The Things That Happen In The Night - Wolfstar

Chapter Eight: Making Amends

I run to the library, thoughts clouding my mind. I pass Professor McGonagall and she yells for me to walk. I slow down to a fast walk until I turn the corner. I need to end this. Remus and Lily were right.

I enter the library, slowing again so I don't get yelled at by the librarian and start to search for Marlene. I find her with Alice in the middle of the room at a table. I stop as I see her from across the room. She's smiling and laughing with Alice. This is the happiest I've seen her in a while. Is she only happy when I'm not around?

She's better off without me. Gathering up my courage I begin walking towards her table. As I get near she looks up at me. Her smile falters a bit and my heart drops. I hate seeing her upset with me. But if I care about her being upset then I care about her, right? I smile at her and her smile comes back. As I reach the table and sit down across from her I look into her eyes. The two shades of blue swirl together and the light reflects off her eyes. Just like the night she first told me she loved me.

I can't do it. I can't break up with her. I can fix this and make it right. "Hey, can we talk?" Marlene nods and turns to Alice,"I'll be back." We walk in between two bookshelves before I speak. "I'm... I'm sorry about earlier. You're right, I haven't been paying you much attention lately and want to make up for it."

Marlene sighs,"it's okay." I smile and take her hands in mine. "I love you, wanna take a walk outside?" She nods her head before pulling me into a hug. "I need to finish talking to Alice first, I'll meet you in the entrance hall in 30 minutes." We agree to meet then and after a kiss I head back to the common room.

As I enter I see Lily and Remus sitting together at the same table Lily was at before. I ignore them and head up to my room. James and Peter are awake but still in bed. "Padfoot! There you are, you left us!" I chuckle and sit on the end on James' bed. "Hey, so did Remus. He's down in the common room with your future wife." James jumps out of bed and grabs a pair of jeans and begins pulling them on. Once dressed James runs from the room shirtless and hair sticking up like usual yelling,"I'm coming my love!"

As James rushes out Remus walks in. "I'm not even going to ask," says Remus as he sits on James' bed beside me. Peter follows James and gets up and heads to the bathroom. As Remus and I are left alone, I think about slipping down to meet Marlene a little early but Remus speaks up before I can act. "I talked to Lily, she's worried about Marlene." I can tell that Lily's not just worried about Marlene, she's worried that I would hurt her.  I sigh and try not to get angry with Remus. Deep down I know he's just looking out for me.

"I talked to Marlene and we're fine now. I'm actually going to hang out with her soon." Remus doesn't sound convinced but let's it slide. "Well, if you need me I'm here." I nod and clap him on the shoulder," thanks mate." I get up and leave the room. As I'm closing the door I hear Remus let out a sigh and fall back onto the bed.

~*~

Hanging out with Marlene went better than I had expected. It was the first time in a while that I actually enjoyed her presence and I felt that love for her that I had thought went away come back. As we walked around the Hogwarts grounds we discussed our summers more in detail, this time actually listening on my part.

I told her about my muggle friends and the wreckless things we've done. She laughed mostly and scolded me at times. I told her everything except about my family and how I ran away from home. I lied when I told her about James' family inviting me over to stay before school. I couldn't burden her with my family troubles.

She told me about her trip to America with her family. I finally saw what I first saw in her again. What made me fall in love with her. Her eyes light up when she talked about the things she loves. I could tell that her family means everything to her and for a second I felt slightly jealous.

After our afternoon together and dinner in the Great Hall, we parted ways as we made our way up to our rooms. I collapse on my bed, tired from the day but happy all the same. "What are you smiling about?" James lifted his head from the chess game he was playing with Peter,"where have you been, we've been looking for you." I sit up and smile at the boys," with Marlene."

"Well we know that, Remus told us. And as much as you try to act tough and shit, we all know you're a hopeless romantic. What'd you guys do? Shag in the forbidden forest?" I throw my pillow at him, knocking his glasses down his nose. "Am not! And what we did in the forbidden forest is none of your business." The boys laugh and I take my pillow back.

"Well I'm glad you and Marlene are still together, I thought you were done for good." Peters statement brought an awkward silence to the room. Peter never seemed to know when things shouldn't be said. "Wait, what?" James questioned as he fixed his glasses. Being the most oblivious and unobservant out of the group, James hadn't had a clue that things with Marlene weren't always the best.

"James, Pete's joking," Remus forced a small chuckle and nudges Peter in the side. He lets out a fake laugh too and nods. "Oh! I thought you were serious for a minute," James says looking at Peter. "No, that's Sirius," Peter declared pointing at me. I get up from my bed and high-five Peter before tackling him. We all laugh and Remus asks James,"you did that on purpose didn't you?" James just shrugs his shoulders and keeps laughing.

Remus just shakes his head at us but laughs along as well. I glance at Remus and for a moment we make eye contact. Remus quickly looks away and awkwardly shuffles his feet while looking at the ground. I look away, not thinking much of it, and get up to replace Peter in a game of chess against James.