Wandering

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Date: Sept. 4th
(Open to Pitch & Sirius/Padfoot)
Large, black-colored paws padded softly down the hallway. Once again, he was on patrol, just like every other night since he had arrived at this strange school. Snuffles let out a yawn as he walked down the hallway, pausing every few moments to listen, ears straining to hear anything out of the ordinary. The large black dog continued his path down the empty corridors, his grey eyes half closed with sleep. Hopefully, one of the other patrols would relieve him soon after he was done with this floor. From there, he would return to the safety of Remus' room and crash.

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Not even the sharpest senses could detect what wasn't there. As the shaggy dog walked, is shadow began to stretch out behind him, growing, and changing shape. It wasn't long before it took on a man's shape. Or something like a man. Without a sound, Pitch Black rose from the shadow, hands folded behind his back, a cold smirk on his face as he regarded the wizard in canine form. It was a good disguise, he had to admit, but int he end, it had done Sirius Black no good against the Boogeyman's discerning gaze. No, his fears had seen to that.

"Not much of a guard dog, are you?" he mused, smirking a bit as he gazed at the black-furred mutt. "Allowing me to sneak up on you like that."

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The coal black nose quivered at he took in a scent. At least he thought it was one. A moment later, Pitch's voice came from behind him and the massive hound spun, hackles raised, ears pinned back. Padfoot stepped forward, sniffing the air between himself and Pitch, trying to ID him. He was a teacher, was he not? Still, something was not right about him.

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Pitch's smirk deepened, and he walked slowly forward, hands still folded behind his back. So, he was going to play dumb, was he? Well, it would do him no good. And there was nothing the wizard-dog could do to stop him.

"Nothing to say for yourself, Snuffles?" he asked, a slightly mocking tone to his voice as he approached. He paused, then strode forward, circling around the dog, staying a short distance away. A twisted grin crossed his face as he regarded the furry creature. "Or do you prefer Padfoot?" he added, a knowing look in his eyes.

He walked a short distance away, hands still behind hi back, then stopped, glancing over his shoulder. He waited in silence for his words to sink in before he turned to face Padfoot directly, standing in a shadow cast by a light fixture. But for the moment, he remained where he was. "Or perhaps you'd like to stop pretending for a while, and go by your real name. It must get so tiresome, hiding all the time, worrying that someone might find out who you really are."

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Lips peeled back to show off his fangs, the same ones that would hopefully bite Wormtail's little rat head clean off his body. Who was this man? How did he know his nickname of all things? Remus wouldn't sell him out, that was for sure. So that would cross him off the list. Grey eyes followed Pitch, and the dog's shaggy body turned to face him. He cocked his head in thought. He had to be some sort of Deatheater, that had to be it!

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Pitch shot Padfoot a condescending look as the dog bared his fangs. Did he really think his fangs would do him any good against the Boogeyman? Nonchalantly, he turned his back on the dog, and took a couple of steps before disappearing into a shadow, vanishing from sight, and leaving no scent, only a faintly echoing laugh.

"Don't be afraid, Padfoot. I won't hurt you," he said, voice echoing in the empty hall. Oh no, it was much more fun to put the wizard on edge. Of course, taunting Voldemort himself would have been more fun. For all the dark wizard's power, there was so much fear there. But, unknowingly, the Dark Lord was making Pitch more powerful, so, if anything, gratitude was in order.

"Still nothing to say? One might think your silence was...rude," he said, letting his shadow slide across the floor and wall as he spoke. "You can't fool me. I know very well that you can speak. Or perhaps you haven't figured it out yet. How the magic here grants speech to even the dumbest of animals. A shame, really. A wizard like yourself, unable to see such a simple spell. Perhaps you do make a better dog than you make a human."

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"Don't be afraid, Padfoot. I won't hurt you,"

'Heh, I doubt it,' a soft rumble of a growl crept out of the dog's throat as he continued to stare at the last spot Pitch disappeared. The shaggy dog stiffened again. If this was a Deatheater he would surely have to get rid of him.

"Still nothing to say? One might think your silence was...rude."

Sirius crept back, watching the shadows creep along the floor and walls .

"You can't fool me. I know very well that you can speak. Or perhaps you haven't figured it out yet. How the magic here grants speech to even the dumbest of animals. A shame, really. A wizard like yourself, unable to see such a simple spell. Perhaps you do make a better dog than you make a human."

"Show yourself Deatheater" Sirius finally returned to his human form, pulling out his wand, a dog like snarl gracing his lips. "Do you really think I'm scared of you?" his eyes followed Pitch's shadow.

"Lumos!" Sirius barked, he would be of no use if he couldn't see what was threatening him. "Now, how do you know who I am?"

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Another soft laugh echoed down the hallway as Sirius finally revealed himself, in the human flesh. It really was true. He had no desire to cause...bodily harm to Sirius. As the wizard drew his wand and lit it, Pitch's shadow faded back into the walls, leaving the hallway apparently empty. But the light did cast more shadows. And every shadow, everywhere, was a passage for the Boogeyman.

"Afraid of me? Perhaps not. After all, what adult would ever be afraid of the Boogeyman?" he responded, voice echoing in the empty air. Then he stepped form Sirius' own shadow, made long by the light from his wand, and stood behind the wizard, hands folded behind his back.

"Deatheater? You've got me all wrong. I have nothing to do with your Lord Voldemort. Oh no, I am far, far older. I have more in common with your Dementors, than with him," he said, smirking as he spoke. "As for how I know so much about you, I can feel your fears. Fears for your dear friend, Remus, and your god-son, Harry. Fears about what might happen if Remus were to lose control and maul somebody, and fears about what might become of Harry Potter if he falls into Voldemort's hands."

He turned, and walked away, pausing and looking over his shoulder after he'd taken several steps. "And ever since you walked through the gates here, I've felt your fear. You hide it well, but not enough to fool me."

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Sirius knew this was going to turn into a horrible night with Pitch being around. The wizard's head twisted, following the sound, wand still out in front.

"Afraid of me? Perhaps not. After all, what adult would ever be afraid of the Boogeyman?"

"Boogeyman? You mean that you're the thing that haunts muggle children's dreams?" Sirius would have to wait for the answer as Pitch spoke again.

"Deatheater? You've got me all wrong. I have nothing to do with your Lord Voldemort. Oh no, I am far, far older. I have more in common with your Dementors, than with him."

He knew of Voldemort? And of the Dementors. Turning again, Sirius faced Pitch as he was retreating backwards.

"Nox, alright, I'll play your creepy little game" he pocketed his wand in the front pocket of his robes and listened.

"As for how I know so much about you, I can feel your fears. Fears for your dear friend, Remus, and your god-son, Harry. Fears about what might happen if Remus were to lose control and maul somebody, and fears about what might become of Harry Potter if he falls into Voldemort's hands."

And how he was right, but what did it matter? He couldn't do anything about it? Harry was safe and sound at Hogwarts.

"None of that is going to happen," Sirius growled again.

"And ever since you walked through the gates here, I've felt your fear. You hide it well, but not enough to fool me."

"You've been stalking me, then?" he raised a brow and stepped forward. "What do you want with me then? Just come to frighten me?" Sirius stalked forward to brush past Pitch to continue down the hallway. "Like I said, I'm not scared."

It was a bluff of course. He was terrified the moment Pitch said Harry and Remus' names