Harry Potter Isekai - Marauders Era

Chapter 8: Not Again

Chapter 8

Marlene's POV

Third year ended dramatically when the school started to gossip and talk about Lily and Severus's Hogsmeade date. James kept quiet for most of it all until May rolled around and James strolls the halls with a newfound confident smile. He starts to talk to Lily once more and even subtly flirts with her. It was enough to show his interest but also respectable enough to not be a nitwit as she is now openly taken. Honestly, I was impressed how he handled the situation. He has grown in such a short amount of time. Maybe that's how Lily was swayed in the original series... although his and the Marauders' pranks aren't getting any better.

Speaking of the Marauders, Sirius has been weird since the train ride to school for our fourth year. For one, he decided to sit with us (Regulus, Barty, Pandora and me) and kept scooting closer and closer to me, which forced me to move closer and closer to his brother. In the end, Regulus got annoyed and kicked him out of our compartment. Once we reached Hogwarts, Sirius would pop out of nowhere constantly to "hold my books for me" or "walk me to class" like my books are even heavy or as if I even get lost at the school I've been attending for the past 3 years. Weird guy.

Pandora has been pestered by Xenophilius more often as well and Barty is, of course, always there to chase him away.

"Dora, as always, is oblivious. Maybe, we should step in. Lend a helping hand to broaden her perspective. We're not forcing her to see or accept his affections, just to acknowledge it, you know." I turned to Regulus as we walked at the edge of the forbidden forest for some fresh air.

"That's not my problem. Nor is it yours." He pressed, making me pout slightly.

"But Xenophilius is actively pursuing Dora now. As a friend, we should support Barty. Come on, Reggie."

He sighs, "Marlene, let it go."

I turned away with a small humph, "Fine."

"Has my brother been bothering you again lately?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Sirius? I guess he has been acting a bit strange. Why, what's bothering you?"

A pause, "And you think Dora's oblivious." Regulus scoffs.

I pressed my eyebrows together in confusion, "what's that supposed to mean?"

"I think my brother is interested in you."

"You mean... romantically?"

"How else would you like me to phrase it: 'He's interested in snogging you?' Please, McKinnon, I have more class than that. I'm not Sirius."

"That's... kind of gross." A chuckle crackled loudly in the forest. "Thanks for laughing at my expense. You're a true friend."

A smirk arose from his face as he replied, "you are very welcome." I remember Sirius being known as a player during his Hogwarts years and having "experience" with many girls. Was Marlene one of them? I feel like I wouldn't be surprised but having Regulus as a friend really makes it feel almost incest to be with his brother. A shiver of disgust ran through my spine.

"I'll kick his ass if he touches you. Does that help?"

"Yes! Very much so!" We laughed as we continued our walk.

"So has anyone approached you lately?" I cautiously ask. He gives me a look. "I mean, anyone from your house, approaching you to join any... extracurricular activities or something of that sort..." I vaguely explained. I didn't want him to know I'm hinting at death eaters but at the same time, I wanted to be slightly clear.

"Have you heard of something?"

"Of what?" I tilt my head to one side.

"Nothing. No one approached me. You're worrying over nothing." And that was the end of that. He walked ahead of me a couple of steps to show that he's not in the mood for talking. I'll have a pry another time when we're alone.
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"McKinnon!" I turned as I heard my name being called, "I need your help!" Bugger. I turned to leave quickly in the opposite direction. "Hey, wait! McKinnon!"

I stopped and sighed before turning back. "I thought you were going to take time to heal."

"I did! Now I have come to the resolve that I still belong to her and I'm going to prove it to her."

I glared at him, "You better not have done anything to her-" before I could smack him on the side of his head, he dodged swiftly.

"I didn't do anything. I promise! Sirius and I spoke and I figured, I haven't truly tried to win her heart just yet. I don't want any regrets. If she still says 'no' in the end, I'll let go." I paused to process his resolution.

"That's...a very mature thing to say." I smiled softly.

"Oh no, don't fall for me now, McKinnon. I only have eyes for- Ouch!" Smack successful.

"I want to express my feelings to her properly this time and ask her out on a date – Lily style! No grande gestures; something that screams – well not literally scream – genuinity." I'm honestly impressed. James Potter has finally grown up. "I'm going to ask her on a date to Hogsmeade and blow her mind! She won't resist snogging me then!" Andddd there he is. This is the James Potter I, unfortunately, know.

"Whatever you're planning on your date, cancel all of it." I deadpanned.

"Come on, give me more credit than that! I planned it well! I swear in Merlin's name!" He raised one hand as if to swear an oath. "I know! I'll take you on my planned date and you can tell me what Lily may like or not like."

"Wouldn't asking her best girl friend, Mary, be better than me. Lily and I are friends but we're not BEST friends. You give me too much credit." I start to walk away before he pulls me back.

"I can't. Mary hates me."

"Why? What'd you bloody do this time?"

"I was being – how do you say it – 'a toerag'. Even after changing a bit, she still has it out for me. Said it's all an act. She's got a thing against Sirius too. She's only really nice to Remus and Peter. And Remus refused to ask her for me."

"So I'm the best you've got?" I raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"You're all I've got! And that's enough for me! You helped me a lot before and I think it's working. If I don't get Lily, I'm coming to you for advice on all my girl problems."

"Please don't."

"Come on, McKinnon, please." He gave me his best puppy dog eyes. I sighed.

"Fine. You owe me one!"

"I'll do anything! I promise!" I rolled my eyes. "This Saturday, 9am! I'll wait for you outside the Ravenclaw tower!" James ran off before I could answer.

"Got yourself a date, huh?" I turned to see Barty leaning on a pillar with his arms crossed over his chest several feet from me, smirking.

I rolled my eyes at him and snorted, "more like dragged into being a test subject."

"Does his Black friend know he asked you on a date?"

"Again, not a real date and what does Sirius have to do with this?"

"Hasn't he been trying to snog you?"

"Merlin, I hope not. Reggie is like our brother. Snogging his brother feels like incest." I shivered from disgust as Barty laughed at my reaction.