A/N – I thought that you all deserved another chapter! So, here it is! I do hope that you like it! I want to thank everyone who has reviewed! I am so glad that this has made such an impact!

The Cold Room

"Professor, can I talk to you?" Harry approached the Professor with slight trepidation in his voice. He wasn't sure why, but he needed to tell Professor Lupin about what he had thought had happened the night before. He didn't know why, but he thought that Ron and Hermione might flip out if he had told them that Sirius Black had been in the boy's dorm.

"Yes? What is it?" Lupin asked.

"I'm not sure actually," Harry said.

"Well, let's go up to my office and we can talk about it," Lupin smiled. Harry followed the wizard into the office where Lupin ordered two cups of tea for them and some snacks from a house elf. The house elf popped back immediately with the treats.

"What is bothering you?" Lupin asked.

"I – had a visit last night," Harry said.

"Really?"

"I don't know who it was – but I think it was Sirius Black," Harry said slightly.

"Ah," Lupin's reply made Harry look up.

"I was having a bad dream, he was holding me, he didn't hurt me and he didn't steal my wand…but he was talking about a rat," Harry said.

"A rat?" Lupin raised and eyebrow.

"The only rat in the dorm is Ron's, his name is Scabbers and is a rather lazy thing, Ron's brother Percy had the rat first, but when Ron was excepted for Hogwarts, Percy gave Scabbers to Ron," Harry said.

"Why do you think Sirius Black would sneak into the castle for a rat?" Lupin asked.

"I don't know, we haven't seen Scabbers around for a while, Ron thinks that Crookshanks (Hermione's cat) must have eaten him," Harry said.

"Why didn't you report this?" Lupin asked.

"Well, I didn't get a chance, I think Black put a sleeping spell on me with my own wand, in the morning I wasn't sure if I had dreamed it up or not, I had a bad head ache, but then Ron said something about hearing a whispered conversation, I remember asking Black (If it wasn't a dream, that is) why he was after a rat and what he meant, but he didn't seem to want to answer me," Harry shrugged, taking a sip from his cup.

"This is not good," Lupin said.

"Why not?"

"Well – I am not sure, I'm sorry Harry but I will have to talk to the other Professor's about this, I don't know why Black didn't hurt you, but I am glad that he did not," Lupin sighed.

"I am too – but his behavior was rather strange," Harry replied.

"I'm glad we talked, now, I believe that we have a tutoring session on Monday? Stop by at six, all right?" Lupin asked.

"Yes, thank you for the tea," Harry said, he gathered his book bag and left the office, he closed the door slightly behind him and made his way out of the class room. Lupin made sure that Harry was gone before hurrying down the corridors himself to the Teachers lounge.

He entered the room in a determined gate – that feeling of protectiveness over Harry coming to him once again. It had been a couple of weeks since Lupin had invited Harry to confide in him, however this was the first step the boy had taken. He found most of the teachers in the lounge. He stopped himself from glaring and went straight for frowning instead.

"We need to talk," he announced to the room.

"What for? Is this about the Golden Boy?" Snape sneered.

"Unfortunately yes!" Lupin growled back.

"Remus, what is wrong?' Albus asked from his seat by the fire side.

"Sirius Black visited last night, it seems that he snuck into Gryffindor tower (don't ask me how!) and visited the third year boys dorm," Remus replied.

"What?" Minerva looked slightly put-out.

"Yes, he was looking for a rat; Harry told me that he was having a bad dream and that Black had tried to comfort him, but Harry said that he couldn't make heads nor tails of the conversation that Black was carryon with him – in the morning, Harry said that he thought it was a dream, but his friend Weasley, said that he though he had heard a conversation going on," Remus sighed and sat down at a round table.

"What else did Harry say?" Professor Sprout asked.

"He said that Black had put a sleeping spell on him with his own wand, but Black didn't take the wand nor did he hurt anyone in the dorm," Remus replied.

"Well, we must strengthen the safety charms then," Minerva said.

"Search the castle, I must say," Professor Binn's agreed.

"Black is long gone by now," Remus said.

"Oh?" Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, he always knew when to duck into a class room, and what passage to take, he knew at least two ways to get out of the castle, had this uncanny way of avoiding Mr. Norris," Remus said.

"No wonder he couldn't be caught red handed," Snape huffed.

"I think I'll keep a watch near Gryffindor tower tonight," Remus stood.

"You're helping him, aren't you?" Snape asked.

"Of course not, if Sirius has set his mind to something, he'll do it, with or without help, I just want to make sure Harry won't go searching," Remus glared, then he stalked out of the room.

"Bloody Gryffindor's," Snape was heard muttering as he too left the lounge. Minerva went back to her grading, but she also knew that she would be prowling the halls this night as well.

Sirius Black was, in a word, hungry! He was scrounging around in the forest now, in his human form, he wasn't afraid of the forest and he had made some friends here – the Centaurs didn't take much notice of him, and he made sure to stay away the spider nest of Hagrid's. Sirius was lucky that he came upon a bush of black berry's, of which he stripped.

When he heard rustling – he popped back into the large grim-looking dog and snarled at whatever it was. The squeak of a surprised animal could be hear; and then scampering, Padfoot followed, he snarled at the rat and snapped at its heels. Padfoot did not notice the rat running into a clearing. The black dog was too intent on catching it!

The rat ran under the wood patch that made up a porch of Hagrid's cottage. The black dog didn't care where the rat was hiding, he just wanted it, he started to dig a hole as fast as he could, dirt flying everywhere. It was then that the giant of a man came out to see what all the racket was about.

"W'at 'ave ye there?" Hagrid asked and bent down, the black dog looked up and then warily back peddled from the huge man. Hagrid laughed and held his hand out.

"Don' ye worry, pup, I won't hurt ye," Hagrid said, the dog sniffed the giants hand before licking it in a way that said that they could be friends, if the giant didn't make any sudden moves or anything. Hagrid laughed.

"Yes stay here, I'll get ye something ta eat," Hagrid said, then disappeared inside his hut and then he returned with a bowl of left over meet he hadn't stewed or given to Fang that day.

Hagrid set the bowl down in the dirt bowl the dog had dug and then backed away; Hagrid seemed to know exactly what the dog needed, for the black dog inhaled the meet in a matter of seconds.

"Do ye want ta come in? it'll be getting' cold 'ere soon," Hagrid said, the dog looked at the inviting cottage, it would be great to be warm for a night! Padfoot weighed the implications for a second before jumping onto the porch and entering the cottage. He immediately went to greet Fang, who seemed to know him.

After Padfoot and Fang made friends, the both settled at Hagrid's feet – in moments, Padfoot was asleep. He was glad that he didn't have to sleep in the forest for another night, and he was also happy that his belly was full. The fire burned in the grate and threw a happy glow over the three occupants of the cottage. The night passed peacefully.

Padfoot followed Hagrid and Fang on their morning rounds of Hogwarts, school of witchcraft and wizardry – he watched as Hagrid inspected the entrances and the bordering forest, then they went to the paddock in order to feed the animals. Fang and Padfoot smelled about and helped to keep the animals in line. Hagrid chattered along happily while he went about the morning.

It wasn't until a soft coughing brought his attention to Albus Dumbledore who had been waiting patiently at the entrance to the paddocks.

"Have you come up with you're class plan for today?" Albus asked.

"Yes, I 'ave, 'ol Buckbeak will be 'appy ta be in the spot light ta day," Hagrid beamed.

"Good, good," Albus nodded his head and then took note of the second dog. It was shaggy and looked quite starved.

"I see you have come across a new acquisition," Albus smiled.

"He was digging under me porch 'ast night," Hagrid said.

"I see, do you have any idea what he was after?"

"Maybe a small rodent," Hagrid shrugged.

"Well, I don't see why he can't stay," Albus said.

"Thank ye, sir!" Hagrid beamed.

"Well, I leave you to you're work then," Albus Dumbledore said, he turned to leave and gave a well meaning look to the new dog, who only wagged his tail and looked too innocent for his own good.

A/N – I couldn't help it! I had to do that! Please review! Sorry, I did mean to put in Hagrid and his COMC class, but I just though that that would make a good chapter on it's own! lol! hope you like this!

ta,

Poppy