inspired by Gamma Orionis' femmeslash tag on HPFC.

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Lily comes storming into the dorm; anger darkens her green eyes, flushes her cheeks, and for a heartbeat Marlene is sure she's a goddess. A vengeful, fiery goddess come to destroy them all.

Then Lily throws her bag down onto her trunk and starts yelling about James Potter – again, always, James Potter and his stupid friends, Marlene knows the rant better than Lily does. The room slides back to normal because it's only Lily. Only Lily, who may be a goddess after all.

Marlene doesn't even try to listen; she's mesmerized by the shape of Lily's lips, by the vicious light in her eyes, by the way her freckles stand out against her flush. She wants to reach out to her. She wants to save Lily from her fury. She wants to make Lily this mad. She would do anything to make Lily see her like Lily sees James, because Marlene is smart, she knows what's happening even if Lily doesn't.

She's not brave enough, she never is; and three years later Marlene gets the wedding invitation and promises to be the maid of honor as if it isn't killing her. But the feeling is nothing new; Lily's been killing her slowly for years.

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