ATHENA'S POV:
"I am Sirius Black." He said.
I was taken back by the man before me. He was handsome, no doubt in that. His hair was mid-long and shaggy, just above his shoulders. A strong jaw and pink lips. As he was sitting down, I couldn't tell how tall he was, but I can tell many other things. He had broad shoulders and a slim figure, yet his muscles were noticeable. He was dressed in black trousers, with a white dress shirt and a black vest. His voice was gravid smooth and deep. Having realized I was have yet to say my name, I felt my cheeks begin to blush.
"Forgive me, sir, my name is Athena Gaunt." I flinched at the crack in my tone.
Sirius chuckled. "Don't call me sir. Please take a seat." I was hesitant. "Please I simply want to talk." Taking a seat across from him, I looked down at the floor. "I know you."
"I don't think so." I replied.
"You are friends with Harry and Hermione Granger." He stated.
I looked up locking eyes with him once, before adverting my eyes. "Yes, but when did we meet?"
"Well, we didn't meet per se." He grinned. "When you saw, me I was in the shape of a dog."
I knew my eyes had widened the size of saucers. "Oh, my-that was you?" He simply nodded. "Wow, guess we have tha-" I stopped myself. Not sure if I should tell him or not.
Of course, he noticed that. "Have what?"
"Nothing, I am sorry." I mumbled.
"I know this must have come as a shocker, it did for me." Sirius sighed, taking a sip of his glass. "I know it did to me."
I smiled humorlessly. "You can say that. I thought you knew?"
"No, this is the first I hear of it." He replied. Standing from his seat, I swallowed hard. He was taller than I had thought. "I spoke with your father, as you may already know. There is one way in breaking the contract."
"How?" I perked up, trying not to show my excitement much. It's rather pointless to get my hopes up. Although judging by his sad eyes, I knew I wasn't going to like the answer.
"If we reject the marriage, our magic will be stripped from us. Not just one, but the both of us." He replied.
I glanced away from him, glaring at the wooden floor. How could my father do this to me! To us! I wasn't the only one being affected here. Sirius has nothing to do with our family, and here he was facing the risk of losing his magic. Father left no outing for us, it was get married or lose everything.
"We can go down that path if you choose so."
I was shocked by his offer. He didn't know me, yet he was offering an out. I couldn't let him do that. "No, I can't ask you to do that. And it is not because it would affect me, but because it isn't fair to you." Then I realized something. "Do you want to go along with this? Or do-do you-" I couldn't bring myself to ask the question. Funny how I had no filter when I was with Hermione, but here my lips were sealed.
Sirius smiled softly, taking a seat on the coffee table in front of me. "Do I have someone in my life?" I nodded shyly. One because I felt I was intruding in his personal life, and two because of how close he was to me. "No, I do not. I haven't precisely had the time to for someone. The choice is all of yours, Athena. I have never really given much thought to getting married or having kids. You are just in the prime of your life and I would not like to rob you of it."
Scoffing I glanced down at my hands. "It was robbed long ago." If only he knew just how of a broken fiancé he was getting.
"What?"
"Nothing." Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly. "If I accept?"
Sirius shifted in his seat, clearly not expecting the question. "Well we are to wed, but I could try and find a way of breaking the contract before the wedding. We can tell your parents I accept to get them to back off. It will give us time."
"Alright." I paused for a moment. "May I ask you something?" Sirius nodded. "When you said you would reject, what did my father say?"
Sirius's smile was quick to shift into a frown. "He replied he would move to the next suitor."
"Lucius Malfoy." I growled.
"How did you know?" Sirius's hand landed on my leg, stopping the nervous bouncing. "It's alright, nothing to be worried about."
"He came by the house a few weeks ago. He and father talked. Malfoy asked for my hand. Father refused, although he never said why. Now I know." I scoffed. "I'd rather have my magic stripped and thrown to the forbidden forest than marry that snake."
Sirius moved his hand from my knee to grip my hand in his. "You won't have to do either, I promise." Standing up he pulled me up with him. Dropping my hand, he walked towards the back room. "You will be staying with me from now on, starting now." I was stunned, for what felt like the sixth time today. "We are to be married and I cannot have my fiancé living anywhere else, but with me."
"But, but, father and mother-"
"Will be fine." He assured. "Besides I have a feeling you need some time away from them. Harry, Hermione, and the others will arrive tomorrow."
Without realizing I was already grinning at the mention of my friends. "It's been a while since I have seen them."
Giving me a small smile, he walked past me and out the door. It sat on the couch for a few minutes, before he came back. "Well, your parents are gone."
I paled at the thought of him and I alone. Something he noticed. Funny how I was more worried about him and I, than the fact my parents had left. I wasn't worried he would try something, surprisingly. I was worried about what could happen. "I-wh-"
"Relax Athena. I might be an ex-convict, but I swear I am nothing, but a shaggy puppy." I laughed at the mental image that had popped into my mind. "Just don't tell anyone." Slowly he walked forward and took my hand. "Come please." I took a seat beside him, our thighs touching slightly. His wild scent invading my scenes. "So, tell me about yourself."
"Like?"
"Anything." He smiled. "I would like to know who I am marrying."
I couldn't help, but admire how much younger and carefree he looked when he smiled. "Umm...well, I am the youngest of two kids. My brother being the oldest. I have two dogs and one horse. I write in my free time and prefer to read in than go out. Not sure what else you want to know." Why is it so hard to describe oneself?
Sirius shrugged slightly. "Well best not spill everything in one day. You say you write?" I nodded. "About?"
Blushing I looked down at my hands. "Anything really, but I mainly focus on romantic novels."
"Might have to let me read one, one day."
Shaking my head, I blushed even more. Pretty sure my face was the color of a red tomato. "Not going to happen." Having relaxed a tad bit, I was getting more comfortable in talking. "What about you?"
Sirius grabbed his glass of fire whiskey, taking a small sip. "Not much to tell, I was disowned by my family. Taken to Azkaban for 12 years, was found innocent, and cleared my name. Yet I still seem to have a target on my back. As the only living member of the Black family, I was given everything." As he swirled the drink around in his hand, I noticed how lost in thought he was. Acting on my boldness, I placed my hand on his upper arm. Breaking from his trance, he gave me a small smile. "Don't fret on it love, it is in the past and I have made peace with it."
Blushing at the nickname, I looked down noticing the tattoos on his wrist. Not knowing I was doing it, I lifted his sleeve a bit and studied it. "What does it mean?"
"Being honest I don't know." Laughing he took another sip of his drink and offered it to me.
"What is it?" I asked taking it and sniffing it a bit. The smell hit me hard, sending a burning feeling up my nose. "Ugh."
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Have you ever had fire whiskey?"
I gave him a serious sort of look. "I am 17."
"I was 15 when I took my first drink." Sirius laughed. "There is a first for everything. Just take a small sip, that is strong and can take a toll on you."
Doing as he said, I cringed at the burning sensation running down my throat. That thing felt as if a lump of hot coal dropped into my stomach. Not realizing my eyes flashed, I held the glass over to him. "Ew, never again."
"What was that?"
"What?" I choked out.
Taking the cup, he grabbed my chin gently. "Your eyes."
"Oh, umm they have always done that. Don't worry, it's nothing bad." I waved off. Sirius was about to say something, when the fireplace roared to life, with green flames. Not even a second later a man I didn't expect walked out from the flames. "Professor Lupin."