It had been weeks since they'd spoken. Despite their best efforts, neither the Marauders nor the girls had been able to extract from either Sirius or Marlene exactly what had transpired, let alone get them to reconcile. Any time it was brought up, Marlene simply sighed and offered an irritated I don't want to talk about it, while Sirius threatened to punch anyone in the face who mentioned the situation. In the end, their friends left it, ignoring as best they could the awkwardness at mealtimes when Marlene sat at one end of the group, and Sirius the other, both stewing furiously.

It did make him feel isolated, but Sirius would never admit that. He knew himself well enough to know the greatest chink in his armour was his stubborn pride; there was no way in hell he was admitting to his friends why he wasn't speaking to Marlene. That he'd fallen for her, then lashed out and called her self-absorbed over something as petty as a poor Quidditch performance. It was stupid, so stupid, and he knew that. He also knew the look on James' face if he told him about it, and the way Remus would roll his eyes and tell him the whole thing was ridiculous.

It was ridiculous, Sirius knew that. He mulled angrily over it one afternoon, and made his way to the Astronomy Tower. He'd not been able to face the thought of going back to the common room in Gryffindor Tower with everyone, only to sit silently at one end of the sofa in fury. Equally, the thought of another afternoon in the library filled him with dread; he'd been escaping there regularly of late. At least my grades are improving, he thought bitterly.

Where October had been a month of perpetual dampness, November had brought with it crisp frosts, bitter winds, and those deceptive autumn days where the sun shone bright, but cheeks and ears went bright red in the cold. From his position in the Astronomy Tower, Sirius could see the mountains rising over Hogsmeade, their caps snowy white in the distance. They'd get snow soon enough, as the days grew shorter. He loved this time in the term - Quidditch practices in the early mornings, his breath hanging like steam in the air in front of him, and evenings stretched out by the fire in the common room with his friends.

Of course, that wasn't happening much at the moment. His generous spirit meant he didn't blame his friends for finding him difficult company at the moment - he'd been foul since the fight, he could admit. But, his stubbornness also refused to allow even countenancing the idea of backing down. He felt like he always got the short straw in that regard, always had the worst assumed of him, always met with a roll of the eyes and an utterance that of course Sirius did something.

He angrily kicked the stone wall of the tower, hands shoved into his pockets.

"You're not going to win that fight, you know."

He stopped, looking up. Speak of the devil, and she shall appear, he thought, as he looked at Marlene leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest.

"What are you doing here?" he asked brusquely, turning his back to her and walking back to the window.

"James said you were here. I thought… I thought we should talk."

The map, he cursed, the damn map.

"I don't think we've got much to talk about, do you?" he said coldly, throwing the remark over his shoulder.

"Sirius."

She never used his first name. He was always Black, and she was always McKinnon; they were never Sirius and Marlene. It had been that way since they first became friends, when they'd ended up in detention together with McGonagall. James and Sirius had been there for setting fireworks off in the girls' bathroom near Professor Flitwick's office; she'd been there for getting bored in Transfiguration and turning Edgar Bones' wand into a centipede.

She walked behind him now, and Sirius felt her put a hand against his arm.

"Talk to me, you stubborn bastard," she said affectionately, "I know you hate this as much as I do."

Sirius sighed. It was what he'd wanted - her to be the first to approach him about it, not the other way round. Now it had happened, of course, he realised he was just as much in the wrong.

"Ok," he said, turning and pointing to the stone bench against the wall. They sat, Sirius leaning forward on his knees, looking at his shoes. Her knees were angled in toward him, and her hand had returned to his arm. He couldn't concentrate, the blood rushing in his ears. Get a grip, Black, he thought.

"I'm sorry," Marlene began, but Sirius shook his head.

"No, no, don't. It's me that should be apologising. I shouldn't have called you self-centred, that wasn't fair."

"Wasn't fair for me to say you deliberately missed Anderson's bludger, either."

"You know I'd never do that, right?" he asked, finally looking up at her. "I'd never put you in danger."

"I know," she said simply. "Like I said, wasn't fair."

"I had… things going on, and I guess it took my head out the game. But, I really am sorry for what I said. It was stupid to get angry about it instead of just talking to you about it."

"Guess that makes two of us, then."

They held each other's gaze for a moment, those clear blue eyes meeting dark brown, framed my long lashes. Sirius felt like his breath wasn't filling his lungs properly, lightheaded just from the sight of her. I could just tell her, he thought, I could just tell her right now and get it over with.

Just for a moment, it looked like there was something on her mind, too. It looked like she might be on the cusp of saying something, something important. Then, whatever it was was gone, and she just smiled.

"C'mon," she said, standing and offering a hand to pull him to his feet. He rose, and she nodded towards the door. "James got some hot chocolate from the kitchens, and we were going to deal a game of Exploding Snap. Slughorn's out with the flu, so no Potions this afternoon."

"Did you come here to make up so you had someone to be your partner?" Sirius joked. She laughed, and Sirius felt his heart swell at the sound. What was it James had said about Lily? I'd rather have her as a friend than not at all.

"Absolutely," she quipped back. "Who else is going to help me beat Lupin and Potter?"

"Lead the way, McKinnon," he grinned.

"Thank God they've gotten over themselves, hey?" Lily said, as she and James exited the Gryffindor common room some hours later to begin their evening patrol. Sirius and Marlene had returned from the Astronomy Tower as thick as thieves, much to everyone's bemusement, and proceeded to roundly beat everyone else at snap.

"Completely," James replied. "I was getting to the point where I was thinking of locking them in a room to duke it out."

"Well, that's a euphemism I've not heard before…"

"Lily Evans!" James exclaimed, eyes twinkling as he grinned at her. "Never thought I'd see the day you made a sex joke."

"Oh, please," she rolled her eyes, "I'm not a total prude."

"If you say so," he replied. "Still weird that they won't tell anyone why they were fighting, though."

"About that…" Lily began, and then faltered.

"What?" James frowned down at her. He really is handsome, she thought, looking back at him. Handsome in a dishevelled, rich kid kind of way.

"You swear not to tell anyone this?" she asked. James nodded. "No, seriously, James, not a soul. And you're not allowed to bring it up to Sirius."

"I promise," he replied, still confused.

"I think it's because he's fallen for her."

"What?" James stopped in the corridor. "Who's fallen for who?"

"Sirius. Fallen for Marlene." "Sirius Black has fallen for Marlene?" James said loudly, and Lily hushed him, shoving him towards an alcove where there was some semblance of privacy.

"Don't shout it for the whole castle to hear! Look," she said, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, resigning herself to breaking Sirius' confidence. What with the fight with Marlene, they hadn't had the chance yet to discuss his music room suggestion. It's for his good, she thought. "I don't just think he likes her. I… I know he does, because he told me."

"Since when have you and Padfoot been having heart-to-hearts?" James frowned.

"I ran into him in the music room, unimportant," Lily said, waving a hand. "I guessed, essentially. After they kissed and we all went to Hogsmeade, he'd been weird around her."

"Jesus," James said, shocked.

"He made me promise not to say anything, so you really have to keep this a secret."

"So why are you telling me?" James asked slowly, a slight frown on his face. Marauders didn't break each other's confidences, ever, and he didn't like the idea of Lily sharing Sirius' confession without his permission, even if it was huge news.

"Because," Lily said, "I think she likes him too. She admitted that he'd got under her skin a bit, after the kiss, but I think it's more than that."

James raised his eyebrows and let out a low whistle.

"Well, bloody hell, Evans," he said, leaning back against the windowsill and shoving his hands into his pockets. "That's some news."

"What's more," Lily continued, her eyes glistening with excitement, "I think I've got a plan for how we can make them stop being such total idiots and get together."

"Go on."

"We need to patrol," she said, gesturing toward the stairs. "Come on, I'll tell you en route."

Things were finally back to normal, almost as though the fight between Sirius and Marlene had never happened. Frankly, both the Marauders and the girls were thrilled, regardless of the fact that neither of them were any more willing to explain the fight than they had previously. Still, they were speaking again, and that was good enough, because it meant mealtimes and class and trips to Hogsmeade were no longer intensely uncomfortable games of diplomacy. Sirius, of course, was no closer to telling Marlene how he felt, and had steadfastly been avoiding any opportunity to spend time with Lily alone, in case she brought up his suggestion from weeks earlier in the music room.

On a Tuesday evening, a couple of weeks after the friendship had been patched, Sirius and James were walking in through the main doors to the castle. They'd got distracted at Quidditch practice, after the rest of the team had already left, perfecting a set move for their next match against Slytherin after the Christmas holidays. Having missed supper, they made their way back to the castle after showering, snow falling in gentle flakes in the night air, and were now headed towards the kitchens to see if the house elves would whip up something.

As they descended the first flight of stairs toward the kitchens, the boys rounded a corner to be confronted with a group of Slytherins, huddled round each other and whispering. Sirius could see Snape at the centre, gesticulating.

"Uh-oh," James said quietly, as they approached the group."

"Potter and Black," Snape said, lip curling at he noticed them.

"The blood traitors," Avery added.

"God, what a line, eh James?" Sirius said, feigning a yawn.

"An absolute burn," James replied lazily, pretending to check the cuffs of his robes for fraying.

"Bet you're disappointed, Potter, that you've got Black out with you tonight," Rodolphus Lestrange called mockingly, "when you could be with the muggleborn. Isn't that the sort of thing you blood traitors are into?"

"Ah yes, a shame you're not accompanied by our Mudblood Head Girl," Snape said softly. Bile rose in Sirius' chest at the sound of Snape referring to Lily that way.

"What did you just call her?" James snapped. "Say that again, go on."

"I called her a mudblood,"

"Thought I'd told you before to watch that filthy mouth of yours, Snape," James spat, and reached for his wand. "Guess I'll tell you again."

"Is that a threat, Potter?" Snape barked, drawing his own wand.

"A reminder, Severus."

The two boys began to circle slowly, eyes and wands fixed on each other. Sirius had reached for his wand, too, watching the situation unfold, his eyes darting from James to Snape and back again. He noticed some of the Slytherins at the back of the group slink off, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire. There was no doubt that James Potter and Severus Snape were equally matched in duelling, probably the best in the school.

"I suppose Black is your second?" Snape snarled.

"I am," Sirius said, appearing at James' side. "You?"

"Dolohov," Snape replied, eyes still fixed on James'. Sirius smirked - the Slytherin Snape had chosen was good, sure, but nowhere near as good as him.

"Three," Sirius began to count down, "two-"

Ahead of the final mark, Snape shot out a curse. James blocked it adeptly, the white light dissipating into the air as his shield spell shot out of his wand, before returning one of his own.

"Oi," Sirius spat, as Snape smirked, "fight fair, you total prick."

"Careful, Black," Snape sneered, continuing to block James' spells and return them with vigour, "this isn't your fight until I'm done with Potter. If you're not careful, you'll have to deal with Dolohov here."

Sirius opened his mouth to speak, but no words had a chance to come out before Dolohov's spell hit him in the stomach, pushing him back to the floor. He was winded for a minute, dazed from where his head had landed hard. He reached for his wand, aiming it at a laughing Dolohov, before-

"Enough!"

A thunderous voice echoed down the corridor, and drew Sirius from his momentary haze of pain. With his robes swirling around him, Albus Dumbledore strode towards the group of students, and Sirius had never seen him look angry like that, eyes hard and glinting. Rage seemed to emanate from every pore, filling the whole corridor, making everyone of them seem tiny and insignificant.

"Fifty points from Slytherin," Dumbledore snapped, and Snape seemed to shrivel under the wizard's gaze. "And fifty points from Gryffindor."

"Professor Dumbledore, he-" Sirius began, scrambling to his feet, but was silenced by a look from the headmaster.

"If you are not in need of Madam Pomfrey's aid, return to Gryffindor Tower, Mr Black. Members of Slytherin house will also return to their dormitories. Mr Potter, you will come with me."

Sirius and James exchanged a look, before doing as the headmaster said, and the corridor emptied as the Slytherins returned to their dungeon. Slowly, his head aching, Sirius made his way back to Gryffindor Tower.

"What happened to you?"

Sirius stumbled through the portrait hole to a relatively empty common room. Marlene and Lily sat by the fire, mugs in hand, looking at him like he'd just been pulled from the grips of the Giant Squid.

"Seriously, Black, what happened?" Marlene asked, concern on her face. "You look awful."

"James… James and I ran into a group of Slytherins. We missed supper, wanted to get something from the kitchens. Snape said some stuff, called Lily…" he trailed off, and understanding showed on both the girls' faces. "Well, he said some shit he shouldn't have, and James duelled him."

"Oh my God," Marlene put a hand to her mouth. "And James? Is he alright?"

"Where is he now?" Lily asked, panic in her voice.

"Dumbledore's office," Sirius replied.

Lily jumped up, and ran for the portrait hole. Sirius watched her go, before walking across the room. He slumped down beside Marlene, his head bouncing onto the back of the sofa, and winced at the pressure on the back of his head where he'd hit it against the ground, lifting a hand to it as stars of pain appeared in his eyes.

"Here," Marlene said softly, "let me see."

Sirius leant his head forward, and felt her nimble fingers smooth over the tenderness.

"You've got a wretched lump here, but no blood. What did they hit you with?" she asked.

"Dolohov hit me with something, I don't know what, and I fell on the flags."

"You're lucky he didn't knock you out."

"Yeah," Sirius replied quietly, staring into the fire. The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes, before Marlene spoke again.

"Penny for your thoughts, Sirius?"

There she goes again with the proper name, he thought.

"I just…" he sighed. "I guess we spend so much time talking about fighting once we've left school, that I forget we're probably going to be fighting people who are here at Hogwarts with us. You know the Slytherin group - Snape, Avery, Dolohov, Lestrange," he said, running through the list. "My cousin, for God's sake. My brother."

Marlene leant against the arm of the sofa, and put a cushion on her lap. She patted it, and indicated for him to rest his head there. It was an intimate gesture, but as he did it, it felt… right. He lay on his side, gazing into the fire once more, and as she rested one hand on her knee in front of him, he took it in his own.

"You know you're not responsible for your family," she said gently. "Your parents, your cousins, your brother-"

"I know," Sirius said quietly, "but I sometimes think maybe I should have been better to him, when we were kids. Maybe he wouldn't have turned out the way he is now."

"And if you'd done that, maybe you wouldn't be the way you are now," she pointed out. "Trust me, when I say that our side is lucky to have you."

"You think so?" he asked.

"I know so," she replied, squeezing his hand for good measure.

"This reflects incredibly poorly, James," Dumbledore said. He was settled behind his desk, staring sternly over his half-moon spectacles at the boy standing in front of him. "There are consequences to the choices you made tonight, especially as Head Boy."

"I know you're probably going to take away my badge, or expel me or something, but-"

"James, you cannot whip your wand out at every opportunity!"

"Sir," James breathed, "he called her a mudblood."

"Who did?" Dumbledore asked, stilling in his chair.

"Snape. He called Lily a mudblood."

There was a moment of silence.

"I'm not going to strip you of your badge, James, nor am I going to expel you," Dumbledore sighed. "However, as much as I admire your gallantry in coming to Miss Evans' defence, you cannot duel with fellow students in the corridor. The point deduction remains in place."

Before James could answer, the door burst open and in flew one Lily Evans, red in the face and panting.

"Sir!" She exclaimed, breathlessly. "Sir, please don't demote James or kick him out, the Slyth-"

"Miss Evans," Dumbledore interrupted, the corners of his mouth twitching ever so slightly, "there is no need to be concerned. Mr Potter will be remaining in his position as Head Boy, and at Hogwarts."

"Oh, thank goodness," Lily sighed heavily.

"I am naturally impressed by the speed at which news travels round the castle, of course," he continued, and James grinned.

"Some things can always be relied upon, Professor."

"Return to Gryffindor Tower," Dumbledore said, picking up a quill and not even trying to hide his amusement. "And please, don't get in anymore trouble on your way back there."

James and Lily shared a brief look, but didn't need telling twice. James knew full well the consequences of duelling with a group of Slytherins in the corridor could have been a hell of a lot more serious than being docked some points.

"How did you know I was there?" James asked, once they had left Dumbledore's office.

"Sirius came back to the common room and told Marlene and I. What were you thinking?"

"Snape and the other Slytherins were saying filthy things about you again, I had to do something."

"You didn't have to do that, James!" Lily chided gently.

"He called you a mudblood," James responded bluntly. "Of course I did."

"No, you didn't!"

Suddenly, overcome with feeling, James pushed her up against the tapestried wall and kissed her like his life depended on it. It was the moment he'd thought about since they first joined Hogwarts, the same thought that had kept him awake at night, burning with lust. The same thought that had stopped him from ever really thinking of another girl, that had stopped his heart from breaking over and over again when she rejected him.

The reality of kissing Lily Evans didn't disappoint. Her lips were soft under his, supple as he kissed her hard and passionately. His heart rate was surging as he did so. He ran his hands up and down her sides, squeezing her small waist. Incredibly, instead of shoving him away and hexing him immediately, she wrapped her arms around his neck, running her small hands through his messy hair and pulling him closer. Her tongue vied with his, and she bit down on his bottom lip.

They broke apart, and James rested his forehead against hers, bodies pressed together and drinking in her bottle green eyes. They stayed silence for a moment, breathing hard. Then-

"Yes," he whispered, "I did."