The Things That Happen In The Night - Wolfstar

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Double Date

I can't believe I did it. I can't believe that I gave into Marlene after fighting it for so long. This isn't what I want.

Part of me is mad at myself for giving into her. The other part is glad I did the right thing for my son. At least I hope it's the right thing. All I know is that I need to be in his life.

It was Saturday morning and ever since Wednesday I had been hiding away from both Marlene and Remus. It's hard trying to date Marlene when all I ever feel when I look at her is anger. And every time I looked at Remus, all I felt was guilty and sad. Remus and I weren't even dating, but I felt like I had betrayed him by leaving him for Marlene.

Today, Marlene was dragging me to Hogsmeade to have a date. I can't even remember the last time I had a proper date with her. It was now ten in the morning and I found myself waiting in the Great Hall for her. She was already running fifteen minutes late and I was about to leave without her.

"Sorry, I'm late! I had to help Lily choose an outfit." Marlene said as she reached me. She grabbed my hand and led me out into the sunlight. It was a chilly day in the second week of November, but the sun was shining brightly. As we walked down to Hogsmeade, I saw Peter and Remus up ahead of us. I wished that I was going to Hogsmeade with them instead.

My mind briefly flashed back to the last time I was in Hogsmeade with Remus as I saw him and Peter disappeared behind a building. I need to stop thinking about Remus. I shook him from my thoughts as Marlene started talking to me. "James and Lily are supposed to meet us for lunch at The Three Broomsticks."

I had almost forget about James' date with Lily. At least I'll get to spend some time with Lily and James and not just Marlene.  Maybe it'll help make this more bearable.

Marlene and I headed to a small shop in the opposite direction that Remus and Peter went. I inwardly groaned as I saw that Marlene was headed towards her favorite store. It was a floral shop on the very edge of Hogsmeade. There was barely anybody in here, but Marlene always told me that's why she liked it.

"It's so quiet and cozy in here." Marlene would always tell me. I never liked the shop much, but when we started dating I would bring her here all the time.

As we entered the building the smell of flowers hit me. I didn't mind the smell, but it wasn't my favorite. "Sirius! Look they have the blue roses!" Marlene dragged me to see her favorite flowers. Most of the flowers were enchanted to either be different colors or to say alive longer. Marlene thought it was the most fascinating thing in the world. I, on the other hand, found it rather boring.

"Sirius, we have to get these. They haven't been in stock since last year! My old ones died and my room looks so bare without them." I rolled my eyes at her obvious attempt to get me to buy her the flowers. "I don't have any money, Marlene."

Marlene looked disappointed at this but quickly smiled and shrugged it off. "That's okay. Oh! Look at this!" I was led over to a floating bouquet of flowers as Marlene exclaimed," Lily would love these!" I looked at the tag by them to find that the flowers were named "Lilies."

By the time Marlene was done in the shop, it was time to meet Lily and James in The Three Broomsticks. As we entered, we found them at a table near the door sipping on their drinks. James looked extremely happy to be there and hung onto every word Lily said. Lily seemed just as happy as he was though she was better composed.

"Hey guys," Lily greeted us as we walked in. James' eyes met mine as his smile slowly disappeared. I never really explained to him or Peter why I went back to Marlene, though I expect at least James knows. I give him a small smile, trying not to ruin his date with Lily.

As Marlene and I join them, we order drinks and food and I tune Marlene and Lily out as they start to talk. "You doing okay, mate?" I hear James speak quietly to me. I nod my head as I pick up my butterbeer, wishing I had ordered a firewhiskey instead. I began to listen into Lily and Marlene's conversation as it turned to the baby.

"Have you guys thought of any names yet?" Lily asked turned to address me too. Marlene shook her head with a smile," I'm only about five and a half months, we have plenty of time to figure out a name." Marlene looked at me while she said this, grabbing my hand in hers. I gave a weak smile back and was relieved when our food arrived.

"Ready for the quidditch match next week?" James asked with a smile. I nodded, happy for the change of subject. "Definitely, we're gonna beat Slytherin this time, I know it." I grinned as James returned it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Remus and Peter enter and take a seat in a corner of the room.

James saw this too and shot me a sympathetic look. I shook it off and tried to concentrate on James. "Anyways, we'll whip your brothers arse this time." I nodded eagerly as I dug into my food. "Do all you boys ever talk about is quidditch?" Marlene asked as I looked up at her. "No," James replied shorty. Marlene quickly rolled her eyes.

"Are you coming to the game?" James asked Lily. "Yeah, of course. Are you, Marlene?" Lily turned to Marlene as she nodded. "No, I'll probably be catching up on homework or something."

Lily nodded, not pressing her to come. I was grateful Marlene wasn't interested in quidditch. But if this is how our realationship is going to be, then it's going to be a long seventeen years.