The plot belongs to marliusblackinnon on tumblr and people from the Blackinnon tag wanted me to give it a go so, um, yeah. Here. Reviews are appreciated! If you take the time to read this, I love you.

DISCLAIMER- I don't own the HP world and rights belong to Jo Rowling.

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Well, some nights I wish that this all would end
'Cause I could use some friends for a change.
-Fun
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He hated this.

Out of all the Pureblood traditions, he hated this one the most.

Sometimes, he wondered what he had done to deserve this. Could he not have been born into an easier environment? Could he not have been been born into a less judgemental society? Obviously not. It was just his luck to be born a Black, to be born branding one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight surnames. And the oldest of his parents' children, at that. That meant responsibility and Sirius Black never could do responsibility.

He did, of course, what was required of him, even from a young age. He grew up in a cold household, where love from the family was incredibly limited. His parents made it clear exactly what he was meant to do. He was to live up to the Black name, not mingle with anyone lower than of a Pureblood status, get married to a respectable Pureblood and have at least a male heir to carry on the name. No excuses, no arguments. When he was informed of this as a child, he started wondering why. Wasn't everyone just the same? Why would anyone be different to someone else because of what is in their blood? On this occasion, he braved saying so to his mother, who had stared at her son in disbelief for a spilt-second before giving him a sharp rap around the head and telling him he had no business in questioning things beyond his knowledge and understanding just yet. With a scowl, he refrained himself from asking these questions in the future, though his family pretended they could not hear his mutters under his breath every now and then. He was a childish rebel, yes, but he knew enough about his family to not argue so outright and defiantly.

Instead, he took small pleasures in doing tiny rebellious things, ones his parents could not technically scream at him about with proper reason, even if they did ever find out. On the Hogwarts train when he was 11, he met a boy he knew by name. James Potter. Potter was another one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight that Sirius' parents had made him revise so well, he knew off by heart. Despite being such a well-known Pureblood, his parents still wrinkled their noses at his family, often saying in a snooty voice of how they had disgraced their society. Regardless, when Sirius first talked to the boy, he rather thought he was all right. Much easier to talk to than the rest of his family, anyway. Or anyone he knew, for that matter. The problem with the children his parents liked him to associate with, was that they were all very snotty and very, very annoying. James was okay, however. He was teasing by nature, and in that first meeting, Sirius could tell he was easygoing.

Despite his rather mournful confession to James on the Hogwarts Express about hoping he'd not be put in Slytherin, the Sorting Hat thought otherwise. Slytherin was the bitter home of his family, and he was no exception, it seemed.

So he knew he was going to get an arranged marriage. Didn't mean he had to like it though. He knew several of his cousins had already been married off; Bellatrix, for one, had been made to marry Rudolphus Lestrange. Her sister, Andromeda (who was secretly Sirius' favourite cousin), was supposed to be married off too, except she ran off with the Muggleborn Ted Tonks. Sirius admired her with respect for having the guts to do that, whilst the rest of the family looked upon her with shame and scorn.

But he was being made to marry Marlene McKinnon. Who was, honestly, the biggest bitch he had probably ever come across. It was always a stereotype at Hogwarts for Ravenclaws to be snobbish and look down on others, and this was the reason why. She wasn't even that clever, just admittedly incredibly witty. She had a sharp tongue and, frankly, it pissed Sirius off a lot. She acted as though disregarding all she was taught about status in society. And he definitely knew that her family cared what was happening to her. Hence why she stood in front of him now, her face laced with contorted contempt.

"Alright, Black," she stated, emphasising the use of his surname. "It's no big secret I don't want to do this-"

He interrupted her with a snort. "-Oh yes, because nothing would make me happier than marrying you."

Her eyes flashed but she carried on as if he had not spoken. "But it looks like we have to; there's no way out of it. So I'm going to set some ground rules on this-"

"Ground rules? What is this, a game?" he growled.

"Will you just shut up?" she said angrily, pushing her dark hair out of her way. "Of course this isn't a fucking game. But we're saving our own arses by doing this so let me finish! Rule 1, no public display of affection, unless required."

"That goes without saying," he sneered.

"Rule 2," she continued. "When alone, don't talk to me, or even touch me. Rule 3, don't touch my things. Rule 4, leave my friends alone. Rule 5-"

He stopped her. "That's enough rules for you, McKinnon. My turn."

"All right, out with it then," she said, folding her arms.

"Just one," he turned away. "Just stay the hell away from me when no one's around."

She snorted. "Good enough for me. Now, let's go back out there and do our families proud."

"Fucking glad to."

The subject of the arranged wedding was on both families' topic of conversation when the two walked back into the Blacks' dining room.

"Ah, there you two are." Melanie McKinnon said as the pair took their seats next to each other stiffly. "We were just discussing what date would be the best."

"Lovely." Marlene replied, the sarcasm barely hidden and her mother shot her a warning look. Baring a forced smile, she corrected herself. "No, really, truly wonderful."

Satisfied, Walburga Black spoke. "Good girl. We decided that the 7th of July is most likely the best date. Two weeks after the end of your last year at Hogwarts. Less than 3 months from now."

"So soon?" Sirius muttered.

"Yes, better sooner than later." Orion interjected, his wife and Melanie nodding.

"We have all agreed for you two to move in straight after graduation." Walburga said, her voice daring them to challenge her.

There was a pause before Sirius sighed.

"Fine," he said in a flat tone and there was a mumble beside him as Marlene agreed in the same monotone.

How fun. Less than three months until he was stuck with her. He didn't even want to imagine how fucked up it would all be; the thought of it alone made him sick.

Basically, less than three months to hell.

"Three. Months." Marlene said in disbelief, as they marched up the staircase. As they reached the landing, they heard the click of Regulus' room being closed shut. "They're joking."

"Don't be stupid," Sirius remarked, grudgingly shoving the door of his bedroom open. "They would not joke about something as serious, and stupid, as this."

"Still, three goddamn months. Will they let us even breathe after graduation, you think?" She snapped, following him in.

"Probably not."

Her eyes wandered around his room, taking in the surroundings. Unlike a typical teenage boy's room, the room was almost bare. The mud-like grey walls were an unattractive shade, blank and unfurnished. Clothes were stacked in a corner of the room, as if thrown there when not used. The bed was unmade and disheveled, looking like it hadn't been straightened out for years. But despite still looking obviously used, none of it seemed... Sirius-like.

"It's empty in here," she observed.

He slumped on his bed, jerking his thumb to the pile of clothes. "Stuff's all in there."

She followed his thumb line and her eyes fell on the large trunk he was pointing at.

"Don't even try going near there," he warned. "I charmed the lock to only open at my touch, like the door handle just now."

"Magic is banned when away from Hogwarts."

"Please, as if you're a sucker to rules. Anyway, magic's harder to track in a magical household. Really," he said, another sneer forming. "Are you sure you're a Ravenclaw?"

Inwardly, Marlene couldn't help but give a silent grudge of respect. Not that she'd ever admit it to him, though. Pfft, as if. "Piss off, Black."

"I live here," he said, looking at her with distaste. "You piss off."

"You know, I would if I could," she said flatly. "Anyway, you're the one acting like a prick here."

"Says the prized bitch," he noted. Her eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth to reply but was cut off.

"Sirius! Marlene!" trilled the voice of Melanie and, still glaring at each other, the two retreated down the stairs to face what could only be described as nightmare parents.

"You're kidding." James Potter sputtered. "No really, you are."

"I wish," Marlene snorted, taking a drag from her cigarette. "I'm 100% serious right now, no pun intended."

"Oh, Merlin's pants. Every time your mother talked about arranged marriages, I always thought she was joking!" James exclaimed.

"So did I," she replied, pulling a face. "Who was to know the old bat was completely serious?"

"Absolutely no one," he confirmed. "You know, I'm pretty sure she knows I'm a Pureblood..."

"She wouldn't have matched us up. Your family is a bunch of 'blood traitors'. Not to mention," she added as an afterthought. "I've been friends with you long enough to realise that you can't be tied down by a stupid arranged marriage."

"She should know that you can't be tied down to an arranged marriage," He pointed out.

She sighed, lowering her cigarette. "I'm doing this to save her skin. She may not be the best mother but she still is mine."

"Aw, ickle Marly loves her mummy," James said teasingly, earning a not-so-light punch in the arm. "Oi!"

"Shut up, then," she advised, taking the last drag before stamping on it. "And help me! I have to marry Sirius bloody Black!"

"He's not that bad," he said fairly, shrugging. "He's alright."

"No, he's not!" she cried, aghast. "He's a dick, and you know it!"

"So he's a bit of a dick," he agreed. "But you could have been paired with worst. Snape, for example." His face contorted with disgust.

"Not a Pureblood and totally not in the society my mother wants," she told him but, nevertheless, shrugged half-heartedly. "Guess you're right."

"I'm always right," James grinned.

"Oh, shut it," She shoved him slightly. "How's Lily? Haven't seen her much this yet, what with all this marriage crap."

"I wouldn't know," he said casually. Marlene gave him a look that clearly said she didn't believe in. "Alright, so she's fine. But I only know that because Dorcas dropped by at her's for a bit before coming over to mine."

"What's Dorcas doing over at your's?"

"Wanted to talk to Remus. He was staying over a bit at the beginning of the holidays," he said. "She knocked on your door yesterday but no one was in."

"I was out at the Black's yesterday," she said bitterly. "But we've covered this subject and it's just making me depressed."

"I figured," he deadpanned.

"You're growing on Lily," she said with a wink. "She doesn't think you're that so arrogant anymore."

He studied her for a moment. "You know, Marls. You should concentrate on your life before anyone else's."

There was a pregnant pause.

"Yeah, whatever." Marlene said, giving him a careless wave with her hand. "I'm off then, before my mother spots that I'm gone. See you."

"You too, Marls," He said and leant down to give her a kiss on the cheek.

Throwing a happy grin over her shoulder, she walked away, as James' last statement still rang in her ears.

Thanks for reading! Until next chapter, folks c:

-Jessie