Chapter 1: The Puppies

"Oh seriously, Ron," Hermione glared. "Look at it! Which part of it looks like a Manticore to you?"

"Look 'Mione, I did not say they look like Manticores-"

"No you didn't, but you did say they're dirty, probably poisonous and looked as if they'll kill."

"They did look rather murderous," Ron snapped.

"Maybe they were trying protect themselves from you," Hermione stared down Ron with a rather menacing look herself. "Besides, they can't be more dangerous than you, Ronald Weasley." She shoved one puppy towards Ron and pointed towards him. "Don't. You. Dare. Try. To. Hurt. Them." Hermione said, punctuating each word with a poke to his chest. She gave a death glare, as though willing Ron to speak back.

Harry could almost feel the pain as he watched another one of his friends' bickering sessions. He rubbed his chest, feeling sympathetic for Ron at that moment. Not after that though. 'Ron probably did something of utmost stupidity again,' Harry thought and gave a sigh. He figured something had to be done before Hermione stabbed a hole through Ron's lungs. He waved to the couple and let out a bright 'hi!', curtly answered by Hermione's hand.

"Later, Harry." Hermione continued to glower.

"Oh alright then, I believe these two will need to get out of cross fire then," Harry said meekly, careful not to incur any wrath from his friends. He got up and huddled the two puppies into his embrace and walked them into the kitchen. Closing the door behind him, he slumped against the oak frame and gave an audible sigh.

"That bad, huh?"

Harry jumped, suddenly realising Ginny was at the counter, and then gave an exasperated nod. Ginny giggled and moved toward Harry, slowly. Harry eyed her cautiously, hanging his head as though he was resting.

"Harry?"

"Hmmm?" Harry pretended a sleepy groan. He could see Ginny taking gingerly steps, inching her way ever so closely, his heart pounding harder and faster by the minute.

"Can I... Can I have it, Harry?" Ginny stammered. Harry could feel her breathe as she spoke.

"Have what?" Harry implored, fighting back a grin. 'I knew you couldn't resist me. So you want me to kiss you now, huh?' Harry thought.

Ginny gave a large squeal. Harry blinked his eyes open to find Ginny cuddling one of the puppies. "Oh gosh, Harry, it's so cute! How ever did you find it?"

Harry quirked an eyebrow. He groaned and looked blankly at Ginny stroking the puppy's fur. 'Come to think of it, they don't look very dog-ish to me.' The puppies were of uncanny resemblance other than they're colour; they were red and tan respectively. Harry considered them being rather on the adorable side, looking rather similar to a terrier Aunt Marge once brought over to the Dursley's which did not try bite his arse off. They had pretty large ears that gave an occasional wiggle, feet too tiny for their body size and a tail that splited on its ends. Nine ends in fact. 'Weird.'

Ginny cleared her throat loudly. "What are you staring at, Mr. Potter?" Ginny said, still stroking the puppy.

Dinner at Harry's house was a usual heated battle field between Ron and Hermione. Harry bought the apartment at the Godric's Hollow when Professor McGonagall first suggested it in a letter durring the summer. It seemed that the professor was never too pleased with how the Dursleys were when she was there and felt Harry could be better out alone. She had held out his parent's place for him ever since the day she found out the Potters' fateful tragedy, though Dumbledore felt Harry was still too young to live alone. Of course, Mr. Dursley was just too glad Harry moved out, as Harry remembered his last words as 'I ain't going to pay for your ruddy apartment.' when he left the house, almost skipping down the pavement with his trunk.

"You smell, Ron," Hermione's nose wrinkled. "Go get a bath later."

"Only if you'd give yourself one, too." Ron waved a hand in fron of himself, as though ridding the air of something foul.

"And what do you mean by that?" Hermione dug deep into the mashed potatoes and threw it on her plate with more force than necessary. "Did you actually suggest that I, Hermione Granger, could rival you in skunking the world?"

"Oh, not at all Hermione," Ron said in mock awe. "I think I'm the one that cannot rival you in 'skunking the world'!"

"Do you think they'll stop bantering and snog anytime soon?" Ginny implored as she whispered into Harry's ear. "Although the idea of kissing Ron's -gulp- this is getting rather annoying."

"You're complaining already? Poor me, I had to suffer almost everyday for five years of all these," Harry pouted.

"I'm almost feeling sorry for you, Potter." Ginny giggled and shoved a piece of chicken into Harry's mouth to wipe off his pout.

"Oh, but you should!" Harry said after swallowing. He scooped up some mashed potato and topped it off with liberal amounts of gravy. "I think they've never stopped since they entered this morning. Or since first year for that matter." Harry placed his fork into Ginny's already awaiting mouth as he finished speaking.

"Mmmm." Ginny sighed. "I might consider that, now."

Suddenly, Harry sensed the room was too quiet. He looked around and found himself looking at two puzzled stares.

"What?"

The puppies scampered around Ron's legs chasing each other, their tails flaring out wildly behind them like flames. Ron cursed at them, earning a hiss and the second death glare of the day from Hermione.

"So, where did you two find them?" Harry asked Hermione.

"Oh, we didn't. They found us," Hermione giggled. "Like that." Her head jerked pointedly at the place Ron was standing.

"Really?" Harry laughed. "Do you have any idea what they are?"

"Hmmm, not really." Hermione shrugged.

"'Mione, did you -hey stop that already- just say you didn't know -I said stop it you two- something?" Ron yelled while trying very hard not to curse.

"Treasure it, 'cos you won't hear it too often again."

Harry sniggered. "At least they eat and drink from Hedwig's bowl, so we don't need to worry about food." Hedwig hooted loudly from her cage. "Though she doesn't seem very keen on that idea."

"Are you gonna name it-"

Suddenly, Ginny called out. "Harry, will you bring me my towel?"

"Coming!" Harry pulled the towel off the sofa and advanced towards the bathroom.

Then, Harry sensed the room being too quiet again. He turned around and found himself looking at two incredulously puzzled stares.

"What?!"