Prologue
Leaning against the wall she listened.
There was no sound at all except utter silence. Narrowing her eyes the small woman bent her knees before twisting her body so she could peer around the corner. She could see nothing. Where was she? She wasn't that good at hiding!
Slowly making her way around the corner she stopped when she thought she heard some noise from behind her. Spinning on her heels turned to look but still nothing. Frowning in frustration she made her way further through the house, checking every room she came across.
Where could she be?
Putting her bare foot on the first step she paused before making her way up the stairs. Keeping a good grip on the banister she carefully moved upwards. Finally the woman reached the top, thinking carefully as to where she would go next. Smirking when she heard the noise she shot towards it.
Swinging the door open wide, the smirk still attached to her lips she sauntered into the room. "Come out, come out wherever you are!" She sang with a chuckle. She heard it again - coming from under the bed. Walking slowly towards it she quickly dropped to the floor to peek under the double bed.
Two shining eyes full of laughter stared back at her. "Aw, you found me!" Said a voice that could only belong to a little child. Reaching her arm out her hand was grabbed by a smaller one. Pulling out the little girl from under the bed she chuckled at the petulant expression on the girls face.
"Looks like I win!"
"That's not fair!" The little girl pouted making the older woman laugh at her cuteness. Standing up she picked up the girl before making her way out the room and back downstairs. "Alice, can we make cookies?"
"Why not?" The woman, Alice, said to the little girl with a smile. "We could bake some for when your mom gets home." Bouncing excitedly on Alice's hip the little girl - who went by the name of Ella - squealed with joy.
By the time the girl's mother returned home that night Ella was fast asleep in her bed. Giving Alice a warm, yet tired, smile the girl's mother thanked her for looking after her daughter at such short notice whilst giving her some money.
By the time Alice got home it was half past eleven. Stifiling a yawn she walked into the kitchen to make herself some tea. Waiting for the kettle to boil she frowned as she looked out of her window. She couldn't be sure - as the sky was so dark - but she was sure a bird was heading straight for her window.
Scared the bird was going to crash into it and end up injurying itself she quickly opened it. Not even five seconds later a fluffy brown owl came flying in, flapping its wings in her face. Wrinkling her nose she simply looked at it before sighing.
Going through her cupboards she quickly found some treats for the tired looking bird. Smiling as it nibbled at the treats in her palm she slowly - yet softly - ran a hand over the top of its head.
Once it was doing indulging itself she unwrapped the parchment bound to its leg. The minute she did the bird took flight. Well, someone obviously wasn't expecting a reply. With even more curiosity she unfolded the parchment that lay in her hand eagerly.
As she read through the letter her frown got deeper. Scoffing Alice threw the letter onto the table without a care whilst muttering under her breath. "Fucking Dumbledore." Moodily grabbing her mug of tea she sat down at the table glaring at the cursed letter.
As if he had the nerve to ask her that! She was a skilled and trained healer, not a babysitter. Okay, so not the best excuse ever since she was just babysitting but that was a child. A child she had known since birth since it was her neighbours kid. Dumbledore wanted her to babysit a criminal!
Not just any criminal but Sirius Black of all people. Sure she didn't believe he actually commited the crime he was accused of. If Albus said he was innocent then she believed him - she trusted him with her life.
However, Black had not been cleared of the charges yet and to be seen with him was dangerous. She didn't want to refuse Albus - even though it was quite clearly an order disguised as him asking her a favour that she could refuse, she knew this because that ruddy owl had flown off - but she didn't want to end up in Azkaban if she was caught with him.
Groaning in frustration Alice placed her head in her hands, she felt a headache coming on. This wasn't fair! Especially knowing she wouldn't disappoint her old mentor she gave a reluctant sigh.
Muttering profanities as she stood up she grabbed the letter again. There had been an address written in there so she knew where to go. She wasn't terribly bothered as she was quite certain the headmaster had charmed the parchment so no one else could read it.
Just to be on the safe side she quickly re read it and memorised the address before promptly burning it. Leaving her half drank tea she left the kitchen to make her way to her bedroom. Her flat was small but she didn't mind as it was only her who was living in it anyways.
She was honestly thinking about getting a pet to rid the ache of having to come back to an empty flat. Maybe a cat? Alice shook her head. She didn't mind cats but they weren't her thing. How about a rabbit? Snorting she threw that idea out the window. Hmm, maybe a dog. A guard dog!
Smiling she slipped from her clothes before crawling under her thick duvet. Snuggling into her pillow she tried to lock down her mind but she could help but feel a sense of forbodance at the thought of tomorrow.
Walking down the street Alice huffed as the wind blew her hair into her face. Really should have tied it up. Sighing she kept on walking. It was a good thing she didn't have extremely long hair - hers went to just past her shoulders.
Fifteen minutes later she had finally reached her destination. She had decided to walk not apparate. She had never really liked it much so she wasn't too bothered. Plus, where she had to go was surprisingly close to her own home.
Moving up the the house she stopped at the front door. It was obviously enchanted so the muggles couldn't see the house, very clever actually. Knocking on the door she waited impatiently. Forty seconds later she knocked again but still nothing.
Ignoring her better judgement she grabbed the door handle and slowly pushed the door open. Taking a couple of cautious steps inside she took a quick look around, wrinkling he nose at the musty smell.
Shutting the door behind her Alice shouted out but got no reply. She knew she was at the right place so where was he? Snapping her head up when she heard a commotion from upstairs she hesitantly made her way to the stairs.
"Hello?" Alice called. Still nothing. Huffing, she was getting annoyed now. Hesitation swept from her body as she started storming upstairs. She kept going to the right level that she heard the noise from. Just as she reached level ground she saw a door slam shut.
Narrowing her eyes she hissed under breath, practically flying towards the door - braying it with her fist. The door flung open revealing a rather handsome man. Yes he was little under weight, had slight bags under his eyes and needed a bit of a shave but his appeal was still there. He must have been breath taking when he was younger!
Catching herself at the last minute Alice fought off a blush, not knowing why she thought that. Shaking her head slightly she regained focus. The man - who she was guessing was Sirius Black - was glaring at her harshly.
"What do you want?!" He snapped.
"Professor Dumbledore sent me to-"
"What to look after me?" He mocked. She didn't like been cut off. "I don't need a damn babysitter. I'm a grown man."
"You think I want to be here looking after you?" She laughed sarcastically. "If you do then you're sorely mistaken."
"Then leave if you don't want to be here. You aren't wanted." Ignoring the slight hurt Sirius saw flash in her eyes he slammed the door in her face, trying not to let any guilt over take him. Walking to his bed he flopped down on his back.
He had been locked in Azkaban for 13 years, just finally getting free and now this? Frowning he sat back up. Looking around the room he sneered. He hated been back here, at his old home filled with dark unsavoury memories but he had to. Dumbledore had said it was the easiest and safest place for him to be right now.
He clearly didn't trust Sirius right now - something that admittedly pissed him off seeing as he had sent that girl to look over him. Grinding his teeth he quickly stood from the bed, not able to keep the memories at bay and allowing to over take him all at once. Letting out yell he yanked at his messy, knotty hair as he fell to his knees.
Gasping as he jerked forward he placed his hands onto the dusty hardwood floor. He didn't know what was worse, being in Azkaban... Or back in this house.
Slowly making her way down the old stairs Alice blinked back the tears. Pathetic. Getting emotional over one comment. You don't even know the man! Finally Alice reached the bottom. Making her way with determination to the front door she jerked to a stop as her hand grabbed the door knob.
She couldn't... The headmaster entrusted her with this task - she couldn't let him down. With a dejected sigh she dropped her hand, letting it fall to her side. Moving away she slowly walked down the hall before stopping at an open door. It was what was meant to be a sitting room but now it was covered in layers of dust and the furniture looked like it had been neglected for years.
Grabbing her wand she flicked it at the couch, ridding it of the copulated dust. Sitting down on it she placed her head in her hands, looking at the floor with boredom. Suddenly her head jerked up. How long was she supposed to stay here?
Albus hadn't mentioned anyone else coming to take over... Like shifts so how was she to know when to leave? She needed answers. Getting up from the couch she put herself on a mission to find some parchment, a quill and some ink.
It took her an hour but she managed it. The bottle of ink was nearly empty so she kept her letter short. Rolling it up and tying it she suddenly thought of another problem. She didn't have an owl! How was she supposed to send this darn letter!
Stomping her foot like a little girl Alice let out a small concealed scream of frustration, not noticing the big black dog that was slowly approaching. After she had finished her little episode she turned in a huff to leave the room only to trip and fall flat on her face.
"Ah, my chin!" She moaned, pushing herself off the floor to a seated position. It was then she noticed what she previously hadn't. "Oh." She squeaked in surprise. Then suddenly her eyes went wide in pure joy before she practically flung herself at the slightly scruffy looking dog. She didn't seem bothered if it was dangerous or not, she simply sighed as though she was perfectly content.
Okay, so she had a complete obsession with dogs. It wasn't her fault, she blamed her dad who had the same obsession. Pulling back at the seemingly shocked dog she gave it a soft smile whilst stroking his head.
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes." She cooed. Leaning forward she gave the dogs nose a little peck which resulted in the dog whining, raising it's paw into the air. Giggling Alice grabbed it's paw as though to give the dog a handshake. "I'm Alice, how do you do?"
The dogs head tilted to the side, raising his paw back up. Alice simply leant forward once more to bring the adorable animal in for a hug.
He didnt know why he did it. It was a complete mystery to him but he changed into his animagus form and left his old bedroom. Once he was downstairs he let instinct take over, sniffing out the girl. Once he had caught her scent he went in that direction.
Her little temper tantrum was admittedly amusing, as was he fall to the ground but then she had hugged him and Sirius went into a state of shock.
Obviously he knew it wasn't him she was hugging but his dog form - Padfoot. But oh was it nice to be hugged like that again. To feel the warmth around him, feel genuine affection when she ran her hand through his fur and kissed his nose. He hadn't felt it in nearly 14 years.
It had been so long it felt like a foreign concept to him. So when she went in for that second hug he made up his mind. He wasn't going to run away from this. He wanted, needed, to feel this again otherwise he thought he was going to go insane. He needed human contact, someone to talk to.
If it had to be this girl then so be it. And if he was only going to get this type of affection in his dog form then so be that too. He wasn't stupid to think if he was in his human form she would jump at him and hug him, especially after their disastrous first meeting.
No, she would only be this way when he was like this. So be damned the consequences... He was going to be her dog.