Chapter Text
Hermione Granger had been told she was the brightest witch of her age by countless witches and wizards since arriving at Hogwarts one September prior. Still, unable to keep her eyes from following Harry’s new companion, its appearance had filled her with more questions than answers, and each inference she theorized was more wild and nonsensical than the last, and Harry was frustratingly unforthcoming about the whole situation.
Harry had boarded the Hogwarts Express with a brooding, nightmare-black wolfhound, so large it put Fang’s stature to shame, and inadequately explained it was his familiar.
“His name is Snuffles,” Harry said.
“Yes, but where on earth did you find such a creature?” Hermione asked, slightly horrified by its rough, imposing presence, jumping slightly when a low growl emitted from the animal’s large mouth, a glimpse of white fangs peeking out from within its maw. Harry looked away from Hermione to pat the beast on its head, smiling secretly. Snuffles leaned into the touch, licking Harry’s hand in thanks.
Harry laughed, then said, “I think he takes offense to being labeled as a creature—he likes to think of himself as my protector.”
“He thinks?” Hermione asked incredulously.
“Yeah, he’s just a good, proud dog, aren’t you, Snuffles?” Harry scratched Snuffles’ ear, eliciting a happy whine from the dog. “Like I said, he’s my familiar.”
At that moment, Ron burst into the carriage. “Alright, Harry—er, Snuffles?” Ron was clearly already familiar with the beast, if seemingly wary of its presence. “Hermione!” Ron said happily. “How was your summer? As you know from my letters, we had to break Harry out from the Dursleys’—”
“—with an illegally charmed Muggle car, yes I heard,” Hermione said absently, one inquisitive eye still on Snuffles.
“What? No lecture, no ‘how could you be so irresponsible—’”
“Where did you find him, Harry?” Hermione asked again, cutting Ron off, too distracted by the imposing animal to give into any anger she felt at the past recklessness of her friends.
“Little Whinging, would you believe it?” Harry sat on the bench across from Hermione, and Snuffles jumped up next to him, his girth nearly toppling off the too-narrow cushion. Snuffles placed his head down on Harry’s thigh, and Harry grinned fondly down at him, stroking his head gently. Ron sat down next to Hermione, and sent her a wide-eyed, raised-brow look that Hermione could only interpret as “Don’t ask me.”
“Sorry I didn’t write to you about him—I guess I just wanted you to—er—meet him for yourself.”
“But—”
“Harry said he found him in the nearby park—isn’t that right, mate—and took a liking to Harry the moment they were acquainted,” Ron explained. “How you didn’t just bolt in the opposite direction—he’s right intimidating. Sorry, Snuffles, you know you are.” Snuffles, who had briefly perked up upon the description, settled down aloofly. “He’s alright, really. Had a grand time with us de-gnoming the garden.”
“So—what exactly—what exactly is a familiar?” Hermione asked carefully, frustrated by her gap in knowledge. “Does Hedwig not count?” Hedwig, peckish in her own ways, was far less of an imposing figure than Snuffles, and much more approachable, Hermione considered, given the approacher had a mouse or treat on hand.
“See—well—”
“Harry reckons they read each other’s minds,” Ron said.
“I didn’t say that, exactly,” Harry grumbled.
“Either way, it’s a bit freaky, innit, how well-behaved he is? Sometimes it’s like there’s a connection between you two.”
Harry shrugged, flushing slightly.
“Are you allowed to have a dog, Harry?” Hermione asked. “Particularly one so—”
“Giant?” Ron laughed.
“Dumbledore gave the approval. I wrote him,” Harry said. Snuffles let out a sound that was almost a purr, and Harry quickly wrapped his arms around the beast’s neck in a hug. Snuffles preened.