Dreams and Desires

Chapter 2

The Dreams Begin

That night as soon as Sirius's head hit his dark pillow, sinister memories of the past seeped through his brain. Sirius tossed and turned, but he couldn't calm himself enough to sleep. Finally, in desperation, he thought of his lilac muse. Though he felt guilty for thinking of her romantically, her beauty brought him almost instant peace. At last, he could feel his mind surrendering to sleep. A faint, tranquil melody began to play in the back of his mind as the image of her soft figure and sparkling eyes poured over all other thoughts....

Grace looked thoroughly concerned. They were in his private office. His subconscious mind was a storm of rage, lust, desire, and mischief. He caught a glimpse of his face in the mirror, and the villainous grin belonging to it sent shivers down his own spine.

"Now Miss Wentworth," he began, her nerves almost tangible in the air, "it seems that your eloquent essay on the origins and powers of Sirens was not entirely original. I'm afraid I came across an article almost verbatim to yours in my recent readings. If I recall correctly, that would be entitled blatant plagiarism." He poured out his evil words in an unfittingly coy tone, knowing the effect they would have on her.

"But--I would never...that's not possible!" She was clearly flustered and frightened. In her weakness, she would be in his power.

"Therefore, I must enforce detention or even...."

"...expulsion," she finished in a whisper, her eyes brimming.

"Unless of course, we could work something out."

His voice was becoming more seductive by the second, revealing his purposes. She looked up at him in shock. Before she could respond, he was on her, pushing his desired kiss on her lips and pulling her into his arms with the strong force of his released tension. He let her fall back into her chair and asked, "Do we have an understanding then, Miss Wentworth?" she looked angry and hurt, no surprise.

"So, you are going to blackmail me?" He saw something else in her hurt eyes, but no...it couldn't be possible. The shock hit him hard, but hope soon swam after it.

"I--I don't have to blackmail you?" She simply looked down. He must be dreaming...

He was. Figures. Though her affection could only be found in his dreams, at least he was not that deranged villain without any self-control. He chuckled lightly at his accidental reference to the Prophet's description of him from the horrid year he was on the run from the dementors. If he ever spent time alone with Grace apart from class, he would certainly behave with more decorum. Wait, what was he thinking? Even as he threw himself out of bed and into the shower, he knew that no level of self-convincing was going to keep him from her. Already, his mind was formulating an idea that spread a true smile across his face.

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Grace was humming on her merry way to Charms, her specialty and favorite class. She was much more involved in her own ponderings than the conversation between Hermione and Luna beside her. A sudden tug on her robes took her out of her reverie, and she turned to see a house elf looking up at her.

"Hello Dobby, how are you this fine day?" Grace asked with a bright smile. Dobby blushed.

"I'm very well, Lady Wentworth. I--I have a note for you from Professor Black."

"Thank you, Dobby. I see you haven't given up on that silly name yet." Dobby had insisted from their first encounter that Grace was most certainly a lady if he ever knew one and should be addressed as such. The thought made her practically snort out loud. Dobby gave a polite bow and walked off to his other duties.

Hermione urged Grace to open the note right away, but she said she would rather read her professor's unimportant note away from prying eyes and girlish assumptions. Put out but not defeated, Hermione continued into class in silence. Despite Grace's declaration, she knew the note was the opposite of unimportant to her. All of class it burned in her pocket like a hot coal. She was unable to forget about it even for a moment, thanks to Hermione's continuous smirks in her direction.

Soon she was alone in her dormitory, and she quickly pulled the note out from her robe pocket.

Miss Wentworth,

I greatly enjoyed your performance last week. I think your idea sounds brilliant. If you would be so obliged, I would like to help and make a few suggestions. Please meet me Monday evening at 7 o'clock in my private office.

Sirius Black

Against her will, her heart fluttered instantly at his praise. She wondered what he wanted to do to help. Many unlikely possibilities crossed her mind much later that night as she lay back in bed. No closer to an answer, she gradually fell into slumber as her imagination transformed her guesses into dreams...

She was running tirelessly through the Hogwarts corridors, looking for something. Her wand maybe? She couldn't be quite sure. Then suddenly, her legs slowed to a halt, showing her where to go. The bold gold letters, Sirius Black, were inscribed magically into the dark mahogany wood. As she stepped inside cautiously, he was already closing the door. He had been expecting her.

"Take a seat, won't you Grace?" His voice was rough but pleasing as he said her name.

He conjured a couch, and she sat next to him feeling strangely calm, as if it all made sense somehow.

"I just want to get to know you my dear. Tell me about yourself." There was something sinister in his countenance, and yet she felt enticed to do as he instructed. His sly smile was unnerving, yet soothing. So she began to talk, the words were but a blur...she only came to some sort of sense when she realized that her hand was placed firmly on his thigh, and her body leaned into his. His physical presence near her was intoxicating. She immediately lost her words, searching his silver eyes for some sort of explanation. Even in her uncertainty, those eyes were compelling her forward. His hand played lightly across her lower back. His eyes never left hers until she looked down to her hands, her heart beating quicker by the moment. He gently lifted her chin to meet his own, and with closed eyes she felt the warm tenderness of his kiss...

Grace woke unwillingly to the redundant noise of her alarm and hit it off. She stretched and sighed contentedly, her hands moving to her lips where she still felt the imagined kiss. She grinned widely without opening her eyes.

"Dream well, Lady Wentworth?" Grace's eyes flickered open to a smiling Luna. A few of her friends had unfortunately taken a liking to Dobby's name for Grace, especially since she had transferred from Beauxbatons, and even more especially because it bothered Grace to no end.

"Yes, actually, Mademoiselle Lovegood," she responded sarcastically.

"I'd love to hear about it, analyzing dreams has always been a hobby for me. I'm quite good." Trust Luna to see fantasy clearly and not reality. At the look of sincere interest in Luna's eyes, Grace decided she needed to confide in someone, and Luna wasn't likely to judge her. She told Luna about the dream, and she felt relieved once she did. The two girls whispered and giggled for the rest of the day.

The weekend passed uneventfully (except for variations on her dream each night), and for the first time in a long time Grace looked forward to a Monday. She had cringed as Hermione squealed reading Sirius's note. She felt no awkwardness in calling it such, after all he had signed it Sirius Black, not Professor. Oh dear goodness, this can't be happening. I'm like a bloody schoolgirl getting a crush on her teacher! How despicably cliché.

"Oh Grace, I just knew he liked you. Thank goodness, I am not accustomed to being wrong," Hermione said enthusiastically.

"Oi with the poodles already 'Mione, there is no way that Sirius could or would ever have a "crush" on me, okay? He is our teacher, practically your uncle, almost twice my age, and...and extremely handsome, and a powerful wizard, and experienced, and just plain hot--Okay, fine you win! Ugh, I'm the one who has a crush on him, alright?"

"Well, no kidding. I was just waiting for your ladyship to figure it out for yourself." At this retort, Grace let out a frustrated sigh and threw her head down onto her book she had been studying. Unfortunately, the margins held anagrams of a certain name she had written in class.

Sirius Black

luck I brass

brick lass

slick bar

back sir

ask rib

brisk

risk

sir

is

I

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After a few more sensuous dreams throughout the weekend, Monday arrived and Sirius was ashamed of himself...he was nervous. At dinner, he struck up a casual conversation with Dumbledore about Grace and learned several things that only left him wanting to know so much more, but from the primary source. He may not have a hope at any romantic involvement with her (for so many reasons, he thought sadly), but perhaps he could quench some of his desires by getting to know her personally. He glanced at her shining eyes and hair from the staff table and realized with astonishment how easily his dreams had become his desires.