A/n: Another early chapter because even the author can't stand a cliffhanger :)

Warning: mentions of curse words, but they will be starred out just in case.

"I'm so sorry, Marlene," said Danny sadly. "I didn't mean to make it seem that way for him."

Marlene smiled up at the shy Danny Jackson. "It's alright, Dan, it's not your fault."

"Maybe-" Danny hesitated. "Maybe I could talk to Black about it. Tell him the truth."

Marlene raised her eyebrows. "It's the 1960's, Dan. People don't accept being different. Maybe they will in the future, but now they don't."

Danny ran a hand through his wispy brown hair. "It's just- I don't want to be the reason that my friend has to break up with her close- er- friend."

Marlene brushed a stray strand of blond hair out of her eyes. "Like I said- not your fault." She scribbled something onto her piece of parchment. "Finished with my homework. Ah, well." Marlene stretched. "You heading back to your common room, or you staying in the library?"

"Heading back up," said Danny. "And Marlene?"

"Hmm?" 

"Thanks for- you know- understanding me for being- well- gay."

Marlene smiled and nodded. "It's all good. Just let me know if you need anything, Dan." 

Danny nodded gratefully.

"See ya," she waved to him and scrambled out of the library for her next class- Herbology. If Marlene got there late, she could risk being paired with someone horrible.

And her assumption was right.

"Sorry I'm late, Professor Sprout," said Marlene, panting and dashing into the greenhouse. "Who am I paired with today?"

"Mr Black," said Sprout kindly, gesturing towards Sirius.

Marlene blanched white. "Ok."

She walked to the farthest seat from Sirius and slid on her dragon hide gloves. 

"The book says to have two people pull at the Snargaluff from either end," read Marlene from the book to no one in particular. "Grab that end." Marlene gestured to a part of the plant, snapped on her protective goggles, and dived towards a gnarled stump. It erupted into a mini forest that attacked her from every angle, and Sirius holding a limp branch on the stump wasn't helping. 

"HOLD THE VINES, YOU DIMWIT!" shrieked Marlene from the scratching thorns, attempting to pull a Snargaluff Pod from the middle of the plant. She threw it behind her in a desperate attempt to free herself.

It, unfortunately, did not work. Marlene suddenly felt a tight grasp on her waist, pulling her back.

"You alright?" said Sirius, not meeting her eyes.

"Fine," spat Marlene, brushing the leaves off of her. "Where's the Snargaluff pod?"

"The what?"

"What do you think I was doing inside the stump?" said Marlene, now very annoyed. "The POD, you idiot!"

"Oh- the bean..." said Sirius in realization. "That fell on the ground and I accidentally stepped on it."

"So you're telling me I went through an actual death trap to get something that ended up getting destroyed anyways?" said Marlene, gritting her teeth and trying to focus on her book.

Sirius didn't answer. For a while, they sat in silence, filling out sections in their workbooks. 

"Anyone you're going to the dance with?" said Sirius casually.

"What dance?"

"Slughorn's Christmas party."

"Not going."

"Why not?" Sirius tilted his head. "Thought you had a boyfriend."

"Well... he actually ditched me 'cuz he thought I was cheating on him for some stupid reason. I guess this brilliant boyfriend of mine can't sort out truth from lies," Marlene said swiftly, not daring to even glance at Sirius.

Sirius gritted his teeth. "I had a girlfriend too," he said harshly. "But she was a prat and went gallivanting off with other boys."

"Oh, my boyfriend told me that he didn't want to hear the truth about my true story," said Marlene in similar harsh tones.

"Well, the person I'm talking about was a horrible liar," retorted Sirius.

"Well, the person I'm talking about was and still is a little *****," said Marlene, ending with a horrible curse and turning on her heels to walk to Sprout. "May I go to the bathroom, Professor?"

With a nod from Sprout, Marlene headed over swiftly to the bathroom.

Sirius meanwhile, sat next to the Snargaluff, thinking about their very passive-aggresive-like conversation. But no idiot needed a map to understand that they were referring to each other.

A/n: Oh my god Sirius you're so stupid 

obsessive eye rolling

Thx so much for all these reads! Love you!

- Jui W.