A/N: This one is a little sappy, and the next one too, possibly. I just love the idea of Sirius being a secret sap. *swoon* That was a lot of S's.

Enjoy chickadees!

Dorcas looked smug, and Lily looked bamboozled.

"But, Mar, in order to be worried about scaring him off you'd have to be. . . OH MY GOODNESS MARLENE MARIE MCKINNON!"

"I told you so Lily!" Dorcas shouted gleefully

"Shut up, Doe! Mar!"

"What?"

"She doesn't know, Marley. This is the only way she knows how to respond."

"That is true. You'd think for someone so smart she could do better."

"Hey! This conversation is about Marlene and Black!"

"Thanks for reminding me Lils! Mar, what're you going to do?"

"Do? What am I supposed to do?"

"Tell him. Duh!"

The warm and teasing cloud of girl talk was quickly beginning to storm as Marlene began pacing.

"I just, I love him so much. He's got so many people dying to just have him say hello. He has girls and a few guys, even, pining after him. I'm not half as pretty, or funny as some of those people. He makes me feel special. I think that's it. That's why I love him, I mean. If he wants to, he makes you feel warm. Like you're safe, and beautiful, and nothing could ever go wrong. He's also the fittest guy at Hogwarts, no matter how hot Lily thinks James is. He's not riding a white horse in shining armor, he's telling me to get that pretty arse down from the bloody tower, no matter how impossible it seems. He makes me feel impossible, like I can do anything and he'll support me with it, even if he has a good laugh about it first. Now, if you don't mind, I'll be out doing who knows what, who knows where with who knows who."

With a final glare, Marlene stalked out of the room.

"Damn. . ."

"Damn is right."

Though the Marauders had the perfect plan to woo Marlene for Sirius, (including cake batter, fishing line, and a bear trap) chance would have it that as Sirius was walking slowly into the looming grandeur he called home, Marlene ran into him. Literally, ran into him. As sprinting was as good a mind-clearer as flying, Marlene was jolting to the Pitch.

Stupid girl, with stupid, pretty hair, and a stupid, pretty smile, and– "Oomph!"

Sirius was not expecting said stupid, pretty girl to barrel into him. He opened his eyes and was also not expecting to see the stupid, pretty girl, with wide eyes, looking down at him.

She was lying on top of him, her crazy curls dipping tantalizingly in front of him. Her eyes were wide open, and pink flush was spread over her cheeks like a picnic blanket. His voice got caught in his throat and he managed to rasp out, "Hey."

In a soft voice she said, "Hi."

They were stuck in a dream world, lost in their swirling thoughts and starry eyes. Realizing she was on top of Sirius-bloody-Black her already rosy cheeks flamed beet-red. She leapt up, much to Sirius's disappointment.

"Merlin, I am so sorry! I was just out for a run and I didn't see you and–"

"When did my name change?"

"You were in my way and, wait what? Your name didn't change, right?" Marlene's babble was cut short by confusion, which was embedded in her furrowed brows and slightly pouted bottom lip.

"You said, 'Merlin, I am so sorry!' My name isn't Merlin, silly. It's Sirius Black!" He grinned stupidly.

"Seriously?"

"Siriusly."

She groaned. "You are such an idiot."

"But I'm your idiot."

She grinned. "You are, aren't you?"

They stood for a moment

He cleared his throat. "So d'you, I dunno, want to go to the kitchens or something?"

"I'd love to!"

It was always warm in the kitchens. Not just in temperature, but in atmosphere. The elves bustled around with slate-gray baking trays full of treats, and the smell of cinnamon and butterbeer was always floating in lazy currents. If an outsider had been watching Sirius and Marlene, they would've assumed they were a couple. She giggled at his antics, and he looked pleased with himself. She summoned a radio; when it played her favorite song, she danced, and he looked softly at her. Sirius Black was not a sap by any means, but whenever Marlene McKinnon was mentioned he looked suspiciously like a lovesick puppy. He did manage, however, to smooth his features over in most situations. This was of course to prevent the merciless teasing of his fellow Marauders.

Marlene couldn't help the silly smile that stuck to her face like glue. Sirius was animatedly retelling, or perhaps reliving, an escapade of sorts and waving his hands as though ridding himself of Wrackspurts. He finished his tale, and Marlene couldn't remember when she had laughed so hard. As his adrenaline rush subsided, Sirius leaned back in his chair and took a swig of butterbeer. He knew the foam was forming a white moustache above his mouth, but couldn't bring himself to care. He also knew Marlene would at least get a laugh out of it.

Marlene stifled a laugh. Sirius was reclining in his chair, cool as a cucumber, with a butterbeer moustache.

"What's so funny, McKinnon?" The legs of his chair collided with the floor with a bang, and his elbows were on his knees, and he had a glint in his eye that made her feel he knew exactly what was so funny. She mimicked his stance.

"Who said there was anything funny, Black?" She spoke coyly, and Sirius was the woozier for it. The glint he had been wearing looked much better on her, and her smile was dimpled and teasing. She leaned over to him. His heart raced. She wiped the foam off with her thumb. They were intoxicatingly close. He was wearing barely detectable cologne. She smelled sweeter than he expected. She had never wanted something more. He'd never been so nervous. They inched closer. And suddenly. . .

BUM BUM BAAAA! Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I'm a little torn for what they do next. Tell me what you think is going to go down!

Soph