Falling // Wolfstar

Five

The air is crisp now, not too cold but not too warm. Every inhale is a fresh breath of earthly aromas and Hagrid's new manure. It isn't exactly pleasant so to speak. With fall creeping around the corner and coming soon at full speed, the students of Hogwarts find themselves in full swing. The week had surpassed exceedingly fast. Homework piles up and responsibilities nag at their heels.

Sirius sits in the Gryffindor common room alone; his tie is loosened, hanging limply around his. neck, and his robes are sprawled on the couch. Transfiguration homework lays on the table untouched beside an ink bottle that hasn't even been opened yet.

"Sirius Black without his dogs?" Marlene teases as she descends from the girl's staircase. "What, did they escape their leashes?"

Sirius rolls his eyes, though slightly excited to see a familiar face. He kicks his feet off of the table and sits up. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" he asks.

"Oh I'm not here to hangout. I've got to bring McGonagall a late assignment before she has my head on a silver platter." Sirius grunts, slouching back. "Where are your other Marauders?"

"James is at the quidditch pitch preparing for tryouts, Peter is with Mary, and Remus is at some book club."

"And you're here."

"So it looks."

"Well if you want you can come with -"

Sirius hops to his feet suddenly, grabbing his robes. "To Minerva's you said?" Marlene narrows her eyes at him. "Please, I'm so incredibly bored. I almost even started my homework - it's not even due until next week!"

Marlene sighs, nodding her head as she walks towards the portrait. "Fine you can come with me."

Sirius grins, putting his arms through the sleeves of his robes as he trails behind her. They walk at a fairly quick pace but keep up with each other. Sirius stuffs his hands into his pockets, staring at the floor while they walk. It's quiet, considering neither had ever really spent time together before, but that cleared up when Sirius' stomach gurgled.

"Hungry?" Marlene questions with a snicker.

"Exceedingly. I haven't eaten all day."

Marlene falls back into silence. It's out of character. Normally she can't get enough words out. "Erm," she begins as they round a corner. "Can I ask you a question?" Sirius nods. "Well, you like boys right?"

"No I'm just dating Remus for fun."

Marlene lets out a breathy laugh. Her fingers run along the edge of her parchment back and forth. "Did you always know?

"That I fancied him? I mean I remember the first time I met him and then this one time he was following me on the way to Potions. He was babbling on about having pumpkin juice and a turkey sandwich." Sirius smiles at the memory; it feels like a lifetime ago when they were just barely acquaintances. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh it's nothing really." Marlene stops in front of McGonagall's office and knocks on the door.

Sirius distracts himself with the portrait on the wall, poking at it with his wand. "Look, if you touch this he jumps!"

Marlene snickers, grabbing his wand and trying it for herself. "You think we can make him -"

McGonagall clears her throat and they both jump away from the portrait.

"Good evening Professor," Marlene says with a sudden professionalism in her voice. "I brought the assignment I had missed."

"'ello Professor," Sirius says with a cheeky grin. "I came along because I couldn't bare another minute away from you." McGonagall purses her lips as she takes the parchment from Marlene.