Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, only my OC's :)

A/N: Ah ha, hello again. I believe I saw you *checks files* just under a month ago? Sorry :( But on a lighter note, we're meeting Sirius ;) Also, take a shot every time I write 'the dog' or 'the man'.

Warnings: Swearing… again, blasphemy… again

Word count: 4,703

Total word count: 7,879

— Chapter Two —

The Gaze of a Big Black Dog

August 9, 1993, 13:45 pm

It was roughly one week, one day and five hours since Naomi had found out about the initials of her soulmate and approximately one week, one day, three hours and thirty minutes since she'd found out exactly who her soulmate was. Had they found out what they were going to do about it? The short answer is no, they hadn't.

The three of them – her, Claire and Micah – had had plenty of half formed plans, including the one that Micah had mentioned on that day. They had got as far as writing and planning different aspects of the site before realising just how much it would cost, making them promptly disband that idea.

Currently, Naomi and Claire were on a shopping trip on Claire's insistence that Naomi needed to stop thinking and get out of the house for a bit; it had been longer than a bit now however, and Naomi's feet were starting to hurt. She voiced these thoughts, dragging her feet and slumping her shoulders, "Come on Claire, you said a bit! It's been two hours, my feet hurt."

Claire looked over at a pathetic looking Naomi and sighed, "Okay, yes, alright, there's a bench over there, go and take a seat and I'll go and get us something to eat."

"Aw, thanks Claire,"

Claire just raised an eyebrow and started to head off before doubling back, turning and thrusting the bags she was holding into Naomi's hands. "Oh – take these – be careful with that one please, breakables, thanks!"

Weighed down by the bags, Naomi made her way over to the bench that Claire had gestured to. She sat for a while, watching the world go by with a small smile on her face. A few minutes passed by and Naomi suddenly became aware of a burning gaze on the side of her face; she turned, squinting around but not finding anyone. "Shuffle over will you?" Claire said, making Naomi jump, turn and scuffle across the bench to make room. She passed over one of the Greggs sausage rolls she was holding before, what looked like, breathing in her own.

Naomi slowly chomped on her sausage roll, still feeling the eyes on the side of her face making her fidget. "Are you alright?" Claire asked, mouth full of sausage roll – she'd never possessed any type of manners. "You're being very quiet."

"Oh – no, I'm fine!" Naomi didn't hesitate to assure, "I just…" she trailed off, not really sure what to say.

"You just?" Claire urged after swallowing her mouthful.

"I just – I can just feel someone looking at me, you know that feeling? I don't know though, I can't see anyone – I'm probably being silly."

But Claire wasn't listening anymore; she was looking around with squinted eyes, trying to suss out any particularly suspicious fellows. "I can't see any— Christ!" Claire swore, eyes widening, "That's a huge fucking dog."

"Wha…" the words died in Naomi's throat as she turned, locking eyes with a big, black unkempt dog. The very same feeling of need, want, belonging and sanctuary washed through her. "Oh… my… God,"

"Nai…? What is it?" Claire asked carefully as the dog quickly skirted away through the crowd. Naomi didn't respond, leaving everything behind as she rushed to follow it.

"Nai! Naomi!" she could hear Claire calling from behind her, the sound of paper rustling meant that she was struggling to pick up all the bags and food quickly.

People parted promptly as Naomi weaselled her way along the same path that the dog had just gone. The crowd thinned and Naomi looked around impatiently, catching the swish of a tail as the dog turned down an alleyway.

Naomi followed; her pace becoming more and more hurried. She passed bins full of food and used boxes, empty windows and decaying doors. "Naomi!" Claire was still calling from behind.

Naomi turned a corner, stopping dead in her tracks. There, stood before her, was not the large black dog, but the gaunt waxy features surrounded by an elbow-length matted tangle that she saw about one week, one day, three hours and fifteen minutes ago on the television. Only his hair was slightly more matted and Naomi could get a good look at his clothes – prison uniform of some description – ripped, shabby and dirty; the thin material was open enough to show a small pale chest littered with tattoos – including the scar from the initials N.Y., which Naomi didn't fail to take notice of. The emotions that Naomi was soon becoming tired of rose up in her and she forced herself to keep looking at his face, which contained an expression that she was unable to read.

Claire finally caught up, breathless and ranting, "Naomi! What are you doing?! Why did you just up and leave?! I—" finally, it seemed, that Claire had noticed the other man in their presence; she dropped the bags, something smashed but Claire took no notice of it, and instead, moved to step in front of Naomi. "You won't hurt her," she hissed, fear taking a note in her voice, "You'll have to go through me first. Naomi, go!"

"No," the man stated bluntly, his voice was hoarse and croaky, "No, I'm not going to hurt either of you and – Naomi is it? – darling please don't go."

"You have no right to call her that you sick, sick wanker!" Claire spat, stepping further in front of Naomi, intent on blocking her completely from view.

"No, Claire, let me see him, I need to see him. I won't let you get hurt." Naomi whispered, trying to nudge Claire out of the way.

"No, Naomi, you can't," Claire pleaded.

"I'm not going to hurt either of you." the man repeated.

"Put the gun down then," Naomi replied from where she was partly behind Claire.

The man frowned in confusion, "Gun?"

"The gun that Micah said you had." Claire said harshly, looking him up and down as if trying to see through his clothes.

"Who's Micah?" he asked.

"My soulmate,"

"Was he out with you? Will he come looking?" Black was looking between the two of them.

"If you hurt or kill either of us, then yes." Claire responded coldly.

"I'm not going to hurt either of you." he repeated tiredly.

"Then put down the gun before I call for someone to put it down for you." Claire threatened.

"Please don't, I don't have a gun, I only have a vague idea as to what they are." Black pleaded pitifully.

"Why did the news say that you're armed with one then?" challenged Claire.

"Because… technically, I am armed." he admitted.

"Technically? How can you be 'technically armed'? You're either armed or you're not." Naomi questioned.

"Okay, you're going to have to trust me with this—" Claire snorted derisively, "—and I shouldn't really be telling you this…" he carried on, gesturing to Claire.

"You've got no choice, I'm not leaving Naomi." Claire said bluntly.

"And I know that, that's why I'm not asking you to leave, I never was one for the rules, I would have done the same for my friends." Black trailed off, a nostalgic smile on his face that seemed almost foreign to him

"Friends?" Claire asked, eyes narrowed, "There's more of you?"

"No, no," he said, the smiling slipping from his face, "not anymore." he finished quietly.

"They're dead?" Claire questioned further.

"Not all of them," Black stated, looking very forlorn.

"You killed them?

Black hesitated at Claire's last question, "No," he said, drawing a conclusion.

"You don't seem so sure," Claire challenged, stepping minutely forward.

"Claire," Naomi intervened, "let's just let him say what he has to say."

Claire nodded, stepping back down.

Black heaved a sigh, "Okay, this is going to sound incredibly strange because you've spent your whole life reading it in fictional books and not really believing in it—"

"What are you a fucking Necromancer? Do you have nice little conversations with your victims? Get on with it." Claire said impatiently.

"Claire," Naomi warned.

"No, I'm… I'm a wizard." Black finally admitted making Claire scoff.

"What a pile of shit."

"Do you have any proof?" Naomi asked sceptically, ignoring Claire's remark.

"Would it do to say that I'm the dog?" he asked.

"You're the – you're the what?" Claire questioned incredulously.

"The dog," Black said plainly, before he tensed slightly and began shrinking and sprouting fur, and in just under five seconds, the big black dog was stood before their very eyes, right where Black had just been stood before.

"Oh my god," Naomi whispered, a hand to her mouth in shock, Claire didn't say a word, just stared disbelievingly.

The dog inched forwards towards them making Naomi take a hasty step back; the dog sat, pouted and whined, looking up at them with large puppy eyes. It was all Naomi could do not to crumble; even Claire looked close to giving in.

After a couple of seconds, Black changed back, brushing his clothes down and reorganising himself. "Do you need me to show you anymore?"

It took a while for the two to gain their bearings, and when they did, it was Naomi's stuttering voice that spoke up, "S-since you're a-a wizard – and a-a dog it seems – and this may sound stupid, but do you have a, you know, a wand?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes, but I'm going to have to reach into my robes to get it, is that alright?" he asked carefully in return.

Claire tensed beside her, her eyes narrowed once more; Naomi gave a small nod.

Gingerly, Black took a hold of his robe pulling it out slightly and reaching inside, never breaking eye contact with Naomi. After a couple of seconds, he began to retract his hand, robes rippling as the item ran through them.

Finally, he produced a long wooden stick. It was a deep black in colour with small carved designs running up the sides; it looked to be about twelve inches long.

"What is that?" Claire demanded, knowing full well what it was, but eyeing the object wearily.

"It is a wand," Black responded plainly.

Claire laughed loudly and humourlessly, "Prove it further, I dare you."

"Depends on where we are, Soho, Central London isn't it?"

"Yes," Naomi agreed.

"There should be some other wizards and witches around here, so there shouldn't be any trouble with Ministry officials." he muttered to himself.

"Ministry officials?" Naomi questioned.

"Workers of the Ministry of Magic, the main governing body of Wizarding Britain, like the British Parliament." Black said hastily as a way of explanation. "Although if they do come knocking, I'm a stray dog you found and are about to take to the pound okay? Let's just hope they don't offer to take us."

Claire was about object, but Naomi cut her off, "Yes, alright, we can do that. Can't we Claire?" she asked pointedly.

"Fine, just get on with it." Claire huffed.

"Okay, I may be a bit rusty, twelve years out of practise," he smirked at his feeble attempt of humour; he pointed his wand towards the lid of a metal bin, "Accio!"

Much to Naomi's surprise – and in Claire's case, horror – the lid picked itself up and flew itself towards Black's outstretched hand.

"I – you – what… how did you…" Claire was, for once, lost for words; she took a moment to compose herself before starting again, "I don't believe you." she said bluntly.

"Why not sweetheart, it just happened before your eyes." Sirius replied, seemingly enjoying himself now.

"Don't you dare sweetheart me, you—!"

"Claire," Naomi cut her off wearily, not quite believing her own eyes, but giving the man, her own soulmate, the benefit of the doubt anyway. "Please, I think we need to see more." she urged Black.

"Okay," he pointed his wand at his prison robes, "Scourgify!"

The two women watched, wide-eyed, as his robes cleaned themselves of the dirt congealed on them; they didn't look pristine, but he looked a whole lot cleaner.

No one said anything for a moment as Naomi and Claire took in what they saw and the other man allowed them to do so. "Oh my God," Naomi muttered.

"What – Naomi you can't possibly believe him!" Claire cried exasperatedly, rounding on the other girl.

"How can you not after what you've just seen?!" Naomi cried in equal fervour.

"Because – I… it's just – I—" Claire stuttered.

"We're both hallucinating?" Naomi asked, her face set in a deadpan.

"No… I just need to wrap my head around it all…" Claire sighed, placing her head in her hand.

"Well, you might want to grab that head of yours a little harder and take a seat love, the rest of this story is much bigger." Sirius said, moving to take his own seat upon the closed lid of a large rubbish bin.

Claire shot the man a glare, hesitating, but eventually took his advice and crouched to sit far away from him; pulling Naomi with her.

"So," Black started after a moment of quiet, "what I should I start with?"

"The beginning would be nice," Naomi grumbled drily.

Black chuckled, "Okay, I'll start with a brief explanation of my school life and friends before I work my way up to be tragically framed and imprisoned."

"Go right ahead," Claire said, faking enthusiasm.

Black chuckled again, "I like you two, you're funny."

"Just get on with it and stop sounding like a psychopath if you want any shred of us to believe you." Claire said between a glare.

"Okay, so it all started with one lonesome boy, sat in a magical steam train and on his way to a magica—"

"Get – on – with – it." Claire ground out.

"Okay, okay, so…"

Naomi and Claire sat there, once again, in a state of shock. Sirius had basically just told them his whole life story from start to end. And with everything he'd told them, Naomi was starting to believe him, no matter how absurd and completely extraordinary it sounded. The raw emotion that tinged the words as he spoke over the losses of his friends and the separation from his godson was too real to be faked.

"So…" Claire choked, unable to find words to explain, "You – you're innocent and now on the run from the government trying to find a rat?"

"In a way of speaking," Sirius replied.

"And this rat is actually a man who got your friends killed, godson sent to unloving relatives and you put in a prison surrounded by soul sucking, happy depriving creatures for twelve years?" Naomi continued in a small voice.

Sirius nodded, not quite looking at the two of them now.

"Oh, Sirius," Naomi said quietly, slowly easing herself up and moving towards him. Claire tugged on her sleeve, trying to get her to stop but Naomi just shrugged her off and stood on her tiptoes to wrap Sirius in a large hug. He tensed, whether it was in surprise or at the overwhelming feelings that were filling them both up, Naomi wasn't sure, probably both. Eventually his arms came to wrap around her body, his face falling into the crook of her neck.

"Darling," he breathed, his breath fanning over the exposed skin of her neck making her shiver slightly.

Eventually Naomi pulled away, keeping her hands on his shoulders while his rested on her upper arms. "I take it that you believe me?" Sirius chuckled.

"How could I not?" she smiled in reply.

"Well you've still got a way to go before you can gain my trust." Claire muttered stubbornly from behind them, ruining the mood. Naomi just knew that if she were to turn she would see Claire sat there, arms crossed and looking like a petulant child.

"I wasn't expecting anything different, love." Sirius responded cheekily, a small grin playing at his face.

Claire harrumphed before asking a very valid question, "So what are you planning on doing now?"

Sirius opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before frowning in thought, "That's a very good question," he said eventually.

Naomi bit her lip thoughtfully, "I would offer you to stay 'round ours for a bit – hold on Claire," she hastened to add when she saw her friend about to interject, "but two things I suppose, reason 'A' being that Missy here wouldn't be thrilled in the slightest, and reason 'B' being that you need to head up north to get that rat."

Sirius hummed in agreement, nodding his head slightly as, he too, pondered.

"However," Naomi started, drawing the word out and holding her index finger up to Claire when she made a face, "We could invite you in for a couple of hours or so, to have a freshen up, a bit of food and something to drink. Maybe a chat to get to know each other more etcetera." she suggested.

Sirius perked up considerably at the mention of food and a wash, looking excitedly between the two.

"No," Claire said immediately, making Sirius deflate marginally and turn a hopeful gaze towards Naomi.

"Oh, come on Claire, what has he got to prove, if Sirius had wanted to hurt us he would have done it by now." Naomi pleaded.

"Maybe he's just waiting for the moment in which we let our guard down around him," Claire said, not looking at Naomi, but staring suspiciously at Sirius with squinted eyes.

"You wouldn't have to let your guard down if I'm invited in for a couple of hours, you could keep an eye on me at all times," Sirius said placatingly, "Apart from, of course, when I'm taking a wash. Although… I wouldn't mind Naomi." he added, wriggling his eyebrows at her.

Naomi glared at him, trying to keep her amusement from shining through; Claire's eye twitched.

"Please," Naomi pleaded, tilting her head and doing her best puppy dog expression.

Claire sighed, "Fine, fine! But I'm keeping a close eye on you," she jabbed a finger at Sirius, "and everything that could possibly do any sort of damage."

"Yes ma'am!" Sirius replied, smiling at the thought of decent food and a good shower.

Claire ignored him, turning to Naomi, "If he murders us, I'm going to kill you." she said frankly while picking up roughly half of the shopping bags and abruptly stomping back down the alley.

Sirius and Naomi exchanged a look and pursed their lips in an effort not to laugh before Naomi bent to pick up the rest of the bags and Sirius shifted into his dog form.

They made their way down the alley following Claire's path in a, surprisingly, comfortable silence.

"That was easier than I thought it would be," Naomi admitted after a moment; Sirius gave a little ruff, expressing his acknowledgement to the statement. She sighed, suddenly looking a tad solemn, "I just hope that she starts to trust you, we can't keep on going like we are at the minute."

Naomi felt a nose nudge her leg and looked down between the bags to see Sirius looking up at her, a reassuring look in his eyes, which was very strange to see in a dog and would take a long time to get used to. Naomi gave a small smile, "Well she's allowed you in so there must be some form of trust in there somewhere." she added, almost hopefully.

Sirius ruffed once again, just as the sunlight hit their bodies, illuminating their features and half-blinding them. Naomi squinted around, finding Claire a few yards away, tapping her foot as she waited impatiently for them.

The walk back to the block of flats was reasonably pleasant, despite the odd looks they received. Claire remained in a bad mood the whole way back, only humming or grunting in response to any type of conversation Naomi feebly tried to start. Sirius was well behaved – minus the stick and pigeon incident – and just trotted alongside them quietly, drinking in the air and surroundings.

As they turned the corner of their road, Naomi began to look for the keys, the paper bags rustled as she checked in her handbag and pockets.

"Here," Claire offered, freeing one of her arms and motioning with it to take the bags.

"Thanks ClayClay," Naomi said gratefully, passing off the bags and earning herself a short, sharp warning glare at the use of her forbidden nickname.

After searching in her bag for another second or so, the rattling of metal sounded and she produced a bunch of keys, laden with assorted key rings that jangled with the slightest movement.

"Well," Naomi started, looking down at the dog between the two women as they stopped in front of the block of flats. "We live in there somewhere."

It was a five story building and rounded white balconies protruded from the corners of the redbrick structure. Small to medium sized windows lined the building in a symmetrical fashion. The building as a whole had a one meter high hornbeam hedgerow closing it off from the rest of the world, save for the large gap left to allow access to the paved footpath leading to the front door.

Sirius ruffed and wagged his tail in appreciation, looking a small bit impatient to have a wash and food. Naomi giggled, a hand over her mouth making the dog look up at her with an adoring expression.

"Naomi," Claire said, "Let's get in shall we? My arms are starting to ache."

"Right, okay," she complied, hastily leading them up the path. She kept the keys at her side as she approached the door; the Simplex lock on the outside of the door didn't require them. Naomi leaned down slightly so she could see the numbers of the keypad and, once again, looked down at Padfoot. "The flat owners name is Saylor," she explained quietly, "So she changed the code to her name, if you know what I mean?" Sirius gave a nod in understanding.

"Good," Naomi pulled a piece of paper out of her breast pocket containing numbers and letters; she unfolded it one handed and held it up to the lock, muttering numbers and letters under her breath before pressing the buttons. "Seven… two… nine… five… six… seven, ah ha!" she whispered in succession as the lock buzzed.

Naomi pulled the handle down and pushed the door open, stepping in and aside to allow the other two entry. Claire bustled in first, bags a flurry; while Sirius trotted in after them, looking around.

It was nothing much; a staircase, a hallway, magnolia walls, plain blue carpet, a couple of decorative plants and a few paintings.

"I can take some of those bags back now if you'd like Claire?" Naomi offered, extending her hand out.

"No, I've got it, you've still got to unlock the flat door anyway." Claire returned.

"True," Naomi considered.

"Right, so can we speed this up a bit, my arms aren't aching any less," Claire continued impatiently.

"Of course Your Majesty," Naomi said in mock elegance, making a grand gesture towards the stairs with her hands, "Lead the way, please."

Claire rolled her eyes and started off upstairs as Sirius made an odd noise that sounded like some sort of doggy-laugh.

The stairs were nondescript; wall lights adorned the right-hand side, providing light for the dark space. The first floor hallway that they appeared in once they'd reached the top wasn't much better either. More cheap high street paintings lined the walls where numbered ash wood doors weren't.

The three of them continued up the corridor slowly, when a door opened. A balding fiftyish year-old man exited, muttering to himself as he locked the door.

"Oh, hello Ray!" Naomi said blithely.

"Hello ladies," he returned, looking up and plastering a smile on his face.

"Where're you going, you don't look too pleased about it?" Claire inquired, frowning slightly.

"In-laws," he grouched, "Or, better put, out-laws."

Naomi chuckled at his plight, "We were just heading back to our flat," she gestured to Sirius, "We found Scruffy here in an alleyway, he was too cute to resist, so we're gonna give him some food and a bath and find a nice shelter that'll give him a good home. We'd give him one ourselves, but Saylor doesn't like dogs does she?"

Ray was only half listening, since Sirius had inched his way forward to see the man, subsequently making Ray bend down to fuss over him. "Oh yes you are a cute boy aren't you? A big boy too! I can see why they call you Scruffy though, but you'll look gorgeous after a good wash and a few meals won't you?"

Sirius was drinking in the attention, his tongue lolling and tail wagging so hard it was going in circles.

"Dog person are you Raymond?" Claire asked in amusement as Sirius manoeuvred himself so all treatment was focused on his behind.

"Well who wouldn't be?" he said matter-of-factly, now smooshing Sirius' cheeks from behind.

Naomi laughed, "He is a cute one," she admitted, "I'm just hoping that I don't get too attached before we have to take him to the shelters."

"Best to be quick then," Ray agreed, straightening up and giving Sirius a final pat, "The more time you spend with them, the more attached you become. See you ladies, bye-bye Scruffy!" he said, waving as Sirius whined pathetically.

"See you Ray, good luck with the out-laws!" Claire called back as they parted.

"Bye," Naomi followed up, "Right, let's get in shall we?" she continued as they stopped in front of a door labelled with the number twenty-three.

She put the keys in the keyhole and twisted them a couple of times, making them jangle. The lock clicked and Naomi twisted the doorknob.

As they entered, Claire dumped the bags she was carrying on the floor next to the door and Sirius sniffed around, looking up at them as if to ask them if it was okay to change yet.

"Hold up Sirius, you can change back in minute," Naomi said, closing the door, "Claire, shut the curtains and I'll turn the lights on."

Claire snorted, "Yes ma'am," she said sarcastically; complying anyway.

Once the place was entirely closed off from the world and the only light being provided was that of the ceiling lights, Naomi turned back to Sirius, "Okay, you can turn now."

Both of the women's eyes travelled upwards as four legs turned to two and fur turned to skin. "I'm never going to get used to that," Naomi said plainly.

Sirius smirked at her in response before looking around. "Nice décor," he said, struggling not to laugh as he looked at a small statue of a scary-looking white owl with beady yellow eyes.

"If you're going to criticise our ornaments then you can go and find somewhere else willing to provide with some food and a wash." Naomi said in mock indignation, crossing her arms. "And I'll have you know, I painted that when I was twelve," she added.

"And you kept it?" he questioned, looking quite amused.

"It reminded me of The Clash when I found it," Naomi said matter-of-factly.

Sirius looked at her, "The Clash?"

"London Calling?" Naomi said, before deepening her voice to sing it out, "London calling, see we ain't got no high, 'cept for that one with the yellowy eye."

He barked out a laugh, "You've got taste,"

"You do realise that they were talking about hepatitis don't you?" Claire called from where she was, now in the kitchen.

"Were they?" Naomi asked, looking up at Claire and then swivelling her head back around to look at the owl, "Oh well now I'm not too fond of it,"

"Right, you," Claire pointed at Sirius, "Go and get a shower first, I'll be making the food."

Sirius nodded as Naomi piped up, "I'll go get you a clean change of clothes, I'm sure Micah wouldn't notice a couple of missing articles of clothing. His pile is close to taking over the whole flat anyway."

Claire looked contemplative but agreed anyway, "Yeah, okay that's fine, but make it something he doesn't wear anymore. Macaroni okay with you?" she directed her last question towards Sirius.

Sirius, in return, looked dreamy, "Macaroni's gorgeous."

I just checked through that and there were a shit load of mistakes that I had to fix. And I'm guessing I didn't get them all either, so sorry if there is.

Also, if Sirius and Naomi's relationship seems to be moving quite fast, I am, again, sorry; I'm a sucker for fluff and I really need to control myself if I'm going to write a good story but, you wanna hear my excuse? It's a good one this time. They feel so comfortable around each other because of the soulmate bond :D *nudge and a wink* good 'ey?

Anywayy, let's ignore the 5+ (B-) I'm getting for English and pretend that they got it confused with the 8- (A+) I got for maths… I blame it on my shoddy analysis skills *crosses arms and puts nose up in air*

…still better than the D I got in science

Ha-ha, stay safe,

bowwow :)