A Taste of Magic

Chapter 84: 84th Course - Summer's Bounty

"Hey, how were the Farms?" Sirius asked, smiling as Harry walked in carrying a large basket and looking tanned.

"Great! Hogwarts Farms are incredible during the summer," Harry said, dropping the basket onto the counter. It was full of produce and things and Hedwig sat on the top, looking especially plump and satisfied. "There's so much growing and it's really pretty."

"They gave you all this?" Sirius asked, poking through the basket. "That's a lot of good-looking stuff!"

"Yup! Most of it are the smaller ones they keep to eat themselves and to give the other crops room to grow and get bigger. They taught me a lot about winnowing and thinning out the crops and what to look for."

"She looks happy too, get her fair share?" Sirius said, nodding at Hedwig.

Harry rubbed her head and she cheeped and belched, looking very content. "She had a good time too. They were having a rat infestation and she went in and got a lot and drove the rest out. Wheatley was especially happy."

"Hey good job," Sirius said and Hedwig flapped her wings happily. "Glad you enjoyed yourself." He grinned. "Never thought you'd have fun working and doing hard things like that."

"It's food related," Harry laughed. "It's a little weird though."

"Everyone's a little weird," Sirius said. "Pity the ones that aren't. They don't have a personality."

"What do you like that's weird?" Harry asked.

"I mess with Muggle motorbikes," Sirius said. "And I always liked Muggle music and things like that. Lily brought a record with her one year and I was hooked the first time I heard it. I also like wood carving."

"That's cool."

"That last one was a joke," Sirius said and Harry laughed. "I don't think I have the patience or the artistic talent."

"That and it's dangerous to let you play with sharp objects," Remus said, not looking up from his book.

"Also true," Sirius nodded. "Both to others and myself. I need adult supervision."

"Aren't you an adult?" Harry asked mildly.

"Don't remind him," Remus smiled. "Or do. I don't know which would be more detrimental."

"Depends on the day," Sirius grinned. "Excited for this weekend?"

"What's this weekend?" Harry smiled at Sirius' look. "Kidding. I know it's my birthday. Yeah, I'm really excited!"

"Good! You should be, you prat," Sirius said, playfully shoving Harry.

"Is it okay that it's still here and so many people are coming?" Harry asked.

"Of course. This is your home too," Sirius said softly but firmly. "And honestly, after spending more time with the recovering Purebloods, it's been pretty decent actually. Color me surprised."

"You don't honestly call them recovering Purebloods to their faces, do you?" Remus asked, looking faintly disapproving.

"Not to their faces, no," Sirius said, making Remus shake his head. "And it fits, sort of."