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.

'How strange,' Harry thought upon Remus' explanation of the Fidelius charm. He felt extremely excited, when he followed Remus and Buckbean into the house with Whisper running ahead. 'She's so cute,' he could not help thinking. Remus led them into what seemed to be the living room.

"Harry, welcome to your new home. Are you sure that you wish to live together with me?"

Harry smiled. 'My first real home,' he thought, happily. "Of course, sir. Is it really all right for you if Whisper and I live here with you?"

"Harry, I'd love to have both of you here with me. What am I going to do with you during the night of the full moon though? I can't be with you during these nights. Will you be all right just by yourselves?"

Whisper lightly growled at Remus, causing Harry to stare at her in surprise, while Buckbean began to chuckle.

"I believe that the young lady wishes to say that she's well able to keep an eye on Harry, and I think so, too," Buckbean reassured the older wizard. "Harry is already a big boy, and he has his doggy to take care of him as well." He pulled a small box out of his pocket and enlarged it, before he placed it onto the table. "All mail for the two of you will arrive in this box, after the goblins have checked everything for curses, jinxes and also Howlers."

"Thank you so much." Remus cast Buckbean a grateful look. "We really appreciate it."

"Once Harry returns to Hogwarts, you can forward his letters to him by owl. He will only be able to receive letters from you. Everything else will arrive here in this box."

"Thank you, Buckbean." Harry smiled, while Whisper went ahead and licked the goblin's hand in apparent gratitude.

"Have you been to Potter manor, while the Potters were still alive?" Buckbean cast Remus a questioning look.

Remus nodded, before he let out a deep sigh. "Many times."

"If you need anything, you could try to summon one of the house-elves from the manor. As far as I know, they are still doing the housekeeping."

"Gina!"

An instant later, a strange creature popped up right in front of them, and Harry stared at it in surprise. It was of almost the same size as himself. "Master Remus and little Master Harry," the elf all but shouted in apparent delight.

"Hello Gina." Remus smiled, as he turned to Harry. "Harry, Gina is the head house-elf of Potter manor."

"Hello," Harry said, smiling at the obviously eager creature, noticing that Whisper licked the elf's face in apparent liking.

"Gina, how many house-elves are currently living at Potter manor?"

"We is seven elves, Master Remus."

"Do you believe that you could spare one of them to live here with Harry, Whisper and me and take care of Harry and Whisper during the full moon?"

"Of course, Master Remus. I wills ask Lila to serve yous and Master Harry. Lila!"

An instant later, another elf popped up, and Gina swiftly instructed her to stay with Remus and Harry and care for them.

"Thank yous, Master Remus and Master Harry for inviting Lila to serve yous. Thank you, Gina."

HP

Once Buckbean and Gina had left, Remus gave Harry, Lila and Whisper a tour around the house. It was very cosy, even if it lacked all the kind of knickknacks, which had decorated his relatives' rooms. The living room as well as the kitchen had back doors leading out into the forest, much to Whisper's delight.

"Whisper, whenever you have to go for a weewee, please tell one of us, and we'll let you out through one of these doors," Remus informed her.

"Lila wills takes care of the doggy," Lila stated in apparent eagerness and gently hugged the canine who proceeded to stand on her behind paws and lick the elf's face.

'Thank Merlin Whisper gets along so well with everyone,' Harry thought in relief.

There was a small storage room beside the kitchen, which Lila happily claimed for herself. Nevertheless, she accompanied them up to the second floor, which held a bathroom as well as two bedrooms.

Remus opened the left door. "Harry, this is your room. Lila, will you please prepare the room to Harry's liking?"

Lila all but squeaked in delight and immediately set to work. Harry stared at the room in excitement. 'My first real room,' he thought with a combination of disbelief and delight, as he eyed the four-poster bed that matched the one in his dormitory in Gryffindor.

"Does the doggy needs her own bed?" Lila enquired, causing Harry to shake his head.

"No, thank you, Lila, but Whisper always sleeps with me in my bed."

"Young Master Harry is too kind, thanking Lila, just like Mistress Dorea, Master Charlus and little Master James did," the elf squeaked in obvious delight.

HP

Late in the afternoon, Remus and Harry stepped through the fireplace into the Burrow, leaving Whisper in Lila's care at Furry house. Molly Weasley immediately pulled them into bear hugs, unaware that Harry flinched back from the touch.

"Molly. Let them breathe," Mr. Weasley lightly scolded his wife, who, to Harry's relief, let go off him.

"Thank you, Remus, for taking Harry today. Did you have a good time, sweetie?"

Harry nodded, grinning broadly. "Yes, thank you. It was brilliant."

"Our visit to Gringotts was quite interesting to say the least." Remus sighed, as he took the seat Mr. Weasley offered them. "Professor Dumbledore is not Harry's rightful guardian."

"But of course, he is," Molly Weasley immediately contradicted.

"No." Remus swiftly informed them what they had heard from Buckbean, causing Mr. Weasley to glare at his wife.

"Did you make such a deal with Dumbledore? Taking money for Ron befriending Harry?"

Mrs. Weasley squirmed in her seat. "Albus offered, stating that Harry would be in dire need of friends once he returned from the muggle world."

Harry could only stare at the woman in shock. "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley, but I can choose my friends myself." He was glad that the children were playing Quidditch in the garden and unaware of their conversation.

"Harry was kind enough to not revoke the money that has been sent to you. He only asked Buckbean to stop the payments now," Remus emphasized.

Mr. Weasley turned to Harry. "Harry, that was more than generous of you. I thank you very much, and I hope that you won't let my wife's bad decisions influence your relationships with my children. Molly! You better set your priorities straight. If you wish to remain a member of the Weasley family, you will abide by my rules and not make dubious agreements with Albus Dumbledore. Otherwise, it will be my duty as the head of House Weasley to remove you from the family."

Remus rose from his seat. "Thank you, Arthur. I believe that it's time for Harry and me to leave. I will send our house-elf to collect Harry's luggage. Thank you for everything."

"Is Harry going to stay with you?" Molly Weasley sounded horrified. "But you're…"

"Molly!" Arthur thundered. "Remus is well able to care for Harry. Leave it at that. Remus, Harry, if you ever need any support with anything, please come to see me."

"Thank you, Arthur."

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley." Harry smiled at the older wizard, before he turned around and stepped into the fireplace together with Remus. "Furry house."

tbc tomorrow...

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