Chapter 1: Making Scenes

Sirius skidded into the compartment, nearly knocking over a small first year with a kitten. "Marlene's on the train." He exclaimed flattening down his hair and checking himself out in the window.

"Funny, that considering that this a train bound for Hogwarts and Marlene goes to Hogwarts." Remus said without looking up from his book.

"You know what I mean, Marlene hardly ever gets the train, and why are you reading, we've got at least a year and a half before our final exams." Remus just shrugged. "Anyway she's heading for the Prefect carriage with Lily."

"Give it up Padfoot. Marlene made it clear last year she wanted nothing to do with you." James said giving his friend a sympathetic pat on the back.

Remus sighed and closed his book. "I better go show face I'll be right back. Don't do anything rash whilst I'm away." He glared meaningfully at James and Sirius,

"I'll look after them." Peter piped up from the corner which made them all laugh.

Once Remus had left Sirius brought out his wand and summoned a package covered in newspaper from the overhead luggage rails.

"I'm sure my mother would have lent you some wrapping paper." James said and he watched Sirius carefully unwrap the present.

"I would have brought wrapping paper but I wanted her to think of me when she opens it."

James raised an eyebrow. "Is that why the article you are using is of your cousins marriage to Lucius Malfoy?"

"Ah crap. Maybe if I use paper from Remus book?" Sirius scrambled around the compartment looking something for more suitable to wrap his present in. He passed the newspaper to Peter. "Here Wormtail burn this will ya?"

Peter nodded and promptly destroyed the newspaper clipping.

Sirius sat down, "Do you think someone on the train will have wrapping paper. I can't give it to her not wrapped."

"Can't give what to who not wrapped?" Remus asked returning from the Prefect compartment and closing the door.

"I'm guessing it's Marlene's birthday present although he hasn't actually told us." James said.

Sirius nodded. "Everyone forgets because it's the day we start school, it's why she never usually gets the train. She seventeen today, so It's a big birthday as well. Do you guys want to sign the card?" He asked pushing a small piece of card over the table. It was home made in the centre of the card it had a huge lion decorated in Red and Gold. Inside it read 'Happy Birthday Marlene, may your heart always be brave. Lots of love Sirius.'

"That's really cheesy." James sighed but signed it all the same.

"You wrote lots of love." Remus stated as he signed it before passing it onto Peter.

"Do you think she'll like it?" Sirius asked when Peter gave him back the card.

"Depends what the present is." James said staring pointedly at the box on the table.

Sirius opened the box and turned it to let the three boys look inside.

"Holy Shit!" James exclaimed.

Peter and Remus just whistled.

"You look exhausted." Lily commented as she met Marlene outside the Prefect compartment.

Her friend nodded, her short brown hair falling over eyes. Stifling another yawn she motioned down the train to where their compartment was. "Dad got me some Intensive Apparation lessons this morning. I had to take a two hour extreme lesson then take my test afterwards."

Lily stared at her, "I didn't know you could do that."

"Yeah it's usually used for Aurors in training who didn't pass at Hogwarts. Anyway the lesson started at 7, this morning, I then had my exam at 9 I passed then had to make my own way to Kings Cross because both parents had to work."

"So you have a license?"

Marlene nodded and opened the door to their compartment,

"Hey look who it is the rumours are true. The girl who is too high and mighty to take the train has taken the train!"

Marlene and Lily smiled. "Morning Mary." Lily said sitting next to the blonde haired Glaswegian.

"I was in town." Marlene smiled squishing up next to them.

"In other words parents were working and couldn't accompany her to the school gates." A light brunette stated in an Irish accent.

"Rebecca I'm seventeen I don't need mummy and daddy to hold my hand." Marlene said smiling.

"Of course! Happy Birthday!" The last member of the group exclaimed.

"Thanks Alice. Nah the reason why I'm on the train and not making the 20 minute drive is because of my birthday present."

Sirius sat down at the Gryffindor table and place the parcel – now neatly wrapped in tin foil on the bench beside him.

"Where did you find the tinfoil?" James asked him moving the parcel slightly so he could sit down.

"Some first year's mum had wrapped the poor kids sandwiches in them I traded the sandwiches and the tinfoil for a pumpkin pasty."

James shook his head in despair and glanced up the table to where Lily and her friends were sitting.

"Thinking of trying again mate?" Sirius asked when he saw where his friends attention lay.

James shrugged, "She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you, you just need to stop showing off and being an arrogant jerk around her."

"Cheers mate." James remarked sarcastically

Sirius smiled and waved Remus and Peter over who were lagging behind.

"So when do you plan to give Marlene her birthday present?" Remus whispered at Professor McGonagal led the first years up the length of the hall.

Sirius just shrugged.

The sorting had finished and Headmaster Professor Dumbledore had stood up to say a few words. "There is not much to say at this moment in time." He bowed his head with a twinkle in his eye, and the tables filled with food.

The hall was soon filled with laughter and talking as the students helped themselves to the magnificent spread that had appeared in front of them. Marlene and Lily were so busy getting to know the firsts years that they didn't see him until he coughed.

"Yes? Oh What do you want Snape?" Lily's tone dramatically changed when she saw who it was.

"I want to..." Severus Snape started but was interrupted.

"Leave us alone?" Marlene could see Lily didn't want to talk to her former friend.

Severus glowered at her before throwing an envelope at her. "Happy Birthday." He muttered before returning to his table where his friends Avery and Mulciber were waiting for him.

Marlene scowled at him then flipped open the envelope. She pulled out the cheep card with a kitten on it holding balloons and opened to read the message in side.

Shaking with anger Marlene stood up and shouted at Snape. "Is this meant to be a threat?" The whole hall stopped eating to watch.

Lily stood up and placed a calm hand on her friends shoulder. "Marl, your making a scene, take a deep breath and come and sit down please." She begged slowly pushing her towards the table again. Looking up at the teachers table she saw that Professor McGonagal was ready to intervene.

Marlene listened to her friends reason, and slowly sat down. She started counting to ten breathing slowly in between clenched teeth. She handed Lily the card.

"'Happy Birthday McKinnon. Tell Lily I'm sorry. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.' The last enemy...." Lily repeated the last bit confused.

"It's the motto of Vol..." She started a little too loudly and scared the first years around them. Lowering her voice she finished. "...demorts follows. It's why they're called Death Eaters."

"I'm sure it doesn't just mean that and that's just a rumour, everyone's scared about this war and make things up on the spot I think you just jumped to conclusion. Just drop it, if it worries you that much you can show it to McGonagal tomorrow."

Marlene nodded but she was still upset about the comment.

Lily knew one way to cheer her friend up. "I tell you Marl." She said nonchalantly, "you were so close to breaking Potters and Blacks record."

"Which one?"

"The one where McGonagal takes points of you before term even starts."

Marlene couldn't help it she laughed.

After the normal announcements Dumbledore got more serious. "I'm sure I don't have to remind you to be careful. Dangerous times are among us, nobody is allowed out of Hogwarts alone. All students with permission slips to Hogsmead must visit in groups of two of more. These are just security measures. Whilst there is no doubt in my mind that you will all be safe here at Hogwarts it is foolish to assume you will be safe in Hogsmead. Take heed of our warnings if you have any questions our Head Boy, Frank Longbottom of Gryffindor and head girl Dorcas Meadowes of Ravenclaw will be willing to answer any questions you may have as do our prefects. Now." Dumbledore smiled, "A change to the routine, instead of closing the feast with the Hogwarts song why don't you all join me in wishing Marlene McKinnon a Happy Birthday for it is not everyday one celebrates their 17th birthday."

Marlene turned bright red as Dumbledore led the whole school in a chorus of Happy Birthday.

Sirius took this as the perfect opportunity to give Marlene her gift. He stood up ignoring the whistles of his peers walked to where Marlene was laughing off her embarrassment.

The singing stopped just as Sirius tapped Marlene on the shoulder. "What's up Black?" She asked giving him an untrustworthy look.

"Happy Birthday Marlene. I bought you gift and erm... sorry about the tinfoil, with me moving house I got distracted and erm..." Sirius faltered and just handed over the tinfoil package.

"Sirius Black is at a loss for words." Lily noted.

Marlene grimace. "Sirius you're making a scene." But she took the parcel all the same. "But thank you as they say it's the thought that counts." Marlene spotted the envelope first and pulled the home-made card out to read it. Glancing down the Gryffindor table she spotted James, Remus and Peter. "Thanks guys." She said before turning to the package.

It seemed that the whole school was waiting to see what was inside.

Feeling embarrassed Marlene opened the package cautiously as if it was going to explode. Throwing the tinfoil on the table she looked suspiciously up at Sirius before opening the box.

Lily and Marlene gasped as they saw a diamond necklace glittering on the velvet cushion. "Oh my god Sirius it's gorgeous!" Marlene stood up and hugged Sirius pressing her lips against his.

A/N: I know there are SB/MM stories out there as I found out today when looking for RW/SM fics. But this story has been in the works for ages and now that I'm home with all seven books in front of me and my sisters insanity to help keep mine. I've finally written this first chapter. This is the third draft of this particular story line. First one was in first year in Lily point of view, the second was in Marlene's point of view but I like this one the best. I hope to continue this story throughout the wars and hopefully add a spin that other stories don't have. I did debate leaving the story as a cliff-hanger when Marlene opened her gift as my sister (now called Curious Black (inside joke) was so curious she accidental forget to put her fish back in the tank after cleaning it. (Just to clarify no fish were harmed in the making of this long Authors Note). I better stop writing before my ramblings become longer than the chapter. I have tried to make the story as true to the books as possible but if you see any continuity issues then please ignore it :) As with all fanfics please Read and Review and remember to take with a pinch of salt. Keep you mind open to possibilities.

Mischief Managed

NaomiJayne.

P.S None of the characters mentioned in this Story (Apart from Rebecca) are mine and all have at one point been mentioned in a HP Book. Therefore are property of JK Rowling.