disclaimer! yes, i own harry potter. and along with it, i own russia. and england and japan.

author's note! i'm back! of course, this is another sirius black-centric story, although it's coming from the point of view of my oc. i'm only a little bit sure where i'm going with this, but it will be a full story, not just another two or three chapter one. so don't worry. i'd love it if you guys would tell me how you like it or not like it. i know it's a little hard to tell from this chapter, since it's so slow and boring, but i promise the rest will be much more interesting.

"So what are you up to this fine evening, my dear, close friend?" My friend Marlene asked me as I settled into the armchair of the Gryffindor common room, a cup of hot cocoa from the kitchens in my hand. She was sitting next to me, spread out on the couch, covered in a blanket and holding an identical cup, although she'd added a little bit of something stronger to it. Marlene had been my best friend since our third day at Hogwarts our first year here. It was our clashing personalities that had drawn us to each other and our extreme differences on everything that kept our friendship so strong. It helped that we didn't agree on just about anything. We never fought over petty things like boys and whose blouse was whose like she and Dorcas do.

I shrugged my shoulders and pulled my legs up underneath me, settling into a more comfortable and relaxed position. "I don't know. I'll probably end up in the dorm, curled up with a good book or something," I answered her, my reply just as similar to how it was every Saturday night when she asked me. What I actually did on Saturday night was never the same as my answer, however, for Marlene had a knack for talking me into doing whatever it was that she wanted to do. She was determined that I was wasting my life away by consistently spending my weekends alone with nothing more than a good romance novel. But I really can't help myself; I like to read and I'm a stickler for a good love story.

Marlene took a drink, winced and shook her head joyously at the burning feeling on her throat, and shook her finger at me. "Oh no you don't, my dear. I will not allow you to spend your Saturday evening cooped up in that dorm, critiquing a silly book," she scolded me. Alright, so maybe I don't like reading the love part of the story, and maybe I'm a bigger fan of making fun of romance novels every chance I get. It helps me feel better about my sad, wretched life. "No, no, honey, you will have a fun night if I have to force you under the Imperius curse."

I rolled my eyes. "You know, I haven't gotten to spend a Saturday reading my books in about three months, Marlene. I think it's about time that I get to do what I want to do." I ignored her own roll of her eyes and continued. "Our ideas of fun are completely different, remember?" I pointed out to her.

Of course, she didn't care. Shaking her head at me, she straightened up. "Babe, I love you and all, but you're a real downer. You've got to loosen up and have some real fun," she lectured me. I've heard it all before. We go through this just about every week. Usually I just give in and allow her to pull me around wherever she goes, until she runs off to hook up with some guy, and then I depart to the dormitory, where I crash into bed, then too tired to pull out my novel. But I love Marlene and her crazy antics, so I put up with it. Besides, most of the time, I can guilt her into buying me a drink or two.

I sighed and shook my own head. "Fine," I muttered before taking a drink of my hot cocoa, wincing myself as the hot liquid burned my tongue. I always forget to blow on it first to cool it off.

I was never one to drink tea or coffee or any of that sort of stuff. Tea tasted like piss to me and coffee was way too bitter. I was much more a fan of the warm, chocolate liquids that my mum used to make me when I was a little girl.

Marlene grinned triumphantly. "Alright then, it's settled. We're going on a double date!"

I shot my head up at her, fixating my coldest glare at her. "Wait right there. I never agreed on a double date!" I exclaimed, thoroughly fuming at this point. I hated when she snuck a date on me. They were always blind dates, usually a double date with her and some prick, and they were usually a huge prat themselves. I hated Marlene's little setups for me. One time, in our fifth year, she set me up with this Ravenclaw boy who, the entire night, wouldn't do anything but try and make out with me. The git's face was covered with acne, he was a pudgy fellow, had greasy hair, and probably had never had a date before. His friend, Marlene's date, of course was absolutely gorgeous, smart, and hilarious. He was probably the best guy she'd ever gone out with. Of course, he was just another one-night-stand for her, even though he had completely fallen heads over heels for her. The poor bugger. "Absolutely not," I added.

She groaned and slammed her head on the back of the couch. "Oh please, Lizzie?" She begged me using the nickname only she can get away with, her lips pouting and her tone entirely whiny and annoying. She countered my glare with her well-known puppy dog look and I thanked the stars that she'd used it so many times on me I had grown immune to it. "You already said you'd come out with me tonight," she pointed out.

I shook my head. "I did not. All I said was 'fine' and that was to you saying I needed to loosen up," I shot back at her, pointing a finger at her. "I never said I would hang out with you, and I definitely never said I would go on a double date! You know how much I hate those."

She groaned again and I almost threw the cushion from the chair at her as she kicked her puppy dog eyes up a notch. "Please? It's the only way I can get Marcus to go out with me," she begged again. I was really tempted to throw the pillow at her.

I rolled my eyes again at her. "What, he doesn't trust you alone with him?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking at her.

She pouted again and said in a disappointed voice, "No he doesn't. Which is totally unfair, if you think about it. He's the guy, I'm supposed to not trust him!" But that was never the way it worked out with Marlene. She was always the one you had to keep your eye on and had to keep her under control. She was well-known around the school for being very friendly and open. Most girls hate her and call her a slut, but really she's just wanting to have a good time. She likes sex, a lot, but not to the point where she's a total whore. She has standards, you know.

"No. I'm not going."

"I hate you, Lizzie," she narrowed her eyes at me, but I just shrugged and took a drink out of my cocoa. After a few moments of silence, she couldn't take it anymore and begged again, just as I knew she would. "Please!" She all but shouted and I knew that, once she got to this point, I was going to be sucked into it very fast.

It's usually best to give in fast when it comes to Marlene. She will not hesitate to make a scene and you better believe that you will be horrifyingly embarrassed. She's a seventeen year old girl, you would think that she would be able to deal with things a little more maturely. But nope, that's Marlene for you. "No," I said stubbornly. And, for effect, I turned my back on her. Granted, I knew it wasn't going to work, but I always hoped that one day Marlene would learn her place.

But apparently it wouldn't be tonight. She pulled the blanket off of her, set her cup on the small table by the couch, and got on her knees by my feet. "Please, please, please? I am sitting here, begging with all of my heart! Will you please do this one little thing for me?" She was shouting it out at this point, and the rest of the common room was staring. There weren't many people in at this time, most were either out on the grounds, enjoying the end of summer, or still at dinner, or wandering the corridors, or wherever. But there were enough people still there that the sudden silence was absolutely noticeable and I could feel the multiple sets of eyes on the back of my head and staring at Marlene on the ground. "I just want this one simple thing of you, Lizzie. Please, I will never ask anything of you ever again! Please, please, please!" She continued and I rolled my eyes.

"I don't believe you," I said, much quieter than her. "You will ask something of me tomorrow and every other day until we graduate, Marlene." I shook my head and gave in. "But fine, I'll go, just so long as you shut the bloody hell up." I would be disappointed in myself if I hadn't known that I would have given up long ago. Marlene McKinnon can get me to do just about anything.

She jumped up with a girlish shriek and clapped her hands cheerfully. "Wonderful! Now let's go pick out an outfit for you and an outfit for me!" She grabbed me by my right forearm and pulled me to my feet, almost making me spill my hot cocoa all over the place and succeeding in making me stumble. "Marlene," I groaned after her as she pulled me behind her.

I hate my best friend.

author's note! okay, so that was chapter one. it sucks, i know and i apologize. it will pick up, i promise. but i'd still love it if you guys would review. i love flames and praise, so throw them all at me. (: i should have the next chapter up, probably by the end of the night or tomorrow sometime.

peace out.