Shadows of Loyalty

Chapter 4

The first rays of dawn filtered through the thick, dark curtains in James's room, casting soft golden light across the bedspread. James stirred, blinking against the early sunlight, his heart still heavy from the events of the night before. But the comforting warmth of Luna, his golden retriever, snuggled up against him on the bed, was a gentle reminder that he was safe now. With a deep breath, James sat up, running a hand through his messy hair.

He glanced at Luna, who immediately lifted her head, her brown eyes filled with affection and concern. Her mobility harness, a sleek, black biothane design, sat neatly on a chair beside the bed. Knowing they had a full day ahead, James quietly got out of bed and moved to attach her harness. Luna patiently waited, her tail wagging softly as James adjusted the straps around her chest and back.

"Ready to face the day, girl?" James asked, his voice still groggy from sleep. Luna gave a small bark, her version of 'Yes,' before standing and stretching out her legs. James smiled, feeling a little lighter. The events with his father the night before had left him shaken, but he knew that with Luna by his side, he'd get through whatever came next.

Liesel and Zora, his two Malinois protection dogs, were already at the door, alert and waiting for James’s signal. He clipped their leashes to his belt, ensuring they stayed close as they left the bedroom. Their sharp ears twitched, constantly assessing the environment for any danger, but there was a certain calmness in their stance—they trusted James to guide them.

Heading downstairs to the kitchen, the familiar sounds of the Black household greeted James: pots clanging, quiet conversations, and the faint smell of breakfast wafting through the halls. As James walked, Luna stayed close to his left side, her mobility harness ensuring she was ready to assist him if needed. Liesel and Zora flanked him, their keen eyes scanning the area out of habit, though nothing seemed amiss.

As they approached the kitchen, James heard playful shouts and the sound of chairs scraping against the floor. Peeking inside, he found Regulus and Sirius roughhousing like they always did, Regulus laughing loudly as Sirius attempted to wrestle him into a headlock. The two brothers tumbled around the kitchen, knocking into the kitchen table and nearly upending a stack of plates in their spirited game.

James, still half-asleep and distracted by his own thoughts, walked into the room without a second glance at the commotion. He was used to the Blacks’ lively energy, and normally, it didn’t faze him.

But the moment his dogs crossed the threshold into the kitchen, they stiffened. A low growl rumbled from Zora's throat, and Liesel’s ears flattened, her body poised to spring. They had caught on to the movement, the sudden jerks and physicality between Sirius and Regulus, and their instincts screamed 'threat.'

“Whoa, hey, what's going on?" James asked, realizing a little too late that his dogs had gone into defense mode. The growling continued, soft but warning, as the two Malinois positioned themselves protectively in front of James, muscles taut, ready to defend.

Sirius, locked in a playful grapple with Regulus, froze mid-motion. “Uh, James, I think your dogs are mad at us," Sirius said with a nervous laugh, raising his hands in surrender.

Regulus, half-pinned beneath his brother, nodded, wide-eyed. “Yeah, not sure they like how we’re roughing each other up.”

James blinked, suddenly alert. "Right, I forgot..." His training kicked in, and he reached down to rest a hand on each of his dogs' shoulders, his voice calm but firm. “Zora, Liesel—Gefahr einschätzen.”

The command, spoken in German, instructed the dogs to assess the situation for real threats. Zora’s ears perked up, and her posture relaxed slightly, her head tilting as if to say, 'Is this really something I need to worry about?' Liesel mirrored her sister's reaction, her growls quieting as she stepped back, eyes still watching Regulus and Sirius carefully.

James took a deep breath, feeling the tension in the air start to dissipate. “It's okay, girls,” he murmured softly. “Alles gut.” His tone was reassuring, and the dogs responded immediately, backing off and returning to their usual watchful but relaxed stance.

“Thanks for that,” Regulus said with a relieved laugh, finally managing to wriggle free from Sirius’s grasp and straighten up. “I thought we were about to be breakfast.”

Sirius, ever the joker, gave James a mock frown. “You really should tell us when the bodyguards are on high alert. I nearly had a heart attack.”

James smirked. “They were just doing their job. You two looked like you were fighting.”

Sirius puffed out his chest, pretending to be offended. “That wasn’t a fight! That was Black family bonding at its finest.”

“Sure, looked more like you were trying to kill each other,” James shot back, grinning now as the adrenaline from the moment began to fade. He unclipped Liesel and Zora’s leashes, letting them settle down near the kitchen island. Luna, ever the calm and steady presence, sat by James’s feet, leaning into him for comfort.

Regulus snickered, grabbing an apple from the counter. “Sirius was just jealous because I got to the kitchen first.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Sirius muttered, plopping into a chair with a groan. “Anyway, breakfast?”

James nodded, the familiar warmth of the Black family’s banter easing the last of his tension. “Yeah, I could eat.”

The rest of the morning went smoothly. Sirius and Regulus continued to bicker, but this time more peacefully, with no threat of setting off the dogs. As James settled into a seat, Luna curled up at his side, her head resting on his knee, the soft rhythm of her breathing calming his nerves.

The atmosphere was light again, a stark contrast to the anxiety James had carried with him through the night. He looked around at the lively room, feeling, for the first time in a while, like he truly belonged somewhere safe. And as his protection dogs lay quietly near him, ever vigilant but calm, James allowed himself to smile, knowing that whatever came next, he wasn’t facing it alone.