Paw
I'm steadily approaching the event horizon as fully accepting the wolf as my pet. He basically lives inside together with me now and the only distance still remaining is my insistence on not giving him a name. 'The Wolf' wil do just fine. Since he took over my (new and very comfortable) armchair I finally ordered that couch and even assembled it once it had arrived. Furthermore I even ordered a rug to set before my fireplace. This place is almost becoming homey and I'm already considering inviting Ron and Hermione over.
Maybe that will finally prove to Hermione that I'm doing fine, I just need some time.
Today's post contains a copy of the Daily Prophet (front page: 'What are the heroes of the war up to today?') and a letter from the ministry (Dear Mr. Potter, we are writing to inquire about the status of your Auror apprenticeship...) I drop both of the papers on the cardboard box functioning as a makeshift coffetable.
The wolf scrunches its nose up at the loud slap.
"Yeah, I know." I tell him. "I'm getting your breakfast ready."
A while later we're both seated at the garden door, breathing in the fresh air as we eat our breakfast. I bring both plates back to the sink and stack them atop the rest of the dirty dishes before I have an idea. I fetch some balogna from the fridge and sit on the floor in front of the wolf. He immeiately nudges at my hand, but I hold the meat away.
"No. You'll have to work for it."
He sits back and watches me.
"So, it goes like this." I say, taking one of its paws into my hand and shaking it, before I feed it one scrap of balogna.
I hold my hand out flat and say "Paw.", but he doesn't move.
"Paw." I say again and this time take the paw into my hand myself. The wolf growls at me and pulls his paw back. I roll my eyes at him.
"No, need for that." I explain as I hand him another piece of balogna.
"Paw.", I try again. Warily, the wolf looks at my hand and his tail thumps against the floor once.
"Paw." I insist, but he still doesn't move. Attempting patienc I grab his paw again and say "Good boy," before I hand him the next piece of balogna.
"Paw." I repeat. But the wolf still doesn't budge.
"Look," I explain. "I understand you are a wolf and not a dog, but I have to no you're able to listen to me to a certain extent for this to work out.So, give me your paw."
This time the wolf lifts his paw, but he uses it to push my hand down and barks at me.
"No, not quite like that." I sigh, but the wolf lifts his other paw now, still holding down my hand and barks at me again.
"What?" I ask.
He jabs at my free hand so I lift it and shake his paw, receiving a lick to my cheek as a reward. Wait, as a reward?
The wolf lets go of my other hand and lifts his hand again, barks and waits.
I grab his paw and shake it, receiving another lick in return.
"Wait, no! It's the other way around!" I protest, but the wolf lifts his paw again to bark at me and stupidly I reach for it and shake it.
The wolf fletches his teeth and nudges at the last of the bologna implying it expects a reward for what it's done.
"No!" I shout and snatch it away, stuffing it in my own mouth. "I deserve it more than you!" and the wolf's tail wags wildly at the sight.
"You're impossible." I complain, standing up.
Later, as I'm forced to finally do my dishes because I don't have any clean ones left I hear a distinctive ripping sound. I turn to the living room and find my cardboard coffe table methodically ripped in two, the wolf sitting next to it and watching my reaction intently.
"You." I say, still thinking about how to continue.
"You-" I attempt again.
I cross my arms and glower at the wolf. "You piece of shit." I settle on. The worst thing is, he kind of has a point even. That thing should be ripped up and thrown away. The wolf's tail wags wildly at my insult and he barks excitedly before running a circle around the couch.
I might as well buy that coffee table along with a rug and commit to inviting Ron and Hermione over. I pick up the cardboard and throw it away.