Pawprints

7. Ajax Meets Black

It was a chilly Saturday morning after the Welcoming Feast and Professor Severus Snape was walking Ajax in the evergreen forest that had appeared miraculously in the Hogwarts premises. It was a beautiful area scattered with various bushes and flowers amongst the huge trees and the occasional flat area of a grassy meadow.

There was a lake in the middle of the forest and Severus was thinking of asking Minerva to build a pier so they could go boating. Maybe even have a Midsummer's Festival in the meadow one day. Something to bring the cheer back to Hogwarts and dampen the bad memories.

Severus missed his home and his garden. He missed Thomas too but knew that he had to get a grip on himself, he was a grown man for Merlin's sake.

Severus stopped by the lake to let Ajax have some water and so that he himself could stretch his legs. His age was catching up with him lately and he needed to take some time for himself.

Ajax barked and Severus looked around. He heard rustling in the bushes behind him and soft pants. A twig crunched and cracked. Ajax's barked again and pulled away from Severus.

A black curly-haired cocker spaniel bounded into their area, barking and wagging his tail. Ajax growled softly as he approached the dog. The dog slowed down and approached Ajax slowly. They sniffed each other, Ajax growling all the while. The other dog barked and sat down as if waiting for Ajax to do the same. Ajax looked at Severus and sat beside the dog, booping him with his nose. The black dog rolled onto his back, pink tongue lolling out of his mouth as he started at Ajax with gooey brown eyes.

Severus heard a man's voice and watched the black dog's ears perk up. His owner was probably stuck in the overgrown bushes that the dog had crawled through.

Severus stood up and walked towards the bushes, eyeing the pale arm that poked through and grabbed it. A familiar voice yelped and out tumbled a disheveled Potter.

"My my Potter, you always end up on your knees around me"

Harry looked up, glasses askew and his hair a bird's nest. He stammered as he stood up, blood rushing to his cheeks.

The black dog bounded towards him and tackled him down again. Harry laughed despite his embarrassment.

"Black calm down, we can play later"

Severus sniffed in disdain, leave Potter to name a black dog Black, did he have no creativity? Or maybe it was after his Godfather, he couldn't be sure.

"Professor I didn't know you had a dog, he's very majestic"

Severus stroked Ajax's head.

"This is Ajax, he's six months old now"

"They're amazing aren't they, they really are man's best friend"

Severus smiled at Potter, watching him look at the dogs with love shining in those beautiful green yes.

Severus cleared his throat and approached Potter.

"I wanted to thank you for saving my life. I didn't want to just owl you a letter but rather do so in person, I'm sorry I didn't thank you earlier on Potter. I wouldn't be here without you. So thank you" he said, extending his arm for Harry to shake. Harry shook the black shirt clad arm and smiled at Severus.

"Call me Harry, Professor. And you're welcome, I'd do it again if I had to"

"Well, Potter are you heading back to the castle? Ajax and I can walk with you and Black"

Harry noticed Severus's eyebrow's lift as he mentioned the name Black.

"You think it's a stupid name don't you sir?"

"Well he is a black dog, so isn't it a bit obvious? It's like how teenage girls name every white dog Snowball"

Harry chuckled and opened his mouth to say something. Snape cut him off and continued.

"Unless he's called Black in homage to your Godfather"

Harry nodded, smile on his face as he scratched Black's head. Severus was dressed in a black shirt and black pants, he had cast aside his teaching robes and didn't seem to mind the cold chill in the air. Harry appreciated how lean Professor Snape looked and ow long his legs seemed in his pants. Those robes certainly were covering up a tall drink of water and Harry was a thirsty lad.

"I do admire how you've taken care of him Potter. His coat is thick and shiny, and those curls are gorgeous, Black is a beautiful dog"

Harry grinned.

"Praise from Professor Snape, what is the world coming to"

Snape sniffed.

"I've changed Potter, or I'm trying to be a better human being, a bit more caring. Dear Merlin, I sound like a Hufflepuff"

Harry grinned and chuckled.

"Do you walk Ajax every day Professor?"

"Yes some mornings and some nights. He loves to go on long walks. Back at home he would go on walks with me and Thomas"

Harry looked at Severus quizzically.

"Thomas? Is he another dog?"

Severus sighed, sobering up.

"He was a friend, but he left me too"

Harry looked at Severus, noting his expression.
"I'm sorry Professor"

"Don't worry about it Potter, life's like that"

Harry nodded and they walked in an odd but comfortable silence towards the castle save for the occasional bark by their dogs.

"Potter have you decided on your career aft N.E.W.T.S? Or area you still set on becoming an Auror?"

"I've ben thinking of Mind Healing. I'm tired of all the excitement the Auror program entails. And I will have to look after Teddy in a few years as Andromeda is quite old herself."

"How is Teddy coping? He's a Metamorphogus like his mother?"

"Yes sir, and he's a wonderful child. I love him to bits"

"Why mind healing Potter? Seems a heavy subject for you."

"It's something a lot of people need I feel, maybe not proper healing but even just someone to talk to"

"Like a therapist"

"Yes sir"

Severus nodded pausing to remove the leash around Ajax's neck.

"You've become a fine man Potter. I wouldn't mind teaching or guiding you."

"Are you doing this because you feel like you owe me sir?"

"Well that's a part of it, but I would like to make peace with Lilly's boy and move on with my life"

Harry laughed.

"Where is that snarky scary dungeon bat, I miss him"

"He's still there Potter, waiting to scare the first Years. So will you be up for getting lessons from me?"

"Thank you professor, I'll let you know when I get my timetable"

Severus smiled at Harry as he rolled up the leash. He placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and walked to his quarters, Ajax padding behind him.

Harry breathed out, Professor Snape turned hot over the summer. And that hand on his shoulder, it was so warm an inviting. Also Snape's friend was Thomas. Did that mean anything more?

Mind brimming with questions, Harry walked Black to his dorms. He passed Draco Malfoy with his dog, Alabaster who was running around Luna. Luna was laughing and Draco was watching her a soft expression on his face.

Harry grinned, ah the war certainly had made them all wonky.