ALWAYS

Marlene

Sirius sat on the ground, Marlene's head resting on his lap. He rocked back and forth as tears trickled down his face. He gently kissed Marlene's forehead before he got up. He stood over her and watched, silently sobbing. James stood behind him, and gently put a hand on his shoulder.

 Letting out a sniffle Sirius turned around and looked at James, who himself was crying. James and Marlene had been friends, more like a brother and sister to each other all their lives. The sight of her dead shook James. He couldn't believe the devastating truth that lie in front of him. 

He looked around the room, Alice hugged Frank, hiding her face in her chest, unable to look at Marlene, letting out silent sobs. Dorea too took to Charlus for support. Dorea and Marlene's mom had been best friends since first year in Hogwarts and Marlene was like the daughter she never had. His eyes finally landed on Lily. 

She stood to the corner of the room, silently crying. She had had enough deaths for a lifetime. She didn't need more, yet she couldn't outrun her fate. Her best friend was dead, never to come back. Sirius slowly walked up to her, his face dejected, tears still flowing from his eyes. "She's gone Lils. The only girl who ever loved me, she's gone. And she's not coming back" he said. The minute these words came from his mouth Lily flung her arms around him, hugging him. He hugged her back and they cried into each other's shoulder. Sirius and Lily comforted each other. After a few minutes Lily broke away from James and put her hand over his cheek. "You've got to be strong Sirius. Marlene wouldn't want you to be like this. She would want the Sirius Black she fell in love with to remain, even if she wasn't here." she said, giving him a sad smile. Sirius put a hand over Lily's hand and nodded, letting out one last sniffle and walking out of the house. 

Lily watched as he walked out of the house, sad, his hand shaking as he opened the door. James slowly walked up to her. "Lils" he said slowly and Lily turned around. "She's gone James. Forever". James grabbed her and pulled her in for a hug. Lily buried her face into his chest and she cried into his shirt. James cried into her shoulder. He kissed her on the forehead in an attempt to comfort her. She looked up at him, about to say something, but didn't when she heard Frank's worried voice. 

"Alice. Alice, honey!" he said as he knelt down shaking Alice and gently patting her face. Alice had fainted. James immediately rushed to help and Lily followed. Frank picked her up, taking one last look at Marlene they walked away and apparated to St. Mungos. 

Frank looked tired. Sirius was nowhere to be found. Lily felt sick to the stomach. Probably because of all the killing and Marlene's death. James was utterly dejected. Alice had fainted. Remus was helping the Order. Peter vanished, as though he had become invisible. 

After an hour at St. Mungos Lily looked at Frank and asked him to go home, get some rest or help the Order. Frank was hesitant but Lily was persistent and assured him that she would be there. After Frank had left, Lily looked at James. "Babe" she called. "I think you should go to Sirius. "He needs you" she said. He nodded quietly before getting up. He bent down and kissed Lily on the cheek. "Stay safe" he whispered and he too walked out. Lily let out a soft sigh before she walked in to Alice's room and sat beside her. A few minutes later she stirred and slowly opened her eyes. 

"Hey" Lily greeted. "Lils" Alice croaked sadly. Knowing looks passed between the two best friends. Tears escaped their eyes and before they knew it they were hugging each other. After almost ten minutes of sobbing, Alice pulled away, wiping away her tears. "She wouldn't have wanted this." she said. Lily nodded and she too wiped away her tears. After and hour a nurse came in to check on Alice and informed them that they could leave. Alice and Lily interlinked hands as they walked out. They slowly made their way to Potter Manor. They walked in to find James and Frank sitting in the kitchen having drinks. 

"Where's Sirius?" asked Alice. "In his room" replied James. "He said he wanted to be alone" said Frank. Lily and Alice sat with them for sometime, until Frank had too much to drink and was getting tipsy. "Marlene was such a good person. So generous and kind and beautiful" he sighed. James and Lily nodded solemnly. "Okay big guy. Enough drinks for the day" she said before hoisting his arm around her shoulder and leading the way out. "Stay safe" warned Lily and Alice gave them a thumbs up without turning around. They watched them apparate and James and Lily walked up to Sirius's room. They heard faint sniffles. Lily looked at James and he nodded. They opened the door and found Sirius standing over his wardrobe looking down at his hands.

"Hey buddy" said James as he walked in, Lily behind him. Sirius turned around, holding a tiny velvet box in his hands. An engagement ring. He was going to propose. Lily's heart sank. It would have been perfect. Marlene would have said yes and they would've had so much fun at their wedding. But alas it was all a dream. Just a dream. 

"I was going to propose to her. I had it all planned out. I promise Lils, I promise that I wasn't going to mess it up. I was going to take her to the lake, have a picnic and propose to her. It was supposed to be today. I was supposed to be with her now, holding her, hugging her. She was supposed to be here, flaunting the ring I picked out for her. Being the sassiest baddass she is" he said as he let out a laugh. Lily smiled, "It would've been lovely Sirius" consoled Lily. 

Sirius smiled at Lily before he slouched down the ground, and picked up an album near his feet. James and Lily sat on either sides of him. He opened the album to find pictures of Marlene and Sirius together. Pictures of them kissing, pictures of them hugging, pictures of them being goofy, pictures of them at the Yule Ball, pictures of them at graduation, pictures of them at christmas. Pictures of them. Lily rested her head on Sirius's shoulder looking at the pictures. "She was gorgeous" she smiled. "And badass" finished James. Sirius laughed, let out a sniffle. "That's my girl" he nodded. After that they sat in silence- a comfortable silence. Only disturbed by Remus coming in and sitting beside James, and they sat there in solitude. 

Soon Lily fell asleep, tired. Tired by being tortured by the Crucatious curse, tired fighting, tired crying and tired in general. Sirius rested his head on hers and he too fell asleep. James and Remus too leaned their heads against the wall and fell asleep. 

Dorea and Charlus came in late, after helping the Order get things wrapped up. They slowly walked in to Sirius's room to see the sight in front of them. They let out a sad sigh, before they turned off the lights and spread a blanket over all of them. They walked back to their room, cleaned up and climbed into bed. Dorea nuzzled into Charlus.

 "The poor boy. He finally found love and god had to take it way from him. First his family and now Marlene." sighed Dorea. "I know. But he's a tough kid. I'm sure he'll get through it. Besides he has amazing friends. And they wouldn't leave his side until they know for sure that he is fine." assured Charlus. "Yeah. They're a good bunch. They always stick together" said Dorea. Charlus nodded as he kissed her forehead and pulled the blanket over the both of them. "Always".