Attack of the Killer Water Bubbler
“I don’t think that is how it is supposed to work,” Harry said.
“I don’t think you should be talking,” Sirius said, he was standing on one of their kitchen chairs trying to get a new water bottle into their water bubbler. But it seemed to leak more when you weren’t trying to get water than when you were.
“I’m just trying to help,” Harry said, he was sitting on another chair, legs propped on the table.
“Is that what you are doing?” Sirius asked.
“Yeah, I am also doing homework,” Harry said gesturing to the table with all his books and papers spread about.
“Clearly,” Sirius mumbled.
“Do you want me to call Remus?” Harry asked, he took his legs off the table and got up to grab his phone.
“No, why would I need you to call him?”
“Because he replaced it last time. And the time before that, and the time before that, and..”
“I get it,” Sirius said holding up his hand to stop his godson.
“Do you want me to?”
“Let me try one more time,” Sirius said, he watched Harry as he left the kitchen and closed the door to his bedroom. Ungrateful child.
Sirius knew he could do this, on his own. No need to bother Remus, and give him another thing to hold over his head. To bad it wasn’t Sirius’ birthday, and he could give Remus the list of things that needed fixing like he did every year.
“What are you doing?”
Sirius almost fell backwards off the chair, taking the water jug with him. Remus was standing at the bottom of the back porch stairs. A cigarette hanging out of his mouth, the pack was visible in his flannel breast pocket.
Having regained his footing, and composer, Sirius could finally address Remus. “Replacing the water bubbler.”
“How long have you been doing that for?”
“Just a few minutes,” Sirius lied.
“Is that why there is a giant puddle and the bottle is half empty?” Remus asked, he took a puff from the cigarette.
“Is is half empty?” Sirius asked.
“Yes!” Harry yelled from instead the house.
“Shut up!” Sirius yelled back.
Harry came out to the porch, “Hi Remus, thanks for the help.”
“I see your godfather thought that he could do it himself,” Remus laughed. “You know that I have replaced it the last four times?”
“I already told him that,” Harry said.
“Why do you two doubt me so much?”
“Because you are giving us so much to doubt,” Remus said, taking another pull. “Get down and I’ll put it in.”
“Remus, I can do this.”
“Padfoot, please just let him do this. You’ve been doing this for over an hour. I did all my homework in that time,” Harry sighed.
“I don’t have all night, I need to get back to the diner. Unless you are are going to cook yourself dinner here?” Remus said, he was beginning to push Sirius off the chair.
“Remus I am serious, I can do this.”
“I know you are Sirius,” Remus smirked. “But I need to get back like I said.”
“Not funny.”
“Come on Padfoot, I’m hungry and its getting late.”
Sirius knew that being a good parent meant actually feeding his child, so he hopped off the stool so Remus could put in the jug. As much as it pained him to do. And of course Remus was so tall he didn’t need the stool. He grabbed the just and simply twisted it in, as if with magic.
Showoff.
“Thank goodness,” Harry sighed. He leaned up against Sirius. “Now can we please eat?”
“Fine,” Sirius grumbled.
“Do you two want a ride?” Remus asked, he had even gone into the kitchen to grab a towel and was wiping down the bubbler.
“No,” Sirius said, at the same time Harry said yes.
“I think I’ll just cook something here,” Sirius said. “Save some money and all that.”
“You are going to cook food. Here. In this house?” Remus asked.
“Did you go shopping after work?” Harry asked. Sirius wished that Harry was not standing here for this.
“Yes Remus, in my house.”
“Do you even have a pot? Or a pan? Or do you even know how to turn the stove on?” Remus rattled off question after question. And the problem was that Sirius knew that he knew all the answers to them.
“What is a pan?” Harry joked.
“This is how you are raising this child?” Remus laughed. “Come on let’s go. Salads tonight?”
“What’s a salad?” Harry asked. Sirius watched as Harry followed Remus, laughing as they walked around to the front of the house where Sirius assumed that Remus’ truck was.
“You coming or not? Or should I leave you with your stove’s instruction manual?” Remus called to Sirius.
Sirius grabbed his keys and his wallet off the kitchen counter and closed the back door. “As long as I don’t have to eat a salad.”
“I think that it would be good for the two of you to eat a vegetable every now and again,” Remus said opening the driver side door.
“There is ketchup on my burger, that is made out of a tomato,” Harry said pulling on his seatbelt. “And lettuce is also on there sometimes.”
“Tomatoes are fruits,” Remus said pulling out of the driveway.
“Look at that!” Sirius exclaimed. “I do feed this boy a well balanced diet.”
“Yes, ketchup and lettuce,” Remus deadpanned. “What a well rounded diet.”
“I try my best,” Sirius said as he watched the town go by.