A/N: Welcome to my new story, Little Too Late, a Blackinnon fanfiction, featuring Jily(if only briefly) and a whole lot of Marauders . It feels too long since I have written for Harry Potter, so I thought I'd delve into the realms of an unconfirmed pairing and start tapping away in my Christmas break. Reviews for a story is as vital as a broomstick to Quidditch. Remember that, young ones.

UPDATED AUTHOR'S NOTE 19/03/17 - This story has undergone countless edits and I realise now that (since they were written when I was about 12) the first few chapters are quite immature/perhaps not very gripping. If you want to start from Chapter 13 'Whispers', I feel like that's a good place where my writing style picked up a bit. However, feel free to read it all if you want. There is a pretty major plot twist that happens in chapters 11/12, so I would recommend reading those as well. Not massively difficult to work out what happened from chapter 13 however, if you just want a general gist.

Disclaimer: Yeah, JK Rowling owns everything except from the plot. And she kind of owns that. I suppose. :(

Chapter 1- Frogs

"AHHHHHH!" Lily's shrill scream erupted from the girls' dormitories, reaching Marlene in the bathroom. Marlene sighed, switching off the water which was running down her back. She wrapped a white towel round her body, drying herself off from her shower, before towel drying her almost black hair, letting it drip round her shoulders. She pulled on her pajamas of which consisted a tank top and short shorts before heading out to see what all the fuss was about.

"What's up?" She asked.
"Stupid. Bloody. Marauders," Lily spluttered incoherently. "Frogs. LOOK!" To Marlene's regrettable amusement, hopping around the room were a number of slimy, dark green frogs, with black patches dotted across their backs making them look particularly gruesome. It was a well know fact that Lily Evans hated frogs with every ounce of detest imaginable. Whoever had done this (and Marlene would offer no prizes for guesses) would have really rattled her.
Marlene removed them with a quick flick and swish of her wand. In any other circumstance, she would have been surprised that Lily did not vanish them herself. However, she imagined that, for the mere fact that it was frogs as opposed to spiders or beetles or anything like that, Lily was too paralysed by fear to act sensibly.
"All gone," Marlene informed.
"Potter will not get away with this." Lily had gone an interesting shade of fuchsia, and Marlene was convinced she could see steam billowing out from her ears.
"Aw come on Lils, you don't know that it was James. It could've been...could've been..."
"Could've been who Marlene?"
"Could've been...an accident?"
"UGH!" She pushed past Marlene and out of the girls' dormitory. Lily Evans was on a rampage…and boy, should James Potter be scared.
Being the faithful best friend that she was, Marlene hurried after Lily when she stormed out at a remarkable speed for someone who despised Quidditch. Marlene pitied the poor Potter in question, when she saw him lazing around the common room with his equally brainless friends, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin. In all honestly, Marlene and James got along very well. They were childhood friends, and Marlene was certain she'd be best friends with him, if it wasn't for the fact that he hung out with Sirius Black; a moronic idiot who had the brain capacity of a flubberworm.
"Was it you?" Lily screeched. The whole common room flinched, at the high capacity of decibels as well as the fact that her voice had gone two octaves higher than normal.
"I don't know what you mean…" James said nervously, his hand going to his hair in a helpless manner.
"Oh well let me remind you then," Lily hissed. "Ten. Giant. Frogs. Have. Inhabited. The. Girls'. Dormitory. And. I. Am. Fully. Aware. Of. How. They. Got. There."
"So…" Sirius began. "Surely that deems this conversation totally pointless." Marlene saw red.
"Shut up Black. This has nothing to do with you. Or does it?"
"Oh, McKinny, you're just jealous because you aren't part of the fun!" Sirius insisted. "You look hot by the way." Marlene glanced down at her attire, her face blushing red when she fully registered that she was still wearing her pyjamas- or the tank top that displayed inappropriate amounts of cleavage, and the shorts that revealed way too much of her long, slender legs.
"You're welcome to join our pranks any time you wish," Sirius continued. "After all, it would be nice to have some eye candy on the team…" If looks could kill, Sirius would have been dead.
"You're nothing but a trouble maker," Marlene told him, her voice dangerously low.
"Now, now, McKinny, we both know that's not true," Sirius said, his tone stern. "I have been nothing but a good boy since I stepped into this school. Unfortunately, the teacher's and a certain prefect coughEvanscough, just seem to have it in for me! However, I sympathise with them. It's obviously just because they are incapable of realising (that or they do not want to) just how awesome I, along with my good friends here, actually are."
"Bullshit," Marlene muttered. "I think mental would be a more suitable adjective, sweetie." She added, in a louder voice.
"As I pointed out before, it's just jealousy that you cannot also participate in our mischief. Besides, if I was to ever label myself as 'mental' it would be 'mental in a brilliantly awesome way', I can assure you of that," Sirius winked. "But never fear, my dearest McKinny, I will be sure to let you have some of the fun."
"I'm not jealous, Black! I cannot begin to fathom where you've got this ludicrous idea that I want to be part of your stupid little gang," Marlene snapped. However, she could not stop the faint blush that crawled up her cheeks at Sirius' wink.
"Admit it, McKinny."
"Admit what, Black? That I want to join your pathetic little posse for weirdos with no mates? Or admit that I want to be part of a group of lunatics?"
"Au contraire!" Sirius said, dramatically. "Admit that you want to be part of the most wonderful group in this castle! Or…admit that you'd love to go on a date with me to Hogsmeade sometime."
"I already am part of the most wonderful group in Hogwarts!" Marlene exclaimed. "It's called the 'Sane ones'. I'd invite you to join except I don't think you'd fit in. And as for that date…keep on dreaming." Marlene's blush deepened considerably.
"Excuse me?" Sirius leaned forward, cupping his hand behind his ear. "I must have misheard! I'm sure I heard someone deny wanting to go on a date with me! But…but, how can this be when her face is burning up so badly? Your blushing face betrays all of your true emotions McKinny…"
"I am not blushing!" Marlene told him. "I just go red when I get frustrated!"
"Of course you do love."
"UGH!" Marlene screamed, turning on her heels and stalking out.
"And here I was thinking it was going to be a showdown between Lily and James…" Remus sighed, thoughtfully.
"I can't say I'm disappointed," James said.
"Don't push it Potter," Lily snarled, before following her friend out of the room.

Dearest Marlene,

I am afraid I am writing to inform you of bad news. The death eaters have discovered us and our family home is no longer safe. We have been deemed blood traitors. Your father and I have been moved to a safe house up in northern Scotland; the exact location is to remain secret until you have completed your time at Hogwarts, after which you should join us here, or move in with your partner if you choose. Do not worry, your siblings are safe. They have also been placed in safe houses across the country with their respective spouses.

In the meantime, I have arranged for you to stay with the Potters for this summer and any time you wish. With Mr. Potter being head auror, he has a number of charms placed around the manor, and I believe you will be safe there. I fully trust Mr and Mrs. Potter to take good care of you, and I know that you get along with James well. Dark times are ahead of us Marlene- do not be silly. Take good care of yourself, for I fear the worst. There is a war approaching us, and we must be prepared. Remember that your family love you. I will try to write when I can, without endangering you. Stay safe.

Mother x

Marlene was shocked into silence. It was three days before Hogwarts broke up for their summer break. It was the break before Marlene's seventh year. She had not been expecting this.
"You okay Marls?" Lily asked, concerned at her friends sudden silence.
"My parents have been moved to a safe house in Scotland. I will not be spending summer with them."
"What are you going to do?" Lily questioned. "Of course, you could come stay with me but-"
"No, no, Lily," Marlene shook her head. "My parents have arranged for me to go and stay with James."
"I do hope you'll excuse me if I don't come to visit you," Lily wrinkled her nose. Marlene grinned.
"It's not actually that bad. Mrs. Potter is a marvellous cook!" Marlene said cheerfully.
"What's that about my mother's cooking?" James interrupted, grabbing a piece of toast from the table.
"I hope you're ready, James, you've got a lodger for the summer!"