Written for Character Appreciation Challenge (Marlene McKinnon), TV Shows Episodes Monthly Competition (write about someone willing to sacrifice themselves for something or someone) and the Ultimate Patronus Quest (leopard: write about someone who dies protecting a loved one)
"They're here," Marlene says, her heart pounding.
"We can run," her mother suggests.
Marlene shakes her head. It's tempting. Maybe there's just enough time to escape, but she isn't hopeful. Besides, cowardice isn't exactly her style.
"Marlene, princess, don't-" her father starts, but Marlene is already walking away.
She has a chance. She's trained for this very moment.
Her hands tremble, but she draws her wand, moving into the kitchen towards the source of the noise. They want her. If her family stays hidden, maybe that will be enough. Dear God, she hopes it's enough.
"Making house calls?" she laughs, grateful that her voice is sturdy.
Lucius Malfoy smirks at her, his wand drawn. The Lestrange brothers and another man that Marlene doesn't recognize stand behind him, wands at the ready.
"It seems that you're a particularly nasty threat," Lucius answers calmly. "The Dark Lord would have come here himself, but he had other matters to attend to."
Marlene shrugs. "That hurts my feelings, actually," she says. "I would have thought I was more important than this. Hunted by a Malfoy. How insulting."
Rabastan snorts. "We'll see how arrogant you are when you're screaming," he says.
Marlene flicks her wrist. "Stupe-"
"Crucio!"
She falls, white hot pain ripping through every nerve in her body. Her mind blurs, and she forgets everything except that sharp ache in every fiber of her being.
"You- You-"
"Crucio!"
She feels her limbs twist. Tears sting her eyes. She has to endure it. She knows this. Let them do whatever they want to her. Her parents can escape, and everything will be okay. Her fate means so little in the end.
The pain fades. Marlene tries to gather her sense enough to move, but her body forgets how to work. She groans.
"Search the house," Rodolphus instructs.
"No!"
A surge of adrenaline, and Marlene rises unsteadily to her feet. Her whole body shakes with the aftershock of the curse. "It's me you want!"
"Merlin's beard. Why do you lot insist on being so noble?" Lucius sneers.
"Stupefy!"
She watches with satisfaction as Rabastan falls to the floor. But she doesn't have time to enjoy her small victory. There are still three other armed men. She turns her wand to Rodolphus.
"Crucio!"
She falls again. Her entire body feels like it's on fire. Marlene screams. But she has to be okay. Her family is depending on her.
"We should spare her," Rodolphus laughs. "Cast an Imperius Curse on her and let her murder her parents. Let her live with that guilt."
"We have our orders," Lucius says sharply.
Marlene sits up. Her stomach twists painfully into knots, and she's afraid she might vomit.
"Haven't you had enough?" Lucius laughs. "Just lay down. You needn't suffer like this."
"This is boring," the fourth man sighs. "Some of us have things to do."
"Expelli-"
"Avada Kedavra!" the fourth falls.
A flash of green. Marlene has just a moment, just enough time to pray that her sacrifice will satisfy them, just enough time to hope that her parents have gotten to safety, before the world grows dark.
