The Seriousness of Sirius Potter

It had been several days since Sirius' talk with Hermione. He felt safe in the knowledge that she wouldn't tell his father. Sirius had been working up the courage to tell him, but the right opportunity just hadn't presented itself. He wanted to tell him after each lesson but he always had to rush off to another class and when he didn't his father was always talking to another student. He began to wonder if he would actually be able to tell him when the chance finally came. The only solace Sirius could find in this difficult time was in Michael.

They had arranged to meet in the Transfiguration classroom after the last lesson of the day. Hermione already knew about them so it didn't matter so much if she caught them. Sirius stood in the middle of the room, bouncing up and down on the soles of his feet in anticipation. Suddenly a pair of hands covered his eyes from behind. He hadn't even heard the door open.

"Guess who?"

"As if I need to," laughed Sirius. As soon as he turned he launched himself at Michael, who welcomed him with open arms and mouth. This was that beautiful moment that all couples experience. Nothing could stop them; there was no one in the whole world but them. Sirius' hand found its way instinctively into Michael's shirt. He was just beginning to explore when suddenly,

"Oh my GOD!" Sirius and Michael both turned in shock. They forgot that the door opened without any noise, which was how Michael was able to sneak up and surprise Sirius. Standing before them, with a look of pure disgust on his face was Scott Finnigan. "Oh my god!" he repeated, "You two, the team captain and the seeker? What the fuck?" He looked as if he was going to be sick. Michael approached Scott as he re-buttoned his shirt.

"Scott, just let me start by saying this, this is exactly what it looks like." Sirius was surprised by Michael's confidence and courage.

"How can you guys be gay? This... I don't..."

"Like I said, it's what you see. Sirius and I are seeing each other. In fact we're in love,"

"Fucking hell!" exclaimed Scott.

"But we're not ready to make it public yet," Sirius was glad the one he cared for had taken his feelings into account. Michael continued, "So I'm counting on you as a friend and team mate not to tell anyone."

"Please Scott," said Sirius timidly, "no one can find out, especially not my dad. We're going to tell everyone eventually, just not now," The look of disgust left Scott's face and was replaced with a smile. He seemed to calm down.

"Sure, I won't tell anyone. Heck, what are friends for?" Sirius breathed easy again. Scott shuffled uncomfortably on the spot. "I'll uh...I'll go then shall I?" He answered his own question and left, returning to the silent corridor. Michael turned to his boyfriend.

"Now then, where were we?"

"I-I'm not in the mood at the moment, Mike,"

"Why not?" asked Mike with disappointment in his voice.

"It was the shock ...of being seen by Scott. I mean, can we really trust him?"

"I trust him, if you can't trust a member of your own Quidditch team than who can you trust?" Sirius nodded glumly. He trusted Michael's judgement but something didn't seem right. He couldn't read the smile Scott had given him before he left. "Besides, you can't go getting so upset just because we caught. It'll probably happen more and more," Michael moved closer to Sirius and put his hand on his waist, hoping to carry on from where they left off. Sirius pulled away from his gentle touch. Michael's hand dropped back down to his side.

"I'm sorry Mike, I was just so nervous about what Scott might have done, I'm in no state right now."

"God, you can be a real wuss sometimes," It had been a joke in Michael's mind, but it was a spiteful Cruciatus curse to Sirius' heart.

"Don't call me that!" he exclaimed.

"What?" asked Michael who failed to understand Sirius' indignation.

"I said, don't call me that!" said Sirius a little more forcefully, "I get people calling me names all the time but coming from you it hurts,"

"Geez, lighten up a little. It was just a joke,"

"I didn't find it funny," Sirius could feel his anger rising from deep within him. A quiet voice told him to stop now before he lost control, but a louder voice told him to go for it. "It's alright for you; ever since first year you've fitted right in. You may feel confident enough to joke about you and me but I don't!"

Now it was Michael's turn to vent some frustration. "I don't believe this; you do this all the time! I've seen it a hundred times; someone says something and you over react. You're too damn sensitive!"

"That's how I am!" Sirius found he was raising his voice a little more than he intended. It felt tremendous. "My feelings for you are all I have, but if you're not serious about us then perhaps I shouldn't bother!"

Michael stood dumbfounded, staring at Sirius in total disbelief. He shook his head, bringing himself back into focus. "Not serious? NOT SERIOUS?" Even he was surprised at the volume of his voice. "Fine! If you don't think I'm serious about us then there's no fucking point, is there?" With that, Michael stormed out of the classroom, slamming the door behind him. Sirius randomly kicked at a chair. Then came the point when rage turns its deceitful back and allows its partner despair to set in. Sirius perched himself on a desk, put his face in his hands and sobbed. He had lost Michael forever.