The Price of War

A Strange Black Dog

Life was sometimes a curse for Harry Potter. Every shock he received Harry believed would be the last. After all, he had mastered controlling his emotions. Why waste something so valuable on people you don't care about? Over the years though, he had realized that no matter how long you spend planning your life, it almost never works that way. There are some things in life that just spring upon you. No matter how hard you try to ignore it or push it down, it always finds a way to come back up but the second time it hurts more.

Harry's mind drifted to the thought of his parents. What would it have been like living with them? Would they be disappointed? Would they tell him, he's not acting like a Gryffindor and fighting against those who have wronged him? He didn't know. He could only hope that when the time came, Sirius Black really did end up killing him. If only for the sake of finally seeing his parents.

The infamous mass murderer Sirius Black was his godfather. Harry would have laughed at his fate. The only family he had left had murdered his parents and his best friend's mother.

Was family really just an illusion of happiness? Are they always supposed to break your heart? Harry didn't know.

Sitting in the field behind the Weasley's house, Harry shuddered against the unforgiving cold wind. Even in summer, the nights often got cold. The blowing wind made the grass dance like little majestic creatures. The wildflowers spun in circles letting their petals fly. He couldn't help but wonder who the dog with grey eyes running across the field belonged to. From all of Ron's letters, he knew Scabbers and Errol were their only family pet. He pushed the thought from his mind.

The tears on his face were long gone but were replaced by confusion, pain, and anger. Why was he angry? He never needed family anyways. He was used to living a life without anyone to really care for him. He had his friends and his home in Hogwarts. That had to be enough.

Even in the dark, Harry could see a laughing family all sitting around the dining table enjoying dinner. Laughing at each other's stupid jokes instead of sending them up to their rooms for using the wrong knife or breathing to hard. Harry wondered how he got so lucky to find a friend like Ron, and be accepted into their family.

"Harry Potter, is that you?" A familiar voice called for him.

Harry turned around before quickly getting rid of any residue of his tears. "Yes, Mr.Weasley. Do you mind if I stay here for the night?"

A large smile erupted onto the oldest Weasley's face, "Of course my boy! You're always welcome." They started walking closer towards their house. "So what brings you here? Are your Aunt and Uncle still troubling you?"

Harry shook his head. He had completely forgotten that no one knew his new address. All his letters were always delivered to Regulus from his first year. However, the owls did have a habit of dropping his letters near his windowsill at Dumbeldore's house. Harry never saw those letters again.

"Not really sir." He answered, "They just keep talking about my parents and how horrid they were."

Arthur scoffed, "Well that's a big lie. Your parents were the kindest people ever. Proud to say they were Gryyfindors."

Harry laughed and a hint of pride swelled in his heart.

The moment the door opened Harry noticed a red-headed boy running towards him and was pulled into a tight embrace. "Harry, you didn't tell me you're coming, mate."

"Er sorry. It wasn't planned."

"Harry dear, what a surprise." Molly greeted him warmly as she poked her head past the wall separating the kitchen from the living room. She walked towards him and pulled him closer for a tight hug just like her youngest son. "It's been so long since you visited. Sit, I'll fix you a plate."