A/N: I know what you are thinking... Marlene... again? but I needed her in this chapter, so no judging me! *cries*
Chapter 11
Marlene McKinnon
Dreading Quidditch practice seems to be normal for me now of days. But especially today my heart races as I walk onto the pitch, spotting Gideon, James and… him discussing something. I haven't really talked to Sirius since Hogsmeade – or since our spat like Lily called it. It really wasn't a spat, and we weren't rowing. We were just… breaking up? I don't know.
"Ah, McKinnon!" Gideon walks towards me smiling "There you are. Do you have any idea where Clearwater is?"
"She's still getting ready," I tell him and he smiles shortly.
"Great then… We'll start practice when she comes out," He winks at me and then walks back to James – Sirius somehow mysteriously disappeared.
I just stand there in the background. The rest of my teammates standing in a little distance, usually I would just go over there and be the cheerful me – okay, who am I kidding? I haven't been the cheerful me for a long time now. Sigh. I don't even know why I have friends, why they haven't left me anyway, I'm bloody weak and don't seem to be able to just effing pull my self together.
Suddenly someone's nose brushes with my ear, "It's not over until I say it is, sweetheart" his voice makes Goosebumps form on my arm and shots of electrics run up my spine causing me to shudder. And I hate the thrill my body seems to love.
I hear his low satisfied chuckle at my response only seconds before Gideon calls start on the practice.
- Hunting for Happiness -
The headline of today's Daily Prophet is horrible, almost ruins my spirit for what shall happen in the end of this week: "THE MINISTRY REPORST THE DEATH OF ANOTHER FIVE MUGGLE-BORNS!"
I close my eyes.
"That's horrible!" Lily exclaims reading over my shoulder: I close the paper and lay it next to my plate - We don't need the paper to remind us what is going on.
"This war is really growing harder and harder isn't it?" I mumble out before stuffing my fork into my mouth.
There are nods all around the table but no one says anything, it's like we've all decided to have a minute of silence for the five muggles.
It isn't until Alice comes skipping from Prefects duties, smiling as usually, that our moment of silence is broken
"Good murning!" She smiles, but it doesn't take her long to catch there is something up, "Why are you all so down?"
Black snaps the paper from next to my plate and hands it to her; there is a moment of silence while she reads
"Oh my," She trails of "… You-You… You-Know-Who?" she then asks and Black nods.
"That's horrible," she says, just like Lily had before her.
"Yep," I agree and she hands me the paper, and I put it back next to my plate.
"Do you guys think we're in danger?" Suddenly Peter peeps up and once again silence fills in.
"I think everyone is in danger," James answers dryly after a moment
"But not as long we're here… Right?" Lily asks, looking over the great hall "Hogwarts is safe – the safest place there is."
"But all the others? Our families … people that are done with school – and people that haven't started school… There are people dying all around - not just muggles." Remus says his voice rather dark and for what seems the thousand time that morning we all go silent.
- Hunting for Happiness -
"Remus is right," Lily continues the subject as we walk back to the Gryffindor Common room after a long hour of potions. "We might not be in danger as long as we're here, but other people are – the headline of the Prophet says it all!"
"Lily, can we like not talk about depressing matters right now?" Mary rolls her eyes.
"Mary, this has to be talked about!" Alice says, agreeing with everything Lily says – I swear, I'll never understand why they aren't better friends, they are completely the same person!
"Yeah, I know that." Mary rolls her eyes again "But not now! Or rather," she looks at her watch "- you guys should talk about this now, I've got to meet Lockart, we've both got free periods- "
"Since when did you become attacked to the hip of Gilderoy Lockart?" I sneer out – rather angrily, though honestly I'm just surprised.
Mary rolls her eyes, ignoring my tone. "I'm not attached to anyone, he's actually rather nice to hang around with – other than you three that only seem to want to talk about annoyingly depressing things! We've got what's left of this year and then only one more year to come here and be safe, then we can all worry about getting killed on our way to work!"
I stare at her, wondering since when Mary talked like this, like she didn't care about people were dying.
"Mary!" Lily seems to be thinking the same as I "People are dead!"
"To late to help them then," Mary continues in a low voice "I'll catch up later," She adds in a much cheer-fuller voice and then turns away skipping up the hallway.
"How can she say that!" Alice seems offended and Lily nods in agreement.
"Give Mary a break," I sigh "It isn't fun talking about You-Know-Who, you know."
"Of course it isn't! It isn't supposed to be fun to talk about people dying!"
"Then lets not, just … lets not talk about it right now," I beg "I just want to have a quiet week, turn sixteen and then we'll worry'bout him"
Lily and Alice don't say a word but I see there mouths are both curled up and they don't seem happy to have to shut up, but I smile and shake my head. Peace at last.
- Hunting for Happiness -
"- And then Dorcas Meadows was all like 'but Patrick said he told Benjy about it!' and I was like 'Well, Peskey obviously didn't if Fenwick didn't know,' and she said 'but then I made a big fool of myself!' and that is the reason why she's going to murder Peskey!" Mary cries out laughing on the couch.
Lily can't seem to be able hide her laughter and Black and Jamie seem not to be able to breathe.
"Common guys, it isn't that funny," Alice rolls her eyes "poor Dorcas! She poured her heart out!"
"But that's funney!" Mary laughs.
I chuckle and roll my eyes at my best –gossip whore – friend, who just ended telling us another story about Dorcas Meadows mishaps, this time she told Benjy Fenwick she loved him because she though he loved her back because Patrick Peskey – her evil cousin and the Gryffindor seeker – told her so.
"I can't believe Meadows believes anything Peskey says," Black barks out.
"She can be really … thick." Mary agrees, still laughing.
"I think we should stop talking about Dorcas," Alice interrupts "We're of to prefect patrol," she informs us and she and Remus both stand up from the couch. "Mary you haven't finished your essay so you should do so." She says mother-like and Mary rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out -child-like.
"Okay, mom" She responds childishly but Alice waves it off and she and Remus stalk out of the painting.
"She really is in a good mood," Jamie laughs sarcastically.
"Oh, she's just still pissed at me cus I wasn't up to talking abut You-know-who all day long," Mary rolls her eyes.
"Well, Mare…" I try "What you said was a bit out of character – people are dying."
Lily nods her head agreeing to what I said, "Yeah Mary, we don't know who could be next… it could be someone we know."
"And then it will be!" Mary says rather defensive "But it hasn't happened yet, so why think like we expect it to do! I don't want to live like that."
"Yeah… but…" Lily tries but doesn't seem to be able to find the right fitting words. Peter, Jamie, Black and I just sit in silence and Mary smirks - happy that Lily can't find anything to say.
"Anyways!" Mary says cheerfully "I'm going to go and finish that darn essay," She rises up from the couch "Ta!"
"Ta!" I mock as Mary walks away, the minute she disappears up the stairs Lily and I both let out long groans.
"What is up with her!" I throw my hands in the air frustrated
"I have no idea! She is so out of character! I mean not the "like" or gossiping or the boys and all that, but ever since –"'
"-She started hanging out with Lockart she's gone bullocks!" I finish the sentence for her and she nods before I continue:
"And how she was talking about the deaths –"
"-Like it was no deal, horrible I know!" now it's her turn to finish my sentence, all the boy's stare at us with weird looks on their faces.
"Do you guys always have to finish your sentences?" James asks
"You seem like you're in a relationship" Black mocks (But what would he know about relationships? I'm surprised he even knows the word!)
I scowl at them "But well haven't you notice how off she is? I mean, I've been 'best friends' with Mare since first year and I love her to death! But even she isn't that shallow!"
"Mary has always been a bit …" James starts but stops, letting the 'shallow and self interested' hang in the air "- but that doesn't change the fact she's still Mary … And she has been really nice and quiet for the past few days… but I mean, people do change,"
"Yeah," Lily shrugs
And I nod, "Yep," I look over at Black who seems to meet my gaze "people really do change."
"I just hope we won't loose her too," Lily continues and her voice forces me to look up from Black and at her,
"Too?" James asks
Lily frowns "This is like with Em all over again … You're always talking about it guys, how suddenly Em just stopped hanging out with us, but first she started changing – suddenly really down but nice to everyone and then back to being her happy self and then … bam!" Lily claps her hands together, for effect "She's gone…"
"Mary isn't going to go 'Emmeline' on us," Black rolls his eyes and for some reason his answer makes me laugh
James, Peter and Lily all smile as well.
"Besides," I say when I've recovered form Black's answer, "it isn't quite the same, Mary isn't being distant, just weird."
"Well I for one think its god damn time the drama in this group came to a minimum." Lily rolls her eyes
"But on the subject of Em …" Peter peeps in – it still, even after 5 years, surprises me when he talks "Where is she?"
- Hunting for Happiness -
"Lily, hush, don't… oh, come over here,"
"Do you have her gifts? Careful!-"
"Hush!"
"Hand it to me, Merlin, Mary."
"Hush!"
I slowly open my eyes to try to realize who is making all that noise – but only to see Alice, Mary, Lily and Emmeline all standing over me with smiles printed on their faces.
"Oh! Marlene you're up!" Alice – who stands there with a big cake in her arms, says and gives me the largest smile I have ever seen.
"Happy birthday!" they all chant then at the same time and wrap me in a group hug.
Gasping for breath I break free and sit up. "-Thanks, what time is it?"
"It's only seven," Mary says – rather grumpily – and yawns.
"The gives us plenty of time before we go down to breakfast," Alice smiles and she and Lily together push mine and Lily's bed together and then they all climb up, putting the chocolate cake in the middle.
Happey birthday Lene! The cake reads and I look at Mary who winks at me.
"I asked Betty the house elf to make it, she was more than pleased to do so." She answers my unasked question.
"Do you want your presents?" Lily then asks.
"Lets have some cake first?" I ask and they all nod excited to taste the beautiful and delicious cake.
After a few minutes of talking and eating, Mary insists that I start opening my presents.
"Mine first, mine first!" she chants like a five year old and pushes her gift – wrapped in purple towards me "I'm best friend so I give first!" she tells everyone childishly and we laugh
"Thanks Mare," I wink at her before taking the gift from her hands and opening it. Inside I find a big glittery quill, big box of my – and Mary's favorite chocolate and of course a pair of really colorful socks – like Mary always gives me. It's our tradition.
I laugh and lean over to give her a hug "Thanks best mate," I tell her with a grin and open up the chocolate and offer her some and then pass it to the other girls.
"By the way," Mary says already with her mouth full of chocolate, "The quill was bought for you to write with in our notebook for example" she winks at me.
"Now open mine!" Lily says happily and hands out a present, this one wrapped in green. "As second best friend I give next" she looks mockingly at Mary who laughs.
"Thanks," I tell her and smile before opening my present, Lily is always thoughtful when it comes to her gifts, I smile to my self as I find a beautiful silver bracelet with the words "Never alone when I have you" carved on it. "Oh, thanks Lils, its beautiful" I smile at her and we both laugh.
"You have our Em's left then," Alice smiles, "We decided to give you together if that's alright." She winks at me before Em hands me a gift wrapped in simple white paper.
"Thank you," I smile at them before ripping the paper of. "Oh, just what I needed!" I smile happily at my new black Quidditch gloves.
"Turn them around," Alice orders and I do as I'm told, inside the palm of the glove there is a picture of the Gryffindor house sign, the big lion smiling at me.
"Oh it's awesome!" I laugh out and hug them both. "Thank you so much."
"Well, we shall be getting up now," Alice then sighs "I'm sure the boys will want to congratulate the birthday gal' as well," she smiles and we all nod and push our bodies of the bed.
- Hunting for Happiness -
"Marleeey!" James's voice comes screeching out as the girls and I walk down the stairs. "Happy birthday!" he exclaims and tackles me, actually tackles me in a hug pushing my body onto the nearest couch.
"Can't breathe –" I tell him and laugh as he gets of off me and I rise of the couch "But thanks Jamie," I give him a smile.
"Happy birthday Marlene," Remus says and smiles before giving me a short but warm hug
"Ha-Happy birthday," Peter stammers a bit but gives me a half hug that only lasts for few seconds.
"Thanks, thanks." I chant over and over again and suddenly Sirius is standing behind me, his hands sneak around my waist and swoop me into his arms as he turns me around so I'm facing him - and pushed to his chest.
"Happy birthday Mars," he half whispers and spins me – or really us - around, lifting my legs from the ground. I feel dizzy as he lets go, causing me to fall back on the couch, the ground still spinning in front of my eyes. Damn, that boy knows how to hug.
"I've got your present!" James exclaims happily next to me on the couch and hands me yet another gift. "It's from mum and dad too of course," he then adds.
"Thank you," I smile at him and open the gift, inside there are beautiful diamond earrings. "Oh James! They are gorgeous, thank you," I smile at him and kiss his cheek "Tell your mum I love them."
"Will do," James promises
"Here you go Marley," Remus then says and hands me a gift "its from Pete and me…" he looks at me before glancing a bit at Sirius who looks away from him, staring at the wall behind us.
"Thanks Rem and thanks Pete," I smile at them both and open the gift, "Yum! Thank you, I love this kind of chocolate," I smile at the chocolate they gave me and then at them. They both smile silently back.
"We should go to class," Alice declares after a short silence.
"Yup," we all agree and I meet Sirius gaze, his hug still has me a little dazed and I can't shake the feeling of disappointment away, being left empty handed from the only person I was actually looking forward to see if… if only I would get a gift from. I shake the feeling off the best I can, putting my fake smile back on and following everyone out the portrait.
- Hunting for Happiness -
"My day" goes by slowly – boringly; We go to class like always, people all around wish me a happy birthday and I smile back with my fake smile and exclaim, too happily "Thanks!" at everyone.
My siblings find me at lunch and all give me their gifts; Candy from Matthew and Marcus and makeup from Maria – all what I expected.
But soon it is evening again and my day is soon to come to an end.
We girls all sit together in the Common Room. Just talking, but I can't stop wondering why Em is here… she doesn't even seem to want to be here. Maybe she's trying to be nice… because it's my birthday. People have to be nice on their friend's birthdays – I guess.
Mary seems to not want to be here either, she keeps yawning and glancing at the clock.
Alice has to leave early for prefect duties so not even she can keep the conversation flowing.
Lily seems to be falling asleep and when Alice finally returns they both are to tired to keep their eyes open so they wish us good night and leave.
Leaving me alone with Em and Mare.
Em and I never were that close so I don't blame her for leaving early as well.
It's another story when it comes to Mary; we are best friends. Have been for freaking 6 years. But she yawns, again and again and then suddenly – or finally, I'm not sure, she says;
"Aren't you tired Lene…? Maybe we should just go up to bed,"
I shake my head 'no'. "I'm not tired, you go if you want –"
Mary sighs (or yawns) and stands up "You sure you don't want to come?"
Before I can answer we get cut off by James that comes walking down from the boys wing "Have either of you seen Padfoot? Can't seem to find him anywhere," he yawns tiredly.
"Nope," Mary answers before blowing us both a kiss "Goodnight!" and then walking up the girl's wing.
"If he comes walking in, tell him I'm looking for him," James yawns and walks over to me to kiss my forehead as I nod, "Happy Birthday Marley," He whispers before leaving, just like Mary did, just like everyone did.
I do of course already know where Sirius is… He's at his – our – safety place. Where else would he go?
It's my birthday and that's the reason why I cave (or at least that's what I tell myself is the reason), technically it isn't even my birthday anymore, I glance at the clock. 12:02.
I know what to think to open the Room of Requirements, because I've done this before – million times before.
And of course I find him, sitting on the bed – alone.
Him having company was my biggest fear, but he's alone and that's good.
He looks up and straight into my eyes. "… It's your birthday … I don't expect you too –" he begins but I cut him off, holding my watch the in air.
"It isn't my birthday anymore," I tell him silently and he stands up from the bed and walks towards me. My body is pushed against the door and I glance into his eyes, he looks… broken.
"The war is going crazy," he mumbles out.
"I know…" I'm not even sure why I'm saying anything; maybe I'm just supposed to listen?
"There are Death Eaters in this school," he mutters darkly, like he didn't hear me.
"Sirius –" I try; using his name to calm him - but of course it doesn't work. "We don't know if the Slytherins really are Death Eaters, we're just sixteen, they are just –"
"Who cares," Sirius sneers, cutting me off. "He is only fifteen." I realize then whom he's talking about. Regulus. It's always about Regulus.
"Do… do you think he –" I can't make myself finish the question – hell, why did I even ask?
"I do," he confesses "I think my little brother is becoming a fucking Death Eater." That's the last thing he bluntly says to me that night, next thing I know he's kissing me – roughly and somehow we end on the bed.
But I don't fail to notice his steady whispers – like a steady rhythm against my lips; because now it's his turn to apologize to me.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
A/N: So this chapter was… LONG. Lo-ho-hong. Eight effing pages!
I realize Mary might seem totally different from the other pov's than when she is the one the chapter forms around, but its all going to be slowly and boringly – kidding! – explained!
Anyway, I think I got all my scenes pretty much summed up in this one, this was my big "Marlene's birthday chapter" it pretty much was all for that last scene … The Sirius is weak and breaks down and once again Marlene is there… blah…blah…blah! Hehe!
I know many of you guys are disappointed with the lack of James/Lily scenes (and there has been no Frank/Alice since chapter 2… woops!) but Lily and James do not start dating until seventh year, J.K. Rowling says so her self, so that's how it is dear mates… there shall be a lot more of James and Lily the more closer 7th year comes, I'm not saying there won't be any Limes (hehe) scenes until then, because there will! I promise!