POMP
… Only to step onto the gravel roadway leading to the Burrow. He passed through the gate to the waist high fence and knocked on the door.
Molly opened the door as she finished drying her hands on her apron.
"Harry Potter." She smiled at him. "I was under the impression that you were bonding with your family."
"I am." Harry smiled back. "I just had to do some banking, and then I did some shopping. I am on my way home, but because I am going to be busy this summer, I don't know if I am going to be able to make Ginny's Birthday." He looked about, when Hedwig drifted down from above and landed on his shoulder. "I will only be a few minutes, Mum Weasley. Besides, the Honeyduke's Caramels will just get stuck in my teeth if I have to eat them myself.
She ushered the lad inside. The house smelled of her home cooking.
With the bird on his shoulder, he moved to sit beside Arthur. He pulled out the Caramels and handed the paper wrapped bundle to the house witch. She snagged the package and bustled away to the kitchen. "Kids! Harry is Here!"
Harry smiled at Arthur and slipped him the bonbons. "Something to warm you up."
Arthur teased open the package, peeked inside, raised an eyebrow at Harry, before closing the flap and tucking it in his robes. He returned to his paper.
Ginny and the twins entered the living room at a run. Ron took a few minutes more.
"Ron…"
"Damn it Harry! A hat box full of living spiders?" Ron yelled at him.
"One. The Hat box wasn't full. Two, the Spiders were smashed with a frying pan and repaired. The Elf is very good with that type of magic. Three, I am feeling a bit of ill will towards you. I told you that I didn't enter my name into the Goblet. By the time I get back to Hogwarts I will have forgiven you." The five sided tube was drawn from the bag, and tossed to him. "Something to soften the blow."
Ron ripped the end open, only for it to explode in his face. Two boxes flew past his nose as twenty plus small black spiders landed on his face.
Ron screamed, fudged himself and feinted.
"Wow. I didn't know that Aragog left that big a mark on him." Harry frowned. "Okay, no more spider related pranks than… unless he turns away from me again."
George knelt to inspect a spider on Ron's face. "Where did you get these?"
"Honeydukes." Harry grinned. "Anise arachnids. Had the witch pack a pound of them between two sets of two chocolate frogs. She must have charmed them to explode when opened."
Fred swiped his wand and collected the candy spiders, but left the frogs. To the twins each went a box of beans and a pound of pepper imps. "The beans are bad enough. But you might want to see about changing or improving the other item."
Turning to Ginny. "Ginny. I know we have had a rocky start. I am sorry if you feel slighted, but I don't see you as anything other than my little sister. I know you are a pureblood, but I don't think you are that pure blooded."
The twins snorted.
Arthur grunted from behind the paper.
"So, I have your birthday present. The Molly approved one." He passed her the combs in the Gladrags box. Ginny opened the box, and hissed in appreciation. It was enough to cause Arthur to fold down the Prophet to see her put her hair up on the combs.
"Nice. Very nice baby girl." He returned to his paper.
"Now next year, I will be telling whomever gets the Captancity that I won't fly for Gryffondor unless there is a relief Seeker. You can even fly reserve Chaser. But to do that you will need something better than that twig of Ron's. Especially if he is flying Keeper." he passed her the shrunken broom. "I didn't want anyone thinking I was buying the team. Keep it small until you get to your room."
She removed a comb from her hair before she ripped the bag open. She shrieked as she held a small broom with the word Starsweeper and a XII. She quickly stuck the broom under the table and grabbed the comb and box before standing and heading to meet her mother at the door to the kitchen.
Molly was pleased with the gift, that it was both girly and sporty…
Molly released the girl's hair, combed it out, Then using the combs, she pinned her ginger hair and back. "Very Nice."
As Ginny returned to the coffee table sat beside Harry and gave him a side-hug. "Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me."
"Now your candy." He pulled out the last box of beans and the two types of fudge. "Keep these from Ron." He handed the bag to Fred.
"Now I have to get back to my Uncles." Harry stood. Fred. Other one. Escort me to the gate."
The twins packed all their candy into the bag and escorted Harry out the door.
As the door clicked. Harry scratched Hedwig's chest. "Hey beautiful. I think you are going to want to fly home. I am going to be taking the shortcut." The bird exploded into the night, winging for home.
Turning to look at the lads, "I have some good news, bad news, and truly horrific news. The good news, here are your keys. To withdraw any money, two people must each present a key at the same time. There are only three keys." Two keys were offered to the twins. "The bad news. Padfoot bought fifteen percent for a minor sum of…" Harry licked his lips. "One Thousand Galleons."
"Thank Merlyn… you had us going." Fred facepalmed.
"The truly horrific news." Harry looked away and shook his head. He breathed deep. "Padfoot and probably Moony will demand to be a part of the research and development of triple W."
George slugged Harry with a left hook. "Stop playing the straight man and pulling these pranks!"
"Are you Serious about Padfoot and Moony?"
"No. I already told you. I am Harry. Padfoot is Sirius." Harry rolled away from the kick aimed at his side, twisting into the void.
"How does he keep getting us?" Fred asked his twin.
"He spent the last four years playing the straight man plus another three years to study us before he turned time." There was a reason George was the smartest of the two.
"Shite!" Fred yelled. Then he smiled. "Hey my less pretty twin. Padfoot and Moony are going to be joining us in Research and Development!"
POMP
Harry landed on the top step of the stoop. Brushing through the Wards and the Door, he followed the sound of spell fire to the ballroom. The so called adults were throwing paint ball hexes at each other as the Elves were cheering them on. When a paintball came close to hitting a plate or dish, the hex bolt would pause and fire back at the Wizard that cast it. Only Harry noticed that Kreature was cheating. All of his hex bolts were being thrown at Sirius.
For some reason Remus was covered in twice the paint of that on Sirius.
Harry cleared his throat.
As the wizards stopped, Kreature snapped his fingers one last time and the last three bolts slammed into Padfoot's groyne.
"Kreature. Those bolts are not anywhere near the dishes." Harry admonished the Elf. "I am afraid you will need to be punished. You are to be at my side until I climb into bed. You will not clean, serve, or cook. Dobby and Winky will handle all Elf Duties tonight."
"No!" The Elf cried as he fell to his knees, pulling on his ears.
Dobby and Winky looked at Harry in Horror.
"Master not allow Gampy to Work?" Winky whimpered.
"He actively has taken action against a defensiveless target." Harry knelt to look her in the eye. "Had he let them hit the wall or redirected them to Sirius's chest he would be directing you two in the Kitchen." Harry stood, before he drew both wands and hosed Lupin pointblank. Once the Werewolf was clean, he dried him and fluffed him before Harry pulled out all the cash he had on him. "Better idea. I am thinking take away. Chinese?"
Sirius opened his mouth and Harry pointed a wand in his face. Sirius closed his mouth.
"Now Dobby, Winky. Please clean the Ballroom. Kreature, join me in the Den. As soon as your balls stop throbbing, join us Padfoot." Harry led the Elder Elf to the Den.
Once he was in the room he closed the door, and pulled out the bag from the pet store. "I found a few things that I need help charming. As this is a Black issue it would be improper to ask Dobby. As the items are a prank on Padfoot… and Winky was acquired to serve Sirius. I didn't mind you targeting the old dog… It was hitting him with the low blow."
As they spread out the items, Kreatures eyes grew wide. "Master want Prank bad Master? Master ask Kreature to help?"
Harry smiled at the little guy. He waggled his eyebrows at the Elf, before frowning. "Don't you want a better outfit? I know that unless I order you to dress better, you will wear rags. But just a tea towel? Doesn't Gampy deserve better?"
"Kreature think about it."
The door opened so Sirius could hobble into the room. Then he saw the items spread out on the coffee table. "Uh… Pup, what did you buy?"
"Oh you know, just some things that I thought you and I could do together."
"As two dogs or as a human and a dog?"
"Yes." Harry smiled at the Wizard. "But now that I think about it… I don't even need you. I can throw my own ball." He bounced the object of discussion on the low table before mimicking throwing it across the room.
Sirius twitched like he wanted to give chase.
Kreature snickered.
They heard the Front Door open and close.
POMP
Lupin closed the door behind himself and stepped into the void from the top step.
He stepped out around the back of his favourite Chinese Restaurant and Deli, Lee Ho Fook's. After ordering three Beef Chow Mein, 6 orders of egg rolls, two each sweet n sour pork and chicken. Three fried rice, six chopsticks, and twelve cookies filled out his order. And cost him all but £2.50. He left it as a tip.
With everything boxed into a cabbage crate he reversed his journey home. As he closed the door behind himself, he followed his mode to the Den where the two humans were sitting around the coffee table…
A coffee table covered with a doggy rake comb, a selection of anti flea and tick supplies, and a couple of Rope Leashes. One was red and white. The other was black and blue.
"That's putting the cart before the pony." Lupin noticed the smirking Elf standing beside the lad. "Clear the table." He settled the box in the centre of the cleared table and unloaded the crate.
"I got the basics and two menus."
"Three chow mein?"
"Two of those are mine. I got you each sweet and sour chicken and pork. Got two cookies for each of us and chopsticks for everyone. But I don't know if the Elves will use them because of the resemblance to wands." He collected two of the chow mein and one box of egg rolls. He fell back into his chair.
Harry called the Elves and shared the food with them. Watching Padfoot and the Elves learn to use chopsticks was amusing. The real fun was watching Kreature prefect the use of the sticks before Sirius.
Winky was slow to take up the sticks because of their resemblance to wands but once she saw the humans egging on Kreature as he was picking up the skill faster than Master Doggy. The Young Master was teasing the older man about his inability to master the use of two sticks and a box to eat.
Of course the two items that the elves liked were the egg rolls and the fortune cookies.
An hour later found Harry sitting on the bed in Reggie's room.
"Okay Kreature. I am officially in bed. Your punishment is finished tonight." Harry looked at the Elf standing on the bed beside him. "I don't mind pranks and petty things, but below the belt was a bit much. The Troll leg… if it finds its way to be in his path… but trying to harm people is a no. The object of pranking is to embarrass the target. You want to do it just enough to make them doubt themselves. Not to cause any real harm. A dead Doxie in his shoe… his hand in a bowl of warm water while he is sleeping. But remember. If you engage him, he is allowed to return fire. As no bruising or worse happens…"
"Soo… laxative in food…allowed but tripping on the stairs is not." Kreature spoke in the human tongue. "Itching powder?"
"In one sock, yes." Harry grinned at the Elf. "Keep it out of his pants. The one that will really get him though is when he sleeps as the dog, clean and braid his hair. Use pink ribbons. As a dog he can't undo it and when he goes human the braids vanish until he returns to the dog."
Kreature grins evilly before vanishing.
Harry returned to his meditation and fell inwards.
POMP
Around midnight, Sirius opened the door to Reggie's/Harry's room.
The light was off.
Something smelled off… like Padfoot… but different.
He entered the room to investigate.
He heard a growl.
No, he felt a growl.
Using his magic to raise the lights in the room…
Came face to face…eye to eye with a Canine the size of Prongs, sitting on its haunches.
Sirius fudged himself.
The 'dog' melted away to reveal Harry in a squatting position.
Sirius blinked
Twice.
"Damn Pup." The man laughed. "Little Bitch indeed. Now if you will excuse me." He turned and headed to the nearest shower. "Winky, I need a change of drawers and my dressing gown!"
As he exited the bedroom, Lupin showed up. Wrinkling his nose as Sirius walked by, he almost missed another scent…
'Human. Our new Alpha. I smell him.'
Lupin frowned. It had been some time since Moony had spoken more than a single word. Usually 'Run' or 'Hunt'.
Now he had found their Alpha.
The scents in range were the Cub and Padfoot… and Padfoot was not the Alpha…
But…
"Cub?"
He shouldered around the door to see a wet nose and a pair of gold and Avada Kedavra green eyes peering out of a massive curly mane.
"A Fu?" Lupin grinned. "No wonder Padfoot shit himself. The only thing stronger is a Dragon. And that's a whole different cauldron of eels."
Harry returned to his human form. "A What?" He frowned. "Is that what that smell was?" He cocked his head. "Why do I want to bare my teeth at you?"
Lupin bared his throat. "A Fu. A Celestial Dog type beast from the China area. Yes, your little bitch scared the shit out of Sirius. And finally… you are an Alpha… your Father was my… our Alpha until his death. Moony has chosen you as my new Alpha."
Harry nodded. "Now the big question. Registered, to be or not be?"
"That's a big question. Not an easy answer." Moony nodded. "But I know what we are doing next full moon. We are going to the forest around the Potter Manor. Twenty square miles of Forest."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "I will get a tent from Diagon Alley. We have a comfortable day finding our camping site. Set up and relax until sunset, then the three of us have our run, then we rest up in comfort and I know one Elf that will be happy to take care of us."
"And you will be big enough to hold Moony down if I get too close to harming an innocent." Moony grabbed the boy in a big hug.
"And I Wonder if Hagrid has ever seen one."
In a tattered bathrobe and dog head slippers, Sirius returned to the bedroom. "I was thinking…"
"Oh no!" Harry broke away from Remus to lay a hand on the gaunt faced man's shoulder. " Did it hurt?"
Sirius looked at his pup with an expression of hurt crossed with pride. "Talk with Director Bones. The Aurors have a list of Animagus that is concealed, but you need a special reason to be listed. Being the Boy Who Lived might be enough to get you on the list."
"So… I know what I am doing tomorrow." Harry sighed. "Did you register on this list?"
"No. We knew that there were Death Eaters on the Force, and we had every intention of registering as soon as the war was over…"
Harry had a thought. "Remus said something about us being Pack. Would anyone be upset if I suggest that we sleep as a pack? I know Moony is stuck in human form but it would give me and Padfoot a chance to learn each other's scent."
Padfoot was pleased with the idea.
As the two wizards hurried to set up a camp cot in the ballroom Harry called in the Elves.
With the three of them around him, he kneeled down. "I have learned a little trick. I don't want you to worry or freak out when you see me out and about." He embraced his inner animal…
Winky squeaked.
Kreature snorted.
"Master Great Wizard Harry Potter Sir really is a Great Wizard!" Dobby lunged and was buried in mane as he hugged his master.
Harry shifted back. "Does Dobby want a ride?" At the Elf's nod, the Fu ambled out and down the stairs to the Ballroom.
Navigating the steps was a little tricky as he was walking down the steps head first.
In the ball room, a Dias was built and padded by a couple of quilts.
Harry, following some instinct, headbutted Remus backwards onto the 'bed' and stepped over him to pull the werewolf into the centre of the platform before using the man as a pillow. Padfoot, as a grim, joined them…
Dobby, still riding the Fu, turned down the lights and snugged into the mane of his Master.
Winky ticked her tongue at the wizards before snapping her fingers. A light blanket fell on the three wizards and Elf.
Kreature grinned evilly as he rubbed his hands together.He wiped a tear from his eye. 'Msdtrt really does love his Elves. Now... where are the Pink Ribbons...'
TBC