Chapter Thirty-Six
Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England, 25 December, 1991
He couldn't believe it.
He'd found him at last.
It took ten years and two months, but he'd found his Pup.
He was currently lying at his Pup's feet on the bed, snoring loudly. The boy kicked him every now and again, but he couldn't care less, as long as it was this boy kicking him.
The little girl squealed every time she saw him, patting his head and occasionally tugging on his smooth fur. He obligingly licked her face and woofed as she blabbered on and on.
The other boy was quieter, having learned how to safely meet an animal. He mostly left him alone, though he checked on his brother numerous times. The dog snorted. The other boy reminded him of a mother hen.
Narcissa was kind to him, brushing out his hair and walking him often. The oddest part of being around her was when he had to have a bath; he tried to ignore the fact that his cousin was bathing him.
Lucius was… indifferent. He didn't mind the dog overmuch, but he wasn't especially fond of him, either. The dog had pissed in his slippers once, and since then they were at an impasse.
All in all, this was a good place to be a dog.
Until he could figure out his next move, this is where he would stay.
The boy stretched and yawned, ruffling his already messy hair sleepily. He couldn't see anything, so he assumed his glasses were off. Groping blearily on his nightstand, he grabbed them and put them on, yawning again.
"Now that," he mumbled, "was a party."
He heard a snort come from the foot of his bed. Glancing at his feet, he saw a huge black dog.
"Where'd you come from?" he asked, surveying it curiously.
The dog merely snorted again. Then it jumped off of his bed, took his blanket between its teeth, and pulled the covers off of him.
"Hey!" he cried, diving onto the floor, grabbing hold of the blankets and pulling. "These are mine!"
The dog growled playfully and jerked its head side to side. Pulling with all its might, it started to drag Adrian toward the door.
"Knock it off, you bloody pest!" Adrian growled. "Let. Go!"
He gave a mighty heave right as the dog released the blanket, and his momentum sent him crashing into the side of his bed.
The dog made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a laugh and he narrowed his eyes. "Oh, that's how it's going to be?"
The dog seemed to smirk at him, wagging its tail mockingly.
He lunged at the dog, grabbing it around its neck. The dog yelped and bucked, trying to shake him off, but Adrian held steady. The dog batted at him with its huge paws and he ducked and dodged, narrowly avoiding having his glasses knocked from his face.
"Ha, Mutt!" he crowed. "You can't get me!"
That's when his head connected with the dog's. He saw stars and released his stranglehold, blinking dazedly. The dog licked his face apologetically.
"Gerroffme," he muttered darkly, shoving it away.
The dog let out a sad howl and looked guiltily at him.
"Whose dog are you, anyways?" Adrian asked, standing up shakily.
The dog woofed and rubbed its head on his leg, trying to be cute.
"Oh, Merlin. You're my dog?!" Adrian cried. "The world has gone mad!"
The dog nodded sagely.
"At least we agree on something," he muttered.
The dog woofed again and trotted out the door.
"I'd better go downstairs," he said to himself, "Vela will have a fit if she can't open presents because of me."
He put on his slippers, and, yawning, headed downstairs.
"Oh, you're awake!" his mother said, embracing him tightly. She anxiously searched his face. "How do you feel?"
"I'm fine, Mum, just a bit tired," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas," she smiled. "Now into the drawing room, everyone's waiting. I think your sister is about to explode."
Adrian chuckled and jogged into the drawing room.
There was a huge Christmas tree in the center of the room surrounded by brightly wrapped packages. His father was holding a squirming red-faced Marvela, and Draco was snoozing on a couch across the room.
Draco was not a morning person.
The dog trotted in and curled up near the fireplace.
His mother shut the doors behind her and sorted the presents into piles for each of them.
Adrian received a new green cloak and silver cashmere scarf from Marvela, a pair of special Quidditch goggles from Henry, a book from Hermione, Chocolate Frogs from Ron, a large belt-pouch from Daphne that became invisible to everyone but the wearer, a strange looking plant from Neville, boots from Blaise that were charmed to make no noise, and a book of magical pranks written by "The Marauders" from Draco.
He assumed the dog was from his parents and with the way they beamed when he thanked them for their gift, he knew he was right.
The family then sat around laughing for a bit and went to eat breakfast. After they ate, they listened to the Quidditch game on the wireless and were sorely disappointed when the Montrose Magpies were clobbered by the Hollyhead Harpies.
They dressed and ate their formal dinner and went exhaustedly to bed.
The dog slept at Adrian's feet again, and he had the sinking suspicion that he would receive another rude awakening in the morning.
The dog hogged all his blankets, pushing his legs completely off the bed, and snored as loudly as Draco.
He snorted and tried to sleep.
The dog was a pain in the arse.