A/N: It's back! I already have a few stories written to finish off this collection and the plan is to post one a day. I'm not promising that will happen every day, but I'm going to do my best! Since my last one was a bit fluffy/serious, I thought I'd go with a different kind of interaction between Sirius and Marlene for this one. I'd say this takes place sometime around their fourth or fifth year. Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite classic authors and The Masque of the Red Death is my favorite story that he wrote. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and it's nice to be writing for this collection again!

Harry Potter Halloween Collection Prompt: (plot theme) Hearing a ghost story/Watching a scary film

The Master of Horror

"...and the house remains empty to this day, the story of that terrifying night keeping away anyone who doesn't want to die a horrific death."

The group of first years seated at Sirius's feet whispered to each other as he finished his story.

Marlene, who had been sitting by the fire listening as she did her Arithmancy homework, rolled her eyes. "Please, Sirius. The Shrieking Shack? You have no idea how to tell a truly scary story."

"And I suppose you do?" Sirius asked disbelievingly.

Marlene nodded, putting her homework away and taking out a well-worn book. "Not stories of my own invention, but still frightening nonetheless. Have any of you heard of Edgar Allan Poe?" She addressed the first years. When only a couple of them nodded, she smiled approvingly. "Good. Prepare for some truly terrifying tales."

"Wait a minute," Sirius protested. "You should make up your own stories, just like I did. It's only fair."

"I wouldn't dream of outdoing Poe," Marlene said firmly. "Just wait, Sirius. You might even get scared by these." Sirius looked skeptical, but moved aside so that she could stand in front of the group.

Marlene flipped through the pages until she found what she wanted. "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could..."

The young students listened, captivated by Marlene's dramatic reading of The Cask of Amontillado. When she finished, she didn't close her book, but looked up to see every eye upon her, mouths gaping.

Sirius cleared his throat. "Well, that was interesting, but not very terrifying," he said.

"I can continue," Marlene suggested. "In fact, I'd say I can get you to admit that Poe wrote better horror stories than the ones you've been telling."

"Do your worst," Sirius challenged, motioning for her to continue, and this time he sat next to the group on the floor. As she read The Tell-Tale Heart, she glanced up from time to time to find him listening as raptly as the younger Gryffindors. The Oval Portrait and The Pit and the Pendulum were next, and he never took his eyes off of her.

"Enjoying yourself, Sirius?" Marlene asked once she finished the final story, her favorite, The Masque of the Red Death.

"This guy's good," Sirius said reverently.

"Better than you?" She smiled knowingly.

"Better than me," Sirius admitted.

From then on, when Sirius wanted to tell a new group of first years scary stories at Halloween, he asked Marlene for that book.