#I vote for Sinerva

[synoir]

“Minerva” 

 a Time-Travel story

Sirius Black x Minerva McGonagall 

Because it is @hiddenbookshop‘s birthday! I, by a wonderful coincidence, saw her response to this ask; telling her weirdest ship for Sirius is Minerva. Here it is birthday girl! 

Many Happy Returns!

Sirius Black woke up in the middle of the cobbled streets of Hogsmeade. He stood up, his wand still in his hands and looked at himself. He remembered being in the Department of Mysteries; fighting next to Harry. He remembered the eerie feeling being so near to the Veil...

Then Bellatrix showed up. She had stunned him.

Did I fall through the Veil?

So what was he doing in the middle of Hogsmeade? He eyed his surroundings. No one was pointing at him shouting Sirius Black!, and running for their lives. It wasn’t the only weird thing though. It was winter. He felt cold in his light attire and casted a warming charm over them. What’s going on?

The idea of an alternative reality popped into his mind. That was a scary thought. But maybe... Maybe James was alive in this one? Maybe Harry was fine, not hunted by Voldemort.

Maybe there was no Voldemort.

He stopped himself from feeling too hopeful. The likelihood of that happening was very slim. He probably just travelled in time forward or backwards a little. It was okay. He could manage that. He just hoped Harry would be fine after he disappeared... Thinking of Harry hurt him. He would think he was dead. So would Remus... But there was nothing he could do about it. Not yet.

He first had to find out when he was. He considered changing to Padfoot, but he had missed walking outside as himself. So taking a little risk he quickly entered an alley and cast a transfiguration spell over his hair, hoping it looked fine without a mirror. Brown hair was too hard to cast; it had too many shades. But it was the closest colour to his hair and if he botched it, it wouldn’t look too weird. He straightened his hair as well, just in case. Blacks didn’t always have black hair, but their waves accompanied by his grey eyes would be too identifying in most circles. He got out of the alley back to the main street, walking fast and avoiding eye contact to not risk anyone recognising him.

But of course he didn’t take it into account that it could cause him to collide into the path of a witch and cause her to fall down. He stopped and looked down; she and her myriad of belongings were scattered on the ground. Their eyes met. He knew those eyes. He had seen them looking at him disappointed, proud, concerned, stern, angry... But there were no wrinkles around these eyes. No wrinkles around the thin but shapely, like drawn with a pink pencil, lips. They were looking at him from black cat-eye glasses and they were absolutely not amused.

During his shock Sirius realised he was gaping at the poor witch, and the young woman stood hastily.

“You should look where you are going, sir!” she said to him angrily, and Sirius knew that voice, but this was not quite right still. It was young.

Sirius shook himself; much like the dog he turned into; and collected himself.

“Forgive me, miss. I was... distracted.”

The woman started to kneel to collect her belongings, but Sirius stopped her. It was never late to begin acting like a gentleman.

“Allow me,” he said and instead of using his wand so her belongings would return to the bag, since he didn’t know if any of the objects were magical or not, he kneeled and gathered them. He rose to his feet presenting them to her.

“Please forgive me,” he said. But he was unable to move his eyes off of her. She was beautiful. It was pure beauty. She stood tall and proud, and her hair was collected in a bun above her neck and had carefully shaped waves, although it was an old-fashioned style it looked elegant. She had high cheekbones, trimmed eyebrows, a long neck covered by a beautiful scarlet scarf... She was a beauty that was hard to find nowadays. Sort of beauty that went beyond the looks, was in the way she moved and eyed him critically. A lady through and through, something his mother wished but never achieved to become.

“You should be more careful in the future,” she said seriously. “But I do forgive you, I can see that it was, indeed, an accident.”

Sirius smiled, relieved. He almost introduced himself; it had been too long since he met with someone new, since he needed to act like a gentleman. This woman, whoever she is, she couldn’t be her, didn’t know he was running from the law.

“You are very generous, mademoiselle,” he said and remembering his lessons on propriety, he bowed a little.

“It’s a good form of transfiguration,” she said suddenly.

Sirius blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“Your hair, it’s hard to transfigure hair,” she explained. “Very impressive.”

Sirius swallowed. It is her.

“You are able to spot it,” he said trying to hide his nerves. “It can’t be that good.”

“Oh, I’m able to because I’ve learned to,” she said clearly; without a hint of fake humility or arrogance. “I have a mastery on the subject.”

Sirius knew all the blood left his face. He felt dizzy, the world started to turn... It couldn’t be her. It would mean... He was... No. He knew he was about to lose his composure. He could feel it in his heart, his bones. He wanted to laugh, but his throat was too dry, no sound came of it. Everything got turned upside down, again. Why, why, couldn’t he have just a little normalcy. Even the time was against him.

“Are you okay?” the witch; who was too young; asked. Sirius was looking at her, a face no longer unfamiliar.

“Minerva.”

I hope you’ll like this drabble... Because, what can I say there may be more of it in the FAR FAR future. I love this pairing... I realised this situation has a lots of potential and decided to just make it small drabble for now. 

Also is there a name for this ship? I vote for Sinerva. It sounds dangerous.