A/N: Heeeeeeey. Been a while, yeah? I wrote this while late so forgive me if it's shit. Please review though x

Chapter 31
Or
Of Plans, Cardigans and Success

Isabelle paced backwards and forwards in her room. The mansion she was staying in was huge in size, and she was under a form of 'house arrest' after the plan with Marlene failed. However, she'd had a long time to plan being alone for such a long time, and this time Isabelle was determined not to fail. She had to succeed. Her life depended on this. A knock distracted her and Avery walked in.

"Are you ready? We need your plan."

"I-Is it desperate that we have it right now?" Isabelle asked, fiddling nervously with her hands.

"Yes." The Death Eater spat. "Having second thoughts?"

"No." She said sharply, striding determindely past him and down the stairs.

"Ah, the girl is finally ready." Voldemort drawled. Isabelle didn't look at him. She never could look him in the eye. "Do you have a way which we can target the other Black? I want him. Soon."

"Yes." She said, "And I think you'll like this plan better. It involves the destruction of a Mudblood, too." Voldemort smirked, "Tell me more."

Sirius pressed Marlene firmly into the matrass of his bed, pressing kisses down her exposed chest. She was running her hands through his hair, and for once, he didn't complain.

"Do you want to?" He breathed, feathering kisses up her throat.

"Sirius Black actually asks?" She teased, rubbing her hands teasingly down his chest.

"I'll take that as a yes?" He smirked.

"I was hoping you would." She laughed, dragging him down to kiss him passionately.

Within seconds, they had removed all items of clothing. Marlene kissed down his neck, along his jaw, anywhere she could reach. Sirius, just to be sure, pulled away.

"Are you sure?" He whispered, his fingers trailing up her thigh.

"Yes." She moaned when his fingers slipped inside her. "I swear to Merlin if you drag this out any longer..."

"You'll do what?" He whispered again, biting her earlobe as he teased her. He moved excruicatingly slow, causing Marlene to whimper. "I'll chop off your dick and ram it down your throat, if you don't put it to use." She groaned, reaching her hand out to tease him but he moved back away from her.

"You like it rough?" He smirked, dragging his lips down her neck and biting, leaving a mark.

"James?" Lily asked, fluttering her lashes at him.

James smiled down at her. "Yes, love?"

"Do you fancy a trip into Hogsmeade? I need to get some more school supplies."

"Anything for you." He kissed her hair.

"I'll just go grab my jacket from upstairs."

"Will you bring down my cardigan please? I've left it on your bed."

"Sure, thing." James blew her a kiss and bounded upstairs, wandering into the boys dorm- he noticed Sirius' curtains were still closed and he shook his head, "Lazy." He muttered as he walked over to his bed and found his jacket draped over the headboard. Looking around for Lily's cardigan, he froze when he heard a moan. "

Fuck, McKinnon." Sirius growled.

"God, yes, Black." Marlene moaned in response.

James was still frozen to the spot. He couldn't move. He needed to move, he felt very intrusive as he heard his best friend and somebody he'd known since childhood have sex. Without grabbing Lily's cardigan, James just bolted from the room and downstairs, bright red and disturbed.

"You alright, James?" Lily asked, sitting up with a bewilded expression.

"Where is my cardigan?"

"On my bed." He panted. "

It's no use there, James!" She rolled her eyes and put down the Prophet with an irritated sigh. She stood up and headed for the stairs.

"No!" He yelled.

Lily frowned in confusion. "What? Merlin's knickers James, what is wrong?"

"Sirius and Marlene." He cringed.

Lily jumped away from the stairs as if they'd bitten her arse. "Ew! No. Ew!"

He nodded and made a face. "I heard..."

She held up her hands. "That is enough information. I'll just have to use your jacket, instead."

"It's raining." "Scared, Potter?" She teased, taking his hand.

"Pft, you wish, Evans."

When March came in like a lion, it supposedly went out like a lamb; for once, Lily hoped this were true. She'd never been one for believing Muggle supersitions, but as she ran through the streets of Hogsmeade with James' jacket as an umbrella, she did.

"Evans!" James called, jogging beside her, "Can I go in the Quidditch store? Pleaaaaaaase." He tried to look at her and pout, fluttering his lashes, but when he looked away he missed the giant puddle and ended up soaking. "Aw."

"Do we have to?"

"We can wait in there until the rain stops."

"We'll be in there a bloody while." He laughed and steered her toward the shop anyway.

"C'mon, it's not that bad."

"I'll run to the stationary shop and I'll meet you in here soon." She promised, standing on he toes to kiss him.

"Mhm, don't be too long."

"I won't, but you know how excited I get over new ink." She teased, winking.

"You can show me just how excited later." He retorted, laughing as he ducked instead. Lily smiled as she hurried over to the shop, sighing with relief when she was out of the awful weather. She carried James' jacket on one finger as she wandered around the store, ooo-ing and aaah-ing at the new quills and the fancy parchment.

"Anything I can help you with, Miss?" The man behind the counter asked, flashing a couple of gold teeth when he smiled. Lily smiled back politely, "

Well, I own a Red Kite feathered quill, but the nib has broken. Do you have another one? I know they're quite rare.."

"I'd look in the back for you, but I'm alone and I can't leave the shop unattended." He explained.

"Oh." Lily sighed, "I'll just have a look around then. Thanks anyway."

The man watched Lily as she wandered around the shop, picking up a quill for a few seconds and then putting it back down again. He sighed silently and walked toward the door, locking it with a flick of his wand.

Lily frowned at him. "Urm, excuse me?"

"I'll go in the back and find that quill for you."

She smiled, "Oh, thank you. I'll just wait here."

"I'll not be a second." He said, darting in the back.

Lily smiled and waited by the counter, getting her purse out ready. She dried James' jacket off with a charm and shrugged it on to keep warm.

"Red kite quill?" A voice drawled. "How vintage."

Lily froze.

She knew that voice.

Isabelle.

Marlene, you are the best shag ever."

"So romantic," Marlene drawled, although she were smiling. She leant over Sirius to open his drawer, grabbing a packet of cigarettes.

"Oh, you helping yourself to my things now?"

"What does it look like?" She smirked, lighting one up and taking a drag.

"Cheeky bitch." He laughed, clambering out of bed and pulling on his boxers. He padded around the bed, took the cigarette from Marlene and proceeded to the bathroom.

Marlene grinned and slumped back against Sirius' bed, smiling up at the ceiling until a voice and white smoke filled the room. She looked up and frowned, "Sirius?" She called, staring at the white stag pacing the room. "Was that cigarette definitely tobacco?"

"Yes, why?" Sirius' amused voice came from behind the door.

"There's a stag in the middle of the living room."

Sirius, as you're not answering the two way mirror, you git, I need you. In Hogsmeade. Now. I think Lily is in trouble.

Sirius raced out of the bathroom, cigarette dangling from his lips. "Did that say what I think it said?"

"Yes." Marlene snapped, pulling on her skirt and top. "What else did you think it said?"

"Pass me my clothes,"

"Get them yourself. My best friend is in trouble." Marlene said, slipping her feet into her shoes in one swift move as she ran from the boys dorm. It was pretty obvious what she'd just been doing with Sirius, she had marks on her neck and her hair looked as if it hadn't been brushed in days. But Marlene didn't care. James wouldn't send a patronus if it wasn't extremely important.

"Isabelle?" Lily asked once she'd found her voice.

"Who else?" The French girl drawled, tapping her wand between her fingers.

"What are you doing in Hogsmeade?"

"Looking for you, obviously."

"Why me, Iz? What did I ever do to you?" Lily was offended. She considered Isabelle a true friend; she felt betrayed, but also perplexed. What did she want?

"I don't want to hurt you, Lils. But I will if I have to. We can make a deal, and I will stick to a deal made with you." "

You hurt my best friend. Why should I trust you?"

"Marlene is scum," Isabelle spat.

Lily glared. "Don't insult her if you want my help."

"Fine." She sighed angrily. She couldn't afford to fail. "I want Sirius. I need Sirius."

"And how can I help you with that? We're friends, but we're not as close and him and Jam-" Lily stopped mid sentence, her eyes growing. "No."

The other girl smirked, "Clever one, aren't you?"

"Isabelle, leave James alone." Lily warned, her wand in her hand.

Isabelle pointed her own wand at Lily. "Put that away, or Merlin help me, I will kill you."

Lily didn't doubt that. This was the girl who nearly killed Sirius. This was the girl who hurt Marlene. And Lily definitely didn't trust her. Before she could speak, the door was broken open and James Potter stood in the entrance; dripping wet and looking flustered.

"Step away from my girlfriend." He spat, his wand in his hand. He moved so he was standing in front of Lily, pushing her away and toward the door.

"I suggest you put that wand down, James. I'm here to make a deal, not to shed blood." Isabelle said diplomatically.

"What do you want?" James asked, not lowering his wand.

"Sirius."

James faltered. Isabelle wanted Sirius and James had just sent for Sirius. Shit. He could get his best friend killed. Maybe Sirius was still too busy with Marlene; for his sake, he hoped so.

Unsure of what else to do, James looked at Lily quickly and muttered, "Run."

Lily shook her head but the look on James' face told her that she needed to. James nodded again and Lily took off, darting around the shelf and running down the aisle to the door. Isabelle was quick to react, she sent a stunning spell in Lily's direction and it hit her square on the back.

She smirked when Lily fell to the floor, her hair sprawled out around her. "Bitch," James hissed, sending an array of spells in the direction of Isabelle. They hit her. She fell.

James immediately ran over to Lily, but as he wasn't around before, he wasn't aware that Isabelle wasn't alone. The man who had pretended to run the shop strode out of the stock room and grabbed James' arm and punched him in the jaw. James yelped with surprise and pain, stumbling backwards he nearly stood on Lily, but the arrival of more people at the door meant that the Death Eater was preoccupied.

"Ah, finally. The boy arrives. You took your time, Black." Isabelle said, approaching the death eaters side. "Grab him."

The Death Eater lunged for Sirius and gripped him tight enough to apparate away. The couldn't waste time. They had been lucky as it is.

"Sirius!" Marlene shrieked, staring at the space where he'd just been standing. He wasn't there, but directly in front of her was Isabelle. "You bitch!" Marlene screamed. And then she lunged for her.

"Marlene, stop!" James shouted, dragging the thrashing blonde off the terrified French girl. He cast a look at Isabelle. "Don't think I'm saving your arse. I'm not. But I will let her loose if you don't tell me where Sirius is."

"I don't know."

"You liar!" James spat. Marlene was thrashing so hard in his grip he was struggling to keep her still, but he still managed to point his wand at Isabelle's throat. "Tell me. Now."

Isabelle swallowed, looking up at James. If she told him, she'd lose her life. If she didn't tell him, she'd live as her plan had been a success. It was an easy choice, really. It didn't even take that much thought.

"No." She said, a smirk find it's way onto her plump lips. "It's a secret."

She winked at Marlene before apparating away, stumbling through the door of the mansion where she'd been kept under house arrest for so long. Striding into the living room, she saw the limp body of Sirius Black floating in the air, while a band of Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort himself sat beneath him. Applause filled the silence.

"Well, well, well. I must admit I thought you'd fail. Congratulations are in order, Isabelle." Voldemort drawled, a smile on his lips. Isabelle let out a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding and smiled. "It was a pleasure, my Lord." But as her eyes involuntarily darted to Sirius' revolving body, Isabelle wondered if it really was a pleasure at all.