Amid the war, Marlene found herself smiling. Everything seems to be sunny all of sudden at the prospect of a wedding that soon will lighten up the mood for everyone. She couldn't be happier for James and Lily, somehow she was also counting on the fact that it will work as a charm for all of them. She apparated directly to their garden and saw the familiar expanse of their estate.

For a day, she bid her friends, the Order members goodbye. She wanted to make sure everything was perfect for James' wedding. There's a dress she had to get, some props she needed to make the event much more cheerful, and also to inform her parents of the upcoming activities. Sending owls nowadays is too dangerous. You'll never be sure if it'll be intercepted while sending your patronus is too flashy and will definitely be detected by the Death Eaters.

Without having to knock, she opened the door and expected for their house elf, Selsi, to welcome her. She counted on the fact that her parents were safe, that nothing will befall them as she told them never to get involved and lie low.

What met her was the eerie silence. "Hello? Mother? Father?" Marlene wondered where anyone might be. She heard something behind her as she went to living room.

"Well, what a nice timing, we were just getting acquainted with your family here, McKinnon." As she look at the source of the voice, she saw Travers holding her mother by the throat a wand poised in her neck. Her poor mother was shaking with fear, this was a side of her Marlene had never seen before. How can this happen when she told her specifically to be vigilant. She looked in horror and wondered right away where her father was. Why did they even go here but the words got stuck and the death eater continued. "You see, you blood traitors are as worst as those mudbloods."

Marlene's palm itch, she wanted to reach for her wand just inside her robe. But then most of them pile up in the living room, trapping her inside. In the distance, she heard a commotion down in the basement. A loud male scream pierced through her hearing and know well enough that was her father.

In that minute, she knew, she will never get to see her friends anymore. She'll never be able to hold Sirius again, it was all lost. As a last effort, she quickly reached for her wand. Her mind was all but flooded with remorse and asking forgiveness to everyone for all of this. Sorry to her parents who she wasn't able to save in time. Sorry to James and Lily who'll will have to hear this news before the day they should be happy. Sorry to Sirius who loved her even though it took a lot for him to put down the walls he built around himself. But before she can even cast a spell, a loud voice reverberated in the walls of the house.

"Avada Kedavra!"