The Mutt who Lived
by Teddylonglong

All recognizable Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC, Dumbledore/Weasley bashing.

If you don't like my stories, don't read them. I am only writing for my own fun and for those, who like reading my stories.


As much as their classmates pestered Hermione, she did not tell them who her partner for the Yule Ball was. Most of their classmates had returned home for the Christmas holidays anyway; however, the matter still remained a topic among the children of the extended family.

"Too bad that we're not allowed…"

"… to attend as spectators," Harry and Neville said, sighing.

"Exactly," the older twins agreed.

"We don't even know…"

"… whom Percy is going to take."

"Whom did he take last year?" Christa enquired.

"No one…"

"… because he succumbed to our potions prank…"

"… together with half of his class," the Weasley twins replied, pleasantly.

"I wished they'd let us attend," Susan spoke up, grumpily. "At least, we all know how to dance."

"That's true," Draco concurred and stepped over to where Dorea was sitting, invitingly holding out his hands to her. "Would you agree to dance with me, my fair lady?"

Grinning, Harry waved his wand at the Merlin Strawberry that was sitting on the desk in the corner, causing it to begin playing music a moment later.

"Let's dance," Neville spoke up, grinning, as he jumped up from the sofa and gave Christa a mock bow.

A moment later, everyone began to dance, just like Luna and Rolanda had taught them, changing partners after every dance.

HP

"Mum," the twins addressed Lily later that evening, when she came into their room to say good night.

"Can we perhaps have our own Yule Ball…"

"… on Christmas Eve this year?"

"We want to invite the girls and dance…"

"… before we forget how to dance."

Their mother cast them a surprised look, before her expression softened and she smiled.

"I'll speak with Minerva and Dad about it, but as long as you do it in the parlour or in our private rooms, I don't see a reason why not," Lily replied, thoughtfully. "You could even use the second-years' common room. Let me discuss the matter with my colleagues tomorrow."

"Mum?" Harry spoke up, thoughtfully, "could we perhaps invite Luna and her father to spend Christmas here with the extended family? Luna told me that he was very depressed after her mum died and that she'd prefer to remain at the MAMA but didn't want to leave him alone over Christmas. I don't know if her father would agree, but could we invite them?"

"I'll speak with the others about it, but I can't see any problem with it, especially considering that she is my goddaughter," Lily replied, smiling.

"Thanks Mum," the twins replied, simultaneously, while Inu eagerly sat up to lick her face.

HP

"Harry," Neville whispered, once their mother had left their room, "do you think I could invite Christa to attend our ball with me?"

Harry sat up in his bed in shock, startling Inu, who lightly growled at him, as he had just slipped back under the covers and made himself comfortable against his stomach. "Oh, sorry Inu," he apologized quickly, before turning to his other twin. "Do we need to invite one of the girls?" he asked, unsurely.

"I suppose so," Neville replied, shrugging. "Do you think she'd be willing to be my partner for the ball?"

Harry remained pensive for a moment, thinking about their common friend. "I think she'd be happy to attend the ball with you," he finally said. "I think she likes you."

He could not help chuckling upon seeing Neville blush at his latest comment, before his mind turned to the question, "Whom should I invite?"

"I think Draco will invite Dorea," his brother continued to speak, causing Harry to stare at his twin. "Our baby sister?" he asked in disbelief.

"If she's allowed to attend the ball that is," Neville replied, shrugging.

=Of course, Draco will invite Dorea, and she'll be happy, even if she's still small,= Inu commented. =Harry, whom are you going to take?=

"It's not as if it was solely our choice," Harry countered. "The girls might have their own ideas, with whom they want to attend the dance."

=But it's the boy's turn to invite the girl,= Inu contradicted. =At least Granny Mina said so.=

"I could go as a doggy together with Inu," Harry thought aloud, causing the canine to sit up and lick his face.

=No, you choose a girl, and I'll watch from some place above in my phoenix form,= Inu decided, letting out a yaw cracking yawn.

"Oh well, good night, Neville and Inu," Harry replied, yawning as well, as he nestled back under his covers, smiling, when Inu cuddled against his stomach.

'Invite Luna. She'll be happy to join us in our phoenix forms during any break,' Harry noticed Inu think to him, just before he drifted off to sleep.

HP

In the morning of Christmas Eve, Harry woke up by Neville shaking his shoulder and Inu growling at their twin.

"What is it?" Harry asked, sleepily.

"Frank told me that we need to go out early and collect some flowers to give to the girls tonight," Neville informed him, only to add, "We must be back, before they notice that we're missing."

"All right," Harry agreed and slowly sat up, while Inu jumped from the bed and eagerly waggled his tail in anticipation of an early morning walk through the park.

Together, the three headed out into the park, only for Harry to realise that there were not many flowers to pick in the park. During the night, it had begun to snow, and the grounds were covered by a soft layer of snow, looking like powder sugar.

"No, that won't work," Neville informed him, smirking. "Let's go to the greenhouse. I have an idea. I think I know what Frank meant."

He led Harry into the second greenhouse, which he had been putting up together with Pomona Sprout and Frank Longbottom during the last couple of months. "Here, this is the Miltonia Valentina plant."

"Oh, wasn't that the one that Frank gave you for your birthday?" Harry recalled, causing Neville to grin broadly.

"Exactly," he admitted. "This plant is special. If you cut a small branch," he began to explain, "you only need to caress its leaves for it to bloom."

Seeing Harry stare at him in disbelief, he waved his wand cutting off a small branch. Putting his wand away, he gently let his fingers wander over the leaves, and instantly, a small flower stalk shot out, with small light blue flowers, which opened within a minute to magnificent flowers that looked like exotic orchids.

"Wow, this is just amazing," Harry breathed, staring at the flower in Neville's hand in awe.

"Yes, it is," Neville agreed, grinning broadly. "If mostly kept in water, they keep fresh for about a week. Outside of water, it's only about a day," he explained. "I suggest that we take three more with us, one each for Christa, Luna and Mum, and this one, we could give to Alice."

"Great idea," Harry agreed and held out his hand to hold the beautiful flower, while Neville carefully cut three more small branches.

"Only make it sprout flowers right before handing them over," he advised Harry, who nodded in understanding.

'Ah, I can't wait to see Luna's face. She'll love this flower,' he thought, feeling very excited at the prospect of attending his first ball.

"Thanks Neville, this is a beautiful gift," he replied, smiling.

"Should we also take one for Dorea and one each for Granny Mina and Granny Augusta?" Neville suddenly asked, and Harry nodded, eagerly.

"They'll love it, too," he replied, smiling.

=May I have one for my collar?= Inu enquired, sitting on his bum in a begging position.

"Of course," Neville confirmed and cut another small branch for the canine.

"I'll fasten it to your collar tonight," Harry promised, and Inu eagerly waggled his tail in response, accompanied by a small =Thanks.=

After a detour to the first greenhouse to ask Wonka for an adequate amount of chocolate frogs to hand over together with their flowers, the trio quickly returned to the main building and distributed their flowers and sweets to their grandmothers, their mothers and their younger sister, spreading much joy with their gifts.

HP

After lunch, Narcissa and Alice gathered the very excited boys – with the exception of the older MAMA students – in Alice's and Frank's private rooms, instructing them to bring the robes that they intended to wear that evening.

With a few flicks of their wands, the two witches transfigured their school robes into dress robes, before they changed the colours according to the boys' wishes.

Harry and Neville chose green, and even for Inu, Alice transfigured the canine's school robes into green dress robes.

"Oh Inu, with the flower attached to your collar.."

"… you're going to look very stunning," his twins told him, grinning.

=It's going to be so much fun,= the canine replied, eagerly waggling his tail in apparent anticipation.

HP

And fun they had. The girls had been very secretive and had spent most of the afternoon together with Alice, Regina and Narcissa in the Longbottoms' private quarters to get dressed for the ball, while Lily, Minerva and Poppy had to assist the fifth-year and older girls. Hermione insisted that Emma would help her, even without magic, and all the boys were trying to get a glimpse at her in a possible response to the question who was her partner.

When they finally spotted her on her way to the atrium, she simply looked stunning in her dark blue dress robes and with her hair pulled up and secured by strings of small flowers. However, they could not discern who was going to be her partner.

Their disappointment about the matter soon vanished, however, when they entered the parlour, where their girls were already waiting for them.

"You're late," Susan told them, accusingly.

"Sorry for being late," Harry told Luna, presenting her the branch of the Miltonia Valentina, as he spoke. As soon as she had taken the branch, he gently caressed the leaves, causing the blossoms to appear.

"Thank you so much, Harry. It's beautiful," Luna replied, wearing a dreamy expression.

"You are, too," Harry replied, unsurely how to formulate a compliment. However, to his relief, it seemed to work, as Luna thanked him again, smiling broadly.

As soon as Harry waved his wand at his Merlin Strawberry that was sitting on a side board, music began to play, and the first couples already began to dance.

"Would you like to dance?" Harry asked Luna, suddenly feeling somehow shy towards the girl. However, Luna cast him a broad smile and pulled him over to the dance area.

At first, Harry felt slightly hesitant; however, as time passed and they continued dancing, his confidence slowly returned.

"Thanks for inviting me, Harry. This is much fun," Luna whispered, when they went to get some snacks from the family's living room, where dinner for the family was served tonight, as the atrium was closed for the Yule Ball.

It was almost midnight, when Lily entered the parlour and sent everyone to bed, switching off the computer with a flick of her wand.

"Good night, Luna. Thank you so much for your company," Harry told the girl.

"It was so much fun; I didn't even realise how fast time flew," Luna replied, giving him a dreamy look, before she rose to her toes and pressed a kiss onto his cheek. "Good night, Harry."

"Good night, Luna," Harry replied, unconsciously raising a hand to his cheek that felt just a little moist from her kiss.

'She's right; it was so much fun that I didn't even notice how fast time passed,' he thought, as he returned to his, Neville's and Inu's room, deep in thoughts.

To his surprise, Neville and Inu were already in bed, even if they were awake and apparently waiting for him.

"Are you back already?" Harry asked in surprise. "Didn't you have fun?"

"I had fun, but Christa and I called it a night an hour ago. How was your evening?" Neville replied, smiling.

"It was brilliant," Harry blurted out. "Luna really is a wonderful dancer. I danced with everyone else, too, but she's the best."

"Of course," Neville replied, matter-of-factly. "She was when she taught us."

"Oh well, that might be," Harry replied, thoughtfully, "but I never danced with her before. What about you, Inu? Did you have fun, too?"

=Yes, it was very amusing to watch everyone,= Inu quipped, causing Harry to roll his eyes at the canine. =Are you coming to bed now? It's cold without you here to warm me.=

Ten minutes later, Harry was fast asleep, dreaming of blonde girls with light blue, dreamy eyes.

HP

The Daily Prophet arrived, when the extended family as well as the older students, who were going to return home that morning, were still gathered in the atrium for breakfast on Christmas morning.

A huge gasp coming from the group of twelve-year-olds arouse, when they got a glimpse at the front page.

'The traditional Yule Ball at the MAMA,' the headline screamed in red letters. Underneath was a large photograph of none other than Hermione Granger and Percy Weasley dancing together.

"You what? Percy?" Susan blurted out in apparent shock, glancing around; however, Percy was sitting at the sixth-year table together with a few of his classmates, who had stayed for the ball.

"Why not? Percy is really nice," Christa immediately came to Hermione's help.

"Don't tell us…"

"… you have any problem…"

"… with the ugliest of all the Weasleys at the MAMA?" the Weasley twins asked in a sing song, mock glaring at Susan.

"Thanks for your company last night, George," Susan replied, completely ignoring the pun.

Hermione completely ignored the conversation in favour of her breakfast. However, Harry had the impression as if she was looking happy.

"Hermione," he addressed her in a soft voice, causing the girl to look at him, questioningly. "Did you have fun last night?" he continued.

"Yes, it was absolutely amazing," Hermione replied, smiling.

"We had much fun, too," Luna stated, smiling, and Harry noticed in surprise that she was wearing the Miltonia Valentina woven into her hair. 'It looks very pretty,' he thought, feeling very grateful towards his twin, who had had the brilliant idea with that specific plant.

HP

Immediately after breakfast, the older students returned home from the fireplace in the entrance hall, and the extended family gathered on the grounds for a snowball fight.

Harry and Neville were just discussing a strategy against the adults, when Arcturus suddenly popped up wearing his Unspeakable robes with hood.

"Harry, can you come with me and bring that doggy of yours please?" he asked in a no-nonsense voice. "He might be able to help us. There has been an attack on a muggle family, and from the witnesses' descriptions we assume that it was Lucius Malfoy. He even raised the Dark Mark over the house. Perhaps he's still nearby and Inu can catch him."

"All right," Harry and Inu replied, simultaneously.

"Harry and Inu, be careful," Hermione instructed them, giving them a concerned look.

"We will," Harry promised and, with Inu in his arms, held on to Arcturus' arm, before the Unspeakable popped away with them.

HP

When they arrived in front of the remains of a house, which seemed fairly destroyed, a boy ran over to them, shouting, "Harry!"

"Colin," Harry replied in surprise, as he recognised the first-year. "Is your family all right?"

"Yeah, we're fine. It's just that the house is destroyed, and you know, the Dark Mark… it was scary," the boy replied, seemingly shaken.

"Unspeakable Ra," Harry turned to his colleague, who had in the meantime caught up with the Aurors, "can you help me take the family to the MAMA please?"

"Of course," Ra promised before telling Inu, "We're too late, Dog Hero. Apparently, it was Lucius Malfoy, and he apparated away shortly after the Aurors' arrival. The problem is," he added, seemingly more to himself than to Harry, "that we don't know, where he's living, as there's no such thing as Malfoy Manor anymore."

Harry nodded, knowing that the Unspeakables had until now hoped that Malfoy had succumbed to the fiendfyre, which they had cast at Malfoy Manor four years ago.

tbc...

Thank you so very much for the few but kind reviews for the previous chapter. Please let me know what you think of this chapter and what you expect from this story. Any ideas or opinions are welcome. My muse really appreicates the feedback.

Next chapter: "A new challenge".