Wilding

A/N: Inspired by the music video to Lindsey Stirling and Andrew McMahon's song Something Wild.

Marlene smiled down at the picture in her hand. The marker and colored pencil had faded and the creases from the folds had scotch tape on them now to keep it from tearing into pieces. The dragon that had looked so fearsome when she was ten now looked sweet and endearing at nearly 30. The playground around her had been replaced and updated a few years ago, but if she closed her eyes she could still see where the monkey bars had been, the open area where she used to twirl and dance, and the bench he had been sitting at nearly twenty years previous.

Marlene could still see him too, his black hair falling into his eyes as he drew in his sketchbook. She'd only seen him at this park near her childhood home the one time, that day in mid-June. She'd been dancing to whatever tune had cropped into her mind when she heard a shout of protest. Marlene had turned to see some of the local boys trying to look at his drawings and the new boy trying to cover it all up. The other boys - as children are wont to do - took their frustration out by knocking all his papers and markers and pencils to the ground before running off.

She hadn't been able to help herself. Marlene had rushed to his side and started picking everything up and putting it back on the bench beside him. But when she reached for his sketchbook the boy grabbed her hand with panic in his gray eyes.

"It's alright," she smiled at him, "I won't look at it." She shut her eyes tight and carefully picked up the sketchbook before pushing it toward him.

He slid the book from her hands and Marlene pointed her face down at the ground before opening her eyes again and ensuring everything had been retrieved from the wood chips.

"Thanks," his voice was quiet as he started reloading all his things into his backpack.

"You're welcome," she smiled up at him.

His returning smile was small but it made her feel like she'd done something right.

"Want to see something?" He looked around to ensure that the other boys were occupied elsewhere.

"Sure."

Marlene sat next to him as he turned the sketchbook open and pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper from his backpack.

"I'm a dragon hunter," he showed her his drawing of a green dragon and unrolled the other paper, "and this map shows where I think this one lives. It's through those trees back there." He pointed behind them, "And if you want, you can come with me and we can go searching for him."

Twenty years later, Marlene's heart still raced as she remembered running into the trees with him, in search of dragons. The game had been maybe twenty minutes long, but Marlene based all her conceptions of magic off of those twenty minutes where she was certain that it wasn't a game.

She still could see the dragon flying through the trees above them. She could still feel the security of the dragon hunter's hand as he helped her up the retaining walls and rock mounds. She could still hear his hushed voice as he pointed out into the clearing and murmured that the moss-covered mound they saw was the dragon, that they'd found him!

And she believed his whispers. She believed in the magic he'd spun around her, and she believed they'd crossed oceans and climbed mountains to get there.

The game ended far too soon when her mother called her back. Before Marlene could leave though, the dragon hunter stopped her and wordlessly handed her his picture of the dragon - their dragon.

She'd thrown her arms around him and he'd clung to her for half a second before immediately dropping his arms.

That was the last time she saw the dragon hunter, and as playing children often do, she'd never asked his name, nor given him hers.

Marlene opened her eyes to the real world. She wondered if she'd even be able to make her way back to that green mound they'd called a dragon, if she could find the trickle of a stream that had been the ocean they crossed, or the pile of rocks that had been their mountain.

She sighed as she realized that the answer was probably not. It was so long ago, and so much of it had taken place in her imagination that she wondered if her mind could even accurately remember the reality they'd changed.

Marlene looked down again at the picture in her hand. It was so much simpler then.

She wanted to come back to this place, to feel the way she did when she was ten and life wasn't so complicated. When bills were a foreign concept and jobs didn't take precedence over life. When her cares were only as deep as hoping the dragon hunter would come back one day.

"Excuse me," a voice sounded beside her as she sat on the bench and looked down at the dragon.

Marlene turned to see a man about her age, with black hair and eerily familiar gray eyes.

"Yes," her voice came out a whisper and her heartbeat so hard she was sure anyone could see it pounding through her shirt.

"Have, have you always had that drawing?" he fidgeted with his leather jacket and his black fringe fell slightly into his face.

"It was a gift when I was ten," Marlene bit her lip, waiting to wake up and for reality to drop the other shoe.

"Do you, do you remember who gave it to you?" His voice was tight, and Marlene thought maybe he was waiting for reality to smack him as well.

Marlene tried to smile through her nerves, "He called himself a dragon hunter."

The smile that broke across the man's face looked like the sun had broken through a gray and cloudy day.

"I can't believe you kept it," he gestured to the bench, "May I sit?"

"Of course," Marlene made space and deliberately pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

Well, she still felt pain, but she also still felt like she was dreaming.

"You're, you're the dragon hunter?"

He grinned, "You know I've often wondered if we never exchanged names or if I was just an idiot and forgot yours."

Marlene laughed, "We never exchanged names. I've called you the dragon hunter for the last twenty years."

"That name's a right side better than my real one," he chuckled.

"Now I'm afraid to ask," she smirked at him and admired the way his smile made him look more like the boy in her memories.

"Oh it's horrible," he bemoaned, "worse than Wilberforce, Bathsheba, and Elvendork combined."

Marlene's laughter bubbled out of her and she felt her smile break wider across her face.

"Well, my name is rather lovely," she gave him a cheeky grin.

"Any name would be lovely in comparison to my stain of a name," he threw his head back but Marlene saw him glance at her from the corner of his eye.

She smirked, "I certainly wouldn't want to rub salt in your wound with my heavenly name."

"Oh, but your heavenly name would give my poor ears something saintly to listen too," he managed to keep a straight face which only made Marlene laugh harder. "Please, bless me with a reprieve from my wretched name by gracing me with yours."

Marlene laughed harder, "You've picked up quite a bit of game since I last saw you."

He grinned like the Cheshire cat, "I was caught up in hunting dragons back then. I've learned how to balance work and play a bit better now."

"Do you still hunt dragons?" Marlene raised her eyebrows at him, wondering how far he'd play his charade.

"Of course I do," he said it so matter of factly that she almost believed him. "Why on Earth do you think I'm here? I'm back to check on our dragon."

"Do you still have your map?" She'd asked it as a part of the game, but he nodded seriously.

"Yes, but I know this way by heart now, so I keep the map in a safe place." He winked at her, "Can't have everyone knowing where our dragon is, now can we?"

Marlene almost believed him.

"Have you already checked in on our dragon, then?" She sighed wistfully.

"No, but," he held her gaze, "if you tell me your name, I'll take you back to visit him."

Marlene felt like he was weaving a spell around her.

"Follow a man I don't know into a forest? That sounds like a good way to get killed."

He sighed and looked dejectedly out at the park around them, "I know what kind of world we live in, but I promise you, I'm not going to hurt you."

Marlene bit her lip and tried to think clearly. The story he'd woven around her was compelling, and this was why she'd come back in the first place - to experience the freedom that had permeated her childhood. Ultimately, she decided the pepper spray on her key chain would probably give her enough of a head start to get away if he did try to hurt her.

"I'm Marlene, Marlene McKinnon."

His smile spread slowly across his face and he turned back to look at her. "I'm Sirius Black."

"I see why you prefer 'dragon hunter'," she teased.

"Yes," he nodded with a bit of a pout, then he grinned, "I know, just call me 'Dragon Hunter' from now on. It's a much better name."

She rolled her eyes, "You promised to take me back to our dragon."

"Right," he looked at his watch, "and we best step to it, or we'll be late."

He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the trees.

"Do you remember?" He asked as he pulled her along some unseen path.

"I remember what I imagined," she admitted with a touch of embarrassment.

Sirius blinked and then chuckled, "That's a start."

They quickly made it to the retaining walls she remembered and he jumped up before offering his hand out to her.

"These cliffs are easier if we help pull each other up," he hoisted her up on top with him.

And as they jumped up and over each wall, Marlene couldn't help but feel the way she had at ten as she followed Sirius back along his path.

"We have to climb this mountain up ahead," he murmured next to her as he scanned the treetops for their dragon. "But don't worry, I'll be there to help you."

Marlene smiled at him before looking up at the treetops. For a second she thought she saw the dragon she'd imagined all those years ago.

They scaled the small boulders that were far less intimidating at almost thirty than they had been at ten.

"We're nearly there, Marlene," he whispered as they walked side by side. "The last thing we have to do is cross the ocean, but you were a fair sailor as I recall so I'm sure we'll make it alright."

His smile was warm and Marlene felt her heart-melting all over again, and in ways that at ten she wasn't old enough to understand, but in her late twenties were far more interesting.

"Ah, our boat is still here," Sirius grinned as they approached the tiny stream.

The old large log they'd sat on in their game all those years ago was still there crossing the three feet from stream bank to stream bank, looking worse for wear.

"They don't make them like this beauty anymore," Sirius patted the log fondly before holding out his hand to her. "You still up to do some of the rowing?"

Marlene grinned, as she climbed on and opted to sit cross-legged on the log to keep her black Converse from getting soaked. "Of course I am, where's my oar, Dragon Hunter?"

Sirius grinned before he handed her a long stick and for a moment Marlene thought the stick felt just like the one he'd handed her all those years ago. But before she could think on it too hard, he began narrating their journey across the sea, dictating when they needed to paddle faster or slower, telling her what was around them. At one point he excitedly told her to put her hand in the water and touch the dolphins that were swimming along the ship's side.

And for the briefest second, she thought she could feel them under her fingertips.

"Careful here, we don't want to break the haul as we come ashore." His voice had no humor in it and Marlene found herself carefully maneuvering her oar as her mind envisioned them beaching their boat.

Sirius helped her off their log-turned-boat but didn't let go of her hand.

"I'm sure he remembers you, but he knows me and I don't want to take any chances."

Marlene chuckled but didn't object. The feeling of her hand in his felt secure and it quieted the part of her mind that wanted to be cynical, making it easier to believe him and the magic he'd knit around her.

He led her purposefully through the trees, scanning around them as he walked. It wasn't long before the trees started to clear and Marlene was thrown back to being ten-years-old again as they approached the clearing. Her heartbeat just as quickly now as it had twenty years ago as they crept through the trees toward the dragon.

And then she saw it.

The mound in the clearing she remembered from childhood no longer sat lifeless and covered in moss.

The dragon sat on its hind legs and stared at her with yellow eyes.

Marlene thought she might faint.

"He's real," Sirius' voice was low and directly behind her left ear. "You're not asleep. You're not crazy."

Marlene gripped his hand in hers, her emotions see-sawing between terrified and mesmerized.

The dragon shifted slowly, its hulking body rippling with each movement. Marlene tensed as he began his slow advance towards them.

"He won't hurt you," Sirius soothed and wrapped an arm protectively around her waist. "He remembers you."

Marlene's mind couldn't process any of this, but a small part of her felt like this was real, and that maybe she'd dismissed too much from her memories of her first encounter with the dragon hunter and his dragon.

She clung to that part of her as the dragon sauntered closer.

She thought for a moment the dragon smiled at her, but then his enormous head was eye level with her and she couldn't seem to draw breath.

"Easy there, big guy," Sirius chided and patted the dragon on its scaled nose, "she's getting used to it all."

The dragon huffed and nudged Sirius' hand away. Marlene nearly shrieked as the dragon moved its head against her body, pushing her around its side.

"Alright buddy, we can go for a ride," Sirius chuckled, putting himself between the dragon and Marlene.

"A, a ride?" Marlene felt her hands tremble at the words.

"It's completely safe," Sirius smiled encouragingly at her. "And dragons like to collect pretty things. He knows he can't keep you, but he's going to do his best to make you love him."

Marlene let Sirius lead her to and hoist her up on to the dragon's back. The green scales were smooth and glistened like polished metal as she slid up to behind the wing joints. Sirius climbed up in front of her and then pulled her hands around his middle.

"Hold on tight, I won't let you fall." Then he nudged the dragon's wing with his foot. "Take it slow, my friend, don't scare her."

Marlene would swear on her grandmother's grave the dragon rolled its yellow eyes at Sirius. Then it jumped up through the trees and into the sky, its great wings propelling them forward.

And then all her objections and fear seemed to dissolve away.

It was as though everything clicked, as if a part of her had always known that this was where she was meant to be, what she was supposed to be doing, who she really was.

She didn't know how long they flew, and she didn't pay attention to where they went, but she knew she never wanted to go back to reality. Marlene would gladly let this dragon collect her if it only meant it kept this crazy adventure real.

As the dragon finally nestled back down to the earth, Marlene couldn't stop laughing. She hadn't felt this happy since, well since the last time she'd come here with her dragon hunter.

Sirius chuckled as he helped her down before shaking his head at the dragon. "You win, big guy, I think that was just the ticket. She'll love you through eternity."

Marlene didn't even question when the dragon smiled. Of course, he smiled, why wouldn't dragons smile?

"That was amazing!" Marlene laughed and placed an affectionate hand on the dragon's side, "I don't want to go back!"

Sirius smiled at her like she was everything before offering his hand out to her. "You don't have to, at least not back to the way things were before."

Marlene took his hand confidently this time, her hesitations far behind her. "I'll follow you anywhere, Dragon Hunter."

He chuckled, "How about I buy you dinner to start?"

Marlene sighed, her eyes straying to the dragon, "Do we have to go?"

"He's been here for the last twenty years, and a lot longer than that; he's not going anywhere." Sirius patted the dragon's body as it rummaged through the dirt, for what Marlene could only imagine.

"It won't all disappear when we leave?" Marlene couldn't stand the thought of losing this all again. Of getting twenty years further down the line only to find she'd imagined it all.

"Not if you don't let it," Sirius squeezed her hand, "Not if you come back to it."

Marlene watched their dragon a moment longer before deciding to give in to the feeling that this was real, that she could come back, that Sirius would bring her back.

"Can we see if the dolphins are still there before we get dinner?" She smiled back at him.

Sirius let out a huge breath at her words and chuckled, "I'm sure they are, they were quite taken with you."

Their dragon huffed in annoyance and Marlene barely managed to not scream when he brought his head and front legs around towards her. In his claws was a bright shining scale and he pressed the scale towards her.

"She's not going to run off with a dolphin you great beast," Sirius rolled his eyes. "The dolphins wouldn't try and take her from you."

The dragon gave Sirius an annoyed glance as Marlene carefully took the scale from his claws.

"Is he giving me this?" Marlene ran her hand along its smooth surface, smiling at her reflection.

Sirius chuckled, "He's trying to buy your love."

Marlene laughed, "Oh sweet boy, you don't have to do that." She patted the dragon's nose and smiled when it managed to look bashful.

"See," Sirius looked smug and the dragon rolled its eyes again before nudging Marlene towards Sirius.

Sirius caught her as she tripped and it was now their turn to look slightly embarrassed.

"Let's see about those dolphins," Sirius cleared his throat, "and then, if you're still of a mind, I'll buy us some dinner."

Marlene nodded as her heart fluttered.

Neither the dragon nor the man whose arms were still loosely around her needed to buy her affections, she'd already given her heart to both of them.

True to his word, Sirius guided their boat back to the dolphins, and this time she not only felt them but saw them. In fact, she saw everything Sirius described as they moved through the trees as if it was overlaid on top of the world she'd just hours before believed to be the only one.

"I can see it, I can see it," she whispered again and again as Sirius pointed out the sights.

They slowly made it back to the park where it all had started before Sirius pulled her attention back to the original world.

"Are you still of a mind for dinner?"

Marlene felt the butterflies in her stomach take flight but she stepped closer to him and smiled. "I'd like nothing better, Dragon Hunter."

Sirius' eyes held hers and Marlene felt her breathing grow labored as he stared down at her.

"Would you like to know what I called you these past twenty years?"

Her breath was quickly leaving her but she silently nodded him on.

Sirius' smile was small and he spoke quietly as he moved closer to her.

"I've always referred to you as 'the girl I fell in love with'."

Marlene lost all ability to breathe as he closed the distance between them, but Sirius seemed intent on restoring oxygen to her lungs as he slowly brought his lips to hers.

Marlene had thought that riding their dragon made everything between these two worlds fall into place for her, but standing here, kissing the dragon hunter, showed her that she'd only scratched the surface. Her hands moved to cling to his leather jacket to hold her upright as the feeling of his hands gripping her waist seemed to be sending electric shocks through her nervous system. Her body was alive in ways she didn't know possible before all this and she wondered if the electricity coursing through her would consume her like a tree engulfed in a dragon's flame.

But before his kiss could completely devour her, the dragon hunter pulled back and smiled as he rested his forehead against hers.

"I've wanted to do that for ages," Sirius chuckled and Marlene couldn't help the laughter that bubbled out of her.

"I don't think it would have been wise when we were ten."

"Definitely not," Sirius smirked, "but now…" he kissed her again and Marlene sighed into him, snaking her arms around his neck and pulling him impossibly closer.

"Now is perfect, my Dragon Hunter," she murmured against him, smiling when he responded to her name for him with a bit more fervor in his kiss.

Marlene was quite content to stay wrapped in Sirius' arms in that old park for the rest of eternity. But they were pulled from their blissful oblivion by a soft shadow blocking the sunshine that had been above them.

She looked up confused, only to find their dragon hovering above them, smiling. The dragon roared once before flying in a rather intricate flip and heading back into the forest.

"Did he want to say goodbye?" Marlene looked back at Sirius who looked rather annoyed.

"No, the great oaf wanted to make sure I didn't do anything stupid and scare you off."

Marlene furrowed her brow, still confused

Sirius sighed, "You're part of his collection, he's invested in making sure you want to continue seeing him. So if I hurt you, he's likely to hurt me."

Marlene stared at Sirius for a moment before breaking down in a fit of laughter.

Her father's stern eye, when she was a teenager, had nothing over a dragon who showed up unexpectedly.

"I think you're safe," she pressed up on her toes to kiss him again, "assuming you're alright with a dragon invested in all this."

"I think I'll be alright," Sirius slanted his lips over hers with a grin, "I'm part of his collection too."