[ Both statements leave him looking relieved. He stands up, finally, and lets her dog have the underside of its chin back. ]

I'm usually all right. I'm not dangerous to animals. They keep me calm. That's why Sirius is an Animagus. [ He pauses. That isn't a betrayal of confidence, exactly, because he knows Tyke knows, but— ] And because it was illegal and dangerous and so on. [ Coolness preserved. ]

But if I'm around people, I'll go after them. I can't help it. And we're very hard to control at all. [ Or else his dad and/or Dumbledore would have come up with something better than leaving him alone to rip himself up. He shoves both hands into his pockets. ] I've got six days, if you want to try.