Dog Star *

by: Raven Mirage

"No animal should ever jump up on the dining room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation." Fran Lebowitz

iii
padfoot to the rescue!

* * *

Delilah busied herself with the black dog's kennel as he watched pitifully, head on paws. She had never had such a good laugh as that of the look on his face as he hit that spell barrier. To be truthful she thought herself a tad bit cruel for finding humour in it, but it had been entertaining. Since then he just laid there in silence, throwing her looks full of daggers. "I am so very sorry, sir," she finally said, turning to him once she was finished, "but I cannot very well let you run off, now can I? I wouldn't be doing my job."

He raised his head and narrowed his eyes a bit. She frowned. The more time she spent with that animal the more she began to think of him as a human. He surely had the temper for it. She giggled softly. "All right, you, back in the kennel..." He whined. "Once again I apologise, but I have to get you back in there..." She glanced at her watch. It was six now. If she finished her duties and hurried she might make it home before her father had another fit.

Years before she had resigned herself to not stay outwardly angry at the man for very long. That deep-seated contempt always rested in the back of her mind, but he would never know. He was her father no matter how much she wanted to argue the point and she had to respect him. Additionally, she realized that that was just his way of protecting her and bettering her. She was his daughter and he wanted the best for her, but he just didn't get how much she needed to make decisions on her own. He didn't understand how deeply their interests conflicted. He thought they were just minor difference, something that would change over time, but it wasn't. They would always fight, so there was no reason for her to poison herself with hatred over it.

"Dog..." She whined, sounding a lot like the big lump of dark fur before her. She would have laughed at that if a drawling voice hadn't startle her from behind.

"So... are we having a nice lil chat with our doggy, Ms. Tanner."

Delilah spun to face the bane of her existence. His name was Christopher Jameson. He was also a wizard from a very strong - - and pureblodd - - wizarding family. Unlike she and her brother Chris had gone to Drumstrang, but it wasn't school where she and Chris clashed. It was on the streets of their hometown during summer and holidays. Since childhood they had been rivals. They're loathing for each other ran deeper than the lowest valley of the ocean.

"What's it to you, Jameson?" Delilah demanded, narrowing her eyes, her finger slidding in her pocket to lightly grasp her wand. She never knew about Chris and what he might do. He was a year her senior and thought that that one year made all the difference in his superiority. He also had his lackeys with him tonight. To his right was Lance Grant, the second most handsome in his crew, although he could have been the most handsome if he allowed himself to. To Chris's left was Roma Frenson, his cousin. Pulling up rear, and looking as unsteady and mousy as usual was Hector Olman. He was the youngest of the bunch. He was the one who got shoved around the most as "errand boy."

"Nothin', Tanner." Chris sneered her name, his eyes lowering to her outfit. "We lose the lottery, Tanner, or did halloween sneak up on us?"

"Bugger off." Delilah snapped, "I have to finish work." She turned around to once again attempt to usher the dog into his appropriate kennel, but Chris grabbed her from behind.

*

Sirius was not going back into the kennel. He'd sit out here all night if he had to, to get his point across. You're nuts if you think I'm coming over there. He thought as Delilah pleaded. He understood she had some place to be, but he wasn't going to spend another night in that bloody concrete and wire room. He would just sit and patiently stare. You'll have to drag me back in there.

"So... are we having a nice lil chat with our doggy, Ms. Tanner." A voice drew his attention away from the girl. It was a man about the same age as Delilah. He had light, sandy blond hair, startling blue eyes, and an air that reminded him too much of one Lucius Malfoy. Sirius immediately didn't like the situation, but Delilah seemed to be handling herself well so he stayed put.

Only when the boy decided to make physical contact did he jump into action. He didn't take well to young ladies being man-handled, especially by ruffians of this type. He jumped between them, emmitting a low warning growl. The boy Delilah called "Jameson" dropped her arm and took a step back.

"Whoa!" He shouted. "What the hell..." He looked between Delilah and Sirius, who was still placed safetly between her and harm's way. She was rubbing her arm, face etched with surprise. "Call your dog off Tanner, I wasn't going to hurt you."

"Sure as hell felt like it." Delilah muttered, eyes not leaving the big black form in front of her. Sirius growled again, taking a step forward as Jameson tried to advance.

"Fine." He held his hands up, "I'm leaving. See ya later!" With that he and his friends departed muttering things about "noses" and "business."

Good riddance... and stay away you ugly git! Sirius called after in his mind. He turned to Delilah to see if she was ok. Seconds later he was in a state of deep shock as she dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck, crooning softly.

*

The last thing she expected was to be rescued by that dog. He had seemed to know just when to intervene in the situation. She only could smile at Jameson's reaction as he was forced away by none other than a dog. She embraced him tightly. "Oh what a hero you are!" She said, burying her face in the thick, shaggy fur. It was soft despite the coarse look and all the dirt. "Good dog!"

She sat back and smiled at the absolute blank look that had come over the animal. She brushed her hand through his fur and procedded to scratch behind his ears. Soon he leaned into her touch, eyes half-closing. Delilah giggled softly. "You're just a big softie, aren't you? Not so tough...." She laughed as he tilted his head and gazed at her solemnly.

"Now, will you go back in there?" She jerked her head to the open kennel door. He looked incredulous. "Please?" She asked, "I'm tired and I need to get home. I'll be back tommrow and we can ... "discuss" it more then." He gave something that look an awful lot like a sigh and then placed a giant paw on her shoulder. "You will. Good." He barked. She smiled. " Thank you." With that she led him back and closed the door.

*

Delilah finally dragged herself through the door around six-thirty. Her father was immediately upon her demanding where she had been and what had happened. Why didn't you call? and such. Dellah was so tired, she really didn't have the patience to deal with her father's game of two-hundred questions. "I ran into Chris Jameson." She spat, throwing all her anger from Jameson at her father. Her father understood all about Chris and his family. That was one of the few things the two agreed on - - that the Jameson boy was a prat.

"That boy!" Her father exclaimed. "I'm calling his father in the morning and having him know just how his son treats young women around this town!"

Delilah's face paled even more than it already was. "No, please don't!" She cried. She knew that would only make things worse. Mr. Jameson would never trully punish Chris, not that he would listen to his father anyway. She couldn't allow this to be taken any furthur.

"No, Lilah. I can't have my daughter be attacked, verbal or otherwise, by his caliber. I have to talk to Eric." Eric was Chris's father. Delilah opened her mouth to dissent again but her father held a hand up. "No more discussion, sweetie. Get up to bed, you look terrible." He disappeared into his study leaving Delilah open-mouthed in shock and shaking in anger.

I shouldn't have said a word. She thought drearily and forced herself up the stairs.

*

Once again Sirius found himself sitting against the fence thinking. After the incident with the Jameson boy he decided to give in the Delilah's wishes. She was already very tired and she did say they could "discuss" it later. He smiled at that. She treated him as if he were human, which, of course, he was - - but she didn't know that. Delilah was a very interesting girl. He really needed to get going, but he supposed that spending a little more time here wouldn't hurt.

But something had to be done about his living arrangements....

*

Delilah woke early. She usually didn't and slept as late as possible, but she wanted to avoid her father at all costs, even if that meant being half-concious for the rest of the day. She dressed quickly, jeans and a black tank top, and hurried downstairs and out the door. The morning air was crisp and cool and a gentle mist lay over the nearly empty streets. She smiled to herself, sticking her hands in her back pockets, as she walked along. It was a beautiful morning.

Too bad she felt as if she was going to have one very horrid day.

Most of the animals were asleep when she arrived at the kennels. Their peace seemed to seep into the air and into Delilah. She felt their easiness and only could relax in their company. Then she noticed with great delight that her favorite, she had admitted to herself the big black dog was now her favorite, was awake and seemingly waiting for her. "Morning!" She called, making her way to the back most kennel.

She once more removed her wand from its hiding place and did the charm to keep him close by. She opened the gate and knelt in front of him. "I've got a treat today. You can help me out around the shelter. How's that? The only catch is you're going to have to behave." He barked in reply and she patted his head. "That's a good dog. Now what should we do first? It's too early to feed anyone, so how about we return Mrs. Weathers' cat. Third time Mittens has run away from home this month." She laughed when she received another bark.

*

Mrs. Weathers' home was small, but quiant. Sirius learned quickly that she, too, was a witch. She was sort of eccentric, but very pleasent and had her own unique touches of humour. Delilah seemed to enjoy her company. He was laying by her feet and she would reach down every once in a while to stroke or pat him.

"I see you have yourself a new traveling friend, Delilah dear." Mrs. Weathers said, eyes sparkling softly as they fell on Sirius.

"Yes. He just showed up in the van a few nights ago. Saved me from Jameson last night." Once again Delilah bent and scratched behind Sirius' ears. "He was very brave." She grinned at him.

"Saved you from Jameson?" Mrs. Weathers asked quizically. "What happened?" Delilah explained.

"... And father intends on calling his father this morning." She finished grimly. "I know it will only make things worse. I don't know how to stop him and I don't know what I'm going to do about Jameson." She placed her elbows on her knees and leaned her head into her hands. She gazed at Sirius softly and gave a wan smile as he raised his head and whimpered.

"Very intelligent, isn't he?" Mrs. Weathers indicated Sirius. Delilah smiled affectionately at him. "You've become attached?" She looked amused.

"I suppose." Delilah said. "He's very strange." She frowned, then smiled again, "then again, so am I." Sirius agreed with that and found humour in the fact she thought the same thing about him. If only she knew. He just gave one of his dog grins and laid his head back on his paws.

*

The rest of the day was spent doing menial tasks. They fed the other animals together and even kept one very anxious Chihuahua from escaping into the busy street. "Good day's work, don't you think, dog?" Delilah inquired, leaning back against the kennel's fence where she sat with the black dog. He merely looked at her and yawned as if to say "so-so." She laughed softly and patted his head.

"You know, as difficult as it is to leave you I have to be going." She informed, climbing to her feet. The dog followed her to the gate, gazing at her hopefully. "No. You can't come with me." She sighed. "Father doesn't like dogs," Delilah scoffed, "he barely liked cats. The only reason why I have Jinx with me - - that's my cat - - is because mum insisted that I have something to teach me 'responsibility.'" She grinned, remembering that. Responsibility. Delilah had never needed a lesson in that considering she helped take care of Steven for much of his young life.

The dog snuffled at her. "Oh don't give me that... I don't have a choice here. What am I suppose to do... sneak you in the house? Then what? Do I hide you beneath my bed? I don't think I'd like to have to fight off all those dust bunnies." She joked, bending to give one last stroke. "I guess I'll see you in the morning." He looked rather down after that.

Putting her own personal feelings aside Delilah took the padlock and began to slip it in its place. Just as she was about to lock it the dog went mad, barking and jumping up on the fence. "Calm down, you nutter." She said, stepping back and leaving the padlock hanging halfway in place. "What's with you anyway?" A hand came down on her shoulder, fingers gripping tightly at the base of her neck.

"Hello, Delilah." An all-too-sugary sweet voice draweled. "Thought to run to daddy huh? Thought he'd keep me from you." She was spun around to face blue eyes full of hatred and anger. "No one messes with me, Tanner," Chris Jameson growled, "No one, at least, that gets away with it...."

For the first time in her life Delilah was filled with pure panic and fear. Always she had been in control of the situation. She'd always had something between her and absolute chaos, but now there was no control. The hand gripped her neck harder and she felt the tinist bit of nail dig into her skin. "Lemme go, Jameson." Delilah demanded, trying to push all evidence of her fear from her voice. It wasn't working.

"Why should I?" Jameson asked, suddenly shoving her back onto the ground. She landed in front of the kennel where her shaggy would-be hero was proceding to throw himself against the gate in attempts to escape to help her. Chris noticed her eyes flicker to the padlock that was hanging there. All she had to do was hit it and the dog would be free and he knew it. He saw her make a move and pulled out his wand. "Twitch wrong, Tanner, and I won't hesitate to make you very miserable."

"What's the difference...." Delilah said, easing back, "you're going to hurt me anyway. If I let him go then I get the pleasure of knowing you will be ripped to pieces."

"Figures only an animal would care that much about you, you filthy excuse for a witch." Jameson spat. "But it looks like he's not in any position to help you. Poor you... and," his eyes glanced just briefly at the dog, "I might just decide to punish him for growling at me last night. You see, I don't like being growled at."

"Don't you dare!" Delilah cried, dark blue eyes widening in horror. Her own pain was one thing, but the thought that this defenseless animal would be harmed - - perhaps again - - was too much. "Don't do it, Chris, please!" She begged. "Beat me up, curse me a few times, but don't hurt any of the animals here."

"You really are a freak." Roma Frensan said. "You put yourself after these disgusting animals."

"At least I care about something other than myself." Delilah snapped. The next moment she felt a sharp pain explode from her side and out into the rest of her body. Jameson had kicked her and was now standing over her, wand pointing straight at her face.

"I'm really going to enjoy this, Tanner. Do you know how long I've wanted to take you out..." He began to laugh. "and I'll probably get away with it, what, with that mass murderer running around."

"You're sick." She groaned.

".... and you're dead."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This story is pleasently surprising me. It's actually letting me write it. But what really shocks me is the feedback. You guys are great! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You don't know how happy I am to know you like this!

Abraxis - - you read my mind! Sirius is definetely getting out of the kennel and into some higher living!
Lady Matsu - - you really look like Delilah? Cool.
Calm Serene - - my story's cute? *does a little happy dance*
Spontaneous Human Combustion- - lol a Jinx fan!
Thankies also to: Elfmoon 87, L`etoile, Mockingbird, and azn_libragrl! (Hope I didn't forget anyone.)

PS. Sorry for throwing all these original characters your way, tell me what you think of them.

'Night for now.