A/N: I am sooo sorry that I took so long time, and I know you probably want to kill me. I'm also terribly sorry I can't promise the new chapter any sooner, because my dad has cut down my computering hours quite severely to keep my grades up.

Thanks ever so much to my beta, HPFanFicLuvr, who helped me up when I was down, and to my reviewers. Some people may wonder about Sirius' presence in the fic. Everything will be explained in due time.

Indy: LOL. I rant about that a lot, don't I? Anyways, I'm glad you liked the twist.

Chikel: Oops. I hadn't realized that. My mistake.

LythTaeraneth: Indeed. Poor Anastasia. But she does have Sirius.

Monkeystarz: Thank you very much.

HPFanFicLuvr: Here it is! Sorry about the wait.

"Out! Get out! I never want to see you in my house again!" Mrs. Dursley pointed to the front door. She had been raving for quite some time about dogs being dirty and greedy and lazy.

She means you, Padfoot, sent Anastasia. She doesn't like dogs. I told you so.

'I told you so' is an extremely unpleasant phrase. You should avoid it at all costs, Little One, he replied.

Padfoot, are you even listening to me?

"Girl, get that dog outside!"

Anastasia tried to get him outside, but it was very much like trying to get gum out of ones hair.

I'm not leaving you. If you stay, I stay. If you go, I go. I still say you should run away. No more shouting, no more sleeping in the attic, no more eating with silver cutlery.

Padfoot, please go outside, she tried to reason, although it hadn't worked before. For my sake.

"If you don't get that mutt out of the door in two minutes, I'll kill him with my bare hands," her mother threatened. Anastasia's blood turned to ice. She couldn't kill Padfoot, she couldn't! She had to get Padfoot out of the house. There was just one thing to do. She turned around and walked out into the hallway. Padfoot followed her.

Are you running away? He asked. The room vibrated with excitement, mostly his, although a tiny part of it was hers.

Yes. I won't let her shoot you, she told him firmly. She grabbed a ten-pound note from her mother's pocket.

It won't last long, she sent, but it's all there is. She walked through the front door without looking back, Padfoot at her heals.

Angelica Dursley put a cup of coffee in front of her husband, Dudley.

"So then I told the dog to get out of the house and never come back, and she thinks I talked t her," she whined. Dudley grunted and turned the page. He was currently reading 'Financial Times'.

"Dudley, are you listening to me?" Another grunt. "Our daughter has run of with a stray dog!"

Angelica grew more and more irritated with every page Dudley turned. She hadn't been particularly kind to her daughter, not since it became clear the girl was magical, and certainly not since a year ago, since the Incident. She had taken to calling it the Incident, when her daughter – there was no delicate way f putting it – turned into a creature. But even though she was not the ideal mother, she was very fond of the girl, magic beast or not, and could not stand the thought that her girl was roaming the streets. She felt as though everyone ought to care. But her husband obviously did not, and it infuriated her. Which was why Dudley Dursley a few moments later stared at the remains of his paper, which had been ripped up by his furious wife. Contrary to popular belief, Dudley was not heartless. He had just been very spoilt when he was child, and was used to everyone giving in to his little whim. He felt that it was his right to lose his temper, his and nobody else's. Which was why he was mostly angry with the girl for running away. Nobody except him was supposed to bring attention to themselves in such a rioting manner. Well, she would surely come back in a week or so when she was tired of street life. He told his wife so, rather impatiently, and they sat down and waited.

Anastasia had no plans on giving up even after a few weeks. At first running away had been an adventure. It had been exciting to sleep on the ground in human form, and it had been thrilling to run whenever they saw a police car. Although she doubted her parents had called the police. Now it was more than an adventure. It was a mission. She didn't know when it had become more serious, but somewhere along the way, she realized the importance of reaching someplace safe. If not for her, than for others. It just wasn't safe to have a young werewolf running loose. And her parents simply weren't capable of handling a monster. Padfoot was more capable. He was an excellent guide, and he was also very good at begging food. Her mother had always taught Anastasia that stealing was wrong, but for her it was necessary. She found her eyes were very helpful in that matter. If she tilted her head to the side with wide eyes, many shopkeepers and other she had stolen from did not suspect her in the slightest. Padfoot encouraged her on her escapades, telling her that she had lived a far too sheltered life. Padfoot said he knew of a place where werewolves were quite accepted, and were she would find a very kind family to live with. From what he has said about the castle, it seemed to Anastasia a wonderful place.

Are you sure the family won't hate me for being a freak? wondered Anastasia for what must be the thousandth time, while munching on a packet of stolen biscuits.

Padfoot sighed over their connection, and didn't bother to reply. Anastasia had been asking similar questions all the time.

You need some more self-confidence, wolf-child, he told her.

They were about one day from London. Padfoot was considering the best way to go to Hogwarts. The Hogwarts Express didn't run when nobody from the school wanted to ride it, and floo powder had complications, such as neither of them being able to say the location they wanted to reach.

 Going to the Leaky Cauldron would be his best bet. Quite a few people recognised him there by now, if not as Sirius Black in animagus form, then as the dog that always hung around the Hogwarts grounds.

Padfoot, Padfoot! He was broken out of his musings by Anastasia. She sounded rather anxious. Padfoot, the full moon is in two days! She sent. Padfoot cursed. He had totally forgotten in the excitement of running away. He would have to do better next time.

You forgot?

Hey, I'm a dog. What did you expect? He gave the dog equivalent of a sheep-like grin. Anastasia sighed. They needed to find the closest forest pretty quickly in order to be there in time for the moon.

I am never going to trust you again, she grumbled. Padfoot didn't reply. He was trying to remember if they had passed a forest on their way.

I need a map, he sent.

Anastasia stood up good-naturedly. She had no doubt Padfoot would solve the problem. Although he could be over-excited and scatter-brained sometimes, he was intelligent. In fact, sometimes Anastasia wondered if he wasn't a bit too intelligent for a dog. She like dogs. There was nothing wrong with them. But sometimes, they could just be so stupid.

They reached the closest forest well in time.

Now, you need to make sure I don't bite anyone, Padfoot. Nobody. Will you do that?

Padfoot sighed.

You worry far too much, wolf-child. I won't let you hurt anybody.

She gave a hesitant smile. It was the first genuine smile he had seen her give.

You are much cuter when you smile, wolf-child, she managed to intercept as the full moon rose slowly over the forest.