Chapter 8

                                        

                                              
Published: 4/11/2025
The next day went about the same. After a ridiculously long grooming session, Malfoy made him eggs and bacon for breakfast. Malfoy was still a primadonna, but Harry licked his face in appreciation when he set the bowl on the floor.
"Geez! Stop, Dog!" Malfoy complained.
Malfoy gave him a pain pill and locked him in the laundry room again before he went to work. Harry passed out for most of the day. When Malfoy came back, he slipped the lead on him.
"Come on, let's go for a ride!" he said, excitedly, and Harry showed the proper enthusiasm. 
Malfoy carried him out to the car and put him in the backseat. Harry looked out the window as Malfoy drove into the town nearby. Malfoy pulled into the pet store parking lot and he expected Harry to pick out his food. 
Fat chance, Harry thought as he limped around the store, smelling the bags, cans and other packages of dog food. Nothing he would remotely eat. Then Malfoy stopped in front of a refrigerator.
Harry could read that there were expensive quality dog food packages. Some had rice, meat and vegetables. They looked real. Harry read that they were human-grade food. Harry looked at it dubiously but was unimpressed. He looked up at Malfoy, who was shaking his head.
"This is what you want? I can make you chicken, vegetables and rice myself every night for that cost."
Malfoy led him away from the cooler, checking out a few more things and treats, which Harry refused. Malfoy got him a plain rawhide bone as they left. Harry wasn't totally opposed to that. He knew rawhide bones helped clean his teeth. He just wouldn't eat the bits he tore off. Malfoy took him to the grocery store, but left him in the car with the AC on.
Malfoy came out with some bags fresh vegetables, a giant bag of rice and several packages of frozen chicken breasts. Harry licked him when he got into the car, much to Malfoy's annoyance. No dog food for him! About an hour later, Malfoy gave him a bowl of freshly cooked food.
"Spoiled dog. You sure are stubborn, but you're going to eat healthy," he said, petting him as he ate. "Hmm... better call the vet to make sure, though. I don't want you to get sick."
After dinner, Malfoy carried him to the couch and got settled in, but there was a Tap Tap on the window. Harry growled in surprise but then saw it was an owl. Malfoy went to the front door and watched Harry warily, but held out his arm for the owl to land on.
"Stay... Dog..." Malfoy said and took the note. 
Malfoy brought the owl over to a cage that Harry hadn't noticed and set the owl inside. Malfoy conjured water and gave it treats. He shut the cage door. Harry carefully got off the couch to sniff the owl.
"Nice... be nice... that's an owl. You don't eat owls, okay?" Malfoy said as he read the note. "Good news, boy. I have a few spells to try out."
Harry tilted his head and sat down in front of the cage. Malfoy scribbled a reply and opened the cage door. He attached the note to the owl's leg and tenderly brought the owl out. Malfoy looked at Harry. 
"See? No attacking owls, okay? Smell... okay? We like owls. Owls are not squirrels."
Harry stood up. Squirrel? My arch nemesis, he thought and looked at the back door.
Malfoy laughed. "Alright, no saying the S-word. But no biting or killing the owls, okay?"
Harry tilted his head, again, and smelled the owl. Surprisingly, the owl didn't freak out at his closeness. The owl probably knew he wasn't a dog.
Malfoy was surprised by both their reactions but sent the owl on its way. He picked him up and carried him over to the couch to try the spells. Harry felt his bones heal. It was a little sharp but then mellowed out into a dull ache. Harry whined and wagged his tail. Draco checked the bones with a spell and nodded.
"Looks healed, Boy. I'm going to leave this cast on for the night, okay?" he said, and carried him to bed. 
Harry got another pain pill, just in case, and soon fell asleep after some more petting.