❝ the stray ❞

The summer heat beats down on the ground and anyone who dares to step outside, causing almost every living creature to resort to hiding until nightfall. The only reprieve from the relentless scorch is the shade offered by the trees bordering the vast property.

This does little to deter fifteen year old Carina Potter, however, as she marches through the growing grass in search of the bludger she lost yesterday. Harry is meant to be assisting in the search, but he left with the Weasleys yesterday.

They invited Carina as well, but she declined in hopes of figuring out what has her mother so upset. She and her Uncle Moony have been arguing all day, which is a sight so rare that she's only seen it occur once before.

Their last major fight happened when Carina was only five. Albus Dumbledore had denied Laura's argument to have Harry live with her and she wanted to go above his command and get higher officials involved. Remus, on the other hand, trusted that Dumbledore was doing what was best for Harry. Carina doesn't remember much about it, only that their blowout lasted for days.

This dispute already seems far worse than that one, though. Laura hadn't joined them for a breakfast of Remus's famous pancakes, having slept through it after crying through most of the night. When she finally did leave her hideaway, the only words spoken was a terse apology in advance to Carina for having no intentions of leaving home to go to platform nine and three-fourths with her and Remus tomorrow morning. She promises to make it up to the girl by having all of her favorite foods for dinner, but after taking one look at Laura's puffy eyes and somber demeanor, Carina can't find the will to be mad or upset about it.

She doesn't know what news the Minister of Magic shared when he brought her cousin over, but it must be truly terrible if even her reserved uncle and laid back mother are on edge.

As Carina continues to wander aimlessly, the manor grows further away and the grass continues to get taller. The field seems endless and she can't recall if her family technically even owns this unkempt land past the neatly mowed grass of their backyard. Sweat causes her hair to stick to the back of her neck and her shirt to be nearly soaked, and Carina is on the verge of giving up her search when movement in a nearby bush catches her eye.

The lost bludger is thrashing around in the blackberry bush, unable to untangle itself from the mess of thorns and branches its gotten itself caught in. She examines the thicket, debating on whether or not she should act like she couldn't find it and ask her mother to buy a new one.

The decision is made for her as a deep growl emanates from behind the bush and a large creature leaps forward.

She screams and backs away, tripping over her own feet in her hurry. Falling to the ground in an undignified manner, she's still trying to scoot away when she realizes the animal isn't trying to harm her.

A malnourished black dog sits a few steps away, wagging his tail proudly as he holds the bludger pinned to the ground. He's surprisingly unscathed from jumping through the thorns, but his fur is matted and clinging to his frail body as though he hasn't been properly cared for in years.

Carina realizes there is a high probability the animal is dangerous and will attack if provoked, but elects to ignore the instincts telling her to leave it be as she holds out a hand and carefully moves closer.

The dog barks and she almost retreats, but it's not meant to be a warning. He hurries forward and nearly knocks her over, eager to receive head scratches.

"Aren't you the goodest boy," she coos, laughing as he headbutts her side playfully. "What should we call you?"

She considers the odds of her guardians allowing her to keep the stray and makes a mental note to mention it later during dinner, while Laura is still feeling guilty about not sending her off to Hogwarts.

"Blackberry? Midnight?" Carina wonders aloud, waiting for a name to stick as she continues to pet the dog. "Cocoa? Dash? Bartholomew?"

He whimpers and nudges her side more forcefully, causing her to roll her eyes at his dramatic reaction.

"That's not the worst name in the world," she scoffs. "What about Patches? Snuffles?"

The dog perks back up at the suggestion and she smiles. "Snuffles it is."

In the distance, the back door of the manor slams shut behind Remus and spooks Snuffles. The dog jumps away from Carina, a low growl emanating from the back of his throat as his patchy fur raises on the back of his neck. He takes one last look at the girl before hurrying back into the safety of the trees, unsure as to when he'll see her again.

The older man sits down in the tall grass next to his non-biological niece, unaware of the events that just transpired and offering her a tired smile.

"Are you alright?" He questions, though that's what Carina wants to ask him. She hates to see her uncle worry any more than he already has to. "I thought I heard you shout earlier."

"An animal spooked me," she admits sheepishly, not so slyly adding her request. "How would you feel about a pet that's not our owls?"

"Don't act like you didn't lose that debate years ago," Remus chuckles, referring to the only other pet she's ever been allowed to have. "You killed an unkillable pygmy puff!"

"How was I supposed to know they're allergic to strawberries?"

"Why would you feed it anything other than the food bought specifically for it?"

"Touche."

The silence stretches between them for an uncomfortably long time. Remus clearly has important information to get off his chest but Carina doesn't want to be the one to initiate the difficult conversation, worried as to what he has to say.

"A dangerous prisoner has escaped from Azkaban," he finally says, waiting with baited breath as he gauges her reaction. The only change in the young girl's demeanor is a slight annoyance as she swats away a mosquito. "I'm not telling you this to scare you. It's so you'll be careful while you're away from home, because you and everyone you know have terrible track records of staying out of trouble."

"Who is it?"

"A man named Sirius Black," he answers, though the change in his tone implies he wishes she had asked any other question. "It's nothing you should have to worry about, but Laura and I wanted you to hear it from us first rather than at school."

Remus is amazed at how easily she accepts this news, but considering what little she actually knows about the situation, he's not quite sure what other reaction he expected. The awkward atmosphere is gone now that he's gotten the difficult news out of the way and some of the burdens seem to visibly lift off of Remus's shoulders and bring him one step closer to being back to her fun Uncle Moony.

"Are you and Mum still fighting?"

"We've agreed to disagree," Remus admits. "We need each other too much to stay mad for long, now so more than ever."

Carina doesn't entirely understand what that's supposed to mean but doesn't question it, content to know her favorite adults are back on somewhat good terms.