When Black Met Blue (Marauder Fanfic)

Chapter 20 *Edited*

'Come in,' Dumbledore called, placing a letter from Lorcan MacLaird back into its envelope. He looked up with a smile. 'Sirius, dear boy, how can I help you?'

Sirius strode into the office, a determined look on his face. Though he'd never admit it to anyone but himself, Dumbledore was a little perturbed that Sirius was alone. Sirius Black was many things, but alone was not one of them. Usually one of the other Gryffindor seventh years were with him - most commonly James Potter - to receive discipline for some prank or other.

'I want to join the Order,' Sirius said firmly.

'I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about,' Dumbledore said calmly, painting a politely oblivious expression on his wizened face. He was reasonably sure the boy was bluffing; there were no records of the Order of the Phoenix anywhere and all members were sworn to secrecy.

'I think you do,' Sirius said, raising an eyebrow. 'You founded it.'

Guesswork. Sirius was a bright boy, he could have reasoned that out logically. 'I'm sorry, dear boy,' Dumbledore said, giving him a pleasant smile, 'I'm not sure what you mean.'

Sirius sighed impatiently. 'The organisation you founded to fight He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I want to join.'

'Ah,' Dumbledore said, his smile fading. He waved his hand at the door which clicked shut, just in case one of the other teachers should send a student up.

'I want to join,' Sirius pressed. Dumbledore adjusted his hat, trying to buy time. Order members were hand-picked. They needed to display a number of qualities. He surveyed Sirius, suppressing a sigh; he had those qualities, even if Dumbledore was loath to admit it. He didn't want students fighting in what was sure to be a long war. 'I'm afraid that's not up to you,' he said gently.

'Which is why I came to you,' Sirius said with a slight smirk.

'Sirius,' Dumbledore said kindly, hiding a frown at the arrogant look on the boy's face, 'you're seventeen.' At seventeen he himself had been friends with Gellert Grindelwald. 'I really don't think you understand the implications.'

'Like what?' Sirius demanded.

'The fact that you need to ask is evidence to support my prior statement,' Dumbledore sighed.

'Could you at least consider it?' Sirius pleaded. 'Please? I want to be an Auror anyway. It's not like fighting the Dark Lord,' Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at the use of that name, 'is going to be something I can avoid.'

'I see.' Dumbledore couldn't quite shake the suspicion that Sirius was acting oddly. He liked to think he had a fairly good handle on Sirius' personality, and it seemed to him that it was ever so slightly wrong today. 'And you've given this thought?'

'The Dark Lord's going to kill me like he did James' parents,' Sirius said with certainty. Dumbledore frowned; again with this Dark Lord business? It was only Death Eaters who called Tom that. Surely the boy wasn't...

'I see,' Dumbledore said slowly. 'Well, I'll consider your request... when's the next Hogsmeade weekend for students?'

'Saturday,' Sirius said promptly.

'Saturday as in three days from now?' Sirius nodded. 'I'll talk to some other members,' Dumbledore said slowly, a plan forming, 'and organise for some of the more important ones to meet me in the Hogs Head at two-thirty-two on Saturday afternoon. If you could come along, we'll discuss the possibility of you joining there. I think you'll understand that the school really isn't the place for this discussion.'

'Yes, sir,' Sirius said with a smile.

'Until Saturday, then, Sirius.'

'Thank you, Professor,' Sirius said in a slightly condescending tone that Dumbledore didn't like one bit. For that, he wasn't going to offer the boy any sweets. 'I'll see you Saturday.'