Sirius was not one to let a little headache get in the way of his work, but the very loud and abrupt noise of Marlene and her lady's maid entering Lady McGonagall's office chambers made him wince.

Thus far there had not been many words exchanged as he broke his fast with the King and Chief Minister. They had expected that it would be a rather unimportant meeting, seeing as it was the day after a banquet. It was really only meant to be the three of them, plus the Princess sitting in, Remus and Peter were away, aiding in the reinforcements at the borders with Semprapuria.

Princess Marlene generally observed Lady McGonagall silently and took notes. At that moment in time, Sirius was sure he was experiencing the absolute opposite of the concept of 'silence'. It took him a moment to even parse together the words that were being said because she was obviously frantic and more than that she looked angry. Angry and absurdly gorgeous. The blush pink of her gown against her flushed skin drew his eyes. Had she always been this distracting? How was she more breathtaking now than she had been at any other juncture since he'd made her acquaintance? He caught himself staring at her bitten lips and felt immediately ashamed. He tried to re-focus. She was obviously there for something more important than all that.

He heard the name 'Crouch' amongst the flood of upset directed at King James, mostly.

"Slow down. What about Crouch? The Earl's son? He's one of the creepier of your band of merry suitors, right?"

"He won't be merry at all if I get a say. As I just said, He was lurking behind my doorway! Like he may have been listening in. It's disgusting!"

"I know a bit about the man in question, Cousin. He's the heir to an Earldom but his father never had the time of day for him. The younger Lord Crouch has always been one to seek out attention where he could find it. Didn't he make overtures of friendship at you, Sirius? He's desperate but probably harmless."

"I suppose he did, yes. Some time ago. But I was never threatened by him and I don't think he lurked outside my doorway, this is entirely different. I don't really care why he wants Princess Marlene's attention, he had no right to be there or to speak to a princess of the blood in such a way."

"No one is saying he did, Sir." McGonagall's low and steady tone of voice seemed to be an effort to diffuse the anger brewing in Sirius, but it wasn't very effective. The implications of James's statement made his blood boil.

"I think his Majesty would do well to remember that there are plenty of subjects in this kingdom who had miserable childhoods with rotten parents. There is no excuse for threatening a lady like that. It's our choices that define us? Do you recall those words, Your Majesty?" Sirius was really losing his grip. He wanted to excuse it as being early and just an ill temper after a night of too much to drink, but he couldn't lie to himself like that. The hypocrisy really hurt him.

Suddenly it dawned on him how terribly out of bounds this whole argument was considering Marlene and her lady's maid were right there looking on. How could he have been so careless? Would Marlene think him suspect now? Had he said too much?

"I need air." was all he managed to say before he rushed out into the hallway. His breath was unsteady. His lungs filled too fast in a rush of panic and his chest hurt by the time he made it to his own private chambers. There he was alone with his thoughts but safe.

What about Princess Marlene? He'd been so selfish in his taking offense to the King's comment, that he'd made a spectacle. On top of his selfishness, he was also too much of a coward to go back and try to be party to the plans to keep her safe.

He'd have to seek her out. Soon. Tomorrow. He didn't think he could see anyone for the rest of the day. His schedule was clear enough, but it would gnaw at him that he'd reacted like that. Knights were meant to protect Princesses. That was what all the storybooks said. Princess Marlene was like an artist's rendering of those selfsame stories but he didn't live up to the image of the virtuous knight. He was no true Galahad, and he was becoming more aware of it each time he let his mind wander to the flush of Princess Marlene's skin. But he'd rather be Lancelot than Gawain. Selfishness and Cowardice didn't have any place in a storybook hero.

Princess Marlene probably deserved a better defender. Lady McGonagall, he thought, would be her best bet at a real hero and defender in this case.

But there was something in the girl's eyes that made him want to be a better knight. He would right this. He wouldn't need to explain the reasoning, but he could apologize and offer to help her.

He really had already intended to help her in as much as he had decided, since the banquet, that he wasn't averse to taking part in the rather ridiculous charade that she was already putting on. He could put on a show of courting her if that would keep her safe from harm. That's what a true knight would do. He'd prevent harm from coming to the Princess in any way that was necessary.

He considered for a moment that all this intense loyalty to someone he hardly knew didn't make very much sense. He'd never found himself inspired to pledge his sword to a fairytale beauty before. He didn't think that was it, though she may have been the most beautiful person he'd ever encountered. That moment the previous night when her laughter reached her eyes as they danced… she was more captivating a sight than any mortal artist could possibly render. But that was beside the point...

Really it was all about James. The kingdom. He felt an enormous and undying devotion to the kingdom. She was the first in line to the throne. It all came down to King James. James, who'd hurt Sirius with his unthinking comment. He was angry with the king to an irrational degree but even being so incensed, he loved James so fiercely that he would draw his sword and defend the King with his own life that very moment if the need arose. James inspired that sort of loyalty within him.

Princess Marlene was like her cousin. She inspired feelings in him just like James. It was incredible and terrifying, all in ways that Sirius would never really be able to put into words. But tomorrow he would at least have to try.