A Marauder's Guide to Falling Forever

PART FOUR

Written by alliegrl


Chapter Twenty Four

As hard as the decision was, the four of them had agreed it was safer for Sirius and Marlene to keep their distance. At least physically anyways, because Marlene had had a sudden stroke of genius a few nights after the Potters had gone into hiding. She and Sirius dropped off one sister of the twin mirrors that she and Sirius had stuffed away in their upstairs bureau. No longer needing it themselves, she offered it to Lily as a way for them to stay in touch.

Life afterwards felt more bleak than it ever had. The news of the Potters' disappearance spread quickly, and Marlene had to fight off questions more often than she liked. Emmeline had drilled her more than once about it, fearing that something drastic must have happened to them and not believing Marlene when she delivered the same story each time. It was extremely difficult for her to lie to Emmeline, but even harder to lie to Remus. He looked absolutely crushed when Marlene delivered the news. Sirius had refused to go with her, not even bothering to offer up a lame excuse as to why he didn't want to visit his friend. He didn't care that Marlene was a horrible liar, or that Marlene feared Remus would see straight through her story. He was too stubborn, and Marlene eventually conceded that he'd likely make the whole situation worse even if she had been able to convince him to go.

And she was right. As she departed Remus's home they both caught sight of a large, shaggy black dog a few houses down the street. Sirius wasn't even trying to hide the fact that he was sticking closeby to keep watch on Marlene, displaying just how little trust he had for Remus. She watched as Remus's face fell as he too put the pieces together.

"I thought you didn't want to come?" she snapped on Sirius later.

"I didn't, but I don't trust him alone with you either."

"Do you have any idea how insulting that is to Remus? He knew that was you watching us," she scolded him. But Sirius didn't care about that either.

The one thing that kept Marlene going was Tom's rapid recovery. She kept herself busy by visiting him more frequently, and as his health improved she found it much easier to be within his presence. Eventually the good news she had been long awaiting for was delivered on a particularly hot summer afternoon.

"Today is the day!" Tom said cheerfully when she entered his room. The drapes were open and the sunlight filled the space making the small room much more welcoming than usual.

"What day is that?" Marlene surveyed Tom who was dressed in his regular clothing and looking positively jubilant. She couldn't recall him looking that way since after she had moved in with him nearly three years prior. For a moment she was transported back to her childhood Christmases when goofy Uncle Tom, the life of the party, would come for dinner and perform his cheesy muggle magic tricks for the unknowing muggle side of her family.

"The day I go home," he said, smiling.

"Really?" she asked, "You're not pulling my leg are you? Because that's not funny."

"Really," he insisted. "Martha told me this morning."

Marlene hurriedly crossed the room and threw her arms around Tom. They hadn't had an affectionate relationship before, likely a result of both of them uncertain how to navigate the circumstance they had found themselves in together. But he hugged her back fondly, and for the first time since her parents had died she felt the familiar feel of parental love and affection, something she hadn't realized how desperately she needed until his arms closed around her.

"There's something we need to discuss though," he said when they had pulled apart. Marlene wiped at the tears pooling in the corners of her eyes and analyzed the way his softened features began to pinch together with concern. "But first, why on earth are you crying?"

"I'm just happy," she replied even though she was far from it. She quickly corrected herself, "Happy to hear this news I mean."

Tom's voice dipped low and Marlene strained to hear him when he told her, "Well I imagine we will both be even happier when you give me that key you've been holding on to."

Even in the hot summer heat of July Marlene had been forced to wear sweaters to cover the marking on her arm. At his words she felt the prickling of her skin where the ink was etched into her wrist. It was disfiguring omen that she would gladly rid herself of under different circumstances.

"I'm not putting you in danger again," she told him. "You just got well again."

"And I'm going to be fine. Anyone who knows anything now thinks that I am not the Keeper. Not after what touching that orb put me through. I am the last person that will be suspected of holding it. Now you on the other hand..."

"Who is really going to suspect me?" she countered, even though she knew Tom's logic made perfect sense. "I don't think you should risk it."

"And I think that you are needlessly worrying about me when you have a million other things that you should be more worried about." Tom's heavy set brow line deepened. "Marlene, I don't want to ask more than the one time. For once in your life, could you stop giving me grey hairs and do as I ask?"

Reluctantly she agreed. His expression warmed instantly, and he pulled her in for another hug. "You don't need to carry this burden any longer," he whispered into her ear. Though she doubted that he truly knew what the weight of what she carried on her shoulders was, she couldn't help but wonder if he did.

Sirius was waiting for her outside in the atrium, having been reluctant to visit with Tom anytime Marlene had visited the hospital. There had been the one time when Tom mistook him for a demon and whipped a chair at him, and ever since Sirius had opted to wait for her outside. "You know that Tom doesn't hate you, right?" Marlene suggested when she approached the table he had settled into. Sirius pulled his gaze from a large portrait on the wall to give her a skeptical look.

"Right," he laughed.

"He doesn't. You need to let the chair thing go. I bet he'd appreciate that you took the time to visit him, now that he's mostly himself again."

"And get blasted into oblivion for constantly putting his god daughter's life in jeopardy? No thanks. I'd rather take my chances with a rabid, blood lusting vampire."

Marlene rolled her eyes before filling Sirius in on the good news. He looked remarkably more happy about the Keepers key than he did about Tom's recovery, and pulled the sleeve up her arm to double check for himself that it was gone.

"I can't say I'm going to miss that thing," he replied honestly. His lips broke out into a wide grin before he dipped down to give her a brief kiss on the lips. "Now it's my turn to surprise you with something. Come on, let's get out of here."

"Where are we going?" she asked as he guided her away from the table and towards the staircase.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, would it?"

Despite her consistent pleas, Sirius wouldn't budge. Eventually she stopped asking when it was apparent that he wasn't going to answer her and she reluctantly followed him out the entrance into the muggle streets of London. She only bothered to question him when he instructed her onto one of the street trolleys that took them in the opposite direction of their flat.

"Okay seriously, where are we going?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at the way the corner of his lip turned up into a taunting smirk. "We never use muggle transportation," she pressed him when he refused to answer. "Sirius!"

Like she was a kid he reached down to ruffle her hair and then he chuckled, "Relax. We're almost there."

About three blocks later he ushered her off the trolley to where she found herself in an unfamiliar neighbourhood. She barely rendered her surroundings before his hands covered over her eyes and he whispered at her not to argue. Reluctantly, she allowed him to guide her down the sidewalk without objection.

"Just another couple of feet," Sirius murmured into her ear. His soft breath tickled and she shivered with delight. Without warning his hands pulled away and Marlene blinked into the sunlight, trying to adjust her vision to whatever it was in front of her. "Surprise!"

They were on a sidewalk of a quiet suburban street and Marlene was standing at the foot of a small, narrow stone staircase that led upwards. Her gaze traveled up the steps to admire the colorful row house in a pretty shade of robin's egg blue.

"What exactly am I looking at?" she asked, confused. The extremely narrow three story attached row home was adjacent to another unit in fuchsia, and the opposite home painted a warm shade of sunflower yellow.

"I figured that it was about time to say goodbye to the loft," Sirius replied. His body moved from close proximity and she turned to look at him with incredulity.

"You bought this?" she asked with disbelief. "Why?"

"We bought this," he corrected with a hint of annoyance, as though her question were somehow insulting. "That is, if that's something you'd like. To move here with me, I mean."

"Where would I go?" she teased. "If you sell the loft and leave me homeless, I don't really have a lot of options do I?"

"Be serious for a moment, Marlene," he said, grabbing hold of her hand. "I want to build a home together. With you. A place where you feel comfortable. A place that feels like it belongs to you."

"I like the loft fine," she mumbled, lying.

He gave her a knowing look and then squeezed her hand. Suddenly she felt very warm again, completely unrelated to the mid afternoon sun blazing down on them. He responded to her fib in a quiet, amused voice, "But the loft is very small."

"There's only the two of us. How much space do we really need?"

"It is really only good for two people isn't it," he mused, saying nothing further. Marlene's heart skipped a beat, uncertain whether he was subtly hinting at the fact that they might need more space in the future. Why else on earth would he want to move them across the city?

"This is what you want?" she questioned. She felt nervous and uncertain, and she was pretty sure the shakiness of her voice gave her internal emotions away.

"I want you," he replied, his smile growing larger. "I want everything with you. And you're not happy at the loft. Was this a mistake?" Then his smile faltered. "Do you not like it?"

"I love it," she breathed. "But are you sure?"

"If I wasn't sure I wouldn't have bothered," he said, shaking his head. "Honestly woman, how many years have you known me now?"

Marlene, still feeling nervous, forced out a genuine laugh, "Yes of course, how silly of me."

"Shall we take a tour then?" he asked, and Marlene nodded her head eagerly. Sirius moved up the steps, pulling out a small silver key from his pocket. Marlene felt her insides melting as she watched him insert it into the lock, tilt his head over his shoulder and look at her in a way that made her heart stutter.

Then Sirius opened the door and welcomed her into their new home.

They had been living in their new home for a week, though they were still moving things over from the loft. Even though she was happy in the house, Marlene couldn't let go of the lingering sadness that prevented her from feeling completely happy with Sirius in their progressing relationship. She had just finished giving Lily another virtual tour via the magical mirror when Sirius arrived home to find her cross legged on the bed.

"I wish Lily could be here," Marlene said to him sadly.

He walked towards her, tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and kissed the top of her forehead. "I know. I feel the same way."

"Have you eaten yet? I'm not particularly hungry, but I can make something for you quick before the meeting starts." Marlene swung her legs from the mattress and moved to stand, but her legs gave out and she stumbled. Sirius's hands reached out for her, catching her before she completely fell. Despite his concern she swatted at his hands and pulled away from him. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You look sort of pale."

"I always look pale," she joked.

But Sirius only frowned. "Paler than usual then."

"I'm just feeling really tired today," she said. She moved away from him and across the room, tucking the mirror into the top drawer of their bedroom bureau where she kept it for her nightly conversations with Lily. "I haven't been sleeping well lately. I'm just feeling stressed, and it feels wrong that Lily and James won't be at the meeting tonight." She drew in a deep breath and then slowly let it go. "Everything just feels wrong all of the time."

"It will be nice to visit them in person tomorrow, remember?" Sirius reminded her. It had been nearly a month since she had last seen the Potters, and she was itching to get some face to face time with her friends.

"Of course, how could I forget?"

"Try not to let their absence get you down tonight, okay?" he said. "We've got tomorrow."

"It's not just that," Marlene groaned. "I hate lying to everyone about this. I'm pretty sure everyone sees right through me. Anytime I'm around somebody I feel like I'm wearing a gigantic sign that says I'm a big fat liar."

"Is someone still giving you a hard time about it?" Sirius frowned and then his voice turned cold, "Is it Remus?"

"Stop it," she warned him. "I don't want to have this conversation again. Remus is not a spy. Any concern on his part is genuine."

Despite her warning Sirius didn't want to let it go. "You always seem so certain that he's innocent - "

Quickly she cut him off, "Because it's Remus! Honestly, Sirius. He's one of your best friends. You've known each other for most of your life. I still don't understand how you can still think he would be capable of betraying anyone, let alone his best friends."

"I just want you to be careful around him, Marlene. Okay? I just don't trust - "

"I get it, Sirius," Marlene snapped. "I'm pretty sure you made that abundantly clear when you followed me to his house in your animagus form. I'm not having this conversation with you anymore. But for the record it's not Remus that I'm worried about. It's Emmeline."

"Of course it's Emmeline," he said, rolling his eyes and thankfully laying off Remus for a moment. "I can talk to her if you'd like."

"Yeah that will go over real great won't it?" Marlene laughed. "Can you just imagine how that would turn out? The first thing she'd do is reem me out for hiding behind you. As if that wouldn't make it any more obvious that we are hiding something from everyone."

"There's an alternative here," Sirius said, shrugging."I can just obliviate your memory of the last month and then you don't have to worry about it being a lie when you tell everyone you don't know where James and Lily went."

Marlene looked at him as though he had grown a second head. "You're joking, right? Please tell me that you're joking."

Sirius smirked. "Of course I'm joking. Just breathe Marlene, and don't let Emmeline bully you anymore."

"If only it was that easy," Marlene muttered bitterly. She moved to exit the bedroom and felt herself grow weak again. She reached out to steady herself against the door frame and Sirius was quickly at her side.

His concern was immediately evident. "Okay it's obvious you aren't feeling well. Why don't you just lie down. I am perfectly capable of making myself something to eat and I can fill you in on the meeting later."

"Absolutely not," Marlene retaliated. "I'm perfectly fine."

"If anything it would give you the perfect excuse to avoid lying to everyone," he said.

"As tempting as that sounds," she replied, "I don't want to miss anything and I don't trust how you're going to react to Remus coming tonight. And no, we aren't discussing it any further than that." She hurried from the room and down the stairs to avoid any further conversation about Remus.