Written for Sable Supernova for winning a competition of mine on Harry Potter Fanfiction Challenges Forum (HPFC)

Written for the YouTubers Quotes Challenge ('what are you, a wizard?') on HPFC

More than Magical

Sirius Black had his work cut out for him. What, with him studying for his N.E. and trying to impress the Muggle girl he had met in London over the Christmas break. It was challenging to say the least; especially when he wasn't even allowed to tell Crystal about who he was.

"You know," he said slowly, breaking the silence that had fallen over him and his three friends in the common room one evening. Remus was busy pouring over an essay for Potions, while James and Peter had abandoned such a task, choosing to 'wing it' in the morning before class. Sirius had been lost in his own thoughts, picturing the look on Crystal's face when he showed her how he could turn buds into flowers. "You know, it's amazing to think that Muggles and wizards get married all the time."

The others had paused now.

"What do you mean?" James asked, frowning.

"Well, with the Statute of Secrecy, and all… aren't they breaking the rules by marrying? Because you'd have to tell them, wouldn't you? But, then you can't." Sirius frowned, trying to piece together exactly how it could possibly work. One couldn't live a happy life keeping such a big secret. But at the same time, they would be breaking the rules if they told them.

"Well… they probably make exceptions," Peter suggested.

"Yeah, but…." Sirius shook his head. "Forget it. It doesn't concern me, anyway."

"You're thinking about that girl again, aren't you?" James piped up. "Forget about her. You talked to her in a coffee shop once."

"And she could be the love of my life!" Sirius cried, jumping to his feet. "I need to contact her again, somehow!"

"How do you suggest that?"

"I don't know. I'll owl her."

"And she'd probably throw it out the window if she saw it," James told him. "Muggles aren't accustomed to owls coming into their homes. Well, that's what Lily yelled at me when I tried it with her parents in first year, asking to date her and all."

"Well, I'll post it the Muggle way, then. I'm sure Dumbledore knows how that works." Sirius waved his hands at his friends. "I'll see you all in the morning." He made for the common room, but was interrupted by a cough from Remus. "I'll do it in the morning," he called over his shoulder as he made his way to his dormitory.

Once safely inside, he collapsed onto his bed, huffing over what he should do. James of all people should have known what it was like to fall hopelessly in love with somebody he couldn't have. He had it easier, in fact. At least he could see Lily every day, even if she was refusing to talk to him. Sirius only had his one meeting with Crystal to go off.

But he knew… he knew she was the one. She was beautiful, she was witty, and best of all, she could take his over-flirting and throw it right back at him with twice the strength.

She was perfect for him.

He pretended to be asleep when the others came up a short while later, but truthfully it was too difficult to drift off. He needed to find a way to contact Crystal, but at the same time not tell her he was a wizard.

Was there any rule about them finding out the existence of the magical community on their own? Then, if she had questions, he wouldn't be revealing anything; simply informing about what she already knew.

"I have it!"

A stir of grumbled voices filled the dormitory, as his friends awoke from their deep sleeps.

"Hawat?" James asked sleepily, sitting himself up in the bed.

"How Crystal and I can live happily ever after, but I won't tell her about who I am."

There was a series of groans and James fell back onto his bed, snoring. Sirius didn't care, though. He had a plan, but he would need the help of the headmaster, for he was sure Dumbledore would be the only one at Hogwarts who knew the location of the nearest Muggle post box.

…

The headmaster chuckled to himself, his blue eyes watching Sirius with amusement. "What an unusual request," he commented.

"Please, sir, I must find one. You see… there's this girl in London, but she's a Muggle and apparently they don't use owls to deliver mail. And… and that would be breaking the Statute of Secrecy… wouldn't it?"

Dumbledore merely continued to watch the seventh year student with amusement.

"Please, sir."

"As you have time to write a letter, I assume that you have completed the essay you had not finished last night?"

Sirius tried not to look guilty. "Er, yes."

Dumbledore laughed again, and took out his wand. On his desk, appeared a small, square picture. The headmaster looked at Sirius. "That is called a stamp. Muggles use it to deliver mail. Without a stamp, it won't be delivered." He held out his hand for Sirius' letter and placed it on the top, right corner. "Take it to the owlery. Choose an owl with the tip of its right wing painted yellow. Those owls will deliver to post boxes if instructed. Although, they do not deliver until after midnight. It could cause quite a stir if an owl was spotted delivering mail to a Muggle post box." He laughed, apparently finding the thought amusing.

"Thank you, sir!" Sirius snatched the letter from the desk and clambered to his feet.

Just before he had exited the office, Dumbledore called him back. "Mr Black? Once that letter is sent, please, for the love of Merlin, write that essay."

Sirius nodded, and then left.

…

"So, you're serious about this girl, then?"

Sirius nodded. "Yes. She's my double. She's me in female form. We're destined for each other!"

"And what will your family think?" James rested his elbows on the desk in front of him.

"Who cares? I walked out, remember? They don't have a say in who I choose to be with. I chose to be friends with you, didn't I? Blood traitor family. And Remus, a werewolf. And Peter. You know that status is all bollocks to me."

"I know," James mused. "I've just… I've never seen you so obsessed over a girl before. Not even with Alice, and let's face it… you fancied her quite a bit a few years ago."

Sirius shrugged. "They've all built me up and made me who I am. For her."

James snorted.

"What?" Sirius demanded.

"Well, you met her once. Does she even remember you? It was two months ago, now."

"How dare you!"

James threw his hands up in defence. "Sorry. It's just… it's a possibility."

"True love has many possibilities, and in the end, those destined to be together, will always find a way."

James snorted again.

"What's so funny?"

"You."

"What?"

"You're impossible." James stood up and left Sirius alone in the common room. He was better off joining Remus and Peter, who had already had the sense to avoid Sirius before he started rambling about the girl again.

…

"She's replied! Oh my Merlin, she's replied!" Sirius waved the letter in front of his friends' faces, pausing to take in their reaction – or lack-there-of. "Did you hear me?" he asked.

"The whole Hall heard you," James groaned, shoving a big spoonful of cereal into his mouth. "Well, go on, read it to us."

Sirius tore open the envelope – which had a stamp like the one he had sent, attached – and scanned over it. His eyes widened in surprise as he read down.

"Well, don't hold us in suspense," Frank Longbottom urged sarcastically, shuffling over to the four friends.

"Well, you see," Sirius began, "when I wrote to her, I talked about the school I attended. I didn't mention it was a magical school, but I said where it was, and the subjects. And, you know what she replied with?"

"No," the four others replied in unison.

"She asked me… she said, and I quote, 'what are you, a wizard?'" Sirius looked hopefully around at the others, but was sorely disappointed by their lack of response. James was watching him with a raised eyebrow, Peter didn't know what to say, and Remus had returned to his breakfast as if nothing had happened. Frank was the only one who seemed to be the slightest bit interested.

And even that seemed fake.

He sighed. "Well, if anyone's interested, she's asked me to come and meet her again. She says she's flattered that I hadn't forgotten. So, I'll be heading there on our next Hogsmeade visit. I'll find a way to sneak out."

"Want my cloak?"

Sirius turned to James, surprised. "You'll let me use it?" he asked. James rarely let the cloak out of his sight. Truthfully, he hadn't even let them touch it without his permission in the past.

James shrugged. "Sure. You seem serious about this girl, and if you're going to sneak out of Hogsmeade, then sure. Borrow it. Just don't appear from underneath the cloak in front of her. You'll frighten the poor girl to death."

Sirius could have hugged James, but that would then draw attention to them. Instead, he smiled.

"So, you're going to tell her two weeks from now?"

Sirius nodded. "Yep. And, I suppose I better practice that Apparting we've been taught."

James grinned. "Well, good luck."

"Thanks!" Sirius replied, grabbing a piece of toast and hurrying out of the Great Hall with his letter in hand.

…

Sirius got the nod from James – the signal that everything was clear. From his crouched position behind a Firewhiskey barrel, Sirius threw the cloak over himself and slipped out the back of the Three Broomsticks. He winced at the sound of the creaking door, but Remus was already on that, distracting Rosmerta with asking for another Butterbeer.

"My, my, Mr Lupin," she was saying as Sirius left. "You are thirsty today."

Snow had not yet fallen at Hogsmeade, making the trek just that little bit easier. While he made his way safely in the direction of the Shrieking Shack, he would not be leaving footprints along the way.

Yes, he could have simply used the Whomping Willow, but he had figured going to Hogsmeade would look less suspicious.

While the rest of the school were about in the Three Broomsticks, Honeydukes, or Zonko's, Sirius crept by. A little bit further and he would be able to Disapparate.

Let's just hope I don't get this wrong, he thought to himself. He didn't want to show up to Crystal with half his leg missing.

He was now on the edges of Hogsmeade, and making sure the cloak was firmly over him, he reached for his wand in his pocket. With his hand clasped around the bottom, he thought of the place he had first met Crystal, picturing every inch of it clearly, and then he spun on the spot.

"Ouch!"

"What the –"

Sirius winced as he landed on one of the tables in the café where she worked. It was a Sunday afternoon, thankfully, there were no customers around. Still, he had anticipated a safe, and silent Apparition, where he would exit the café, remove the cloak and then re-enter as if he'd walked there.

"Bloody table!" Sirius grumbled.

"Oh my God!"

Sirius looked up. Crystal! She was there, but she wasn't staring at him. She was staring at his leg.

And then realisation suddenly hit him. He was still underneath the cloak, but his leg had slipped out.

"Oops."

"What's going on?" Crystal cried, looking fearfully at where his leg had just disappeared. "Is anybody there?"

For a moment, Sirius didn't say anything. Truthfully, he wasn't sure what he should say. It wasn't the grand entrance he had anticipated, and now he would have to explain how he had come to be there without coming through the door, and why he was about to become visible after being invisible.

He swallowed. Now or never, Sirius.

With a large gulp of air, he slowly removed James' cloak from him. Crystal's eyes widened, but he noted that she didn't run away screaming. She simply stood and stared at him, a half-dried glass in her hand.

Her mouth was agape, struggling to find words for what she was seeing.

Sirius gave her a sheepish grin. "Surprise," he said, throwing the cloak completely away. He was going to be in so much trouble for this. How many rules had he broken?

"S-Sirius?" Crystal stammered.

"Yep, it's me," Sirius told her. "Not exactly how I wanted to meet you, but… this Apparating thing is trickier than it looks, you know?"

"A-apparating?"

Sirius blushed. "Er, so, I s'pose I have a bit to explain," he said. "Maybe you should sit down for it." He indicated an unstacked table.

Crystal obeyed, apparently unable to do anything else.

Sirius scratched the back of his neck, searching for the right words. "Um, so, you're probably wondering why – no, how – I appeared here?"

"You could say that again." Crystal nodded.

"Well, how do I begin? You know that letter you sent? And you asked in it… you said – jokingly – 'what are you, a wizard?' Well, that wasn't exactly that far from the truth."

"Excuse me?"

Sirius took out his wand. Crystal's eyes were now almost popping out of her head.

"This can get me into a lot of trouble, but what the heck. I'm already doomed for coming here in the first place." Sirius pointed his wand at the table Crystal was sitting at, and suddenly, a large vase with tulips appeared in front of her.

Apparently he Apparating into her café and then revealing himself from underneath an invisibility cloak was okay; but it seemed that magically conjuring a bunch of flowers for her was the last straw.

Letting out a cry of fright, Crystal jumped to her feet and ran to the back of the café, calling out something about Sirius leaving.

Sirius sighed. Definitely not the way he had planned this meeting to happen.

This will be a two shot, maybe three. Got a bit carried away with the plot of this. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the first chapter, and if you are interested, please check out HPFC (link on my profile). There are some good challenges on there!