Hey everyone, sorry this is late. Now that exams are out of the way, I can concentrate more on this. Enjoy!

A whir of blue-white light brought Hagrid back to Hogwarts. He staggered a few steps, unaccustomed to using Portkeys, but steadied himself quickly enough. Or as quickly as he could with a dog in his arms.

He lowered the large black beast to the ground, pinning it between his massive legs. The dog kicked and struggled, and tried to bite him through its makeshift muzzle.

Hagrid, making sure that his gloves were pulled tight over his wrists, reached down, and unbuckled the collar tied around the dog's snout.

"Well sorry there boy," he said, blocking the dog's jaws with his palm as it lunged, "Bu' I had ter do it. Didn' need yer ter wake up Harry and all them Muggles. Woulda been dogmeat ourselves if tha'da happened."

But Sirius wasn't paying attention. All he knew was that it had been a strange night—James's disappearance at the train station, finding a huge man holding Harry where the house was supposed to be, that strange blue light, and now this. He peered around and wrinkled his nose, trying to find out where he was and what was going on. As it turned out, this was a large field of endless land, with lots of water on one side of the grounds, forest on another and, far off in the distance, an enormous building, unlike any he had ever seen before. Despite having never seen this place before, there was something in Sirius's mind, as if of a former life, that he had been here before. But he no longer recognized this place as Hogwarts, his own school, and that here he had learned his lessons, made his friends, marked his enemies, and acquired the magic that had gotten him stuck in this state. These were things no dog ever needed to know.

Sirius looked around this strange place and started to howl.

"Aw now quiet boy!" Hagrid said, a blank sort of look in his eyes. "'Is no good now." He pulled a large spotted handkerchief from his pocket, pressing it to his face They's dead, they ain't never comin' back." He blew his nose, the sound rivaling the dog's howl, then glanced at a rusty old bucket lying in the grass.

"Well, I guess there's nothin' else ter do," he said at last, a few tears glistening on his beard. "C'mon boy, les get goin'." And so he walked towards the cabin. Sirius, not wanting to be left behind in this new environment, tailed after Hagrid, pausing only to sniff the bucket. It glowed a faint, haunty blue. He tucked his tail between his legs and dashed ahead of Hagrid, scratching at the wooden door of his house.

The moment he walked in, Sirius knew there was another dog here already. He just had time to sniff it out as a large black mass ran into him and Sirius found himself keeled over on the ground, as a puppy large as himself stood over him, its wagging tail blurred.

"Arg, leave him alone Fang," Hagrid said, grabbing his pup by the collar. Sirius stood back up, wanting to see the creature that had knocked him down. They sniffed each other, and Fang licked the older dog's lips, signally his submission. Sirius barked and the boarhound keeled over on his own, grey-black belly in the air.

"Alrigh', now tha' yer two're acquainted," Hagrid said, walking to another part of his little cabin. Fang still wasn't done with this new dog. He rolled back over, tongue and tail wagging furiously. Sirius snorted at the child's stupid antics, and made over to the place he smelled food. As he ate, his living shadow taking what food was left, he knew there was something wrong. But it was late now; he yawned and curled onto the floor, not bothering to move towards the dog be din the corner. Fang, already taken with this stranger, snuggled beside him, licking the other dog's ears as they closed their eyes. A gruff voice saying "aww," was the last thing Sirius heard before falling into sleep.

Everything was fine the nest morning. Hagrid went on with his gamekeeper duties, both black dogs at his side, watching intently as he tended to the gardens and patrolled the forest, talking to many odd-smelling creatures that they walked into. (Fang, excited about something, raced ahead and ran into a baby hippogriff the size of a stallion and had to be separated by Hagrid's massive arms.) It was only around mid morning when they were back inside the cabin, happily knowing on an antler, that Sirius knew something was wrong.

It was time to go meet James.

He went over to the door and scratched it, expecting to be realized. Hagrid ignored him. Taking more desperate measure, Sirius started barking, adding a high whine when he needed to.

"Ar stop it there yeh old cur," was all Hagrid did. Within minutes he had a howling dog at the door, shredding the door to splinters with his claws. Hagrid walked over, his forehead wrinkled.

"Alright, yeh gotta go out?" The dog looked pleadingly up at him. Hagrid sighed and opened the door. The dog whooshed out.

"Hey where ya think yer—?"

But Sirius was out of sight. He ran through the forest, knowing instinctively that it was the way to the trains. But it wasn't an easy trip. As time passed and he got nearer into the heart of the forest, the trees and brambles thickened, catching his fur and pricking his paws. Still he kept on, that one thought of meeting James propelling him through the thorns.

He collapsed. His fur and ears were tore, twigs and thorn were caught allover his back, and he smelled something strong. Looking behind, he saw a trail of bloody paw-prints. He sighed, trying to get up, but his body was too sore. Yet that thought was screaming in his head. It's almost time! Get to James!

Something musky-smelling touched his leg. He looked up blearily, then howling as eight massive eyes stared back at him form above two enormous pincers.

"Lunch," the spider said. It was huge, bigger than the hippogriff, its body quiver as it snapped its horrible jaws. Sirius quailed, fear rooting him down even if he wasn't so tired. He closed his eyes.

"Ar, back you!" a familiar gruff voice said. Hagrid came striding from nowhere, Fang bouncing behind, as they stood between Sirius and the giant spider. The creature stared longingly at Hagrid, as though seeing an extra big meal, but the glare in Hagrid's eyes, and the rules of Aragog made it decline. It bowed its ugly head, and retreated, silk snaking around its many legs.

Hagrid clasped his hands on Sirius's collar.

"Alrigh' now tha's over. What were yeh doi' yeh dozy cur? Been wantin' a death wish?"

But Sirius howled as Hagrid led him out of the forest. And he continued to howl as they retuned to the cabin.

"Quiet down now," Hagrid said. But Sirius didn't listen. He was late—James would've arrived at the station by now, wondering where he had gone. He just sat by the door, howling the entire night.

"Aw, stop it!" Hagrid grumbled from his bed, shielding his eyes from the early morning sun.

But it didn't stop. And weeks later, things got worse. Students and teachers alike were complaining about the noise, saying you could hear the wails all the way back at the castle. Nobody wanted to come down to the grounds for Herbology, or Care of Magical Creatures with Professor Kettleburn, not with that constant racket. But Hagrid couldn't bring himself to put a Silencing spell on the poor dog, even if he did know how to work it. He tried everything: extra treats, long walks in the forest (on a very tight leash of course) and swims in the Great Lake. And for the most part, Sirius was fine. During the day he was content to go for walks and play with the overbearing Fang. But by mid-late afternoon he would become agitated, finally howling once the sun started to set. Nothing would calm him down.

Hagrid wondered about this, then thought back to the Order meeting. James had come late to that, followed by the cur at his heels. And the dog had been so upset when…on that night…No! Hagrid shook his head. He didn't want to relive that night, not ever again.

He stared form his bucket-sized mug of brandy, to the two dogs lying on top of each other. The one on top was sleeping peacefully, flicking his puppy tail every so often in his sleep. The other was whining, his eyes flickering around the room.

Hagrid strode over to them, cupping the worried dog's chin in his palm.

"Yeh don' like it much here, do yeh boy?"

More whimpering.

"Alrigh' I really don' want ter do this, bu' yer un'appy and everyone up at the school's upset. Don' seem righ' ter make everyone happy. Here." He yanked Sirius out by the collar. Fang fell in a heap, whimpering, but Hagrid took not noticed. He rummages through his cupboards, looking for something. He gave a satisfied "ah," when he found another buckety mug, still tinged blue.

Making sure his grip on Sirius (who was squealing and trying to get away) Hagrid touched the Portkey. There was a pull at his navel Next thing he knew, he was right outside the ruins of Godric's Hollow.

He gave a great wail and covered his eyes with both hands. Sirius ran off, and he was gone at the turn of a corner.

"Bye boy, I'll come soon an' make sure yer fine."

Sirius dashed through the streets, redoing his route as though I were just yesterday that he'd taken it, and not with a month in between. And soon enough he was there. King's Cross. And there was the hotdog vendor, still smelling of sweet sweet meet. He rushed up, tail swinging.

The man chuckled. "Hungry boy?" He dropped a strip of meat, which Sirius gobbled up as he rushed for his spot. It was five o'clock.

Sirius waited and waited. He watched as people passed, and his tail wagged on. It didn't stop wagging, even when hours passed and James still didn't come. But Sirius wasn't proturbed. After night had fallen, and the station was empty, he got up stretched, and headed back to Godric's Hollow, and spelt outside the ruined house, his fur keeping him warm through the cold bitter winds.