'Sirius, Lily's invited us to double date with her and Ian.' Marlene said.

'When?'
'Tomorrow evening. At Hartz.'

'Hartz? It's a new place. How come she knows about it?'
'Don't be silly. I suggested it.'

'Why would you do something like that?'
'Sirius, are you okay?' Marlene asked.

'Tomorrow evening, James has asked us to double date with him and Brenda.' Sirius laughed.

'When were you planning on telling me this?'
'He told me this morning.' Sirius reasoned.

'Well, I can't cancel with Lily now.'
'Sure, you can. Lily has loads of boyfriends. We can double date with her anytime later. But James is really counting on me.' Sirius said.

'Well, where has he asked to double date? Maybe, we can manage both.' Marlene said, twirling her hair with her fingers.

'Hartz?' Sirius asked.
***
'James, uhm about the double date—' Sirius started.

'Don't bail on me, man. I need this.' James said.
'I am not bailing. I am just saying, maybe we should like change the location. I mean, I might have exaggerated a bit about Hartz.' Sirius said.

'No, you didn't. Hartz is great. I checked it out myself.' James said.
'Trust me.' Sirius gritted his teeth. 'It isn't good. I mean, Marlene and I almost broke up because of that place.'

'What? You didn't say this before.'
'Well, I had a tough time moving past it.' Sirius lied.
***
'What happened with James?'

'I made up a story about how we almost broke up because of that place.' Sirius said.
'What story?'

'I don't know, really. At one point, there were pigs from Philadelphia chasing us. I don't know if he was convinced, actually but we agreed on Redwood.'

'That's great. Lily and I managed to change times to nine at night.'

'Great, we can swing by with James and Brenda at ten.'

'You think this can work out?' Marlene said.
Sirius kissed her back. 'Yeah let's, just hope Remus doesn't interrupt the party.'
***
'So, before I meet the real guy, how is Ian Kerkovich?'

'Well, he is an expert in defence against the dark arts. And he really likes to keep up with the world and it's news.'

'I see you have caught yourself a politician, there lil.' Marlene laughed.
***
'You are the first of Marlene's boyfriends who has come in time.' Lily said.

'I take in pride in that.' Sirius huffed. 'Sirius Black, how you doing man?' Sirius held out his hand.
Ian shook it uncertainly.

'Ian Kerkovich. Nice to meet you.'

'Well, I hope you don't mind but I am a drinker.' Sirius said ordering two glasses of wine right away.

'Yeah, I don't mind. Kick back and enjoy.' Ian said.
'Right. So, Ian I hear you don't like quidditch?' Sirius asked.

'Oh come on Sirius, we are not getting into this.' Marlene said.

'I would rather have this conversation. I like the quidditch you guys play. It's just the national teams I don't like. There's just too much politics, you know?'

'I don't know. Do I want to know?' Sirius asked.
'You are better off without all of that.' Ian laughed.

'You got that right. So, I heard you were in a band. How's that going on for you?' Sirius said.

'It's great. When I am with my songs, it's the best time of my life. Well apart from my time with lily, here.' Ian kissed lily.

'Cheers?' Sirius raised his glass. 'So that our relationships last.'

The four of them raised their glasses and bumped them and drank up.
***
'It's been fifteen minutes. You sure they gonna show up?' Brenda asked.

'Yeah. Don't worry, they are great. Sirius wouldn't bail on this.'

The glass door opened.
'That's probably them.' Brenda said.

'Not really.' James said.

The couple spotted them.

'James?' Dorcas asked.
'Dorcas. Surprise meeting you here. Who's your date?'

'Luke Yorkshire.' The guy said. 'You must be James Potter.'

'Caught me red handed. Guys, this is my girlfriend, Brenda Boot.' James introduced.

'Listen, Dorcas do you have any idea where Sirius and Marlene are?' James asked.
The couple sat down.

'They were supposed to meet with you?'

'More like a double date was planned. If you don't know, you can just go book a table and have your romantic night with Luke, here.'

'Uh' Dorcas shrugged. 'I don't know how to break this to you, James but Sirius and Marlene made other plans.'

'What kind of plans?'

'Well, they are double date-ing with Lily and Ian' Dorcas said sympathetically.

'Evans? No, are you sure? That doesn't sound like Sirius.' James said.

'But it does sound like Marlene.' Dorcas said.
***

James was walking down a lone road after eating a bit.
He told Brenda, he needed some air and got out of the place.

James stopped walking when he saw the two people he wasn't in the mood to forgive in the distance.

'James? Look, we are sorry we are late. We just lost track of time.' Sirius said.

'Yeah, I am sorry too. And what part of it involved Evans? All of it, maybe?' James asked coldly.

'How did you find out?' Sirius asked.
'Is that even important? From Dorcas.'

'Dorcas? I don't even know where to start.' Sirius said.

'Well, Brenda and I are finished, so you can save your lame ass apology for someone else.'

'Okay, how about an explanation, instead?' Sirius asked. 'Listen, we planned to do both of the dates. I am sorry we are late but you can't get hung up over the fact that Marlene and I double dated with Evans and her boyfriend. Marlene and lily are best friends and Marlene is my girlfriend, now so you just have to deal with it.'

'It's always Marlene and I. What about our friendship? Cause if that means crack to you, I am done with you and you just have to deal with it.'
James walked away without another word, his coat swaying with the wind.

He walked away with Sirius and Marlene standing, not knowing what to do.

It had started to snow. And all of it seemed colder than usual.