Wasting Time

27

Most of us had finished our exams, and Lily and Remus were writing their last one this afternoon. The rest of us were sitting under a tree by the lake waiting for them. I stretched my legs out in front of me and my knee cracked loudly. Sirius looked at me, concern in his eyes.

"What was that? It sounded like gravel"

I laughed, bending and unbending my knee a couple times so he could hear the continued cracking.

"Max broke my knee when I was 9. Mom was out and dad didn't believe that it was broken, so we didn't go to St. Mungo's for hours. Apparently there's only so much magic can do after that much time." I shrugged.

"Does it hurt?"

"No, not usually. It just sounds god awful," I laughed. He looked unconvinced. "I'm not kidding, it really doesn't hurt. Watch"

I stood up and cartwheeled away from him. James looked up and rolled his eyes at me. I shot a middle finger at him and he laughed.

"Stop showing off Marley!" He called after me. I cartwheeled back to them and sat down next to Sirius.

"Well, colour me impressed," Sirius said.

"Do you not know how to do a cartwheel?" I asked in mock surprise.

"When would I ever have learned that McKinnon? What do you think we did around the Black household growing up?"

"Well, you're about to."

Before he could object I had pulled him off the grass and showing him how to do a cartwheel. I watched and tried to correct as he failed miserably, but maybe there were some things we're never meant to learn. We continued on, James and peter watching and laughing. It was quite a sight, the usually composed and suave Sirius Black tripping over his own limbs and falling in the grass. The only thing that stopped us was the approach of Lily and Remus.  I pulled Sirius back to the tree and sat down beside Lily. I rested my chin on her shoulder and looked up at her.

"How was the exam," I asked.

"It was fine," she answered, smiling at me. I scrunched up my face and she laughed.

"Sounds boring."

"Ancient runes is not boring!" She and Remus said in unison. I lifted my head and pointed between them.

"That was really good. Did you two practice that?"

"Oh fuck off Mar," Lily laughed.

"Okay, so, are we still on for the party tonight?" James interrupted our chatter.

"When have I ever said no to a party?" Sirius questioned pack.

"Mm, I second that," I said.

"I don't have other plans" Peter said, laughing at himself.

"Marlene," Remus started. "Is Emmeline invited?"

"I don't care, as long as she doesn't sleep with my boyfriend."

"Or so much as look at him the wrong way," Dorcas said.

"Or Marlene will fucking come for her," Mary added. I pointed at them and made a face.

"I don't like any of you. I'm gonna go," I said, and they all laughed.

I stood up and stuck out my tongue at them. I started walking away until I realized Sirius wasn't with me. I turned back around.

"Sirius?" He looked up at me.

"Yeah?"

"Are you coming?"

"Wha— oh!" He realized what I was saying as James slapped the back of his head. I laughed and kept walking.

The party was in full swing now. Sirius and I were dancing, falling all over each other, drunk. We had opted out of strip poker after I lost my shirt and Sirius decided the party goers didn't need to see anymore. Sirius's favorite game was actually strip wizards chess, mostly because it was a two player game. I pulled away from Sirius to dance more freely. I spun around and saw a flash.

"Don't think I didn't see that!" I called to him over the noise of the party.

"Saw what?"

"Where did you get my camera?"

He didn't really answer but instead gestured for a cigarette.

"Astronomy tower?" I asked. He nodded and we walked towards the door.

As we went, James and Lily stopped me to ask if everything was good as Sirius spoke to Remus and Peter.

"We're just going to the astronomy tower for some air and smoke. Are you guys good?"

James let out a breath and Lily almost laughed. "This is the first party we've had all year where you two didn't almost break up."

"Well then, we should more parties" I answered before kissing each of their cheeks and following Sirius out of the room.

When we got to the astronomy tower, Sirius laid down and I laid my head on his stomach. We smoked in silence for awhile, looking at the sky. Then, Sirius spoke.

"Tell me something else you've never told me before."

I looked up at the sky, searching my mind for something that I hadn't told him before. I wanted it to be good. But nothing good came to mind. We had always shared our joys with each other. I sighed.

"My dad was a drunk. And I don't really miss him." He let out a soft breath.

"I'm sorry Marlene"

I shrugged as best I could in my position. "Your turn," I said. He was silent for a moment.

"My parents used to use unforgivable curses on us."

"Sirius..." I started softly, not sure how to finish. Our voices were quiet in the night, and abrupt departure from the party raging floors below us.

"Now tell me something you have told me before. Something good McKinnon."

I sat up, straddling his waist with my legs, and leaned forward onto his chest. "I love you more than I have ever loved another person," I whispered.

"Oh thank god," he murmured. "Because I love you more than I knew was humanly possible."

He kissed me gently before putting out his cigarette.

"We should get back," he said. "They'll think we're fighting."

"Or, we could have sex and then to back? We're already in position, and this is pretty romantic Black"