#blackinnonweek

Marlene McKinnon and Sirius Black

☆ Blackinnon Week 2021 • Day Two: Soulmates

▪︎The last words your soulmate ever says to you are tattooed on your wrist.

Do not repost.

Monday 13th “Rumor has it I make you nervous”

Word Count 1070, Can also be read on AO3 @ inthemiddle2

Marlene was standing alone in the old transfiguration classroom. It was one of her favorite classroom, even in the dark of night the big windows allowed the moon to shine in, lighting most of the room. She was standing by the window looking out enjoying her alone time. She had been in her own head too much these past few days, she wanted to be alone.

“Nice night.”

Marlene jumped at the voice that came from right behind her ear. She whirled around to smack Sirius in the chest, “Merlin you scared me!”

Sirius grabbed the hand as it went to strike again, “Odd I hadn’t heard scared but rumor has it I make you nervous.”

Story Update! FFN and AO3

2nd story for Blackinnon Week!

Germane

Sirius slid onto the bench in the Great Hall and laughed as James immediately called for the pumpkin juice and filled Sirius' goblet and Remus and Peter started filling his plate with all his favorites. This one day, his mates did everything to make him feel appreciated, this one day, a day he had dreaded for the first eleven years of his life, had taken a turn when he found himself in the friendship of these three young men.

They knew him well too. They didn't broadcast it to the school, didn't cheer him out at the table the way they did with James, didn't change all the Gryffindor banners to read out his name as they did with Peter, or charm chocolate bars to follow him to every class as they did every year for Remus. No, for Sirius they simply did little things to make sure he knew they remembered, that at least they were pleased he'd made his way to this planet, had survived to this day, that he was wanted here, with them.

"Happy birthday, Black," Marlene sat down next to him and slipped a small package into his hand.

Sirius gawked at her. "You know it's my birthday?"

"Of course I know it's your birthday." She tossed her hair over her shoulder and began filling up her own plate.

"Who told you?" He looked accusingly at James who held up his hands in surrender and shook his head.

"I've known your birthday since first year, Sirius," Marlene poured pumpkin juice in her goblet. "It wasn't hard to figure out, the lads here are pretty good at not making a big deal of it, but I guessed it had to be your birthday with how they behaved and you lot have spent six years proving me right."

Sirius turned back to her, trying to decide how he felt about Marlene not only knowing his birthday but how she made a point of saying it aloud at the breakfast table for all their friends and housemates to hear.

"Aren't you going to open your gift?" She smirked, her blue eyes challenging him.

Sirius held her gaze for a moment before deciding that he'd let his curiosity win out. He'd always told the lads not to get him gifts, that he didn't want anything. It would take him years to realize it was the feeling of family, belonging, that he wanted more than any gift. But Marlene had got him a gift, a gift he hadn't expected.

The twine and simple brown paper fell away quickly, revealing a compass.

"It's for your bike," her voice quavered ever so slightly. "And it's charmed, so you can set destinations and the compass will point you to anywhere you've set."

Sirius turned to her, his mouth suddenly dry and his throat feeling thick and heavy. "Thanks, McKinnon."

Marlene's smile went soft, the way it did when they would read her motorcycle magazines together.

"Course."

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Sirius Black/Marlene McKinnon Characters: Sirius Black, Marlene McKinnon Additional Tags: Blackinnon Week 2021, Domestic Fluff Summary:

Blackinnon Week 2021 - Day Two - Soulmate

You can also read this story on FFN

Last picture

Two figures materialize at the southern end of Diagon Alley, in front of a trinket shop that neither of them has ever bothered to enter. They do not attract anyone's attention, it is usual for wizards in a hurry who want to avoid going through Muggle London to appear in that place, one of the less crowded in the area.

The shorter figure walks to the large window of the shop. She looks at herself in the glass, the tousled brown fringe and wrinkled nose in disapproving expression. She tries to comb her hair as she turns to her companion.

"Are you serious? Did you drag me from the door of Caradoc's house to come to Diagon Alley?"

The boy, a head taller than her, stands next to her and runs his hand through his hair looking at his reflection in the same glass.

“Of course I am” He smiles cheekily. "It was a routine meeting, Marlene. Reports of the last missions, in which we participated. Nothing we don't already know”

He turns to look at her and winks.

“Besides, there is something more important that I have to do today”

She doesn't remember, but few days ago, she gave him the perfect idea for Harry's birthday present. He had been searching for an ideal gift for three months, until she told him about the launch of a new line of children's brooms.

A toy flying broom fits the profile of what Sirius was looking for: something fun and rebellious that allows him to get on Lily's nerves. That is the reason that has led them to Quality Quidditch Supplies. That day is the launch of the new Shooting Star 3000 toy broom and Sirius is willing to get one before they are sold out, he will spare no expense.

Sirius offers his arm, in a formal gesture he only does when he's in good mood and flirty. He smiles seductive. Marlene rolls her eyes, but accepts the gesture and puts her arm around him. The corners of her lips betray her and curl upward. They start their way to the store. As they get closer, the number of people in the alley multiplies to become a large crowd at the doors of the premises.

"It will take hours for the queue to advance," the girl complains as she receives shoves and tries to find a clerk in the crowd, "that if the brooms don't run out first.

Sirius finds a shortcut.

"Hey boy!"

A boy his own age in a blue robe with red edges approaches obediently.

“Yes sir?”

"How long is the waiting list for the Shooting Star 3000?"

"Well ... they'll probably be sold out before half the people here can be served."

Then Sirius does something that surprises Marlene and the store clerk: he puts one arm around the girl's shoulders and places his other hand on her belly. She fixes her expression immediately, understanding Sirius's plan.

"The child will be born in five months." He reads the name written in the pin of the boy's tunic. "I'm sure you could do an excited couple of future parents a great favor, Marius."

Marius stares at Marlene's flat stomach in disbelief, then moves on to her hair, Stevie Nicks styled, which gives her a bohemian look. She smiles at him sweetly. The boy then notices Sirius's shirt that says "The Who", with an arrow sticking out of the 'o'. They definitely don't fall into the stereotype of responsible future parents. It was probably an oversight by the young couple, but neither seems displeased with the idea.

To finish convincing him, Sirius takes out a generous amount of money and shows it to him. That ends up dispelling his doubts.

Moments later, Sirius Black walks out of the store with an elongated package and a childish smile. Marlene comes out laughing next to him. They have gotten away with it.

"Do you know what else you should do?"

When he turns his head toward her with interest, she continues.

"Instead of giving him the broom wrapped in that bland brown paper, you could wrap it like Muggles do, with what they call wrapping paper."

Sirius takes the advice, leaves the toy broom at The Leaky Cauldron and they head out the front door onto Charing Cross Street. Sirius has visited the Muggle world several times, but to attend concerts or visit music stores and bars. He has rarely been to large shopping malls or gift shops. He definitely has no idea where he can get the paper that Marlene mentioned. He is guided by her to a large building through which people enter and leave all the time.

"I once came with Lily and Mary to find a gift for James." She explains as they walk through the large doors of the mall.

They don't take long to get to the place they are looking for; but they do take a long time to wait for Sirius to choose the layout of the paper. Marlene, tired and bored, goes out window shopping while Sirius finishes making up his mind. As she turns to retrace her steps, she spots a photo booth out of the corner of her eye. A beaming smile spreads across her face as she quickens her pace to return to Black.

.

"You just stepped on me!"

"If you would just stop moving around so much, I might be able to accommodate myself fine."

Finally, they stop being a jumble of legs and arms, and manage to sit in front of the camera.

"When the count hits zero, they'll take four pictures of us, okay?"

Sirius nods inattentive, he's more interested in understanding how the machine will take four photos of them and deliver them to him as soon as they come out without using magic.

"The muggles’ ingenuity never ceases to amaze me." he says, his brow still furrowed when the first flash blinds him.

Marlene laughs with amusement.

"Relax your expression and smile for the next one. Remember that these photos have no movement."

Then, he shows that smile with which he used to melt hearts at Hogwarts. The flash illuminates them again. She turns to look at him and adjusts a rebellious lock that fell over his left eye. Sirius looks her square in the eye and smiles at her, mischievous and genuine. Both are lost in the gaze of the other and everything else disappears. The cabin lights up with the last flash.

The session is over.

When they go out, Sirius expects the photos to appear in his hands, as they would if it were a magical photo booth. Marlene scoffs at his ignorance once more and sticks her hand in the groove. She hands the boy two strips with four photos each.

He examines them, detailing box by box. He smiles at his own confused expression on the first and Marlene teasing on the next. His face turns serious with the last one, a photo that portrays the complicity and intimacy between them both. A photo that could turn against them if it falls into the wrong hands.

"Take them yourself."

Marlene looks at him confused. He explains, all trace of joy has disappeared from his face.

"There is… I think there is a traitor in the Order. If someone sees me with these photos... no one can know about us.”

She nods and receives them. She caresses his cheek lovingly, understanding how worried he is.

"They'll be under the loose tile on the ceiling of my room, okay?"

He nods. He knows which tile she means; they've kept things there before.

.

Thirteen years later, a large black dog enters the McKinnons' abandoned house. Inside, safe from prying eyes, he transforms into a slim man with a dirty and unkempt appearance.

Sirius has returned to London as soon as he learned that Harry's scar had hurt again. He takes advantage of his return to recover memories buried under the tile of the last room to the right of the second floor, Marlene McKinnon's room.

He holds his breath as he searches for the tile. Contrary to what he expects, the tile is still there. Still after more than a decade.

Marlene and Sirius had been ‘just friends’ for a while. ‘Just friends’ who like to spend a lot of nights together. ‘Just friends’ who sneak into each others beds and ‘just friends’ who even sneak away from the rest of the group to snog while everyone else is sleeping. Sometimes their friends would catch them cuddled up and they would always say they were ‘just friends.’ They were not sure if their friends believed them, but they had no reason not to. No one had ever seen them kissing, they never spoke about it, and occasionally they even went out with others. Because even when it was just the two of them they told one another that they were ‘just friends.’

It was Marlene who would see others mostly. If she got asked out, she would say yes, sometimes going on a few dates with one person before breaking it off and claiming they just were not interesting. How could they be compared to the one and only Sirius Black? Sirius did not date much since things evolved between him and Marlene. He had one date with a girl that he didn’t even finish. But he was busy between his friends, the full moons, living with James and his night time shenanigans with Marlene. It didn’t bother him when Marlene went out with others, they never claimed to be exclusive. But even more importantly, he was pretty sure that she would always come back to him.

However, the last two weeks of summer vacation, he did not hear from her. When he saw her at Platform 9 3/4, he strutted confidently over and reached around her shoulder to say hi. To his shock, she took a step away from him and another boy beside her narrowed his eyes, “What’re you doing mate?” He asked Sirius.

“I was just trying to say hi to my friend. Who are you?”

“You can do that without your hands,” he said, his own arm wrapping around Marlene protectively. “It’s Sanderson.” His hand extended forward to Sirius.

“You’re in Slytherin aren’t you?” He asked recognizing the student. He was in his seventh year while Sirius and Marlene were still in sixth. “I didn’t realize you and McKinnon here...?”

“Ran into her a month ago and seen her every day since, lucky guy, aren’t I?” He grinned and Marlene smiled back to Sanderson before looking guiltily at Sirius.

“Huh, interesting. I didn’t hear anything when I saw you two weeks ago but... I guess we aren’t as good friends as I thought,” Sirius said bitterly to Marlene. He wasn’t sure why he was so angry about it, they were ‘just friends’ after all, but he felt the rage build inside of him.

“Well you know now,” Sanderson answered, before pushing past Sirius and leading Marlene onto the train.

James came up behind Sirius, “She’s dating a Slytherin?”

“Can you believe it?!” Sirius exploded.

“Well, I suppose she’s worked her way through the decent Hufflepuff’s and Ravenclaw’s already,” James joked harmlessly, but Sirius punched his arm.

“She’s our mate, don’t talk about her like that.”

“Alright, so she’s dating a Slytherin? As long as she doesn’t go easy on him in Quidditch I don’t see the harm. Let’s get a compartment before they fill up!”

Sirius followed James onto the train but was still flabbergasted about the whole thing. Marlene and that Sanderson kid. What was she thinking? And why didn’t she say anything two weeks ago when she climbed through his bedroom window and spent the night naked in his arms. He slammed the compartment door shut when they found an empty one and sat down, immediately crossing his arms and letting out an angry huff.

“This still about McKinnon? Did I miss something?” James asked, looking out the window to see if Remus or Peter were anywhere around.

“Yeah, she’s just. Why wouldn’t she have said anything? She disappears for two weeks and comes back on the arm of a Slytherin. What’s she thinking! Whoring herself out to the enemy like that!”

“She can whore herself out to whoever she wants, I don’t see the big deal.”

“Don’t call her that!” Sirius snapped, leaving James very confused of what he could or could not say. “I just don’t get it. Why didn’t she tell us, we’re her friends aren’t we?”

“Wait- two weeks?” James asked, catching on to what Sirius said earlier. You’re loosing it mate, summer break was two months, not two weeks.”

“Yeah, but when she came over two weeks ago she could have said something,” Sirius said frustrated that James wasn’t keeping up.

“She never came over,” James said quietly, very lost in what was going on, “Oh there they are!” He stood up and opened up the door calling Remus and Peter over. They joined their friends inside and the three of them instantly started catching up.

Sirius didn’t even notice the conversation though, suddenly he piped up again, unaware that he was even interrupting them, “Since when can I note give a friend a hug in greeting?!”

“Oh, sorry,” Peter said shamefully and went to hug Sirius.

“Get off me!” Sirius shoved him aside, “Not you, moron.”

“Pads, what has gotten into you?!” James asked a little more firmly, then looked to Peter and Remus, “Sorry guys, he’s all worked up about McKinnon dating a Slytherin.”

Remus chuckled, “Of course he is.”

“I hate Slytherin too, but I don’t see the issue, she’s always dated around a lot.” James said.

“Stop insulting her, it’s her body she can do what she wants,” Sirius hissed.

Dropping his head into his hands, James shook it, “What the hell, I didn’t even insult her.”

“You were implying that she’s a slut again.” Sirius bit back.

“After you said she’s whoring yourself around,” James tried to defend himself.

Sirius wasn’t having it, “My point it, she can do what she want I just don’t get what’s so special about that Sanderson kid that she couldn’t have at least told me that they were dating. Or us. Any of us. We are all friends.

“Just friends right?” Remus said with a small smirk.

Peter laughed too, “This is what you were telling me about Moony. He does have a crush!”

“I do not!” Sirius snapped loudly, standing up and glaring at all three of his friends. “Why do none of you care that this guy is controlling her. It’s not right, it’s not feminist, we should all care more.”

“You a feminist now, Padfoot?” James asked and nearly joined in on the laugh, but then caught Sirius’ eye. “Seriously, what’s going on?”

“I just don’t get it,” Sirius repeated. “They’ve been dating for a month? Then what the hell was she doing in my bed two weeks ago acting as if everything was the same. Sure we were just friends but she could have said something. Is she sleeping with him?!” Remus, James and Peter starred. "What the hell are you all looking at me like that for?!”

“She was in your bed?” James asked.

Sirius realized what he had said, “I- no. We’re just friends.” Just then she saw Marlene’s figure outside their compartment and his shoulders dropped, he slid the door open much more aggressively than he meant to. “What do you want McKinnon?”

“Can we talk?” Marlene asked him.

“Talk.”

“Alone?”

Exhaling loudly, Sirius looked at his friends, then at Marlene, then down the train, “Where’s your boyfriend?”

“Please?” Marlene said again, “Can we talk, alone.”

“Is this about the fact that you’re sleeping together?” James interjected.

Sirius glared and Marlene looked shocked. “You told them?”

"I didn’t mean to. Plus we’re just friends anyway.”

“I wanted to tell Mary last year when this all started and I kept my mouth shut because you wanted to be ‘just friends’ and then you go ahead blabbing as soon as I get an actual boyfriend?”

“Last year?!” James repeated shocked.

Sirius ignored James, “He’s a Slytherin.”

“So?” Marlene questioned.

“So... You shouldn’t date him.”

“Why?!” Marlene was shouting now.

Sirius chewed the inside of his cheek. He didn’t know why. They were friends, she could date whoever she wanted so why was this bothering him so much. There was only one real reason. It was because he didn’t want to be ‘just friends’ anymore. He wanted her to himself. He missed her every day of those two weeks that she didn’t come by to see him. He was so excited when he saw her, he couldn’t keep his hands off of her. He wanted her in his arms right now, he wanted to kiss her in front of all his friends, and her friends. He was tired of the pretence of being ‘just friends’ when that’s not what they were. Sirius Black was falling in love with Marlene McKinnon and he wanted the world to know it. All these thoughts raced through his mind in a matter of seconds, and he acted on impulse more than anything else. His arms wrapped tightly around her and he drew her close to him, his lips collided with hers. It was comfortable and familiar but something all new at the same time. There had never been so much passion and feeling between their kisses. But he wanted her to know exactly how he felt without having to explain it. His hands stayed around her waist, keeping her body right up against his, his tongue parted her lips and slipped into her mouth, exploring meaningfully, conveying his deepest thoughts while their kiss heated up and he ended up pushing her against the compartment behind them. James watched in shock while Remus looked away and Peter looked everywhere at once. Marlene relaxed into his arms and her fingers played with the back of his hair. Their kiss felt as if it was never going to end. Finally Lily Evans walked by and cleared her throat loudly. They were forced to pull apart.

“Can I get through here?” She asked them both, brows raised high. Marlene flushed pink and Sirius wore a triumphant smile. “This certainly explains where Marlene goes every night.” She then looked at James, “Don’t get any ideas, if you kiss me without permission, I’ll castrate you.”

“I love it when you talk dirty,” James joked, but he crossed his legs as he said so. “Can I kiss you with permission?”

“Only if you take me out first.” Lily answered before looking to Remus, “I was looking for you, we’re suppose to be in some sort of meeting, come on.”

James starred after Lily in disbelief as Remus stood up to follow her to the prefects compartment, “Wait, Lily wait. Evans!” She turned and he asked, “Can I- Can I take you out then?”

“I’m busy right now, maybe over the weekend,” she shouted back to him and James cheered loudly, since that was the closest to a yes he had ever gotten. He turned to make sure Sirius heard but when he wasn’t there he looked at Peter.

“Marlene and Sirius went that way,” he pointed down the train and sure enough James heard giggling from both of them as they looked for an empty compartment.

Shaking his head, James took his seat once again. Sirius and Marlene were an item now. And he was going to get Lily to go out with him this weekend, she had practically promised. “This is going to be a lonely year for you, Wormtail.”

Adhara Mckinnon-Black Aesthetic

“I might be a Black, but deep down I am still my mother’s daughter” - Adhara