Title: Mine
Rating: PG
Summary: Many people call Sirius "Sirius" while he's human, and "Padfoot" while he's a dog. What if there's more of a difference between the two than we think?
Padfoot growled as he felt a tug at his mind. A tug that meant the Other wanted him to let go of the control over his body.
Stop. No. Mine.
It is not! replied the Other, it's mine!
Padfoot growled louder, tightening his control. He heard the other let out a frustrated sigh.
It is yours, the Other conceded, but it is mine as well.
Yours? Mine? No. Mine. Just mine.
Ours. It is ours. Don't you remember? asked the Other. Don't you remember that we are the same? You, me, yours, mine, us, ours. All mean the same.
Same? Not same.
Yes it is! We are the same! Images of a man turning into a dog and back again in the space of a moment. Images of the dog running beside a stag, only for both of them to change into boys at the same moment and tackle each other, rolling in the grass. So many memories ran through his mind at once. Padfoot only growled harder.
Mine!
Dammit! It may be yours but it was my goddamn body first!
Padfoot gave a self-satisfied sigh.
Yes. The Other felt hopeful. Mine. The Other glared at him.
You… I will not argue with my alter ego. I will not argue with my alter ego. Split personalities are not a sign of madness. Split personalities are not a sign of madness. There was a pause.
Dogs are man's best friend. Dogs are man's best friend. Dogs are man's best friend. Another pause.
Will you just give up the body already?!
Mine.
The Other screamed in frustration and began to batter his mind with blows. One sent Padfoot reeling, and he lost his precious control.
~ () ~ (*) ~ () ~
Sirius felt his body shift from Padfoot into himself and sighed, rubbing his temples.
After he had come to Azkaban he had quickly learned that the easiest way to escape the dementors was to transform. He hadn't counted on his other form growing a personality of its own.
It had gotten to the point where, although the transformation from human to dog was easy, transforming back had become a battle. Padfoot never wanted to give Sirius his body back, and it had gotten to the point where Sirius had to argue and hit the dog just to change. One of these days a human inspector would pass by, and Sirius wouldn't be able to wrest control back in time and would be found out as an animagus.
He felt a tugging at the back of his mind, and a growl reverberated throughout his body as Padfoot tried to get 'his' body back.
Stop it, mutt!
Sirius wondered if this was how werewolves came into being. A wolf animagus' alter form grew it's own personality and finally managed to gain control on certain nights of the month, while the animagus remained in control the rest of the time.
I'll have to remember not to bite anyone then…A shiver of cold swept through him and he recognised the first sign of the dementors come to check on their favourite prisoners. He reluctantly shifted into Padfoot.
Padfoot cheered triumphantly.
Oh, shut up, grumbled Sirius. He was not looking forward to yet another fight to get control of his form.
Mine mine mine mine mine mine mine, chanted Padfoot happily.
Shut up!Sirius waited, happy to notice that Padfoot had indeed shut up. He settled himself down to sleep in the back of his own head.
Mine mine mine mine mine mine mine…
