February 21st, 1977

The weekend went by boringly for most of the students, especially in comparison to the long list of catastrophes that had occurred the castle recently. On Monday morning, students chatted about work and whatever else, but nothing of substance. Even the Marauders felt rather drab, but that was definitely due to their Leader feeling like a soggy piece of garbage all weekend.

"It's like Dementors wiped out his soul," Hestia Jones observed as she nibbled at her toast.

Dirk Cresswell drummed his fingers against the table as he watched Camilla Henley watch James Potter with envy and irritation. This whole weekend the brunette watched the sixth year as if she were some Private Investigator, honing in her case. The girl was driven, that's for sure. He sincerely wished that she'd stop angering herself.

Camilla's attention shifted on Lily Evans as she walked down the aisle of tables with stack of papers in her hand. Her glare became harsher and angrier. If she had heat vision, it would've been over the back of Lily Evan's head.

"Camilla," Dirk called out, tapping her shoulder. "You might break your fork."

The brunette only turned to her friend for a moment, before dropping her fork onto her plate. She stood up and said, "I'll see you later." She stomped out of the Hall, brushing past Lily Evans.

If Lily had the energy or grit to do so, she would've called out Henley for her blatant act of disrespect. But, she wasn't up for it. She spent most of the weekend holed up in the library, finishing up work. Mainly, she did anything she could to not think about her excursion in the Shrieking Shack with Potter. She blamed it on the alcohol, but she knew it was her scapegoat.

As she was instructed to by Professor McGonagall, Lily walked over to the sixth year girls: Irina Allen, Michaela Hope, and Cassie Crow. She informed them that Appiration classes were going to begin next week, and if they were interested in the course, they'd have to make a payment to the Ministry of 12 galleons. Although she wasn't close with those three, they were nice enough to thank her before resuming their conversation.

Next were the Marauders. Why did Marlene have to sit with them today? Lily let out a long sigh before she walked further down the table with the forms in hand. She refused to meet James' stare as she approached them. She set down the papers and said, "Apparation classes are starting next Thursday. It cost 12 galleons, and if you lot are interested, the payment is due on Friday by 12pm. Got it?"

Sirius Black saluted the prefect and said, "At your service, Madam Evans."

"We pay it to McGonagall?" asked Peter, examining the sheet of paper.

"Read it," Lily said simply before stalking off. She couldn't stand the heat of James' stare and his slack jaw. He looked like a deer in headlights.

The Marauders plus Marlene watched as the redhead stalked off, out of the Great Hall. Sirius waited until she turned the corner to lean in to his best mate and asked, "Performance anxiety in the Shack?"

James jerked Sirius' arm off of him. "There was no performance at all," he said shortly. His friends gave him the same appraising look. "I mean it, we didn't do anything."

Marlene took a bite of her eggs. "Lily tells me everything," she said simply, chewing on her food, "and she refused to tell me what happened in the Shack, so that means something interesting happened."

"You're a skeptical friend," Remus noted quietly.

Marlene glared before shoveling another forkful of eggs into her mouth. She then looked to James and said, "Spill, Cousin."

"Nothing to spill," James gritted through his teeth. He took a sip of his tea and re-focused on his edition of the Quibbler.

"You're a terrible liar," his cousin sighed.

"I don't want to talk about it, okay?" James grunted. "I don't need this from any of you." He stood up, grabbing his teacup and newspaper, and stomped out of the Hall.

"Emotional," noted Marlene. "He probably hasn't nutted in a few days," she added to the rest of the Marauders.

Peter shivered. For some reason, it was weird hearing that term come out of Marlene's mouth. "But he has. He spent all of Saturday with Henley."

Marlene cocked an eyebrow, now much more interested. "Ooh, that means Lily must've said something mean to him," she said. "Hm, feels like last year all over again, aye?"

"They were doing so well," Sirius sighed.

As Marlene and Sirius discussed James' and Lily's interpersonal progress, Remus looked over towards the Slytherin table. He watched as Dorcas at alone, reading a textbook and sipping on a cup of coffee. Before this, he had only seen her one time in the library. Before he could catch her in the Magical Mental Skills section, she disappeared. Remus' more paranoid side insisted that she was avoiding him, but his friends tried to convince him that she was just recovering. "Give her time," Lily urged him multiple times this weekend, "she's been through a lot."

Remus wanted to give her time, sure, but he also wanted to know what she knew. Or what she didn't? Where she was at? Being left in the dark infuriated him. The Full Moon wasn't even coming for another two weeks, and he felt like ripping the table to shreds with his teeth.

It peaked when Dorcas stood up, closed her textbook and walked out of the Great Hall. A few students gossiped as she passed by, increasing his rage. But, he was more focused on Dorcas' departure. She looked worn-out with dark bags under her eyes and tired skin. He had to figure out what was going on.

Remus moved without breaking his gaze from Dorcas. She moved slowly as she exited. "Oh, and there goes another." He heard Sirius mumble under his breath as he left. He trotted after the Slytherin girl, calling out her name one.

Dorcas froze but did not turn around.

"I've been trying to catch up to you," he said, trying to play casual, adding a soft chuckle at the end. "Fast off and on a broom." He immediately regretted saying that.

Dorcas took a deep breath before turning around. "Can I help you, Remus?"

Just by looking into her eyes, Remus could tell that she was not happy. Her jaw was clenched, and her eyes were as icy as they were blue. "I… I wanted tell you that I'm sorry about everything that happened. I'm glad… that you're okay."

Dorcas let out a scoff. She moved to the side of the courtyard entrance, letting students pass. She pulled out a cigarette and said in a short voice, "Do I really look okay to you, Remus?"

"Well, er… you always look good, but-"

"Remus, I'm very far from good or okay," she said in a lethal tone, blowing out all the smoke from her first inhale. "And I'm in no mood to explain myself."

Remus gulped. Dorcas knew everything, and she didn't even have to say the dreaded words. "Dorcas, I… I…"

"You kept Nagut from me, and all of that baggage," she argued, her voice becoming tenser. "I could've protected myself against these fucking usupers, stopped them from attacking more innocent muggle borns. And, now several people know about my ligilmency. Does that sound okay to you, Remus?"

"I didn't tell them about it," Remus said quickly, "I swear. I would never."

Dorcas made a face as she took another puff. "I know you didn't. But, Remus, my whole entire life just turned upside down and inside out," she said, now softening her voice. "I'm not a muggleborn anymore either, and you knew all about it."

"I was trying to protect you."

"I don't need you for that," she shrugged, "I don't need anyone for that. I wanted a friend."

Remus looked down at his feet, feeling unable to meet her eyes. The last time he felt this ashamed was when he nearly tore a part Severus Snape last year during a full moon.

"Friends don't lie to each other, Remus, no matter how important, " Dorcas finished. She looked hesitant now, unsure of what to say next. Or how to say it. "I'd rather we don't speak to each for a while. It's easier to forgive that way."

Remus took a step towards her, and internally jumped for joy when she didn't back away. "What can I do to make it go faster? I'll do anything," he whispered.

Dorcas let out a long exhale and took a step back. "Leave me alone," she said simply before turning around and walking out further towards the courtyard. She turned back before she was out of sight. "I'm… I'm sorry, Remus. I just can't trust you right now."

February 24th, 1977

Remus stared at the back of Dorcas' head all throughout their Charms lecture, while James stared at Lily's profile. Well, the latter tried to be subtle about it and could pass it off better. He had a nice diagonal view of Lily, and it was the closest he'd been to her all week. (The middle row always had the best views.) Remus, on the other hand, was too forgone in thought and anxiety to care about his blatant glare.

Sirius, who sat across from the two love-struck idiots, was taking detailed notes. That's how bad it all was. And, it had been like this for days. James and Remus had been walking around like zombies, leaving poor Sirius bored and restless. Secretly, he craved the full moon (despite it being against the bettering of Remus' mental health) because it always meant a good run and a howl at the moon. He needed to do something.

And just like that, he found something to occupy his time. Sirius crumpled up a ball of blank parchment between his hands quietly. He leaned back to allow for more windup space and shut one eye to target the back of James' head. Sirius imagined himself as Cupid, aiming his arrow at a brain instead with the intention to knock some sense into his best mate.

"Sirius," Peter whispered in a tense voice.

The braver (and more reckless) Marauder gave a short but precise toss with no hesitation. For a millisecond, Sirius Black really was a cherub. But that fantasy quickly crumbled because his stupid mate had just had to crack his neck at the same time.

Instead of the ball hitting James, it bounced off the side of Lily Evans' head.

"Oh, bullocks," grumbled Sirius, resting his head on his hands. Peter pinched the bridge of his news and began scribbling down notes. They were the most notes the latter had taken all lecture.

Lily snapped her head at whom she thought was the attacker: James. She glared at his flabbergasted face with a set jaw and reached for her wand that lay inside her pocket. She turned her head

"T-that wasn't me," he mouthed quietly, waving his hands in a defensive manner. Marlene turned her head too and immediately scoffed. It sounded oddly like "dipshit."

Lily whisked her wand effortlessly, without even looking in James' direction. Suddenly, his papers scattered all over the desk, messing up Remus' work as well. A few students squeaked and shouted in surprise.

James raised his wand in retaliation, because no one could out clown James. Not even this irritable, temperamental, gorgeous peer would dare best him. He imagined turning lighting her paper on fire, as red as her hair.

"Mr. Potter! Miss Evans!"

The papers stopped flying, and the students stopped fussing. All eyes were on the dwarf professor standing in front of the classroom on his stack of colorful books. 'There will be no nonsense - this is not a circus," Professor Flitwick said irritably.

"I don't know, Professor," Lily said in a mocking voice, as she turned her head to James, "seems we already have a clown."

There were a few "oohs" and a few chuckles. Peter watched while biting on his fingernails, and Sirius just shook his head tiredly.

"I see myself as more of a big man," James said casually to Remus. A few more students giggled this time.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Evans," Professor Flitcwick intervened, trying his best stern voice, but was easily ignored. Watching Lily Evans and James Potter bicker was always refreshing during a class. In the most recent months, Hogwarts students had been deprived of the spectacle.

"Oh, big man?" Lily guffawed. "In your dreams."

"Evans, tell me." He sat up straighter and turned his full torso in her direction. "How sculpted is my chest?"

"Oh, you're a prick."

"That's pretty sculpted too, if you'd like to know-"

"DETENTION! DETENTION! DETENTION!" Professor Flitwick shouted, waving his hands frantically. "This is completely inappropriate. Mr. Potter, Miss Evans, meet me in my office saturday evening at eight o'clock."

"Professor," Lily groaned. "He threw paper at me."

"No, I actually didn't, Narcissist," James argued. "It was probably Sirius." He snapped his head in the direction of Sirius, who was picking his nails.

"Blaming your equally juvenile best mate whose actually behaving decently today?" Professor Flitwick asked rhetorically. "That's low, Mr. Potter, even for you. I'm uninterested in who started it, but actually with whom it ended with. Now, can we proceed with Helinski's wandless charm."

The class quieted, eventually re-focusing on the Professor's drab, yet useful information. Lily did her best not to give James the satisfaction of looking back at him and sticking her tongue out like a child. James did his best not to write her a note, explaining that it was one of those Marauder-on-Marauder pranks again.

(Why did James Potter have to explain himself to Lily Evans?)

On the other side of the room, Sirius Black smiled. Maybe he was Cupid after all.

Marlene received mail so regularly that she often felt sorry for her poor owl, Angus. She sat in the common room by the circular window, feeding Angus bits of bread. There were a bunch of letters and subscriptions: Rolling Stone, a letter from her aunt Kenna, The Prophet, and a record from her cousin Andrew in Morocco. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Except from her brother.

Maxwell McKinnon, the eldest brother, loved his youngest sibling wholeheartedly. He would often send her presents from his travels and birthday cards, but never a regular letter. It wasn't even a postcard, but an actual envelope with a return address.

"Huh," She let out. She ripped open the top of the envelope with her nails and pulled out the parchment. She read quickly, mouthing the words:

Marlene,

I hope the term is going smoothly. Sixth year is hard to manage with all of the new responsibilities of NEWT classes. Also, since you are now a legal witch, I bet you're wiping Rosemerta dry. Just be careful, aye?

Speaking of legality, Appiration Classes will be starting. I know this how, you ask? Not only was I once a Gryffindor too, but I am still in contact with our Headmaster. He wrote me that he needed a licensed Appirition Professor. Since I am currently out of work, I decided why not?

"Why not?!" Marlene read aloud loudly. The owl flew back outside in response momentarily, wary of its owner. "You fucking-"

"Oy, McKinnon," a voice called out. She turned her head slowly to her mental-intruder. Of course, it was the big mouth himself, Sirius Black, lounging with his back against the couch's arm. "There are innocents present," he said proudly, motioning towards the students.

She gave him a long unamused look. "My brother is our Appiration teacher," she said.

Sirius let out a low whistle. "That's rough."

Marlene laid her head against the cold window. "There goes my entire social life." Sirius wanted to laugh, but decided to keep his commentary to himself. "Whose going to want to shag the professor's sister?" She added a groan.

After a moment of Sirius regarding Marlene McKinnon's lean physique and fierce visage, he said, "I would."

Marlene shifted her head to look him directly in the eyes. She couldn't read him, never could. That's what she hated about Sirius: he didn't make sense. He looked at her so gently and calmly, like he was talking about literally anything else in the world. Merlin, she despised that look. "Bugger off," she grumbled before leaning her head back.

Sirius let out chuckle as he stood up. He sat beside Marlene on the couch and smirked, "That's not a no."

"Oh, please," she scoffed without looking at him. The boy was trying to play her at her own game. "There was no question to answer."

"Wanna shag, McKinnon?"

Marlene sat up and gave him a look that she had never given him before. She saw his pupils dilate and his jaw slack; she had to admit, that made her feel pretty good. No one could ever deny that Sirius Black was exceptionally attractive, but Marlene had grown up with him. His looks hadn't dawned on her until the beginning of their sixth year when he grew out his hair a bit and developed a sharper lines. Marlene put a hand on his cheek, caressing his olive skin with the pads of her finger. She enjoyed the way his breathing slowed. Focusing on him almost made her forget how annoying her life just became.

"No," Marlene said simply before leaning back against the window pane.

"Wow, that was rather anti-climatic," Sirius sighed, rubbing his thighs for concentration. "Felt nice though."

"Thank you."

"Are you saying no because you don't want to fuck me or because you're not attracted me? No pressure, Love, but it's just a quick query."

Marlene thought about this, tapping her foot to an internal beat in her head. She hummed as she imagined herself riding Sirius Black. She'd seen him in nothing but a towel, and the sight wasn't bad. The thought of him sweating beneath was rather invigorating.

But why would they be on the bed? No one in Hogwarts except the Heads ever got the privacy to shag on a bed. Marlene's mind projected a picture of a crammed closet shag. That's how he banged Dorcas Meadowes. The school was small, but she didn't like the idea of fucking a friend's previous shag. Or her cousin's best friend.

And since her brother was coming into town, that meant her brother's cousin's friend too.

"I'm not shagging you because that would mean complications," Marlene said, finally looking at him. Just thinking it made her tongue tie in knots.

"It doesn't have to be," Sirius shrugged.

She let out a short laugh. "By nature it is, aye?"

"Look, I know that we have known each other for an exceptionally long time, McKinnon," Sirius said in his most even voice, "but, don't you think that one time, for the one-night stand epics, we could make our complicated history, less complicated?"

"Sirius, you're made of complications. And it's not a bad thing, because Bloody Hell, I am too. It would never work. You and I… we…"

"I'm waiting," Sirius teased after a moment.

"Sirius," she said in a clear tone, like she was about to explain the Big Bang, "we're messy people when it comes to shagging. We shag and go, we're good at it."

"Yes," Sirius agreed, nodding his head slowly. "I don't see the predicament."

"Our former flings hate us," Marlene added, searching for more excuses. "Well, not all of them, but you get the point, Mate. We're too close to be messing around with each other. Think of what it would mean. Think of James."

"I'm highly uninterested in thinking of James and you right now."

"But, see that's the issue! James is my cousin, and you're his best friend. I don't like you as at all-"

"Hey!"

"Okay, okay, I tolerate you," Marlene corrected herself, "but, even if I am attracted to you, we couldn't ever go back to being…"

"Sirius and Marlene," he finished for her.

"Precisely," she said, slapping her hand on his knee. She immediately regretted touching him, because now her body was hyped up with the thought of shagging. She snatched it back before he could even recognize it. "Also, do you really want to fuck the Professor's sister?" She emphasized.

Sirius regarded her once again. The way he looked at Marlene made her body feel hot, and that was not okay with Marlene. "Kind of," he answered, while standing up, "but, only if she wants to."

"What if I never want to?" She asked.

Sirius smirked. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Marlene. I am Sirius Black."

"I am Sirius Black," she mocked. "What does that even mean?"

"I could have you begging for me if I really wanted to," he laughed haughtily. "I'm not playing Prince Charming act for you out of respect."

"That's comforting," she snorted.

Sirius shrugged. "Some birds know how much of tart I am and still fuck me enjoyably. Dorcas Meadowes for instance."

Marlene considered his honesty. She gave him a look, eyeing him up and down. "I'm not like other birds."

"No, you aren't," he agreed, "more like a Hippogriff."

Marlene scoffed and punched him in the shoulder. "Darling, a Hippogriff's legs got nothing on me."

"Couldn't be more true," he agreed with a nod.

Marlene laughed and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'm still not sleeping with you," she said. "Not now, not ever."

Sirius let out a long exhale. He shoved his hands into his pocket and walked right in front of her. She was in line with his chin and peered up at him. "Give me two months."

"I beg your pardon?"

Sirius Black smirked. "Give me two months, McKinnon, to let me show you how much of a gentleman I can be. I won't even kiss you."

"Oh, Merlin,"

"I don't expect your commitment, and I don't expect us to go on dates," he scoffed, "and I pray you don't expect mine. But just, you know, every now and then, let me show you that I'm perfectly aware of how different you really are, Marlene McKinnon."

She examined him carefully, taking note of his every word and expression. Again, she was unable to read him. She wanted to listen to his heartbeat for certainty even. She refused to be played by Sirius Black.

"You'd really want to wait two months to shag me?" Marlene asked curiously. "I can just say no."

"But will you is the real question," Sirius countered as he wagged an eyebrow. "So, what do you say, Marlene?" He asked, putting his hand out. "Fancy a game?"

Oh, that's it, Marlene thought. She took his hand and said, "I hope you enjoy blue balls."

Sirius remained cool as the February air. He gave her a wink before walking away.

Marlene only turned back to her brother's letter once Sirius walked up the stairs towards the dormitories. She didn't actually know if she wanted to read the rest, because how could there be anything left to say. But, it seemed that there were more lines:

I know that this may not be the most pleasant concept for you. It'll be hard having me as your professor, but I promise to stay out of your social life as much as possible. I intend to have my own life, as well.

That being said, I expect the same from you. I know you have a tendency to talk back to your professors as is, which is a McKinnon trait. But, for the sake of my income, please let's do this cordially. I reassured Dumbledore that our relationship will not inhibit the classroom experience. I hope I did not lie to him.

Maybe we can meet this weekend in Hogsmeade. I'll be coming in on Sunday. A butterbeer at Three Broomsticks, 4pm? See you then.

Your brother,

Max

Marlene rested the parchment down. She wanted to tear it to shreds with her own teeth, but decided against it since she was in public. She'd have to Lily and James, since they both knew Max well. But separately. Telling anything to those two together ensured a nasty debate. Who else did she have to tell?

"Oh, fuck." Marlene realized that she'd have to let someone else know. That person would be Dorcas Meadowes, and she instantly hated her entire life.

February 26th, 1977

"Well, your entire social life just went down the drain," Emmeline said as she slid into the bath tub in the Girl's Bathroom. She splashed the warm water at Marlene, who took the water to her face.

It had been a few weeks since the girls had been able to have enough time for a proper bath session. They were all busy with their own things and the anti-usuper crisis. (No one quite knew where that was now, but they also had term finals to consider.) But everyone deserved a decent relaxation afternoon with their friends..

"Thank you, Captain Obvious," she deadpanned.

"Well, are you going to tell Dorcas?" Mary asked curiously. "Because last time she saw your brother probably was more intimate than a large class setting."

"I know, I know," Marlene dismissed. She let out a loud groan. "But, how do I even explain that to her? Hey Doe, I know you probably hate my guts right now and are probably processing a shitload about yourself, but I just wanted to leave with tad bit of info. My brother, whom you snagged on New Year's, will be our Apparation teacher. Cheers!"

The three other girls rolled their eyes. "Okay, down Drama Queen," Emmeline insisted.

"Oh, says you," the blond countered. "Em, you're playing hide-and-seek with your boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend, because of some vision. That hasn't happened yet. And I'm the dramatic one?"

"Yes, you are," Emmeline said shortly. "Because, this has nothing to do with you. You should be worried about how Dorcas going to handle this if you don't tell her soon. And don't bring Robert into this!"

"Yeah, that was kinda low," Lily whispered softly, earning her a glare from the tall blond scotswoman. "I'm just saying!"

"Don't you have detention to attend to?" Marlene asked heatedly. "With my cousin?"

Lily sucked her teeth. She had been avoiding James Potter, and thoughts of him, all day. She holed herself up in the library after class and skipped dinner to avoid any chance encounters. She had to stock up on her alone time before spending a detention with him. "Don't remind me. It's in a half-hour by the way."

"Speaking of dramatics," Emmeline said, leaning against the edge of the bath. She batted her eyelashes as she looked at Lily. "Lovers' quarrel in Charms, Lily? C'mon, that's so last year."

"Lovers' quarrel?" The redhead repeated, aghast. "Don't get me started on you, Emmeline Miyoung Kim." Emmeline scoffed and gave Mary and Marlene a look, but kept her mouth quiet. Once you got Lily seeing red, there was no stopping her. "I don't even like him. He's James Potter, whom ruined my relationship and annoyed the moment since I stepped foot in this castle six years. He's been nothing but a self-righteous prick to me."

Mary made a skeptical face. It twisted a little as she thought. "Do you really believe that about him?" She asked hesitantly, not wanting to enrage her further.

"Naturally," Lily retorted.

Mary made a face, which the Ginger was going to openly question. However, Marlene cleared her throat. She leaned back and said flatly, "You're in denial, Lily."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"I am not, and I'm not going to do this Looney Tune skit with you," Lily said in a final tone. "I don't like James Potter. I tolerate him, but I surely don't like him."

The girls exchanged dubious glances before starting up a conversation about something else mundane. They were all aware that their friend was lying to herself, and the worst part of it all was that even Lily knew that she was lying to herself. If she had been honest, or even thought about doing so, her stomach clenched worse than PMS cramps. It was childish and immature and she truthfully deserved to be slugged in the jaw, but it worked for her.

At least for now.

A/N - BLACKINNON BEGINS~ I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Thank you once again for your support. Please favorite, follow, or review if you'd like to show your support. Thank you!

Warmly,

Rose