"Thank you sir, have a good day!" The curly haired boy waves goodbye.
"C'mon Padfoot, we gotta catch the bus." The baker hears him say to the massive black dog waiting for him patiently by the door.
"He's got a nice dog ain't he ?" The baker tells his wife.
The couple watch with fond smiles as the dog playfully walks between the young man's long legs. Then just as its owner looks down, the odd duo disappears off the window.
Remus is used to the stares by now. Sometimes children point at the giant teddy bear of a dog he has, other times it's a teenager asking if they could pet it. As much as he wants their trips to be quick, he likes seeing Sirius have fun.
Today's stop is the bakery then they're just walking around the muggle side of town. A trip to stretch their legs. But because Sirius saw a double decker bus one time, now they're waiting for it in the bus stop.
"No promises Paddy. Double deckers are quite rare." Remus absently says as he scrolls through his phone.
"Oh look !"
A couple on a date glances nervously at the man on the opposite side of the bench. The girlfriend yells a silent "oh my god !" to her boyfriend. The stranger has such a cute doggo !
Remus bends down and shows Padfoot his phone. "The weather's sunny tomorrow, we can go to the park."
The couple watch with clenched hearts. The dog seemed to understand whatever it was on screen. It even nodded at the sandy haired boy.
"Excuse me sir."
Remus and Padfoot looks at the boy. "Yes ?"
"My girlfriend wants to pet your dog but she's too chicken to ask." He says in a teasing tone.
"Oh sure. Padfoot likes people," Remus scratches behind his ear. "Say hello Paddy."
The girl's mouth becomes a huge O, clutching her chest like it hurt. She had just witnessed a dog attempt to say "hello". It sounded exactly like how Scooby Doo says it.
"Aww he's a jewel!"
Padfoot basks in the attention, black tail wagging as he came up to the couple. Remus rolls his eyes with a knowing smile. Such an attention seeker.
Just then, a bus rolls up. Much to Padfoot's disappointment, it isn't a double decker.
"It's alright Paddy, we'll catch it next time." Remus beckons the dog aboard.
The boy waves good bye with a sad, pinched look on his face. He nudges his girlfriend as the bus wheels away.
"When I marry you, we have to get a dog." He says watching the dog sit by the window.
The girl flushes red. "When you marry me ?"
Remus doesn't hear the end of that conversation. His werewolf hearing does have limits you know ? And he's busy trying to stop Padfoot from sliding off his chair. Much to every passenger's amusement.
"Padfoot, if you can't sit still, you'll have to sit on the floor." Remus pulls the mountain of black fur back on the chair.
The dog huffs and lays down defeatedly, head on Remus' thigh. "There you go, we only have 5 stops to go."
The young woman sitting in front of them tries very hard to keep to her laptop. Afterall she's got a lot to do and cooing over a dog isn't going to get her coin. Which was a huge loss, she sighs.
She glances at them once in a while. The owner pulling out a thick book and reading peacefully. While his dog clambers to look over his shoulder as if reading along.
"You done ?" The boy murmurs, barely audible to anyone but the three of them.
The dog actually huffs and the owner flips the page. Suddenly work didn't seem so interesting anymore. The young lady fights her smile.
"He seems to like the book." She pipes up.
She couldn't help but see the resemblance. She guesses it's true when they say pets are their owner's animal persona.
"Oh yeah, I'm quite surprised. He didn't like the movie."
She turns to the dog with the widest grin, even when her body's aching from work. "He's a smart boy !"
The dog jumps of his chair and sits in front of her. The young woman fishes something out of her bag. It was a dog treat !
"Can he eat this ?" She asks for permission.
"Yea go ahead. He likes biscuits."
Padfoot bites on the bone shaped biscuit. He bumps his head against her knee as thanks before jumping back to sit next to Remus.
"You must be a good trainer. He's so polite !" She giggles.
The owner shrugs humbly. "I guess it's in his blood."
Padfoot turns to Remus with squinted eyes. What do you mean in my blood? Remus pushes his muzzle away gently.
"Ah it's our stop. Good day!" He wishes the girl.
Padfoot follows closely behind Remus as they stopped by the road across of Grimmauld Place. They didn't know that after they left, the young woman quickly pulls out her phone.
[I JUST SAW THE BESTEST BOY !]
***
Remus makes sure the coast was clear. Then he whispers the enchantment to make the Black house appear.
Once they enter, Walburga's screaming greets them, Remus' owl flies over their head and the magical objects creak. But it's home. At least for now.
Remus puts their groceries down on the table, taking the fruits and bread out and into their proper cupboards.
"She's got good taste alright. I like this." Sirius' voice dawns closer.
Remus stops what he does and turns to see what his boyfriend meant. Sirius leans on the doorframe, biting the dog biscuit with a pensive look. Like he was judging the biscuit on Masterchef Pets.
"You know we have better human biscuits right ?"
Sirius pops the last few bits in his mouth. "Same thing for me."
The werewolf chuckles. He kisses Sirius' temple on the way out of the kitchen. "Of course it is."
Sirius chews offended. "What do you mean 'of course it is' ?!
He stomps over to where Remus stands on the stairs. The werewolf laughs as he's weighed down by Sirius who stubbornly hangs from his waist.
"Are you implying my taste is dog-like ?"
"Am I wrong ?"
Sirius rolls his eyes. "Yeah okay. You win boo!"
They reach the top with much strife. Remus peels him off his back.
"But I do agree with that girl. You are a cute dog."
Remus squishes his cheeks. Through pouted lips, Sirius asks a question he already knows the answer of.
"Am I a cute human too ?"
Remus kisses him. "Haven't I already confirmed that ?"
"Remind me again." Sirius gives him the best smile he has.
"Alright then."
"Wa-Remus !"
The werewolf easily picks Sirius up in a bridal carry. The boy in his arms laugh freely as he's spun around. Remus kisses him again, this time lasting a little longer.
"I'll remind you anytime."
