Canis Lupus: Redux

Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me but the wonderful J.K. Rowling and last I checked that wasn't the name on my driver's license. So I'm making no money, all I have are student loans, and an ornery cat who thinks driving me bonkers is his lot in life.

One last note: I’m sure I’ll get things wrong on occasion, please, if you find something I’ve done wrong that you just need to nitpick on, send me an email and I will fix it. I can be reached at: thedarksynfullegend@gmail.com

Much love to my friends who listen to me rant and rave, my betas the CelticMuse and Darkwatch, and most of all to those of you who take the time to read and review my stories. Thank you.

Warnings: Action Adventure, Angst, First Time, Romance, Slash
Timeline: Set after Book Five: Order of the Phoenix. Canon until then.

Italics – thoughts.
. . . italics – flashback
. . . Bold italics – dream/fantasy sequence
Bold Text - Journal or Paragraph entry.

Summary – Harry has been working on becoming an animagus to spend the full moons with Remus now that Sirius is gone. Unfortunately he becomes stuck in his animal form and no one knows what has become of the young wizard. Fortunately, one Severus Snape comes across Harry and decides to adopt the stray. Harry sees a completely new side of his most hated Potions Master.

Author's Note: This story was posted before but I left the readers wondering and it was irking me that I didn't expand on scenes that needed it, and a few more things were pounding in my brain that needed to come out. So for all the readers who read, left reviews and commentary...and finally finished a year later...this one is for you.

- The Dark Synful Legend

Chapter Three – Meeting of the Minds

Harry chased that blasted cat up and down flights of stairs until he finally cornered Mrs. Norris in a particular hallway when she finally decided to stand her ground. She puffed up her fur and hissed at him to which Harry firmly planted his paws and snarled viciously to which she yowled and darted into a small hole that he couldn't follow her through and with one last bark he turned and proceeded back to where he had left the two older wizards. His head was up as he trotted proudly through the hallways pausing briefly to stare at one of the portraits who smiled down at him and lifted her slender hand to wave. Harry loped through the hallways even though he knew was being observed by the paintings and they whispered about his presence in the castle even when Harry came across two people. Oh bloody hell, I'm in trouble now.

The two witches had been walking through the hallways conversing about the start of term. They had turned a particular corner and come to a halt at the junction as they came across the husky who sat immediately. “Minerva, where did this animal come from?” Poppy inquired.

Minerva McGonagall watched then as the dog came over and nuzzled her hand gently, “He is very friendly, and look Poppy. He's wearing a tag.” She spoke, glancing up at the medi-witch. “Can you run a scan on him and check for possible injuries, I am not sure where he came from but apparently he belongs to the school.” She continued as she adjusted her glasses peering at the tag.

Poppy Pomfrey whipped out her wand and cast a spell over the dog. Harry felt the brush of magic wafting over him and was comforted that he was in fact home. “He has no magical signature, and some scarring on his left forepaw, but other than that, he seems to be healthy.”

No magical signature?! What the ruddy hell does that mean! Does that mean I'm nothing more than a squib now? How am I supposed to face Voldemort with no magic? It's up to me to defeat him for neither one of us can survive while the other one lives. Bloody perfect. His heart breaking, Harry whined softly.

Minerva rose and brushed off her robes, “I don't remember Albus getting a dog.”

“Perhaps we should go talk to him then Minerva?”

“Yes, I think that is best. Kyrian, come.” she said as the duo, now a trio headed to the Headmaster's office.

~*~

Albus Dumbledore looked at Severus like he had dropped a dung-bomb at an Order meeting. “Depend on what, Severus.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Severus' onyx eyes narrowed and grew colder than before. “Did you know that Mr. Potter was being abused at home?” He inquired as the door behind him opened.

Paling significantly Albus cleared his throat, “Minerva, Poppy, now is not the best time...” he tried to say, but the two witches ignored him having heard one word.

“Who Severus? Who was abused?”

Severus turned to observe the two women who had seemingly found his companion for he was between them sitting on his haunches, tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth. Poppy had always had a soft spot for Harry Potter since he was in and out of her infirmary constantly. While Minerva was the head of his house, she cared for all her students in her own way. “Harry Potter.” came the simple statement.

Albus sputtered, “Now wait just a minute, there is no real evidence that he was being abused.” He started but quieted as Minerva leveled a sharp glare in his direction. “Now, Minerva...”

Shaking her head, the Head of Gryffindor House began to pace, “Albus I told you not to leave him with those muggles! How many times did Harry ask me to stay here over the summer holiday when you told me that I had to let him return to that miserable house because of blood wards?” She turned then towards Severus, “What did you find at the house, Severus, I'm assuming you went to check on him.”

“I did, Minerva, and what I found...” his voice trailed off.

Harry padded over to Severus and lay at his feet, watching the adults in the room and listening to the conversation though inwardly his thoughts were racing like Quidditch Seekers after the Golden Snitch. Professor McGonagall didn't want me to go there in the first place? His blue eyes trailed their way to Dumbledore who was paling slightly under the scrutinizing gaze of the three adults and the one canine. Did you know what I was going to go through when I was there?

“I saw terrible things, Minerva, but nothing so terrible as how she treated her nephew. I had to accio his things for they were not in his room and his trunk floated upstairs from a cupboard beneath their staircase.”

“They did not keep him in a cupboard, its inhumane.” Albus interjected, trying to diffuse a potentially bad situation.

“They did, Albus! When I went to investigate the crash, I discovered something I wish I had not.” Severus finished, his voice a hypnotic monotone, for the man was holding onto his temper by the skin of his teeth. “Why did you never ask him why he wanted to stay over the holidays and not return to that abomination of a house, Albus?” Severus sneered, but noted with grim satisfaction that the damned twinkle had finally left Albus' eyes. “Harry Potter is smaller than his classmates, and I believe he may have been malnourished at home.”

Poppy nodded, “Albus, I never said anything to anyone else, but you knew that Harry Potter was abused, from the day he got his first physical at my infirmary. He's been taking nutrient potions but the damage was done.” She said, her lips pinched and white with anger. “Why was he sent back to that house year after year?”

Harry's lips curled into a lupine snarl as he heard that, you knew! YOU KNEW! And you sent me back there? Why?

“It was necessary for his own protection.” Dumbledore stated, “the blood protection invoked by his mother...” but he never finished the sentence as Severus' voice cut him off.

“We could have protected him here! He NEVER should have been allowed back to that house.”

“The wards at Grimmauld Place could have protected him Albus, there were other options.”

“What about the wards at Black's?” Severus inquired, blinking.

Minerva looked at Dumbledore with an incredulous look. “You mean you never told Harry?”

“Told Harry what?!” Severus demanded.

“He is the blood adopted child of Sirius Black. When James and Lily named him Godfather it went with a blood adoption, he was as much Sirius Black's child as he was James and Lily's. The wards at Grimmauld Place could have protected him as much as the ones at those muggles.”

“I have heard enough.” Severus said sharply, “I will deny this later, but I will tell you now. That CHILD is the strongest child I have ever come across. I hope to Merlin himself he is in one piece and safe somewhere; for you know as well as I do, if Voldemort comes across him all hope is lost!” He thundered.

Harry lay there stunned with the news that had been held from him. When Sirius had asked him to come live with him at the end of his third term here at Hogwarts, it was for more than just companionship. He would have had a family and to know that Dumbledore stole that from him by not telling him made him pity the old man. However he glanced up at Snape as he was finishing his tirade and insinuated his nose beneath that hand presently clenched into a fist. I am safe, Professor. I'm at Hogwarts. I may not have realized it until now, but I get that you care. You saved my life on more than one occasion over the years, and only someone who cares would go to such lengths. Harry said as he licked the fingers, I can't tell you in this form but thank you for all you have done and all you continue to do.

Severus' hand was shaking as he gently stroked Harry's ear, “Come, Kyrian.” He said before turning on his heel and striding out the door. Harry padded quickly after him and the door silently closed behind them, effectively silencing the voices that drifted through the doorway.

~*~

Harry followed Severus down to the dungeons towards his quarters. One corridor looked like another and it wasn't like Harry to spend any time down here more than absolutely necessary which meant Potion's class. Severus had taken Harry's leash off after leaving the Headmaster's office and Harry was content to pad along after him. The twisting corridors that were the Hogwarts Dungeons were confusing for the moment, but Harry had confidence in himself that he would be able to find his way around. The duo came to a T-junction, and there was a peculiar picture frame before them. It was a forest scene and Harry stared up at it for a moment. A beautiful silver doe stood quietly nearby a stream that babbled merrily behind it. Her head turned as she glanced between man and beast as Severus whispered the password and the doe stepped back, the scene vanishing as the door appeared. Severus opened the door that appeared, and together Severus and Harry stepped through the frame and into his quarters.

The inner sanctum of Severus Snape. Harry thought as he crossed the threshold. They entered a nicely sized sitting room, which held a black leather couch that had been artfully covered with a few dark green throw pillows. A large plush rug sat before the fire and there were some wing-backed chairs with a low table between them. The bookcase filled with old rare looking tomes had Harry padding over to sniff at them curiously.

“Don't even think about eating one of my books, or you will be potion parts, Kyrian.” Severus said as he walked by, taking Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage out of his pocket and enlarging them both in the corner. Harry whimpered as he padded over and pawed at the leather trunk, “Kyrian, I am not about to go through his things.” Severs said before moving to the bedroom while Harry followed after him nose to the ground sniffing.

Harry came to a realization that Severus' scent was saturated with potions that the man was constantly around brewing or watching being brewed. He investigated the other rooms with a casual sniff. Besides the sitting room and bedroom, Severus had his own bathroom and a small lab that was set aside for his own personal use. He watched curiously as Severus filled the drinking dish and set it down along with an empty food dish as well. He then sat down in one of the wing-backed chairs while Harry padded over and sat next to him whining softly. It's okay, Professor. I trust you. He thought as he glanced to his trunk in the corner.

~*~

Albus Dumbledore was sighing as he sat behind his large desk, parchments before him scattered. A copy of the Daily Prophet was spread before him, a picture of himself and Harry on the front cover, when they were at the Department of Mysteries last year when Harry had lost Sirius. The pain that resonated in Harry's eyes was evident in the photo, and he seemed almost detached from all that was going on. “Why did you make him return to that place, Albus?”

“The blood protection made it necessary Minerva.”

“He is a boy! Who should never have been subjugated to the cruelty he was put through. He was always being thrust into danger when he should have been sheltered and protected.” Minerva was saying.

“What would you have suggested, Minerva? Sirius Black was on the run and Grimmauld Place was no place for Harry, he may not even have been safe...” his voice trailed off just as the fireplace in his office flared green.

“WHERE IS HE?!” Came the voice from the flames and Albus winced at the tone. The flames flared higher and Molly Weasley stepped through her face pinched and angry even as the red strands around her head seemed to glow in her anger. “Well Albus?! Where is he?!”

“Molly, we are doing all we can to find him.”

“Well you're not doing nearly enough if you're sitting here on your arse! His owl showed up at the house two days after his birthday, stayed a day and then vanished into thin air, that alone worries me. Hermione Granger called the house and asked to speak with him and the woman who answered, his Aunt I'm presuming said that he had run away. If he had, he would have been at the Burrow and he's not! Now, where is Harry?!” She screeched and Minerva crossed her arms over her bosom watching the adopted mother in all but blood of Harry Potter tear the venerable Headmaster apart with the well chosen words.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Albus groaned inwardly. More than anything riling up this woman was a bad thing to do and now one of her own was in trouble. Albus knew that he would never heard the end of it until Harry Potter was found. Little did he know that Harry was in the castle and safe. “Molly...”

“No! I don't want to hear your excuses or platitudes. And don't you DARE offer me a piece of candy. You can't even find him, Albus and it seems to me that you're sitting around discussing this at a meeting! Why are you not out there trying to find him? He's alone out there! We have no idea if he's safe or in one piece!” Molly continued, “And if you don't find him, I swear you'll never hear the end of it from me.”

Albus sighed, “Molly, what do you know about any abuse that Harry may have suffered at home? We've heard some vague rumors.”

“They were not vague Albus!” Minerva snapped, “You say you trust Severus, so why would he lie about what he saw!”

“What?!” Molly said,the anger in her voice rising. “What did he see!” She demanded, turning towards Minerva. Glancing at Albus, Minerva told Molly what Severus said he had seen at the house and with each statement, Molly's expression darkened. “Ronald said that in his second year when they rescued him on his birthday that there were bars on his windows, that they had been starving him. Now that I think about it, he always ate very quickly at the Burrow as though he were afraid someone would take it from him.”

Poppy spoke then, “I believe he ate well here and at your home, Molly but never at the place where he was supposed to be loved.” She said, staring at Albus, “But that is not the reason we are here. The reason we are is that Harry Potter is missing and we need to find him. Where else do you think he would have gone?”

Albus Dumbledore sighed deeply as he stared out the window, “Fawkes, round up the Members of the Order, quickly. You know who to retrieve.” He finished as the phoenix trilled lightly, spreading his fiery wings and then vanished in a burst of flames. Where are you, Harry Potter?

~*~

Where indeed was Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived? Presently he was laying in Severus' private potion's lab, chewing on the end of his rubber copy of the Prophet. He wasn't sure what Severus was working on, but the scent was that of oil and roses and he watched the man stir the cauldron in a counter-clockwise motion. Dropping the toy from his mouth, Harry stretched fully, his paws before him and tailed behind in the air, as he shook himself out. Padding over to Severus, he scratched gently at the man's robes.

Glancing down at his wayward companion, Severus actually smiled a little bit, “what do you want? Can you not see that I am occupied?” He asked with his usual attitude but Harry knew that there was some humor in it as well for the smile on Severus' lips spoke volumes. Harry let out a soft 'a-roo' and pawed at the robes again. “Did you need to go out?” He queried, but then watched as Harry placed both paws on the counter and sniffed the contents of the cauldron. Severus nudged him aside, “That is not for you, nor is it to be sniffed at.” Waving his hand, Severus put a stasis spell on the cauldron to simmer for two hours and shook his head, “let us find you something to do, shall we?”

Harry yipped happily and padded for the door turning only when he heard Severus curse very colorfully and laughed inwardly as he watched Severus jump about a foot in the air after stepping on his squeaky copy of the Prophet. A snuffle left his mouth and Severus leveled a sharp glare at him, “do remember to take your toys with you, Kyrian. I do not need them underfoot.” He said, picking up the toy and leaving the lab carefully closing the door behind him.

The duo strode through the hallways of Hogwarts, Harry leading Severus as he tugged on his leash eager for a good run. “I am not dressed for the outdoors, Kyrian.” Severus said but Harry was not about to stop and dragged his Professor to the front doors of Hogwarts and out into the courtyard. His entire body was quivering with the urge to run; pausing as he looked to Severus and whined pulling on the leash once more. “I will wait here until you return.” Severus said as he released Harry from the leash and watched him race off barking happily. Pulling a small notebook from his robes, Severus sat down on a stone bench and started to read.

As he read, he never realized that Harry was headed straight into the Dark Forest, a place Harry knew all too well. From dementors, acromantulas, unicorns, centaurs, werewolves and his first meeting with the Dark Lord, Harry knew the layout well enough to know where he was going. Harry ran through the forest until he found the spot where he had faced off all those dementors, and standing in the exact same spot where Sirius had fallen he tilted his head back and howled. It was poignant and the surrounding Forest creatures all returned the call, howls and screeches filled the air but Harry was not afraid. Out of his peripheral vision he saw something and barked happily racing towards it.

~*~

Members of the Order had assembled in Headmaster Dumbledore's office save a few. Remus Lupin was absent as it had been a full moon the night before. Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mad-Eye Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, and Arthur Weasley were all standing around wondering why the meeting had been called in the first place. The only ones who knew were Molly Weasley who was seated with a scowl etched on her lips and Minerva McGonagall who looked like she was ready to throttle someone. “Why were we called, Albus?”

Albus took a deep breath as he did not want to tell the members of the Order this particular news. Mad-Eye was standing there, his magical eye whizzing in its socket as he leaned on his cane. There was something going on here, he could tell for in all his years he had never seen the usually calm Molly Weasley this upset. The only thing he could think of was one of her kids was hurt in some way. But he remembered most if not all her children were accounted for, save for one Harry Potter who was not technically her child, but she loved him as though he was. “He's got something to tell us alright.”

Arthur Weasley who was standing behind his wife, his hands kneading her shoulders gently was lost in thought. There was only one thing that would get her this agitated and upset and that was Harry Potter. “Albus my wife won't sit still forever and I think you should tell us what is going on.”

~*~

Harry barked again this time striking a playful pose, and the object he had seen swooped down to land on his shoulder and nip his ear affectionately. The snowy white owl pecked at his head, wondering how her human had ended up this way, and Harry was just happy to see her in one piece for he had been worried about her. Hedwig, I'm glad you're safe and no, I don't know how to get back to my usual form. He thought to himself as Hedwig hooted softly and hopped down off his shoulder and stared up at him with her golden eyes. Least you recognize me, Hedwig. Harry thought miserably, but whurfed when she leaned forwards and nipped at his nose with her beak. A playful growl left his throat and Hedwig took wing, darting down at her human while Harry tried to catch her, he knew he would never hurt her.

Hedwig took off through the forest with Harry behind her, they ducked around trees, over fallen branches until Harry stumbled over his paws and fell head first into a mud puddle. She hooted at him before swooping down and started to peck at him herding him back towards Hogwarts. As they got closer, Hedwig nipped him affectionately once more before taking wing up to the owlery for a long rest. Harry yipped then headed towards the courtyard where he had left Severus.

~*~

“Oh! I'll tell you what is going on Arthur! Harry Potter is missing and Albus wants us all to sit down and have a committee meeting to discern what to do!” Molly said as she glared at the purple robed Dumbledore. “Those muggles said he ran away but he would never do that. He would have come to us and he didn't! Even if they threw him out, he would have come to us.” She said and only the hands of her husband kept her in her chair when all she wanted to do was smack Albus across his face.

“Molly, please remain calm, all will be done in order to find Harry.” He responded, his eyes no longer twinkling. Albus went on to tell them explicit instructions that each member keep their eyes and ears open for any sign of Harry and if someone heard anything the proper channels were addressed and the right people notified. As the members of the Order trooped out, Mad-Eye was the last to leave as he wanted to speak to Dumbledore about a few things he had noticed at the house when they had picked up Harry at the beginning of his Fifth Term.

~*~

Severus had just tucked the notebook away when members of the Order of the Phoenix came out of the front doors of Hogwarts and several wands were drawn as a very muddy quadruped padded up the stairs. “Do not harm him, he is mine.” Severus said as he rose to his feet and looked down at his filthy companion. “Kyrian, you are filthy.” Harry whined pitifully and shook his fur out, splattering mud and twigs everywhere. Harry padded over to his side and sat down looking up, and his expression was for lack of a better word, sheepish.

Hagrid who had been lumbering up to the castle paused at the sight of the dog, and looked at him critically. Before Severus jerked his head and sent Harry inside with a look as he dropped his head and padded into the castle proper. Severus turned with a swirl of his dark robes and entered the castle after Harry leaving the wizards behind him with stunned expressions on their faces. Not only did they discover that Severus had adopted a dog, but the animal seemed to listen to his orders.

Harry on the other hand had been happy to see Tonks, and Hagrid but the look he had received from Severus made him obey even though he wanted to at least say hello. Kingsley chuckled, shaking his head, “Never pegged him for a dog man.”

“Never pegged him for an animal lover at all.” Tonks responded, scrunching her nose so that her hair changed to match Harry's unruly black locks. “What kind of dog was that?”

Hagrid watched the duo vanish into the interior of the castle. “That wasn't a dog, hybrid maybe. Paws were too big, wolf maybe crossed with a Siberian Husky. Good breed of dog to be honest with you, though that dog, looks like he's gonna be a handful.” He finished waving one meaty hand and headed off towards the greenhouse with his can of repellant.

Tonks and Shacklebolt wandered down to the edge of the wards, leaving Molly and Arthur who had just emerged from the doors of the school. Arthur turned towards his wife and wrapped his arms around her, “Molly...”

“I want him found, Arthur. He could be hurt, alone or scared. I mean You-Know-Who is after him.”

“Molly, Harry is a fighter, a survivor. He'll find his way back to us. Let's go home. Unfortunately we can't tell Ron or the other children.” He said as he guided his wife down to the edge of the wards and apparated them home to the Burrow.

~*~