Disclaimer: I own any character you don't recognize from the books and the idea. Everything else belongs to JK Rowling. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!

Most would agree that weddings, birthdays, and holidays are important events in a person's life, and that decisions like whether or not to buy a house or have children are equally important. Conversely, these same people would most likely concur that picking out a new refrigerator notepad or choosing between pepperoni and mushroom pizza are fairly inconsequential decisions. Still, we seldom acknowledge that the decisions we make and actions we take in even these small, seemingly innocuous, quotidian happenings can have a great effect on our lives, that something as simple as misplacing a pair of keys or remembering to write a letter could change everything . . .

Miriam Prewett charged through the door of her and her husband's sea side cottage. It had been an intolerably long day and she still had to put the finishing touches on dinner. She deposited her purse on the entry table and continued through the house toward the kitchen, emancipating her red locks from their French twist. Distracted, she pulled her hair back, tying it untidily behind her head with a small elastic band. She opened the crock pot on the counter and took a taste, pulling down the salt and pepper shakers from the cabinet without looking up. She got out a loaf of bread from the breadbox and began cutting off slices, depositing them unceremoniously into a bowl. She was just starting on the salad when she heard the door open, revealing her trim, accountant husband Max. Miriam glanced up at the clock. "You're late," she grumbled, chopping violently at a head of lettuce.

"Sorry, McGuire went on holiday so I had to take on a couple of extra clients this week." He apologized, pulling off his suit jacket and draping it over a bar stool. "How was your day?"

"Rubbish," she replied, rolling her eyes. "It was absolute rubbish. I've had a massive headache since half twelve."

"I'm sorry, here, I'll finish the salad. You sit down and have a glass of wine." She complied, stepping aside and handing him the knife. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, Molly wrote late last night. You remember my cousin, right?" Max began slicing a tomato methodically.

"Yeah," Miriam nodded, pouring out a generous glass of Cab Franc.

"Anyway, her son Ron's rat, Scabbers, is a bit under the weather and she asked if you would mind very much taking a look. They're due back from Egypt in a couple of weeks"

"That would be fine," Miriam sighed. "Is he a magical rat?"

"Not as far as I can tell, no."

"Just tell them to come round whenever they get back."

"I will, thanks."

The two shared a quiet dinner, the drones of the Wizard Wireless playing in the background. Sirius Black had escaped the day before and no one seemed capable of talking about anything else. As she went to bed that night, Miriam wondered what she would do if she met Sirius Black on the street. She then dreamt about telling him off and doing all of the things to him that she wanted so badly to do to Mrs. Lee, the most odious woman alive and her second cousin Vivienne with her long legs and perfect teeth . . .

"Where in the bloody hell are my keys?" Miriam grumbled. She was already going to be late. Mrs. Lee and her stupid cat were probably already there. She had torn apart her purse, had searched through her pockets. She couldn't very well drive her car without keys. After another five minutes of frantic searching, she decided to walk the three miles to the clinic. She liked walking to work but it was raining and she was in a hurry so the trek was hardly enjoyable.

Just as she was rounding the corner, barely a block from the clinic, she stopped, stock still. A large black dog sat shivering in the alley way. It was emaciated and whole chunks of its once fine coat were missing. She approached the creature slowly. Mrs. Lee could wait. She crouched down and grasped hold of the tips of its ears before beginning to scratch it gently. The dog whined in pleasure and pushed against her hand, its tail wagging appreciatively.

"There you go; you're a nice thing aren't you. Yes, let's get you some place dry." With a quick flick of her wand, the already light pup became weightless. She picked it up and carried it with her. Maggie, her secretary was waiting outside the small building, hands on her hips.

"And where have you been? Mrs. Lee is in a right state. She's talking about going to Dr. Green's."

"I'm sorry. I lost my keys so I had to walk and then I saw this poor dear in the alley on Birch. Will you tell Allie to tend to him?" She handed the dog to Maggie and then entered the building. She passed her wand over herself, drying her soaked skirt and blazer before entering the waiting room. "Mrs. Lee, I apologize for the delay. I had a little car trouble this morning. Why don't you follow me back to my office and we'll patch up Mr. Mittens."

There was never anything wrong with Mr. Mittens unless you wanted to count a distinctly nasty disposition. If she had had to live with Mrs. Lee, Miriam often mused, she would probably hiss and scratch too. After a long and tedious consultation with that intolerable woman, Miriam entered the sterile, white exam room where her partner, Alastair Huggins was tending to the stray. "How is he?" she asked.

"He'll be okay after a couple of weeks of good food and rest," Alastair replied. "He's a good dog, must not be a stray. I'd reckon he belonged to a nice house once."

"I'll take him home with me. Lord knows we have enough room with Gretchen gone off to university."

After another long day, Miriam began collecting her things. The dog's spirits seemed to have been quite lifted after a large bowl of dog food and a comfortable, warm, dry bed in her office. She put a collar around its neck and connected the lead. She always felt safer with a dog by her side. She didn't understand how Max could have talked her out of getting another pet after Gutenberg died.

She observed the creature closely on the way home. She couldn't help but feel that there was something more than met the eye. The dog seemed more intelligent then a normal dog and she could have sworn it paused to read a traffic sign. But that was ridiculous. Dogs, no matter how intelligent, didn't read traffic signs and had it been an animagus, surely it would have revealed itself by now, right?

A/N: This has been in my head for a while. It's a Sirius gets Harry story, kind of, but it will not, I repeat, will not, have a happy, fluffy, hugs and kisses ending. It's what I think would have happened had Harry not ended up independent by his seventh year. Oh, and because it wasn't really explained in the chapter, Max is the Mrs. Weasley's Squib cousin who is, in this story, married to a witch. Miriam isn't terribly talented though and, because there's a very limited wizarding clientele in her area, she has opened her veterinary clinic up to muggles as well-hence having to drive to work instead of flooing or apparating. Anywho, more to come! Review and give me your thoughts, even if only to say it's crap

Tis the Season,

Liz