Hiding at Hogwarts

~ by Healer Pomfrey ~

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

20 - Snuffles

~ Hogwarts grounds ~

Harry sighed in relief seeing that Crookshanks and the black dog were still running around the lake. He hesitantly stepped into the dog's way and said, "Hello there, I'd like to speak with you for a moment. You're Sirius, aren't you?"

The dog came to stand in front of Harry and looked up with warm brown eyes, waggling his tail in a friendly way, while he gave the boy a short nod.

"So it's true," Harry said, smiling. "I know that you can't transform here, because it's too dangerous, but I'd like to tell you something." Absentmindedly noticing that Crookshanks joined them and stood next to her friend, he continued, "Only recently, we found my Mum's diary and know that you're innocent. However, since you ate the rat Peter, we can't prove it. But maybe you could come with me to Professor Lupin's office. He'll be happy to see you."

The dog happily waggled his tail and readily took a few steps in the direction of the entrance doors, before he waited for the boy to follow.

~ The corridors ~

'I just hope no one sees us, especially since it's after curfew,' Harry thought as he led the dog into the castle. However, before they even reached the stairs leading towards Gryffindor, a well known voice, which he really did not want to hear at this time, penetrated his ears.

"Mr. Potter, what are you doing out of your rooms after curfew?" Severus asked in a stern voice, causing the black dog to let out an angry growl.

"Be quiet Snuffles," Harry instructed his companion, before he turned to his guardian. "I'm very sorry, sir, but Helga informed me that he was out on the grounds, and I thought I'd take him to Professor Lupin to see what we can do to help him."

"Very well then," Severus uncharacteristically relented. "Come to see me when you're back in your rooms to speak about your punishment."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir," Harry replied, gratefully, and motioned for the dog to follow him upstairs.

"That was stupid. You should have told him beforehand," Harry could hear Salazar mumble from the small portrait.

Harry pulled the frame out of his robe pocket. "Sorry Granddad, but I completely forgot," he said, grumpily. "Maybe someone could have reminded me or alerted Severus on my behalf."

"Ah, behave yourself, snakeling," Salazar replied, frowning.

To Harry's relief, they had just reached the Gryffindor Head's office, and he hurriedly slid the portrait back into his pocket.

~ Professor Lupin's office ~

The Defence professor eyed his visitors in apparent surprise and hurriedly ushered them into his office, where he cast a strong silencing charm at the door and locked the fireplace against incoming Floo calls.

"Sirius, it's all right to transform here," he said gently, before he offered Harry a seat.

"I don't have much time though," Harry admitted in a small voice. "Professor Snape caught us and is waiting for me in his rooms."

Harry observed curiously how the black dog transformed into a tall man, who looked very dirty and worn out.

"Moony, since when are you Head of Gryffindor?" Sirius blurted out, looking at the other man in apparent admiration.

"Since Minerva became Headmistress at the beginning of this school year," Lupin replied. "Now Sirius, it was good that Harry brought you here..."

"Yes, thank you Harry," Sirius turned to the boy, pleasantly. "I didn't eat that good-for-nothing rat by the way. I'm not that stupid. I only took him with me, but unfortunately, Peter escaped, and I don't have a clue where he is. I thought that he might try to come to Hogwarts now that the Weasley boy is said to be back here, but Crookshanks told me that she hasn't seen him so far."

"Oh well, at least he's still alive, so there is a possibility that we can catch him. That's good," Lupin replied and suggested, "Why don't you stay here as my pet dog for the time being? That way you'd be safe and would be able to properly eat and sleep without having to fear that anyone recognises you."

"Snivellus saw me on the way here. Do you think he knows who I am? Harry called me Snuffles though, so maybe..." Sirius trailed off, giving his friend an assessing look.

The professor let out a sigh. "Severus knows about the matter, and he won't give you out. He's Harry's guardian by the way, and he's changed a lot since our time. Harry and Severus even cured me from lycanthropy."

"They what? You got rid of your furry problem? Oh Harry, thank you so much for doing this for Remus..."

"No problem," Harry quickly interrupted the man.

"As much as I enjoy your enlightening conversation, snakeling, it's time for you to return to your rooms. Severus is waiting for you," Slytherin spoke up again from Harry's pocket.

"Good evening, Professor Slytherin," Lupin greeted the Founder friendly, when Harry pulled out the portrait, inwardly groaning.

"Sorry, but I really need to go now," he apologized and stood from his seat.

"Only after you tell me why you're carrying a portait of one of the Founders," Sirius demanded, curiously eyeing the wizard in the small portrait.

"Harry is the heir of all four Founders, and he's residing in their quarters. The Founders in their portraits have already helped us a lot," Remus explained shortly, before he turned to the boy, smiling warmly. "All right Harry, go and tell Severus that I'm going to keep Sirius as Snuffles, my pet dog. Come and visit us tomorrow if you have time."

"I will," Harry replied, smiling back at the two men.

With mixed feelings, he hurried back to his own rooms, resolving to work on the Animagus transformation again as soon as he could spare a few minutes. 'If I already managed to transform into my ice phoenix form, I could save so much time,' he mused, as he entered the living room. He placed Salazar's portrait back on the shelf and hesitantly stepped into his guardian's quarters, glad that Severus was waiting for him in the living room, so that he would not have to search for him.

~ Severus' quarters ~

"Hello Severus. I'm sorry, sir," he spoke up in a soft voice.

The Potions Master put his copy of Potions Quarterly, which he had been reading, on the table and motioned Harry to take a seat.

"Harry, as much as I understand that you wanted to help the mangy mutt, you should have come to me and receive my permission to roam the halls after curfew," Severus spoke up, sighing. "What do you suggest for your punishment?" he then asked. "I don't want to give you detention or lines to write, considering your fragile health condition in combination with your many extracurricular activities like the brewing of the wolfscure, translation of more potions recipes or the leadership of the Hogwarts Quidditch team. However, you have to understand that you must obey to the rules."

"Yes sir, I understand that," Harry replied in a small voice. "I was just so excited and in a hurry that I completely forgot about curfew. Whatever punishment is fine with me, sir." He remained thoughtful for an instant, before he suggested, "Would it count as punishment if I assisted in the potions lab?"

Severus looked up, smirking. "You're always very welcome to assist, provided that you have time. Very well then, please try to remember the rules the next time you get excited about something, and now I suggest that you go to bed in order to be well rested for your classes tomorrow."

"Thank you sir," Harry replied, gratefully. "Good night, sir."

"Good night, Harry," the professor replied, and Harry had the impression as if a small smile was playing on the man's lips.

~ Professor Lupin's quarters ~

As soon as the last afternoon class was over, Harry excused himself from Hermione, who gave him a concerned look as he dashed away without any reasonable explanation.

Professor Lupin led the boy into his private quarters and instructed him to make himself comfortable on the sofa. "I'll call Sirius. He's probably asleep. He told me he hasn't properly slept since he was taken to Azkaban."

He left the room only to return a short while later with Sirius in tow. Harry noticed that the man looked clean and shaved, and he came straight to him, smiling broadly.

"Hi Harry, thanks so much for bringing me to Moony," he cheered. "I'm very happy to see you both. I don't know if anyone told you this, but I'm your godfather. Only the thought of you made me keep my mind in Azkaban. I'll fight to catch that rat and get free, and then I'm going to take you in. I'm sorry that it's taking so long."

Harry let out a long sigh. "Thank you Sirius," he finally said. "I really appreciate it; and until last summer I'd have been more than grateful if you'd come to take me away from the Dursleys. However, last summer we found out that Professor Snape is my uncle, and he became my guardian - a wonderful guardian. He's like the father I never had, because I don't remember my real parents. Anyway, I'd love to meet you from time to time, but I don't want to change my guardian again. Sorry if this sounds egoistic, but..." He slowly trailed off, looking uncertainly from Sirius to Remus.

"Yes it is," Sirius blurted out, disappointment written on his face.

"No Sirius, it's not," the Gryffindor Head contradicted in a firm voice. "I fully understand Harry, and I believe that Severus is doing a wonderful job as Harry's uncle and guardian. Therefore, I advise you strongly to give up the idea of taking Harry in, because it's too late for that; but I'm sure that Harry won't mind having a godfather in addition to send him birthday presents. Is that correct, Harry?"

Harry chuckled. "Yes sir," he then replied, feeling very grateful towards the professor. 'I just hope Sirius will listen to him,' he mused.

"Okay, I understand," Sirius said, sounding subdued, before he continued with resolution, "But if Snivellus ever hurts you in any way, tell me and he'll never forget it."

Harry couldn't help smiling at his godfather. "Thank you, Sirius," he replied, "but don't worry. Professor Snape is very kind and no comparison to the Dursleys. He even saved my life multiple times last summer."

"Nevertheless, we should try to find Peter," Lupin continued. "Sirius, I suggest that we talk about this together with Minerva and Severus. I'm sure they'll both be willing to help, and maybe they have better ideas than I have right now."

"That's true," Harry added, and Sirius agreed to meet the teachers later on.

'That went fairly well, thanks to Remus,' Harry thought on the way back from dinner to the third years' study room. He'd have rather attended the meeting in the Headmistress' office; however, he still had lots of homework left that was due in the morning. 'If I could only transform in my phoenix form,' he suddenly remembered. 'Then I could just flash me to that rat and catch it. Tonight I'll practise the transformation. If I really concentrate on it, I should be able to manage it by the morning,' he resolved, completely forgetting that he could as well just send Fawkes to catch the criminal.

tbc...

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