A/N: I would like to mention that this posting is going out to She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named on her birthday. Hope you have a great birthday! (This is the reason this story got an early start.)

A word of warning here. Something happened that you need to understand or the next chapter is going to seem a little weird, number-wise. This is actually an additional chapter. Which means it was not part of the original story as I wrote it to begin with. However, looking over The Bonds That Tie, I decided there was a lot more I could do with this story than I had. The little glitch arises in that I hate renumbering my chapters (and there's a long, boring reason for that), so next weeks chapter will be numbered a little differently. This is little note is just so you know the reason for the weirdness. You may or may not see this again. Additional chapters simply depend on the time I have, and working on currently four different stories doesn't leave a lot of that. In addition, P.A.R. is regrouting her shower and needs to trim her yard for Spring. So, this does not leave a lot of spare time, Folks. But I'm doing what I can. Bare with me.

Oh, yes, by the way. P.A.R. has also resigned now from the 'Ain't seen The Lord Of The Rings Yet Either' fan club as well. And as much as I love and adore the Harry Potter books, folks, I must say, even I would vote for this movie over Harry Potter for film of the year. Sorry.

On with the story.

Enjoy.

Chapter Three: And He Matches The Description

For the next few weeks, Padfoot's shopping trips went much as planned. As the days went past and Sirius was able to plan things out better, he was able to stagger the things he needed so that he needed to grab only one necessary item per shopping trip and make a run for it.

Since Sirius planned the trips at night, he would first find a location several miles from where the store was. There he would locate a safe place to leave Harry, perform a simple concealment charm, and be on his way. Luckily, as Padfoot, Sirius could cover the distance to the store much faster than a man could running.

Several weeks of this and Sirius felt he had the whole routine pretty well figured out. Harry was being kept fed, clean, warm, and dry. And so that he didn't go on his shopping trips too often, Sirius staggered his own regular meals by scrounging through the trash of various restaurants as Padfoot.

And so did Sirius find himself one night, as he did many evenings, sitting on the street corner opposite his target for the night. His usual method was to wait for a fair amount of people to enter the store, and then sneak in behind someone. This didn't always work. It was fairly hard to hide as a dog of Padfoot's size. But after a few failed attempts, Sirius learned to sneak in quickly and head for the nearest cover until he could locate what he needed. The whole operation usually took a few minutes at best.

Tonight Sirius was getting impatient as he sat on the sidewalk, thumping his tail in irritation against the cement sidewalk. It was raining out, and people weren't as prone to coming to the corner store on nights like tonight.

But finally Sirius felt enough people were in the store and he made his move.

He watched for someone approaching the store, then strolled non-chalantly up behind them and quickly slipped into the store.

As soon as he was inside, Sirius had a feeling something wasn't right about the store. Something that was different from the others. But he just couldn't put his finger on it right then.

Well, best to get down to business and ponder the problem later.

Sirius' mission that night was baby formula.

He quickly slipped behind the cover of the shelving and began scanning for formula. Finally finding it he walked up to the shelf. Looking about carefully, he quickly grabbed a can in his mouth and made for the door.

He hit it dead-on with a solid thump.

The large dog fell to the floor in a stunned heap. But he quickly got to his feet and began reasoning out what had gone wrong.

The problem was that the sound of a large, black dog hitting the store's front glass doors had made quite a noise indeed, alerting the store owner to the situation.

Sirius stared at the doors for a moment, then shook his head as he realized the problem, as well as what had been bothering him about the store earlier. All the other stores he had gone to had had doors that either swung both ways or opened out. It was usually something he watched for when picking a target for the night. But it had been raining and he had been cold, tired, and hungry, as well as worried about Harry. He hadn't noticed that the doors of this particular store only opened in. Not out.

"Hey!"

Sirius turned his head to see the store owner headed for him.

Sirius leapt at the door handle, intending to grab it in his teeth, get the door open and make his escape.

But before he could get to the handle, a firm hand dug its way into his fur and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.

"No you don't!"

Sirius whined as he was dragged back from the door.

"Well now, who have we here?" The man stated as he stared down at the dog. "I've heard the others talking about a large, black dog in the area that's been pinching items from their stores.. Thought I'd be just another easy target, did you?"

The dog whined again.

"Well, the city Animal Services will know how to deal with you. And if we were able to catch you, maybe we can catch the lousy scum that trained you to steal as well."

'Animal Services!'
Sirius pulled hard against the man's hold. He didn't want to threaten the muggle or hurt him in any way, but he couldn't let himself be taken by Animal Services either. If he did he was likely to end up in a cage. And possibly......Sirius didn't even allow himself to think that far. He had to get back to Harry. That's all that mattered.

But the store owner now had help from several male customers who were working on trying to herd and shove the large dog into a back store room. The fact that a few minutes ago he had nearly knocked himself unconscious on the store's front door wasn't helping matters in his favor either. Sirius made one last attempt to break free, pulling back and growling at the man who had him by the scruff of his neck. But the act only earned him a sharp kick in the side from one of the other men and he cringed with a soft whine. By the time he recovered from the pain in his ribs, he found himself shoved forward into a small, dimly lit room and heard the door slam shut behind him.

For several minutes Sirius sat in the darkness, listening intently for any sound. But finally he got gingerly to his feet, his head still swimming a bit and his side still smarting from where the man had kicked him, and began sniffing about the room for a way out. He had to get out of the room before the Animal Services people showed up. If he didn't he doubted he would ever be able to get back to Harry.

Sirius made a circle of the room three times. But the only opening to the room seemed to be either the door he had been shoved through, or the one on the back of the room, which had a large padlock on it.

The dog whined softly as he thought over his predicament. He should have been back to Harry by now. He had been gone too long. What if Harry started to make noise? What if a muggle went into the building to investigate and found him? What if someone took him before Sirius could get back to the abandoned building? He wouldn't have so much as a clue about where to start looking for him.

Sirius was by now working himself into a good panic. He took several running leaps at the back door, throwing all of his weight against it. But the door held solid. He tried grabbing the lock in his teeth and pulling it open, but that too failed. He was considering trying to claw his way through the door when a thought suddenly dawned on him.

Sirius shook his head at how stupid he was being that night. It had to be the lack of food or the general lack of sleep that was making him so slow witted.

Sitting in the middle of the small store room, the dog concentrated, and in a few seconds, in his place, now crouched a man in dark cloths.

Sirius quickly pulled out his wand and tapped the padlock on the door. He didn't like using magic as that it might alert the ministry to his whereabouts. But he felt this was a genuine emergency. He had to get back to Harry!

Sirius yanked the door open.

"Hey! What are you doing back here!?"

Sirius froze with one foot out the door, quickly pondering whether to run or try and bluff his way out of things. But he had no idea if the store owner had called the police, and if he ran, and was caught by the police, things wouldn't be much better than with Animal Services.

Sirius pulled back into the room and greeted the man with his most charming smile.

"Sorry?" He asked with a touch of nervousness in his voice.

"What are you doing back here? Customers aren't allowed back here!"

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Sirius confessed past his smile, back up by a lost look. "I was looking for the restroom. I heard a scratching and a whining noise and came to investigate."

The man looked quickly about. "Where's the dog!?" He yelled.

Sirius looked baffled. "What? The large, black one?"

The man turned an angry, red face to Sirius. "Did you see another one back here?!"

"Well, he was whining and scratching at the door......" Sirius began to answer.

"You didn't let him out?"

"I thought he wanted to go out." Sirius replied innocently. "So I opened the door and......"

"Hang on." The man said suddenly, looking at the door. "That door was locked. How'd you get it open?"

"I just opened it." Sirius replied. "It wasn't locked."

"I always keep that door locked." The store owner insisted. "Big padlock on it."

Sirius held up the open padlock for the man to see. "You mean this one?"

The store owner slowly took the padlock from Sirius. "That door was locked. I locked it myself." He said, looking over the padlock for any sign it had been forced open, but found none.

"Well," Sirius offered, thinking fast, "it looked locked to me too. But when I yanked on the padlock to try it, it came open. Look," He added quickly, trying to distract the man's attention away from the issue of the padlock, "I'm sorry I let your dog out. I'll be more than happy to help you look for him."

But the muggle shook his head. "Wasn't my dog." He replied, staring out the door. "Dog's been pinching stuff from stores in the neighborhoods. Store owners have been trying to catch him for weeks now. Thought we finally had him."

Sirius could barely repress his smile. "I'm really very sorry." He repeated. "I just thought the dog wanted to go out. I thought he was a watchdog or something. Plenty big enough for that."

"Well, we caught him once, we'll catch him again. All the store owners are on the lookout for him now. Shouldn't be hard to catch a dog that size." The man shook his head as he took Sirius by the arm. "Right then. Lets go. No customers allowed back in this area."

Sirius allowed the man to escort him back into the main store area, all the while continuing to apologize for letting the dog go free and offering again and again to go look for him. But finally Sirius managed to simply edge his way towards the door and in a matter of seconds slipped out un-noticed further by the store owner.

Out on the street, Sirius headed as fast as his two legs could carry him as far from the store as he could until he felt comfortable dodging down an alleyway. A few seconds later a large, black dog stuck its head around the corner and looked about to make sure the coast was clear, then it took off at a run towards the abandon building where he had left his godson.

Sirius transformed back into himself as soon as he was through the door of the building. He had run as fast as he could getting back, barely avoiding several cars as he ran across streets. But something besides the simple desire to get back to his godson was driving him on.

From the moment he had left the store, a nameless fear had been building inside of him. One that told him something was wrong, but refused to tell him what. The only answer to that question was in getting back to the abandon building as fast as possible.

Sirius ran to the room where he had left Harry sleeping peaceful in a concealed box. But as he entered the room, his heart suddenly froze in his chest.

The box Harry had been sleeping in was pushed over. Definitely not the way he had left it.

Sirius rushed over to the box and looked quickly around. There was no sign of Harry anywhere. Nothing left behind.

Sirius quickly transformed back into Padfoot and frantically began sniffing about the ground around the box. He didn't need anything of the baby's to find the scent. He would know it as soon as he found it. Weeks of someone sleeping curled up against you will do that for you.

Within a matter of seconds Padfoot gratefully found the scent he was looking for amid the rubble and discarded trash and began to follow it. As he went his hopes rose. The scent stayed on the floor. Wherever Harry had gone, he went there apparently on his own. He hadn't been carried. So it was unlikely the baby had been taken.

As Padfoot got into the corridor and started down the hall, the scent grew steadily fainter. Padfoot put his nose closer to the floor, trying not to lose the scent. The scent in the main room where Harry had been sleeping was bound to be stronger than anywhere else. Harry had spent most of the last three days and nights crawling about the room under his godfather's watchful gaze as he searched about for something to entertain himself with while he was awake. Only occasionally had Harry managed to make his way out into the corridor before Sirius fetched him back to the main room. But now Padfoot was into an area of the building Harry had never been allowed into, and the trail was a new one and not very strong.

Several times Padfoot found himself following a trail that that would stop abruptly. Padfoot angrily shook his head. He may have the senses of a dog, but he certainly didn't have the instincts of one. A real dog would probably have been easily able to tell when the trail doubled back on itself. And in the meantime, he was wasting precious time chasing the false trails.

Padfoot stood for a minute and thought. There had to be a quicker way to locate his godson.

A sudden thought came to the large, black dog as it lifted its nose slightly away from the floor. It looked about carefully for any sign of movement, then lifting its head, let a loud bark several times. As soon as he stopped, Padfoot cocked his ears forward, listening intently for any sound. When he didn't get any answer to his call, he put his nose back to the floor and continued on. Several minutes later he repeated the process, but again with no success.

By the fifth time, some fifteen minutes later, Padfoot was starting to get even more worried than he had been as new thoughts came to him as to why Harry didn't answer him. What if Harry had crawled off somewhere and gotten hurt? What if he had tried to climb a flight of stairs and had fallen down them? What if the trail ultimately led Padfoot to an open door?

Padfoot lifted his head again and barked loudly several times.

Never in his life did he think he had ever been more relieved to hear the delighted squeals of his godson. Happy screams came from a room a few more feet down the corridor in answer to his call.

Padfoot bounded for the room and quickly ran into it. There, seated on the floor near one of the walls, was Harry, his small blanket clasp in his hands. For all intents and purposes, he looked utterly unharmed.

Padfoot's expression of concern slowly turned to a look of parental annoyance. Someone was due for a very long lecture when they were old enough to understand, he promised himself as he walked his four feet over to where the baby sat watching him past two large, green eyes.

The dog lowered his head down to where the baby sat before him. A blast of warm air blew into Harry's face as Padfoot issued his feelings on the matter.

The baby sat for a moment in silence, as though thinking things over and sorting them out. But with a sudden defusing move that only a baby could have accomplish, Harry reached out and wrapped two tiny arms about the dog's muzzle, laid his head against the warm, wet nose, and sighed happily.

Padfoot stood frozen for a moment. But then the dog's shoulder's slumped in defeat.

A second later, Harry found himself scooped up off the ground and into his godfather's arms. The baby giggled at the man smiling at him.

"Lord, I'm going to make a horrible godfather, Harry." He said as he carried the baby back to the main room. "I can't even stay mad at you long enough to punish you."

Harry giggled again and slapped Sirius on the nose.

"Oh, fine for you. You'll grow up spoiled."

Harry didn't seem to mind the pronouncement one bit as he grabbed a handful of black hair and gave it a good yank, laughing wildly at the new game. Sirius winced as his precious hair and yanked and pulled a few more times before he finally disentangled it from Harry's grasp.

"Well, kiddo," he said as they reached the main room, "I'm afraid I have bad news and I have worse news. Which will it be first?"

Harry giggled some response.

"The bad news first? All right then. Godfather didn't get anything for supper."

The baby fell silent almost on cue.

"The worse news is that we have to move again." Sirius announced forlornly.

Harry continued to stare up at him with bright green eyes as they headed for the door. But as soon as Sirius stepped out into the chilled night air, the baby turned in his arms and cuddled up closer to his chest for warmth. Staring down at his godson, Sirius wrapped his coat about the infant and headed off into the night.

Remus had been just about to doze off in his large, comfortable chair when the jovial voice of the news announcer snapped him back awake.

Lupin had taken to watching the muggle news casts at night as a way to beat his growing insomnia which was becoming progressively worse the longer he heard no word from Sirius. But he had soon found a wonderful sleep aid in the late night newscast, which for the most part, usually bored him to right to sleep.

But the announcer tonight was a fill-in for the regular late-night anchor person, and Remus had formed a general dislike for the man by the weather report.

He simply had to be a fill-in from the day-time anchors, Remus reasoned. He was way to perky to be a night-time anchor. Either that or he was new, not used to the late-night hours yet, and was hyped-up on coffee.

"Now here's an interesting story!" The smiling anchor beamed at the camera.

"Not!" Lupin replied wearily.

"Downtown London corner shops have reported a rash of robberies in the last few weeks. The per-pet-rator is reported by store owners to sneak into the store, grab his loot, and make a run for it. Not so unusual, right?" The man looked like he could barely contain his laughter. "Wrong. Shop owners report the thief isn't a person. He's a large, bushy, black dog."

Remus practically came out of his chair. "Dog?"

"That's right." The news anchor answered him on cue. "A dog. Several stores all over downtown London report they've been victims of this canine robber. But the story doesn't stop there. Police say that from reports by witnesses, it appears the only things the dog takes are baby items, such as diapers, food, and formula."

Remus was now practically glued to the screen.

"One store owner reportedly captured the dog, but a customer in the store inadvertently released him before Animal Services or the police could arrive. When asked if he was sure this was the same dog," (the news anchor was nearly beside himself by now), "the store owner was reported as to reply, 'Of course I'm sure. He matches the description perfectly.'"

Remus fell back in his chair, his white face staring at the television screen.

"So, folks," the news anchor finished up, "stand watch and guard those diaper bags. It appears we have a nappy bandit on the loose!"

Remus pointed the remote control at the television and turned it off.

"Merlin's beard!" He exclaimed softly as the picture receded to a small white dot in the center of the television screen. "What's he gotten himself into?"

Q&A

For Diamond:

theladyblue: Thank you. I'm very glad you enjoyed it.

For Family Life:

Mademoiselle Gabrielle: I am so glad you liked it. Keep watch for the sequel.

theladyblue: Again, thank you. I appreciate the time you gave to reading it.

For The Bonds That Tie:

Voltora: Thank you. Always happy to oblige when I can.

Katy: Ummmmm.....how can I put this and not give too much away nor completely confuse you. O.K., as I told one person once before, your train of thought is on the right track, but you've left the station without all your passengers.

Keep in mind I have another story coming out that is sort of the combined sequel of two stories in a weird way. The sequel to Family Life is going to continue that story, but is borrowing some concepts from Fever. So, maybe a few of the things you wanted to see happen, might.

I am so pleased you like my stories, however, I'm sorry, but I can't tell you anything I have written or anything about myself due to the contract with my publishers. (Go see Q&A from other chapters for a longer explanation of this. I believe there was one in the previous chapter Q&A. But I do get asked this quite a bit, and unfortunately can't answer.)

Zimmy Russell:

Darn! Ya' figured me out! Look, have you considered a little Expresso or some Cuban Coffee? You live in Florida, so I know you know what that is.

Yes, people not finishing stories is a big beef of mine.

DON'T tell me thing about movies I haven't seen! He ignored a poor little kitten in the snow!? That's so......Grinchy!

UNI!!!!!

How's it goin'?

Uni, you have won P.A.R.'s gold star for the week! (*) There you go. I am so happy SOMEONE caught that! And as you pointed out, to say more would give away plot lines, and I can't do that. Sorry.

I'm glad you liked the closing scene. A lot of people did and it's one of my favorites as well.

Marie Potter: Hmmmm....possibility the ministry is lying? Can I see a show of hands for all who could believe that? (Most hands in the room go up.) Not that I'm saying it's true, folks.

Me: P.A.R. is giving gold stars now. But not for that. Sorry.

Why wouldn't he think Sirius' stairs aren't quite making it to the attic? He watched the man for months do nothing but sit on a sofa and stare at a mirror, for cryin' out loud! I'd be on the phone to St. Mungo's. Besides, Remus thinks he's doing the right thing. You know Lupin..........!

Kat: Glad you like the story.

Yup. It was the bad old Deatheaters what blew up the Dursley's. (Does that make them bad or good?)

As for the spy-glass, no, because Remus has no idea where Sirius and Harry are. I'm assuming to operate one of these, you have to have a specific location in mind, not a person. Anyone?

Lady Foxfire: My muses keep me quite tied-up, thank you.

You're going to so love this story. It's more Sirius than anyone else.

Wyltk: I'm so glad you liked that scene. It's definitely one of my favorites.

No! You can't send me to my room. Only I can do that.

(By the wayyyyyy............., what are you doing out of your room?)

Abbsiegail: Ain't he though?

Dumbledore's True Love: Oh dear. Explanation time. Actually, I guess I can make this fairly short. Ahhh...., yeah, Godparents are just sort of there. In the Catholic faith, their job is basically to make sure the child is raise properly in the faith. However, I have read some wonderful variations on this theme in some of these stories, which give poor old Sirius a much more difficult, if not more complicated, role in Harry's life.

You're right. The Dursley's owe Sirius one.

VMR: Thank you.

Lin-z: I do try to keep my promises.

Imagine what a godfather will do for his godson.

In regards to the ministry official, see Marie Potter's answer above.

It wasn't much of a threat, but as I said, despite if the person is serious or just joking, I take offense at things like that.

Kyra aku riddle: O.K..

Answers as of 01192002.

Sorry if I missed you.

See you next week.