Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter. I'll let you know when I do :)

Chapter 6: Sisterly Affection

"I can't believe you came!" Marlene was sitting cross-legged on her bed, Scarlett mirroring her position the opposite end.
"Come on, Marls, I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Scarlett exclaimed.
Marlene hadn't stop smiling since Scarlett arrived. She was still rendered speechless. As if the necklace wasn't enough, Mr. and Mrs. Potter had spoken with the minister to see if Scarlett could be removed from her safe house for a few days. The fact that Mr. Potter was head Auror obviously worked in his favour as she had, in fact, been able to travel down.
"How is little Audrey?" Marlene was desperate to hear about her niece.
"She's perfect. Jack is a perfect father. Everything is perfect Marls," Scarlett beamed, as she talked about her family, "Here, I bought you some pictures. Once this is all over-or at least once you are out of Hogwarts- you can come and meet her. And obviously, I need you for my wedding to be my maid of honour!"
"Really?" Marlene asked, in surprise, "You really want me to do that?"
Scarlett laughed, "Of course I do! Who else would I ask?"
"I don't know. I just can't believe you're actually getting married. All that time you refused to even take a guy seriously…."
"I know, I know," Scarlett rolled her eyes, "Jack's call just came out of the blue. We were good friends during school, you know? He never took girls seriously either. It was meant to be…much like you and Sirius," Scarlett added with a wink.
"Me and Black are not meant to be at all. He's insufferable, and full of himself. He thinks I'm going to just jump in his pants because he's good looking!"
"And good looking he is," Scarlett agreed, to which Marlene looked flabbergasted, "Hey, don't look at me like that. I'm only two years older than you. If I wasn't happily engaged I'd have him myself."
"Ew no, then I'd be related to him," Marlene shuddered.
Scarlett tried to reason with her, "You've spent half a summer in his company and you haven't died yet."
"With yet being the operative word," Marlene grumbled.
"All I'm saying Marls is, you don't take guys very seriously correct? In fact, I'm sure you've never dated someone for more than a couple of weeks. Now, think of Sirius. He doesn't take girls very seriously either, right?"
"Well, no, sleeping with them and then dumping them didn't count as 'serious' last time I checked. At least I know the guy's name first."
"See!" Scarlett clapped triumphantly, "Perfect for each other! You could make him a better man, you know…" She teased.
"Scarlett, shut up!" Marlene threw a gold silk pillow at her sister's head.
"Perfect for each other…" Scarlett sang.
"Merlin's beard, you're crazy. Absolutely mental. Having a child has done something to your head, Scar. You would have to be insane to think that me and Black are 'perfect' for each other."
"The first sign of love is denial."
Marlene threw another pillow at her sister, "It's really not. I hate the guy."
"There's a thin line between love and hate."
"Are you like, some kind of oracle?"
Scarlett rolled her eyes, "In all seriousness, come back in five years time and tell me honestly that you don't love Sirius Black, and then I will believe you."
"Fine."
"Okay."
"Good."
Silence.
"Marleeeeeeeeneeeeee."
Nothing.
"Maaaaaaarleeeeeeeeyyyyyyyy. Maaaaaarleeeeneee. Maaaarlssss."
"What?" Marlene snapped.
Scarlett grinned, "Nothing!"
Despite herself, Marlene broke out into a laugh, "Such a child!"
"Come over here and give your sister a hug," Scarlett pouted. Marlene shook her head, a smile etched across her face as she crawled into her sister's outstretched arms.
"I missed you, Scarlett," She mumbled.
"I missed you more, Marls."

"You've totally ditched us for your sister!" Sirius threw himself dramatically on the sofa next to where Marlene was sitting in an armchair, "And don't try to deny it, because James agrees. Don't you James?"
James looked sheepish.
"Well, she is my sister," Marlene shrugged.
"I'm offended, McKinnon! I'm offended truly and dearly from the bottom of my heart," Sirius clutched at his chest.
"Good. Maybe it will help deflate your ego," Marlene shot back, "James is my friend. And you…well, you are annoying. But she is my sister, and she is leaving soon. I have to make the most of my time with her."
"But you're of age. Don't you even want to hex us?"
"Don't give me ideas, Black;" warned Marlene darkly, "Scar is leaving in a few days anyway, so you'll have me all to yourself."
"If that isn't an innuendo, I don't know what is," James grumbled.
"Ew, James, it wasn't an innuendo. It was your dirty mind that made it an innuendo."
"But tomorrow, we have to share you with Lily-flower too, which is even worse because I have to share Prongs too!" Sirius pouted.
Marlene looked at Sirius, "Oh, don't worry. Lily won't steal James away from you, Black."
"No, I mean, he'll be so busy staring longingly at her that he won't have time for me either!"
"Hey! I do not stare longingly!"
"You kind of do," Marlene admitted.
Sirius did a double take, "I'm sorry, Marlene my dear, but did you just agree with me?"
"No," sighed Marlene, "I just stated a fact. Don't get too excited."
"I'm always excited when you're around," Sirius winked suggestively.
"And on that note, I'm going to go and find Scarlett," Marlene wrinkled her nose in disgust and left the room.
"I rest my case!" Sirius said, triumphantly.
"What's your sudden obsession with hanging out with Mar anyway?" James queried.
Sirius shrugged, "She's fun to wind up. That's all."
"Oh really?" James wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Yes really," Sirius rolled his eyes, "Seriously, Prongs, you sound like a girl!"
"Sorry, Pads. All I'm saying is I know you. You've got to be attracted to her, right?"
"Physically yes," Sirius nodded, "Obviously, I am human you know. And she's bloody hot. But I don't do all that emotional crap."
"Neither does she. You're made for each other!"
"You really have been reading too much Witch Weekly," Sirius said, "Nah, she's a tricky one to place, that McKinnon. She's not a bimbo, and doesn't seem the kind to sleep around but she does. But she likes control, and so do I. We clash."
"Aaaaand she's also like my little sister, so I think it would be wise to stop this conversation here."
Sirius shrugged, "You did ask."

"Don't you miss Audrey and Jack?" Marlene wondered aloud, as she munched into one of the chocolate's James had gotten her for her birthday. Her and Scarlett were lying on the grass in the Potters' garden, watching the clouds pass by; it was something they did as children. The Potters had a spectacular garden, as magnificent as the house. The grass was plush and green; there were fountains and various other water features; a tree house, ideal for camping in; blooming flowers in every colour imaginable; gigantic trees that gave the impression of residing there for hundreds of years. The Potters were infamous for their show stopping garden parties, and had had rivalry with the Greengrasses (a Slytherin/Ravenclaw pure-blood family) over who possessed the lushest grounds for years. Obviously, it was not as prevalent for the current generation as it had been for previous ones. After all, there were much more pressing issues at hand nowadays.
Scarlett nodded, "More than you could imagine. But it is important for me to spend time with you Marlene. I know how hard it must be for you to be completely isolated from the rest of your family."
"We're all in the same boat," Marlene shrugged.
"It's different for your brothers and I. We are used to living away from mother and father now. We have our own families. You don't, Marls. You're still a child."
Marlene shook her head, "Don't say that Scarlett, you know it isn't true. I'm not a child. Hell, I haven't been a child for a long time."
"You're still in school," Scarlett reasoned.
"There's no time for childhood in these dark times, Scarlett. I'm happy here with the Potters, but even if I wasn't, I would be able to look after myself."
"I don't think you appreciate what a dangerous world it is out there, Marlene."
"I do," Marlene disagreed, "I really do."
"I'm not going to argue over it," Scarlett sighed, "Please, just value the time you have with your loved ones."
"I will," Marlene promised, "I'm really glad you're here Scarlett. No matter how welcome I feel here, I've missed my family."
"I know you have. But I'm going to have to go back tomorrow, you know that right? It's just not safe for us both to be here. It puts the house under more threat."
"I know," Marlene leaned her head on her sister's shoulder. Scarlett put a comforting arm around her shoulder, stroking her hair softly.
"Don't be sad, Marley. Hopefully this will all be over by Christmas, and we'll be back together as a family again."
"I really hope so," Marlene sniffed. As a general rule, Marlene McKinnon did not cry. It was just not how she functioned. She wasn't an emotional kind of girl.
"Lily will be arriving tomorrow, anyway. You two will have a great time together!"
"I know we will," Marlene nodded, "I just wish you could stay longer."
"So do I Marls, so do I."

A/N: I felt like putting this at the end today. I'm different. Okay, so Scarlett is inspired by my own sister who I hardly ever see, but we're still super duper close. I hope you like her, even if she's not sticking around for long :'( I'm going to find a way to bring her back. I think you also find out more about Sirius and Marlene's relationship, as well as Marlene's personality respectively. I quite enjoyed this chapter :)

Reviews are like candy. xo