Chapter 5
Anya knew immediately what the best way to bring Sirius would be.
“Hey Mom, I found this Dog outside. Can we keep him?”
“Why, I don’t see why not.” Yor said, as she bent down and looked at Sirius. “What a cutie!”
Sirus’ tail was wagging.
“I could say the same to you.”
Anya tapped him on the head, a little bit too hard.
“What are you going to call him?”
“Sirius.”
“After the criminal on TV?”
Yor cast a look at the television, which just so happened to be giving a report on the escaped convict, Sirius Black, at that very moment.
“I have orders to kill him… I hope I don’t kill the dog by mistake.”
Anya had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. “I’m going to show him the house and train him a bit.”
“Have fun!” Yor said, as she turned back to her cooking. She was humming to herself as a spray of liquid bounced off the frying pan and burned a hole through the counter.
Anya led Sirius up to her room, closed the door behind her, and locked it.
“You probably shouldn’t become a man again while you’re here.” Anya said casually, as she flopped onto her bed. “Father wouldn’t like that at all.”
“Of course he wouldn’t.”
“Don’t think he wouldn’t hurt you.” Anya went on. “I don’t care how many people you’ve killed, Father-“
“I have killed no one.” Sirius said. Anya shot him a look.
“Aren’t you wanted for murder?”
“I did not do it. I’m innocent. It was Peter Pettigrew.”
Anya fingered her temples. “Okay… you need to back up. I don’t even know what Azkaban is, you’re going to need to start from the beginning.”
Anya sat there half the night, listening to the most fascinating story she had ever heard. How Sirius had been framed as a traitor by his friend, Peter Pettigrew, and how he had spent the last twelve years in Azkaban Prison… kept away from his godson, Harry Potter.”
“You’re his godfather?” Anya asked, surprised. “You could have taken him in, then?”
“That’s right.”
She had already gotten to her feet. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he hates the family he lives with.” She said. “The sooner we clear your name the sooner he can get out of there, and go live with you.”
She paused.
“Errr, assuming YOU want to take him, of course.”
His tail was wagging again.
“That…. I like the sound of that.”
Anya smiled at him affectionately and rustled his head.
“Why don’t you meet our real dog?”
Once she introduced Sirius to Forger, Bond Forger, and arranged some bedding for him, they had dinner.
“We don’t need another dog.” Loid said immediately, upon seeing Sirius. “Anya, he’s probably a stray. He needs to go to the pound.”
“I’m sure his owner is nearby.” Anya stressed. “Harry and I will look for them tomorrow. Promise!” She handed Sirius a piece of chicken under the table, who gobbled it greedily.
They spent the entire night talking. Anya, whispering into the night, and Sirius’s thoughts falling into her head.
“So if we’re going to clear your name we’re going to need Peter Pettigrew.” Anya concluded, with a groan.
“He’s with the Weasley family.”
“Who are Harry’s friends.” Anya said. “They’re in Egypt right now…. I’m not exactly sure where.”
“I’ll have to find them at Hogwarts.”
“No… you won’t.” Anya said. “Ron takes the rat with him everywhere. He should be at Diagon Alley when Ron goes, and since Harry always goes with them…”
“I can’t go into Diagon Alley when the entire Wizarding World is looking for me.”
“If you’re with me no one will suspect anything.” Anya said firmly. “Just guide me along and I’ll camouflage you."
Sirius was silent.
“It’s a crime to involve muggles into Wizarding affairs.”
“They shouldn’t be able to spot me as a muggle.” She said. “If anyone asks about my clothes I’ll just tell them I’m from a Muggle family.”
Sirius let out a soft, bark like laugh.
“You know, I’m starting to really like you. You’re trouble.”
Anya smiled faintly. Operation Ratcatcher was a go.
Harry’s Aunt Marge was gone by the time that Anya came up to Number Four’s doorstep, a fact that greatly pleased her. Marge, every time she had seen her that week, had loudly proclaimed that her nephew Dudley would be far better company for her than skinny, delinquent Harry Potter. Anya had told her the last time she had done that she preferred bad boys, which rather threw her for a loop.
Harry and Anya walked around the block, conversing in hushed tones.
“When are you going to Diagon Alley?” Anya asked him casually.
“Tomorrow.” Harry told her, promptly. “Ron’s family is going with me.”
Knew it.
“Can I come?” Anya asked innocently. Harry shot her a dark look.
“You’re a Muggle.”
He didn’t mean it in a mean way, he was simply stating a fact. But Anya took it to mean that an essential aspect of Operation Ratcatcher was that Harry couldn’t see her there. She told Sirius that night, and the two of them made plans.
The very next day, in the early hours of the morning, Anya and Sirius Black found themselves taking the muggle transit to London. Anya had fed her parents some story about wanting to go with Harry during his school shopping trip, and they had readily agreed. Sirius had been very pleasantly surprised.
“Your parents have a lot of faith in you.”
“What, are you saying you wouldn’t?” Anya asked, ignoring the stares from the other muggles on the train.
“My parents never let me do much. They didn’t like that all of my girlfriends were muggles.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Anya asked. “A wizard being with a muggle girl?”
“Of course not.” Sirius said. “I completely approve of relations between Wizards and Muggle girls.”
“Muggles like my Mother, you mean.” Anya said dryly. “Tell me… you’re not related to the Blackbells, are you? I had a friend in school who felt the same way about my Father.”
They stepped off the platform, and with leash in hand Anya followed Sirius down the streets of London. Many people seemed rather taken aback that such a small girl was out with such a big dog, but Sirius was so well behaved they found themselves at their destination in no time.
“This is the Leaky Cauldron.” Sirius said, as they came to a stop outside two buildings. “Muggles shouldn’t be able to see it.”
“You’re right, I can’t.” Anya agreed. “How do I get in?”
“I’ll have to let you in. If anyone asks you’re a witch.”
Sirius led her to a crack in between the two buildings and raised a bar. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an entire building seemed to sprout from the ground, wedged in between the two buildings on either side of it. Anya had to hold in her surprise.
Sirius grinned at her, winked, and then led her into the bar.
Her first taste of Wizard Culture took her aback: Harry had always spoken about the community with an odd sort of reverence in his voice, like he had found somewhere that he really belonged. Her first impression of the Leaky Cauldron was a bunch of weirdos sitting around in robes, smoking pipes and chatting amongst themselves amicably. They did not pay her any notice as she and Sirius made their way to the counter.
Tom the barkeep looked up at her.
“Not a lot of people coming in the muggle way.” He said. “How can I help you?”
“Hello.” Anya said politely. “I’m looking for Harry Potter. Did he come through here, by any chance?”
Heads turned to stare at her, but she paid no mind to them. She stared up at Tom hopefully.
“He did, in fact.” Tom said. “He came through the Floo Network just this morning. He met the Weasleys here any went on to do his Hogwarts shopping.”
“Excellent.” Anya said. “Thank you very much.”
She smiled at him radiantly, and Sirius led her down to the entrance to Diagon Alley. Sirius raised his paw and struck the stone wall, and it leapt aside, revealing the shopping district of Diagon Alley.
“So he’s here.” Sirius breathed.
“What does a Hogwarts Student usually need?” Anya asked, as she was led down the street. Sirius was sniffing the air, trying to get a feel for the situation. Dogs, Anya had been told, were not common household pets among wizards, and many people in the crowd gave them a wide berth.
“Books, Potion Ingredients, Gold.” Sirius said. “Flourish and Blotts might be a good start.”
“Hm.” Anya said. “Harry mentioned that Ron broke his wand last year. He was meant to get a new one.”
“Ah, then we can single him out at Ollivanders!” Sirius exclaimed, sounding pleased. “Let’s go there.”
“We really should have had all this figured out before we left the house.” Anya said, annoyed, as the dog led her further down the street, past the bookstore that had been his first suggestion.
“Relax, all’s well that ends well, right?”
“You’re assuming that nothing is going to go wrong.” Anya told him, as they came to a stop outside Ollivanders. She peered through the windows, trying to catch a glimpse of red hair, but saw no one.
“Should we go in and ask?”
“No, Ollivander will realize that you’re a muggle, since he’s never sold you a wand.” Sirius said immediately. “We should wait outside.”
“Your brilliant ideas sure are getting us places.” Anya said sarcastically, as she awkwardly stood outside the shop, watching passerby. More than a few people cast her curious looks as they walked by, and Anya had to stop herself from reading too many minds. The sheer size of the crowd could easily give her a headache.
And then Sirius was growling. Anya patted his head to calm him down.
“What is it?”
“One of my cousins.” He said. “Narcissa.”
She looked up to see a woman with long, silvery hair leading a boy about her own age down the street. Anya had never seen him, but she recognized him immediately by Harry’s descriptions in his letters. This was Draco Malfoy, the child that he had thought might be the air of Slytherin.
Her first impression was that he rather resembled her old classmate Damian Desmond. He walked like an aristocrat, head held high, seemingly thinking himself superior by all those around him.
They passed by, and Malfoy glanced her way and sneered. Anya found herself twisting her face into what she privately thought of her as ‘Heh’ face, and smirked back. As she knew he would, Malfoy looked offended, and stopped.
“Is there something on my face?” He asked rudely. His Mother stopped in place and glanced down at her, and her lip curled.
“Draco, we do not consort with such trash.” She said. Her eyes flashed down to Sirius. “Or beasts.”
Sirius growled.
“Down, boy.” Anya said, as she pat Sirius’ head affectionately. “Draco, I wanted to ask…. Have you seen Harry Potter anywhere? I need to speak with him.”
Anya spoke so casually, and called him by his first name, that both Draco and his Mother looked taken aback.
“What does she want with Potter? Who is this girl? I saw Potter at the Apothecary, but…”
Anya’s smirk widened. She had the information
“It was really cool how he killed the Monster of Slytherin just like that, wasn’t it?” Anya said happily. “A Thousand Years of Pure Blood Supremacy… all gone up in smoke.”
She faked a blush and hid her face. She needed to end this conversation quickly. “I…. really like him, Draco.”
And then she ran off, towards the Apothecary, Sirius hot on her heels. Behind him Draco’s Mother was grimly giving her son a dark look.
“Harry’s really lucky to have such a clever little girlfriend like you.” Sirius said. “And brave, too.”
“I’m not brave.” Anya said, as she leaned over the railing to the Apothecary and stared the stairwell at it. “I’m just my Father’s daughter, that’s all.”
She could see Harry Potter standing at the bottom of the stairs, chatting with a girl with wild bushy hair and… Ron Weasley.
Sirius bared his teeth.