Leading a Double Life

Padfoot flung water everywhere as he shook off the water, soaking Bryn. Hearing her laughter, he barked and tried to climb out of the bathtub. She grabbed him and shoved him back in. Then, slipping on the wet floor, fell in with him. Seeing that she was laughing hard enough not to make any sounds, he started to lick her face.



\"Ack! Stop!\" she cried. \"Okay, okay! I get it, I\'m gonna get up.\" Actually following through took her a minute, but she got out without too much slipping and splashing. \"Okay, boy, time to get you dried off, then I\'m going to change into something dry.\"



Jumping out of the tub, he waited for her to get a towel before shaking the water off again.



Getting toweled off was quite pleasant, it felt like a massage to him and he was disappointed when it ended. Looking up in Bryn\'s grinning face, he whined hoping for her to continue. Her response wasn\'t what he wanted, however, because she just threw the towel over his head.



Shaking it off, he noticed that she was pulling off her drenched clothing. Following her to a room with a big bed, a dresser, and a rocking chair, he laid out on a rug and watched while she changed. Filing the sight away for further use, he paid rapt attention to every aspect of her body.



Her bra covered firm breasts that weren\'t too small or too big, but just right for Sirius\'s tastes. The underwear came next, sliding up to rest on slim, but curvaceous hips. Putting on the jeans, she looked in the mirror to see how they made her butt look. Sirius wanted to tell her how absolutely fantastic it was and that she didn\'t need to worry, that women envied such a sight and men lusted after it. Then, pulling on a soft, light green sweater, she sighed. She looked in the mirror again and frowned at her reflection.



Pulling back long brown hair that hid her blue eyes, she experimented with a few different hairstyles before putting it back in a simple braid. Turning around she gave him a lopsided smile. \"Well, I guess this is as good as I can get. Now, I need to go get some things for you at the store. Try not to wreck the house while I\'m gone.\"



Sirius watched the door close before changing forms. If he left now, he would would only be ten minutes late for his scheduled meeting with Kingsley. Hurrying, he apparated.





Leaving the pet shop with a new collar, leash, grooming brush, dog food, ball, and bones for her new dog to chew on; Bryn smiled. It was kind of lonely living alone, she was glad to have another being in the house, even if only a pet. \"Yeah, I have a dog there... and I keep talking to him like he\'ll answer me. Next thing you know, I\'ll be dressing him up in little suits and inviting my friends over to have tea with my dear old friend, \'Mr. Hollingsworth.\' I\'ve got to get a life.\"



Walking up the street, Bryn continued to mutter to herself and passed by a very bemused Kingsley without noticing.



\"Bryn!\" She stopped and turned around, shaking herself from her reverie. Shooting an amused look at a man next to him, he quirked an eyebrow. \"Are you all right? How\'s everything at home?\"



Smiling, she nodded. \"I\'m fine. Just perfect, in fact. Um, everything at home? You mean, Beth didn\'t report in right away after you sent her to check on me?\"



\"Ah. You could tell?\" he asked, giving her an apologetic smile after she nodded. \"Well, she did. She said you had picked up a dog somewhere and treating it like a human.\"



Bryn shook her head. \"Dog... is that the word she actually used? She called him a mangy old mutt at my house.\"



Kingsley\'s acquaintance grinned at her, and she returned it with a small smile before going back to what was being said. \"You need to be careful about the animals that you bring into your home, Bryn. You never know what might turn out to be dangerous. We\'re all worried about you, Bryn. You\'re working too much and never getting enough sleep. It\'s unhealthy, to say the least. I want you to take a week off and rest.\"



Bryn scowled. Fine, I\'ll take a few days off. Right after I write up that report for the break in in Bristol.\"



Kingsley shook his head. \"No, don\'t worry about that. I\'ll take care of it, you just take a break. Actually, I don\'t want to see you in the office for two weeks, not just one.\"



\"Two weeks?! You want me to stay at home for two weeks?!\" Bryn asked, her anger flaring. The man only nodded, so she went on. \"What am I supposed to do for two weeks?\"



Kingsley almost answered, but his acquaintance beat him to it. \"I hear that France is lovely this time of year. Perhaps a trip?\" Bryn shot him a withering glance and he backed away slightly. \"Right, I shouldn\'t interfere.\"



Kingsley gave her a reproachful look. \"Sirius, this is Bryn Wright. Bryn, I\'d like you to meet Sirius Black.\"



Coloring slightly Bryn grimaced. \"Of course, Mr. Black. I should have recognized you from the Prophet.\"



Sirius smiled back at her, obviously enjoying her discomfort. \"I\'m told that I have a very unforgettable face, but I\'ll let it pass this time.\" His eyes shined with mirth, setting Bryn\'s teeth on edge. \"Well, I must be going. Bryn, it was a pleasure to meet you. Kingsley, you know where I\'m staying. Good-bye.\" He walked up the street, whistling, and disappeared around a corner.



Kingsley smiled when Bryn turned back to him. \"Watching him go, eh? Would someone be a bit attracted to Sirius?\"



Bryn drew herself up. \"No! Actually I was thinking how annoying he is, to tell you the truth. And that question was out of line, Kingsley.\"



A smug grin crossed his face. \"Well, so was your answer, so I guess we\'re even. And I\'m not surprised your looking at him, he\'s always had ladies fawning over him.\"



\"I\'m not fawning over him, you git. Now if you\'ll excuse me, I\'ve got two weeks off that I don\'t know what to do with. Maybe later we can tie a rock to your feet and throw you in a lake?\" She didn\'t wait for an answer as she stalked off, deciding to get a few groceries before going home.







Sirius had just transformed when Bryn slammed the door. Jumping at the sound, he trotted out to see her throw a bag on the couch before continuing on to the kitchen to put away a gallon of milk.



\"What am I supposed to do, thank him for giving me two weeks of boredom? I haven\'t taken a day off in four years, I\'m not used to staying at home.\" she grumbled. \"And that arrogant git, \'oh I\'ve got an unforgettable face. France is lovely, blah blah blah,\" she said in a mocking voice. Smacking the countertop, she growled. \"I\'d like to tell him where to put his trip.\"



Padfoot licked her hand and wagged his tail, making her smile. \"Well, at least I have someone to go out and do things with. Speaking of which, I got you a grooming brush.\" Pulling it out, she started toward him.



Padfoot barked and backed away, startling her. He knew she would cut the mats out of his fur next and he didn\'t want to have an odd haircut once he was human again. \"Ok, we don\'t have to do that now. Actually, I can take you to the dog groomer a couple of streets over. He\'d probably do a better job than I could.\"



A knock sounded at the door and Bryn went to answer it. Following after, Padfoot froze when he saw who was at the door. Letting out a low growl, he backed away to the hall.



Sirius Black smiled warmly at Bryn. \"Ms Wright, I hope I\'m not intruding?\"



Bryn stared at him in confusion for a moment before starting. \"Um, no... I suppose not. Erm, I was actually on my way out. I have to take my dog to the groomer\'s. \"



Sirius brightened. \"Ah, I could do that for you, if you\'d like.\"



Eyeing him warily, Bryn shook her head. \"No, that\'s okay. I\'d rather do it myself.\" Sirius nodded and she sighed. \"So, what can I help you with?\"



Sirius looked up the street and shrugged, making his animagus counterpart tilt his head in confusion. How did this happen? Is that really me, or some plan of the Deatheaters? WHY would I be here, if that truly is me?



Running a hand through his locks, he grimaced. \"I\'ve come to apologize, I was somewhat rude to you earlier. It\'s just that, I\'m not used to seeing such a beautiful person walking through that part of town.\"



Bryn snorted and shook her head. \"Uh huh, right. Insincere compliments and apologies don\'t work with me, Mr. Black. Is there anything else I can help you with?\" She crossed her arms and glared at him, waiting for an answer.



Sirius took a step forward, wincing when Bryn pulled out her wand. \"I really mean it. I\'m sorry for being an arrogant berk, I just...\" Sighing, his shoulders drooped. \"I\'d like to make it up to you somehow. Would you be willing to meet me for dinner?\"



Bryn considered him for a minute before nodding slowly. \"Yes, I suppose so. But only if you answer one question for me. How do you know where I live?\"



Swallowing, Sirius\'s eyes went wide. \"Well, I asked Kingsley if he knew where I could find you. He said he did.\"



Bryn nodded thoughtfully and glanced back up at Sirius. \"Oh, thank you. So, where are we going to meet?\"



\"Ah, there\'s a little bistro near St. Mungo\'s, have you heard of it?\" he responded.



Bryn smiled and glanced at the clock. \"Yes, I\'ve eaten at Bonnacord\'s before. all right, how\'s six sound?\"



Sirius grinned at her, making Padfoot believe it really was him. \"That sounds fantastic. I\'ll see you then.\"



Bryn nodded and said good-bye as he left. Shutting the door, she leaned against it and groaned. \"Why did I agree to this? It\'s like I just can\'t find a guy who won\'t make me want to pull my hair out, I have to go to dinner with guys like Sirius.\" Going down the hall to her room, she complained to Padfoot while picking out a dress to wear. \"The whole Wizarding world calls him a bloody hero, a \'tribute to the way we all should act.\' Ha, I\'ll show him how to act. Bloody pretentious hero, if you ask me. And he needs a haircut.\"



Pulling out a red strapless dress, she wrinkled her nose. \"Too revealing, I don\'t want him to think that I like him.\" She threw it on the bed where it landed on a sulking Padfoot. Three more dresses soon followed before she found one that she wanted. Pulling out a lavender sun dress, she nodded. \"It\'s a bit nippy out, so I need a sweater to go with it, but this will do. Padfoot wuffed under the clothes and she giggled. \"Oh, I\'m sorry, boy, I\'ll get those off of you. Wouldn\'t want to get dog hair on them, would we?\"



Padfoot licked her face and she went to the closet, arms full of clothing. \"Well, it\'s two o\'clock now, what should we do for the next few hours?\" Looking out at him, she shook her head as he yawned and rolled onto his side. \"Sounds good, I\'m a bit tired myself.\"