Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Fourth Chapter

Ch. 3 - The House Of Black

"HOW DARE YOU BEFOUL THE PLACE OF MY FATHERS - SCUM - HALF BRE-!!" Something screeched at an ear-splitting pitch as Sirius opened the door to Grimmauld Place, however someone yelled a stun spell and all fell quiet again. It was Sirius' mother in a portrait. I had forgotten all about it. "I won't force you, Shadow. Take your time." Sirius gave me a small stroke on my pelt then stepped forward and was greeted by many people. I spotted a hanging ear somewhere and I narrowed my eyes, suspecting Fred and George.

If the twins were there, I assumed Ron was there, as was Hermione and Harry, and perhaps the rest of the older Weasley sons... maybe even Jenny and James! I took a deep breath and placed one paw over the door threshold, instantly hit by a wave of past nausea. I shoved it down and clenched my muscles, bounding through the door completely and letting go of my breath. "Chill." I uttered dryly to myself, then padded through the hallway to greet all the people.

Lupin was there, to my good surprise, and so was the real Mad-Eye Moody. There was another bedraggled man with a lumpy coat, and Professor Snape was there, and a young woman with cherry red hair and smooth skin, and then a tall black man with starry robes. He looked pretty cool.

I let out a small growl and Sirius turned to me, the whole place falling silent. Snape muttered a few incoherent words to Lupin bitterly before swooshing past us all and out the house. Damn, I'd never noticed how moody he was. "Shadow, this is Tonks, obviously you know Lupin, Mundungus Fletcher here, and Alastor Moody, and this is Kingsley Shacklebolt." He introduced me and I nodded at them all, and then I sat and glanced up at Sirius. "I hope someone's going to tell me what's going on then." I huffed and yawned widely.

Mrs Weasley bustled forward, holding a wooden spoon. and smiled widely at me, "Oh, hello Shadow! I didn't hear you come in Sirius, you need to tell people this stuff!" She scolded Sirius and batted him on the arm with her spoon. Sirius grumbled something and we all filed towards the kitchen. I spotted the fire and immediately curled up by it, purring deeply. "That's not what I think it is... is it?" I heard a masculine voice ask. "If you're referring to Shadow, then yes, Bill. Shadow Claw is, in fact, a Shadow Claw." Lupin chuckled and I let out a big yawn, shaking out my fur comfortably.

I felt a soothing hand run down my fur and I purred even louder, cracking one eye half open to see a young man. He had a fang earring which I very much liked, and he had a ponytail of long, dark brown hair. "I think she likes you, Bill." Came a familiar voice and a chuckle from Bill as he rose and sat back down in his chair. "I think she does, Jenny. I hope so anyway. I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of those claws." That certainly started a conversation between the Weasley twins (who had just Apparated down the stairs) and him. Harry, Ron and Hermione came down too and greeted me with kind faces, then sat down as well.

I lifted my head and looked at Jenny, and then felt James jump on me. I pawed him affectionately, "I missed you guys." I purred deeply as Jenny hugged me tighter than ever. James was called to the table by Sirius but he ignored him and settled against my side instead. "James, come and eat your dinner." Sirius scolded loudly, but I growled at him darkly, "Go away, you big meanie. James is my little cub." James made a little noise of affection like a small kit and cuddled me happily.

Jenny returned to her seat however, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss her strokes. She had very precise hands.

"Oh, Shadow, would you like some milk? I hope I don't sound rude or-" Molly began rambling on about cats and milk and I laughed softly, "That would be really nice. Extra creamy, if you would be so kind." I said and she let out a gentle laugh that was like a giggle, "Of course."

"You always liked your milk, Shadow." Sirius hummed from his seat and I nodded, "I still do." There was a small air of happiness around the room as everybody chuckled. I didn't dwell on what had happened many years ago. I no longer blamed anybody or anything for it and I didn't let it affect me anymore than it already had done a while back. I suddenly noticed James had fallen asleep under my wing, his head resting comfortably on my tail that was coiled around his arm and over his hands.

"Shadow Claw. Isn't Shadow Claw, a funny name for a Shadow Claw?" Fred asked. George nodded, "Why are you called that?" He re-phrased.

"I had no other name when I was left here." I stated simply, "I didn't want to change myself into something I wasn't, so I kept it to what I was and what I am. Sirius always called me baby Shadow anyway. I didn't really want to change it either." I explained, thanking Molly quietly as she set my milky saucer down with a small pile of meaty chicken bones and I began to lap at it thirstily.

"Now, now, boys." Mr Weasley said to Fred and George as they opened their mouths to ask more questions. "Let her do her thing. She's tired and doesn't appreciate you asking her things she doesn't want to answer." I felt a rush of gratitude towards him and purred deeply at him, then scowled at the house-elf Kreacher that crept sneakily through the room, muttering under his breath. "Kreacher! get away with you!" I impersonated Sirius and the elf squeaked and ambled off out the room.

Everybody laughed hard, except Sirius, who sat with big, scolding eyes. "I do not sound like that." He protested. Lupin nodded with a chuckled, "You do, Sirius. You seriously do."

"That joke is long past its expiry date." Sirius murmured gloomily and everyone laughed even harder.

"Stop being so serious, Sirius." Jenny giggled. James had awoken to the sound of laughter, "Seriously Sirius, you so seriously serious, it's seriously too serious to take seriously! Seriously, Sirius!" He shouted and Jenny and I giggled loudly. "Black like my soul." I chuckled at him and licked his scruffy, dark hair affectionately. He made another sound of happiness and fondled with my wing membrane, giggling like a little boy.

"I'm going to go sulk now." Sirius grumbled, getting up and walking past us. "Where nobody can see me." He huffed. "And nobody can make fun of me, except Buckbeak." I raised my chin at that last one, "Oh you'd be surprised Sirius, actually, what Buckbeak says in his own language." I stated matter-of-factly. "Hippogriff's don't like serious people. Especially you..." I didn't quite finish and the whole room was holding in fits of giggles.

"Say it." Sirius growled.

"Sirius." I grinned widely and the whole room erupted once more, and I watched as Sirius disappeared upstairs. "Oh what a drag." Jenny giggled.

"Don't have to tell me twice." I chuckled.