Chapter 13 - In the Hands of the Enemy

Heeeyyy! So I promised a quick update, and I had this chapter finished a while ago, but then just as I was planning on updating it, my body decided to hate me and I haven't been very well.

So here it is, better late than never (I hope!) - PIAM3

Little girl don't cry,

Let me dry your eyes,

In the darkest night,

You are not alone,

Hold on through the storm,

You're not on your own,

Hold on love will come.

- LZ7 ft Matt Redman, 27 Million

After the extraordinarily drama filled intervention, everyone's needs had changed considerably, some for the better, some for the worse: Marlene had stopped her self-destructing ideas and had retreated into herself again, though it was still an improvement, and when she talked, it was mainly to Sirius or Lily. She barely came out of Gryffindor Tower, only leaving the safety of her sanctuary for classes and meals, or when her friends dragged her out -which wasn't very often. Normally, that happened when Emmeline was around, but Emmeline had taken to avoiding the whole lot of them unless Sirius was around and Marlene wasn't. Both Sirius and James had nearly returned to their usual joking selves, with Peter and Remus gladly following their lead. Lily was still recovering, no longer needing support when she walked, carefully hiding the nastier scars from the rest of her friends for fear they would try to 'mother' her. Mary was completely content, confident that Marlene's misery would fade over time, and revelling in the gossip surrounding the group (mainly about the 'Marlene and Sirius' drama) that half of the school was now talking about.

Emmeline Vance on the other hand, positively hated the rumours that were swirling around, and was still determined to have Sirius for herself. Deep, deep down, she wanted to be friends with the sixth year girls again, but couldn't bring herself to apologise. Many people would say she was in the wrong house, that she was much more suited to Slytherin; she was deceptive, cunning, and ambitious, all the qualities that Salazar Slytherin admired in a person, but underneath there was a loyal streak in her, and anything she believed was hers, she would defend to the very end. Her family meant everything to her, her friends, on the other hand... not so much. She had been an only child, didn't need anyone, and was managing perfectly fine by herself, thank you very much.

They were all in the Common Room one evening, including Emmeline, who was sat a little too close to Sirius for Lily's liking, and as much as she was loathed to admit it, Marlene was dying slowly of jealousy. Sirius looked fairly uncomfortable and - to Marlene's delight - was attempting to make Emmeline move. He was being remarkably patient, but any idiot could tell he was reaching the end of his tether. Everyone was chatting, even Marlene for once. They were giving the pair not-so-subtle glances every time Sirius sighed exasperatedly. Mary, always the first one to comment on anything, raised an eyebrow as Emmeline shuffled closer.

"Hey Vance, I don't think Black wants your slimy fingers all over him," she called coldly.

Emmeline smirked, "He didn't seem to mind her all over him, if I remember correctly."She jabbed a finger at Marlene who looked embarrassed already.

"No, because Marlene isn't a little slut who likes to bitch about people when they need their friends," Mary spat back, her voice laced with venom.

Emmeline flushed slightly and tossed her long black hair over one shoulder, resting her perfectly manicured fingers daintily (and possessively) on Sirius' forearm. Sirius shrugged her off, glaring, and looked around for Marlene but only saw her back retreating up the girls' stairs very quietly. He groaned and looked to Lily pleadingly. She smiled back at him and followed her friend, flanked by Mary who was practically growling at Emmeline who looked sickeningly pleased with herself.

"Well done, Vance," Sirius said sarcastically, "Good fucking job."

She shrugged, not really caring, "If she can't handle that, she can't handle anything."

"Oh no, because obviously she's not allowed to be upset about half her family being murdered at the hands of the most powerful dark wizard of all time and then have her supposed friend stab her in the back," he continued just as sarcastically.

"Look that's not my fault," she said dismissively, picking the dirt from under her nails.

Sirius growled, "But you're not fucking helping either, so fucking butt it out."

James, Remus and Peter gave each other the age-old look that said 'leave him to yell, we can always drag him out later' and turned to watch the long-awaited argument to unfold.

"I just don't want her in the way of us," Emmeline purred seductively, looking up at Sirius from under her long, dark lashes. Any other time, like last year, Sirius would've welcomed an offer like that from an undeniably attractive girl but now he was unofficially with Marlene, he was having none of it.

Sirius narrowed his eyes in contempt, and took a large step back, aware of how close she had made them, "How much more slutty can you get? I'm not doing anything with you, you're nothing to me. Except a massive bitch."

She flushed again, darker red, but didn't move from her spot for a moment to process what he said before setting her jaw and finally stalked off, trailing her thin fingers down Sirius' arm as she went past, "Fine, but remember where I am if you need me."

"No one needs you Vance, or wants you," he jeered, the portrait hole slamming shut and the Fat Lady's indignant yells drowned out Sirius' snorts of laughter.

Although the Marauders didn't know, the girls hadn't gone far. Marlene had just sat down on the stairs out of sight with Mary on her left and Lily on her right, both their arms around their best friend. Unfortunately - or fortunately depending on how you looked at it - they could hear every word that was being said in the Common Room, and Marlene was so grateful to Sirius for defending her, but at the same time, so, so confused.

She really liked Sirius, there was no denying that now, but she had no idea if the handsome Gryffindor felt the same way and she certainly wasn't going to be the one to bring it up. Sirius was notoriously a womanizer, didn't date and definitely didn't fancy people. Why would he like her, then, in more than just a friendly way? Sometimes, when they were talking in the dorm, he would give her an odd look that she didn't understand, the question would be on the tip of her tongue. Four words, how hard could it be? 'Do you like me'. Four words, but the importance of those words was what scared her. Four words, but how much they could change /terrified/ her. There was no point dwelling on it endlessly, it was a silly notion, but Marlene was a fan of silly notions and her mind kept wandering back to thinking about what could happen if Sirius replied 'yes'.

Lily nudged her, bringing her sharply out of her daydreams as the portrait hole slammed shut.

"Marlene?" Lily said quietly, "You like him don't you?"

Marlene looked at her in shock, "What do you mean? Of course not!"

"It's obvious dear," Mary smiled.

Her face fell - they knew. "It is?"

Lily snorted with laughter, "Marls, that was a trick to get you to admit it, silly!"

"Aaaaaaand you fell for it! You like him!"

She groaned and buried her face in her hands, shaking her head, "I hate you two so much..."

"Don't worry, we won't tell him," Lily said kindly.

"Or will we?"

"Shut up Mary."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, just enjoying each other's company. Then they rose, Mary and Marlene with an arm each around Lily's waist to support her, and headed back into the Common Room, Marlene's eyes anxious. The Marauders fell silent as they entered, and Sirius' gaze locked with Marlene's. She gulped and returned to where she had been sitting before, opposite him.

James coughed nervously, "Emmeline's gone, Marls."

"I know," she said, giving him a small smile, "Thank you."

Remus looked over at Sirius who was leaning back with his eyes shut in deep thought. He clearly wasn't listening to their conversation, and Remus thought he was probably trying not to hit something after what Emmeline had said.

"I know, uh, Sirius stopped her from, y'know...said he didn't want anything to do with her..." Remus said quietly.

Marlene smiled weakly again and her gaze flickered back over to Sirius, who was still thinking, "He can shag her if he wants to, I don't own him."

"Marlene. Are you actually blind?!" Mary exclaimed, but Remus sent her a look and she returned reluctantly to chatting with James, Peter and Lily, trusting that Remus could handle this.

"Marlene," Remus said calmly, ignoring his girlfriend's interruption, "He doesn't want to sleep with anyone else, believe me."

She gaped, "That's irrelevant! He doesn't fancy me, or love me Merlin forbid, whatever it is you're insinuating. He's Sirius Black, Remus."

Sirius didn't look like he was listening in, but he was, and he was desperate. He could never ever say 'I fancy you' to her face, but he was sure he couldn't make it any more obvious without screaming it to the whole world. And she didn't have a clue. Not a single clue. It was infuriating. Remus laughed, "Not yet Marls, not yet. Give it some time, and he just might." The room fell silent as people caught Remus' words that seemed to linger in the air. Marlene worked to stop herself from grinning - she wasn't meant to want him to love her. Hooting from outside the window startled them all, ruining the moment, and James leaped up quickly to retrieve the letter from the loud owl and shut it up as soon as possible.

"It's got a letter!" he said.

"Well done Potter," Lily chuckled, rolling her eyes.

A crease formed between his eyebrows as he frowned and patted the owl's head automatically. "Marly, it's for you..."

Marlene gulped and took the thick, luxurious envelope off James, running her fingers over the wax seal on the back.

"It's from my aunt," she whispered nervously.

She broke the red waxy seal hesitantly and unfolded the stationary, blue eyes scanning the writing. Silence fell over them again, broken by a sharp gasp from Marlene. The letter fluttered to the floor ever so slowly, seemingly suspended in the air just before it touched down on the floor by Marlene's feet. Her hands were trembling and she caught Sirius' eye immediately.

"What is it?" Sirius demanded, "Marlene?"

"The... The funeral... It's this weekend, just before the end of term."

Everyone's expression dropped and comforting arms encircled Marlene muttering condolences into her ear.

"Guys, it's okay, I'm not going to cry," she protested weakly, her voice breaking, "I just didn't expect it so soon, we didn't even have a say! She says we'll be going to live with her until I'm 17 and Josh and I can access our money."

James winced, and her friends frowned, but Sirius paled considerably.

"What is it?" Lily asked.

Sirius kept his eyes on Marlene cautiously as he replied: "Her aunt married into the Avery family."

She nodded to confirm it, and a small whimper of fear slipped past her lips. As soon as she thought she was safe from him, Avery snuck back into her life. Sirius was on his feet and by her side in a split second, cupping her face with both hands.

"It'll be okay," he promised, looking at her.

The others, who still didn't know about Marlene's close call with Avery, just thought she didn't want to live with the Avery family, open supporters of the Dark Lord.

"It can't be too bad, Avery's in our year isn't he? Or seventh year?" Lily said sympathetically.

Sirius scowled at her and pulled Marlene away from them, towards him, "He's a seventh year Slytherin who's planning on joining the Death Eaters as soon as he leaves school and hates Gryffindors and blood traitors with a passion."

James rolled his eyes as he picked up the letter from the floor, "Don't be over dramatic, Padfoot."

Sirius wasn't impressed with that and growled slightly, but James ignored it.

He frowned as he read the letter again, "We're invited - as moral support, apparently..."

"Moral support?" Mary said incredulously, "Marlene only needs Sirius."

Sirius' scowl deepened and Marlene blushed a light shade of red. Luckily, hardly anyone noticed.

It was later that evening, and Marlene and Sirius were alone in the Common Room, Sirius sprawled across the sofa, Marlene curled up on the arm chair by the fire. She seemed to be about to say something, but not wanting to break the comforting silence she decided not to. Pulling her blanket closer around her, her sleepy gaze flickered momentarily to Sirius, then back to the fire, watching the mesmerising flames intently. He noticed the quick glance out of the corner of his eye and turned his head lazily to regard her, his stormy grey eyes curious.

"McKinnon," he said, his voice making her jump, "McKinnon, what were you going to say?"

Marlene turned back to him and blinked, "Who says I was going to say anything, Black?"

"I know you were going to, just spit it out."

She shook her head, blonde hair falling out of its loose bun, framing her pale face, "It's nothing, Sirius, leave it."

"Marlene," Sirius sighed, "Just tell me what it is."

"Fine. I was rereading the letter, you know, from my aunt," she started reluctantly, playing with the fraying sleeve of her jumper.

"Yeeeeeess..."

"And I noticed you weren't invited..."

"Not that surprising, why would an Avery invite the disowned Black?"

Marlene snorted, "I want you there. So I found loophole."

He raised an eyebrow, smiling, "A loophole?"

"Yep - most Pureblood girls are expected to bring along their betrothed, or their partner," she said nervously, biting her bottom lip, "If you came as my betrothed, I mean, my partner, no, as my... Oh, you know what I mean!"

Chuckling loudly he realised he was secretly pleased, "Thanks, McKinnon. If you wanted me there I'd come anyway, invitation or not."

She flushed, looking up from her resolute gaze at her lap to meet his amused smile, "You don't have to..."

"You want me there, I'm coming."

She was more grateful that she could ever express, and threw herself at him spontaneously, pushing Sirius back against the arm of the sofa and knocking the wind out of him. Thankful for his friendship (even if Sirius had wanted more for a while), Marlene held him close and rested her head on his shoulder. She was glad that she could be so close to him innocently without the teasing Mary would give her.

"Thank you, Sirius," she said, her words mumbled into the fabric of his shirt.

Startled but slightly triumphant, he held her close and grinned, "No problem, Marlene."

They stayed like that for a long time in silence, just curled up; neither of them wanted to move, or talk, or disturb the small oasis they had created for themselves. Eventually, with the warmth of the fire and Sirius' body heat encasing her, his arms finally making her feel safe, his presence soothing her, Marlene was lulled into a deep, peaceful sleep. He held her close and lay back on the sofa, lips against her hair.

"Sleep well," he whispered, his own eyes sliding shut as he drifted off.

In the girls' dorm, just a few floors above the sleeping Marlene and Sirius, Mary, Lily and Hestia were having a relaxing girly evening with food stolen from the kitchens courtesy of the Marauders and Muggle face masks made by Lily and Mary, who had banned Hestia (a half-blood but raised in a magical home) from helping in case she added chillies or something to them and ended up killing them all. They were now sprawled out on the floor, eyes covered with cucumber, which Hestia had found incredibly amusing. Gossiping like old times, the three Gryffindors were having a great time and when they completely caught up with what was happening in their lives, Hestia slyly mentioned the whole 'Sirius and Marlene' gossip that had been flying around the school.

"So, has Black asked Marls out yet?" she asked with a smirk.

Mary laughed and Lily rolled her eyes, although you couldn't see that underneath the slices of cucumber.

"I have no idea, but they're in the Common Room now. I saw them as we went past," Mary commented, "I don't believe they'll ever properly date."

Lily looked aghast and sat up, peeling off her cucumber so she could glare at Mary, "Of course they will, it's going to happen any day now!"

Hestia tutted at them, "I'll stay out of this one... You Gryffindors, honestly."

"Come on, Hess, you must have an opinion!" Mary pleaded.

Hestia sniggered and leaned back, playing with her long hair, "I do, but I'm not saying what it is."

Folding her arms, Lily grinned, "Tell you what, Mary, if you're so sure that they'll never go out, I'll bet you five galleons that Marlene asks Sirius to go to the funeral with her seeing as he wasn't technically invited."

Mary grinned back, "Whoa, Lily, you got the last of my money last time we had a bet."

Hestia sniggered.

"But, if you're so sure that'll happen, why don't we change the price..."

Lily raised a delicate eyebrow at Mary, confused.

"If Marls and Black don't go together, you have to go with Potter - as a date," she said triumphantly, giving Lily a 'haha got you now' look.

The red-head just smiled calmly in reply, confident that she was right, "Okay."

"W-what? Okay? But you hate Potter!" Mary exclaimed.

"I don't hate him!" Lily protested, frowning, "I just don't like him because he's a stuck up arrogant git. Anyway, it won't come down to that, Marls is going with Sirius."

Hestia finally decided to add her input: "She so is, face it Mary. Have you been walking around with you eyes shut?"

Mary tried to protest, but was cut off lightly by a pillow to the face.

"Ever since the start of term, Sirius has been watching out for her - even when she just looked sad, he'd cheer her up. And now? She feels safe around him: there's something they're not telling us. Something's happened and Sirius helped her. He makes her feel safe, which I think is amazing, personally," Hestia said quietly, in what the girls called her 'Ravenclaw voice'.

Mary blinked, confused, but Lily was beaming.

"Of course," she sighed, enjoying the whole fairy tale aspect of that idea, "He makes her feel safe."

TIMESKIP: ONE WEEK LATER

The day of the McKinnon's funeral dawned in a blaze of light and late Autumn frosts, the sheet of white covering the hard ground smoothly like a marble table top, and the corridors and classrooms of the great castle were cold enough to make you shiver and need an extra jumper despite the torches and fires that roared in every wall bracket and fireplace.

Marlene had woken early, too nervous and jumpy to sleep any later than five in the morning, and bundled herself up in her red dressing gown to relocate to try to settle by the fire in the Common Room. The Marauders soon joined her and sat around, murmuring to each other about pranks and lessons and homework, but she was grateful they didn't prod her to join in. She didn't think she would be able to manage a conversation about trivial matters today. Lily and Mary joined their vigil once they'd come downstairs at about seven o'clock, and soon after McGonagall entered to inform them that they should begin to get ready for the funeral and that she would return at eight to apparate them there. Now they split, boys and girls up their respective stairs to get ready, the boys patting her back comfortingly as they separated, Sirius' fingers lingering on her wrist a second longer.

James, Sirius, Mary, Lily, and Marlene (the only ones going - the others weren't invited) got washed and dressed slowly, putting on whatever black clothes they could find. Normally, James would've made a joke about Sirius wearing a suit, something he really didn't like doing, but couldn't bring himself to say it, and Sirius wouldn't have laughed anyway - it didn't seem right to sound happy today of all days. Marlene was wearing a quite fancy black dress in the hopes that her aunt wouldn't criticise her. Regrouping in the Common Room, everyone watching Marlene carefully for signs of breaking, as they waited for McGonagall to return with Josh to escort them to the apparition point.

Once she had fetched them all, walked them down, and apparated them one by one to the funeral which was at Marlene's family home, she solemnly bid them farewell. Gripping Marlene's hand tightly to support her friend, Lily licked her lips before asking, "Who do we need to find then?"

"My aunt and uncle," Marlene said with a rather strained voice, "Josh said he saw them earlier, so he went over but I don't know where they are now..."

Lily nodded and scanned the garden of the large house. Personally, she thought holding it at Marlene's house was an unnecessary, cruel reminder of exactly what she had lost, and Marlene was definitely looking pained.

"There they are," Sirius said, recognising the uncle from dinner parties as a child.

Marlene out on her brave face as her group wandered over to them and to Josh too who looked like he was about to cry.

"Good morning, Aunt, Uncle," Marlene said stiffly, forcing a smile onto her face and her aunt smiled down on them all politely.

"Marlene dear," she simpered, "How good to see you!" There was an edge to her voice, disguised by the tone of her voice but definitely there.

Marlene shuffled awkwardly, not sure what to say; there was nothing good about this situation at all.

"Now, you need to introduce me to all your friends, I'm afraid I don't recognise them!" she demanded.

"Aunt Mathilda, this is Lily Evans and Mary MacDonald, my two best friends," Marlene said, hoping to avoid any blood status inquiries that might upset the girls next to her, "James Potter, obviously," James smiled respectfully, "A-and... Sirius Black..."

Her aunt's façade of pleasantry slipped and she glared ever so slightly at him.

"Excuse me, dear, I think I heard you wrong! A young lady of your status shouldn't be friends with people like that... Do tell me you didn't invite him to your parents funeral?" Her voice was almost dripping with hatred and her cool blue eyes - so different from Marlene's bright ones - fixed upon Sirius icily.

Marlene quivered at the sound of her voice, but clenched her fists and replied quite civilly, "Yes, Aunt Mathilda, I did. He's here with me."

"Here with you," her aunt gasped, "Marlene McKinnon, you absolute -"

Now Marlene's uncle interrupted to save his wife screaming at a funeral, not for Marlene's benefit in any way. "Hold it in, at least until we get home, Mathilda," he said coldly, looking down his nose at them all.

"Keep him out of sight," she hissed under her breath, glancing around to make sure no one else had seen him, "It's not good for our image if anyone recognises him."

Turning to Sirius as Mathilda and her husband stalked off, Marlene sent him an apologetic look and dragged then all away in the opposite direction. They didn't really know what to say to that, and James, Mary and Lily were shocked into silence by the ferocity that her aunt had turned on both Sirius and Marlene.

Once the actual service had started, with the chairs set out in rows on the large lawn, Marlene sat flanked by Sirius on one side Lily on the other, both gripping one of her hands. James was next to Lily - to his immense glee - and Mary sat on the other side of Sirius, all five of them in a row near the back. The tiny man who had been hired to conduct the service had to stand on a box to reach the altar; he cast a 'sonorous' to magnify his voice and coughed to get everyone's attention. Turning their heads and finishing their muttered conversations, the hordes of guests settled down, ready to listen.

"We are gathered here on this sombre occasion to celebrate the lives of three of the most wonderful people to have lived," the short man droned, and Marlene sniffed, determined not to cry: her parents had been so brave, Mason too, she was not going to cry, she wasn't. It was a tiny thing to do, but she felt stronger. The man continued and she let herself drift away and daydream; this wizard was only repeating lines from a script, the real funeral was the one you held in the privacy of your own mind. Haunted by the memories flowing through her thought, she gasped and reached for Sirius' hand. Blinking furiously as she tried not to cry, Marlene tried to block out of the present, focussing only on the feel of Sirius' hand on hers, and the image of Mason and her father showing her how to fly a broomstick.

"Marlene, it's okay to cry," Lily whispered into her best friend's ear, understanding immediately what she was trying to do.

"I shouldn't," she whimpered, "They were so brave."

"And crying doesn't make you a coward," Sirius added as Marlene sniffed loudly.

James looked over and smiled faintly at Lily, who smiled back. It was times like this that she saw the kind of person James Potter really was, not what she thought she saw.

Marlene sniffed again, clutching at Sirius who wrapped his arms around her.

"I just feel so stupid crying..."

"You don't look stupid, honest," he replied, scowling at James who was waggling his eyebrows at them.

Finally, when the emotional ordeal was over and guests were mingling in the large kitchen and living room area, Marlene and co. were in the corner looking nervous. Seeing as there was only a few more days of the autumn term left, Dumbledore had agreed to let Marlene and Josh go home early to settle into their aunt's house where they would be living. This would be the last time her friends would have with her for a while, but she had promised to write.

James looked up from his plate of food, "Marlene, can you come for the few days before Christmas like last year? Mum wants to know."

Her tear-streaked face beamed (she'd cried in end, Sirius still holding her).

"Yes please, Jamesy, I'll be there. Any escape from my family will be a relief."

Lily rolled her eyes, still unwilling to believe they were so terrible, and sipped her fruit punch carefully, "She can't be that bad, Marls."

"She is," Marlene replied firmly.

"Think of the typical Pureblood woman - thinks she's so amazing, cares only about appearances, hates Muggle borns, loves arranged marriages and status symbols - add a dose of control freak and you've got Aunt Mathilda," James said darkly.

"Not as evil as my own darling mother, of course, but just as annoying," Sirius coldly added.

Lily gulped, "Okay, okay, I get it. If you need me, just owl."

Marlene nodded, so grateful for their support - she really didn't deserve it, not after what she had put them through.

At that moment, Aunt Mathilda herself appeared with a very fake smile plastered on her face.

"Speak of the devil," Sirius muttered under his breath as Marlene stiffened nervously.

"Marlene, dear, we are going. Your friends need to get back to school. I've sent a message to Professor Dumbledore," she said, sending looks to the others that clearly said 'you've outstayed your welcome' and grabbed Marlene's wrist, yanking her away from them and Sirius' protective arms.

"Say goodbye, you'll see them next term!" Mathilda said mock cheerily, her face twisted into a sneer.

Marlene looked around desperately like a cornered animal, eyes wide, and she opened her mouth to protest. Her hair had completely fallen out of its hairstyle, and she just looked tiny and petrified. Everyone was stunned by the swiftness of it, and by the time they had recovered from Marlene being pulled away, she was gone, the crack of side-long apparition ringing in their ears, her terrified expression seared into their vision.

Oooooh! Did you like it? I've got a lot of drama coming up so fasten your seatbelts and get reviewing ;)

I got some lovely new reviewers last chapter and I really hope they keep reviewing because I loved it!

Thanks to: Nonna Nitto, deant33 JadedLights07, koryandrs and SwiftShadowDragon for your amazing reviews! :D

- PIAM3