A Doggy for Christmas - Advent's Calendar Story 2022
by Teddylonglong

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

Buckbean gave Harry a toothy smile. "I advise you to call every single Galleon, Sickle and Knut back that has been paid to these accounts, stop the payments and set up the monthly stipend for Mr. Lupin."

"Yes please," Harry replied in determination. "However, please do not call the money back that has been sent to the Weasleys. Just stop the payments from now on. The stipend for Remus should start right after my parents' death though." Seeing that Remus and Buckbean eyed him in surprise, he added, "The Weasleys probably really need the money, so…" He slowly trailed off and nodded, contentedly, when Buckbean scribbled something onto an empty parchment and sent it away with a small flick of his hand.

"Thank you, Harry." A lone tear ran down Remus' cheek. "You are extremely generous just like your mother was. She was the kindest witch I ever met."

Harry smiled. "Remus, please don't thank me. My parents' set this up, so this is the right thing to do."

Their attention was returned to Buckbean, when he enquired whom Harry wanted to have as his guardian. "Sirius Black is still in Azkaban, Alice Longbottom is incapacitated; however, Remus Lupin, Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall are available."

Remus shook his head. "I am a werewolf."

'A what?' Harry wondered, inwardly sighing in relief, when Buckbean replied and, realising that Harry did not know what a werewolf was, shortly explained the matter to him.

"Does this matter? I take it that from now on, you will have the financial resources to buy the Wolfsbane potion and keep Harry and yourself safe." The goblin cast Remus a challenging look.

"Of course, I would never endanger Harry, but the magical world won't accept a werewolf as Harry's guardian."

"If I may make a suggestion?"

Remus nodded. "Yes please."

Harry looked at the goblin in expectation. 'He seems really trustworthy,' he thought.

"What if I remain Harry's official guardian and you become his unofficial guardian? Would you be willing to take Harry in? If your current living conditions are not adequate, you can use any of the Potter houses."

Remus nodded. "Thank you, Buckbean. In fact, Sirius bought two houses right out of Hogwarts and gifted one to me. The house is big enough for the two of us." He leaned down to look under the table, only to correct himself, "sorry, the three of us." He remained pensive for a moment, before he asked, "Would Harry be safe from Sirius though? You said something that he was innocent…" He slowly trailed off, seemingly deep in thoughts.

"Yes," Buckbean nodded in confirmation. "Point one, we can put your house under the Fidelius charm if you so wish. Point two, it clearly says in the will that Peter Pettigrew was their Secret Keeper."

"But he killed them all, Peter and the muggles. Ah, he must have gone after Peter, because he was a traitor. And he killed them all in his rage." Remus let out a deep sigh of apparent devastation.

Buckbean pressed a button on his desk, and an instant later, another goblin entered the office. Buckbean said something in a language, which Harry could not understand, before the other goblin vanished as quickly as he had arrived.

"I have called for Amelia Bones, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Buckbean explained. "While we wait for her, we can resolve some other matters." He pushed a couple of parchments in front of Harry. "Harry, we need your signature for revoking the payments that have been made from your accounts, for setting up the monthly stipend for Mr. Lupin and for appointing me as your official guardian, if that's fully all right with you."

"Yes sir, thank you sir," Harry replied, feeling very grateful to the helpful goblin. 'I thought he already was my guardian,' he thought; however, decided to not ask. With Remus' assistance, he quickly signed the requested parchments and was just finished, when a goblin led a stern looking witch into the office.

"Good morning, Madam Bones, may your gold continue to flow."

"Good morning, Buckbean, may your enemies cower before you," the witch replied, before she turned to them. "Remus Lupin and Mr. Potter." She sounded surprised.

"Hello Amelia, thank you for coming so quickly." Remus smiled.

"Hello Madam Bones, are you perhaps related to Susan Bones?" Harry enquired, thinking of his Hufflepuff classmate.

"Susan is my niece and a first-year at Hogwarts. I trust that you know her?"

Harry nodded, smiling. "Yes, I have Herbology together with her. She's very nice."

"Madam Bones," Buckbean spoke up, "Unspeakables Croaker and Ra approached me the other day pointing out several matters, which seem to have gone wrong considering the guardianship of young Harry Potter." He quickly explained about the will and everything else Albus Dumbledore had caused by making himself Harry's unrightful guardian, before he came to the point. "According to the Unspeakables, Sirius Black never had a trial. Considering that he was not the Potters' Secret Keeper but Peter Pettigrew in contrary to what Albus Dumbledore told everyone, we are very much interested in the question who killed the muggles and Pettigrew provided that he is dead at all. According to Croaker, he is or was a rat Animagus."

"Sirius never had a trial?" Bones blanched visibly. "I shall look into that."

After Remus had informed her that Harry was going to live with him from that day onwards and that they would see to it that she would be able to directly communicate with them, Madam Bones took her leave, promising to contact them within 24 hours.

HP

Once everything was settled at the bank, Buckbean accompanied Remus, Harry and Whisper to Remus' house. The house, which looked identical to the sole neighbouring house, was surrounded by forest, and Whisper happily used the opportunity to release herself.

"This is Furry House, my house, and over there is Canine House, which belongs to Sirius," Remus explained.

"Do you wish to be the Secret Keeper?" Buckbean suggested.

Remus shook his head in apparent shock. "Oh no, I'd prefer someone else. Due to my furry problem, I am not reliable around the full moon. I believe that we trust you, Buckbean, and would like you to become our Secret Keeper. What do you think, Harry?"

"Yes sir." Harry smiled, as he played with his familiar with a small branch she had brought to him from the first row of trees.

"Are you able to cast the Fidelius charm?"

Remus nodded and pulled his wand. Harry, Whisper and Buckbean observed how he cast the difficult charm without wavering. Harry was taken aback, when the left of the two houses suddenly vanished from view.

"Furry House is in Forest 25 A, Wales," Buckbean then informed them, and the house reappeared.

"That was amazing." Harry stared at the house in surprise.

Remus smiled. "It is called the Fidelius charm, and it's very convenient provided that you choose the appropriate Secret Keeper."

tbc tomorrow...

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