A Marauder's Guide to Falling in Love

PART TWO

Written by alliegrl

Chapter Eighteen

"So this dance that Lily has concocted."

Sirius had been unusually quiet over breakfast. They were on their way to Herbology and had managed to find an opportunity to be alone, something that had been rare over the previous week since Marlene had finally opened up to him.

"Don't even finish that sentence," she said sharply. She had managed to avoid the conversation for long enough but was certain he was finally bound to ask her sooner or later. Lily had been pestering her all week about whether or not she was planning to go.

"You don't even know what I was about to say," he said briskly. "Maybe if you'd just listen instead of cutting me off we'd be able to have a cohesive conversation."

"I don't want to go," she said firmly, ignoring him. "And besides, I have detention that night anyways." It had actually been a great excuse. She was finally able to brush Lily's pesky pressuring off when she realized that her punishment overlapped with the dance.

"I was going to say," he continued with minor irritation in his tone, "this dance that she's concocted has caused quite the frenzy in all the girls here. Even Peter managed to land a date. But I'm willing to bet you haven't noticed any of it since you seem to be too busy brooding over it."

"I'm not brooding," she huffed.

"You're not the slightest bit curious why I haven't asked you then?" he was looking ahead but his face had twisted into a grin. She sighed and turned her face to study him. He was looking quite as handsome as always and Marlene was not oblivious to the extra attention he had been receiving since the notice for the dance had gone up. It was common knowledge that the two of them were dating but minor displays of affection between them seemed to give other girls the hope that it wasn't anything serious.

"Humor me then," she finally said. "Why haven't you asked me?"

"I've already got a date," he shrugged but the grin was still plastered on his face. "Actually I think I've got a few. Probably for the best since my atrocious dancing skills will likely put someone in the hospital wing."

"You're joking?" Marlene stared wearily at him.

"About my dancing? Yes. I'm actually quite good at that." Marlene merely raised her eyebrows. "Of course I'm joking," he finally turned to look at her and smirked. "I may be an egotistical prat at times but I'm not a chauvinistic pig."

"Well it wouldn't be surprising. Of course they're interested in you. Look at you!" her eyes scanned him over and Sirius's grin widened.

"Are you checking me out, McKinnon?"

Marlene could feel herself blushing. "Maybe just a little bit," she admitted shamelessly, "does that surprise you that I think you're good looking?"

"Of course I already know I'm ridiculously handsome," he said smugly. "It's always nice to hear you to acknowledge it though."

Marlene was scheduled to attend Career's Advice during her regular time slot in detention. The notice had gone up a few days after Professor McGonagall's announcement and Marlene had briefly wondered whether or not it had been a scheduling mistake. However, Professor McGonagall assured her when she arrived for detention that particular evening, that it had indeed been accurate.

"There's no sense pulling you from classes when I'm already scheduled to meet with you," she said when Marlene had arrived. "I know that N.E.W.T.s are just around the corner and you could benefit from as much class time as possible after missing so much school this year."

"I still wanting to do Healing," Marlene said while eyeing the handful of pamphlets that her Professor was holding in her hand.

"Then I don't need to remind you what sort of N.E.W.T.s you'll need to achieve in order to get into the program?" Professor McGonagall peered over the top of her spectacles before offering a slight sympathetic smile. "Your Transfiguration skills have improved much since last year, Miss McKinnon, but at this rate you could really benefit from a little extra studying on the subject."

Marlene knew that she had been slacking off a bit. Professor McGonagall wasn't wrong and Marlene knew it. She resigned to the notion that she would need to up the ante with her coursework if she planned on obtaining near perfect N.E.W.T.s in order to be accepted into the Healer training program.

"I'll try harder, Professor," she said feebly.

"I have no doubt that you will," she replied. "You have great potential Miss McKinnon. I know that if you really set your mind to it you will have no trouble getting accepted. You will make an exceptional Healer one day."

"Thanks Professor," Marlene smiled at the compliment.

"So then if you don't want to concentrate on a backup plan we will go over the application process for St. Mungo's," she pulled out a thick envelope and set it on the desk in front of Marlene. "That is the application package you will need to complete and submit by the first of April. No later. Once they have received the results of your N.E.W.T. examinations you will be notified by owl sometime in August to let you know whether or not you have been accepted."

Marlene stared at the thick package in front of her. Her hands grasped it and she felt its weight; it was much larger and heavier than she had expected it to be. "What's all in here?" she asked nervously.

"I'm afraid that applying to the Healing program isn't quite as simple as some of the others. There are four separate essay topics to complete along with a rather large question form to gain a better perspective on your skill level and dedication to the program."

"Four essays?" Marlene could almost feel her jaw drop in surprise. "How do they expect you to do well on N.E.W.T.s when they force all of your time on application packages?"

"Like I said, Miss McKinnon, it is not quite the same as applying to any of the other programs. This is why it is so competitive to get in. If this is truly the path you wish to go down my advice to you is not to leave this to the last minute. Give yourself plenty of time to complete and review the entire thing. The panel's decision relies very heavily on the product of this package."

"Thanks Professor," Marlene mumbled. Her mind was still too focused on the thick envelope in front of her.

"If you don't have any further questions, we shall begin," McGonagall interrupted her train of thought.

"Begin what, Professor?"

"Detention," she replied with a slight raise of her brows. "You didn't think you'd get off that easily, did you?"

Lily was alone in the common room when Marlene arrived after the conclusion of her detention. "Where is everyone?" Marlene asked while scanning around the common room for the boys. Even Alice and Frank were nowhere to be seen.

"Have you looked outside recently?" Lily looked up at her from the book she was reading.

Marlene's eyes moved to the window to see the prominently large full moon emanating over the grounds. "Oh," she said. Marlene was ashamed she had forgotten.

"Where have you been today?" Lily asked curiously.

"What do you mean? Detention, obviously."

"I don't mean physically," Lily sighed. "You've been so out of it lately. The boys were even talking about it at dinner tonight. They really need to be more careful about their comments. It's a wonder that nobody else has it figured out, the way they talk so openly about some of the things they get up to."

"I guess I've been a bit preoccupied," Marlene shrugged. She dumped the thick envelope onto the table in front of her and dropped into an empty chair. "I just got my application package for the Healer program."

"Is that it?" Lily eyed the package wearily. "What's in it?"

Marlene explained the application process to Lily who seemed just as horrified as Marlene had initially felt. She felt only minimal satisfaction that her horror was shared by Lily, of all people, but it didn't do much to ease the discomfort she felt about the months ahead.

"So you have to have this completed within two months then?" Lily clarified. "What time does that leave you to complete homework?"

"I suppose this is what it means to be a seventh year student, doesn't it?" Marlene sighed. "It's already bad enough that I'm two months behind on coursework and now I have to complete this while trying to play catch up."

"You know what this means right?" Lily was looking at her expectantly.

"No more free time?" Marlene laughed bitterly.

"It means that you need to spend more time in the library studying," Lily said pointedly. "I'd be more than willing to help you with coming up with a strict study regimen. I think it was quite successful the last two years and besides, I feel like I've started slacking a bit in my studies too. Between school, the Order and James, I've really let my priorities blur."

As much as Marlene wanted to decline Lily's offer she also knew that it was for the best. She had allowed herself to become too distracted by other things and needed to get herself back on track. "As soon as I'm finished my detentions then I'd absolutely love for you to help me," she forced herself to smile.

"Speaking of detention - how is that going?"

"Boring," Marlene said dully. "I'll be glad it's over in a few days. How are things going with the Order? You haven't mentioned anything in awhile."

Lily glanced around the common room to make sure that nobody was within ear shot. "Pretty dull. Dumbledore has really kept James and I on minimalistic tasks. I wish that I could say that I know much more than I actually do, but obviously that would be a lie. We really haven't done much in the last couple of months since Hogsmeade and I doubt that he will encourage further participation with N.E.W.T.s just around the corner."

"Do you really care about N.E.W.T.s?" Marlene couldn't mask the surprise in her question. Of course Lily cared about N.E.W.T.s, but the way she talked about the Order only caused Marlene to question Lily's further commitment to her education.

"Why wouldn't I care about them?" Lily seemed just as shocked. "I've been preparing for these exams for seven years now."

"I didn't mean it like that," Marlene said quickly. "Just with the Order and all – you don't really need the grades for that. It was a silly question, I know. I'm not sure why I asked it."

Lily sighed. "No, you're right. I don't need top grades to be a part of the Order. But I want to make sure that I am fully educated and prepared to take on the responsibilities of a witch going into war with the unknown. Out in the real world I won't have books and Professors to rely on when I'm struggling with a task – I'll have to rely on my wit and quick instincts otherwise I'm dead."

Dead. The word clung to the air, leaving Marlene feeling uneasy. She didn't want to admit that it unsettled her. It was just a word after all, but the realization that Lily was fully willing to embrace the unknown and uncertainty of her chosen career left Marlene reeling with mixed emotions.

"Have you thought anymore about joining?" Lily seemed nervous. Her eyes flickered up to meet Marlene's gaze but she looked quickly away as though ashamed to ask such a question.

"I don't know," Marlene answered truthfully. It was still something she hadn't put a lot of focus on. "Honestly I just want to get through N.E.W.T.s and St. Mungo's before I even think about it."

"That's fair," Lily said slowly.

"But what?" Marlene could sense that Lily was holding something back.

"It's nothing Marlene," Lily replied with a small shrug. She was completely unconvincing.

"No," Marlene frowned, "tell me."

"Well it's just so uncanny that your Uncle Tom works in the Department of Mysteries," Lily said quietly. "I know that he already said no to helping but I just can't stop thinking about how beneficial it would be for us to have him on our side. And not only that, you are a very talented Witch and we could really use your skills."

"Skills?" Marlene asked humorously. "What skills? Have you even seen my Transfiguration? I bet a first year could do better than me."

"That's not true," Lily said sternly. "Give yourself more credit than that. I've seen the improvement in your Transfiguration since Sirius started helping you. I was more so referring to your Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms skills. Sort of the areas of magic that count most when you're going into battle, don't you think?"

"I suppose so," Marlene mused. Lily didn't seem to keen to talk anymore about it since a couple of fifth year's settled into the table next to them. It left something for Marlene to mull over though, and she appreciated having the opportunity to continue thinking about whether or not it was the right choice for her.

Initially she hadn't been quite sure what she would contribute to the Order. It seemed painstakingly obvious to her now that the opportunity had willingly presented itself. Surely she couldn't resist the need for her involvement now, especially with so much at stake. If she could contribute even the smallest amount of help in bringing down Voldemort she would have to do it, wouldn't she?

Marlene tried to push the question into the back of her mind as she opened up the application package. She was a little more inclined to entertaining the notion that the Order of the Phoenix might just be the most sensible next step for her. However, she wasn't quite ready to give up on her dream at becoming a Healer and right now the large stack of paperwork in front of her seemed more important.

"So what are the questions that you have to answer?" Lily seemed genuinely curious.

Marlene couldn't help but laugh. It would be a twist of fate that on the very night she had begun questioning her future she would be presented with such a question to test her. "What life experiences have impacted you as an individual and how do you feel this has shaped who you are now/who you will become? What sort of contributions do you feel you will add in making the future of our magical community an enhanced place?"

A/N: Well you managed to hit the 15 reviews by the deadline! Thanks so much for all the positive feedback, keep it coming! :)

JadedLights07 - I might start his POV soon just because there are things I can't necessarily portray that I would like to from Marlene's POV. Also, I don't like switching between characters in a story. I've committed to Marlene with this one, I have no plans to all of a sudden change that. I update regularly because I write in advance. Usually I have a few chapters completed at a time so that when I do have weeks where I'm too busy to write or not feeling motivated then I still have something to post. I use writing as an outlet; it's something I love to do! And getting reviews really does keep me motivated to keep going - If nobody ever said anything at all I might not feel that posting is worth it. When I know that people actually enjoy reading it I like to keep things moving at a steady pace :)

shoshy. jg - Not all chapters can be happy I suppose - wouldn't Marlene be completely fake if she never experienced any sort of emotional turmoil? I hope that this chapter had a little more 'fun' and I know that the next two will definitely have elements that many people have been waiting for :) Thanks for reviewing!

thechangeofseasons - Thanks so much for sticking through it with me! I know it's been a really long time since I started it. I do hope to be able to see it through to the very end. Your reviews help tremendously with my motivation levels. Glad you're enjoying it! :)

Elis.n - you don't sound like a brute ;) But your Natasha chapter is up next...not quite a big scene but I do hope you'll enjoy it.

teenwalkingdeadwolves - Thank you very much :) I do try my best to develop them all - minus Peter...that slimey toad! Though he does play an integral role in this story so I do need to try to work on him a bit more.

You'reafanHarry - Please don't die! I think you'll really enjoy the next chapters :)

katie - Thanks so much! I'm glad that you think the emotions were correct. It's always something that I have to really make sure I'm nailing, otherwise the characters just aren't real enough. Hope I can continue to get that right!

Cait - Hope you're squealing again, you get TWO chapters this week! :) Yes, I do hope so too and that's why the next couple of chapters will be a bit more light hearted. Thanks for your review.

yourbiggestfan - Oh thank you! It's hard to appease everyone all of the time. I really just try to capture the characters how *I* envision them to be. Of course I like feedback and I'm willing to consider incorporating ideas though too. You're words are very kind - I'm really glad that you enjoy how I write! I will continue to try to update timely :)

tealoverx - How could I not add that little bit in the end? Hehe. I like sappy romance too...but too much of it can be smothering so I'll try to keep a good balance between the two. Sirius POV in the works :)

fold my love - Glad I was able to deliver the emotion and that you're hooked on Blackinnon :)

Nonna Nitto - Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)

ObsessedwReading - Thank you :)

Thanks again to my reviewers: JadedLights07, shoshy. jg, thechangeofseasons, Elis.n, teenwalkingdeadwolves, You'reafanHarry, katie, Cait, yourbiggestfan, tealoverx, fold my love, Nonna Nitto, ObsessedwReading and my guest reviewers!

Thanks to all the new follows/favorites: caitlinmaea, teenwalkingdeadwolves, Kieran18