Midnight Trailblazer

Written for the Midnight Challenge

A/N: In order to remove the clutter and organize my profile, I decided to take down some of my oneshots and add them to this collection. This story was originally a oneshot published by itself. I saved a copy of the reviews, and have given this story a new home in my collection.

This was degrading. At first Sirius thought he'd come up with a brilliant idea, and the idea was that in order to avoid being captured or seen, he would only leave Grimmauld Place during the late hours of the evening after midnight, and would remain in his animal form while he was out. It started out as a good idea. But this? This was just too much.

The members of the Order had agreed on allowing Sirius out after midnight in his animal form because they knew the poor man would soon go stir crazy if he didn't get outside to get some fresh air. He didn't escape Azkaban just to stay locked up in his parents' house listening to his mother's portrait screaming all day long. That alone was enough to drive someone mad. But he would only be allowed out on one condition, and that was that he had to have someone from the Order with him at all times while he was out and he had to behave like an actual dog.

Sirius would have to make it look convincing so that if anyone saw him they would truly believe he was a dog and not a wizard in disguise.

"And how am I supposed to do that?" Sirius asked. "Lift my leg and pee on a bush?"

It was then that Snape came forward, a sly smirk on his face, and Sirius Black knew he was screwed.

And so here he was. It was well after midnight, almost one in the morning, and Severus had him on a leash taking him for a walk around the neighborhood.

Severus was enjoying himself immensely and Sirius knew it. This was humiliating. And not only that but his collar was too tight. A collar which was silver in color and set with green rhinestones.

All of this infuriated Sirius to no end, and he began to think of ways he could make this outing a miserable experience for Severus, so much so that Snape would never volunteer to take him for a walk again.

His thoughts drifted back to how Minerva had told him he'd have to behave like a dog during his trips out. What sort of dog behavior would thoroughly annoy Severus?

He could try humping Snape's leg, but the thought disgusted him to the point of making him want to vomit. He could try peeing on Snape's shoes or leg, but that didn't seem like enough. Plus he doubted that he could get Severus to hold still long enough to do his business. And urinating on the Potions Master was probably the fastest way to get himself neutered.

Sirius looked around, trying to find something that would aid him in his quest to annoy Severus. It was then that he spied a cat across the road.

Perfect. This was exactly what he needed. What could be more canine than chasing a cat?

Sirius started barking. He tugged on his leash and nearly yanked Snape off his feet as he began to run. Severus had no choice but to run with Sirius practically pulling him along, otherwise he would have fallen flat on his face on the sidewalk.

The cat started and shot off into the night with Sirius Black in hot pursuit. He chased the cat though the neighbors' yard, weaving around a set of lawn furniture which Severus crashed right though, getting his foot stuck through the seat of a chair.

He chased the cat through a second yard where there was a large swimming pool. The cat went around the pool but Sirius dove right in, taking Severus along with him and nearly drowning the Potions Master in the process as he doggy paddled across the water.

When he got out of the pool Sirius didn't even bother giving Snape a chance to catch his breath before darting off across the yard as the cat disappeared into the next door neighbor's hedge.

Gasping and sputtering after almost being drowned in the pool, Severus was hauled along as Sirius dove into the hedge after the cat. Branches broke and leaves went flying in every direction as Sirius crashed through the hedge, still pulling Severus along behind him.

Sirius finally came to a stop in the middle of someone's yard as the cat ran and leapt into the arms of an old lady who was standing in her nightgown in the doorway of her house.

"Why Severus," the old woman said with a smile. "Thank you so much. It seems as though your dog has brought Mr. Paws home."

Severus groaned and looked up from where he lay sprawled out on in the grass, his clothes soaking wet, his foot wearing the lawn chair like a Christmas ornament, with leaves and twigs stuck in his hair. There before him was Mrs. Figg. One of her cats had gotten out and Sirius had chased it back home.

"You're welcome?" It came out sounding more like a question when Severus said this, his senses dazed and his mind reeling from being drug around during Sirius' mad dash through the neighborhood.

Mrs. Figg thanked Severus again then bid him goodnight and took her cat back in the house.

Sirius trotted over to Severus, sat down with his large front paws on Severus' chest and happily licked the Potions Master's face.

"Get away from me!" Snape shouted, trying in vain to push the dog off him. "Get away from me, you filthy mutt!"

But Sirius kept right on licking him.

Needless to say this would be the last time Severus attempted to take Sirius for a walk. From now on if Sirius Black wanted to go out he'd have to find someone else who was willing to walk him.