When Black Met Blue (Marauder Fanfic)

chapter 5 *Edited*

'What do you mean “days”?’ Orla demanded.

Sirius’ expression was just as horrified. Normally, he would think this was a great prank, and to be honest he wouldn’t care about being on the receiving end if he were with one of his fellow Marauders – imagine the pranking potential – or with any other girl over the age of fourteen. But this was Orla a new girl and one of his friends.

Sirius thought of her as a new sister and who wanted to be glued to their sister for a week? Especially a sister with violent tendencies.

‘I mean you’re stuck together until the charm wears off, or until I can brew a potion that will make it wear off,’ Madam Pomfrey replied in a voice that said she was annoyed at having to repeat herself. ‘Be thankful that it’s the weekend.’

Sirius was not. Weekends were the times when he played Quidditch, or fooled around with girls, neither of which he could do with Orla hanging off his arm. A very, small dramatic part of him wanted to jump off the Astronomy Tower, but then he realised Orla would go down with him.

‘We should find Professor McGonagall,’ Orla said heavily as the two of them trudged out of the Hospital Wing. Her voice pulled Sirius out of his reverie – he had been weighing the pros and cons of cutting his arm off. ‘If we’re stuck together for a few days then arrangements will have to be made.’

Sirius nodded glumly. He and the rest of the Marauders had been planning to sneak into Hogsmeade this weekend, using one of their many secret passages. Orla would make that difficult. Very difficult.

Ugh. He could imagine the rumours now. “Sirius Black and Orla Blue holding hands.” That would change to some little Hufflepuff reporting she had seen then shagging in a broom closet on the third floor, which would ultimately lead to accusations that Orla was carrying his child, and that he was going to marry her to save her honour or some shit like that.

Sirius shook his shaggy head. As much as he loved rumours he didn't like them when they were about him or something that involved him and a friend.

‘Enter.’ He realised with a jolt they were already outside McGonagall’s office. Orla pushed the door open and stormed inside. ‘Miss Blue? Mr Black?’ The Gryffindor Head of House’s beady eyes were fixed on their hands.

‘It’s not what it looks like, Professor!’ Orla babbled, launching into an explanation. McGonagall raised an eyebrow, smoothing her already immaculate bun.

‘Very well,’ McGonagall said stiffly, when Orla was done. ‘If Poppy says there’s nothing to be done then I’m inclined to believe her. Perhaps this will be good for the two of you-’ Orla and Sirius shared a look. ‘-Mr Black may pick up some study habits, and might show the maturity his age indicates he should have although I'm not sure if you, Miss Blue has any either.’

Sirius smirked. ‘Unlikely, Miss.’ Orla gave him a look that McGonagall would have been proud of. McGonagall gave him one Orla would have been proud of. Sirius grinned, an expression the Marauders would have been proud of, given the circumstances.

‘Sleeping arrangements...’ McGonagall said with a sigh. ‘The girl’s dormitory is out of the question.’ Sirius’ face fell slightly, she noticed with a wry smile. ‘You have no way of getting up the stairs and I will not charm them to allow you, or you might discover the spell... Merlin knows you are a lot of things, Mr Black, but unintelligent is not one of them.’ Sirius hid a smile, already knowing exactly how to get into the girls’ tower. He had since third year. ‘It is not possible for me to consent to the two of you sharing your own room.’ Orla pouted.

‘Damn,’ Sirius teased. ‘I was really looking forward to-’

Professor McGonagall silenced him with a wave of her wand. Sirius scowled. ‘I’m sorry, Miss Blue,’ the deputy Headmistress continued. ‘It’s not you I don’t trust.’ Sirius stuck his tongue out at his Head of House. He might joke about it, but he would never actually do anything like that with Orla!

‘I think it best if you share the boys’ dormitory, at least for the time being. I believe you are mature enough to handle it. That way you will have help dealing with Mr Black’s antics and you are respected enough among the other three that they shouldn’t hassle you. I'm sure you can handle your self from what Professor Gurdan has told me.’ Sirius laughed silently.

‘I-is that everything?’ Orla stammered. Her face was slowly going red, likely from anger.

McGonagall nodded, obviously sensing the explosion. ‘Dismissed.’ Sirius groaned again without sound. Now he had to deal with a fuming Orla all by himself, without being able to talk to calm her down.

* * *

James was waiting outside the office door. Orla gave a wordless shriek and tried to stalk off, forgetting she was still attached to a certain shaggy-haired seventh year. She took a deep, calming breath, gritted her teeth and ignored the friendly smile James was giving her.

His face fell slightly. Silent, he fell into line next to his best friend. Sirius didn’t mouth anything, didn’t wave his hands around or hop up and down on the spot or cast any spells. He just stayed quiet. After about a minute of walking, James pulled out his wand and pointed it at Sirius. Orla gaped. How had he known?

‘About bloody time!’ Sirius complained.

‘Sorry, mate.’ He saw Orla’s confusion and chuckled. ‘This isn’t the first time McGonagall’s silenced him. And you must have known by now staying quiet isn't his thing’ Orla stayed quiet, not sure what to say.

They walked a little longer and then James stopped, looking at Orla and Sirius. They were just around the corner from the Fat Lady. He frowned. ‘So, how are we going to-’

‘-get in? Yeah, I was just wondering about that too,’ Sirius finished. He cast a furtive glance at Orla, who noticed and raised an eyebrow.

‘What?’ she demanded.

‘Well,’ James said letting out a breath. ‘We have a way of getting you in without anyone noticing, since neither of you want to deal with the questions.’ How he knew she felt that way, she didn’t know, but he said it so confidently it shocked her.

Hope sparked in her chest. ‘A way in?’

Sirius snickered. ‘James is going to walk in with his shirt off and-’

James wrinkled his nose. ‘-I know how much you like to see me without my shirt on, mate, but-’

Sirius rolled his eyes. ‘Jamie, we all know I’m better looking than you are so-’ James silenced him with a look. ‘Fine,' Sirius huffed. 'Orla, we can get you in, but you can’t ever tell anyone other than a Marauder how we did it.'

'And you have to watch where you’re walking, and be really, really quiet,’ James added as an after-thought. The way they kept finishing each other's sentences was beginning to unnerve Orla no matter how used she was to it.

‘How?’

‘Keep your eyes wide and mouth shu-’ James teased. Orla glared, not finding him funny. ‘No, Orla, we’ll make you invisible.’

‘James,’ Orla snapped. ‘You don't know a dillosionist charm.’ James pouted and she felt smug. She cocked her head to the side. ‘So how can you do that?’

‘Darling, we’re the Marauders,’ Sirius said cheerfully. His eyes lit up as he thought of something else. ‘But only if you apologise for twisting my arm before.’

‘Sorry,’ Orla said meaning it.

‘You can’t tell anyone,’ James warned. ‘There are only four living people who know about this, and two of them are right here.’

‘All right,’ Orla sighed, putting her hands up, a little awkwardly because one was attached to Sirius. ‘I won’t tell anyone.’

‘Will you make the Unbreakable Vow?’ Sirius asked in a low voice.

Orla swallowed loudly. Her worried eyes met James’ and saw no compromise there. She bit her lip. ‘Okay.’ She held out her free hand. She’d rather keep a secret than deal with the rumours. Grey and hazel eyes scanned her face. Orla felt the urge to fidget but didn’t. She stared back.

James looked proud, an easy smile breaking across his face. ‘You’re trustworthy,’ he announced. Sirius was smiling too. Orla was relieved. James rummaged through his school bag for a moment and then pulled out a supple looking cloak.

Orla gasped. ‘Is that the-’

‘Shh,’ James hissed. Orla’s hands flew up to cup her mouth, but she ended up hitting herself in the face with Sirius’ arm. Both boys roared with laughter. Orla crossed her arms but quickly decided she didn’t want Sirius’ arm anywhere near that part of her body. She dropped her arm immediately, making Sirius snicker. She rolled her eyes and smacked him with his own limb.

‘Under you go,’ James said, tossing the cloak over her head. ‘Try to make sure no body parts are sticking out.' He sighed. 'Paddy, your left foot-’

‘I always do that!’ Sirius complained. ‘You’d think after six years...'