Padfoot's Puppy

Chapter Ten

'A Dog's Life'

In a second Amber transformed into a dog, and she, Remus and Sirius all hurried down the stairs. Amber was nervous, but she tried to relax, dogs weren't nervous around new people, the few dogs Amber had been around loved all people!

"Tonks, Kingsley!" Sirius said cheerfully once they reached the front hall. A young woman with a heart-shaped face and hair an unnatural shade of violet grinned broadly at him, while her companion, a tall black wizard, was looking around the house hall.

Amber hung back as the four adults started to talk. Sirius, Remus and the woman were defiantly three of the four people she had seen in the forest, but Kingsley didn't sound like the third man she'd heard.

"Hey, who's that?" The woman asked suddenly, looking at Amber curiously. At first, Amber started to back away, but Remus shook his head slightly, motioning her to come forward. Reluctantly, Amber obeyed, trying to look happy.

"That would be Snowball, Sirius' new dog." Remus finally replied. Tonks kneeled down and Amber, trying to act like a dog, wagged her tail furiously and bounded over to her. Tonks laughed and petted Amber while Remus and Sirius both smiled.

"Cute dog." Kingsley said, patting Amber's head. Amber barked excitedly, something Sirius had taught her to do.

"But this isn't exactly the best place for a dog." Kingsley added. Remus and Sirius glanced at each other, unsure of what to say.

"Yeah, but we found her out in the streets, we couldn't just leave her there, we had to bring her with us." Sirius said quickly.

"And she's very good in the house." Remus added. Amber just stared up at them, her tail still wagging. She didn't really know what to do, but apparently it wasn't that hard to fool people. All she had to do was wag her tail a lot and act happy.

Over the next two weeks, Amber met a bunch of witches and wizards, most of whom she couldn't remember their names. There were a few regulars though, and Amber had managed to learn their names. Tonks was over nearly everyday, and Amber liked her a lot. The young Metamorphmagus always gave Amber attention, something which Amber loved. All the years of living with the Malfoys had deprived Amber of some much needed attention.

Kingsley came over at least once a week, and there was also a man named Mundungus, whom Amber did not like at all. The first time he had come over, he'd tried to convince Sirius to sell Amber.

"Could say that e's a wolf eer some'n, e's young too, people want em young." He'd said, from behind a cloud of greenish smoke. Sirius had politely but firmly refused, much to Amber's relief. She knew he wouldn't have sold her anyway, but still, there was some fear in her.

There were meetings too, always held in the dining room, with the door closed. Sirius or Remus always made Amber go to her room during the meetings. Amber was curious to know what they were talking about, but she also loved having the chance to be human for a while. And besides, it was fun spending some time with Buckbeak.

Beaky was fine with Amber when she was human, but he wasn't really a fan of hers when she was a dog. The first time she'd transformed in front of him, he'd gone at her. Only thanks to Sirius had she been able to get away. Now, slowly, Beaky was getting used to it, but he still didn't like it much.

"Hey boy, how are you?" Amber asked, collapsing on her bed. Buckbeak yawned loudly and watched her with one eye. He was usually sleeping whenever Amber was in the room, or eating. Amber felt bad for him, she knew that he must want to get outside and stretch his wings. She wanted to go outside too; she wasn't used to being inside this long.

In just a few days, the Weasley family was supposed to be arriving at the Headquarters, according to Sirius. That was going to be the real test for Amber, pretending to be a dog with a whole bunch of teenagers around. It was easy with the adults, she didn't want to talk to them or hang out with them, but with teenagers, it was going to be different.

Amber tried to remember everything that Remus and Sirius had said about the Weasley kids. Bill was the oldest, and he had a job at Gringotts. Charlie was the second oldest, and he was in Romania studying dragons. Percy was the third oldest, and according to Sirius, a git as well, he apparently wasn't talking to the rest of the family. Then there were the twins, Fred and George. Sirius told her that they were pranksters, and to be a little bit wary of them. After them was Ron, he was obsessed with Quidditch but a nice guy overall. Ginny was the youngest and the only girl, and a little stubborn girl at that. It was Ginny that Amber was the most nervous to meet, she'd never been around a girl her own age, and Ginny was only a year older than her.

Amber wasn't sure how long it was until Remus finally came up into her room, telling her that the meeting was over. Amber just nodded but stayed lying on the bed. Remus came over and sat down on the bed beside her. For a while, neither one spoke until Amber finally broke the silence.

"Are you guys ever going to tell me?" She asked. Remus looked at her curiously. Then he sighed and looked over to Buckbeak, who was glaring at them. The Hippogriff shook his head and made a noise that sound almost like a growl.

"Tell you what?" He asked finally. At first, Amber didn't believe what he said. She'd been expecting him to either say nothing or just say no. Not ask her what!

"What the Order of the Phoenix is, and why do you guys have to keep me? I didn't hear anything that could be any use to anybody!" She said. Remus smiled at her overuse of the word any, but the smile soon vanished as he concentrated on her questions.

While he was thinking, Amber looked around the room. The walls were completely bare except for one picture of an ancient looking wizard. The wizard always seemed to be asleep though, and Amber had never heard it make a sound.

"I can't answer either one." Remus said finally. Amber fought the urge to roll her eyes, and instead stared at the floorboards. She could feel the anger bubbling up inside of her, threatening to overflow. Living with Remus and Sirius was better than living with the Malfoys, even if she did have to pretend to be a dog, but she was never told anything important!

Both of them were quiet for so long that Beaky fell asleep, his head resting on his forelegs. Amber watched him closely, feeling angry that he had to be kept locked up all day when obviously he was made to be outside. It was even worse for him than it was for her.

"The Weasleys are coming tomorrow." Remus said finally. Amber nodded, not taking her eyes off of Beaky.

"Yeah I know, Sirius told me." She said. Remus was silent for a long time. Finally though, he sighed.

"We will tell you, just, not yet." He said. Amber just nodded. That was better than nothing. She wanted to know, but she knew pushing the issue wasn't going to get her anywhere. She'd just have to wait.

Author's Note: Thanks for all the nice compliments everybody, I'm glad you like this story… And I don't mean to leave cliffhangers, it just sort of happens…but that's why I try to update quickly, I hate stories with cliffhangers, and then the author doesn't update for six months or so… Yeah, there is a reason to why Sirius is making her pretend to be a dog in front of his friends, and it will come up later, but I know, I'd be so mad if I was her…oh man, I'm rambling again!