A/N: I would suggest that you read the introductory post on this fanfic before starting this chapter, it sort of explains the format and meaning behind this fic. Obviously, you don't have to if you don't want to, it's just a little context! the link can be found on my FF profile. Just click my name up there ^
So, here is the first 'demon', Marlene's ability to love. As ever, the Potterverse belongs to the wonderful JK Rowling.

Chapter 1: Love

1974, 5th Year

"Look, Marley, it's definitely not you. It's all me, I promise. I just don't think I want to be in a relationship right now." The adolescent shifted uncomfortably in his sugary cerise chair. The vinyl squeaked and a new wave of tension broke upon the 'couple'.

"If I did, it'd be with you." He winced internally; the line sounded even worse out loud.

"I don't understand, Daniel," Marlene McKinnon's voice wavered and splintered as she stared at her now ex-boyfriend across the doily laden table. "Everything was going really well. I thought we had something good…"

Daniel Abbott sighed softly as the girl's deep blue eyes filled with tears. Why did he ever even contemplate breaking up with Marley in Madame Puddifoot's? They were surrounded by loved-up couples who just couldn't tear their prying eyes away from the drama unfolding before them. Surely there must have been many break-ups in this café – surely the waitresses at least could stop gawping and take some orders…

"You-you said… you loved me." Marlene wailed softly. Her words pitched and quivered before breaking off into choking sobs.

"Uh, I did, babe. And the time we spent together was great, yeah? I'll look back fondly! I wish things could be different… Marley, I'm sorry. I- I, um… Bye."

And with that failed attempt at eloquence and sincerity, Daniel left his former girlfriend to sob over her cappuccino, letting her tears trickle into the candy coloured foam. The confetti hearts rained down around her and a babble of sweet nothing began to rise up again in a smug and cruel mockery of her loneliness.

"Hessie!" Marley cried upon stumbling across the threshold of the Ravenclaw Common Room; she'd barely been able to stutter out the answer to her question – "What is something both beautiful and terrible, something that should be treated with great caution, that we value so much in others?"

"Oh, Hessie, do hurry!" She collapsed into a nearby armchair and let herself be engulfed by the dark material. Marlene's tears had subsided somewhat after sitting desolately in Puddifoot's for a further two hours after Daniel's departure but her eyes were still red and raw.

Hestia Jones was draped across her bed, avidly pursuing a thick tome on Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration when she heard her best friend's plea for help. She sighed softly to herself. That sounded like a break-up wail, she mused, but it was unusual for Marlene even to drag herself to the Common Room after a break up.

When Jimmy McLaggen had ended it, Hestia had been informed by a terrified First Year that Marlene had just broken down on the road from Hogsmeade to the Castle and was refusing to move. Hestia had sat there for about an hour consoling and comforting before she could convince her best friend to get up.

Marlene, Hestia had discovered over the five years they had spent together at Hogwarts, was a very emotional person; especially when it came to love. She had a big heart and experienced everything to the max: when she was happy, she was soaring – elated and exultant; when she was bored, she positively died of ennui and nothing could lift her mood and when she was in love, it was all or nothing. She would surround herself with this little world of just her and him, blinded to anything and everything else.

She never forgot her friends though; Hestia was never left behind by Marlene's relationships. If she had been, they wouldn't still be so close. Marlene was terribly desirable amongst the males of Hogwarts, even Sirius Black had been known to drop his cool exterior and go a little crazy over her.

If Marlene had dropped her best friend every time a new guy came along then there'd be no 'Hessie and Marls'. Their names were inevitable; one never left the lips of a Hogwarts student without the other following.

Marley snuffled slightly, her eyes fixed on the bust of Rowena. She was beautiful and smart, I bet she never let boys break her heart, Marlene thought morosely. Hessie was constantly telling her not to be so naïve about love and that she ought to protect her heart better. It was alright for Hestia though; she was dating Benjy Fenwick and he'd adored her since First Year. Everyone had known. Boys didn't really adore Marley. They just really, really fancied her.

"Marls, what have you gotten yourself into now?" The dark haired girl slumped in the armchair looked up at the sound of her best friend's voice, a soothing and comforting sound. "You want me to go Transfigure him into something horrendous, because I will if you want me to…"

Hestia always started her break-up speeches like this. Marlene always made sure to raise a little giggle out of nowhere at the half-hearted note in Hestia's voice. It was how Hessie knew she was okay. They had a routine now.

"He said he loved me."

"It's what boys do: lie so they can get in your pants." Hestia flopped beside Marlene, encircling her in a warm hug.

"You know what I'm like, I was so sure. I mean, third time's the charm, right?"

"No, there's no science behind love."

"How will I know when I'm really in love? I manage to delude myself so bloody often…"

"Hey! Marlene, it's not your fault. And it's his loss, okay?"

I should try to restrain myself next time, keep myself reigned in, was what Marley thought to herself as she lay with her best friend. But she was a free and open sort of person. She found it tremendously difficult to stop her emotions from spilling out. She often sung because she couldn't find the words to speak.

"Hestia, I'll never find someone who can love me as much as I can love them. Maybe I should give up."

"On boys?"

"On true love."

Hestia sighed, the worst thing about these break-ups was that Marlene tended to blame herself for being so benevolent with her love.

"Maybe I should date Sirius Black, I hear he's a real heartbreaker! Treating 'em mean and keeping 'em very, very keen!" Marlene laughed properly this time. She and Hestia often joked about how the little Third Year was becoming a real stud.

"Ugh! Come on, he's like two years younger than us…" her friend wrinkled up her nose and pulled a face.

"One date couldn't hurt…" Marley winked lavishly and suggestively, making Hestia join the laughter.

A third voice piped into their conversation; the comment came from the boy spread haphazardly across the sofa beside them.

"Black? Really, Marls? And there was me thinking you had some measure of standards left!" His face popped up over the arm of the chair; his sandy blonde hair tousled, his mouth twisted into a joking smile while his clever dark eyes showed genuine distaste at the idea.

"Caradoc?" Marley managed his name through her snickering. He was a friend of hers, they had lots of classes together. "What's it matter to you who I date?"

He looked so sincerely confused by this question, scratching his head and trying to find and answer that the girls couldn't help but laugh harder.

"Well, whatever! I'll be the one laughing when you two repeating this age-old ritual again this time next week!" He waved his quill at them jokingly as he walked towards the boys' dorm.

Hestia shot a quick searching glance at her friend; Caradoc was right though – Sirius Black was not a good idea with Marlene in this sort of emotional state. Marley caught the look and raised her eyebrows.

"Hess," she whined. "Don't fuss! Trust me, I won't let myself be fooled by Black." She laughed again.

"Don't fuss? Fine, next time you collapse in here, dying of a broken heart I won't come running to your aid." The blonde huffed slightly.

"Shut it Jones, you know I am forever in your debt for the amount of emotional support you give me. I'm just saying that Sirius would be the perfect guy to show Daniel I am so not cut-up about this."

Hestia knew better. She always did. "But you are cut up about this," she waved Marlene off, knowing she was about to interrupt. "It's completely understandable. Let yourself mourn for a while. Give yourself some time to grieve. I know you Marlene McKinnon - you can't possibly bottle up your emotions."

Hestia thought to herself, one week later, I almost regret those words. But she was a very forgiving soul and she couldn't begrudge Marlene anything, no matter how much sobbing she had to put up with.

Marley had taken Hessie's words to heart and had mostly remained self-imprisoned in her dormitory. She left her solitary confinement for lessons, prefect duties and dinner; as one of the most well-liked girls at Hogwarts, she had to keep appearances up.

Dinner times amused Hestia particularly, people's reactions to Marlene were absolute gold. She'd walk in regal and calm, shooting sad but placid smiles to select people: Lily Evans, who idolised Marlene's beauty and spotless record; Daniel Abbott and his friends, who all gave the impression of being rather glad Marley was back on the market – screw Daniel. She saved a special smile for Sirius – marginally less sad with a hint of sultry.

Dorcas Meadowes (Marlene and Hestia's other best friend, a Hufflepuff) did a fantastic impression of the slightly dazed look that clouded Black's features after seeing Marley's seductive smile.

But when she wasn't enchanting the boys of Hogwarts and making the girls' hearts ache with sympathy, Marlene was really quite miserable.

Gallons of chocolate ice-cream were consumed, hours of heart-to-hearts took place and many a t-shirt was ruined with salty tearstains.

"Merlin Hessie, I wish I didn't love so much."

A/N: I've really loved writing this fiction so I'd adore reviews. I really, really want to know what you all think of this. If you all seem positive enough then I'd love to write up some other stories (e.g. Caradoc Dearborn?).

Anyway, thank you so much for reading! Even more for reviewing ;)

Elle xx