Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter in anyway shape or form; I just own the computer I type with and my own little ideas for twisting everything around.
A/N: I must say I'm surprised at the number of reviews I got to this story and only the first chapter, I would like to thank people for pointing out spelling mistakes as it helps me in cleaning up the next chapter for post… namely this one. Any way I look forward to more reviews and also thanks to everyone who also put this story on alert as that is as good as a review in my books but hearing your thoughts is even better.
Enjoy.
Chapter 2: Living Arrangements
SF led Amelia right into a small den not too far away from the cottage that Tonks had been sent to look at. The inside of the den looked to be fairly neat and tidy. a few books to one side were the only things that looked to be out of place. The covers, when Amelia got close enough, showed scratch marks and even a few teeth marks, clearly showing that he had managed to work out how to open the books and even read them.
Amelia took out her wand and quickly had everything within the den stacked and sorted; a large number of old books and a few blankets were quickly in front of her ready for transport. Everything else in the cave looked to be junk and SF wasn't looking for anything else in the cave, just sitting in front of the items summoned up for him.
"Nothing else here I take it so let's get back to the Ministry and I'll sort out some sort of ID for you." Amelia said, only to stop when SF seemed to remember something and went to one side and pulled a metal box from a small rock outcropping; the box, when it was brought into the light, looked like an old cookie tin.
Kneeling down a little to look at the tin, Amelia opened it up to see a number of pamphlets of possible tourist locations around the world, as well as England. "Places you want to go see once your human again, I take it." She said with a smile. SF just nodded before he fell into line at her side, Amelia only taking a moment to send all of his stuff ahead of them first.
Taking a hold of his neck lightly, Amelia gave only a moments warning before apparating to her office, thankful that because of her position within the Ministry she could apparate into the building, or at the very least, her office without a problem.
SF bounced away from her on arrival, the look on his face clearly said he didn't like the ride one bit, he even gave a bark at her to show how upset he was with that mode of travel shaking his head after a few more moments as his head was still spinning a little from apparating for the first time.
"You'll get use to it." She said calmly fighting back a laugh at the look she was getting from the wolf. Taking a breath, she calmly moved to her desk and, putting everything down next to her chair, she looked at SF, pointing to one of the chairs on the other side of her desk. SF moved forward and then lay down on the chair head pointing right at her at all times.
"Now then, I'll arrange a collar and everything else for you so that we can find you and also that no one takes you for a stray… Trainee Tonks well be your care taker most of the time and I'll arrange for you to join her in the classes in the Academy so that you don't get bored at the house I plan on setting you two up in."
SF just barked at this before bringing his head around to bit at an itch on his back. Amelia just pulled her wand and said a quick spell; SF suddenly found that the itch wasn't there any more. Amelia smiled at the wolf when he looked at her in surprise, as another flick of the wand had his fur clean and the smell she had noticed coming from him was also gone.
"A simple pet caring spell killed all the fleas and their eggs so you should be fine for a little while now, I also cast a cleaning charm, not as good as a bath but it well do until Trainee Tonks can get you one." Amelia said calmly, smiling at the relived look she got in return. SF sat calmly now, waiting for her to say something else.
The pair just sat there for a good half hour, Amelia taking the time to finish up some paperwork after putting a simple black collar on SF complete with name tags and an address to send him if he was picked up on the street. SF just dozed off in front of the desk, a small crashing sound brought both of them out of their thoughts, looking up in time to see Tonks come stumbling in with a backpack over one shoulder and a few boxes could just be seen sitting outside of the room blocking the hallway a little.
"I'm all set Madam, and can I just say thanks for offering a place to live as my Landlord was getting ready to evict me anyway; something about owls showing up at all hours upsetting the others in the building." Tonks said with a smile, sitting down next to SF after giving a salute to Amelia who waved her into the chair.
"Very good, now then, the place you will be moving into and looking after for me is over a tavern my family has owned for years on the beach down the coast. The flat is the whole second floor while the tavern is the first and the owner knows of our world before you ask, so don't worry about doing any magic in front of him; also he knows not to enter the flat so you don't have to worry about him showing up in there."
"Thank you so much Madam… ah how much is the rent going to cost me and do I have to know of anything before I move in?" Tonks asked looking grateful to Amelia for the offer of a place. The location just added to it, as she loved the beach and to swim in the sea on her off time if the weather was good.
"I'll take the rent out of your pay check before you get it Ms. Tonks, so don't worry about that. I'll also arrange for Shadow Fang to be in your classes from now on, and, as your partner, his pay check will also go to you and I hope you will do the right thing and buy him everything he needs." Amelia paused here for a moment before she leaned forward in her seat, tapped some parchment absentmindedly, and said, "The only thing I should warn you about is that my niece and I will be staying there in the summer months as she does love the beach… any questions?"
"No Madam, I'll see if I can arrange other living arrangements once summer starts but as it has only just ended that gives me the whole school year to look." Tonks said calmly patting SF on the head, the wolf pushed up into her soft patting to show his approval.
"No need, I'm sure you and Shadow Fang here can share a room on those days, not like you can get up to much together in his current form; also Trainee Tonks I would like you to work hard over the next few months on getting Shadow Fang here up to the level of knowledge he needs to be at." Amelia said waving off Tonks plan on finding another place in the summer. "Oh, before I forget, here's his first pay check in advance so that you can get everything needed."
"Thank you Madam… I guess I better go and get settled in and sort out other supplies I might need for SF here." Tonks said leaving the room a moment later with SF following along behind her; a wave of the wand had all of her boxes following along behind her, his only a little behind them.
A good ten minutes later, after making a quick stop at a Muggle bank that she used to deposit the check, found the pair out front of the tavern that Amelia had told them to go to for the flat, the sign over the door making Tonks tilt her head to one side wondering how on earth her boss got such a place with such a cliché name.
"The Lucky Mermaid… well I guess it doesn't really matter what the name of the place is as long as we have a roof over our heads, right boy?"
SF just gave a soft bark and moved up to the door scratching at it to let her know that he wanted in. Tonks just rolled her eyes and opened the door, directing all of her things in a moment later as she walked in to see a middle aged man with blond hair and a five o'clock shadow, a tired yawn being her only greeting. As it was only just a little after midday, it was a clear sign that he was up most of the night.
"We aren't open yet and once again I forgot to lock that door… oh well, also no animals so your dog is going to have wait outside." The man said as he moved to behind the bar and filled a single pint glass for himself; giving Tonks the once over she could clearly see the lust in his eyes.
"Well that rule is going to have to change as Madam Bones is renting out the flat above this place to me and SF here so if you wouldn't mind pointing out the stairs or door leading up to the place we'll get out of your hair." Tonks said calmly, fighting back the urge to break the man's arm for looking at her that way.
Giving a grunt he pointed to a door in the back of the tavern moving off to get more sleep most likely. Tonks made a note to check the door locks and change them if needed, just to make sure the low life of a tavern keeper didn't try anything while she was away or sleeping.
Getting to the room, Tonks gave a small nod of approval. The main area was a kitchen/living room set, a small window-like opening in back showing were the kitchen was from where she entered, five doors around the room showed that the place was charmed to be larger then it would normally be, the living room had all the furniture she would need and even a TV.
The whole place was well lighted thanks to a large window along one wall showing a view of the beach. Tonks took a moment to enjoy the view before moving to the kitchen to see what was there to work with for dinner that night; a quick look in the cupboards however showed that a stop to the shop was going to be needed as there wasn't anything there, which just showed how often Amelia and her niece stayed here.
SF, who had been looking out the window by raising himself up onto his hind legs and just looking out his front paws holding him up, moved over to one of the doors on the far wall, and, after a few seconds, gave a small bark and butted his head ageist it giving a huff when it didn't open, Tonks just giggled a little and moved over to open the door. The sight of a simple bedroom greeted her, nothing on the walls or the bed marking it as a guest room.
"Guess this is my room then, there's even a nice little place for me to put a bed down for you if you want to sleep close by boy… as long as you don't mind my sleeping habits." Tonks said, walking around the room for a moment before she waved her wand and had the boxes that had been following her around up until now move into the room and set down to one side planning on sorting them out later.
SF just barked and moved to the far corner and circled it a little before sitting down and giving a single bark at her, the tone of it suggesting that that was going to be his corner. Tonks just laughed a little and nodded, waving her wand as the box that held SF's stuff went over to him and turned to head back to the kitchen afterward to work out what to get to stock the cupboards.
After a good half hour Tonks came back into the bedroom to see SF pawing at his blankets to try and get them into place for him to sleep later. Tonks gave a small smile and knelt down to his level, patting his head gently. "We'll get you a new bed when we go get some food. Now, up for a walk to the local supermarket? I can just see it out the window down the street so it won't be a long walk."
Giving a bark of thanks, he moved towards the door on the other side of the living room space. It opened showing a back stairway that lead to the back of the tavern and onto another street towards the shop. Tonks gave a nod of thanks to SF for going to this door as she didn't feel like dealing with a drunken Tavern keeper; although she did wonder how he know to come to this door and not any of the others.
Quickly getting a large sunhat Tonks lead the way down the stairs already planning on adding a doggy door to the back door for SF while shopping for everything they needed. Before heading out onto the main street, however, she changed her hair to a long light blond and reduced her three measurements so that she was a little more flat and not as round hipped as she was before, a quick tap of the wand on an article of clothing as well as the light blue sundress she had changed into while at her old flat resized them for the now smaller size.
"There we go boy, what do you think of the new Tonks for this town?" She asked, striking a pose that showed that she hadn't changed the size too much, just a little to be the average single woman on the street of this day and age.
SF looked Tonks over for a moment before he shook his head, pawed at the ground for a moment, and went over to a trash can and found something that he could use to write on the ground with, coming up with a small chunk of charcoal, and quickly scratched out a message.
Leaning over to read the message, Tonks gave a small smile and patted him on the head, "I'm not going to take my natural form boy… not until I meet Mr. Right." She said softly, getting back up and giving her thigh a light slap as if to say to come along now. SF just shook his head before following along, every now and then giving her a look that she somehow know said that he wanted her to be herself.
"Don't give me that look SF, I'll show my real form when I'm good and ready and not before hand, but I'll tell you what once we get you back to your human form I'll take you out to dinner and if and I only mean if we hit it off alright I'll show you what I really look like, deal?" Tonks said after a few minutes of walking and getting tired of the upset look her new partner was giving her. She was silently glad that it appeared to be a quiet town with very few people out and about today.
She didn't even want to think of what they would say or think if anyone saw her talking with what looked to be her pet dog
SF gave her a look for a moment before nodding his head and bounced ahead of her, barking sharply over his shoulder when he realised she wasn't following. Tonks just laughed and followed along, not paying any mind to any of the people who looked up at the sudden barking.
Getting to the shop Tonks looked over the specials advertised in the window before looking down at SF, and said while pointing to one side of the door and giving an apologetic smile "Sorry SF, but I need you to wait out here, but don't worry I'll get everything and then we can head home again and get settled in, that and if you're good I'll get you a special treat."
Giving a slight whine at being left outside but knowing he had no choice in the matter, SF walked over and lay down next to the door giving a slight huff at being left out. Tonks just apologized again and entered the shop, only pausing long enough to pat him on the head as she moved past.
Tonks spent the first few minutes just walking along one end of the store looking at the isles' markers to get a feeling for were everything was supposed to be. She stoped often to see what was on special, as the only money they had at the moment was what SF had been payed in advance.
Moving down one of the isles after grabbing a few things, really only getting what they would really need to survive until her next pay, Tonks paused to pick up a bottle of shampoo and other bathroom items needed for both herself and SF, he was getting a bath when they got back as far as she was concerned, and looked at her lists for a moment before nodding as besides a little food for SF and the bed she promised she had everything. Looking down at the only half full cart made her a little nervous at taking all of it back to the flat.
Deciding to put that subject to one side for now, Tonks carried on to the butcher in back of the store and asked for some off cuts and other scrap meat for a dog from the man behind the counter. The man just nodded and quickly had everything together and even gave her the directions to the main pet food and other accessories isle when he noticed her looking at the markers trying to find said isle.
Tonks had only just gotten to the small selection of pet beds the store offered when someone suddenly said from behind her, "You have got to be new here, as I haven't seen you before."
Tonks turned sharply and nearly went for her wand only to relax when it turned out to be a young woman with light brown, almost a dirty blond colour, hair and chocolate brown eyes dressed in a dark blue sundress similar to her own, a friendly smile forming on the young woman's face.
"Yes I just moved into the flat above the Lucky Mermaid and my pet needed a new bed so here I am as well as everything else to stock the pantry… sorry but what did you say your name was?" Tonks asked, keeping one hand near the wand hidden in the seam line of her dress giving a friendly smile at the very least, as the woman might, just might, be someone who was kind and friendly to the new-comer in town.
"Sorry dear, I sometimes forget that not everyone in town knows who I am. I'm Sarah McGonagall, this town's local doctor and sometimes a vet, as I do have the basic training for that line of work too." The young woman said, offering a hand to Tonks and giving a friendly smile when she took it, "A pleasure to meet you Miss…?"
"Tonks, just Tonks as I don't like my first name much and thank you for the welcome, any chance I could bring in SF for a quick check up in the next few days? Also are you related to a Minerva McGonagall in anyway?"
"SF wouldn't happen to be that lovely half-wolf I saw outside, would he? And yes I have a great Aunt named Minerva she teachers at a privet school up north if I remember right, although I think she might be retiring soon; I mean she's got to be what, eighty years old by now?" Sarah said moving to walk alongside Tonks, giving a friendly smile and pointing out a good quality bed for SF that was also cheep.
"She is still teaching strong, as I was in one of her classes only the other year, only just finished and joined up with the police force you could say, a special unit, and SF is my new partner of sorts. Also he's not half-wolf, he's full wolf; just raised by hand is all." Tonks said loading the dog bed that Sarah pointed out into the cart, looking at her list a moment later.
"That's nice to know and I have to say I have never treated a wolf before… my animal clinic is open on Tuesday and Thursday as well as Sunday all the other days I'm in the Doctors surgery just so you know. I should be able to look at him any time on those three days." Sarah said moving to head the other way from the checkout giving a final wave of goodbye to Tonks.
Tonks just waved goodbye before heading to the checkout as she had everything she had listed.
Walking out of the shop with a grunt, Tonks gave a sigh and sat down next to SF who looked up from the spot where he was still lying. Titling his head to one side at how many bags she had, he moved to her side and took one bag from her hand in his jaws, starting to slowly make his way towards the flat when she got to her feet.
"Thanks boy and you'll be pleased to know that I have basically booked you into the vets in a few days time just for a check up." Tonks said, following along calmly behind SF struggling a little with a few of the bags only to stop dead with SF looked over his shoulder at her with the bag still in his mouth. The look in his eyes showed clear shock that she had done such a thing.
"Oh don't give me that look SF, it's just a check up and besides I can't really take you to a normal doctor and say you're just human stuck in a animal form now can I? Don't worry I'll be by your side at all times and make sure everything is fine, I promise you."
Giving a huff, SF started to move a little faster making Tonks almost jog to keep up, her complaints fell on deaf ears as, in his mind, she was going to have to pay now for taking him to some vet that could end up having him fixed and he was going to be damned if something like that was going to happen.
"Come on, I promise nothing is going to be removed or added to you I swear!" Tonks huffed out taking another couple of steps to try and catch up with the upset wolf.
"Slow down, SF, please!" Tonks called out wondering how he was going to be after the visit in a few days time. She silently hopped that he wasn't going to do anything to her in her sleep as payback, besides this rather fast jog he was forcing her into now.
"This is so not fair, I already said nothing was going to happen, so please stop! SF show mercy, please!"
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A special present to my readers.
Creature Profile as recorded in the Ministry of Magic, Dangerous Creatures Department and the Department of Mysteries.
Information recorded by Mrs. Selune Lovegood Unspoken of the Department of Mysteries.
Name: Shadow Wolf (Magical Beast)
Size: 3' at shoulder and 7' long (this including 2' 6" tail) sizes given for Alpha Male, Females and other males slightly smaller
Speed: Very fast and agile
Attacks: Teeth and Shadow Manipulation
Special Qualities: Shadow Walk, Shadow Travel, Shadow Manipulation.
Climate/Terrain: Any darkened and shadowy environment or the Shadow Plain
Organization: A single Alpha male to two or more females, pack size of 10 adult wolves and half dozen pups highest recorded.
Information
Shadow Walk: This ability seems to be the power to moved through shadows to any connected shadow to the one they enter, using this power a Shadow Wolf can enter a shadow in one room and come out anywhere where a shadow is as long as it is connected in some way to another shadow that would lead back to the entry point. (Note: A Shadow Wolf appears to be able to take objects and even people with them. It is highly recommended against using this form of travel as it can be disorienting and leaves one feeling… naked.) (Additional Note: The Shadow Wolf can enter a person's shadow and remain there while the person is walking around this however leaves the person feel a little extra weight around the middle, reminding me of my own pregnancy is the best way to describe it.)
Shadow Travel: Unlike Shadow Walk this power allows the Shadow Wolf to 'punch a hole' so to speak through any shadow they enter using Shadow Walk and then into the Shadow Plain (a place of darkness and other creatures of power live in), the wolves seem to pass through without problem and can even take items and people with them. Observation: if they lose contact with said item it is quickly taken by one of the shadow creatures and torn apart; not tested yet with a live subject. (Note, travelling this way appears to be nearly as fast as any other known form of magical travel as they can punch another hole back to the normal plain in any shadow they know of on our plain.)
Shadow Manipulation: This power is very useful and dangerous to anyone who threatens the Shadow Wolf and its pack, as it allows them to shape the very shadows around them (including their own) into any shape of weapon they wish. Observations show that they can shape shadows into bladed or blunt melee weapons, as well as make ropes and chains to hold subjects down. The power can also be used while within a Shadow Walk but not Shadow Travel.
Final Note: The Shadow Wolf should be avoided at all cost as they have a strong pack protective instinct and anyone, or thing, that approaches a packs location can expect to be attacked at any time. If, however, a wolf is found alone and is not a part of a pack they tend to be friendly if a little wary at times.
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Hopefully that well nip any questions in the bud for SF's abilities later in the story as I know some of you were thinking up questions to ask about him, hope you all enjoyed chapter two and know that I'll keep posting it as I get chapters done and sorted.
Also thanks to the following for dropping a review
mosherguy18, Darkveelia88, GreyAB, tequilajobo, Isebas, Jfitzgeral, Shaggy37, Kaja'Rang, black potter 365, Matian, Shadow High Angel, karina001, musicisinmysoul, Dirt Rider 712, Gune23, The PhantomHokage, WayDrifter, jojobevco, michaelc100, deadpoollj
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