The bell that hung over the door of The Three Broomsticks chimed lively as a girl with honey-blond coloured hair and curious hazel eyes entered, quickly scanning the patrons for faces she knew. There were students all over the pub celebrating the last Hogsmeade trip of the school year. For Marlene McKinnon and the rest of the Seventh Years, it was their last trip as Hogwarts students.
There was a small group of broad-shouldered young men standing by the door and blocking the way into the pub. Marlene politely asked to pass, but her soft voice could barely be heard over the din of the crowd. She wished she hadn't turned down her best friend's invitation to come to the village. Martha was much more outgoing than Marlene was and she could get through this lot with no problem. However, Lily Evans, the Head Girl, had stopped her outside of the library, asking Marlene to come to The Three Broomsticks with her. Naturally, Marlene was curious as to why Lily approached her; after seven years of school together, they were hardly more than friendly acquaintances.
Marlene had felt it was time to change her life. She had been the quiet bookworm her entire time at school. She did well in her studies, kept her nose clean and, in effect, was virtually invisible to everyone. When the most popular girl in Hogwarts invited her to some kind of in-crowd party, Marlene thought it was just the thing she needed. Now, she was having second thoughts.
She tried again to excuse herself by, this time lightly tapping the shoulder of the big fellow in front of her. He turned and she sucked in a sharp breath. He towered over her petite frame and something about his deep-set eyes and brutish face made her instantly freeze. She quickly looked about and realised that she recognised these men. They were a couple of years ahead of her and had all belonged to Slytherin House while at school. The one she believed was called Travers and the other, Wilkes, closed in on either side of their large friend.
"Well, what have we here? A pretty little thing like you shouldn't be all on her own," Travers drawled. His mouth hitched up on one side but there was nothing friendly in the smile.
Yaxley, the brawny bloke, stood with his thick arms crossed against his broad chest and the other bloke, Wilkes, leaned down toward her. "Come, love. ‘ave a drink wiv us. Can't resist a coupla charmin blokes like us, yeah?" Marlene nervously looked from one face to the next - all were set.
"We insist," oozed Travers. Marlene had seen the bright red hair of Lily Evans towards the back of the pub before the men had cornered her. If she could just get them to let her pass, everything would be fine. Marlene drew herself up as tall as she could and stared back, willing her voice not to crack.
"No, thank you. I'm just on my way over to my friends, so if you will let me by -"
"Oh, I don't fink we can let ya do that. Wouldn't be friendly like if ya don't let us buy you a drink first."
Marlene felt an arm slip around her shoulder and someone slid in close behind her. Her heart began pounding against her ribs and she went stiff.
"There you are, sweetheart. I've been waiting for you."
Marlene snapped her head around at the sound of the familiar voice. Sirius Black was holding her tight, staring down Yaxley, the biggest of the men. Sirius' expression was open and friendly, but Marlene noticed the cold glint in his grey eyes that seemed to warn otherwise. She could feel the taught muscles in the arm around her and knew that however he happened to appear, Sirius was tightly coiled, ready to spring into action should the Slytherins really want some trouble.
Yaxley finally spoke. "So, this is your girl, Black? A bit of a mouse for your taste, isn't she?" He gave Marlene a seemingly amused once-over. "Of course, she doesn't come from any Pureblood family I know of, so I shouldn't be surprised, eh blood traitor?" Yaxley smirked as Sirius visibly tensed.
"Have we moved the party?" Suddenly, James Potter was standing on the other side of Sirius.
"I don't think I like the air over here -- do you, Wormtail?" Remus Lupin stepped up to Marlene's right and with Peter Pettigrew beside him, the three Slytherins were now outnumbered.
"Nah. Much too polluted over here. Let's get back to the table," Peter chimed in. Yaxley sneered as Sirius led Marlene away with the rest of the Marauders covering his back.
She had just been rescued by Sirius Black, the most handsome boy in school! Marlene watched him out of the corner of her eye. Much too soon, he dropped his hand from her shoulder and she couldn't help but mourn the loss of his touch. She finally understood what all the girls were talking about. He was still standing impossibly close to her as he turned back to the others gathered around the table in the back of the pub and she shivered at his proximity. Whatever "it" was, Sirius had it in spades and it rolled off his body in waves.
"I saw you come in and run into the welcoming committee there... erm..." He had turned back to her and his grey eyes twinkled as he grimaced awkwardly. Marlene had almost become completely entranced when she realised he was waiting for her to speak. Her heart dropped into her stomach.
"Oh!" She blushed, wishing the floor would swallow her up. "Marlene. Marlene McKinnon, and thank you," she heard herself say. He didn't even know her name!
"Right. I thought it was something like that." He smiled and she thought she was going to fall to the floor; her knees went soft at his dimpled grin and it was all she could do to stay upright.
