Man or dog?

Sirius walked nervously beside his former classmate. Would it be his turn now?

He kept looking up at the man but he couldn't see anything in his expression. Neither knowing nor anger.

Only in the garden did Severus address him.

"Go on, run."

The dog looked up in confusion, did that mean the man didn't know yet?

Sirius immediately made his way behind a tree because that was definitely necessary.

Then he ran around the garden for a few more laps.

When he looked around, he recognized Severus on one of the benches. He was putting his wand back in his pocket. What had he done with it?

Suddenly, the potions master turned to him.

"Come here, Blacky!"

With a queasy feeling, he followed the request and sat down on his hind paws right in front of Severus.

Severus could taste the dog's nervousness directly. No wonder, he must be pretty scared.

"Blacky, I know you're an Animagus."

The reaction followed promptly. Not that the animal turned into a human or attacked him, far from it. Blacky threw himself flat on the ground, whimpered and crawled towards him.

Fortunately, Severus had read his pupil's dog books. Partly out of interest, but also partly because he always found the dog's behavior strange.

In any case, he knew what the gesture meant. Blacky was trying to placate him, to make him feel better. It all confirmed his suspicions.

"I'll take that as a yes. Do you want to change back to your human form?"

Blacky slowly straightened up and shook his head.

"I thought so. Are you a fan of the little one?"

The dog shook his head again and growled slightly. If a dog could look offended, Blacky managed that feat.

"Fine, but you want to be around Mr. Potter."

It wasn't a question, so the dog just tilted his head.

"All right, here's my suggestion. I'll cast a spell on you that will make it impossible for you to attack Mr. Potter. In fact, I've already done so. If you try, you'll be in a lot of pain.

Furthermore, I will cast a spell on you that will keep you in your current form. If you want to change back, you have to tell me somehow. Got that?"

The Animagus had run the whole thing through his animal head. It was clear to see that he was looking for a trap. But there wasn't one.

Then the animal nodded.

"One more thing. We will now go to your current familiar and tell him of your true nature."

The dog immediately began to whine and throw himself on the ground. He turned and showed his belly.

"Now calm down again. Don't you think the little one has a right to know who he sleeps with in bed? Don't look at me like that. I know that's the case."

Blacky slowly straightened up. He plodded towards him and looked at him with big pleading eyes.

"No, I'm not going to lie to him. You heard what he said about his relatives and it was your idea to go to the bank again. Do you really want to put yourself on the same level as Dumbledore now?"

The dog hung his head, almost ashamed.

Severus reached out his hand and scratched the soft ears. This seemed to surprise the Animagus.

"Hey, he made friends with a book that tried to bite him. He even gave it a name. Do you think he'll chase you away? I don't think he'll even care."

The animal licked his hand cautiously.

"Come on then."

In the room, the two of them saw Harry or rather, they saw today's newspaper floating in the air. The next moment it folded into a fan so that they could see the boy behind it.

"Good Potter, you're making progress."

The boy grumbled.

"I was going to fold a flower."

Severus grinned, surprised by his student's honesty.

"Stop practicing for a moment, we need to talk."

Harry looked at his teacher with wide eyes and clutched his chest theatrically.

"Oh no, I knew it, you want to break up with me!"

Severus almost sat down next to his chair.

"Please what? What's this nonsense?"

"Why nonsense, that's how conversations about the end of a relationship start."

"You watch too much television."

"I never watch TV, it's not even necessary, all you need is Hogwarts relationship dramas without end."

Severus rolled his eyes.

"Can we get to the point now, please?"

"Gladly, but first I have one more question. Draco Mal..., um, I mean Black turned thirteen on the fifth of June. But we still had school then. When did he get the ring?"

Severus was surprised that the boy was interested in this, and he was also surprised by the Animagus' low growl but he answered anyway.

"Draco's birthday has always been celebrated on the fifth of July since he went to Hogwarts."

"Thank you, I just wanted to know and what did you want to talk to me about?"

Severus massaged his temples briefly. The boy was nice and eager to learn, but also very exhausting.

"It's about Blacky."

"Is he ill?"

"Blimey Potter, please let me finish! No, he's not ill. He's not a dog."

Harry groaned.

"Now please don't tell me he's a Grimm, too cause I swear, I'll start screaming."

"I certainly didn't mean to say that nonsense. No, he's something else."

"And what?"

Since Severus had never been one to beat around the bush, he got straight to the point.

"He's an Animagus."

Harry's mouth dropped open. He stared from his teacher to Blacky and back again. Then he turned to the dog.

"Is that true?"

Blacky lay flat on his stomach again and whimpered.

"Well, yes. Why are you living as a dog, please?"

"Potter, he won't be able to answer you in that form. Besides, he can't change back. I've stopped it with a spell."

"Why?"

"To protect you."

Harry looked again at the heap of misery lying on the floor.

"I doubt that he poses any danger to me."

"Me too, but I'd rather play it safe. Besides, he agreed."

"Hm, all right. But I still don't understand, why does he want to live as a dog? Especially when he was in such bad conditions a few days ago."

Severus looked at the dog and then back at his student.

"Because he feels more comfortable in his animal form. That happens with some Animagie. Once they've done the spell, they feel more comfortable as an animal."

"A bit like people who were born in the wrong body and undergo surgery?"

"You could compare it to that. Why should the feeling of being in the wrong body only relate to gender?

A former teacher at Hogwarts gave up his job because of it. He wanted to take care of some students who preferred to continue living as Animagus."

Harry grinned.

"Let me guess. He was a Defense teacher?"

Severus nodded.

"Not all of them resigned from the post involuntarily."

"Why did the children want to live as Animagus? Was there a reason?"

Severus shrugged his shoulders.

"They were all Muggle children. Their parents didn't accept the magic. It was probably a kind of escape."

"It's always the children who grow up in the non-magical world who are like that, isn't it?"

"Yes, in the magical world it's the Squibs who suffer.

In any case, Minerva has been working intensively on the subject of Animagus after this incident, as she is one herself. She also wrote a very interesting paper about it. It's now available as a book."

"What, really? I must have that!"

Severus smiled slightly.

"We'll have to go back to Diagon Alley for that, but it's definitely worth the read."

"And you think that applies to Blacky as well?"

"Well for now he doesn't want to change back."

"Isn't there a danger that animal instincts will take over at some point?"

"If you're turned into an animal by someone else, then yes. But with the Animagus spell you're always in control no matter how long you live in the animal's body. But you can still access the instincts of the animal in question. That's why I've only just noticed this about Blacky."

Harry looked at the black dog thoughtfully.

"Do you always want to stay in this form?"

Blacky straightened up and shook his head.

"But for the time being, would you rather be a dog?"

A nod followed.

"Do you mind sleeping in a bed with me?"

This time the dog shook his head firmly.

Harry smiled.

"Do you like the name Blacky?"

Blacky wagged his tail and rump.

"Well, yes. If you change back, will we still be friends?"

The Animagus walked up to the boy and slowly climbed up him. When he was level with Harry's face, he licked it once."

Severus laughed.

"I think that was obvious. However, Blacky still seems to have some problems with his behavior. He shouldn't jump on you. If I read correctly, that means a reprimand?"

Harry scratched the dog and looked at his teacher from between his fluffy ears.

"Jumping yes, but that's not what Blacky did. He climbed up on me. That just means he'd like some social contact."

Severus looked at the boy a little skeptically.

"What's the difference?"

Harry pondered.

"An example, if I stood in front of you and reached out with one hand. What would you think?"

"That you'd want to get yourself some punishment work for the rest of your time at school."

Harry snorted and scowled at his teacher.

He grinned.

"All right, I would think you wanted to hit me and I would stop you."

"Exactly, and what would you think if I stood in front of you again and spread out both arms?"

"You mean, apart from the fact that I would think you were tired of life? I'd get the impression you wanted to hug me."

Harry nodded.

"And it's the same with jumping and climbing."

Severus looked at the boy in amazement. The little boy was really good at explaining things, perhaps he should think about becoming a teacher.

Harry turned to Blacky again.

"It's a good thing the magical world doesn't have the same canned food as the Muggles. It's not just meat in there, but also animal meal and industrial waste. Old car tires, for example."

Both Severus and Blacky let out a choking sound.

A short time later, Hedwig was loudly outraged. An owl had flown into the room and the jealous bird didn't like it at all.

Harry was with her immediately and calmed her down.

"It's all right, sweetie, you see, it's not for me."

It was true, the animal flew straight towards Severus. However, he seemed just as unenthusiastic about the animal as the snowy owl.

"That's Zeus, Draco's eagle owl."

Harry looked at the animal sympathetically.

"Professor, you're scaring the bird."

The potions master grumpily took his letter from the animal. The bird sat down on the table and waited.

"Great, looks like the brat wants an answer too."

Still in a bad mood, the man opened the letter and began to read.

In the meantime, Harry had persuaded his owl to give Zeus some of her food and even shared her water; after all the bird was no competition for her, she was able to accept him.

After a while, Snape could be heard cursing loudly.

"What does that brat think he's doing? He's got a lot of nerve coming to me now and then to make demands too. Someone should put the impertinent brat over their knee - maybe he'll learn some manners!"

"Interesting, you've always said the same thing about me so far."

Severus winced as if he were struck. He looked apologetically at his student.

"But only because I never bothered to get to know you."

"And I thought it was because I was always arguing with you."

Severus grinned.

Yes, it was true, Harry was the only one who really never shied away from arguing with him. Even Minerva preferred to give him a wide berth when he was angry but not this child.

Harry interrupted his thoughts.

"Would you like to tell us why you're so angry with your godson?"

The boy pointed to himself, the animals and the monster book. The thing had already made itself comfortable on Harry's head again.

"The little bastard wants me to take care of him and his mother, including financially. He also wants me to force Lucius to accept him into the family with a ritual so that he becomes a Malfoy after all."

Harry's eyes widened.

"Professor, I understand that this makes you angry, but do you have to use that word of all things? It's not Draco's fault that he's not Mr. Malfoy's real child ."

"You mean bastard? I've been calling him that since his first year at Hogwarts. The bastard was just behaving impossibly. Even in his first week. I told Lucius years ago that he lets Draco get away with too much but he always talked his way out of it with Narcissa. As if a child is only brought up by one parent. Then last year it really hit the fan when that spoiled bimbo bought the team's brooms to make sure her boy got into the team!"

"He told us that his father had donated the brooms and that you gave permission."

"Certainly not. I only gave permission for the training."

"When your lovely godson then called Hermione a mudblood."

"I even put him over my knee for that."

"Professor!"

Harry stared at the man in front of him. He had never thought that he would ever hit a child. Not even Draco.

Severus took a deep breath.

"Believe me, I didn't enjoy it either. But it's in the school rules. If a student insults another with that word, the homeroom teacher has to intervene in that way."

Harry sat down next to the birds, shaken.

"You're obliged to hit the students?"

The teacher nodded somberly.

"And if you refuse?"

"Pft, then I can lose my job and the student will still be punished, but by the principal!"

Harry drew in a sharp breath. Blacky whimpered as well. The dog went to Severus and licked his hands again.

"How long has this rule been in place?"

"It was added to the school rules in 1937."

Harry thought for a moment.

"By whom?"

Surprised, Severus looked at his student.

"Why do you want to know that?"

"Because Tom Riddle, alias Lord Voldemort, came to Hogwarts that year."

That upset Severus completely. Was there a connection? And if so, what was it?

"I honestly don't know, but I'll find out about it."

Harry looked at the letter in Snape's hands again.

"So, what are you going to answer? If you don't mind me asking?"

Severus nodded.

"I will tell him that my godparenthood no longer exists. I have agreed to be the godfather of Lucius' son, and not of a cuckoo's child. Mainly because I never wanted anything to do with Narcissa. Besides, as I'm sure you've noticed, I can't stand that spoiled brat."

Harry grinned. Yes, there really was no mistaking it.

Severus began to write his letter and Harry took Beast from his head to read something in it.

After a short while, the teacher rolled up the parchment and handed it to the bird.

"Here Zeus, I hope he doesn't take his anger out on you."

The animal made a short sound and disappeared.

"Do you think Draco's mother will get back mad at you?"

Severus looked at his student thoughtfully for a moment.

"I suppose so. I will have to officially withdraw the sponsorship.

In the meantime, carry on, I'll go to the Ministry."

Harry nodded, then handed the sign to his teacher, noting that no one but his teacher was allowed in the room.

"They're getting more and more withdrawn."

"Funny, would you rather I play 'open house' and listen to all sorts of rubbish from all sorts of people?"

"Certainly not. Blacky, you keep an eye on him."

The dog immediately stood in attention.

They all watched Severus leave the room.

Then Harry turned back to his books.