Disclaimer: I do not in any way own Harry Potter and co. All rights belong to J. and the Publishers. I also do not own the quotes and lyrics at the beginning of each chapter.

A/N: Blame College and Writer's Block. Here it is the long awaited Harry changes back.

The Mute Mutt

By:Jodelle

"Perhaps one has to be very old before

one learns to be amused rather than shocked."

-Robert Browning

"Potter, why are you being so stubborn about this? I really need you to watch Capel tonight!" Lily Evans said looking over at her fellow prefect from Ravenclaw who was tapping her foot with impatience.

"Why can't you take him with you Lil's I've already told you us guys are busy." James replied nervously looking over his shoulder at the full moon already high in the sky. Remus needed them but James wasn't sure how to get out of watching Capel. He looked at Sirius who simply shrugged.

Lily looked him square in the eye giving him a suspicious look. Standing on her tiptoes she hissed at him, "Unless you're doing some mischief tonight I can't see any reason why you can't take him." James almost swore as he heard the clock chime eight o'clock.

Sirius elbowed past him and with a sigh said, "Alright Lily-Flower we'll," looking around the room he spotted Peter, "have Peter watch him."

Peter who had been reading looked up with a look of confusion. "I'll do what?"

"You'll be watching Capel tonight, Peter."

Peter who was usually meek looked like he wanted to say something but while Lily wasn't looking both James and Sirius put a finger to their lips and made a shushing noise.

The flaw in their plan was the fact that they couldn't get into the shrieking shack without Peter's help. But well they could worry about that latter.

Lily smiled widely, "Thanks, Peter," Lily looked over at Tammy who gestured toward the Fat Lady's portrait and waving goodbye over her shoulder she followed her fellow prefect out of the common room.

Peter took the scruffy fur ball that was Capel from Sirius and looked into the dog's eyes with a frown. Until that moment he hadn't had a thing against the mutt but he'd just witnessed James and Sirius putting a girl before their friend which was something they'd sworn to never do.

Yawning his irritated stare softened before the other marauders noticed. So he thought brushing Capel's mop of hair out of the pups eyes they value this dog and Lily Evans more than me. I don't want to miss our monthly adventure he thought sourly.

Had he been given more time his thoughts would have grown darker still but he was pulled from them by Sirius taking Capel from him.

Blowing his bangs out of his face to look clearly at the mutt Sirius seemed to be sizing Capel up for some great mischievous plan. Tossing the pup in the air as one sometimes sees parents do to babies he saw how Capel enjoyed the ride rather than whimpering like a coward. This mutt had guts he thought and right then he made his decision.

"We're taking the mutt with us," Sirius said getting looks of astonishment. Waving his hands about Sirius began his rant, "He's clearly a brave little fuzzball and Moony never hurt any of us. I-I mean he's only a little bigger than Wormtail so what's the likelyhood that he'd get bitten!"

James tilted his head back and pinched the bridge of his nose before looking at Sirius in a way that declared his best friend all types of idiot.

"We already take a huge risk taking Wormtail with us when he could be eaten and you want to take Lily's beloved dog out to meet Moony?!? Sirius are you cracked? He can't defend himself in the slightest!" James said this all in a rush before letting all the breath run out of him in a long sigh as he slumped back into on of the plush red armchairs.

Sirius looked exasperated shaking his head in a way that said James wasn't listening. Surly it couldn't be that big of a risk seeing how they risked that much and more at least a dozen times every year. Frowning at the fur ball that was Capel he snatched the pup up again and said to James, "We're taking him and that's final! Moony has already suffered for the last hour without us so let's stop stalling!"

James looked like he wanted to argue but when your best friend who is faster than you starts running out to meet Remus you can make a scene by yelling after him or run from shadow to shadow trying to not get caught.

In about ten minutes they were at the large door that led out onto the grounds. Sirius had become the black dog called Padfoot and could be seen nudging the small pup that was Capel forward in the direction of the Whomping willow.

Peter appeared out of nowhere having scurried after them in rat form. Nobody could say that Peter wasn't quick on his feet when he needed to be. He wasn't in good shape but he'd learned to run for all he was worth to avoid not being stepped on.

Stumbling through the darkness Peter followed Sirius and James to the Whomping willow before changing back into his animagus form. Running forward he touched the knot at the base of the tree and Moony was let out.

In the blink of an eye James had transformed into a stag and both he and Sirius led Remus away from grounds and into the Forbidden Forest. Capel stared at them for a minute like they had the answers of the universe before following.

Capel thought, "How did they do this? I'm like them aren't I? How do I myself change back?"

A bark brought Capel from his thoughts to stare up ahead at Padfoot. XXXXXXXXXxXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Capel had hung back from the marauders as Moony in werewolf form both excited and scared him. Werewolves were like horses in the sense they can scent fear.

Moony had broken away from Padfoot and Prongs a few minutes ago and was heading straight for him. Harry decidedly panicked ran like the hounds of hell were on his heels. When he made it into the denser trees in hopes of losing Moony he found himself with nowhere else to go but up.

Capel threw all of his weight into trying to jump into the lower branches when suddenly he felt his body shift. Too scared to think about what had just happened the small boy he'd now become reached for the low branches and pulled himself up right as Moony came to rest at the base of the tree.

Then Prongs appeared and with a shove forced Moony to move away from the shaking boy. Padfoot looked in all directions before making the change and looking up into the tree. Unless he'd just lost his mind he'd seen Capel morph into a scruffy looking boy. Not wanting to stay on the floor where Moony could reach him he started the climb which was easy for him with his long limbs. When he was halfway up the tree he found the little boy.

They both stared at each other for three solid minutes before the boy reached out and grabbed his hand. Sirius was alarmed when he realized the boy was grasping his hand out of fear. Capel seemed to want to know he wasn't alone and that Sirius wouldn't leave. The boy was shaking uncontrolably. Sirius briefly wondered if he was cold but discarded that notion after noticing the tears dripping down the boys cheeks.

Sirius looked around before spotting Moony. He was rather terrifying when he was like this. Hoping to reassure the boy of his safety he murmured, "It's okay, that is you right Capel? We'd of saved you before you got eaten so the worst you'd have to worry about was a bite."

The boy looked at him in disbelief. Being bitten wasn't some triffle. It would be like going to hell in a handbasket. Harry opened his mouth to speak only to realize he didn't remember how to. The only sound he'd emitted was a whimper.

It was several hours before the marauders could let down their guard and approach the tree Sirius and Harry had climbed. Sirius dropped down landing in a crouch while Harry came down more slowly falling a short distance to the ground as he lost his footing.

James stared at Harry as Harry resembled him greatly. He wondered briefly if Harry was family but then also took into consideration that maybe Harry had been an animal first rather than a wizard. He then frowned thinking that if Harry had been an animal first where'd he get clothing or for that matter find out that clothing was a must.

"So you mean to say that this little boy is Capel?" James said squating down to look Harry in the eyes. Harry blinked hard before pulling a face and sticking out his tongue.

Sirius snickered. "Well James he looks and acts like you but I think he reminds me of someone else." The eyes were Lily's but in the dark Sirius couldn't tell and momentarily forgot what Lily had exclaimed about.

"Can he talk?" James asked. "He hasn't said a word." Harry clutched at his throat and shook his head. James frowned but then asked a rather educated answer.

"How long has he been in animal form? I mean what if he's been like that too long. He was obviously human long enough to understand english but has been an animal long enough to forget how to speak." James frowned in thought. Although he didn't want to he knew he had to speak to the headmaster. That meant their greatest secret would be revealed. Not looking forward to that in the least they walked slowly up to the castle.

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The Maruaders and Lily Evans sat in overstuffed arm chairs all infront of Dumbledore's desk. Harry sat in a chair on wheels that allowed him to spin around in circles as he sucked on multiple lemon drops completely oblivious to the teens staring at him. Remus had protested a great deal to be allowed in the meeting and he was the only one not watching Harry as he was close to dozing off.

As Dumbledore came back into the room Harry stopped spinning and sat up straight as a board. He cocked his head to the side as he took in a man whose appearance screamed wizard. There was a time in his life where he would have laughed for a moment upon seeing someone decked out like this but seeing that magic was real it might be wise to be polite and proper unless he wanted to be turned into a toad.

He felt something sharp tap him on the head and saw it was a small gold stick. The stick started vibrating before jabbing Harry on his forhead in the exact place he knew his scar to be.

Dumbledore clapped his hands and the device flew into his outstretched hand. Harry frowned and rubbed his forhead before dropping his hands in fear his was being rude and would get turned into a toad. But inside he grumbled that Dumbledore was rude first by poking him!

"So from what I've heard this boy has been in an animagus form for quite some time and living with you Miss Evans?"

Harry looked up to watch Lily. She nodded before opening her mouth to speak. "I've had him since the beginning of term. I thought he was too intelligent to be an animal and it seems I was right." Lily smiled at him brightly making Harry blush.

"And Mister Potter he copied you in transforming back into a human." James paled and gapped at the headmaster. He looked truly lost for a moment and was about to question the older wizard about how he knew this when Dumbledore held up a hand to stop him.

"I put a charm on all animals and students so that I would know if they are in danger on the full moon. Had Capel not been with you I would never have know about your exploits."

All of the maruaders paled to be pale as ghosts. Instead of hearing a reprimande they saw the headmaster grin at them. "It is for you all to decide how much you wish to risk in accompanying Mr. Lupin on a day each month." He looked them straight in the eye, "But I now insist that you wear a charm that will signal me if you are attacked in the sense of blood being drawn so we can know if you need help."

He held out three golden chains that turned out to be necklaces and tossed them to Peter, Sirius, and James. Dumbledore then turned to Harry. He cleared his throat.

"Now I take it that Capel isn't your real name. My I ask what it is?"

Harry pointed to his throat and shook his head.

Lily chimed in, "I think he's forgotten how to speak, Sir."

Dumbledore nodded before taking out his wand and murmuring, "Idoma Sign Language," in Harry's direction. Harry sneezed before his eyes widenened as his mind expanded to find room for sign language.

Harry then fingerspelled his name, "H-A-R-R-Y."

"So your name is Harry. May I ask what your last name is."

Harry frowned but started to sign, "P-O-T-T-E-R."

Dumbledore steepled his fingers before looking straight into Harry's eyes. "So your name is Harry Potter?"

Everyone else gasped as Harry looked down at his shoes his face flaming. He'd forgotten that James last name was Potter as Lily had a little after term started begun to call James Potter simply James, well most of the time anyway.

Dumbledore looked bemused. But simply skooted his chair back so that he could sift through a desk drawer. "Now Harry you seem like a good person as the dark spell pointer only pointed to what I assume is a curse scar. I'm sorry to say that I must hurt you once more in hopes of helping to learn about you. This spell will help us learn where your parents and or closest relatives are."

Before Harry could sign that they were dead he saw Dumbledore toss another item into the circle of chairs only this time falling into Harry's outstretched hands. He howled in pain as the pin zapped him before pricking his fingers.

Dumbledore smiled appologetically before summoning the pin back to land on his desk. He took the pin and squeezed the small amout of blood out of it to land on the paper. The paper absorbed it and lettering started to appear.

Dumbledore smiled. "Well that's unexpected. It says here that your parents are Lily and James Potter. You Godfather is Sirius Black..."

Everyone fell silent with shock.

Now What?

-Jodelle

A/N: Remember Story/Author Alerts are flattering but real REVIEWS are much better received.