Chapter Sixteen;
As Sirius padded down to the dungeons, on the way from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts he had changed into Padfoot. He stopped at Severus' door and stared up at Salazar, who was staring him down. "Hello, Puppy," Salazar said. Sirius growled and barked. "Oh, you wish entrance to this chamber?" he asked, Sirius nodded his head, bowing down to the best of his ability as a dog. Salazar gave a faint smile, "Go ahead and scratch at the door, Severus is in his living room and will be able to hear you.
Sirius scratched at the bottom of the door, sitting down and waiting for Severus to answer, 'Who would've known Salazar liked dogs? I should come here as Padfoot from now on…' he thought to himself. As soon as the door opened, Severus stared out then before he could look down and see Sirius; Sirius bolted inside, running over to the fireplace and laying in front of it. He looked up at Severus who was now glaring at him as he closed the door.
"What do you want, Black?" Severus asked as he walked over and took his seat in an armchair, picking up his book and continuing to read.
Sirius whimpered, 'Time to do my puppy eyes bit,' he thought to himself as he crawled over and placed his head on Severus' knee, looking up at him and whimpering more.
Severus looked over his book down at him, rolling his eyes, "Think you're cute, do you, Black? Well it's not going to work, and please keep your leg down; I don't want you doing your business on my furniture. Understood?"
Sirius whimpered more, pushing his nose against Severus' knee. 'Pay attention to me!' he thought to himself then barked.
"I know what you want," Severus said as he stood up, "Stay. Good boy," he firmly said as he walked into the kitchen.
Sirius tilted his head, sticking his tongue out and panting, waiting for Severus to come back. As Severus walked back in with something behind his back, he stopped in front of Sirius and smiled down at him.
"If you want what I have behind my back all you need to do is roll over," Severus told him.
Sirius stared up at him, 'What the hell? Fine,' he thought as he lay on the ground then rolled his body over, sitting back up and barking.
Severus put a bone to balance on his nose, then walked back to his chair and continued his book.
Sirius glared at the bone, tossing it off his face then morphing back into a human and standing up, "What the hell was that?"
"That was me giving you a… 'treat' so you would bugger off, has no one ever gave you a treat? Is it because you're a bad doggy? You might need some lessons, I'm sure I could find you a dog trainer… or one of those leashes that shock you, whichever," Severus said, never taking his eyes off his books.
Sirius glared at Severus, thinking about what he said and then smiling, "You? Getting me a dog trainer or leash. Sounds like you want to keep me to yourself, Severus."
Severus ignored him, though Sirius could see his eye twitching slightly in annoyance. Sirius smiled and morphed back into a dog, walking over to Severus and jumping up in his lap.
"Black!" Severus bellowed as he dropped his book and tried to push the ginormous dog off him. Sirius balanced himself, curling up on Severus, "Get down! Damn it!" he yelled as he tried to push the dog off once again, Sirius just growling and holding his ground. Severus struggled more under him, trying to push himself off the chair when Sirius shifted in his lap and licked his cheek. Severus stopped moving, staring at the dog "Did you just… disgusting! Dog spit!" he yelled as he wiped his cheek with his sleeve.
Sirius jumped of and morphed into his human form, sitting on the ground and chuckling, "Aw, does Severus not like dog slobber?" he asked, crossing his legs.
"Do shut up, Black," Severus responded.
Sirius frowned, "Call me Sirius."
"Why the bloody hell should I?" he asked as he picked up his book and placed it on the small table next to his chair.
Sirius shrugged his shoulders, "Makes me feel… I don't know, special when you do."
"Why in Merlin's name would you feel special when I call you by your first name?" Severus asked.
"I just do," Sirius said, smiling up at Severus.
"You just… do…" Severus trailed off, rolling his eyes.
Sirius grinned at Severus, "Why're we bickering like an old married couple?"
Severus turned a shade of pink, looking away, "I do not bicker, Sirius."
"You bicker."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't!"
It was quiet for a minute before Sirius stood from the ground and sprawled out on the couch, "You bicker."
Severus sighed, not wanting to continue the argument, so instead picking up his book and flipping to find his page. Sirius watched him, "Is that the book you purchased today?"
"… Yes," Severus replied.
"Is it about Potions?" Sirius asked.
Severus quirked his eyebrow, "No, it's about Charms," he said in a sarcastic tone.
"Yeah, okay, stupid question," Sirius admitted.
"Very," Severus affirmed.
Sirius lay back on the couch and closed his eyes, enjoying the comfortable silence as he rested and Severus read. He dozed off only to awaken with a stiff neck and being alone in the room. He blinked, lazily sitting up and stretching his arms out, releasing a yawn. "Sev'rus?" he called out, wiping his eyes out and standing up, he turned around and frowned when he noticed the fire was low, meaning Severus hadn't been around for a while. He dragged over towards Severus' bedroom door and quietly pushed it open, smiling when he saw Severus' stilled form in the darkness. He checked his watch and widened his eyes, 'Bloody hell, 10:37PM? I slept for seven hours?' he thought to himself, shaking his head clear and pulling his shirt over his head to toss it aside, and then his pants, once again leaving him in boxers before climbing into Severus' bed and crawling under the covers, pulling Severus into his arms.
He closed his eyes and was just about to doze off when he heard Severus groan, "What're you doing, mutt?" he asked sleepily.
"Sleeping?" Sirius replied.
"I left you on the couch for a reason…" Severus said, turning away from Sirius.
"Yeah, well, it was cold on the couch, and dogs like warmth, and you haven't screamed get out yet, so I'm staying," Sirius reasoned as he wrapped his arms around Severus and pulled him back to him, grinning.
Severus sighed and turned on his back "I can't sleep with arms constricting me."
"Too bad," Sirius answered, tightening his grip.
Severus groaned, closing his eyes, "Good-night, mutt."
Sirius grinned in the dark, leaning his head up to press his lips lightly to Severus', then resting his body back down, "Night, slimey snake."