Disclaimer: I don't claim any rights to Harry Potter & Co. All rights belong to J. K. Rowling & the publishers!

The Mute Mutt

By: Laverne Ami

Chapter 1: Dreams of Padfoot

"Nothing happens unless first we dream."

Carl Sandburg

"James, he won't stop crying!" Sirius Black said desperately as the small child wailed. He hadn't meant to frighten Harry when he had transformed but he had. When realizing what had caused him to cry he had quickly turned back into a man & had since been trying to calm him for several minutes to no avail.

"What did you do, Padfoot, I've never seen him like this." James voice & face showed how tired he was as he came into the nursery. He had looked that way for the past month as had Lily.

You would think a child Harry's age would sleep peacefully at least some of the time but rather often lately he had woken up in tears. It had been this way since the end of September & as his Godfather Sirius had been helping the troubled parents when they finally broke from lack of sleep.

"I just transformed. I guess that's the first time I've ever done that in front of him, Prongs." Sirius whispered miserably feeling guilty that James had had to come to the rescue yet again. He just didn't have the magic touch that James did that helped him calm the boy down more quickly than anyone else could. Already Harry had stopped crying & was rubbing his snot covered face into James shoulder.

James sighed as Harry looked up at him with a face that looked all too ready to burst into tears again if he were to leave. Ever since Sirius had become their secret keeper he had come to their door at the dead of night as a dog to make it less likely that people would follow him. Lily had been startled several times when Sirius would come out of the shadows so it was little wonder that Harry had panicked.

"Padfoot, we may as well educate Harry about this. Peter did the same thing a couple of weeks ago & it was a nightmare!" James shuddered at the memory of Harry's reaction to that.

"He struggled in my arms so much that I almost dropped him last time. Peter of course was mortified when Harry kept sneaking terrified glances at him. This needs to be dealt with."

Sirius & James sat on the small blue couch in the corner of the nursery. James lifted his wand and put a silencing charm over the room. As much as they hated to do this they were just going to have to let Harry cry until he understood that the black dog was not going to hurt him.

"Okay, Harry," James spoke soothingly, "Sirius is not going to hurt you." At this Sirius gave his most friendly smile. "Lick his hand Sirius."

Sirius raised an eyebrow at the suggestion but then bent down & licked Harry's small fist. When he did that Harry looked up at him with a confused expression. Taking a deep breath James then said, "Now do that as Padfoot."

Instantly the black dog had reappeared & as it quickly licked the squirming baby Harry let out a squeak. Then as the transformed Sirius sat back on his haunches Harry gazed up at him with what appeared to be understanding before holding out his tiny fist to be licked again.

Taking the opportunity to lick Harry again Padfoot turned back into Sirius during mid-lick. Harry didn't jerk back. He actually cooed to their amazement.

"See Harry it's just Sirius." James relieved voice cut through the quiet of the room followed by his yawn. It had been a long day for him before this excitement had woken him up. Sirius smiled reassuringly before gesturing for him to leave.

Harry seemed wide awake & stared at Sirius unblinkingly from his place propped up on the couch. So to lull Harry to sleep Sirius started to talk as one would tell a story.

" Many years ago in the land called Hogwarts there lived four boys who were the best of friends. All contributed to making joy & laughter the law of the land. BUT- one had a secret!"

His audience rubbed one eye but still peered up at him as if to say continue.

"This secret was one kept out of fear. The boy thought the others would be disgusted if they knew of his fate every month & so it was a lie that grew as each month he added to it trying to hide the truth of his true illness."

"Each month the three friends heard their friends pitiful lies and soon grew curious. One demanded answers only to be met with anger that was put up to mask the fear of discovery. It put a great deal of strain on their friendship. When their curiosity could no longer be pushed aside or curbed by the excuses given the boys followed him."

"What they saw didn't disgust them but it did horrify them. Their poor friend was a werewolf & his monthly injuries were inflicted upon himself as he could not take them out on another."

"So they told their friend not to worry they would never turn their backs on him. They loved him so much & therefore devised a plan."

Harry sneezed which made Sirius look up. He dabbed a tissue under the boys nose before clearing his throat to continue. It was getting later & later but he had to wait until Harry dozed off before he himself could take a nap.

"Imagine your body shrinking some. Two of the boys did so while the other thought of growing. Think of having paws, a snout, & two floppy ears one mentally chanted. The others each told themselves something different but similar. You should be sprouting fur all over & growing a tail the same boy murmured. Twitch each ear, good they're there! Lick your nose with your now long tongue, alright! Okay is the tail there...yep I can wag it."

"Open your eyes & bark. Woof!"

"The room held a stag & looking around the dog saw a rat twitching its whiskers. We did it they thought together. Now the friends could join their friend each month to comfort him. They were no longer having to watch helplessly as their friend suffered his transformations alone. And so began the adventures of the Marauders; Moony, Padfoot, Prongs, and Wormtail."

Harry was asleep, Sirius thought, victorious in his attempt to put him to bed. Five years later Harry Potter dreamed of this event & his body tingled as he chanted along with Padfoot.

"Woof," Harry barked aloud before rolling over in his sleep and waving his paws in the air.

-Laverne Ami (Aum-EE)

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Coming soon: Ch 2

Angry Cat Lady

"Those who will play with cats must expect to be scratched."

-Cervantes