A/N: Okay, I'm sorry for having this posted so late. I've been sick and am still trying to get over a cold right now and it's not helping things much. Remember, reviews help a lot, especially if they include an opinion or idea that might be able to be used… I'm constantly suffering from writers block and usually have to go to friends and family to get through it. But no worries, I usually just have trouble in parts I haven't worked out the details of… and there are parts that I already have all planned out… and those parts will start soon enough… so on with the story… I'm sorry this is late. I was going to finish it up last night and post it but I ate Mickey D's for dinner and food from there makes me excessively tired... So here's Chapter 8, and I'm going to tell you ahead of time, future chapters may be 1 to 2 weeks apart as far as when I post them because the New Year is coming up and I have School and I have to start looking for work.

Butterfly

Chapter 8: Canine Company

As Dumbledore and Poppy walked back to the motel room, snow began to swiftly fall upon them, causing the old headmaster to look like an odd Snowman.

"Poppy, what about his mind? Is there anything we can do?" Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes seemingly brighter than usual.

"What he needs from us is patience, Albus. Luckily he isn't as bad off as many of the patients in St. Mungos. He can learn if those teaching him work with him and are patient."

"Of course. We were just hoping…" Dumbledore trailed off as they arrived at the motel room.

"Don't lose hope. He's still the boy who lived. You out of all people should understand that, Albus." Poppy said, giving the old man a warm hug before grabbing a handful of floo powder and throwing it into the fire before making her way back to Hogwarts.

The next day went as usual for Petunia and the two boys. Harry and Dudley went to school as usual and Petunia stayed home making phone calls and the like, knowing that all too soon they'd be making a trip back to the other side of the Atlantic. While it was still snowing outside, school had been opened again since the snowfall wasn't nearly as thick as it had been the day before.

Once school let out for the day, Dudley waited for Harry at the front of the school as he talked with his friends about what they all thought they'd get for Christmas. Harry finally came out, and joined his cousin.

"C'mon Harry. Let's get home; I wanna play in the snow before dinner." Dudley said, grabbing his backpack off the damp concrete.

They walked down the street, trying their best to get through the thick snow. Harry was several feet ahead of Dudley when his ears caught the faint whine that could only come from Puppies. He stopped, his emerald eyes searching for the source of the sound, and finally found a wooden crate in the snow by the curb with a small layer of snow on top. He opened the crate curiously, and found five black puppies curled up together save for one with blue eyes that peered up at Harry and yipped.

Dudley came up and knelt down to the crate and frowned, knowing it wouldn't be a good thing to show up at home with a crate full of puppies. His mom didn't like dogs much and always said no each and every time He and Harry had asked for a pet, let alone a dog.

"D-Dudley, c-can we take the-them ho-home?" Harry asked, his green eyes staring at his older cousin in the same way that the puppies were looking at them.

"Well… I guess we could… I mean, it doesn't look like anyone wants them. C'mon… I'm going to need your help carrying this crate." Dudley said, taking hold of one end of the crate while Harry took the other end. The puppies looked as if they were part Lab from what Dudley could tell. He'd read lots of books about dogs and had always wanted one. Secretly he prayed that his mom would allow them to keep at least one of the puppies.

It seemed as if ages had passed when they finally got to their apartment building. The Puppy crate was heavy and the way the puppies moved around whining and barking didn't help any. Slowly they got up the stairs, careful not to lose their balance. Both boys were sweating profusely by the time they made it to their apartment door and Dudley knocked on the door, too tired to take his gloves off.

Petunia opened the door and let out a relieved sigh. She had started to get worried about her boys, seeing as they rarely took that long to get home. It was when she noticed the crate and the whining puppies inside that she got a sense of dread in her heart.

"Mum… before you say anything… Harry found them at the curb all alone. We didn't see anyone else. They're just puppies, Mom. It was so cold outside they would have died. There wasn't a momma dog anywhere. Please don't make us put them back out!" Dudley begged as he and Harry were on their knees already hugging her legs, hope filled eyes staring at her, making her feel bad already. She sighed and pulled the boys off her giving them each a hug along with a stern look and opened the top of the crate and looked in at the puppies. The same one with blue eyes stood up, its front paws on the front of the crate as it peered at her.

"Dudley, Harry, keep your coats on. Here's a ten. I want you two to go get a bag of puppy food from the corner store. This doesn't mean that we're going to keep the puppies, but we might as well try to find good homes for them in the meantime." She said, automatically knowing she was in for it just as soon as Harry and Dudley exchanged an excited look.

As the two boys went off to the store, Petunia picked up the blue-eyed puppy and frowned as she realized that the puppies were probably going to become big dogs. There were so many reasons behind not allowing the boys to have pets. First and foremost was that Pets cost money, and then there was Harry whom she didn't quite feel was ready to have a pet. Of course there was also the fact that they lived in an apartment and didn't really have the time for a pet, but now she had second thoughts. A small part of her had always wondered if a pet might help in some way, shape, or form. She looked at each of the pups, checking for anything that might be bad. She figured they could probably use a bath and a nice warm place to sleep.

She put the pups back in the crate as to keep them from making a mess in the living room and went into her room and got a large box from her closet and some clean towels from the linen and a blanket from the linen closet and set it up just right for the puppies. Once the towels and blanket were settled just right, Petunia brought the crate of puppies into the kitchen and laid them in the box. It was much bigger and dryer than the crate and the pups had a good amount of space to play and they wouldn't be able to get out since the top of the box was so high.

It seemed as if ages had passed by the time Dudley and Harry got back with the puppy food. It wasn't a terribly large bag but big enough to last the pups a few days. Petunia got out a large plastic bowl and filled it with the puppy food and put it in one end of the box. Surprisingly all the pups went towards it and eagerly began eating it, seemingly having no trouble with the hard kibble.

"Okay boys, time for homework. Dudley, don't forget your reading." Petunia gave the puppies' one last glance before walking with Harry into his room and helping him with his homework. Harry had to read one story in his reading book, do the comprehension in his workbook, a page of math, and work on his spelling words for the week. Reading and the Comprehension work was the hardest so she made sure Harry always did that first, and then they would always work on spelling, and then the math page, which she only had to make sure Harry would stay on task with.

The rest of the afternoon went according to plan, save for the time the three spent playing with the little puppies. The one with blue eyes seemed particularly fond of Harry and wanted to be with him rather than anyone else which didn't strike Petunia as being odd. After all, some dogs were just better with children than others. There were times she'd even had long talks with Harry's teachers and therapist, whom he saw a couple of times a month, about how she should consider getting a pet dog or cat.

All too soon, dinner was served and the puppies were back in their box while Harry and Dudley tried to worm their way out of eating their serving of mixed vegetables. To their dismay, Petunia insisted they eat them if they wanted any dessert. It was late and Harry nearly fell asleep in his slice of Apple Pie. Luckily time allowed for both boys to have a bath and get a bedtime story before it was finally time to climb into bed and get their sleep.

Of course, sleep didn't come easy for one person in the house. Once she had slipped into bed and REM sleep had taken over her mind, unwanted nightmares of the past haunted her mind.

Petunia held her son and nephew close to her as they sat waiting for someone to come and help arrange for their departure. Dudley was already asleep and Harry was tiredly looking curiously around at the people walking past. Thankfully, none had stopped and asked why they were there. They couldn't stay there much longer, knowing Vernon would track them down eventually.

As the hours passed and Harry finally drifted off to an exhausted slumber, Petunia could only sit there, warily watching the various people, including bums who passed or sat nearby. Eventually a strange, dark man came up to them a sharp knife in his hand. She sat up with a start, in turn waking the boys as she punched the man with her bony hands, effectively knocking him out.

Back in present time, Petunia woke with a start, her legs all tangled up in her blanket and a cold sweat pouring off her forehead. Realizing where she was, she could only calm herself a small bit before roaming through the apartment to make sure all was well. She first checked on Dudley who was ever so lightly snoring, his face peaceful as ever. Harry was also sleeping quite peacefully, mumbling things in his slumber as his right arm dangled on the side of the bed, his teddy bear held in his tight clutch.

Petunia sighed in relieve, her fears forgotten as she tucked her nephew in and returned to her son's room to do the same. Afterwards she went to the bathroom and splashed warm water on her face in an attempt to get back into the mood for sleep. Luckily it worked and she was able to slip back into bed, this time she slept well until her alarm clock went off the next morning to get up and help the boys get ready for school.

It wasn't until after Harry and Dudley left for school that Dumbledore and Remus Lupin arrived, bearing news and wanting to discuss something.

"Alas, Petunia, how are you doing today? I assume things have gone well since we last met?" Albus asked, giving the woman a gentle hug

"As well as can be expected, of course." Petunia replied. "Would you gentlemen like something to drink, Tea, Water, Juice?" she offered, somehow knowing they'd probably be talking for quite a while.

"I think Tea would be the most appropriate, but why don't you let me take care of it?" Dumbledore replied, his blue eyes twinkling.

"I suppose that would be alright…" Petunia said, clearly flustered as pulled a rather beaten up armchair over to face the two men and sat down as she watched in awe as Dumbledore conjured a china tea set and poured tea for the woman and his companion before serving himself.

"Now we must discuss in more detail what we are going to do about young Harry's schooling. I daresay he is going to need extra tutoring. Of course, there is a problem with traveling. See, right now, we're using a floo connection… I do believe your sister explained travel by floo at least once?"

"Yes, she did…" Petunia replied, particularly anxious to hear what the man had to say.

"Well, I know it seems last minute, but we think it would be best if you and the boys could relocate to somewhere… closer to Hogwarts. After all, there are quite a few ways that a fully trained Witch or Wizard can easily get to a place on the same continent, but when it comes to somewhere overseas, it becomes very difficult. I'm certain that I could easily find a place for the three of you to live. What do you say?"

"I'm afraid the only way I can give my okay on the matter is if a place is secured for us. I'm not too keen on moving the boys away from here. They've got friends here, and I'm not sure that they will react well to the idea of moving back where… that sorry excuse for a man… could find us… He almost did once… He sent some bum after us with a blade!" Petunia said, taking sips in-between words.

"In light of that, we would take extra precautions. Harry is quite a special child to the Wizarding community. While there are some who would give their freedom to hurt the boy, there are many others who would give their lives for young Harry." Dumbledore said just as puppy whines could be heard in the Kitchen.

"A-are those… puppies that I hear?" Remus thought back to the good old days when he had first been informed that James, Sirius, and Peter had become animagi.

"Yes… Harry and Dudley brought them in from the streets yesterday… They must be hungry. Would you like to see them?" Petunia got up from the couch and made her way to put more food in their dish.

"That would be nice, Albus, would you care to join me?"

"Of course, Remus, my boy." They both followed Petunia into the kitchen and looked at the pups. The one with blue eyes caught Albus' attention and the old Wizard picked it up and smiled, a strong feeling that the puppy was different in some special way rushing over him. "Well, I think I know of someone who would just love to have a puppy. My brother Aberforth, has always wanted one around." He set the blue eyed puppy down and continued to look at each pup, trying to figure out which one would be perfect for his brother.

Remus had picked up a rather large pup and laughed, caught up in a memory when Sirius had gone around as a dog for an entire week trying to help Peter get a date.

It had been a rather hot and humid summer and Sirius and Peter had been staying over at the Potter residence and Remus would floo over each morning, taking great care not to dirty up the Potter home too much. James was going around rather proudly, having finally won the heart of one Lily Evans and had been determined to help Peter impress the ladies. Sirius had come up with the idea that they could go around with him in his animagus form saying that Peter had saved him from certain death at the hands of his previous owner. The plan hadn't worked, in fact it wasn't until a week later that a girl came up to him, giggling and blushing like girls always seemed to do around the opposite gender asking if Peter would be so kind as to come to her birthday party and that James, Sirius, and Remus were welcome to come as well. Remus of course hadn't been able to come, because of his furry little problem, as James liked to describe it, but from what he had been told by James the next day, Lily had been there as well as many other girls so it hadn't been too horrid. Peter finally had a girlfriend to drag him off, keeping the Marauders apart and Sirius… well, Sirius had been totally humiliated and had about twenty different girls throw pumpkin juice in his face, not that it stopped him from finally successfully asking a girl out towards the end of the party.

Of course, those had been the good old days, when they could care less about the bad things in the world. It wasn't long after that when they finally graduated and had then lost James and Lily to Voldemort, Peter to Sirius, and Sirius had been carted off to Azkaban, a traitor in the last remaining marauder's eyes.

"Petunia… are you going to let Harry and Dudley have a puppy? I'm sure it could do great things for both of them. There's nothing like having a puppy around to bring out the best in children." Remus asked suddenly, an oddly sad look on his face.

"Actually, yes, I was thinking about that… I'm quite fond of the blue-eyed one..." Petunia picked said puppy up and lovingly stroked its soft black fur.

"Well, I'm afraid we must return back to our temporary living space. I am expecting an owl from the Wizarding bank and I know you probably have errands to run." Dumbledore said, looking quite ready to go back to the motel.

"Actually… I was wondering if one of you… perhaps you Mr. Lupin, if you have nothing else to do, could stay and chat for a while, and maybe come with me to pick up Harry and Dudley…" Petunia asked, clearly flustered.

"Why I'd love to and… well, there's really nothing else on my agenda for today. You don't mind, do you Albus?"

"Of course not, m'boy. Just come back before midnight... After all, I'm sure Severus will be angry if you are not there to help him with that potion he was working on."

"Of course, Headmaster."

And with that, Dumbledore left Remus and Petunia to talk.

A/N: I know this one kinda bit the dust… but I had a hard time writing it, both because of being sick, and because other things weren't looking to good. Anyway, Happy Holidays and please, I know more of you are reading than reviewing so please review.