The Dogfather

Sirius didn’t know what to expect. Andromeda -Andy for the family- had always been Sirius' favorite cousin. If he himself before Hogwarts had done everything possible to protect his little brother, it was Andy who was protecting Sirius. She, like Sirius, could never accept the beliefs of the Black family. But unlike him, she had been less vocal and much more discreet. To the point that until she fled with the Muggle-born she had fallen in love with, all except Sirius, were convinced that she was the quintessence of the perfect Pure Blood Lady.

Sirius had considered her an older sister rather than a cousin. She even went so far as to protect him from her comrades Slytherin, who had wanted to make Sirius pay for his "treachery" since he had been sorted into Gryffindor.

Andy approached him very slowly, as if she thought that a sudden movement would scare him away. He watched her advance cautiously, before placing a delicate hand on his cheek, and only noticed the tears beading around the corners of her eyes. "Oh, what they did to you, Mon Ange".

Sirius blinked quickly to chase away his tears, it had been so long since he had heard this nickname. As far back as he could remember, Andy had always called him "her angel", in that sweet and warm tone that told Sirius that she loved him. 

He lost the battle against the sobs when she took him in a tight embrace, "It’s okay, Dearest, you can let go, I am here now"

He could only cling desperately to her, finally allowing himself to let go in the safety of the arms of his cousin, no, of his sister. And he cried, letting out all the emotions he had held for all these years. He mourned the loss of Lily and James, he mourned his freedom, he mourned his friendship with Remus and even with Peter and all that time lost with his little girl.

He didn’t know how long it was, but he knew that Andy had never let go of him, putting a soothing hand in his hair and on his back, patiently letting him  grieve the loss of his life. When he regained consciousness, he was slightly surprised to see they were sitting on the ground, and he felt like he was once again the little boy whom she comforted after a more or less violent altercation with Walburga or Kreacher or both.

She released her grip when he stood up, he felt a little embarrassed, it had been years since they had cried so. He took the time to look at the woman who had become the one who had played such an important role in his life. Indeed, it was through her that he found the courage to take charge of his own life. They had always been very close, and it was on his model that he based his interaction with Reg. She had shown him what love was and taught him to do what was right, she had taught him compassion but also mischief and cunning, she had been a real role model for him.

When she had run away with her lover, Ted something he remembered, she still took the time to send him a letter in which she apologized for leaving him alone with their horrible family but Sirius had never resented her and even did the same thing a few years later, although for totally different reasons.

Another reason why he never resented her was that every few months, and every year on his birthday, she would send him a letter and tell him everything she would have liked to have shared with him. He had been happy to learn about her marriage and the birth of her daughter, he even received a photo of his little niece.

During all his years at Hogwarts, he had only once replied to her to explain that even though he cherished every letter, he could not reply to her because he was being watched by their family who knew they were close. He thought he could go find her when he got out of school, but life had had other plans. Given the intensification of tensions in their sixth year, Andy had explained to him that they had preferred to move, for some time, away from the Wizarding World to protect their daughter and Ted himself.

Sirius had been imprisoned before he could see her again, and now he realized how much he had missed her.

She had not changed much, she still had that pretty mass of black curls that she left freely falling on her shoulders, and which he had always liked to play with. Her grey eyes, so similar to his, bore in them the same sweetness and love that she had always addressed to him. But her features had become more refined, it was easy to see that she was no longer a teenager.

He refocused on her, who was patiently waiting for him to give her his attention again and did not seem at all impatient or disturbed to be on the ground. He finally remembered the present situation "I didn’t know that Uncle Alphard had told you about this place" he said in a hoarse voice."

She let out a little laugh, surprised that it was the first thing he talked about "He told me about it when he found out I ran away from the Blacks, but Ted had already bought a flat so I moved in with him but Uncle told me that I would always be welcome there. When he died, I got a letter telling me he was leaving it to you, but I was still welcome to it if I needed it. When you escaped, I was hoping that you would come and find refuge here, so I placed a ward that would tell me right away if you came here. I have to say that I expected you much sooner".

“I…I had to protect Will. You know, James and Lily made me her godfather. I had to do something Andy, the Rat was right there, so close to her, I couldn’t let him hurt her, I couldn't. I already let her down so much, and now I did it again and... and” Sirius was aware that he was babbling and that the witch did not understand a word of what he was saying.

Feeling his distress, Andy placed a soothing hand on his, waiting for him to look at her. She took a slow, deep breath and encouraging him to do the same. He repeated the exercise several times before he managed to calm down. With a last sigh, he could not help asking the question that had been on his mind since he had seen his sister again.

"Why are you here Andy, everyone thinks I’m a dangerous criminal, a mass murderer..." He could not finish his self-mocking speech because the witch interrupted him with a voice that clearly said that she thought Sirius was a fool.

"What nonsense you’re talking about, Sirius! Please don’t insult me by thinking I’m stupid enough to believe for a moment that you would betray the Potters for any reason, let alone to Voldemort. I always knew you were innocent! I never understood how you could find yourself all this time in Azkaban."

The woman felt her heart break before the unbelief and hope that dwelt in the eyes of her younger brother. Did he really think she would ever think he was capable of such atrocity. He had been an adorable child, always ready to defend the weakest, ready to do anything to protect Regulus from the influence of their parents. Andromeda knew better than anyone how huge Sirius' heart was, and that some may have thought for a moment that Sirius would betray any member of the Potter family made her furious.

Even far away from the Wizarding world, and the potential reprisals of the Blacks, she had known that Sirius and James Potter were the closest of friends, she had seen it from afar before leaving Hogwarts. They might as well have been twins. An idea that had been reinforced when Sirius found refuge among the Potters. This created a big scandal for the House of Black: their heir who left the family and found refuge in a rival family, that they considered as a blood traitor.

The youngest wizard seemed lost "But I don’t... I don’t understand...". Andy sighed, "I don’t know anyone more loyal than you, Mon Ange, when I learned that you had been arrested, I tried everything to see you, to have access to the transcripts of your trial, to ask for another one, I had already asked my Ted if he would defend you. But I was stopped at every turn, Crouch assured me that you had been found guilty, that you even confessed being guilty but he refused to let me see the transcripts and then, a few days after Bella... Bella attacked the Longbottoms, and because of our physical resemblance, I suffered a few attacks, and Crouch was  even more suspicious of me."

It had been difficult for Andromeda to be heard, especially since she no longer had the power and influence that once came with the Black name, until the entire family was associated with the Death Eater. From then on, she really had no power, and Ted did not have the influence to force a trial. She had had a depressive phase where only having to take care of their daughter allowed her to get out of the abyss of guilt at the idea that Sirius was suffering alone in Azkaban, and she couldn’t do anything about it.

She caught his eye, to make sure he understood she was telling the truth "I never, ever believed, even for a moment, that you had betrayed the Potters, Sirius."

She could see the tears in his eyes, but he did not let them flow. He nodded, accepting Andy’s assurance. "Can you tell me what happened, where you’ve been all these months, why did you suddenly escape now, why not before?" she asks in a confused voice.

He took several breaths to pass the ball of emotion in his throat and regain his calm. He had to recover, now that he had the assurance that he was not alone, and this removed a weight from his shoulders which he was not even aware of, he had to put himself together in order to help his pup, who was all alone with adults who did nothing when there were obvious signs of abuse, which was unbelievable, considering all the eyes that were constantly on a person as famous as Will.

"In fact, it was thanks to Fudge that I escaped..." he begins with a smirk on his lips, imagining the reaction of the minister if he knew it was him who had started everything. 

“Dobby!”

The little being appeared in a characteristic loud pop. Dobby looked around, a little confused just before spotting Will. He went to hug her legs, tears in his eyes “Miss Will Potter has called Dobby, Dobby is so happy to see the great Will Potter again”

Smiling, Will stooped down to the level of her little companion and hugged him. “I’m glad to see you too, Dobby. I’m sorry I didn’t call you earlier. How are you?" She had not really had the opportunity to think about this elf with whom she had become surprisingly friendly, despite his efforts, a little too violent, to protect her which had almost killed her the previous year. But after the confrontation with Mr. Malfoy and the ploy that had liberated Dobby, she had not had the opportunity to see him again. 

“Dobby is fine, Dobby works at Hogwy Castle now, Wixens don’t want to hire a house elf who wants to be paid. The castle has a lot of magic so there are a lot of elves who come to work here, like Dobby.”

The brunette was surprised for a moment, they had been in the same place all year, and she had not even known. She wondered for a moment if she could ask for his help without him informing Dumbledore. She did not know what he would do if he learned of his intentions. And she could not allow him to interfere with her plan.

She quickly introduced him to Fred and George, who let her take the lead in the discussion, but clearly curious about what she’d do. She was really happy to have them by her side. Will quickly explained to Dobby the situation with Sirius, and he smiled at her when she told him she needed his help to take care of her godfather for her.

“Dobby can help the great Will Potter. Will Potter can count on Dobby to look after her Dogfather, said the elf with great confidence.”

She could not hold a tender smile at his enthusiasm, and she heard the boys snicker at the nickname."Of course, if you do that, I’ll make sure to pay you, how much does the director pay you to work here? You can just tell me how much you want?"

He explained proudly how the Headmaster wanted to pay him ten Galleons but he managed to negotiated one per week. He then hesitated for a moment to continue. "What is it?" asked Will in an encouraging tone.

“Dobby… Dobby would like to bond with Will Potter, if she would have him” he said with a small voice, before backing away as if he expected to be hit. The sight broke her heart. She approached him again with slow gestures so as not to frighten him further before taking him back in her arms.

"Are you sure you want to bond with me? I thought you wanted to be free, I thought you liked it." Will made sure to keep her voice soft.

“Dobby didn’t want to stay with the bad masters who force Dobby to punish himself, but Dobby wants a family, a nice family. Will Potter is Dobby’s friend, he’d be honored to be able to bond with her.”

There was so much hope in Dobby’s eyes, it was a look that struck her in the heart, because she knew that feeling, that desire to belong, she wanted the same thing even though she had no idea what that connection was or how to do it, but it seemed important to him. She turned, puzzled to the twins, who quickly explained to her that the bond nourishes the elf of the wixen’s magic and in exchange, he agrees to work for him. Usually, they swear to serve family rather than a wixen personally. It was apparently a widespread practice in Pure Blood families for generations.

"Well, if you’re sure, Dobby, I’d be happy to bond with you, but is there a way to...I don’t really know how, but that you can, I don’t know, that our bond works both ways... You know for us to be equal, and I don’t want some kind of bondage relationship, because you’re my friend first." Will can’t help but smile when the shock on the little elf’s face, gave way to a radiant, tearful smile.

"Will Potter is truly the greatest witch Dobby knows."

Turns out that a wizard-elf bond, or witch in this case, was really simple as Dobby, explains it. Fred honestly thought it would be something a little bit more complicated or dramatic than an exchange of vow, from both Will and Dobby. He saw that Georgie shared his disappointment. But well after everything that happened to her just earlier it was maybe better to keep things simple.

He still couldn't understand how so much happened in just one night, and he would be lying to say he was okay. Because of the disgusting situation with Scabbers/Pettigrew, he was nauseous just thinking about it. Twelve years, they’d spent twelve years with a bloody Death Eater in their house, in their room, in their bed, he just remembers how many time they had taken him to play or experiment and to now know it was a man since the beginning, it was just sick.

Trying really hard to not throw up, he focused back on the bonding, making a small smile at his twins worried glance. Dobby had gone first, promising his loyalty and his magic to help Will and to always respond to her call for as long as they were together. Then it was Will’s turn, same vow, and everything was fine, until it wasn’t.

As soon as Will finished her vow, a bright thread came from both of them,  meeting halfway. The bond shone even stronger when the two ends connected, blinding Fred for a moment, quickly closing his eyes. He waited a few moments for the light to dissipate, but hurriedly reopened them hearing the restlessness in his brother’s voice " Will!"

When the black spots stopped dancing in front of his eyes, he was greeted by the frightening sight of Dobby and Will, their skins shining with a light white glow.

Unconscious.

What the heck just happened ?!