#blackinnonfest2022

[siriuslychessi]

I posted 944 times in 2022

That's 469 more posts than 2021!

18 posts created (2%)

926 posts reblogged (98%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@galahadwilder

@actuallyyangxiaolong

@shehatedhimnahshedidnt

@lupinatic

@whereintheworldiskamalakhan

I tagged 50 of my posts in 2022

#blackinnon - 15 posts

#sirius black - 13 posts

#marlene mckinnon - 12 posts

#padfoot - 11 posts

#blackinnonfest2022 - 7 posts

#meme - 7 posts

#jily - 6 posts

#writing - 5 posts

#fanart - 4 posts

#potterverse - 3 posts

Longest Tag: 65 characters

#you can ship whatever and multiple ships with the same characters

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Soulmate - Sirius/James/Lily !!!

I'm glad to see someone enthusiastic lol

"Git" the word appeared on his side, bold big, it even had a shadow on it, and he wasn't sure why was that.

Git was a fairly common word that anyone could call him at any given moment for any given reason, and James Potter had received a very few gits in his life, earned and not, but they never seem too romantic towards him, nor he felt anything special towards the person uttering those words.

You would think the universe would choose a better word to recognise your soulmate by, other than git, wouldn't you?

6 notes - Posted March 10, 2022

#4

First Sentence Game

Thanks for the tag @blitheringmcgonagall

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have fewer than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns.

Favorite Line: You know that line that they feed you about couples, the one that says the first kiss is always the perfect kiss?

Frustration (Potterverse, Jily)

Snow always made things quiet and gorgeous at Hogwarts, at least outside of the castle.

The Dare (Potterverse, Jily)

It started with a party, didn’t all great things start like that?

07 AU Everybody Lives (Potterverse, Jilytober)

Summer, a flickering season that started okay; with the sun shining through the clouds and always ended with shirts soaked in sweat and the promise of a recurrent sunburn if you forgot to apply sunscreen.

06 Dancing (Potterverse, Jilytober)

There were so many pictures around the house that he usually didn’t remember when they were taken, or what exactly was the point of his having one photo on the small Christmas tree.

05 Lily finding about Remus/Animagi (Potterverse, Jilytober)

Blood, blood everywhere, that’s how the morning after the full moon had found James and his friends.

04 Forced proximity (Potterverse, Jilytober)

It wasn't his plan, this wasn't his plan.

03 Sneaking out after hours (Potterverse, Jilytober)

James found a way to sneak the Cloak from home for his seventh year.

02 Head Boy/Head Girl Fight (Potterverse, Jilytober)

James Potter was a teen boy, a man in wizard years, and to anyone that new James Potter they would say his biggest trait was that he was fun to be around.

01 First Kiss (Potterverse, Jilytober)

You know that line that they feed you about couples, the one that says the first kiss is always the perfect kiss?

Más de una década (Potterverse, Sirius and Remus friendship, Spanish)

Doce años, nueve meses, tres semanas y cuatro días era el tiempo exacto en el que a Sirius se le ocurrió por última vez pisar esa casa.

Risas (Potterverse,Mary MacDonald, Spanish)

Cuando la guerra llegó a la vida de Mary ella no supo muy bien cómo reaccionar.

Salvation & Damnation (PJO)

The streets of Los Angeles weren’t riddled with homeless people,

We Are all Flawed (Potterverse)

Horace Slughorn was a man of refined taste;

See the full post

6 notes - Posted February 19, 2022

#3

WIP Game

Tagged by @annabtg

Rules: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it!

Robin Hood – Jily – AU

Percy Jackson – Saint Seiya – AU

Goong - Marauders/Jily/Blackinnon AU

Coffee Princes - Blackinnon/Jily AU

The Prank – HTGAW style - Marauders

Doctor - Teacher - Jily

Soulmate - Sirius/James/Lily

Last Christmas AU - Jily

Tedromeda - Persephone’s myth

10 things I hate about you - Blackinnon

Kimi no na wa AU - Jily

Fruit Basket AU - Marauders

Bake Off AU - Jily

Cursed Smutt - Blackinnon

First Kiss - Jily (challenge)

1st War - Jily (challenge)

Tagging: @siriusuntiltheveryend @midnightelite @blitheringmcgonagall @matrixaffiliate and anyone else that wants to join.

8 notes - Posted March 10, 2022

#2

I’m not ready for my jily mutual to all turn into wolfstar, my Blackinnon ass is not doing its work 😂

12 notes - Posted November 13, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

James Potter parents' names

I don't know why this topic has been going around lately, we were talking in various groups about the change of names of Harry's grandparents, and the fandom just going with the flow. How much is fandom accepted and how much is actually canon? is the general questions so I thought that maybe some of you would be interested in a little fandom history.

If you are not, it's fine, you can skip this post. (I'll even put it under read more)

I don't want to make a big long post so here is the brief story, as best as I can put it. Ever since PoA being published in 1999 there had been stories about the Marauders, their relationship with Harry Potter, and a bunch of other things that we came to know as fanon.

However, from 1999 until 2006, we didn't have any idea on what Harry's grandparents names were, we still don't know what the Evans were called. Yet, at some point in 2006 JKR gave us a tiny piece of information, something small that we grabbed hold to it for deer (pun intended) life, and didn't want to let go of, and it was the Black Family Tree:

This was hand drawn by JKR for an auction, you can read more about it here, and we all just went wild with head canons.

As you can see, one of Walburga's (Sirius' mother) aunts, was name Dorea Black, and she married a Charlus Potter, they had one child, nameless, and we all just assumed that child was James Potter.

Why? you may ask.

We knew James parents were an elderly couple. Dorea being older than Orion and Walburga made sense. So the nameless child became James Charlus Potter (because we all know the middle name is always the dad's name).

After years of this, JKR decided to update her website, that was filled with puzzles and little details of the characters, and created Pottermore. Here she added another nugget of information about the Potters and it was that James parents' names, giving us Fleamont and Eupemia Potter, the names we have come to grow and love as well.

Yet from almost 9 years from 2006 to 2015, Dorea and Charlus held a special space in our hearts and this is why, if you decide to read vintage fanfiction, you will see these name being plastered around without any disregards, as it was fanon fuelled by a little bit of canon, as most ideas start in many of our communities.

52 notes - Posted February 3, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

[hey-there-juliet]

☆ For Day Ten of Blackinnon Fest 2022 @blackinnonfest

🚫 Do not repost.

(click for better quality)

'IT'S ALL WE KNOW, THE HURRICANE'

cover | sneak peek 1 | sneak peek 2 | playlist | AO3 series

Prompt: 10. "You came back." / "I promised, didn't I?"

SNEAK PEEK 3:

(...)

"You're really real, aren't you? How can you be here?" Sirius asked, clearing his throat as the words stumbled and came to a hoarse halt, before continuing, "I dreamt of you." And this time, he was the one tracing her features with a barely there graze of his fingers. "Again and again. Sometimes I'd see you when I was awake, but it never lasted long and I was always afraid I'd never see you again." He buried his face on her neck, breathing her in and clenching his fingers in her hair.

Marlene tightened her hold on him, pulling him impossibly closer. "I made you a promise, didn't I? I'm always coming back for you."

to be continued... someday.

#blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnonfest #blackinnon #sirius black #marlene mckinnon #sirius x marlene #harry potter #the marauders era #the marauders #hp #vi draws #mine #hp art #hp fanart #blackinnon fanart #iawkth #its all we know the hurricane #fanfic #hp fic

[matrixaffiliate]

Penumbra

New Story! FFN and AO3

Marlene and Sirius are working to get James and Lily together, but there might be some other benefits waiting in the shadows. Blackinnon Muggle AU.

For the amazing HazzaP! I hope you enjoy this little story! Love you, darling!

(This is 1970s muggle au mostly because I wanted Marlene to have a fringed leather jacket, and I was feeling self-serving.)

Penumbra

Marlene slid into the booth and frowned when Lily sat across from her.

"What are you doing?"

Lily looked toward the restaurant door before looking down at the table. "Trying to take your advice?"

"Oh my gosh, really?" Marlene almost bounced in her seat.

"Well don't make it weird!" Lily hissed. "For all you know one of our other friends might end up sitting next to me."

"It's just us tonight, remember? Everyone bailed except you, me, James and Sirius. And don't worry, I'll make sure Sirius gives the two of you plenty of space."

"Please don't be obvious about it!" Lily looked back at the door as James and Sirius walked in.

"Trust me, Lils."

"What's Lily trusting you with?" James laughed as he and Sirius approached their booth.

"The pizza order," Marlene stood up. "Black, help a girl out and carry drinks?"

Sirius gave her an amused smile. "Always a pleasure to help a lady, McKinnon."

"Brilliant," she snagged his leather jacket by the arm and tugged him away.

"To give you the heads up," Sirius' hand slid across her waist, his fingers dipping just beneath her leather jacket. "I'm going to make James sit next to Lily."

"Great minds, Black," Marlene let him think her smile was only for his plan lining up with hers and not for the way his fingers lit her up like a Christmas tree. She definitely needed to find someone to keep touching her like that at some point, but tonight was about Lily and James. Then she could look into finding Mr. Right, or even just Mr. Right Now. Why should Lily be the only one enjoying herself? "I will be pulling us away for the same reason."

"No one I'd rather work with." They came to the queue to order and Sirius looped one of her loose curls around his finger. "Are you opposed to leaving early if the occasion arises?"

Marlene smirked up at him. "If it gets Lily and James together then I'll leave with you right now."

"Patience, Marls," he dropped the curl and stepped back. "Keep your wits about you, yeah? They might need an extra push here or there."

"Same to you," she pulled her wallet from the pocket in her jacket.

"I've got this one," Sirius pushed her hand into her chest. "In celebration of James and Lily figuring themselves out."

"Let me pitch in," Marlene opened her wallet and handed him two tenners. "They haven't figured themselves out yet."

"Are you a betting woman?" He swatted her bills away, snagging the fringe of her leather jacket in the process.

"Are you really this juvenile?"

"If James and Lily aren't cozying up and wishing for us to bail in the next hour then I'll take your twenty quid."

"Betting means that you would give me twenty quid if it takes more than one hour." She bit her lip and grinned at him.

"I believe it does." He stepped closer, linking their pinkies together. "So, Marls, do we have a bet?"

"Is it really a bet if I want you to win?" She curled her fingers so the backs of their hands were pressed against each other.

"You were going to pitch in for the food and drinks anyway." He leant closer and Marlene had to focus on breathing. It had definitely been too long. She needed to get out and have a good snog as soon as Lily and James were safely off on the road to happily ever after. Her body was suggesting dangerous things with someone she was friends with first and foremost.

"You have yourself a deal."

Sirius' smirk went softer as he smiled down at her and she felt her breathing grow shallow.

"Are you two ready to order?"

Sirius turned from her, breaking the contact of their hands, and Marlene barely managed to keep from gasping as he moved to the cashier. "Alright McKinnon, what're we ordering?"

Marlene forced herself to laugh and join him at the counter. They placed their order and took their drinks and a stack of plates back to their booth.

Where both Marlene and Sirius nearly murdered their best friends.

"James, you are in my seat." She glared at him.

"What?" James' hand went straight for his hair. "I thought you'd like to sit next to Lily."

"Come on, James, don't rile McKinnon up. Just move so I can set these drinks down." Sirius gave an annoyed huff and Marlene bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.

"Er, right," James stood and looked at Lily. "I guess we're sharing this side of the booth tonight."

Lily gave him a soft smile. "I don't mind."

Marlene helped Sirius set down the drinks and shared an eye roll with him. She really didn't want to win their bet. She wanted to stop hearing Lily pine for a man that obviously wanted her.

"What pizza did you order?" Lily asked once everyone was settled.

"Anchovies and pineapple," Marlene teased.

"And don't forget the green olives," Sirius smirked.

"Why do we put up with these two?" James looked at Lily.

She laughed and leant closer to him. "I don't know but we should definitely unionize and go on strike."

"I completely agree," James slung his arm around Lily's shoulders and Lily wasted no time in scooting closer to him. "We are on strike as best friends until you get us good pizza toppings."

Marlene could hardly keep from bouncing. "I guess we'll have to make due." She smirked at Sirius.

He winked at her. "If they're unionizing aren't we supposed to come down hard? Fire them for lack of work or something like that?"

"That sounds like effort," Marlene pouted. "Can't we just let them strike until they're bored of it?"

Sirius' hand bumped the side of her thigh and he leant close again. "Brilliant. We'll just wait them out."

He was so close. Marlene could see the different shades of gray in his eyes, the way his midnight hair fell perfectly around his face, and smell the leather of his jacket mixing with her own. She wanted to be closer. She wanted to see what would happen. She was never good at thinking before acting. And before she had really processed it, she was sliding her hand against his.

Sirius' eyes darkened, the gray fading away to black. His hand shifted to hers, fingers intertwining and grasping hers in an almost possessive way. Marlene felt her breath leave her entirely.

"We can wait." James brought her attention back from the feeling of Sirius' hand wrapped around hers and the way it made her want to feel his hand against more of her skin. "Pizza toppings are no light matter."

Sirius didn't let go of her hand as he turned back to James. "I think we could come to agreeable terms, but it might cut into your benefits."

"What does that even mean?" Lily laughed.

"He's trying to use his posh vocabulary to confuse us." James faux whispered. "Don't worry, I speak BS as well as he does." He turned back to Sirius. "You know that cutting benefits will only turn us to explore other options. You could lose everything because you weren't willing to work together on this."

Marlene scoffed and Sirius squeezed her hand.

"But you're assuming that we don't have other options lined up. Marlene and I are desirable people. There are always openings."

Marlene's heart skipped a beat at him calling her desirable.

"You wouldn't make it two weeks without us." Lily laughed.

"Yes," James nodded, "Lily's right. You rely on us too much to lose us. We demand fair pizza toppings."

Marlene leant closer to Sirius and faux whispered. "Is this the part where we laugh at them and tell them we're teasing?"

"Don't ruin the fun, Marls." He squeezed her hand. "Jamesie and I are enjoying making fun of our upbringings."

"Have fun then," Marlene grinned and looked back at Lily. "So how was your day?"

Lily bit her lip and glanced at James who was now pressed completely against her side. "It's going pretty good. What about you?"

Marlene forced her eyes to stay on her friend and not mimic the glance at the man sitting next to her. "Good, I snuck out of work early."

"I think the girls are tired of the game." James sighed.

"Eh, I get bored when you're not in top form anyway." Sirius shrugged and sat back.

James sputtered but Marlene didn't give it much notice. She was too focused on Sirius' thumb as it slid against hers.

She looked up at him, hoping to decipher what was happening between them. Sirius winked at her but his attention focused on their friends.

"What's on the pizza then?" Lily asked. "And please don't tease this time."

Marlene chuckled and tried to keep her mind on the conversation and less on what was or wasn't happening between her and Sirius. "The one the four of us like, but everyone else has something against it; pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, and black olives."

"That's the only benefit of everyone bailing tonight." James chuckled. "We get the pizza we like."

As if summoned by magic, their number was called and Sirius let go of her hand. "I shall return with food."

Marlene watched him go, knowing that there was no reason she should follow him. They'd only ordered one pizza, she had brought the plates with their drinks, and so Sirius needed no help. But for a reason Marlene wasn't ready to think about, she wanted to follow him.

And when he returned with pizza and sat back down, he didn't grab her hand again. That brought up more feelings that Marlene really didn't want to try and think about. Sirius was her friend. And while she was very capable of looking at him and pointing out all the reasons girls fell at his feet, she didn't know if she wanted to give into her body and be one of them.

The conversation continued though as if Marlene wasn't struggling to decide if these feelings surrounding Sirius were worth pursuing. So she did her best to keep pushing James and Lily together while trying to enjoy her dinner. They'd been at the restaurant forty-five minutes when Sirius tapped her knee with his.

"I'm grabbing a refill," Sirius lifted his cup. "Hand them over."

"I'll help you." Marlene didn't miss a beat as she picked up hers and Lily's cups.

"You got them last time." Lily protested.

"Did you hear something?" Sirius grinned at Marlene as she scooted out of the booth.

"Not a thing," Marlene laughed and followed him as Lily shouted after them. Something about being obnoxious.

Sirius moved to rest against the wall as they waited and jerked his head, beckoning her to join him.

"I think it's going well."

"Me too," Marlene smiled up at him, "James hasn't let her out from under his arm for most of the evening."

"Ready to bail after we finish the pizza?"

"Really?"

"Did you bring Lily?"

"No, she drove this time."

"Perfect, because James rode the tube and I came on my bike. He and Lily can go home together and I'll drive you home."

"Lily and I live together." Marlene pointed out. "It doesn't make sense for me to go home with you. How are we going to pull this off?"

"Marls, you're brilliant!" Sirius grinned.

"What?"

"You said it didn't make sense for you to come home with me, instead of me to take you home. That's the answer! You come home with me." His eyes were bright and his grin filled his face.

"Wait," Marlene shook her head while pushing away the pesky feelings that there might be something there between her and Sirius if he wanted to take her home. "Are we going to make it look like we're hooking up?"

He stopped looking at her as he stepped up to the counter and set down the drinks. "Exactly. It's the perfect reason for them to be left on their own."

"We'd have to sell them pretty hard on it." Marlene set down her and Lily's drinks and glanced back at where James and Lily were cozying up on the booth.

"Not that hard."

Marlene gasped as Sirius stepped up against her, one hand coming to rest on her hip, the other gently tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. His gray eyes were nearly black as he looked down at her, and Marlene felt herself instinctively step into him, bringing her hand up to his chest to steady herself. He smirked and bent down to whisper in her ear.

"See? We've got this, Marls."

She couldn't think. He was too close. She was enveloped by Sirius, his touch, his scent, the way his breath wafted down her neck from her ear. "And what do we tell them tomorrow?"

"We'll talk about that after we're sure James and Lily are stuck going home together." His lips brushed against the shell of her ear and Marlene felt the sensation from her ear all the way down her spine.

"Are you sure you're just not trying to get out of our bet?"

He chuckled, his breath tickling her neck. "You know I never would have taken your money."

She did. She wouldn't have taken his either. Probably.

"So we're making James and Lily think we're hooking up?"

"And we'll go from there," the hand that had brushed away her hair ran the length of her arm, slipping along her hand before he intertwined their fingers.

Marlene would be lying if she didn't admit she liked the possibilities that existed in the phrase 'go from there.'

"Let's get these drinks and then get out of here." His fingers squeezed her waist, and Marlene gripped his leather jacket in her hand.

"Sirius-"

"Come on," he cut her off, pulling away and picking up their drinks. "We've got this, Marls."

So she followed him. What else was she going to do? Marlene tried to reason with her warring emotions. Pointing out that Sirius could very well be Mr. Right Now. It would be fun, and if it didn't go anywhere, then they'd laugh about it and just be friends. After all, it wasn't until he'd run his hand along her waist that she'd actually thought that way about him. She pushed away the voice that told her she'd more than once admitted that if she were going to hook up with any of their friends she would choose Sirius, including when he'd been within earshot.

Whatever. They'd be fine. She'd be fine. It was going to be fine.

Then they sat down and Sirius slung his arm casually over her shoulders. Marlene looked up at him and he winked as he smirked down at her.

"Hey."

Well, if they were putting on a show for James and Lily, Marlene figured she might as well make it a good one.

"Hey." She pushed up against him, bringing her back flush with his chest.

Then she turned back to the budding couple across the table.

James' eyebrows were creased down towards his nose while Lily's mouth was slightly agape.

Marlene gave them a pleasant smile and picked up her drink.

"Lily, did you drive?" Sirius shifted his arm around her shoulders to be able to slide his finger under Marlene's necklace, the choker sliding up with the action.

Marlene made a point of breathing out slowly.

"Er, yes." Lily managed to pick her jaw up from the table. Marlene bit her lip. She was sure that Lily thought this all her doing, that she was leading Sirius along with no intention of following through.

But Marlene was quickly realizing as Sirius wound her up that she had every intent of following through.

"You two alright?" James' brow furrowed further.

Marlene smirked. "Smashing, James."

Sirius bent low to whisper against her ear. "Are you ready to bail?"

She turned, her lips so close to his cheek she could feel his five o'clock shadow against her face. "I am if you are."

"More than." He pulled her closer and looked over at James and Lily. "Have fun you two. We'll see you later."

"Seriously?" James sputtered again.

"It's just Sirius, mate." Sirius laughed. "Make sure he gets home, Lily. I don't want to hear he took the tube home."

Marlene winked at Lily, who was gaping at her again, and let Sirius pull them away and out the door.

Sirius kept her pressed against him as they approached his bike.

"Now," he stopped them to lean back against his bike and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into him so that she stood between his legs. "I'm going to tell you to call the next shot."

Marlene let her arms come to rest around his neck, loosely linking her fingers under his hair. Her heart was hammering but she was relishing the feel of being this close to him. "The next shot for what?"

"You and me." He leant in and Marlene thought he was going to kiss her but instead he rested his forehead against hers.

"So this is what you meant by we'll go from there?" She gave into desire and leant closer, bringing her nose to nuzzle along his, their lips now mere centimeters apart.

His grip on her waist tightened and she had to take a half a step forward, leaving absolutely no space between her hips and his. "What do you say, Marls?"

"Are you willing to let this be something?" She shifted to let her lips brush his as she spoke.

"I'm planning on it, McKinnon."

She could feel his smirk against her and deliberately licked her lips, the barest taste of pizza still there as her tongue brushed him. The sound that he responded with was guttural, primal, and she bit her lip as her stomach tightened.

"Me too," Marlene murmured before finally, deliberately, bringing her lips to his.

Sirius wasted no time in deepening the kiss, sliding his tongue against hers while pushing his hands under her leather jacket. Marlene matched him, pushing her hands into his hair, sighing at its softness, pressing more of her against him, savoring this moment where she and Sirius crossed the line from friends to something different, something more, something decidedly better.

"Come on," Sirius slowed their pace, "My flat is far more comfortable than balancing against my bike."

"The bike is sexy, Black." Marlene pulled his bottom lip between her teeth. "Don't underestimate her."

She felt Sirius' chuckle against her chest more than she heard it. "Not to worry, love, I'll make sure you don't miss her too much." He pulled away and climbed on, jerking his head for Marlene to follow suit.

Marlene pulled herself flush against him once she was on, and smiled when she felt Sirius' hand wrap around hers over his middle and give it a firm squeeze.

She hasn't realized how good it could feel, moving a friendship forward like this, but as Sirius pushed off and they started down the road toward his flat, Marlene didn't regret any of the evening.

And she didn't regret it in the morning either when Sirius woke her with soft kisses against her neck and shoulders. She didn't regret it when Lily was shocked that her going home with Sirius ended up not just being a plot to get Lily and James alone. She didn't regret it when they realized they'd been together for a year. And she didn't regret it while sitting next to Sirius at James and Lily's wedding as the maid of honor and Sirius the best man.

"Ready for your big speech?" Marlene slid her fingers against his palm before interlacing their fingers as they waited for the plates to be cleared.

"Of course, I've been ready since the first day James met Lils." He let go of her hand to trace her shoulder along the off the shoulder sleeve of her dress. "And I should tell you before I give it, I'd been planning to try and sweep you off your feet the night they figured themselves out."

Marlene blinked. "What?"

Sirius kissed her. "You'd been driving me mad. It just worked out that James and Lily could be pushed in the same night. But I was bloody determined, love."

Marlene kissed him, pulling her fingers through his hair as she laughed. "I'm glad you did. I love you."

"I love you too." Sirius ran a hand along her knee, his fingers caressing the skin exposed by the cut off her dress. Marlene caught his hand and interlaced their fingers. They had the entire night ahead of them.

"Why are you telling me this now?"

Sirius' smirk hit his lips with lightning speed. "Couldn't have you finding out in my speech could I?"

He kissed her cheek and then stood and held up his glass as he started his toast to James and Lily. He followed that immediately with his proposal to her.

Marlene didn't think she could be any happier as he slid the ring on her finger and kissed her with abandon.

#penumbra #gift fic #blackinnon #sirius x marlene #sirius black x marlene mckinnon #romance #fluff #sirius black #marlene mckinnon #blackinnonfest2022 #marauders #muggle au #harry potter fanfiction

[silverthestral]

RAIN i: McKinnon

Also available on AO3

‘Captain Black?’

‘Yes?’

‘The Lieutenant Colonel would like you to report to him immediately.’

‘Now?’

‘Yes Captain.’

‘He didn’t appear to mention what this is about, did he?’

‘No, Captain. They appeared to be discussing some form of classified information.’

‘Alright, thank you, Private. I shall be along in a moment,’ Captain Sirius Black sighed as he placed down the tin bowl containing his supper. He made a face at the jeers from his unit.

‘Are you being reprimanded for your womanising attempts again, Captain,’ a particularly confident, redheaded Private jested with him. Sirius gave him a swift smack upside the head with his cap.

‘Watch that mouth of yours, Private Prewett,’ Sirius smirked, placing his cap on his head, adjusting his hair as he did so. ‘You’re mother wouldn’t thank me for sending you back home with a dishonourable discharge.’

The jeers were redirected as Sirius left the group, heading for the small wooden hut where his Lieutenant Colonel was temporarily based, a small oil lamp flickering from behind the trunks. They had to be careful. Upon nightfall, almost no lights were allowed other than the Colonel’s, not in this neck of France.

‘Colonel,’ he announced respectfully as he stooped his tall figure to step into the cabin, shutting the makeshift door behind him before straightening up. His first glace into the small space resulted in his shock.

A blonde woman turned around to meet his gaze. Sirius’ first note of her was that she was pretty. Incredibly so.

Her sapphire jewels met his stormy hues as she glanced back for a moment to register who walked in. Sirius scanned her, noticing that she was wearing a darker shade of khaki than he. She had several medal ribbons stitched on, one evidently showing the medal of honour which made him frown with confusion. She was oddly wearing trousers instead of a skirt and the same boots as himself, but that did not take away from her beautifulness as her curls tumbled neatly from below her dark-coloured tam hat.

‘Captain Black, I am glad of your swiftness as always,’ the Colonel rewarded, finalising his signature on a letter and standing up to bear witness to the two young people before him. Sirius had now lined up next to the blonde woman, shooting her another sideways glance. She hadn’t looked at him since but stared straight ahead.

‘Aiming to please, as always, Colonel,’ Sirius charmed.

‘Let me introduce you, Captain to Agent and Lieutenant Marlene McKinnon,’ the Colonel smiled. He was a good man, Kingsley Shacklebolt. Sirius’ best friend’s parents were friendly with him, and Sirius was glad when he was assigned under his command.

‘Agent?’ Sirius muttered under his breath in question. She must have clearly heard him, for her eyes darted to the side rapidly.

‘McKinnon has agreed upon being called Lieutenant while under our command,’ Shacklebolt informed. ‘She will be joining your tank squadron, Captain.’

‘Excuse me?’ Sirius uttered out in response at the preposterous announcement. ‘Colonel, I do not understand.’

‘To speak plainly, Captain, we are short on medical staff. Lieutenant McKinnon up until this point has been working with the British Secret Service but has been repositioned as a medical officer until another one can be sourced or moved up from training. Until further, Lieutenant McKinnon will be residing with us, under the instructions of the General himself,’ the Colonel expanded.

‘But, Colonel,’ Sirius refrained the impulse to scoff, ‘it is all men in my unit, as in all the other ones. Surely this is most improper.’

He could feel a glare burning into the side of his head.

‘I questioned this too, Captain, but the General has assured me that this is our best option. Lieutenant McKinnon has more than sufficient enough training, and we want our boys to all stay safe, don’t we? She is performing her duty to her country just as you and I. I have placed her in your sub-unit as I believe you will show the ropes in a most timely fashion. I also trust that you will be able to keep your men in line around Lieutenant McKinnon,’ Shacklebolt tipped his head to observe Sirius over his glasses.

‘That shall most definitely be the least of your worries, Lieutenant Colonel, I assure you,’ Marlene spoke for the first time since Sirius arrived, her calm exterior the opposite of Sirius’ bewilderment.

‘Well, there we go!’ Shacklebolt cheered, sitting back down in his chair. ‘Lieutenant, we shall be setting off at dawn due East to Germany, I’m sure Captain Black will happily fill you in on the further instructions. Well, off you go then, and make sure to help Lieutenant McKinnon with her bags, Captain. Let us ensure that we always command ourselves in a gentlemanly manner.’

‘Of course, Colonel,’ Sirius nodded curtly.

‘Oh, and Lieutenant McKinnon!’ the Colonel shouted out before they could both step out. ‘Keep my boys safe from those Nazi bastards.’

‘I will do, Colonel,’ Marlene confirmed, shutting the rickety door behind her, leaving herself and Sirius in only each other’s company.

‘Well, where are your bags, then?’ Sirius broke the silence, looking around him for any rucksacks.

‘It’s alright,’ Marlene addressed him, grabbing a small duffel from its pressed up position on the hut. ‘I’ll carry it.’

‘Very well,’ Sirius grimaced and lifted and arm in gesture. ‘This way to our unit, Lieutenant. And please address me as “Captain” once we reach our squadron. I’d rather not be on the end of ridicule.’

‘Are you often on the end of ridicule often, Captain,’ Marlene asked, somewhat sardonically. Darkness was beginning to claim the light amongst the trees, but Sirius could swear he saw her smirk as the headed towards the sound of laughter and smell of bonfire. He didn’t like it.

‘I request respect,’ he replied sourly. ‘We head East tomorrow, as the Colonel said. We don’t know how many Germans we may encounter along the way, so we must be on constant alert. We rise at dawn. Have you eaten yet?’

‘No.’

‘I’m sure we can get Longbottom to whip us something extra for you,’ Sirius monologued.

‘I’m not hungry, Captain. It’s been a long trip. I would rather have some tea and go to sleep,’ Marlene replied stiffly. ‘Is there anywhere I could take a shower here?’

‘Unfortunately not. There should be a lake at our next campsite we’ll be able to wash in. We do have some flannels if you’d like to do some simple cleaning.’

‘I’ll survive,’ Marlene replied aimlessly.

Sirius sighed softly. ‘Is that a bit of a Scottish accent I hear?’

‘My dad is Scottish. Mum’s Polish,’ Marlene replied shortly.

‘Oh. I apologise,’ Sirius backtracked, cursing himself silently. He managed to resist the urge to wince at her heritage.

‘Don’t. It’s not your fault,’ Marlene answered, somewhat bitterly.

They reached the campsite, where the young men surrounded the fire, chatting away. Sirius grimaced at the size of the flames, knowing they would have to put them out before night encompassed them.

The chatter died down as Sirius whistled for attention. Their eyes all fell on Marlene, who placed her heavy duffel on the forest floor, watching the eyes flit between herself and Sirius.

‘This is Lieutenant Marlene McKinnon,’ Sirius announced to the group. ‘She shall be joining us until further notice as a medical officer. I expect you all to be the utmost gentlemen your mother all like to think you are and respect Lieutenant McKinnon at all times. If I catch even a whiff of indiscretion of lewd behaviour, I will court martial you quicker than you can say “Nazi.” Do I make myself clear?’

‘Yes, Captain!’ the boys chorused.

‘Good! Private Longbottom, make Lieutenant McKinnon some tea!’ Sirius ordered.

‘Yes, Captain,’ a defined voice replied as Sirius and Marlene joined the seating of the campfire.

Marlene instantly began heating up her cold hands at the campfire, barely registering someone moving to sit next to her.

‘Marlene?’ a voice which she would recognise day or night wafted into her eardrums, arising her vibrance.

‘Lewis Fortescue!’ she cheered in response, throwing her arms over the young, dark haired man’s shoulders in joy, his arms squeezing around her ribs in response. ‘I didn’t realise you were in this regiment, your sister did not tell me!’

‘I got transferred about a month ago. How is everyone back home, how’s Alice?’ Lewis asked. He was the younger brother of one of Marlene’s best friends in the world, Alice Fortescue. They were friends from school, and Marlene still regularly kept in contact with her, despite her distance from London. Alice was volunteering as an army nurse in Dover.

‘Alice is doing well from what I remember last, have you not received her letters?’

‘I haven’t been back to any base for months. I don’t know anything from back home, I just pray everyday that everyone is still alive. I’m glad they’re not in London,’ Lewis replied, somewhat sadly. Marlene rubbed his bicep in attempted comfort. The London bombings were particularly awful as of late, with Alice’s parents moving to Dover to stay with their daughter for the time being.

‘I will tell you everything I know from back home. Why haven’t you been given any time off?’ Marlene asked.

‘I should be asking you that, Agent McKinnon?’ Lewis smirked as Marlene shushed him aggressively. ‘What are you doing on the bloody battlefield.’

‘I’d have to sell you to the Germans if I told you that,’ Marlene whispered in response. ‘Don’t mention that to anyone, will you? I think only Black knows.’

‘That’s Captain Black to you, Marls, he won’t stand for any different. And I’m not an ignoramus, McKinnon,’ Lewis rolled his eyes. ‘Besides, I get why they sent you. I think you’re the only woman who could deal with a regiment full of men.’

‘That I’m yet to find out,’ Marlene breathed, smiling up at a boy who she could only assume was Longbottom as he approached her with a metal cup of tea. ‘Thank you.’

‘Lieutenant McKinnon, this is Private Frank Longbottom, one of the best men in our unit. He’s saved my arse more than a few times,’ Lewis stood up, patting Frank proudly on the shoulder. Frank grinned down to her.

‘Lovely to meet you, Private,’ Marlene nodded to him.

‘Please, call me Frank. I’ve gotten more than sick of hearing formal addresses a thousand times a day,’ Frank chuckled.

‘Those titles are there for a reason, Private Longbottom,’ Sirius joined the conversation, the boys standing up straighter for him.

‘Yes, Captain,’ they chorused. Sirius smiled to them.

‘Get off to bed now. It’s a big day tomorrow, I need you all well rested and alert,’ Sirius ordered. The two boys saluted him and ran off after the rest of the pack. Marlene too, stood up, her steaming mug of tea in her hand.

‘Wait a moment, Lieutenant McKinnon. I’d like to converse,’ Sirius stopped her. ‘Let’s sit down.’

She accompanied him on the wooden bench apprehensively, taking a sip of the tea. In truth she was exhausted, she wouldn’t have spoken to anyone this night if it weren’t for her friendship with Lewis.

‘How do you know Fortescue?’ Sirius asked, admiring how Marlene’s hair twinkled in the firelight.

‘I thought that our titles are there for a reason, Captain,’ Marlene snarked in response. Sirius frowned.

‘Have I done something to offend you, Lieutenant?’ he asked confrontationally. He didn’t appreciate the tone in which she was addressing him with.

‘You don’t make for a very good impression, Captain. I don’t appreciate someone determining whether or not I am capable of something because of my sex,’ she answered his question harshly, causing Sirius to scoff.

‘I apologise for my previous misdemeanour, but I can guarantee you are unaware of what war is truly like. I am not going to question your position as an Agent, but you were awarded your Lieutenancy for medical reasons. You see wounded soldiers, but not the bullets that shoot them,’ Sirius stated indignantly.

Marlene smirked. ‘Well, you have managed answered your own question, Captain. You have no idea what I’ve seen as an Agent. Therefore I think your expectations of what I have and have not been witnessed to are succumbed of your own prejudices. Your initial impression of me was transparent. I have been exposed to more pain and horror than you could possibly imagine. I could annihilate a whole squadron of Germans with one loaded gun. Do not underestimate me.’

‘Awfully confident, aren’t you,’ Sirius growled, but Marlene did not miss the note of wonder in his voice.

‘History dictates I have the right to be.’

Marlene threw the last dregs of her tea into the fire and stood up, brushing the creases out of her uniform.

‘I’ll give your gun tomorrow. For protection,’ Sirius informed her, also standing up. He was a good few feet taller than her. He liked the difference.

She turned around to stare at him defiantly.

‘You believe MI5 sent me to war without my own weapons?’ she questioned rhetorically. Sirius smirked down to her.

‘You don’t have to convince me any further, Lieutenant. I think I have understood that you can handle yourself. That doesn’t stop me from protecting each and every man in my unit. You now belong to my unit, hence, you’re my responsibility,’ Sirius informed.

‘I don’t need anyone look after me, Captain,’ Marlene pressed further. Sirius stepped closer to her until she was almost entirely underneath him.

As much as the blonde hated to admit it, the Captain was annoyingly handsome. It was clear her was also aware of this reality.

‘Maybe because you’ve never had anyone look after you before,’ Sirius pondered, coming across exceptionally condescending to the girl below him. ‘Have you got a man, waiting for you to return. Fingering rosary beads in hope he is able to see you again?’

His voice was husky as he moved his face closer to hers. Marlene swallowed, trying not to hitch her voice in her throat.

‘I do not see how that is any of your concern,’ she managed to stifle out. Her irritation grew as he smirked down to her.

‘That means no,’ Sirius deduced, stepping away slowly. ‘Goodnight, Lieutenant McKinnon,’ he tipped his cap to her and began walking away. ‘Your tent is the first on the left!’

#blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnon #Sirius Black #marlene mckinnon #sirius x marlene #jily #world war ii #Marauders #muggle au

[ginnyweasleywannabe]

Blackinnon Fest 2022

Can also be found on AO3 @inthemiddle2

1. Idiots to Lovers

He was taking a moment to just look at her. Today had been crazy, he felt like they had barely had any time together. Today was supposed to be for them but they both knew it was more for Mia… and Lily. He couldn’t believe they had made it here. Well sort of, he knew she was the person he would marry after she dropped him off on his doorstep the night they first met. He thought back to that night.

Marlene and Lily had been sharing a townhouse on the east side for about 3 months now. It wasn’t in the best area so they were getting a steal on the rent. Marlene's older brother Michael had gotten married this past weekend so she hadn’t been back to the house for about a week. Lily figured if Marlene wasn’t going to be home she would take the week to go visit her parents. So no-one had been home for the past week and admittedly Marlene was a little spooked coming back to an empty house late at night. She had a load of things to bring in so she supposed going in through the basement garage around the back of the house would be best to make multiple trips.

Marlene had hyped herself up on the drive back.

What was scary about three stories and plenty of rooms for murders to hide in?? She entered into the pitch black basement, why didn't this room have any window?

Marlene made her way up the stairs to turn off the alarm system. She typed in the code but the system displayed an error code. Error code? What does that mean? Has the alarm not been working for the past week? She was beginning to work herself into a state.

Okay her friend Mary lived like 10 minutes away, she would just call her and Mary would come over and they could search the house and it would be fine.

The phone was ringing. Marlene was standing by the door in case she needed to make a run for it. She could feel her lip starting to bleed from the tugging with the teeth.

“Hi! You’ve reached Mary! Sorry I can’t answer but I’ll get back to you when I feel like it!”

Marlene released a growl “Dammit Mary!!”

Okay now who could I call…

Marlene dialed her brother Mark's number. He had left to come back to the city a little after her but maybe he would be back by now.

“Hey Mars Bars! Whats up?”

“MARK!” She released a breath, thank god “Are you back yet?”

“No, hit bad traffic on the one. There was a bad wreck. Felt like I was sitting there for hours. Worst part was I really need the lo-”

“Mark!”

“Geez, what?”

Marlene just made whining sound

“Spit it out Mars”

“I think someone is in my house” She said it in a rushed whisper

“What”

He really didn’t sound concerned for her safety!

“I said I think there's someone in my house…”

Marlene was scared of the dark until she was 16 so he probably assumed she was being dramatic….and maybe she was

“Marlene, you’re probably fine. I’m sure you’ve just freaked yourself out. Where is Lily?”

“She won’t be home until tomorrow!!”

“Okay why don’t you call M-”

“I already called Mary! She didn’t answer! And the longer I stay here, the more time the murder is plotting how to kill me!!”

“Okay, calm down, you nutter.” She could practically hear his eyes roll “Where are you right now?”

“By the front door but I came in from the annoyingly creepy basement and the alarm system said there was an error!! An error Mark!!”

“Okay fine, why don’t you search the house with me on the phone with you? You just have the two bedroom upstairs left”

“Oh yes, because when I get attacked, you’ll be so much help!”

“Well-”

“No, you’re right. I can do this. I am an independent woman. I’ll just get a knife and then search the house, it’ll be empty and I'll be fine!”

Marlene went into the kitchen, she pulled open the drawer. There wasn't a knife. She shuffled the contents and they didn’t even own a stake knife. Curse Lily for convincing her to go vegetarian for the new year.

She pulled open the next drawer hoping to find some kind of weapon. Marlene grabbed the ice cream scoop. It had a metal head and was the closest thing she had to a mallet.

“Okay Mark, I’m gonna go up.”

Just gonna go up, turn on all the lights and it won’t be scary

Marlene looked up the narrow staircase. It was pitch black. Marlene flicked the stair light. It didn’t turn on. It. didn’t. turn. on.

Marlene released another whine

“Marlene? What's wrong?” She appreciated that he at least sounded slightly concerned

“The light won’t turn on!!” She was flipping the switch frantically now but no change.

Marlene steeled herself. She could still do this.

“Okay, I’m just going to sprint up and turn on the hall light and it will be fine.”

“It will be because you’re being over dramatic” Marlene was going to kill him the next time she saw him. If she made it through the night that is.

Marlene took the stairs two at a time. She reached the landing and went to switch but she stopped. She could see a light coming from the crack in her door. Her T.V. in her room was on? Why was her t.v. on? She had left early in the morning last week. It wouldn’t have been on ever in the morning.

“Fuck” She whispered and was running down the stairs

“Marlene?” She didn’t stop, she was getting to her car and getting out of this house. “Marlene!”

“SHH!!” She knew it was ridiculous to tell him to be quite but the murder couldn’t know she knew he was in the house.

Marlene made it safely to the car and pulled out of the garage.

“My TV was on!! I know I turned it off before I left! Murder! Mark! Oh shit! I forgot to reset the alarm! Now if they run out we’ll never know!”

Marlene drove her car around to the front of the house. She parked a little down the street, for her impromptu stake-out.

“Okay kid, now what are you gonna do?”

“I don’t know!!” Marlene hated how whiny her voice sounded. Objectively she knew she was probably being over cautious but that didn’t stop her body from shaking.

“Why don’t you drive to Mum and Da’s?”

The thought had certainly crossed her mind. Her parents only lived 50 minutes away. It was a do-able drive. But the thing was she had only been living on her own for the past few months, and her parents constantly treated her like she was a child. They also constantly nagged her about the safety of her neighborhood. Marlene couldn’t go running home now after giving them dozens of speeches about how she could handle herself.

She had to find another way out of this mess. One she probably created in her own head.

Okay Marlene, think. Who do you know that lives nearby??

There was only one person who came to mind. James.

Lily had met James on a dating app. They had only been on 5 dates over the past couple months. Things were still very new and casual. But as it turned out, James lived two streets over from them. You could walk, you know on a nice daylight hour, not when its pitch black and you’re a girl, and you’re pretty sure theres a murder hiding in your house. Marlene had only met James twice in passing but he seemed nice enough. And he had told Lily he wanted to score some roommate points with Marlene so he was her best option.

“I figured it out, got to go Mark!”

“Wait! Marlene call me when you’re saf-”

Marlene had already hung up the phone. She had a plan and she could finally catch up on her much missed sleep from this past week.

Marlene drove over to James house. Although when she got there she realized there was one issue. James lived in a duplex, meaning it was two houses connected on one side. Marlene was unsure of which side James lived on.

Marlene made her way onto the porch. She decided she would take her best guess. Marlene gave a slight knock on one door. She could see the feet of two people but they didn’t answer.

She had felt more confident about the other door anyway. Marlene walked to the next door. She knocked much harder this time. There was barking from behind the door.

The door swung open.

Well that was not James.

No standing on the other side of the door was a very handsome man. A very shirtless handsome man. He had long black hair, a very well toned body and was wearing nothing but sweatpants.

“Hello?”

Oh. How long had she been staring….

“Hi!” Oh Merlin, was that as loud to him as it sounded to her. “Is James home?”

“Um no.. I think he’s out playing ball.”

Marlene out a defeated “Oh.” Well now what?

The man behind the door was still staring at her. Particularly the ice cream scoop she had in her hand.

Oh what if he thought she was Lily? Oh god what if he thought she was another random girl?

“I’m Marlene! Lily’s roommate!”

Handsome rugged boy just quirked an eyebrow at her.

“Lily? She’s been on a few dates with James…”

Now he seemed to have a spark of recognition

“...Oh yeah, James had mentioned he had been seeing someone.”

“Right. Well that's Lily! My roommate!” Marlene could feel the manic smile on her face.

James had mentioned he had a roommate, said he was a nice guy. And there was still a chance there was a murder in her house.

“Sooo anway… We live a couple streets over! And I think there's someone in my house.” Why was she using her hands so much… “So I came over hoping to find James to see if he would come over and search the house with me!” He was still just staring. “So..would you mind doing it?”

He stayed quiet for a minute.

“What's with the ice cream scoop?”

“Oh.” Marlene looked down at the scoop in her hand. “It's the only weapon I could find. I thought maybe I could bludgeon someone with it” and then she proceeded to show the motion. God why wasn’t he wearing a shirt. Marlene could see the corners of his quirk up. He was holding in a laugh.

Marlene found herself holding in a laugh, she looked to the sky biting her lip, “Look are you going to come over and search my house for a murderer or not.”

The boy smiled, it was sly and cocky, and she noted he had stubble sprinkling his face.

“Sure, why don’t you come in while I grab a shirt.” he exited to the room around the hall.

Marlene stepped inside. She looked around the room and she spotted a big fluffy black dog sitting at the base of the stairs. She knelt down to pet the dog. James had mentioned his roommate had a dog.

“I’m Sirius by the way!”

Marlene jumped.

“And that's snuffles”

Now it was Marlene’s turn to hold in a laugh, “Snuffles?”

“I adopted him with the name.”

“Ah, gotcha..” She was still trying not to giggle, “I’m Marlene.”

“Well Marlene should we go catch a murder?”

Marlene gave Snuffles one last pet and headed out to the car.

The pair climbed into her car.

“So what made you think there was someone in the house?”

“Okay well no one‘s been home for a week so it’s been empty which means anybody could’ve come in but then I decided to enter from the basement downstairs, which is pitch black and so spooky! But I did it anyway because you know I’m an independent woman so I ran upstairs to turn off the alarm so I turned off the alarm but then it said that there was an error and I was like yeah that’s a little weird but not a big deal right? I called a friend but they didn’t answer so I called my brother but he’s out of town but he says he’ll stay on the phone with me while I go and look and of course the only weapon I have in my freaking house is an ice cream scoop! Anyway, then I go upstairs and the light won’t turn on! The light! so now I’m looking up at a pitch black hallway. But I steel myself because I’m brave so I run up the stairs and I get up to the landing and I can see that my TV is on and I know I turned off my TV because I left really early in the morning! So my TV would’ve never been on in the first place so after that point I’m like fuck I’m out of here so run down the stairs and then I have to run back through the basement to get my car and I have no one who lives around here so then I was like who lives nearby and then I thought about James so I figured sure I’ve only met him twice but hey he’s the next best thing and he seem nice enough and I figured he would get a laugh out of it so I go over to your house– which I accidentally went to your neighbors house so that was a little odd and then I came to you and here you are so now here we are!”

Marlene barely took two breaths giving him the details of her night so far. At this point she couldn’t tell if she was shaking from the potential murder or the fact that she was making a fool of herself in front of a ridiculously hot guy

Marlene parked the car in front of her house and turned to look at Sirius. He was just looking at her.

“So you asked his roommate, who you’ve never met, a stranger- to come into your house alone with you?”

“I figured better a random man from outside then finding a room to man inside” and if you’re physique says anything about you, I know you can handle a murderer

“Um, thanks?”

Oh god.. Did she just say that out loud??

Marlene was quick to unbuckle and hop out of the car “well we have a murderer to catch!”

Sirius hopped out behind her; he was chuckling at her embarrassment. He followed her up the porch, “Well ready to catch a murder?”

Marlene took a deep breath and unlocked the door and then proceeded to go in holding the ice cream scoop like a gun.

Sirius just shook his head and stepped in following her. He knew he would follow her for the rest of his life.

Now here he was watching her on their wedding day. They did search the whole house and nobody turned out to be there. She did seem to just work herself into a state. Marlene woke up the next morning with the text from an unknown number it read:

“Hope you don’t mind. I asked James to get your number from Lilly for me. I just wanted to make sure you made it through the night.” The rest was history.

#blackinnon #blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnonfest #sirius x marlene

[sirius-the-extraordinaire]

Unwell

Blackinnon Fest 2022

Day 15 Prompt:

Sneaking out of the castle.

Except I have it as them sneaking within the castle

Note: I have this following Day 2 Prompt: Overheard.

Unwell

Marlene ran her hand over her eyes and through her hair. She and Lily had been searching through all the books she had grabbed from the library. Flipping through the pages, they had tried to find any clue to what could be causing Professor Agata Garcia’s illness. The Defense Against the Dark Arts position was infamous for being a one-year position, but Marlene knew there had to be a tangible reason for the illness instead of a cursed countdown to the end of the year. They had searched through rune patterns, hexes, cursed objects, magical ailments, and nothing seemed to align perfectly with the symptoms.

The illness had started at the beginning of the new year. Professor Agata’s energy had been low, but it had been brushed off as exhaustion from returning to work after the Christmas break. And then when a few weeks went past, the low energy had been assumed to be caused by the time of the year where it was cold and dark, except it continued and worsened. Her initial visits to Madam Pomphrey that had helped her then turned to visits at St. Mungos. Each visit, the Healers couldn’t detect the cause for her symptoms and with no reason to stay she left.

Now in mid-April, she was staying overnight at St. Mungos after Marlene had found her unconscious at her office door. Over the year, Marlene had been assisting Professor Agata with a project to create stronger shield charms, and that day, she had an idea about looking into research on magical creatures that were resistant to spells to see if they could find anything to incorporate into the charms. She had gone to the office intending to discuss the idea, and instead she had gone to St. Mungos to describe what she had seen to the Healers.

She slid back in her chair to stare at the Common Room ceiling. Light was streaking across it. It was getting close to sunset. It had been a nice day so everyone had been outside, and soon they would start coming back in. Lily had left a while ago to make sure the younger students didn’t stay out too late – “I don’t want them getting detention from Filch just for enjoying the weather too long.” Lily said rolling her eyes – and Marlene was left alone with stacks of books.

“I now see why your bag was so heavy. You could have used an Undetectable Extension Charm on it.”

Marlene turned her attention to Sirius as he took a seat next to her, tilting it so it was balanced on its back two legs. “I might have taken out the whole library if I used that charm. At least, I have an amount that I can reasonably read through.” She straightened in her chair. “I have to figure out what is making Professor Agata ill.”

“Do you think someone is intentionally making her ill?”

“I can’t think of anyone I know or anyone she has said. But, if she gets better when she is away from Hogwarts then I don’t think it is a normal disease. Why would she get better when she is away and instantly get worse when she is back? I was hoping to see something in the books, but I’m not. I think…I think I need to look in her office. You don’t have to come with me.”

“Nah, I’m going too.”

She checked to see that she had the keys to Professor Agata’s office in her pocket, and then they headed through the castle to her office. It was almost dark with only a faint light stretching across the halls. She unlocked the door and headed inside before closing it.

Lighting the candles and torches, they began to look around. Sirius waved his wand using non-verbal detection spells to check for any cursed or hidden objects. She searched the desk to see if she saw any items or letters that might hint to clues to what was happening to Professor Agata.

It was getting late, and they hadn’t found anything when they heard footsteps walking down the hall. Sirius noxed the lights and they stayed silent. Night had settled, and it was after curfew. The room was pitch black, the moon and stars didn’t offer any light. Marlene dreaded someone bursting through the door, but the footsteps continued down the hall.

After a few moments waiting to see if the footsteps would come back, but before they could start searching again, they heard a noise behind them. They both turned around and saw a faint glow coming from the bedroom. The room was silent again, but the glow lingered, casting an eerie light along the floor.

They slowly tiptoed forward. Closer to the door, they heard it again and it sounded like wings flapping.

Marlene opened the bedroom door, and on the wall, they observed the source of the faint glow. Uncertain of what it was, she cautiously walked in followed by Sirius. Staring at it longer, she realized that the glow was a ghostly outline of what looked to be a bat. It was transparent enough for her to see the wall it clung to.

“What is-“ Marlene’s question was cut off as the creature shot off the wall.

“Verdimillious!” Sirius shot green sparks at the creature that drove it back hitting it against the wall.

“Incarcerous!” Marlene captured the creature, binding it with ropes to hold it against the wall.

The faint glow that had filled the room went out. Sirius lit the room with his wand, and Marlene blinked a few times before her eyes adjusted. She saw Sirius inspecting it.

It was no longer transparent, glowing, or invisible. It had ash gray fur, pointed ears, a flat face, and a round mouth. It looked similar to a vampire bat. She hadn’t thought that a creature was the cause of Professor Agata’s illness, but this creature had to have done it. No one had known it was there.

“It’s knocked out but breathing.” Sirius looked back at her.

Marlene nodded, “Go get Professor McGonagall. I’ll stay here to watch it.”

He left, and the second he was gone, she wished he was back, that he’d hurry faster. Alone in the room, she waited with the creature.

It didn’t stir.

She heard footsteps but didn’t turn away from the creature until they had entered.

Sirius had brought Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Kettleburn.

“I see you have found the cause of Professor Garcia’s illness.” Professor Dumbledore remarked.

“I think so…I don’t even know what it is.”

“It is a Coma Bat. Uncommon and very difficult to detect. Unless unconscious, like it is now, it is always in a state of wakefulness and observation and remains invisible. There is no known spell to make this creature visible when it does not want to be so. Only in the dark, does it glow. It most likely was not aware of your presence in the office when you were hiding in the dark. Otherwise, it might have remained hidden.”

A chill ran down Marlene’s spine, “What was it doing to Professor Agata?”

“The Coma Bat feeds on a person’s life. It drains the person until they die. In the past, this creature’s victims would simply become bedridden in their home and remain for it to continue feeding. Professor Garcia though has left numerous times to regain her strength, and now she can continue her recovery with no setbacks thanks to you.”

While Professor Dumbledore had been talking, Professor Kettleburn had removed the creature from the wall and placed it in a bag and proceeded to leave. “I’ll be taking this to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.”

“It has been a long day for both of you. Now off to your dormitories and get some rest. Professor Garcia is doing much better, and I think that she would be glad to have a visit from you Miss McKinnon.”

Marlene smiled and followed Professor McGonagall and Sirius back to Gryffindor Tower.

Note: This story was inspired by “El Almohadón de Plumas” (“The Feather Pillow”) by Horacio Quiroga that I read in Spanish class, back when I was in school. I used behindthename.com website for the professor’s first name and then used a popular last name in Spain.

#HP #HP Fanfiction #Blackinnonfest2022 #Blackinnonfest #Blackinnon #I really enjoy this idea

[hey-there-juliet]

☆ For Day Eight of Blackinnon Fest 2022 @blackinnonfest

"The problem is," Sirius said as he leaned in, "if I kissed you, I don't think I'd be able to stop."

🚫 Do not repost.

(click for better quality)

#blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnonfest #blackinnon #sirius black #marlene mckinnon #sirius x marlene #harry potter #the marauders era #the marauders #hp #vi draws #mine #hp art #hp fanart #blackinnon fanart

[matrixaffiliate]

Heist

Last Chapter! FFN and AO3

We've come to the end of this story, my friends. I'll be off next week but I've got two more stories that will go up starting April 18th. Have a blessed Holy Week!

Heist

Chapter 4 - The Important Things

"Sirius, what in Merlin's name?"

No answer.

She huffed and held out her wand. "Accio jacket."

Nothing.

She looked around for Sirius but he stayed hidden under the cloak. Marlene was about to curse him when she heard a quiet bark. Were the Slytherins keeping dogs? Then something pulled on her pant leg.

A black dog stuck out from James' cloak.

She gasped. "Where did you learn how to do that?"

The dog, apparently Sirius, barked again and pulled her over to a trunk. He sat next to it and nuzzled the lock with his nose.

"You've got so much explaining to do." Marlene pulled her wand. "Alohomora." The trunk clicked open and there lay her jacket. She gasped and pulled it to her chest before quickly slipping it on.

"I'll explain later." Sirius stood next to her now. "Tweedle Dumb is on her way." He wrapped the cloak around them and levitated them back above the floor.

Marlene hissed and hugged his waist again. She hated the feeling of someone making her float above the ground, but while with anyone else she would have insisted they set her down, with Sirius she felt the instinctive desire to cling to him.

His arm wrapped around her waist pulling her closer, and Marlene resisted the sudden urge to bury her head in his neck. She'd already fabricated an excuse once on this crazy rescue mission, and that was quite enough.

Enough to fuel her dreams for weeks, months, years more likely.

"Grab the door." Sirius moved them to the door and Marlene waved her wand for them to slip out and then quickly closed it in time for Tweedle Dumb to turn the corridor.

Marlene gripped her wand, trying to decide what curse she wanted to use as revenge.

Then Alecto fell straight back against the floor.

"Didn't want her to get away." Sirius whispered next to her ear.

"I was trying to think of what to use." Marlene frowned.

"And I've bought you time." Sirius' hand rubbed against her back. "See no reason not to trust me."

His hand on her back had Marlene struggling to think of anything other than how close they were, let alone what she'd like to do to Tweedle Dumb. "In my defense, I've learned my lesson."

"I'll take that as a compliment then."

Sirius' lips brushed her ear again and Marlene leant closer, relishing the contact. "Maybe we just leave her, and find someplace to celebrate?"

"Done."

Sirius moved them, careful to avoid Tweedle Dumb so she wouldn't see them floating in the air. He maneuvered them at breakneck speed back to the Slytherin's common room and didn't wait for someone to let them out. He waved the door open and closed behind them before pulling them behind a tapestry and then through a secret passage.

And finally, finally, he threw the cloak off of them, pressed her against the wall behind her, and brought his lips to hers.

Marlene thought maybe she'd died.

Her brain stopped and she was consumed by the feeling of her hands in Sirius' hair, his lips on her neck, their bodies pressed so closely against each other she wasn't certain where one of them stopped and the other began.

"Merlin, I've wanted to do this for ages." He kissed up her neck.

"What stopped you?" She used her hold on his hair to pull him back to her lips, kissing him till he pulled back just far enough to answer.

"You're you, McKinnon. I'm not screwing you around."

Marlene smirked. "Am I the one to finally conquer the great Sirius Black?"

Sirius bit her lip and she melted into him. "Depends on if I'm the one to conquer the great Marlene McKinnon?"

"I mean, you did get me back my jacket before Tweedle Dumb shredded it."

He hummed against her lips as she ran her black fingernails along his scalp. "See, I come with all sorts of benefits."

"Do those benefits improve from here?"

"If you're mine, those benefits never stop improving." Sirius slipped his hand up from her waist.

She pressed up on her toes and pulled herself closer to speak against his ear. "Then I want a preview of what I have to look forward to."

"With pleasure, McKinnon."

#heist #blackinnon #blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnon fest #sirius x marlene #sirius black x marlene mckinnon #sirius black #marlene mckinnon #maruaders #romance #fluff #harry potter fanfiction

[matrixaffiliate]

Vignette

Story Update! FFN and AO3

Chapter 2 - Changed Plans

It had to be a dream.

Sirius sat across from Marlene McKinnon in a dingy café that was still open at this late hour.

She was a sight to be sure, her golden curls soaking wet and plastered to her head, her dress was probably a deep blue when dry but currently it looked as though it'd been drug through a lake and the color was nearly black. Her makeup must have been waterproof though because her ice blue eyes still popped with the golden shimmer surrounding them and her lips still pulled him in with their blood red color.

Then she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and Sirius' brain jumped back to memories from so long ago he’d nearly forgotten them. 

“So, how was uni in Germany?”

“Alright, I managed to do well enough.” Sirius toyed with his mug. “How was uni in Ireland?”

Marlene stiffened and looked away.

“Not good?”

She didn’t answer and Sirius hated how he couldn’t read her as easily as he had before they both left the country. 

“Marls, I have no clue what’s bothering you, so can you at least give me a hint?”

Marlene blinked, and the rigidness in her posture melted for a moment. Sirius capitalized on that moment of softness. 

“Come on, Marls, it’s me.”

Her eyes returned to his and he was shocked at the pain he saw there. “I never went.”

“What?” That didn’t make sense. They’d both been wanting to get out of dreary old England and both came from families that had the funds to get them out, granted his family would have preferred him dead but they weren’t the family that paid for him to go to school, Uncle Alphard had seen to that.

"I never went."

"But, James never said anything-"

"I threatened him not to." Marlene sighed and looked down at her mug. "No one but James and Lily knew."

Sirius couldn't help staring. His mind had gone blank. "Why?"

"Mum got sick," she shrugged. "I couldn't leave Dad and Catherine to look after her on their own."

"Is she alright?" Sirius felt his blood run cold. 

"Yeah, the cancer is in remission, has been for two years, and the doctors think she'll be fine."

Sirius let out a long, shaky breath. "I'm really, really glad to hear that."

Finally she smiled at him. "I'm really, really glad to be able to say that."

He chuckled and resisted the urge to reach out and take her hand. "So what had you in the streets of London without an umbrella this evening?"

Her face fell.

Sirius briefly wondered if it was a date gone wrong. The thought soured his stomach.

"You might call it a business opportunity gone wrong." Her shoulders slumped and she stared back down at her drink.

Sirius tried to stamp down his relief at it not being a date. "What kind of business?" 

"I was at a party where agencies look for potential new models."

Sirius opened his mouth but no sound came out. What happened in the six years he'd been gone? The Marlene he thought he'd sent to Ireland would have never pursued modeling. She wanted to be behind the camera, finding the perfect lighting, making him pull over on the side of the road because she had to get the perfect shot, obsessed with this lense and that film type. She was never interested in being the subject of a photograph.

"Yeah," she shook her head. "I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. I was wrong."

Sirius' brain finally started turning gears again. "Wait, how did that lead to you on the pavement in the pouring rain?"

"I made a scene and ran."

"Why did you make a scene?"

"Because one of the agents decided he didn't need to keep his hands to himself."

Marlene had said it so easily, almost flippantly, like it was the most natural thing in the world. 

Sirius, however, saw red.

#vignette #blackinnon #sirius x marlene #sirius black x marlene mckinnon #sirius black #marlene mckinnon #romance #fluff #muggle au #blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnonfest #blackinnon fest 2022 #harry potter fanfiction

[matrixaffiliate]

Ruse

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

I'll post again tomorrow and then the last chapter goes up on Friday! Enjoy, my friends!

Ruse

Chapter 2 - Actions, Then Words

Marlene was fuming. 

The only thing that was keeping her from coming completely unhinged was Sirius going through her room as she tried to be meticulous in making sure all of her effects were back in her bags.

"I'm going to make them pay." She gritted her teeth, trying to let some of the anger seep out with the declaration.

"I'm going to kill them once they tell me why they were in your room." Sirius' answer was quiet but sharp. "Do you have everything?"

"Yes." She slung her purse over her shoulder and picked up her suitcase. 

"Then let's get out of here." He pulled on the suitcase.

"I've got it," she huffed and pulled back.

"Marlene, I love you, but right now you need to shut up and take my hand. Someone just tried to either drug or kill you, and I take personal offense to both options. So let me hold the damned suitcase so I can also hold your hand and reassure my brain that you're fine."

Marlene let go of the suitcase. When he said it like that, what else was she supposed to do?

He took her hand in a death grip. "Thank you. Let's go."

Marlene looked at the hole where the dart had been as they moved to a side door. That hole was meant to be in her and it made her blood boil.

"How's your American accent?" Sirius asked as he pulled them down a side street.

"It's awesome, Alphard," she shifted into her American accent. "Though I don't believe that I've ever met an American with the name Alphard."

“Alphard has English parents. He’s an American because he grew up here, but he was born in London and moved here when he was five.” Sirius answered in his American accent. “And speaking of who we are, we’re going to set you up with a completely new identity, not one of the ones you've used before.”

“Sirius-”

“Humor me, Marlene.” He turned again and then headed for a back door to a tall building. “Someone has figured out who you are, and they aren’t happy about what you’re here for. If everything goes wrong I want to give you the best chance to get out of here and get home.”

“We’re not here for someone on Riddle’s level.” Marlene followed him through the door and realized they were in his hotel. “Mundungus Fletcher is a petty thief that I’m here to scare away from the big guns.”

“Minnie wants me to bring him back for his involvement in a smuggling ring, but we’ll plan that out later. The big guns obviously don’t like that you’re working on this.” Sirius took her up the stairs. “Until we know who they are, I want them to think you’ve left. I’m going to make sure everything on the digital side looks like their dart failed and then Catherine McClane high tailed it home to England.” 

Marlene hated it when he had good points. “I’m not a coward, Sirius.” 

He stopped them at the top of one of the flights of stairs and dropped both her suitcase and her hand to take her face in his hands. “You absolutely are not a coward, Marls. You are the bravest person I know. I didn’t say you were running, your alias is. We’re going to create you a new alias and then we’re going to battle with whoever thought they could attack you.” Then he crashed his lips into hers. 

Marlene threw herself into the kiss. This she knew how to handle, his lips on hers, his hands caressing her skin, her fingers gripping his shirt, pulling him closer. This she could do better than the feelings she felt after that dart came flying at them and Sirius shifted to his I can’t lose you mode. Those feelings were confusing, they twisted in her chest, but having Sirius’ lips pressed against her unwound all those feelings. She pulled back just enough to murmur against him.

“Men go into battle, love. Women wage war."

He smirked against her lips, “Then I await the orders of my commanding officer.”

#ruse #blackinnon #sirius x marlene #sirius black x marlene mckinnon #sirius black #marlene mckinnon #romance #fluff #muggle au #spys au #harry potter fanfiction #blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnon fest 2022 #blackinnonfest

[matrixaffiliate]

Vignette

Last Chapter! FFN and AO3

This is the end of Vignette. I'll be back on Monday with the sequel to Reconnaissance!

Vignette

Chapter 4 - The Magic of Place

He was excited, but Sirius was also shocked at the nerves he felt. He'd never had nerves about hanging out with Marlene when they'd been teens, but now, well, now Sirius was looking at things differently.

Marlene and Sirius had spent their friendship navigating several near misses. They nearly crossed the line into something more than friends more times than Sirius could count. He told himself it was for the best, especially when she was going to uni in Ireland and him in Germany, but now Sirius was done pretending. They were in the same country, city even, and he wasn't going to lie and say that he was happy being just friends. He was going to show her she was still an amazing photographer, of that he was sure, and then he was going to kiss her and see what happened.

If it blew up in his face, well, he always wanted to go see Sweden.

He parked his bike in front of her flat building and smiled when he saw her walking towards him, her old camera rucksack over her shoulder.

"I like the new seat." She climbed on behind him.

"You mean you didn't love sitting on vinyl held together with tape?"

"It had its charms," She slid her arms around his waist and Sirius felt his heart beat a little harder.

"Sure it did," Sirius laughed, "Like the tape residue sticking to your jeans for the rest of the day."

"I wasn't going to say anything, but yeah." Marlene laughed with him. "So where are we going?"

"You'll see." Sirius winked at her and then revved the engine and moved them back on the road.

He moved slowly through the streets of London until they were finally out of the city and heading the hour or so southwest.

About thirty minutes in he felt her grip tightening around his waist and she pulled herself closer to him, pressing her body to his back. She knew where they were going.

Surrey Hills had been the location of most of their near misses. There was something magical about this place, something that made you feel like you had stepped out of the real world and none of the rules applied anymore. And if there was a place that could get Marlene taking pictures again, Sirius put his money on here.

He pulled off at one of her favorite spots and killed the engine. "Alright Marls, I think it's high time you reminded those cameras and lenses that you're still around."

"Can't we just enjoy being back here?"

"You haven't been back since your mum got sick." He didn't ask, it was written all over her face.

"It was our spot." She shrugged, and Sirius couldn't help but agree; if he hadn't run into her, he never would have wanted to come back here either.

He stepped off his bike and pulled her off with him. "Come on, get that camera out." He pulled on the straps of her rucksack.

"Would you believe me if I said I just want to hike around with you and call it done?" She bit her lip, her signature blood red color freshly applied today. It drove him mad.

"Not for one second." Sirius stepped closer, tucking one of her loose curls behind her ear. "It's just you and me, like old times. Get the camera out Marls, for nostalgia if nothing else."

She stared up at him with her ice blue eyes and Sirius nearly leant in and kissed her right then. But she seemed to take his comment to heart and began sliding the pack off her back and retrieving her camera. He smiled at the stack of lenses, and pulled the pack to him.

"Which lens do you want?"

"Just the standard right now."

Sirius handed the case to her and then started loosening the rucksack straps. "I'm still not letting you carry this." He took the case back as she attached the lens.

"I can carry my equipment." Her answer was automatic, just like it had been when they'd been teens, an answer that was more for the script of the interaction than any real meaning behind the words.

"And I won't let you." He swung the pack over his back, finishing the script.

"I don't even know what I'll take a picture of." She shook her head as they walked, but Sirius didn't miss the way her hands held her camera, rubbing her fingers over the metal, fiddling with the shutter button, almost like she was itching for more than simply holding the camera.

"Take a picture of anything."

"What if it isn't good?"

"You used to say that before too, and they always turned out gallery worthy."

"Sirius," she laughed, "that is not true."

"Sure it is," He winked at her. "I wager that you're so skilled at this you can't even try to make me look bad."

She smirked. "Is that a challenge?"

"If it gets you taking pictures then sure," he shrugged. "But don't be surprised when every one of those pictures makes you weak in the knees."

He'd been expecting it. Marlene brought the camera up and took a messy candid of him. She looked down at the screen and groaned though. "How did you manage to look good in that?" She turned the screen around to show him smirking.

"It's a gift, love," he tapped her nose, "But whatever possessed you to do that should possess you more often."

"To do what?" She frowned.

"Take pictures." He turned her to the view of rolling hills and trees with leaves beginning to change color. "Show me what you see."

Her movements were slow but he stood behind her, his hands still on her shoulder, his head ducked so his lips were behind her ear. She hesitated a moment when the viewfinder was nearly to her eye.

"You've got this, Marls."

She let out a slow breath and he heard the click of the shutter button.

"Can I see?" He smiled against the shell of her ear.

Marlene was quiet for several moments as she let her lanyard take the weight of her camera. "Yeah, but it's going to cost you."

Sirius stepped closer to her, bringing his chest against her back, laying his cards further on the table. "That seems fair, name your price, Marls."

She was quiet for several moments, but he felt her breathing grow shallow as he moved his hands to trace her shoulders and arms. Slowly, she leant back against him, relaxing her body into his and Sirius felt his thoughts rapidly slipping.

She let out the same slow breath she had before she'd taken the picture. "It'll cost you a kiss."

Sirius felt his chest explode at her words. He nuzzled behind her ear as he spoke. "The problem is, If I kissed you, I don't think I'd be able to stop."

He felt her breath catch in her chest and she slowly turned around to look at him.

"Then I guess I'd have to never stop showing you the pictures I take."

Sirius didn't hesitate, he was ready to get on to kissing Marlene full time, they'd wasted enough time already.

#vignette #blackinnon #sirius x marlene #sirius black x marlene mckinnon #romance #fluff #sirius black #marlene mckinnon #harry potter fanfiction #blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnon fest 2022 #blackinnonfest

[sirius-the-extraordinaire]

Overheard

Blackinnon Fest 2022

Day 2 Prompt:

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Longer than you’d like.”

Overheard

Marlene’s book bag weighed heavy on her shoulder as she watched Regulus turn to walk way from Sirius. She had peeked around the corner watching them past the row of knights. She had just left the Library to catch up with Lily when she had heard their voices feigned with politeness. Stepping out into the middle of the hall, she drew Sirius’ attention towards her.

“How long have you been standing there.”

“Longer than you’d like.” She replied as she shifted her bag.

Sirius let out a strangled laugh. “It isn’t the only thing I dislike in this moment.”

“I can’t imagine not getting along with my family. Ignoring the petty stuff.” She wished she had something better to say, but she knew better than to ask if he wanted to talk about. At least not right now.

“No, I imagine you don’t, but some of my family doesn’t hate me,” Sirius walked towards her, gestured to her bag that she gave to him to carry, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Besides James’ family likes me, your family likes me, and I’m sure Lily’s family will like me as well.”

“Minus her sister.” Marlene smiles.

“Yes, minus her sister.”

#HP #HP Fanfiction #blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnonfest #Blackinnon #I tried for a casualness but not really sure if that comes across

[matrixaffiliate]

Vignette

New Story! FFN and AO3

Being caught in the rain is bad enough, but a friend from the past might be the means to the fresh start Marlene is hoping for.

I hope you all had a wonderful week last week! We're back with Blackinnon Fest and this little Muggle AU! This story will post all this week, and then next week there will be one more story to wrap up the month! Next week's story is a short sequel to my Blackinnon Spies story, Reconnaissance. If you haven't read it jump over and read that in between these chapter updates!

Vignette

Chapter 1 - Expect the Unexpected

Her dress was sticking to her skin and not in a good way.

Marlene wiped her hair from her face and cursed. It wasn't enough that she was running from a party that had the potential to make a new career, a new start. It wasn't enough that she'd caused a scene, screeching at the cretin who thought he could touch whoever he wanted. It wasn't enough that she'd probably just ruined any chance she had at breaking into the London modeling scene. No, none of that was enough. There needed to be one more thing to make her night miserable, and the fates decided it had to be rain. And not some light drizzle, oh no, it had to be pouring, a torrential flooding of cats and dogs, the kind of rain that cascaded from the heavens like an angry waterfall out for revenge.

Her phone buzzed in her clutch tucked under her arm and in her attempt to retrieve it she lost her balance in her sky high heels and crashed down on the pavement. Marlene swore as she rubbed at the pain in her hip and wrist.

"Marlene?"

She tried to pretend she hadn't heard that voice. She tried to convince her brain that she was hallucinating under the stress. She told herself that the rain was so loud she was hearing things that weren't there, couldn't be there.

And she would have succeeded if a strong hand hadn't wrapped around her shoulder and an umbrella came to cover her.

"Marlene, it's me."

"Do I want to know how long you've been standing there?" She didn't look up at him, focusing instead on the umbrella in his hand.

It felt so good not to have the rain pelting her face.

"Longer than you'd like." His voice was warm and so familiar that if she were any other woman she would have cried. "Your fall was graceful if that's any consolation."

"Of course it was." Marlene grimaced against the pain as she moved to stand. He immediately pushed his hand under her arm, helping to lift her from the pavement. "Don't take this the wrong way, but how did you get here? You were in Germany."

"I moved back to London a few weeks ago." He pulled her a step closer. "And don't take this the wrong way, but are you actually going to look at me or is my umbrella the only thing you're tolerating my presence for."

Marlene closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she looked up at him, his black hair slightly damp as it hung around his ears and neck, his gray eyes danced with mischief like they always had so many years ago, and his lips quirked up to the left with the same smirk that had ensnared her when she'd first seen him.

She couldn't stop the smile that pulled on her lips. "Hello Sirius."

#vignette #blackinnon #blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnonfest #blackinnon fest 2022 #sirius x marlene #sirius black x marlene mckinnon #sirius black #marlene mckinnon #muggle au #romance #fluff #harry potter fanfiction

[ginnyweasleywannabe]

Chapter 5 (Treasure Hunt)/ Fake engagement Blackinnon fest day 3

This is Chapter 5 of a story I've been working on so you might want to read those but feel free to try stand alone because it does fit into Blackinnon You can find the first 4 chapters on my profile:) Fest Day 3- Fake Engagement

~4,500 words so settle in folks!!

WARNING CONTAINS SMUT AT THE END.

if you want to skip, just stop after they leave the party.

Per Usual I literally just finished typing this and my computes at 2% so I don’t even have time to read through it much less edit so I apologize:)

Can also be found on AO3 @inthemiddle2

Chapter 5- Treasure Hunt

The next morning Marlene was all business. Sirius had tried to get her to slow down and talk about what had happened yesterday. She had woken up before with a list of things for them to do.

“I want to go to the old graveyard by the church”

Sirius had barely woken up when she was shoving him out of the bed and into the bathroom.

“Listen McKinnon if you wanted to get me naked you could have just asked, no need to shove.”

Marlene just rolled her eyes before giving him one last shove into the bathroom and slamming the door closed. From the other side of the closed door she repeated her last statement, “I want to go to the graveyard so please hurry!” She could hear the shower running so she was surprised to hear him shout back at her.

“It’s not my idea of a perfect date spot but hey, you’re the boss McKitten”

“So what exactly are we looking for?” A chill ran up his back as they entered the graveyard.

“Bathilda said Peverell died here. I want to find the grave, I don’t know exactly but maybe it’ll give us something.”

The pair had spent time brushing off old grave stone. Eventually they split up, for a small town they graveyard seemed to contain everyone who had ever lived there.

Marlene felt she had searched the entire graveyard. With a huff she set out to find Sirius. She looked around but couldn’t see him walking around anywhere. Marlene was on edge, after everything that had happened, how could they have been so stupid to split up. Her heart rate was picking up. She the edges of her vision was blurring. She started running, twisting her head in all directions, where could he be.

Finally she spotted him.

Sirius was laying peacefully on the bench. It was turning out to be a nice day. His eyes were closed, he was feeling the sun on his skin. Was being the key word. He was startled from his lounge in the sun with a sufficient smack on the chest from Marlene.

“WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU”

Sirius sat up with a jolt. He had opened his mouth to retort but she proceeded to hit him some more.

“I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU EVERYWHERE! AND HERE YOU ARE JUST TAKING A NAP LIKE PEOPLES LIVES ARENT AT STAKE! GOD I DON’T KNOW WHY I EXPECTED ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM YOU. YOU ARROGANT, LAZY ASS-“

Sirius caught her flailing wrist, “Alright McKinnon, why don’t you take a breath.”

Marlene did catch her breath, she could feel the blood starting to return to her head. As Sirius felt her relax, he released her arms.

“I was looking for you and- and after everything, when I couldn’t see you- because you were taking a nap-“ Sirius just rolled his eyes. “I panicked.”

Sirius felt guilty for giving her a fright.

“I’m sorry.” Marlene had looked up from the place she was burning a hole into the grass.

“I didn’t mean to worry you.” He sounded so sincere, “I’ve been wandering this place with no luck so admittedly I was being a little lazy so when I saw the bench I decided to take a rest.”

She glanced around. Marlene had calmed down enough to give him a friendly eye roll, “That’s not even a bench, you dolt.”

Sirius lifted an eyebrow in question.

“It’s a few graves lined up next to each other. They’re going to haunt you for this.” She bent over to brush off some of the moss that had grown over the raised stone. Suddenly she stood straight up.

“Uh Mars?”

She whipped around to face him. Sirius was a little stunned by the almost creepy broad grin that was on her face. Next thing he knew, she arms were around him.

“Merlin, you beautiful idiot! I could kiss you”

“Feel free”

Marlene had barely registered his acceptance of the proposal she didn’t even realized she had given. No she just released him and spun back around to kneel at the stone boxes. She was hastily brushing them off.

Sirius peaked over her shoulders to see that the names on the stones read ‘Peverell’

Once Marlene had cleaned the stones enough, she sat back on her heels. She observed the stones. One for each of the brothers. Underneath each name there was a carving in the stone. Marlene ran her fingers over them. As she sat back she thought what Bathilda had told them. Each brother was to have had a gift from death. These carving almost look like place holders for each item. A long skinny line in one- for the wand. The middle contained a circle- just big enough to fit the supposed resurrection stone. And finally a triangle- the cloak.

Marlene stood up and started walking, “I want to go back to Bathilda Bagshots house.”

Sirius stood stunned for a minute before making long strides to try and keep up with her determined pace.

“Marlene!”

“Marlene!”

“Marlene, can we just slow down for a minute?” Despite the question the pair continued the brisk pace, “You were so upset yesterday, do you really think it’s a good idea to go back there?”

“Yes! We’ve found the grave and I sat there and stared and got nothing! I’m honestly at a loss but I can’t give up. I want to go back and see if there’s anything that will help us from here.”

Marlene was rummaging around the house, while Sirius felt rooted to the spot in the living room. When they had walked into the house Marlene barely gave the area a glance. She didn’t want to spend any longer in that room then she had to. Sirius just stood staring at the place where Bagshot was. Her body was gone but everything about the rest of the house looked untouched. The door had been unlocked when they arrived. It didn’t look like any officers had been there but yet her body was gone? The carpet singed from the tea. This whole trip had been weird. It’s part of the reason he stayed. He could leave. Force Marlene out of here, this was getting dangerous, she should call the police but as the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat.

The sound of paper shuffling tore him from his thoughts. He moved into the kitchen to find Marlene digging through drawers. Sirius looked around the room. The space was filled with knick-knacks. He figured based on what the old woman had said earlier, she had lived here her whole life. Sirius moved to glance at the pictures and notes covering the fridge. One in particular caught his eye.

“Hey Mar, come look at this..”

Marlene moved next to him. He pushed a picture out of the way and behind it was an invitation

Marlene read the invite out loud, “Mayor Marvolo invites you to attend the ‘Gaunt Ball’ The whole town is invited to celebrate the importance of our little slice of history, Godric’s Hollow”

Sirius points to the date on paper, “Its tonight.”

Marlene snatches the invitation from the fridge, “We’re going.”

And as she usually does, spins on her heel and marches away from him with determination.

And as he usually does, Sirius races after her.

“McKinnon, you are full of bright ideas”

Marlene either chooses to ignore his sarcastic tone or she is too in her head to notice, she paces on. “Thank you! It keeps me young!”

Sirius roll his eyes behind her. “How exactly are we just going to waltz into a ball where everybody seems to know each other in this town and all we have is our grubby clothes”

Marlene had just exited the house when she whipped around to face him, “Well go to the shops. I’m sure we could find something suitable.”

A few hours later Sirius was zipping Marlene up into tight dress.

“You know I gotta say McKinnon, your ass looks amazing in this dress.”

Marlene leveled him with a look through the mirror, “Charming as ever, Black.”

Though Marlene had to admit, she thought she was pulling off the dress very nicely- even if had the same years old floral print to match the bed sheets. And she definitely got the better end of the deal, all Sirius could find was a powder blue suit from the 70s. She was holding in a laugh.

Sirius held out his arm to her, ‘Mi’lady?”

Marlene rolled her eyes, but intertwined their arms with a small smile playing on her lips.

The ball was being held at the mayors mansion. It was grand, supposedly it belonged to a Duke at a time.

Mayor Marvolo was stationed at the door shaking hands with all the guest.

Sirius and Marlene were next. Marlene steeled herself. This man could know something, or know someone who could help.

The mayor released what Sirius would describe as a conniving smile.

“Well, well. I have to say I know everyone in this town.” He took Marlene’s hand and brought it to his lips. “And I would certainly know someone as beautiful as you miss.”

“I’m Marlene –“ Sirius cut her off

“Black. Marlene Black. Or soon to be, She’s my fiancé.”

Marlene did her best to make sure the shock on her face didn’t show.

The mayor turned his attention to Sirius for the first time, “Ah well, you’re a lucky man. Black? Any relation to Orion?”

Marlene saw Sirius stiffened at the mention of his father but let an easy smile come over his face.

“Yes, my father. You know he’s on the board for the school, It’s the reason me and my fiancé are visiting your little town. They seem to be quite intertwined.”

“Well, I hope you two enjoy your night. You’ll have to excuse me.”

Sirius and Marlene moved into the ballroom.

“Fiancé?” Marlene’s voice didn’t come out mad just questioning.

Sirius grabbed her and hand pulled her on to the dance floor.

Marlene’s breath hitched as he pulled her flush against him. She always forgot how tall he was but now she had to tilt her head to see his eyes. His piercing grey eyes.

As the pair swayed, Sirius leaned to speak in her ear.

“I know these types. My family dragged me to dozens of balls like this. A name will get you everywhere and unfortunately Black is one them.”

Sirius looked around the room. He was pleased to note that his tux didn’t stick out.

“Have you noticed that everyone in this town is old?”

Marlene laughed at his comment but as she looked around the room, she realized he way right. Everyone had to be over 60. She thought back to all they people they had met so far but the only young person she remembered was the tacky waitress.

Marlene was about to make a comment when someone coughed behind Sirius. She couldn’t see behind the mountain man. The pair pulled apart to face the mayor and another man.

“I hope you don’t mind me interrupting but I wanted to introduce you to my grandson.” The Mayor gestured to the man in his late 40’s standing next to him.

The man stuck out his hand to shake with Marlene. “Tom.” He didn’t let go of her hand. “I was wondering if you would do me the pleasure of joining me for a dance.”

“Oh well I couldn’t-“

“Please. It would be rude and unfair to just spend all night with you fiancé.” He gave her hand a small squeeze. “I’m sure he would love to grab you a drink while we get to know each other.”

Marlene just gave a small nod, “I would love a glass of white, Sirius.”

Sirius hesitated but nodded and moved towards the bar.

Tom pulled Marlene into a dance.

“I must say you look wonderful. And I’m not just saying that because you’re the youngest person here by years. I’m saying it despite the fact that your wearing my grandma’s upholstery”

Marlene threw her head back in a laugh. Okay that might have been over doing it but the guy gave her the creeps so better to stay on his good side.

“This is quite the party your grandfathers throwing.”

“Yes, he’s been mayor for years and he likes the party to get bigger with every year.”

“Do you think you’ll be next?”

“Take over as Mayor? No. I’ve got the family business and I just returned from an extended time on the contentment so I don’t want to rush in.”

“What is the family business?”

“Let’s just say we deal with precious artifacts.” Tom pulled her closer, and whispered into her ear. “You could be considered a precious artifacts.”

Marlene pulled back.

He pierced her with an intense gaze, “You look very familiar. Do you have family? Brothers?” His gripped tightened on her waist.

Sirius didn’t even bother to get a glass of wine. He just moved to the edge of the room, where he could watch her. He felt his chest tighten when she laughed at something the pompous ass said. The whole family gave him bad vibes. He didn’t like seeing her in another mans arms. She was always getting herself into these situations. She trusted everyone and was too risky with her own care.

He saw Tom pull her close. Sirius knew her like the back of hand. The movement was small but he knew what ever he had said made her uncomfortable. He was over in flash

“She’s an only child.”

Both Tom and Marlene’s gazes snapped up to Sirius. Marlene was quick to step out of his grasp.

Tom stiffened, “Yes well. My mistake. You’ll excuse me.” He turned and walked off.

Without thinking both turned into each other, picking up their rhythmic sway.

“He was so creepy, I mean he called me a precious artifact. Even being the artifact nerd I am its still a weird thing to say.” Marlene shook her head with a small smile.

She looked to Sirius to laugh along with her but he was giving a death glare over her shoulder to where Tom had made his exit.

“Sirius?”

“I didn’t like it.”

“What?”

“I didn’t like see him with you. It made me mad. Seeing you with anyone else.”

Marlene stumbled over her words, “Sirius- it wasn’t. It wasn’t like that.”

“I know but my chest felt like it was going to burst. This whole trip, it feels different. Like when I look at you, something changes. You change the way my heart beats.”

Marlene was stunned to silence.

Sirius took a deep breath, “Marlene I lo-“

“You had no right!!”

Marlene and Sirius whipped their head to wear Tom was raising his voice to his grandfather.

“You have no right. It belongs to me!”

“Hush you stupid boy!” Mayor Marvolo grabbed Toms wrist and dragged him up the stairs.

Marlene glanced back to Sirius. He opened his mouth but she cut him off, “We, We should see what that’s about.”

Marlene moved to follow them up the stairs.

Sirius felt rooted to the spot but he she was running after trouble.

Marlene and Sirius reached the top of the landing. This portion of the house was cut off from view of the other patrons. Marlene peered around the corner to see the Mayor and Tom going into a room with double doors. She moved to go stand outside the door.

“McKinnon! McKinnon!” Sirius was whisper yelling but she continued to inch towards the doors.

Sirius crept up behind her. There was a small crack in the door where they could hear the two arguing.

“You know how long I’ve been searching for all of this! It all belongs to me, you stupid old man!”

“I’m the one who financed your little trip to Germany. Those items were part of a great history.”

“I’ll find out what you did with the stone and then it will all be returned to me. You’ve grown soft in your old age.”

Marlene saw Tom and his grandfather walking towards her, “Shit! He’s coming!”

Marlene and Sirius made it around the corner when they heard the door open. They were never going to make it down the stairs by the time they made it around the corner.

Marlene’s mind was racing, they could say they were looking for the loo.

Her thoughts were cut off by the feeling of Sirius wrapping his arm around her waist. She opened her eyes wide as she turned into him.

“What-“

Her question was cut off by the feeling of Sirius’ lips on her own.

Admittedly, Sirius knew there were other excuse options but he was also starting to panic and she looked gorgeous in that dress. He had been wanting to do this all night. The whole trip really.

Marlene’s questioning look didn’t last long before her eyes fell closed and she leaned into him. Sirius lifted his hands into her hair. He had this need to pull her closer. Like this wasn’t enough, he needed more of her.

A cough sounded from behind them. The pair jumped apart. The younger man had a furious look.

It was Sirius who spoke first, “I’m sorry. My fiancé and I got a little carried away. I mean can you blame me. You said yourself how wonderful she looked tonight.”

Tom sneered, “I was clearly wrong. Now she looks like just another one the infamous young playboy Blacks slag.”

Sirius stepped in front of Marlene.

The Mayor stepped between two younger men, “You’ll have to excuse my grandson. It seems he’s had too much to drink. He was just leaving.” He turned towards his grandson and pierced him with a look. Tom gave one last glare before shuffling down the stairs.

Mayor Marvolo turned back to the pair, “Shall we return to the party.”

Marlene spoke, “Actually Mayor, I’m so embarrassed about our behavior. Do you have a room where we could freshen up as not to embarrass ourselves more.” She was doing an excellent reproach, Sirius hoped he wasn’t hearing regret in her tone.

“Of course, the powder room is just around the corner.” He gestured before giving a slight bow and heading down the stairs

Marlene was already walking down the hall

“Marlene, we should talk!”

Marlene passed the loo and went straight to the room the two men had been arguing in.

“We will. Later. I want to see if we can figure out what they were arguing about.”

Marlene began digging through the desk.

Sirius stood, he was trying to get his thoughts in order. Where did this leave them?

“Ha!!” Marlene pulled a small ring box from the desk. She opened it to show Sirius. “It’s the stone! The resurrection stone!”

“How do you know it’s the stone?”

Marlene bit her lip “Well, I don’t but we can take it to the grave and just see!”

Marlene pocketed the box.

The couple made a quick exit from the party.

“Marlene, its late. We should try tomorrow. And were not exactly in grave digging clothes”

Marlene stopped and contemplated, he had a point. And her heels where killing her. “Fine but we go first thing in the morning!”

Marlene took off her heels as soon as they entered the motel suite. Sirius was right about waiting until the morning. All she wanted to do was get out of this dress, lay in bed and watch tv until she fell asleep.

She moved over to the dresser with a mirror sitting on top to take off her jewelry.

“Sirius could you come help me unzip my dress?”

Sirius had already stripped off his coat, so just in his undershirt and suit pants. He came to stand behind her. Their eyes met in the mirror.

Marlene’s breath hitched, he was looking at her so intently. It was more than that, she could see the hunger in his eyes.

Sirius pulled her zipper down slowly. Never breaking eye contact. He leaned his head into her hair. He took a breath in.

Marlene’s eyes fluttered shut, let out a gasp, “Sirius”

Sirius brought his hands up to her shoulders. It was a ghost of a touch. They hovered over her straps.

Her eyes were still closed when she made her plea, “Please.”

Sirius pushed her straps down. The dress fell to a puddle at the floor. Marlene’s nipples perked under bra with sudden cold air. Sirius pushed her hair aside. He gave a feather kiss to her neck.

“More, Sirius.” Her eyes opened to meet his in the mirror, “I want this.”

Sirius began to suck on her pulse point. His arms came around the front of her body. One going to pull her flush against him. He held her right above her underwear. The other hand came to roughly palm her through the fabric. He slipped his hand under the fabric to pinch her nipple. Marlene threw her head back. She turned her head to met his lips, finally reconnecting for the first time since earlier in the night. The kiss was hungry. Their tongues fighting for battle.

Sirius spun her. He let both his hands wander to cup her ass. He gave it a rough squeeze, God he missed this ass. Sirius lifted her with ease. They moved to the bed. Sirius gently placed her on her back. He came to hover over her.

Sirius pulled back from kissing her. Sirius pulled off his shirt. Marlene was breathing heavy. He searched her eyes, her face softened. Marlene reached her hand up to stroke the stubble on his cheek. Sirius turned his head, kissing her palm. Moving his lips down to her wrist. He trailed kisses down her arm, finding her collar bone. There he sucked. When Sirius looked into her eyes, the tender soft look was gone, back was the hot passion. Marlene felt like she saw his eyes darken with heat.

Sirius continued to move down her chest. He bit the nipple through the lace if her bra. Marlene bucked her hips hoping to make contact. Sirius just hovered. He figured he would give her some relief. He moved to unclasp her bra. Sirius blew on her sensitive peaks before taking one into his mouth. He scraped his teeth over before giving it a tug, at the same time pinching her other.

Marlene pushed her head back into the bed, “Sirius, please” It was whiny, she knew it but she couldn’t be bothered she need contact. She was aching for it. Sirius moved down to the edge of the bed. His eyes became level with her sweet spot. It was still covered with match lace. Sirius stared by just nudging his nose to the spot. Her hips bucked again. Sirius splayed his tongue out against her. The fabric was dripping. He need more. He began cover her with as much of his mouth as he could.

Marlene ground her face down. He was taking so much of her but she wanted more. “Sirius.” This time it came out as a moan.

He pulled back from her, “God McKinnon, hearing you is driving me insane.” He ran a light finger over her, “ you have no idea how long I’ve wanted this.”

Sirius lifted her enough to pull down her underwear. He ran his finger through her folds, not inserting, avoiding her nub. “How much I’ve thought about this.” Sirius reached down and palmed himself. Finally he used the pad of his thumb to press down on the spot she was most desperate for.

“I’ve thought about it too” Marlene’s voice was whisper.

Sirius paused his movements for a moment. Before going back in with his fingers and his tongue. He sucked on her clit. Sirius inserted his middle finger but he didn’t move it. He pulled back to look at her, “When you thought about did you touch yourself?” Marlene just moaned. “Answer me, Marlene.”

“Yes. Yes I thought about you and touched myself.”

“Good girl.” Sirius entered a second finger and began to pump. He went back to sucking, giving small tugs with his mouth.

Marlene could feel the pressure in her building, it wouldn’t be long. “Sirius, don’t stop. Please Don’t stop.”

“Never” and he pumped faster. Sirius had to grind himself with the edge of the bed

“Harder!”

Sirius pumped his fingers, “take one more baby, Please let me give you more”

“Sirius! Oh God! Sirius” He pulled his face away to watch her come undone, using the heel of his hand to grind her sensitive spot. He was rocking against the bed in time with his fingers. He felt her body squeeze. Sirius used his mouth to ride out her orgasm.

Sirius climbed back up the bed to hover over her. He placed a soft kiss to her temple before falling to the next to her.

Marlene rolled her head to look at him, she suddenly felt shy. She gave him a small smile before kissing him. The kissed deepened. Marlene was straddling him. She began to grind against his clothed bulge. It was rock hard. He must be desperate for a release. Marlene sat up. Swiveling her hips, she reached up to pinch her nipples. She wanted to do this for him. Sirius had always been a talker, she knew he loved dirty talk, “I thought about this all the time. God You’re so hard, it feels so good. I missed having you fuck me. So Please I want you to fuck me, and I want to watch.”

Sirius bucked his hips up, it was almost painful. Marlene got up and walked over to the dresser. She placed her hands on it sticking her backside out. Sirius came up behind her, making eye contact in the mirror as he stripped himself.

Marlene reached down and began to rub her clit.

Sirius was breathing through his nose, “Tell me what you want baby.”

Marlene bit her lip, “I want you to spank me and then I want you to fuck me.”

Sirius didn’t hesitate, he gave her a swift smack on her back side and then entered her.

Sirius began to piston inside her. He was thrust, watching her in the mirror. Marlene’s head rolled back to lean on his shoulder.

Marlene removed her hand, “You. Baby, I need you.” She pulled one of his hands around to rub her fiercely. She was still sensitive from her last orgasm, she was about to come undone again. She was losing the strength in her legs. “Siriu- I- I- I’m not gonna last”

Sirius pulled out quickly, carrying her to the bed. He laid her down on her back, “I’m there Marlene, I’m right with you.” He lifted one of her legs, Sirius reentered her fast. His hand searched for hers. They were clinging together. She screamed his name. He felt her release. Sirius followed right behind her, calling her name. Sirius eased out of her, he went to grab a towel to clean themselves.

“Sirius we should-“

He just shushed her and pulled her into his arms, he knew she was tired. They could talk in the morning, with clear heads.

#blackinnon #blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnonfest #sirius x marlene #treasure hunt

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Heist

Story Update! FFN and AO3

More Blackinnon for Blackinnon Fest!!!

Heist

Chapter 2 - When Given the Choice

"They're still in there." Marlene stepped back with him, the cloak sliding against them. Sirius didn't hesitate to use their forced proximity to put his hand on her waist.

"Good, let's move." He pulled her against him as they walked carefully into Slughorn's office and Sirius couldn't keep the sneer off his face when he looked at the Carrows.

Bloody cowards, the both of them.

"I don't know what happened to the jacket, Professor. I didn't see McKinnon wearing one." Alecto looked at her half-wit brother. "Did you Amycus?"

"No, she wasn't wearing a jacket."

Sirius felt Marlene tense against him and pushed aside his own anger at Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber to whisper against the shell of Marlene's ear.

"Breathe, McKinnon, we'll make sure we get it back."

She stayed tense, but did let a long breath out. Sirius moved his hand from her waist to rub along her back.

"We've got this. Trust me."

"Fine." She grumbled, but Sirius didn't miss her relaxing against him.

"You're asking me to call into question the Head Girl, Ms. Carrow." Slughorn shook his head.

"Professor," She smiled at him, "Please remember that the Head Girl and McKinnon are good friends, and you know how everyone is suspecting the Slytherins of terrible things right now. I wonder if that has anything to do with it."

Slughorn looked torn. "I'll have to discuss this with the Head Master then. In the meantime, if you do happen to find Ms. McKinnon's jacket, please ensure it gets returned to her. If there are more examples of Slytherins helping and caring for their fellow students, we'll see less situations like these."

"Of course, Professor." Amycus nodded as he and Alecto moved out of the classroom.

"Let's go." Marlene began moving forward and Sirius moved his arm back to her waist, keeping them moving as one under James' cloak.

"What are we going to do with it?" Amycus whispered.

"I don't know yet. Maybe we'll make a dummy with it and see how many slicing curses it takes to shred it into a thousand pieces. Then send them to McKinnon one by one." Alecto laughed.

"I like that idea, she always was too stuck up for her own good." Amycus sneered.

The only thing that kept Sirius from blasting the two of them right there was knowing he had to keep Marlene from doing exactly that.

"It's in my dorm, I'll bring it out later tonight and we can tear it apart."

"I'm going to tear her apart," Marlene's voice came out in a sharp whisper that Sirius knew well at this point in their friendship.

"As long as it's after we get your jacket back, sure." Sirius pulled her closer. "But for now, let's focus on one thing at a time."

"Fine, but I swear she's going to get what's coming to her."

Sirius chuckled, in his opinion, Marlene's fight had always been the best part of her.

They walked silently behind the Tweedle Twins and right into the Slytherin common room, Sirius cataloging the password for future reference.

But to his frustration, Alecto didn't move to the dorms, she sat down on a couch and began speaking with a group gathered near the fire.

"Now we just need to figure out which room is Tweedle Dumb's." Marlene whispered.

Sirius smirked and pulled his wand. "Hold on, Marls."

#heist #blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnon fest #blackinnon #sirius x marlene #sirius black x marlene mckinnon #fluff #romance #maruaders fic #harry potter fanfiction

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Y'all! Have you seen this promise of amazing Blackinnon???

@stonecoldhedwig I am SO EXCITED for this!!!

#blackinnonfest2022 #blackinnon #sirius x marlene #sirius black x marlene mckinnon #blackinnonfest #blackinnon fest #harry potter fanfiction #sirius black #marlene mckinnon