Wasting Time

13

After the fight, it was time to leave for the holidays. When we got on the train Emmeline made a beeline past us to a different compartment. Remus sighed and shot us all an apologetic look.

"I'll talk to her."

The rest of us filed into our usual compartment and waited for the train to leave the station. I spent most of the ride asleep in Sirius' arms. I woke for a moment when Remus came into the compartment. Without Emmeline.

Sirius gently shook me awake when we reached King's Cross.  We walked off the train to be immediately ambushed by Mrs.Potter.

"Oh my boys, I've missed you," she wrapped James and Sirius in her arms, kissing both of their cheeks. She then turned to me. "Marlene, it's been far too long! I'm so glad to hear that you and Sirius are back together now."

I wrapped my arms around her.

"Me too Mrs. Potter. It's so good to see you."

"Are you staying with us this break, or are you going to stay with your brothers?"  I forced a smile.

"I'm going to go stay with the boys. I haven't seen them in months." She put her hand on my cheek and smiled fondly.

"Of course dear. You're coming for Christmas though?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Her eyes slid behind me and landed on Lily. She leaned in and whispered to me.

"That's Lily Evans right? The one James is always talking about?" I laughed and nodded. "Well I'm going to go over and meet her."

She rushed over to Lily and I tried to stifle my laughter. James looked mortified and I saw Lily blush when Mrs.Potter called her "the girl James never shuts up about". Sirius and I made eye contact, both trying not to laugh.

The Potters drove me to my family home in London. I hugged them all goodbye, kissing Sirius quickly before entering my house and watching them leave. The house was empty, quiet. I looked around, and it looked like no one had been home for weeks. I sighed and took my stuff up to my room. I noticed a thick layer of dust around the house. All the doors were closed, which would once have made me think that my brothers were all in their rooms, but it was clear that there was no one here and hadn't been for a long time.

I sat down at my desk and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill.

Sirius,
I came home to an empty house. Not just empty like they didn't bother to come see after months, but covered in dust empty, like no one has been here for weeks. Don't tell the Potters, I don't want them to worry about me. It feels weird. Like I'm in a ghost's house. I guess I kind of am. Anyways I'm fine. I'll see you in a couple days. I love you.
Marlene

I slid the letter into an envelope and sent it. I knew I shouldn't have told Sirius that I was here alone. He wouldn't like it. But I didn't like it either.

Later that night, I heard a crack in the dining room. I grabbed my wand and headed down the stairs, terrified. Then I saw familiar messy black hair and dropped my wand.

"Jesus Christ Sirius, are you trying to give me a heart attack! What are you doing here?"

"I don't want you staying here by yourself. You're coming to stay with me."

"No, Sirius. I'm fine. I don't want the Potters to know. You know that."

"That's why I wasn't here earlier. I waited for them to go to sleep. Come on, you can spend the night and come back in the morning, they'll never know." I thought for a minute.

"I don't know Sirius..."

"I'm not letting you stay here alone. It's dangerous." I sighed. He was too stubborn.

"Ok. But the Potters never find out." He nodded in agreement and then wrapped me in his arms and aparated. He shouldn't even be able to do that, but he's being doing it for at least a year.

When we got back to his house, I grabbed one of his oversized tshirts, a yellow one I had bought him, and put it on to sleep in. He threw on grey sweat pants and a white tank top and we crawled into bed. He wrapped me in his arms and we fell asleep immediately.

A few moments later, we were woken by the door banging open and a flash. We both sat up with a start, and I saw the Potters standing in front of us. James was holding my Polaroid camera and was shaking the paper that had just come out of it. Asshole.

"Downstairs. Now!" Mr. Potter said angrily. We all followed him. I was shaking. I knew we were in trouble. Sirius didn't seem nearly so concerned. Once we got to the kitchen, Mr.Potter turned to face us.

"What the hell do you think you're doing sneaking a girl into my house?"

"She's just sleeping here. There's no one at—"

"Sirius! That's private." I cut him off. "I'm so sorry Mr. Potter. I'll go home now. Im just such a tramp, I'll go home and pray to control my dirty urges."

"You're not going home. There's no one there."

"I thought you told me you were going to see your brothers?" Mrs. Potter asked, full of concern. "You are always welcome to stay here if you need to Marlene. Just not in Sirius's room."

"I don't need anything. They're probably just gone for the night," I lied. "I was just creeped out, staying there all alone. I'll go home now."

"I'm serious Marlene. You aren't going home. You said it looks like no ones been there in weeks. You're staying here."

"Marlene, you're staying here dear. I don't want you in that house by yourself. It isn't safe," Mrs.Potter said softly.

"Marley, why don't you want to stay here?" James asked.

"You guys did so much for me this summer. I promise, I will be fine."

"You're staying here and that's final. But you will not be staying in Sirius's room." Mr. Potter told me. I sighed. I was clearly defeated.

"Okay. Thank you. I promise I won't be a bother."