Harry walked up to the cage, and stared into the dogs eyes.

" Snuffles?" he asked. The dog nodded." How....what......."

" Caught him last night." said a voice. They all turned around. A salesman came over and leaned up against the cage.

" A stray. He was stealing food last night when we caught him. One of the biggest dogs I have ever seen before." the salesman said.

" Can I have him?" asked Harry.

" For a certain amount."

" How much?" Harry asked. The salesman thought.

" Twenty Galleons." Fred choked on his own spit.

" Harry, 20 GALLEONS for a dog? Don't do it!" Fred said. Harry looked at Hermione and Ron who looked back at him, giving him encouraging looks. Harry took out his money pouch. He had twenty seven Galleons left.

" Okay." he said. Fred let out an exassperated sigh. He handed the money over, and the salesman opened the cage. The dog jumped out and stood calmly beside Harry.

" Thank you." Harry said as they left.

" Harry, why do you want that dog so bad? I mean, I'm sure Mum won't mind, but......20 galleons?" Ginny said.

" We'll explain when we get home." said Ron. They found Bill waiting for them back at the Leaky Cauldron.

" Ready to......." he started, but saw the dog. His eyes got big. He narrowed his eyebrows.

" Is that...."

" Yes. He was for sale in the pet store." said Hermione.

" Oooh..." said Bill." Well, Harry you and..."

" Snuffles." Harry finished for him. Bill looked slightly amused at the name.

" You and Snuffles first." Harry and the dog walked into the fire and were sent back to the Burrow.


" Why'd he call him Snuffles anyway? " asked George. Ginny and Fred shrugged. Ron, Hermione and Bill gave each other looks.

#@!%*&@%$#@!%$&#%^%$#!%$@^



Harry staggered out of the fireplace.

" Did you have agood time?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Then she saw the dog.

" What's he doing here?" she asked.

" I bought him. He was on sale at the pet store." said Harry. Everyone else was now coming back. All of them staggering out of the fireplace just as he had.

" On sale? How did Sirius end up on sale?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

" What do you mean, 'Sirius'?" Fred asked. Mrs. Weasley glanced at him.

" Well, I guess you, George and Ginny deserve to know." she said. She waved her wand and all the curtains fell over the windows. She then spoke very quietly, but seriously.

" Now, I don't want any of you to over-react. The dog," she said looking at 'Snuffles'
" Is really Sirius Black." she paused to see their reaction. It was kind of mixed.

" As if!" said Fred.

" Mum, that really isn't funny." said George.

" Really?!" said Ginny, slightly interested.

" Yes, really." said Mr. Weasley who had just walked into the room.

" Oh my God! Sirius Black! In our house! Mum-Dad, we have to turn him in!" exclaimed George. The dog looked at him and cocked his head.( I don't know if " cocked" is just a southern word or not, but it means that he leaned his head to the side as if confused.)
Ginny and Fred seemed to agree. Mr. Weasley started explaining to them that Sirius was innocent, and told them exactly what happened. By the end of the conversation, they were a little skeptical, but saw how Harry and the rest weren't bothered by the whole thing, they decided that it was true.

" So-what now? Is he staying with us?" asked Ginny.

" That's what I am about to find out." said Mr.Weasley. He walked over to the fireplace.

" I need to speak with Albus Dumbledore please." he said into the fire he had just conjured up. Suddenly the head of Professor Dumbledore appeared in the fire.

" Yes, Arthur, you wished to speak with me?" he said cheerfully.

" Yes, Sirius Black, in dog form is sitting in my living room right now. Harry bought him out of a pet shop." he said. When an amused Dumbledore asked what had happened Mr. Weasley launched into a full description. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

" I guess you should be more carefull next time." he said, smiling. The dog barked.

" I was wondering would it be safe if Mr. Black were able to stay with us?" asked Mr.Weasley. Dumbledore thought.

" I suppose so. As long as he only changes into himself at night when no one will see. Oh and Harry.......Happy Birthday! And bring Sirius with you as a pet when the year starts." said the professor.

" Yes sir." said Harry.

" Thank you." said Mr.Weasley. And Albus Dumbledore dissapeared.

" All right!" said Harry. He and Ron began to scratch Sirius behind the ears, which he seemed to enjoy.

" It's dark now. Mr. Black, if you would like to join us in human form now." Mrs. Weasley said. Eveyone watched as he changed froma huge black dog to a tall man with black hair, who was considerably dirty.

" Call me Sirius. I would like to appologise for my appearence. And I would also like to thank you for letting me stay with you." Sirius said.

" Don't worry about it. You are welcome to stay." said Mr. Weasley." If you would like to clean up a bit, you can go upstairs. Ginny can show you. And Molly, if you would, set out a set of my robes for him." Sirius nodded graciously and followed Ginny up-stairs.

" Wow Harry! You get to have your godfather as a pet!" said George.

" Yeah! And he gets to come to school with you too!" said Hermione.

" Yeah, I can hardly believe it." said Harry, amazed at his luck.

#$@!%$^%*&^%#@$%!^

Sirius came out a while later, looking better than Harry had ever seen him. He had his hair cut and had shaved his face, and had a good pair of robes on. He sat down beside Harry.

" Well, I'm going to bed. Sirius, if you would like, I can set you up a bed in the spare room. " said Mr.Weasley.

" Yes, that would be fine." said Sirius. He said good-night to them all, and went with Mr.Weasley. Harry and Ron then went with everyone else up to bed. Harry feeling happier than he had in a long time.