An Account of Falling Stars

Chapter 16: James

I watched Sirius carefully after entering the estate. Marlene and Peter had ran ahead leaving the two of us alone. Having been to Sirius' manor, I knew that my house was smaller and less grand than his, and I'm ashamed to admit it, I was slightly nervous about what his opinion of my home would be. We walked up the main path that was filled with tiny colourful stones that crunched under our feet.

Sirius' had whipped back and forth as he took it in. His eyes lingered on a tire swing hung on a low branch on an oak tree, swaying in the chilly autumn air. I was relieved to see a small smile on his lips.

The garage door was open as we passed and there was a distant clanging coming from the room. I poked my head around the door and saw my father pattering away on his newest addition: a sleek black motorbike. "Holy crap pops! That's awesome!" I squealed, bounding into the room and weaving through the polished car to give my dad a quick hug before circling the motorcycle.

With a pang I remember Sirius and I look up to see him lingering, wide-eyed at the garage doors, twiddling his fingers nervously. "Well don't be a stranger Black!" I said, gesturing for him to come in, and slowly, he did. He came to a halt about a metre away from my father who was crouching on the ground in his oil stained jogging bottoms and loose maroon jumper, cranking a lever or something. I was suddenly grateful that he wasn't in his usual suit and tie that he adorned after work. "No work today?" I asked casually.

"I finished a bunch of paperwork early, so I left just after lunch." He replied, just as easily. I watched him glance up at Sirius, taking him in in one swift look. He stood up and a warm smile was resting on his face. "And you must be the famous Sirius Black." My dad said, grinning down at Sirius who was a bundle of nervous energy.

"Yes sir, I am." he muttered, looking at a grease stain on my dad's jumper. Sirius held out a slightly shaking hand for my father to shake and my dad's eyes flickered to me, an eyebrow arched, before chuckling slightly, "stop the nonsense son!" he laughed and then he pulled Sirius into a bone crushing hug that lifted him off the ground. Sirius' dazed look made me chuckle and I clapped his back when he was safely back on the ground. "Sirius, dad. Dad, Sirius!" I said happily.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Potter!" Sirius said, a wide grin spreading across his face. His pale skin looked a little flushed but the joy in his eyes was unmistakable.

"You know anything about bikes, Sirius?" My dad asked, leaning on the handle of his. Sirius scanned the body of the bike in awe, "oh I wish sir" he breathed.

"No need to call me Sir! Or Mr Potter for that matter, my name's Fleamont. Most people call me Monty."

"Monty." Sirius said the word slowly, like he was tasting a new, exotic food. Then he grinned, "alright Monty!" he nodded.

"Good."

"Can I call you Monty, dad?" I asked, hopefully.

"Over my dead body James! So boys, how was school?".

Sirius howled with laughter at that and I flipped him off behind my dad's back. We spent the next half an hour or so catching my father up on the first week and a bit of school, though he already knew most of it since I updated him every evening. Still, he listened fondly as he dabbled with his bike, occasionally asking Sirius to hand him a tool, or a bottle of water, which Sirius obliged eagerly.

Just then Peter and Marlene clamoured in the garage, each of them covered in flour. "Effie's been having us make naan bread!" Peter said excitedly, "It smells so good!"

"It's just naan Petey. Naan means bread, "Marlene laughed, fluffing up his hair and making a puff of flour cloud around his head.

"Oh right," Peter shrugged. I rolled my eyes at my friends and slowly got to my feet.