
-44-
Days goes by, and it's now the day before Remus's and Tonks's wedding! I'm heading towards the train that will take me to them. Carrying the luggage that has everything I need for the weekend. Since it takes time to get there, Remus wished me to come day early and offered their guest bedroom for two nights. I tried to convince him that I'm fine traveling two times in one day, but when he said that the bride herself insists, I couldn't say no. This will be the first time I will see Tonks in person too. Can't wait! As I'm walking at the train station, heading towards the right track, I notice there is a black dog standing few meters ahead. It doesn't have any leash on, nor does it has its owner anywhere to be seen. That's odd. Must be one of those street dogs then.
Right after I walked past it, it starts walking after me. Is it really... Following me? No. That can't be true. I must be imagining things. The dog doesn't seem to get distracted by any other people that are walking pass by us. It just keeps casually walking couple meters behind me. Feels like it wants something from me. But what? I don't have any food or anything that sort of with meat the moment. When I finally reach the right track and wait for the train to come, I stop and try my best to ignore the dog. It stops as well and just stares at me. For a moment or two we stay like that until I can't resist anymore and turn to look at it, offering a gentle smile:"I'm sorry, I got nothing to give you, little fella.". The dog just keeps staring and sits down. It looks so cute.
Quickly, I turn my head away, trying so hard fight the urge to pet it. You got this (Y/N). You don't need to pet every single animal you see! Just then, I feel its snout gently touching my hand that is resting beside me. The sudden contact makes me jump a little and my head snaps right down to look at the dog:"Oh..-!". It looks up to me with friendly eyes. I sigh and put the hand on top of its head:"Alright... You win.". It starts waving its tail as I start petting. Looks like I can't resist when it comes to cute animals. When I scratch behind the ear, the dog tilts it head and closes its eyes, like this is the best day of its life. My Hufflepuffness once again peeks out and I hunch down. I keep stroking and talking sweet things until the train comes. "Sorry, buddy. I need to go now." I get up and give a tiny wave before entering the train. When I finally find my seat and look outside of the window, the dog is nowhere to be found. Hm, must've continue its way to find a new human to get love from.
After couple of hours, I arrive to the right place. Aw, my lower back is killing me..! When I come out of the train among few other people, I stop and my eyes widens. "What..?" I let out under my breath. Can't believe what I'm seeing. That same dog I saw at the station when I left... It's now sitting right there! Three meters away from me. "Wait." I start looking around if there is any possibility the train actually made some 'U' turn that I didn't notice and brought us back here. After looking around and reading the boards all around, I get the confirmation I am indeed in the right place. The dog and I share a look again. Something tells me this is not just any regular dog. But I quickly brush that off and start walking with my luggage out of the train station. As expected, the dog starts following me. Are you being serious right now?
When I finally get out of the train station, I start look around where to head next. Their house shouldn't be too far from here. Merlin, why I need to have such bad sense of direction? As I'm looking down to little map I'm holding, wondering what direction I should start walking, the dog comes beside me. It looks up to me, patiently waiting. Even I'm fully aware of it's presence, I try to ignore it as hard as I can. Don't wanna encourage it or anything. After a minute of looking at the map, I put it down and start walking the direction I think I should be going. All of sudden, the dog lets out a bark. It makes me jump a little and automatically my head snaps towards it. "What?" I frown. The dog starts walking other direction and after walking five meters away from me, it looks back. As if it wants me to follow it. "But..." I look back down to the map. Then I look back the dog amazed. It knows the way?!
Hesitatingly, I start following while sometimes checking from the map if this is the right way. Every turn, every street crossing, we're getting closer and closer the house. How in the world does this dog know where to go?! Then it hit me. Unless it's Remus's dog! After some minutes later, we arrive to the house. I stop right at the front yard, still amazed:"Woah! We're here.". Then I look down to the dog and smile:"Aren't you a good boy!". Can't help, but ruffle top of its head happily. Won't take long before familiar looking man peeks out of the door smiling:"Ah, there you two are! I was began to worry.". Wide smile comes up to my face when I see him:"Remus!". So nice to see him again. He keeps smiling while putting hands in his pockets:"Good to see you doing well.".
Before either of us can say anything else, a woman with bubble-gum pink hair quickly comes to the door too to see what's going on. "(Y/N)?" she asks. "Yes?" I answer, not sure who the person is, but I do have a good guess. Big smile comes to her face and she's about to run up to me for a hug:"It is you! Finally! I've been waiting to meet..-", as she takes the first step towards me, part of her shoe hits the doorstep and she trips over. It all happens so quickly; when I realize she's about to fall face down, instinctively I charge to catch her with open arms. Luckily, Remus is faster and gets a hold of her waist just in time:"Careful, my love.". But I was already on the move and couldn't stop my movement, so her chin bonks against my forehead. "Ouch!!" we both let out at the same time and cover the place where it hurts.
Immediately we both start apologizing and try to take the blame. "I'm SO sorry! I shouldn't have run into you like that!" I panic. "No! I'M sorry! I should have been more careful!" she panics. Remus sighs deep while watching us two:"What can you expect when two Hufflepuffs meet each other...". The woman reaches her hand towards me:"Maybe it'll be the best if we introduce ourselves properly before we continue hurting each other. Nymphadora Tonks. But please call me Tonks only.". I hold onto her hand and we do a little shake. Shy smile comes up to my face now:"(Y/N) (Y/L). (Y/N) is just fine. Remus has told me all about you.". "All good, I hope." she chuckles. "Perhaps, we should continue this happy reunion inside?" Remus suggests. "Right. Come along then." Tonks nods and leads the way inside the house.
At first Remus watches his soon to be wife walk in, then he turns to me and opens the door more:"You two, come along.". For a second I had already forgot the dog beside me. "I must say, you have trained your dog remarkably well, Remus." I smile as I step inside, the dog coming right behind. Remus just smirks without a word and closes the door behind him. Tonks goes to the kitchen to make us some tea. While walking few steps ahead and place down the luggage, I continue:"What kind of dog is he?". Remus puts his hands back into his pockets and chuckles:"Good question. Why won't you ask from himself?". Turn to face him with questioning look on my face:"Huh?". What does he mean by tha..- Just in that second, the dog changes its shape to... A grown ass man!!! "Most of the Muggles likes to identify me as the German Shepherd." the man with dark, curly hair with some tattoos all over his body casually says. "What?!" I let out shocked and take a step back.
It takes me a split second to realize the man is indeed fully naked and quickly turn my head away. He's Animagus! Remus sighs, takes a long coat from the hall stand and tosses it for him to cover up:"Goodness sake, Sirius. Thought you would at least wait to get dressed before doing that.". Sirius? The man just smirks and puts the coat on:"Oh, come now. The look on her face was worth it.". I just stand here still in shock. "Sirius here is a long time friend of mine. We go way back in childhood. As you must've already realize, he is Animagus." Remus introduces. My eyes shifts from Remus to Sirius. Sirius now has more gentle smile on his face as he reaches a hand towards me:"Sirius Black. Fancy finally to meet you.". "(Y/N) (Y/L)." I shake hands with him with awkward smile.
While we shake hands, Remus goes to the kitchen to check up on how Tonks is doing. "My apologies for not introducing myself earlier. Remus here thought you'd need a little guidance to find here and send me to check up on you - and he was right. I figured you would be more comfortable to have a dog as your guide, rather than some stranger." Sirius chuckles and we let go of our hands. "Ah, I see." I nod. Sure, it might have been little bit odd if someone I have never met before would have asked to follow them. Remus peeks behind the kitchen's doorway:"Tea is ready. You can leave the luggage there, (Y/N). I'll show to your room later.". "Thank you." I smile at him over my shoulder. His eyes goes to Sirius:"And you. Go get yourself dressed, and do burn that coat.". Sirius rolls his eyes:"Of course, Moony.". Moony?
Remus shook his head a bit and goes back in the kitchen. As Sirius starts going up the stairs where I think all the bedrooms in this house are, I open the luggage and let Sniffy out. "There we go. We have arrived.". The niffler peeks out and starts to look around where are we now. I didn't have the heart to leave him second weekend in a row alone. Just when I'm about to follow Remus to the kitchen with Sniffy, Sirius stops in middle of the stairs:"Oh, and..- If you do need help with anything, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'll be more than happy to help you.". I stare back at him slightly confused by the sudden offer. There is a mischievous smirks corner of his mouth:"That's what good boys do, isn't that right?". Immediately, my face goes burning red when I remember how I have sweet talked and pet this man just a minute ago. He just chuckles and continues to go up the stairs. Oh, dear Merlin!