Written for daily prompt over at the Golden Snitch forum. Prompt: Dog saving. Words: 643+
Enjoy!
Okay, to be honest, Sirius Black hadn't planned for this to happen on this particular night or ever, really. Then again, most unfortunate things that ended up happening to him, he never planned for. They just happened. In awkward unexplained...eh, accidents. Getting slapped by that fourth-year Ravenclaw, almost pushing Peter into a bowl of pumpkin juice- well, that one was funny, but most of them he did not plan.
Such as this one.
Sirius had planned for a regular nice stroll. Just revert to his Animagus form, stretch his legs, and snoop around Hogwarts at night. Perhaps even give a few Hufflepuffs the Grim scare. That was always fun.
Coming face-to-face with a cat wasn't on the list.
Especially a tabby cat who looked just as flabbergasted to see him as he was to see her.
What was a professor doing out so late?!
He wondered if maybe Professor McGonagall might have some secret pleasure in scaring un-suspecting Hufflepuffs as well.
Sirius gave a sheepish grin which would've made any woman swoon, provided if he had been in regular dashing Sirius Black form with those dark smoldering eyes. But he wasn't. It ended up being more sharp teeth and dog drool that made the cat look even more disapproving, if that was possible.
He sat down as a sign of peace.
It hissed at him.
Dear Merlin, when were woman ever satisfied. He scowled and got on his four legs again. It seemed to calm the tabby. The hissing went down a notch at any rate.
Sirius shook his head. He couldn't be distracted like this. The longer he stayed the more likely she would figure that he wasn't some ruggedly handsome dog that Hagrid had brought in or something. He attempted to go left, but she blocked him.
Well...
He tried to go right, but she blocked him again.
This was becoming ridiculous.
She purred like she won this game.
Sirius was amused. Yes, as a professor she had all the power, but when it came to animals...
He trotted over and picked her up by the scruff of the neck like one would do with a rather disobedient kitty. His professor froze, in shock he supposed, before meowing in indignation and annoyance.
How adorable.
Sirius winced when one of her sharp claws got caught in his dark fur. Even as a cat, McGonagall was a fearsome adversary indeed. Now, he pondered on where to put her. Bucket of water?
As if sensing his thoughts, she went limp and meowed for mercy.
Ahah. He had no pity. At least not at this moment.
But Sirius was a gentleman. What do you with a lady after midnight? Why, you walk her home, of course.
That's what he did. It took a bit of skill with a crazy cat lady trying to scratch him at random intervals. Only his respect for her as a teacher made him resist dropping her in front of the Headmaster's office. Like hey, look, one of your teachers got caught by a dog. pathetic.
Only Dumbledore would know who he was in a heartbeat.
When they arrived at what he assumed - hopefully, was McGonagall's room, he dropped her gently off right in the front of the door.
She was strangely silent. Which made Sirius conclude he was correct and that this was, in fact, where she lived. Hissing, she turned to him and he could almost hear her stern voice utter, how did you know, you are a student, aren't you, this is mos-
Sirius Black was no idiot.
He immediately ran for his life.
As an animal, yes, he was on higher ground, but human versus dog? Nah.
Nevermind that.
McGongall versus a dog?
...
No dog could be saved.
Not even the handsome ones.