"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later."
― Mary Bly

The great grief came on the Weasley household. Ginny stayed closed in her room practically all the time. As one could imagine, Ron was furious at everyone for not listening to him. If only someone had checked on Harry just in time…

Their parents were being eaten alive by guilt. Even the twins kept their silence…

Percy also grieved, although it seemed more like he was doing so because the Daily Prophet told him to rather than out of genuine concern for Harry.

The day was quiet, and the Burrow was almost empty. Mr Weasley was at work, and his wife was called to the Gringotts to regulate their debts. Bill went with her as he promised to assist her with dealing with Goblins. Charlie was searching for the legal and not-so-legal protective charms, enhancements and trinkets.

Due to her condition, Ginny's parents decided that she should not be left alone. Her brothers were not the best support now; Ron was almost constantly having outbursts, and the twins could not meet her eye for some reason. As a result, she was sent to stay with Luna until one of the adults returned.

Ruffles had a hard time deciding what to do; he didn't want to leave Ginny even by a step, but on the other hand, he couldn't fathom going to Luna's again… God forbid if she wanted to improve her spectre-something, and he would have to face another one of her 'experiments'. He would rather face the ultimate boredom.

He sat on the counter in the kitchen, observing the flies. They were annoying him constantly, from time to time, sitting on his back, where he couldn't get them.

The door to the kitchen opened, and two redheaded devils appeared.

Great, wonder what they want this time.

It didn't help that one of them held little vials that looked suspicious. Too suspicious for his liking.

"Hello, Hairy,"

"We hope you are good this fine morning."

The cat looked at them unimpressed, only his tail waggling from side to side.

"We're sure you're up to date with recent events…"

"A great loss indeed… our dearest friend Harry didn't deserve such a horrific fate,"

"May he rest in peace."

He looked at them like idiots, which probably wasn't that far from the truth. What were they on about?

"Unfortunately for you, dear kitty…"

"We can't have the only witness running around,"

"We hope you understand. It is for the greater good."

The two boys positioned themselves so the cat could not escape. Not that he made any move to do so; he still lay on the counter calmly, intently observing the twins' moves.

"This potions," said Fred, "will make sure Harry Potter will never be seen again,"

"A permanent potion and something that won't let people connect the dots while looking at you, a piece of art in the truest form,"

"We spent many days creating it,"

"But in the end, we think it was worth it,"

"Catch him, George."

The boy approached the cat, but it didn't even try to run. Ruffles sat calmly and opened his mouth wide. The twins stopped all their movements and stood there, stunned.

"Wait, you won't resist?" Fred asked, and the cat shook his head, "But… why? Okay, sorry, I won't ask more questions," he said when the cat grimaced, indicating that he could change his mind in the blink of an eye.

The twins wondered why he would do such a thing, but it wasn't a hard choice for Harry. Of course, it would bring so much pain to his friend and Ginny, but that was the only downside. The month he spent as a cat was the best time of his life, minus the little adventure in Egypt. He had everything: a roof above his head, as much food as he wanted, a peaceful life, a loving owner and most importantly – no evil lunatic wishing to kill him. He felt completely safe and loved for the first time—a feeling he had already gotten used to and wasn't willing to let it go easily. So what if he would live shorter in this form than in the human one? He was sure Harry wouldn't live past fifteen at best, given the recent accumulation of threats and whatnot. He was sure his friends would understand.

Yes, he was perfectly content as a cat and was willing to live the rest of his life like that.

George grinned, "It should taste good. We added orange juice, hoping you won't be too grumpy afterwards." He tilted the vials, one by one, and the contents spilt into his mouth.

They were right. It tasted like oranges.

After five hours, he didn't feel any effects of the potion, which was a good thing. To kill his boredom, he had decided to 'play' with Scabbers a little. That's why he was now harshly kicked out of the house by Ron. Completely for nothing, in Ruffle's opinion, as he was still too small to do the rat actual harm.

The cat went to the orchard to hunt for some birds to kill the time. And to fulfil his feral lust for prey, he was a natural predator, after all. Or at least that was what he liked to think of himself.

One particular bird caught his attention. It was small – the perfect size for a cat as small as him – and it sang loudly as if it wanted to be hunted down. He sneaked behind it, following it far behind the orchard, deep into the woods. He would have a long way back, but it was worth it if he succeeded.

The bird sat on a large bought and started pecking it. Ruffles flattened out on the ground, his paws bent so he could jump at any moment. His pupils dilated, almost wholly covering his emerald irises. He wiggled his backside, getting ready to attack and jumped.

The bird didn't have any chance. Or it wouldn't have if he only hit his target. Ruffles miscalculated the jump and hit the bought with his head, scaring away the bird.

He sat under the blasted piece of wood and growled to himself. Not only hadn't he successfully hunted, but he didn't know how to get back to the Burrow either! Maybe it was for the best? How could he show up to his clowder without a prey? And more importantly, how could he show up like that in front of Ginny? How embarrassing!

He suddenly felt something behind him that bit into his scruff a second later, making it impossible for him to move. He tried to jerk out with no luck. The animal was simply too strong for him. It didn't help his panic that the animal postured behind him strangely and suspiciously.

A sudden realisation got him. No! I can't be raped by a weasel!

After all, he had gone through, after pain, adversity, and fighting against all odds, he would die in the woods, raped ruthlessly by a weasel. Couldn't his life be more tricky?

When he thought that his life was almost over and his innocence was coming to an end, the weight behind him was taken away. In shock, Ruffles turned to see what was happening. An enormous, black, rugged dog that carried an aura of menace and grim bit on the back of the weasel and threw it away.

Ruffles still lay flattened out on the ground, observing the dog's every movement. What if it just wanted to take the weasel's place as an abuser?

But the dog sat a meter from him, staring into his eyes with its giant tongue hanging from its mouth. A few drops of thick saliva dropping from time to time.

The longest while had passed until the dog decided that this staring match was too boring. It got up and approached Ruffles, holding out its snout to sniff the little cat. Ruffles dismissed the dog's friendly attempts brutally. He punched the dog's face twice, growling, his fur standing on end. The dog, however, thought of it as funny, considering its playful barks and wiggling tail. He could crush the cat with only one paw if it only wanted.

"What do you want from me?" Ruffles hissed.

"Play!" The dog barked lively, jumping a little from excitement, "Play! Play!"

"Raping me doesn't sound like 'play' to me."

"Rape? No! Play!"

"Are you dumb? Why I'm even asking, you're a dog! Of course, you're dumb!"

"Say's the one who almost got his cherry popped by a bloody weasel!"

"Well, it's not that I did it purposefully!"

"Who knows? You're a cat, after all."

Ruffles snorted angrily. The nerve! How dare he, this… this flea-ridden mutt!

"Only a cat could be so ungrateful," the dog continued, "You help him, and he attacks and disrespects you…"

Could you please shut up? I really try my best not to hate you, but you aren't making it easy.

"… insults, and if you give a chance, shits you in your face-"

"Maybe you give me your name so I can use more personal slurs."

"See? That's what I'm talking about!"

"I'm waiting."

The dog sat proudly with its head high. "Padfoot," he said, raising his paw as if he wanted to greet him humanly.

Ruffles burst out laughing, "You poor thing! How someone could hurt you so much naming you like that!"

Padfoot took a great offence at his words. He narrowed his eyes and wrinkled his eyebrows, "Says who?"

The cat straightened up and puffed out its chest proudly, "Ruffles."

Padfoot snorted, almost suffocating with his laughter. "Just as I thought. A pathetic name for a pathetic creature! Good luck with that in life."

"Better look at yourself! So bony and matted… you certainly haven't had luck in life!"

Padfoot narrowed his eyes dangerously, "No, I haven't", he growled, making Ruffles shudder.

"Right… It'd be better if I go now. Maybe we will meet again someday."

"Maybe… A good advice for you: be more appreciative of the ones who help you, or it might not happen again!"

Ron was walking back and forth, impatiently waiting for his other best friend to walk out of the hearth at any moment. His sister sat on the couch, snuggling with Ruffles, who lay on her lap.

Their and Hermione's parents decided together that it would be best for their children not to spend this hard time alone. Apparently, Harry's missing took a great toll on Hermione as soon as she was informed by Dumbledore himself.

"She's getting late," the boy stressed, "What… if something happened to her? If Black hunted her down also?"

"Ron," said Bill, "I know that you have been very stressed and worried lately, but there is no need to be paranoid. There is no reason Black would hurt a random muggle-born witch."

"She-She's not random!" Ron shouted, and their hearth burst into green flames at that exact moment. It wasn't long before a mane of bushy brown hair stumbled out, slightly disorientated. She carried a large suitcase and a massiveorangewith a grumpy, squashed face cat.

"Ron!" The girl rushed to her friend and somewhat awkwardly crushed him in a firm hug. She drew back a second later on a reach distance, smiling brightly yet tearily. They looked at each other for a few more moments, staring into each other eyes, not knowing what to do. Only Bill's amused cough seemed to bring them back to reality. The two blushed a little, Ron looked down at his feet while Hermione quickly scurried away to embrace Ginny. It had to surprise the younger girl, though, as she stiffed when Hermione squeezed her tightly, clearly uncomfortable with someone she wasn't close to invading her comfort zone.

When Hermione looked back at Ron, he was staring at her cat with horror. "Is something wrong with you, Ron? Your expression is rather sick." She asked seriously, a slight tone of annoyance in her voice.

"W-what this monster is doing here?"

Hermione approached her cat and took it in her arms. "His name is Crookshanks. I found him straying in London when I came back from France."

"And you thought bringing him here is a good idea? It's enough that this abomination of Ginny's is hunting down Scabbers! He doesn't need a second predator!"

Hermione hugged Crookshanks tighter, "He's a perfectly mannered cat; he's not interested in hunting stinking rats!"

Ron gasped, offended, "I hope you will keep an eye on him."

Bill looked at the two, amused, while Ginny glared at Ron the whole time; she didn't appreciate him calling her kitty an abomination.

Hermione spared him a short, hard look and then turned to Ginny. "I was hoping our cats could be friends," she said, placing Crookshanks on the ground.

Ginny smiled at her, "Sure! Ruffles could use a friend, right Ruffles?" She said to her cat, who gracefully slept through the whole ordeal. When even her words didn't wake him up, she rose from the couch, making him slide off her knees. He shot her a dirty look, but now that he noticed Hermione had come to the Burrow, he had better things to do.

He approached his best friend and rubbed against her leg. Overjoyed by this affection, the girl started petting him. When she leaned over him, he noticed the state she was in. Almost as bad as Ginny's. Her eyes were bloodshot, with large dark circles under them.

"Hello, kitty," she smiled at him sadly. At first, he thought she had started connecting the dots, but that would be impossible. If the twins did something, they did it for good. He found out about this on his own skin.

"Right," Bill cleared his throat, still looking at Ron amusedly, "I'll leave the three of you alone. If something happens, I'll be upstairs."

The three sat in the sitting room; the gloomy atmosphere was enchanted by the sound of raindrops hitting the windows. It was as if the world and nature were crying after Harry.

The two girls were curled up on the couch, but Ron couldn't sit down. He was still fueled by anger that wouldn't let him rest until it burned out. And it didn't seem to happen quickly.

"We need to do something!" Ron said strongly. He couldn't leave his best mate alone with a maniac!

"Ron," Hermione started slowly, tearily. "I want to get him back as much as you do, but we can't do anything. Black can be everywhere… and we don't even know if Ha-harry is still…" Her lips trembled while her hands clenched tightly to a pillow she was hugging.

"Don't even say that!" The boy growled. He would never accept it! Even if he saw it with his own eyes.

Ginny squeezed Ruffles tighter. He looked at her and saw that she started silently sobbing again. His heart was breaking when he saw his friends like that. It wasn't fair to make them hurt so much. Yet, at the back of his mind, he was glad and thankful that his friends were so concerned about him and his wellbeing. It was one of his greatest fears that his friends wouldn't even blink an eye if something happened to him, even though they had proved a thousand times already that they did care.

He even started second-guessing his choice. But it was too late. The twins made sure he couldn't be changed into Harry ever again.

But was it a good thing, after all?

'Be more appreciative of the ones who help you, or it might not happen again!'

Ruffle's thought about the dog's words a lot, actually. He even felt guilty a little that he had so quickly gotten his emotions and temper out of control. He didn't want to know what would have happened if the dog hadn't shown up and saved him.

He couldn't just leave him in the woods starving.

Fortunately, Mrs Weasley left a whole chicken on the counter – a stupid move in a house with now two cats. She shouldn't be surprised when she notices that the chicken no longer lies there.

He took it to the forest, trying to find the place where he had last seen the dog. Assuming the dog would stay here wasn't wise, but there was hope.

Her fault, not mine.

And this hope was crushed. He couldn't find the dog anywhere, though he searched closely. He even started to meow in hopes it would lure him.

And it lured. The weasel.

At first, he heard a sudden rustle in the bushes. Before he could react, the weasel leapt out at him. With his excellent agility, he managed to dodge it skillfully. It had clearly smelled the delicious chicken and was determined to take it for itself. Or to try to rape him again. He preferred the first option.

Ruffles ran for his life, never looking back. The problem was he couldn't run for long before he would get exhausted. And he suspected that the weasel wouldn't have the same problem.

What the hell was I even thinking?

It wasn't long before he felt the first signs of exhaustion. Before him was a stream, over which led a fallen tree. Ruffles jumped on it and tried to cross it. In the middle, a dry bark fell off under his paw, making Ruffles lose balance and fall into the water underneath.

What made the situation he put himself into even worse was that the stream wasn't so shallow, and he couldn't swim, even when he was still Harry. He was so small and so tired the stream current easily overpowered him, taking him with itself. The weasel jumped into the water after him, not wanting to let go of its prey.

Maybe it's for the best? Maybe if I drown, the weasel won't rape me…

He suddenly heard a loud water splash and with the corner of his eye, he saw a big, black figure hitting the water. Just as he was ready to give up, he felt a gentle bit on his scruff, pulling him closer and closer to the stream bank.

He almost passed out from relief when his paws felt the ground. He opened his eyes, and his heart nearly stopped - before him stood a hellhound, a pet of the death itself.

Only when the grim sat did his mind catch up to his eyes. It wasn't a hellhound – it was Padfoot! With his huge tongue dangling from his mouth, he was staring at Ruffles happily.

Only sodding dogs could be this positive after an almost tragedy!

"We meet again," Padfoot barked. Ruffles tried to stand up, but his paws failed. He was too tired. "Remember what I said last time we saw each other? You're lucky I pitied you again." The dog licked him two times, trying to ease the cat.

"I wanted to give you something… as a thank you…"

"I know. It was delicious."

"You found it?"

"It was what lured me here. This, and your terrified cries."

"And you thought eating was more important than saving me?"

"It's called priorities."

Ruffles sighted. There was no point in arguing with a stupid dog. "I owe you my life. For the second time."

"Doesn't cats have nine lives?"

"I've never tried it out; truth be told, I don't really want to find out on my own skin. Tell me when you need something, and I will do everything I can to help you."

If dogs could grin maniacally, that would be the perfect description of Padfoot right now, "You know what? There is one particular thing I desperately need your help with."

And Ruffles didn't like that one bit.

A/N: Thanks for reading and response! I really appreciate it.

I've merged the prologue with the first chapter to make this story more engaging and comfortable to read. You might now find yourself a little confused about the chapters. In the OLD order, this one would be 6th, but now it is 5th.

I hope to post another chapter in June and end this story in mid-July or so.

Anyway, as always, I won't be offended if you comment. In fact, it'd make me ecstatic!

Take care!