Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter anything. I mean I own a lot of Harry Potter crap, but I don't actually own Harry Potter.
A/N:Sorry for the late update; I spent a little stint in the hospital. Everything's okay, and I'm going to try to upload another chapter before the end of the week. Please review! This story will not show up in the Marlius/Blackinnon tag as it's rated Mature(and it's rated that way for a reason). If you search the pairing you have to change the rating to ALL, otherwise it searches everything but Mature. Also, this chapter has lemons and lots of Adult Themes in general, so you've been warned. :)
Questions asked in reviews: I'll have to address most in the next chapter, but I'll now address the two I remember (as I'm in a rush and I want to give this one to you guys tonight). Marlene as a character is half angst, a quarter indecisive, and the rest impulsive. I like to think that if mental illness exists within the books, Marlene would be it's poster girl. In Thursdays she is desperately trying to become independent and to experience normal teenage milestones; she starts out put together, responsible, respectful, and ends a complete mess. In the chaos of her seventh year, her feelings for Sirius change very quickly from classmate to attractive/fun classmate to love interest to high emotional risk, and it constantly fluctuates. After playing a tiny part in her parent's murders, she turns inward and shuts out basically everyone. Previously emotionally lacking, she is then suddenly a ball of pure emotion. She blames the emergence of her feelings on Sirius and becomes very bitter and mistrusting of him. Previously just a fling, Sirius starts to have feelings for Marlene in return. Sirius holds Marlene in the same esteem he holds James, although Sirius will always be in James' debt, so I think it's important to remember that no matter what, James will always be Sirius' second. Though all Marlius seems to do is screw around or start random fights, they are both eventually stuck with the other. Marlene tries to end things at the end of their seventh year, and Sirius becomes convinced over the summer that she's just lying to him and herself. He approaches her at the wedding as his old cocky self, and for a minute Marlene remembers her feelings that she's basically cut off. Marlene has black or white feelings, all or nothing thinking. Sirius seems to feel everything on a deep personal level.
And you will see a lot more of Marlene's brothers in this story, including Maize, who didn't really play a role in the first part.
Hope that helps, xx
Marlene took a deep breath as her body slammed full force into slick pavement. Her savior was hauling her to her feet before she had a second to realize she'd been side-along apparated. The feeling of being abruptly vacuumed through all space and time was taking its toll on her equilibrium. The shock of nearly dying wasn't helping either. She closed her eyes as the wet alleyway distorted into a sickening swirl of colors. Clutching at the gloved hand supporting her waist, her frenzied mind tried to make sense of what was happening.
"Hold on, we aren't safe just yet," Sirius' voice came from behind her. She didn't have a second to either feel relieved or object, because the world was caving in on them once again. When all of the spinning stopped she was being half carried toward the divide of two larger buildings which seemingly housed several flats. Her bare feet pressed into cold concrete as Sirius drew his wand, and then to her surprise, the two buildings began to slide apart. It wasn't as if she'd never seen a similar technique in hiding a wizarding establishment, but the grandeur of the building before them bore no resemblance to anywhere she'd imagined an independent-Sirius finding sanctuary. She barely caught sight of the serpentine door knocker as she was lifted safely over the threshold.
"Up, please," Sirius demanded very courteously as they took a turn toward a darkly decorated staircase.
Marlene froze where he sat her, one foot on a stair. She glanced along the row of shrunken decapitated house-elf heads, her stomach turning. "Sirius, where are we?" she hissed, glancing over her shoulder as she grabbed the banister for support. She felt incredibly faint as she realized her mistake. Sirius' stormy grey eyes stared back at her through a mask she'd mostly only seen in the daily prophet and on posters littering wizarding England.
Regulus was already moving past her, grabbing the upper of her arm as she began to protest. She had the distinct feeling that they were being watched and at the same time that she should not raise her voice. She really had no hope of fighting back as the spinning and slanting of everything around her had yet to seize. She fell into Regulus' side as they found their destination. Just before she was half shoved into a Slytherin decorated dream land, she caught sight of the name plate on the door across the corridor, which plainly read 'Sirius Black'.
"Are you mad?" Marlene snapped as Regulus attempted to hassle her to his bed.
"Just sit down, I've got to stop this curse from spreading before you lose consciousness," he explained, making a motion first to grab for the mask concealing his identity, and second, to throw it aside. It vanished like smoke into his room while he simultaneously drew his wand. "Kreacher," he called. Marlene winced as a house-elf appeared with a loud crack. "I'll need some things for her wounds, if you don't mind. Do not tell Mother or anyone else that she is here."
"Yes, Master," the house elf said, dipping into a low bow before disappearing as loudly as he'd appeared.
"I need to go to Saint Mungo's," Marlene said, her eyelids feeling heavy. Regulus was gingerly touching her bare shoulder with his ungloved, wand free hand. "Why would you even bring me here, Regulus?"
"It's better we don't talk at all," Regulus said, sounding far away.
"It's better that I murder you to save my own skin, but you don't see me doing that, do you?" Marlene asked, weakly allowing Regulus to pull her entirely onto his bed.
"As pleasant as usual," she heard him mutter.
"Ouch," she cried, as Regulus gave her cheek a sharp smack and her eyes fluttered open.
He leaned over her to convey his urgency. "Stay awake."
She frowned up at him, holding his stormy stare as the house-elf returned. Regulus slipped a hand under her head to lift it up, pressing an uncorked vile to her lips. She glared stubbornly up at him and pressed the purple swirling potion away.
Regulus moaned. "Please, Marlene. I've had plenty of chances to kill you in the last six months. Don't you think I would have done it by now?"
Marlene took a deep breath and jerked the vile from his hand. She drank its entire contents in one gulp and felt its effects immediately. Regulus pressed his hand over her mouth as she instinctively cried out. She thought she might have heard him whisper 'muffliato' a second later. The bed bent in as he carefully sat at her side. He closed his silver eyes as she wrapped her hand around his wrist to brace herself.
"It shouldn't take much longer," he said quietly, withstanding her tightening grip and the jerks of her body against the mattress. He restored her voice once she'd stilled, but she had to take several moments to catch her breath. "Bella's favorite trick," he muttered, gently touching her blemish free shoulder. "She'll be looking for me and you, even though we were only given directions to recruit…" he finished more to himself, looking brooding.
Feeling clear headed for the first time since she'd initially been attacked, reality seemed to settle in. Regulus caught her shoulders as she sat upright. He only inhaled as she smacked him as hard as she could. She spotted her wand on the night table near his bed and rolled toward it, crying out as he pinned her down. She closed her eyes against his probing grey ones. She couldn't count on one hand the amount of times Regulus had used legilimency on her in the past.
"Max is safe; Bellatrix was trying to draw the both of you from the fields. None of that was supposed to happen. I wouldn't let them hurt you or your family, Marlene. I was the one who suggested we try to recruit you or Max before attempting to murder the both of you. Please Marlene, you'll be in even more danger if anyone finds out you're here," Regulus pleaded, fighting against her as she tried to jerk her arms free and kick out at him.
"Okay, thanks for not killing me then," Marlene spat. "Let go of me, Regulus," she snapped.
Regulus slammed her body back into the bed, pinning her arms at her side as he tried to catch his breath. "I'm sorry," he said, looking a little disheveled as a piece of his fringe fell over his eyes. "We were given instructions to bring the both of you back if you didn't cooperate. Just listen, Marlene."
Marlene stilled reluctantly beneath him, beaten. Her chest rose and fell as hard as his did. She closed her eyes. "Not such a gentleman now, then –that you've joined Voldemort."
Regulus let out a heavy sigh and rolled off of her, falling limply at her side as they both continued to catch their breath. She turned her head to look at him as he dragged his hand over his face, looking incredibly tired and much older than sixteen. It was no wonder she'd mistaken him for Sirius; he'd entirely filled out in their summer apart.
Regulus let his hand fall to the bed with a dulled thud. "I'm very sorry," he said as his eyes searched the canopy above them. "I – I suppose I panicked."
"Very Slytherin of you," Marlene said coldly, letting out a breath and turning her own attention to the canopy.
"I couldn't take you to Saint Mungo's. I couldn't appear to have helped you anymore than having prevented Bella from disobeying orders."
"What will you do now then, idiot?" Marlene asked, unable to hide her irritation after taking a long moment to decide about rather or not she cared.
"I don't know," Regulus said, turning his head to meet her crystal cold stare. He looked to be trying to silently communicate something with her, but she didn't care to interpret what he could have wanted.
She glanced away from him and took a short breath. The rest of her brothers had probably been tricked and Marc had probably caught on. He was probably beside himself trying to find her. She bit her lip as she tried to remember that Regulus really was her friend, and he was only trying to save her life, again. She couldn't really leave and expect him to face Voldemort without an alibi.
"I'm really rather uncomfortable – with you in my bed," Regulus said quietly.
Marlene took a deep breath and arched an eyebrow at the canopy. "I don't think right now is really a time to play the gentlemen card, Regulus, especially since you're the one who pinned me to your bed." She turned her head to look at him, trying to hide her amusement at his frown and the pink that was subtly staining his cheeks.
Regulus professed his feelings for her at the end of her seventh year; well, he'd really professed his feelings for her the entirety of her seventh year. He didn't look at her as she examined his profile. His well groomed hair lay mussed around his pillow and forehead from their previous struggle. It had taken on the handsome wavy nature of his brother's, and it demanded to be tamed.
"What are you doing?" Regulus asked quietly, as Marlene absently brushed it from his eyes.
She huffed and rolled back onto her back, realizing her mistake, realizing how absurd reality was. "I'm sorry, I'm cracking up," she dragged her hand over her face. She had no idea what to do.
Regulus didn't answer her for a second. "I don't mind; I think I am too" he said quietly, heavily. Marlene beat away the stirrings of feelings in her hormone ridden body. Stop, she told herself.
It occurred to her then, what Regulus' only out might be. She turned her head to meet his eyes, guarding her thoughts all but for her silent self-encouragement. An alarm clock ticked out her anxiety as she glanced at Regulus' lips. If Voldemort thought Regulus could sway her – if he could only see Regulus' reason in saving her….
Regulus didn't stop her when she closed her eyes and kissed him. His lips pressed gently like hers, albeit hesitantly. Marlene's heart was beating so hard in her chest that she thought she might puke. She caught the top button of Regulus' shirt, trying to ignore his erratic pulse against the backs of her knuckles. She popped the first button as she slipped her tongue into his mouth. His hand came free from under her side as he caught the side of her face, pulling it again and again to his own. Marlene peaked an eye open and tried to glance down his front, but she couldn't yet see the pocket on the inside of his cloak.
Marlene slid her knee over his as she began to kiss over his jaw to his neck. She slid her hand down his chest. She accidentally caught his hip as she meant to slip her hand into his cloak. Her breath caught in her throat as his hand slid over the curve of hers.
"Marlene," Regulus said in a strangled sort of way. His hand quickly returned to her waist. "Sorry – I apologize – we should –"
Marlene hoped distracting Regulus was as easy as distracting his brother. She quickly rolled over his hips, straddling him as she caught his jaw and drew his lips back to hers. With her knees digging into the bed, she could feel Regulus' wand being tugged to her calf. His tongue darted over hers as his hands slid over her hips, instinctively dragging her hips down to his. Marlene froze, a latent feeling bursting forward as his member rubbed between her thighs. Her tiny breath seemed to drive Regulus further out of his well-kept mind, because any form of chivalry he had left suddenly disappeared as he easily rolled them over.
Marlene's chest began to heave as Regulus kissed a light fiery trail down her throat. His fumbling fingers tugged the straps of her dress down her shoulders. She was trying to remember what she was supposed to be doing but it was nearly impossible with Regulus pressing up against her. She bit her tongue at the moan working up her throat. Regulus' hands slipped beneath her, her hips driving her back into an arch as he caught the zipper of her dress. He yanked it down her hips, pulling his own cloak away as she thoughtlessly pushed it from his shoulders. He nervously began to undo the buttons of his shirts as Marlene shimmied from her dress beneath him. She randomly glanced sideways as he clumsily tugged his shirt free, her breath catching as she caught sight of the handle of his wand protruding from the pocket of his cloak abandoned at their side. Regulus leaned over her, obscuring her vision momentarily until his lips continued where they'd left off, and his fingers hooked the band of her panties. Marlene's mind seemed to race into focus.
What the hell was happening? Marlene tried to focus through the feeling of Regulus pulling her hips to his. Regulus had lost complete control; it was so uncharacteristic of him that Marlene couldn't help but feel completely aroused by the mystery of it. His hair dragged over her chest as his he hesitated before her bra, his lips at the top of her breasts. Marlene wanted him to keep going, but at the same time the entire situation was completely barking mad. She was in Regulus' house, almost naked in his bed, good as kidnapped, probably driving Marc beside himself with worry, while Regulus' maniac cousin was most likely searching her out. She couldn't have sex with Regulus, no matter how long it had been since she'd last enjoyed it with – with his brother, she thought frantically.
She blew out a breath as Regulus distracted himself with undoing the hooks at the back of her bra. She only had one chance to grab his wand before he knew what she was doing. She swiftly slid her hand over the wand until it closed around the handle. Regulus' fingers froze as she jabbed it into his neck.
His grey eyes moved to hers, betrayed. Marlene swallowed hard. "I'm not – I'm not lying," she said meeting his stare, allowing him to see into the truth. "This is – feels amazing," she guiding him off her and onto his back. She moved her long naked legs from the bed and snatched up her own wand at his bedside while drawing his wand from his throat. "This isn't – people are looking for me – and he'll kill you or he'll hurt you if you don't bring me back," she finished incoherently. "I can't do this right now," she said in regret, silently binding Regulus up in ropes with a swish of her wand. He let his head drop back onto the bed, closing his angry black eyes. "Christ, I'm so sorry Regulus."
She stunned him and hurried into her clothes. She sat his wand down near his hand and leant off the bed. "I'm a horrible human being," she muttered to herself as she dragged her hand over her face over and over.
Marlene took a deep breath as she glanced around his room. She wasn't sure what to do or how to leave the house without notice. She wasn't even sure where she was. She reasoned if she made it to the street that she could at least apparate; although, she wasn't really sure where she could go.
In the end she reasoned she would do best to escape first. The house was eerily void of any other existence as she tip-toed down the haunted staircase, deliberately avoiding a glance in the direction of the shrunken elf heads. She didn't think it would be so easy to open the front door, but in the end she didn't really have any other option. She let out a sigh of relief as she slipped onto the outdoor landing. She apparated to Saint Mungo's without preamble.
She didn't think going home would be safe and going to the ministry just seemed even less safe. She slipped through the front doors of the disguised center and was relieved when Alice popped out of nowhere and wrapped her in a tight Alice-sized hug. She was passed onto a very relieved looking Michael.
"Max is upstairs with Maize. Go on with Alice so I can find Marc. He might have already arranged a search party," Michael explained. Marlene only had a minute to notice his busted lip where Sirius must have punched him. Alice was tugging her in the opposite direction within seconds.
"You need a healer; you look pretty banged up Marlene. Where were you? Marc says he saw a death eater take you," Alice rushed.
Marlene glanced around and shoved Alice into an alcove. She clapped a hand over Alice's mouth. "You can't tell, Marc," Marlene said quietly, glancing around the empty corridor. Alice nodded eyes wide. "It was Regulus, Alice," Marlene finished quietly. "What do I say?" she asked frantically, dropping her hand from Alice's mouth. "He's going to ask me what happened and I can't tell him Regulus is a death eater."
"Who tried to kill you, Marlene," Alice snapped.
Marlene shook her head. "When are you going to believe me that Regulus saved us that night?"
"You weren't even conscious," Alice hissed angrily. "Hell, you probably weren't even conscious this time. Max is telling anyone that will listen that you were hit by a bad spell. He's bloody hysterical. How did you get away?"
Marlene shifted from foot to foot and avoided Alice' stare; if she told Alice the truth then Alice definitely wouldn't believe her. "Please Alice, Regulus is my friend, rather you trust him or not."
Alice folded her arms and offered Marlene a heated glare. "I'm not going to help you lie to Marc anymore, not especially if it puts you in danger. I don't think you understand that he's a death eater, Marlene. Fuck, I really don't care half the time – but you know, one of these days you're going to end up dead somewhere because you put too much faith in someone like Regulus." When she finished her eyes were uncharacteristically watery. Marlene realized Alice was truly shaken up by the evening's events and that inevitably she was on her own.
Marc swept Marlene out of the chair beside Max's bed not fifteen minutes later. She wasn't sure he'd ever hugged her so tightly. Marlene couldn't understand why everyone was so worried. Regulus had stopped the killing curse from hitting her. Why couldn't they see that the death eater who'd helped her wasn't going to hurt her? She frowned into Marc's shoulder.
"Did you see who they were?" Marc asked, pulling her at arm's length, his eyes examining her for any injuries.
"Who?" Marlene asked nervously, glancing at Alice and silently pleading with her cousin to keep her mouth shut.
"The Death Eater who took you."
It came perfectly together. "I – I don't know. I woke up in some alley. I'm sorry, I must have passed out."
"Her injuries were already taken care of when she arrived," a familiar voice sounded. Marlene's shoulders drew up as Marc glanced around at Marlene's healer.
The young pretty blonde had met with Marlene throughout the majority of the previous year. Marlene strongly disliked the healer and her kind private smiles that she shared with Marlene's eldest brother. Marlene lowered her angry glare as the healer caught her eye and arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. Marc was still looking at the healer, unbeknownst of how rude he was being. Of course Marc had never had to worry about being rude before, so he probably didn't realize how everyone in the room had noticed his lingering gaze. Marlene had to take a deep breath to calm her simmering annoyance.
"She's okay?" Marc asked, arriving back at reality.
"Hardly a scratch to be healed; she was lucky," the healer answered as she touched Marc's shoulder and then moved around him to Max's bedside.
"Your healer should be around shortly with your tonic, but I told him I'd check on your vitals." Max nodded, forgetting to mind his own jaw as Marc had. Marlene folded her arms and unfolded them, trying to find the perfect stance to convey her irritation.
"We're all fine here," Marlene blurted.
The healer looked up at her with amusement. She scribbled something on her notepad and pocketed her wand. "Is something upsetting you, Miss McKinnon?"
Marlene's mouth worked around an answer. She glanced around for help but everyone watched on with confusion or curiosity. She reached up to rub at her eyes. "It's just been a long day," she said weakly, wishing the witch would leave them alone.
"You're more than welcome to stay here for the evening, Marc," the healer said, tucking her clipboard underarm. "The center could use some more Aurors anyway, and your brother was telling me that you'll be looking for a new address."
"Thank you Carol, we appreciate the offer," Marc said, nodding his head. "Do you think I could talk to you in the corridor for a moment?"
"You're being paranoid, Marc. We're all okay and looked after. I'm sure Carol knows how to do her job," Marlene interjected, tossing a glare at Carol for good measure.
Marc frowned at her and then glanced back to Carol before motioning toward the door. Marlene's teeth gnashed together as they disappeared into the privacy of the corridor. Alice and Max burst out laughing, startling Marlene. She spun around to look at them and then at her two other brothers who were smirking in amusement.
"What?" she asked angrily.
"Talk about overprotective," Alice said, wiping the mirth from her eyes.
Maize was laughing then too. "I don't think Marc even realized – totally oblivious," he breathed.
"She's a bitch," Marlene complained, placing her hands on her hips and glaring around at her family.
"Marlene," Michael corrected her, though he was still smiling.
"Marlene's jealous that she's not the center of attention anymore," Max teased.
"Okay, stop," Marlene said angrily. "She's just – I can see right through it – the smile and – she really is a –" She glanced at Michael who was giving her a look that plainly warned her not to. Marlene let out a breath and let her arms drop at her side.
When Marc returned it was only to report that he needed to return to the ministry. Maize was snoring loudly in the chair in the corner and Michael agreed to spend the night with Max. Alice sat perched on the end of Max's bed, playing exploding snap with him. Marlene was hardly listening, her mind still working over how to sabotage Marc and Carol's budding romance.
"Do you mind if I have a word with the two of you in private?" Marc asked, glancing between Alice and Marlene.
Alice and Marlene glanced at each other and then leapt up to follow him from the ward. He led them down the corridor to an empty room and shut the door behind them. Alice glanced curiously at Marlene as he sealed the room and then turned to face them.
"Don't make me regret this," he said, glancing between them. "I've decided you can stay with Alice until I've found us another house."
Marlene remembered with a jolt, the fire blazing up the side of theirs. "We can't go home?" she asked, swallowing hard as she tried to imagine never returning to her bedroom or her father's study or the sitting room.
Marc shook his head with a solemn frown. "I don't doubt that we could rebuild, but it just isn't safe. Voldemort wants all of us dead or alive and as long as he knows – with the rest of wizarding Britain – where we live, then we aren't safe."
"You're going into hiding?" Alice asked in disbelief. The McKinnons didn't go into hiding. Their bloodline dated back Aurors for centuries. They didn't hide; they fought.
"No, but it wouldn't hurt to have some privacy."
"Can't I just – I mean – Marc, could I please just live with Alice? I know you've already said no," she hurried on. "It's just that – I've been really good all summer." Not to mention if she lived under lock and key for much longer she wasn't sure what would happen with her hormones the next time she was allowed alone with a boy. She could bloody well end up shagging Voldemort himself.
Marc looked thoughtful as his lips drew into the side of his cheek. He blew out a breath. "We'll see at the end of the summer."
Marlene smiled in disbelief, laughing as Alice tugged her into a hug. Whatever resolve she'd had to forever isolate herself from her friends had dissipated over the summer, mostly because spending everyday in the company of her brothers without little entertainment was driving her mad. If everything was screwed then what was the point in making herself miserable anyway? Just because she lived with Alice didn't mean she had to become overly attached to the pixy all over again anyway. She could still keep her distance, she thought confidently.
"I'll have Michael gather what he can from the house in the morning," Marc said, smiling as Marlene gave him a gentle hug. "I'm glad you're okay," he said atop her head, holding her even as her arms dropped loosely around his waist.
