Sirius shrugged. "It was a pat on the head. I wouldn't call that awkward. If you'd called me 'the bestest doggy in the world, yes you are,' then it might be weird." Far worse than that had been said to him but it was all in good fun, especially when he was the only one in on the joke.

"But I won't tell if you won't." He winked and in the process looked a little more like the person he used to be.