Chapter Ten: Rex the Guard Dog
It was nearly four in the morning on the day she was to return to Hogwarts when Clarice returned to the Malfoy's manor. The only one who was actually awake was Narcissa, Malfoy's wife. She was shocked when she saw Clarice return with the dog.
"What is that thing with you, Clarice?"
"The dog that found me and led me back here. I got lost. Please let me keep him. I'll take him back to the school with me and I'll take care of him. I would've died if he hadn't found me and helped me back here."
"Fine. Just get to bed. Your train leaves at eleven."
And with that, Clarice got away with keeping Sirius at the Malfoy's.
A few hours later, Lucius Malfoy came into Clarice's bedroom. He had just leaned over to kiss her when he heard it. A deep low, growl was coming from underneath her covers. He lifted up her blanket and saw before him a very big black dog who was baring its teeth at him. Lucius let out of yell of surprise. It woke Clarice.
"What's all the noise for?"
"What is that thing in your bed? And why is it in my house?"
"This is Rex. He saved my life last night by showing me how to get back here. Narcissa said I could keep him as long as I took care of him and he returned to Hogwarts with me."
"Well, I don't want him here!"
"Well, we can't all have what we want, now can we Lucius?"
Lucius smacked Clarice in the face rather hard. Sirius went to jump on Lucius but Clarice stopped him just in time.
"If that thing you call a dog bites anyone in my house it will be the last thing it does."
With that Malfoy stormed off.
"Are you looking to get kicked out already?" she asked Sirius.
A little while later, Lucius and Narcissa were all heading back to Kings Cross Station to drop Draco, Clarice, Isis, and Sirius on Platform 9 ¾. Clarice couldn't believe it. She finally had someone to save her from Lucius. She was glad she had Sirius to confide in and protect her.
Problems came, however, upon their return to Hogwarts. As soon as she got into the castle Professor Lupin dragged her and Sirius to her office.
"Why are you bringing the man who is trying to kill your cousin into this castle?"
"Professor, please. Just hear him out before you judge him. If for no other reason than for me. Please."
"Only for you Clarice. Return to your true form Sirius. I will give you five minutes."
Sirius changed back into a man and turned to face Lupin.
"Thank you Remus. I must tell you, I did not kill Peter and those Muggles. Peter tricked us all. He cut off his finger and changed to a rat right after he blew up that Muggle street. I myself thought he had been dead all these years. I know now he is not."
"And what about James and Lily and your godson for crying out loud Sirius!?! You killed James and Lily! You handed them over to the Dark Lord!"
"I do not deny that. I as good as killed them, but I did not tell the Dark Lord they were in Godric's Hollow. Even if I had, he wouldn't have found them. I was not their secret keeper."
"But even Dumbledore testified to your being their secret keeper. James picked you to be secret keeper."
"Yes, but I convinced him to use Peter instead. I believed that the Dark Lord would not expect James to use such a weak wizard and still come after me. I didn't know that Peter was the spy. I was such a fool. I am sorry."
Remus sat down, absolutely shocked. He then heard footsteps down the corridor and made Sirius change back. A moment later, Professor McGonagall knocked on Professor Lupin's office door.
"Come in," said Professor Lupin.
Professor McGonagall came into the office.
"So it is true. You have brought an animal that looks like a Grim into the castle Clarice. I would've expected better of you. Follow me. We need to go to Professor Dumbledore's office."
Professor McGonagall walked out and Clarice followed with Sirius bringing up the rear. They walked to Professor Dumbledore's office, where Professor McGonagall gave the password. They went upstairs to the office. Professor Dumbledore was waiting for them.
"Miss Black, so we meet again for the first time since Halloween. We need to speak with you regarding your new animal."
"Clarice, your dog just isn't allowed in Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall.
"Oh, please let me keep him Professors. He has saved my life and I don't feel safe without him. I promise, I'll keep him in my dormitory and he will not harm any of the students or their animals. Please, give him a try. If he hurts anyone say in the first two weeks of Spring classes, I'll get rid of him. Please?" Clarice pleaded.
"Your dog looks like a Grim child. Just the site of it will frighten your roommates."
"Oh no, Alicia, Angelina, Katie, and Rhina already know about Rex. I sent them an owl. I knew it wouldn't be fair to just bring him into my dormitory without my roommates knowing in advance. They don't mind. Please? All I'm asking is two weeks and if he displays any inappropriate behaviour I'll get rid of him," Clarice begged.
"Well, we shall give it two weeks time. If by the end of that period of time he has bitten nobody and has not harmed any animals, you may keep him in the castle Miss Black," said Professor Dumbledore. He then looked at Professor McGonagall.
"Anything else Minerva?" he asked.
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore. I would like to know why, in the period before the Easter holidays, you were missing a lot of your classes Black. That is not acceptable behavior for a Gryffindor prefect," said Professor McGonagall.
"I wasn't feeling well a lot of the times. I kept shaking and felt sick a lot. I couldn't sleep at night. I'm sorry. I promise I will not do it again."
"Very well, you have an appointment with me at two thirty on Wednesday afternoon," said Professor McGonagall.
"What for? Am I in trouble?" asked Clarice.
"No, Miss Black. You are not in trouble. It is just your career planning consultation. Nothing to worry about. I just talk to you about what the academic requirements will be for specific careers," said Professor McGonagall.
"Alright, Professor. I'll be there," said Clarice.
With that Professor McGonagall left the office.
It was nearly four in the morning on the day she was to return to Hogwarts when Clarice returned to the Malfoy's manor. The only one who was actually awake was Narcissa, Malfoy's wife. She was shocked when she saw Clarice return with the dog.
"What is that thing with you, Clarice?"
"The dog that found me and led me back here. I got lost. Please let me keep him. I'll take him back to the school with me and I'll take care of him. I would've died if he hadn't found me and helped me back here."
"Fine. Just get to bed. Your train leaves at eleven."
And with that, Clarice got away with keeping Sirius at the Malfoy's.
A few hours later, Lucius Malfoy came into Clarice's bedroom. He had just leaned over to kiss her when he heard it. A deep low, growl was coming from underneath her covers. He lifted up her blanket and saw before him a very big black dog who was baring its teeth at him. Lucius let out of yell of surprise. It woke Clarice.
"What's all the noise for?"
"What is that thing in your bed? And why is it in my house?"
"This is Rex. He saved my life last night by showing me how to get back here. Narcissa said I could keep him as long as I took care of him and he returned to Hogwarts with me."
"Well, I don't want him here!"
"Well, we can't all have what we want, now can we Lucius?"
Lucius smacked Clarice in the face rather hard. Sirius went to jump on Lucius but Clarice stopped him just in time.
"If that thing you call a dog bites anyone in my house it will be the last thing it does."
With that Malfoy stormed off.
"Are you looking to get kicked out already?" she asked Sirius.
A little while later, Lucius and Narcissa were all heading back to Kings Cross Station to drop Draco, Clarice, Isis, and Sirius on Platform 9 ¾. Clarice couldn't believe it. She finally had someone to save her from Lucius. She was glad she had Sirius to confide in and protect her.
Problems came, however, upon their return to Hogwarts. As soon as she got into the castle Professor Lupin dragged her and Sirius to her office.
"Why are you bringing the man who is trying to kill your cousin into this castle?"
"Professor, please. Just hear him out before you judge him. If for no other reason than for me. Please."
"Only for you Clarice. Return to your true form Sirius. I will give you five minutes."
Sirius changed back into a man and turned to face Lupin.
"Thank you Remus. I must tell you, I did not kill Peter and those Muggles. Peter tricked us all. He cut off his finger and changed to a rat right after he blew up that Muggle street. I myself thought he had been dead all these years. I know now he is not."
"And what about James and Lily and your godson for crying out loud Sirius!?! You killed James and Lily! You handed them over to the Dark Lord!"
"I do not deny that. I as good as killed them, but I did not tell the Dark Lord they were in Godric's Hollow. Even if I had, he wouldn't have found them. I was not their secret keeper."
"But even Dumbledore testified to your being their secret keeper. James picked you to be secret keeper."
"Yes, but I convinced him to use Peter instead. I believed that the Dark Lord would not expect James to use such a weak wizard and still come after me. I didn't know that Peter was the spy. I was such a fool. I am sorry."
Remus sat down, absolutely shocked. He then heard footsteps down the corridor and made Sirius change back. A moment later, Professor McGonagall knocked on Professor Lupin's office door.
"Come in," said Professor Lupin.
Professor McGonagall came into the office.
"So it is true. You have brought an animal that looks like a Grim into the castle Clarice. I would've expected better of you. Follow me. We need to go to Professor Dumbledore's office."
Professor McGonagall walked out and Clarice followed with Sirius bringing up the rear. They walked to Professor Dumbledore's office, where Professor McGonagall gave the password. They went upstairs to the office. Professor Dumbledore was waiting for them.
"Miss Black, so we meet again for the first time since Halloween. We need to speak with you regarding your new animal."
"Clarice, your dog just isn't allowed in Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall.
"Oh, please let me keep him Professors. He has saved my life and I don't feel safe without him. I promise, I'll keep him in my dormitory and he will not harm any of the students or their animals. Please, give him a try. If he hurts anyone say in the first two weeks of Spring classes, I'll get rid of him. Please?" Clarice pleaded.
"Your dog looks like a Grim child. Just the site of it will frighten your roommates."
"Oh no, Alicia, Angelina, Katie, and Rhina already know about Rex. I sent them an owl. I knew it wouldn't be fair to just bring him into my dormitory without my roommates knowing in advance. They don't mind. Please? All I'm asking is two weeks and if he displays any inappropriate behaviour I'll get rid of him," Clarice begged.
"Well, we shall give it two weeks time. If by the end of that period of time he has bitten nobody and has not harmed any animals, you may keep him in the castle Miss Black," said Professor Dumbledore. He then looked at Professor McGonagall.
"Anything else Minerva?" he asked.
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore. I would like to know why, in the period before the Easter holidays, you were missing a lot of your classes Black. That is not acceptable behavior for a Gryffindor prefect," said Professor McGonagall.
"I wasn't feeling well a lot of the times. I kept shaking and felt sick a lot. I couldn't sleep at night. I'm sorry. I promise I will not do it again."
"Very well, you have an appointment with me at two thirty on Wednesday afternoon," said Professor McGonagall.
"What for? Am I in trouble?" asked Clarice.
"No, Miss Black. You are not in trouble. It is just your career planning consultation. Nothing to worry about. I just talk to you about what the academic requirements will be for specific careers," said Professor McGonagall.
"Alright, Professor. I'll be there," said Clarice.
With that Professor McGonagall left the office.