A/N: Well.. I am a little closer to 100 than I was last time. But even one more review is better than nothing. Thank you to all of you who continue to read and to those who review. I am very thankful. And, I have something to say before I continue to the chapter. I plan on Fledgling covering all of Harry's seven years, including some before he goes to Hogwarts. I don't know how many chapters I will do before I send Harry on to school. I still have yet to decide if I want to truly reveal Sirius to the other characters or not. It would be cool if Sirius was there to help raise his godson. So, I will decide that sometime soon. I also need to think about how I want Harry's unique magic to play a part in his schooling, since he has an Animagus form he can turn into. Also, I have to include Fawkes in with the story line. So, I have a lot of deciding to do between now and the next few chapters. I am hoping I will have at least 5 more chapters before I do Hogwarts. Anyway, here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy!
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Chapter Eight: Padfoot
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Harry finished making the last chicken sandwich and he slipped them into a plastic bag. Minerva had left after he had explained that he had met someone at the park and offered to make sandwiches. The boy turned to leave the kitchen but froze when he saw the familiar black dog he had met before, his tail wagging.
"What are you doing here, boy? I told you to stay and wait for me."
The dog continued to wag its tail, tongue hanging out of his mouth in a doggy grin. Harry couldn't help but smile. "C'mon, let's go out into the backyard to have these. I don't think my guardians would like having you inside the house."
The two went out the back door and perched down on the grass. Harry passed the sandwiches to the dog, but the dog nosed one sandwich over to him. The boy frowned and tried to shove it back over but the dog seemed to glare at him.
"Alright," Harry laughed. "I don't need any more food. You, on the other hand…."
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Padfoot fought a groan. The boy was as stubborn as his mother was. After hearing that Harry was hardly eating, he wanted to make sure the boy ate all of the sandwiches, but his own stomach growled loudly. So he dug into the sandwiches with a gusto that made his godson laugh. It was good to hear the kid laugh. It reminded him of the times he would visit James and Lily and play with Harry. Padfoot stopped chewing as the flood of memories overwhelmed him. Merlin, no wonder hardly any of the prisoners wanted to escape the prison. It was almost disabling.
"Are you okay? Is the chicken affecting you badly?"
Apparently Harry had seen him stop eating. Padfoot wagged his tail and grinned at the young boy, telling him that he was fine. Then he continued to finish the last sandwich. This was considered a gourmet meal compared to what he was given at Azkaban.
"Harry? I thought you were going back to the park?"
Padfoot froze, but Harry grinned. "My friend didn't want to wait long."
McGonagall came out from the back door and she stopped once she saw him. Her eyes widened. Padfoot knew it was because he resembled a Grimm, not because she recognized that he was a wizard. No one had told of the Marauder secret. Have they?
"I didn't expect your friend to be a dog, Harry," McGonagall commented. "And he's such a big fellow too."
"He's friendly," Harry responded. Then the boy frowned. "Where is Severus?"
Padfoot was still in shock. James must be rolling around in his grave. His son was calling his most hated enemy by his first name! Before long, once Harry goes to Hogwarts, he would be sorted into Slytherin and hang out with the children of the Death Eaters.
"He's out getting supplies for a potion he is brewing for someone."
Harry's eyes lit up. "What potion?"
Padfoot swore he almost had a heart attack. Now Harry loved potions?
McGonagall paused. "Harry, have you heard of werewolves?"
"Only in movies. Dudley was watching one and I hid behind the couch to listen. They turn into wolves in the full moon, but not because they want to."
"That's right. Werewolves are real in our world. In fact, Severus went to school with a classmate who was a werewolf. His name is Remus Lupin and I believe he was a great friend of your father's as well. Dumbledore has asked Severus to brew this special potion for Remus. It's called the Wolfsbane potion and it helps the werewolf to keep his mind during the time he is in his wolf form. The potion itself is very fragile and delicate, having to be brewed perfectly."
"It's great that something like that was made," Harry replied. "The stories always say that werewolves are horrible creatures and should be killed. I never thought werewolves were horrible people."
McGonagall smiled. "If I ever think of it, I should let you meet Remus. He has already met you, of course, but I think you would like him. He was the smartest student in his class."
Padfoot finally relaxed. He was glad for his friend, though he was still concerned about Snivellus brewing the potion for Moony. The man could always slip something poisonous into the mixture or brew it wrong.
"I would like that, since he knew my father. Did he know my mother as well?"
"Yes, he did. Your mother was sweetest, kindest girl I had ever met in a long time. It was not surprising that your father fell in love with her. She was everything a man could ever want in a woman."
A door slammed from the house and Padfoot froze. He saw Harry begin to smile and he realized that Harry really did care for Snape. James would definitely be rolling in his grave.
"Do you think he would let me help him brew the Wolfsbane potion?" Harry asked McGonagall.
"No, Harry. As I said before, the potion is very complicated. But maybe when you are older, he might let you help him."
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Severus saw the big black dog following his charge and he paled. Merlin, the dog was large, towering over Harry. He relaxed when he saw Minerva but he kept a grip on his wand.
"Who's this?" he asked, nodding to the dog.
"Harry's new friend. He hasn't left the boy's side."
"I think our young charge has a thing for animals," Severus commented smoothly. "First Fawkes, then this dog."
"I love animals!" Harry exclaimed.
"He could be another Charlie Weasley," Minerva said, smiling. She saw her charge's confused look. "He works with dragons in Romania."
"Don't encourage him to go gallivanting with those temperamental beasts," Severus growled.
Minerva laughed. "I don't have to, Severus. It would be up to Harry to know what he wants to do with himself in the future. He isn't in school yet. Who knows, he could want to become an Auror like his father and godfather or a Healer or…."
"I get it, Minerva."
Bloody woman.
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Padfoot mentally groaned at the feel of the soft bed underneath him. Harry begged his guardians to allow them to keep him and they gave in. He glanced over at the empty perch in the boy's room and thought the boy kept an owl in his room as well.
"Now I have to think of a name for you," Harry responded, stroking the dog's head. For a moment, Padfoot wished he could purr like a cat. "I don't think you do have a name and you can't talk either."
While the boy was lost in his thoughts, Padfoot took the time to think of a plan. He was now owned by his godson, who thought he was a dog. He was in a perfect position to make sure Harry was being raised like he should be. Also, if the family went out, he could attempt to try to find Peter. The man couldn't have gone far. Or, if that failed, Padfoot would wait until Harry went to Hogwarts. Peter was cowardly enough that he would be content to stay in his rat form. Peter would never reveal himself, since he was supposedly dead, and if he stayed in a magical family, he would hear about anything to do with Voldemort. Padfoot smiled to himself. Yes, that was a good plan.
"Padfoot."
He jerked his head up, eyes widening. What was that?
Harry smiled. "Yes, that's perfect. I will name you Padfoot. You do remind me of something I used to dream about when I stayed with my aunt and uncle. I had a dream that there was this dog my parents would call Padfoot."
Padfoot froze. Harry remembered that? Did he remember that Padfoot could turn into a man? If he did, who was to stop the boy from telling his guardians?
Then the boy shook his head. "It was just a dream. I know my parents never used to own a dog. But you are now known as Padfoot." He hugged the dog from around the neck.
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End of chapter
I finished this in about 2 hours, which is good considering I am doing laundry as well. Thank you to every who reviewed and I do hope you have enjoyed this chapter.
Next chapter: Harry finally gets to meet Remus.