Stargazing

"I am going to be a father"

1978

After finishing their breakfast, students headed to their classes making the halls empty and echoey. Professor McGonagall left the Great Hall and went straight to her office. She had some homework to grade which she postponed for a few days already.

On one of the benches she saw an older student, who she recognized immediately.

He was sitting with his head down, holding a letter between his knees. His face was covered by his long black hair, but even without seeing his expression, she knew something was off.

"Mr. Black, is everything alright?" Professor McGonagall stopped next to the bench Sirius was sitting on. She's never seen him like this. As she repeated the question, he looked up almost scared by her presence.

"Yes, professor." he answered without looking at her and folded the letter he was holding.

"Well, it doesn't look so" she sat next to him intrigued

"Can we have a secret, professor?" Sirius looked her in the eyes, more serious than ever.

"If it's nothing illegal..." her giggle made him smile 

"I am-" he paused and hid his face in his hands "I am going to be a father"

"Oh, I see" McGonagall nodded and patted his back awkwardly. "Congratulations" she said after a moment of silence. "Should we talk about it in my office?" her warm smile eased his mind for a while.

***

"Would you mind telling me who's the mother?" McGonagall asked right after closing the door. Sirius sat on his favourite swivel chair on the right side of her desk.

"She is- I mean- You don't know her, professor." The woman seemed relieved after his words.

"What do you mostly worry about? Maybe I can help in some way."

"Everything. Everything besides money. I could make a whole list of my worries. Starting on the fact that I don't really remember how she looks and finishing on diapers and bottles. Why they would even need a bottle if the mom produces the milk? Can you Scourgify a diaper? Is it safe? Fuck maybe I should get a driving license and a car? What if the labour starts in the middle of the night? Apparating with a pregnant lady seems dangerous-"

"Slow down, Black." she handed him a jar filled with cookies "Firstly, watch your language. Secondly, did you say you don't know how this girl looks?"

Sirius nodded smirking "It's all James' fault. We went to the bar during Christmas break and he said I wouldn't be able to pick up a girl. So I had to prove him wrong, you know. But I guess we went a bit too far that night. I remember she's had long, straight hair, they were darker than blonde but lighter than brown, quite similar to Remus' hair. She's also had pretty skin and..." Sirius closed his eyes trying to remember more details "She's had green eyes, yes, but not Lilly's green, they were more Remus' green. Overall a pretty girl. Oh and she didn't like smoking."

"Do you smoke?" McGonagall interrupted. Sirius paused for a while, taken aback. Seeing her slight frown, he gulped

"Of course not, professor."

"Good. I don't want to be nosy but to me it looks like somebody's in love." she glanced at him

"I hope I am. I want this baby to have a proper family. So they would never have to run away to their friend, you know. I never even thought about becoming a parent and here I am, five months away from it."

"I know you're going to be a great father. Even if your family was, well, not perfect. You are hard working, smart and what's the most important- you have a good heart."

"I've never expected to hear so many good things about me from you, professor" he grinned as McGonagall tried to hide a small smile.

"Do your parents know?"

"Yes, Natalie, the mother of the baby, contacted with the Potters to inform me. And they wrote me this letter..."

McGonagall looked at Sirius with concern and sighted slightly, nodding.

"I don't know what to tell the boys; well, we wanted to share a flat and now... I guess we'll have to change our plans"

"I'm sure they will understand. Anyways, aren't you bored of living together after seven years?"

"No, not really" he grinned "Besides, we would have our own bedrooms this time."

McGonagall nodded and bit onto her cookie, trying to comprehend the news she just received.

"Thank you for this talk. Even if it was full of white lies." he tucked his hair behind the ear "Can I have a hug, professor?"

The woman slowly stood up and embraced Sirius in a warm hug. Even though he was almost taller than her, she felt like she was hugging a little boy that fell off his toy broom and hurt himself.

"That's enough Mr. Black, get yourself together." she said hearing him sniffing. Both of them giggled moving away and wiped a single tear, trying to hide it.

Sirius took another cookie and headed to the door.

"One more thing" McGonagall stopped him "You don't want to know what happens if I ever see you with a cigarette or smell it from you. It goes to all four of you, Marauders!"

"I promise you'll never catch us doing that- because we never do it." he finished quickly and closed the door behind him, heading to the dormitory.