A/N Im going to be mean and say 5 REVIEWS BEFORED THE NEXT CHAPTER! It's been a little disappointing on that count for all of my stories, not just this one:( make me happy guys!

All belongs to Jo - forever grateful x

Will It Ever End?

Chapter 9: The Corner

"I might be wrong

I might be wrong.

I could've sworn I saw a light coming on.

I used to think,

I used to think

There is no future left at all."

- I Might Be Wrong, Radiohead

Sirius knew it was to be expected. Dorcas and Lily would naturally feel the need to spend more time with the marauders but it was weird, and it felt wrong. To have the two girls hanging around them so much in the evenings and not seeing Marlene sitting with them, laughing, teasing James, picking a fight with Sirius... There was an emptiness about them all that seemed to be difficult to fill. Sirius didn't even realise he'd noticed things about Marlene until she wasn't there any more; like how she used to play with the ends of her hair when she was talking, or how she always stuck her tongue out a tiny bit when she was concentrating hard on writing an essay. Sirius didn't recall ever noticing these things before, but now she wasn't around he was remembering them clearly and missing her all the more. He tried to fill the hole by spending nights out with other girls, trying to forget about her for a moment, but it never worked. Marlene was still always there in the back of his mind, so in the end, Sirius gave up and just stayed in the common room with his friends.

The most painful thing was that he had no idea where she was or if she was even still alive, Sirius tried to be hopeful but the hope made it hurt more whenever doubt came crawling back in. He could never be like James, who was fully confident that Marlene was alive and that they'd find her soon. At least, he was confident on the outside.

Sirius was lying on the sofa watching Remus and Peter play chess half heartedly, his mind wandering in and out of drowsy sleep. He'd been having trouble sleeping since Marlene had been taken three days ago, he seemed to be subconsciously re-living the torture his family had put him through before he'd run away. Even thinking about that didn't distract him from her, he hadn't forgotten that it had been Marlene who had helped him get his shit together afterwards, not just for himself but for his friends. Despite everything, Marlene McKinnon seemed to have crept up on him and that fact scared him completely. Sirius knew that it meant that it would hurt all the more if they found out she was dead. And if she was, it would haunt him for the rest of his life that the last time he'd seen her they'd argued, the last words he'd said to her had been in annoyance when it wasn't her fault. It had never been her fault.

"Pads!" A voice broke through the fog that was clouding Sirius's head. "Padfoot!"

Sirius sat straight upwards as James came through the portrait hole looking like he'd just sprinted all the way. He looked windswept, his face flushed from running and he was clutching a piece of parchment in his hands. "They've found her!" James gasped as he bent over to regain his breath.

"Where?" Sirius shot up out of his seat, instantly awake again. "Have they got her out?"

James shook his head, "mum and dad are in Dumbledore's office right now. They're going in."

They looked at each other steadily and Sirius nodded, grabbing his wand from the sofa, "Let's go."

"Um, where are you going?" A voice said and Sirius turned, completely forgetting Dorcas and Lily. The two girls were standing shoulder to shoulder and fixing Sirius and James with icy glares.

"Dumbledore's office," James started. "You can't -"

"Oi," Dorcas snapped. "I've known Marlene for just as long as Black here, I'm coming with you!"

Sirius glanced at James for confirmation. He knew what James was planning to do and Sirius was going to follow him whatever happened but they needed to make sure that the girls knew exactly what they could be getting themselves into if they followed them. "We're going to rescue her," he said calmly.

Lily turned her cool green eyes in him and narrowed them sceptically. "We know."

Remus had stood up at Sirius's words and walked over to them, stopping behind James. Sirius knew he was showing them silent support and he couldn't be more grateful for his friends as Peter, with just a moment of hesitation, did the same.

Dorcas crossed her arms, "I didn't expect any less. It's said that the marauders would die for each other and I've always just assumed Marlene was an unofficial member or something."

James allowed himself a small grin at that. "She'd love it if she heard that," he said, nodding to them then turning and racing out of the portrait hole, Sirius and the others following him.

Sirius should've been thinking about why he was risking his life for a girl, especially one he rarely to got on with without arguing and whom always seemed to think he was a massive douche, but Sirius didn't even question it. He just ran with James towards the headmasters office without thinking of the dangers that could await him. All he could think about was curly blonde hair, large blue eyes and infectious laughter.

Mrs Potter was looking at her two boys desperately. Dorcas could tell they were breaking her heart by doing this but she knew there was no option of James and Sirius not going. If they said no, there was no doubt they'd find a way. That didn't mean she wasn't going to put up some sort of fight.

"You can't let them Albus," she said, turning to her husband and the headmaster. "They're not even of age yet!"

Mr Potter put a gently hand in his wife's shoulder. He was looking at James's stubborn face with a resigned expression. "We can't stop him, love. If they find another way, they're more likely to end up getting themselves killed." He paused and looked towards the rest of them, "besides," he said softly, almost sadly. "Its their war as much as ours."

Eva Potter turned to look at all of them, her sharp eyes seeking out her sons in particular. "You will do exactly what Moody and Harold tell you," she told them sternly. "I don't agree with this but your father is right, stay behind the lines and keep out of trouble."

"Yes mum," both James and Sirius muttered grudgingly.

Dorcas looked up at Sirius addressing Mrs Potter as 'mum' and she felt Lily's spark of curiosity next to her but neither of them said anything. She decided to ask Marlene about it if they got her out.

"So we're going now then?" Moody asked grumpily from behind Dumbledore.

Dorcas swallowed and beside her, Lily caught her hand and held it tightly. "You okay Dor?" She whispered.

Dorcas nodded. She could feel the nerves building in her chest but she wasn't exactly scared, just full of nerves. She suddenly wasn't so sure they were doing the right thing. What if they got there and found Marlene's body? She didn't know if she could handle seeing that. But then, there was a chance her best friend was still alive and Dorcas would be damned if she backed out from the rescue mission now.

"Ready?" Harold Potter asked. He was holding out his hand in front of them, waiting for them to take it. "Stay away from the main fight and keep out of trouble."

Dorcas saw Sirius and James look at each other then the rest of them. They nodded and reached for the older man's hand.

They landed in a wooded area. The floor was covered in a light snow and it was just beginning to fall dark. There were several other Aurors waiting there for them and as soon as they arrived, Harold Potter turned to face them, away from Dorcas and the others.

"Just over there is where we think they're keeping Marlene. Elphias, you go with Alastor and Jon; Caradoc and Sturgis, you two enter around the back and flush out any Death Eaters." He turned to his wife. "You and me will come in at them from the side and make sure none of them take her away with them."

"What about us?" Sirius asked through gritted teeth.

"Stay here and wait for us."

That caused a few furious looks shot in Harold's direction but he ignored them.

"You know Harold, they might as well help." Jon McKinnon said, glancing at them. Marlene's brother looked worn and tired, but determined. Dorcas could tell he hadn't had a lot of sleep these past nights.

"What do you think?" Harold asked, turning to him.

Jon shrugged, "if they've made the effort to come this far, I doubt they'd hesitate to run headfirst into that battle. Now I don't know know all of them personally but I know those two -" he pointed at Sirius and James. "And those two." He gestured to Dorcas and Lily then . "I know they would stop at nothing to protect Marls. I think they should come with me and Alastor. That way they're protected by the numbers AND we'll be stronger."

Harold paused and Eva put a hand on his arm, "You can't be considering it!" She snapped at her husband.

"He's right though," Harold said and Dorcas saw James look up at his father in surprise.

"They are kids!"

"They can fight," Harold said. "We've taken it upon ourselves to train James since he was thirteen and Merlin knows, Sirius knows a thing or two. They're sixteen, they're not children anymore." He looked at them and Dorcas knew in that moment that this man was wise beyond even his years. It pained him to say this but he knew it was for the best. He cared about his family and with a pang of sadness, Dorcas wished she'd had a father like him, a family like the Potter's. She gritted her teeth, Marlene and Lily were her family and she needed to help get Marlene out.

"Excuse me Mr Potter," Lily spoke up suddenly.

Both the Potters turned to face her and Lily cleared her throat. "Well it's just that, we've come this far and Marlene means more to us than she does to any of you Aurors. She's my best friend, she's James's sister and I know that neither one of us would stay here while you go in there without us."

James looked totally shocked that Lily would stand up next to him like that but he covered his surprise and stood straighter. "Lily's right mum," he said quietly. "Marlene is my sister, this isn't just your fight."

Both Harold and Eva Potter looked curiously at Lily who didn't flinch under their stares.

"So you're Lily Evans?" Eva asked.

Lily looked taken aback but nodded. Dorcas however saw James shuffle his feet slightly in embarrassment and had to fight off a laugh. This wasn't the time or place.

"Alright," Eva said quietly, turning to Moody. "They're under your protection Alastor."

Shouting could be heard from where James and the others were crouched, hiding until it was their turn to move in. It was their job to search for Marlene while the adults took care of the Death Eaters. James was perfectly happy with this arrangement, he knew it pained his mother to think of him fighting but all he really wanted to do was find Marlene and get her and his friends to safety. Unfortunately, fighting was probably going to come hand in hand with that.

Moody had given them a signal to look out for and as they watched, lights shot into the sky.

"Right," James said, turning to them. "Pads, you and Meadowes will go left, me and Pete will go right. Moony, you can cover us with Lily -"

Lily opened her mouth but James interrupted her. "Evans, we need the strongest fighters to watch our backs. You got me?"

Lily nodded and her and Remus concealed themselves, waiting for any stray Death Eaters that hadn't been taken out already by the Aurors.

James nodded at Sirius who turned and raced down the left corridor with Dorcas hot on his heels. James grimaced as he wondered whether it was the last time he'd see his best friend.

Just as he was about to run off in the other direction a voice calling his name made him stop. He turned to face Lily who looked as stunned as he felt that she'd called out his name.

"Yes Evans?" James asked, eyebrows raised.

Lily paused, "find her, and get her back...and good luck."

James swallowed in surprise then allowed himself a small half-smile. "You too Evans." With one nod at Remus who returned the gesture briefly, James turned and ran after Peter who was already looking into the first of many rooms that Marlene could be lying in.

"Why are you here Black?" Dorcas asked quietly as they tiptoed along the quiet hallway. "I understand Potter, but your almost as frantic as he is." They had moved away from the shouts of battle and had found themselves in a darker, more dirtier part of the place.

"I've know her for longer than you have." Sirius shot back defensively.

Dorcas shrugged, "I know but you've never really got on with her have you?"

Sirius didn't look at her, just carried on opening doors and looking over them before moving onto the next.

The penny dropped in Dorcas's mind and suddenly it was so obvious. So much that she wondered at never seeing it before. "You like her don't you?"

Sirius turned and looked derisively at her. "Please, Meadowes. If you're going to jump to conclusions, jump to better ones than that."

But Dorcas wasn't convinced, she'd seen the look of panic flit across his face at her words. He was good at hiding his emotions she had to give him that, but she was familiar with the skill herself and she could see straight through the façade.

"If you say so," she mumbled, opening a door and looking inside. All thoughts immediately left her mind at the sight in front of her.

Marlene was lying on the floor in the middle of the room, her face covered in blood, her eyes closed and one leg bent at a weird angle. Dorcas gasped as she felt rather than saw Sirius move past her quickly. All Dorcas could see was the blood and Marlene's pale face.

Sirius was kneeling next to her, brushing hair out of her face and feeling for a pulse - anything to show that she was still alive.

"No no no no," he muttered. "Don't you dare be dead McKinnon."

And she moved.

Dorcas felt the life come back into her feet and she fell down next to Sirius as Marlene opened her swollen eyes, just enough to take them in.

"Lena? Talk to me Marlene!" Sirius sounded desperate.

"Marlene?" Dorcas whispered, putting a light hand in her friend's forehead.

Marlene's eyes shifted from Dorcas to Sirius and she shook her head, "You aren't real." She tried to move away from them but her leg prevented that.

"We're here Mar," Dorcas whispered. "It's okay, you'll be o-kay." Her voice caught on the last word but she held it together.

Sirius looked like he was struggling to keep a calm face as Marlene reached up slowly and touched Dorcas's face, making sure she was real.

"Hey Dorky," Marlene made am attempt at at smile. Her eyes shifted to Sirius who visibly pulled himself together.

"I'm going to pick you up now, Lena." He whispered, shifting his weight. "I don't know if this will hurt or not."

"Sirius," Dorcas said, grabbing his arm. "I don't think we should move her."

Sirius shook his head, "Look at her," he said. "We need to get her out and back to Madam Pomfrey as soon as we can."

"Don't worry Dorky," Marlene muttered, pushing herself up. "Sirius will look after me."

Sirius picked her up bridal style and stood up straighter. "Still as light as a feather, Lena," he muttered to her.

Marlene wrapped an arm around his neck and gritted her teeth against a wave of pain. When it passed, she smiled tiredly at Dorcas and laid her head against Sirius's shoulder, closing her eyes.

Dorcas hesitated before following Sirius back the way they'd come. It surprised her at how obviously Marlene trusted Black to keep her safe. She'd never given Dorcas the impression that she liked him, let alone would let him carry her to safety. Dorcas shook her head, whatever it was, it was necessary at the time and could be addressed later. Right now, they needed to get Marlene back to Hogwarts.

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