Chapter Six; Pet Day

That afternoon after Harry got home from school, his mother took him and his baby brother to the park. Harry was even allowed to take Cowboy with him. Even though he was only about Tobey's age in human years, Cowboy was the best well behaved little dog that Harry knew. For Harry was able to remove his leash from his collar, and the only time that he left Harry's side is when Harry threw him a stick to go and fetch.

Later that evening Harry stirred his bowl of Spaghetti O's around with his spoon while he stared at it. "Harry darling, stop playing with your food and eat your dinner." His mother told him.

"I'm sorry Mummy, I was just thinking about something." He began before he glanced up at her.

"Oh no, what is it this time? You already have got a puppy and a brother, and almost a sister. What more could you possibly want?" she questioned him.

"I want Ron Weasley to spend the night. You know, have a slumber party. Right now he's the only friend I've got apart from Cowboy and Tobey, and he's always telling me that he wishes that he knew what having a little brother and dog to look after felt like." He explained.

"Well, alright." His mother began when his face suddenly lit up with excitement. Tomorrow I'll phone Ron's mother and see what she thinks about him coming and spending the night over here this weekend." She told him. "But that is as long as you promise to get all your studying and homework done." She said.

"Alright Mummy, I promise." Harry said before he took a spoonful of Spaghetti O's but Tobey on the other hand decided to knock his bowel over onto the floor. Cowboy trotted over to it wagging his tail and eagerly lapped it up while Tobey squealed with laughter and clapped his hands.

"Tobey!" Lily scolded. "No! You can't keep throwing your food on the ground like that!" she told him as she heaved a heavy sigh and rested her head inside the palm of her hand as she hoisted her elbow up onto the table. Cowboy stopped eating for a moment and looked up at her before he continued wagging his tail and finished his meal. "Oh well, at least I don't have to clean anything up." She said.

The next morning Harry couldn't wait to get to school and tell Ron his plan. "A slumber party?! Sure, I'd love to! I've never been to one of those before, and I'd sure love to meet Tobey and Cowboy." He said as they each took their seats. Harry took out his homework and quickly checked it over before giving it to their professor.

"Thank you Harry," she began before she glanced over at Ron who simply looked up at the ceiling and started whistling nervously. "What about you Mr. Weasley? It seems to me that I assigned you to write about who your favorite muggle magician just like I did for everyone else." She said. "So where is it?" she asked him.

"I'm sorry Professor, but I didn't know any." He admitted.

"I see, well it looks like Harry has written a perfectly good essay about David Copperfield." She began as Harry smiled proudly at her while she studied his paper. "I'm sure he could have lent you a hand. I know that I should give you a zero, but since I am a very reasonable old woman, I'll give you another chance to get it done." She told him before she walked away and Harry turned over to look at Ron.

"Don't worry, I'll help you. My grandfather knows an awful lot about muggle magicians since he is one." He explained.

"Thanks mate." Ron told him before Professor Snyder gave them their assignments for the day. Harry couldn't wait until he got home to find out what Ron's mother had said about the slumber party. He quickly raced down to the curb as the school bell rang and he saw his mother parked down at the curb waiting for him.

"Hullo sweetheart, how was your day?" she asked him as he opened up the backdoor and climbed onto the backseat.

"It was great Mummy, we learned all about what kinds of pets muggles keep. It doesn't seem all that different from wizarding families except muggles generally don't keep owls or toads. Mrs. Snyder said that we're having pet day tomorrow and that means that I can take Cowboy." He said as he grinned with excitement.

"That's great honey, by the way, I talked to Mrs. Weasley today and she said that she would be happy to let Ron stay the night." She told him before she turned to look behind her and then pulled away while Harry let out a great big burst of excitement. "Yay! That's great, I can't wait to tell Daddy about it!" he cried.

So after Harry got home he wrote his father an owl (by using one of the owls from the wizarding post office) before he started working on his homework and after he was finished he started thinking about all the fun things that he would do with his friend. The next morning he got up, used the bathroom, ate his breakfast, and then made sure that Cowboy was well fed and had a chance to go outside and use the bathroom before he took him to school.

He excitedly greeted the other boys and girls as Harry led him into their classroom. Harry made sure to pull back on the leash whenever he tried to jump up on anybody. He saw a lot of other dogs and cats, hamsters, owls, goldfish, and even turtles and snakes. Harry felt bad for Ron since he knew that he felt rather left out not having a pet of his own.

"You can borrow Cowboy if you want." Harry suggested while his faithful companion sat down at his feet and he started stroking his fur.

"Nah, that's alright. Cowboy's your dog." Ron told him before the playful puppy stood up again and nuzzled his lap while panting happily and wagging his tail. "But he is awfully cute." Ron said while he scratched him behind the ears.

"Thank you Sandy," Professor Snyder began while a girl with tanned skin and long black hair carried her fluffy white rabbit back to her seat. "Harry Snape," she began again while smiling warmly down at him and nodding. "It's your turn." She told him as Harry picked up Cowboy and hoisted him inside his arms before placing him back down on top of the desk.

"This is my dog, his name is Cowboy. I named him that because he has spots on his back that reminded me of a cow, and he's a boy so I couldn't really call him Cowgirl." He said as a bunch of laughter broke out through the room.

"Anyway, I got him when he was only eight weeks old and I love to play with him in the park, and he keeps me company at night by sleeping at the foot of my bed. And of course he always cheers me up when I get sad or lonely.

I know that I can count on him to protect me and my baby brother, and soon to be baby sister, because that's what friends do. I understand him and I know he understands me and loves me just as much as I love him. That's why Cowboy is one of the best friends that I'll ever have." Harry said as applause filled the room while Cowboy continued wagging his stubby little tail and started licking his master's face.

"Very well done Harry." His teacher told him as Harry smiled up at her and thanked her before he carried Cowboy back to his seat.