Shadows of Loyalty

Chapter 5

After the morning had settled into its usual rhythm, James felt a familiar glint of mischief flicker in his eyes. Regulus and Sirius had resumed their playful wrestling, clearly trying to one-up each other in their never-ending sibling rivalry, all while pretending they weren’t trying to cause a scene. Their antics were loud and boisterous, filling the kitchen with their laughter and exaggerated grunts of effort as they pretended to get the upper hand on each other.

James leaned against the kitchen island, watching them with a smile tugging at his lips. Liesel and Zora sat beside him, their sharp eyes flicking between Sirius and Regulus, still alert to any signs of trouble. But today wasn’t about trouble—it was about fun.

James knelt down beside his protection dogs, scratching behind their ears as he whispered, “Räum auf. Leicht.” The command was a playful one, urging the dogs to ‘rough them up easy,’ meaning they could engage in play with Sirius and Regulus but without causing any harm. He had trained them to handle people with care, understanding when it was time to protect and when it was time to let loose.

Liesel and Zora’s ears perked up at the command. Almost immediately, they stood, tails wagging, excitement shimmering in their eyes. They had been waiting for this, sensing the energy in the room and eager to join the fun.

James grinned as he pointed toward the two Black brothers. “Go get ‘em.”

With a burst of energy, Liesel and Zora bolted across the kitchen, their paws skittering slightly on the smooth floor before they gained traction. Sirius and Regulus, oblivious at first, didn’t realize what was happening until the dogs were upon them.

“Oi!” Sirius yelped, eyes wide as Liesel lunged playfully at him, her strong frame easily bowling him over onto the floor. He laughed, squirming under the weight of the dog’s playful pounces, her tongue flicking out to lick his face. “James, you traitor!”

Regulus was faring no better, his laughter bubbling up uncontrollably as Zora, the slightly smaller but no less formidable Malinois, tugged at the hem of his shirt with her teeth, her growl deep but unmistakably playful. “Call them off!” Regulus cried, although the grin on his face made it clear he wasn’t serious.

“Call them off? You’re the one who wanted a tussle this morning!” James called back, laughing as he watched his two highly-trained dogs dismantle the Black brothers’ carefully crafted facade of control.

Luna, meanwhile, stayed by James’s side, watching the commotion with mild interest. She was much more laid-back compared to Liesel and Zora, preferring quiet companionship over rambunctious games. James gave her a gentle pat, murmuring, “You’re the smart one, aren’t you?”

Sirius, now flat on his back with Liesel standing triumphantly over him, finally raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay! You win, Liesel! You’re the superior dog!” he exclaimed between fits of laughter.

Liesel, as if understanding her victory, barked once, her tail wagging furiously as she stepped off Sirius, letting him catch his breath. But not before she gave his face another sloppy lick for good measure.

Regulus, still trying to tug his shirt free from Zora’s playful grip, glanced over at James. “You trained them too well,” he said, though his voice was still filled with amusement. “This isn’t fair!”

“Life’s not fair, Reg,” James replied with a smirk. “And neither is dog wrestling.”

Zora finally released Regulus’s shirt, sitting back on her haunches and tilting her head as if to ask, ‘What now?’ Regulus, now free, sat up and wiped the sweat from his brow, shaking his head in mock defeat.

“You’re going to pay for that, Potter,” Sirius said, still sprawled out on the floor but now with a glint of mischief in his own eyes.

“Oh really?” James challenged, his grin widening.

Before he could react, Sirius leapt to his feet and, with surprising speed, lunged at James. In one swift motion, Sirius tackled him to the ground, causing Luna to stand up with concern for her handler. But as soon as Sirius started laughing, Luna calmed down, recognizing the playful energy in the room.

James struggled to get Sirius off him, laughing all the while. “All right, all right, you win!” he called out, his voice strained from the weight of Sirius pinning him down.

“Not yet, I don’t,” Sirius replied with a grin, holding James down a little longer before finally letting him go.

Regulus, seeing an opportunity, joined in the fun, pouncing on both of them as they wrestled on the floor like children. Liesel and Zora, still watching the chaotic scene, let out happy barks, their tails wagging furiously as if they were cheering the brothers on.

For a few minutes, the kitchen was filled with laughter, barks, and the sound of bodies tumbling around on the floor. Even the tension from the previous night seemed to melt away in the lighthearted moment, replaced with the bond they shared as friends, as brothers.

Eventually, Sirius and Regulus sat up, panting from the exertion, and James managed to scramble to his feet, still grinning.

“All right, I think I’ve had enough of being tackled for one morning,” James said, holding up his hands in surrender.

“You better be ready for round two later,” Sirius replied with a smirk, his dark hair falling messily over his eyes.

James chuckled. “We’ll see about that.”

As the morning continued, James couldn’t help but feel grateful. For his dogs, for his friends, and for moments like this, where the weight of the world seemed to disappear, if only for a little while.