Intro

This prompt was given to me by Daughter #2, Elipsa. Trouble is, when I thought of it my mind went to a story I'm already writing and have since stopped... curse you writer's block! Anyhow, the story idea that came to mind was too much of a bad omen for things to come that my brain refused to continue down that road... then as I was getting dressed, this popped into my head.

- Day 20 -

He needed a break. That's what they told him anyhow. Harry wasn't entirely certain that he agreed with their assessment. After his last arrest, he was told that he would be taking a break... or losing his job.

Harry was walking in the woods around the property. He wasn't even aware that he owned property in the Colonies. Had Harry known, he might have gone on holiday across the pond much sooner.

The house was okay. Typical house owned by the Blacks. Dark magical items scattered all over the house. A tapestry of the family tree and a large library. House elf heads hung in the entry hall. Dark dismal décor and loads of family portraits sneering at the half blood. At least the woods surrounding the house was peaceful and serene.

The air was chilly, but nothing as severe as a February in the Highlands of Scotland. Harry survived years at Hogwarts, a winter here in La Push, Washington was a walk in the park. Besides, if Harry got cold in just trousers and a jumper, there was always warming charms.

There was a rustling in the bushes to his left. Harry glanced over, and braced for attack, his auror training kicking in. Constant Vigilance! Bloody Mad Eye...

But an attack didn't come. There in the bushes, Harry spotted a snout poking through... a black snout... of a dog... a very large black dog. The snout was sniffing the air for danger, or food, or he was just curious. Harry nearly stumbled at the sight, "Snuffles?"

The dog stopped sniffing and raised its large head... and Harry sighed dejectedly... because of course it wasn't Sirius. Sirius was dead. He died ten years ago. Harry's heart was breaking for the loss of his godfather all over again.

And what's more, that wasn't a dog, it was a wolf. A very large wolf with russet colored fur and very intelligent eyes. The wolf raised its head and stared at Harry as if he were judging him... judging his worth... assessing his threat level... and Harry huffed.

"Bloody hell," Harry said, "Of course... why not? Come on then." Harry noted the stillness of the wolf. He raised his empty hands to his sides, "Voldemort couldn't manage it. Not his Death Eaters, acromantulas, giants, werewolves, trolls or vampires..." the wolf lowered, ready to pounce and growled deeply, but Harry was not afraid. No, Harry was frustrated and angry with life, "I can't even age right anymore. Did you know that? No? Of course not. No one bloody knows. No one has even noticed that I still look seventeen. I'm twenty-six. I'm a bloody father to two little boys and one day those boys will grow up and grow old and I'm going to have to watch them die... and still, I'm going to look like I'm seventeen."

Harry's arms dropped to his sides in defeat, "So, yeah... go ahead and kill me if you can. It's not as if I can stay dead..."

The wolf moved slowly forward and pushed its snout into Harry's hand, giving it a cursory sniff and a lick. The man in a boy's body snorted in amusement. "What? Pity? Is that what this is?" Harry crouched and rubbed the wolf's head, "Yeah, you're right. I'd probably taste horrible anyhow."

It was nearly soundless when the others approached. There were four more wolves. Not one of them approached, they just looked at the two. Harry noted that each one had incredibly intelligent eyes, each of them assessing him with interest. Whatever the wolf he was petting had been looking for, they seemed to have found it.

The russet wolf backed away from Harry and gave a small bark before the pack ran off. Harry stood and watched them run, stuffing his hands in his pockets with a soft smile.

Day 20 - Prompt: Snuffles

Word Count: 12,406

AN: According to the Wiki pages, Jacob shifted in Feb 2006 and Sirius died June 1996. So in this short, that makes Jacob 16, Harry 25, and makes Sirius' death ten years ago.