Ruse

New Story! FFNandAO3

Espionage allows for all sorts of opportunities, and Sirius and Marlene are about to get the opportunity of a lifetime.

Welcome to the sequel to Reconnaissance, which takes place right before the Epilogue! This is my last story for Blackinnonfest! Enjoy my friends!

Ruse

Chapter 1 - We Meet Again

Sirius was sure he was being followed as he walked down the street his hotel was on. Which normally would be concerning, especially in a country not his own, but given that he knew who was following him, he turned to face her.

“Fancy meeting you here, Ms. McClane.”

“Mr. Coal,” Marlene smiled at him. “What brings you here?”

“I heard there was a beautiful woman here.” Sirius stepped closer to her, wrapping his hand around her waist.

“Sirius,” she whispered, even as she stepped against him. “We have rules.”

“Rule books are meant for kindling.” He brought his lips to hers in a soft kiss. “And I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” She snaked her arms around his neck and pulled their bodies flush against each other. “I’m so glad Minnie didn’t switch you with Vance. I would have been very put out.”

“Manipulating the boss, it’s a questionable line of work, but I’m good at it.” Sirius pulled her against him and kissed her deeply. “Let’s go.”

“Where are you staying?”

“The Ritz, babe,” he shifted to an American accent - though it was far more neutral than that of the people passing them - and indulged in the way Marlene laughed and leant into him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“We should get my things and I’ll check out of my hotel. If your boss is paying for the best, I don’t see why Andromeda should keep paying for the quaint little hotel I’m in.”

“Spoken like a woman out to experience the finest.”

“I mean, I am dating you.” She smirked up at him as she bit her lip and Sirius didn’t resist the urge to kiss her.

“Smartest move we ever made.” He murmured when he pulled back. “Come on, let’s take the rest of the day to just enjoy ourselves.”

“Sound’s perfect.” Marlene pulled him down the next turn.

“Do you have any leads?”

“Does a zebra have stripes?”

Sirius laughed. “Good, I always appreciate someone else doing the work.”

“Don’t worry,” Marlene pulled her room key from her pant pocket. “I left plenty for you to do. Mainly the computer work.”

“No bomb making this time?” He whispered against her ear as she led him into a hotel.

“I hope not. It’s a lot harder to slide things like that here in the States.”

“That’s what makes it fun, love.” He kissed up the shell of her ear and pulled her back against him.

She pushed off of him but wrapped her hand around his. “This bed isn’t that comfortable and I’d much rather have you ravish me in your hotel room than here.”

“Then pick up the pace, Marls,” Sirius pulled her back into him. “I’ve been without you for nearly three weeks, I’m keen to have you back.”

“Look at the wait as a foreplay.” She kissed him deeply before pulling away and opening her room door.

Sirius went to follow her but immediately pulled her back when he heard a distinctive twang, throwing them both to the floor just before a dart flew over their heads and lodged into the wall.

Marlene swore as Sirius stood and pulled his .45 from beneath his suit coat.

“Let’s get your things, and then we need to get to my room.” Sirius carefully cleared her room. “We’re going to get Catherine McClane back to London and we’re making you a new identity.”

Marlene’s face was furious but she quickly started throwing all of her things into her suitcase and purse.

So much for taking the day off.

Vignette

Story Update! FFNandAO3

The last chapter will go up tomorrow and then I’ll start the last story of Blackinnon Fest on Monday! Remember that next week’s story is a sequel to Reconnaissance (you won’t need to read it to understand the story, but it’s such a fun story and I think you’ll like this story better if you’ve read the first story). See you tomorrow!

Vignette

Chapter 3 - Picture It

Marlene was almost scared to look up. The seconds that Sirius had been silent were dragging though and she couldn’t stand it.

She looked up to find Sirius gripping the table with white knuckles. “Are you alright?”

“Are you?” His face was sharp with anger but his voice was concerned, boarding on panicked.

His concern nearly brought her to tears again. “I’m alright. I ended up telling him off, in front of the entire party. So definitely not going to be modeling now.”

“Why modeling?” Sirius’ knuckles were still white and Marlene resisted the urge to intertwine her fingers with his and pry his hands from the table. “I always thought you lived for taking the photograph, not being in it.”

She wrapped her arms around herself. “I stopped taking pictures when Mum got sick. I haven’t taken any since. I was at a coffee shop and an agent started talking to me and gave me her card and an invite. I didn’t think I had anything to lose showing up.”

“Marls,” his hands loosened their grip a fraction. “Why did you stop? I thought photography was your everything.”

“I don’t know.” And she didn’t know. At first she thought it was because her time had been completely devoted to helping her mum. But even since her mum had been fine, Marlene had yet to pick up her cameras. “And it’s been years now, I’ve probably lost the skills I had.”

Sirius scoffed, “Impossible.”

She couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. Sirius had always been her biggest supporter among her friends. Marlene realized how much she’d missed it.

“What are you smiling about?” He knocked her hand with his knuckle.

“You.” She looked back at him. “I forgot how you always thought I was some sort of photographer genius.”

“You are,” he shrugged, but she didn’t miss the smirk playing on his lips. “Honestly, Marls, you have a gift, don’t throw it away because life tossed a wrench in your plans.”

“Sirius-”

“Give me your number.” He interrupted her. “Where are you living?”

“What?” She blinked.

“I’m going to get you an Uber home and then I’m picking you up tomorrow morning and we’re getting you and your camera on the road like we used to do.”

“Like, on your bike?” Marlene would be lying if she didn’t admit to the spark of excitement that lit in her chest.

“I said just like old times, Marls. Now,” he slid his phone across the table, “I need your number and your address.”

Heist

Last Chapter! FFNandAO3

We’ve come to the end of this story, my friends. I’ll be off next week but I’ve got two more stories that will go up starting April 18th. Have a blessed Holy Week!

Heist

Chapter 4 - The Important Things

“Sirius, what in Merlin’s name?”

No answer.

She huffed and held out her wand. “Accio jacket.”

Nothing.

She looked around for Sirius but he stayed hidden under the cloak. Marlene was about to curse him when she heard a quiet bark. Were the Slytherins keeping dogs? Then something pulled on her pant leg.

A black dog stuck out from James’ cloak.

She gasped. “Where did you learn how to do that?”

The dog, apparently Sirius, barked again and pulled her over to a trunk. He sat next to it and nuzzled the lock with his nose.

“You’ve got so much explaining to do.” Marlene pulled her wand. “Alohomora.” The trunk clicked open and there lay her jacket. She gasped and pulled it to her chest before quickly slipping it on.

“I’ll explain later.” Sirius stood next to her now. “Tweedle Dumb is on her way.” He wrapped the cloak around them and levitated them back above the floor.

Marlene hissed and hugged his waist again. She hated the feeling of someone making her float above the ground, but while with anyone else she would have insisted they set her down, with Sirius she felt the instinctive desire to cling to him.

His arm wrapped around her waist pulling her closer, and Marlene resisted the sudden urge to bury her head in his neck. She’d already fabricated an excuse once on this crazy rescue mission, and that was quite enough.

Enough to fuel her dreams for weeks, months, years more likely.

“Grab the door.” Sirius moved them to the door and Marlene waved her wand for them to slip out and then quickly closed it in time for Tweedle Dumb to turn the corridor.

Marlene gripped her wand, trying to decide what curse she wanted to use as revenge.

Then Alecto fell straight back against the floor.

“Didn’t want her to get away.” Sirius whispered next to her ear.

“I was trying to think of what to use.” Marlene frowned.

“And I’ve bought you time.” Sirius’ hand rubbed against her back. “See no reason not to trust me.”

His hand on her back had Marlene struggling to think of anything other than how close they were, let alone what she’d like to do to Tweedle Dumb. “In my defense, I’ve learned my lesson.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment then.”

Sirius’ lips brushed her ear again and Marlene leant closer, relishing the contact. “Maybe we just leave her, and find someplace to celebrate?”

“Done.”

Sirius moved them, careful to avoid Tweedle Dumb so she wouldn’t see them floating in the air. He maneuvered them at breakneck speed back to the Slytherin’s common room and didn’t wait for someone to let them out. He waved the door open and closed behind them before pulling them behind a tapestry and then through a secret passage.

And finally, finally, he threw the cloak off of them, pressed her against the wall behind her, and brought his lips to hers.

Marlene thought maybe she’d died.

Her brain stopped and she was consumed by the feeling of her hands in Sirius’ hair, his lips on her neck, their bodies pressed so closely against each other she wasn’t certain where one of them stopped and the other began.

“Merlin, I’ve wanted to do this for ages.” He kissed up her neck.

“What stopped you?” She used her hold on his hair to pull him back to her lips, kissing him till he pulled back just far enough to answer.

“You’re you, McKinnon. I’m not screwing you around.”

Marlene smirked. “Am I the one to finally conquer the great Sirius Black?”

Sirius bit her lip and she melted into him. “Depends on if I’m the one to conquer the great Marlene McKinnon?”

“I mean, you did get me back my jacket before Tweedle Dumb shredded it.”

He hummed against her lips as she ran her black fingernails along his scalp. “See, I come with all sorts of benefits.”

“Do those benefits improve from here?”

“If you’re mine, those benefits never stop improving.” Sirius slipped his hand up from her waist.

She pressed up on her toes and pulled herself closer to speak against his ear. “Then I want a preview of what I have to look forward to.”

“With pleasure, McKinnon.”

Heist

Chapter Update! FFNandAO3

Last chapter to this story goes up on Saturday!

Heist

Chapter 3 - Closer Quarters

Sirius very quietly cast the charm, levitating them into the air. Marlene thankfully muffled her gasp behind her hand before spinning and wrapping her arms around his waist, holding tightly.

He wrapped his free hand around her waist, mostly because it was easier to maneuver them that way. Very little of it had to do with enjoying having her pressed against him.

“Alright, McKinnon?” Sirius whispered against the top of her ear.

“Sure, just don’t drop us.” She held on a little tighter.

“So little faith.”

“I have literally met puddles deeper than you, Black, so forgive my lack of faith.”

Sirius laughed quietly. “Well, that’s not a very nice way of putting it. But yes, I suppose you’re right. Don’t worry, McKinnon, I won’t be doing anything to jeopardize this mission. Your jacket is too important to risk being found out.”

He felt her smirk against his neck and it made him feel ten feet tall.

Levitating them through the girls’ dorms was no small feat as he constantly had to avoid Slytherins moving around them.

Sirius found an alcove and stopped them to pull out the Map.

“What’s that?” Marlene pulled back slightly when he let go of her, but kept a tight grip on his waist.

“A bit of magic.” He touched his wand and whispered as quietly as he could. The map filled out and he quickly turned to the Slytherin girls’ dorms. “Help me look for Alecto’s roommates.”

Marlene gawked at the map for a long moment before her eyes snapped back up to him. “When we get out of this, I want to know what this is.”

“Right, but first we need to get out of this, so if you please?” He gestured to the Map again.

Marlene and him looked at all the names of girls Sirius honestly would like to throw into the Black Lake when suddenly she touched the page. “There! Maleficent Simmons! She’s one of Tweedle Dumb’s roommates!”

“Hold this and watch for anyone we don’t want to deal with.” He handed her the Map and began moving them to the dorm that Maleficent was sitting in.

“She’s moving towards the door!” Marlene hissed as he reached out to open the dorm door.

Sirius threw them to the side, pinning Marlene against the wall with his body, the Map pressed between them.

Sure enough, Maleficent exited the dorm and moved toward the common room.

“That was close.” Marlene’s breath tickled his neck and Sirius looked down to find her ice blue eyes staring right back at him.

He forced himself to chuckle, to put some figurative space between them, to stop himself from doing something stupid, like leaning in and kissing her.

“Nice moves, Black,” Marlene gave his chest a light shove. “I see why the girls fall at your feet.”

Sirius smirked as she managed to break the spell that had frozen him. “You know you’re my favorite, right?”

A light brightened her eyes and Sirius nearly threw the game away right there.

“I better be.” She gestured toward the dorm. “Let’s get my jacket back, yeah?”

“Right.” Sirius moved them into the dorm and looked around. He heard parchment crinkling under Marlene’s fist and pulled the Map from her grasp before she took her anger out on it.

“I don’t see it.” She huffed.

Sirius lowered them to the ground. “Here, get out and start looking for it. I have an idea.”

“Aren’t you going to help me?”

“I am,” Sirius gave her a push out of the cloak. “But I need the cloak to do it.” And while still under the cloak, he transformed into Padfoot.

Heist

Story Update! FFNandAO3

More Blackinnon for Blackinnon Fest!!!

Heist

Chapter 2 - When Given the Choice

“They’re still in there.” Marlene stepped back with him, the cloak sliding against them. Sirius didn’t hesitate to use their forced proximity to put his hand on her waist.

“Good, let’s move.” He pulled her against him as they walked carefully into Slughorn’s office and Sirius couldn’t keep the sneer off his face when he looked at the Carrows.

Bloody cowards, the both of them.

“I don’t know what happened to the jacket, Professor. I didn’t see McKinnon wearing one.” Alecto looked at her half-wit brother. “Did you Amycus?”

“No, she wasn’t wearing a jacket.”

Sirius felt Marlene tense against him and pushed aside his own anger at Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber to whisper against the shell of Marlene’s ear.

“Breathe, McKinnon, we’ll make sure we get it back.”

She stayed tense, but did let a long breath out. Sirius moved his hand from her waist to rub along her back.

“We’ve got this. Trust me.”

“Fine.” She grumbled, but Sirius didn’t miss her relaxing against him.

“You’re asking me to call into question the Head Girl, Ms. Carrow.” Slughorn shook his head.

“Professor,” She smiled at him, “Please remember that the Head Girl and McKinnon are good friends, and you know how everyone is suspecting the Slytherins of terrible things right now. I wonder if that has anything to do with it.”

Slughorn looked torn. “I’ll have to discuss this with the Head Master then. In the meantime, if you do happen to find Ms. McKinnon’s jacket, please ensure it gets returned to her. If there are more examples of Slytherins helping and caring for their fellow students, we’ll see less situations like these.”

“Of course, Professor.” Amycus nodded as he and Alecto moved out of the classroom.

“Let’s go.” Marlene began moving forward and Sirius moved his arm back to her waist, keeping them moving as one under James’ cloak.

“What are we going to do with it?” Amycus whispered.

“I don’t know yet. Maybe we’ll make a dummy with it and see how many slicing curses it takes to shred it into a thousand pieces. Then send them to McKinnon one by one.” Alecto laughed.

“I like that idea, she always was too stuck up for her own good.” Amycus sneered.

The only thing that kept Sirius from blasting the two of them right there was knowing he had to keep Marlene from doing exactly that.

“It’s in my dorm, I’ll bring it out later tonight and we can tear it apart.”

“I’m going to tear her apart,” Marlene’s voice came out in a sharp whisper that Sirius knew well at this point in their friendship.

“As long as it’s after we get your jacket back, sure.” Sirius pulled her closer. “But for now, let’s focus on one thing at a time.”

“Fine, but I swear she’s going to get what’s coming to her.”

Sirius chuckled, in his opinion, Marlene’s fight had always been the best part of her.

They walked silently behind the Tweedle Twins and right into the Slytherin common room, Sirius cataloging the password for future reference.

But to his frustration, Alecto didn’t move to the dorms, she sat down on a couch and began speaking with a group gathered near the fire.

“Now we just need to figure out which room is Tweedle Dumb’s.” Marlene whispered.

Sirius smirked and pulled his wand. “Hold on, Marls.”

Y'all! Have you seen this promise of amazing Blackinnon???

@stonecoldhedwig I am SO EXCITED for this!!!

The Paintbox - stonecoldhedwig - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own]

Heist

New Story! FFNandAO3

Marlene’s jacket has been stolen. So obviously, Sirius needs to get it back. They’re friends, he owes her that. But having her come along, and all these excuses to keep his hands on her…well, getting her jacket back might be easier than keeping his heart behind his carefully erected walls.

It’s Blackinnon Fest! A full month filled with Blackinnon! I have three Blackinnon stories that will go up this month! One for each week minus Holy Week. Enjoy this first story!

Heist

Chapter 1 - When Given the Choice

Marlene threw herself onto one of the couches in the common room and groaned.

“Everything alright, Marlene?” James looked up from where he sat with Sirius, Remus, and Peter, huddled over an intricately folded piece of parchment.

“Oh, just dandy, how are you?” She rolled her eyes.

Sirius laughed at her. “Don’t take your bad day out on us, McKinnon. We’re young and fabulous and life is good.”

“Can I stay in the reality of your universe?” She snapped at him. “Mine sucks.”

“Out with it, McKinnon.” He stuck her with the glare that always made her heart skip a beat.

“It’s stupid.” She huffed and turned away from the group. Then she gasped as strong hands grabbed her shoulders and turned her around.

“Where’s your jacket?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“McKinnon.”

“Black.”

“Where’s your leather jacket? You left with it.”

“I lost it.”

“You’re lying.”

“Oh, you’d know, eh?”

“Yeah.” He leant in, his gray eyes holding hers in a grip tighter than his hands on her shoulders. “I do.”

She pushed away, feeling her resolve starting to slip. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Did someone take it from you?” James now joined them.

“I said. It. Does. Not. Matter.” She ripped away from Black’s grip and went to storm away.

“Marlene!”

Marlene groaned at Lily’s voice. “Not now Lily.”

“Marlene, wait! Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”

“Who hurt her?!” Sirius was at Marlene’s side again.

“The Carrows were taunting her when I found them. They had her jacket but translocated it when I insisted they return it. I took them to Slughorn’s office and he said he’d take care of it.”

“Whatever, I’m going to bed.” Marlene tried to bolt for the stairs but Sirius snagged her hand.

“Nope, we’re getting your jacket back.”

“How did they get your jacket, Marly?” James fiddled with the parchment he and the boys had been looking at.

Marlene blinked back the angry tears that were rising to the surface. “I was stupid.”

“That doesn’t sound accurate.” Remus’ soft voice only seemed to infuriate her more.

“I let two idiot Slytherins get the best of me! That sounds pretty stupid to my ears!”

“Be nice to Moony, he only wants to help.”

She rounded on Sirius and the smirk on his face told her that was exactly what he’d wanted. “Comments from the peanut gallery aren’t appreciated!”

“This peanut gallery is going to get you your jacket back so I’d say the comments are necessary.”

“Awfully confident, aren’t you?”

“I mean, history says I kind of have the right to be.”

“Black, I swear on Merlin’s grave-” Marlene stopped as she felt James pulling her backward.

“Before you kill Pads, why don’t we start at the beginning?”

“Fine.” She ripped away from James. “I didn’t notice Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber hiding until they nearly knocked me over with a hex. I only had the jacket draped over my shoulders so when I started throwing hexes back it fell off and Tweedle Dumber summoned it before tossing it to Tweedle Dumb.”

“And she threatened to set it on fire,” Lily added. “That’s when I got there. I told them to give it back and she translocated it somewhere. I’m sure that Slughorn will get it back though.”

“Unlikely,” Sirius shook his head and pulled the parchment from James’ hands. “You and me?”

“I’ve got rounds in fifteen minutes.”

“Moony?”

“Wormy and I have to meet Dorcas and Benjy for our group project.”

Sirius turned back to James. “Does she know?”

“The cloak, yes.”

“That’s enough.” He looked back at Marlene. “Ready to take back what’s yours?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I told you, I’m stealing back your jacket and you’re going to help.”

“Sirius,” Lily huffed, “please wait until you know that Slughorn hasn’t managed to get it back.”

“Don’t worry, Red, I’ll be sure to confirm that Sluggy has failed before we break into the Slytherin’s dorms.”

“Wait, what?!” Marlene grabbed his sleeve.

Sirius smirked and leant close. “You want your jacket back don’t you?”

“Of course, I do.”

“Good, I’ll be right back.” His hand slid along her arm and Marlene felt just a touch of her embarrassment and ire slide out of her with him.

blackinnonfest:

Blackinnon Week is now Blackinnon Fest.

What does this mean?

We noticed that some of the Blackinnon Week ware lacking a bit of participation, maybe because you are busy that week, or you don’t want to add a work every day of a week. So now we have a whole month filled with prompts and activities and you can join at any time.

This also means that instead of being a random week of the year we will have it on the same month every year so that way people can plan and be available as much or as little as you can.

We hope that this will help people become more active and we get more new and exciting works to be read and shared!

Blackinnon Fest will be held on April, if you wish to participate anyone is welcomed!