InsaneJournal

The Gryffindor Common Room was uncharacteristically quiet when Sirius came down the stairs from his dormitory. There was a soft, low buzz in the air as students rushed from study group to study group, discussing notes in hushed voices as to not disturb the other students who were revising for their exams, the first of which would be tomorrow. Sirius knew, in a part of his mind, that he should be doing exactly as they were, but exams were the last thing he could focus on right now. Ignoring the greetings from other students and their offers for him to join them, Sirius crossed through the Common Room and out the Fat Lady's portrait.

Sirius had done a lot of thinking in the past few days. Far too many people had died for far too pointless a reason, and Sirius felt absolutely useless. He hated being isolated from the world and sitting on his arse as lives were destroyed and taken. After the talk he'd had with Professor McGonagall a week ago, he had put serious thought and consideration into what he planned to do once he left school, and he finally knew what it was he wanted to do. He wanted to be taking part in this fight, doing anything to not feel so useless anymore. Unfortunately, he had no idea what to do or how to do it, which was why he was now in front of his Head of House's office. Sirius opened the door rather loudly and charged right up to where the professor was sitting at her desk and declared, "I hate this war."

Interrupted from marking some poor sixth year's essay on human transfiguration, the Deputy Headmistress gave Sirius a very stern look through her spectacles and, in a voice that matched, said "Mr. Black, please knock before entering my office."

"Sorry, professor," he apologized halfheartedly before continuing his rant. "I hate that people are dying because of their stupid, medieval, crackpot ideas. Innocent people. People who've done nothing wrong. People who have no idea that there's even a war going on. It's such bollucks. I want it to end. I want to make it end."

Professor McGonagall had been listening to his rant patiently, and was now looking at him with an odd look on her face that he had never seen from her before. Perhaps it was because she was usually so filled with rage whenever she spoke to him. "Sit down, Sirius," she said, quite kindly. It was very odd.

However, he did as he was told and slumped onto the chair in front of the desk and stared up at McGonagall moodily with blazing eyes. "Last time, you asked me what I thought about the Ministry. I still don't think they're doing enough. No one's doing enough, and I don't want to be the same way. I want to know what I can do to help."

Professor McGonagall looked at him carefully for a while, as if she was having an internal dilemma -- Half of her saying yes and the other half say no. One side seemed to have won the argument, because she folded her hands in front of her with a certain resolve and her eyes turned steely and serious. "Have you given this thought, Sirius? Are you sure this is what you want?"

Sirius leaned forward earnestly, "I am. I am completely serious about it." The prospect of an opportunity to actually make a difference excited him and he looked at his professor with a wide-eyed interest that he had never exhibited in class.

"Sirius, if you are devoted, truly devoted, to the idea of ending this war, I suggest you speak with the Headmaster."

To be quite honest, Sirius felt a little let down and he moved further back in his chair. He had been expecting her to reveal a grand plan that involved secrets and conspiracies within the Ministry, but all he had been told was to speak with the Headmaster. "Isn't there anything you can do for me?"

"The Headmaster can assist you in this matter far more than I can," she said in a voice that told him there was no use in furthering this conversation.

Feeling rather disappointed about the entire meeting, Sirius stood up and left. As soon as he'd closed the door behind him, however, he stuck his head back in. "Thanks, professor."

"You're welcome, Mr. Black," Professor McGonagall said as she returned to the essays, "have a good evening."

"You too, professor." He slipped his head out and made his way to the moving staircases. Sirius came to the end of the staircase that led him to seventh floor and debated whether to go left or right. Should he just go back to the Gryffindor Tower? It was getting late, and Dumbledore was an old man -- Surely, he would be asleep by now. Deciding that this was a matter that was too important to wait until morning, Sirius went down the hall that led to the Headmaster's Office. Dumbledore didn't seem like the sort who'd get cranky when you'd wake him up in the middle of the night, anyway.