I apologise for how long it's been! It has been so long I am so sorry! I'll be uploading more chapters now that I'm uni break…hopefully.

But they might not be all edited!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine.

All love

-E

Chapter 7

Marlene wasn't sure what was wrong in general. This was the fifth day she had purposely woken up earlier to have breakfast to avoid Sirius. She had to admit, she didn't know if she could take another day of trying to eat her soggy cereal in an attempt to avoid Sirius. She hadn't spoken to him since that night. If she was honest it was more her pride than anything that was stopping her. She wasn't even sure why she wasn't talking to him anymore.

When did Sirius become such a moody cow?

Marlene was confused as to how she and Sirius went from being best friends one day to becoming this complicated. She thought only girls were this complicated.

"Enjoying that soggy cereal there?" A familiar voice said. Marlene looked up to see Lily standing across from her.

She shook her head as if to shake her mind out of its depressive state. "Hey, you're up early."

"So are you. You've been up early the past four days." Lily replied. Marlene took a bite from her cereal to avoid answering.

"Is this about Sirius?" Lily started, "And that little tiff you two had?"

Marlene sighed and pushed her bowl away from her, "I don't know what it is. He was just so stand-offish and he was pushing me away and we're never like that."

"What are you two usually like?" Lily asked.

"I mean, it's just always easy with Sirius. I don't have to worry about anything." Marlene stirred her spoon around her cereal, "And like now it just feels like something stupid has just been left for too long and boiled into something bigger."

"Merlin," Lily exclaimed, "I feel like this is couples therapy. You're both just being stupid and should get over it."

"I can't help thinking about it." Marlene started, raking her fingers through her hair, "All the time."

Lily shook her head and laughed, "You like him so much, you are so dense."

Marlene pulled a face but on the inside she was feeling uneasy as she started thinking about Lily's words. She had been thinking about Sirius a lot now that he hadn't been around. She missed his stupid cheeky grin and flirty attitude all the time. She missed that lopsided smile he gave her and she missed just sitting with him. And it had only been bloody been five days.

"All I'm saying," Lily started to say, shaking Marlene out of her thoughts, "is that maybe you should talk rather than let it settle."

Marlene sighed quite well knowing her pride would get in the way before she let that happen.

"Yo Sirius!" James called from down the corridor.

The both had just finished Astronomy and quite frankly, Sirius was in a bad mood. Between spilling his ink all over his pants and getting a detention for not doing his homework (which Marlene didn't help him with), he was in a shitty mood.

"What's up?"

James jogged to catch up with him, "What's up with you?" Before Sirius could feed him some excuse about how he was just tired and that his mood will blow over soon enough, James continued. "You've been different for a couple months now."

Sirius quirked up an eyebrow in confusion, "What do you mean?" He asked.

"I think you're losing your charm but you haven't pulled a girl in months." James pointed out.

Sirius almost kicked himself for not noticing, but he realised that he hadn't even looked at another girl since Marlene. A weird sickening, yet fluttering feeling settled in his insides, one that he couldn't shake. "I don't know." He said laughing awkwardly, "Maybe I'm sick."

"Have you got your eye on a special little lady?" James said winking suggestively. "Has THE Sirius Black been reformed?"

Sirius laughed but avoided the question and started to speed up.

"Also, what's up with you and Marlene?" James asked.

Sirius froze internally, "What do you mean?"

"You can cut the tension with a knife mate." James said.

Sirius had to stop himself from letting out a breath out loud. "I don't know mate."

"It's unlike you to not get along with her as well as not be pulling any girls." James said, "You know, I think Annie Miller has been looking at you a lot recently. You want me to put in a good word?" Jams said with a grin, elbowing Sirius.

Sirius had never been so thankful that his best mate was so dense.

Marlene had gone, from the time from breakfast to the afternoon, from not just avoiding Sirius but to avoiding all her friends. Lily was the only one who had the guts to question Marlene about Sirius but everyone else's curious looks were enough to put her in a bad mood and she just wanted to get away. So she took all of her books and went to the Lake. Despite the fact that it was freezing cold as they were nearing winter, Marlene put on a thick coat and braved the cold for the sake of her sanity.

"Marls?" A quiet voice said.

Much to her chagrin, Sirius was staring at her from several meters away with an awkward nervous look on his face.

"You're not wearing a coat." She said not being able to stop herself. Then she wanted to kick herself for worrying about him.

He shrugged, "I'll live," He shifted uncomfortably, "Is it okay if I sit here?"

Marlene nodded silently. She hoped she was appearing like she had some sort of control over this whole situation. On the inside however, she felt like everything she had eaten that day was churning continuously. Sirius sat next to her cautiously and stared out at the lake.

He eventually sighed and started talking, "I'm sorry for snapping at you that night."

"You were a bit of a dick."

Sirius chuckled, "Yeah I was. I was just in a bad mood from Herbology and was taking it out on you. I didn't mean to be a dick." Sirius lied.

"You could have just said so." Marlene fired back.

"Yes I agree that would've been much easier than having this lasting tension between us for days."

"I'm glad you agree." Marlene said rather shortly, "That this petty argument could have been avoided."

Sirius sensed the animosity that oozed out of Marlene and inched closer to her, "Marls." He whined at her. "I've missed you and I'm sorry I'm a moody dick. Please stop having a strop."

Marlene continued to stare at a rock which she suddenly found so interesting. Sirius wrapped his arms around her and pulled her towards him and kissed her shoulder. "Marley!" He shouted.

"Merlin Sirius!" Marlene exclaimed giving in, "You're like a newborn puppy! You need attention all the time."

Sirius grinned, "Glad you've forgiven me love. Now hug me back please. I'm cold."

"I'm just happy that you've finished being on your ladies days."

Sirius poked her hip with a scowl, "Rude." Marlene laughed.

After a moment of silence, Sirius leant in to Marlene's ear. "I really did miss you Marley." He said playing with a strand of her hair.

Marlene smiled, slightly taken back but leant into Sirius some more and ignored her gut flipping and the dizzying sensation she felt, "I supposed I missed you too."

"Mary get your ass out of the bathroom let's go to Hogsmeade!" Marlene yelled on a cold Saturday morning. She was lounging on her bed, dressed in a thick beige jumper and a comfy black scarf, she was quite sure belonged to Sirius. The slight September warmth that had come with the start of the school year, had left. In replacement, a frost continually bit into the autumn air. Marlene however, really enjoyed going down to Hogsmeade in the cold air and getting a warm butterbeer in her system. She would spend the rest of her day walking around Hogsmeade with a warm feeling in her belly. They were never going to get there however if Mary didn't ever get out of the bathroom.

"You don't need to do your make-up!" Called Dorcas, "You're single!"

"That's why I need to do it!"

Dorcas had a smile on her face as she rolled her eyes. Mary opened the bathroom door open with a slam and a grin, "Let's go to Hogsmeade!"

"Finally!" Lily exclaimed.

The girls all but ran to Hogsmeade, desperate to get out of the school grounds for an afternoon. They waltzed into The Three Broomsticks taking off their coats and sat at a big table towards the back of the pub.

"It feels nice to be away from the castle." Marlene commented.

"I bet you'll miss it when you're gone." Mary pointed out.

"Yes but right now I'm in need of a breath of fresh air."

"Well don't go hoping for one too quickly because here comes trouble." Dorcas said looking over to James and Remus who were walking over both holding two butterbeers each. James had a wide smile across his features whereas Remus had a rather lazy grin.

"As promised Miss McKinnon," James said setting a butterbeer down in front of Marlene, "Thank you for helping me with my homework."

Marlene picked it up and took a sip, "I could get used to this."

"Um I also got one for you Lily." He said with a light blush whilst everyone else stifled their laughter at his awkwardness.

Lily blushed red, "Thanks James that's really nice of you."

Mary made a gagging face behind their back whilst Remus tittered at her. "Don't worry Mary, Doe, I got butterbeers for you lot as well." He said setting them down and absentmindedly stroking Dorcas' chin to which she blushed and kept her head down.

It was a table full of awkward little blushes. Soon enough they fell into a carefree conversation, enjoying the weekend off. It took approximately fifteen minutes before Dorcas exploded.

"Are you ever going to ask me out Remus?" She exclaimed suddenly.

Remus, as did everyone else, stopped mid conversation with James, who were both discussing the upcoming Quidditch game. Lily had a wicked, meddling grin on her face and Mary and Marlene had eyes' as wide as saucers. Remus' mouth was slightly ajar, most likely not to his attention as he looked at Dorcas who now looked rather sheepish. James nudged him softly to which he continued to gape at Dorcas with a wide eyed look.

"I, I" He started before clearing his throat, "Um, can we talk about this somewhere privately?"

Dorcas' face crumbled if there ever was such a thing and she grabbed her coat and ran out of the pub. Remus' chair screeched as he promptly got up, Dorcas leaving being the wake-up call he needed and ran out after her. "Doe wait!" He called.

"Well that was eventful." Lily said awkwardly after a second, to which everyone laughed.

"I'm going to go get some sweets guys." Marlene said standing up, "I think we all need some."

Mary stood up too, "I'm going to go too," She said eyeing James and Lily, "I don't know where I'm going but I'll be going."

Marlene grabbed Mary's hand and they both turned before Lily could utter a single word, "Bye Lils! See you James!" and they ran out of the pub before either could interject. Deep down, Marlene was quite sure Lily was happy to be left alone with James.

Back in the cold, Mary and Marlene were both laughing. "Mar! Marls!" A voice called. Both spun around to see Peter exiting Honeydukes a couple of shops down. Both walked over to him.

"Good day then Pete?" Marlene asked.

"Pretty decent." He said chewing on a liquorice wand, "where are you off to?"

"I'm going to into Honeydukes." Marlene said cheerfully looking forward to it.

"I'm off to buy a new cauldron." Peter said.

"I'll come with you if you come with me to replace a textbook afterwards?" Mary suggested.

"Deal." Peter said with a smile handing a smiling Mary a liquorice wand.

"I'll see you back at the castle Marlene." Mary said.

"Packet of Drooble's?" Marlene asked.

"Droobles." Mary confirmed with a grin.

Marlene smiled and turned to enter the sweetshop. As soon as she entered she was engulfed with a pleasant aroma. The air in Honeydukes always smelt like Christmas time, when there were cookies in the oven. Marlene perused the shelves rather leisurely, picking up several sweets. The sweet shop had shelves that resembled a library. Instead of books however, the rustic shelves were lined with a vast selection of sweets and confectionary. The bustling sales assistants in blue and white stripey aprons were constantly magicking things down for customers, leaving Marlene to help herself to what she wanted.

"Don't you think you're getting a little hefty around the waist McKinnon?"

Marlene's eyes narrowed as she spun around. Severus Snape stood by the edge of a shelf and had a rather wicked glint in his eyes.

"Didn't know you stared at my hips." She snapped.

"They're hard to miss they're so big." He said in a drawl.

Marlene's temper was quickly rising, "What do you want Snape? Anything else you want to say?"

When Lily and Severus had been friends, Marlene had been polite with him, making idle chatter. When Lily stopped being friends with him, Marlene was guilty by association and Severus made a point to insult her at any given chance.

"I just thought I was being helpful."

"Snivellus if I were you, I would fuck off." A voice said. Sirius stood a little down the aisle with a murderous look on his face.

"Black," Severus said, "I see she can't fight her own battles.

"She's just too polite too punch your face in, but I'm bloody not."

Severus' narrowed his eyes, looking rather ugly, "I'm bored of conversing with the lower class anyways." He said before stalking out of the shop.

Marlene turned to Sirius who had his hand on her hips unconsciously, "I had it under control. But thank you."

"I know you did," Sirius said, "I still wanted to kill him though." Marlene laughed. "Your hips are perfectly fine in case you were wondering."

Marlene had a quirkly smile, "And why are YOU staring at my hips?"

Sirius chuckled and buried his face into Marlene's neck, "I'm allowed to look at your sexy hips." He said muffled into her neck.

She pushed him off while laughing, "Ssh, we're in public…and no you are fucking not."

He laughed and moved away from her, "Are you ready to go?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm going to go get some sugar quills first though. I'm in the mood for some." Marlene said.

"I already got you some." Sirius said, motioning to the small bag he was holding.

Marlene was slightly taken back and her heart jumped, "You did?"

Sirius nodded somewhat sheepishly, "I know you like them."

Marlene smiled affectionately, "Thanks."

Leaving Honeydukes, the cold air hit Marlene quickly and she wrapped her coat around her tighter.

Even Sirius who liked to pretend the cold didn't bother him whistled as he walked outside, "Bloody hell it's cold. I don't even know where I've put my scarf."

Marlene looked sheepish as she wrapped her coat around herself tighter, which his quick eye noticed, "You've got my scarf haven't you?" He said.

"It's really warm!"

"I know that's why I bloody bought it!" He said pinching her side and then grabbing her forearm, pulling her along.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"Quidditch pitch?" He suggested. "No one's going to be there because they'll all be indoors or here."

"You're a real thinker today aren't you?"

Sirius pinched her hip again and she jerked away from him with a small shriek. He laughed and pulled her along.

Marlene was always so amazed that Sirius knew all these little paths around the castle as he led her.

"Why aren't we taking the big path?"

I know a short cut." He said with a wink. The both of them walked from Hogsmeade to the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest that led to the Quidditch pitch.

"How did you know there was a path here?" Marlene said slightly amazed as they walked on to the Quidditch field.

"I'm very perceptive."

Marlene rolled her eyes to which Sirius kissed her neck laughing. He walked into the spare store room of the field and pulled out two brooms for himself and Marlene throwing one to her. Marlene quickly mounted her broom and used it to rise very far up in the air followed by Sirius.

She rose as high as she could and stopped and stared. Sirius stopped with her and they both looked down at everything. Sirius quickly muttered a heat warming charm and Marlene could feel her shoulders relax as the heat hit. "We're so high Marls." Sirius said.

"Isn't it great?" she said taking a deep breath of fresh air. "You can see everything." And she was right. From they were, they could see Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, the Black Lake and even the courtyard in the school grounds.

"Marlene," Sirius said uneasily, "I know I'm a Quidditch player but I'm slightly shitting myself." Marlene turned to look at Sirius who looked like a bit of a dork wearing a thin grey t-shirt and a leather jacket, whilst looking very uneasy.

Marlene laughed at his discomfort and began to descend rather quickly, "I'll race you around the Quidditch pitch. First to do three laps!" She said lightly.

"Marlene!" He said watching her with concern fly downwards at fast speed.

As she approached the ground, she quickly swung her broom up, stopping herself from falling and began to fly around the pitch. She turned to see Sirius fast on her heel and began to fly faster.

"You bloody minx Marlene!"

Marlene was a skilled flyer, but Sirius was a competitive flyer. And if there's one thing he wanted more than anything it was to beat Marlene. Just as she was about done, Sirius tilted his body forward and his speed increased just in time for his to tackle Marlene to the soft grass. Both of them ended up laughing and rolling all over the misty grass, Sirius whooping in his win.

"You're such a cheat." Marlene said breathlessly.

"You're a sore loser." He said laughing although he was out of breath. He rolled over so he could loom over her. "So what does this winner get?" he asked with a smile and a quirk of his eyebrows.

Marlene laughed, "Nothing because you're a cheat!"

Sirius pouted, "Now no need to be so hostile." He whispered as he leaned in for a kiss. He quickly captured her lips before she could object. Marlene's hands went to the front of his t-shirt and pressed lightly against his chest. She didn't want to admit it but she missed his kisses and sighed contently into the kiss. Sirius pulled away breathlessly and kissed her chin delicately, "I've missed your kisses."

"You mean you didn't kiss any other girls whilst we had our petty argument?" Marlene said surprised.

"Would you have minded?" He asked with brash.

"I would've killed you." She said in bashfully honest way.

He laughed pecking her on the lips once more, "I promise you I didn't kiss anyone."

Marlene smiled and inwardly shuddered at how much of a relationship their situation had now resembled.