Dog Days

Published: 4/15/25

Harry needed to leave, but Malfoy was getting ready for work. He didn't want him to be late, though. He scoped out the yard. The fence was only eight feet high. He could manage that, but the squirrel caught his eye. He couldn't resist chasing it. His arch-nemesis.

He paced back and forth below the squirrel, barking. He would get that squirrel. Harry charged the tree, leaped onto it and bounced up into the air nowhere near the bloody chattering menace. He landed soundly and got up to bark more.

"Holy Merlin! Are you sure you're not a cat, Dog?" Malfoy called from the deck.

Harry jerked his head to glare at him before letting off a few more barks.

"Come on, Boy. You can't get squirrels," Malfoy muttered.

Harry surrendered and went inside, and Malfoy was just finishing cooking breakfast. Harry wagged his tail and looked up. Malfoy pointed to the couch. Harry walked over and laid down, resigned to wait for Malfoy to finish eating.

In the dog world, the Alpha eats first. Malfoy wasn't in charge, though, Harry told himself. When Malfoy was done, he dropped Harry's dog bowl on the floor. Harry waited for the sign and came over. He stopped at the bowl and looked at it, then he looked at Malfoy.

"Come on, eat up. You need to eat the dry stuff, too."

Harry growled. Malfoy had mixed in kibble with the eggs and bacon. Harry snorted and walked away.

"Hey, get back here and eat!" Malfoy called. "The vet said you should eat dog food, too."

Harry was pissed, though. He spotted Malfoy's shoes by the door. He licked his lips, mischievously, and grabbed a shoe as Malfoy tried to call him back to the kitchen.

"You're going to have to eat this stuff eventually, Dog!" he called out." Dog come ba-"

Malfoy saw that he had a shoe in his mouth. It was a dress shoe... leather one... expensive.

"Hey! Put that down!" he said, worriedly.

Harry growled and backed away. He looked deliberately at his bowl and back up to Malfoy.

"Are you... threatening me?" he asked, incredulously.

Harry had long broken the habit of responding by nodding his head. He growled and looked at the kibble-infested food. He wanted real food. Malfoy sighed and opened the refrigerator. He unwrapped some ham slices and dangled one out. Harry cautiously dropped the shoe, out of Malfoy's reach, and came over. He sat and waited for Malfoy to offer the ham to him. He did and Harry ate it out of his hands without nipping him.

"Stubborn no-name bastard. You really are gentle though," he said, as he petted him.

He offered him a few more slices, and then went and grabbed his shoe.

"Ugg... it's covered in dog slobber, but at least you didn't chew it!" Malfoy complained and put his shoes on. He spelled them clean. "You're going to have to get used to eating dog food."

Harry tilted his head, growled and barked.

"Yes, you do. Every dog book I have says that human food is bad for you," Draco muttered. "Now, I have to go. Get into the laundry room!"

Harry lowered his head and whined.

"I'm not leaving you to have the place to yourself! Plus, you just had my shoe in your mouth. Now go!" he demanded.

Harry lowered his tail and slowly walked to the room.

"Go on!" Malfoy muttered angrily.

Harry considered running, now, but Malfoy's wand was in his hand. He walked into the room, and Malfoy summoned the dog food and his water bowl and set them inside.

"Eat. I'll be home in eight hours, alright?" Draco said. He Conjured a fluffy bed and pee pads, again, before shutting the door.

Harry barked until he left. He waited twenty minutes and went up on his hind legs. He used his mouth to turn the door knob until the door opened. He considered leaving, running, but a few more days rest wouldn't kill him. Plus, he could mess with Malfoy more. He laid down on the squishy couch and sprawled out for a nap.