A Dog's Purpose Is Strange Magic Chapter 23

"There, look."

"Where?"

"Next to the tall kid with the red hair."

"Wearing the glasses?"

"Did you see his face?"

"Did you see his scar?"

"Is that a dog with him?"

"I thought we weren't allowed to have dogs."

From the start where they had first left Gryffindor Tower for breakfast this is how it had been. People staring, whispering, and pointing at Harry everywhere they went and with him Bailey. And if that weren't enough people lining up outside classrooms stood on tiptoe in order to get a good look at him or doubled back to pass them in the corridors. It made Harry very uncomfortable. Bailey could sense it from him and read it off his body language especially the hunched over shoulders to trying to appear smaller. As if it wasn't difficult enough to navigate through all the staircases and halls in Hogwarts all of this unwanted attention left them unfocused so they easily became lost. It was very hard to remember where anything was since it all seemed to move around a lot at random on their own.

Neither the portraits nor ghosts were of any assistance. Except for a few most just went about their business. The only one who really bothered with the students was Peeves and that was simply to mess with them. Peeves went to try his pranks on Harry and Ron, but Bailey ran interference there. One warning bark from her and Peeves quickly flew away. For the trickster he is Bailey will grant he's no fool. It's quite apparent that he did not want a repeat of the previous night. Also, the people in the portraits kept leaving their frames to go visit each other. So it was impossible to use them as marks to memory.

As a result they ended up at the entrance of the out of bounds corridor on the third floor. There the caretaker Argus Filch and his cat Mrs. Norris found them and would've enacted fierce punishment if Professor Quirrell had not come out of the blue to stop it. A good thing too because Filch didn't believe for an instant their excuse that they had gotten lost. Bailey growled lowly at him, but restrained herself from doing anything rash. Not that she could with Harry's hand on her harness.

At this point in time the corridors were deserted with everyone inside the classrooms. Harry and Ron were scrambling to make it to their first class before the teacher found out. Finally Harry had to resort to using Bailey to get to where they needed to go. Bailey had already met Professor McGonagall so she was familiar with the scent the Deputy Headmistress had. So with Bailey leading the way they made it to class.

Upon their entrance the door burst open and many of the students that were sitting at the desks copying down what Professor McGonagall had written on the blackboard raised their heads to see what the commotion was about.

Hermione saw them and rolled her eyes returning to the assignment. The boys were in for it.

Harry and Ron kept running until they got halfway in the room. But Bailey kept going until she reached what they took to be McGonagall's desk. She wasn't there. A tabby cat was there in her place sitting quite regally overlooking the entire classroom. Bailey trotted over coming to a stop in front of the feline and sniffing at it in interest. The cat smelled exactly like Professor McGonagall.

The cat didn't welcome Bailey's attention. It hissed and Bailey retreated.

"Bailey, leave the cat alone," said Harry.

The guys weren't heeding the warning this implied.

"Whew. Made it," panted Ron, relieved. "Can you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late?"

At that exact moment the cat leapt from the desk transforming into Professor McGonagall herself.

That solved the mystery for Bailey.

This left the boys speechless.

Gawking, impressed, Ron said "That was bloody brilliant."

Ron's terrible attempt at flattery would get them nowhere.

"Oh, thank you for that assessment, Mr. Weasley. Perhaps it would be more useful if I were to transfigure Mr. Potter and yourself into a pocket watch? That way, one of you might be on time," said Professor McGonagall.

"We got lost," said Harry, sheepish.

Ron nodded concurring with Harry.

"Then perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats," said Professor McGonagall, motioning towards the two remaining empty seats in the class.

Harry and Ron sat down. Professor McGonagall aimed a hard look at Bailey. Bailey went over to Harry lying down at his feet with her muzzle pressed against his ankle. That's where she stayed the rest of the class.

Hopefully the encounters with the other teachers would be far more fruitful and less embarrassing.

Authors Note:

Hope you guys like this. ;)

Snape is next.