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“Why hello Mister Black,” Minerva said as she entered her office to find one Sirius Black sitting in her chair, feet propped up on the dark mahogany desk.
“Minnie! Thank god you’re here. I’ve been waiting for sooo long and we have some really important things to talk about.” Sirius rushed out jumping up from the chair.
Next, he came rushing around the desk pulling Minerva into her seat and rushing to grab another for himself. Sirius placed the smaller chair right in front of the desk and sat down, back straight and legs crossed.
“Well Sirius, I must say. What has gotten into you this evening.”
“I have a problem.”
The boy was usually overdramatic and always energetic but today he seemed to be overdoing it. It worried Minerva. He usually couldn’t sit in the chair properly, always stretched out extravagantly. But now he was sitting ramrod straight, his right leg bouncing unconsciously. “What is it dear?” She asked, concerned.
“It’s . . . it’s, a problem.” Sirius nodded along with his words, throat bobbing.
“Ok. Do you want to tell me what the problem is?” Minerva asked gently, she could tell that whatever it was made Sirius uncomfortable.
“Yes, I do.”
He seemed to be steeling himself for whatever he was going to say next, he took a deep breath and shook out his hands, eyes shut. Minerva waited patiently, after years of Sirius coming to her to talk she knew it was best to let him speak on his own terms.
Sirius opened his eyes and let himself relax, “I think I like Remus.” He said.
“Oh sweetie,” Minerva breathed out.
“I mean, of course, I like Remus, he’s one of my best friends. But I think I like like him like I want to snog him. I think I have all school year. But then he’s one of my best mates and he’s a boy and- and I don’t know what to do!” Sirius was crying, his face buried in his hands. “It’s wrong! It’s all so wrong!”
The words coming out of the young wizard's mouth broke Minervas' heart. Sirius had already been through so much and he was so good at hiding it, but sometimes — like now — the hurt and self-doubt pushed upon him by his family showed through.
“There is nothing wrong with that,” Minerva started.
“Yes, there is, he’s a boy!” Sirius shouted, tears streaming down his face.
“I know, Sirius. And there is nothing wrong with that. Do you want to hear a story?” She had never told anyone, but if it could help the boy in front of her she would tell the whole world. “When I was in school I had a really close friend, and I fell in love with her. We fell in love with each other. We were together for many years, and we were so, so happy. There was nothing wrong with that, and there is nothing wrong with your liking Remus. With you liking another boy.”
Sirius was staring at her, his face a mixture of pain, shock, and hope.
Minerva continued, “I know the whole world will tell you otherwise, they will tell you to hate yourself. But they are wrong, and as long as you know that it shouldn’t matter what others think.”
“Ok,” Sirius breathed out. Then again, stronger, more sure, “ok.”
Then he stood up and started for the door. Minerva leaned back in her seat and let out a breath of her own, hoping, knowing that boy would be ok. “I care about you a lot Sirius, and so do your friends.” She said as he stood on the threshold of her office.
“Thank you Minnie,” Sirius said, and they both knew he meant it.