Harry Potter Isekai - Marauders Era

Chapter 25: Secret

Chapter 25

Marlene's POV

We've been friends since he came to Hogwarts. We are closer than even my own childhood friend and I. It just doesn't feel right. He's hiding something from me and I'm going to find out what.

Oh please, stop being such a drama queen. So the boy has a secret or two. Leave him alone. I can practically feel Chaos rolling her eyes at me.

"You don't get it. Reggie has always been a conservative guy but there's something bigger than this. I can FEEL it." I tried to rationalize.

If it were you, you wouldn't want your friends snooping around and basically STALKING now would you?

I pause in defensiveness, "Ok, rude. I'm not 'stalking', I'm just... investigating."

"Who are you investigating?" A voice behind me questioned, making me jump and whip my wand out at the ready. I see James and Remus standing with their hands up as a signal of surrender at me.

"Lizzie, it's only me!" "McKinnon! It's us!" James and Remus both yelled, respectively.

My shoulders deflate in relief, "Why would you two scare me like that?!" I smacked both of their arms as I questioned.

"I mean, you looked suspicious, looming round the castle so we had to follow suit." Remus smirked in amusement. "Who are you looking at anyways?" He took the space next to me to see through the brushes to the other side of the bridge. "Regulus Black?"

We all watch as Reggie stands on the edge of the bridge with a small book in hand, reading silently.

"Marlene, are you no longer interested in me?! Do you no longer love me?! Are you pining for Regulus instead?!" James grabbed me dramatically as he questioned me.

Ahhhh so that's where you get your dramatics from, eh? I can hear Chaos laughing in my head.

'Oh shut up!' I thought to her. I got ready to smack my boyfriend in the head for his usual antics but stopped in my tracks when I heard Remus say, "Well, well. Would you look at that?" Amusement laced his voice thickly. We both look over to see Reggie no longer alone. He is now joined by Mary McDonald.

"Oh, I didn't realize they were in the same circles." James commented.

"They aren't. Even if Reggie doesn't have a problem with muggleborns, he doesn't publicly hang around them in front of his housemates." I explained.

"Well they're not just in the same circles, it seems." Remus looks at us with a smirk. James and I tilted my head to the side in confusion. He doesn't answer, only gestures a thumb behind him. As we lean around Remus to get a better view, we see Reggie and Mary KISSING! My eyes were as big as the dining plates in the great hall.

Chaos whistles in my head. Now that's a pretty good reason to be secretive.

James whistled softly at the sight. I rolled my eyes and looked at him, "What?" Chaos laughs again.

I look back at the two lovebirds talking and enjoying each other's company from a distance. "Why wouldn't he tell me?" I asked more to myself than anyone else.

"Well, he is a wizard, Marlene. You can't expect him to share EVERYTHING with you. If he does share it, it would be another wizard. Not a witch." I turned to James with a pout and he quickly added, "Not that being a witch is a bad thing! It's just more of a GUY thing, you know. I would imagine he would share it with Sirius but since their relationship isn't as solid, I don't know if he would have said anything at all."

"You reckon he may have told Crouch?" Remus tried.

I shook my head, "Reggie tends to keep to himself. If he were to share anything, it probably would have been with me." I smile softly at the sight, "He seems happy. I'm glad." A nudge is felt on my side. I turn over. James is pushing my way over to get a better view. "James, stop it! You're going to push us over. I'll move, just hold-" Before I can register or move, the two of us are knocked onto the side of the bridge, exposing us to the couple in view.

I freeze and slowly move my vision towards Reggie and Mary. Mary's shocked face and Reggie's exasperated one graced my view. "H-hi." I let out sheepishly.

Reggie sighed and walked over to us. Every step he took looked heavy to me. He gets to us and I shut my eyes tightly to brace for some sort of impact. None came. I slowly open one eye and see Reggie offering a hand to help me up. I quickly grabbed it and explained, "Reggie, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I thought something was up and I was worried and so I..."

"You decided to snoop around." Reggie finished my sentence with a deadpan expression.

I looked away without answering, ashamed of my own actions. I hear him sigh, "I knew you would pick up something bad when you started going out with Potter."

"Hey!" James yelled from behind me.

"So... Mary and you?" I asked.

Reggie sighs again and turns to Mary, beckoning her over.

"Hi Mary. I'm sorry we interrupted your little date." I apologized when she came within hearing distance.

She blushed and gave a small smile as a reply, "It's ok." She looks at Reggie with questioning eyes, "Since they found out, what now?"

James places an arm around my shoulders as he joins into the conversation, "Wait, were you planning on announcing your relationship?!"

I look at Reggie in shock. "Merlin, that's brilliant!"

"We were but I was hoping after this summer." Reggie explained.

"Why summer? What's happening then?" Remus questioned.

"My cousin is getting married. I would love to attend before I get disowned." That's right, Bellatrix is marrying into Dora's family this summer. We briefly discussed snooping around for the cup. That's why he asked to stay with my family afterwards until school began.

"They wouldn't disown you, would they? You're the only one left!" I see Mary grab Reggie's hand and him giving her a gentle squeeze.

"Only time will tell." He sighed, "That being said, I hope the three of you can keep this to yourselves for now."

James and Remus nod their heads in understanding with Reggie nodding back.

"Oh! Now that we know, Mary can hang out with us without other people knowing the true reason!" I clap my hands together at my idea. Reggie raises an eyebrow at me. "Oh don't start, Reggie! You know I have study dates with Lily. If you two just join us, you can be together in the same room without suspicion from others. Everyone already knows we're best mates!"

"That would be great actually. Are you sure you wouldn't mind?" Mary's eyes lit up in excitement.

"Not at all!" I reassured the Gryffindor with a bright smile.