A/N: Harry and Padfoot go for a walk. I know Sirius is his godfather, but little Harry would call him 'uncle'.

Submission for:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Transfiguration Assignment #1 - Write about one of the known animagus using their animal form

ART CLUB: Photography - Write about a character who feels fascinated by/connected to a (magical) animal. Prompt: soft fur, silence

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Harry sat on the rug of the living room, his legs spread wide as he stacked his blocks as high as he could reach. If he got them high enough, he could show Mummy and she'd clap her hands and smile and she'd kiss him and hug him and-

A sudden whooshing noise broke the silence, surprising the little boy and causing his tower to fall, scattering the blocks across the living room. He turned to see a man stepping out of the green fire, his hair long and a wide smile on his face.

"Harry!" the man cried before scooping him into his arms. Harry giggled. He knew this man and he always liked his hugs. They were always large and warm and cuddly.

"How about we go for a walk?" the man asked.

Harry liked walks so he nodded.

The man carried him out of the house and opened the back gate. He placed him on the ground before he took a step back. Before Harry's eyes, the man shifted into a large black dog. The little boy stared in fascination, always amazed by his uncle's powers.

"Pa'foo!" he cried, throwing his tiny arms around the dog's neck, his fingers nestled into his soft fur. He pressed his nose against the dog's snout before he licked his face. Harry giggled again from the wetness.

The dog tossed his head over his shoulder and Harry climbed onto his back before they ran out of the open gate. The little boy should have been afraid. He always went outside with Ma and Da, but he had Pa'foo, who could scare anyone but not little Harry. Pa'foo was brave. Pa'foo would protect him from the monsters and the strange people.

They ran down to the small playground and Harry jumped off and ran to the swings. Pa'foo ran behind a bush and then his uncle came over to push him. Harry laughed as he soared higher and higher, having a great time with his uncle.

They came back home, Harry walking beside Pa'foo now while holding onto his fur, to see his mother in the garden on the ground, her hands over her eyes. Was she playing hide-and-seek without him?

"Ma!" he cried, letting go of Pa'foo and running to her. She picked him up and held him close to her chest. Harry felt her sadness. Why was Ma sad? Harry turned and saw Uncle was sad too. Did something happen?

Then his Ma smiled. "Let's go inside," she said softly, hugging him tightly. Harry still wasn't sure what had happened but he was happy his Ma wasn't crying anymore. He never wanted her to cry again.