Title: Tired
Pairing: Marlene (Sirius)
Song: Beautiful Disaster, Jon McLaughlin
Words: 582
Marlene McKinnon sat in the Gryffindor Common Room hunched over a book, attempting to make some sense out of the runes that covered the page. Her NEWTs were approaching, and she still couldn't remember half of the translations.
"Look at this, Marlene," Dorcas Meadows said, tossing the latest copy of Witch Weekly in front of her. "Apparently, straight brown hair is the newest style." She said this with a chuckle; her curly mess of dishwater-colored hair tied back in a ponytail. Marlene gave her a smile, absentmindedly running a hand through her own wavy blonde hair.
"Ah, well, the guys still love me," she said, turning back to her runes.
"Yes I do," called Brady McLaggen from across the room. He was a sixth year Ravenclaw who was working on some project with Mary MacDonald. "What do you say to a romp in the broom cupboard later tonight?"
Marlene shot a glance at Sirius, who was plotting with his Marauders in the corner and didn't seem to have heard a word of the exchange.
"Hmm, I don't know," Marlene teased, pretending to think about it.
"Aw, come on, Marlene," Brady said, flashing her an oily grin. "We had so much fun last time."
At this, Sirius's head shot up. Marlene could feel his eyes on her, but she kept looking at Brady.
"Alright then," she agreed, smiling coyly. "Same time and place."
Marlene went back to her books, pretending not to notice the way Lily was giving her the look again, or how Sirius looked a little more insulted than he should have.
~:~:~:~
"Don't listen to them, Marlene," Lily said, following her friend out of the bathroom. "You know how Mary MacDonald is. It's not worth detention for."
"I'm not angry, or hurt, or anything like that," Marlene snapped. "I don't care what those girls say. Compliments, insults, they don't affect me."
"Are you sure? That was some pretty nasty stuff," Lily said, catching up to Marlene. "Even though most of it wasn't true, it would still hurt me."
"I'm fine, thank you," Marlene said. Seeing the look on Lily's face, Marlene softened. "I'm sorry, Lily. It's just been a rough week."
"I know," said Lily. "It'll be okay."
Marlene nodded. The two continued to walk to Potions together in silence.
"Do you think Sirius would ever actually date me?" Marlene said suddenly. Lily looked at her, eyebrows raised.
"Do you want him to?"
"Of course not," Marlene said quickly, looking away. "I was just wondering if I should think about a way to let him down gently."
"Well," Lily said skeptically, "in that case, I think you're safe."
"Good," Marlene replied as she pushed the doors to the dungeon open. "He's a jerk anyway."
~:~:~:~
Sirius Black watched Marlene as she sat in the library, scratching out lines on her parchment. She was seventeen, but in that moment, she looked years older. He had given up all pretenses of studying, and instead just sat in an armchair staring at the blonde.
He watched as she looked something up in her textbook, compared it to her essay, groaned, and scratched out an entire paragraph. Slamming her book shut, she collapsed forward onto the table. He could tell by the way her back heaved slightly that she was crying, although she would never admit it to anyone. She's tired of it all, he thought. Just like me.
And that's why he loved her. Not that he'd ever admit that to anyone, though.