Chapter 11

October 1977

When Marlene came down to breakfast that morning, she should have guessed something was up. The boys were huddled closely, and seemed to be talking intensely about some matter or the other. But to be fair, that was usually how the boys looked when they were planning some sort of elaborate prank or something as such. So she shrugged and sat down close by, next to Lily, who was attempting not to glance over every few moments or so.

Marlene, on the other hand, wasn't even attempting to mask her glances over at the boys. They were up to something, there was no denying that. She wondered what it could be; every time the boys seemed as if they had outdone their past pranks, their next one showed up and seemed to completely outshine their past works.

They were definitely creative, if nothing else.

But then the boys started glancing towards her. James looked a little worried, Peter utterly confused, Remus a little annoyed, and Sirius absolutely gleeful.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Mary asked as she glanced over, "It looks rather serious."

"Probably some prank or the other," Lily said, attempting to seem disinterested.

"Nothing major, I would hope," Marlene said softly, even if she knew in her gut that she was probably wrong.

She could hear snippets of their conversation despite the fact that they were speaking in hushed voices.

"Absolutely not….Sirius!"

"Just tell her, Mate…..what's the worst that could happen?"

"Sirius, if he doesn't want to….just drop it"

"Someone needs to talk some sense into him…..pining over her….how long is he going to continue like this… I'm just looking out for her"

"Am not pining…Sirius, just drop it…..why are you even making this a thing right now….no I do not want to…I know it's not fair…James, talk some sense into…."

"Sirius, just let it go….if he wants to pursue this, let him at his own pace…..Merlin, Sirius!"

"So you wouldn't mind if….?" And Sirius raised an eyebrow at that. "Well alright then…."

"Sirius!" James exclaimed loudly, gathering the attention of most of the Great Hall. "Mate, don't do it."

"Well he said he didn't mind," Sirius said with a gleam in his eye, as their voices returned to regular volume.

And if anyone thought the argument they were having was over, they were sadly mistaken.

Unfortunately for Marlene, it seemed as if the attention seemed to turn her way.

"Marlene," Sirius greeted, as he slid down the table to be closer to her. He was speaking in the same tone he used when he wanted to take a girl to bed, and that was when Marlene got a bad feeling in her gut.

Lily and Mary looked a little confused at what was occurring, and she saw her friends exchange confused looks. Marlene, on the other hand, had a very good idea of what was about to occur, and sadly for her, there was no escaping it.

"Sirius," she said cordially, well aware that the majority of the occupants in the room were watching the exchange closely. She could see Remus watching, looking tense, and James looking less than pleased with the entire situation. She couldn't help but wonder what it was that provoked this argument in the first place, and why Marlene found herself in her current predicament.

"Would you do me the honour of going to Hogsmeade this weekend with me?" he asked her, giving her a wink. She heard murmurs fill the hall, and even a few of the professors looked slightly interested in the current conversation.

She felt her face turn slightly red at all the attention. But before she could give a response of any sort, Remus stood up, looking angry and marched straight out of the Great Hall.

Marlene missed James' groan and Sirius looking utterly satisfied, as she stood up, and ran after him.

"Remus," she called, as she caught up to him, "Stop, please."

"Why?" he asked bitterly, "Shouldn't you be in there making plans for your date with Sirius?"

"Why would I want to go on a date with him?" she asked, confused. "Remus, look at me!"

"Just leave, Marlene. You obviously want to go on a date with him as well, so why are you even here? Just go back in there. I'll be fine."

"For being one of the smartest people in our year, Remus Lupin, you can be awfully stupid at times," she said with a shake of her head.

Before he could respond, she moved closer to the boy and pressed her lips against his.

Remus stood still for a few moments, before he seemed to realise what it was that happened and immediately cupped her face and kissed her back tenderly. She circled her arms around his waist as she leaned into the kiss.

When they pulled away for air she looked into his eyes and said, "Remus Lupin, in case I didn't make myself clear just now, I am very much into you. And so help me, if you try and set me up with Sirius again, I'm going to hex you."

"He said you were," Remus said softly, "I didn't believe him, but he said you cared for me too. I guess he tried to provoke my feelings out of me."

"Well it worked," she said softly, as her hands trailed up his chest, and his moved to her hips. "Since here we are. Did you really not know?"

"I hoped," he admitted to her, "But I was afraid I was wrong. Girls don't generally prefer me, Marlene. It's usually James or Sirius; they're the ones who seem to get all the birds. Well James would if he weren't so obviously in love with Lily. But it doesn't stop girls from wanting him."

"Then clearly you don't see yourself as the rest of us do," she told him softly, "Remus Lupin, I've heard so many stories from girls who wouldn't mind it if you took them out as well. They call you the 'Strong, Silent Type'. And they pine over you, hoping you would notice or give them the time of day."

"Are you one of those girls?" he asked her with a soft smirk, his confidence returning slightly over the fact that he currently had the girl he wanted in his arms.

She grinned as she stood on her toes to reach his lips, "That would be telling," she said before placing a chaste kiss on his lips, "And where's the fun in that?"

He growled as he pulled her in so her body was pressed against his and bent down to kiss her fully on the lips.

Marlene felt herself relax into Remus as she let out a content sigh.

"So that Hogsmeade trip this weekend," she said softly, "It seems as if I'm out of a date for that trip."

"Marlene McKinnon, will you do me the honour of accompanying me to Hogsmeade this weekend?" Remus asked as one of his hands stroked her face.

"Why Remus Lupin, I would be delighted," she grinned.

He smiled back, and she felt her stomach somersault at the sight. She knew it wouldn't be an easy road for the two of them. There would be many ups and downs, but Marlene was a fighter. But none of that mattered at this moment. All that did was that she was here with Remus and everything was perfect.

Hermione had been baking muffins when Tonks came into the house. Harry and Sirius were out at a Quidditch match, and her father had gone with them. They had offered to buy her a ticket, but she assured them that she wouldn't exactly be enjoying the match all that much, and that she would much rather stay at home. She could tell the men were disappointed, but they understood.

"Hermione," Tonks said with a smile.

She greeted the woman in return as she offered her one of the muffins that had just come out of the oven.

"I was wondering if the two of us could have a chat while the boys are out," Tonks said with a smile, and upon seeing Hermione's slightly puzzled look, she said, "It's nothing to worry about, I assure you."

"By all means," Hermione said, as she gestured to the chairs. She had a feeling where Tonks was going with this, and wondered if the woman had sensed just how uncomfortable she had been at dinner the other night.

"I want to start off by saying that I know how difficult this must be for you," Tonks told her softly, "I couldn't imagine waking up one morning and finding out my biological father was a man I've known for a decent part of my life, and I'm not going to pretend to say I know how you feel."

She nodded, unsure of what to say.

"This can't be easy for you, but you've adjusted so well, Hermione," Tonks said in a slightly mothering tone. "I'm not going to try and replace your mother; either one of them. Merlin knows it would be strange if I tried. But I want to be your friend, like we were before any of this happened."

Hermione looked slightly stunned at that, and Tonks snorted.

"Don't think I haven't noticed your behaviour," she told Hermione, "Auror, remember? I don't blame you for it. Merlin, your half-brother is almost nineteen years younger than you, and I'm only six years older than you. Obviously it's a little weird."

Hermione laughed slightly at her attempt to make light of the situation, "It's not that," Hermione admitted to her, "I do want to still be your friend, trust me. It's just that I feel out of my element. I feel like I'm imposing on your family."

"Well you're not," Tonks told her softly, "I know Remus wants to be there for you, and I support him one hundred percent. It doesn't bother me that he loved your mother, Hermione. We talked about her even before he knew you were his. I know he loved her, and I know her death was extremely hard on him. You being here doesn't put a burden on me."

"I don't blame him," Hermione told Tonks, "For moving on from my mother. "It's been nearly eighteen years since she died, and you make Remus happy. And I'm glad; he deserves that much after the life he's had."

"He does," Tonks smiled. "Hermione, what I said still stands. We don't have to give our relationship any weird names. Blimey, I doubt I could even try to act like your step-mother even if I wanted to. Just know that there is always a place at our table for you. Teddy is clearly adores you as his sister, and Remus loves you. So don't stay away because you're afraid of stepping on any toes. You're welcome to come over whenever you want."

Hermione smiled at that. While it had been slightly uncomfortable for her initially, she was glad Tonks came over. While her insecurities had been placed at bay after her talk with Harry, they had still been lingering on the surface as she was left to wonder if she could fit in with the new family.

"I won't tell Remus about this talk," Tonks said softly, "Not if you don't want me to."

"Please," Hermione said with a nod, "He's been nothing short of wonderful from the moment he found out I exist. The last thing I want is to hurt him by giving him any idea of how I felt. None of this is his fault."

"Nor is it yours," Tonks told her wisely, "Now, what do you say that the two of us go do something fun while the boys are out? We could stop by at Flourish and Blotts and pick up some books then come back and read and relax for a bit. Merlin knows I haven't had much alone time since Teddy was born."

Hermione grinned at the suggestion, as she nodded in agreement.

Morgana stood at the edge of the tower as she peered out at Camelot.

She loved Uther, she really did, but her late father had a way of making her feel like she was constantly in a prison.

She knew Uther had no knowledge of the fact that she possessed a magical gift, and for that she was extremely grateful. For if he had the slightest inkling, she would have been put to death long ago, despite the fact that she was his kin.

Not that anyone else in the palace had any idea either. Well; anyone other than Merlin.

However the physician's ward was in no hurry to spill her secret, as it would mean that his own was shared as a result.

It hadn't been an easy upbringing. Her father had barely acknowledged her as his until a few months shy of his death, and she had had no idea about it either. She had suspected he had taken her in as his ward because he had been in love with her mother.

Yet Uther had a way of irking her like no other. It was difficult for her to explain how it was possible to both love and loathe someone utterly, but it was how she felt for the man. She loved him for raising her, but hated him because she knew he would never have been able to clearly accept who she was, magic and all.

But the king was dead, and her half-brother had since claimed the throne, and Morgana knew that there was a potential for a great shift in the land. She could convince her brother with the help of Merlin that magic could be trusted, and that magic should be allowed to be practiced. She could convince her brother to remove the laws that Uther had implemented and allow magic to run free in the land.

And so she found herself in front of the great sorceress of Camelot, or so the man could have been proclaimed if he refused to stop hiding in the shadows.

"Merlin," Morgana said softly, as she argued her points, "Please. You need to stand by me as we talk to my brother. He would listen to us! He trusts you more than anything."

She watched as the man turned to face her. He was not more than a few years her senior, but his eyes looked as if he had lived for hundreds of years. They were wise, and they were kind.

Like him.

Merlin had been there for her when she had first found out about her magic. He had helped her learn to control it and hone it. He had been everything to her; her mentor, her friend, and well, her lover.

"Morgana," Merlin said softly as he stroked her cheek. "You know as well as I do that we cannot talk to him about Magic. He despised it from the moment it killed his mother. There's no way we could just forthright come out and tell him we have powers. Not until we get him to warm up to the idea of magic, and that it could be used for good."

"How is that not hypocritical?" she questioned, "How is it not hypocritical to ask others to come forth and show Arthur that magic can be used for good when his most trusted advisor and sister would be the greatest advocates? Merlin, we could help so many people! Think of the good we could do! That plague we stopped was just the beginning; we could heal the injured, the sick, and the elderly. There would never need to be another famine because we could use old magic to ensure the land was fertile! The Druids are much more knowledgeable, and if we formed an alliance with them, we could save so many people! We can't just sit around watching Arthur execute one witch and wizard after another. We need to help them, Merlin!"

"I know," he told her gently, "Do you think it does not pain me to see our friends and family by magical ties executed one after another? Morgana, it kills me. But none of that changes how things are. Whether we like it or not, Arthur is the King of Camelot, and his word is law. In the future maybe we can sway him; show him magic can be good, but with the loss of his father so fresh in his mind, especially a loss through magic, neither of us would be able to get through to him any time soon. But patience, my love, and I promise we shall reach him. Together."

Morgana sighed at that. Why didn't he see how important it was that they came forward? She understood his point, she really did, but that did not change the fact that the two of them could make a difference. It didn't change the fact that her people were dying because of their gifts. And who knew how long it would take for Arthur to come around? It could be days, months, or even years. How many more people needed to die because of his unwillingness to see the world in anything less than black and white? How many more lives would be lost on all sides in an effort to eradicate magic?

If Arthur continued on his current path then he would only be more betrayed by the fact that she and Merlin had magic, and that they had kept it from him. Would he forgive them in the future? Or would he condemn them to their deaths?

Morgana wished she had those answers, but she didn't. It seemed to her that it didn't matter just how much magic she had, for she was powerless in her current predicament.

And she hated that more than anything.

So in that moment Morgana swore that she would change things. She would help magic become widely accepted and she would show Arthur that magic could be used for good.

Even if it was the last thing she did.

A/N: I think I mentioned this before, but just in case I didn't, the story of Morgana is going to be altered from the given stories. There won't be a lot of flashbacks for her, but just enough to understand why the curse was cast and how Morgana went from the character she was in the current chapter to the person who eventually casts the curse. Hermione and Draco's relationship will continue to progress, even if it's been slow so far, as will their work dealing with the curse Anyways, hope you all enjoyed, and see you next week!