Chapter 6 - Tail of a Dog

You will meet many different people in your life. Each person you meet will change your life in one way or the other. You will recognize some of the people at once without knowing much about them, finding a natural affinity and connection with them. Yet, you are in some way repelled by the others. Why is that? It is important to understand what is happening there. You will also have to leave many people in your life for one reason or the other. These happenstances are not at random. They occur for a reason.

The actions performed out of free will by everyone in their stories join together to form a single connected story. It's up to you to learn from it and lead yourself onwards. The more you learn the further you go along in realizing that the individual stories are worthless, and you will move onto recognizing your part in the story that we are telling together.

Magical Menagerie was loud.

There were squeals.

"Hey! Look at it! It's so cute!" – "Aweeee!"

Hi-fives.

"Reckon you can sneak it in?" – "Yeah. I just hope my parents don't find it. I think I will hide it under my bed."

Amazement.

"Woah! Look, it got bigger!" – "How big can it get? It wouldn't fit!"

Weirdness.

"Sssilly. I like my ratsss fat and alive." – "It isss obviousss. They should know that you like to rattle them... Hey, hisss. That isss hisssterical."

Complaints.

"Those nasty snakes. Why keep them here? You know who likes them?" – "Maybe it's a trap to catch those snakes!"

It was as magical as Harry expected it to be.

Enormous rabbits turning into hats. Check. Cats becoming invisible. Check and no-thanks. Snakes changing their sizes to fit available space. Check. Poisonous rats, ugly toads, beautiful owls, flashy cats, singing birds, shape-changing worms, oozing snails, floating badgers – all kinds of animals met his eyes. He was disappointed by the lack of magical dogs, though. All dogs here looked very normal. When he asked this to Professor McGonagall, he was stiffly answered that all that the dogs would want with magic was to be able to catch their tails.

The caretaker at the store, however, was more helpful. "Yes, it is true that there are not as many magical varieties of dogs as there are of other animals. However, the animals we have, all are, in one way or another, magical. The store is called Magical Menagerie."

"As for magical dogs, we have Adleurre Dachshunds – prolific trackers, they are; Crups – easy to train, very loyal; you'd have to get a license to buy them though; a native Victoria Bulldog – very protective; a Basset Hound puppy – can sense danger to their owners; and finally, this little Dalmatian pup – all the way from Uagadou's charmed gardens – they are known to be able to easily control other farm animals."

Harry looked at them enchantedly in contrast to the weary way professor was looking at them. He wanted to buy each of them, apart from the Bulldog, which looked like it could rip his hands. He had enough bad experiences with Aunt Marge's Bulldogs. The Crups looked like a terrier with a forked tail; one was wagging its tail wildly and barking at him. The Dachshund was lying down and sticking out its tongue. The Basset Hound was growling at Professor McGonagall, who in return was glaring at it. And the Dalmatian was a puppy jumping and turning excitedly on seeing them. This was going to be a very difficult choice.

His brain was starting to press the breaks though. Captivated and excited by the fantastical images being displayed by his mind, he had ignored some vital details until now of what owning a dog entailed.

"Professor, how would I take care of them at Hogwarts? They'd need to be cleaned and I would have to clean my room daily of..." he shuddered, "and where would I take them for a walk? How would I feed them?" he asked in a shaky voice, his lips curling down with each question.

Professor McGonagall answered him still carrying a resigned look, "It won't be a problem. You would find that magic is very convenient. There are other pets at Hogwarts and their owners manage it easily enough… though I am uncertain, there aren't many pets at Hogwarts causing chaos while running up and down, wagging their tails stupidly. We already have enough of that stupidity in students."

The caretaker, who evidently knew Professor McGonagall, laughed. "Oh no, Professor. They don't cause as much trouble as you'd imagine. I am sure that this kid will manage it just fine. I remember my Hogwart's dorm – you don't need pets to cause havoc there. Don't worry kid. Believe me when I say it – you will never regret buying a pet, whichever you'd choose. You can take it to a walk on Hogwarts grounds or around the Great Lake every morning or afternoon. Sooner than you can imagine, you'd become used to it and would be thinking how you ever lived without it."

Harry was satisfied he had done his due. If there is any problem now, then he won't be completely responsible. He turned to assess each of his options.

"Why do I need to get a license to get a Crup? It looks safe enough to me," Harry asked, looking at the Crup extending its paw to him.

"Oh – they are! To wizards. But they turn feral when they come in contact with muggles. You need to show that you are able to handle them in front of muggles. You can do that either by showing your bond with the dog or by showing enough power to keep it in check."

Harry so wanted to get it. It would show the Dursleys what it felt like when they chucked Ripper at him. But, he probably couldn't. And how would he show his bond with the crup without buying him and spending some time to develop a bond with it? More weirdness.

He imagined himself in the future. Which dog would he like to be with then… Basset Hound would be very useful. The ability to be aware of danger would be very helpful, especially in his case.

"How old is this Basset Hound?" he asked. He had heard from Aunt Marge that the younger they are the better it is to train them. Harry figured that it would make them easier to bond with them too.

"He is 4 months old. He was left by his previous owner, a curse breaker. Poor fellow, couldn't handle all the times the dog alerted him of danger."

The dog was still growling and started barking when they went near him.

"Hmm, strange. He isn't so aggressive usually… You might as well choose another. Besides the pups, all the rest are already trained enough."

The Dalmatian started whimpering when he turned to inspect other dogs. Harry's heart went out to it.

"I will take the Dalmatian. How much is it?"

"Good choice, if I might say. He was left just yesterday with us. Two months old, he is. He will cost you 13 Galleons. Might I suggest you also buy dog treats, a self-replenishing dogfood supply, and an auto Poop-Snatcher, got to have that – will make your life much easier. I will give you a discount if you buy all."

Harry also ended up buying a book, "Training your dog – As simple as casting a Lumos" by Mopart Henderson, his harness, and a cage for him for travel purposes for a total of 30 Galleons. Professor McGonagall told him that it was impossible to conjure food so he wondered how the food supply worked. It turned out that you cannot conjure food, but you can summon it if you know where it was. He would have to recharge the dog-food supply every year.

Once they had paid the money and bought everything, the owner chose to deliver some forewarnings.

"At first you might find him very hard to handle. Dalmatians are some of the most active canines. Particularly this pooch. He would need lots of exercise while in his adolescent phase. But once you establish a routine, you'd be glad for it. You'd be one of the few kids at Hogwarts not feeling sleepy in your morning classes."

Harry wasn't deterred though. I would never let some extra effort discourage me from keeping the best gift that anyone can ever get.

Harry looked at the little dog as they left the shop. The Dalmatian had little black spots marking him all around, noticeable on his face around his eyes, nose, and ears, making him look very adorable. Harry already loved him.

The dog was wagging his tail frantically as he picked up the cage, and when he opened it, the dog started crawling up on his arms trying to reach his face. In the end, he ended up licking all over Harry's face as if marking his territory while letting out ecstatic noises throughout.

Professor McGonagall watched the show with raised eyebrows, and with a smirk commented, "I don't understand what people see in dogs. They don't care about how filthy they get or make their owners. Cats are sophisticated animals with a high regard for cleanliness."

Harry was laughing with a huge smile on his face. "Yeah, you are right. Every time you touch a cat, it will try to lick itself clean wherever you touched it."

Professor McGonagall stared at him and then blinked. "You have a sharp mind, Mr. Potter… I didn't think this would be the case, but you'd do well in Ravenclaw, and perhaps even in Slytherin."

"That means I am smart. Why didn't you think I would be smart?" Harry asked holding the puppy closely in his arms. His glasses were hanging down from one eye.

Professor McGonagall shook her head. "Oh no, Mr. Potter. Perhaps I should have phrased it differently… Both of your parents, along with most of the Potters, were in Gryffindors, and these things usually run in families. You don't act like a Gryffindor – they are usually brash and quick to act. That's why I was surprised. Smartness has nothing to do with it."

Harry nodded, getting her point, and fixed his glasses leaving his hair as it is, knowing them to be a lost cause. "Would my parents have minded if I wasn't sorted into Gryffindor? Is it the best house?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't believe your parents would have minded. Perhaps, your father would have thrown a ruckus first, but he still would have been proud of you. And no house is better or worse than the other. They just represent the dominant quality that people in it cherish. Would being very loyal or very courageous be somehow better than being very cunning and just being moderately courageous or loyal? Even a Ravenclaw can be more courageous than a Gryffindor. The fact that they are in Ravenclaw just suggests that they value knowledge and critical thinking more."

"Wow – you must be a great teacher! Is every teacher at Hogwarts like you?"

The professor leaned forward and smiled at him. "Thank you, Mr. Potter. I wouldn't be here introducing the magical world to muggleborn students if I couldn't even explain Hogwart's houses properly. You will also find that all the teachers at Hogwarts are experts in their respective fields. There is no better way to learn about those subjects."

She looked at the setting sun and looked at her watch. "It's getting late. Come on, we should go now. We don't have to take the Knight Bus this time around. We are going to apparate," she said answering Harry's unasked question.

Harry moved along the still crowded street to the apparition point. Happiness enveloped him at the sight of the joyful pup in his hands. The setting sun had cast a reddish glow over everything turning his white fur rosy colored. Professor McGonagall was also smiling at the sight.

"Mr. Potter, you'd have to place your dog in the trunk. He can't handle the strain from apparition without feeling sick yet," Professor McGonagall informed him as they reached the point.

Harry took the small slab from his pocket and tapped it the way he was shown. It jumped from his hand and enlarged in front of him. He opened the second compartment, which was also a takeaway camp of sorts with 2 rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. He dropped down into the trunk through the stairs still feeling weird at the sensation of moving into the enlarged hall everything about which alarmed his senses. The pup made a protest at seeing what he was doing, but couldn't do anything as he took in the new atmosphere. He jumped from his hands and started looking around curiously. He kept on running around to anything that caught his interest in the paradoxical space, which was everything. Wagging his tail, he kept running in circles, sometimes darting back immediately from where he began. Harry found it hilarious and had a huge smile on his face. Harry gave him few treats, which were attacked with gusto, and placed some in the hall. He moved the cushions from the sofa to the floor to make a makeshift bed for him which too was soon attacked by the pup – he would have to name him soon. He slowly moved away to ascend the stairs feeling sad at his first brief parting from his new companion.

"Hold tightly to my arm. This will be rough."

Apparition turned out to be similar to teleportation, but instead of being comfortable and steady like in the movies, it was the most uncomfortable experience Harry had ever had. His body felt like it was being stretched by machines in all directions, and at the same time being squeezed into a tube. He would never choose this mode of travel as long as he had the option of walking up to 10 miles. He now understood why the professor wanted them to have lunch so early. He distinctly wondered why his dog wouldn't feel this disorientation as the trunk had also apparated.

A few minutes later they were standing on the driveway of No. 4, Privet Drive. Time to say goodbye to the wonderful day. The day would only get worse from here.

In the reddish glow of the sunset, with the wind blowing gently, they rang the bell. Sounds of rushed footsteps came through the door, which was flung open soon after. Standing in front of them was Uncle Vernon with a shotgun pointed at them.

"YOU! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO PETUNIA? MAKE HER ALRIGHT AGAIN IF YOU NO WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU?"

Harry hurriedly took a step back. He knew his uncle was never one to step back when it comes to hurting someone, especially when there was no apparent reason. His uncle though suddenly stopped in his tracks, dropping the gun to the floor, where it turned, folded and changed to a ball.

"Your uncle, I presume?" Professor McGonagall asked with an alarmed expression.

Aunt Petunia, who was standing in the back of a hall screeched… except that no sound came from her. Her hair looked disheveled and her eyes were red. It looked like she had been crying all day.

Professor McGonagall stared at her astonished. His uncle stumbled back in a sudden movement, his eyes wide and hands shaking. "See what you have done! My sweet Petunia can't make any sound since you bewitched her! All the doctors thought she was faking it. Poor Dudley has been beside himself all day long," his uncle claimed.

"Forgive me. I didn't realize… We are fortunate that the ministry isn't here yet."

Uncle Vernon staggered back as she entered the house. She raised her wand and pointed it at Aunt Petunia who looked scared out of her remaining wits and muttered a few words.

"Please try to screech now. I am sure your neighbors will be able to hear you properly."

"I…I…," Aunt Petunia released a long breath.

"There you go. Hopefully, there aren't any side effects. I am afraid I am not very good at countering this spell," she said alarming his aunt again.

Harry could see the little twitch of her mouth though. He was thinking this to be such a useful spell. He could make anyone shut their mouth. Brilliant! And don't you need to utter most spells before casting them? He added it to his list of spells he had to learn as soon as possible. Harry felt a little sorry for his aunt. Dudley though must have found it very funny to see his mom trying to make a sound all day. He didn't know what Dudley told his dad, but he surely wasn't that upset.

Everyone was silent for a minute before Professor McGonagall spoke again, "Mr. Dursley, as you know that Harry has been accepted into Hogwarts for the next term starting September 1st. We have arranged his entry into Hogwarts, and have bought the necessary supplies. Hogwarts education is fully funded by our ministry so you won't have to worry about that. The train will depart from King's Cross station at 10 AM. You'd have to take Harry there," she said giving Harry the tickets to the train. "Look for a barrier between Platform 9 and 10. You must run directly into that barrier. You may also wait for some other children to do so."

Harry nodded. He looked at Uncle Vernon who clearly wanted to refuse but nodded reluctantly.

"Thank you, Professor. For everything! And don't worry about Spock. I would take care of him, and would make sure he is ready to harass all the cats at Hogwarts!" Harry said gratefully. Professor McGonagall had turned out to be his favorite person.

"You named him Spock?" she said.

"And no need to thank me. I was only doing my job. And you," she said turning to his uncle and aunt, "I hear that you received a warning from Dumbledore on your behavior towards Mr. Potter. I would advise you to treat him properly from now on. If I found out that you took one wrong step… then I could do much worse than that ball lying over there. Do I make myself clear?"

His aunt, who still seemed incapable of making any sound, nodded. His uncle looked like someone had offered him a rotten pudding, and was about to say something belligerent, but stopped on seeing the wand that was suddenly in her hand. He too nodded quickly.

"I would be taking my leave then. Mr. Potter, ensure that you read the wizarding manuals thoroughly, though I expect you to try to start on all of your books. Remember about using your wand," she said giving him a severe look.

The three of them watched her leaving calmly through the door. They were all silent for few moments, and then Uncle Vernon noticed what he was wearing.

"What the hell are you wearing boy? I won't allow this unnatural behavior in my HOUSE."

"Oh. These… these robes are normal for us wizards. I can call Professor McGonagall back if you don't like me wearing them," he said tapping his cheek.

"NO… no need for that. You can wear normal clothes here, can't you?"

He waited for a moment before nodding. No need to aggravate them unnecessarily after having his fun.

"I'll be in my room if you want anything. Oh, I almost forgot. I have got a new dog with me… Don't worry, I'll take care of him, and clean after him. Just make sure that you don't annoy him – he is magical and can cause loads of bad luck for you."

His uncle looked like he had his last bit of that rotten pudding.

"You brought another one of your freak pets with you! As if that blasted owl wasn't enough. This is my house! And I decide who sleeps and shits in this house!"

His uncle just didn't learn. Previously. he had no way of stopping him, but ever since that fortunate day last month, he knew he had something which could stop his uncle in his rants.

"He was a gift from Professor McGonagall. She would be very angry if she heard you were acting like this."

His uncle looked like he was starting to digest that rotten pudding.

"Look, boy, I know what you are doing. But, I won't have you threaten me in my house. You can't just wave your hands and destroy everything I have earned through hard work and strife."

"I am not threatening you, Uncle. It's just a month till I have to be here, and then I will be gone. Just act like you did this last month and we will be fine."

His uncle nodded. "Fine by me. I won't allow any freakishness here. Where the hell is your dog anyway?"

"He's in my pocket, along with all of my Hogwart's stuff," Harry said casually.

"He's in your pocket! How…what is he doing there?"

"I don't know. Eating or sleeping, I guess," Harry said making his uncle gape at him wide-eyed.

"I better take him out. Though, I think I'll do that in my room. See you at dinner," he said leaving the astonished couple behind.

Harry sat on in bed reading the introduction manual set to wizarding world. It described everything from the wizarding culture, its history and how it is run, what Ministry of Magic does, what an average witch or wizard does for a living, what you'll be taught at Hogwarts and how it will impact you in the future. It was very interesting and he couldn't wait to get to Hogwarts. He let his mind wander to his first foray into the wizarding world. It was eye-opening, to say the least.

People's perception of him had taken a 180-degree turn, but his perception of himself hadn't changed at all. He was still the same Harry as before, one who was trying to survive and find an escape route to his confined life. His surroundings were no longer the same. The rules that seemed to govern his life had changed. No. Not exactly changed. He had become aware of some features of his life of which he was ignorant before. All his previous exertions, efforts to control his life, and hypothetical wanderings to change his life were laid bare in front of him, no longer helpful.

He must change his act now, how he reacted to events and people. To do that he must change himself. He was no longer the same scrawny kid. He was a scrawny kid who was more famous than the pope in the wizarding world, and who was similarly revered. People looked up to him and told fantasy stories about him to their kids. The problem was that he didn't know what he wanted now. He just wanted to blend in with others, have friends and enjoy with them. But he had been warned about that by Lyanna and he kind of agreed with her. Harry just couldn't imagine a situation where he could just be normal. So, what will he be? Well, I have a lot of time to figure that out.

He looked at the little bundle of energy trying to rip apart Dudley's mini firetruck with his still-developing teeth. He had decided after a couple of days that his dog was insane. No matter what Harry did, or how hard he shouted at him or scolded him, the damn dog took it as a praise. The first time it happened when he took the dog out of the trunk after coming back from Diagon Alley. He proceeded to dash around wildly in his room and promptly crouched down to poop near his bed. When Harry tried to reprimand him, the dog looked completely pleased listening to him. Harry had never been so grateful for anything than he was for the Poop-Snatcher. The moment he took it out of his trunk, it swooped in on the offensive thing and gobbled it up.

Hedwig, the name he had given his owl, had looked at the puppy unblinkingly and stared at him with a look that promised retribution. She had flown out of the window without looking behind and didn't come back for the first few days.

It had taken Spock a few days to adjust to the new surroundings with him running around, sniffing things, jumping whenever the TV was switched on or when the doorbell ranged or the shower turned on. After that it was a series of recurring events of him running around, wagging his tail, and biting. Oh, he bites. The book said he will do so for the first few months when his teeth would be developing which caused itching to his gums. What ensued was a repetition of him trying to stop Spock from chewing his shoes, his socks, his clothes, his hands, his bed, even his own poop. He gave him Dudley's old toys for chewing. He had also decided to keep the Poop-snatcher out of his trunk. It had the ability to sense anything that needed to be cleaned within the whole house. Even the Dursleys were grateful for it after the black rug pounced and started absorbing the piddle in front of the main bedroom. His aunt was about to screech at the damn mutt that was happily wagging his tail in front of her.

Harry turned his attention to the clock in his room. In a few minutes, the day would end, and bring along 31st of July, his 11th birthday. The Dursleys as always would ignore it, but he wanted to make this day special. He had already planned a trip to the park in the morning with Spock, and just sit there reading his books and playing with his dog.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Spock turned to the window and started barking. Oh yes, he has just recently learned to bark. And he loved to bark, just like he loved everything he did.

"No Spock! Stop! You'd wake them up!" Harry whispered heatedly.

The damn dog turned his attention to Harry, started wagging his tail and with another bark, started barking at the owl that wanted to come in. Hedwig opened her eyes from the top of her make-shift porch on a stool. She hooted irritatingly at Spock, startling him as if just realizing that Hedwig too was present in the room.

Harry hurriedly opened his trunk and offered few treats to shut him up, belatedly realizing that this would further encourage him to bark to get treats. Well, something to add to CRUEL*. He opened the window to let the owl in. It was holding a packet in its leg which was dropped in Harry's hands.

Curious about the timing of the package, Harry took the letter that was attached to it. The owl stared at Hedwig for a few moments and made a noise, which was ignored with all of Hedwig's inherent haughtiness. It then moved to drink the water from her bowl. Harry opened the letter.

Harry,

Happy Birthday! I bet you are surprised that you are receiving a birthday present through an owl. I am the first, aren't I? (There was a little drawing of a stick figure which twirled every few seconds.)

You know what… I was promoted! After our head of our department found out that such a high-profile case was solved so efficiently, without having to contact the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, he was very impressed. Sadly, I won't be working with Norman now.

I don't think it would have been possible without you. So, I wanted to thank you in the pretense of giving you a birthday gift. The package contains a Mokeskin Pouch – a very rare magical item, which you might remember from my visit. You won't find this anywhere in Diagon Alley.

You must be so excited to attend Hogwarts. I know, I was. You have received your Hogwarts letter, haven't you? Contact me if you have any questions about Hogwarts or magic – yes, even during attending Hogwarts. I have written my address below.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Lyanna

Harry read the letter with surprise and joy evident on his face. He opened the wrapped package to find a small green bag. There was a note attached to it.

There's an Undetectable Extension Charm applied on it, so you can store objects several sizes larger than it. Just say the name of the object to retrieve it from the pouch. Put this letter into it and try to retrieve it. Only the owner can get the object back. It will come in very handy, believe me.

Harry had an intense desire to try it right away. He put Lyanna's letter in the pouch, and then said "Letter from Lyanna". The letter jumped back out of the pouch into his hand.

Wow! He was surprised when another letter came flying out of the pouch. Harry resisted the urge to jump for the fear of waking his relatives and exciting his overexcited dog, who had just finished his treats and was looking curiously at the letter. Harry knew what was coming next. Spock will try to sniff it and take it in his mouth.

Harry hastily moved the second letter away from him. What followed was a complaining sound, followed by another series of barks.

"WHAT IN THE RUDDY HELL IS WRONG WITH THAT MUTT, BOY?! MAKE HIM STOP IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU?"

"Spock! Stop, please! He will come here!" Harry said desperately.

Thankfully, something in his tone did make him stop, but he was still wagging his tail looking at him, letter forgotten. However, everyone could hear the sound of someone heavy rushing through the corridor. Harry wished that he could turn invisible, not wanting to face the wrath of a sleep-deprived angry Uncle Vernon.

There was a flash of fire in the middle of the room startling the two owls, the dog, and Harry, and then the door to his bedroom opened. Hovering in front of them was the most majestic bird he had ever seen, chirping a sweet melody which seemed to bring a lull in time, arousing in him a peaceful feeling, and a soaring joy in that timeless blissful moment. It was holding a thin package.

Uncle Vernon saw the assembly of two owls, a beautiful red bird with sharp talons making a sweet sound, his nephew looking at everything slack-jawed, and that ruddy dog jumping around and turning as if this was the best day in his life. Strangely enough, he didn't feel the expected anger.

"What is going on here, boy?" he said in a shaky voice.

A/N: A hidden letter? Hmm, what could it be? I have outlined the general direction in which I want this story to move, and it is coming along better than I thought it would. Hope you liked this chapter! Thank you for the few, yet beautiful reviews. It brightens my day and motivates me to sit down and write more. Keep'em coming, folks!

*CRUEL - Crucial Rules for Urbane and Extended Life