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.
The rest of the extended family was shocked to hear about Lucius Malfoy and the attack on the Creevey family.
'Thank Merlin we have so much space at the MAMA,' Lily thought, when James assigned the Creeveys rooms on the third floor of the South Wing, in which only Narcissa and Severus with their almost four-year-old son Salazar and Draco had their rooms so far. 'At least, they're not alone on the third floor,' she thought, knowing that the Grangers would do their best to care for the muggle refugees.
"If that continues," Regina spoke up, pensively, "we can open Lestrange Manor for refugees again, even if I hope that it won't be necessary."
"I hope so, too," Lily full-heartedly agreed.
To everyone's relief, Lucius Malfoy's attack on the Creeveys remained a single event, causing everyone to wonder what might have happened to prevent the Death Eater from attacking again.
HP
It was on the first day of the summer holidays, which Luna was going to spend at the MAMA together with her father, that the girl suddenly addressed Arcturus. "I believe that I'd be quite useful as a Mini Unspeakable, considering that I'm a Seer," she said, airily.
"Have you seen yourself working together with the other Mini Unspeakables?" Arcturus quipped, giving the girl a sharp look.
"Arcturus," Harry spoke up in a small voice, "Luna is a phoenix Animagus and is just working on her second Animagus form."
"Yes," Luna added, smiling as she transformed her left hand into white fur.
"Harry," Arcturus replied, sighing, "do you remember what I said, when I accepted Tonks into our team?"
"That she would be the last new Mini Unspeakable," Neville spoke up, "but I think that Luna is special."
"Yes, that she is," Harry agreed, and Inu confirmed the matter by gently licking Luna's hand.
"Perhaps we need to divide our team into two teams then," Arcturus replied, seemingly thoughtful. He remained pensive for a moment before promising to discuss the matter with Croaker the following morning.
HP
'It would be nice if Luna could join us,' Harry thought, hoping that Arcturus would tell them good news, when the Unspeakable returned from the ministry at lunch time.
"Now Minis, listen," the old wizard spoke up in a firm voice, "get to the parlour."
The seven soon-to-be third-years as well as the Weasley twins hurried away, and only when Harry was almost through the door of the atrium, he heard how Arcturus instructed Luna to follow them.
"As of tomorrow morning, The Weasley twins as well as Kitty (Susan), Toady (Neville) and Niffler (Draco) will belong to Team 18 together with Meta and Mento. Doggy (Harry), Dog Hero (Inu), Eagle (Hermione), Phoenix (Christa) and…" he interrupted himself, giving Luna a questioning look.
"Fairy," she replied, airily.
"…and Fairy will remain in Team 5 with Raros and me," Arcturus continued. "Any questions?" Seeing that everyone shook their heads, he ushered them back to the atrium, where lunch had already begun.
HP
To Harry's and the others' relief, the Mini Unspeakables still had their training with Devil together, even though they belonged to two different teams. From the third day of the holidays onwards, they spent every morning in the Unspeakables' office, while they pursued their own studies during the afternoons – just like they had done during the previous summers.
Harry and the older twins were still studying for their Potions NEWT, which they were supposed to take before Christmas in order to spend the following two and a half years in preparation for the mastery exam. However, in addition to his Unspeakable training and Potions studies, Harry also made time to work on the Merlin Strawberry and developing the Wizardnet.
=You're much too busy this summer,= Inu informed him in a grumpy voice. =Can you at least take the weekends off to spend some time with me?=
Staring at his twin in shock, Harry instantly transformed into his canine form and pulled Inu into a mock fight. =Sorry,= he told him, when they were lying on the ground, panting in exhaustion. =Yes, I will spend the weekends with you,= he promised, knowing that he would still have time to do some research together with Dorea, when Inu was asleep.
Even as a magical dog, Inu needed about 16 hours of sleep each day. While during the school year, he usually was not able to sleep more than approximately 13 hours a day, he used to catch up on sleep during the weekends and holidays – much to Harry's amusement.
HP
"I think Inu needs a female doggy friend for his entertainment," Luna said to Sirius one day, when the older wizard helped her practise the transformation for her second Animagus form.
The Marauder stared at the girl, open-mouthed. "That's it," he blurted out in apparent understanding.
'Her name will be Lucy,' Luna thought, feeling very happy at the scene which she had witnessed earlier. 'It still might be a few weeks or even years ahead though,' she realised and decided, 'I'm not going to tell anyone else about it.'
HP
A few days before the twins' thirteenth birthday, Sirius asked Harry, "Have the Unspeakables taught you to apparate yet?"
Harry cast his godfather a surprised look, before he replied, "Well, first of all, they've taught us the Unspeakables' method of Apparition, and secondly, I am a phoenix Animagus in case you've forgotten. I can flash myself anywhere."
"Oh right," Sirius said, pensively. "Can you flash me as far as to the North of Germany?"
Harry stared at the older wizard in disbelief, when Sirius explained, "I've found a birthday present for Inu, which I need to get from a magical family in a small town on the continent. I've already paid for it through Gringotts, but I must go and get the present myself."
"Oh, all right," Harry replied, thoughtfully. "A present for Inu?" he asked, incredulously. "What is it? A puppy?"
"Yes," Sirius beamed. "She looks really cute, but she'll only be eight weeks old on your birthday, so we can't get her sooner."
"That's fine," Harry said, smiling. "Shall we take Inu with us as well then?"
"If you can flash me and two doggies," Sirius replied in apparent excitement.
"I'm not sure, but Inu could flash by himself," Harry reminded the older wizard, who nodded his consent.
HP
While Neville's real birthday was on the day before Harry's and Inu's, the Potters had always celebrated the trio's birthday on July 31, and not even the boy's birth parents questioned the matter.
As soon as the extended family had finished their breakfast together in the atrium – the time at which they usually turned to the side table that was loaded with colourful gifts –, Sirius stood in front of the trio and instructed Harry and Inu to transform into their phoenix form and Neville to change into his canine form.
"Neville, please grab Inu's tail feathers," he instructed the boy. Turning to Inu, he demanded, "Please take Neville with you and follow Harry." To Harry, he said, "Please flash to the city of Norden in Northern Germany. It's on the shore of the North Sea." With that, he also transformed into his canine form and reached out for Harry's tail feathers.
The birthday trio nodded their heads and followed the instructions, only to find themselves on a sandy beach right on the shore.
"Oh well, I didn't mean the beach, I meant the city," Sirius commented, rolling his eyes, as he searched his robe pocket for the address.
It was about a thirty-minute walk, and soon, four canines were running along the street. The larger, black dog ran ahead and was followed by the three crups.
=This is going to be a brilliant birthday,= Inu declared, as he paused to dig a hole in the sand.
=Yeah, sorry to disappoint you, but we need to leave the beach now and head up to the farm on the road over there,= Sirius informed him.
Right in front of the farm, the three Animagi changed back into their human forms, and Sirius walked ahead, ringing the doorbell. They were let in and lead into the garden, where their attention was immediately drawn to a huge enclosure. Nine puppies came running to the edge of the enclosure, standing up on their hind paws, and barked at them.
Harry could only stand there and stare, stunned, while Inu remained firmly at his side. "Good boy," Harry whispered to him, uncertain if Inu even heard it, as the canine's body was slightly shaking in apparent excitement.
The owner grabbed one of the puppies from the second row and placed it right in front of Inu, causing the two canines to chase each other all over the garden in a good-natured play.
"Inu, do you want to take her with you?" Sirius asked the canine, once he returned to their side with the puppy in tow.
=Yes.= Inu replied in a firm voice, gently licking the puppy's ear.
A few minutes later, five canines were happily running along the beach, where they spent a while playing together.
HP
When they arrived back at the MAMA, feeling extremely happy with their trip as well as the new family member, it was almost lunchtime. They changed back into their human forms and headed straight to the atrium.
"Hello everyone," Harry spoke up, "this is Lucy, our newest family member."
Lucy had about the size of Inu and her colours were similar, yet with a different pattern. Her face had two sides, the left side being black and the right side grey, and she looked absolutely cute.
Harry observed in amusement how the puppy ran around greeting everyone. 'She's really nice to everyone,' he thought. While Inu was nice, he often ignored everyone else in Harry's favour.
"Harry," James suddenly addressed him, "while Lucy is Inu's puppy, Inu will only be able to potty train her to a certain extent. Therefore, you must take responsibility for Lucy as well."
"Of course, Dad," Harry replied, grinning.
HP
Only when lunch was over and the puppy had fallen asleep on the terrace in front of the atrium in apparent exhaustion after a mock fight with Inu, Harry, Neville and Inu had time to open their presents.
For Harry, the most interesting gift – apart from Lucy – was a dark blue box, which he received from Brian.
"It's a muggle device, which Regina has charmed for me to become smaller and get some colour," the Squib explained. "It's a mobile phone, which you can use to phone call someone; however, so far, it only works in the muggle world, and I thought you might wish to take up another research project and make it work in the magical world analogue to the Merlin Strawberry. I have the same device, and my phone number is already programmed into this one, so that you can try to call me for testing."
"Muggles use it, when we send a Patronus," Lily explained. "My parents always had a phone, even if it wasn't a mobile phone, and it's quite convenient. It would be nice to have even for us."
"Barely anyone in the muggle world has a mobile phone yet," Brian explained. "They're still too large to carry around. It's mainly used by the police and some official places. As I said, Regina shrunk it for you. The real muggle device is black and much larger than this."
"Harry," Dorea spoke up in apparent determination, "I'm in on the research."
"Thanks, Dorea," Harry replied, honestly. 'She really has great ideas for new charms, just like Mum,' he thought, feeling very proud of his younger sister.
HP
In the afternoon, after devouring huge pieces of birthday cake, the children went out into the park to play Quidditch or ride on the winged horses. After winning the first game, however, Harry decided to not play anymore, seeing that Inu and Lucy were watching from the ground.
'I'll rather play with them for a while now,' he decided. 'That way, someone else will have the chance to catch the Snitch for once.'
He transformed into his canine form and was immediately pulled into one of Inu's favourite mock fights, which was much fun for the three canines, who were quickly joined by Neville in his own canine form.
When the four dogs were lying on the shore of the lake, feeling groggy but outright happy, Lily approached them. "Harry, may I speak to you for a moment?" she enquired.
=Of course,= Harry replied, not caring that his mother could not understand him. He swiftly transformed back into his human form and followed Lily to the nearby bench, where they sat down, while the three canines proceeded to sleep on the shore.
"Harry," his mother spoke up, seeming hesitant. "With that new mobile phone and the still ongoing research for the Merlin Strawberry along with the Wizardnet, your Unspeakable training and Potions studies, I'm afraid that you're doing too much. You need some time for your other studies, too. As you're going to be a third-year soon, you will have two new subjects, and the requirements for the other subjects are going to increase as well."
Apparently noticing that Harry was going to protest, she held her hand up to stop him. "No Harry, I'm not saying that you're not doing well at school. On the contrary, I'm very proud of you. But you also need some time to rest and play with Inu and Lucy, for example."
Harry let out a deep sigh, instinctively knowing that he had too many different tasks.
"During the last year, I had the impression that you're going to become a professional in computer science," Lily continued, "and I have the impression as if you were really good at it."
Harry nodded. "That's what interests me most," he admitted, smiling.
"Why don't you let the brewing of potions be for a while then? You don't have to take your NEWTs at Christmas. You could still take them in the summer or even later. While Severus and I value your assistance, you don't have to take your exams as soon as possible. Even the Potions mastery, you can still decide if you wish to take it at all, or you can take it at a later time."
"That's true," Harry said, pensively, "even if I really like the brewing of potions, too. On the other hand, I could imagine becoming a teacher for computer science in case it's going to become a subject at the MAMA at some stage."
"It will," his mother replied, smiling. "Your father has certain plans, which I can't disclose yet, but I can tell you as much. It will become a subject, and if you're interested, you're going to become the professor – after at least taking your OWLs if not your NEWTs."
"What about Dorea?" Harry asked, knowing that his sister was at least as proficient as himself.
"She's only going to be a first-year in September and still has seven years of schooling left, but we'll find a way for the two of you to work together if that's what the two of you wish. As I said, James is already making plans."
"Thanks Mum," Harry replied, feeling very much relieved at the prospect of being able to spend the last four weeks of the holidays concentrating on the Wizardnet, the mobile phone and his two dogs. 'Apart from the Unspeakable training,' he thought. 'I'll definitely continue that.'
"Mum," he said, thoughtfully, "will you help Dorea and me with the mobile phones?"
Lily smiled, gently ruffling his hair. "Of course, Harry. Whenever you need me, I'll be here."
HP
Harry realised soon that, while he enjoyed the occasional brewing of potions for Poppy's stock, he felt very much relieved to not have to spend the whole afternoon studying for his NEWT. He spent three hours each afternoon working with Dorea and another two hours playing with Inu and Lucy. To his amazement, Luna seemed to have taken a liking to the dogs and took it upon herself to teach Lucy whatever a puppy needed to learn – with Inu's professional assistance.
HP
When the school year began, the now third-years once again decided that it was them who were going to help the new first-years, especially as Dorea was one of them, whom not only Harry, Neville and Inu, but also Hermione, Christa, Susan and Draco considered their little sister.
Lucy followed Inu, wherever he went. However, Inu convinced her to not follow him into the classrooms, considering that he had attended classes from the primary school onwards, and advised her to attend classes together with Dorea.
"Before Dorea can take her to class with her, she needs to practise Scorgify, as Lucy is not completely house-trained yet," Hermione insisted, causing Dorea to roll her eyes in apparent annoyance.
She quickly waved her wand over a small piece of bone that the puppy had left on the floor and hissed, "Scorgify," causing the piece to vanish from the spot.
"Remember, it's my sister you're talking about," Harry quipped, and everyone laughed.
"Lulu," Dorea addressed the good-natured puppy, "will you go to class with me?"
Lucy immediately went over to the girl and began to lick her naked toes in apparent delight.
"Oh, that feels good. Thanks Lucy," Dorea giggled, only to add, "Too bad that we need to wear shoes during class time."
Outside of class, Lucy spent all her time with Inu and, consequently Harry. Since Lucy came into the family, he had two dogs in his bed every night, and in the dormitory of the third-years it was no different.
'I wonder if she's going to bond to a human some time,' he thought one night, when he tried to make himself comfortable between the two dogs, who seemed to grow to twice their usual size, whenever they were in his bed. 'So far, she's not bonded to anyone. Oh well, perhaps she doesn't need it due to being so close to Inu and me.' He was pulled from his thoughts, when Lucy began to meticulously clean his stomach, causing him to smile in happiness.
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: "Challlenges".