Calling It Quits // Marlene & Sirius {March 3, 1979}
Sirius was grateful for the fact that the workday was over. He took his time as he made his way back from the head of the department’s office, glancing around at the corridors and training rooms that he’d walked through for more than half a year. Sirius never thought he’d make the decision to never return again, but the circumstances just called for it. The time had come for Sirius to quit his career pursuits and surrender himself to the cause. He had to do all he could so that what happened more than a week ago with James and him would never happen again.
When he arrived to his office, he wore a somber expression. His face didn’t look like it did, at first: the cut from the Death Eater’s knife had left its mark, two faint lines at both ends of his mouth that made it look like he was smirking. The Healers said all trace of it would be gone in a week. Sirius stared around dully at his desk and chair before sighing. He conjured a cardboard box and began the task of pulling down what he had hung up: a motorcycle calendar, school photos, the photo of James and Lily’s wedding, and one he had of himself and Andromeda.
Training was always exhausting and then having to do the required desk work only made Marlene more tired. She was sitting at her desk twirling her quill between her fingers as she struggled to motivate herself to do the work in front of her. She only had a little to do before she could go home but it required the energy she did not have to do it. Out of the corner of her eyes, she spotted Sirius making his way in and her brow wrinkled. His demeanor seemed off. While he seemed his usual self, the way he held himself was different. She didn't see the Sirius Black she had come to know over the years and from where Marlene was sitting, she couldn't tell what was going on.
As soon as she saw him conjure a cardboard box, Marlene pushed herself to her feet and made her way towards him. "Hey," she murmured softly. "is everything okay," she asked curiously.
