A/N: A new chapter for you all! I'm trying to update every Sunday but no promises. I like this chapter, and it's a long one, so I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.

Chapter 16 - Adventures

A few weeks passed. There was a Quidditch match on the horizon, which meant James had been driving everyone crazy, madly talking about tactics and springing spontaneous practices on the team.
"So I was thinking, maybe you lot could give Hogsmeade a miss this weekend so we can practice?" He said.
They looked blankly at him. A stony silence settled over the ground as James eyed them apprehensively, bouncing back and forth onto the balls of his feet. They waited for him to laugh; crack a joke. He couldn't be serious! Finally, Marlene spoke.
"Bloody hell, James, you've actually gone mad. He's actually gone mad. No, no, no."
"You got a date McKinnon?" Sirius teased.
"No, but I'm not ditching my one day of freedom. I'd rather walk from the team."
Sirius glanced from his best friend, to Marlene, and then back again, "Much as I hate to agree, she is right Prongs. You're talking madness. It's not fair of you to expect that from us."
"Marlene's right," The sixth year seeker, Flora Randall, nodded in agreement.
"And the rest of you share Marlene's opinion?" James sighed, and the rest of the players nodded or grunted in agreement.
"Alright then," James sighed again, "I'll see you on Monday. Six o clock sharp." He trudged inside, feeling slightly disheartened. James always got stressed before Quidditch matches, and with a match next Saturday, he failed to see how they could afford to miss another practice. Especially as it was against Slytherin. It would damage his pride to lose to them, and it was already a struggle to book the pitch before they did.
"James, don't worry about this match. We've got it in the bag for sure," Marlene touched his shoulder, "You need to stop stressing. You're head boy as well, you know, and it's not fair on Lily if you let her down by slacking on your half of the duties. Quidditch doesn't have to be as big of a deal this year."
"Are you joking?" James looked at her blankly, "You know what an escape Quidditch is for me Marlene. We can't lose this match."
"And we won't. You have to stop with all of this defeatist talk, and believe in us, James. When have we ever let you down?"
"You haven't," James sighed, "I just wish I'd realised the date the first match would fall on when Evans and I were setting the Hogsmeade dates, that's all."
"C'mon Jamie, cheer up. You should've known no-one would agree to miss Hogsmeade for Quidditch practice! We don't all have the burning passion you seem to."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright James, I understand how stressed you are, but don't take it out on us. Please."
"I won't."

"So I was thinking, we should have a girls' day out at Hogsmeade this weekend," Marlene suggested, sitting on her bed, facing her dorm mates. Emmeline, Dorcas, Alice, Mary and Lily were all scattered around the room. Lily still spent a lot of time in the Gryffindor girls' dormitory despite having a room of her own.
"Oh, I'm sorry Marls I can't," Lily looked up from her book apologetically, "I agreed to meet with Potter to discuss heads' things."
"What?! You're blowing me off for a date with James?" Marlene's eyes almost popped out of her head.
"Not a date," Lily corrected, "A discussion. We're trying to put together a defence group. Maybe you could join us? I'm sure we'd appreciate some other students' input."
Marlene rolled her eyes, "I'd rather die than third wheel. What about the rest of you?"
"I can't either," Emmeline admitted, "Remus and I are going for a drink."
"Mary? Dorcas?"
"Slughorn decided to schedule a Potions study session for those underachieving, I unfortunately fall into that category," Mary rolled her eyes.
"You? Underachieving? If anyone's underachieving in that class, it's me!" Marlene's mouth dropped open.
"I'm exaggerating. He mentioned it in class the other day, if you were listening. It's for those who want to push themselves up a grade. I need an O in my NEWT to become a healer, and I'm only working at an E. I thought it might be helpful."
"Sorry Marls, it looks like you're going to be third wheeling, I've got a date with the library. Sorry."
"Alice, you have to be free, right? I mean, Frank doesn't even go here anymore, and you're not going on a date-"
"Actually, Frank is meeting me in Hogsmeade," Alice interrupted, "I haven't seem him since summer."
"It's the first week of October!"
"A month is a long time when you're in love," Mary laughed.
"I can't believe this! You guys are rubbish friends!" Marlene pouted, throwing herself back onto her bed.
"I've said you can come with me," Lily reasoned, "Actually Marlene, I'd really appreciate it if you would come. It might be a little awkward for Potter and I to be alone together. Granted, he is slightly less of an insufferable toerag than last year, but I'm not entirely convinced I like him."
"You owe me."

"Ah McKinnon, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Sirius Black grinned as Marlene and Lily descended the stairs to meet James in the common room.
"Hold on a minute, Lily, you never said Black was part of the deal."
Lily raised an eyebrow, folding her arms, "I didn't know."
"Sorry," James said, "But you know what Sirius is like when he gets an idea in his head."
"Maybe I should've joined Dorcas in the library," Marlene said, bluntly.
"Ah don't be such a killjoy, McKinnon," Sirius slung an arm round her shoulders, "It's almost like a double date."
"This is not a date," Marlene and Lily said in unison, the former shrugging Sirius' arm away. James frowned.
"You erm…you didn't think this was a date, did you Potter?" Lily asked, noticing his expression.
James shook his head, "No, no of course not…it was just…Marlene, did you say Dorcas was in the library?"
"Yes, why?"
"It's just…I could've sworn I saw her leaving for Hogsmeade early this morning."
"You must be mistaken," Marlene said quickly, "Why would she lie?"
"You're probably right," James nodded, "Shall we get going?" The girls agreed and the foursome headed downstairs.
But despite her words, Marlene couldn't shake off James' comment.
Because really, she didn't doubt that Dorcas had lied about her whereabouts.
The only question was…
Why?

"This is so boring," Sirius sighed dramatically, not for the first time in the past hour.
"Well nobody asked you to come Black!" Lily snapped, before going red, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. I'm just a bit stressed."
They were currently in The Three Broomsticks, papers spread all over the table. James and Lily were looking at the practicalities of starting a defense group, and apparently, it wasn't quite the simple task they'd anticipated.
"What I want to know," Marlene said finally, "Is how we're going to keep the Slytherins out but get the good people in."
"We could put notices up in the common rooms," Lily suggested.
"But wouldn't we get done for discrimination?" James frowned, "Marlene's right. It's going to be impossible to only recruit people with good intentions."
"Well, why don't you let word of mouth do the advertising for you?" Sirius wondered.
"What?" Lily frowned.
"It's simple Evans. Recruiting Gryffindors is easy, the whole common room will have signed up by tomorrow. But you've got Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw friends right? Just ask some of them to bring a couple of friends along, make them sign an oath of secrecy and bam, club formed."
Lily nodded slowly, "You know, that's not a bad idea Black."
"But what happens if they break the oath?" Marlene said.
"We could place some kind of hex on it. Then we'll know who the traitor is!" Sirius said, excitedly. Suddenly the conversation didn't seem so boring anymore.
"That's surely not legal," Lily frowned.
James added, "And once it's out, it's out. If we're forming this club with the intention of continuing it after we leave school, then we need to think of some other way. We can't risk our secrets getting out."
"You make it sound like an army, Potter, that's not the point," Lily stated, "The point is to educate students who are vulnerable to death eater attacks. Muggle borns, half bloods, blood traitors, etcetera. We could always talk to Dumbledore."
"Great, now that's sorted, can we do something fun?" Sirius asked, quickly losing interest now he had realised that the group was supposed to be educational, not revolutionary.
Lily raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms, "You can leave Black. But we're not done here."
"Prongs?" Sirius eyed his best mate hopefully.
"Sorry mate," James held up his hands, "I'm not bailing."
"McKinnon?" Marlene looked at her choices. Get bored out of her mind while simultaneously third wheeling, or spending an afternoon with Sirius Black...
"You know what, I'll think I'll join you," Marlene stood from her seat.
"What?!" Lily and Sirius said at the same time.
"You invited me," Marlene glared at Sirius.
"I didn't expect you to say yes!"
"So you don't want me to come?"
"For goodness sake, if the two of you are going to bicker, I don't want either of you to stay!" Lily rolled her eyes, "Are you going or not Marlene? If not, just sit down and don't make unnecessary noise."
"Merlin Lily, no need to get your knickers in a twist," Marlene teased, "See you back at school."
Lily waved her off, "Bye!" Marlene shot her a glance before pushing through the crowded pub, out into the cobbled street.
"What's the rush McKinnon? You'll give me a heart attack!" Sirius panted, "Maybe you should get fitter Black."
"No girl has ever complained about how fit I was before," He winked before adding, "If you know what I mean."
"Gross!"
"The offer still stands, you just have to say the word," Sirius winked.
Marlene stopped in her tracks, shaking her head, "Stop. I thought we were gonna do something fun?"
"Yeah sure," Sirius suddenly grinned, "So I was thinking, we could go to the-" Sirius babbled away beside her but Marlene was distracted. She was sure she'd just seen Dorcas walking up the hill towards the Shrieking Shack. But that was impossible, she said she was staying at school. Her mind flickered back to James' comment this
"So what do you think?" Black concluded, "McKinnon? Earth to McKinnon? Marlene?" He snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"What? Sorry, I didn't hear you."
"You're going deaf in your old age," Sirius said.
"Sorry, Black, I might have to leave you hanging."
"Why? You heading back to school?"
"No, I've got something to do."
"Ooh, an adventure. Sounds fun! Can I come?"
Marlene looked at his hopeful face. She couldn't help but compare him to a puppy, the way he looked at her. Despite herself, she grinned.
"Okay, you can come, but you have to be really quiet. And I mean silent!"
"Whyyyy?" He pouted.
"Because we're following Dorcas, okay? And I don't want her to know."
"Dorcas? But I thought you said she was in the library."
"Well, that's what I thought but clearly she's not because I just saw her. You coming or not?"
"Which way did she go?" Black asked, taking off in the wrong direction.
"Towards the Shrieking Shack!" Marlene called after him, and he turned round.
"The Shrieking Shack?" He asked as they took off. Marlene had lost sight of Dorcas' indigo cloak now, but she was certain of where she was headed, "What business has Little Dorky Meadowes got in the Shrieking Shack?"
"Don't call her that!" Marlene scolded, immediately jumping to the defence of a girl she'd once considered her best friend, "Anyway isn't it obvious? She's meeting someone in secret and she doesn't want us to know about. Duh."
"This isn't the gossip column in Witch Weekly, McKinnon."
"I'm offended that you even think I read that thing," Marlene rolled her eyes, "Besides, I'm not making it up. I already know she's seeing someone. I just don't know who. But this secret meeting just proves it's someone I'm not going to approve of, otherwise she'd just tell me."
"You're paranoid I swear. Maybe she was just taking a walk?"
"Don't be-hey, shut up! There she is!" Marlene pushed Sirius down behind a bush.
"Woah, McKinnon, we haven't even courted yet," Sirius grinned.
"Shut up," Marlene hissed, "She might hear you."
"She's going into the Shrieking Shack, Marlene, she is not going to hear me."
Marlene stood up, "We have to follow her in."
"What? Are you crazy?" Sirius said, "I don't know if you've ever been in the Shack, McKinnon, but every floorboard creaks. There is no way we'll get in without her hearing us."
"We won't be going anywhere with that attitude. If you don't want to come in Black, I'll go alone."
"No way, I'm not missing this catfight."
"You're a jerk." Marlene stepped out from behind the bush once she was sure Dorcas was inside. Then she gestured for Sirius to do the same, and started to walk towards the door of the shack when she heard voices.
"Wait," She said, "I can hear them from here."
"They're in the front room, I can see," Sirius said, crouching by the window.
"You can see? Who's she with?" Marlene joined him, speaking in a hushed tone.
"I don't know," He answered, "I can only see the back of his cloak."
"So it's definitely a he?"
"You thought it might be a girl?"
"You never know," Marlene shrugged, "Now, be quiet I'm trying to listen." They fell silent and Dorcas' voice floated through the cracked window.
"This has to stop. Marlene's onto us, I'm not risking my friendship with her."
"We've talked about this. She has no idea who I am, you're not risking anything." Marlene knew that voice, she knew she did. She just didn't know who it was. She looked at Black who shook his head.
"Beats me," He shrugged.
"There's too much at stake...I could lose everything."
"I'm putting just as much on the line here as you, Dorcas." Who could it be? And why would their relationship being outed result in them losing everything?
"I'm the one who'll end up dead." Marlene couldn't help herself. She gasped loudly. Her hands shot over her mouth.
"What was that?" Dorcas panicked.
"Move," Sirius gritted his teeth.
"This place is full of mice, and is probably haunted," Her male companion said, as Marlene and Sirius pressed themselves against the wall, moving slowly round the back of the house.
"I'm not convinced…" Dorcas' voice was getting quieter, and Marlene was straining to hear it, "I'm going back to the castle. We'll talk about this some other time."
"Alright…and Dorcas?"
"Yes?"
"I…I lo…I'll look out for you okay? If things go wrong. We can make it through."
"I wish I could share that optimism." The sound of the door swinging open, made Marlene's heart thud but she relaxed once she heard footsteps retreating down the hill. She went to step out but Sirius grabbed her arm, "Wait," He hissed, "Lover boy hasn't left yet."
"Do you…do you think we could catch a glimpse of him?"
"No way, unless you want him to catch a glimpse of us."
"You're right," Marlene slumped back against the wall. They waited in silence until they heard the door swing open again. There was a short pause.
"Hello?" The voice called out. Marlene's heart was beating so loudly, she was sure the mystery man would hear it. However, he clearly decided no one was there because soon enough he was walking away, down the hill.
"Can we do something else now? Something that doesn't involve you following your best friend like a psycho?"
"Sure, but first one question…"
"Merlin McKinnon, does your curiosity ever go on holiday?" She glared at him, and he sighed, "Ask away."
"Did you recognise that guy's voice?"
"Sure. But he goes to our school, and I've spoken to more or less everyone in this school. In our year at least."
"But it sounded more familiar than just someone you've spoken to in passing, right?"
"McKinnon, I couldn't care less. It wasn't James, Remus or Peter."
"Really?" Marlene said sarcastically, "I never would've guessed. And what did she mean by she'd be the one to end up dead if anyone found out?"
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Sirius laughed, throwing his arm round her shoulders, "Merlin's beard McKinny, just relax for once. Dorcas is a big girl, she can take care of herself."
"That's what I'm worried about."

Marlene tossed and turned the whole night. It was bugging her. She just didn't know where she recognised his voice from. And it would be near impossible to find out. She looked over at Dorcas sleeping in the bed next to hers. It was impossible to believe that the girl sleeping in that bed, so innocent, so peaceful was lying to her. Not to mention Dorcas was so on edge lately and yet, when asleep, she was so calm. It was hard to fathom that the two girls were the same person.
Marlene yawned. It was nearly five am now, and she knew people would start rising around six. Tiredly, she stood and pulled her sleeping gown on over her pyjamas. She considered getting dressed but figured she'd wake her dorm mates and she didn't want that. Instead, she left the dormitory silently, making sure the door didn't slam behind Surprisingly to Marlene, the fire downstairs was still crackling but even more surprisingly there was a figure sitting on the couch facing toward the fire.
"Black?" She said. Sirius looked up.
"Oh. Hi, McKinnon," He said.
"What are you doing here?"
"Couldn't sleep," He replied, "You?"
"Me neither," She sighed, and sat in the space beside him, mesmerised by the blazing flames burning before them.
He frowned, "You're not still worried about the Dorcas thing are you?"
"No!" Marlene said quickly before looking guilty, "Not worried. Just concerned."
"Aren't they the same thing?" He raised an eyebrow before sighing, "Look, if I've learned one thing about chicks throughout my years of seducing them, it's that if they don't want to talk they won't. And if they do, they will. Merlin, if they do, they won't bloody stop."
"Black."
"Sorry," He apologised, "What I'm trying to say is, she'll talk when she's ready."
"And what if she's never ready?"
"Then she'll never talk," Sirius shrugged, "She's what, seventeen? Eighteen?"
"Eighteen next month."
"Then you can't keep obsessing over this. She's an adult, she's entitled to her secrets."
"Aren't you even a little bit curious?"
"If I'm honest? No." Sirius said bluntly. Marlene glared. "Look, McKinnon, I'm telling you not to meddle with this. It isn't some trashy novel we're talking about here. We're talking about lives, real people's lives. There's a reason Dorcas doesn't want you to know. I think that was pretty clear from the conversation we overheard, don't you?"
Marlene shook her head, "I'm not leaving this alone."
Sirius shrugged, "Suit yourself." He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.
"You can't smoke that in here," Marlene frowned.
"Who's gonna stop me?" Sirius' eyes twinkled, as he took a drag, "Want one?"
"I don't smoke," Marlene shook her head.
"And here I was thinking you were some kind of rebel child."
"You're wrong," Marlene said quietly, "You know, I did use to live purely to piss my mother off, but when things started getting bad, when our family honour was put under threat, I figured it would be easier just to do what she says. Because I didn't know if the next time I left for school, I didn't know if that would be the last time I saw her. And my worst fears were confirmed when I got that letter from my parents saying I'd be spending the summer with the Potters. It was like…like that punch in the stomach I'd been waiting for. Now, I'd give anything to hear my mother nagging at me to act like a lady."
"You know, it's not your fault that your parents had to move up to Scotland," Sirius snuffed out the cigarette, "It's not like they were ever going to be on You-Know-Who's side…was it?"
Marlene rubbed her forehead, "No, not exactly…there was talk, in fourth year, of a betrothal. Between me and some Slytherin. It was before things got bad and my mother…she wanted to try and save her family. When she saw how awful things were turning, she called it off immediately."
"You knew who it was with?"
"It's irrelevant now anyway."
"Would you have gone through with it?"
"Would I have had a choice?" Marlene laughed humourlessly, "Although admittedly my daddy would've had to drag me down that aisle kicking and screaming before I said 'I do'."
"Now that, I would like to see," Sirius chuckled. They fell into a comfortable silence before Marlene's eye caught something in his lap.
She nudged his shoulder with her own, "Hey, what you got there?"
Sirius shrugged, "It's a load of bullshit." Without another word, he screwed it up and tossed it into the fire.
"I won't ask if you don't want me to."
"It was a letter from my mother."
"Woah," Marlene said, "I didn't even think you two were on speaking terms."
"We're not. But she likes to write to me every once in a while to remind me how much better off she is, and what a massive mistake I've made by being a blood traitor. Do you remember my cousin Narcissa? She's only a year older than us."
"Psycho Bella's sister, I wouldn't forget. She was always very quiet in comparison."
"She had a kind heart when we were little but I suspect that's gone now. She's married to Lucius Malfoy."
"No way! He was such a creep!"
"My cousin in law now, apparently. Well, if I hadn't been disowned. Did James ever tell you about my parents?"
"Not any details."
"Well, I'm sure you can put two and two together. I won't be scrounging off of the Potters forever, though. My uncle died, and he was like me. Like us. He's left me his inheritance, so I can buy a place of my own once we leave here."
"Aunt Etta doesn't mind having you around. I'd go as far as to say she enjoys your company."
"She doesn't need the added stress now Charlus is gone."
"You're not a burden on their family, Sirius, I spent one summer there and I know that." He looked at her amused. "What? Have I got something on my face?"
"No, no, it's just…you called me Sirius."
"That's your name, isn't it?"
"Sure," He shrugged, before winking, "Marlene."
"You're an idiot," She laughed.
"You look much better when you're laughing," Sirius said, reaching out to brush a strand of hair away from her face. Her smile dropped immediately, as her mouth parted, her eyes dropped to his lips.
"I…" He was leaning in when suddenly the portrait hole swung open.
"Ah, shit, sorry," A third voice interrupted the moment.
"James?!" Marlene said, jumping back, "What are you doing? It's like 6am!"
"I could ask you two the same thing!"
"We were just…" Sirius began.
"Couldn't sleep," Marlene interrupted, "I'm off to have a shower. See you guys later." She made for the girls' dormitories.
"So what was all that about?" James stared at Sirius curiously.
"Couldn't sleep," Sirius shrugged, "You? I thought you had your own fancy dorm. You and Lily Flower have a fight?"
James rolled his eyes, "I'm going to fly, big game coming up in case you've forgotten. "
"Doesn't explain why you're here. Maybe you're concussed...this isn't the Quidditch pitch." "I was gonna ask you a favour actually mate…I had a bit of a broom accident, mum's ordered a new one but it won't be delivered until the day of the game. Can I borrow yours?"
"Sure…but hang on, you're flying for the first time on a new broom in a game? Perhaps the biggest game of the year?"
"Gotta be done. Cheers Padfoot, I'll see you later." James headed for the boys' dormitory and Sirius was left to sit on his own in the common room, wondering what the hell just happened between him and feisty Marlene McKinnon.