"What else is there to think?" Bill Weasley wanted to know.
"It just doesn't seem likely, knowing Sturgis," Lupin replied.
Sirius listened to the endless discussion of Order business that he could do nothing about and was going to nod his head absently when a quiet conversation across the room caught his attention. His ears pricked and his body stiffened. Remus cut his eyes to him, sensing the change, when realisation washed over him as the gruff voice continued.
"...she was killed two weeks after this was taken, they got her whole family..." Whatever else Moody had said was lost as memories came flooding back to Sirius. He hadn't thought about her since he escaped Azkaban - he wouldn't let himself. Locked in that miniscule cell with only his most horrible thoughts to keep him company, he'd seen enough grisly images of her to last him a lifetime.
He'd thought the morning he Apparated to her family's home to find the Dark Mark hanging above would be the worst he'd ever felt. He'd found her used and broken in her own bedroom and he'd had to fight their way out to get her back to the safety of Hogwarts. Death Eaters had killed her parents and younger brother and sister. Marlene had never truly recovered from it. She was a shadow of herself, but Sirius did everything he could to make her happy.
It was a year and half later that Sirius would relive that nightmare. Marlene had moved in with him and they'd made quite a go at domestic bliss - as much as two active members of the Order, could anyway. It was on his return home from an overnight reconnaissance mission with James that he once again stared up at a familiar house with the mark of death shrouding it. Before he even set foot in the door, he knew that the fates wouldn't favour him twice. It was apparent that she'd put up a good fight, but Sirius had found her sprawled out behind the sofa with her skirt hiked too far up her thighs. Travers had taunted Sirius about her during a skirmish months later and Sirius had gone so far around the twist with rage, James had to Stun him just to pull him out of harm's way.
Remus laid a hand on Sirius' arm, breaking him out of his private hell. "Marlene," Sirius mumbled unnecessarily and glanced at Remus whose mouth was set in a tight line. "S'alright." Sirius shrugged and offered an apologetic smile. He looked over to Moody, and Harry seemed as if he wanted to disappear through the floor.
"What's that you've got there, Mad-Eye?" It came out more thickly than he'd have liked, but Moody heard him and turned with the thing in his hands. Sirius reached out numbly and took the photograph before realising what it was. The original Order of the Phoenix smiled and waved back at him.
Instantly, he was drawn to the images of himself and James, forever young. More than ever, he recognised how much Harry resembled James. Sirius' eyes slid over Wormtail to Lily, and then found Remus, who looked less lined and grey but mostly the same. Slowly, his gaze found the golden eyes that haunted his dreams. He watched her as she offered the camera that shy, sweet smile that had always made his pulse race. He watched her over and over again until the corners of his mouth hitched up in their own small smile. Away from the effects of the Dementors, Sirius found that he wasn't limited to the gruesome, but could also recall the happy, beautiful memories of Marlene. His smile widened as he took the photograph over to a quiet corner of the room to reminisce.
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"Sirius... Sirius, open your eyes for me, love." Cautiously, Sirius peered out through inky lashes. Marlene smiled down at him. "It's about time," she giggled.
He lifted up on his elbows and looked around. Shaking his head groggily he said, "Merlin! I've had the strangest dream!"
Marlene gazed at him knowingly and brushed the fringe from his face. "Have you?"
Sirius reached for her, intrigued by the amused smile she wore, when James and Lily came into focus behind her. "Oi! When did our bedroom become a pubic venue? Not that you couldn't learn a thing or two, Prongs!"
James smiled down to Lily and then back to Sirius. "It's good to see you again, Padfoot." Sirius' brow furrowed as more people stepped into sight: Gideon and Fabian Prewett, Dorcas Meadows, Benjy Fenwick and even his own brother, Regulus. He turned back to Marlene, curiosity burning in his gaze.
"We've missed you. I've missed you!" she said gently. Realisation lit behind his grey eyes and Marlene's comforting smile served as confirmation. "Don't worry, love. It was as easy as falling asleep, yeah? We've only moved on to our new assignment - the next great adventure!" Marlene leaned her forehead against his and kissed the tip of his nose.
,I>The next great adventure, he thought. His lips found hers soft and sweet, just as he'd remembered them. Can't be so bad after all.
