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Sirius couldn’t believe this was happening. This was not supposed to be happening. He and Marlene had be so careful. For a year and a half they had been careful. But that was a issue, this had been going on for a year and half, they got comfortable, got sloppy. Well, he got sloppy. Marlene was never gonna let it go that he was the reason James found out. Oh gosh James. He didn’t need to worry about Marley because James was going to kill him before she even got the chance to tease him.
~1 hour before~
Marlene was exhausted. James had woken them up at sunrise to get in a early practice before tomorrow’s game and then double potions, if Slughorn wasn’t bad on his own, double potions with the snakes had really just taken it out of her. Thankfully this never ending day was winding down. They all went down to dinner together. Lily on her left and Sirius on her right. James and Remus across from them along with Dorc, Mary and Peter. Mary was very passionately telling the group about the snakes cornering her and Peter on their way back from the library. Marlene had lost all patience for the day. She was teetering on the edge.
Sirius could tell Marlene was ready to blow a fuse. She hadn’t even rolled her eyes at his “No, I’m Sirius” joke. To be honest he wasn’t that worried about it, she was hot when she was mad. He would take advantage of that later tonight. He was torn from his thoughts about when he heard Marlene let out a mix of sigh and growl. Glancing up he saw a group of Slytherins walking to leave the great hall. But they had taken a little detour going to pick on some first year Gryffindor’s down the table. They were going to have to pass the group of 6th years on their way out.
“Just let them pass, Marley, it’s not worth getting suspended from tomorrow’s game” James lectured. He could also see she was getting worked up but tomorrow was important. They could just walk pass and then enjoy their Friday night and deal with all of this after the game.
Just as they were going to pass Lily, Rosier sniggered to Snape “I saw the little chubby one staring at the redhead mudblood earlier, she must had something special to get them all worked up”
Peter cheeks turned a deep red and James stood up forcefully, ready to give them an earful but he wouldn’t need to, the boys had kept walking and were just passed Sirius when Marlene also jumped up.
“What did you just say?” She was lunging for Rosier but just as quick as the rest of them, Sirius was up and grabbing her around the waist creating a wall between her and Rosier.
Rosier had turned “I was just asking Sev what made the mudblood so special. She’s got all of you wrapped around her finger, maybe I ought to give her a try.”
“Why you little-“ Marlene was yelling over Sirius shoulder trying to lunge for him. She had been ready for this all day and this was the last straw. But Sirius was a wall between her and Rosier, damn beater build.
“Let me go, Black” His arm still wrapped around her waist as she jumped and kicked
“Black, huh” Marlene could hear the smirk in his force but her eyes were still trained on Roiser.
“Yeah Black, learn to control your girl” Snape sneered.
“Ugh” Marlene was not property and also she wasn’t technically Blacks girl. She lunged again but Sirius tightened his grip
Lowering his voice and leaning into her ear
“Let it go, Mars” Marlene visibly relaxed, she stopped fighting against him letting her feet sink back to the floor.
“They’re not worth it” he reached his free arm up and pushed her hair back behind her ear “They’re trying to work you up”
Roiser and Snape just laughed and turned towards the doors.
Marlene let out a long breath and Sirius slowly released her. She straightened her robes. “I need some fresh air” and she walked calmly out the great hall.
James was still standing on the opposite side of the table having just watched this rather tender moment between his two best friends. He was blinking looking towards the door Marlene had just exited and then whipping his head around towards Sirius with a “What the hell was that” expression.
Sirius completely unaware to the real reason the gears where turning double speed in James’ head. He just shrugged assuming James was wondering what had led to such an outburst and then just leaving them with barely a word.
“We should go check on her” Lily stated and the group all moved out to the courtyard
Marlene was pacing when the group came out.
James voiced his previous statement “What the hell was that??”
“Oh, sorry Jamie I know I should have let it go but its just been a long day” Marlene sighed, but she knew James would understand her being upset after the way they spoke to Lily.
“I don’t care about that… what the fuck was that” He started waving his arms at Marlene
Marlene still just looked at his with confusion. While it started to set in for Sirius. He tried to slink behind James and make himself as small as possible James knew.
“James…” Sirius started and was getting ready to try and explain but he wouldn’t get the chance. At the sound of Sirius voice, James remembered he wasn’t just talking to Marley, his Marley but Sirius had broken his promise. They were obviously sleeping together. He rounded on Sirius with everything he had and punch Sirius in the jaw.
“You promised!”
Sirius staggered a little but regained his footing. Everyone gasped trying to figure out what happening between the trio. Marlene’s eyes just getting big
“James, its not-”
WHACK James had hit him again. This time he had knocked Sirius to the ground. Sirius had a million thoughts going through his head. While James had one. Sirius had broken his promise, he a defiled his sister
“MY SISTER?? I asked you for one thing and It was not to sleep with my sister”
At this point Sirius had lost his patience. James had no right to hit him when he didn’t even give him a chance to explain. He scrambled up from the floor and just launched himself on to James throwing him back into the ground.
At his the rest of the group seemed to come out of their temporary frozen shock. Remus and Marlene going to yank Sirius off while Lily and the others hold James back.
Marlene taking just a quick second to glance and wipe away the blood on Sirius’ face before whipping around to James
“What the fuck”
James had the decency to cringe at her tone but quickly puffed his chest out
“Marley…” he tried to take a lighter tone with her
“What. did you. Mean. He. Promised.”
“It’s Sirius, you know how he his. After fifth year anyone with eyes could see the way he was looking at you. I just wanted to keep you safe, I mean, I mean HE” James pointed and went to take a step for forward but Marlene stepped in front of Sirius
“You had no right to do that James. You don’t get to hold your good deeds over him for a favor in return. Especially one that controls MY life.” James let his shoulders and head fall, why couldn’t Marlene see that he was doing this for her.
“James..”
James’ head snapped up at the sound of Sirius’ voice.
“Don’t.” His voice cold and attached. He sent Sirius a glare then turned towards the stairs and stalked off.
Sirius watched him leave, his face sad but not showing the heartbreak he was truly feeling.
Remus was the first to speak “You should go to the hospital wing”
Sirius sighed resignedly but nodded his head all the same and turned to walk that way. Remus went to follow him
“Wait Lupe, I’ll go with him” Marlene gave Remus small smile.
Remus could see she wanted a moment alone with Sirius. He gave a small nod
The two just stalked off, awkwardly walking side by side not saying a word. Lily wanted to stop Marlene and ask what the hell she had missed but anyone could see they needed to talk. The rest of the group watched them turned a corner and then let out a collective breath.
Sirius and Marlene turned the corner. Sirius felt like a zombie, just going through the motions to get to the hospital wing. He had so much to think about but at the same time his mind was weirdly blank.
Marlene’s hand on his forearm drew him from his zombie like state. She always had a way of pulling him out from his head. He looked up from the floor into her blue eyes.
“Sirius” She sighed. She moved her hand from his arm to his jaw, lightly touching it.
He winced and brought his hand up to grab hers.
“I’m sorry.” They said at the same time
Marlene paused. He wasn’t one to apologize. Part of her thought this was it. He was going to call it off, sorry he ever got in to this mess. Sorry but she wasn’t worth the hassle. She was afraid. She wanted to speak and push off herself from having to hear that. She was sorry that his was in pain and she opened her mouth to say so.
“No Marls, I need to go first. I’m sorry I made that promise. I shouldn’t have agreed to something that involved you without your knowledge.”
Well this wasn’t what she was expecting. At best she thought he was just saying sorry about the fight.
“At the time I thought I could keep it so it wouldn’t even matter. And then the lake happened and I thought it wouldn’t go much farther but here we are.” Sirius sighed. He was never good with expressing his feeling and he knew he cared for her but part of him would always be scared to actually say it.
“Here we are.” Marlene was still a little stunned at what he was saying. She just grabbed his hand and led him to the hospital wing. She didn’t know what all of this meant but for now they could just walk hand in hand and figure out the rest later.