I just got home from work, and I really wanted to update this story. Now, I'm staying up late to write this. Feel free to leave suggestions, comments, praises, or criticism. I can take it. I have a general idea where my story is going, but I might be able to write in some side plot. Also, bear with me on switching from 1st person to 3rd person and what not. I'm going to try and keep it all in 3rd person because it's easier to write, but I may make a few mistakes.
Transfiguration class was fun for Harriet. She wasn't able to participate at first because she didn't have a wand, but Draco let her use his after he successfully turned his quill into a cup. Harriet accomplished it on the first try, and her grandma was nearly bursting at the seams with pride.
Class seemed to fly by, and before she knew it, Oliver and Marcus were picking her up from class. She asked them if they could go see Hagrid and told them that he had promised to show her some of his animals. The boys shared a look of doubt. They knew what kind of animals Hagrid liked to keep around, and they weren't exactly safe for a child. They tried to talk her out if it, but she turned on her big puppy dog eyes and they crumpled under the adorable stare.
They walked her out to Hagrid's hut. On the way to his hut they made sure to remind her that she was not allowed to leave their sights, and she was definitely not allowed to go near the forest. When they got to Hagrid's, they knocked on the door and a large dog came trotting from around the hut to greet them.
Harriet smiled and ran to greet the dog. She threw her arms around his neck and talked to him, "Hello, puppy! You are so cute!" The big grey dog seemed to like that because he immediately started licking all over her face.
Marcus grabbed her away from him and fussed at her, "No, Harriet! You cannot just run up to random dogs and get in their faces. What if he was not a nice dog? He could have hurt you! Then your Daddy would use me for potions ingredients."
Harriet laughed at him, "Don't be silly, Marcus. This is Hagrid's dog. He wouldn't have any dangerous animals on campus. He's too nice."
Oliver tried to hold in his laugh, but he failed. Then Marcus started to laugh too. She didn't know why they were laughing. She didn't think anything was funny. She thought they might have been making fun of her, so she pouted a little. They were saying things about Hagrid's class and all different animals and creatures that he had brought into school. They just kept laughing. It was getting ridiculous.
Now they were rolling on the floor laughing at their own little jokes. Harriet ignored them and looked for more animals. She spotted an even bigger, well taller, black shaggy dog just near the tree line. She HAD to hug this dog. He looked so huggable. She ran to meet the dog. When she got closer, the dog jogged a little father into the trees. She ran faster to try and catch him. Why was he running from her? She kept running after him. Before she knew it, trees surrounded her, and she couldn't see the edge of the forest anymore. Forest!? Oh no. She had run into the forbidden forest.
She couldn't hear Oliver or Marcus anymore. She didn't know how long she was running, and she couldn't see the dog either. She realized that she was alone and lost in the forest. What if she never found her way out? She just got her new family! It wasn't fair! She didn't want to lose them already. She had blown it now. Even if for some reason she made it out of the forest, she knew they wouldn't want her anymore. She had already been in trouble once today. They won't think she is worth the trouble.
That thought made her sad, very, very sad. She sat on a log and pulled her knees in to her chest. She leaned down and cried her little heart out. Once she started crying, the dog whimpered and came close to her as if to investigate. She sobbed loudly and threw her arms around the massive dog, and the dog threw his head back and howled with her.
After a few minutes, she calmed down. The dog had guided her to sitting between his forepaws. It was like he was standing guard over her while she wept. She felt safe with this dog. She hugged him again and thanked him. He nuzzled her with his big nose and sniffed her all over.
"Stop that! It tickles" She said as she giggled. This seemed to bring joy to the dog's eyes, so he kept nuzzling and sniffing at her until she was just laughing. All traces of the tears forgotten, he stopped and gave her a chance to catch her breath.
She looked into his eyes, and asked, "Do you have a name, puppy?"
He didn't give any reaction, so she took that to mean that he didn't. "I'm going to call you Snuffles! Do you like that name?"
To be honest, he didn't like that name. He already had a fine name, Padfoot! But he loved this little girl, and he didn't want to hurt her feelings. He yipped playfully to show that it was ok with him, and she beamed at him.
Marcus and Oliver:
They laughed at their own jokes, lost in their own world. Marcus was the first to stop laughing. He didn't see Harriet. He stopped in his tracks, and barked, "Oliver, stop! We lost her. We lost Harriet! We have to find her, now."
About that time, Hagrid was coming out of the forest with a slew of some pheasant over his shoulder. He saw the boys and asked him what they were doing out here. Oliver, the Gryffindor, the one who trusts adults, spoke, "We were bringing Harriet to come see you. She hoped that you could show her some animals, but….."
Hagrid beamed! Harriet wanted to see him. "Well, I don't have any animals right now besides Fang here, but I'd love to introduce them. Where is the little tyke?"
Oliver looked down at the ground, and Marcus was left to answer the half-giant who could easily squash him. "Well, sir. Oliver made a funny joke, and we kind of got caught up in joking and laughing. Harriet disappeared, sir." He finished quickly and tensed, expecting a fatal blow to come.
Hagrid gave him a funny look before asking, "Where did you see her last? We need to start searching!"
The boys explained, and they all split up. They were to meet back in at this spot in 1 hour. If they didn't find her in that time, they would have no choice but to tell her fathers. Marcus and Oliver just hoped to avoid that inevitably terrible confrontation.
Harriet and Snuffles (Padfoot):
They played and chased each other for a long time before they were finally both exhausted. Harriet cuddled into Snuffles and sighed. Now that she was tired and sitting still, she was thinking about her family again. Snuffles must have sensed her emotions because he sadly licked away her silent tears.
"Oh, Snuffles. It's not fair. I just got a new family. I've never had anyone care about me before, but now I have a Daddy and a Papa and a brother and Marcus and Oliver. I'm supposed to be with them now. They love me. I know because they told me so. My last family didn't love me. They only ever me I was a freak."
Snuffles growled at the last two sentences. Harriet continued talking, "I thought my Daddy and Papa looked scary at first, but they are so nice. Papa adopted me, and they gave me a bedroom. They said I could have whatever I wanted."
Then she truly shocked the large animagus when she said, "Can I have you?"
He thought for a second and then licked her cheek. When he first led her into the forest, he had every intention of taking her with him. She was his pup, and she should be with him. He loved her. He was her Godfather. She didn't act like a normal 11 year old, though. She acted much younger. He didn't care. His pup was perfect even if she looked a little different.
It was strange. With that platinum blonde streak and those steel grey eyes (with her original bright green flecks), she almost reminded him of that ponce his older cousin, Cissa, had married. Sirius stopped in his thoughts and inhaled the girls scent. He knew that scent. Her sweet, innocent smell was mixed with…..something. He couldn't put his finger on it.
Oliver, Marcus, Hagrid:
They met back at Hagrid's, and they were disheartened to not see Harriet. It was getting dark and colder outside, so they knew they needed to find her soon. Hagrid decided to stay at his hut in case she showed up while the two fourth years went to inform her parents.
They ran as fast as they could to the dungeons and banged on the door to their professors chambers. Professor Malfoy wrenched open the door with a look of utter anger. His hair and clothes were mussed, but he definitely had a scowl on his face at the interruption. The scowl quickly turned to worry and fear as he realized who was at the door and who was not with them like she was supposed to be.
"Where is Harriet? Is she with Draco in the common room?" He asked.
Marcus scuffed the toe of his shoe on the ground and looked down before he said, "We don't know where she is, sir. We were together one minute, and then the next she was gone."
His face was back to angry. He dragged the boys into their chambers and yelled for his husband to get dressed and come into the living room.
Professor Snape walked into the room not even a whole minute later with a worried expression. He could hear the desperation in his husbands voice at that command. By this time, Lucius was able to make himself a little more presentable. He glared at the boys and demanded they tell the whole story from the very beginning.
After hearing the story, Severus sent off a patronus to his parents to tell them what happened and asked them come help search. They thought she was in the forbidden forest, and it would be pitch black outside in about 10 minutes.
He ordered the two boys to each pick a corner and stay there until they got back.
The search party (Severus, Lucius, Albus, Minerva, Filius, and Poppy) met at Hagrid's hut and coordinated a search plan. They would stay in pairs, and then send out a patronus if she was found.
Severus paired up with his husband. They both cast 'Lumos Maximo' and said a little prayer to Lady Magic to find their little girl. Then, they took off into the forest calling out for Harriet.
Harriet and Snuffles:
She had curled up into a tiny ball and cried herself to sleep. Sirius stood guard over her. Yes, he had every intention of taking her with him at first, but he couldn't now. She wanted her family. He couldn't break her trust and her heart this way. She had asked to keep him though. Maybe he could pretend to be her familiar. Yes! He could do that. Her family wouldn't separate her from a familiar if they really loved her like she said they did.
It had been a while that they had been out here, and it was starting to get cold. He would let her rest a little while longer, but then he would lead her back to the castle. He pulled her small body completely against himself and tried to give her his warmth.
Soon, he heard leaves rustling and twigs snapping in the distance. He was frustrated with himself for not bringing her back sooner. Now he would have to fight whatever was coming their way, and he was already so weak from Azkaban. Then he heard voices. They were calling out for his pup. They were looking for her. He sighed in relief and thought this might be his way out. If he led the searchers to her, then that might endear him in the eyes of her family.
Without a second to hesitate, he howled. He howled and barked to get their attention. He was really surprised that his pup was sleeping through all of the racket he was making. The wandlights pointed in his direction and he had a small doubt in his mind. He howled again and then whimpered to sound less frightening.
The voices got closer until he could see the blond hair holding one of the wands. He pulled Harriet further under him and growled. He didn't know whether it was the movement or his threatening growl that woke her, but they next thing he heard was Harriet screaming, "Papa!"
Sirius sat on his haunches, confused for a second. He was the reason that his pup now had those striking grey eyes and that platinum blonde streak. Lucius Malfoy had blood adopted his pup. His first instinct was anger, but then he saw his pup run to him and saw him pick her up and place kisses all over her dirty face.
This was the new family she was talking about. He was her new father, and they loved each other. He saw the tears and the look of absolute relief on the blond man's face before he was shocked once more tonight. The blonde man sent out his patronus. He was a deatheater. How could he perform such light magic?
He was shaken out of his thoughts by the most surprising thing to happen to him tonight by far. Snivellus ran up to them with tears down his face. He pulled Harriet from Malfoy's arms and spun her around then held her close. Snivellus pulled her close and held back a sob as he said, "Harriet! Little one, I thought we lost you. Marcus and Oliver came back to the quarters without you, and I got so worried. Baby, I can't lose you. I just got you!"
Harriet cried, "Daddy! I was so scared. I was lost, but Snuffles helped me. Can I keep him, please Daddy! He's very smart. He makes me feel safe, and he gives the best hugs."
Snivellus, no Snape. Sirius would have to stop calling Snape that if he was going to be a part of Harriet's life. He may have hated the man in school, but he couldn't hate anyone who loved his pup like this. Sirius must have gotten lost in his thoughts because Snape walked over to him and spelled a collar and leash onto him.
James must be rolling in his grave right now. Severus Snape was leading him with an actual collar and leash. Sirius didn't make any noises. He just allowed himself to be lead in the hopes that this meant he could stay near Harriet.
On the way back to the castle, they stopped by Hagrid's hut and met up with Dumbledore, McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey, and Professor Flitwick. Sirius had a brief moment of panic thinking he had been caught before Snape explained that he was Harriet's new familiar.
Then they headed back towards the castle and then to the dungeons. It was very late by this time, and dinner had long been over. They walked down into their chambers Sirius glanced around the room and was surprised that it actually looked like a nice home. Would the surprises never end tonight?
He looked into the living room and saw a miniature Lucius sitting worriedly at the couch, and two older boys standing in corners. When the door to the chambers closed, the boys in the corners stiffened and the blond came running to them. He saw Harriet in Lucius's arms and he ran to her. He gave her a big hug and told her how worried he was.
Lucius, clearly the man of the house, called an elf to prepare a light supper. Then he called the boys from the corners. They came to him quickly not wanting to make him mad, and Sirius realized these must be the two boys who were supposed to be watching her.
Lucius grabbed the first boy, the darker haired of the two and pulled him to the couch. He sat down and abruptly pulled the boy over his lap. He spanked the boy hard and fast for 3 minutes straight until the boy broke down and sobbed. Then he placed 3 swats on each sit spot. He rubbed the boys back until he calmed and then told him to switch places with Oliver. Sirius reckoned that mean the boy who had just finished his spanking was Marcus.
Oliver looked at Lucius wide-eyed. He was terrified. It didn't seem like he had ever been punished this way. Lucius didn't relent. He pulled the second boy over his knee and started spanking like the first time. Oliver was too tense though, he needed to relax. Lucius stopped, and said, "It's ok, Oliver. I will not hurt you. Spankings are a common punishment in this family, and I will not abuse you. You deserve this spanking, so just relax and let go."
Sirius didn't understand why Lucius had to explain that spankings were common in this family. Was this not his son he was spanking? They didn't look alike.
Lucius continued to spank the now whimpering boy. He alternated cheeks with every swat. He was fast and efficient. Suddenly the brown-hair boy, Oliver, was bawling openly over Lucius's lap. Lucius repeated 3 swats to each sit spot and then rubbed Oliver's back until he was calmer.
After the spankings were doled out he instructed everyone to head into the dining room muttering, "I don't care how late it is. This family will have proper meals."
Sirius could see the funny reactions on the boys faces to being called family twice now. He didn't know what kind of relationship they shared. They family shared a quick meal before Lucius asked Severus to show the boys to Draco's room and configure some bunkbeds for them.
Then he grabbed Harriet's hand and pulled her into a different bedroom. Sirius followed. Lucius sat on the bed and put Harriet on one of his knees facing him. He managed to get her side of what happened tonight from her before he repeated how worried they had been. Then he told her that she broke the rules tonight and needed to be punished. She had put herself into danger by going into the forest and leaving her brothers.
Sirius was confused again about their relationship with those boys. He had just called them her brothers, but he was sure that Draco was the Malfoy heir. They couldn't have older brothers. He was drawn back to reality by a loud slapping noise. He couldn't believe that this man was spanking his pup on the bare bottom.
She was crying and squirming and begging, "Papa! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be naughty. I just saw the puppy, and I had to follow him! Papa. Please, it hurts!"
He gave her a little bit harder swat and said, "It's supposed to hurt, young lady. It's a punishment."
I growled at him and he ignored me. About that time, Snape walked into the room. Harriet saw him and begged him to save her, "Daddy! Make him stop! Owwwww! Daaaddddyyyyyyyyyy"
I almost felt bad for Snape. The look on his face was torture. He was torn between helping his little girl and standing by his husband. Lucius must have thought the same thing because he said, very quietly, "Take one more step, Sev, and you will be the next one to go over my knee. And I won't be as lenient as I was earlier today."
I guess this night had one more surprise in for me. Severus Snape was submissive to his husband. Sirius couldn't believe it. Sure, he was submissive to Remy, but he thought that was just because Remy was a werewolf.
The spanking stopped and both men comforted the little girl. They brought her into the bathroom where a huge tube filled with bubbles was waiting for her. Snape undressed her and then gently set her down into the water. He was so busy watching those two interact that he didn't have time to register before he was being levitated into the tub too.
Harriet giggled and clapped her hands. He loved that sound. He guessed he could handle being bathed by these two if it meant making his pup happy.
If he wasn't covered in black fur, he would have been blushing. After the bath, Snape gave him a flea potion, a nutrition potion, and a healing potion. He felt great. He couldn't remember being this happy before. He crawled into bed next to Harriet and allowed himself to be tucked in with her.
Harriet was asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow, but Snape didn't leave the room immediately. Snape leaned down scratched behind Snuffles' ears. He looked Snuffles in the eye and said, "Thank you, Snuffles, for keeping my little girl safe. You will never want for anything again. It's clear you are malnourished, but we will fix that." Then he placed a kiss on top of the dogs head and summoned a pet snake to tuck in with Harriet.
Sirius didn't like this night. Every time he thought it was done giving him surprises, it had another one for him. The worst part of the head scratching and the kiss….was that it made him feel good inside. Now James was really rolling over in his grave.