Chapter 21- Sulks and Lemon drops

"Stop! Don't do that!"

Snuffles had attempted to roll on the the stone floor so he could flatten the poufiness that he knew his fur had developed. He growled a complaint under his breath for which he got a scolding from Ginny.

"Behave yourself Snuffles! We didn't take all this time to make you look nice for you to get dirty again rolling about in the dust and grime."

Glaring with disgust at the red headed girl through the thick poofy ringlets that dangled in front of his eyes, Snuffles snorted and took off down the flagstoned corridor.

"Oh for... Snuffles. Wait for us!"

Snuffles ignored the teens who were running along behind him as he zig-zagged from one side of the corridor to the other causing everyone he came in contact with to stop suddenly while trying to avoid crashing into one another or tripping over each others feet. He paused momentarily and sniffed at the feet of an ancient suit of armor and then raised his back leg to mark his territory.

" SNUFFLES- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ron yelled as he quickly withdrew his wand from his sleeve and cast a Protego at the suit of armour before Snuffles could complete his 'mission'.

"You. Are. a. very. BAD. DOG.SNUFFLES! " a very stressed Harry snapped as he reached out with his left hand, caught and quickly pulled the petulant canine away from the quaking suit of armor. "I am too hungry and tired to put up with your stupidity." Harry snarled and then he paused and slapped the palm of his right hand against his cheek. "Oh great now I'm emulating Snape!"

"Quite understandable Harry, but we had better hurry if we want to make it in time for supper." Hermione quickly said before Harry could continue to give Snuffles a resounding tongue lashing.

Snuffles scooted under the Griffindor table as soon as Harry opened the door to the Great Hall. He was not going to be stared at all through supper with those curly ringlets. He was bloody well sure of that point.

The large black curly haired dog did his best to be careful while navigating in between the legs that were on either side of him. The youngsters noticed the feel of his furry body brushing against their legs as he really wasn't that small. Some giggles and chuckles spread from one end to the other as he progressed –slowly creeping till he reached the spot where Harry normally sat.

Harry pretended not to notice that the other students where laughing at the absurd looking dog as he made his way up the isle to sit down across from Ron and the twins who couldn't help chuckling themselves as they leaned over and peaked under the table at the dog who had been trying his best to ignore the stares, giggles and comments from everyone they had met while making his way form the Room of Requirement to the Great Hall.

"He not only smells strong, he's looking a bit Poofy."George commented to his twin, "He seems a little moody too.. you think?"

"That I do brother dear, he is definitely one sulky looking pooch." Fred agreed, "What did you guys do to him? " they both asked as they adroitly avoided Snuffles teeth sinking into either of their outstretched hands.

"We heard that he came into the Entrance Hall after having his bath at Hagrids- smelling somewhat... aromatic," Neville explained while he shifted his feet back a little to avoid treading on Snuffles front paws. His nose wrinkled a little, "Smells like he got doused with a ton of girly perfume."

Snuffles meanwhile whined and poked his cold nose against Harry's leg He was hungry! A great big meaty bone with doggie treats on the side materialized in front of him which he ate. He heard the teens talking about a variety of subjects— He then licked his chops once the bowl before him was stripped down to the bare bone and started to make comments of his own starting with sour mutters and impassioned whines which built up to outraged howls and barks that echoed about the hall.

'He protested about having to put up with two baths in one day with smelly scents and then getting his fur styled to the point where everybody was commenting and staring at him was just too much for his liking. He would have preferred using his time outside nosing about the edges of the Forbidden forest, and running across the wide fields surrounding Hogwarts with the wind flowing about his ears and smelling out the wonderfully stinky scents that tantalized his nose.' He kept it up for several minutes then become strangely silent as Hermione quietly withdrew her wand from its holster and and pointed it at him while whispering "Silencio' She then replaced the wand and continued eating her supper.

Red faced, Harry sighed as he leaned forward, elbows on the table with his forehead cradled in his hands. It definitely had been a very long day!

Dumbledore seemed oblivious to the happenings at the Griffindor table as he tucked into the spread that lay before him at the Head table. He wasn't unaware though as he calmly ate and drank his meal while making small talk with his staff who were alternately horrified and amused with the stories they had heard about the wayward dog that they knew to be a gift to Potter from Dumbledore. After he ate he reached into his pocket for one of the new containers of lemon drops he had picked out of the boxful that had been delivered to his office and opened it slowly and reverently. He breathed in the extra strong pungent odor that rose from the contents once the lid came off and delicately picked one of the tasty lemony morsels out and popped it into his mouth.

The taciturn demeanor displayed by Professor Severus Snape as Dumbledore leaned over from where he sat in his gold chair and thanked him for the wonderfully strong tasting lemon drops was somewhat forced as the Headmaster invariably burped and an explosion of extra strong lemon scent wafted under Severus's long sensitive nose and then spread out throughout the Great Hall.

"Sorry 'bout that." Albus quickly apologized for burping and then an odd expression flitted across his face. Albus politely excused himself from the table and barely made it out of the hall through a doorway that fortunately was only a few feet behind the Head table before racing down the corridor with desperate hopes to make it in time to the nearest rest room.

Shaking her head, Minerva McGonagall's stern demeanor was sorely tested as her thin lips twitched from holding back the tickling chuckle trying to escape.

She then extended her arm and with her index finger, she tapped the table near Severus who looked innocently at her a moment before smirking back at her while leaning slightly and whispering, "See- I told you I didn't think Albus actually reads what is printed on the labels."