November 20-21, 1990
The night sprang to life around them. Marlene shouted a warning and pulled Remus to the ground as a bright green spell shot over their heads. Sirius swore sharply and shot a curse into the shadows before pushing Callie behind a tombstone. Death Eaters stepped out from behind gnarled trees. The corpse of Arthur MacDonald splintered the sides of its coffin and stood with jerking motions.
Callie gripped her wand and shot a curse behind the tombstone. The corpse took a twitching step, then another. She glanced to her right and saw Remus and Marlene crouched behind another tombstone, under heavy fire.
"Now this is more like it!" Sirius shouted. He shot a spell over the tombstone at the corpse. "Has Horcrux hunting always been this fun?"
Callie shifted to the balls of her feet. "Stay focused. The corpse must be protecting the Horcrux." A bit of the headstone she crouched behind fractured as a spell crashed again it.
Remus shot a stunning spell at the MacDonald corpse. It glanced off, causing no damage. He frowned. "What kind of magic can animate the dead?" he shouted over the din.
"The dark kind," Marlene answered. "Cover me!" She dove from behind the headstone, sprinting toward a tall statue closer to the advancing line of Death Eaters.
Sirius saw her go and quickly joined Remus in firing curses at their attackers. A grin spread across his face. "Callie, you and Remus sort out the Horcrux; Marlene and I will take care of our friends over there." Before she could respond, he sprang from behind the tombstone.
Callie watched MacDonald advance. She tried another spell in vain. Taking a breath, she left her cover and joined Remus.
"How do we destroy it?" Remus asked, trying a fire-making charm. The fire was absorbed by the creature and extinguished. "Magic can't touch it."
Callie wondered at his composure. He wasn't caught up in the fight like Sirius; he was studying their main objective with level-headed calm. She shook her head. "I'm not sure."
"Well, it's coming right for us," Remus reminded her unnecessarily. He looked behind them and found a massive statue shaped like a rook on a chessboard. He caught Callie's attention and pointed to the stone. They retreated and ducked behind it to buy more time. The creature came on. It was slow but unwavering. Callie's eyes scanned the graveyard before landing on Sirius and Marlene. They were fighting back-to-back, drawing the Death Eaters' attention.
"We don't have long," Remus said. "Where would the Horcrux be?"
Callie closed her eyes and listened. She pushed away the din of battle, the lurching cries of the corpse, and focused on the undercurrent. That pervading, hissing whisper. It sounded almost as if it was coming from…
"Remus, it's inside the corpse," Callie said.
Remus muttered a curse. "How do we get it out?"
Callie winced. "I think we're going to have to reach in and take it out."
Remus sighed and rolled up his sleeves. "Well, I've done worse. I'll restrain it, you grab the pin."
"Are you sure?" Callie asked. "That thing is strong enough to smash the coffin; it could kill you."
"I'm positive. Just hurry and grab it." Remus adjusted his hold on his wand. "Lure it away from the Death Eaters. We won't be able to fend off stray curses while we're grappling with that thing."
They retreated farther and farther into the graveyard. The creature continued to follow. Remus ducked behind a tombstone while Callie continued back. When the corpse crossed in front of Remus he jumped out, wrapping an arm around its neck. The creature screamed. Callie lunged for it and plunged her hand into its chest. The fabric and flesh gave way under her hand. The creature's body convulsed. Her fingers grazed its shriveled heart and she forced down the rising bile in her throat. It lashed out. She blocked with her free arm. Something cold touched her hand and sent an icy chill through her. She grabbed it and wrenched her arm free of MacDonald's chest.
It twitched and went limp. Remus let go and it crumpled to the snow-covered ground. Callie uncurled her filth-covered fist, exposing a gleaming pin of gold encrusted with tiny red rubies. The place where it touched her skin was freezing. She quickly reached her other hand into the satchel at her side and pulled out the box Dumbledore had given her. The moment the lid closed over the Horcrux, the whispering stopped.
"Let's go!" she shouted over the noise.
Remus saw two Death Eaters break off from the pack and charge toward them. He grabbed Callie's hand and disapparated. They landed just outside the protective spell barrier around Hogwarts castle. They stepped through and turned around.
"Where are they?" Callie asked anxiously.
Remus looked at his hand in disgust. The decay from the corpse had rubbed off of Callie's hand. "They'll be here."
Sirius and Marlene appeared a moment later, both flushed, breathless, and exhilarated. They laughed as they pushed through the magical barrier. Blood trickled from Marlene's temple and Sirius' shoulder and hand, but neither seemed to notice.
"Got it, then?" Sirius asked, still grinning like a madman. "Excellent. Drinks at the Three Broomsticks?"
"Sounds perfect," Marlene agreed, matching his smile.
"I think I can free a little time," Remus said.
"I'll meet you all there, then," Callie replied. "I need to get this to Dumbledore first."
"Tell you what," Sirius interrupted. "We'll have drinks in! I'll pick up some things from Rosmerta. Callie, we can use your room."
It would be safer to stay in Hogwarts. She nodded. "Alright, sure." Sirius took drink orders and ran back to Hogsmeade. Callie showed Remus and Marlene to her room, deposited them there, and made the journey to Dumbledore's office. She wrote her report, taking her time on the details.
Why was the prospect of having drinks with Sirius, Remus, and Marlene so daunting?
She watched as Dumbledore destroyed the Horcrux, striking it with the ever-faithful Sword of Gryffindor.
Two more to go. Two more and she'd be done with this. Two more and Voldemort would be vulnerable.
Hang the prophecy; she was ready to go after the monster herself.
Callie finally bid Dumbledore goodnight (or good morning – it was nearly dawn) and made her way back to her room. She found the stretch of wall concealing the Room of Requirement and knocked. It was opened almost immediately by Sirius, who grinned and ushered her inside. Next moment she had a bottle of Firewhiskey shoved into one hand and a meat pasty into the other and was sitting at a little table she'd never seen before. Clearly the room had adapted again.
"Two more to go!" Sirius announced. He raised his glass and the others followed. They drank to the end of Voldemort.
The morning quickly deteriorated in a haze of alcohol and laughter. It had been ages since Callie had hung around with a group of friends and she let loose slowly but surely. Sirius suggested they play strip poker, which Marlene agreed to readily and Remus and Callie were just tipsy enough to allow. Remus wiped the floor with all of them. Sirius lost.
Around ten, Remus said his goodbyes and headed out. Half an hour later, Sirius pulled a glass mirror from a pocket inside his coat. "Sorry, girls, I've gotta take this. It's James."
"Ah, yes, can't keep your husband waiting," Marlene replied with a grin.
Sirius laughed. "I'll grab some more whiskey while I'm out." He flashed them both a wink and walked out of the door.
Marlene laughed and poured herself another drink. "He is such an idiot." She began gathering up the cards, shuffling them absently. "So how's the hunt going?"
Callie shrugged. "Really slowly, to tell you the truth. There's one more I have to find. I know it's here in Hogwarts, which is why I've been here so bloody long, but I can't find it."
Marlene sipped her drink and reclined in her seat. "Which one is it?"
"The diadem of Ravenclaw."
"And the other?"
"Nagini, You-Know-Who's snake. That one… well, I don't know how I'll kill that one. She never leaves his side, from what Regulus has told me."
Marlene nodded. She stared down into her glass and swirled it absently. Callie looked into the fire flickering in the hearth.
"Listen," Marlene began suddenly. "I can't help but feel responsible for you being stuck with this job. If I hadn't opened my mouth at the Ministry, none of this would have happened. I guess what I'm trying to say is… I'm sorry. I know this can't be an easy job."
Callie's brows rose in astonishment. She'd never expected Marlene to apologize for that. Honestly, she'd completely forgotten. "It isn't your fault," she replied, and discovered that she meant it. "I mean… at least someone is doing it, you know? Better me than no one."
"Still… I'm sorry you have to do all this alone. I can't imagine how lonely it must be."
There was genuine concern in her eyes, and it surprised Callie more than that animated corpse had. With a guilty shock, she realized that she'd probably completely misjudged Marlene. Why? Just because she and Sirius had history. She almost laughed at how stupid she was being. Sure, it hurt seeing them together, but that was hardly Marlene's fault. And it was no reason they couldn't be friends.
"Thank you," Callie said. "That means a lot. But really, it isn't your fault."
"Thank you for doing all this."
Callie shrugged. "It's my job."
Marlene smiled a little in response, and Callie returned it. They sank into a companionable silence.
"Can I ask you something?" Callie asked eventually.
Marlene shrugged. "Sure."
Callie took a breath. "You and Sirius?"
Marlene frowned. "You mean are we together?" Callie nodded. Marlene thought for a moment before answering. "It's pretty complicated. We've dated off and on since our fifth year at Hogwarts. It's the strangest thing, we both care a lot for each other, we'd do anything for each other, and yet… we can't seem to stay in a stable relationship." She shrugged again and took a swig of whiskey. "Maybe we're just too similar."
Callie could see the pain in Marlene's eyes. "Do you love him?" The question was out before Callie had time to process whether or not she wanted an answer.
Marlene nodded without hesitation. "Yes, I do. But sometimes that isn't enough." She paused. "I've always known it would never last forever between us. Even in school, I knew. One of us would fall in love with someone else and that would be the end. Honestly, I never expected to last this long. But he's also one of my dearest friends. He's been there for me through a lot. And I don't want to lose him." She paused. "He's so good at hiding how understanding he is. I have a large family, and they're the most important thing in the world to me. I'd do anything for them. And somehow he managed to understand that even though his own family is absolutely horrible. That's just the sort of friend he is. He's also wildly protective and loyal to a fault.
"I'm glad you brought him up, because I've been meaning to talk to you about that. I think he may have found someone else. And good for him. I know he'll be really happy with her."
Callie felt her face warm. It was obvious who Marlene was talking about. She opened her mouth to respond, but Marlene cut her off.
"It's okay, you don't have to say anything. But I've known Sirius for a long time and I know the way he looks at you. Just… don't hurt him, okay? He's not as tough as he likes to pretend he is. And as much as I'm for women's lib and sticking together, I should warn you: I will personally hunt down anyone who hurts that man." She grinned, but Callie knew she wasn't joking. "And trust me, I know it's weird that we're friends and the history we've had. But however much I care about him, I would never get between him and whoever he falls in love with. You both deserve much better than that. I'll stay out of the way. I promise."
Callie was floored. She was a little overwhelmed by her words. For one thing, she'd had her suspicions about Sirius, but being told by Marlene McKinnon that Sirius was in love with her was entirely different to wondering if it were the case. And Marlene promising to stay out of the way was another shock.
There was a knock at the door and Marlene rose to open it. She let Sirius in. He grinned and looked between them. "What were you two talking about? Me?"
Marlene laughed. "Yeah, you wish."
"How's James?" Callie asked, grateful for the change of subject.
"He's well. The Death Eaters didn't find them." Sirius walked over by the fire and picked up his coat. "Mar, we'd better go. You know how the head of office gets."
She nodded and grabbed her coat. "Thanks for letting us crash here, Callie."
Callie nodded. "No problem. Thanks for your help tonight."
"If you need any more help, you know where to call," Sirius said. He looked at Callie and their eyes met. He gave her a look that somehow simultaneously calmed all her fears and set a fire in her blood. "See you soon."
She swallowed and nodded. "See you soon."
Sirius gave her one last smile before walking out and joining Marlene in the hall, closing the door behind him. "Ready? We should still have time to-"
He was cut off by Marlene's mouth on his. She fisted the collar of his shirt before he had time to think and forced him back against the wall, kissing him fiercely. Then her fingers were in his hair and running down his chest and he didn't want to think. His body responded to her automatically, hands finding her waist and head turning so he could kiss her deeper.
Her touch was electrifying. It always had been. She knew how to make him want, how to make him need. And when she kissed him like that, he needed her.
She broke the kiss, staying so close that her nose still brushed his. She watched his eyes struggle to focus, felt his chest rise and fall as he fought to catch his breath. "Let's find a room," she whispered.
He swallowed hard, mind hazy and unfocused. His body reacted as strongly to her as it always did, but there was a voice in his head that was trying to tell him something else. He needed a moment to work out what it was saying. "Mar," he began, but he was cut off by another searing kiss, deeper than the one before. Her body pushed against his. Her hands roamed his chest and he was lost again.
Then her fingers grazed the edge of a cut left from the battle in the graveyard and pain ripped through his mind, sharp and sobering. He realized where he was and what he was doing.
Shit.
Sirius' hands were still on her waist. He pushed her away. She looked at him in confusion. "Sirius? What's wrong?"
"Just… just give me a second." He shut his eyes tightly and swallowed hard. He drew in deep breaths to calm himself.
A slew of every expletive he knew in every langue he knew it in ran through his mind. What was he doing?
Marlene's hand touched his cheek in concern, but he jerked away. "Sirius?" She sounded slightly offended.
"We can't do this," Sirius started.
She chuckled. "What are you talking about, of course we-"
"I'm in love with someone else!"
Marlene froze. The words rang through the hall, echoing off the stone walls. It surprised him. He'd known that he was in love with Callie, but he'd never dared say it out loud before.
She stared at him and he stared back. There was no surprise in her eyes. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
Sirius' expression turned stony. "You knew," he stated. "Didn't you?"
She sighed and took a step back. "Give me some credit, Sirius. Of course I knew."
"Then what the hell was that!?"
She shrugged. "Just wanted to see how serious you really are about her. No pun intended. I guess we've both got our answers."
Sirius didn't know what to say. On the one hand, that could never happen again. On the other, he cared deeply about her and hated to hurt her. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. It was messy from Marlene's fingers combing through it moments before.
"Let's get another drink," he said at last. "We have a lot to talk about."