A/N: I'm so sorry this took so long, but here it is!

Arctic

Contrary to what humans and their books say, Werewolves where not horrid hybrids, yes there were some but those were the ones who willingly took that vile Wolfbane potion. Werewolves were really just over-sized canines when they changed, they lived in packs just like regular wolves, and yes they lived in the forest, away from the threat that was Wizards, there were some, mostly those who took the potion, that lived with the humans and Arctic suppose that's how those books were made, with the wrong information of course.

Like they were mindless beasts, would kill on sight, that sliver to the heart would kill them, and that they could only change on a full moon, none of his kind were willingly to correct them, but, if you were looking for one of those Hybrids, then sure read the books, take them to heart.

One less human the better.

It didn't mean being around this many wizards made him relax, and though he was sure none of them would realize he more than just an over-grown dog, he still remained attentive growling at anyone who came to close to him, his Pup and Petunia, until Harry bopped him on the head and told him to stop scaring people.

This is how he found himself surrounded by a young Pup that seem determined to keep him, despite her mother saying no.

"Doggy" the girl whimpered, her little arms barely able to wrap around his neck.

Arctic huffed from where he laid the little Puppy on his back hardly bothering him as he wondered when his Pup was coming out the ice-cream store.

"Now Maria, we can't keep the doggy, your father doesn't like doggies" the mother sighed before going over and lifting her daughter off the large dog, who at first scared her with his size, but as soon as her daughter had hugged the thing tightly squealing doggy, and said doggy just a laid there and let the her daughter cuddle him her fears ran away.

"No!" the girl cried, little hands gripping fur, Arctic gave a slight grumble but didn't move, where was his Pup?

"Maria" the mother sighed.

"I see someone made a new friend."

Arctic lifted his head, and tail began wagging when his Pup and Petunia emerged from the store, a cone in their hands.

"Harry Potter!" the mother gasped.

Harry smiled at her, then looked down at the three-year old girl who had attached herself to his dog, then at said dog who looked annoyed. He chuckled, it then took him and the girl's mother (and giving away his ice-cream) five minutes to get her to let go of Arctic and after she apologized, the girl and her mother left.

After more shopping the wolf's tail wagged when Harry announced they were heading back to the Leaky Cauldron, as they got closer to the room, Arctic growled at the scent of an unknown wizard coming from their room, by the time they came to the front of the door the wolf's fur was standing on end and Harry had his wand casual by his side Petunia protectively behind him.

"There you are, Harry"

Harry blinked at the sight of Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic himself, sitting in one of the cushion chairs by the fireplace drinking tea.

"Arctic" Harry hushed when the wolf snarled and bared his fangs at the older wizard.

Fudge stared in awe at the large canine, Arctic gave another growl before he went over to the middle of the room and laid there golden eyes staring intently at the wizard. Harry and Petunia entered the room, Petunia closing the door. She gave curious looks at the Minister as she place the things she brought onto the bed.

"Well, Harry" Fudge then said clearing his throat, and pouring tea into two empty cups after Harry and Petunia sat, "you've had us all in a right flap, I don't mind telling you. Disappearing from you aunt and uncle's house like that! I'd started to think…but you're safe the both of you, and that what's matters"

Petunia busied herself with putting cream and sugar in her tea, Harry knew his aunt wanted to ask question, but whether she was afraid and or unsure on how to ask the teen didn't know.

"Drink Harry, you look very thirsty, Now then….we're curious as to where the rest of your family is"

If Fudge noticed the way his aunt glanced at Arctic he didn't say as he waited for an explanation.

"They're with my Aunt Marge" Harry said somewhat truthfully.

"Ah, Nephew and Aunt, bonding is it?"

"Sure, let's go with that" Harry thought, as he nodded.

"Well there is nothing wrong with that" Fudge said.

When he finished his tea, the Minister stood.

"Well then I'll leave you be" he said, Fudge gave a slight bow to Petunia before leaving the room.

"Well, that was unexpected" Petunia said when the footsteps faded.

Harry nodded, still a little shock from the meeting.

"Well, let me put these away and we then can go down for dinner" his Aunt then said.

"Okay" Harry answered, Arctic nudged his cold wet nose at his Pup's hand.

Harry smiled at him, before petting him and helping his Aunt put away the things he brought, afterwards the three headed downstairs.

His Aunt seem enjoy eating at the Leaky Cauldron, her eyes always watching the funny little witches from the country, up for another's day of shopping, venerable –looking wizards arguing over the latest article in Transfiguration Today; wild-looking warlocks. Raucous dwarfs and once, what looked suspiciously like a hag (to which Arctic growled at) who ordered a plate of raw liver from behind a thick woolen balaclava.

After dinner, happily full the three went back upstairs dressed for bed and settled in.

"Harry" came his Aunt voice from the other bed.

"Yes?" Harry grunted when Arctic flopped on top of him.

"…I'm not okay"

"….I know" Harry said.

No one could be calm after witnessing the death of her family, having to leave their home and travel with the very thing that disrupted their life. Harry had been surprised at how calm she had been before the incident in the garden at the house, hell he's been wondering when his Aunt would have a total breakdown.

"I'm sorry" Harry then said, "I didn't want any of this to happen"

"I know….I suppose we had it coming eventual…we weren't exactly the family of the year"

Arctic snorted.

Harry had nothing to say to that.

After breakfast the three headed out for more of Harry's school supplies, they went to the Apothecary to replenish his stone of potions ingredients, and as his school robes were now several inches too short in the arm and leg, they visited Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and brought new ones. Most important of all, he had to buy his new schoolbooks, which would include those for his two new subjects, Care of Magical Creatures and Divination.

Both Harry and Petunia got a surprise when they looked into the bookshop window. Instead of the usual display of gold-embossed spell books the size of paving slabs, there was a large iron cage behind the glass that held a hundred copies of The Monster Book of Minsters. Torn pages flying everywhere as the books grappled with each other, locked together in furious wrestling matches and snapping aggressively.

Slowly Harry pulled his booklist out of his pocket and consulted if for the first time. The Monster Book of Monsters was listed as the required book of Care of Magical Creatures. Now Harry understood why Hagrid had said it would come in useful when he first got the book by owl. He felt relived; he had been wondering whether Hagrid wanted help with some terrifying new pet.

The bookkeeper had been relived when Harry told him he didn't need one.

"Anything else I can help you with?" the bookkeeper asked.

"Yes," said Harry, looking down his booklist, "I need Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky."

"Ah, starting Divination, are you?" said the man, leading Harry into the back of the shop (Petunia and Arctic had wondered off to look at books) where there was a corner devoted to fortune-telling. A small table was stacked with volumes such as Predicting the Unpredictable: Insulate Yourself Against Shock and Broken Balls: When Fortunes Turn Foul.

"Here you are," said the bookkeeper, who had climbed a set of steps to take down a thick, black-bound book. "Unfogging the Future. Very good guide to all your basic fortune-telling methods—palmistry, crystal balls, bird entrails—"

But Harry wasn't listening. His eyes had fallen on another book, which was among a display on a small table: Death Omens: What to Do When You Know the Worst Is Coming.

"Oh, I wouldn't read that if I were you," said the man lightly, looking to see what Harry was staring at. "You'll start seeing death omens everywhere. It's enough to frighten anyone to death."

But Harry continued to stare at the front cover of the book; it showed a black dog large as a bear with gleaming eyes. It look oddly familiar….no it couldn't be….

The bookkeeper pressed Unfogging the Future into Harry's hands.

"Anything else?" he said.

"Yes," said Harry, tearing his eyes away from the dog's and dazedly consulting his booklist. "Er—I need Intermediate Transfiguration and The Standard Book of Spells Grade Three."

Harry, Petunia and Arctic emerged from Flourish and Blotts ten minutes later with his new books under his arms and made his way back to the Leaky Cauldron, hardly noticing where he was going and bumping into several people.

"What do you think we should do for dinner?" Petunia asked when they entered the room.

"Anything's fine" Harry said absently as he tipped his books onto his bed.

Someone had come in to clean the room, it was tidy, the windows were open and the sun was pouring inside. Harry could hear the buses rolling by in the unseen Muggle street behind him and the sound of the invisible crowd below in Diagon Alley. He caught sight of himself in the mirror over the basin.

"I can't have been a death omen: he told his reflection defiantly, ignoring his Aunt and Arctic who looked at him curiously. "It was just a stray dog…."

He raised his hand automatically and tried to make his hair lie flat.

"You're fighting a losing battle there, dear," said his mirror in a wheezy voice.

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