When Black Met Blue (Marauder Fanfic)

chapter 12 *Edited*

'We’re free!’ Sirius shouted. Madam Pomfrey shushed him and snapped a reprimand about having other patients in the Hospital Wing. Sirius ignored her, picked Orla up and swung her around in a circle, whooping. Orla wiggled the fingers on her left hand, pleased to feel them moving again.

Sirius set Orla down on her feet and then, as if something monumental had occurred to him, dashed out of the Hospital Wing. Orla watched him go, thoroughly confused.

She walked alone back to Gryffindor tower and was feeling extremely lonely by the time she reached the Fat Lady’s portrait. She supposed it was to be expected, having not spent a second apart from Sirius in almost three days. It was oddly quiet too, without one or more Marauders around and she found she missed the noise.

She gave the Lady the password and went in. The common room was empty except for Sirius, Remus and Katelyn since the other year levels had lessons. Remus was busy snogging Katelyn in a corner but Sirius was sitting alone in his normal seat with The Daily Prophet and a heavy frown on his brow.

‘Orls,’ he said in a very subdued voice. ‘You’re free.’ She looked up from her hands to see his face. His expression was tight and his eyes pained, almost as if he was holding back tears. She nodded, sitting down on the couch opposite him. A smile brightened his features.

‘Sirius, I was wondering... I know we were friends before I got stuck to you but are we still friends?’

Sirius laughed. ‘For a smart girl, you can be silly sometimes! You can spend as much or as little time with us as you want. Merlin, I’d love it if you were around more!’

‘Really?’ Orla asked hopefully.

‘Really. Your like a lil sis, remember?’

‘Right,’ she said carefully. They lapsed into silence and Sirius resumed scanning his paper. His dark expression returned.

‘Are you all right?’ she asked.

‘My... James' dad’s partner from the Auror office was killed last night,’ he said quietly, pushing his glasses up. ‘I didn’t know him well,’ he said, but he looked sad anyway. ‘It’s just that Aurors are meant to be invincible, like nothing can kill them.’

‘It seems like it should be that way,’ she said softly, ‘but Aurors are human. They make mistakes and get hurt. They die too.’

‘Yeah,’ Sirius said staring at his hands. ‘But these people are trained to be invincible and if they’re not... what chance do we have?’

Orla nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. ‘I know. I mean, this war has been going on since we were kids and now all of a sudden we’re the ones who have to choose a side and fight. I-I don’t think I can, don’t think I’m ready.’

They were quiet and then Sirius spoke. ‘We have to be,’ he said at length. ‘Voldemort doesn’t care if you’re ready or not-’

‘Sirius, I have something to tell you’ Orla finished.

‘What, I'm sure it could wait til the others come?’ Sirius asked. Orla shook her head.

‘It can't it just can't.’

‘I believe you,’ Sirius laughed.

* * *

‘Good morning,’ Orla said brightly. The Marauders were already seated in the Great Hall eating their breakfasts, two on each side of the bench. Peter and James had their back to her while Remus and Sirius were facing her.

Sirius spun to grin at her. ‘Morning,’ he said, grabbing her waist. He pulled her into his lap, ignoring her half-hearted protests. She noticed that James’ mouth was agape and that Remus was blinking rapidly, having apparently lost control of his eyelids.

‘Are-are you two together?’ James stammered, staring at Orla seated in Sirius’ lap.

‘No!’ Orla cried. She wriggled out of Sirius’ grip, flushing. Sirius’ face fell slightly. Remus laughed. ‘He was just- I don’t know.’ She turned to Sirius, confused. ‘What exactly were you doing?’

‘Not sure,’ Sirius said with a grin. ‘You didn’t seem to mind until Prongs pointed it out though.'

She realised he was right. First sitting with him last night, then this... friends weren’t like that. Couples were like that. She bit her lip as she realised something. She knew how to tease Sirius, she could do that quite easily, but being friends with him... that was going to be hard, because he kept managing to blur the boundary lines between friend and boyfriend. Worse was she didn’t mind.

She sighed, knowing if James asked her to sit in his lap, she wouldn’t... there was just something about Sirius.

‘Merlin,’ she muttered. Surely she didn’t fancy Sirius Black?! James, Remus and Peter had gone back to breakfast, but Sirius was still watching her with a shrewd look on his handsome face. He smiled just enough that she knew there would be conversation later and then went back to his waffles.

Silently, Orla sat down next to Sirius, unable to help shooting him glances while he ate.