Chapter Seven; Lost and Found

Lily smiled as she watched her son and Severus together. She hated to admit it aloud, but she now had a sudden relief that Sirius was back. For although she had been pretty sure of his innocence, she hadn't told him the entire truth either. For a small part of her had still questioned it and she felt rather guilty that she hadn't fought for him as hard as she should have.

She had a feeling that this sort of guilt had to be what her husband had been feeling every day. For even though he wasn't the one that sold James to Voldemort, he still knew about it since the fact that he once had been a death eater and didn't do anything to stop it from happening. Although she had been pretty upset about this at first, she had forgiven him afterwards knowing that he was a changed man and understood his reasoning for it.

There were times when Lily couldn't stand James herself, and even though a part of her was still saddened and missed him like crazy, if he wouldn't have died, chances were they would have ended up getting a divorce sooner or later anyway. At least now Harry had a loving and happy family although it was full of dark secrets.

That's when all of a sudden Lily was interrupted by her thoughts by the sound of the baby's crying. Sirius looked pretty alarmed and astounded by this and turned over to look at Lily questioningly.

"I'm sorry that's just Tobey. He's probably hungry, I'll go take care of him." She told him before she turned and walked down the hallway.

"I didn't know that Lily had another child." Sirius said as Harry (who was once again sitting atop of his father's lap) simply shrugged at him.

"You didn't ask." He told him as Sirius and Severus both chuckled.

"You know, I think I have a way that I can find that dog of yours." Sirius said.

"Really? How?" Harry asked him eagerly while tilting his head over onto one side.

"Well you see, I can turn into a dog as your father now knows, and I could track his scent." He explained.

"Really!? You really could help me find him!?" Harry exclaimed excitedly as Sirius simply shrugged and shook his head.

"I really don't see why not." He replied. "What do you think Severus?" he questioned while turning over to look at him.

"If it'll help find Cowboy then do whatever you must." He told him. "I just want Harry to be happy." He said.

"Cowboy huh? That's a pretty cute name. Did you pick it out Harry?" he asked his godson who just nodded at him in response. "Well, anyway, better hurry up if we want to find him. Then I want to come back and get to know my new godson as well assuming that he is that is." He said before he transformed right before their eyes.

Harry couldn't believe it, what had once been a man sitting on top of the couch was now a big black dog. Harry widened his eyes and shook his head as the dog panted happily before leaping off the couch and barked back over his shoulder at them while beginning to wag his tail. Then he trotted over to the door and stood up on his hind legs, pulling the lock open with his teeth and then spinning the knob with one of his paws before he sprinted out the door.

…..

Harry and Snape walked together side by side down the sidewalk hand in hand while Sirius trotted ahead of them in his dog form. He continued to pant while wagging his tail to and fro. "Cowboy!" Harry called as Snape whistled loudly for him.

"Here boy!" he echoed when all of a sudden Sirius barked again and darted around the corner. Harry let go of his father's hand and raced after him.

"Come back serious where are you going!?" he exclaimed.

"Be careful Harry, don't get too far ahead of me." His father warned right before Harry came to a complete stop at the end of the sidewalk. Severus breathed a huge sigh of relief. At least Harry was old enough to know that he wasn't allowed to cross the street by himself.

"Good boy Harry." He told him as he halted right beside him before heaving him up inside his arms and planting a soft and tender kiss upon his cheek.

"Where did serious go Daddy?" Harry questioned him while he started wondering the same thing until they saw a black and white tiny puppy racing a crossed the street with a bright red leash still attached to his collar, and chasing a black and white cat. "Cowboy!" Harry squealed with excitement as he pointed at him and Snape grinned as he caught ahold of the leash with his free hand.

"Gotcha you little rascal." He told him when all of a sudden the big black dog reappeared from around the corner and trotted towards them eagerly still wagging his tail and slobbering while he continued to pant.

"Thanks for saving Cowboy serious." Harry told him before he morphed back into his human self.

"You're welcome Harry." He told him with a loving grin before he grabbed ahold of his face and kissed his cheek. "It was my pleasure. And while I was at it, I figured that I'd help bring back somebody else that belonged to you." He explained as the black and white cat rubbed up against his legs and looked up at him while starting to purr.

"But we don't have a cat." Harry told him.

"Ah I know that, but do remember your mother telling you about the kitten that she used to have when you were a baby? Well if I recall it correctly from his looks and scent, I think that this one belongs to you." Sirius said.

"Do you mean that that's Cosmo?" Harry asked him anxiously.

"I'd be pretty surprised if he wasn't. But I guess that's for your Mum to decide. I better transform back into a dog before anybody sees me. Then we can take Cowboy and Cosmo back home with us." He told him before he transformed again and started leading the way.