Chapter 1

The New Arrivals.

'Whoever she was she sure smelt good!' Sirius decided, as he watched the new 1st years arriving. The faint smell of butterscotch and lavender soap drifted on the air, and teased his black nose. The scent was too weak for any normal person to distinguish from the other perfumes and odours coming from The Hogwarts School. But Sirius was no normal person. Still in the form of a black dog – a form he took back in the days when he was a student in the school, he followed the scent.

'Smells good, and sure looks good from here!' His tongue lolling out of his mouth in appreciation, he studied the woman who was talking to Professor Dumbledore. She was wearing a grey tailored suit, which – although looked out of place amidst the old-fashioned robes everyone else wore – suited her and enhanced her shapely curves. She had flame red hair tied up in a loose ponytail, small strands had escaped and curled erratically over her face. A little make-up covered her pale face, and her brown eyes were thoughtful and serious as she listened to Dumbledore talk. Curbing the impulse to wolf-whistle he brazenly wandered over to them and started sniffing, and licking at the woman's hand. Dumbledore was obviously upset at the interruption, as he kept waggling his fingers at Sirius in an attempt to shoo him away.

'He's not keeping her to himself' thought Sirius.

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"The Ministry of Magic has sent me here, as we have had several sightings of an unregistered animagus. It is my job to find them and take them into custody." Auror Pat Carver MOM gazed in astonishment as Professor Dumbledore – a highly respected wizard, started waving at something behind her, but she didn't let him get the better of her.

"Sir, this is a serious matter. If you could pay attention to me for oohhhh!!"

She squealed a something wet and sloppy attached itself to her hand. Whirling around she glared at the dog who had licked her. Patting him on the head twice she resumed her conversation.

"Professor, we cannot have unregistered…"

The dog was not content with just a pat on the head as he gently butted her hand with his head. Sighing she knelt down beside him and gave him a good rub. Looking into his eyes she could have sworn she saw a mischievous glint turn into a look of complete contentment.

"Yes that's better isn't it?" She cooed. "And what's your name?"

She glanced up at Dumbledore, surprised at the look of discomfiture on his face.

"Ummmmm… Blacky." He said hesitantly.

"Blacky. Is that your name? Good dog, good dog!" She gave him one final stroke and returned to Dumbledore.

"As I was saying, we cannot have unregistered animagii roaming round the country. Imagine the chaos! Uncontrollable Wizards and Witches turning into animals. There is enough trouble going on with…" (She lowered her voice) "… "He-who-must-not-be-named" and Harry Potter. Let alone this!"

"Yes, yes. I do understand." Professor Dumbledore said encouragingly. "But does this person need to be taken into custody? Would it not be possible for them to just put their name on the register?"

"Its not up to me Professor…"

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"…. And finally introducing Pat Carver. She's here on important Ministry business, and will be staying here in the school. So lets make her feel welcome!"

The students shuffled in their seats and reluctantly clapped as Pat abruptly nodded. Dumbledore finished his usual post-sorting speech.

"Lets Eat!!"

It never failed to surprise Pat when the food magically appeared. It had seemed an age since she was sat at the Ravenclaw table. This time was different though she was sat at the head table reserved for staff, between Professor McGonagall and a mysterious man. McGonagall was busy discussing new teaching techniques with Professor Sprout, so she turned to the man. And was surprised to see him studying her intently. Never one to back down from a challenge she scrutinized him back.

He seemed familiar to her but she couldn't place where she'd seen him. Like her, he wasn't wearing robes, but the jeans and black jumper he was wearing seemed too informal, but flattered his toned figure. His black hair was cut short and smoothed back with gel, except the flick at the front where he had unconsciously run his fingers through his hair. His eyes were black, and although for the main part assessing there was a small twinkle of impishness. She had seen many handsome men before, but none of them made her feel dizzy inside. He was still looking at her in the unnerving manner. She decided to confront him.

"I'm Pat Carver. And you might be??"

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"Huh?" 'Great start Sirius!' he thought.

 Sirius had been so busy gawping at her that he had completely missed what she had said. She started speaking again, this time slowly and irritatingly condescendingly.

"I'm …. Pat …. Carver …. and …. you …. are?"

"Sorry. I'm Sirius Black, newly appointed Professor of History of Magic. Nice to meet you."

The scream could have scared every student in the hall, but this was Hogwarts Academy they were used to screaming since Hagrid had been a teacher. He soon learned that impressing women with oversized spiders didn't work!

"SIRIUS BLACK?!?!"

McGonagall coughed. Snape glared. And Dumbledore turned to Flitwick saying, "It's nice they are getting to know each other."

"Yes.." Sirius gave Pat a disarming smile. "…have you heard of me?"

She gaped at him, unable to believe what he had just said.

"But you… but you… you look so…. different!"

"Different?" He asked revelling in the fact that he had completely broken her armour down.

"You… you… you know… the urm photo?"

Her heart sank lower as she realised where this conversation was heading. She couldn't meet his eyes with hers

"Photo?"

That wicked gleam in his eyes was in full force.

"Your prison photo."

'Damn didn't mean to mention that.' She thought. Then, finally looking up at him she realised he was playing with her.

"Ahhh, that." He nodded as if finally understanding.

Anger sprung up right away. 'This is WAR.' She thought.

"Yes that.." she smiled sweetly " … I'm surprised you shaved the beard off. It was your greatest feature. What with it hiding your face and all."

With her parting shot she swiftly stood up and walked away.

"Yes, this will be fun." Sirius murmured to himself.

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She growled at the room in general as she stormed into her room. Slamming the door shut behind her and ferociously drop-kicking her favourite Teddy across the space, she threw herself onto the bed and grumbled to herself.

"Bloody, annoying, irritating, repulsive, horrid, fool!" She punched the pillow.

"I could SCREAM!" She punched it again.

" "Yes, Sirius Black. Have you heard of me?" " She mimicked him perfectly, giving the pillow a final punch. She rolled onto her front and looked, with disgust, at the reflection of herself in the mirror opposite the bed.

"And YOU! GOD. Could you be any more tragic? Screaming his name in front of everybody. Embarrassing yourself, and all because you saw a pretty face."

She got off the bed and composed herself, taking off the jacket that was creased and hung it on the back of her chair.

"You're going to end up as bad as your father." She muttered, and then thinking about her parents she picked up her pensieve……

Her old family home the one she had stayed in until her 6th year. And saw a woman with a similar face to Pat, in the middle of an argument. A tall man holding onto a child, both with flame red hair. The woman spoke.

"The Deatheaters are almost here, you must run …. now!"

"I cannot leave you!" The man spoke forcefully.

"You are a Muggle!"

"That is why they are here! You take the child I will stay."

"You cannot fight them, you don't know how! I am the only one who can use magic here. You must save yourself and our child, please. I promise I will follow you." Her voice cracked, tears running down her face. "Get to safety I will meet you later." The child squirmed in the man's grasp. "Mummy?"

"GO!"

Her home had been reduced to rubble, but her mother had defeated two of the deatheaters before….

Pat blinked back the tears. Focussing on the pensieve again she saw…

A shrunken shell of the tall man, his red hair streaked with grey sitting in a faded old chair, looking out of the window. Always looking out of the window.

"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do, except keep him comfortable. He seems to have given up all hope." The young doctor spoke to the child's Aunt, who he could have sworn had cat's eyes.

"Daddy?" The 8 year old girl softly spoke to the man. "Daddy?"

He barely looked at her. "Claire?? Have you seen Claire? She's meeting me."

"That was my mother." She sobbed as she ran from the room. "Take me back to Hogwarts." She told Professor McGonagall. She would never see her father again.

Pat could no longer control her emotions. Sobbing into her pillow for parents she never had. She said bitterly "Love, that's what it does to you. Makes you dependant on people you can never trust."

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In his own room Sirius was pacing up and down the room. No one – not even the omnipresent Dumbledore knew that Sirius hadn't slept well since Azkaban. Deciding to go for a run, he changed into Canine form. Filch had been giving the Professors a hard time for walking around at night. He ran down to the lake.

"I must sleep sometime." He told his reflection in the water. Deciding that a swim would tire him out and make him sleep he waded in. Doing the doggie paddle (of course) he completed 10 laps. Then picking up the scent of Hippogriffs, he spotted Hagrid. Leaving the lake and shaking the water off, he headed towards Hagrid's hut.

"No, that can't be true Harry." Sirius had to laugh at Hagrid's idea of a whisper.

"Ron told me that his dad told him that." Harry sounded nervous.

"Would you like to tell me?" Sirius stepped out from the bushes.

"Thank god its you!" Harry said, relief evident on his face when he saw Sirius. "I have to tell you something! The Auror. She's looking for you! Ron's father said that she's here to get an unregistered animagus."

"I know Harry, I know. Don't worry."

Harry looked up in confusion at Sirius.

"Dumbledore told me. I promise you it's not something you want to worry about."

"Will you promise to stay away from her?" Harry asked, worry still etched in his brow.

Thinking about the way she smelt and looked, and the way he reacted to her at the dinner table, Sirius decided that that was a promise he would break – as often as possible!

"I can't do that Harry." Harry's eyes now flashed pure fear. "She may be able to tell us more information about Voldemort's activities."

Abruptly ending the argument before Harry protested again he said "Now lets get you back into school, how did you get out here?"

Harry, knowing that there was nothing he could do to change Sirius' mind, grinned and put on his cloak of invisibility.

"Okay, I'll go with you, just in case Filch or Mrs Norris come near you. See you later Hagrid."

Sirius (and Harry) were approaching the Gryffindor dormitories. When they heard the soft padding of footprints.

 "Mrs Norris" whispered Sirius "I can smell the fish. You go to the door. I'll get rid of her. As soon as she disappears you go in. You can't lose any more house points from Gryffindor!"

He started growling, and edged towards the shadows. He heard a small voice coming from near the Gryffindor painting.

"Nox" Harry cast the spell and all the lights flickered and went out.

Sirius edged closer and closer to Mrs Norris, not stopping, just continuing at a slow, menacing pace, he held his breath, knowing that even a breath could give away his position to her. He could see the hairs on Mrs Norris' back stand on end, and she started to hiss. Inching towards her he kept his body low, Sirius had always hated Mrs Norris and Filch, and was going to play this for all that it was worth. He was close to her now. Seeing where age had turned some of her grey hair white, he thought 'There's going to see a lot more white hair after this.' He edged nearer. Almost there now, a few more inches, and… NOW!

He snarled menacingly and pounced, aiming for an inch away from Mrs Norris. She screeched in horror and ran away. Sirius gave chase making sure that Harry didn't get caught. He chased her all the way to the 3rd floor where Filch rounded the corridor. Sirius skidded and stopped.

"I see you! You'll pay for that!" Turning around he set off at a fast pace down to his rooms, but not before Filch had a glimpse of black hair and tail.

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