Just as Jack predicted, not nearly an hour and a half after buying Harry some-of-everything the four of them thought he would like, Ron was getting fussy about Harry's bag of sweets and the need to remember to pick it up again every time they set it down.
Needing for air from the stuffy pub they were in, and space away from Ron, Jack stepped outside the Three Broomsticks, and went up the road, passed a shop called Dervish and Bangs and to a fence marking the edge of the town. Leaning on top of it, Jack looked over the autumn-ized fields where huge piles of hay were waiting to be placed into barns, where crops had been cut down, and where there was a big black dog walking alone down the path towards him.
"Huh?" Jack said confused and focused on that.
Seeing it had been spotted the big black dog stopped where it was, looking nervous, and yet determined.
Holding up his hands and stepping back a little, Jack tried to show the creature he meant no harm.
Slowly the dog came closer and sniffed the air a little, gaining a confused face, but wagging his tail none-the-less.
"Yeah, see I'm not going to hurt you," Jack said smiling and slowly kneeling down "Mind coming closer?"
After a bit of thinking the dog did come closer and was sniffing Jack all over the mixed look of confusion and happiness on his face.
"If you stay here I could get you some food," Jack said seeing how thin the dog was "And you could meet my friends too. Only, Ron Weasley might get a bit fussy, thinking you're a Grim."
On hearing the name 'Ron Weasley' the dog snarled a little and barked angrily and reached into his fur for something, pulling out a clipping from the daily Profit.
Surprised at this, Jack petted the dog again trying to find the 'pocket' this piece of paper came from but couldn't find it.
Barking and pawing at the paper, the dog sat down in front of Jack.
Seeing the canine wanted him to read it, Jack looked at the paper.
"This is the report of the Weasley's visit to Egypt," Jack said looking at it then looking at the animal who nodded "What about it?" Jack asked looking over everything trying to find what was trying to be said.
The dog, using one of his claws, after dipping it into some dirt nearby, put a ring around the rat sitting on Ron's shoulder.
"That's just Scabbers," Jack said trying to comfort the dog, but the creature shook his head and snarled again angrier than before.
Jack was about to try and ask some more questions, when he heard someone calling for him:
"Jack? Jack come on! We're going to Zonko's next!" Looking over his shoulder, Jack saw Elisa at the bottom of the hill waving at him.
"Coming!" Jack called before turning back to the dog with the newspaper report, but both were gone.
Looking all over for the black furred dog, Jack slowly got up and went down to meet up with Elisa.
"So, who was that then?" Elisa asked smiling.
"Who?" Jack said stretching a little.
"That overgrown puppy of course." Elisa said smiling "Didn't he have a collar or anything?"
"No, but I don't think he has owners, so he wouldn't have one would he?" Jack said, more to himself than Elisa "He was way too thin, and his fur was all matted and dirty."
"Aww... He's probably been looking for someone to take him in," Elisa said as they reached the shop "Why'd you let him go, Jack?"
"Excuse me, but I believe it was you distracting me that made me turn away from him," Jack said picking up a basket and 3 sets of stink-bombs from the shelf.
Rolling her eyes, Elisa picked up a couple of cans of Super-Sticky-Celebration-String (with cleaning up potions attatched) and they carried on around the shop, bumping into Ron and Hermione in the joke-book and pranking-spellbook section.
"How's Harry's sweets holding up then Ron?" Jack said grinning. "Still got them?"
"Yes, I do. See?" Ron said holding up a bag of sweets in Jack's face.
"Where did you go Jack?" Hermione asked putting the book she was reading down "And why is there dirt on your knees?"
"Just past Dervish and Bangs," Jack said rolling his eyes at how once again Hermione was acting more as a mother than a friend. "And my knees are dirty, because while I was there I saw something that made me kneel down for a better look. Not everyone has 20/20 vision and can spot things at a height, you know."
Blushing a little in silence, Hermione dropped the act.
"Well, what you see then Jack?" Ron asked curious as they shuffled towards the counter.
"Just a dog," Jack said shrugging "Probably a stray, nothing to worry about."
"It wasn't... a Grim was it?" Ron asked in a whisper.
"I don't think so, but it was definitely magic. He seemed to like me a lot though." Jack said paying for his things.
"How do you know it was magic?" Hermione asked curious.
"Well one, he pulled something out of thick fur," Jack said as they left the shop "2 he seemed to understand what I was saying. And 3 he disappeared when I turned away from him."
"Well... If it was a magical creature that came right up to you, it probably wanted something," Elisa said thoughtfully as they started heading back to Hogwarts, Ron and Hermione walking a little ahead, arguing on if this 'dog' might have been a Grim.
"He did," Jack said agreeing "But I didn't understand why he wanted what he was asking for."
"Well what was that?" Elisa asked curious.
"He wanted Ron's pet rat." Jack said whispering so not to upset the redhead ahead of them.
"But it was a dog," Elisa said confused "What would a dog want with a rat?"
"Beats me..." Jack said helping himself to some chocolate as they passed the Dementors to get back into the Hogwarts grounds.