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.
Harry woke up with a jolt, as Inu began to bark for some reason. Something was strange, however. He realised in surprise that instead of his hands he had paws. It had happened twice or even three times before that he had woken up as a doggy like Inu, but he had no idea how he happened to become a dog. He just knew that he could simply wish himself back into his usual form.
He quickly transformed back and, seeing that Neville was still fast asleep, got up and went to look for his mummy, when he recalled what Inu had told him, when they went to bed the previous evening.
'He told me that he could speak with a very large snake. It was at Hogwarts. He went there with Mummy and Daddy,' he thought. Entering his parents' room, asked, "Can we go to Hogwarts? I want to speak with the snake."
"Oh Harry," his mother replied, gently cradling him close, "you wouldn't be able to speak with the snake. Only Inu can for some reason communicate with it."
"Why?" Harry enquired.
"We don't know that," his father replied, smiling.
"But Inu can tell me what the snake says," Harry resolved and, pondering for a moment if he should tell his parents, he finally blurted out, "I was a doggy this morning."
His mother smiled. "I know, son. You're what they call a natural Animagus. Other people, like Granny Minerva, Daddy or me, must practise a long time to be able to transform into an animal, but you have been able to take a form like Inu's for at least two and a half years now without ever practising."
"You're a very lucky little wizard, son," his father added, grinning.
"How can I change into Inu?" Harry asked, unsure how to transform at all.
"As far as I've observed so far, you always transformed when Inu was in some kind of distress," his mother replied, thoughtfully. "How did you change back earlier?"
Harry shrugged, before he admitted, matter-of-factly, "I just wanted to be back."
"So you wished yourself back to your human form?" his father clarified.
"Yes," Harry replied, unsurely.
"Try to just wish yourself into your doggy form," his mother suggested.
'I want to look like Inu,' Harry thought, instinctively knowing what to expect, when the transformation set in. An instant later, he eagerly waggled his tail at his parents and at Inu, who chose that moment to dash into the room.
=Come,= Inu told him, and Harry carefully tried to jump off his mother's lap; however, the floor seemed so far away, and he gratefully licked his mother's hand, when she gently put him down onto the floor. Inu immediately began to chase him through the room, feigned biting him and attempted to put his paws onto his back. When Harry still felt slightly unstable on his unused dog paws, mere three minutes later, he had forgotten all about it and eagerly engaged himself in a mock fight with Inu, as they played, having a lot of fun.
HP
"Kids and dogs," Lily sighed to James, as they observed the two canines rolling over the floor of the master suite.
"Absolutely," her husband agreed; however, the grin that he was unable to hide showed her that he found it extremely funny.
By now, Neville had woken up and sleepily entered the room, his lower lip quivering dangerously upon seeing the two canines play. However, Inu and Harry immediately dashed over to their brother and began to lick his face with fervour, causing the boy to laugh at their antics. "Harry?" he asked, looking from one to the other dog, nodding in understanding, when one of the canines nodded his head.
"I want to become a dog, too," he said to Lily, who returned a sad look.
"It's not easy, Neville," she told him. "Harry is a natural Animagus, which is why he's able to easily become a dog. Normally, it takes people years of practice to become an Animagus."
To her relief, Harry had already realised what was wrong and quickly transformed back. Heading over to his brother, he gave him a bear's hug and said, "Morning Nene."
"Morning Harry, morning Inu," Neville replied, seemingly consoled.
"I want to go to Hogwarts to speak with the snake," Harry informed his brother, who was all for it, although Lily was certain that they did not even know what a snake was, let alone a basilisk.
"No," Lily contradicted in a firm voice. "Next Sunday, in exactly one week, we'll go there and visit Amaterasu."
"Today, you're going to go unicorn riding with Uncle Remus, aren't you?" James spoke up, causing the twins to cheer.
"If I can change into Inu, can Inu change into me?" Harry suddenly asked, causing Lily to stare at her son, wide-eyed.
"No sweetie, he can't do that," she replied, wondering how to explain the difference to a three-year-old.
"Humans can have an Animagus form, but animals can't change their form," James came to her help.
"But still, Inu can speak with snakes," Lily added, thinking, 'How curious.'
HP
While Remus took Harry and Neville unicorn riding, something that Inu did not overly like, as he preferred to remain on the floor, Sirius transformed into his canine form and accompanied Inu on a walk to the nearby coast.
=Do you know why you're able to understand and speak Parseltongue?= Sirius enquired.
=What is Parseltongue?= Inu returned the question.
=Snake language,= Sirius explained. =I heard that you were able to confer with the basilisk at Hogwarts.=
Inu moved his tail to the left and back. =I don't know why I can understand it, but I do,= he replied, matter-of-factly. =I can even speak with the small garden snakes in the park,= he added.
=Among humans, it's a very rare ability,= Sirius informed him, =and I haven't heard of a dog having this skill.=
Inu's tail went from the right to the left and back, which Sirius understood as a shrug.
=Do you thing that it's possible that you received the ability from the evil wizard, whom you beat two and a half years ago, when you received the scar on your behind?= Sirius asked, hesitantly.
=That might be possible,= Inu replied, thoughtfully, and admitted, =Ever since then, I know things which happened long before Harry and I were even born.=
=Is that so?= Sirius asked, alert. =What kind of things?= he added, questioningly.
Inu nodded. =For example, I know that Dumbledore was responsible for his sister's death and such things.=
=Inu,= Sirius replied, pensively, =would you mind if we, or rather your parents, took you to the goblins to have your scar examined some time?=
=They won't kill me, will they?= Inu asked, causing Sirius to almost choke.
=Of course not,= he emphasized. =Do you believe that your parents would allow anyone to do anything bad to you?=
=No,= Inu had to admit, and Sirius decided to finish the conversation for the time being.
Two minutes later, the two canines were running along the shore of the Welsh coast, chasing each other as if everything was as all right as it should be.
HP
When Sirius returned home, still deep in thoughts about the matter with Inu, Amelia was sitting at the desk in their living room swearing at a parchment in front of her.
"What's wrong?" he asked, as he leaned over to kiss her.
"Why did I ever agree to become the interim minister?" Amelia asked. "It's nothing but trouble."
Sirius quirked an eyebrow in surprise. "And why is that my dear?" he then asked with curiosity.
Amelia rolled her eyes in apparent annoyance. "Dumbledore is the only candidate besides myself," she admitted, "and he's trying to make amendments. Oh well, let's just say he's driving me nuts," she interrupted her tirade.
"He won't have a chance against you anyway," Sirius replied, matter-of-factly.
Amelia shook her head. "I won't have a chance. He has many friends left."
Sirius let out a snort. "Have you seen today's Daily Prophet?" he asked in apparent amusement. They brought a full page with information about you and Dumbledore. I don't know who the writer is, but they must be extremely biased towards you. No one is going to vote for Dumbledore after reading all the revelations about his meddling."
Narcissa chuckled, as she accompanied Susan into the room and had heard Sirius' last words. "That was probably Rita Skeeter. She made a special deal with Minerva years ago, and she seems to exactly write what Minerva dictates her."
"That's good to know," Sirius quipped, as he raised Susan into his arm and playfully swung her through the air, causing the almost four-year old to scream in pleasure.
"Now Susan, tell your Auntie that she's the best," Sirius told the girl, who laughed and turned to Amelia.
"Auntie, of course you're the best," she said, giggling, "and not because Sirius says so. I think so."
"Thanks Susan," Amelia replied, smiling at her niece who was like a daughter to her.
HP
While Sirius and Remus occupied her older trio and James looked after Dorea, Lily busied herself in the potions lab together with Severus. Using the ingredients, which they had brought from Salazar's lab at Hogwarts, they brewed one dose of the wolvescure potion and offered it to Remus, who gratefully accepted it.
Without even further thinking about it, he gulped down the slightly sweet potion, looking at the brewers in expectation.
"Oh well, we can only wait and see," Severus told him in a no-nonsense voice.
"I know," Remus agreed. "Anyway, thank you both very much for brewing it for me. I just hope that it'll work."
In spite of knowing that he was healed due to the missing effects before the full moon, he spent the night of the full moon in the werewolf chamber, and to everyone's joy, he did not transform.
"Lily and Severus, I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me," he said to his colleagues at breakfast, teary-eyed.
"Uncy Moony sad?" Dorea enquired, as she climbed onto his lap.
"No Dorea, I'm very happy," Remus assured her, only to add, "Your mummy and Uncle Severus are absolutely amazing."
"Thank Merlin," Severus commented. "We simply brewed it after his recipe."
"And you must thank Salazar for storing the ingredients, not us," Lily added.
"I will certainly do so," Remus confirmed, smiling. "Still, I will spend one more night in the werewolf chamber, before I believe that I'm really cured."
"You are cured," Poppy confirmed after a quick flick of her wand and an uttered spell. "Nevertheless, I suggest keeping the matter a secret for the time being, considering that Lily and Severus are unable to cure the whole werewolf population of Britain at once, especially during the school year."
"You're absolutely right," Remus agreed. "Will you please declare me cured then by the beginning of the summer holidays, and would that be all right with you, Lily and Severus?"
Needless to say that the triple response was positive, and the extended family and colleagues began to plan a huge celebration for the weekend.
HP
Another celebration should soon follow, as on May 31, Amelia was elected as the new minister with a majority of 85 percent against Albus Dumbledore.
"Oh Merlin Padfoot, now you're married to the Minister of Magic," James groaned, only to add, "You can't do any nonsense anymore."
While everyone chuckled, Amelia glared at him, and Harry cast him a look of pure disappointment that was emphasized by Inu's growling.
"Uncle Padfoot can't do any funny things now?" he enquired.
"No Harry, once a Marauder, always a Marauder," Sirius replied, "and Amelia knew that I was one, before she married me."
"Kay," Harry confirmed, smiling broadly, while Amelia faked a groan, uttering something like "Why in the world did I marry a Marauder?"
"Because you're the best," Sirius replied, gently patting her belly, causing everyone to notice that it was not so flat anymore.
"Amelia?" Minerva spoke up. "Was there something you needed to tell us?"
Rolling her eyes at her husband, Amelia replied, "It's only the fifth week."
"Lily, did you hear that?" James spoke up, alert. "Look at poor Dorea without any siblings. Let's have another one to join Amelia's and Padfoot's baby.
Amelia and Lily exchanged a look of pure annoyance, the question "Why did I marry a Marauder?" clearly written in their expressions.
HP
At the beginning of the summer holidays, Lily, James and Sirius went to see Buckbean together with Harry, Neville, Dorea and Inu.
"Listen Inu, whenever you feel uncertain and want me to transform into my canine form, just tell me," Sirius said to Inu, when the small group was waiting for Buckbean to come and lead them into his office.
Inu quickly licked the man's hand in gratitude, causing Lily to smile.
'He's so cute,' she thought, just when Buckbean arrived.
The goblin led them into his office, and Lily realised in surprise that Harry changed into his canine form, as soon as they reached the goblin's office.
'He probably senses Inu's insecurity,' she thought, feeling amazed by Harry's thoughtfulness.
Sirius quickly explained about Inu's ability to speak Parseltongue as well as the memories he had received after getting rid of Voldemort. "Unspeakable Ra suspects that there might be a Horcrux buried behind his scar," he continued, "and we'd like to ask you to examine it and find out if there's any danger."
To Lily's relief, Sirius and Arcturus had explained about Horcruxes to her and James beforehand. He had even informed them about his suspicion that Voldemort had made several Horcruxes and would probably be able to come back some day. Arcturus had also promised that the Unspeakables were looking into the matter and were trying their best to locate them.
After a few minutes of waving his hand over Inu, Buckbean returned to his desk looking contented.
"No," he said in a firm voice, "there is no Horcrux behind Inu's scar. It's simply a curse scar, through which he was able to receive knowledge, abilities and memories from the Dark Lord. It is not active anymore though, and even if Inu will be able to use the abilities he received, it does not have any other influence on him."
"Thank you so much for checking on him," Lily was the first to respond, feeling very much relieved at the news. She pulled Inu onto her lap and gently cuddled him close, smiling, when the canine licked her face over and over in apparent relief.
"Why don't we make a detour to the Magical Menagerie and buy a large bone for Inu?" Sirius suggested, once they left Gringotts.
"Ice cweam?" Dorea spoke up, giving Lily a pleading look.
"All right, first to Fortescue's and then to the Magical Menagerie," Sirius agreed immediately, causing the three children to cheer.
HP
The summer holidays passed quickly, and Harry, Neville, Draco and Susan were extremely excited at the thought of becoming pupils of the Unicorn class soon. Seeing that the teachers were taking turns looking after the four four-year-olds as well as the six-year-old twins and little Dorea, Minerva invited Hermione and Christa to join their friends at the MAMA for a few hours each day. The eight children spent much time playing with Inu, Fawkes and the other animals on the grounds, and together with Bill and Charlie Weasley, who was soon going to become a first-year, they helped the professors with the preparation for their classes.
While Harry, Christa and the twins loved to assist with easy potions in Severus' lab, whenever the Potions master had time to oversee them, Neville and Susan preferred helping Pomona Sprout in the greenhouses. Hermione, Draco and Dorea rather spent time assisting Remus with the winged horses and unicorns.
HP
At the same time, Lily and Severus busied themselves brewing as many batches of the wolvescure potion as they could. To their relief, they only had to deliver them to St. Mungo's, as Head Healer O'Brian hat promised that he would see to the distribution.
As her first really pleasant action as the new Minister of Magic, Amelia awarded Lily and Severus the Order of Merlin first class for curing the werewolves.
HP
One day, Minerva, James and Lily were sitting in Minerva's office discussing the twenty new four-year-olds that were registered for the Unicorn class, when Dobby suddenly popped into the room wringing his hands.
"Excuse me, ladies and sirs, for interrupting, but there is something wrong with the portrait of the founders in the staff room," the elf informed them, seemingly distressed.
"Let's have a look," Minerva decided. "Thanks Dobby for alerting us."
"That sounds like a prank that Sirius would play on us," Lily mused aloud, when she followed the others into the staff room, only to stop dead in her tracks upon seeing Godric Gryffindor laughing his head off.
tbc...
Thank you so very much for the many 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.
Next chapter: "The Unicorn class" (really this time) :P.