A Marauder's Guide to Falling Together

Chapter Twenty Eight

"So this dance that Lily has concocted."

Sirius had been unusually quiet over breakfast. They were on their way to Herbology and had managed to find an opportunity to be alone, something that had been rare over the previous week since Marlene had finally opened up to him.

"Don't even finish that sentence," she said sharply. She had managed to avoid the conversation for long enough but was certain he was finally bound to ask her sooner or later. Lily had been pestering her all week about whether or not she was planning to go.

"You don't even know what I was about to say," he said briskly. "Maybe if you'd just listen instead of cutting me off we'd be able to have a cohesive conversation."

"I don't want to go," she said firmly, ignoring him. "And besides, I have detention that night anyways." It had actually been a great excuse. She was finally able to brush Lily's pesky pressuring off when she realized that her punishment overlapped with the dance.

"I was going to say," he continued with minor irritation in his tone, "this dance that she's concocted has caused quite the frenzy in all the girls here. Even Peter managed to land a date. But I'm willing to bet you haven't noticed any of it since you seem to be too busy brooding over it."

"I'm not brooding," she huffed.

"You're not the slightest bit curious why I haven't asked you then?" he was looking ahead but his face had twisted into a grin. She sighed and turned her face to study him. He was looking quite as handsome as always and Marlene was not oblivious to the extra attention he had been receiving since the notice for the dance had gone up. It was common knowledge that the two of them were dating but minor displays of affection between them seemed to give other girls the hope that it wasn't anything serious.

"Humor me then," she finally said. "Why haven't you asked me?"

"I've already got a date," he shrugged but the grin was still plastered on his face. "Actually I think I've got a few. Probably for the best since my atrocious dancing skills will likely put someone in the hospital wing."

"You're joking?" Marlene stared wearily at him.

"About my dancing? Yes. I'm actually quite good at that." Marlene merely raised her eyebrows. "Of course I'm joking," he finally turned to look at her and smirked. "I may be an egotistical prat at times but I'm not a chauvinistic pig."

"Well it wouldn't be surprising. Of course they're interested in you. Look at you!" her eyes scanned him over and Sirius's grin widened.

"Are you checking me out, McKinnon?"

Marlene could feel herself blushing. "Maybe just a little bit," she admitted shamelessly, "does that surprise you that I think you're good looking?"

"Of course I already know I'm ridiculously handsome," he said smugly. "It's always nice to hear you to acknowledge it though."

**

Marlene was scheduled to attend Career's Advice during her regular time slot in detention. The notice had gone up a few days after Professor McGonagall's announcement and Marlene had briefly wondered whether or not it had been a scheduling mistake. However, Professor McGonagall assured her when she arrived for detention that particular evening, that it had indeed been accurate.

"There's no sense pulling you from classes when I'm already scheduled to meet with you," she said when Marlene had arrived. "I know that N.E.W.T.s are just around the corner and you could benefit from as much class time as possible after missing so much school this year."

"I still wanting to do Healing," Marlene said while eyeing the handful of pamphlets that her Professor was holding in her hand.

"Then I don't need to remind you what sort of N.E.W.T.s you'll need to achieve in order to get into the program?" Professor McGonagall peered over the top of her spectacles before offering a slight sympathetic smile. "Your Transfiguration skills have improved much since last year, Miss McKinnon, but at this rate you could really benefit from a little extra studying on the subject."