Summary: Working late at a part time job, you spot a black scrawny dog outside your cafe. Knowing it was against the rules, you decided to feed it some leftovers.
Pairing: Sirius Black x muggle! F! Reader
Warnings: Violence (physical confrontation, magical combat), strong language (18+), age gap mentions of injury, dark themes, discrimination/ prejudice (Pureblood supremacy , anti-muggle rhetoric), and last but certainly not the least- smut
ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 1 : ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴅᴏɢ
It was a slow day and the night was worse, only three customers swung by one of which was just an old lady looking for a good fight.
The night air was bitting cold, you weren't prepared to stay the night but your employer dumped the nightshift on your back. You couldn't refuse. The old was seeping in your hands, your fingers were numb at this point from the wiping the table clean. You noticed the streetlight flicker outside. Your eyes glanced at your spectacles sitting atop the counter. You paid then no mind.
At this point you should've just close the cafe and be on your way home. Becasue there wasn't a single person outside.
You went in the back, the kitchen was a tad bit warmer from the stove. But you couldnt stay there forever, can you?
You went to the counter, the smell of roasted coffee beans was still lingering in the air. You were checking your keypad mobile when something moved beyong the glass. At first you thought it just a trick your mind was playing as the street light flickered again, but then something moved again.
You narrowed your eyes and tried to focus a bit more. Your heart was stuttering lowly in your ribcage, you hands shot to grab your spectacles and you wore them quickly.
Then, just beyond the glass window, you saw a dog.
The relief that washed over you was blissful. You thought it was a thief or maybe that old lady from morning. The latter was worse though.
The dog was black, dark enough to blend into the dark of the night. It was curled near the brick wall of the store. You walked closer, not trying to catch its attention. Upon a closer look you noticed the fur on its back was patchy and it seemed a bit scrawny. One of its ear twitched making you freeze on your spot, but it was just a car passing by.
You watched for a few seconds, it didn't move, you'd seen strays dogs before, they whined and wag their tails and learned the rhythm of human kindness or cruelty.
Curious, you decided to go outside. When you opened the glass door of the cafe, the bell jingled and the outside air felt like a slap to your face. The dog lifted its head and looked up at you.
"Hi boy," came your soft voice, trying not to scare him. To be utterly honest, you wete terrified of dogs. They weren't your best friends. You remember when your were but a child a dog had bitten you and since then you never re-bonded with them.
Upon your voice his head tiled, tails moved just an inch and then stopped.
A smile fell on your face.
"Are you friendly?," you ask , not expecting an answer.
He got up from his sitting positing, slowly mobing towards you, his tail was tugged, ears alert, sniff sniff, he smelled you.
You slowly extended your hand towards his nose, trying not be sudden at all. He sniffed a little and then slowly, hesitantly rubbed his head on your warm palm.
The feel of his cold head on your palm was heartbreaking. Poor baby was outside in the cold all alone. Your eyes flickered towards the empty counter inside the cafe.
What they don't know can't hurt them, right?
"I'll bring you something warm to eat, stay here don't move, okay?" You asked, again not expecting him to answer, bit as you turned around to go inside he sat down. Waiting.
You hurry towards the kitchen and heat up some milk, you took out a paper plate and poured the milk in, along with a few broken bits of bread.
Your heart was beating loudly when you walked outside, the bell rung again and the dog lifted his head.
You noticed up close his eyes were a shade of grey, not black. They followed your movement as you crouched down and placed the plate infront of him.
For a moment he just stared at you then at the food, he moved towards it sniffing.
He started eating it, calmly, not rushing.
"You're well behaved, are you somebody's pet?" You asked as you looked at him eat. A feeling of happiness washed over you when you noticed his tail wagging slowly.
After finishing he looked up, his mouth was covered in milk and he was Licking it.
He licked himself clean and came towards you, wagging his tail and giving soft whimpers. You smiled. "Yeah it was good huh" you said in a baby voice while petting him. As he your hand moved along his head, something caught your eyes. Around his neck was a leather collar, worn out and dark, the edges were cracked and softened from the years of use.
"So you are somebody's, huh?" You smiled with a huffed. His tail was softly wagging now. He trusts you.
"Padfoot" his ears flickered up, head tilting.
You smiled at him, "you are such a good and well behaved dog padfoot" you cued at him again while petting him.
Suddenly, you felt a shiver run down your spine. Maybe its was the cold. You hugged your shoulders and looked around. Nobody was here.
You got up and walked in. Inside was no better, it was still cold and you hated the smell of burnt coffee.
You noticed after a few minutes, padfoot sitting outside. He was still, like trying to focus on something. You didn't pay him much mind. After all he was just a dog. Right?
Harry walks up to his room after doing the dishes, exhaustion pulling at his eyes. His room was dark, cold. He walked in and hedwig gave a quick chirp.
His eyes followed the moonlight and spotted a roughly folded parchment.
Strange. It wasn't there when be left his room.
Hesitantly, he picked it up. And unfolded it. His stomach tightened as his eyes skimmed over the handwriting. There was no doubt, the handwriting was clear, Sharp in places and impatient in others.
Meet me at 17 Bexley Row, Camden, London.
He swallowed, sirius was here.
Harry exhaled, fingers tightening around the parchment.
"Yeah" he muttered, "of course hes here"
Within minutes, he was pulling on his jacket, the letter shoved deep in his pocket along with his wand.
Getting out of the dursleys' was not hard anymore. They didn't care. He stepped out in the cold night. Following the address which he memorised.
It was a five-minute walk. He spotted the cafe, dim lights and almost empty except for one person inside the cafe. And then he spotted him.
Sitting beside the door of the cafe, eyes already staring back at Harry. He got up and walked towards the alley adjacent to the cafe.
Harry's hurried footsteps took him to thay alley.
By the time he walked in the alley, the dog was gone.
In its place stood a man.
"You're taller," Sirius said, a crooked grin breaking the exhaustion on his face, "Reckon that means ive missed a lot,"
Harry didn't say anything, just stepped forward and hugged him.
Sirius melted into that hug, tucking Harry close as if he might vanish too.
"You left a letter," Harry's eyes burned.
"Yeah, couldnt risk an owl," Sirius hurriedly replied, "Harry this is very important so listen carefully,"
Harry had his full attention on sirius now.
"Alonh with our world the muggoe world is in danger too, i reckon you've read the news about the collapsing bridge,"
"So-" before he could speak the cafe door creaked open.
Sirius froze, his eyes flickered out and then back at Harry.
Sirius transformed again. Walked out of the alley. Before Harry could say anything, you walked out of the cafe.
You held the door open by your shoulder, "Hey," you said looking at the dog, "You're still here boy?"
Padfoot sat infront of you, you sighed.
You crouched down, extending your hand slowly, trying not to spook him. He sniffed you.
You held his face in your hands. "You're eyes are pretty" you noticed his thin form.
"You shouldn't be here all night," you looked back at his eyes, "its cold" you got up and with one final thought walked inside, holding the door for him.
Padfoot walked in without a hint if hesitation.
Before entering he gave one look at Harry, 'come inside after a few minutes' harry nodded.
Padfoot sat near your foot, as if guarding you. You chuckled and went back to heat up some more milk for him.
Its fine, its just a little milk
The door opened softly and you heard the bell. Startled by it, almost slashing the milk over.
"I'll be right there!" You yelled from the kitchen, wiping your hands on your apron.
A boy stood near the counter.
Near your age, probably a few years younger though. Dark untidy hair as if he just got out of bed, glasses slightly crooked on his nose.
His eyes went straight to the dog, then back at you.
"Sorry," he said quickly, "i uh- are you still open?"
"Technically yes, for a few more minutes," you smiled.
"Great," he said relieved, "ill just- tea or coffee. Whichevers easier,"
You nodded and turned to get a mug, you looked over your shoulder and saw him looking at the dog.
"You know him?" You ask trying to act casual.
Harry's eyes flickered down then back at youm
"What? Oh- no, just..looks familiar,"
The dog lifted his head at that, stood up and moved closer to Harry, sniffing him then settling at his feet.
You frowned, "im jealous padfoot, dont break my heart," you joked looking at padfoot, he wagged his tail in response. You chuckled.
Harry huffed a laugh and looked down at padfoot, "she knows your name?" He whispered.
You poured Harry's coffee and poured some warm milk in a paper plate, for padfoot.
"Heres your coffee, and some milk for this handsome boy," you placed the coffee on the table and the milk near padfoot on the floor.
Harry smiled, small but genuine, "he'll appreciate it,"
The bell above the cafe door rang. Hard.
You looked up and frowned.
Three men entered, they wore...cloaks? Their face covered with masks. They scanned the room.
"Sorry, Were closed," you firmly, your service voice spoke out. Even though you knew the cafe was open 24/7.
One of them chuckled darkly, "Pity".
You noticed the boy straighting his back and pulling something of his pocket subtly.
"Well well well," the second man said, "isn't that interesting?" He said looking at Harry.
The third man spoke up, "D'you know im'?"
"Hes just a customer," you said, emergency contact dialed on your mobile.
"Is he now?" He pulled a stick out of his cloak pocket.
The man glanced down at the dog with mild amusement , "you like collecting strays, dont you?" He looked at you.
"Leave, now." Harry warned with steady voice but the tension in his jaw was noticeable.
"Look at him," the first man spoke up, "brave and utterly stupid,"
He pointed his 'stick' towards you suddenly.
"Don't!" Harry yelled, raising his as well.
A spell shot out of the stick, ready to hit you. But padfoot jumped between it, getting struck mid air.
He slammed into a table that made you cry out.
"Get down!" Harry yelled out, at this point all of them were attacking you.
What the fuck is going on...
Another attack, a table exploded, sending shards of wood flying towards you, you screamed, ducking instinctively, Hands over your head as another flash shot through the room. Cups shattered.
People couldnt do this...dogs couldnt..do this?
Get down!" Harry yelled again, but you barely registered it. You were frozen, staring at the man who was a dog mere seconds ago.
He stood between you and them now, coat torn, and wand raised at the intruders.
Your knees nearly gave out.
Spell on spell were thrown towards him but his hands moved quick, blocking every spell with practised ease.
"Oh my God," you whispered in disbelief, "Oh my God"
One of the men laughed cruelly, "Look at the mudblood, so scared, so fragile, God I would love to watch her break,"
"Shut up," Padfoot snarled at him, "Harry! Cover her quick!" Harry didn't as he was told. With one powerful swing of his wand, padfoot took one of them down. The other two lowered their wands.
"Leave, before I kill you,"
They quickly scrambled away, leaving one of their members laying, not dead- but injured.
