Marlene ascended the stairs to the girls' dormitories, Lily by her side. Both girls moved sluggishly, drunk and aching from too much dancing. Marlene's hair had grown in volume throughout the night and had begun to slip free of the ponytail she'd tied it into. The Marauders had thrown a flawless party - doubtless to say - and, at two in the morning, Marlene was feeling the effects of it on her body.

"Can I sleep in your room tonight?" she asked Lily. The Head Girl's mattress was undoubtedly more comfortable than the twin beds in the dormitories Marlene was forced to sleep upon. "I never get to see you nowadays anyway, with James snagging all your time."

"Come on then, the more the merrier." They reached the landing, taking the hall down towards the seventh years' dormitory where Marlene's pyjamas were waiting - cosy and warm. She would sleep long and well tonight, that was for certain, and perhaps, alone, she would find the time to share with Lily some secret tidbits from her evening...

Marlene entered the room first, startled to find all three of her roommates already present, gathered around the room in various states of distress. Alice was in a heap on the floor, knees drawn into her chest, head buried, sobbing profusely. Mary sat beside her, an arm wrapped around Alice's trembling shoulders, Emmeline watched on in shock.

"What the hell is going on?"

Earlier That Day

Lily clung to the letter she had received the day before from her mother. It was the first she'd heard from her since her abduction. Her mother had written to tell Lily that she and Petunia had been so worried about her. It was hard for Lily to picture her sister batting an eyelash at the thought of her in danger. She probably wishes I'd never come home. Lily wasn't an idiot, she knew Petunia would've much preferred to be an only child.

Footsteps rang from down the hall. Lily folded up the letter, placing it aside just as James entered his room. Lily slept with James more nights than not - though rarely doing anything other than sleeping - getting abducted happened to kill one's sex drive. James stepped into the room, rosy-cheeked and sweaty from early morning Quidditch practice.

"You're awake," he smiled, coming around to her side of the bed to plant a kiss upon her lips. He smelled of sweat and morning dew.

"How was practice?" Lily asked as they pulled apart.

"Good, actually. Marlene showed up, didn't know if she would be up to it quite yet…" James wasn't facing Lily as he stripped from his uniform and changed into black pants with an olive green button-down. It was a favourite of Lily's, though she had yet to tell him.

"You can't be surprised."

"How's she doing?"

"It's Marlene, no one ever really knows," Lily sighed. "She says that she's fine but I know she got the worst of it from them…" Lily knew that Marlene had done her best to keep the men distracted when they'd been captured, to stop them from figuring out that Lily was not who they said she was.

"Henry agreed, you know," James said, sitting on Lily's side of the bed. "He's going to be there tonight. Well, he's going to bring the alcohol at least."

"That'll cheer her up." Lily liked Henry - she had, even when they were thirteen. He was kind, always friendly, and he seemed to genuinely care for Marlene.

"Hopefully this party will put us all in better spirits." James leaned in and kissed Lily softly on the lips. Had it not been for him, Lily didn't think she'd have survived the past week. He'd been her crutch, the only one at her bedside when she'd woken in the Hospital Wing. Her own mother hadn't shown up for her but James Potter had, how strange life could be.

"I love you," Lily whispered, pressing her forehead to his.

"I love you too." They fell back asleep like that, wrapped in one another's arms, whispering words of affection to each other.


Mary was dreading the evening's events. It was not like her - as usually, Mary was the most excited about an impending party - except that, she had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach that the night would not go quite as planned. She might have tried to convince herself the fear was unfounded were it not for one of her closest friend's current predicament. Alice had accepted Frank's marriage proposal but had yet to admit to him that she'd been sneaking about behind his back, lying, even to Mary.

Mary hadn't bothered confronting her (Alice was still recovering after all) but that didn't stop her from worrying. She spent the afternoon before the party alone, studying for a Monday Trigonometry test in the library, grabbing lunch alone in the Great Hall. The truth was, Mary was dying to tell one of her friends about the truth she knew but to do so would betray Alice's trust. She could never do it.

So she avoided her friends for the day - Emmeline especially - spending it buried in books that might fill her mind with words and thoughts and all sorts of other distractions. Of course, that wasn't what happened at all.

"Mary?"

She'd sat at one of the tables in the back, behind all the bookshelves, to avoid Madam Pince - and everyone else for that matter. Reginald Cattermole stood before her, slouching slightly, his cheeks going red when she looking him in the eye.

"Mind if I join?"

"Go for it." Mary's gaze dropped to the chair across from her, which Reginald pulled out and seated himself in. Mary feared that he might try and strike up a conversation with her, why else would he request to join her? Reg surprised her though - he seemed to do that a lot. He opened his books and, just as Mary had been, began to study quietly. They remained that way for a while until it came to Mary that she might be able to pick Reg's brain about the very matter bothering her the most.

"Can I get your advice on something?" Mary asked suddenly, keeping her voice low so as not to draw any unwanted attention. Reg's hazel eyes rose from his textbook.

"On what?"

"Let's say, hypothetically, I had this friend."

"Alright…"

"And after a string of very bad luck, she had a bit of a…" Mary struggled to find the right words, "lapse in judgement."

"What kind of lapse?"

"That's not important-"

"How can I give you advice if you don't even tell me what she-"

"She cheated on her boyfriend," Mary finally blurted out. "Once, one, terrible, time and she regrets it…"

"She hasn't told him though? Has she?" Reg's voice was not judgmental nor filled with malice. "I think he deserves to know" Reg shrugged, his glance falling back to his book. "Though what do I know? I've never even been in love."

Me neither. That's what Mary wanted to say but her pride kept the words trapped behind closed lips.

"What're you doing tonight?"

Reg's cheeks turned pink. "Tonight?"

"Yeah, there's a party."

"And you're inviting me to come with you?"

"Why not? We've already established that you're good at advice, and you're probably the best potions partner I've ever had." Mary enjoyed Reg's company. He was a little bit strange, and sometimes irritatingly shy, but he was kind, intelligent, and his little quirks seemed to grow somewhat more endearing once you got to the guy beneath.

"Okay," Reg agreed, his lips turning up into a smile.

"Seventh-floor, across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, think of where you want to be."

"None of that makes any sense?"

"Just you wait." Mary - a sucker for suspense - chose to pack her things up at that moment, winking at Reg as she came around the table to his side. "I'll see you tonight?"

"Yeah," he nodded with enthusiasm. "What time?"

"Ten p.m. sharp."

"Yes, ma'am."


Alice made her way into the library, meeting Frank at one of the tables on the right side, nearest the wall of windows. He sat hunched over a piece of parchment, scrawling away.

"Hello, stranger." Alice slipped into the seat beside him, kissing his cheek. He smiled at her before turning his attention back to the parchment before him. It was a Saturday afternoon, the day of the "big party" meant to cheer everyone up. Alice's problems could not be cured by a simple party - no matter how badly she might wish they could.

"Frank?" Alice whispered to her fiance. "Do you have a minute?"

"I'm just writing a letter to mum before I forget. What is it?" he still wasn't looking at her. Perhaps that was the best, he couldn't catch the dread lingering in her brown eyes. When, if not now, was she going to tell him? No moment would be perfect. "She's thrilled about the engagement you know."

"What?"

"Mum, she's already started planning the bloody wedding." Frank was chuckling to himself as Alice went white as a ghost. She didn't know if there would even be a wedding once Frank heard the truth, once he was well aware that the woman he thought he wanted to marry and the woman he truly was committing to were two very different people.

"She wants you to wear the wedding dress that she wore when she married my father," Frank continued. He looked to his side now, catching the horrified expression upon his fiancee's face. Frank laughed. "You don't have to, not if it's reflective of anything else in my mother's wardrobe."

"Right," Alice nodded, doing her best not to burst into tears of guilt.

"You wanted to talk about something?" Her stomach knotted anxiously.

"It can wait."

"What's up?"

"I just…" Frank waited patiently, finally offering Alice his full attention, and she was about to chicken out once again. "I'm going to meet you at the party okay?" she spit out. "The girls want to go together."

"Alright." Frank leaned in, pecking her quickly on the lips before Madam Pince could catch them. "I look forward to seeing what dress you choose." Something scarlet, Alice thought shamefully, the colour of a whore.


The last person Marlene had expected to run into on her way down to dinner was Henry Fawley, and yet, there he was, coming down the fifth-floor corridor with a brown box in his arms. She saw him first, as she emerged from the tight, spiral staircase which ran from the fifth floor up to the seventh, on the eastern side of the castle.

"Marlene?" Henry said, finally catching sight of who stood before him. "Is that you?"

"What're you doing here?" She met his question with a question.

"Bringing the provisions for your party of course," his eyes dropped to the box, "as James requested."

"Couldn't you get in trouble for that?"

"What's life without a little risk?" Henry smirked. He was wearing a navy blue, wool, sweater, his brown hair slicked back. His eyes settled upon her and Marlene could feel her cheeks warming.

"I haven't seen you since…" I woke up in the hospital wing and you were waiting by my bedside… Marlene didn't know what to make of Henry Fawley at this point. Was he looking out for an old friend's little sister? Did he see her for more?

"I know." Henry sighed, shifting towards the wall. He propped his box up onto one of the windowsills, glass clinking from inside. "I didn't know whether you'd need your space."

"From you?" Marlene couldn't help smiling. "I don't think we see one another enough for that."

"Well, is that something you want to change?" The question caught her off guard. Did she? Suddenly, Sirius' face popped into her head. Those big, droopy, puppy dog eyes he was so good at making when he didn't get his way. Would he even care? Sirius never let Marlene in on what it was he was thinking. Yet, with all the time they'd spent together in the past week, she wasn't so certain it was right to jump into something with Henry.

"I don't know," Marlene confessed, "I don't want to stop seeing you though." That was true too. She couldn't fight the attraction she had for Henry. He was older, more mature, intelligent, and kind, he was the kind of guy her mother was always telling her to find.

"That's a start then, isn't it?" Henry didn't seem bothered by her uncertainty. "I would like to continue seeing you too."

"What about tonight?"

Henry's eyebrows raised. "I'm only supposed to deliver the booze-"

"What's life without a little risk?" Marlene teased him. Henry smiled, white teeth glistening, he had a gorgeous grin, always had…

"Alright," Henry reached for his box again. "I'll see you there."

Marlene's stomach erupted with butterflies. "Be there before midnight!" she instructed him as Henry began to make for the stairwell she'd just exited.

"For you, McKinnon, anything."

Marlene was glad he couldn't see the blush in her cheeks as they parted ways. She did want to get to know Henry better, she wanted to see whether something between them could ever possibly blossom. It was an innocent desire and yet, every time she felt herself getting excited about Henry's presence at the party, she was reminded Sirius would be there too.


The Marauders had arrived in the Room of Requirements early, to make sure the room was arranged to their liking (though it always was where the room was concerned). Henry had come through on his promise, arriving with a box of booze early in the evening. It was James and Sirius who'd been waiting for him on the seventh floor.

"Hey, thanks for this mate," James had said once everything was unloaded.

"I couldn't have you lot get in trouble again." And I want an excuse to impress Marlene, Sirius wished he would add. He couldn't stand him, not the way Henry dressed, nor his "holier than thou" attitude. Sirius knew the type - the ones who came from pureblood families that never "approved" of blood purity and yet, kept their line pure all the same. Just as bad as all the rest of them, he thought bitterly.

"Look, you're welcome to come if you'd like," Sirius zoned in to hear James saying. "Though I'm sure a party with a bunch of teenagers doesn't sound like a blast to you."

"I might make an appearance," Henry shrugged, as though he hadn't already decided he would. He wants to see her. Sirius' gut clenched. Henry would make a move and she'd fall for it - of course, she would - why wouldn't she? Sirius was damaged goods. He pushed her away when she got too close, he was never honest.

James schmoozed Henry a little longer which made Sirius queasy. He was forced to sit there and bear it until Henry left. Luckily, the arrival of Remus and Peter, who'd come bearing gifts from the house elves down in the kitchen, provided a good distraction. Plates of sandwiches, which would replenish endlessly until they were no longer needed, and some desserts - treacle tart, and a selection of specially made small cakes.

"Did you remember to pay them? We won't hear the end of it from Marlene if she finds out you haven't."

"I gave Jemmy the coin pouch, though it took a lot of convincing to make sure she took it," Peter sighed, looking quite exasperated (as he always seemed to be after the simplest of tasks.)

They set the tables of food and alcohol just right, James picking a Rolling Stones album to put on. Sirius knew exactly where the night was about to take him and he had no interest in proceeding without a little alcohol in him.

"Who wants a shot?"

Sirius was pouring Firewhiskey into cups before anyone had answered. The four of them gathered round, their first party of the year - their final year for Merlin's sake - about to commence.

"To forgetting everything from this moment on," Sirius toasted.

"To not getting caught," Remus added once they'd taken their shots, all wincing.

"You've always got to be such a downer," James gave Remus a playful push.

"You should be excited Mooney," Peter chimed in eagerly, "Leila said she was coming."

Sirius couldn't help smirking as he watched the blush rise in Remus' cheeks. He was in love or getting there at the very least. Finally, after years of self-loathing Remus had let someone in - Sirius wasn't quite ready to be so trusting in his own life.

"It's been going well, between you two, hasn't it?" James inquired, twisting open a bottle of spiked butterbeer.

"Yeah," Remus shrugged, "as well as can be expected, with my...condition."

"Maybe Leila's the girl you finally tell," Peter suggested, ever the romantic in the group.

"No," Remus shook his head, "I can't risk it, after everything Dumbledore did to get me into Hogwarts, imagine what he'd think if I blew it all for a girl."

"Assuming she reacts poorly, who's to say she will?"

"No offence James, but I think I have a little more experience with this than you." The anger in Remus' voice brought their conversation to an abrupt halt and he announced he was "off to find the loo" heading for the room's main doors.

"He's such a bloody pessimist," James grumbled, taking a swig from his bottle.

"He's right I suppose...we can't understand how he feels…"

"Maybe he knows Leila isn't the one." Sirius didn't blame his friend - in the few months they'd been together she had become rather demanding of his time, a quirk Sirius found annoying. Now that James was dating Lily, and Remus was with Leila, Peter was the only one ever around and, while Sirius enjoyed his friend's company, Peter was not who Sirius would choose to spend all of his free time with.

The doors swung open, Sirius expecting Remus to reemerge, and in came the girls. Giggling and dolled up to the nines as they entered and gazed around the room with intrigue.

"Nicely done," Mary nodded approvingly, brown eyes scanning the perimeter. "Good choice in music too."

"Hullo, you." Lily greeted her boyfriend with a kiss on the lips, James grinning all the while. She looked gorgeous - even Sirius could admit it - her red hair hanging loose down her back, she wore a white crochet dress in the loose style all the girl's seemed keen on.

"You look beautiful," Sirius could hear his friend whispering. His own eyes darted towards Marlene, standing in the middle of the dance floor with Alice - the pair giggling between themselves about something. Marlene's hair was up in a high-ponytail, swooshing from side to side with every movement she made. She wore jumpsuit - sleeveless, red and sparkly. The pants billowed out and cut off mid-ankle and she wore a pair of black Chelsea boots. She looked amazing. Sirius wanted to go to her, to put his hands around her waist and draw her into him as he might do if they were alone...instead, he swallowed his feelings.

"Shots?" Sirius called out to the room.


It was not long after the girls arrived that the room began to fill with partygoers. Mostly made up of sixth and seventh-year students, it was one of the rare times everyone in the castle conjoined without their house identifiers. Lily did not know whether she looked out amongst a sea of Ravenclaws or Slytherins but it mattered little when everyone had come in good spirits - and some even brought booze to share.

Lily's evening was being spent with James, the pair squished together, sitting around one of the tables in the corner amongst friends - Sirius, Remus, Peter, Marlene, Mary, Emmeline. Everyone was drinking, Sirius certain to refill their glasses when they emptied.

"Another round of shots!" Sirius would announce every once in a while, convincing the table to join. It was Lily's third round - she wasn't certain how far along Sirius was but at the rate he was going, she was afraid to ask.

"I can't," Lily tried to protest. "I'll be sick!"

"Oh come on Lily," Marlene encouraged, with the kind of smile that assured one she'd seen Lily sick from booze many a time. "I'll hold back your hair."

"Come on, Evans," Sirius chimed in now, "it's a party!"

Lily rolled her eyes and accepted the shot of Firewhiskey passed her way, joining the rest of the table as they tapped the bottom of their shot glasses on the tabletop before throwing them back, soured looks spreading around the table. Lily washed back the taste of Firewhiskey with the Butterbeer she'd been sipping.

"Care to dance?" James whispered in her ear. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, the faint scent of a pinewood cologne on his shirt.

"Yes, sir."

James took her by the hand and the two of them wandered onto the dance floor. He pulled his wand from his back pocket and flicked it at the turntable - being the only one with control over it - and the tempo slowed. Lily didn't recognize the song at first, swaying along in James' arms, but then the lyrics kicked in and she stared up at him in awe.

"Our song?"

James grinned. "Do you remember?"

"Of course." How could she forget that night, sitting alone with him, watching James play the guitar and take her breath away, even when Lily knew it was wrong. Your Sweet Love by Lee Hazelwood. It had been beautiful when James played it but it was even better now, his arms around her waist.

"Are you okay?" James asked her. "With all of this?"

"Anything would be okay with me as long as you're there." Lily wanted to be sick she sounded so corny, and yet, she couldn't help it. Not when it came to her boyfriend, especially not when he was looking down at her with such tenderness - always wearing his heart on his sleeve.

"I love you." He kissed her, on the forehead, then the cheek...the song ended and on came a familiar Abba tune. Lily paid no mind. She could only pay attention to one thing, one person.

"Want to get out of here for a little bit?" she asked, staring up into James' eyes.

"Where to?"

"I have an idea." Lily wore a mischievous look, which was rather rare, and took James by the hand, guiding him towards the exit. There were a few stragglers in the hall, though James reminded them to keep it down - in case Filch should do rounds on the seventh floor. Lily knew the floor to be filled with empty classrooms - unused during years when student populations were lower - and as Head Girl, she had access to unlock any of them.

Lily took James down the corridor, towards a hall lined with unused rooms on either side. She chose the door with peeling strips of wood. It looked like it had gone without a thought for quite some time and the interior's state was the proof. The few desks remaining were covered in dust, the professor's desk had a white sheet draped over it to protect the surface. The windows were blocked by dark, heavy velvet curtains so that once the door was closed, they found themselves masked in darkness.

Lily reached out for James, grabbing onto his elbow blindly. They both chuckled and then his arms found their way around her waist and suddenly Lily was up against him, her lips on his, James' fingers slipping through her hair.

They drew apart and stumbled together towards the back of the room, Lily reaching for the curtains, pulling them back to reveal a clear, starry night sky.

"Beautiful."

"Yeah," James agreed, though - as Lily realized when she turned to face him - he was not looking at the sky. He leaned in slowly, taking her face in his hands, and drew her lips to his. Lily propped herself up on top of the desk, reaching to unbuckle James' belt.

"Have we really been waiting all this time just to shag in a classroom?" James asked. Lily could hear the smile on his lips, which moved to trace her jaw, her neck, down her chest…

"Seems fitting, I'd say." Lily was drunk enough not to mind where the hell they were. What mattered was James - his touch. She wanted him, not a romantic moment or a story of romance, and so, they undressed one another in quick progression and made love beneath the stars.


Leila took Remus' breath away. He was beginning to grow used to it, though still, he was no less awe-struck every time he saw her. She came to the party in a deep red halter top and high waisted bell bottoms. She was beautiful, awkwardly stepping through the crowd of unknown faces, looking around the room aimlessly. It was an honour when her brown eyes flickered to him and her face brightened.

"You look…" Like a goddess? The vision of beauty? "Amazing."

"You're not too bad yourself." She stood on her tippy-toes to kiss him. "Want to dance?"

"Oh...I'm not a very good dancer…" Remus had two left feet, to be frank. He looked like an idiot when he tried too hard.

"Come on," Leila coaxed him. "I looove Fleetwood Mac!" It was Go Your Own Way which had begun to play, many people rushing into the centre of the room to join the dance floor.

Remus couldn't resist once Leila took him by the hand and dragged him out. It was worth it - to see how happy she was on the dance floor, shimming around. In the crowd they found Marlene, Sirius and Peter, joining in the group as they all swayed around to the beat. When the song changed to one none of them recognized, Sirius led them all over to the table Gideon Prewett was sitting at.

"Evening," he nodded at Remus and Leila as they joined the table.

"Has Fabian come?"

"Nah, he stayed back." Remus didn't blame him - he couldn't imagine what it might feel like to see the girl you love with a man like James - one who thrived off grand gestures and great proclamations of love. While Remus adored his friend, he knew his boisterous personality often rubbed off as arrogant to others.

"He'll come around," Marlene said. "He just needs time."

"Well, you know what I need?" Sirius was red-faced from all the alcohol and dancing. "Another shot."

"Are you trying to drown your sorrows?" Remus teased. It seemed that Sirius had made it his mission to get terribly drunk and Remus couldn't quite understand why. What is he running from? With Sirius, the answer was never clear.

"I'm trying to have fun," his friend replied snappily. That was the end of that.

"Well I for one would love a shot," Leila volunteered cheerfully. Sirius passed around the glasses and everyone partook.

"Has anyone actually seen James and Lily in the past hour?" Marlene asked once they had recovered.

"I saw them leave together," Peter grinned.

"Well good for them," Sirius raised his bottle of butterbeer up in a toast, "to James and Lily getting laid!"

"Say that any louder will you," Marlene grumbled. Remus might have suggested then that Sirius slow down on the drinking but it was a lost cause. He'd never listen, especially not when he felt like Remus was parenting him. Rather, Remus would have to watch his friend slip into drunken oblivion and make a total fool of him.

"Welcome to my world," he leaned over, whispering in Leila's ear. She smiled.

"I'm happy to be part of it."

She looked happy too - truly. Remus wanted to imagine that he and Leila could have the kind of love that seemed to exist between James and Lily - unbending and honest - and yet, his secret hung over them like a dark cloud. Leila leaned over, nuzzling her head against his shoulder, holding on to his arm. Remus knew he was falling in love with her. The longer he stayed the harder it would become when the day came that the charade could no longer be maintained…


Marlene had been on the dancefloor with Sirius and Peter all night but stepped out, disappearing into a sea of students in search of some water. Wisps of blonde hair had slipped from her ponytail and stuck to the back of her neck - slick with sweat. There was a jug of water - which remained full no matter how many glasses were poured - on the table with the booze. Marlene chugged her first cup, filling another. The room swayed, just slightly, to the beat of the song playing. She didn't recognize it - something by The Bee Gees perhaps?

She might have returned to the dance floor then, to find Sirius and Peter jumping around in the crowd, but something stopped her, rather, someone.

"You came," Marlene said, mouth dropping open as she watched Henry approach. His brown hair was slicked back, he'd changed from his sweater into a t-shirt that had "POWER TO THE PEOPLE" printed across it in big bubble letters.

"I figured it would be a waste not to witness at least one of these famous Marauder parties."

"Oh, I think you've attended one before."

Henry smirked. "I forgot about that night."

Marlene hadn't. The last time she'd seen Henry was at her house during a party that was thrown before she entered her fourth year at Hogwarts. Henry had been part of the group of friends invited by her sister and she had likely seemed nothing more than a child to him at the time.

"Can I get you a drink?" She offered.

"I'm alright." He was staring at her, hands tucked into the front pockets of his trousers. His lips turned up.

"Care to dance?"

"Not really."

"Not much of a party guy are you?" Marlene's eyebrows rose. Henry chuckled, was that a nervous laugh? His eyes flickered down towards his feet.

"Truth be told, I only really came tonight to see you."

"Oh." Marlene's heart quickened in her chest.

"Sorry." Henry looked up at her now. "Is that weird?"

"No." Shocking was all. "I, um...you know I always had a bit of a crush on you when I was younger." It was all she could think to say at the moment, to ease the tension.

"Yeah?" Henry's eyes lit up. "What about now?"

"Well, time has been kind to you…" Henry took a step closer to her and Marlene could feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. His hand brushed down her arm.

"You too." Marlene could smell him he stood so close - spearmint and the faint scent of Sleekeazy. They were looking at one another, gazes caught, and Marlene tipped her head forward, expecting a kiss to follow…

"I should go," Henry finally said, drawing away.

"What?"

"You're drunk Marlene, and as much as I would love to, you know, explore these feelings we've shared, I don't believe a party with a bunch of schoolkids is the best place to do it."

Marlene's stomach sank. "If you're trying to suggest that I'm too young for you-"

"No," Henry shook his head. "I know there's much more to you than a number."

"So I'll see you again?"

"If you'd like to."

"Yes." Marlene regretted not giving her answer a few more seconds, she hated to look too eager - or worse, immature.

"I'll write you."

"I won't hold my breath," she said - half-jokingly. Henry rolled his eyes, still smirking and Marlene - without much thought - stepped forth, taking her chance. She took his face in her hands and kissed him the way she'd imagined many times before. Except, this time it was real. This time Henry's lips moved against hers in unison and his hands slipped down her lower back.

Marlene skin was on fire as they came apart, her eyes studying him close for any signs of regret. If Henry had been smirking before, now he was practically grinning.

"I'll see you around McKinnon."

"You better." she watched, rather proudly, as Henry stalked away with a little skip in his step. She'd done that. She had made Henry bloody Fawley giddy as a schoolboy. Marlene was standing there, feeling quite proud of herself when she noticed Sirius watching the edge of the dance floor.

Their eyes met briefly, one meaningful stare, and suddenly he was stomping towards the exit, Marlene chasing after him. Sirius was drunk, though not the worst she'd ever seen him, and Marlene knew that alcohol only made him foolish. By the time she got out the doors, he was already halfway down the corridor.

"Hey!" she called out. "Oi! Just hold up won't you?"

"Is he your boyfriend now?" Sirius demanded, turning on her with his classic, icy gaze.

"No! It was a kiss, that's all." Marlene knew that wasn't quite true, though she could never admit it to Sirius. "Anyway, what does it matter if he were? It's not as though you want to be my boyfriend."

"You have no idea what I want," he snapped at her.

"Why don't you tell me then? What is it you want from me, Sirius?" Her arms were crossed, her rosebud lips turned down in a frown. He was looking at her as if she were stupid, like a child who didn't quite understand the rules of the game. It only made her want to push him more, to demand answers to the questions he would refuse to give.

"I don't get you," Marlene said once it became clear that Sirius wouldn't answer her question, at least not honestly. "You just want to own me. You want to claim me, like your property, and stop anyone else from touching what's yours. Just because we shag doesn't mean I owe you anything."

"I never said you did," Sirius grumbled.

"Then why on earth are you angry with me?"

"I'm not angry—"

"I'm not an idiot Sirius, I saw the way you looked at me, I see it in your eyes now and yet still you won't just be honest with me…"

"What do you want me to say?" His rage began to bubble over. "That it makes me sick to my stomach to see you with the guy? I hate his guts because I know exactly what it is he wants, it's the same thing I want but can't have." This was the first Marlene had heard of Sirius wanting anything from her that was not purely physical.

"Who said you couldn't have it?" Perhaps it was the alcohol or the dramatics of the moment that prompted the question. "I know I haven't. I've always made my feelings perfectly clear."

Sirius looked to her, mouth ajar, eyes softened now that the heat of the moment had passed. "You've never been perfectly clear," he told her, still awed. Marlene stepped forth, almost impatiently, and drew him into her by the fabric of his shirt, their kiss filled with the passion of a thousand words left unsaid, feelings which lingered between them but never surfaced.

"All you've ever had to do was ask," Marlene told him as they drew apart, Sirius' cheeks flushed. He stared down at her like she'd gone mad, perhaps she had. Not even ten minutes ago she'd been kissing Henry, making him promise to write her, and now here she stood - assuring Sirius that she was his for the taking. She already was though, part of her had belonged to Sirius from the moment she'd kissed him that first time, passionate and furious all at once.

"What's going on here?" Sirius and Marlene, who'd been standing inches apart, both jumped back as James' voice echoed down the hall.

"Oh nothing," Marlene said as casually as she could muster, "just having a chat."

James and Lily came striding over, hand in hand. There was no doubt about what they'd run off to do, especially not by the look of them.

"Come on, Lily," Marlene stretched her hand out for her friend's. "I haven't danced with you all night."

"Alright," Lily agreed, sharing a glance with James before following Marlene back into the party, the boys staying behind.


Sirius stood across from James, head bowed guiltily. It was a close call - had he and Lily come around the corner a few seconds earlier they might have seen Marlene and Sirius locked in an intimate embrace, and how would that be explained?

"Was that really just a chat?" James was no idiot. "It sure didn't look like it to me."

"We're just friends," Sirius protested, "nothing more."

"You know it has to stay that way." Sirius knew it was a warning. "Don't forget what you promised me-"

"I haven't. Believe me." How could he forget? He'd known when he'd promised James that he would stay away what a lie it was. He'd always been drawn to Marlene - it was why he'd been forced to make the promise in the first place - and James had always known that Sirius would be her undoing. Sirius was poison, his family had made sure of that.

"She likes Henry," James reminded him as if Sirius needed reminding. "He's good for her."

"Isn't that for Marlene to decide?"

"I'm only trying to say…"

"I know what you're trying to say." Sirius was too drunk to hold his tongue. "I've received the message, loud and clear."

"I'm only trying to protect you, both of you," James frowned. Sirius knew that wasn't quite true. James wanted to protect Marlene from Sirius. He wasn't good enough for her. In James' eyes, no one would ever be good enough for Marlene.


Alice hadn't realized how much worse she would feel with a little alcohol in her. There she was - dancing with Frank, wearing the ring he'd given her, the one that implied a rather important promise…

She couldn't tell Frank the truth now though, not while drunk and certainly not in a room full of students. No, instead, Alice chose to drown her sorrows in alcohol. It was fine at first - in fact - she and Frank had a lovely evening together for the most part. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Alice did not feel sick with grief nor remorse. She could see a light at the end of the tunnel, a faint glimmer of hope which promised a future worth living.

It was half-past one when they decided it was time for bed. Alice, who'd made the mistake of wearing heeled shoes to the party, walked barefoot through the castle corridors, leaning on Frank. They were laughing about something, a joke she'd told, when they turned the corridor for the stairwell to Gryffindor Tower.

Alice had thought them to be alone, foolish girl, when shrill laughter filled the hall and there emerged Peeves, floating before them.

"Ohh! Look who Alice chose to kiss tonight!" Peeves did circles around them. "This one's hair is much tidier!"

Alice felt the walls closing in on her - her chest tightened with fear.

"What did he say?"

Alice stayed silent, watching Peeves float off, giggling, through the far wall. She had hoped to wait until tomorrow. To have one last normal night.

"Alice," Frank said, drawing her back into the present. She could lie if she wanted to - the thought did cross her mind - but what was the point in it? Sooner or later, the truth would come out and Frank would know for certain who she really was, even if this wasn't how she'd planned it...

"I can explain," Alice began, Frank's face falling.

"So it's true? You've been snogging someone else?" He'd never looked at her like that before, so...disappointed.

"No," Alice shook her head, though it wasn't far from the truth, "it's not like that - I swear!" Frank began to walk away, Alice catching him by the arm. "It was a mistake, Frank, please, I was going to tell you-"

"When?" He bellowed, turning on her with rage in his eyes.

"Tomorrow, I swear I-"

"I don't believe you."

"Frank…" her eyes filled with tears, the vision of her boyfriend, standing before her with a face full of pain, blurring.

"Who?"

"What does it matter, it didn't mean anything!"

"Who!"

"Everett," Alice confessed, her eyes dropping in shame. Frank didn't say anything for a while, he didn't move, Alice could hardly tell if he was breathing. When she finally found the strength to raise her glance he was turned away from her, head in his hands.

The sound of people coming echoed from around the corner, students returning to their dorms after the party.

"I need to go," Frank said, striding forth with Alice following in his wake.

"Please, just talk to me," Alice felt sick to her stomach. "Let me explain, I...I...can explain, Frank I swear it. I wasn't myself, it wasn't me I...I fucked up, I know I fucked up but I love you! I love you!"

"I can't even look at you right now, Alice." She deserved that, though the words hit like a blow to the stomach. She'd hurt him and betrayed the trust he had placed in her. She had failed him…

What else could she say? Alice followed silently down the staircase. It spit them out on the landing just above the Gryffindor Tower entrance.

"Will you just let me talk to you once we're alone?" She begged, hopeless.

"Not tonight." He wouldn't turn, not a single glance. He gave the Fat Lady the password in a chilling tone and strode inside as quickly as his long legs would carry him. There were a few party stragglers down in the common room, not yet ready to call it a night. Alice walked quietly past them, following Frank with a bowed head, to hide the tears rolling down her cheeks.

Frank took the staircase to the Boys' Dormitory two steps at a time. Alice raced to keep up with him. "Five minutes," she continued to plead, "that's all I ask, please, just give me five minutes." She couldn't let it rest, not now that the truth was out in the open, nor with so much alcohol in her system, pushing forth her worst impulses.

"I don't owe you anything," Frank reminded her, "and unless you would like me to end this relationship here and now I'm going to bed."

"Please!" Alice was practically sobbing now. "Frank, we can't just leave it like this, we have to work it out-"

"Go away, Alice. Please, for the sake of my sanity, just go away!" It was the last thing he said to her before slamming the door in her face. Alice collapsed at the top of the staircase, crying so profusely she was sure other boys in their dorm rooms could hear. She didn't care, not now that everything was ruined.

The door behind her suddenly flung open and when Alice turned around Frank was standing in the doorway. She wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Just tell me one thing," he demanded, "was it before I proposed?" It pained Alice as she nodded her head, stomach all knotted with guilt. "You're disgusting," he seethed, disappearing into his room once more, the door slammed.


Mary and Emmeline were the first girls back to the dorm room. The party had been as good as any Marauders bash - alcohol flowing, good music, better company. Mary had spent most of her evening dancing with Emmeline. It wasn't until the two were quite drunk that she caught sight of Reginald in the crowd, standing at the edge looking rather uncomfortable.

He was wearing the same clothes that he had been in earlier at the library. He didn't even have a drink his hand, standing with his hands tucked awkwardly into the pockets of his black trousers.

"You look like you've never been to a party before!" Mary teased him when she approached.

"Well, it's not exactly my scene…" he confessed, looking a little embarrassed.

"Well come on then, let's get a drink in you!"

Reg hated Firewhiskey, though it turned out he was a rather big fan of Vodka - who knew? He and Mary shared a shot and then she mixed him up one of her "famous" cocktails - known for getting people terribly drunk. It wasn't until Reg had finished his drink that he was ready to join her on the dance floor. It had been fun. She'd never pictured herself shaking around on the dancefloor with Reginald Cattermole and yet there she was, letting him take her by the hand and twirl her around.

Mary was not into him. Not romantically at least, but he was good company. He laughed at her jokes, provided his input when needed and never seemed to grow tired of Mary's endless chatter. It was easy hanging out with Reg, easier than it was with most guys his age.

Mary was just turning back the covers, reflecting happily on her evening, listening as Emmeline hummed to herself from the bathroom. It was a peaceful scene before the door flung open and in stumbled Alice, mascara streaking down her cheeks as she cried. Mary took one look and knew exactly what had transpired.

"Oh no."

"He f-found out," Alice blubbered, collapsed in a heap of tears. Mary went to her, taking Alice in her arms.

"You told him?" Mary asked.

"Peeves did." Mary would need to ask more about that one later. Emmeline emerged from the bathroom, clueless.

"Who died?" she asked, looking curiously upon the two of them.

"My relationship!" Alice cried out, Emmeline's mouth dropping. The door to the room opened once more, Marlene and Lily appearing, wearing the same expressions as Emmeline did.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Alice and Frank broke up," Emmeline filled them in.

"What?"

It seemed only Mary understood what was going on and, with Alice sobbing in her arms, there was no way for her to explain the entire situation to the room. It took Mary nearly ten minutes to calm Alice down and get her off the floor and into bed. Luckily, it turned out Emmeline (a notorious insomniac) kept sleeping potion hidden in her trunk. With a little coaxing from everyone, Alice took some, drifting off into a, somewhat, peaceful slumber.

Only then was Mary finally able to turn to the other girls and fill them in on the secret she had kept to herself for weeks.