Summer Days

Chapter 4: Just a Little Bitter

    Harry had no idea how to reply to the strangely dressed young man. "Uh…"

    "Wow," he said. "You really are, aren't you? You've got the scar and everything!"

    "Uh…"

    "I'm Jonas!" the boy said, sticking out a hand in greeting.

    Harry took it, and noticed his finger nails were painted electric blue. "Hi… I'm Harry… but you knew that."

    Jonas smiled. "So what the hell are you doing in a dump like the Hollow?"

    "Living," Harry replied matter-of-factly. "…Sort of…"

    "Yeah, I know what y'mean," the other boy nodded grimly. "The Hollow sucks. A lot." He blinked. "Oi! Didn't yer parents live in these parts?"

    Harry paled and gave a slight nod.

    "Right," Jonas said, quite embarrassed. "Sorry bout that."

    Harry shrugged uncomfortably.

    "Look," Jonas said. "Few mates o' mine 'er meeting at Havermill's Diner t'night at nine… why don't you come, ay?"

    Harry blinked. "Well…"

    "Aw, c'mon, it'll be a great time," Jonas said.

    Harry sighed. "I… I guess…"

    Jonas beamed. "Great! See ya at nine!" with that, he swaggered off in the other direction.

    Harry had to admit that Jonas may have been one of the strangest people he'd ever seen.

    And that was saying something.

    "Ready, Harry?"

    He turned to see Arabella wheeling the shopping cart toward him and he nodded to her.

    She smiled. "Good. Come help me pick out ice cream."

    He smirked and followed her to the frozen foods section. "Bella?"

    "Hrm?" she replied as they stopped in front of the freezer of ice cream.

    "You and…" Harry trailed off feeling a little sick all of the sudden.

    She turned to look at him curiously. "What is it, Harry?"

    "You and… you and S-Sirius…"

    Her eyes became saddened. "What about Sirius and I?"

    "Were you…?" He had problems forming the words.

    Her eyes widened. "Oh, Harry." She laughed a little. "Oh, no… I mean…" She sighed. "I… I loved Sirius, but not… not like that… he was a close friend."

    Harry sighed and stared at a carton of chocolate frog ice cream. "Oh…" He didn't know why he'd asked. He wasn't upset or relieved. He'd just wanted to know.

    She smiled widely. "I can tell you some of the strangest, most embarrassing…"

    He still stared at the ice cream, not showing any sign of reaction.

    She sighed and turned to stare at the ice cream as well. "What kind would you like?"

-----

    As they walked down the street with the bags of groceries, it occurred to Harry that he'd yet to see Remus that day.

    "Bella, where's Remus?"

    She gave him a wink. "Out."

    Harry nodded. He was with the Order somewhere… out on a mission… headquarters…

    Number Twelve Grimaulde Place.

    The House of Black.

    Sirius had hated it there.

    Harry felt anger surge through him. He hated it there, too, come to think of it.

    As they reached the house, Bella fumbled for her wand while still carrying two full grocery bags. She finally got it out and uttered an "Alohamora," opening the door and walking in.

    He followed her and set his two grocery bags on the kitchen table.

    Bella glanced at Harry as she began to put things away. "What would you like for lunch?"

    "Nothing, thanks."

    She sighed. "That's too bad. You're eating."

    He glared at her. "No, I'm not."

    "I'll not allow you to starve-"

    "You'll not allow?" Harry shot. "Who do you think you are? My mother?"

    "Of course not," she said gently. "But I do know she wouldn't want you to-"

    "It doesn't matter what she wants," Harry said in a voice of stone. "She's dead." With that he ran up the stairs, and climbed the ladder to his room.

    Bella slumped down into a chair, looking quite shocked. "Bloody hell, Lily.. he's certainly developed your temper."

-----

    He was expecting the knock on his door. "What?"

    "Is that a 'come in' or a 'go away'?"

    Harry sighed at Remus' voice. "Come in."

    Remus opened the door and climbed up. "Hi."

    Harry nodded, pretending to read a book at his desk.

    "A bit of a row with Bella, I hear?"

    "She started it."

    "Harry…"

    "I wasn't hungry."

    "You didn't eat much at dinner last night," Remus pointed out. "You didn't have breakfast this morning, or eat lunch… please attempt to eat something. She's worried about you."

    "Why does she care?!" Harry cried, rising to his feet. "I don't know her!"

    Remus sighed. "Because she cared about your parents… and Sirius… and she's your godmother."

    "So it's about responsibility!" Harry yelled.

    "I'm not yelling, Harry," Remus pointed out. "You shouldn't be either."

    He reddened a little and sat back down.

    "She loves you, Harry," Remus went on. "Yes, she feels responsible for you. But she came rushing home from halfway across the globe because of love… no guilt."

    Harry didn't want to hear this. He couldn't take it. Not now.

    He glanced at the clock. Eight-forty-eight pm. He got up and grabbed his coat. "I'm going out."

    Remus sighed. "Harry…"

    He pushed past the older man and very nearly slid down the ladder and flew down the stairs to see Bella reading in the kitchen. He glared and stormed out into the night.