A/N: Hello! I created a tumblr for this if any of you want to check it out. mckinnon-and-black-forever . tumblr .com is the address. Just take the spaces out.

Chapter 1

Marlene stood in the meadow next to her house. She looked out over the field that she used to play in as a girl. Her long hair blew in the breeze as her crystal blue eyes searched the field for any sign of movement, even though she knew there wouldn't be any. The animals seemed to stay away from her house for some reason. She didn't understand why as a child, but later she learned it was because her house had protective enchantments around it.

"Marlene! Marlene, come along, we have company!" her mother's voice sounded over the silence.

Marlene sighed. Her mother was trying set up her up with another suitor. Mrs. McKinnon would never force her daughter to get married to someone she didn't like, but she was starting to get desperate. Marlene had sent back every pureblood boy who Mrs. McKinnon had found. Every boy that her mother had sent her was always very rude. They all tried to reach over and touch her in inappropriate places. She never let them of course. Her mother had trained her to wait until marriage.

She picked up her dress and started to run back to the house. Now she wished she hadn't left her hair down. It was getting in her face and the wind blowing at her back wasn't helping anything.

"Coming, Mum!" Marlene called. She ran faster almost tripping a couple of times. When she reached the porch she saw three people standing there. A woman with black hair pinned on top of her head stood stall. Her face would have been beautiful if it wasn't in a pinched sour expression.

The man who stood next to her was smirking. His short black hair stood up in spikes. His cold gray eyes raked over her body as if Marlene were a feast. He was shorter, shorter than his wife.

The boy who stood in front of them looked rather grim like he didn't want to be there. He was rubbing his shoe on the porch. He was tall for his age. When his gray eyes looked into Marlene's blue ones she thought she saw a spark there. His hair was short, but not as short as his father's. He had a handsome face, but he was rather skinny and slim.

"Marlene, this is Regulus Black," her mother told her. "He came to pay you a visit while his mother and I talk over things."

"Of course, Mother," Marlene answered. That was code for I know he's a pureblood who is looking for a wife and I will see if I like him.

Marlene had heard of the Blacks, of course. Her meetings with the Blacks were few and in between. She had meant Bellatrix once when she was seven. Bellatrix had been fifteen at the time. Even at that age she was cruel. She had pushed Marlene down the stairs for not moving out of her way fast enough then claimed it was accident.

Andromeda was a bit nicer. She was eight when Andromeda came over to her house. She seemed like a pleasant person. Quiet though. She was kind and talked a little with Marlene, but never went out of her way to get to know her. Out of all the Black sisters, Andromeda was Marlene's favorite.

The youngest Black sister was rather annoying. When Marlene was ten she had meant Narcissa. All she did was talk about herself. She wouldn't shut up. Marlene had found it rather annoying.

"Marlene, why don't you show Regulus around?" Mrs. McKinnon suggested.

"Alright," Marlene smiled slightly at Regulus before he followed her outside.

"I think it's stuffy inside," Marlene stated, trying to make conversation.

"Indeed."

At this point, Marlene would have expected him to try something. He didn't even look at her.

"Do you not think I'm pretty?" she asked out of curiosity.

Regulus looked at her startled. "Well. . . .um. . .I think you're very pretty."

"Most boys try something by this time," Marlene told him.

"I'm not like other boys," Regulus smirked.

His smirked reminded Marlene of Sirius, his brother. Marlene and Sirius were in the same house, but that's about all she knew about him. Her best friend, Lily Evans, hated James Potter so Marlene choose to stay away from them and Sirius never showed in any interest in her. They had been assigned to work together for a Potions class once, and he hadn't said one word to her. Actually he seemed rather nervous around her. Marlene also knew that Sirius could have any girl he wanted. One look from that handsome face of his and any girl's heart melted. However his relationships had been few and in between. He preferred to spend time with his friends, the Marauders, than with girls.

"Obviously," Marlene returned his smirk with one of her own. "Come on, I want to show you something."

"What?" Regulus asked wearily.

"Come on," Marlene grabbed his hand and pulled him along with her. She took him out behind her house and into the forest. Marlene had always loved the forest. She had played her as a girl and whenever her parents had gotten into a fight she would come here. It was her safe haven.

They reached a fallen log and Marlene let go of Regulus' hand. She hopped on it and started to walk on it.

"What are you doing?" Regulus asked shifting from foot to foot. "That's not safe."

"Please, I do this all the time," Marlene told him.

"Why did you bring me here?" Regulus asked. His eyes narrowed in on her.

"Because I thought you might want to get away from everything," Marlene answered. "You don't actually like being set up, do you?"

"No," Regulus replied, bluntly.

"You don't talk very much," Marlene stated.

"You're naïve," Regulus shot back.

Marlene glared at him. "Why are you so unpleasant? Most people would be thrilled to have my attention."

Regulus snorted. "I'm unpleasant because you think you're all that. If any man has your attention then you think that he's the luckiest person in the world. You may have everybody fooled with that sweet little virgin act, but not me."

"First of all I am a virgin," Marlene flared. "I do not think that! You're insane! Besides how much experience do you have?"

Regulus blushed and looked down. "None."

Marlene suddenly felt bad. He was younger than her. She was supposed to be mature.

"I'm sorry," Marlene apologized. "I shouldn't have said that. Can we agree to be friends? You're the most descent boy I've meet thus far. Plus my mother probably wouldn't like it if I turned down another marriage."

"Alright," Regulus agreed looking up. "Friends."

Marlene smiled. "Alright. So tell me something about yourself."

She sat down on the log she had been walking on. As soon as she sat down, she patted the spot next to her. Regulus slowly made his way over and sat down.

"I don't hate my brother," was the first thing out of his mouth.

"Beg pardon?"

"I don't hate my brother," he repeated. "I don't why. I should. He doesn't care about me. I don't know if he ever has, but no matter how hard I try, I can't hate him."

"Why'd you tell me that?" Marlene asked. He'd barely known her for ten seconds.

"You seem like someone who can keep a secret," Regulus explained. "I've been carrying that around with me for so long that I had to tell someone. Even if I just meant you."

"Ok, well, my parents used to fight all the time when I was a little girl," Marlene told him. "They don't do it much any more, but I used to come up here when they did fight. It was the quiet and peaceful. I sorta wanted to live in the forest at one point."

Regulus smiled. He was about to say something when a voice rang out, "Marlene! Marlene, where are you?!"

Marlene sighed. "We better get back."

Regulus nodded.

Marlene stood and brushed herself off. She made her way back to the house with Regulus in tow.

"There you are," Mrs. McKinnon said giving her a stern look. "Regulus has to leave."

Marlene nodded. "Good-bye."

"Good-bye," Regulus manged with a small smile.

Mrs. Black turned and walked out with her husband and Regulus following.

"Well, what did you think about him?" Mrs. McKinnon asked excited.

"I liked him," Marlene told her as she stared at the place where they walked out the door.

"Good, I'll arrange the marriage right away."