âIs it close?â Sirius repeats. He considers it for a moment. âClose but not nearly close enough. Does that help?â He suspect his words donât help at all, and the teasing grin he gives her reveals that he knows it. He chuckles. âIf they used the potion itself theyâd have to be concerned with people slipping it into drinks. Clever little perfume; could use a bit of work though.âÂ
Sirius offers the waiter a smile as Marlene orders. âSounds lovely. Thank you, Marlene.â This is the most at ease heâs felt since heâs returned home, yet it still doesnât feel quite right. Heâs waiting for the other shoe to drop, for her to suspect him or accuse him of betraying his friends (which he very well may have to). He canât believe he agreed to have lunch with one of the few people that could actually bring this whole infiltration to a halt.Â
He sighs and lets his head bow slightly to stare at his hands resting in his lap. He considers her question and the conversation he had with Regulus the day before. Heâd left feeling hopeful, that maybe that particular bridge could be mended. He meets Marleneâs eyes again and offers a shrug. âI hope so. Our lunch conversation yesterday seemed productive.â Her words draw a laugh out of him and he shakes his head, watching the cafe customers for a moment before his eyes flit back to her. âNo, not really. Isla Rosier and Ophelia Greengrass got in touch with me though.âÂ
âHow have you been though? We didnât have a chance to properly catch up at the gala.âÂ
âNo, no. It does help,â she said with a smile, face lighting up as she considers how best to spin her article. âMerlin, I hope it isnât the actual potion. Imagine the PR nightmare. Do you think Reg would be able to tell?â
Sirius had told her that they seemed to be getting better and so she took that as permission to not skirt around him as a topic.Â
Marlene is also not yet aware that Sirius will no longer be attending Order meetings, has no reason to suspect he is doing anything other than she is - playing the part of infiltrator. She has no reason to suspect his loyalties may have actually shifted.Â
âNot one, but two lovely women trying to court you. If you need someone to keep that ego check I would be happy to oblige,â she said with a smile. âThough I am almost disappointed to hear that Widow Fawley hasnât made a move yet. Sheâs had four husbands already she canât possibly be shy.â
âI have been fine. Itâs all really the same as ever though it isnât really as though anything changes in Society, is it? Or at least not quickly,â she said with a shrug. Pureblood Society was nothing if not staid in their ways. âOh! But I am getting married next year. I am not sure to whom but I am told that is the least important part of the entire thing. I am only hopeful that I can keep my job. I quite like it. Well, mostly. Can you keep a secret?â