Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC's
Chapter Eleven
"McKinnon!" Sirius yells across the Quidditch pitch at me. James woke the whole Quidditch team up early today for our last practice before the Christmas holidays.
"What do you want Black?" I reply, eyeing his tall, sweaty form and biting my lip lightly.
He runs towards me and bowls me over so that he's hovering over me on the frosty ground.
"You don't know what you do to me when you bite your lip like that." Sirius growls in my ear, causing me to shiver.
"Hey Padfoot!" James yells, "Get your fat ass off of Marly and come and help me set up!"
Sirius winks at me and heads over to where James is trying to set up an athletic course for the team to complete. We're trying to train up our new beater but it's difficult not seeing my lanky, blond haired, angel faced brother chasing after Sirius with his beaters bat.
"You alright McKinnon?" Reuben asks, appearing next to me and staring quizzically at me.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." I smile tightly at the boy. I don't really want to bring up Cas and ruin the high spirits of the team; Reuben shared a dorm and classes with him for five years.
"Right team!" James yells, motioning for us all to come over. "I want you all to try your very best with this trial today. The Christmas holidays start tomorrow and I don't want you all to forget about your training."
I roll my eyes at James' competitive behavior and I see Sirius shoot me a smirk when James isn't looking.
"Stop trying to flirting with Marly!" James shouts, chucking the quaffle at the back of Sirius' head.
"Oh I'm not trying," Sirius replies, "I'm succeeding."
I roll my eyes at Sirius' big headed behavior however I can't keep the smile off of my face.
"Ok, everyone ignore Padfoot and start these drills." James laughs, motioning to the courses he's set up on the quidditch pitch.
After two hours of gruelling drills and having to listen to James yell at us all about how slow we are, he finally lets us go shower.
"I think this captaincy is going to your head." I laugh, ruffling his dark hair.
"Oi," James replies, reaching up to run his hand through it. "You're going to mess it up."
I can't help but laugh loudly at that, "I don't think it's humanely possible for your hair to get any messier James."
I notice Sirius giving me a confused look and I raise an eyebrow quizzically at him. He shakes his head in reply and disappears into the boy's locker room. That was odd.
"You excited for Christmas Marly?" James asks, slinging an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his side. I give an uncommitted shrug and James shoots me a worried glance.
"I might stay at Hogwarts." I reply, avoiding his hazel eyes.
"You're not serious are you?" James asks in shock, whipping me around so that I'm facing him properly.
"I am Sirius." Sirius laughs, walking up behind me and looking between the two of us in confusement. "What's going on?"
"Marly said she's going to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas." James replies, giving Sirius a knowing look.
"James-" I start but he cuts me off.
"No Marly, mum would be delighted to have you stay, and dad keeps asking when you're going to visit. They missed you over the summer." James says, his hazel eyes filled with worry. "We want you to stay Marly, don't we Padfoot."
"Oh, yeah, of course we do." Sirius replies, tripping over his words slightly and I detect a faint blush on his cheeks when my eyes snap up and I notice he's staring at me.
With a large smirk on my lips I unconsciously angle my body towards him and James gives us an odd look before rolling his eyes.
"C'mon Marly." He whines, widening his light hazel eyes.
"Fine." I grumble, "But I'll need to owl my parents."
"What's happening with your betrothal to Rosier?" Sirius asks later that night. We're currently in his bed whilst the others are down in the common room celebrating the last night before the Christmas holidays.
"Dumbledore's managed to cast a spell on me at school so that he can't come within 25 ft of me, so that's good." I reply, playing with Sirius' messy hair.
"What about when you go home?" Sirius asks, pulling me closer to him so that my head rests against his bare shoulder.
I shrug heavily and I don't know what overcomes me but I find myself placing a soft kiss on Sirius' cheek.
"W-what was that for?" He asks, his heartbeat speeds up under my hand and there's an uncertain look in his eyes.
"I don't know." I reply, placing my head back on his shoulder. "For being a good friend?" But we both know it's more than that.
This... this thing was not meant to be like this. I shouldn't get butterflies in my stomach whenever I hear him speak and I shouldn't be blushing every time he gives me that look.
"I better get changed." I whisper, glancing at the clock by Sirius' bed and noticing that it's nearly 11 O'clock. "The others will be back soon."
Sirius pulls me back down next to him and uses his wand to close the drapes around his bed.
"What's life without a little risk?" He whispers, pressing a rough kiss against my lips.
"How long till we can get off this bloody train?!" Alice yells, throwing her book onto the floor in frustration. "Is it just me or is this journey taking longer than usual?"
"You just want to see Frank." I laugh, causing Alice to pick her book back up and chuck it at my head.
"I heard you're spending the holidays at the Potters." Alice replies, raising a questioning eyebrow at me and leaning her head on my shoulder. "Are you and Sirius still shagging?"
"No." I lie, fighting the blush off of my cheeks.
"Then what's that?" Lily smirks, moving my hair to reveal a couple of love bites on my neck.
"I- Um..." I start however Alice cuts me off.
"Just be careful Mar, especially with what's going on with Rosier. We know he can't hurt you at school but you aren't going to be at Hogwarts for the next few weeks."
"But I'll be at the Potters." I reply, rubbing my eyes. "It's safe there."
Lily gives me an odd look and glances around the carriage.
"Where is everyone?" She asks in confusion.
"Official Marauder business." I reply tiredly, repeating what James told me earlier.
"Speak of the devils." Alice laughs as the four boys pile into the compartment. Sirius squeezes in between Alice and I and casually throws his arms around each of us.
"What've you lot been doing?" Lily asks, leaning away from James as he tries to plant kisses all over her face.
"Ah, what would be the fun in spilling out secrets?" Sirius laughs, his eyes crinkling up as he does.
Lily rolls her eyes at the four boys and soon relaxes into James' arms and picks up her muggle book again.
"Want to play exploding snap Marlene?" Peter asks his watery eyes wide in hesitation. Peter has always been intimidated by me. I don't know why, he's fine with Alice and Lily but he's always nervous around me.
"Sure Pete." I reply, smiling kindly at the nervous boy. He visibly relaxes when I accept his offer and pull a packet of cards from his pocket.
Alice shrugs off Sirius' arm however he keeps one around me and slowly slides it down so that it's around my waist.
I glance up at him however he's not looking at me but at a sixth year Ravenclaw who's sending him flirtatious looks from outside the compartment. When the girl motions for him to follow her Sirius stands up and announces that his exceptional skills are needed elsewhere.
Alice and Lily both glance over at me however I just stare out at the blurred scenery; forgetting about my game with Peter.
"It's good to see you dear." Mrs Potter smiles warmly, pulling me in for a tight hug. "I haven't seen you in such a long time Marlene, what've you been doing?"
"More like who have you been doing." Sirius whispers in my ear and I can't help but shiver at his proximity.
"There you two are!" Mrs Potter exclaims pulling James and Sirius in for a hug before smacking them both round the back of the head. "I thought you said you would try to get fewer detentions this year? Not more!"
"Sorry Mum." They chorus however neither of them looks very sorry.
"Oh you boys." Mrs Potter says fondly, "Come on let's go home, your father won't say it but he'll be happy to see you."
"How's he doing?" I ask, pushing my trolley through the barrier behind Mrs Potter.
"He's doing alright." Mrs Potter says sadly. "Don't tell the boys, but this might be his last Christmas with us." Tears appear in the corners of Mrs Potter's eyes and I pull the grey haired woman into a tight hug.
"Marlene." A sharp, cold voice says. I spin around to face my mother; her pale face is thinner than the last time I saw her and her white-blonde hair is pulled back in a tight bun.
"Mother, what're you doing here?" I ask, looking around for any sign of my father.
"I cannot allow you to spend the holidays with those... those blood traitors." My mother spits out the word. I ball up my fists in anger however I notice that the Rosier family are standing close by and I realise why my mother is doing this.
"Janet-" Mrs Potter starts but my mother cuts her off.
"Don't speak to me." She says coldly, "Come here Marlene, we're leaving."
"But mum-" I start however she steps forwards and grabs my arm.
I look back to see Sirius reaching for his wand and James trying to calm him down. Mrs Potter looks heartbroken; I can't bear to see them like this.
"What are you doing?" I scream at my mother once she's dragged me outside. "I was going to sta-"
"After your current behaviour at school, and that silly charm that Dumbledore put on Evan Rosier, you've put us at great risk." My mother scolds, turning on the spot and apparating us home.
"Dumbledore can help you mum!" I shout, "I can't live like this! I can't do it. He'll kill me mum, he tried to..." I choke back a sob and my mother grabs my face roughly in her hand.
"He will kill you if you disobey Marlene." She says coldly, "Go get dressed for dinner. Wear something decent for once." She commands, looking me up and down in disgust.
"What happened?" I ask, shaking in anger. "What happened to the brave woman you used to be? The mother I remember would never let this happen to her children. You sit at the same table as the woman who tortured your daughter and the man who killed your son. How can you live with yourself?"
"Go get changed." My mother replies before disappearing off somewhere.
I spent the majority of the week leading up to Christmas in my room; the house elves brought my meals to me however I hardly ever ate them anyway. My mother behaviour makes me sick; both physically and mentally.
No one has sent me any letters yet; not even James, Lily, Alice or... Sirius.
"Miss," A small voice speaks from the door way. I lift my head to see our small house-elf Findra standing there. "Your mother would like you to come to for Christmas dinner."
"It's Christmas today?" I ask quietly, my voice not used to being used. Luckily my mother hasn't hosted any death eater events at the house and I haven't been summoned to any yet.
"Yes Miss, your mother would like you to know that the Rosier's will be joining you for dinner tonight." Findra replies before turning to leave the room.
"Wait Findra!" I call to the small house-elf; she turns on her spot and looks at me with her large doe eyes.
"Yes Miss?" She asks timidly.
"Merry Christmas." I whisper, smiling kindly at the small house-elf.
"Thank you miss, Merry Christmas to you too Miss." Findra says, keeping her eyes on the ground before she leaves.
I open my wardrobe to see that my mother has replaced all of my clothes with long, dark dresses.
I pull out a dark blue, knee length dress which will hopefully cover the love bites on the chest and neck. Damn you Sirius Black.
I manage to make myself presentable before slowly walking down the stairs for the first time in a week.
"Merry Christmas." My father says stiffly, kissing my forehead. My mother barely acknowledges my presence however she does point to a seat at the long table next to Evan Rosier.
I flinch at the sight of him and he smiles creepily at me when I sit down.
"It's cute, that little spell you have on me at Hogwarts." Evan snarls, his warm breath brushes my face and I flinch away. "Luckily for me it doesn't work here."
I shudder at his words and stare straight ahead at the empty chair where Caspar should be seated. Last Christmas was so different to this; we spent Christmas as a family, dads parents came round, we opened presents, laughed and stuffed ourselves with turkey and stuffing.
We spent Boxing Day with the Potter's (and Sirius of course) and it was like Christmas day all over again; I was happy. We were happy.
My parents discuss Rosier and I's wedding throughout dinner and I glance around at the rest of his family. A brown haired girl is seated diagonally from me and I can't help but notice how terrified she looks sat next to Patrick Rosier; a large, angry looking man.
The girl can't be much older than I am and she looks positively terrified of the man next to her; I noticed her large stomach when she came in earlier. How can people's parents do this to their children? Sell them off like they're meat, like they're objects. The poor girl was forced to marry that slimy git and now she's forced to have his fucking baby. It isn't fair, none of it is.
I'm pulled out of my thoughts my Rosier placing his hand on my thigh; I stiffen at his actions however he acts as if nothing is happening.
"We shall go to you room after this." Rosier growls in my ear, his hand moving further up my thigh and under my skirt. I resist the urge to punch him in the face and luckily Mrs Rosier addresses me before Rosier can go any further.
"So Marlene, are you excited for your wedding?" Mrs Rosier asks me, her golden hair is elegantly curled and she smiles kindly at me. I'm confused by her actions however I return her gaze with a cold glare.
"Absolutely ecstatic." I reply, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"What she meant to say is that she is very excited about joining such a noble and powerful family." My mother responds, shooting me an warning look. I roll my eyes at my mother's behaviour and return to staring at my untouched food.
After the awkward dinner is over, the men retire to the study to drink whiskey and do 'man things', it's all delusional. They probably talk about a load of crap and themselves and crawl further up each other's arses.
"So, when's the baby due?" I ask the mousy haired girl, boredly flicking a pea across the table.
The brown haired girl looks up, shocked that someone is actually talking to her.
"Anytime now." She responds, placing a small hand on her swollen stomach. My mother and Mrs Rosier left to discuss wedding plans, leaving me with this girl.
"What's your name?" I ask, resting my chin on my hand.
"Eleanor Garreton." She responds.
"Hey, weren't you in Ravenclaw, a couple of years above me?" I ask, my eyes lighting up in recognition. "What happened?" I ask softly.
"It got really bad, they threatened my family. My younger sisters are still at Hogwarts and I have two little brothers who aren't even first years yet. I had to do this to protect them. You need to run before it's too late, once your married no one will help you. They're all too scared." Eleanor whispers urgently, "I can help you get away tonight."
"How?" I whisper, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
"The baby's coming." She smirks, waving her wand and crying out in pain.
"Eleanor!" I shout, running round to her side of the table.
"What's all this shouting about?" My mother asks, coming out of the living area.
"The baby's coming. " Eleanor replies, her brown eyes wide in fear. "Go." She mouths when no one is looking.
During the commotion downstairs I manage to rush upstairs and grab my trunk, chucking in my belongings and levitating it out of the window. I climb down after it and run to the pavement.
Where can I go... the Potters? Just as I'm about to apparate the front door flies open and Evan Rosier storms out, a murderous expression on his face.
"Where the fuck do you think you're going?" He growls, taking a step towards me.
"Pertificus totalus!" I shout, watching his body drop to the floor like a stone. "I hope that hurt." I growl, kicking him in the balls and apparating away."
I end up in the flower bed in the Potter's front garden and I quickly brush the mud off of me before knocking rapidly on the front door.
"Marly?!" James exclaims in shock, pulling me inside the house and bolting the door behind me before sealing it with magic. "We've been so worried!" He shouts, pulling me into a bone crushing hug and not letting go.
"James-" I gasp, "I can't breathe." I manage to laugh and he breaks out into a grin.
"Why didn't you reply to our letters, Lily and Alice are worried. They're been owling me non-stop asking about what happened and why you aren't here." James says, leading me through to the front room.
"Who was it?" Sirius asks as James enters the front room. I step in behind him and Sirius jumps up out of his seat and rushes towards me.
"Mar-" He starts before pulling me against his chest. "What the fuck happened?" Sirius exclaims, holding me by my shoulders, James is looking at me as well.
"Do you remember Eleanor Garreton?" I ask, looking between the boys.
"Wasn't she a couple of years older than us, in Ravenclaw?" James asks, "What about her?"
"She's married to one of the Rosier brothers, not by choice, and she's pregnant - also not by choice." I growl angrily, "She magically put herself into labour so I could get away. I hope she's alright."
"I'm sure she's fine Marly." James says, taking a step towards me and kissing my forehead. "I'll get mum and dad."
Sirius pulls me over to the sofa and I can't help but rest my head on his shoulder.
"Did- did Rosier try anything?" Sirius asks angrily, his hands playing with my hair.
"I stunned him and kicked him in the balls." I reply, smiling at the memory.
"Good, but you didn't answer my question Mar." Sirius asks, looking down at me.
"I don't want to talk about it." I reply, avoiding his grey eyes.
"I'm going to kill that slimy prat." Sirius growls, clenching his fists.
"Marlene!" Mrs Potter exclaims, entering the lounge and rushing over to me. "Sweetie are you ok? Back at the station... I'm sorry I didn't do anything."
"You couldn't have done anything." I reply, sighing and moving away from Sirius to hug her tightly.
"Hello Marlene, long time no see." Mr Potter laughs and I stand up and rush over to hug him. He looks ten times older than the last time I saw him.
"It's good to see you." I smile; Mr Potter was always like a second father to me.
"You must be tired." Mrs Potter says, looking at the dark circles underneath my eyes in worry. "C'mon, one of you boys grab Marlene's trunk."
"It's fine-" I start however Mrs Potter cuts me off with a motherly look.
"Let's get you some dinner, you look starved." She announces, pulling me towards the kitchen.
A/N: Not too many Blackinnon moments but this chapter was more about what's going on with Marlene's family etc. I hoped you like this and please review what you think! Thank you to everyone that has reviewed it actually makes my day and I know I always say that but it does and I always show them to my sister. Have a lovely day and I hope you're enjoying reading this as much as I'm enjoying writing it