Red carpets and tapestries, golden blankets and pillows all looked muddy and black at this late hour in the common room, when even the fire went out and the only light source was as the bright moon beamed through the window. She sat on the soft couch with her legs folded under her, a half bottle of firewhisky in her lap, her fingers clutched around the bottle's neck while she stared off and listened the loud ticking of the clock in the silent room.

Marlene glanced at her watch: it was two o'clock in the morning. She gave a long, weary sigh and slammed the alcohol on the small, round table next to the sofa before she stood up. She just leaned back to pick up her jacket from the armrest when she heard a clear voice behind her back.

"Marle?"

She quickly turned around, seeing as Sirius was just walking down on the stairs in his light grey sweatpants with a black hoodie. She'd thought it was daytime, as his hair looked completely clean, not somebody's who just crawled out from the bed. Only when the silvery light illuminated his face she could tell he just woke up; the narrowed, sleepy eyes gave it away.

"Marlene. Marly. Marls. Literally anything else except Marle, please." – She answered with a monotone voice while the boy walked closer. She could see the emerging lips on his lips.

"Why?"

She shrugged and stepped back where the moon couldn't light her face. "Because it's sound like and old lady."

He gave a short, bark-like laugh. "It isn't." – He said before he pointed his wand at the fireplace. – "Incendio."

The room brightened immediately, but the sudden warm light made her growls and closes her eyes for a second.

"What? It's really cold here and I couldn't see that pretty face of yours."

With a roll of her eyes, she plopped down on the couch again. Even though she didn't really want any company, she thought Sirius frivolity maybe would be good for her. "Can't sleep?" – She asked, looking up at him.

Sirius watched the big, glistening blue eyes with the slightly smeared makeup. There was something in her tone that he couldn't decide what caused yet. "Lily is up in our dorm, and unlike Remus and Peter, I can't sleep that deep." – He sat down next to the girl, who laughed.

"Sometimes I'm really glad boys can't come up our rooms. But you see, I think it's still better when they couldn't stop talking about each other."

He let out a dramatic sigh. "Lucky you. James still can't stop talking about Lily."

"That's so sweet." – She said effusively. – "I'm so happy for them."

"Me too." – He said quickly. – "I just loved to sleep."

Marlene chuckled again before she stood up to fold her legs under herself again, and Sirius realized what he heard in her voice earlier. "What have you got there?"

She followed his gaze while her eyes fell on the firewhisky. Grabbing the bottle, she turned back to him. "Happy juice. Want some?"

He accepted and took a sip, not taking his eyes off her, but he didn't ask what was bothering her. After seven years knowing Marlene, Sirius learnt she doesn't talk about her problems or there's something wrong, and he could understand. He didn't like to talk about them either.

He noticed she wore a pretty, short, dark blue dress under her leather jacket. "Had a date again?"

She only nodded.

"Was it so bad?"

"I don't want to talk about it." – She muttered under her breath, snatching the bottle out from Sirius' hand and taking a big sip. He fell silence and let her do what she wanted.

The two of them started became good friends only at the start of the seventh year, when after the first quidditch match Marlene showed a great muggle rock band to Sirius, and he quickly realized this girl maybe much more than he'd originally thought. Because she had her own, harsh style sometimes, and Sirius have had enough of harsh people. It wasn't really a mask; she didn't try to show herself something else that she truly was. She just never wanted to give her heart to anybody; what was the point if people could damage it so easily? Only those whom she trusted at least a bit could see her kind, big hearted and passionate side.

Sirius also noticed Marlene went on a lot of date lately. He didn't know how far she went with them, but he could tell none of them lasted longer than a few hours. Usually, she laughed after these days, mocking about how awful every guy was, but now there were no jokes, nor complains; she was too quiet.

At least for a time being. Sirius made her laugh and lifted her mood quickly, thought the firewhisky definitely played a big role in it. After hours of talking, joking and playing truth or dare – which was only truth or truth with cheeky and embarrassing questions – Marlene was at the top of the table, singing a song from the Ramones when somebody stormed into the common room with dishevelled hair.

"Honestly, it's four in the morning!" – Remus shouted. – "Can you two please shut up and go to sleep already?" – They looked back at him in silence with innocence faces, trying to choke back their laughs. – "Thanks."

"Wow." – She whispered after Remus left them. She stepped down from the low table, but landed in Sirius' lap. – "He's really moody."

"No. It's Moony." – He laughed, wrapping his hands around her waist, pressing his forehead against her cheek before she could've stood up.

"Well, I don't know who and why started to call him like this, but you should change it. Moody is fits for him better." – She felt as Sirius smiled against her skin, but said nothing.

Out of nowhere, a sudden drowsiness overwhelmed the both of them, but no matter how nice would've felt to fall asleep in Sirius' warm hug, Marlene shifted a yawn and crawled out from his lap. It felt cold without his arms around her, so she put on her jacket that she earlier dropped on the floor.

He closed his eyes and rested his head against the backrest of the sofa. It was the first time in long hours they haven't said anything, and the silence brought the melancholy back again for Marlene.

"I think I give up." – She said with a raspy voice. – "Dating, I mean."

Sirius' eyes fluttered open and turned his head towards her. "What are you talking about?"

She sighed. "I've had enough. Guys see I'm pretty and they don't care about anything else."

He let out a tiny, almost inaudible laugh, so she continued. "I know it sounds cocky, but that's the truth. They ask me out but none of them really want more than one night. It would be nice, you know? Some to ask me what's my favourite flower or something."

"Do you want guys to ask what your favourite flower is?" – Sirius asked with an amused voice.

She huffed. "It was just an example! Whatever, I'm talking to the wrong person. You also need girls for only night." – She folded her arms and turned her head away from Sirius, but he sat closer to her.

"Marlene, no offense, but it's your fault."

She quickly looked back at him with angry eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you built up walls around yourself and you don't let anyone in. Like, I know you for seven years and I only had a chance to realize how awesome you are a couple months ago. How do you expect from somebody to know that after one date, then?"

She fell silent for a few long seconds. "Well, maybe they should at least try to know me better."

"Do you feel lonely?" – Sirius asked, surprised at even himself as he dared to ask something so personal. It felt heavier and so much more intimate when they were talking about their sexual life whilst they played truth or dare.

But Marlene answered immediately. "No, I don't. I have amazing friends, and that's enough, really. It's just… now I wanted more than a one night stand, but I couldn't get a normal relationship and it makes me feel unlovable and worthless." – The words left her lips too fast and she stopped instantly after the last ones. She never thought she'd talk about this to anyone.

"What's that crap? You're everything but unlovable and worthless." – Sirius said almost angrily. Marlene just rolled her eyes, and he sat closer again. – "Listen, if they don't want to know you, it's their fault, not yours. Why would you let some blokes who don't even want to know who you really are makes you feel like this?"

She looked into his grey eyes, thinking about what he said weren't just comforting words; he meant them, and it actually made sense. Really, why would I?

"You're right." – She said firmly. – "I'm gonna have fun and I won't care about any stupid boys ever again. It's their loss."

"Now, that's the Marlene I know." – He laughed and messed up her hair.

She giggled softly before she stood up slowly; as the alcohol still affected her limbs her moves wasn't so steady yet. "We should go to sleep. There's a quidditch match tomo – I mean, today."

"I forgot." – Sirius growled and followed the girl. – "See you at the after party, I guess?"

"Sure." – She gushed, eyes widened in excitement, completely forgot about the hangover will definitely make her to do anything but going to a party. – "I still have another bottle of firewhisky in the depths of my trunk."

They vanished the empty glasses and walked across the room together, saying good nights, but Sirius turned back before he stepped on the stairs. "So what is your favourite flower?"

She frowned but smiled. "Dandelions."

He cocked an eyebrow and watched her disappearing behind the girl's dorm' door, not sure if she was joking or not.