Hello my dear readers!

Thank you sooooo much for your awesome comments. I can say it over and over again: you make my day!

I don't know if I like the following snippet or not - you tell me if it's any good.

PART ELEVEN - A quick glance

The sun had set already and the air, still heated up from the day, was beginning to cool down. The dog was glad about it, because its black fur could be quite hot during the summer. But it didn’t want to complain. After living in the cold for twelve years a little sun and warmth were nice. And besides, it couldn’t risk changing to human form. It was just too risky.

At the moment the dog was hiding in a park, waiting a little longer before trying to find some food in the trash. It was lying low on the floor, eyes closed and content to be here. But suddenly the silence was broken, as its sensitive ears picked up the sound of footsteps coming nearer. The dog lifted its head and turned around.

A boy of about thirteen years was running along the street, dragging a heavy suitcase, a birdcage and - most curiously - a broomstick with him. He seemed to be angry and frustrated. The dog knew who he was, but it didn't know why the boy would be angry.

As the boy - Harry James Potter - continued down the street, the dog followed him, hidden in the shadows. It wanted to watch him, catch a good look at him, before travelling north, towards Hogwarts, where it knew the rat must be.

Harry came to a stop and looked around; he didn't see the black dog. After a few minutes he began to calm down and regained his breath, while he seemed to be thinking about something and then, obviously coming to a decision, he got up and opened his trunk. But immediately afterwards he got up again. The dog sunk deeper into the shadows, fearful of being discovered. Even when Harry had been a baby he’d been able to sense when his godfather was near and that had obviously not changed over the years. Surely someone, maybe Remus or even Dumbledore, had already told him who the supposed traitor and murderer was. The dog couldn't risk it. If Harry saw it, it’d be doomed.

Harry bent down again, but immediately stood up, wand drawn. The dog inched forwards, longing to be near the godson, longing to be part of his life. But it couldn't be ... not yet anyway.

Suddenly Harry fell down onto the pavement, his wand flying from his hand. The dog wanted to jump forward to help him, but a bright purple bus appeared out of nowhere. It was the Knight Bus, which the dog had used when it had run away from home so many years ago. Harry talked to the conductor and before he got onto the bus he looked around once more.

His gaze travelled to the dog and it could’ve sworn that Harry looked straight at it for a moment. Harry’s green eyes met the dog’s pale ones and the dog could see a mixture of emotion in them: anger, fear and … relief? But then Harry borded the bus and a minute later he was gone.

The dog waited for a few more moments, just to make sure that nobody was around, before it came out of the shadows and suddenly it was replaced by a man with long dark hair and ragged clothes. “I'll protect you, Harry. I promise,” he whispered quietly; the soft wind took his words with it and then the night was silent again