20 June 1993
It took the better part of a month for Sirius to really start feeling… well, sane. Dobby's assistance over the previous months was a great start but being away from the 'Evil Place' made an even bigger difference. Dobby continued to provide food and potions to the fugitive wizard. The little elf also gave the fugitive his first shave and haircut in over ten years. The transformation from insane looking fugitive to close cut well-groomed hair with a tight goatee was nothing short of magical.
Dobby also arrived with a box of wands for Sirius to try. "Trophies from bad old master. He not miss from Hidden Place," was all the elf said as he popped in to drop them off.
Sirius went through the box both excited and fearful. He was excited to finally have a wand. But he was also afraid of what he would find.
The fourth wand he tried confirmed his fear. He recognized the wand. It belonged to Edgar Bones. He also found wands belonging to the Prewett twins and another he thought belonged to Caradoc Dearborn. Apparently Lucius kept the wands from people he killed as trophies. The very thought made Sirius queasy two weeks later. Eventually, Sirius found a wand that was a near match for his old one. Fortunately it didn't belong to anyone he'd known from the 'Old Crowd'.
The farm Dobby had taken Sirius was located well to the south in England, near the village of Staplehurst in Kent. The farm seemed abandoned to both magical and muggle use. It was only the inside of the large barn that still seemed maintained. When asked, Dobby only said, "Bad old master use it for emergency storage." Based on the combined Muggle-repelling and privacy wards, Sirius guessed ol'Lucius was using this place for storing black market goods. It amused Sirius to think the wards intended to protect Malfoy's illegal goods were also hiding him from Ministry detection. Have to love the irony.
Today was the first day since his escape that Sirius had left the farm. He needed to find the rat so he could clear his name, but first he needed to do something else.
He needed to check on his godson.
Sirius was able to easily slip into the crowded Staplehurst railway station. It was full of commuters on their way to London. Dressed as an office-worker, no one gave the thin, pale, dark haired man a second glance. Sirius enjoyed being surrounded by people again. He felt alive for the first time in years. And it had nothing to do with the pair of attractive young women standing on either side of him that kept bumping into him as the train wound its way through the English countryside.
....
Padfoot sat in the shade of a large oak tree in a park in the city of St Albans with his tail wagging happily. He'd tracked his godson to a large house in an exclusive section of the city. It had a rather high stone wall surrounding its garden along with some impressive wards. A slight warning tingle informed Padfoot when he'd reached the first wards and that he wasn't an invited guest. So he decided to wait. And now he was about to get his reward.
The sun was starting to set when he caught his first glimpse of his godson. Harry was walking with an attractive young witch of Indian descent. They were talking and laughing as they walked. Padfoot followed them to this park in a particular mix of joy and pain.
Harry's face and hair looked so much like James, except he had Lily's eyes and he was missing James's trademark glasses. Harry's build was much heavier than James. His shoulders were much broader and he looked much more muscular. It was painful to look at that face seeing the reflection of James but he rejoiced in the knowledge this was his pup!
Padfoot watched the barely teenagers stroll through the park. (Actually, Harry wasn't even a teenager yet Sirius realized. Not for another month!) He saw them playing on the swings and sitting on a bench together feeding a swan. He had a wide doggie grin when he noticed Harry's hand creep uncertainly to take the girl's hand and her shy smile in response.
Padfoot's tail was thumping on the ground as he watched the young couple. They'd stopped talking now and kept glancing at each other awkwardly.
"Come on, Harry!" Sirius wanted to yell. "Just do it! She wants you to!"
'Merlin, I hope James and Lily are watching this now," Sirius thought happily. 'I need to get a Pensieve. This will be worth a lot in blackmail!'
'Yes, yes, YES!' the animagus mentally howled as Harry cautiously leant over to kiss the pretty young witch on the cheek. They both pulled back with shy smiles while Harry turned beat red.
It was too much for Padfoot.
The large black dog ran out from under the tree straight for the teenagers. His barking laughter warned the pair just before he skidded to a stop at Harry's feet. Before they could move Padfoot was up on his hind legs and putting his forelegs on Harry's shoulders.
Then the long, wet, sloppy doggie kisses started. Padfoot ignored the boy's protests and attempts to push him away in his excitement. His little pup had his first kiss!
The girl's laughter caught Padfoot's attention. He paused in his licking of Harry's face to give her a long wet lick from chin to hairline. At her squeal of protest, Padfoot gave Harry one last lick before turning on his hind paws to dash off.
...
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