Out of the Books

Chapter 10 - The new Pet

It was already after nine when Jack, Amy and Leo walked out of Dr. Clifford's surgery, Leo sporting a huge cast around the right part of his upper body, allowing his broken collarbone to mend, and Jack carrying Padfoot on his arms.

Dr. Clifford had agreed to take a look at him, mainly because his son was one of Jack's students and the two men knew each other quite well and because this late at night it would be hard to find a vet to look at Padfoot, although Jack owed him a couple of drinks now. While Dr. Clifford had been examining him, Padfoot had woken up again, but was too weak to realize what was happening around him. Still Dr. Clifford was optimistic, because Padfoot wasn't unconscious anymore, but merely sleeping and he was sure that the dog should be as good as new by the end of the summer.

The long day taking toll on the twins, both of them fell asleep on the short car trip from Dr. Clifford's surgery to their home. Bringing the twins to bed was a quick and easy task for Jack as they were so tired.

After he had closed the door to the twins' room behind him, he took a beer out of the fridge and collapsed on the sofa, next to Padfoot, who was already sleeping on the rug in front of the sofa. After leaning his head on the back rest and closing his eyes for some moments, Jack took a deep breath and reached for the telephone. He had promised Liz to call her when he had arrived at home.

"Liz Pearson," his wife answered the phone.

"Hi Liz, it's me. We're back home now," he said tiredly.

"Good. Are the children already in bed?" Liz didn't sound any less tired.

"Yes, they fell asleep in the car and went to bed immediately after we got home. Leo's collarbone is broken. He has to wear the cast for three weeks and he has to be careful with his shoulder some weeks after that as well."

Liz sighed. "He will not like that. Especially in the summer holidays."

"Padfoot will keep him good company. He doesn't like sitting around, either," Jack said, smiling. "Dr. Clifford said that he should rest a lot, but that he should be alright by the end of the summer," he added and looked fondly at the dog-form of his best friend.

The dog opened one eye with some effort and blinked back at him. "He just woke up again," Jack informed Liz about Padfoot and sat closer to the dog to pat him behind the ears.

"Okay, take care of him," said Liz. "We can talk again when you come back from school tomorrow."

"Good night. I love you." Jack put the receiver down and turned to his best friend.

"Hi mate, how are you?" Jack whispered. The dog looked up at him with an expression, Jack was sure that if the dog could talk, he would proclaim him crazy to ask such a question,.

Jack sighed and stood up. "I'll get you some water," he told him and made his way into the kitchen.

Gratefully, the dog started to drink the water noisefully. Jack watched him, smiling sadly. "Really, Padfoot, I don't know if I should be happy or worried about you being here."

But the dog, still exhausted from his injury, had already fallen asleep again.

When Jack finally went to bed, he left the door to his room open so that he could hear when Padfoot needed him.

Leo awoke to the grey light before dawn. He had not slept well, waking up every hour or so. His broken collar bone was only throbbing a little but he suspected that his subconscious concern to turn on the injured shoulder had kept him awake.

Yawning, he climbed out of bed and silently cursed the fact that he couldn't take a shower with the cast. He trudged into the kitchen to get himself some milk. When he went back into the sitting room, he was startled to see a huge mass of black fur lying in front of the sofa. After a moment of surprise, though, the events of the past day came back to him and he joined Padfoot on the floor.

"Hello Padfoot," Leo greeted the dog, yawning again."You know, my father is really happy that you are here. I think he misses his friends from school quite a lot. But you, being Sirius's pet must remind him of his old schooldays. And maybe, when you are fine again, you could even show him where Sirius is. That would really make him happy," Leo told the sleeping dog.

Leo's eyes stung from the lack of sleep and he half lay down with his upper body on the sofa, his left elbow supporting his weight, his feet still resting on the ground, only closing his eyes for a few moments.

When he opened them again, the sun was shining brightly into the sitting room and the noise of the shower running came from the bath room. Leo sat up and shook his left arm which felt numb where he had lain on it.

Padfoot looked at him curiously. He still looked weak and in pain, but his eyes were watching him clearly and alert.

"Good morning," Leo muttered at the dog. "I guess, you wonder where you are and who I am," he told the dog, only to say something. The intelligent gaze of the dog was somewhat unnerving.

Leo hadn't really expected any reaction to this remark. So he was quite astonished to see the dog nod at his question.

"Er, ... yes, er, my name is Leo. Leo Pearson," he stuttered. My sister Amy and I found you yesterday in London. Now you are at our place in Dawlish. My Dad was the best friend of your owner, Sirius Black, when they were still in school, so you probably know him, but he hasn't seen him in many, many years. I've never met him, which is actually too bad. I'm sure he could teach me and my sister a lot, as he was one of the great marauders. Sure, my Dad was a marauder as well, but he is 'to involved in our up-bringing to put too much nonsense into our minds...'" When Leo had gotten over his first qualms about talking to a dog, the words all but poured out of him.

Sirius listened to the boy in amazement. He claimed to be a son of a marauder, but how could that be possible? He was sure that he had seen James the other day. Or had that been a hallucination, induced by the horrible pain of his burn? Now, let me think a moment here. Sirius closed his eyes. I fell through the veil. So I should be dead. James is dead. So I met him in afterlife. That makes sense. But I don't feel dead at all. And how the hell was it possible for James to have children, after he had died? And why is the name of his son 'Pearson' and not 'Potter'?

Sirius snapped out of his thoughts as he saw Leo looking at him as if he waited for some answer. Not having paid any more attention to what Leo was saying, Sirius tilted his head to ask the boy to repeat his question.

"I said, you must be hungry," Leo said patiently. "Would you like something to eat or to drink?"

The thought of food made Sirius's stomach growl loudly. Leo laughed at him and got up to search the refridgerator for anything suitable for a dog's stomach.

He came back with the rests of some Chinese take-away food, a package of bacon and a tin of tuna in one hand and carefully balancing a bowl of water in the right hand, which proved a bit difficult because of the cast.

"I never had a dog before, so I have absolutely no idea what you like," he said apologetically as he was piling the food on the floor in front of the sofa.

With great appetite Padfoot ate all of the bacon and most of the Chinese food. He didn't touch the tuna at all. Leo also had to refill his bowl of water two more times.

"Good morning," said Jack cheerfully, as he walked into the sitting room. His raven hair was still damp from the shower and stood wildly into every direction. "You two are up early. And as I see, Padfoot is already enjoying his breakfast."

Sirius looked up, as he heard the voice of his best friend. Even though he knew that he was now in the home of James and his family it was still hard for him to believe. James looked good in his opinion. His hair was still as black and unruly as he had known it. He still wore glasses, although they were not round anymore but rectangular. He had a slight tan and there were small wrinkles around his mouth and eyes. James Potter looked like a happy and healthy man in his best age.

It was unbelievable to Sirius. How could someone age after they had died? How could he, Sirius, still feel pain after he had died? Sirius put all of his weight on his front paws and tried to get up. He stood for a moment on shaking legs before he fell sideways, leaning against the seat of the sofa.

Jack rushed forward and gently pushed him down on the carpet again. "Easy there, mate. You have a nasty burn. You should be careful and not overexert yourself."

Sirius snorted, but stayed on the ground. He had so many questions, but how could he ask them. He cast a short glance at Leo but than shrugged. Sooner or later, the boy would learn that he was not a normal dog. Sirius screwed up his face and tried to transform. He could feel his human side was there somewhere, but he couldn't reach it. He concentrated hard. Something was extremely wrong. Usually it should be hard to keep the Animagus form when one was injured. But now it was almost impossible to transform back. What if it was impossible? Sirius felt ice cold panic rush through him. Through a haze he heard how James told Leo to go and prepare breakfast for the two of them.

Then his best friend crouched down towards him, patted his shoulder and called his name.

"Sirius, please Sirius, listen to me," he said insistently.

Sirius forced his thoughts away from the transfiguration process and looked at his friend to show that he was listening.

"Sirius, please don't try to transform; I don't think it's good for you now." The dog tilted his head. "You were hit with a Volcanis Curse and are still very weak. I don't know, all the effects of the curse, but it is better not to risk anything."

Seeing the thoughtful and slightly suspicious expression on the dog's face, Jack felt a bit guilty about lying to his friend, but how could he tell him, that he might never be able to transform back to a man, right before going to work and then leaving Padfoot to ponder on his fate all alone the whole day long.

The sound of Leo working in the kitchen to prepare breakfast interrupted Jack's thoughts. A glance into the face of Padfoot told him that his friend had about a thousand thoughts swirling around in his mind and at least as many questions.

"Padfoot, we don't have much time to talk now, because I have to go to work soon. Leo and my daughter Amy will stay here with you. They also have my phone number from work, in case you need me. When I'm back home in the afternoon, I will try to tell you everything you want to know."

Sirius doubted that James could answer all his questions when Sirius couldn't ask them, but for now he just nodded.

Jack sighed as Leo was joining him on the floor next to Padfoot. "I'm finished," Leo told his dad. "Now we only have to wait until the coffee is ready."

Although he realized, how lucky he was to be found and taken in by James's family of all people, Sirius suddenly felt weary and tired now. The pain in his chest was throbbing constantly and he felt that James was not telling him something important. At the moment he just wanted to close his eyes and forget everything around him.

He noticed that James was telling him something and grunted uncommitedly in reply, before his eyelids became more and more heavy and sleep took him.

"Padfoot still needs to rest a lot. I think he doesn't feel like getting up either, so there should be no problems. But in case you need me, you have my phone number, right," Jack asked Leo as they sat down for breakfast.

Leo nodded. They ate in silence for a moment, before Leo asked, "Dad, how old is Padfoot actually?"

Jack swallowed some of his coffee and looked at his watch. "Oh, so late already. I really need to run," he ignored the question of his son.

"Take care of Padfoot and of course yourself and that shoulder of yours too," he said, while standing up and going into the hallway to put on his shoes. "I will be back around three."

He waved good bye and closed the front door behind him.

Leo shook his head and started to put the dirty dishes away. He left the food on the table for Amy, when she would get up. Something must be special about Padfoot, he thought.

Wanting to wake neither his sister nor Padfoot, Leo searched the book case in the sitting room for something interesting. Soon he was sitting on the sofa and reading "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."

It was almost noon before Amy appeared in the sitting room, still looking a bit sleepy.

"Morning," she mumbled as she made her way to the breakfast table.

Leo put his book down. "Morning?" he asked. "I had breakfast more than four hours ago. I would think it is rather time for lunch."

Amy was startled and looked at her watch. "Wow!" she exclaimed. "It's really strange, if you don't have to go to school and no one wakes you up! I guess I can skip breakfast then. Let's make some lunch."

The twins went into the kitchen to investigate what was there. It didn't take long for them to agree to make spaghetti, which would surely be easy.

Amy filled a large pot with water, put some salt in there and now they only had to wait for the water to boil, before they could put the spaghetti in. Meanwhile, they could prepare the sauce.

"Have you ever watched Mum preparing spaghetti sauce?" asked Leo.

"No, but it can't be that difficult. I think you only need to warm up some ketchup. It tastes almost the same, don't you think."

They put another, smaller pot on the stove and emptied a whole bottle of ketchup in it. After some minutes, large bubbles began to build on the surface of the thick red mass. Eyery time one of them burst, ketchup flew out of the pot and decorated the stove, the kitchen wall and the shirts of the two little cooks.

"Quickly, we have to stir it!" Leo told Amy and handed her a spoon. Amy put the spoon into the pot with the intention to do as Leo had said, but just that moment, another bubble burst and sprayed her hand with hot ketchup.

"Ouch! That was hot!" she yelled and let the spoon go, which instantly sank into the sticky mass.

While Amy waved her hand around wildly, Leo pulled the pot sideways from the heat, telling his sister frantically to put the hand under water.

When the bubbling hot ketchup had calmed down, Leo got another spoon and tried to stir it, scraping some hard and burnt ketchup at the bottom of the pot. "Well, it is really thick, not like sauce at all," he observed.

"Maybe we should add some water," his sister suggested.

"Good idea," he agreed and poured two cups of water into the pot, which now was full up to the rim. Carefully, he mixed the ketchup with the water. But somehow it still didn't look right to him. Maybe it was too much water, he wondered.

Amy took the spoon out of his hand and tried their creation. "It tastes like nothing," she stated expertly. "It definitely needs salt and pepper."

After adding the spices to the sauce, the next big adventure the twins had to face was pouring the spaghetti water away, but keeping the spaghetti. Leo held a sieve with his left hand over the kitchen sink, while Amy poured all the spaghetti into it. The two of them looked extremely awkward, but managed to decant the water just fine.

Breathing a deep sigh of relief, the twins set the table. Leo walked over to the sofa to wake up Padfoot. He patted him slightly on the head and said softly, "Hey Padfoot, we've made some lunch. Are you hungry?"

The dog opened his eyes and sniffed the air, which smelled somewhat sourly. He nodded at Leo, but still was suspicious of the smell.

Amy thoughtfully spread some newspaper in front of Padfoot, before Leo filled a large bowl of spaghetti and sauce for him. "I hope you like it," he told the dog. "We made it on our own," he added proudly.

They sat down at the table and filled their own plates. It tasted totally different from when their mother cooked for them. The spaghetti were still a bit too hard and the sauce tasted like red, salty water with a hint of burned ketchup, but for Leo and Amy, it tasted just great. It was the first meal they had ever cooked by themselves. And Padfoot seemed to like it well enough. He even ate more than half of the portion Leo had served him.

When their plates were empty, they put them back into the kitchen, which looked as if a battle had taken place there. Amy and Leo looked at each other. "Let's clean up later," Amy groaned. "Of course, how else will Dad ever believe that we cooked by ourselves?" Leo grinned.

Laughing, they escaped the chaotic kitchen and sat down to each side of Padfoot.

"So what do we do now?" Amy asked.

"How about we tell Padfoot a bit more about our family," Leo suggested. "We could show him some pictures."

Amy looked at him strangely. "Yeah right. As if a dog would be interested or even understand family stories and pictures."

But Leo just pointed at the eager expression of the dog and stood up. "See, he is really clever. I'm going to get the photo album."

When Jack came back home from school, he heard his two children laughing and talking.

"...and to our ninth birhtday they gave us this book about experiments. In the same evening we tried one of them. We filled a bottle with water, closed it and put it in the freezer. Sometime in the night, we all woke up to a horrible crack. Mum and Dad were so freaked out, you cannot even believe it..." The rest of Amy's tale was drowned in laughter and bark like chuckles.

Jack smiled, put off his shoes and walked into the sitting room, where he found Amy and Leo sitting with crossed legs next to Padfoot, who was looking at the family photo album.

"Hi, I see I have not been missed," he said, grinning at them all. "Have you already eaten?"

Leo and Amy nodded proudly. "Yes, we made spaghetti and even Padfoot liked it." While Amy and Leo were looking at their Dad, waiting for his praise, Padfoot shook his head at him.

"Yes, I can see that. There is tomato sauce all over your shirts," Jack laughed, "Well, I'm sure, Padfoot really liked what you cooked. But I think it would be better, if we got him some proper dog food. As far as I remember he always liked ground beef, right Padfoot?"

Padfoot panted in agreement and the twins laughed at him.

"Now, would you like to go to the supermarket and get some food for him?" The twins nodded eagerly. As funny as their day had been so far, it was much better to be outside than to be cooped up in the house.

"Great," Jack smiled. "Why don't you change in some clean clothes, while I write you a note what else you can buy."

After the twins had left the house, Jack sat next to Padfoot.

"I hope, the twins didn't give you a hard time, mate?" he asked his best friend.

Padfoot shook his head vigourously. He looked much better than in the morning and Jack could tell that the twins already held a place in his heart.

Maybe that makes it easier for him to accept that he might never transform back again, he thought concernedly. "Sirius," he began, the smile gone from his face, "When I told you not to transform in the morning, it had nothing to do with the Volcanis Curse."

The dog tilted his head askingly. Jack sighed. "When we died, we somehow were transported into another world, were we live on, grow older...some kind of parallel universe or something like that. Don't ask me to explain it, I don't understand it myself. Fact is that in this world, there is no magic."

Jack paused, not knowing how to go on, but Sirius had already understood. Shock and anger were clearly visible in the dog's face.

"Sirius, please listen. I know it will be hard to go on living in dog form, but Lily and I are working on returning to the wizarding world. Maybe you can even help us. Let me tell you, what happened to us after we died."