Accio True Love
One-shot. 2k. Marauder Era Harry Potter. I do not own any of these characters. Blackinnon with a little Jily.
It’s fall of seventh year, the morning of the first Quidditch match of the season. Hufflepuff vs. Gryffindor. Marlene struggles with love after seeing James and Lily together. She takes things into her own hands with a very simple spell, successfully making things very complicated for herself.
Marlene was sitting crosslegged at the foot of Lily’s bed in the girls dorm. Lily was laying on her stomach facing her, but reading a novel.
“Lily, do you believe in true love?”
Lily rolled over and let her head hang upside down off the mattress. “Oh I don’t know Mar, but I’m quite in love with James, so if it is real, then he’s mine.”
“But did you know at first? That you would love him?” Marlene asked.
Lily laughed. “Absolutely not. Love was just about the last thing I felt when I started hexing him fourth year. What makes you ask Mar?” she said curiously. Marlene was hardly known for serious conversations, and even upside down Lily could see the defeated hunch in her shoulders.
Marlene shrugged. “You just seem so happy with James. I’ve dated a few guys, but I’ve never felt anything with them before. All those butterflies-in-your-stomach light-as-air feelings everyone always talks about, I’ve never had them.”
“Marlene, you have a long life left to live and a lot of boys to meet. You can hardly expect to find your true love right under your nose at school.” Lily said, smiling.
“But you did.” Marlene said in a low voice, looking down at the floor.
Lily sensed the sullenness in her usually vivacious best mate. She crawled off the bed and sat next to her. “Marlene, everybody finds the right person for them at different times. I just happened to find mine early on, and it’s worth noting that James was literally under my nose when he asked me out. His head was on my lap.” Lily said, smiling and nudging Marlene’s chin with her knuckle. Marlene looked up and gave her a half smile, grateful that her best friend could cheer her up.
“Mar,” said Lily. “If I could give you a spell to help you summon your true love, I would.” Marlene eyes widened and some of the life came back to her expression.
“But Lily,” Marlene said excitedly. “That’s it! I could just summon him. Accio true love!”
“No, Marlene-“ Lily started.
“Yes Lily!” Marlene said, smiling maniacally and grabbing Lily’s shoulders. “It will work. I know it will. Let’s go try now, while everyone’s leaving breakfast!”
Lily rolled her eyes, knowing that nothing she said could stop her blonde-haired friend from letting something go once she got it in her head. And, she had to admit, she was curious herself.
Marlene jumped to her feet and yanked Lily all the way down to the Great Hall. The tables had just been cleared, and the majority of students were standing outside the doors talking to their friends. As Lily was trying to catch her breath, Marlene closed her eyes and concentrated on love, on those butterflies-in-your-stomach light-as-air feelings as she pointed her wand at the great crowd of people and whispered “Accio true love!”
There were many shrieks and gasps as all of a sudden, someone was knocked to the ground and Amos Diggory came flying toward Marlene, only to be blocked by Bertha Jorkins. Amos fell on Bertha, and stood up, brushing himself off, holding out a hand to help Bertha up. Marlene stared, open-mouthed at the pink-faced, buttery boy in front of her, who was attentively conversing was Bertha now. Bertha was laughing and Amos put his arm around her and led her out of the Great Hall. Lily gave a side-long glance at Marlene, who swiftly turned on her heel and ran back up to the common room. Lily turned to go after her when a hand caught her arm.
“Morning Evans.” said James in his Quidditch robes, smirking and staring intensely into her very green eyes. He grabbed her waist with one hand and tucked her hair behind her ear with the other. "Ready for the victory celebration in the common room tonight?”
Lily rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. “You haven’t even won yet, dunce. I wish I could stay, but I have to go find Marlene. Good luck today!” She planted a quick kiss on his cheek and ran away.
James was left staring at the spot where Lily had been standing, trying to figure out what had just happened. Sirius came up next to him rubbing his jawing and wincing. “Who the hell tries to summon a person?” he said.
James laughed. “Ah, you’re just angry about the damage done to that pretty little face of yours Pads.”
“I can’t deny it.” Sirius said haughtily. He tilted his head and posed provocatively. “I am stunningly attractive.”
***
Lily clambered through the port-hole to find Marlene pacing around the otherwise empty common room. Everybody had gone down to the pitch already, everybody except Marlene and Lily.
“So…” Lily said, trying to gauge Marlene’s reaction.
“What do I do now?” said Marlene, who seemed rather panicky. “I’m in love with the biggest bloke in school and I just sparked a flame between him and Jorkins. How do I get him back Lils?” Marlene pleaded.
“Woah Marlene, just because some touchy spell sent Amos flying at you, doesn’t mean you’re in love with him.” Lily said calmly. “We don’t even know if that spell worked. And if it did, that doesn’t make you automatically in love with Amos. You said it yourself, he’s the biggest bloke in our year. If he is your true love, you still have to fall in love with him.”
Marlene was hardly pacified by this comment. “How am I supposed to fall in love with him when he’s got his arm around Jorkins! I’ve doomed myself Lily, I really have. Destined to be with porky little Diggory! How do I get myself to fall in love with someone I hate?”
“Mar, you can’t force yourself to fall in love with anyone. That spell was faulty and you know it. You can’t let it get in your head and force you to do what you think it’s telling you to do. If you fall in love with him, do it on your own, not because of what happened today.” Lily said sternly. Marlene looked at her wanting to believe her, but Lily could tell she was too conflicted. “Come on Mar, lets go down to the pitch to get your mind off of things.”
***
In the wake of Gryffindors’ first victory of the season, the common room was full of life, save an angsty blonde girl who was downing her fourth butterbeer.
Lily had tried everything to cheer Marlene up again. Now it was time for harsh reality. “What if he’s your true love, but you’re not his? Are you still going to spend all your time pining after him?”
“Well that’s a happy thought, that is.” Marlene tipped back her bottle and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “How do I find out if I’m his true love?”
That was not the direction Lily was hoping the conversation would go. “Why don’t you get him to use the spell?” she said as she rolled her eyes.
Maybe it was the butterbeer, or maybe Marlene was delirious, but she completely ignored that sarcasm in Lily’s voice. “Yeah but won’t that look a little dodgey? ‘Hey Amos, I know I openly despise you but why don’t you ignore that and try summoning your true love for me?’ I need to get him to cast the spell without him knowing that he’s casting the spell.”
“Well you can’t do that without the imperious curse, so there goes that idea.” said Lily.
“What do you mean? That’s a great idea!” Clearly Marlene had gone off the deep end and the butterbeer was talking. "I’ll just imperious him, get him to cast the spell, and then I’ll know if I’m his true love!”
Lily glared at her. Maybe she had truly lost her mind. “You can’t do that Marlene.”
“Why not?” she challenged.
“Well it certainly doesn’t have to do with the fact that it will get you a life sentence in Azkaban and is completely because I like making life difficult for you.” Lily answered testily.
“Whose making someone’s life difficult?” an intrigued Sirius Black whispered as he leaned in to hear their conversation.
“Just Lily trying to rip me apart on the inside. Thankfully my stunning hair, face, and body are still marvelously, perfectly intact.” replied Marlene.
Sirius let out a bark-like laugh. He tilted his head ever so slightly toward Marlene, those gray eyes set right on hers. “Wouldn’t know what you’re talking about myself.” He said as he ran a hand through his hair, revealing a brilliantly colorful bruise flowering on his jaw.
Marlene met his gaze and leaned in closer to him. “Who dared to mark up your pride and glory?” She smirked.
Sirius broke the tension and pulled away, taking a seat opposite the girls. “Caught up in the Amos Diggory show this morning.” He said soberly.
Lily felt she could join the conversation now that her two friends’ little moment was over. “How? I didn’t even see you.”
“Well, I’m not quite sure how.” He responded. “Whatever that spell was, it was aimed at me. One moment I’m talking to Prongs, and the next I get pulled off my feet and knock straight into Diggory. The spell must’ve transferred over to him, leaving me to fall, rather ungracefully, and crack my jaw on the floor.” Sirius shrugged and stood up to rejoin the party.
Lily grabbed Marlene’s arm and smiled at her. “Don’t you see! Sirius is right! If he’s the one who was summoned at first then he’s your true love!” Lily was giddy with excitement, but Marlene, afraid of getting her hopes up, was wary.
Marlene tore her gaze away from Sirius’s empty seat. “But then why would the spell transfer to Amos? Accio summons objects and makes them fly around obstacles.” she told Lily.
“Yes, but you weren’t concentrating on a specific thing. The spell was already weak because you didn’t know what you were summoning. It probably jumped right to Amos when Sirius fell on him!” Lily said. Marlene eyed her, not yet ready to believe her despite how much she wanted to. “Just try the spell again.” Lily implored.
“Oh, all right.” Marlene said. Once more she closed her eyes and concentrated. Drowning out the music and the hollering around her, she filled her thoughts completely with what love must feel like and whispered “Accio true love!”
Sure enough, the black haired, leather jacket wearing boy came flying toward her, knocking them both on the floor. He caught himself with his hands on either side of her, and she was pinned to the ground underneath him. His hair tickled her cheek and she could feel the weight of his body pressed into hers. The smell of his cologne made her heart beat faster.
“So you’re the crazy bird who tried to summon me?” he laughed, completely unfazed. She looked right into those gorgeously gray eyes, at a complete loss for words as she finally felt those butterflies-in-your-stomach light-as-air feelings.
Sirius smirked. “You know love, if you’d wanted me on top of you, you could’ve just asked.”
Accio True Love (part 2)
“Don’t get me wrong, I love the surprise and the public audience, really gets me going if you know what I mean...” Sirius purred. After a blank stare from Marlene, he cocked his head, grin spreading wide over his face. “My my McKinnon, have I already rendered you speechless?”
“Only because youuu knocked the wind out of me,” she finally retorted. “Now g-get up, you’re cruushing me.”
“You’re the one who cast that spell.” He defended, getting to his feet. “What are you playing at, two of those in one day? You want me to break my nose or something?” He extended a hand, which Marlene glared at but took anyway since the butterbeer made her dizzy
“Oh no,” Marlene lied easily, “Thiss morn’n was Lily’ss crack shot. She was’n aiming for you,” Marlene slurred, nudging her eyebrows toward the armchair James was lounging in, telling some grand story to the small crowd gathered around him.
“Ahhh,” Sirius understood, “So if James was the target of this mysterious spell, it obviously summons whoever you have the most unresolved sexual tension with,” he smirked.
“Ha! Mooore like the cockiest prats in the sschool Blackk,” she slurred.
Oh this was good, Sirius thought. Now he could really have some fun with her. “Marlene...” he crooned. The way he said her name, smooth and slow and knowing, ignited a warm, floating feeling in her chest. “That butterbeer’s softened your quick witted edge love,” he started, stepping closer. “What bloke would invent a spell to bring cocky prats closer to them?” he challenged. Eyes trained on her, his face now just a breath away from hers. As she tried to back away, the alcohol pulled her just an inch too far. She shrieked and began to fall.
Sirius, expecting just this, smirked and wrapped his hands around her, catching her but not quite uprighting her just yet. His face searched hers, eyes full of amusement and confidence and... it couldn’t possibly be... desire? Marlene’s heart beat too fast, her head too foggy, that oaky smell of Sirius so close to her too much for her to concentrate. Her thoughts swam in the alcohol.
“I thinkk I’m drunkkk” was all she said as her eyes slipped out of focus and she left herself go limp in Sirius’s lovely hands. Sirius, realizing the fun was over and suddenly concerned she might throw up, helped her stand and practically lifted her onto the couch.
“What have you done,” cut Lily as Marlene slumped her head into her hands.
“Evan’s dear, I can’t help it if close proximity to me makes birds lightheaded.” he chided.
“Noo... sshhots” was all they could hear from between Marlene’s hands.
“Mar you didn’t...” Lily threatened.
“Guessing from the state of her, I think you already have the answer to that question Evan’s.” stated Sirius.
“Prat” quipped Lily. She placed her hand on Marlene’s head “How you feeling Mar?”
Marlene moaned. Yes, she was tipsy but there was a certain someone whose presence motivated her to use drunkness as an excuse for silence. What could she possibly say to him? She’s rather make a fool of herself and blame it on butterbeer than be an idiot of her own accord in front of her true love.
“How much did she drink?” asked Sirius. The playful tone dropped from his voice.
“Well four butterbeers here and however much firewhiskey she downed before the party started,” Lily said.
“Ahh, she’s either a girl after my own heart or on her way to alcoholism,” he joked.
“Sounds like both from the stories Remus tells me.” Lily rolled her eyes. Sitting next to Marlene, she placed a hand on her shoulder and said, “I didn’t even notice you were drinking while we were getting ready, and I was in the room with you the whole time. Were you trying to hide it?”
Marlene, telling a half-truth, moaned again and grumbled, “Talk laterrr.”
“Okay,” Lily sighed, “Time for bed you. Can you stand okay?”
“Evans I didn’t know you had vision loss... didn’t you just see her pass out?” Sirius gibed.
“After you nearly knocked her over! I know what you’re up to Black,” warned Lily.
“After she did knock me over... twice!” he defended.
“Toooo... loud...” came out from Marlene’s hands.
“Alright, it’s really time for bed now Mar, we need to get you upstairs.” Lily said softly.
“And how do you think you’re going to manage that?” asked Sirius.
Lily paused. She could levitate her, but with not without risk of her vomiting from the motion. So instead she said what she wasn’t going to do, “She’s not sleeping in your room, so don’t even think about suggesting it,” Lily said firmly.
Soberly and without his usual arrogance, Sirius look Lily directly in the eyes and said gently, “I have no secret intentions Lily, I know I’m not a decent person, but I would never take advantage of her.”
The glow in Marlene’s chest flickered a bit brighter.
Lily, slightly ashamed, stuttered over her reply, “I didn’t mean... you’re not...”
Sirius tilted his head, eyes downcast, and said simply, “Why don’t we just have her sleep here on the couch. The party is dwindling down anyways and then she won’t have to move and risk mucking up her stomach.”
Marlene’s stomach lurched at the thought. Realizing her lie might not be so untruthful, she leaned over until she was laying sideways on the couch.
Lily, failing to find an alternative solution and still a bit speechless in her shame, said nothing other than, “I have to do rounds tonight, I can’t stay with her down here all night.”
“I don’t mind,” offered Sirius. “Really, I’ll just sleep on the floor next to her and make sure she’s alright.”
As Lily debated her limited options, James approached, the crowd that had been around him now dispersed.
“Hey Lilys, d’you suppose we should head out on our romantic stroll through the dimly lit, private hallways?” he goaded. Seeing the state of Marlene and the tension between his girlfriend and best mate, he asked, “Everything okay here?”
Ignoring his question, Lily rolled her eyes, smiling, “James, this is our duty, not a date.” She turned her gaze back to Sirius, measuring him up. “Okay,” she said, the warning dying in her throat as she noticed the mischief drained from his eyes, a sense of care and hope replacing it.
“I’ll make sure she’s okay Lily, really,” he promised, eyes on Marlene.
“Okay,” she repeated, “I trust you.” "Mar,” she started–
“Don’t, she’s already asleep,” Sirius interrupted, hoping hearing her name wouldn’t wake her.
Lily, deciding it best to not say anything more, turned to James, shook her head at his quizzical look, and led him out of the common room and through the porthole.
As she watched James climb into the hallway, she just caught the sight of Sirius sitting on the floor next to an unconscious Marlene, brushing a strand of hair off her face.
