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August 6, 1993

"I watch Superman fly away
Come back, I'll be with you someday,"
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After that night things started to get better. Over the next month, the adults in the house all began to realize the truth of what they had been made to believe over the past 12 years and came to terms with how they can not go back and change what happened but they can try and fix what came from it. All while I was adjusting to the new person in my life.

Sirius Black. He was an interesting character, to say the least. We had not really talked over the last few weeks but when we did I think I scared him or freaked him out because he would just leave sometimes mid-conversation. It is because I remind him too much of my father.

My mum always told me that I looked liked him more than her, the dark brown hair, hazel eyes, our walking style. She told me I even speak like him, whatever that means. But she had seemed to have enough of our silence, claiming he was technically my uncle in a way and that he needed to 'grow a pair' and try to get to know me, I did not have a choice.

So today, or tonight, she told Sirius to take me to meet them at some weird place. The three of them had left ahead of time, maybe three hours ago to talk with a group of people. Which left me sitting on the bottom step waiting for him when he came walking out of the kitchen.

"I have a question before we go," He bent down grabbed his shoes from the rack and sat down beside me. I tightened the straps on my backpack.

"Shoot,"

"What if someone recognizes you? Like, are you not supposed to be in Azkaban?" I rested my chin on my palm as I faced him.

Sirius stopped putting on his shoes and stared down at the floor, "I'll be right back," He took off the shoe he had just put on and stood up, "Please don't be alarmed when I walk out,"

That's not at all concerning.

I nodded as he walked into the living area. For a moment there was nothing, no sound or movement I could hear. I got bored quickly and started to tap the side of my head as if I were passing it back and forth in my hands.

When I looked back up a big dog was standing in the doorway. I blinked rapidly before holding up my hand and counting all five fingers, okay, still awake. Where did the dog come from?

That dog is him, dumbass. He's an animagus.

Oh. Yeah, that makes sense, "Can we buy you a leash? Or will that be too weird and you will wear it when you go back to human you?"

The dog looked like he rolled his eyes and shook its head before walking over to me. He nudged my hand with his head, making me pet him. I smiled as I scratched behind the dog's ear and he did that dog thing where they tilt their heads as if pleased. Wanting to mess with him I abruptly stopped and walked over to the door, opening it and holding it open for him to walk through.

"Come on dog I will make up a name for," I waved my hand as he stared at me before walking out the door as I shut it right behind him, just missing his tail.

He walked down the steps as I opted to slide down the railing, but that was not a good idea as I got wobbly and almost fell but dog Sirius caught my sleeve and pulled me down. I thanked him and we started to walk off.

The first part of our trek consisted of him walking in front of me as I walked behind him and took in the views around us. Sirius seemed to just be wandering about the city going nowhere in particular, which in all honesty annoyed me. He was supposed to be showing me around and making this fun before we met with Mum.

I was not having fun.

Go and annoy him.

If I annoy him he will leave me on the streets.

And your mum will kill him, go. I'm bored and want to do something.

I groaned as I knew Lys was right. If I never said anything he would continue dragging me around to all these pointless places. Swallowing my fear, I walked up and bonked him on the head.

"Snuffles, stop trying to walk me. I am the human, not you," He stopped walking altogether and just stared at me. It was a few seconds before I realized that but once I did I just turned and stared at him, "You coming?"

He continued to stare at me and I gave him an actual smile in return. "Do you mind the name? I heard Mum say it about a pet my dad used t-"

Oh. Oh no.

.... You didn't piece it together?

No, Lys, I did not connect that the dog my dad used to have from years ago was actually his best friend the moment I saw him.

Do better.

Go die in a hole.

"I am sorry. I did not know," The dog walked over to me and sat down in front of my feet. I pet his head as he closed his eyes, almost as if he was picturing someone else, "I can change it if you want?"

He opened his eyes and he did not need to say a word for me to know it was alright if I kept the name. I smiled and bent down in front of the dog-man, my hands went around his neck as I pulled him in for a hug.

He seemed off put by the gesture at first but within seconds rested his face on my shoulder.

I was the first to pull away from the hug, Sirius nudged my cheek with his nose and pointed at the curb to the right of us.

"Aw, does the little puppers need to go to the potty?" I asked in a high-pitched voice. He was not amused by this but he also didn't deny it, "Go in the bush. I will wait on the ground,"

He gave his best dog nod and walked off as I walked over and sat on the concrete. It was cold and now that I look around, very creepy. Behind where we had stopped was a playground, a very loud squeaky one at that.

"Sorry, do you mind if I sit?" I jumped at the boy's voice. He was staring down at me as I gripped the strap of my bag. And then I saw it; well saw me. 

"Uh, no, not at all," He gave me a thankful smile and sat down his bag. If he noticed how similar we looked he did not say anything to me, even with the glasses he should not be blind, "Where you off to?"

He looked over at me, "No idea," and then the lights started to flicker above us. We both looked up at the glow as it went out.

Well, that's not ominous at all. He probably thinks you're a psycho.

I thought I was an arsonist?

One causes the other.

Behind us, the swingsets started to move as a big gust of wind blew through the air.

"Aren't you cold?" He asked me.

I shook my head, "One can not be cold if they're cold-blooded. At least that is what our old neighbour told me,"

"Oh, that's nice," He gave a very small laugh and I smiled. The boy looked across the street when the bushes rustled.

Oh no, Sirius. Kinda forgot he was here for a second not gonna lie to myself. Slowly he came out of the bush and beside me, the kid looked terrified. He started to stand and I joined him, a hand held out one side of his jacket as the other went out protectively in front of me. But it was as if Sirius did not see who was beside me and only saw some rando person by his now illegitimate child. And what does any dumb dog who is trying to protect its human do? It barks.

Of course, like an idiot, he pulls his wand out of his jacket. Sirius barks again and scares the poor kid so much, that he did not see the bus hurdling right at him. Luckily I was there to pull his scrawny frame out of the way before he became a pancake and I had to flip him. We both tumbled back and onto the sidewalk, he landed perfectly fine while I missed that part, tripped over his trunk and tried to catch myself with my arm out. The bright light from the bus was right in our faces as it came to a screeching stop in front of us and the guy at the back started to recite his little speech.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus. Emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this evening," He put the card away and looked down at us with his hands on his hips, "Wha' choo doin' down there?"

"Felt like eating dirt," I responded as he said, "Fell over,"

"Wha' choo fall over for?"

"Fun," I went to sit up but as soon as I did a wave of pain shot through my wrist, "Oh that is not fun,"

"Well, come on then. Let's not wait for the grass to grow," The man gets off the bus and begins to grab the trunk from the ground.

The boy reached down to where I was, grabbed my elbows and pulled me up, "Thank you,"

I used my good hand to dust off the dirt that had collected on my pants, "You can thank me by getting me somewhere to get this fixed,"

Harry looks back around the bus at the bushes, "I'm headed to the leaky cauldron, is that okay with you?"

I nodded, Sirius will find me. He can use his dog nose, "I can phone my mum when we get there and tell her we had to stop because of the storm coming,"

"Storm? What storm?" And almost as if on cue, thunder rumbled in the distance, "Oh, that one,"

"Yeah, that one," I laughed and took the first step onto the knight bus as Harry followed.

The bus itself did not have any seats, only beds. An older woman was sleeping in one of them as we travelled back towards the front. The guys from earlier, Stan, ushered us back more until we reached a spot, or well, Harry sat down and I followed.

It was then I remembered, I had never told him my name, "Clover,"

He tilted his head as if confused, "What?"

"My name, it is Clover," I crossed my legs under me on the bed and scooted over to the window.