CHAPTER 31: SNUFFLES' SECRET IDENTITY
The three made their way to the Greengrass parents, who were engaged in conversation with Astoria. As they approached, Harry took a deep breath, the weight of the decision settling over him. He would be living with the Greengrasses for the summer. Well, at least it wouldn't be boring.
"Daphne, is that Harry?" Mrs. Greengrass turned, her smile wide and welcoming. "Oh, Harry dear! We're so glad you're joining us!"
"Thanks, Mrs. Greengrass," Harry replied, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.
"Are you ready for a summer filled with adventure?" Mr. Greengrass asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I hear there are plenty of magical creatures to explore in the area."
"Absolutely!" Harry replied, his enthusiasm growing. "I'd love to explore more of the wizarding world, especially with you guys."
Astoria piped up, a mischievous grin on her face. "Just don't let Daphne drag you into too many of her schemes. I still remember the last time she tried to teach you how to brew potions."
Daphne crossed her arms, pretending to be offended. "I'll have you know that was a very successful experiment, thank you very much!"
"Successful?" Astoria laughed. "More like an explosion waiting to happen!"
Harry chuckled, shaking his head at the banter. The camaraderie felt refreshing, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere he was used to.
As they settled into the warmth and familiarity of the Greengrass household, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that this summer would be different—full of new friendships, laughter, and perhaps even a little mischief.
The house-elves were delighted to have more people to take care of, especially since Harry and Rose treated them so kindly. Harry had allowed Dobby to work at the manor, and the excited house-elf dove into his tasks with unmatched enthusiasm. Soon, the other elves, inspired by Dobby's dedication, began an unofficial competition to see who could work the hardest.
"Master Harry Potter is making us all work so hard!" Dobby exclaimed one morning, polishing the silverware until it shone like the stars. "Dobby loves it!"
"I'm just happy to help," Harry said, chuckling. "But you don't have to do everything yourself, Dobby. We're all here to lend a hand."
Daphne watched as Dobby scurried around, and she couldn't help but smile. She knew that Astoria and Harry got along well, but she noticed that Astoria was also making an effort to spend time with Rose. Slowly but surely, Astoria was bringing her sister out of her shell.
"Rose, do you want to help me with this?" Astoria asked one afternoon, holding out a colorful knitting project.
Rose hesitated, glancing at Harry for reassurance. He gave her a gentle nod, encouraging her to take the leap. "Go on, Rose. It sounds fun!"
"I-I guess so," Rose replied, her voice barely above a whisper. To Daphne's relief, she took a step forward and accepted Astoria's offer.
Meanwhile, Roxanne Greengrass, their mother, relished the opportunity to have Harry and Rose in the house. She busied herself with nurturing them as best as she could. "Are you both hungry? I can whip up some of your favorites," she insisted one evening, her eyes shining with maternal warmth.
"Really, you don't have to go out of your way for us," Harry said politely, trying to ease her enthusiasm. "You've already welcomed us into your home, and that's more than enough."
"Oh, nonsense!" Roxanne waved her hand dismissively, a smile dancing on her lips. "We enjoy having you here, and I insist. It's not charity. Consider it a gift from us since you make our daughter happy. I've never seen her as happy as she is when she's with you."
Harry blushed slightly, feeling the warmth of Roxanne's words. He turned to Daphne, who raised an eyebrow with a teasing grin. "I think someone's taken a liking to you, Harry."
"Yeah, well, I'm just trying to be a good guest," he replied, brushing it off with a chuckle.
As the days passed, Harry found himself naturally stepping into the role of caretaker, often offering to help around the house. He pulled out chairs for Daphne and Rose when they sat down, and he even found himself giving Roxanne a shoulder massage one evening when she looked particularly stressed.
"Harry, are you sure you're not secretly trying to become my personal masseuse?" Roxanne teased, laughter in her voice as she relaxed under his skilled hands.
"I might just take up that profession if the whole wizarding thing doesn't work out," Harry joked, his hands working to relieve her tension.
Daphne began to wonder who was taking care of whom. It was an unusual but welcome sight to see Harry so at ease with her family.
Cyrus Greengrass, Daphne's father, quickly recognized Harry's brilliance. "You've inherited the best traits from both your parents, Harry," he said one evening, a glint of admiration in his eyes. "James's mischief along with Lily's intelligence. It's quite impressive."
Harry beamed at the compliment. "Thanks, Mr. Greengrass. I try my best."
"So, have you thought about what you want to do after Hogwarts?" Cyrus asked, leaning forward, intrigued.
"I've always wanted to be an Auror, but I'm also interested in magical creature conservation," Harry replied thoughtfully.
"Ah, a noble pursuit! We should discuss politics too; I enjoy a good debate," Cyrus added, a twinkle in his eye.
As the adults chatted, Rose remained incredibly shy around the whole family. She often tried to hide behind Harry, Daphne, or Astoria, her small frame shrinking away from the spotlight. This behavior slightly disturbed the Greengrass adults until Daphne explained that it was nothing personal.
"Rose just needs a lot of time to get used to people," Daphne said gently, noticing the concern in her parents' eyes.
"I can't blame her," Roxanne replied softly. "I remember how hard it was for me when I was her age."
Dinner was a lively affair, filled with laughter and chatter. Cyrus and Roxanne sat at the opposite end of the table, the children on the sides. Daphne and Harry sat together, while Rose and Astoria shared the other side.
"Yes, that's true," Harry said to Cyrus, gesturing animatedly. "But honestly, I've never understood why there's a rule about 'elbows off the table.'"
"Me neither," Cyrus agreed, nodding vigorously.
"I mean, tables are elbow height for a reason!" Harry exclaimed, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Right," chuckled Cyrus. "Ah, by the way, have you chosen your elective subjects yet?"
"Yes, Rose and I signed up for Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes," Harry replied enthusiastically.
"I chose the same," Daphne added, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "They all sound really interesting."
"Hmmm, we should probably go shopping in Diagon Alley tomorrow," Roxanne suggested, glancing at her husband. "Cyrus and I will buy your school supplies."
"Really, you don't have to do that," Harry protested politely. "You've let us stay in your home, and that is more than enough."
"Nonsense," Roxanne insisted, her voice firm yet warm. "We've enjoyed having you here, and we insist. It's not charity. Consider it a gift from us since you make our daughter happy. I've never seen her as happy as she is when she's with you."
As the conversation flowed, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of belonging that Harry had longed for. He exchanged glances with Daphne and Rose, and despite the overwhelming kindness of the Greengrass family, he felt an incredible sense of acceptance—a summer of laughter, new friendships, and perhaps even a little mischief awaited him.
"Mum!" Daphne exclaimed, her cheeks flushing a bright shade of pink as her mother continued to fuss over Harry.
"You might as well accept it," Cyrus chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "My wife always gets what she wants; believe me, I know what I'm talking about. When you two are older, you'll be under Daphne's full control."
"Fine," Harry replied with a playful grin. "You can buy my supplies, but I'll buy everything else with my own money."
"Deal," Cyrus nodded, looking pleased.
"Honestly, Harry, it's really no problem," Roxanne said, waving her hand dismissively, though a smile tugged at her lips.
"I know, but I insist," Harry replied, his tone sincere.
"Very well," Roxanne sighed theatrically, crossing her arms. "But if you ever need anything, feel free to ask me."
"I'll remember that," Harry promised, feeling grateful.
"And then just ignore it," Daphne commented, raising an eyebrow playfully.
"Probably," Harry admitted with a laugh.
"Oh, the post is here!" Astoria suddenly pointed upward, excitement in her voice as an owl swooped in, clutching a newspaper in its beak. It dropped the paper directly onto Cyrus's lap.
"What does it say, dear?" Roxanne asked, leaning in closer.
Cyrus's face paled as he read the headline. "Well... it says here that Sirius Black has escaped."
"Sirius Black has escaped?" Harry asked, his heart racing at the news.
"Yes," Cyrus nodded gravely. He expected many things that day, but the news of Sirius's escape was not one of them. At that moment, something else unexpected happened: Harry started laughing.
Harry leaned back in his chair, laughter bubbling up as he looked toward the ceiling. Cyrus noticed the confusion on Roxanne and Astoria's faces, while Rose had a small smile on her lips. Daphne, however, was grinning at Harry, clearly amused by his reaction.
"Sorry," Harry chuckled between breaths, getting up from the dining table. "I just can't help it!"
"I'll take care of him," Daphne said, standing up decisively. "I'll be right back."
She followed Harry to the guest room, where he stayed next to Rose's. Just as she entered, Harry turned, closed the door behind her, and pulled her close, kissing her passionately.
Daphne was incredibly surprised but didn't resist; in fact, she found herself enjoying it, leaning into the kiss. A few minutes later, Harry let her go, a wide grin on his face.
"You're happy," she noted, her voice soft with curiosity.
"Of course I am," Harry replied, his smile unwavering. "Padfoot is back!"
The next day, the group found themselves in the bustling streets of Diagon Alley, excitement buzzing in the air as they had just bought their school supplies. The adults had agreed to let the kids wander off on their own for a while, and Harry felt a sense of freedom wash over him.
"Where to first?" Daphne asked, looking around eagerly.
Harry's eyes sparkled as he took in the sights. "How about we hit up the ice cream parlor? I could go for a butterbeer-flavored cone!"
"Sounds great!" Astoria chimed in, clapping her hands together.
"Me too!" Rose said, her cheeks lighting up with a smile.
After indulging in their sweet treats, they wandered around, stopping by Quality Quidditch Supplies. Harry's eyes widened as he spotted the new Firebolt displayed in the window, gleaming under the shop lights.
"Look at that!" he exclaimed, pointing. "The fastest broom in the world!"
"It's amazing," Daphne said, her voice filled with awe. "I wish I could afford one."
"Same," Astoria agreed, peering through the glass. "But we can always dream, right?"
"Where do you want to go next?" Harry asked, turning to the girls.
"Hmmm, I don't know," Daphne pondered, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "What about you two?" she asked Astoria and Rose.
"I'll go anywhere!" Astoria shrugged, her enthusiasm infectious.
"Same," Rose whispered, glancing at Harry with a shy smile.
"Let's go to the pet shop," Harry suggested, a spark of mischief in his eyes.
"Why?" Daphne asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
"Let's just look around. If we like something, we can buy it," Harry replied with a grin, clearly excited about the possibility of finding a new pet.
"Alright, lead the way!" Daphne said, her competitive spirit kicking in.
With that, the group set off, the sound of laughter and chatter echoing through the busy streets of Diagon Alley as they headed toward the pet shop, eager for whatever adventures awaited them.
Upon arriving at the pet shop, the group was greeted by a myriad of animals—fluffy kittens, chirping birds, and even a few exotic creatures in glass cases. It was like a free zoo, and they marveled at each animal, pointing out their favorites.
"Look at that one!" Astoria exclaimed, pointing to a fluffy white rabbit nibbling on a carrot. "Can you imagine having a pet like that?"
"Absolutely adorable!" Rose agreed, her eyes sparkling.
Harry, however, had his own agenda. He wandered to a section near the back, where he spotted a large black dog lying lazily in its kennel. He picked up a dog collar and leash, looking back at Daphne. "Daph," he said, holding them up triumphantly, "watch over Rose and Astoria; I'll be back in a second."
"What are you up to?" Daphne asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I'll explain later," Harry said with a cheeky grin as he exited the shop. Daphne sighed, wondering what mischief he was planning, and turned her attention back to her sister and Rose.
A few minutes later, the trio left the shop to find Harry next to the large black dog, who looked remarkably like a Grim, although Daphne figured it was probably a German Shepherd. The dog was wearing a blue collar, which Harry held in his hand.
"Harry," Daphne said slowly, raising an eyebrow. "Why did you steal a dog?"
"Stolen? You wound me," Harry replied, clutching his chest in mock injury. "This is my dog; he's always been mine."
"Oh yeah? What's his name?" Daphne challenged, suddenly realizing the truth.
"Yep, he is," Harry nodded with a mischievous sparkle in his eye. "I'll name him Snuffles."
"Snuffles?" Daphne repeated, taken aback by the unexpected choice.
"Nobody would suspect 'Snuffles,'" Harry grinned, clearly pleased with his own cleverness.
"Hmm." Daphne approached the dog and knelt beside him, her expression softening. "You're him? You're really him, aren't you?" she whispered, her voice filled with wonder. The dog barked enthusiastically and nodded his head. Daphne smiled widely and began petting the dog's head. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Snuffles. Harry's told me all about you. I'm Daphne Greengrass."
"My girlfriend and fiancée," Harry whispered playfully, winking at her.
"He's so cute," Astoria said, walking over to join them, her fingers reaching out to stroke Snuffles' shiny fur. "You said his name is Snuffles?"
"Yes," Harry nodded proudly. "He's coming with us to Hogwarts." Snuffles barked happily, wagging his tail vigorously.
"Uh… hello," Rose said shyly, taking a small step forward.
"Don't worry, Rose," Harry encouraged gently. "He doesn't bite."
"O… okay," Rose said hesitantly, but she gradually approached and gently patted Snuffles on the head. When Snuffles didn't react poorly, she began to pet him more confidently. "It's nice to meet you," she said with a small smile, her eyes lighting up.
Just then, a voice cut through their moment of joy. "Oh God, what are you doing here?""Okay then," Harry said, feeling a warmth spread through him.
WELCOME TO LORDARESARCTURUSBLACK ON P.A.T.R.E.O.N
FOR EARLY ACCESS TO NEW CHAPTERS JOIN US ON P.A.T.R.E.O.N LORDARESARCTURUSBLACK