A/N: Aaaaannnnnnd we have an update! It's not very long, but it's here! Between school and NaNoWriMo, I haven't had time to write very much. I'm thinking about writing some holiday oneshots - any opinions?
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed, and favorited this story!
Harry shifted on the couch and stared at the table. "I thought you said he's coming around ten or so."
"You know how Portkeys are. They take a few minutes." Sirius flicked the Daily Prophet straight. "I don't think this has improved, despite what the Ministry keeps saying."
"That thing is never going to be good until they get some reporters who know how to tell the truth," was Harry's response.
Sirius looked up. "Is everything okay? I know you're upset, but I thought you of all people would understand his need to get away from everything for a bit. Wasn't Hogwarts like that for you, at the beginning?"
"I s'pose, but…" The teen sighed softly. "It feels like he's running away. And he really didn't have everything I had to deal with. I mean, a car accident is bad, but it isn't being on the run for a year or having to defeat Voldemort."
"No, it isn't. But it's still a tragedy for him and I expect you to be nice. His father said he's a little...off. Not who he used to be. Don't upset him too much." Seeing Harry open his mouth to argue, Sirius cut him off before he could begin. "I don't want to hear it. Be nice."
"Of course I'll be nice. I just don't - " A loud pop! interrupted him and Harry stopped as a short figure appeared in the center of the room.
Sirius stood up and extended his hand to help the redheaded teen to his feet. "Hello there. I'm Sirius."
"Bunta. Bunta Marui." The teen popped his gum, making Harry wince. "You must be Harry, then."
"Yeah, hi." Shaking Bunta's hand, Harry peered at the tennis case slung over his shoulder. "You play tennis?"
Bunta nodded and a half grin appeared on his face. "I'm one of the top middle schoolers in Japan. Among the top high schoolers too."
"Wow. Do you need a hand getting your stuff upstairs?" Harry asked. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Sirius nodding slightly. He didn't know why the man was surprised.
Bunta wasn't what he had expected. He wasn't a spoiled teenager, or a moody one. This kid just seemed...normal.
"Thanks. For both of those comments." Bunta gave him a half smile and suitcase and turned to ascend the stairs.
Harry's mouth dropped open. "You...you read my mind!"
"No, I read your emotions, although you were basically shouting your thoughts to me. You should really learn Occlumency, it would help you a lot." The redhead blew a bubble until it burst before continuing, "Most of my teammates have learned how to do it, although I've learned how to block other people's thoughts. Emotion reading is a gift I was born with, like some people are metamorphmagi."
Sirius rested a hand on Harry's shoulder, making the older teen look up. "Why don't you two get everything upstairs while I figure out something for lunch? Kreacher is off today, courtesy of Hermione, so we have to fend for ourselves."
"Kreacher?" Bunta asked.
"The house-elf. He's a bit...nuts. Less nuts than he used to be, but still nuts. My friend Hermione convinced him to agree to her new house-elf liberation plan, so he gets a day off
every week," Harry explained. "I suppose we'll go out to eat, then, since I haven't cooked anything and Merlin knows Sirius doesn't know how to cook. Once you're unpacked we can leave. After we get home I can put something up for dinner. Kreacher gets upset when we have take away all three meals on his day off and wants to stop doing it, but since we don't want to upset Hermione…"
"You make sure to cook occasionally." Bunta looked around the hall. "Which of these will be my room, may I ask?"
"Oh. Yeah. I think Sirius said he set up this one." Pushing open the door to the room beside his with his foot, Harry motioned towards the interior. "Go ahead. It's all yours."
The teen gave him a look, one Harry couldn't understand, before entering the room. He stopped in the middle of the room, his mouth hanging open. "This...is my room?"
"Yeah. Big, isn't it? I was surprised when Sirius showed me one of these rooms, too." Harry dropped the suitcase in middle of the floor and stretched out his abused muscles. "I guess I'll...leave you to unpack and stuff, then."
"Thanks."
Harry left the redhead standing in the center of the room, an odd look on his face. Heading down the stairs and into the living room, he found Sirius sitting on the couch, a sheaf of parchment in his hands. "So? Do you like him?" his godfather asked.
He shrugged and sat down on the sofa. "It's weird. If my brother died...I don't think I would be this happy-go-lucky."
"It's how he's coping. That's up to him. If it works, it works." Sirius set the parchment on the table. "I already ordered a pizza. I'll ask Bunta if he wants to go with you, see London a bit."
"Fine." Harry crossed his arms and leaned against the arm of the couch. "But I'm not pushing him."
"No, I don't want you to. At least for the first week or so I want him to do what he wants, then we can work on him being sociable or grieving properly." Running a hand through his hair, Sirius shook his head. "This summer is going to be fun. I have both you and Bunta to worry about."
"You're so responsible all of the sudden. I thought you and my dad spent all your time pranking people."
He sighed heavily. "That's what happens when you nearly die and realize that everyone thought you were a prankster and couldn't do anything right. And anyway, who said I'm not pranking anyone? I'm giving you some time off because of the war, but who knows what will happen?"
"Good to know." Harry looked up as Bunta entered the room. "I thought you were unpacking."
"I did." The redhead waved a slim wand in the air. "I also have magic."
"Why don't you go with Harry to pick up the pizza I ordered? That'll give you some time to check out the neighborhood." Sirius went back to his parchment. "My accounts desperately need work, otherwise I'd go with the two of you. It's nice outside, get some fresh air. You'll be stuck in here studying for most of the summer."
Bunta's face took on a surprised look. "Studying?!"
"Japanese magic is different from what we have here. You've got four years' worth of magic to catch up on." He waved them towards the door. "Go ahead. No need to rush back, take your time."
Harry nodded and started for the front of the house. "See you later."
"Bye."
