Chapter 2: First meeting

Hermione started to panic. She couldn't remain in here endlessly. She breathed in and out not to be flooded by an anxiety attack. Then, she tried again, trying with the left door of the closet. But it didn't work as well.

OK, don't panic, Hermione, she said to herself. You're a witch! You're even the most talented witch of Hogwarts, you can open that door and get away easily!

She raised her wand, which was luckily in her cloak. It was reassuring to feel the piece of wood in her hands. She wasn't lost at all, she could get through it!

"Alohomora" she summoned to the door's lock.

Yet, the door didn't open. She thought about other spells. It would have been too easy if it worked at her first attempt. If the cupboard was in the Headmaster's office, it should have been closed with a powerful spell.

Like each time she was in a difficult situation, she felt excitement, a sudden rush of adrenalin! She bit her lower lip while thinking of another spell.

"Discollaporta!" she said once again while moving her wand.

It didn't work again. She thought about other spells.

"Porta Overtus !", "Disfermorus !", "Zipas Amoretus !" and so on, until she summoned all the spells she could think about. She didn't feel any excitement anymore. On the contrary, she was now angry and frustrated.

Usually, when she was in such situation, she would directly go to the library to look for a solution but she couldn't do it now, she even couldn't apparate as it was impossible in Hogwarts.

She furiously kicked the door.

"Ouch!" she yelled, while massaging her foot.

She was now out of her nerves, she slammed the door many times: angrily kicking, knocking… Then she heard a voice.

I'm safe, she cried with relief. Dumbledore is back!

"Do you want some help?" A superior voice said.

Hope disappeared. The arrogant Black was just behind the door.

"Hey!" the voice said again. "Do you want some help? I think you're stuck in the closet."

Hermione was more than angry. Of course she was trapped. After a few seconds, trying to calm herself, she could talk.

"Yes, I am stuck," she said, with a tone which was supposed to be calm.

"But why are you in here?" he asked, suddenly interested by the feminine voice inside.

"It'd be too long to explain" she answered sniffing. What a prank! "Can you help me? um… please?"

"Um… I'll have to see…" the boy said with a mischievous voice.

Hermione was raging again. Sirius or not, when I am out, I'll do him!

"How do you look like?" he asked suddenly.

"What?" she replied.

"How do you look like, physically?"

"And so what? What does it have to do with my problem?" she asked dryly, she understood what he was saying. "Are you going to help me, yes or no?" she said with a high pitched voice, losing her composure.

"You could be nicer with me, I am your saviour!" he said with an indifferent voice.

Hermione sighed, laying her head on the door of the cupboard. It was too warm, she was angry, she barely could breathe and she wanted to cry!

"Hey! Are you still there?" the boy started to worry.

You have to regain control! Breathe in and out! You need him to get out! Be smarter.

"Yes, I am still here," she replied.

"I was worried!"

If you say so! she said to herself with irony.

"What's your name?"

"Why do you need to know my name?"

"This is a relevant question," Black said seriously. "First, I want to know if you're a beauty because saving a beautiful princess is much more interesting than saving a shapeless watermelon. Above is the beauty gives me kiss as a reward!"

Rubbish!

"Then, if your name is Melinda, Katrina, Sophie, Chantal or Caroline, I won't save you!"

"But why?" she outraged. "It's discrimination!"

"No, it's not! It's just my own revenge against all the girls that dumped me. Of course, these are just a small percentage compared to all the girls I dumped but yet… how can I say it… they are shadowing my records!"

Hermione may have fallen to the ground. He was absurd! However, she calmed down.

"I can confirm my name is not Melinda, Katrina, Sophie, Chantal or even Caroline," she replied dryly. "And I can assure you I am a good-looking girl. My friends even say I am as beautiful as Miss World!"

Hermione took a look at her tiny chest and tried to styled her hair full of knots. She hoped desperately that he would help her.

"Who is Miss World?" Black asked with interest.

If I could hold him… she grinded her teeth.

"Could you please help me get out of here?" she asked with a begging voice. "It's too warm in here and I barely can breathe!"

Hermione wanted to get out at all costs.

Silence.

She couldn't hear any sound anymore. She started to panic again.

"Hey! Are you still there?" She cried out.

"Yes, I am still here," Black answered, breaking the silence. "Ok, I am going to force that door."

Hermione felt relieved. He was going to help her.

"I am not sure this cupboard was bewitched," he replied. "I heard you summon many spells. I guess we have to force it."

"Alright, um… thank you!"

"On the count of three, you'll push, I'll pull. One! Two! Three!"

Hermione pushed with all her strength on the door. Luckily, the door opened. However, she fell down on the young man. They were on the ground and she was on top of him.

She looked up and saw the face of her savior: a charming young man, with mid-length black hair. He was looking at her. Hermione was shocked by what she was seeing.

Black was smiling at her and had a look at her chest.

"You're not that good-looking that you pretented to say," he said with a mocking and slightly disappointed voice.

All the anger that Hermione felt when she was inside the cupboard came out instantly. She slapped him on his pale but handsome face.

"Hey! But…" Black started to say but he was stopped as the office's door went open.

Hermione and Black, still on the floor, looked at the people coming in the office: Dumbledore, Filch, a young man with a sickly look and a second one with bushy dark hair. The second guy said with an overwhelmed voice.

"You never lose your time! Above all in the Headmaster's office! I'm impressed, Sirius!"

Hermione remained open-mouthed and had a look at the young man she was lying above.

Sirius… Sirius Black?