The Contract

Chapter 145

"Gabriel!" Harry called out to his dog in sheer delight at seeing him again after months of absence. He got down on his knee, as Gabriel started barking and whining to get to Harry. A few clicks of Rabastan's tongue calmed the dog down. Gabriel may have started out cute and tiny, but like all dogs they grow up. Rabastan couldn't let Gabriel run roughshod over the estate, especially with the twins being as young as they were. He wouldn't let anything happen to his niece and nephew. With a calm, well trained dog, they'd have a friend for life. Not a dog they feared hurting them (not by biting or anything but just being too boisterous around them) and Gabriel wasn't the only one trained either. The children were taught – as much as they were able to understand at the moment – to be just as careful and considerate of the puppy. No pulling tails, no poking, and more importantly no hitting or hair pulling.

Truth be known, Gabriel didn't have much hair to pull, even for a tiny child's hand.

The leash was unlatched, and Gabriel bound towards Harry, who raised a single – index – finger when Gabriel approached with gusto. Just as he had been taught, he slowed down, his butt wiggling excitedly tail swishing two and fro. Harry began to pet him, taking to him all the while, letting him know he missed him. giving him a hug when he stopped wiggling so much. "You're so big now." He'd seen it in pictures, but it didn't hit him until now, he'd really missed most of Gabriel's puppyhood.

"Uncle 'Arry!" Cepheus called out being coached by Sirius.

"Hey Cephy," Harry said, quickly standing and grasping a hold of the child and setting him on his hip, "My goodness you're getting so big!" he could swear the kid had grown since he saw him last just a few months ago. "Wait did he just call me...Uncle Harry?" a grin spreading across his face, dawning on him for the first time he was actually an uncle.

Sirius snorted, as Cass morphed her hair and eyes identical to Harry, "Pretty!" she had declared, and she was right, Harry had the prettiest eyes. "What did you think you were going to be?"

Harry shrugged, "Just Harry I guess?"

"No, kiddo, you are family, there was never going to be a 'just' Harry," Sirius said, wrapping his arm around Harry, bringing his godson and son into a hug, smiling in amusement, happier than he'd ever been, "So, what's this I hear about you wanting to leave Hogwarts early?" the idea was just unfathomable to him, he'd loved every minute of being at school, well for the most part.

"I was bored!" Harry protested.

"That's my parents, we'll see you later alright?" Draco said gazing wistfully at the twins, mesmerised – and a little jealous – not of their existence but their abilities. Man, it would have been epic being born with the Black family Metamorphmagus gift. The only one that had been born with it had proven unworthy and a traitor to the Black family. Was she even in Azkaban anymore? Draco couldn't remember how long she'd actually gotten; it wasn't long so she might be released for all he knew.

"Hey, don't you want to say hello to your cousins?" Harry said, grasping a hold of the back of Draco's cloak and yanking him back. He was likely the only one who would dare to do such a thing and get away with it.

"Really?" Draco turned around so fast his gelled hair actually twitched. Draco's hair was so fine and flyaway that it didn't ever do what it was meant to. Hence why Draco had likely added to the Potter coffers for the past decade since he started using Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. He'd absolutely refused to leave the manor without it on, although these days he wasn't quite so vehement.

"Of course," Harry said smiling reassuringly at his best friend, as he shifted Cepheus towards Draco.

"Uh...Harry, I have no clue what to do," Draco said, his eyes were wide, both in fear and wonder.