"Er, Crystal?" Sirius hesitated at the door to the backroom of the café. He wasn't really sure what to do or say, or even if he was allowed back there.
"Yes?" Crystal's face appeared in the doorway. She now had her hair tied in a very messy bun, and was wearing rubber gloves. "Oh, you're still here."
"Listen, I'm sorry I scared you. I promise it wasn't supposed to be that way. I was supposed to reveal it to you a long way down the track. Like, maybe before we got married or something… not that that was on my mind or anything," he added quickly, seeing the young woman's eyes widen. "You know… just if that happened."
Not taking her eyes from Sirius, Crystal removed the gloves and apron, which she also had on. "Listen, Sirius, I have no doubt you're a nice guy. But what you just showed me… it's hard to forget. I mean… a wizard? That's stuff we read in children's books, not something that greets you in your workplace."
"I know, I know," Sirius answered, waving his hand. "I just… listen, I'm sorry. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. But, when it comes down to it, I really like you. That day we met, you were really witty and funny, and we had some good laughs. And obviously you liked me, too. Otherwise, you wouldn't have invited me here."
Crystal stared at him. "Yes, but that was before… before I knew what – who – you were."
"I'm Sirius. Sirius Black. Yes, I possess a wand and can do magic tricks. But I'm still human."
At that, Crystal smiled. "I had no doubt you were still human, Sirius Black," she said.
Sirius beamed at her. "So, putting my grand entrance aside, you wanna go out for dinner or something?" He shrugged. "Er, wait." He dug into his pocket and took out a few Galleons. He showed them to the woman he fancied. "Is that enough?"
Crystal frowned. "You plan on paying with fake money?"
"What? No! No, this is magical money. When I say magical, I actually mean it's the money us wizards use. It's called a Galleon."
"Well, whatever it is," Crystal said as she turned her back to Sirius to continue washing the dishes, "it won't get you anywhere here. That is, of course, if you want to take me somewhere… magical." She winced at the word.
Sirius scratched his head, shoving the coins back into his pocket. "Er, that isn't really the rules of… you know what. I'm already going to Azkaban for dropping in on you the way I did. Not to mention leaving school… alright, I'll take you to Diagon Alley!"
"Excuse me?" Crystal cried.
"What?"
"Diagonally?"
"Yeah. Oh, wait, no. Diagon Alley. It's a place in London."
"Oh, alright. Just let me finish up here. Er, and I didn't actually get scared of your appearing in front of me like that. It was just… unexpected, you know? I'm a fairly open-minded person. I'm open to the idea of magic."
Sirius grinned at her, and she grinned back. "That's what makes you my kind of girl! Er… woman," he added hurriedly at her raised eyebrow.
…
"Alright, so I could be in serious trouble if they knew you were here. So, you need to pretend you recognise everything in this place, alright? You need to act as if it were normal to you. Also, I'm not sure if they can detect you or not, but I know they can detect magic in front of Mug – non-magic people, so I won't be doing any of that, either."
"What do you mean?" Crystal asked, unable to stop herself from gazing at the entrance to Diagon Alley. Sirius had decided to use the wall, rather than the Floo. A magical wall coming apart would probably be a lot easier than comprehending the fact that one could travel via the fireplace in their living room.
"Well, just pretend you're used to magic. You grew up with it, yeah?"
"Oh my, is that… is that a broom?" Crystal had moved to the window of the Quidditch shop, pressing her nose against the glass and completely ignoring everything Sirius had just told her.
"Yes, yes, it's for a sport we call Quidditch. But you, of course, know that, because you're magical?"
"Huh?"
Sirius tugged on her arm. "Come on, I know of a nice place around here we could get something to eat."
Sirius had taken a few girls to this place before – the most recent Alice Fortescue. Though, that had been during the holidays when the teachers probably weren't out looking for him. McGonagall will know I've gone by now, he thought to himself. She always kept one watchful eye on him, and it would not be like him to skip dinner, either.
He took the wonder-struck girl into the tiny restaurant, choosing to sit at a table as far out of the way as possible. "Er, I'll have the roast chicken," Sirius informed the waitress without thinking. "And she'll have…."
Crystal had barely taken her seat yet. "Is there a menu?" she asked.
The waitress nodded, summoning one instantly. Sirius was thankful Crystal didn't show much surprise at it being conjured for her. Perhaps she had listened to him.
"Thanks." Crystal flashed her a smile.
"Nice," Sirius whispered from the corner of his mouth.
Crystal looked at him. "Well, compared to you appearing from nowhere, a menu is nothing."
Sirius grinned. "I knew I liked you for a reason."
Crystal ended up ordering the same as Sirius, commenting on how unusual most other items seemed to be. While they waited, Sirius chanced reaching for the young woman's hands.
"You know," he began, smiling at her, "my friends told me to forget about you."
Crystal raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"
"Yes. They thought you'd want nothing to do with me. But, they still helped me out of the school, because they knew I was serious."
"Huh." Crystal's eyes dropped to their intertwined hands. She suddenly let go.
"Er, was that too much for you?" Sirius asked.
"No, it's not that." Her eyes now glanced to the kitchen area of the restaurant. "It's just… when I agreed to this, I thought… well, I simply assumed that you were… normal."
"Ah." Sirius returned his hands to his side of the table, leaning back in his chair. "You mean non-magical?"
"Yes, but I didn't really describe you as that to myself. And then being introduced to this whole, other world in the same day…."
"You're handling it quite well."
"I'm not sure I am quite ready to be thrown into it, though."
"You mean, date somebody?"
"I don't know. Honestly, it's all wondrous. Broomsticks, wands, making things appear out of nowhere. To me, all of this was make believe when I was a child. I played these games with by siblings. But it was always pretend."
"Well, now it's not."
Crystal met his eyes again.
"Listen, as I've said before, I had no intention of revealing this to you today. I simply wanted to meet you for a coffee and pretend I knew what the heck I was doing in Mug – er – your area. But that didn't happen, and now I'm asking you to pretend you know what the heck you're doing. But, I am just a normal human being. I'm much more than magic, wands and broomsticks. I'm me."
Crystal sighed. "And I like you, Sirius."
"I'm breaking a thousand school and magic rules being here with you."
The conversation stopped after that, for the waitress brought out their meals. Crystal seemed intent on finishing before even allowing Sirius to continue.
Eventually, once their plates had been cleared away and drinks drank, she had no choice.
"Please, will you give us a shot, Crystal? I'm almost done with school and when that's over, I can really cut back on the magic I use around you." Sirius winced. That was going to be a challenge.
"So, you'd change for me?"
"If you wanted me to."
This time, Crystal let out a heavy sigh. "Alright. I admit, I'm intrigued by you, Sirius. And this whole…" she lowered her voice, "magic thing. And I do like you."
Sirius brightened. "So, you want to give us a shot?"
She was silent.
Sirius watched and waited patiently.
"Yeah, alright. I suppose we can try it."
Sirius leapt over the table to hug her, his chair cluttering to the ground behind him. "Ah, thank you! So, now when McGonagall gives me detention for the rest of the year, at least I'll know it's worth it." He took out some Galleons from his pocket and chucked them on the table. "Come on, I'll take you home and then I'll head back to the school."
Crystal smiled, accepting his offer for an arm. He was not going to Apparate (he could barely Apparate himself) so he decided to do it the Muggle way. "Where's your home?"
"Oh, it's…." Crystal looked around. "Er… I'm not sure how far from here."
"That's alright," Sirius grinned. "We'll find it." And he led her towards the wall, which led into the Leaky Cauldron.
…
Sirius returned to Hogwarts, elated. Not only had he walked Crystal all the way home, she had also allowed him to linger and eventually kiss her goodbye. It was honestly the best kiss he had ever had, too.
She was perfect for him.
He had managed to Apparate safely back into Hogsmeade, just by the Three Broomsticks. The cloak was strewn over him seamlessly. He couldn't wait to get back to the common room to tell his friends what had happened, and what was going to happen.
He was so lost in thought that he wasn't looking where he was going.
"Ouch!" He was knocked to the ground by something hard. When he glanced up from where he had landed on his backside, his heart sank.
There was McGonagall; arms folded across her chest and she just about had to be wearing the sternest expression he had ever seen.
Apparently, she did not find it funny that one of her students had snuck off to visit a girl all the way in London.
"Take it off, Mr Black," she said humourlessly.
Swallowing, Sirius slowly removed the cloak. He had the decency to look guilty, but it still didn't stop him from feeling nervous. With the cloak in one hand and a guilty smile on his face, he looked at the Gryffindor head and said, "Hi."
McGonagall did not respond. She merely turned her back to him and said in her sternest voice, "Follow me."
Sirius had no choice but to scramble to his feet and follow.
Well, at least if I'm expelled Crystal won't have to worry about magic.
He followed McGonagall in silence.
…
"So, a detention every night for the rest of the year?" James asked, leaning forward in one of the armchairs in the common room.
Sirius shrugged. "Could be worse. At least it's detention with McGonagall. She generally makes you clean things or write lines."
"And, if you use magic in anything but classes for the rest of the year, you're –"
"Outta here," Sirius said with a nod, interrupting Remus.
"But, the girl?"
"Oh, she's wonderful."
"And, the Ministry?"
"What about them?"
"Well, you used magic in front of a Muggle."
"Oh, that." Sirius waved his friends away. "McGonagall and Dumbledore will assure them it won't happen again."
"So, you can't see her again?"
"Ha. We will write letters and what not. It'll be fine. Once I'm done with school, we can do whatever we want."
Sirius' friends shared a look.
"What?" Sirius demanded of them.
It was James who spoke, shaking his head. "Sirius, you'll never learn, will you?"
Sirius gave them all a blank look, causing them (even Peter) to sigh.
"Hey!" he said after a moment. "I've met the girl of my dreams. The one. Nothing will take her away from me – not even magic."
The others only shook their heads again.
"Well," Sirius muttered irritably, "you're not invited to our wedding."
They all laughed.
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