Marlene

27- Heading Home

Sirius burst into the ward and hurried to Marlene's side. An extreamly worried expression on his face.

"Merlin, are you okay? Lily said there was blood everywhere and I thought-"

"I'm okay Sirius, really I am." She assured him as he sat down on her bed.

"What happened?" He asked, an emplouring look on his face.

"I must've walked into a jinx or something," Marlene lied.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing her story, but thankfully he said nothing more on the topic.

"But you're okay?" Sirius asked again.

"I'm okay," she assured him. Shooting Remus a thankful look as she spoke.

********

"When do our OWL results come out?" Lily asked for the thousandth time as the Hogwarts Express chugged along its tracks, taking the Hogwarts students back to London.

Lily had grudgingly agreed to sit in a compartment with the boys. But had sat as far away from James as was physically possible, and had only spoken to Remus and Marlene.

Marlene's head rested on Sirius's shoulder, as she read a copy of the Daily Prophet.

"Professor McGonagall said that we'd get them before the end of July," said Remus, who was reading a Transfiguration textbook.

"Don't worry about it Evans!" James exclaimed, he was once again playing with his snitch, much to Peter's delight, "I'm sure that you will have done amazingly." Lily pursed her lips and crossed her arms tightly.

"So what are you lot doing this summer?" Marlene tried to change the subject.

"I'm hanging out with James," said Sirius, "when I turn 17 I'll get my own place, but until then I'm living at the Potter's."

"You're welcome to stay as long as you want mate," said James with a grin.

"I'm going on holiday," said Lily, "mum and dad are taking us to the South Of France."

"That sounds fun," Marlene folded up the prophet. "I wish I was going on holiday, I've got to go to one of those Quidditch reunions with mum."

********

"So," said David as he marched his family away from Platform 9 3/4, "Erica tells us that you've got a boyfriend Lenie."

Marlene shot her sister a glare and turned bright red. Erica gave her an angelic smile.

"Yes," Marlene said.

"Who is it?" Sarah asked interestedly.

"Sirius Black," said Marlene.

David stopped walking, which caused Erica to walk into his back.

"You're dating a Black?" David demanded.

"Yes I am." Marlene stared right back at David's bewildered look.

"A Black," Sarah repeated in a slightly higher voice than she normally had.

"What's wrong with that?" Asked Marlene, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"It's just, aren't the Blacks on You-Know-Who's side?" David sounded slightly scared as he said this, glancing around the packed station as he spoke.

"Not Sirius," said Erica, "his brother yes, but no way is Sirius for You-Know-Who."

"Don't be so sure," said Sarah, exchanging a look with her husband, as they quickened their pace to get out of the station, "these are dark times aren't they, we've all got to be careful."