Heureux

A/N: I was blessed to have the opportunity to study French for seven years from sixth grade until I graduated high school. I haven't touched it since – I now speak Spanish as my second language – but I was going through old boxes of things and found some of my old French notes and decided to put them to good use.

Marlene curled into the sofa in the common room and tried to drift off. She couldn't sleep and thought maybe a change in surroundings would help. She watched the embers burnout in the fireplace and sighed.

"Alright, McKinnon?"

Marlene jumped and turned to see Sirius leaning against the boys' stairs.

"Couldn't sleep," she shrugged.

Sirius pushed off the wall, "Should've come up to my bed."

Marlene smirked. "That wouldn't have helped with my sleep, Black."

He plopped down next to her and smirked. "Sure it would have. How much better do you sleep when you're worn out?"

"Touché," Marlene rolled her eyes. "Why are you down here?"

"Hungry."

"Don't let me stop you," she waved him off.

"Come on," he reached for her hand.

"Sirius, I'm trying to sleep."

"And failing," he pulled her arm until she was standing with him. "Might as well have a bit of fun since you're not sleeping."

Marlene felt herself being pulled in by his smirk, the one he wore when he knew he'd already won.

"I hate you," she laughed, "Fine, Sirius, let's go have a bit of fun."

"I knew you'd see reason." He pulled her through the portrait hole.

They didn't speak as they snuck down to the kitchens, but Sirius spent the whole time making faces at her to see if he could get her to laugh loud enough to make it a chase with whoever was patrolling the halls. Marlene managed to keep her laughter to a minimum with a great deal of effort.

"You're evil," she finally let herself laugh as the door to the kitchens closed.

"You know you like a good challenge, and I like watching you squirm." He smirked at her.

Marlene rolled her eyes.

But then the elves were there and the two students thanked them as all their requests were quickly brought to them.

"So I have a question," Marlene set down her butterbeer on the floor next to her and leaned back into the wall. "Do you actually speak French or is it just that the Black motto is in French as a way to be even more ridiculous?"

Sirius chuckled. "Marléne, t'es jolie comme la Tour Eiffel."

"Sirius I don't speak French," Marlene laughed. "You could have just spoken gibberish for all I know."

Sirius shrugged, "Then you'll have to take my word for it."

"What did you say then?"

Sirius' grin managed to grow smugger. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Come on," Marlene kicked at his foot.

"Tes yeux sont très beaux."

Marlene tried to ignore what Sirius speaking a different language was doing to her.

"No that's not what you said the first time."

"It only gets better, Marls." Sirius drank the last of his butterbeer and kicked her foot. "Come keep me warm."

Marlene laughed. "You're the one who wanted ice cream."

"Don't be cruel, just get yourself over here so I don't start shivering."

"I know what you're doing." Marlene objected even though she moved to sit against his side.

Sirius pulled her against him and huffed. "And you like it, so why fight me over it?"

Marlene smirked up at him, "Because you like the fight."

"Only with you, McKinnon."

Marlene chuckled and rested her head against his shoulder. She didn't want a boyfriend or a relationship, but she definitely wanted whatever this was that she and Sirius had. The easiness between them gave her a place where she felt safe even with the war underway outside the castle walls. When she was with him like this, or in his bed, or in hers, it blocked out the rest of the world.

"Someday, I'm going to figure out what you said in French."

Sirius scoffed, "Can you even remember what I said to you?"

"What if I can?" Marlene tried to hold her bluff.

Sirius eyed her before his smirk found his face again. "What if I taught you a little French?"

Marlene shrugged, "As long as you actually tell me what I'm saying."

Sirius' smirk widened, "Repeat after me, then I'll tell you what it means."

"Nothing dumb, I don't want to say something stupid for you to make fun of me with."

"Marauder's promise," Sirius put his hand over his heart.

"Alright, let's have it then," Marlene said even as a part of her tried to determine how good a Marauder promise really was.

"Tu."

"Tu," She repeated.

"Es."

"Es."

"Un."

"Un."

"Dieu."

"Dieu."

"Good," Sirius' eyes twinkled with mischief. "Now put it all together."

"Tu es un dieu." Marlene said It slowly.

To her surprise, Sirius kissed her.

"Say it again," he murmured.

"Not until you tell me what it means." Marlene let her hands tangle in his t-shirt.

"Just one more time." He moved to kiss along her neck and Marlene smirked.

"Are you going to make it worth my patience?"

"I always do." And he bit down just enough to pull a moan from her lips.

Marlene turned to whisper into his ear, "Tu es un dieu."

She was quite certain that if the elves hadn't made their presence known, Sirius would have shagged her there on the kitchen floor. Instead, the two moved to the broom cupboard next to the kitchens.

"What does it mean?" Marlene trailed her black nails along his chest. "Tu es un dieu?"

Sirius laughed. "You are a god."

Marlene smacked him. "Are you kidding me?"

She pushed back but he held her close against him.

"Come on, Marly, we had fun. Don't be mad."

"I can not believe you, Sirius." Marlene shook her head.

"I'll make it up to you. Here. Tu me rends heureux. It means you make me happy."

Marlene blinked and then realized she was smiling. "Say it again."

"Tu me rends heureux," he said it slower this time.

"Tu me rends heureux." Marlene repeated before adding, "When you aren't being a prat."

Sirius laughed and kissed her.

Yes, Sirius Black made Marlene McKinnon happy, and right now, that was enough.