The One Left Behind

Rated T for language and sexual content.

A/N: I've always loved the idea of Sirius and Marlene. For me it helps to explain a lot of Sirius' behavior through the books. This is my version of their story, told through a series of chronological one-shots. Everything follows cannon, except that I've moved Marlene's death from before Harry's first birthday to after it. I had a lot of fun working on this, and I hope those that read it enjoy it! As always, I own nothing.

Gryffindor had won the quidditch cup and as the party in the common room ensued, sixth year James Potter was solely focused on maintaining the tentative friendship that he'd developed with Lily Evans. He talked and joked and managed to keep her smiling through the evening, but as the hour grew late she excused herself to her dorm, not caring to stay at the party for as late as it was likely to go. So after wishing her a good night, James set out to track down his friends. Off in a corner, butterbeers in hand, he found Remus and Peter.

"Lily go to bed?" Peter asked as James sat next to them.

"Yep. Says she's not one for late parties."

Remus handed him a butterbeer. "We'll want to find something to do for a while down here."

James groaned. "I thought Sirius had sworn off casual sex."

"It's Marlene McKinnon. Sirius said it'd be uncharitable to deny himself to the hottest girl in our year." Peter said placing a sympathetic hand on James shoulder.

"What is his thing with blondes?!" James laughed.

"We could ask the same about you and red heads." Remus chuckled.

"The Weasley's are just so damn dashing though!"

"Hey I've got exploding snaps in my bag." Peter said as he stood from his chair. "Let's play a game or two. He only has till midnight and then it's fair game to go in."

Sirius and Marlene were breathless as they lay on top of each other in the small bed. "Do you know what time it is?" Sirius panted. "Our rule is that at midnight the rest of the guys can come in and go to bed."

Marlene looked at her watch. "It's 11:45." And she pushed herself up, blond curls tumbling down her shoulders, looking for where her clothes had landed. "You know Black, you're a good shag. We should do this again sometime."

"Are you coming on to me McKinnon?" Sirius eyed her as she pulled her jeans back on.

"Hardly. You're not relationship material Black, but the next time you're looking for a shag, let me know. If I'm feeling up for it, I might agree to another meet up."

Sirius grinned at her. "I'll keep that in mind."

Marlene walked over to the bed, now fully clothed, and kissed him, her tongue doing dangerous things given that in 15 minutes the rest of the Marauders could walk right in. "And for the record, you're a prat." She whispered huskily, blue eyes hooded.

"And you appeared to like it." He chuckled in a low voice as he smacked her ass.

"The shag Black, not you, the shag." And with that she walked out the door and down the stairs to a party that was slowly dying down.