Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Note: Written for the Writing Club (Fairytale!AU) and the 365 Days Prompt Challenge (Day 17 - Red) with Gringotts Dialogue Prompt ("I'm not stupid/ "Let's not say things we don't mean").

Hide and Seek

"Come out, come out wherever you are," a low voice growled, the wolf prowling around the dimly lit forest. Harry flinched at the heavy crunch of footsteps to his right, curling into a tight ball on the damp ground. The bush in front of him rustled, and he held his breath, fingers digging into the cool moss at the base of the tree. The area was eerily quiet, no birds chirping, as if all signs of life played dead in the face of this predator.

He squeezed his eyes shut, flashing back to an old memory of him cowering in bed, believing that the monsters couldn't see him if he couldn't see them. The snarls increased in volume, and ferocity too as he grew more frustrated. And suddenly, there was silence. Harry was somehow more unnerved at this than the irritated huffs.

"Boo," a dark voice muttered into his ear.

Harry's heart stopped, eyelids snapping open as he stared right into wild gray eyes. He scrambled off the ground, scraping his knees in the process as he hurried to get away, red cape fluttering behind him. Running for as long as his legs could carry him, Harry ducked behind a large tree, back pressed closely against the scratchy bark. He wrapped the cape tightly around his body, hand against his mouth to stifle his loud pants and smother his heavy breathing. A shiver ran down his spine, cold adrenaline pumping through his veins and chilling his blood, skin clammy with sweat. The loud drum of his heart pounded in his ears, any other sound dwarfed in the deafening fortissimo. Heavy dread gathered in the pit of his stomach, his toes curling in anticipation, prepared to dash once more when he shrieked.

Strong arms captured him in a steel hold.

"Got you."

The teen turned his head, catching sight of the triumphant, wolfish grin, teeth glinting dangerously in the dim light, sharp enough to rip out someone's throat.

Harry pouted, wriggling incessantly until the large hands set him down on his feet.

"Fine, you win this time," he conceded with a roll of his emerald eyes, arms stubbornly crossed in front of his chest.

"I could see you a mile away in this gaudy thing," Sirius said, pulling at the red cape, a teasing curl to his lips.

"Andy made it for me," Harry defended, smacking away the grabby hands.

Sirius only made a face at the mention of his cousin. Although Andromeda was his favorite (he'd rather kill himself than be in the same room as Bellatrix), she was too much of a stickler to the rules for his tastes.

The two ambled out of the dark folds of the forest, finding their way back to the man-made path. Once they stepped into the broad daylight, Sirius stopped just out of the worn path.

"Why don't you come with me to her house?" Harry offered.

"I'm not stupid," Sirius said, giving him a look.

"Let's not say things we don't mean."

"Well, isn't someone sassy today," he drawled out. Harry only shrugged in reply. "Andy still hasn't forgiven me for teaching Teddy curse words."

"You're a dead man," Harry agreed, nodding his head sagely.

"Go, you cheeky little brat," Sirius shooed, waving him off a flick of his wrist. "Come back once you're bored, since that's all I'm useful for."

Harry huffed a laugh at his godfather's dramatic behavior as he flung himself against a tree woefully. He bid his goodbye, turning to start his journey to Andromeda's house when a quick hand darted out to ruffle his hair, messing it up more than it already was. An indignant squawk escaped his lips, and Harry whipped around only to catch a glimpse of a hand giving him a teasing wave followed by amused chuckles.