Hair Dye and Surprise
"Alright, now that we have that settled, what are we going to do next?" Harry asked.
"Dye my hair?" Sirius suggested, "There is one specific reason my Animagus form took to the coloring it did and the only thing we could come up with was that it was muggle hair dye."
"Might we ask why you were dyeing your hair in the first place?" Draco queried.
"Well, I had just been disowned and I looked far too much like a Black for my taste, so I was going to change my look. That was after I realized that the tattoos and piercings did nothing to my actual appearance. So, I wanted to go a little lighter, perhaps an amber or red cinnamon. But James switched the two boxes and I didn't notice until my hair was completely pink." Sirius stated observing the three teenagers who tried to hold back various forms of laughter. He smirked and looked toward Hermione. "I would send Malfoy out but I bet he's less than useless in the muggle world. Would you mind getting some blond hair dye, miss?" Draco looked offended, but agreed with his statement.
"Can do, Mister Black!" Hermione exclaimed and rushed out of the room, probably to find the nearest drugstore with hair dye.
"Mr. Black, gosh no, that was my father. The next time I hear someone refer to me like that, let it be at my funeral. "Sirius pleaded. Harry frowned. Sirius smiled in apology to the joke. "Alright our second order of business, what time is it?" he asked Harry.
"About 6 o'clock in the morning, why?" Harry answered. Draco's eyes went wide.
"Merlin! I have to go! I didn't let Uncle Sev know I was leaving. He'll KILL me if I'm not there when he gets up! I'll come back later, I promise. Bye." Draco yelled as he rushed out the door and Apparated away.
Sirius chuckled," Uncle Sev?" he mocked. Harry rolled his eyes. Hermione came back with the hair dye soon after.
"First comes first. You need to clean yourself up." She announced as she walked into the room.
"Yeah, shower's in there and I can go buy you some clothes quickly. Also, you might want to shave and get a haircut. 'Mione's great with scissors. She cut my hair all of seventh year- also known as the camping trip from hell." Harry, too, rushed out of the room. He ran to Gringotts, got to his vault, got some money, left, and went straight for 'Madame Malkins'.
Meanwhile, Sirius had gotten a shower and shaved, but refused to be anywhere near Hermione with scissors.
"I don't care! I like my hair this long and you can't stop me. I am 20 years older than you, young lady. I will not be treated like a child!" Sirius whined.
"Then come over here and stop acting like a big baby!" she demanded, finally persuading the man-child to sit in a chair and let her cut his hair. When it was finally over with, he flinched as she handed him a mirror.
"Alright, it's not that bad. Thanks" he grumbled, seeing as she only cut it to a little below shoulder length. Hermione smirked. Harry came back with a fresh pair of robes for Sirius to put on. They were plain black, but resizable so they fit Sirius perfectly. "I also should go to Gringotts at some point today for money, so we can get you a new wardrobe, Harry. Now that I am head of the Black family, I have access the Black family vault. Then, we can get whatever you want as long as you don't have to wear those oversized clothes of yours." He directed towards the boy in question.
"I can buy my own clothes, Padfoot." Harry told him.
"Then, why haven't you?" Sirius asked, but he got no reply. Hermione dried Sirius' hair with a spell and sat him down to have his hair colored. Harry thought for a moment.
"I'm hungry, should I get us three some food? I know you must be starved, Padfoot." Harry wondered.
"Yes, I am. Beyond starved, in fact. However, I'm far too undernourished. I'm not even sure my stomach can handle food." Sirius explained gravely.
"I guess you're right. I am going to get 'Mione and me food. I think I'm also going to fire call for Remus to come over. At least to make sure he doesn't have a heart attack when he finds out I'm here and not at the Dursleys." Harry clarified. Sirius perked up.
"You're going to get Moony?" Sirius got ecstatic at the thought of seeing his old friend. He leaned forward but Hermione pulled him back by his hair.
"Yes. They have this weird relationship where Remus acts like his overbearing mother. Now, sit back." She commanded. Sirius snickered at the thought, but felt confused.
"That doesn't make sense. Remus isn't necessarily the nurturing type. He never even held Harry, just kind of stayed out of everyone else's way so he wouldn't be asked." Sirius thought aloud.
"Well, a lot has changed over time. It's not as if you've been in touch with him for the past twelve years." Harry stated. Sirius grimaced.
"Yeah, I suppose not." He remarked. Harry went downstairs and saw Remus rush in. Well, I don't have to fire call him, Harry thought.
"Harry James Potter. What in the world are you doing here? You are meant to be at the Dursleys! It's not safe for you to be out of that house, young man." Remus lectured as he pulled Harry into a breath-taking hug, and not the good kind.
"Remus, I'm fine. But I had to leave. I thought I was a criminal until I got here and the minister cleared things up." Harry lied into Remus' shoulder. Only sort of, he assured himself. When Remus let Harry go, he searched him for any visible cuts, scrapes, or bruises. Satisfied that there were none, he pulled Harry into another hug.
"I know, Prongslet. I just got scared when I saw the paper this morning. Do you want something to eat?" Remus inquired
"Yeah, it is what I came down here for." Harry snickered as Remus ordered them food. They talked for a while-while they ate-and Remus informed Harry of the dangers of going out on the streets unsupervised. Harry smiled but internally rolled his eyes. He appreciated that there was someone to worry about him relentlessly, but Remus for one had enough to worry about, and he went a little over the top. Harry thanked Remus incessantly for the gift, and reminded himself that he should give Sirius chocolate when the man was up for it, but that also reminded him to ask about something.
"Remus, what would you feed an extremely malnourished dog?" Harry pondered. Remus' eyes widened and brow raised at the randomness of the question.
"That depends, how big and old is the dog, and why are you asking?" Remus queried.
Harry thought for a while. What can I tell him without him becoming too suspicious? All the sudden a bleach blond dog with brown eyes came rushing down to Harry, followed by a flustered Hermione. Harry looked at her confused until he realized what must have happened.
"Shadow!" Hermione yelled. Remus looked at her surprised, but more to the fact that he had a yellow dog practically on his lap.
"Hello, Hermione. What are you doing here?" he asked, wondering how she got here so quickly when he had only just found out about Harry himself. "Shadow?" he wondered, seeing as the dog was white.
"We are still working on the name." Harry excused. Hermione looked panicked.
"Hello, Mister Lupin, I… uh…. My parents and I are staying over so that we could get my school things today. I saw Harry when he got here with, this dog here, and I have been helping him with…" Hermione lied, looking to Harry for help.
"Feeding him. We fed him some ham last night, but he threw it up and we think it's because he is too starved. I found him down the road when I was running away last night and I have decided to keep him. "Harry explained. Well, it's not a complete lie, He thought.
"Well I can help with that, he needs to start with some lighter food, perhaps soup or broth. I can talk with Tom to arrange something. As for you keeping him, have you thought about what Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall are going to say?" Remus speculated.
"Um… I'm Harry Potter. I have defeated Voldemort three times and I'm barely thirteen. I think that gives me some leverage." Harry assumed. Padfoot licked Remus on the face and he laughed.
Harry whispered to Hermione, glad Padfoot was distracting Remus. "Why does he have brown eyes?"
"I thought he'd be too recognizable with silver eyes. You know, due to the fact dogs tend to not have silver eyes." Hermione hissed sarcastically.
Before they could continue with their conversation, Draco walked into the Leaky Cauldron, looking flushed and slightly annoyed. It did not take long to figure out why his countenance was thus. Coming in behind him was Professor Severus Snape, his customary glare in place.
"I do not care, Draco, if you think thirteen is old enough to go to Diagon Alley by yourself. I say otherwise, and I am your guardian until you are of age." Professor Snape scolded.
"I am of age." Draco whispered exasperatedly. Before he could reply to his godfather, Padfoot growled menacingly. Harry, in response, kicked the mutt in the side. He had to think quick, as Professor Snape would dig deeper than Remus if he called the dog Shadow. He might figure out that the dog had once been black, and that would lead to all kinds of questions he did not want to answer right now. He looked frantically and caught eyes with Draco.
"Dragon!" He snapped, startling both blonds.
"Yes?" Draco replied.
"Not you." Harry hissed. He pointed to the dog. "This Dragon."
"Since when is his name Dragon?" Draco bit back. Great, this would be all kinds of confusing. Harry moved over to Draco's side.
"Since when do you know what the dog's name is?" Harry whispered harshly. The blond blushed in embarrassment.
"We've been trying out different names. He seems to respond well to that one." Hermione suggested, saving the day. "I bequeath to you the name, Dragon." She announced, turning to Sirius.
"Now, Dragon, we don't growl at Professor Snape. He is our…professor." Harry scolded lamely.
"Mr. Potter, what are you doing with a dog? Why did you run away from Surrey? Is there something you wished to talk about?" Professor Snape wondered. Remus stood up.
"There shouldn't have been." Remus warned, raising his voice. Professor Snape rolled his eyes.
"And how would you know, Lupin?" Severus bit back.
"I threatened the Dursleys when I brought Harry home for the summer." Remus explained.
"You? Threatened? Hardly." Professor Snape scoffed.
"No, really. They were magicked to chairs and everything." Harry defended.
"You insolent fool! Did you really think that would help? If anything, it would make them madder." Professor Snape snapped. Remus's eyes widened.
While this was going on, Severys the Snake decided to peek out of Draco's sleeve and wandered down towards the ground. Dragon, who had become utterly bored with the conversation, saw the snake out of the corner of his eye. Not ever liking snakes, he decided to chase it. He pounced onto Draco and started biting at his sleeve.
"No! Bad Dragon! What do you think you're doing?" Draco almost squealed as he tried to get away from the mutt. This brought everyone out of their own petty squabbling.
"Dragon! No!" Harry screamed out as he grabbed at the dog's scruff. Hermione stood in-between the two. Remus and Professor Snape both helped Draco get away from the dog and checked him over for scrapes and bruises. Thankfully, Severys was fine. "Bad Dragon! That is Draco's pet! We do not attack other helpless animals, not even snakes. Any type of snake."
Dragon whined but relented. Professor Snape's eyes narrowed.
"Are we sure that dog is safe?" He questioned Harry. He sighed and nodded.
"Yes, Professor Snape. He just needs to learn who is good and who is bad. He is just confused right now, but we'll set him straight. I promise." Harry replied, petting Dragon's head. So, first thing they needed to do was to tell Sirius not to attack anyone. Second thing they needed to do was buy a leash. Well, this was going to be fun.