Danse Russe
Chapter 9
Kismet tell me its okay
"Morning, Remus," Marlene whispered chirpily into Remus Lupin's ear, brushing his messing hair from his eyes.
Remus shook his head turning and burying his face deep into the white pillow. "No, Poppy, no more soup," he groaned tiredly.
Marlene chuckled stealing his pillow and placing it behind her head, leaning back into the chair bedside his bed. "It's not Poppy. No worries."
Peering at her through one eye as if to assure himself that she was telling the truth, Remus rolled over and sighed heavily. "What's up, doc?" he greeted, yawning and stretching his arms above his head.
With a harrumph Marlene placed the pillow in her lap clutching it tightly to her chest and resting her cheek against it. "What are you playing at?" she asked frowning at him.
"What d'you mean?" was his solemn retort.
"Oh, don't play dumb with me, Lupin. You've set your little whoremonger of a friend on me and I want to know why," Marlene answered shortly, giving a brisk nod of her head.
Thin, dry lips quirked up into a smile as Remus sat up, letting the white sheet pool around his hips. Marlene's eyes only hovered over the newly added scar sweeping across his abdomen for a brief second before returning to his soulful gaze. "I have not set Padfoot on you, Marley; he took up the interest on his own. I merely suggested—"
Marlene cut him off. "Merely suggested?" She snorted. "You know those idiots better than you know yourself, Mr. Lupin. Do not give me that shit."
Resignedly, Remus shrugged. "Well, it wasn't my intention to 'set the whoremonger' on you." He rolled his eyes at her words. "I was just making sure you weren't out and about on your own. We're not exactly living in safe times, Marlene."
"Oh," she replied dryly. "It wasn't your intent to have him shove me against a wall and fuck me senseless? Because while it was rather enjoy—"
"He did WHAT?" Remus shouted throwing his blankets to the floor and attempting to jump out of the bed.
Marlene laughed, shoving his shoulder playfully. "I'm just screwing with you, Remus. Relax."
Gulping and falling back onto the bed Remus frowned darkly. "That wasn't funny," he said moodily.
A smirk danced across Marlene's lips. "Yes, it was." Remus growled earning a delightfully chuckle from Marlene.
When he finally caved admitting the humor in the situation he graced her with a hint of a smile, before settling against the headboard and rummaging through the sweets on his bedside table for the chocolate. "So, Marley, what are you here for? Other than attempting to give me a heart attack, of course," he queried, yawning sleepily.
Marlene smiled faintly; her eyes resting on the exposed portion of his calve, studying the thin scars that marred the pale flesh. "I want to know what you know, Remus, because I know you know something." She took a deep breath chewing her lip before bringing her gaze to meet his. "And, I think you knowing… Well, it might make things a bit easier."
Remus gazed at her questioningly his heart pounding in his ears. Was she talking about, what he thought she was talking about?
"I mean," continued Marlene with a begrudging sigh, "it's not like I can really talk to Black about anything. And I just, I think—" She paused frowning at her hands until he slipped one of his into her grasp. "I think talking might do me some good." Rushing to explain further her eyes flicked up to his, panic barely hidden in their depths. "Not that I'm not okay, because, truly, I am. I just…"
As her voice trailed away and her gaze returned to their entwined fingers, Remus leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her furrowed brow. "You just need for someone else to tell you it's alright." He smiled as she gave him a wary shrug. "A conformation, of sorts."
"Yeah." She nodded. "Yeah."
Inhaling deeply and releasing the air slowly through his nose, Remus tugged on her hand asking her to join him. Marlene chuckled slightly before crawling into bed beside him, leaning against his shoulder, letting the steady beat of his heart ebb away the tension eating at her soul.
"So," she said softly, "I take it you know we've slept together, then?"
Remus nodded curling a strand of her hair around his finger. "I was—" he started hesitantly, trying to place his words well. "After you had—" He paused humming a sigh. "Had informed him of your…" Inhaling sharply he plowed on hoping his word choice would not cause her anymore undue pain. "Miscarriage. Sirius came to get me. He seemed to think I would know how to handle the situation better than him." Smiling faintly, he let the curl he had been twirling absently fall from between his fingers. "You, evidently, felt differently."
"I—" Marlene began, nestling deeper against his chest as if to hide. "I didn't know you were there," she admitted embarrassedly. "Even after the thing on the staircase. I just thought you'd realized I was upset. You do that."
"That I don't doubt," Remus replied delicately. "I'm sure he practically overdosed you. He's never been good at guessing another's weight."
Marlene smiled dimly, closing her eyes. "Have you spoken of it?"
"No," he answered softly, "he has been quite adamant to the fact that it is your business and you will inform those who need know."
"That's kind of him," was her simple response.
Remus laughed softly. "Yes, he is quite noble for a whoremonger." With a faint grin Marlene nodded mutely.
"I suppose, I should tell you the rest, then?" she asked quietly after a long moment of silence. She merely received a shrug of acceptance in return. It was the response she needed and Remus Lupin knew that.
"It was Halloween; James had to put me to bed because I was so out of it. I practically passed out on you."
"You did pass out on me," Remus corrected her the memory of the evening surprisingly vivid. 'Remus, I've… I think I've done something…,' her soft swaying voice echoed in his ears as her pale face and glassy eyes danced in front of his face.
"Right," Marlene agreed. "I had been— I snuck out to—" Pausing, she frowned. "Forgive me, everything is fuzzy. I don't really have a clear picture, just moments," she said, her tone tinged with annoyance.
"I hadn't even arrived to Hogsmeade and just snap everything went dark. He must have come up from behind." Shaking her head her frown deepened. "I'm not sure. Anyways, you can fill in what happened I'm sure."
Remus gave a weak sound of acknowledgement. He could clearly imagine what happened despite the fact that he wished otherwise.
"After the Quidditch match I was sure I was going to die," she laughed bitterly. "I didn't realize that it was more than just a lot of bruising until Merlin, I don't even know. Jay took me to the hospital during break. He had come over to see if I had some extra strings —for his guitar, you know— and I was on the couch positive that I wouldn't last the day. It hurt so fucking much and I was bleeding and I just…" Tears had welled in her eyes, so she stopped, taking a deep calming breath as Remus tightened his grip around her shoulders.
"I couldn't really believe it at first, you know. That I was pregnant or not pregnant, really. The whole world just felt like it was collapsing around me. I don't remember what I told Jay, but he didn't ask questions. Just took me home and put me to bed. Maybe they told him." She sighed smiling humorlessly. "If they did and he hasn't said anything, I really should buy him a drink."
As she lapsed into silence Remus took a large breath of air holding it for a moment before saying, "You know, it wasn't —it isn't— your fault, Marley. You know that, right?"
Marlene looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, laughing quietly. "I suppose, that's what I need you to confirm."
Remus sighed softly, wrapping his arms tightly around her, holding her closely. "It only gets better from here, Marlene. It only gets better from here."
--
Sirius Black yawned hugely, flicking his hair out of his eyes impatiently and he slowly strode down the corridor toward the kitchens. The great thing about being a Marauder and knowing where the kitchens were hidden was one never had to worry about over sleeping and missing breakfast. It was served all day to those who knew how to tickle a pear.
Abruptly halting as if he ran into an invisible brick wall as he turned the corner, Sirius' eyes widened in shock. Standing not four meters in front of him was his younger brother, slumped haughtily against the wall alongside Severus Snape watching with a sick pleasure as Conroy Avery tormented a young Hufflepuff girl.
The girl was whimpering tears with spilling down her cheeks as Avery whispered only Merlin knew what in her ear. Sirius glowered, his stomach knotting in disgust.
One may begin to think, considering his next actions, Sirius Black was becoming quite the knight in shining armor despite his assertions against the fact. And decidedly, he was correct. He was no knight in shining armor. It was not the hapless Hufflepuff, but the sudden realization of the scum his younger brother had befriended goaded the actions he took.
"Regulus," the name was growled out with such distain all the boys jerked their heads to attention. The frightened girl using Avery's shocked state to scurry away.
Regulus smirked, shoving himself off the wall dismissing the other two with a sharp incline of his chin. Of course, they did not fall out of sight as they would have done had Sirius been in his brother's shoes. They merely leaned against the wall of the corridor, watching the exchange with delighted interest. "Sirius," he hissed in return striding forward, "how are you?"
Sirius did his best not to laugh at his brother's attempt to be snide. It wasn't exactly something he was good at. He could and should employ other, better means of striking fear into his adversaries.
As soon as Regulus was within reach Sirius grabbed the collar of his shirt, lifting him off his feet and shoving him into a picture of a bistro, muttering "spirits" as he did so. The two of them slipped through the painting and into a dingy room.
Immediately releasing his brother, Sirius stepped back, brushing his hair from his eyes. "Sorry kid, I didn't want your little friends to hear the conversation," he said lightly a hint of a smile on his lips.
It soon vanished as Regulus' fist collided with his jaw. "Who the fuck do you think you are?" he growled, shoving past Sirius in an attempt to leave the room.
Sirius stood in shock for an inexplicably long moment, his mind reeling. He truly hadn't expected that.
Grabbing Regulus by the back of his robes, Sirius slammed him against the wall in a fit of rage. "Me? Who do I think I am? Who do you think you are? Do you realize what sort of scum you are spending your time with?"
"Wizards worthy of my time! Unlike you. You surround yourself with half-breeds, Mudbloods, and blood-traitors!" Regulus snarled struggling against Sirius' strong hold.
"Worthy!" Sirius shouted. "Worthy? Are you demented? Avery is a rapist and a murder! And Snape! Don't even get me started on that bastard and what he has done."
Regulus merely raised an eyebrow. "And you are so much better, brother? Just because you didn't have the balls to do it yourself, and your arrogant little friend saved your ass, doesn't make you any less guilty of the crime."
Reeling back as if slapped Sirius yanked his hands away from his sibling, his hands afire with a mixture of disgust and self-loathing. "You know nothing of that night, Regulus, don't pretend to understand."
"Oh, I understand plenty, brother," sneered Regulus, straightening his collar. "You see, we don't keep secrets from each other. We're family." As the word rolled off his tongue Regulus revealed a dark tattoo painted across the surface of his left forearm. Regulus smirked at Sirius' appalled expression. "Maybe you should get yourself one, Sirius. I'm sure mother would welcome you back with open arms if you did."
Snorting, Sirius spat, "As if I want the approval of that heinous bitch."
With a scoff Regulus brushed past Sirius, heading for the exit. Just before he left he paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Oh, by the way, is your little Mudblood poppet still selling her services? I have it on good authority that she's quite the pleaser."
It took a moment for Sirius to understand his brother's words and once their meaning did seep into his mind the only thing that kept Regulus alive was the mere fact that he was, despite everything, Sirius' baby brother.
--
An enraged Sirius Black stormed up the boy's staircase, slammed the door to his dormitory open and roared despairingly as he disappeared into what he thought was solitude. He was proven wrong, however, when a frightened squeak followed by a dull thump and quiet curse sounded in response to his actions.
"Get out!" he yelled, jabbing a finger at the door as Marlene McKinnon picked herself up off the floor.
"But I—" she started, gazing at him with confused eyes.
"Out!" he shouted.
Marlene stared at him, unmoving. "Remus—" she cut off noting the blood trickling down his cheek. "You're hurt," she whispered stepping closer to him. Her body shivered involuntarily as she saw the endless agony in his eyes; he looked about to collapse in sadness. "Let me…" She moved to inspect the wound above his eye and he grabbed her arm in a bruising grip.
As she gasped sharply at the pain he growled, "Get out, McKinnon."
Fighting down the whimper that desperately wished to escape her lips, Marlene shook her head. "No."
Sirius seemed caught in a moment of desperate contemplation and suddenly arriving at a decision, he cruelly jerked her arm, pulling her flush against him and crashed his lips on her in a brutal, bruising kiss. Marlene screamed, though the sound of it was lost, as he shoved her back against the wall. His hands were like fire, burning every inch of her they touched; his mouth cruel and unforgiving, and she wasn't sure if the blood on her tongue was his or hers.
As quickly as he started it, he stopped, shoving her away from him and toward the door before he went to far. "Out, McKinnon," he panted, "Get out, before I hurt you."
Again, Marlene shook her head. She wasn't quite sure why. It was complete idiocy, ludicrous, but for some reason, as insane as it may be, she refused to flee. "Then, hurt me," she replied defiantly.
Momentarily stunned, Sirius stood still in shock and Marlene took the opportunity to give herself the upper hand.
If it hadn't been for his shocked state, Marlene doubted she could have moved him at all. As it was, she refused to let her moment of advantage go to waste. She shoved him, hard; both hands on his chest forcefully pushing him backwards until his back slammed against the wall. He winced and she smirked. He deserved it, for it to hurt. She knew the only reason her own spine wasn't protesting because of how roughly he'd shoved her against the same wall was the adrenalin pumping through her veins.
Her height definitely wasn't going to help her in this matter and not for the first time in her life Marlene found herself cursing her lack of stature. Standing up on her toes, she fisted his dark hair in her hands and yanked his head down, melding their lips together, showing him she could be just as demanding, just as brutal.
Sirius' shock didn't last much longer and Marlene quickly found the tables turned on her. He pressed her against the windowpane the sharp edge of its latch digging painfully into her back and her feet were no longer able to touch the floor. Tugging at his hair, she dragged her lips away from his and she sank her teeth into his neck until the coppery taste of blood danced on her tongue. As he groaned she pushed herself off the window with one hand while the other remained tangled in his hair.
Slumping to the side, Sirius grumbled, "That hurt," as he slid one arm under her thigh, hoisting her up.
"I know," Marlene breathed before catching his lips again.
They continued their battle of wills and tongues until they managed to fight their way onto someone's bed. Sirius scraped his teeth across the tender flesh of Marlene's neck eliciting, much to his delight, little hums of pleasure from her lips as he pinned her to the bed with little effort.
"Wait, wait," she gasped, "Who's bed is this?" Sirius grunted his disinterest in the question and silenced her with another bruising kiss as his fingers fumbled with the opening of her dress.
After a few moments of failed attempts to remove any of Marlene's clothing Sirius pulled away from her. "How the fuck do you get this thing off?" he growled impatiently.
Marlene huffed, having already achieved her mission in rendering him shirtless and gave him a sharp shove as she sat up. "You unbutton it," she retorted moving to undo the long path of large buttons that trailed from her left shoulder to her hip. Sirius only watched momentarily before deciding that waiting for all those buttons to be undone was something he was unwilling do. He pushed her back onto the bed fisting the two halves of the material in his hands and yanking it apart, sending buttons flying into every corner of the round room. A fiery kiss cut off her indignant response.
His actions and attentions lost none of their ferocity as he moved onto the newly exposed territory. He started with tiny nibbles, which quickly lead to sharp nips that all but broke her delicate skin followed by tender kisses to chase the pain away. Marlene clawed at him, begging him to stop or not stop; she wasn't sure, as her head span with the mixture of pain versus pleasure, and agony versus bliss.
Admix all of it, they managed to divest the other of any articles of clothing still lingering and it was with a suddenly sort of gasp of realization Sirius found himself, driven up to the hilt, inside of her.
"Oh, fuck," Marlene's voice cried through her loud hum of acceptance as her body tightened around him, forcing her to cling to him digging her nails in his skin as the intensity of it swelled around her.
As he began move within her, his thrusts just as powerful and angry as all his other affections had been, Marlene took her opening. Hooking a leg around his for leverage, she flipped their joined bodies in one swift movement. Sirius gazed up at her, his grey eyes wide with shock and she quirked an eyebrow. "Wrestling," she answered his unspoken question with a cheeky grin. "Matt's a big fan."
Moving his hands to her hips, he lifted her up; eliciting a harsh shudder from her as he forcefully pulled her back down. "Get on with it, then," he growled, gripping her so tightly angry red welts appeared on skin.
Her nails dug into him as she moved, her heavy breaths mingling with his as they both fought to prove something, though neither knew what.
It was with a guttural groan Sirius filled her with his seed and a whimpering "hmm" Marlene collapsed atop him, both panting heavily as they clung to the fleeting memory of their orgasm.
Sirius recovered first gently removing her from his chest as she moaned in protest. He fumbled around for his wand and upon finding it, quickly rid the entire room of any evidence of their escapade. Unless of course, you counted the two of them lying, naked, together in his bed.
"Are you on any sort of birth control, McKinnon?" he asked immediately regretting the words as they left his mouth. That was definitely not the way to go about that.
Marlene frowned. "Way to kill the afterglow, Black." She rolled her eyes, laughing a little. "Of course, I am. I have been ever since I realized you can get pregnant without having sex." Sirius snorted. relieved she hadn't taken offense. He could have easily wounded her with those words and he knew it.
"So, what had your knickers in such a twist?" she asked, tugging the blankets over her. "It's freaking cold in here," she informed him as she snuggled down into the blankets.
Sirius sighed heavily. "Aren't you to tired to have this conversation?" he responded, crawling under the blankets with her and curling his body around hers, yawning into her hair.
"Quite," she answered shortly, "but if I wait, I'll forget."
"Mm," he mumbled, breathing in her scent for what he just knew would be the last time. Preparing for the worst he said tonelessly, "My brother's a Death Eater."
"Oh," was the shocked reply.
Endnotes:
1) Finally, some sex. -grins cheekily-
2) I apologize for the cliff hanger. I think that's two already in this story. Wow. Usually, I don't do that.
3) Review because you love me?