Chapter 1
Lugging his trunk and worn leather jacket, following his best friend James Potter, Sirius Black got on the train about to leave from platform 9 3/4.
"I've got a good feeling about this year Pads!" James said excitedly.
James said this at the beginning of every year regarding Lily Evans, whom every year he was so sure was going to fall in love with him. He was yet to be correct. To humour him however, Sirius replied, "Me too bud."
"Oii!" A voice called from behind. Both boys turned around and looked. Standing, all rugged and slightly sleep deprived yet still grinning ear to ear was their best friend Remus Lupin.
A mischievous grin replaced Sirius' expression as the voice resonated. "Moony!" He exclaimed before bringing his friend into a macho-male hug. "How's it been?"
Remus gave a small smile, "Rough, but it's always good to see you lads." He said.
"Well hope you're not too tired, we've still some pranks up our sleeves." James said from behind pulling his best mate into a hug.
"You seen Pete?" Asked Sirius.
"Think he's already in a carriage, let's go find him." Said Remus.
All three boys picked up their trunks and dragged them behind them, busying themselves in idle chatter. The summer had developed their once boyish faces making them look older. Sirius' hair was still unruly, black and long, however it framed his now chiselled jaw and defined cheeks. His grey eyes shone brightly when he smiled or laughed enunciating his good looking features. He looked older than his friends, from the stress and frustration brought on by his parents. This was one summer he really truly enjoyed, spending a good proportion of it with James. But it felt good to be back at Hogwarts.
"Lads over here!" Peter Pettigrew's stout, short body called.
"Hey Pete," Said James rushing over to greet his friend with a hug, "How are you? Here,…" He passed a shirt towards him. "You left your Canons shirt at my house the other night, thought you'd be missing it as you ADORE them." James said dramatically as the boys took their seat.
Remus rolled his eyes at the talk of Quidditch, whilst Sirius scoffed, "Should've burned that shirt James! Burned it and bought him a Harpies one!"
"I'll die a Canons fan before I become a Harpies fan!" Peter said loyally.
"Of course they're talking about Quidditch." A voice said from the entrance of the compartment.
All the boys turned their heads to see the sarcastic little red head who was standing at the doorway. Lily Evans stood with her hand on her hips and a judgemental smirk on her face. Stood behind her was Marlene McKinnon whose gentle smile complimented her best friend's cheek. Sirius couldn't help but stare at the blonde. Her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders sitting messily around her shoulders, a few stray pieces framing her heart shaped face. She caught Sirius' glance and grinned whilst he threw her a wink making her poke her tongue out.
Unbeknownst to the both of them the others had carried on their conversation and Sirius only jerked out of his trance when Lily laughed loudly, seemingly at something James had said surprisingly. James beamed and then blushed.
"Remus, are you coming to the prefect's meeting?" She asked
Remus sat up, "Merlin, I completely forgot thanks for reminding me." He got up to follow Lily out and Sirius stood to follow them out.
"Toilet" He nodded at James and Pete as an explanation.
"You wanna stay here Marlene?" Asked James. Both of them being family friends from young gave them a sense of familiarity and playful friendship. And it slightly gave James the upper hand when it came to Lily.
She shook her head, "Dorcas and Mary are waiting for me. I'll see you lot at the castle?"
"Catch ya Marls." Called Peter and Marlene McKinnon turned and left.
After going back to her compartment and then grabbing her bag with her robes to change into, Marlene made her way to the bathroom. Going back to Hogwarts was always something she looked forward to, but it was something everyone looked forward to. Marlene however, changed into her uniform yonks earlier than anyone else did.
On her way there, the door of a compartment with all the blinds shut suddenly swung open and forcefully pulled her in. With a small shriek Marlene stumbled in and glanced around annoyed.
"You!" She said as she saw the culprit.
With a smirk, Sirius said, "Missed me then babes?" With one swift move Sirius' hands snaked around Marlene's waist and he forcefully connected their lips. Marlene was quick to reciprocate dropping her bag on the floor and throwing her arms around his neck. Sirius reacted with more enthusiasm that he lifted Marlene of the ground. Marlene missed the feel of his lips on her all summer and was ecstatic when his tongue started to caress hers. She let out a satisfied sigh as he pulled away and laughed softly at her.
"So I'll take that as a yes then?" He said smirking and reaching a hand up to play with her soft hair.
She swatted his hand away, "Stop that, I shouldn't be here we're going to get caught!" She said furiously trying to remove his hands from her waist. This just made him tighten his grip and plant kisses on collarbone which was exposed in her loose fitting top that she wore. "Sirius!" She hissed.
He nuzzled his face in her neck planting a few stray kisses, "You need to loosen up!" He said kissing her neck some more.
It took a lot out of her but she pushed him away. "You're so randy all the time Black." She said picking her bag up and smirking.
"Only for you McKinnon." He said nearing her once more, her letting him. He rubbed innocent circles on her hips with his thumbs and she smiled. "I'll see you later McKinnon." He said
She gave him a quick kiss and then smiled cheekily and stalked off to the change rooms. "Bye Black." And the compartment door shut.
That was how they worked. A quick snog every once and a while, or a little more often than once and a while. Despite Lily's bickering with James, both Sirius and Marlene had always gotten on. She was often over James' house when Sirius was and found that she enjoyed the boy's company. Eventually as Sirius advances on her failed he settled for a fast friendship with her. That was until 5th year. With the pressure of OWL's racking Marlene's mind, her friends just the same, the only one who was not stumbled by the pressure of OWL's was Sirius. Eventually Sirius became a comfort in studying, helping her study and calming her down when she stressed and eventually, a few firewhiskeys later, helping Marlene study meant kissing her…a lot. It was different for the both of them. Marlene was still innocent only letting him gain harmless little kisses (snogs) but she was never really the casual type of girl. That being said, Sirius was never a one woman kind of guy. Even if the two weren't romantically involved, Sirius Black was not known to be only hooking up with one girl. However Marlene put her foot down and rattled something off about not wanting to catch an STD and sooner than later, Sirius complied. Mostly because he thought she was hot when she was frustrated and angry, especially with him. After their exams finished, they didn't really stop, they just found an irregular comfort in whatever they were doing.
Marlene put a hand up to her face almost in disbelief. 'We are so fucked up.' She thought.
They were.
The feast on the first day of term was always everyone's favourite. But for Sirius it felt like what a family dinner should feel like. The mood of excitement and effortless chatter and happiness roamed the air. The Great Hall almost glittered in the festivities of the first day back. Not to mention the food was so good it was almost impossible to not enjoy himself.
"Pete, for goodness sake if you don't slow down you're going to choke!" Chastised Remus.
Sirius looked up from his plate to see Peter with a bulging mouth full of food and an embarrassed look on his face as everyone turned to look at him. He and everyone else around them chucked at the boy.
"I can't wait to start classes tomorrow!" Lily said excitedly. Whilst she was by no means close with the Marauders, she could sometimes stand their company. Mostly when James wasn't making eyes at her or trying to ask her on a date.
Sirius scoffed, "You would Evans." Which brought a laugh out of Marlene who was sat next to him.
Lily glared at the pair. "This year should be much more relaxed without OWL's."
"And more time to concentrate on Quidditch!" Said James who reached over to high-five Sirius enthusiastically.
"Why is it everything always turns to Quidditch?" Lily muttered to herself under her breath.
"You boys better win this year." Called Mary. "And if you can't win, just make sure Slytherin doesn't either!" Which erupted a small cheer from everyone around.
Whilst most people would consider Quidditch a hobby, James and Sirius considered it a lifestyle. The later playing beater and James playing Seeker, it was probably the only thing about school where they were extremely focused. Sirius was quite proud of the fact that the Gryffindor Quidditch team was more than able at the 'Beautiful Game'. Other than him and James, Marlene too played alongside as Beater. Sometimes Sirius was amazed at the fact that she could be wearing a girly frock one minute and look murderous on the field another. But everyone knew that despite her femininity, that Marlene was a force to be reckoned with in Quidditch.
"What with Potter over here being assigned Quidditch Captain this year, I think we can expect nothing less but a hard core, strict training schedule." Marlene said.
"Too true Marley." James said seriously, "But first we need to get through try outs."
"Yeah, maybe James won't put either of you on the team this year!" Scoffed Dorcas directed at Sirius and Marlene.
"Not to sound impartial," James said as a matter-of-factly, "but if we want to win this year, these two are two of the best beaters I've ever seen." Sirius giving James a loyal and appreciative smile.
"I'm not even sure who is more competitive." Lily said.
"Marlene." Peter said straight away.
Everyone laughed and Marlene feigned disbelief and threw a napkin at Peter.
Sirius felt at home.
"Was it just me or did James not try and ask me out at all during dinner?" Asked a slightly bewildered Lily as the 6th year girls made their way to their dorm room.
"He's really grown up over break." Marlene said a tad defensively, "It's probably his position as Quidditch Captain. He doesn't want to ruin it for himself."
"Since when is he not Potter to you Lils?" Asked Mary with a hint of amusement.
Lily blushed slightly before recovering, "When he's not being a pompous git! I can actually tolerate him!"
"I'm glad," Dorcas said from the bathroom. "I don't know if I can go through another year with you and Potter fighting."
Marlene chuckled. "I don't think it's fighting when Lily's the only one yelling." She pointed out.
All the girls laughed and Lily blushed in embarrassment. "Well if he doesn't behave like a pompous git then you may have a good year Dorcas!"
"Who knows," Mary said. "Maybe they'll end up married!" She said laughing as the other girls all joined in.