Evelyn opened her bag and fumbled with her keys at the door to her flat. While it wasn't the first time a man had been over, Evelyn wasn't sure what to make of this particular man. He made her laugh and he made her feel normal for once but that didn't mask the fact that she found him somewhat frightening.

She opened the door and she gestured for him to sit on the couch. She sat down on the opposite end and in the silence got up to turn on the television.

Sirius was frozen with shock.

"What...what is it?"

"The television?" Evelyn asked confused.

Sirius got up and looked at the back of the set. He prodded it with the piece of wood, she now knew to be his wand.

"Where are they? Are they inside?"

"No," Evelyn said slowly. I imagine they are in the studio, it's just broadcast to the television."

"Amazing!" Sirius exclaimed. "You muggles do get creative."

"What's a muggle?" Evelyn asked.

"A non-magic person."

"I see." Evelyn thought for a moment. "Do you look down on people who aren't...aren't magic?" Evelyn was still struggling with this idea of witches and wizards.

Sirius furrowed his brow as he stared at the television.

"Some do. Like my parents. Some think muggles are nothing more than scum." Evelyn paled slightly. "I don't though, which trust me coming from my family is something of a feat."

Sirius was lost in thought. Should he tell Evelyn about death eaters? About the war? He had already shook up her whole world, maybe he should keep this to himself for now. Evelyn appeared to be lost in thought too.

"Your cousin. The one who did this to me. She hates people like me, doesn't she?"

Sirius paled: "she hates most things. She's deranged."

"But you don't hate regular people?" Evelyn asked almost scared for the answer.

"No," Sirius said softly. "I don't really understand you." He said gesturing towards the TV set."But I certainly don't hate muggles. I especially don't hate you."

Evelyn looked down unsure of what to say. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Sirius jumped up with his wand out.

"Are you expecting anyone?" He asked tensely.

"No," Evelyn said trembling.

Sirius looked out of the peephole and backed away muttering to himself: "What are they doing here?"

He looked at Evelyn, his mind formulating a plan. "Remember those wizards they were here the other night? They are back. Probably just a check-up or something. I need you to be completely calm and normal. Okay? Evelyn?"

Sirius had just noticed how pale and shaky she was. "Eve," he said softly. "It will be fine."

"But, what if they try to hurt me?"

"Oh no. These are good guys I promise." There was a harder knock at the door. "Remember,

You don't know me."

"But where are you going to go? I don't want you to leave!"

"I'll be right here except not really. You also have a dog, okay?"

"What?"

But Sirius was sprinting towards the bathroom and pointing her towards the door.

She opened in cautiously.

"Er, hello."

"Hi ma'am. We were here the other night..."

"Oh, yes! The plumbers. Is there a problem? Maybe with the billing? Did I forget to sign the check. I'm always forgetting to sign checks."

Evelyn had no idea what she was saying. Her whole body was rigid with fear.

"No, your, um, cheek was just fine. Just a routine follow-up check."

"Merlin's beard!" The wizard exclaimed.

Evelyn spun around to see a gigantic dog sitting in her living room. Her heart stopped. There was no way it could be the same dog she once saw in the park. But it looked so familiar. Evelyn felt like her world was crashing down around her. Her head felt like it was spinning. The dog, who must have picked up on this, trotted over and licked her hand encouragingly. With that, Evelyn was finally able to look up at the Wizards, one of which looked very pale and seemed to be muttering the word "grim."

"Was he here last time?" The other asked.

"Oh, no. He's new. He's a rescue."

"Oh, well that's nice. What's his name then?"

"Uh, park."

"Alright." The wizard saying looking at her strangely. "Well, if you don't mind we are just gonna have a look."

Evelyn stared down at the dog and hesitantly reached her hand out to pat it's head. The dog rubbed himself against her hand. Suddenly, Evelyn remembered Sirius. Would the Wizards find him in the back of her apartment? She cautiously walked back towards the bathroom.

"Seems to be in order, though a bit odd, but muggles never really make sense."

The wizard looked up and smiled. "Well, everything is working fine. We will see ourselves out." The one wizard bent down to pet the dog who nipped playfully at his hand.

"Thanks," Evelyn said trying to be cheerful as she held open her front door. She watched the men leave and placed her forehead on the now closed door and took a steadying breath. When she turned around, the dog was gone and Sirius was standing there.

She stared at him and at the spot where she had last seen the dog.

"How did you...what happened to the dog? Where were you?"

"Oh, that was just a bit of a disguisement charm. No big deal." Sirius had decided against telling Evelyn he could turn into a dog.

"But it couldn't be..." Evelyn said as she sat in the couch. "That dog. I know that dog. Well, not know but seen. At least I think I have. And it's a death omen and..." Evelyn was steadily crying now.

Sirius didn't know what to make of her reaction. "Eve?"

"When I was 16, I saw that dog in the park and it's been haunting me ever since. I almost got robbed right after and that was when everything got weird. And whenever I get upset or things get...fuzzy. It flashes into my mind. And I looked it up! It's a death omen!"

Sirius stared at her, his insides churning uncomfortably as he realized he was the one who had made her feel this way. Her absolute terror was because of him.

"Eve," he said softly as he put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's not a death omen. That's just divination rubbish. Not even wizards believe it. I...I'm sorry I scares you so much but I can promise you it means nothing. It would never harm you. At least not intentionally."

"How can you know that? Do you speak dog?" Evelyn said miserably. Only slightly comforted by him.

Sirius let out a doglike bark that caused Evelyn to stare at him, something becoming less fuzzy in her mind.

He turned his head to the side and asked: "where did you read about the grim?"

"A folklore book. I guess both magic and non-magic people know it." Evelyn said dismissively as she continued to stare at Sirius, curiously.

His laugh, the way he turned his head, his hand on his shoulder, the way he was looking at her now. Suddenly, it popped into her head and she saw herself with him, his hair longer and younger and she laughed and told him he reminded her of a dog. He pointed out his Dog Star in the sky. The brightest one. Something about remembering made Evelyn feel uneasy about the feeling of lightness spreading through her.

Sirius stared at her face in concern, feeling quite miserable that he was the cause of all of her grief. He shouldn't even be here, he thought. But, as he looked into her eyes, and felt her shoulder under his hand, he realized there was no where else he would rather be.

"We should get to bed," he said softly.

Evelyn stood up and nodded and began to walk to her bedroom. Sirius began to stretch out on the couch.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought I was sleeping here," Sirius said uncertainly.

"You are. But you aren't sleeping here. You're sleeping with me."

"In your bed?"

"Yes," Evelyn said suddenly feeling embarrassed. "It's a big bed and I'm just scared they will come back or something will happen. I'd rather have you closer."

She'd rather have him closer because the feel of his hand on her, the color of his eyes, and the memory that swept through her led to the calmest, happiest moment she had in years.