Chapter 18 – a new friend

We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment – George Eliot

"Remus, what do we do? The poor boy is terrified and I don't know how to reassure him"

"I don't know if you can Sirius. I think we just need to show him love"

"We have to do something Remus. We can't just leave him as he is"

"Well what do you suggest Sirius?"

Sirius didn't know how to answer that. He understood perfectly why Harry was afraid, but he didn't know how to solve that. Now that he thought about it, Harry had been scared the whole time that he'd been with them. Sirius cursed, he'd written it off as getting used to the new house. He'd only spilt a glass of milk, but the look of fear on his face was more fitting with blowing up the house. He didn't know how to help Harry. Remus was probably right, all they could do was give Harry all the love and support that he deserved. He still wished that he could do something more to help him.

"He needs something to help him feel safe"

"Are you implying what I think you are? Sirius that's a bad idea"

"No it's not. It's a brilliant idea Moony, think about it. He'll feel safer and more secure. Not to mention that it'll give him a friend, one that's not a scary adult. It'll make him less shy and –"

"Sirius, it's not something that can be undertaken easily. I can't deny the benefits, but I'm still not sure it's wise"

"Well, you think of something better then"

Silence. Remus appeared to be in deep thought. "Bugger. Why are you always right?"

"Because I am superior to you in nearly every way"

Remus snorted. "Superior? At what?"

Sirius glared at him indignantly. The way they teased each other was almost like it had been before that night. Sirius had been trying so hard to get their old camaraderie back, but it was proving difficult. Sirius hadn't expected it to be easy, they were both still nursing the pain of not being trusted, and Sirius had a shrewd suspicion that they would for the rest of their lives.

"So that's a yes Remus? Perfect. Can you let Dumbledore know, tell him to come tonight. I shall go get Harry, and try to persuade him that we're not angry"

"Good luck with that" Remus flung over his shoulder, already walking towards the fireplace where he could contact the headmaster. Sirius frowned slightly and then began to climb the stairs up to Harry's bedroom. He knocked on the door, worried about what Harry's reaction would be. There was no reaction to the knock, so he pushed the door open gently.

Harry was sat on the bed, little arms wrapped around his legs. Sirius thought that his heart was breaking as the little boy looked up, tears flooding down his face. Sirius moved forwards, but Harry flinched away almost instinctively.

"Harry? Am I allowed to sit with you?" Sirius asked gently, trying to take talking to Harry slowly. Harry didn't look back up, but he nodded slightly. Sirius sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. Sirius didn't know what to say to draw Harry into conversation.

"I'm so sorry sir, I didn't mean to do it. It was an accident. Please, I – I can go and fix it" Harry wailed, cutting off any attempt that Sirius made to start the conversation.

"Oh Harry…I know it was an accident, you're not in trouble Harry. We've already fixed it, we were just worried about you" Sirius wanted to go and kill the Dursleys for doing this to Harry, he wanted to make them suffer for what they had done to the poor, innocent little boy in front of him. Harry looked up at him incredulously.

"But I –"

"Harry look, you're not in trouble I promise. I just…it was an accident Harry, I know that. I came in to ask you something actually"

"Sir?"

Sirius sighed. Harry had fallen back on calling him sir. He was obviously still scared that Sirius was going to explode in anger. What the hell had those Dursleys done to him to make him this scared? "Harry, would you like to come out with Remus and I?"

"But… am I not going to be punished? I normally –"

"Harry you're not going to be punished for an accident. Whatever the Dursleys did to you, I promise you that it will not happen to you again. Do you want to come out with us?"

Harry nodded and sniffed loudly, pushing his glasses up his nose. Sirius picked him up, pulling him into a tight hug. Harry settled his head on Sirius' shoulder and Sirius smiled, before swinging to his feet in one movement and carefully walking out of Harry's room, said little boy tucked in his arms.

OoOoOo

They'd taken Harry to a dog shelter, hoping that the boy could find a dog to be his friend and 'protector'. Though how the dog that Harry was playing with now could be his protector, Sirius didn't know. Of all the dogs that Harry could have chosen, he chose a nine-week old golden retriever. Sirius couldn't help but roll his eyes slightly at that. Harry had looked in the puppy's dark brown eyes and apparently melted.

"Shall we bring that one home then Harry?"

Harry turned his large emerald eyes on Sirius, surprise obvious on his little face. "Home? I don't understand"

"Do you not want to? We thought a dog would make a good friend for you. But, if you don't want to…"

"You mean I get to keep him? To take him home?"

"Of course Harry. If you want to, that is? Why would I offer if I didn't mean it?"

Harry didn't say anything, but his eyes filled with tears. Sirius panicked slightly, worried that he'd upset Harry. Harry looked at the puppy again and then threw himself at Sirius. Sirius grinned broadly and hugged Harry back, making sure not to lift Harry up so he could turn around and pick the puppy up.

"So you want to Harry?" Remus asked, smiling broadly at Harry's pleasure. Harry didn't answer, but picked the puppy up, hugging it to his chest and grinning broadly at the two men.

"Come on, we should go. Get him home and buy stuff for him" Sirius said, watching Harry try to pick the puppy up and walk out of the room. The dog was too big for his little arms to manage, so Remus smiled at him and picked Harry and the puppy up, swinging Harry on to his hip.

"Can you think of a name Harry?" Remus asked, smiling as he watched the dog try to lick Harry's face.

"What about Jethro?" Sirius interjected calmly.

"Since when is your name Harry?"

"I like it" Harry announced, holding the small puppy tightly to his chest. Sirius smiled smugly at Remus, who glared right back at him.

"I now pronounce you as Jethro. We now have to go and buy all the stuff we need"

OoOoOo

Remus had saddled Sirius with the bags, bleating feebly about still having a painful shoulder. Sirius was not impressed; the bags were damn heavy and were an odd shape. His arms could barely manage to keep hold of them. Harry was holding the lead in one hand and gripping Remus' hand tightly with the other, a broad grin on his face. The walk from the apparation point had never seemed particularly long before, but now Sirius felt like it was never going to end.

"Doesn't he need a bedroom?" Harry asked timidly. Sirius glanced at him, trying to smile reassuringly at him. Sirius had been trying since he'd taken Harry to make the little boy ask questions, to try to make him more comfortable with them. He'd finally succeeded.

"Well, where would you like him to sleep Harry? We have a bed for him, but as he's your dog, you should choose"

Harry looked terrified at the very thought of choosing. Remus saved him the trouble of thinking of somewhere. "What about your room Harry? So he can keep you company?"

Harry grinned shyly at Remus, and Sirius couldn't help but smile at the innocence on his little face. He looked so…happy at the prospect of keeping Jethro close. Sirius could only wish that he could find happiness so easily. He'd figured that Harry would want to keep the retriever close, after all that kind of was the point of getting the puppy. Sirius carried the bed up to Harry's bedroom and placed a mat next to it, to place a bowl of water on.

Sirius tried not to smile. The dog kept staring at Sirius, obviously able to detect something canine about Sirius. He didn't want to scare the puppy, but at the same time he knew that transforming would probably make training the puppy a damn sight easier.

"Remus, when's Dumbledore coming?" Sirius asked suddenly, remembering that the old man had said that he would visit.

"Just before dinner, as it's term time" Remus answered sleepily, apparently having been on the edge of falling asleep in his armchair. Sirius couldn't help but smirk, though he guessed that Remus could be forgiven for that. After all, the full moon had only been a few days ago. Remus slowly climbed to his feet, muttering something about food and left the room, leaving Sirius to keep an eye on Harry.

As he watched Harry play tug of war with Jethro, Sirius couldn't help but smile. He didn't think he'd ever had a better idea than deciding that a dog would be the best solution to Harry's fear. Sirius grinned broadly; the dog would give Harry the one thing that the little boy needed most – a friend.

AN: I feel like I should explain why I chose to have them get a dog. I have a golden retriever, and he's always there, through thick and thin. They're very loyal and very friendly – I figured that would be something Harry needed.

I still haven't figured out whether to do slash or not, I'm undecided. I have arguments for and against for both, and let's just say I'm stuck. If anybody would like to give me an opinion, it would be most welcome. Please review x