To Kill a Puppy Dog

To Kill a Puppy Dog:

Chapter One:

A "Sirius" Grudge

Aubrey Phoenix walked briskly up the stairs to the Ministry of Magic in Misenheimer. She was determined to convince the minister that she could do this. Not only that she could but she had to. She showed her badge to the guard at the desk who just nodded at her. She was one of the best Aurors America had and there was hardly anyone who didn't know who she was.

"Morning Phoenix," the guard said.

"Hey," she said. "Is Annabelle in?"

"You know the way," the guard said pointing down the hall. Aubrey thanked him and headed toward the office of the Minister. Taking a deep breath she straightened her robes and knocked at the door.

"Come in," the voice behind the door bid her entrance. She pushed the door open and went into the office. Annabelle Chambers sat behind the desk, hands folded. Aubrey shut the door behind her. "Sit down Aubrey," Annabelle said.

"Thanks," Aubrey said as she took her seat. She noticed that Annabelle had her file on the desk. "Annabelle I..."

"I know why you're here Aubrey," Annabelle said raising a hand. She opened the folder containing Aubrey's records and looked at them critically.

"Muggle born, Animagus, you attended Silvermoon Sorceresses' Academy," Annabelle said aloud. Aubrey nodded. "Your parents were killed about fifteen years ago." Aubrey nodded again. "You're one of the best Aurors we've got...everyone we've sent you after you've caught,"

"Look Annabelle let's cut to the chase. Sirius Black escaped three years ago. They obviously can't catch him. You told me you'd give me the chance to catch him...I'm going to hold you to it. Let me go after him. I'll catch him I know I can," she pleaded.

"Do you realize how dangerous this man is?" Annabelle asked. "He killed thirteen people..."

"With one curse!" Aubrey finished anger flashing in her hazel eyes. " Two of those people were my parents. I'd be dead too had I not gotten separated from them that day. I know very well how dangerous this man is and I'm telling you I want to go after him," Aubrey exclaimed rising from her seat and throwing her hands up in frustration. "When he got out I asked to go you insisted I take a vacation curtsy of the ministry and I did. And I thought about it. And I've been thinking about it for three years,"

Annabelle didn't know what to say. She sat back in her chair and looked at Aubrey intensely. The girl's hazel eyes were almost black with anger. Her face was pulled in an angry frown and she clutched her hands in her lap. Annabelle sighed. She had stalled long enough.

"Let's go," Annabelle said rising from her seat.

"Where?" Aubrey asked.

"The office of Cornelius Fudge, Minister in Britain. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to give you the chance you want," Annabelle said with a shrug. She didn't like the idea of sending one of her best but youngest Aurors after someone like Sirius Black, especially since he was Britain's problem. She grabbed a bag of floo powder from a desk drawer and walked over to the fireplace. Throwing a pinch of powder into the fire she uttered the location and both she and Aubrey stepped into the fire.

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Cornelius Fudge sat at his desk rummaging through paperwork when the fireplace took on a bright green glow. A moment later a tall blonde woman with hazel eyes in robes of violet appeared before him followed shortly thereafter by a woman with shoulder length curly red hair and hazel eyes. The second woman was of medium height and build and looked to be about twenty-five years old.

"Can I help you?" Fudge asked.

"Hello Cornelius, I'm Annabelle Chambers. I'm the Minister of Magic in America," Annabelle said extending a hand. "And this," she said motioning toward Aubrey, "Is one of our best Aurors...Aubrey Phoenix."

"Miss Phoenix, Miss Chambers, have a seat," Fudge said. They sat and Annabelle continued.

"Aubrey here has an interesting request,"

"And what is that?"

"I want to go after Sirius Black," Aubrey said. Fudge tensed for a moment and looked at her strangely.

"Why?"

"Because he killed my parents. I'm one of the best America has to offer. You're boys have had three years to find him and they haven't. Let me try," she said.

Fudge sat back and studied the girl. He could tell by her tone of voice and the way she stared intently at him that she was more than serious.

"Fine," Fudge said shortly. "I'll assign you to Sirius Black's case,"

"Really?" she asked in disbelief. This had been easier than she thought it would be.

"No one is willing to take the case from my staff, if you wish to pursue him, then good luck," Aubrey resisted the urge to dive across the desk and hug Fudge. "I'll have a room in Hogsmeade ready for your arrival tomorrow."

"Well, the first place I would like to go would be Black's home," Aubrey said. "I wish to look around, for clues."

"Of course." Fudge said. "When you arrive at Hogsmeade I'll have a port key ready for you."

"Thank you sir," Aubrey said. She rose from her seat. She and Annabelle took a pinch of floo powder from the bag Annabelle had brought with her and within seconds they were gone.

"I hope she knows what she's doing," Fudge said to himself.

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Chapter Two:

Who's afraid of the big black dog?

Aubrey took a deep breath and looked around her home one last time. She was really going to be staying at Hogsmeade and she was really going after Sirius Black. Despite the fact that this was a very dangerous mission she could not help but be excited. If she caught Sirius this would put her down in history. Was she over ambitious? Was she blind to the ideas of vengeance and revenge? She didn't think so but some thought she was. She hoisted her two large suitcases from the ground and clearing her mind she Apparated to Hogsmeade.

Cornelius Fudge was waiting for her in The Three Broomsticks. He greeted her briefly and after giving her a folder of files he explained that she would be staying in a small house near the edge of the town called Silverstar Hollow.

"There are few people there," Fudge said. "So you won't be bothered. A security charm has been placed around the property in case Black or anyone else tries to break in."

"Thank you," she said. She felt awkward, like someone was watching her. Tucking the folder into one of her suitcases, she surveyed the room and noticed a large black dog sitting in the corner of the room. Fudge rose from his seat and looked at his pocket watch.

"Let's be off," he said. He led the way out of The Three Broomsticks and toward a carriage. Aubrey looked around as they walked and ran into a tall man with long brown hair and shabby robes.

"Excuse me," Aubrey said.

"No problem," the man said. He looked up at Fudge and confusion spread across his face. "Hello Minister, what brings you to Hogsmeade?"

"Hello Remus," Fudge said through his teeth, "Miss Phoenix here," he said pointing to Aubrey. "I was asked to escort her to her new home,"

Remus knew an Auror when he saw one. The nervousness that emanated from Fudge made him realize that she was the newest hunter added to the Sirius Black hunt.

"Miss Phoenix," Remus said extending a hand. "I'm Remus Lupin,"

"How do you do," she said smiling. So this is Remus Lupin. She looked over Remus' shoulder. That black dog again. She thought.

"Where will you be staying?"

"Silverstar Hollow," she told Remus. She could tell by his methodical questioning and the way he was studying her that he would be watching her.

"What a coincidence, I live not far from there, in Wolves Grove,"

"Perhaps I will see you around," Aubrey said beginning to walk away. She allowed the carriage driver to place her bags in the back. He helped her in and Fudge looked at Remus.

"You stay out of this Lupin," Fudge hissed.

Suspicion confirmed. Remus thought to himself.

Fudge turned back to Aubrey. "I'm not coming with you, the driver knows where to take you. You wanted this," he said handing her a golden key. "Twist the top and it'll take you where you need to go,"

Realizing that it was the port key to Sirius Black's home she nodded. "Thank you," Aubrey said. Fudge walked briskly away from the carriage, desperate to get away from Remus and Hogsmeade. He felt that these wizards were below him. The carriage was about to pull away but Aubrey stopped it. "Mr. Lupin, would you mind accompanying me? We could...have tea," she said.

"Sure," Remus said. He knew she'd come after him, to question him about Sirius; he might as well try to find out as much about her as possible. The carriage started toward Silverstar Hollow and Aubrey pulled the shade on the window but not before noticing that the large black dog from The Three Broomsticks looked like it was trying to follow her. Or Remus. She thought to herself.

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Chapter Three:

Lines drawn, advice given

Aubrey instantly fell in love with the cottage. It was a small home light blue in color, with a wrap around porch and a large bay window. The door, she noticed had a stained glass window in the center of it. Ivy was slowly crawling up the sides of the house and the beams of the porch. Remus got out of the carriage and helped Aubrey down. She couldn't help but study him. It was a bad habit she had acquired during her time in Silvermoon Academy. Because everyone there was an Animagus she had learned to look for certain characteristics in a person's eyes. She didn't see this in Remus but she did see something else. Something dark and violent. Blinking to clear her mind she moved toward the back of the carriage. The driver had taken her suitcases from the carriage and led the way to the small cottage. Unlocking the door he set the suitcases inside it.

"Here's your key ma'am," he said tipping his hat and walking swiftly away, bumping into Remus. Muttering something under his breath the driver disappeared down the street. Aubrey watched him pull away and started to study Remus again. She noticed that despite the fact that he was rather young he looked very tired and old. His eyes seemed to be the only thing that gave away his youth. She didn't want to interrogate him, not now. She didn't want to start off her time in this new place by making enemies.

"Mr. Lupin?" she said from the doorway. "Would you care for tea?"

"Remus Miss Phoenix," he said politely.

"Well if you're Remus them I'm Aubrey," she said with a smile. She didn't understand. He seemed very sweet and at one time he was probably full of life but now he just seemed lonely and shut off from the world. "Would you care for tea?" she asked again.

"Sure," he said with a shrug. With a wave of her wand she conjured up two cups of tea. Handing Remus his tea she ventured out onto the porch and walked around slowly and silently. The banister of the porch was wide enough for her to sit on, so she did. After a moment, Remus began to speak.

"Where are you from?" he asked.

"America," she said.

"Really? What brings you here of all places?" Remus asked. He had dealt with more than his share of Aurors who were looking for Sirius but none of them had been from another country. Had Fudge exhausted his resources?

"Work," she replied shortly.

"I see," he said with a nod. So she was smart.

"What school did you attend?" he asked, curiosity getting the best of him.

"Silvermoon Sorceresses' Academy," she said with a smile. "I assume you attended Hogwarts?"

"I did," Remus said. Enough of this. He was going to play his cards and see what happened. "Look," Remus said. "I know you're an Auror, I can tell by the way you move, by the way you ask questions, and by the way you've been studying everyone and everything around you. My real question is, what are you here for?"

Aubrey blinked in surprise. She had guessed that he knew she was an Auror but she hadn't guessed he'd be so direct about it. She looked at him for a moment and decided that she wasn't going to lie. If he had any contact with Sirius he'd give himself away if he knew she was after him.

"I've been assigned to find and capture one Sirius Black," she said jumping off the banister. "I didn't want to start this way," she said quietly.

"What?" Remus asked. Her admitting she was after Sirius was not something he expected. He expected to have to dance around and fish for clues.

"Oh get off it Remus," she snapped. "You knew the minute you saw me with Fudge I was after Sirius Black. I know you two were friends but that's all I know. I didn't ask for case numbers or clues or information. I want to start from square one and do it all on my own. But I didn't want to start my first day here by making an enemy,"

"And you thought we'd be friends?" Remus asked suddenly feeling insulted. "You want to hurt someone I care for, you honestly think I'd befriend you?"

"No, I guess it was silly of me," Aubrey said with a shrug. "I think you should go, you can use my fireplace if you wish,"

"That's alright," Remus said slamming his teacup on the banister. "I'll walk," Remus galloped down the stairs and began to walk in the direction of Wolves Grove. In mid step he turned. "Miss Phoenix,"

"Yes Mr. Lupin?"

"Search with your heart not your eyes. Things aren't always what they seem. As an Animagus, you should know that,"

Before she could ask what he meant, he was gone.

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