!! never never never would I borrow one of that slimy git's tricks! It was enough to make me very nearly transform right in the middle of Harry's room until I realized that wouldn't do any good, in fact it would be a right disaster. He would recognize me of course, I'd been on the muggle news. I'd just end up back in the custody of Cornelius Fudge and the dementors, except this time I wouldn't see escape. I would live out my days as a soulless idiot in the shell of a body. Nope transforming back was no option. I'd have to put up with this for a little while longer.

I just laid my muzzle on Harry's knee and I felt him scratch that special spot riiight behind the ears... ohh Heaven! Hey just because I can think like a human doesn't mean I'm immune to being petted! I guess the dog penumbra takes over from there. I wasn't thinking about how much of a connection I would have to Harry. It was like.. like having James back with me all over again. After twelve years of just wishing even for one minute that I could hear that voice..or Lily's, or Remus' well... it was a pretty powerful magnet. Merlin.. I wasn't thinking about this..James.. if I get killed and I see you in Heaven.. we're going to have to have a talk!

"Why is it you like me so much anyway? No one in this world ever liked me, and I'm pretty sure you're not a wizard." Ahhh the irony, if only I could tell him why I like him so much was because he was my godson. Of course I couldn't so I settled for a purely canine response of licking his face. To my delight Harry laughed. I'd never heard him laugh and it was good to know he could. By gum.. they haven't got you down yet have they? I thought as I turned around a couple of times and laid down comfortably.

Well at that moment wouldn't you know it, I had to go and sneeze. Honestly, whatever bug I'd caught I would be just as happy for it to go on and leave me alone now! "They should call you Snuffles." He remarked with a grin as he released me from the last of the pink horror that I had on and he tossed it out of the window. Right, fine, you can stay in here for tonight, but don't even think about taking all the covers." I could see that he was grinning and so I proceded to do exactly that...

~*~*~*~*~*~

I was the first to wake in the household the next morning. I knew it would be best for Harry if I wasn't found asleep in his room and so, peeking around the door and listening for sounds of activity downstairs. There was no one and I padded down the hall quiet as a church mouse, believe me they're quiet I've spent the night in a few churches along the way. I made for the kitchen and let myself out through the screen door. It would have given me pleasure to leap through the screenwire but then someone would know I'd been in and back out again so I refrained, And it certainly wasn't my fault Petunia's prize roses were roots up within a few minutes...alright... maybe I had...some.. help.. and um, possibly the sweet cocker spaniel from next door helped... a bit.

It was probably fifteen minutes later that I heard an immense amount of yelling coming from inside the house. After listening for a few minutes I could discern it was Petunia, Vernon, and Marge. It was quite a funny sight seeing them standing there on the back patio in their dressing gowns arguing. Vernon's hair was all stuck up and Petunia's looked like a wire wig stand or something and that's well..the good version of it. Marge was the only one that looked decent, however she also looked furious. Two bright patches of pink were in her cheeks as if she had got a bit tipsy.

"Oh! how Could you, darling really! He's not used to being here yet!"

"He was getting fleas all over our bed!" exclaimed the former crisply in a sort of adament, no nonsense voice.

"Now ladies.. Petunia.." Vernon tried to appease the both of them at once.

"He could have escaped!"

"Would that really have been so horrible? He's worse than Harry."

I growled low in my throat at that remark and slunk down a bit. They didn't hear me or see me though. They were too intent on their argument.

"He is NOT! He's a dear, the poor sweet thing, he's just had it hard is all, no one to clean him up and teach him any better way to behave."

"Marjorie, open up your eyes, the thing is a menace, a homewrecker!"

"Why!! Petunia Dursley! How DARE you! My own Sister-in-..."

"LADIES!" Bellowed Vernon over the shouts of their argument. At the moment I actually felt sort of sorry for him between the two ladies. I did say sort of!

Both of them turned furiously on him and exclaimed at exactly the same time, "SHUT IT!"

Vernon put both hands in the air and turned and went into the house where I caught sight of Dudley's piggy face peeking out of the sliding glass door onto the patio and trying not to be noticed. Being a dog has it's advantages. You hear things you never would otherwise. There was another face in another window up above now, Harry's. He'd woken up by this point, then again the shouting was loud enough that Number Three's kids were staring bug eyed over the fence that separated the yards. Number Five's cocker spaniel was in the window with her owner- a very fetching looking woman!! Hey.. you would be running on emotional overdrive too if you hadn't been able to so much as look at a woman properly in twelve years!

Petunia and Marge were so busy arguing about where I would sleep that it took her several minutes to notice her prize winning Garden Club roses had been destroyed. Petunia Dursley squeaked like a mouse and went running over to them her face going a satisfactory (to me) ashen gray color as she knelt down and examined them with shaky hands. Serves You Right! I wanted to say.

"Prissy, you didn't!" Exclaimed Marge, kneeling down. To my horror I saw she not only had more pink bows but she had a pink jumper! Oh Merlin.. the humiliation!

I put my paws over my face in one of those pathetic puppy dog looks. Believe me, if your Dog knows how to do that then he's been in contact with an animagus! I slunk down onto the ground and as expected she just patted me, "It's alright, Prissy. You'll learn soon enough." She assured and then shot another venemous look at Marge.

I picked that moment to sneeze. Well, not like I had control over it, but of all the moments that it could have been anytime.. WHY right then?! I suppose it was just the unfortunateness of the sneezing reflex, it's harder to hold back when you're a dog for some reason or other. Anyway, the point being, Marge took one look at me and one look back at Petunia and said, "Now look what you've done! He's sick! I'll have to take him to the vet and I obviously can't go all the way back home to go to my regular vet there." She tutted and hmphed all the way into the house, bringing me with her and I had every idea that I was going to have pink bows put into my hair and be forced to put on the pink jumper and she had a pair of nail clippers too. Plus, something else worried me, VET?! To the Vet?! Oohh no. NO NO NO! and if I haven't got the point across yet, nooo! I wondered what dog medicine would do to a person who really had a second set of chromosomes in there, those being human! I wondered if the vet would be smart enough to figure it out if he ran any tests on me.

There was only one little point of satisfaction thus far, well two.. the first being that I noticed Petunia was so preoccupied about her roses that Harry was actually able to sneak some real food out of the kitchen, a pancake wrapped in ham and what smelled like a hot biscuit. He was hiding in the edge of the drapery by the bay window in the living room with the sticky mess of "sandwhich" in his hand. The second thing being right as I saw where he had hidden to cough down his breakfast I heard two horrible yells one following right directly after the other, Marge because she found her favorite penny loafers had become my new chew toy and Vernon because he'd been instructed by his wife to replant the roses and then water them. Ok so maybe I did chew a few holes in the garden hose. I peeked out around the door in time to see him being squirted squarely in the face. He caught sight of me before I could dodge back. "YOU!" He muttered furiously, pulling out a huge handkerchief and spluttering, trying to wipe his face and getting more soaked at the same time. "If you weren't my sister's I would take a shotgun to you mutt!" He exclaimed.

I just sniggered, none of the Dursley's dared lay a hand on me, ok maybe being Marge's dog had it's advantages... for awhile. I knew I wouldn't be able to stay forever. Eventually she would make me crazy if I did. She was already wearing thin on my nerves! "MARGE!" Vernon hollered and she quickly went to see what he wanted. Doesn't do to upset a man before he's even had his morning coffee and Vernon Dursley was definitely no exception to that rule!

This left me once again alone with Harry. When the coast was clear he emerged from behind the curtains and came to kneel by me, "Sorry about her." He muttered, fingering the bows in distaste. "This will make up for it I think." He held out the sandwhich he had snitched and I felt my stomach turn over, both wanting that food- better than anything I'd had in.. well.. ages.. and the fact that he was offering it to me when I knew he must have made it for himself. He was kind that much I could say for him. He understood. I ate the sandwhich mostly because it would be odd if a dog didn't eat whatever it was offered, especially a starving looking one with mangy fur (or used to be before I'd had a strawberry watermelon scented bottle of doggy shampoo poured all over me!

Pretty soon Marge returned from outside looking, to my pleasure, a bit stressed out. "Are you ready to go shopping and to the vet's?" She asked in a super sweet excited voice, the one that made me threaten to get sick the previous night. Like she expected me to answer her? Like she expected me to want to go?! Maybe she was a dog expert, but she was certainly not a dog-human expert!

The first part of shopping was well..ok.. if anything else it was tolerable, more so than the Vet's in any case, but I'm getting a bit ahead of myself aren't I? First we went to this big huge place called Harold's. It was in innercity London too. That name felt familiar. I dug vaguely in my mind trying to place it. Where had I heard of that before?

"Oi!! Someone's been up here!!!" Shrieked a girl in a Gryffindor prefect badge. Her almond shaped, emerald eyes had a dangerous glint in them as she looked around, wand drawn, as if she expected the culprits still to be in the room... so what if we were? Her crazy, curly, and extremely vivid red hair was flying about her face in a nearly unmanegable way and she looked very upset. Then again.. I would look upset too if I entered my dorm room with my four best friends and found trunks spilled, clothes on the floor, the beds undone someone's curtains in the floor as well..

I felt rather than heard a slight moan from Remus who was laying beside me and I saw James on his other side thwack him on the head and Peter on James' other side mutter, "Shh!"

"If she finds out we're in here we might as well just go down and ask Professor Dumbledore for some shovels and start digging.." muttered Remus. Being the cautious one he worried about stuff like that alot.. and well.. he was boy prefect too. Except this time he had good cause to worry since Lily Evans and her three best friends Celestina, Larissa, and Kelly were standing right there in front of the bed we were hiding under. We hadn't intended to do any real harm.. James wanted to see what her pajamas looked like.. and... well we weren't expecting them to come back barely ten minutes after they had left we really intended to straighten it out honest!

"Shhh!" I muttered.

"I don't believe it!" I caught a look at Lily's flaming red cheeks that clashed horribly with her hair. "They've gotten ahold of my journal.. AND the.. um.. the.. knickers and bras.. I bought at Harold's last weekend.. of course I bought other clothes since it's nearly Holiday but... why the underclothes!? Of all the things you can get there WHY those!?"

Celestina couldn't resist a chuckle which made me melt a bit.. I'd always kinda had a thing for her.. I just... didn't ever say it aloud.. "Well it is rather rotten luck.." And I could swear that she caught sight of a toe, because her eyes played beneath the edge of the bed for a minute and I saw her take in a quick breath and turn away as if she was trying not to laugh aloud.

"They better hope they are far far far away..." Lily muttered irritably as she scooped up her black satin knickers off the floor.

"I never figured her to be the black type." James muttered.

"Shut it!" I retorted back.

"Bloody Potter and the rest of the ickle Marauders." She said in an aggravated voice, "You know what I'm going to wish for on my birthday candle this year... for them not to prank me for a whole bloody day.. ONE day that's all I'm asking."

"Asking ain't getting." Celestina muttered under her breath and exchanged a glance with Kelly and Larissa trying not to choke in laughter. I was now sure she knew we were under the bed!

"Come on... let's go and look for him.. and the bloody arrogant toerag wants me to go out with him.. ladies.. if I ever do... please just kill me kindly." She muttered as she picked up a big shopping bag marked with the name of the store and stuff some of the new clothes in it as proof before walking out and letting the door swing shut behind her.

That's right...it was a clothing store... one muggle girls frequented! The more I mulled over the memory of that fifth year prank in my mind the more worried I became as Marge rolled down the window of the car and murmured, "Mummy'll be riight back my Prissy Priss.. don't you worry about a thing." And she patted my pink ribboned head before taking the keys out and dropping them into her wallet and locking the car. Oh Merlin... what was she going to buy to torture me with now?! Could it possibly get worse? I really didn't think so..Well I wasn't going to stay in that car and wait for her to return. It was swelteringly hot.. hot enough to fry an egg right on the sidewalk- or so it felt (not that the fur helped at bit). I leaped easily from the open window. I was a pro at sneaking through little spaces.

Just as I was complimenting myself on my slick escape this little dog comes up, she's like half my size and she is a bichon frise.. you know one of those little white ridiculous French dogs that're about half my size and twice as peppy? Just to top the whole thing off she seems.. for lack of a better word.. interested. I looked around hoping to see that she had a master or mistress somewhere about but there was no such luck- even though I noticed she was wearing a collar, and as luck would have it a pink one. Like I hadn't seen enough pink! She walked a couple of circles around me, sniffing. Great.. exactly what I need, illegitimate children, illigitimate DOGGY children!!

I backed up barking lightly at her, still trying to keep my manners despite the fact she kept on.. well.. throwing herself at me I guess you could say. Homo!! you know! Homo sapien!! NOT Canus domesticus! Of course this did little good as she whined and carried on until a frantic looking man came over and swooped her up scolding "Camille" I'm guessing that was her name. I don't think I have ever been more relieved.

Unfortunately my relief was rather short lived. "What are you doing down there Prissy? How on earth did you get out?!" Marge asked, and for the first time I saw the slightest hint of a... well not a suspicion considering she doesn't even know what an animagus is.. but the idea that something was amiss somewhere. I knew that I couldn't take anymore risks like that.

Luckily she put the topic to rest as a car in front of her ran a red light and she had to slam on the brakes, slamming me into the glove compartment and from there the floor of the car, but I didn't mind for now she was well distracted from the topic of how I'd worked my way out of the car despite the window not being open too much.

When the car stopped again It was in a clearing where the hot August sun beat down on my black fur which seeped it up like a roll of paper towel soaks up some spilled liquid on the kitchen floor. The ground was black topped and out in front of us was a little building. It was nice looking with reddish shingels, white siding overlaid in a decoation of wood and planters in each of the winters as well as a large porch. The curtains had red gingham curtains and a sign read, "Lakeside Veterinary Clinic." My stomach dropped out of my chest. I've never exactly been to the vet's before but I didn't think being a dog was going to help me like it anymore. Way worse than going to a Healer!

She attached a pink little leash with a bell on it to my color. I'm shivering now just remembering that contraption because it jingled with every single step I took making me feel as if I was on parade. "Aww so good Prissy you'll be ready to do some dog-shows in no time! Dog shows?! With her?! I don't think so.. phase two of the plan was in action! Well, if I could get away from the Vet unscathed anyway.

The worst of it was the rabies shot (as if I'm not smart enough to tell if something has half a brain or would have eaten rabbid meat, but whatever. But something was being said between the two of them that made my head come up as if I'd been branded with a pair of tongs fresh out of the fire. What had they said?!

"Doctor, I was wondering, well.. I couldn't help but notice she's not.. fixed and I was wondering about the procedure you follow here and your rates."

Well of course I didn't hear the whole end of the sentence.. FIXED?! Would that carry over to my human form?! It surely would! Not that I'd really thought about having kids but... but..! I certainly hadn't planned to go right in and ask to get fixed or anything! It was more the humiliation and disrespect the situation afforded than the procedure itself. I knew of course that I would never in a million years take that laying down! To my immense relief..

"Ms. Dursley, this is a male dog.. surely you've realized." the Vet said, scratching my ears.

"Well .. well.. I .. er.." She blustered as her great face got all red.

"Yes.. I think I'm going to change his name to Fido, It's Latin for loyalty you know."

Oh Bloody brilliant.. that's what got me INTO this mess in the FIRST place! Fitting.. isn't it.. that the very charm that comes from that word would be the one. Of all the names she could pick for me! But of course I couldn't say a word so I just took on the new name with my head held high. Anything, even Fido, was better than Prissy!

"Furthermore, Ms. Dursley," The Vet continued, "This dog isn't young I would say neutering or at least at this time wouldn't be advisable as you've just gotten him. Perhaps you might want to wait until you get him home and settled in before you undertake an operation. It would be in his best interest."

Damn straight! I thought as he patted my head in an expert sort of way.

"W-well.. Um.. I will of course take into con... I mean.. yes.. thank you, Doctor." She said, obviously flustered as she pulled out some pounds to give him to pay for my visit and I leaped off the table all of my legs shaking in relief at how near that had come. I was begining to see more and more clearly why Harry had said that I couldn't stay it was becoming more and more dangerous by the minute to remain as new adoptee of Marjorie Dursley. And it was, slightly regretfully, that I decided I would have to go, soon. Much sooner than I had wished. Not only would I have to go I would have to leave Privet drive never to return lest anyone ever suspect anything. I could never return there safely to check on Harry and the feeling made my stomach grow cold and a sickened feeling swam over me. The sooner I got out, the better.

After the Vet's she went to several stores, one of them even being the local Pet store where I was "allowed" to accompany her inside to pick out food, toys, a doggie bed, and let me tell you she spared no expense.. was it my fault I wasn't going to be sticking around to use them? I wondered as we walked up and down the slick floors which had been waxed to the point that you could see your reflection in them plainly as a mirror, what it was that could make a person turn out like Marjorie Dursley. She was a real puzzle to me. I was never very good at figuring out the whole deep emotional level. If you'd asked Remus about her he'd probably spin you a tale of long lost loves never come to claim her or some other story like that.. ok.. maybe that's going a bit far, but you get the idea. Was I possibly feeling a bit sorry for her? NO!.. ok... yes.. but only a smidgeon and not the least bit more. Half of me was of a mind to believe she was really deserving what she got and more!

That's probably why I didn't feel bad at all when we got home from the store and I saw something interesting in the bushes. Most people that live in the suburbs would say creatures don't come around their house. The animals that live with their humans would tell you a whole different story from the conniving foxes to the coons in the dustbins to the little critter I noticed just as Marge opened my side of the car.

Well.. to be quite honest I'm not sure I'd have noticed it straight up, until I saw probably the most hilarious sight I had ever seen. Harry was sitting in the biggest tree in the Dursleys' yard and watching while Dudley attempted to get onto the first branch of the same tree. His face was red as he jumped up and down practically making the entire yard shake, but to no avail could he get up. When he finally caught the branch his trousers were sliding down around his knees and revealing his extra extra extra large knickers! I barked a laugh and I think Harry knew I was enjoying it because he just kind of winked slightly at me. I resisted the urge to wink back at him as Dudley came tumbling out of the tree losing his foothold on it.

There is only one thing I've ever seen nearly so entertaining as that galoot of a boy trying to get into the tree. It was during our fifth year O.W.L's the day we had Defense Against the Dark Arts. You'd think after turning Snivellus Snape upside down and washing his mouth out with pink soap while his robes fell down exposing his knickers to the entirety of Hogwarts would have been enough trouble.. but it wasn't. Dolores Umbridge was new at the ministry then, but she'd already started her campaign against half-breeds and she'd picked our class to make some... remarks.. about in. When she did I could practically feel Remus stiffening up beside me. So we decided we'd get her back too. We put a little charm on her window to make the moon look full and then the three of us transformed and we even got Remus to help this time. He stood under the window letting out a humanized version of a werewolf howl, but believe me... I couldn't have told the difference.. and apparently neither could Dolores Umbridge! She flipped. The dear old lady went running down the lane in her tartan dressing gown and the next day she didn't show up for Transfiguration O.W.L. Griselda Marchbanks said she was "Indisposed,"

Anyway.. took me awhile to figure out why the boys were trying to climb a tree, but I finally spotted the reason lurking along the fence row. He was all black with two white stripes running down either side of his back and conjoining at his tail... yep.. a skunk.. a very afraid skunk. I could tell because of the way he was crouching over and sniffing the air nervously whiskers twitching. Marge didn't see him, nor did Petunia who I was, satisfied to see, having to replant all of her roses for scratch but I didn't think many of them were worth putting back. Vernon was trying to sellotape the hose. I reminded myself to stay outside to see the next time he tried to turn that thing on and the water pressure blasted the tape right off of there and he got all wet again.

Well I couldn't resist, Marge was standing right there as were the Dursley's. Harry was the only one I felt sorry for, but if I played my game right he wouldn't actually get sprayed himself.. hopefully.. I felt sort of sorry for the poor skunk too because I could tell she was scared out of her wits and none too old either. Well, like I said before, dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do... I ran at her barking and snarling.

"FIDO! NO!!" Marge yelled at me, but it was too late. That skunk was up in her headstand position and the air was filled with the rancid smell of skunk spray. There's only one thing like it and that's the junk that comes out of a Mimbulus Mimbletonia in defense. Only this was worse.. quite a bit worse really. It was one of those smells that got worse as time went on and it spread out more evenly through the air.

"Mummy!!" Dudley yelled. I was pleased to see he'd fallen out of the tree and Harry was still sitting up there laughing as silently as he could.

"Alright Dudley? Shall I just.. you know.. perform a little cleaning spell?"

Dudley screamed like a girl and clapped his hands over his large behind and ran into the house. Took me awhile to find out why he did that but at the time I was pretty confused.

Well, the skunk incident didn't come without it's consequences, namely being Marge and I had got full blast of it so we both smelled. For a minute I saw Petunia working her mouth and she was aruging with Vernon. I can only guess she was beginning him for permission to tell Marge she couldn't come back in the house or me either.

"What did I tell you Vernon?! Homewrecker!" She exclaimed, pointing at me before I heard her angry feet on the stairs and the slam of a door up in the second story of the house. I tried not to smirk.

I was given a (not very pleausrable) bath in a big tin tub on the front porch in several cans of tomato juice. For the most part this took out the smell but some of it still lingered. I would have to find a way to get around that. I would have to go grass rolling a bit later after everyone was in bed. That or else find a magic wand somewhere... Harry's was out of the question because he's underaged and I couldn't very well get him into trouble and obviously Arabella Figg didn't have one being a squib and all. Oh well, was a nice idea while it lasted.

During dinner that night (which consisted of ham, baked beans, mashed potatoes, and bread.. which Marge left for me to clean off her plate.. repulsive but I didn't have the leisure to turn down good food when I didn't know where my next meal would be coming from.) I learned something that put me a little bit less at ease. Ok, who're we kidding, a lot less at ease. Marge would be leaving on the train first thing in the morning Day after tomorrow. I would, of course, be going with her. I decided right then and there that I would be leaving that night. I couldn't risk anymore time. It hurt a bit. I had known I'd have to go soon, but I hadn't quite prepared it to be that very night and I didn't know how I was going to say goodbye to Harry who had taken a liking to me. They had ordered him to give me more baths in tomato juice, which he willingly did and we'd made up a bit more. I knew I shouldn't that it would only make going all the harder, but I had too. I had pretty well done all the damage that could be humanly done to Marge and the Dursley's (and got some done to me in return unfortunately!) but luckily I had escaped, so far, without permanent damage.. well.. unless you count that forever if I ever see another Bichon Frise I head in the opposite direction.. even in my human form! But what more was there left for me? There was nothing until I could prove my innocence to Harry and this was not the time or the place. I had come to the end of the road on Privet Drive and Wisteria Walk and that was just all there was to it. Unfortunately telling myself that and making good on my plans were two separate things as I learned over the course of that evening.

When everyone had finally gone to bed I climbed in through the downstairs bay window. Not even Marge had been able to argue that I needed to be outside that night for I still bore a whiff of skunk...then again, maybe she needed to be outside more than me because she smelled worse. I used a paw to push open Harry's door and caught it behind before it hit the wall and woke anyone. I nudged it shut and went over and got up onto the bed. To no surprise he was asleep. he had a spell book with him one cheek glued to the page, tangled up in the sheets and still dressed except for his trainers which had been flung about the room. One was unpside down on the top of a chair and the other's toe was peeking out from under the dustruffle on the other side of the bed.

I hopped up. I carefully pulled the spell book away and shut it, moving it to the end table. He woke when I started pulling the sheet up over him. "Hey you." He said a bit sleepily as he brought a hand up to pat my head. I let out the barest of barks of hello and crouched down, crawling up the bed to lay beside him knowing full well it might be my last chance to do so and savoring every minute. There were more emotions going around inside me at that minute that it's really confusing looking back on it. I know I felt guilty, had for all those years I was in Azkaban while Harry was who knew where or even if he was ok. I was a little relieved possibly. Harry is one of the brightest people I know and I could tell he was even then, the last thing I wanted was him figuring me out, though that was way down on the list since human transfiguration isn't discussed until 6th and 7th year. Needless to say, James, Peter, and I spent a lot of time fooling around during those particular lessons earning us a lot of severe scoldings from an unsuspecting Minerva McGonagall. Then of course there was the happiness, no more Marge... but with that came lonliness. Once more I would be on my own. I tried to clear everything out of my mind. I just needed to not think about it for awhile. If I did I might back down and I couldn't do that.

I felt Harry scratching my ears and stretched out pleasantly in the covers, "I wish I could take you with me, Snuffles.. is it ok if I really DO call you that? I know you'd like it at Hogwarts and you could meet Ron and Hermione too."

Funny... I recall I did have rather a good time there during 7 years... The thought came unbidden into my mind as Harry kept scratching my ears and I laid, muzzle on paws just enjoying being with another caring human being. You must understand.. I don't want pity or sympathy because everything happens for a reason and I'm sure my spending twelve years in prison had one. But a kind soul now and then wouldn't have gone unnoticed! Harry and I seemed to be just what the other needed at that time. We gave each other the love we were desperately needing from a world that was determined to hate us before it ever got to know us.

"Hey Snuffles, you're an alright dog.. but where'd you come from? Did you used to have a home too? I did.. and parents.. except I can't remember them.. well.. not really. .sometimes I think I do but I can't ever be sure if it's real or just because I'm wishing that it would be. I wish that I had parents.. I wish I had someone that I could go to, talk to when things weren't going very well. I couldn't tell the Dursley's of course they'd laugh. And as great as Dumbledore is.. I mean even after the whole Chamber of Secrets thing this last year..." My ears pricked but there would be time for that later, "He was great and all but that's not quite what I had in mind. Maybe you know what it feels like.." He said softly.

Oh Believe me.. I know.. At that moment I made a silent vow, one that I was determined that I would keep. Someday I will be a real Godfather to you. Not a stupid dog either, and then you will have someone like that if it's the last thing I do!

I whined softly as I heard thunder break in the distance. "You don't like storms do you boy? I didn't used to but they're alright really." He murmured with a giant yawn. And no wonder given the hour we'd all been up! "Well don't worry about it, you can stay here again tonight." This time he didn't even bother with telling me not to take all the covers, we'd share them equal.

I stayed with Harry until I was positively sure that he was fast asleep and that I would be able to get off of his bed without disturbing him. I stood up and waited a tense moment as he turned over and muttered something indistinct, but he didn't wake. I leaned forward and nuzzled my head against his inner hand and pressed a wet lick on his cheek before I leapt silently to the ground. I didn't stop walking until I got to the door. There I turned and looked back at a sleeping and blissfully unaware Harry. I wanted to have that picture of him in my mind, and the ones of his smiles and laughs at our "antics" over the previous two days. By the next morning I would be long gone I knew so I took these last few moments just to let the memories sink so that on gray days I could pull them out like an old scrapbook and I would feel cheerful again.

Finally I turned and walked out of the house and the way which I had come back down Privet Drive, pausing only for a few seconds to look back into his bedroom window to be sure Harry was still fast asleep in bed. He was and without animal or man being aware of my presence I slipped into the darkness I'd come out of and disappeared...

~*~ Ten Months Later ~*~

You didn't think I was going to leave the story on that somber note did you?! I followed Harry all year at school. I also gained an ally to help me in my quest to prove my innocence in Hermione's pet cat who was half kneazle, Crookshanks. It was a very confusing year for Harry I know as he was, for the first time, learning about me. And all the WRONG things! It made me sick every time I heard Peter played up to be the gallant Hero. It only strengthened my resolve to commit the murder I was imprisoned for.

Finally by June I was getting desperate. I had yet to come up with a plan. So.. I did something desperate. I dragged Ron down into the Shrieking Shack through the passage beneath the Whomping Willow. As expected Harry and Hermione - and Later Remus and as well a most unwelcome visitor, Severus snape, showed up. They heard out my story and we proved that Ron's pet rat "Scabbers" was actually Peter in his animagus form. We all talked a lot that night and I even asked Harry to come and live with me. I had thought for a few glorious moments I would be able to keep the vow I'd made so many months before.

Unfortunately, as with the best of plans, something happened. It was full moon and Remus hadn't had his potion.. he transformed and I had to get into quite a tussle with him in my dog form to keep him away from Harry, Ron, and Hermione. In all the fray, Peter transformed also and disappeared, free to return to Voldemort. With him gone.. so was my proof and who was everyone to believe, three thirteen year old wizards or the world who thought they had proof of my guilt. Hermione and Harry helped me escape on a hippogriff named Buckbeak who is now my constant companion. He too was sentenced to death wrongly accused of being vicious. Ron couldn't help because I'd accidentally broken his leg in the dragging part. Harry and I kept in contact all through the summer through owls and got to know each other for who we really were.

His letters always cheered me up. I was staying on an island in the south a place full of happiness and light that the dementors dared not chase me. I was safe and in hiding with Buckbeak, rechristened Witherwings -just in case. I felt my heart skip a little each time I got a letter. He was guarded sometimes but as we got to know each other he slowly let me into his heart.. as for me? He'd gotten into my heart that first time he looked up at me with those green eyes only a few days after his birth. I could see that for all he had been through in some ways Harry was just a normal ordinary teenager and that made me happy. He was also forced to be mature beyond his years.. sometimes it was like having James back with me and sometimes it was like really having my own son. That was a very good feeling.

One afternoon I got a very interesting letter brought by Hedwig of course.

Dear Sirius,
It's really good to hear from you and know that you're ok. I hope that you're happy in the place you're staying at. I have really brilliant news too! Ron's Dad Arthur.. you know about him, he works at the Ministry and he got tickets for the whole family and Hermione and I too, to go to the Quidditch World Cup in August! We don't know who's playing yet because it's still early in the season and all but bets are really strong on Ireland. I "Mentioned" to the Dursley's that 'you know that murderer who was on television last summer.. I found out he's my Godfather and he's looking out for me now.' I kinda "forgot" to mention you're innocent and it worked like a charm. I said if I don't write you every three days you might get worried and come to look for me. They got all panicky. On top of all of that Schmeltings (the muggle boarding school Dudley goes to) no longer has uniforms that will fit him. He finally is wider than he is tall. Aunt Petunia put him on a diet and to make him feel better about the whole thing we all have to follow it. This morning it was half an orange each and some grapes. I wrote to Hermione and Ron begging them to send some food and of course they did.. they sent TONS of birthday cake.. I mean I had a little last year, but nothing like this.. I stashed it under my bed under a loose floorboard. Aunt Petunia would have a fit if she knew but she doesn't and what she doesn't know won't hurt her. Well, I think that's all the news I have. How're you doing? Is Witherwings keeping you good company? When they do catch Wormtail, and they will so don't worry, you'll be able to go free again.. we could still get that place together. We could live out in the country like the Weasley's do. It's really nice there, someplace with room to breathe. And do you think... maybe... we could get a dog? As great as you are in your dog form and all I've kinda wanted a dog for awhile. I thought I remembered my parents having a dog.. but now I'm thinking maybe it was you. You're going to think this is silly but last summer when Uncle Vernon's sister Marge was staying with us she found this stray dog and got it into her head that she was going to take it in. It was awful - for her anyway- I really liked him and we kind of made up.. but one morning when we got up he just... vanished.. without a trace.. So what do you think? Would a dog really be ok? Anyways, I should let Hedwig get on with this letter. She didn't like the parrots you sent with your last one.. she didn't even want them in her cage drinking out of her water tray. She's been a bit beaky.. pun intended...with me ever since. - Take care, Harry

Dear Harry,
I'm really enjoying the place I'm staying. I'm definitely ok. That's absolutely excellent news about the Quidditch World Cup. England played in '79 and the four of us and your Mum and her best friends Celestina, Kelly, and Larissa all came along with us. After it was over we apparated back to Prongs' place and his Mum fixed us a midnight supper and we slept out in front of the fire place...That was one of the best nights ever and I can only imagine how it's changed. Make sure you let me know what happens. HA! Serves them right! Let'm think I'm a murderer if they're going to be nice of you because of it. And I'm sorry about the diet, sounds miserable.. I'll see if I can rustle up something to surprise you with. Witherwings and I are keeping each other company and He says to tell you "Hi" I think we could definitely live in the country But um.. Harry.. there's something I think I need to tell you...er.. that Dog.. he didn't look familiar by any chance did he? I mean.. "Snuffles".... well he sounds an awful lot like Padfoot *winks*.. ok yeah so what.. I was just looking out for your best interests.. part of my job as your Godfather even if you had no clue. But if you really do want a dog of course we can have one. - You take care too, lots of love, Sirius.

I knew that no matter what for the better or worse, but I was sure for the better, those two days the previous summer had changed the both of us more than we could really know or understand. It was sort of a blessing in disguise I guess. I stopped feeling quite as guilty.. after all as Dumbledore says, "It doesn't do to dwell on Dreams." I found with Harry, Hermione, and Ron out there to write to and get to know there was something out there to keep going for even when the going was rough and this time I had more than memories to save and pull out and look at. All in All I was very pleased with the way the story ended out and it's, of course, still not over because we're all growing and changing everyday but as I wrote my response I was filled with a serene sense of peace and happiness that I had not felt for many years...I guess Puppy Love isn't such a bad thing after all....