A/n: Another early chapter bcuz I love you all :)

Sirius didn't say anything.

"Talk already, the snack table's waiting for me," said Marlene impatiently.

"I wanna apologize."

"Oh?" Marlene raised her eyebrows. "Well, go on."

Sirius breathed in sharply, not meeting her eyes. "Danny talked to me yesterday- he told me what he was telling you that day."

Marlene pursed her lips. "That was nice of him to say. But then again," she continued with a sigh. "Knowing you, you probably didn't believe him, thinking it was an excuse or something stupid like that."

Sirius nodded slightly. "You're- you're right. That's what I told him. He looked pretty sad, but I just ignored him like the right git I am."

Marlene didn't say anything, waiting for him to continue.

"Lana Anderson was talking to me today," said Sirius. "And she told me- well- kinda forced me in a kind way, I guess- to come talk to you."

Marlene nodded slowly. "And...?"

"I'm sorry for not believing you," said Sirius, once again not looking at her. "I just wanna know why you didn't tell me the truth."

Marlene's face softened. "I didn't tell you because I couldn't invade Danny's privacy like that. He was spilling his heart out to me, telling me everything about his life." She sighed. "He chose to tell me because Danny said that I was kind and understanding to him. He felt that I would understand."

She looked up at Sirius. "Now do you get it? Do you even believe me this time?"

Sirius nodded, finally looking up to her face. "I didn't really believe you until Lana decided to make me see some sense."

Marlene grinned. "I'll be thanking Lana for knocking some sense into you, then."

Sirius had missed that goofy grin very dearly.

"But..." said Marlene, dropping the grin from her face. "Why'd you think I was lying?"

Sirius looked deeply into her curious blue eyes. "Because-"

"OH HELGA HUFFLEPUFF JUST TELL HER ALREADY!" screeched the loud voice of Lana Anderson from outside the locked door.

"THANK YOU FOR THAT HIGHLY INSPIRING SPEECH, LANA!" Sirius screeched back.

Marlene snickered as she heard Lana stomping away, but not before one last, "YOU BETTER, BECAUSE BLACKINNON IS MY OTP!!"

Marlene turned to Sirius, who was rubbing his temple in annoyance. "Go on- I think Lana'll slap you later if you don't say anything."

Sirius looked once again into her eyes. "It was because I got a little jealous, I suppose."

Marlene's cheeks puffed up like she was trying to hold something in. Her face looked like she was horribly constipated.

"Are you alright?" asked Sirius worriedly.

Suddenly, Marlene let go of her clenched face and burst out in laughter. "Oh- giggle- my goodness- snort- Sirius! It takes you two weeks to find out but 3 seconds for me? Of course you were jealous! I definitely was when I saw that flirty Ravenclaw boy using a couple of pick-up lines on you."

Sirius scrunched up his eyebrows. "So you're not mad at me?"

"Heck yeah, I'm mad at you," said Marlene with a wide grin. "But I can try to forgive you."

Sirius smiled slightly. 

Marlene spread out her arms. "Get in here. You look like you need a hug."

Sirius laughed. "I honestly do."

Marlene walked over to Sirius and engulfed him in a tight hug. 

Sirius hugged her back tightly. "Am I forgiven for being a stupid, arrogant, git?"

Marlene chuckled. "You're forgiven for being a stupid, arrogant, git."

The two smiled into the hug. 

"Since I haven't gotten to do this," said Sirius, clearing his throat and releasing himself from the hug. "I'm now gonna do it."

"Er... okay?" said Marlene, confused as to what he was asking.

"Marlene Pearl McKinnon, will you accompany me to the dance?" asked Sirius hopefully. "You can ditch the snack table."

"Oh Sirius," sighed Marlene. "The poor snack table'll be so sad."

"So is that a yes?"

Marlene slapped Sirius' arm playfully. "Yes, it's a yes, you dolt."

"So sweet," said Sirius, shaking his head. "Let's go, then."

As they walked back to Slughorn's office for the dance, Marlene glanced at Sirius' glad face.

"I see you're happy," she said teasingly.

"Of course I am," said Sirius with a grin. "I'm finally talking to you again. Better than James, Remus, and Peter white-noising me out when I started to rant about my love life."

Marlene chuckled. "At least Lily and Alice tried their best to be kind while white-noising ME out."

Sirius laughed with her.

As they both entered the dance floor, Sirius stood there awkwardly next to Marlene.

"Come on, then," she said with a smile. 

"I- er...."

"You don't know how to dance, do you?" said Marlene with a warm smile. "Come on, I'll show you."

A/n: thanks for reading! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.

Thank you all so much for these reads! :)

Love, Jui Weasley