Delivery for Sirius Black

[fatalfrenzy.livejournal.com]

*The dog bears a reasonable resemblance to the Grim. It’s large, with a curly tail and long black fur, a mutt with some spaniel in and a stray, by the looks of things. But it’s handsome enough, well-fed and recently bathed, even. There’s a brand-new leather collar around its neck, a leash that’s tied loosely to the doorknob of the flat.

But the dog is three-legged. Recently so. It isn’t barking or thrashing; no, it’s standing quietly and very still in the hall on its three shaking paws, panting shallowly, its dark eyes bright with pain. The wound that was once its right foreleg is starting to crust over, but only barely: there’s fresh smears of blood on the door, and on the floor of the hall. As the door opens, the dog starts to whimper.

The handsome leather collar bears a brass plate, engraved only: THIEF.*

Comments

[looneyloopy.livejournal.com]

*Letting both remarks pass without comment - of course Sirius would swear that, and of course Ted wouldn't put stock in it - he looks away from the dog's wound to nothing in particular. Anything's better.*

Is it going to be alright? The dog?

[seniortonks.livejournal.com]

Of course he is. Wasn't poisoned or cursed or anything and that woman was good enough to cut him clean. Look at him, he's in the very pink.

*The black dog in question is doing his level best, now, to lick Ted's face. Ted's good-naturedly brushing him off as he packs the wound with thick bluish-white paste.*

You've got bigger problems.

[looneyloopy.livejournal.com]

*Relaxing a little as the wound is occluded, Remus gives a twisted little smile.*

You mean the kind involving mad Death Eaters with personal vendettas? Yes, I rather think so.

[fleasaremurder.livejournal.com]

*Sirius' face, if possible, grows harder. He's not at all interested in a lecture just now but it seems one may be inevitable. Still, he tries to not sound to combative.*

What do you suggest?

[looneyloopy.livejournal.com]

Me? Nothing, I've long since run out of ideas about Bellatrix. Ted?

*He's being intentionally neutral to try and counteract the acerbic note in Sirius's voice. He's not sure it'll work - he's too keyed up, Remus suspects - but he has to try. As always.*

[seniortonks.livejournal.com]

*He sighs, sharply, and for a moment, it's clear on his face: that Bellatrix has been considerably more a presence in his life than either of theirs. From the early days when he and Dromeda were dating, to that last horrible Christmas she had spent at home--from the closed caskets at his parents' funeral to holding his wife close at their kitchen table, treating the burn on her chest with the same stuff that he's wiping off his hands even now. And, finally, this poor three-legged mutt who's awfully sweet, actually, once you get to know him.

His voice is low, but steady.*

Well, you're going to have to kill her.

[fleasaremurder.livejournal.com]

*Sirius' eyebrows jump up. He's never heard this kind of talk, not out of Ted, and never so firmly.*

I know that.

If we give her half a chance, next time it'll be a legless Muggle bleeding out in our hallway.

[seniortonks.livejournal.com]

Right.

*But that brings up a memory, a bad one--when they told him not to look at them but of course he had looked, and his father had been jointed, there was no other word for it--

A bit gruffly, he addresses the dog.*

See, you're all right. Give it a whirl.

[looneyloopy.livejournal.com]

*Watching the dog take a few experimental hop-steps, Remus elaborates in a dark undertone.*

If not one of us.

[fleasaremurder.livejournal.com]

I'm no assassin. She knows me too well, wouldn't let me get close. Unless you have an idea, Ted?

[seniortonks.livejournal.com]

You're an Auror, aren't you? Do whatever it is they're up to, if Lovegood's lunatic rag has even got the tenth part of it.

Not that I know. I'm in the fixing business.

[fleasaremurder.livejournal.com]

I'm a junior Auror. I barely have the authority to bring someone in and fill out the paperwork. And if it were that easy, Moody would have brought in Malfoy by now.

[seniortonks.livejournal.com]

We'd all be so lucky.

...I take it his name isn't Thief.

*The dog in question is jumping up on Ted where he's still seated on the floor.*

[fleasaremurder.livejournal.com]

--Name?

[seniortonks.livejournal.com]

The dog.

[fleasaremurder.livejournal.com]

I wasn't--

*Sirius is completely thrown, and it shows.*

It just happened, Ted, I was more worried about someone calling the police or Bellatrix lying in wait for us.

[seniortonks.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

He's a nice enough sort, don't you think?

*This is addressed mostly to Remus, and to say the dog has taken to Ted is a considerable understatement. And he'd rather talk about the dog than the sister-in-law, all things considered.*

Where do you suppose he came from?

[looneyloopy.livejournal.com]

*He can't really blame Ted for wanting to change the subject, though he knows he and Sirius are nowhere near done with it. That can wait.*

A stray, I suppose? He certainly seems fond of you, at any rate.

*With the open wound out of sight, he steps forward at last and drops into a crouch, holding out a hand quietly for the dog to sniff.*

[fleasaremurder.livejournal.com]

*Sirius looks down. The dog is so close to his own animagus form, and the guilt of his resemblance hanging around his neck like a millstone, but the thing seems to be all right, almost--or at least hold the promise of all right, somewhere.*

Thief isn't the worst name you could give a dog. Named mine Pollux when I was a kid.

Though I'll bet Dora will want to rename him.

[looneyloopy.livejournal.com]

*Sirius's expression takes Remus a bit off-guard when he glances up - he'd expected tension, or more anger, but not guilt. His own expression softening, he gives him a small, approving smile at the offer for Dora: well done.*

[seniortonks.livejournal.com]

*It occurs to Ted that it's a little odd how they've all assumed the dog is leaving with him, but as he looks down at him, maybe it isn't odd at all. He almost laughs, then, turning his face up to Remus.*

I'm not about to leave him with you two. This one'd forget to feed him or try and give him gods-damned salad.

Sure no teeth chews? Speak of the devil, they did wonders for Dora when she was, you know--

*He taps his own teeth, with the hand that isn't still scratching the dog.*

[looneyloopy.livejournal.com]

*The smile grows a bit thin at that, as Remus tries to be polite. He doesn't have anything against Ted, but that doesn't make him less offended.*

It's not like teething. But thank you anyway.

[seniortonks.livejournal.com]

Fair 'nuff. I think I'll take him and go, if that's all right. I'm sure you two have plenty to talk about.

*He picks up the collar gingerly, touching it as little as possible, and offers it to Sirius as he finally stands.*

As do Dromeda and I.

[fleasaremurder.livejournal.com]

*Sirius takes the collar like it's a dead thing. He wants to say something about it--like it's not his fault that he's related to insane Death Eaters who like to mutilate animals--but it is his fault that she's out for his blood, and Andy has managed to avoid most of Bellatrix's anger despite their closer relationship. Sirius is only just willing to admit to himself it's more than just luck that keeps Andy off Bellatrix's mailing list.*

Right.

Thank you for coming, Ted.