Chapter 5: Seeing Stars
Marlene didn't see Sirius at dinner and he wasn't in the common room either. Unsure on whether or not she was being stood up, she got out her Charms homework and tried a few basic spells non verbally. Being in sixth year meant that everyone suddenly went silent. You could tell the sixth years from any other year because they all developed a nasty habit of muttering under their breath.
She had decided to start with first year spells and work her way up, she also had decided to do it in threes. First by saying it verbally, then muttering under her breath and finally saying the spell in her head. It worked, after half an hour she could levitate a feather, open doors, create light and even transfigure her quill into a rose.
By the time she was on sixth year spells - which included jinx's and shield's, it was nearer ten o'clock and Sirius still hadn't turned up. Mary and Lily had joined her and all three of them were throwing silent jinxes at each other.
Mary (who wasn't taking NEWT Defence) excused herself at eleven and left Lily and Marlene working on their non verbal Patronus'.
Lily had managed to produce a beautiful silver doe, when the portrait door opened and four tired but happy teenagers clambered through.
James looked at the silver doe in awe. "Was that non verbally?" He breathed as Marlene summoned an eagle.
Sirius rushed forward. "Marlene I'm so sorry, give me two seconds and I'll be with you. That's if you still want to..." He broke off.
Marlene nodded, "It's fine. I've waited five hours another 2 seconds won't hurt."
Sirius grinned from ear to ear and rushed off in the direction of the boys dorms. He turned back: "James can I?"
James nodded, "In my trunk."
"Cheers mate." He said before he ran up the stairs.
Peter flopped down on the sofa. "I can't even produce a non corporeal Patronus let alone do it non verbally."
Lily looked down at him sympathetically, "I'm sure everyone will help."
Peter shook his head. "Maybe I should just drop Defence. McGonagal's right I barely scraped in 'A' in the exam. It's lucky Livingston takes students with an 'A' pass.
James patted his friend on the shoulder. "Don't give up just yet, come on we have a free period first thing, we'll have an early start and get cracking."
Peter said nothing just nodded his head and went upstairs.
"You have a free period first thing on a Monday?"
James grinned. "Then Herbology and after the break there's Charms, Transfiguration and Defence before lunch. Then good old Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies to make Mondays a great start to the week."
"I have Arithmancy first thing but both Peter and I have last thing free, so once you guys have finished Muggle Studies you can join us in the Library." Remus said stretching and standing up. He could tell the full moon was a few days away he was getting more tired and paler.
James noticed how pale his friend was. "I think I'll turn in as well, we spent all day in the library. See you guys in Herbology."
Marlene and Lily nodded and watched the two boys head up to their dorm.
Lily gathered her books together. "Have a nice night." She said stifling a yawn, It was after all almost midnight. "Come in quietly." She added with a grin before heading in the direction of the girls dormitories.
Marlene had just finished packing up her books when Sirius came down the stairs with what looked like a silvery cloak. "James has leant me his Invisibility Cloak. I've arranged a picnic on top of the astronomy tower."
"Wow it's a really clear night. You can see so many stars." Marlene exclaimed as they arrived at the top of the astronomy tower.
Sirius steered her over to a blanket and a picnic basket. He placed the Invisibility Cloak on the floor next to him just in case they needed it in a hurry. He set plates out and brought out glasses and a couple bottles of Butterbeer. He also produced a cigarette lighter and lit two candles.
"Leave your wand at home?" Marlene asked teasingly.
Sirius finished lighting the candles and handed her a Butterbeer. "To be perfectly honest everything I'm doing – apart from standing you up which I apologise again for, is courtesy of my cousin."
"Narcissa?"
Sirius grimaced. "Nah, Andromeada, have you met her? Married a Muggle-born which is why she's my favourite. They have a darling little girl called Nymphadora who is three, I think."
Marlene smiled, "Sweet."
"She's a little brat, she's a metamorphmagus, she's always changing her appearance and driving her parents up the wall."
"A future Marauder."
"That's what I said. Until Andromeada threatened to hex me if I even mentioned the word prank in front of her little angel."
Marlene laughed. She was enjoying herself, a picnic under the stars was a lovely surprise, if not a bit cheesy. 'Come to think of it, it's his cheesiness that makes him so lovable. He tries so hard.' Marlene thought as she took a Cauldron Cake from the plate in the middle.
The November dawn woke him up. Sitting up and stretching Sirius had a hard time remembering where he was. With his memories also came the dull ache of sleeping on a cold stone floor. Marlene was still sleeping. He had given her the blanket after she had fallen asleep. They had just been talking about random stuff, about school and home. Sirius still couldn't believe he had told her the real reason for why he left home.
Standing up he walked off some of the stiffness and started packing up. 'She looks so peaceful.' He thought before he gently shook her. "Marl, it's about quarter to eight."
Surprisingly she woke easily and didn't panic about how late it was.
He slipped an arm round her waist and covered them in the Cloak - the picnic basket and blanket had been shrunk and stuffed in his pocket, and together they made their way down the stairs fully aware that breakfast had started and that both students and teachers would be milling about.
Sirius yawned, "You're all right you can go back to bed until second period." Marlene pointed out.
"We're helping Peter conjure Patronus'"
"Yeah James said something about that last night." Marlene whispered as they moved out the way of Professor McGonagal.
They made the rest of the journey in silence as it got harder to dodge students whilst under the cloak.
Finally arriving at the portrait of the Fat Lady they stopped. "You go first, if she asks just say you forgot your book or something."
Marlene nodded and was about to slip under the cloak when she turned and kissed him. It wasn't like the kiss before, 'the accidental kiss', this kiss was deeper and more passionate. Sirius slipped an arm round her back and pulled her closer deepening the kiss even more. Marlene let out a soft moan before breaking it off. "Thank you." She panted before slipping under the clock and walking purposely towards the portrait.
After parting with Sirius outside the portrait of the Fat Lady, she had made her way upstairs and jumped in the shower. The dormitory was empty, Lily, Rebecca and Mary were all having breakfast. She changed quickly and grabbed her bag and wand before rushing out and down the stairs.
"Ah nice of you to join us Miss McKinnon, Miss Evans had informed me you had slept in." Marlene arrived in Arithmancy only five minutes late. She sheepishly apologised and handed Professor Chaldean her homework. Stomach growling she went and sat at her table ignoring Lily and Remus' glances.
What happened where did you go? Lily's neat handwriting appeared on the corner of her parchment. Erasing it with her wand she shook her head. Later she sent back.
Both Marlene and Sirius got told off in Herbology, Marlene for yawning and walking into a bucket of Bubotuber pus and Sirius for arriving late and slipping on said Bubotuber pus. By the time they had clean up (fortunately nobody was hurt) break was over and they both had to leg it over to charms.
"Ah sit down, sit down. Professor Sprout told me you were cleaning up a spillage. In fact Miss McKinnon seen as you are standing up, can you demonstrate a non verbal summoning charm." Professor Flitwick squeaked as both Marlene and Sirius skidded into class.
Sighing, Marlene flicked her wand and summoned a paperweight off his desk catching it deftly like it was a snitch. To make up for the fact she was late to class she also banished the paperweight back to the table and her school bag to her chair next to Lily.
Professor Flitwick toppled off his stack off books. "Well done Miss McKinnon, ten points to Gryffindor, I wonder.... I have heard stories and was wondering if they are true."
Marlene bent down to help Flitwick get up. "I'd rather not sure as it might jeopardise my position on the Quidditch team."
Flitwick brushed down his robes and clambered back onto the stack of books. "Of course, another time perhaps, that my dear is very noble of you."
Marlene smiled and hurried to her seat. A quick look around the room told her that the rest of the students in the class had no idea about the small conversation that just took place.
Lily didn't get a chance to talk to Marlene all through Charms and James couldn't ask Sirius because Professor Flitwick had set them the challenge of not talking throughout the whole lesson, any talking and he would take points off.
Transfiguration was no better and Professor McGonagal nearly took points off from Marlene who yawned every five minutes.
"Miss McKinnon, if you can't be bothered to stay awake then I can't be bothered to teach you." Professor McGonagal crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
"Sorry Professor I am listening. Look." And to demonstrate she silently transfigured her hand into a bear paw.
"I see, well kindly refrain from sleeping in, yes I've heard from all your previous Professors how clumsy you get when tired. This is not like you Miss McKinnon. And I don't know why you are grinning Mr Black, free periods are not to be used for extra lie ins."
Sirius wiped the smile off his face as McGonagal turned his gaze on to him. "I won't take any points of this time due to your excellent transfiguration but be warned. Sixth year is not a year to be slacking." She addressed to the class as a whole. "Now continue."
Knowing better then to whisper to Marlene when McGonagal was in a fowl mood. Lily kept quiet.
Defence went a little better. Although Marlene and now Sirius were both yawning their heads off, they - and also James, Remus and Lily, all managed to produce a Corporeal Non Verbal Patronus which caused Professor Livingston to award them 10 points a piece which James and Sirius enjoyed bragging about whenever a Slytherin walked passed their table.
Lunchtime finally arrived and Lily practically dragged Marlene down to the great hall and started piling up her plate. "Your stomach has been growling all day." She said pointing.
Marlene just yawned. Pushing her plate away she put her head in her arms and closed her eyes. "I just want to sleep."
"What did you guys do last night?" Lily wondered aloud sitting down next to her and piling her own plate with food.
"Talk." Came Marlene's voice from under her arms.
Lily raised an eyebrow.
"I saw that and all we did was talk honest. Now can you stop pecking at my arm, I have about an hour in which I can get some shut eye."
"Pecking?" Lily looked around and saw the Owl pecking at Marlene to get her attention. "You've got mail."
"Tell it come back, preferably when normal Owls arrive. At breakfast."
Lily caught a flash of red tied to the Owls leg. "It's a red letter."
Marlene shot up. "Huh? Oh shit." She exclaimed. Extracting the letter from the Owl she jumped up from the table and rushed for the entrance hall. She didn't get very far however as Snape, Regulas Black and a couple more Slytherins were blocking the way. She got up and tried to get passed them but the red letter exploded and a loud voice filled the hall.
"Dinnae you think of running away quine." The voice that filled hall was a woman's voice. Angry and Scottish. "And dinnae even think aboot casting a Silencing Charm on me." Marlene hid her wand behind her back. She hated the fact that her Mother was always one step ahead. "I've just heard from a very respectable source that you're dating a Black. This is completely unacceptable." A few students laughed as the Scottish woman's choice of words. Marlene had to admit her mother could be very poshly spoken when she wanted to be. "I'm sending this as a Howler because I want you to know that your father and I are very disappointed in you. Next Hogsmead weekend you get your behind home and we'll have a wee chat." Marlene didn't like the sound of this 'wee chat'. "And if you want to go to Lily Evans' house for Christmas then you better stop seeing this Loun. I hope for your sake this is just a stupid school girl crush. I don't want to hear any more stories aboot midnight picnics on top of the astronomy tower." Marlene moaned there was nothing to shout about. She'd probably get another letter from her father tonight apologising for the way her mother over reacted, and was just being overprotective, She rubbed her temples she had forgotten how loud her mother could be.
"Did your mother call me loony?" Sirius asked pulling her into a hug.
Marlene turned around to face him and placed her head on his chest. "Where my mum comes from the say loon for boy and quine for girl." She explained breathing in his scent. She frowned a little, it was perfectly normal, no sign of a motorbike or a wet dog smell.
There was a cough from behind them and Marlene whirled round embarrassed. Professor McGonagal was motioning for Marlene to follow her. McGongal's eyes narrow and her lips were set in a grim line. Marlene groaned. "I'm already seeing stars from the Howler I don't need another telling off."
Sirius smiled and kissed her gently on the head. "I'll see you later." he whispered. Before going to sit at the Gryffindor table next to an extremely worried Lily.
A/N: Thank you so much to my first reviewers (jessluvsharry and xSuperNovax) I had forgotten what that warm fuzzy reviewing feeling felt like. I was panicking just now I looked at my page count and it was reaching five, and all my others had been five and I had so much more to write about. I have a plan of all my chapters (It lives next to my Hogwarts Time Table which took me two hours last night after I got back from drama) So I've had to split this chapter into two. Which means I have planned up to at least chapter 10 and at the moment I'm writing like Jaffa Cakes and Pringles, (Once I pop I just can't stop :D) Chapter six maybe be up sooner than you think but got Drama again tonight and got it all day tomorrow (it's production week), so it all depends.
But for now Mischief Managed (oh and please Review :D thanks).
P.S Loun can also mean rascal, trickster and worthless person, which is what Sirius is in Mrs McKinnon's eyes as anyone who dates her daughter is condemned to be worthless lol.