Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: I'm going to try to post another chapter before the end of the weekend, since I've made you guys wait for so long for the last few chapters. This chapter is more of Marlene being a bitch, sorry. I've got some action coming up in a few more chapters. AHHH sorry for all the waiting. Enjoy :)
Marlene shut the tap off and grabbed her towel from a rack outside the shower. Alice was humming away in the stall next to hers. Marlene rolled her eyes and padded to her locker where she started to unfold her clothes. She had dressed and combed out her hair by the time Alice was toweling off.
"You have no hair, how is it that it takes you ten times longer to take a shower?" Marlene asked dryly.
Alice began pulling her clothes on. "Hygiene, love," Alice answered.
Marlene shut her locker and grabbed their towels. She dumped them unceremoniously into the laundry before tugging her hair up into a loose bun. "It's just Lily and James, right?"
"Err," Alice said, glancing sheepishly over her shoulder at Marlene. "Sirius didn't tell you?"
Marlene folded her arms. "Tell me what?"
"Well you know Sirius."
"I know you."
Alice zipped the fly on her jeans and stood up. "So we might have invited a few more people."
Marlene huffed and jerked her hair free. "I'm going to be late."
"Is that new?"
Marlene waved Alice on ahead as she began to dry her hair with blasts of air from her wand. She was twisting large strands around her wand tip when a female Auror peaked into the lockers. Marlene watched the Aurors eyes search around until they landed on her. Marlene lowered her wand, her stomach doing a nervous flip. Marc had yet to address her, and she'd been too nervous or worked up to talk to him.
"There's a Mr. Black waiting outside for you." The witch smiled. Her cheeks were touched with the telltale sign of Sirius' charm. "He wants you to hurry up."
The witch disappeared and was nowhere in sight when Marlene slipped into the corridor outside of the women's lockers. Sirius looked seventeen again. They might have been at Hogwarts, with his foot kicked back against the wall and his hands sunk into the pockets of his low slung Levi's. Sirius winked at her and stood off the wall.
"I could have gone myself," Marlene said with a scowl.
Sirius checked his watch. "It's nearly eleven; I wasn't going to let you leave the ministry by yourself at eleven at night." He draped an arm over her shoulder and directed her to the lift. Marlene tiredly let her head drop against him, closing her eyes with a sigh as they waited. She lifted her head up and opened her eyes when the lift doors clanked open. Her foot froze on the threshold. "Evening," Sirius said politely as his arm slid from her shoulders. It was more than Marlene could manage.
She could feel Marc's gaze on her back the entire two second ride. He followed them into the atrium but not outside. Marlene felt burning tears budding at the corners of her eyes. She had never gone so long without talking to her brothers. She dug a blunt out of her bag and lit it as they walked down the sidewalk toward Sirius' flat.
"If it helps, he seemed more nettled with me," Sirius muttered into her hair before kissing her crown.
"He's dating Carol; it's such a double standard," Marlene said bitterly, the tension working out of her shoulders as she blew out a cloud of smoke.
"Carol's not a Black, Marlene," Sirius said quietly. She glanced up at him, but he didn't look mad. He offered her a lazy grin. "Sure I'm an all around nightmare, but no amount of redeeming qualities could rectify my heritage."
"That's no good reason to hate you. I've never met a man as good as you or Regulus; things change," Marlene said firmly.
"Hmm," Sirius hummed. He never liked to discuss Regulus if he had too.
Marlene was practically assaulted by Lily the second they arrived at Sirius' flat. "Have you been smoking again?" the red head burst before wrapping Marlene in a second tight hug. Marlene allowed it only because she hadn't realized how desperately she'd missed her closest friend. Lily looked healthy for someone who was clearly hiding out from the world. Her red hair had gotten much longer and her emerald eyes were just as bright. Marlene wasn't surprised; not even a war could dampen Lily Evan's outlook on life.
Marlene was relieved to know almost all of the people mingling in various cramped corners of Sirius' flat. He had invited almost all of their Auror class, including Benjamin Fenwick; Marlene was careful to avoid Benjamin. Marlene hadn't seen Peter in so long that she actually forgot to dislike him while giving him a hug. The only person that seemed to be obviously missing was the fourth Marauder. Marlene found Sirius sitting in the window by the dining room table as he talked with Frank Longbottom.
"Where's Remus?"
Sirius and Frank exchanged a look, confirming that Marlene seemed to be the only person in attendance that didn't know about the werewolf's whereabouts. Frank wandered off, muttering about Alice as Sirius offered Marlene his whiskey. Marlene folded her arms in reply.
"Listen, love –"
"Don't you listen-love me, Sirius. You've been skirting around the topic for weeks. Remus is my friend too," Marlene said, although she was starting to doubt their friendship. Why wouldn't Remus tell her that he was leaving? Why did everyone seem to know but her?
"Prongs," Sirius called enthusiastically, distracting Marlene.
Marlene spun around just as James slipped past an upturned kitchen chair and returned Sirius' one armed hugged. Marlene must have been channeling Lily's anger because when James turned around to greet her, his Sirius-like-smirk faltered.
"Where have you been?" Marlene snapped. "You haven't been to class in weeks. No one will tell me anything. For all I know you and Remus could have been dead."
"Thanks McKinnon, I didn't know you cared so much," James grinned.
Marlene's hand twitched; James' hazel eyes seemed to notice. Marlene looked away from him, angling her chin upward as she tried to calm her temper. Sirius said something to James, disguised by the thudding music, which sounded from the sitting room.
James tugged Marlene into an awkward hug like when they were children. She cried out as he ruffled her hair – like when they were children. Her old next door neighbor hadn't seemed to forget about her. He began to explain, "I wanted to tell you myself, but I've been busy I'm afraid. I thought it'd be safer for me and Lily if I went off the radar for a while. I can always go back when all of this is over."
Marlene didn't understand. James and Sirius had always wanted to play a part in defeating Voldemort. Things had been getting admittedly worse, especially with the muggleborn registry and the increases in disappearances. Azkaban was totally pointless, most of the prisoners were being kept within the ministry; this made the establishment even more of a target, which demanded even more overtime from its exhausted and dwindling magical law enforcement offices. Neither of them seemed to want to offer her an excuse for James' decision, instead they started to talk in code. Marlene tossed her arms up in defeat and then weaved her way back through the party goers, Sirius' stolen whiskey in hand.
"Marlene?"
Marlene turned slightly to catch sight of one of her favorite Hogwarts graduates. Gideon Prewett was the same age as Maize and twice as fun. If Maize was any fun at all, it was because of the red haired Prewett twins. Marlene had forgotten how close they'd been with the Marauders; rumor had it that the Marauders had learned some of their best tricks from the pair. No one would have ever known it; the Prewetts were proper men. Fabian was a little more whimsical then his counterpart, but they were both wonderful company.
Marlene smiled into Gideon's shoulder as he tugged her into a hug. "Sirius said you'd be around but I hardly recognized you. I don't think I've seen you since you were a fifth year, and what's that?" Gideon teased, prodding the whiskey bottle dangling loosely from Marlene's grip. "Marc would kill you." He laughed.
"What Marc doesn't know won't kill him," Marlene said with a wink.
Gideon's grin widened as he studied her. "Something's different about you."
"Mars is fun now, Gid," Alice said, appearing at Marlene's side.
"Hullo, Alice," Gideon said brightly. Marlene glanced between them, wondering for the lack of reunion. Alice mentioned something about the quidditch world cup and they lapsed into conversation, fragments of what could only be previously discussed topics creeping in.
Sirius found Marlene draped across his bed a half hour later, an almost smoked blunt dangling from her fingers. She turned glazed blue eyes on his as he sat down on the corner of his bed. Marlene lifted her arm to take a drag from the blunt but Sirius caught it nimbly from between her fingers. He snubbed it out as she tried to find the words to object. Marlene sat up on her elbows, glaring at him with some difficulty; there were three of him, and the spinning room wasn't helping.
"You've had enough anyway," Sirius said, arching an eyebrow. "Why aren't you out there with the rest of us? Lily and James miss you."
"But they don't miss you or Alice or any of those other people," Marlene managed before flopping back onto the bed. "It's like a regular Saturday night for you lot."
Sirius was unnervingly quiet. Marlene tucked an arm behind her head to better see him. He took a deep breath and reached up to tug at his hair. One hour in James' company and he'd already cottoned on to the stags bad habits all over again.
"So we're not telling you everything," he admitted.
Marlene rolled onto her side and folded her hand beneath her head. "Something tells me I don't want to know."
"Something tells me you already do," Sirius said with a frown as he poked her foot.
Marlene's light pinked lips dipped into a frown. "It's stupid, Sirius," she said with dark eyes.
Sirius sighed and stood up off the bed. "Are you going to sulk all night?"
Marlene angled her heavy legs off the bed and took Sirius' offered hand. She stood up and stumbled, falling against him. "It's been a while," she admitted, setting her head against his chest.
"You've been doing really good, Legs. Marc has nothing to worry about," Sirius said as he held her up. "Let loose a little; you deserve it."
Marlene turned her lips up to his. His hands moved to her hips almost immediately; he did not waste any time. Marlene fingered the top button of his shirt as she drew his lip between her teeth. Sirius hummed contently and backed her onto his bed with little difficulty. They fell in a tangled heap, their hands forcing away the other's clothing. Marlene drew her leg up his as he dragged her up the bed beneath him. He assaulted her neck in butterfly kisses while she caught the tip of his ear. She tugged at it with her teeth; it drove him wild. Marlene moaned as he sunk into her without further notice, his hips picking up a reckless rhythm before she could gain control over the situation. In all of the moaning and the panting they must have missed the knock. Marlene squirmed beneath Sirius even when he stopped.
"Shit," Sirius swore as the bedroom door snapped shut.
Marlene glanced at its blurry outline. "Who was that?" She asked breathlessly.
Sirius didn't answer her immediately; he drove them to their finish within seconds and hurriedly rolled off of her. She didn't dress as he tossed some clothes at her. She curled into his blankets, watching him with hooded eyes as he zippered his jeans. Sirius glanced over at her and rolled his eyes. She giggled as he caught her shoulders and tugged her upwards for a kiss. She didn't fight him as he tucked her into his duvet.
"Get some sleep, Legs; you're pissed," he advised.
When she woke up he was back at her side. Sunlight made a rare wintry appearance as it glinted off the snow outside of Sirius' flat. Little jewels of light danced around on the ceiling. Marlene watched them absently, never really realizing when her dreaming ended and she had awakened. Sirius brushed a curl from her cheek and tugged her into his side with a contented sigh.
"James knows," he informed her tiredly. His grey eyes found hers when she turned to look at him. "He saw us shagging last night."
Marlene paled. She sat up on her elbow. Her hair fell around them in waves. "What did you say?"
"I tried to tell him nothing was going on but James knows better and I can't lie to him, Marlene. He promised he wouldn't tell Lily, but I think you should. Remus, James, Alice and even your brothers know now; Lily would be hacked off if she found out from someone else. I know you're reluctant to label whatever this is, but I think we both know it's something and it's not going away."
Marlene stared into his bottomless grey eyes, deep with feeling. He was yielding to her, giving her the opportunity to walk away if she wanted to. Marlene bit her lip and lowered back into the curve of his arm. She drew circles on his naked chest for a while, refusing to answer him as she considered the truth. Before she said anything, she rolled over to his bedside table and found a blunt she'd rolled two nights before. Sirius tugged her back to his chest before she could light it.
"Do you even know what that is, Marlene?" he asked tiredly, tugging it from her fingers as she grappled playfully for it. Sirius apparently, wasn't playing.
Marlene turned around in his arms and pressed the heels of her hands into his chest. "Are you lecturing me? You, Sirius Black, are lecturing me?" She asked incredulously.
Sirius looked like he was trying to choose his words wisely. "That stuff is poison, Legs. It's not like Mary Jane or muggle hash. If you thought Marc was mad when he found out you were drinking – well, I'm not saying he wouldn't try something like pulling you out of the program for doing illicit drugs."
"It's just greenhouse herb," Marlene said defensively. She sat up. "You've smoked it before."
"When I was fourteen and I didn't know any better," Sirius said. "Could we not argue about this?"
"You brought it up," Marlene snapped.
"Well you're always smoking it anymore," Sirius said exasperatedly. "Be your own, really I don't mind, I'm just warning you."
"Well I don't need the warning," Marlene said, frowning as she slipped from the bed and began to hastily dress.
Sirius sat up and when she looked back at him she realized he was actually mad. His features had become brooding and his eyes dark. "Stop avoiding the topic."
"Persistent aren't you?" Marlene moaned quietly. She flopped onto the floor as she pulled on her socks.
Her head throbbed dangerously in reaction to her sporadic movement. She reached a hand up to rub at her nose but stopped, the action reminding her achingly of Marc. She dropped her head back and glared at the ceiling, supporting her weight on her arms. "How long," Marlene toned curiously, in an irritated tone. If Sirius was going to test her, then she was going to test him.
"How long about what?" Sirius asked in a low warning tone.
She turned around on the floor to better look at him. "How long have you been a member of the Order of the Phoenix?"
Sirius' features changed drastically. He seemed suddenly guarded as he said, "I was hoping you wouldn't remember that."
"Well I did and you're barmy if you think I'm going to commit to someone who has an extra special death wish."
"It's not like that," Sirius moaned; all traces of his anger seemed to be replaced by understanding and exhaustion. "I hardly have time for the Order; that's why James quit the ministry, that's why Lily isn't trying to find work."
"It doesn't matter because when you wake up, you go to work and you risk your life, and when you leave work, you go home and you risk your life," Marlene said angrily. "Where do I fit into that equation?"
"Where don't you fit, Marlene? You're a wreck; Voldemort has ruined your life." They were quiet as Sirius studied what was left of the daring, leggy brunette that he'd reluctantly admitted to liking the year before. She was hardly recognizable and completely oblivious as she stared back at him with her crystal blue eyes, the only reminder left of who she'd been. "He's ruined my life," Sirius said, his shoulder's sinking as he held Marlene's cold stare. "He's ruined all of our lives. I'm tired of sitting around while the ministry wastes its resources on protecting itself and its most valued employees. What about you, Marlene? What about Lily?Where do we fit into their great plan? I want to fight, I want to be an Auror, but I want to make a difference too, in our lives, for us."
Marlene let a few seconds pass where the only sound between them was the patter of a light rainfall outside of Sirius' window. "You're no good to me dead, Sirius," Marlene said quietly, ducking her head to hide the sudden emotion in her crystalline eyes.
"And you're hardly yourself," Sirius countered from the bed. "And I don't know what's more agonizing, but this isn't the life that any of us are supposed to be living."
"Don't be a hero, Sirius," Marlene said, pressing her face into her hand. She pulled her shaking hand through her hair as she looked up at him. "I'm begging you."
"I have to do what's right," Sirius continued. "At one point you would have done the same thing for your friends, and I know you don't remember that Marlene, but I do."
Sirius didn't say anything as Marlene gathered the rest of her things and flooed home. Alice was napping on the couch when Marlene dropped her bag off in the arm chair. She set to making lunch while simultaneously dropping her text book open on the table. Thoughts of Sirius faded away into the spells on the page before her. She forwent another bite of her sandwich for a hit from the smoking blunt on her left.
Her shoulders jumped as a sharp knock came from the front door. Alice was already up with her wand drawn as Marlene half jogged into the sitting room. She drew her own wand and pressed her ear to the door. Alice gave Marlene a looked that clearly warned her away from inviting in whoever was on the other side.
"Hello," Marlene said through the door.
"It's Marc," a voice came from the other side.
Alice relaxed a little but held her stance. "What was the last thing we spoke about?"
"Michael and Marie," Marc answered.
Alice relaxed and waved for Marlene to open the door. Marlene remained frozen however; she nodded her head at the table. Alice rolled her eyes and darted over to the smoldering blunt, dousing it with her wand before she disappeared with it into the toilet. Marlene took a deep breath and opened the door with slippery hands. Her wand dangled at her side as she met Marc with a frown.
Marc inhaled, his nose wrinkling up at the distinct smell of smoke. His eyes seemed to briefly check Marlene's thin frame for injury out of habit. Marlene stepped aside as he invited himself in. She waved for him to sit down but he would have anyway. She sat down across from him, trying to adjust her feelings so that the situation seemed familiar. Staring back at Marc however, she couldn't find any of her childhood fear or his well deserved respect. Marc had lost all power over her life, and he seemed to know it, too.
"I want to fix this," Marc said quietly.
Marlene sat her wand down on a side table. She watched it roll until it hit Alice' book. She cast around the room for a face to show her brother. She settled on a small frown as she ducked her head. Marc waited for her to say something but Marlene could not work her feelings into words.
"Come home," Marc said urgently. Marlene looked up at the pleading in his tone. His blue eyes were round with worry. "We can talk about Sirius Black later. You're completely out of line, Marlene. You're putting your life in danger."
"I'm fine," Marlene said defensively as she began to gnaw on her lip. "I don't want to fight anymore either, especially not over Sirius."
"The smoking has to stop," Marc said.
"Did Alice tell you?"
"No," Marc said with a frown.
Marlene's eyebrows drew together. "Who told you?"
"Black did," Marc said. Marlene inhaled; she glanced away from Marc and glared at the mantle. She was just with Sirius an hour before; he had no right. Marlene didn't have a chance to properly seethe as Marc continued. "He sent me an owl and it found me in London, while I was on lunch. His alarm concerns me; Sirius Black would not betray your trust for any good reason. I may not like him or know him but I feel that to be true. He seems to be worried that you're upset and he says you won't listen to him."
Marlene was biting down on her tongue so hard that she could taste copper. "Why is it that I always have to listen to someone? I can make decisions for myself, Marc."
"And obviously you can't," Marc said, his voice rising with incredulity. "You signed a contract to be an Auror, did you even read it?"
"Yes," Marlene snapped.
"You could be banned from the program for smoking that herb," Marc informed her. "And I want to know why Sirius Black seems to think that your use of it has exceeded recreational usage."
Marlene felt sick. She could barely remember signing the contract almost nine months earlier but Marc's reminder had sent her mind reeling. Her heart was working its way with her stomach into her throat. Her hands felt slick with sweat; Marc was going to tell Moody. He had every right to; Marlene was out of control and she knew it. She'd been out of control since her parents had died, if she were honest with herself.
"It's alright," Marc sighed, catching her hand and tugging it into his.
Marlene's blue eyes met his. Anger burned through her as she jerked her hand away. "You'd do that to me, wouldn't you?"
Marc looked stricken. "Marlene, I just want you to stop –"
"All I've ever wanted to be is an Auror," she said angrily. Her nails were digging into her palms as her hands balled into fists. "You don't even care."
"I'm not going to say anything," Marc said hurriedly. "If you just come home for a while –"
"So you can control me," Marlene said angrily.
"No, Marlene," Marc said tiredly.
"Well it's not going to happen. I'll stop – I will. I quit drinking, it's not hard," Marlene said, ignoring the memory of the many sleepless, sweat soaked nights she'd spent on Sirius' sofa. Her teeth ground together as she thought of the eldest Black. Marlene shook her head. "I'm not coming home, Marc."
"Then I'm not paying for you anymore," Marc toned coldly. "If you want to be independent than you can support yourself; I won't condone any of this. I'm already to blame for this downward spiral; Father is probably turning in his grave. I swear if anything happens to you it will kill me, Marlene."
"That's my money," Marlene snapped greedily. "I was left that money."
"The will states that you may gain control over your assets only when you find a profession," Marc recited. He stood up. "Come home, Marlene. I'm only asking one more time."
"Are you just going to go back to ignoring me?" Marlene panicked and raged at once.
"You're the one ignoring me," Marc said tiredly. "You twisted my arm. I'm only doing what I can now, because you're right, you are an adult."
Marlene gaped at him, her mouth working around the millions of things she wanted to say to him. Marc inhaled through his nose and turned on his heel. She watched him leave into the pouring rain, unable to stop him as he walked out of the front door without so much as a goodbye.
