Seeing Dewey here, Sirius bared his teeth. He looked just like a big dog threatening an enemy who had invaded his territory.
Dewey wasn't welcome here.
Dewey pulled a piece of chocolate from inside his clothes and broke it in half.
One half for himself, one half for Black.
He carefully cupped the chocolate crumbs in his hand and tossed them into his mouth.
"I'm not here for Harry Potter.
I have no interest in your godson."
Dewey got straight to the point. "I'm here to find a Ministry of Magic official."
"There aren't any Ministry of Magic officials here, Dewey."
With Harry Potter's safety at stake, Sirius was extremely wary. He stared at Dewey, ready to act at any moment.
Dewey spread his hands.
The chocolate melted in his mouth.
It was the most delicious taste in the world.
The delicious chocolate calmed Dewey down considerably.
"Just last year," Dewey said, "your godson nearly got expelled from Hogwarts for using magic in front of Muggles. You didn't know about that?
Do you think he's the kind of child who always stays out of trouble?
He looks so much like James Potter. Do you think James Potter was the kind of person who always stayed out of trouble, Sirius?
Like father, like son. Sirius Black, he isn't the quiet type. You've got a much better chance of catching him here than elsewhere, don't you think?"
Sirius Black accepted the chocolate.
Big dogs couldn't eat chocolate.
Black could.
"So you came here to try your luck."
He was only half-convinced by Dewey's explanation.
"That's right," Dewey said firmly.
As he spoke, two headlights sliced through the darkness.
A car turned in from the street, its windows open as someone inside complained furiously.
"Damn it, why are the streetlights out!"
Someone shouted from the car, and a dog barked wildly in the back seat.
Dewey and Sirius vanished into the darkness. They didn't emerge again until the car had passed.
"It's them."
Sirius recognized the people getting out of the car. His expression darkened as he ground his teeth.
The Dursley Family climbed out.
They had just gone to pick up Aunt Marge from the countryside.
Dewey watched the woman getting out of the car. In both her build and appearance, she resembled Uncle Vernon. She looked delighted as she hugged Dudley and kissed him again and again.
"Where's that little brat? What's his name again—Harry, is it?"
Aunt Marge shouted without the slightest regard for Petunia's feelings.
Dewey grabbed Sirius Black before he could react.
"You can't tear them to pieces, Black," Dewey said seriously. "That won't make your life with your godson any better. It'll only make things worse, Black."
Dewey warned him in advance.
Black was incredibly strong. Dewey could barely hold the big man back.
Dewey was wondering whether he should hit him with an Avada to calm him down when Sirius stopped on his own.
"How can they—how can they treat Harry like this? How can they talk about James and Lily that way?" Sirius growled under his breath.
He looked ready to transform into a big dog and charge at them.
Aunt Marge's bulldog gave a low "woof," turned its head curiously toward them, and tilted it.
"Calm down, Sirius Black. If you kill them, how will you face Harry Potter afterward?
'Hi, Harry. I'm Sirius Black. I killed your aunt and uncle. Nice to meet you.' Is that it?
Do you think that's a cool way to introduce yourself?"
Dewey roared in his ear.
He had to wrap his arms around Sirius Black's waist to hold him back. Even without transforming, the big man was extremely difficult to restrain.
There was no doubt that Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had abused little Harry in every way, but that didn't mean Sirius could charge in and tear them apart.
He could take away their custody of Harry, but he couldn't tear them apart.
That would attract a large number of the Ministry of Magic's elite.
Dewey couldn't let Sirius Black do that.
Dewey was fishing.
He wanted to catch two little fish, not elite Aurors. Neither Kingsley nor Mad-Eye Moody was someone he could handle at this stage.
"Fine, fine. I understand. You can let go of me now."
Sirius Black calmed down a little after hearing that. He sat on the ground, panting and brooding by himself.
Because of his mistake, Harry had suffered so much over the years.
Dewey, meanwhile, stared at Number Four, Privet Drive.
Aunt Marge had a loud voice. Dewey and Sirius Black crept closer to Uncle Vernon's house, and Dewey took care to avoid the eyes nearby, making sure no one saw him.
If he remembered correctly, there was a Squib old woman living nearby who was one of Dumbledore's watchers.
He was certain that if Dumbledore came here, neither he nor Sirius would get away.
He alone wouldn't draw Dumbledore's attention, but add Sirius Black to the mix, and that might change.
They heard Aunt Marge's roar from inside the dining room, mingled with the barking of her dog, Ripper. It was chaotic for a while.
"So," Aunt Marge's voice carried clearly outside to Dewey and Sirius Black as she asked rudely, "you're still here, are you?"
She must have been asking Harry Potter.
Harry Potter replied. Dewey guessed he had said, "Yes."
The answer enraged Aunt Marge.
"Don't you dare say yes in that insolent tone!
Vernon and Petunia were kind enough to take you in. They've been far too good to you!
If someone had dumped a little brat like you on my doorstep, I'd have thrown you in an orphanage!
Do you understand?
So you'd better learn to be humble around us. Humble, understand?
We saved you, you little brat. Don't look at me like that!"
Hearing Aunt Marge's outrageous words, Dewey glanced at Sirius Black again.
He wasn't worried that Harry Potter would hit his aunt with an "Avada Kedavra." He was worried that Sirius Black would be provoked by Marge, lose control, and charge in to bite everyone inside to death.
But when he turned, he saw Sirius Black's eyes shining.
He no longer looked like he wanted to tear the Dursley Family to pieces.
He looked as though he had made up his mind about something.
Turning to Dewey, Sirius Black nervously licked his lips and asked, choosing his words carefully, "You said—I mean, if I catch Peter Pettigrew soon, will that clear my name?
Those thirteen deaths, and the accusation that I joined the Dark Lord—they weren't my doing.
Wouldn't that prove I'm innocent?
Then I'd have a house, enough money to support myself, and my freedom. Could I apply to change Harry Potter's guardian?
That's right, don't look at me like that. I'm his godfather, and he's my godson. I can be his guardian in the first place."
Sirius Black said it with a hopeful look, wanting to hear Dewey say, "Yes."
Dewey thought for a moment. "It sounds like it might be possible."
"Good. That's good."
Sirius Black said wistfully. He was looking at Dewey, but Dewey could tell that his gaze had already gone distant.
He was imagining a wonderful future.
Dewey almost slapped him to bring him back to his senses.
Those happy memories could attract Dementors.
But Dewey quickly realized they weren't in Azkaban.
It was probably better to let him dream. At least then, he wouldn't do anything foolish on impulse.
Dewey turned his gaze toward the house. A scream rang out from inside. If his guess was right, Harry Potter had finally been pushed too far by Aunt Marge, and his magic had gone out of control, blowing his aunt up like a balloon!
Wandless Magic.
The house was full of shouting. After a while, Dewey saw Harry Potter, a famous figure in the Wizarding World, storm out in a fury.
He had his back to the street, a wand in one hand and a large trunk in the other.
Uncle Vernon came charging out of the doorway like a huge bear standing on its hind legs, fear and fury on his face as he stared at Harry Potter.
"Come back! I want you to put everything back the way it was!"
He shouted at Harry, spraying spittle everywhere.
Harry Potter pointed his wand at his uncle and said firmly, "No."
"I'm leaving," he said resolutely. "I've had enough of you! I'm not putting anything back the way it was."
He turned his head without hesitation and walked into the darkness!
Dewey patted Sirius, but his hand landed on a big black dog.
The big black dog glanced at Dewey, blended into the darkness, and disappeared.
Before you continue