A/N: It's rather short.. sorry! :(

Chapter 11

Mary Macdonald

I hear people talking about me as I walk into the great hall. Mary Macdonald back to being her old self. It's true, maybe... I don't know, it feels like this isn't really the real me.

I mean Lene doesn't seem to like it, and Lene loved me – or she must've cause we started being friends and I have always been like this, bit shallow and self centered and love gossip and gossiping.

But somehow for some reason Lene doesn't seem happy about the change back or whatever.

I wave at the Ravenclaw table as I pass, Veronica Smethley and Gilderoy of course wave back (and a few other Ravenclaw students), happily Rebecca Hallyberry ignores me just like I ignore her.

I then walk towards the Gryffindor table, watching Marlene talking to James about something, not important to me probably. Black sits picking on his lunch quietly and Remus is discussing something with Alice – probably some prefect work. Emmeline – not that that is a surprise, Peter and Lily (which is a bit weird) don't seem to be anywhere near.

„Hey," I say as I plop down in the seat next to Marlene who barley looks up, muttering her ‚hey' back to me.

„Morning," Alice, Remus and James all greet back. Black doesn't bother greeting me – not that I was counting on otherwise.

„Where is Lily?" I ask and lean over to grab a toast.

"Aren't you going to eat anything more? – She has a headache," Alice answers my question.

"I'm not hungry. Merlin, Alice, we don't have to eat like this is our last day on earth." I tell her bitchily "I eat far too much anyway,"

"Far too much?" Alice mocks with a big scowl on her face. "You don't eat anything!"

"Get of my case!" I spit hotly, "I'm tired of this, you're always lecturing me, I can eat what I want Alice."

Alice's mouth curls up but she doesn't say anything, just grabs a full fork of bacon and stuffs it into her mouth.

"Mare, have any free periods today?" Lene asks suddenly,

"After potions." I answer

"Good, can you come with me to the library?" Lene continues, but she still doesn't look up from her lunch.

"No." I answer honestly and she looks up, for a short second, surprised that I declined.

"I'm already meeting up with some Ravenclaw's there…"

"Oh,"

There is an awkward silence as everyone at the table looks at Marlene and then me.

"But …" I start awkwardly "you can come with us…"

"Okay," Marlene simply agrees

"O-Okay?" I ask surprised, Marlene never wants to come with me to meet Gilderoy or Veronica; Godric knowsshe doesn't like them.

"Yeah. Time I meet Lockart isn't it? You've been pretty attached to the guy for the past week and I have never really talked to the guy."

"Alright then," I nod my head and Marlene looks up - for the first time that morning – and gives me a short smile.

- Hunting For Happiness -

Lene and I walk in complete utter silence towards the Library were I had told Gilderoy, Ver and their friends to meet us.

"You really don't mind hanging around them?" I finally gather enough courage to talk. It's almost funny, that I find it scary to talk to my own best friend.

"If it means I can talk to you, yeah don't mind." Marlene answers.

"Lene..." I start "Is everything okay? You've been distant- "

"I? I've been distant?" Marlene laughs "Oh common Mare! You've hardly been with me all week. Thank Merlin you didn't completely ignore me on my birthday –"

"Lene…" I say a bit offended "Of course I wouldn't ignore you on your birthday, we always do something together on our birthdays …"

She nods, but the scowl doesn't leave her face "I know, but Mare – you've been acting weird."

"I know," I agree "Self centered, shallow, selfish, gossiping me is back. Who cares Lene?"

"I care." Marlene mutters, "I love you Mare, but why are you acting like this? Like the war isn't your problem?"

"Lene –"

"No, don't 'Lene' me I just want to understand why you're back to this–"

"Because this is who I am!" I explode, "This, Lene, and you know it! This is how I was when you and I met, when you and I started being friends, so why would I want to change it? Don't you like me like this? Would you stop hanging around with me?"

"Mare, no of course not but you have to under–"

"I do understand, I understand there is a war going on, people are dying, all around, He is building up an army or whatever and there is a big possibility the Slytherin's are becoming death eaters, I know that! Don't you think I know that!"

There is a silence, long, long silence.

"Sirius thinks Regulus is one…" Marlene suddenly whispers and I tense up.

"What?"

"Regulus, his brother-"

"I know him," I cut her off

"S-Sirius thinks he might be… training or whatever, to be a… d-death eater."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, but you can't tell anyone, Mary. When he told me, he was so … down…"

"When did he tell you?"

"My birthday … or technically it wasn't still my –"

"You slept with him again, didn't you?"

"Get off my case," she mocks me – how I acted at lunch and I can't stop myself from smiling a bit.

"This is big though … rough. How is he dealing with it?"

"He doesn't like Regulus, but he still cares… they are brothers… now he's just upset, angry, sad… afraid. I don't really know."

I whistle "Wow … it is big."

"Yep," Marlene says just as we enter the Library "but promise me you won't talk about this to anyone."

"Promise."

Marlene smiles at me, knowing she can trust me – I might possible be a bit of a gossip whore, but I wouldn't ever betray my best friend

"Mary!" Veronica exclaims when she notices Marlene and me. Marlene growls under her breath.

"Common, don't kill her," I laugh and link my arms with hers as we walk together towards were Veronica, Gilderoy, Dorcas Meadows, Daniel Mickers and for some reason – and both mine and Lene's despise, Rebecca Hallyberry, are sitting.

"Rebecca? Really Mare?" Marlene sneers.

"Hush," I scold her playfully "I didn't know she was coming, ignore her!"

"I'm ignoring all of them" Marlene sighs and I finally feel like I've got my old Lene back.

I chuckle as we sit, Marlene sitting next to me – making her versus Daniel Mickers, and I sitting next to Gilderoy versus Veronica.

"Hey!" I greet them all, smiling for a longer time at Gilderoy than at the others.

"How are you Mary dear?" He asks in a singsong voice like usually and I shrug

"Fine, fine."

"Good, good," he smiles and then turns to give Marlene a smile "Fancy seeing you here McKinnon,"

"Hey Lockart," she answers after I step on her foot, urging her to say something.

"Mary –" Veronica says excited, ignoring Marlene as was expected "have you heard the scandal?"

"What scandal?" I laugh "There are plenty of scandals…"

"Oh, yea… The one about Bethany Davies!"

"Ooh, prey tell" Rebecca says and leans on to the table, her giant (fake) boobs almost flowing out of her t-shirt. I scowl at her for a moment but then nod at Veronica,

"Yeah, do share. I haven't heard about it, I think."

"Oh, it's a big one!" Veronica says with a grin "Apparently she has a thing for both Prewett twins and more than that… they also both seem to fancy her – Christie Daniels told me she snogged Fabian, and Gideon found out and that's why they aren't talking, but Marcus Overs says Davies and Gideon got a lot further than just snogging – but I don't think they've shagged yet, but I can't be one hundredth percent sure…There was this huge fit at the last Gryffindor practice... My sources tell me there was a fight between the two twins." Her eyes find Marlene's for a second before she waits for my comment. I make a mental note to ask Marlene about this later

"Wow," I guess there is another slut in Ravenclaw – yes Rebecca, I'm talking/thinking about you.

"Whore," Rebecca - of all people – exclaims and I see that Marlene snickers (Probably thinking the same as I), Rebecca seems to catch Marlene's snicker and sends her a big death glare before speaking up again "But on the subject of shagging," Rebecca emphases, "McKinnon," she addresses Marlene that can't hide her surprise that she is actually talking to her "Are the rumors about you and Sirius Black true?"

"I can't see if that could be any of your business" Marlene sneers back

Rebecca looks offended for a moment that someone wouldn't tell or give her everything she wants. "I'm just wondering, because if you are, you're just a huge wannabe whore – and if you think for one moment Sirius wants to be in a relationship with you, you are delusional. Because he sure as hell doesn't look at you guys as exclusive." She sends Marlene a knowing smirk.

Marlene rises up from her chair, "Great. Thanks for the information, but honestly all I got from this little pathetic speech of yours-" Marlene says viciously "is that you shagged Sirius and that must make you a whore and not me."

I look at Lene who is staring angrily at Rebecca. She's good at hiding it – but not good enough to hide it for her best friend – but her eyes are filling up with tears.

"But if you will excuse me I have to go and finish my homework. Fancy meeting you all." She spits out, turns away and storms out.

I wonder if I should follow her but Rebecca cuts me off from my thoughts.

"So Macdonald? Is it true?"

"What?"

"Merlin, the rumors of course!" Rebecca exclaims.

"About Lene?"

"Yes!"

"Uhm… No I… I don't know. I mean… what does it matter to you?"

"I just want to know," Rebecca rolls her eyes.

"Well it isn't your business, what they do doesn't involve you – if they do anything." I say standing up "Anyways, I'm gonna find Lene. Talk to you guys later," I smile at them.

"Bye dear," Gileroy smiles.

"Ta!" Veronica says also with a smile but both Peskey and Meadows don't say a word just like they haven't throughout the entire conversation and Rebecca sends me a glare.

- - Hunting For Happiness –

The rest of the week goes by incredibly slow and when Wednesday finally comes around Marlene has stopped obsession over the fact Sirius slept with Rebecca (Probably again – If you ask me) "Can someone explain to me, why there is nothing to do in this stupid school right now?" Marlene sighs.

"What no Sirius to hang around with?" I say rather annoyed with her 'falling back to her pattern'

Marlene scowls "If you don't like it, then don't talk about it."

"I'll try." I tell her and she rolls her eyes.

"I liked it better when you guys acted as if you didn't know."

"You can't have it both ways,"

"Still wish."

"Wish as you want."

Marlene rolls her eyes again. "Anyways… where is Lockart? I mean you guys have been terrible attached for the last week and a half…"

"Ugh, Godric only knows where that boy is.. but no, we're not attached. I mean he and Ver are nice to hang around with and al that … but I dunno, he wants too much I think, I mean I don't want to be in a relationship with the boy … too clingy or whatever."

Marlene nods in agreement "Thank god, and too blonde as well."

I roll my eyes "Lene even though you're not into dating blondes –" I trail of when she sends me a glare "okay sorry … I meant date anyone" that gives me another glare "I mean it Lene, there are plenty of boys that would just love to date you, I hear people talk about you everywhere. I don't understand why you let Sirius Black make you scared"

"I am not scared."

"Just think about it Lene, I mean, you know that affect you have… you are half vela aren't you?"

Marlene rolls her eyes "One eighth or something." She laughs.

"Same shit," I laugh "but still, you haven't dated since … who knows! When we were on our fifth year you didn't even go on a date with Amos fucking Diggory! Even though he asked you, and he's two years older and so hot – Godric, I don't like you!"

Marlene rolls her eyes at me "Who cares if I didn't date Amos, who cares if I don't date, not everybody has to be in a relationship all the time Mare," she frowns at me

"Yea, yea I know," I tell her "And its not like I'm always in relationships, I just date a lot more than you… and if you're thinking otherwise; Lockart and I are not in a relationship. We're not even dating," I tell her and she smiles shortly.

"Alright," she tells me with a laugh.

"Uhm… Excuse me,, Marlene?" A voice sounds behind us and we both turn around to face Adam Smethley, six year Ravenclaw student (a.k.'s Smethley's twin brother)

"Heey?" Marlene questions as Adam hands her a book

"Y-You forgot your Potions book on the table, I saw it … and decided to give it to you –"

"Oh, thanks," Marlene takes the book from his grip.

"Uhm also…" he continues "I was wondering… you seem to be having a bit – not that anyone noticed – a trouble with your wolfs bane potion… so if … if you want I could offer you some help –"

Marlene and I exchange glances. Why would Marlene need any help in potions from a random Ravenclaw when Lily Evans was her best friend?

Marlene sighs but I give her a knowing look, telling her with my eyes that I know she'll never agree on a study date with Adam Smethley.

Marlene rolls her eyes at me and turns to Adam who looks like he's going to faint. "That would be lovely Adam, maybe tomorrow?"

"Yeah, tomorrow at 8?"

"Eight, great." Marlene gives him her charming smile and he walks dreamily away.

"See!" I tell her victoriously "This is what I'm talking about, the boy was practically drooling – by the way, why did you agree to a study date with him?"

"Well you were just saying I don't date enough, so this is me dating" Marlene rolls her eyes and keeps walking and ignores my laughter.

A/N; Ohoh…. Marlene got herself a date ! D:

I wonder how Sirius will feel abou that… If then again Sirius feels – Sorry that was the mixture of Mary and Marlene in me. I love my Sirikins.

Anyways, I know it has taken me aaaaaaaaages to update and I am sorry *bows down* but as many of you know FF has not been working, but my dearest friends were able to help me make it work and then all I had to do was finish this. I know its not my greatest work .. but I have written worse! :D

Don't forget to review !

Nagging nagging nagging… sorry.

-RainbowDust

-Sigga

-Mel

-Lexi

- - whatever you know me as