Alrighty, here's the next chapter! I realize that these first few chapters are a bit slow, BUT I promise that it'll get better. We just gotta set the stage, so to speak, so you can see a bit of the twins' lives and how they were raised and such. There's a few more chapters before it gets really fun, and I MIGHT be convinced to post early if you're eager to see where this is going.

Poll time! Do you guys want this story to be only slightly AU, or super AU? I have two different ideas for the ending of this story, but I want to know what you guys think. Let me know in the reviews!

xoxo Malleycat


Chapter Three

September first dawned bright and warm. The McKinnon twins could barely eat breakfast for the excitement coursing through them. After admonishing both children several times, the McKinnon parents gave up and told them to don their traveling cloaks and retrieve their trunks. At last, it was time to head to King's Crossing.

Though McKinnon Manor was already in Scotland, it had been decided early on that Marlene and Marcus would still be taking the train. It was tradition, after all. So each parent took one twin and Side-Along Apparated them all to a designated point not far from the station. They walked calmly through the platforms until they saw Platform 9 on one side and Platform 10 on the other. Each twin had their trunk on a trolley, along with an owl they had each received a couple days prior.

"Alright, clann, off we go," Allina told her children. Murdoch McKinnon went first with Maxwell, helping him push the luggage toward a brick wall. Marlene watched with wide eyes as they disappeared from view. Her mother smiled down at her as they followed. Marlene flinched slightly even though she had just seen her brother pass safely through the barrier. They were through in a flash, and Marlene grinned happily. "Marlene." Her mother's soft voice reminded her to remember her comportment, and the expression on the girl's face lessened in intensity just a bit. "Mind your manners at school, please."

"Yes, mathair," she replied quietly. Her heart thrummed in her chest, though, and she composed herself while she looked around. There were Amycus and Alecto Carrow, the only other set of twins they knew. She also spotted Theodore Nott, James Potter, Sirius Black, Lucius Malfoy, and Evan Rosier. They all had their parents escorting them, so the Purebloods were a bit subdued.

Marlene could immediately tell which of the new students were Muggleborn, as she was sure all her Pureblood brethren could as well. Those students all looked… lost. The Halfbloods didn't look nearly as confused, but since Marlene had grown up around all the other Purebloods, she used deduction to decide which were which.

Her father's voice distracted her from her observations. "Alright Maxwell, Marlene, the train is due to leave in ten minutes. I suggest you get yourselves aboard and find a place to sit before everyone crowds in." Marlene and her twin nodded, then hugged each parent. They were aware of all the eyes around them, so they stoically kept their faces from betraying their trepidation. They'd never been separated from their parents for any length of time, and suddenly they were aware that things were changing. If they hugged their parents for slightly longer than would normally be acceptable, well, the McKinnon parents would miss their children just as much. The house hadn't been empty in eleven years, after all.

"Go on now," Murdoch said gruffly. Marlene kissed her father's cheek one last time, then turned and followed her brother toward the train. A man was taking all the luggage and directing it to a pile of trunks, the conductor, she assumed. After releasing her own, she and her brother waved to their parents before finally climbing aboard the scarlet train.

The compartments were filling up quickly, and they searched through two whole cars before finding an empty one. "Here we go," Maxwell volunteered, sliding open the door to allow Marlene to enter first. They looked around quickly then sat across from each other, naturally gravitating to the seats nearest the windows. The train platform was on the opposite side of the train, so they couldn't see their parents.

Marlene was slightly relieved, as she was sure she would cry if she could see her mother waving goodbye. Ladies simply did not lose their composure thusly in public. Instead, she focused on the sounds of footsteps outside the compartment. There was only a few minutes left before the train would depart, and the students were filling in quickly now. Several people peered into their compartment but moved on when they saw it wasn't empty.

Finally, the train whistle sounded. The twins looked at each other excitedly then out the window as they started moving. Slowly, they picked up speed. Soon, the countryside was passing by in a near blur.

"May I sit with you?" a voice asked politely. Maxwell and Marlene turned as one to the newcomer. "All the other compartments are full," he continued. Marlene smilled when she recognized Sirius.

"Of course," she returned, "Make yourself comfortable." She moved her hand gracefully to indicate he should come in. "I'm Marlene McKinnon, and this is my twin Maxwell," she added, though it was wholly unnecessary as they all knew each other. Of each other, at any rate.

"Sirius Black," he replied with an irreverent grin. Marlene found herself confused for a moment. Did he have no shame? No manners? Did he just wink at her? She sniffed delicately and turned away. She wasn't sure what to make of him, but her cheeks warmed as she stared resolutely out the window.

The boys immediately began discussing Quidditch and what their favorite teams were. Marlene merely watched the scenery change as it blurred past them.

"Did I just hear someone in here say that the Ballycastle Bats are their favorite team?" A new voice distracted them all, and Marlene once again looked toward the doorway. "The Ballycastle Bats? Really? Merlin, they're last in the league!" The wild-haired boy at the entrance looked around with wide eyes, waiting for an answer.

"Err - " Maxwell began, looking slightly taken aback. Marlene mentally rolled her eyes before taking charge.

"That would've been my brother, Maxwell. I'm Marlene McKinnon, and this is Sirius Black," she stated, gesturing at each person. She already knew she was talking to James Potter, but social rules dictated introductions were necessary.

"I'm James Potter," he explained, inviting himself in to sit next to her and across from Sirius. The Quidditch talk quickly resumed, though Marlene didn't have much to add. She had played the sport some in the backyard with her brother, but it wasn't her favorite pastime. The girl made a passable Seeker, but was relatively useless at any other position. It made for some mighty boring games.

Eventually, Marlene slipped a book out of the satchel she'd brought on board with her, and proceeded to ignore the boys. She allowed the trolley lady to distract her, where she bought three Chocolate Frogs for herself, then went back to her book. Awhile later, quite a while according to the crick in her neck, she slowly realized the compartment was quiet. Maxwell and James had both fallen asleep, and her twin was snoring slightly. James' mouth was gaping open. Sirius, though, was wide awake and watching her. She couldn't determine what the look on his face meant.

"Yes?" she asked quietly, trying to keep from waking the boys.

"Are you always so engrossed when you read?" he inquired after searching her face for a moment. Marlene was again taken aback. It wasn't a rude question, per se, but the way he asked made her blush for some reason.

"Well, yes, I suppose. I enjoy reading. Don't you?" Marlene was definitely the more studious of the two twins, though her brother was just as smart. He simply preferred physical activity to mental strengthening.

"Hmm. It's cute," he finally said. Marlene frowned. No boy had ever been so forward with her, and she didn't know how to reply. So she shrugged delicately and went back to her book.

Soon, though, the train began slowing down. Having been coached by her parents on what to expect, Marlene stood and drew her school robes out her bag. "We'd best wake the boys and get our robes on," she stated somewhat lamely.

"Indeed," Sirius agreed. He grinned that same impish grin at her again. He cleared his throat. "OI! You lot! You slept through the Sorting!" James and Maxwell jumped up in a panic, disoriented from their nap.

"You wanker," James muttered, though he smiled, as he realized the train was still moving. Marlene blushed again at the language. Silently, she slipped her robes over her silk dress and sat down to wait for their arrival at Hogsmeade.