“Tell me a secret” with Dorlene, it any other ship you’d like.
This is so freaking long. I got supperrr carried away.
*******
“Truth or dare,” Marlene asked.
“Truth.”
Marlene glared at Dorcas. “You’re so boring Dory. This is the fifth time in a row that you’ve chosen truth.”
Dorcas shrugged. “If you wanted something interesting then you should’ve invited Sirius. Or Remus, Remus always has the best dares.”
Marlene nodded. “Should’ve.”
Dorcas rolls her eyes at the blonde. “You got me to sneak out to the lake in the dead of night with a bottle of scotch, Marlene. I think I’ve been daring enough for one night.”
Marlene smirked. “And I thought you said you weren’t interesting.”
“Just ask me the damn question!”
Marlene laughs and plucks the bottle up from between them, taking a long sip.
“You’re helping the Marauders plan a prank?”
“Yes.”
A dangerous sparkle lights up Marlene’s eyes. Dorcas winces a bit when she thinks of all the trouble the Marauders and Marlene could get up to. Of course Dorcas herself was no saint, but nothing compared to Marls.
“What’s the prank?”
Dorcas shakes her head and takes the bottle back from Marlene. “That’s not how the game works.”
“C’mon Dory,” Marlene begs.
Dorcas shakes her head, setting the bottle back in the grass and reclining back on her elbows.
“Nope, my turn. Truth or dare.”
Dorcas smiles serenely at Marlene who looks rather irritated with her.
“You’re absolutely no fun, Dorcas,” She grumbles. “Dare.”
“I’m loads of fun. You’re just upset that I won’t let you in on James’ master plan.”
Marlene laughs. “We all know Remus came up with that plan and James, Sirius and Peter are just carrying out orders.”
Dorcas shrugs. “You’re probably right about that.”
“I’m one hundred percent right about that.”
Dorcas looks around the area. There isn’t much you can do at the lake with only two people. Not much except…
“Jump in the lake.”
Marlene, who had taken to creating small shapes with pebbles in the grass looked up. “What?”
Dorcas shoved her lightly with her shoulder. “You heard me. Go take a dip in the lake.”
Marlene shakes her head, aiming one of her small rocks at Dorcas. “It’s cold as fuck out here.”
“It’s really not. Also, you picked dare.”
Marlene throws the pebble — which Dorcas brushes off — and stands. “You suck.”
Dorcas grins at her. “I know.”
Marlene starts taking off her pajamas, shooting the lake apprehensive glances. “If I get hypothermia I’m blaming you.”
“I’m surprised you even know what that is,” Dorcas said.
Marlene throws her shirt at her and then stalks towards the lake.
“Don’t get eaten by the giant squid!” Dorcas calls after her.
“Careful Meadowes or I’ll drag you in with me.”
Dorcas snorts and takes another drink, watching as Marlene comes to the edge of the sand eyes the water.
“Any day now.”
Marlene holds up two fingers behind her and then dives in. Seconds later she resurfaces, rubbing her hands over her arms as she makes her way back over.
Dorcas holds her clothes out to her and Marlene snatched them back.
“Fuck you,” she said derisively, plopping down next to Dorcas. “Ok, my turn. Truth or Dare.”
“Truth,” Dorcas said, grinning when Marlene smacks her arm.
“You little shit.”
“Like I said invite Remus next—“
“Yeah, yeah, yeah I get it, you’re boring. Alright, let’s see. Ummm —- Oh! I got one. Did the sorting hat almost put you in a different house?”
Dorcas blinked, she hadn’t expected this question. “Yes. Slytherin.”
If Dorcas was startled by the question Marlene is absolutely floored by the answer. “Wait, shit, really?”
“Mhm”
Marlene runs her fingers through her hair, combing the wet strands away from her face. “Never would have pegged you for a Snake, Dory.”
“Never would’ve pegged you as the type to go skinny dipping in the lake.”
Marlene laughs again, that’s a lie. “Ok that was your fault. And yes, you would’ve. You’ve known me for six years, Dorcas. I’m definitely the type to go skinny dipping in the lake.”
“True.”
The two sit in silence for a moment, passing the bottle of scotch between them and staring up at the sky. Dozens of stars lit up the sky. Their reflection mirrored in the lake.
“Truth or dare,” Dorcas asked finally.
“Dare,” Marlene replies. Dorcas smiles, she’d known she would say that.
“Tell me a secret,” Dorcas whispers, scooting closer to Marlene.
“What kind.”
“Any.”
Marlene thinks for a moment. What kind of secret could she tell Dorcas. It wasn’t like she had that many. Aside from the obvious. Well, it was obvious to everyone except Dorcas. Marlene supposed that's how it worked with crushes. You could like them for years and years and they’d never be the wiser. Sometimes both people liked each other and were just too blind to see it. She’d seen it happen with Remus and Sirius. Those two had been chasing each other for years. It was a wonder they hadn’t figured it out sooner. She supposed it was also lucky too. Any longer and she would’ve just outright told them. Marlene risked a glance at Dorcas, it probably wasn’t like that for her, though.
Dorcas had started staring at the sky. The moons light bouncing off her dark skin and giving her a sort of ethereal silver glow.
“Marls?” Dorcas has turned back to Marlene. “Secret?”
Marlene supposed it wouldn’t hurt to clue her in just a bit.
“I’m gay.”
“That’s no secret, you moron.”
“It is to some people.”
“An actual secret, Marlene.”
Marlene grinned at her. “Alright, fine. I like someone.”
Dorcas sat up so fast Marlene had to jump back to avoid their heads colliding. “You alright there?”
Dorcas nodded, slowly lowering herself back down into the grass. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. I just didn’t— tell me about her?”
Marlene blinked at Dorcas. She really wasn’t expecting Dorcas’ reactions to stuff tonight. “She’s um...well..she’s beautiful,” Marlene sighed. “I guess I can’t really describe it, but, it’s like, whenever she walks into a room it gets brighter, y’know? She has some sort of super power that literally cheers me up at anytime. I’ve known her for years and she’s one of the best people I know. I guess she just doesn’t...see me like that.”
Dorcas just stared at her. For quite a while, too. To the point where Marlene gives her a worried look. “Dorcas..?”
Dorcas takes Marlene’s hand. “You’re an amazing person, Marly. If she can’t see that and want to be with you then she doesn’t deserve you.”
“Thanks, Dorcas.”
Marlene looks at their clasped hands. Her cheeks flushing despite the cool air. “Um...Dorcas?”
Dorcas drops her hand quickly. “Sorry.”
“It’s all good,” Marlene says, staring down at her still warm hand.
“We should probably head in,” Dorcas days after a moment.
“Yeah.”
The two girls pack out their things and start heading towards the castle.
Halfway up the steps to their form Dorcas turns back to Marlene.
“Hey, Marly?”
“Yeah?”
“I—“ Dorcas starts. Marlene leaves forward a bit. Trying to tamp down the small spark of hope she feels.
“You...what?”
Dorcas takes a deep breath. “I— I’m glad we’re friends.”
Marlene feels the sliver of hope fall away. What was she thinking? Nothing was that easy for her. The puzzle pieces never fell into place like that. She wasn’t Remus and Sirius.
“Yeah, me too.”
Dorcas smiles at her and then pushes into the dorm. Marlene sighs and follows her in.
