What's life without a little risk?

IN A QUEER4QUEER OR BI4BI WAY!!!!!

You could totally see this platonically as well!!

Requested by the lovely @ch1ckchat5 !!!

tw: implied smut and brief mention of scars, implying sirius’ past. ngl this was supposed to be just some hot stuff but it turned out into emotional dive lol i really like to poke j to sirius’ head but i feel like i’m neglecting marlene😂 maybe next time i’ll write from her pov

He should’ve been enjoying himself.

The common room was packed, every inch soaked in gold and red, students cheering and laughing, music echoing off the walls. James was somewhere in the corner, retelling their match with Ravenclaw in grand, dramatic detail to anyone who’d listen. And there were a lot of people who wanted to listen – James was a good storyteller and it was kinda hard not to be captivated by him while he was smiling this wide and his warm hazel eyes were shimmering with excitement. Remus was by his side, his affectionate grin matching Peter’s who was sitting with Mary, drink in his hand. Even Evans had thrown him a glance or two—something he’d be sure to hold over James’ head later.

It had been a good game. A damn good game. Everything around was buzzing with excitement and laughter, just like any other party thrown at Gryffindor’s common room. They had the best parties, after all.

And yet Sirius couldn’t focus on any of it.

He leaned back against the sofa, drink in hand, ignoring the girl beside him chattering on about the game, because his eyes kept drifting—over the crowd, over the heads of his housemates—to where Marlene McKinnon stood near the fireplace.

She was laughing.

At something that seventh-year tosser was saying. What was his name—Davies? Dennis? Didn’t matter.

Sirius took a sip of his drink, jaw tight.

It’s not like she owned him anything. There had always been tension between two of them, their banter borderline to flirting, and even when Marlene would just roll her eyes on him, clearly annoyed, the heat in her eyes was unmistakable. It was fun most of the time, really – teasing each other, watching how she reacted to his lingering touches. But at the same time it wasn’t anything serious, not really. That was just how the two of them were, really. They both were a bit flirty by nature, so it wasn’t that surprising that they clashed.

Except last few weeks it got a bit more serious. Or at least he thinks so. If before it was just nice to see her smile widen after his remarks, now his heart would speed up each time her gaze would linger on him. He felt the back of his neck flushed when they would be too close to each other, and the whole thing was making him uncomfortable.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like Marlene. The opposite, actually. She was very easy to like, and that was the problem.

Sirius felt his stomach twist uncomfortable when her eyes flicked to him across the room. That damn smile curling at the corners of her mouth. A private thing meant only for him. Her gaze lingered, taunting. Daring.

He felt it in his chest. That hot, low pull in his stomach. Fuck.

Marlene turned back to the blok, her expression changed, her grin turning into polite smile. She said something that made him step back. Then she picked up her drink, took a slow sip and send another glance his way. She bit her lower lip, the sight making him feel hot inside, and frowned uncertainly for just a moment.

And then she turned and walked toward the boy’s staircase. Which wasn’t something unusual in Gryffindor’s common room. Even Evans was in their dorms once or twice when she needed to discuss something with Remus urgently (James’ face was priceless each time).

Sirius shoved his drink into someone’s hand, ignored James shouting something at him, and followed.

Marlene was by Remus’ bed, perched casually on the windowsill like she belonged there. One leg pulled up, one dangling, her drink half-finished in her hand. The moonlight slipped through the glass and painted silver across her bare knee.

She looked up when he entered but didn’t say anything.

“What, party not exciting enough for you?”

Marlene raised an eyebrow. “I could ask you the same.”

Sirius didn’t answer right away. He just walked further into the room, slow and unbothered, like this was casual. Like he hadn’t just left behind half the common room mid-sentence because she looked at him like that. Again.

He stopped a few steps away, eyes on her. “I just got a feeling it was getting boring without me.”

Marlene gave a crooked smile and took another sip from her drink. “Please. Don’t flatter yourself.”

“No, seriously. It looked like your friend over there couldn’t keep you entertained.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “ He entertained me just fine, don’t you worry.”

Sirius couldn’t help but watch how she pressed her lips to the rim of the glass, not drinking it.

“Didn’t seem like it.”

“Jealousy’s not good look at you, Sirius,” she said, smiling playfully. He felt heat creeping up to his face.

“I’m not jealous,” he frowned, stepping in front of her. She tilted her head back to look at him, her golden hair falling to her shoulders, exposing her neck. His mouth went dry all of the sudden.

She stilled when he reached up, brushing a curl behind her ear. He felt her hot breath on the skin of his wrist, and couldn’t help the burning desire to feel it with his mouth next.

“How long are we gonna do this?” he asked, moving his hand under her chin. His thumb brushed over her check, feeling how warm it was under his touch.

“Do what?” she said, putting her drink aside. She didn’t shy away from him and that was one of the things that he truly loved about Marlene—she never backed down from any challenges.

“You know exactly what,” at this point this whole conversation was meaningless because the tension between them was impossible to ignore.

For a second, a flash of panic surged through him — was he really going to cross this line and risk ruining their friendship? He could still back off, pretend none of this had happened. They were both good at ignoring things, after all.

Sirius had spent most of his life drowning in the silence of that cold house, clinging to his brother as the only light in it. Coming to Hogwarts had taken both from him — the loneliness, and Regulus. A part of him would always mourn the loss of Reggie. But in return, he’d gained something else: people who, somehow, managed to soothe the wounds he carried.

He wasn’t the most open person, not with the things that mattered, but he loved his friends ferociously, with everything he had. And Marlene was one of them. She had been, ever since she and her brother smiled at him that first night — the moment he sat down at the Gryffindor table, while everyone else was still too stunned to react. Was he really ready to throw it away just for… what exactly? For a potentially good shag?

But then she stood up and they were so close, he could see rare freckles on her nose, and he met her stormy eyes that were watching him stubbornly. Why was he the only one worrying about it? It wasn’t like Marlene was innocent—she was teasing him this whole time. And yes, she probably didn’t cling to their friendship as much as he did, but she did care at least a little, right? Even if things got awkward it won’t be all on him.

“So,” he said, his voice suddenly hoarse. His palm was still resting on the side of her neck. “What are we gonna do about this?”

“What indeed,” she whispers, her eyes flickering to his lips. She didn’t move.

“Merlin, you’re bloody annoying,” he said and finally, finally, kissed her.

Now, contrary to popular belief Sirius wasn’t the type to sleep around. He had slept with two different girls, like, twice. Snogging was another thing—he had snogged a lot of girls, a lot of times. It was fun and it felt nice, and he was a teenage boy after all. So, yeah, snogging was fine. But sleeping with someone was another thing. It was nice, yes, he certainly enjoyed himself. But it also made him feel strangely vulnerable sometimes—baring his body to someone and turning off his mind was not something he was comfortable with. He supposed this was another fucked up thing that his dear parents left him. Whatever.

So, yeah kissing was fine. Kissing Marlene McKinnon, especially after spending weeks circling around each other, was more than fine.

The scent of cinnamon filled his nose immediately, and he could taste the firewickey on her lips. Hot wave of desire crashed into him, making shiver run down his spine. He was taller then Marlene, so she was forced to tilt her head and his hand was still laying in the side of her neck, his thumb circling her jawline. One of her hands found his wrist, nails digging into the skin, the other clenched on his shirt.

Sirius really preferred snogging, but his insides were on fire and he really wanted to learn what kind of noises he could make her made.

She slowly pulled away, and when he opened his eyes, still dizzy from the kiss, she was looking at him, her pretty, pretty eyes watching him intensely, while her fingers reached to his waistband, pausing uncertainly. His heart swelled inside his chest, full of affection.

Sirius pulled her closer, palm resting on her hip, lower than it was appropriate, and moved them towards the nearest bed. He was tempt to just press her to the wall behind really but not the first time. Marlene deserved better from him. Maybe next time. He really hoped there was gonna be the next time.

For now, he just set on Jame’s bed—which he was never going to find out—and pulled her closer, not breaking the eye contact. He inhaled sharply as she straddled him, the heat of her thighs grazing his, setting something alight deep in his gut.

“We can stop,” he murmured but his fingers tightened on her waist.

“Shut up,” she replied, like he was stupidest person ever, and kissed him again, and all the thoughts were out of his head, when her tongue slipped past his lips.

Yeah, well. He could be pretty stupid sometimes.

When she pulled away from him he wanted to protest, but it quickly died in his throat the moment her mouth moved under his jaw, leaving soft kisses on his burning skin. Sirius exhaled shakily, jaw clenched as her lips brushed the sensitive spot beneath his ear. His hands slid under her thighs, anchoring her to him like she might vanish if he didn’t hold tight.

Marlene pulled back just enough to look at him, her lips parted, flushed and breathless. Her fingers curled in the fabric of his shirt near his chest. Her expression was uncharacteristically soft but here eyes were burning with hunger. He was sure they were mirroring his own.

He missed the moment their shirts went to the floor. Sirius took a moment to look at her—all hot and flushed in his arms, a few of her curls brushing just above the curves of her breasts. She was watching him just as closely. Her fingers brushed over his chest, light and exploratory, as though she were trying to find something written beneath his skin.

The air between them was charged not with the tension but also something more intimate. This is the reason he was careful with sleeping around. If Marlene moved her hand a little further towards his back, she would touch one of his scars—the one that was not old enough to faded. Her eyes were already on the one under his ribs, this one was pale enough not to notice if you are not paying close attention. But she was. She always did.

When she looked at him there was no pity in her eyes, but her hunger softened. He shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to ruin the mood, but Marlene—as if reading his mind—moved her fingers to his jaw, pulling his face closer.

When he kissed her again, it was slower. He leaned back on James’s bed — sorry, mate — and pulled her with him, her legs still straddling his hips. The moment stretched, breathless, warm, and Sirius felt every detail: her thighs pressed around him, the steady roll of her hips, the way her lips parted against his mouth when his hands slipped to her lower back, pulling her flush against him.

She rocked into him deliberately, just once, and Sirius groaned, low and helpless. His hips jerked up instinctively and Marlene gasped, surprised, her nails dug into his shoulders, grounding herself — grounding them — and it was almost too much. And still not enough.

“Bloody hell, woman,” he said and she let out a short, breathless laugh.

She shivered under his fingertips.

He grins, thinking about all the ways he was gonna make her come tonight. And then, after… they’d talk.

Because there is no way he was throwing away what they built during these six years.

he’s tall as shit, has been since fifth year when he got his growth spurt, and he has tendency to loom over most people.

there’s also the matter of his poker face—it’s impeccable, untouchable. can make anyone feel like him stuck to the bottom of his shoe. he learnt it from the best in house black and it’s his default. there’s a reason people are afraid of approaching him, and are slightly awed by james’ ability to unconditionally do so at all times.

his magic is ridiculously sentient. it swirls around him at all times, often feeling suffocating to those near him. he doesn’t even notice how it swells with his emotions, rising in his defence without him having to call it. at times, it can feel like a brick wall, that’s how powerful it is. and it’s cold. people have been known to shiver and turn into metaphorical icicles around him.

and he’s also just intimidating in a—social capital way ykno? so much money, training, and status. it shows. he could be dressed in a potato sack and he’d still reek of royalty. which is essentially what the blacks are.