Pawprints

1. Scallywag and Black

Harry received thirteen death threats in two weeks. The twelfth letter had contained twenty or so Aconite leaves. There had also been a letter with a cursed ring and some others with toxic inkblots. The first few letters had leaves of poison ivy and some stinging nettles. Harry had developed a rash and gotten several blisters when he opened those first two letters.

Ron and Ginny had flooed in at Grimmauld Place one evening and witnessed Harry soaking his hands in warm water. Hermione joined after receiving news from a very distressed Ron about Harry and how his carelessness was going to get him killed one day.

Harry had merely rolled his eyes at his friends, although he was slightly pleased that he had people like them to care and look out for him. He had not been in the best mindset, these past few months after the war. That was something obvious to all his friends. They all had their demons and were trying their best to keep from drowning. 

Harry was under tremendous amounts of stress, having to act accordingly in his role as the Chosen One as well as a sympathetic sufferer. The worst thing was to put on a brave face and talk about the loss everyone suffered. He knew everyone was looking up to him to be a beacon of hope, and that if he was seen to be strong, people would slowly lose their fear. But this facade was taking a toll on him.

Harry being an extremely private person was used to keeping his thoughts to himself and putting others before him. He had the mindset that his nightmares and sorrow were his own and that he should be a role model for everyone. He knew everyone had problems so why should he add to other people's problems by being sad and expressing his thoughts?

This way of thinking had caused a lot of issues with Ginny. Mostly because she didn't know that Harry thought this way. She didn't have the energy to ask him or to prod like she did back when they were younger.

 Immediately after the war, she had been in a terrible place. Harry too was suffering and it was unbearable for the two of them to live together. Ginny thought Harry was insensitive, watching him speak about Remus, Sirius and her brother's deaths like it was nothing. The act Harry was putting on and giving off hope that all was well really pissed her off. How could Harry just move on as if nothing mattered? She had stopped believing in hope, her family was breaking apart and all the while her boyfriend was acting happy and cheerful.

They had arguments over the most insignificant things, Ginny couldn't and mostly wasn't going to even try to understand why Harry was behaving the way he was. She was just so tired, she felt a lot older than seventeen. Harry didn't have the patience to listen to her arguing with him, he had stopped fighting back. He loved her deeply and was extremely fearful of hurting her further than she was already hurting. In an effort to stop fighting, Harry would spend a lot of time away from Ginny. He would go to a Muggle pub most of the time where it was private and away from the Wizarding World and all its drama.

There had been multiple reunions, memorials and meetings, and it was here that ideas were shared and new rules and regulations thought of. There was a lot of controversies and talk that the Death Eaters were out looking for revenge. New reforms were being brought forward to purify the Wizarding World and to eliminate Death Eaters and other possible groups that could lead to another war. One of the ideas was that not just the current Death Eaters but the rest of their families should also be sentenced to die had emerged in the general public. The idea was to try to minimize the number of Dark magic folk that may occur one day in the future.

With all these conspiracies brewing and what smelled like trouble on the horizon, Hermione just wanted Harry to be safe. Ever since he began living alone, he had seemed to sink deeper into his thoughts. He had what seemed to be permanent dark circles under his eyes and gave off a very tired vibe. At least when Ginny lived with him she kept an eye on him and their arguments stimulated him even a bit, brought out some sort of emotion.

It was not just Harry she was worried about, but Ron as well. She lived at the Weasley's mostly because she felt Molly needed a helping hand and someone to talk to but also because Ron had his bad days and not seeing the ever cheerful Ron Weasley smile pained her.

When she heard about Harry and those blasted letters she decided to talk to both Harry and Ron. She had heard about rescue dogs and their role in the Muggle world. She remembered how the old blind lady who lived down her street had a German Shepherd and that he was the sweetest and most intelligent dog she had ever met up to this date. She first put the idea out to Ron that they should get a dog. Ron seemed to be on board with the idea but was a bit hesitant due to his issues with Scabbbers back in the day. When they dropped into Grimmauld Place for dinner with Harry, Ron had adopted a Beagle and named him Scallywag.

Scallywag had a tail that never stopped wagging which was how he earned his name. He had a nose that quivered with curiosity and a goofy smile he would aim at Ron whenever he was patted. Ron's mood had improved a lot and Hermione loved that Ron's smile had returned.Hearing the doorbell ring, Harry had rushed to open the door. He was faced with yips and barks and laughter as Scally rushed around the living room. Harry found himself smiling as he watched the mayhem around him.

"I didn't know you got a puppy"

"Well, it was Hermione's idea. Harry, meet Scallywag – the newest addition to the Weasley clan"

Hermione laid her hand on Harry's as she watched Ron try to calm Scally down. "Scally is very intelligent and so curious. He makes Ron so very happy. What do you think Harry? Are you ready to find out if dogs are man's best friend?"

Harry smiled at Hermione."Is this your way of saying I should get a dog so I won't be as lonely and that I'll have someone to sniff out all poisonous and cursed things?"

Hermione shrugged, a wide smile on her face."If that's what you think, yes you should do so"

That was how Harry James Potter ended up with a shaggy German shepherd named Black.