Look at the Stars

Finishing up his meal, Sirius persisted in blowing kisses in Hermione's direction as he assumed a wicked grin. Hermione pretended to ignore him and tried to look angry, but only succeeded in looking something between vaguely annoyed and mildly amused.

He congratulated himself on the cleverness of the rather pleasant game he'd invented. Am I teasing her as a way of denying what I really feel? He glanced over at Hermione, who was now staring at the enchanted starlight of the Great Hall's ceiling. If she had looked at him then, she would have seen him smiling at her mischievously, but with a touch of tenderness in his eyes.

No, he thought, this is fun. . . and I'll see what it leads to.

After dinner, he headed toward Gryffindor Commons, where he intended to further harass Hermione. He had barely made it out of the Great Hall when he encounted Professor Dumbledore. "Ah, Professor Black. I wondered if perhaps I might have a word with you in my office?"

Sirius had a sinking feeling that Dumbledore was about to warn him not to engage in the kind of unprofessional conduct he'd exhibited at dinner. I'm like a student sent to the headmaster's office for punishment, he thought. Arriving at Dumbledore's office after a seemingly endless journey through the castle, the two sat down.

He was surprised when Dumbledore looked at him playfully with his piercing eyes and said, "I must admit, Professor Black, I quite enjoyed your. . . ahem. . . performance at dinner tonight. How long have you been in love with Professor Granger?"

How does he do it? Sirius thought. He is incredibly perceptive. "Oh no, Professor Dumbledore, don't get the wrong idea, I was just teasing Professor Granger."

"Ah, or so you meant her to believe. . ."

Sirius looked around uncomfortably.

"I may be a very old wizard, Professor Black, but don't you think I can see something when it's right in front of me? Love is not only for the young. After all, I was 140 when I got married."

"You're married, sir?" Sirius was shocked.

"Yes, yes, didn't you know that?"

"Does she live here? Why haven't I seen her?"

"Minerva? Of course you've seen her! She may not venture into the school as much now that she's retired, but she's most definitely here!"

Sirius's mouth hung open. "Am I hearing you correctly, Professor Dumbledore? You're married to Minerva McGonagall?"

"I thought old people were supposed to the ones with hearing loss," Dumbledore commented, "and yes, Minerva McGonagall and I have been married for the last twenty years. Of course, she wanted to keep her own name; you see, she was already quite famous at the time. But I'm wondering how you didn't know this. . . Ah, yes! I've got it! It's because we were discrete," he said significantly.

Sirius looked embarrassed.

"Ah, Professor Black, you're wondering if I'm suggesting the same behavior for you? I cannot tell you that. I trust you to remain within the bounds of decency. But tell me, Sirius, you do love her, don't you?"

Sirius couldn't escape Dumbledore's pointed stare. "Yes. Yes, I love her. . . more than anything. . ."

Dumbledore chuckled at Sirius's distant gaze. "I don't doubt that, Professor. I do not doubt that at all. And you will be taking her to the ball, yes?"

"I'd better make sure. . ."

"Yes, Professor, make sure. I recommend you do so as soon as possible."

Sirius could hear Dumbledore's laughter as he closed the door. He hadn't forbidden his joking around. . . He continued on to Gryffindor Commons with a dual purpose: to terrorize Hermione and to confirm that she would, in fact, go to the ball with him.