A/N: I don't own the characters, just what I'm doing with them.

Marlene,

I hate it here. God, I do. I swear, I'm leaving next year. I won't come back again. I'm sorry I'm writing you again. James finally got the girl. He doesn't want to hear me complain. Remus, well, he doesn't have time for my whinging. And, Peter, eh...I don't want to talk to Peter about it. You get it, though, don't you? We're in the same boat, kind of.

Course, you're a Slytherin. I expect they're a little less ashamed of you. God, listen to me. I sound like a prattling idiot.

I hate this fucking house.

I hate my fucking family.

Well, at least yesterday starts the semester. That'll be seventh year. One more year, and I'll graduate. Join the Order with my friends.

Sirius

Sirius,

Don't worry about it. Despite the ungodly hour, your owl didn't actually wake me. I've been listening to my parents shout all night. Sure, we're in the same boat, I guess. My parents aren't totally psychotic though. And they don't support the Dark Lord. They're, I guess, closet-purists.

I don't mind you writing, though. It's kind of nice. Not a lot of time for chatter in the school year. We run with different circles, I guess. I'd also recommend you write in complete sentences instead of chicken-scratching cave-man speak.

Anyway, don't worry too much. You're better than all of them, Sirius, and you'll be much happier as soon as school starts up.

I miss you.

Marlene

Sirius read the letter. No sense replying to it this late, but he couldn't help but smile. Marlene sounded as dry as always, but for the last bit. She was always receptive when he wanted to talk, and he tried to be likewise.

The next morning, Sirius gathered his things and left. He didn't even collect his brother as he customarily did. He just apparated to the train station. That was it: no goodbyes. He didn't want to say anything to them anyway. They'd get the message when they got wind he joined the Order.

He was early, but he boarded the train anyway, looking for Marlene. The Marauders would be goofing off until the minute the train left the station, not bothering to board yet. "Oi! I knew you'd be early," he laughed, entering the compartment she was reading alone in. Marlene looked up at him, smiling slightly.

Sirius paused for a long second. When had Marlene McKinnon gotten pretty? The hell? Or, rather, when had that mess of curly, oddly flipping blonde hair become attractive? It was still a mess, as usual, but..

Marlene watched him for a second, caught off guard by the almost accusing look he was giving her. "Um, hello, then," she greeted, closing the book on her lap and glancing up at him. "How're you?"

"Great, actually," Sirius said, recovering as he leaned against the frame of the door to the compartment. "Glad to be out of my house finally. And I know I don't have to go back. That's always nice."

"I'm glad to hear that for you. I don't think I'll be going home much either, actually," Marlene shrugged. "Dorcas and I are going to join after school, and my parents won't be too happy for me."

"Ah, well, it's good you're joining. I bet the Order could use you. Has anyone talked to you about it. I don't think It's an open club or anything," Sirius chuckled.

"I spoke to Dumbledore about it last semester. He said it would be acceptable. And you know how talented Dorcas is," Marlene explained. The Order didn't take mediocre witches and wizards. They didn't need mediocre, they needed the best. She stood up and climbed up to stand on one of the seats, rummaging through the trunk she had stored on the rack.

"You left your shirt at my house after you got it all messy," Marlene explained, tossing the Gryffindor Quidditch Jersey his way and climbing down.

"You mean, after your baby sister dumped her dinner on me. Be careful, McKinnon," he added, catching the shirt from the air and standing in front of her, hands on the rack she had just been searching through. "Someone sees you giving me clothes I left at your house, and they're going to get the wrong idea. Wouldn't want that, would you?" he challenged.

Marlene looked up and locked eyes with him. "Hmm...you're assuming that I find those assumptions displeasing."

"Is that why you kept inviting me over to your house this summer, then?" Sirius asked, arching a brow at the girl several inches shorter than himself. "Wanted me to leave more clothes lying around?"

"That, Sirius, is a crude thing to say. I was inviting you over so you could get out of your house," she laughed. Sirius was so close she could feel his body warmth radiating, and she wasn't telling him to sod off. Marlene was a seventh year, and she had never had a bit of fun. Sure, an occasional date to Hogsmeade, but...but no one who had ever sent her blood thundering through her veins.

Sirius' tongue wet his lips, and Marlene followed the motion, transfixed. She knew how Sirius was. It wouldn't be anything serious between them. Ha! Like she wanted such a thing anyway. She just wanted a bit more fun than she was getting. Seeming to test her, Sirius let one hand fall to her waist. "Marlene," he said slowly, "if you don't want me to snog you, you should say something now."

Silence.

Sirius grinned, using his hand on her waist to pull her closer and kiss her. It was nothing gentle. He had no idea why, in the last five minutes, he had ended up snogging Marlene. Not that he cared. He was running out of Gryffindors to snog anyway.

Marlene pushed against him, while one hand buried in his hair, pulling him closer. Their lips moved quickly, fiercely. Their tongues pushed against each other, desperately exploring each other. Something like a keening moan escaped Marlene's lips. "Fuck," she swore.

"You've never been properly snogged, have you?" Sirius asked, smirking as he pulled away from her. "That's a pity." He sat down on the bench and hauled Marlene close to him again. She yelped in surprise when she stumbled, falling into his lap. Before she could react, he was kissing her again. Somehow she found her way to straddling him as she kissed him back.

"Keep in mind, this is as awkward for you as it is for me," James said. Marlene pulled back immediately from Sirius, flushing bright red. "But I wanted to stop you two before you started shagging on the train and anyone else came along." Only then did Marlene realize that Sirius had been rolling his hips against hers, and she hadn't protested. Marlene scrambled off of Sirius' lap and stood up, straightening out her skirt. She looked between Remus, James, Lily, and Peter who were all at the door.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't realize how long-" Marlene stopped before she made an ever bigger fool out of herself. Sirius ran a hand through his hair. The hell had just happened there?

"Don't worry, Marlene. No one's upset with you. No need to apologize," Sirius added, not wanting to add to Marlene's upset and discomfort. Honestly, as if he hadn't found some of them in similar positions at some point.

"No, of course not," Lily interjected quickly, giving James a glare. "No problem at all."

"Well, I have a problem," Sirius mumbled as shifted in his seat, the beginnings of arousal making him rather uncomfortable. "Sit down, Marlene. No one wants to kick you out of the compartment," he chuckled, smirking when she sat as far from him as possible. She was still shooting glances his way, cheeks tinted pink and her hair more of a mess than usual.

What was Sirius getting himself into?

What the hell? Who cared.

It was seventh year.

Please read and tell me what you think. This is going to follow the lives of Sirius and Remus just before they get involved in the war and until their deaths. Warning, it's going to be smutty. It's rated M for a reason.

Hugs and Butterfly Kisses

Maraud My Heart