To Sumeet, who is my solace and my strength. 

"Sometimes the greatest adventure is simply a conversation"

                                                                                                                    Amadeus Wolfe

***

"Tooth-splintering Stringmints," said Filch.

The stone gargoyle jumped aside causing the wall behind it to split open and reveal a stone staircase. They ascended to arrive at a polished door with a griffin knocker. Filch stretched his rough hand, grabbing the griffin and knocked the door three times.

"Come in," sounded a calm voice on the other side of the door.

Dumbledore was seated behind his desk, looking out at the Hogwarts grounds through a narrow window. The headmaster's office was a large and circular room, covered with portraits of Hogwarts' previous headmasters and headmistresses. In the far corner spindly tables were occupied with curious silver instruments which emitted little puffs of smoke every now and again.

"Ah, Filch, it's you. How can I be of use?" asked Dumbledore as if greeting an old friend.

Filch pushed Sirius forward, his eyes glinting with glee.

"Headmaster, I've caught these three breaking a school rule. They were sneaking past the curfew."

"Were they now?" asked Dumbledore conversationally, glancing at them over his half-mooned spectacles.

"Thank you. I think I will take it up from here," the headmaster said.

"But...with your permission, headmaster, I can punish them myself," said Filch eagerly, remaining rooted to the spot.

"There will be no need for that, Argus, thank you."

Filch looked around despairingly before accepting defeat. Finally, he turned around and walked out of the door closing it with slightly more force than was necessary.

"A disgrace to the Black family! What a shame! The family name befouled by descendants like you," spat a man from one of the many portraits hung on the wall.

It was Phineas Nigellus-a former Hogwarts headmaster and the great-great-grandfather of Sirius and Regulus Black. Another portrait of Phineas was hung in the Black house which allowed him to travel freely between the two.

"Long time no see, Phin. Been missing our late-night chats, I have," Sirius smiled broadly.

"During my time, no student got away with such insolent behavior! I'd like to see them try!"

"Which, I am sure, has absolutely nothing to do with you being the least popular headmaster Hogwarts has ever had," Sirius snorted.

"Of course, I don't blame you, Dumbledore, when one is as damaged as my great-grand-grandchild here, no amount of upbringing can help," he continued, ignoring Sirius's comment. 

Phinneas was about to continue when Dumbledore raised a hand indicating him to stop. The headmaster then continued as if there had been no interruption. 

"I don't think there is any point telling you to stay out of trouble?" he said, his blue eyes scanning them like an X-ray.

"You and I both know this remains beyond your power," the headmaster said, answering his own question.

Sirius smirked, Remus nodded gravely while Marlene seemed uncertain on how to react to such an unexpected turn of events.

"Well, they say you haven't committed a crime unless you are caught doing it," said Dumbledore lightly.

"However I do ask you to be mindful of others' safety before you take up another challenge," his eyes lingered on Remus who suddenly looked grim and slightly ashamed.

At that moment, there was another knock on the door. Without waiting for an answer, the door opened, revealing Horace Slughorn dragging a tall boy with short, dark hair. A smile spread on Sirius's handsome face.

"Well aren't we having a sweet little family reunion?!" he said to his brother.

"Albus, I have caught him sneaking around several times now. Always on the seventh floor in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy teaching the trolls to dance ballet. He won't confess and I didn't know how to get him to talk except to get him to your office."

"You made the right decision, Horace. Thank you for bringing this to my notice," answered Dumbledore.

Sirius turned around to look at his brother questioningly while the latter seemed determined not to return the gaze. Sirius knew only too well what was on the seventh floor in front of that tapestry. The only thing he didn't understand was what Regulus was up to sneaking in the Room of Requirement.

"This is unacceptable! Walburga needs to hear about this. I know better than to expect anything good from your reckless brother, but you, you I thought to be more sensible. I am sorry to say that I am utterly disappointed," Phinneas Nigellus exclaimed.

He was halfway out of the portrait when Sirius shouted behind him.

"Do send my regards to mommy dearest. And wish her good luck with getting those muggle posters off my wall!"

Remus shot a what-did-you-do-now look at Sirius who continued to stare ahead with a smug leer.

"You are dismissed," Dumbledore said, turning to Marlene, Sirius, and Remus.

***

They returned to the Gryffindor common room well after midnight to find it as packed as ever. A group of students was recapitulating morning's game for the hundredth time although their feverish enthusiasm remained unaffected by this. Others were laughing loudly or drinking butterbeer. Alas, there was no sign of the party coming to an end any time soon.

Marlene was about to join Lily, Alice, and Frank who were seated comfortably by the fire.

"Wanna get out of here, Mckinnon?" a voice whispered, his lips lightly brushing the blonde's ear.

She turned to stare at his piercing grey eyes.

"Minutes after our miraculous escape from Dumbledore's office detention-free?" she asked gravely.

Sirius nodded.

"Count me in," she said, a malevolent smile spreading her face.

"C' mon," he said his expression mimicking hers ,"put on something warm. You'll need it."

She ran up to the girl's dormitory and returned minutes later with a black jacket around her shoulders.

Sirius smirked before taking her hand and leading the way to a hidden staircase from the common room.

Marlene stepped on to the roof, feeling the wind playing with her hair. She took a deep breath filling her lungs with fresh air before turning to look at Sirius. A smile spread through her face.

"I never knew about this place!"

"Stick around long enough, and I'll show you a whole world you never knew existed," said Sirius, lighting a cigarette and seating himself comfortably on the roof.

Marlene joined him, her legs dangling on the edge. It was she who broke the silence.

"So..." she said, elongating the "o."

"I left the house," he said, staring hard at the cigarette between his fingers.

"You did?" she asked, surprised.

Sirius preferred not to discuss his family. On the rare occasions when he did, it was James he confided in.

"Yeah, well, I always knew it was gonna happen. It was only a matter of time. And this summer it really got to me. I couldn't take their crap any longer."

"So...where'd you go?" she asked timidly.

"Prongs' place," he answered simply.

There were a few moments of silence before Sirius continued in the same brusque voice.

"I heard them, you know?"

"Whom? Your parents?" she asked, unsure.

"Yeah. On the tower. The night the dementors attacked," he answered, taking a deep drag off the cigarette.

Marlene didn't answer for a few seconds.

Dementors made one hear their worst memories, what could Sirius's parents have done to deserve that station?

"Did they ever hit you, Sirius?" she asked, careful not to give off any sign of pitying.

Sirius smiled. She rarely called him by his first name, but he cherished those singular times when she did.

"Oh, no. Never. The noble house of black is above such savage barbarism. They adhere to more subtle ways of cruelty; you see," he said, sarcasm stinging in his tone.

"But not all the Blacks are like that," said Marlene with a small smile.

"No, not all. Take Andromeda, for instance," he answered, pretending not to realize who she was referring to.

"She went off and married a muggleborn! She's always been my favorite cousin. But of course, any time the family manages to produce someone halfway decent they make up for it by tormenting them."

"Then there's uncle Alphard, that bloke's a good sport," Sirius smiled fondly.

"And me, of course, Sirius Black. The Gryffindor. The blood traitor. The white sheep of the black family," said Sirius, smiling bitterly.

"Anyway, enough of gloomy talk about my poor excuse of a family," he added shortly, "let's talk about more civil subjects."

Sirius ran a hand through his silky, black hair making them fall with effortless grace. Marlene hugged her knees, pulling them close to her chest.

"You did surprisingly well today."

"Did well...? Was the Hogsmeade visit some kind of test or something?" she asked indignantly.

"It was as good as one. And I'm happy to announce that you, Marlene McKinnon," he poked her nose playfully, "are made of Marauder stuff."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment now?" Marlene scowled.

"The highest praise of all," he answered dreamily, looking up at the sky.

Her eyes followed his gaze.

"It's almost full moon," she said.

"Yes, it is. But today is as good as one," said Sirius.

The full moon days were his favorite ever since they turned animagi and started accompanying Lupin. Marlene looked at him confusedly, before shifting her eyes back to the dark sky. 

"Look! That's Sirius!" the blonde exclaimed, pointing at a star, "look at how bright it is!"

And so they spoke. About Quidditch, music, love, philosophy, fast food, honeydukes sweets, fear, latest robes and everything in between. Until neither of them knew what the time was when Marlene lay her head on Sirius's chest, her eyelids falling under the weight of fatigue. Sirius stroked her hair lightly. He smelled of a mix of cigarette smoke and male cologne.

Author's Notes:Thank you @foreverblackinnon. "Bad Blood" planted the idea for this chapter.