Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
A/N: Sorry for the wait. I am still going to try to post once every three weeks, but I might only post one chapter in Jan. I've only written this story ahead until Chapter 21. I have 33 chapters planned. Just updating you guys on where I'm at with this story. I really appreciate all the amazing reviews and the group of you who review every single chapter. You guys are amazing! Enjoy :)

Marlene's mistakes were often careless, big or small. Like leaving the door open, which always seemed to be an invitation for whoever was around. Blush stained her skin as she caught Maize's reflection behind her in the mirror. She turned away from it as she rolled her shirt down over her stomach. Maize looked a little embarrassed but only grumbled an apology as he flopped down in the armchair near her grate. It was ungodly warm in her third floor bedroom; Maize cooled the air with one wave of his wand. Marlene sat down on the foot of her bed, waiting for him to address her as she wound a loose curl into the tight knot on the top of her head.

"What's up with the eating?"

Marlene blinked at him. "Sorry?"

"Marc mentioned it the other day," Maize said, conjuring a footstool to kick his boots up on.

"Why?"

"There's a little thing growing inside of you and it needs nutrients, if I had to guess."

"No, I mean why would Marc bring it up?" Marlene asked impatiently.

"When doesn't Marc bring you up? Can you imagine when he has a kid of his own? Poor thing," Maize said with a faraway grin. "I'll probably be his favorite Uncle, anyway. I'm the only cool one in this family."

Marlene rolled her eyes and slid up on her bed so she could fold her legs. "Did you think about that thing I asked you about last month?"

"That very dangerous thing that Marc would kill the both us for even thinking about; Yeah, I thought about it," Maize said, half grinning as he shook his head. "There are just some things you don't push him on, Marlene, and I think that's one of them."

"But Dumbledore makes sense –"

"Of course he does, he's flipping Albus Dumbledore. Besides, I thought he wanted to hear back from you before the end of July. It's a bit late now, not to mention a definite no since you managed to get knocked up."

"Thank you," Marlene said sarcastically.

Maize shrugged. He threw his arms behind his head as he looked at her. "Why are girls so concerned about how they look?" Marlene's cheeks stung as she chose not to answer him. "You know it's going to happen, rather you eat or not. That kids going to have enough problems without being malnourished."

"I look bloated," Marlene complained. She laid back and pressed her hands onto her stomach.

"You look pregnant."

"If you didn't know, do you think you could tell?" she asked without sitting up.

"You're wondering about your friends, aren't you? You know, you should at least tell Moody. And don't worry, he won't take it easy on you," Maize said with a snort.

"Answer the question, please," Marlene said shortly.

Maize rolled his eyes. "No, I wouldn't be able to tell."

"I want to join the Order, Maize," Marlene said flatly as a silence fell between them. "I've really thought about everything, like what Max said –"

Maize groaned dramatically. "How many times have we got to have this conversation?"

"I told Gourn when they would be on vacation, I hurt Father's hand, and I ran away –"

"Did you say that curse? Was your intent to have him murdered? No, didn't think so. Shut it, Marlene, before I tell Marc on you. I'm sure you're missing one of his lectures by now," Maize said, since Marlene had managed to stay out of trouble for four long agonizing weeks.

"I never listen to Marc –"

"– Well that's true."

"– if I had, then Max and I wouldn't have been attacked and the house wouldn't have been burned down."

"Not true," Maize interjected lazily, while studying a fingernail.

"If I could have just kept my legs shut, then I wouldn't be in this mess right now."

"Mostly true," Maize said, his eyes rolling thoughtfully to the ceiling.

"I wouldn't be stuck in this room."

"You're not stuck here by any means. Marc gave you the option to leave, didn't he?"

"I couldn't leave."

"Then that was your choice, was it not?"

"It was an ultimatum. I could leave and lose my family forever or I could stay."

"You really are off your broomstick, Marlene, if you think that would have been the case. Marc's the most forgiving bloke there is. Not to mention he's obsessed with making your life a great chore."

"You've noticed?"

"An eye for an eye," Maize shrugged.

Marlene sat up and glared at him. "He started it."

"Does it matter who started it?" Maize moaned. "You used to be interesting, you know?"

"Was there a reason you came to talk to me?" Marlene asked, exasperated.

"Sirius is here," Maize supplied.

Marlene stared at him, and when she left her room he was laughing quietly to himself. She hopped down the stairs and smiled at Sirius where he waited near the front door. Marc had reluctantly allowed Sirius over for dinners, permitting that the dark haired boy kept his hands and his comments to himself. There was always a little animosity between the pair, but Marc had come to tolerate him.

"Took you long enough," Sirius said as Marlene caught his shirt front and leaned up to press a telling kiss to his lips. They turned up against hers. "Me too, love," he muttered, his eyes lit up with desire.

"Two more weeks good behavior and you can give me that ride you promised," Marlene said, looking up her eyes lashes at him as she smirked.

"Two more weeks," Maize repeated loudly as he turned into the dining room.

Marlene rolled her eyes and turned around to follow him. Sirius sat down aside her at the dining room table. He seemed relieved that Marc and Michael weren't home. He carried on an easy conversation with Maize, though he would always have problems with Max. Marlene guessed that it was an almost normal dinner. There were no arguments or narrowed eyes. Max helped Binky clean up and then Maize excused himself to bed, leaving Marlene and Sirius effectively alone.

Sirius passed her eyes as she drew circles on the table cloth. She hid her grin in the curtain of her hair. Sirius pulled it away and planted a kiss at the side of her neck. She shivered as goose flesh spread across her skin. They turned their lips into each other, their breathing becoming labored as Sirius tugged her onto his lap. Marlene wanted to cry with disappointment.

"Two more weeks," she whispered against his lips.

Sirius sighed and pressed his forehead into hers, his eyes angled down her shirt. "You look so fantastic, I can hardly help myself."

"Maybe I could sneak away during lunch tomorrow."

"We'd have to be fast," Sirius said with a tiny grin.

"Maybe we can find a broom cupboard at the ministry."

"What's gotten into you, Legs," Sirius said with a tiny laugh. Marlene kissed him deeply, she carefully moved off his lap, her lips never leaving his. He sighed deeply as she repositioned herself over him in a straddling position. "We're going to get caught," he warned her with difficulty. His hands clenched at her hips as they dragged her over him.

Marlene sighed and pressed her forehead into his shoulder. She closed her eyes as her skirt rode up her thighs with every grinding motion. Sirius moved his hands up her thighs. Marlene huffed into his ear and then caught his earlobe between her teeth. They were both trying to undo the other. Marlene bit down on her moan as Sirius' hands found their way up her skirt.

"Let's go somewhere," she whispered suddenly, lifting her head to pass him a lustful look.

"Legs," Sirius said with a smirk. "Calm down – two more weeks." He brushed a curl from her face and grinned. She moved off of him in defeat. As she sat down in her chair she offered him a glare. Sirius let out a bark like laugh. "I know you don't want to muck this up; you know I wouldn't argue otherwise."

Marlene huffed and folded her arms. "I hate Marc," she pouted, though she really didn't and probably never could.

Sirius looked sharply away from her and she spun around, thinking Marc had been standing behind her. Her blue eyes widened at the stag standing in the dining room. Marlene moved off of Sirius' lap as they turned to listen.

"It's the minister," James' voice came.

Sirius stood up as Marlene did. "You can't come," Sirius said firmly. He moved around her as she began to object.

"Sirius," Marlene half shouted, halting him in the foyer. She caught his arm. "Voldemort will be there."

"How do you know?" Sirius asked.

"Regulus told me," Marlene said. Sirius spun towards the door and she followed him into the garden. "Don't be mad."

"Regulus is a wanted death eater, Marlene," Sirius said angrily. Marlene caught his hand as he apparated. Sirius looked the angriest she'd ever seen him when they landed in the middle of nowhere. "Damn it, Marlene."

"Where are we?" she asked. They were surrounded by woods.

"Padfoot," James said, appearing seemingly out of nowhere. "What are you doing here, Marlene?" He asked hurriedly.

"She caught hold of me when I disapparated," Sirius said angrily; his eyes were almost black as he glared at her.

"I want to fight," Marlene said.

"Sure I'll – erm, get Dumbledore," James said before disappearing again.

"Where's he gone," Marlene asked, but then Sirius disappeared too. "Sirius," she shouted. She tried moving after him but then a tree was in her way. She stared at it confused and tried to move around it. A thick bushel of thorns scratched against her shin. She spun away and walked a few steps and then found herself at a river that she hadn't seen before.

"Have you ever heard of the Fidelius Charm, Miss McKinnon?"

Marlene spun around to face her old headmaster. His grin matched the twinkle in his eyes. She didn't waste a second. "I want to fight."

"Have you brought young Maize?"

"He wouldn't come," Marlene said.

Dumbledore nodded. "Very well, come here," he ordered.

Marlene glanced around; she walked up to the headmaster with no other option. He closed the distance between them, startling her as he leant close to her ear. No sooner had she worked out the address he'd whispered, then had an entire large two story cottage appeared. She gaped at the Order members running around and disapparating outside of it.

"I hope you're ready, Miss McKinnon," Dumbledore said, smiling a little before he swept away.

"Wait, Professor," Marlene called.

"Yes," Dumbledore asked, pausing in his retreat.

"Someone I know told me that if the Minister were attacked, Voldemort would be there."

"Very well," Dumbledore said with a firm nod. "Thank you, Miss McKinnon."

Alice appeared out of nowhere and caught Marlene's arm. "I'll apparate you. Are you ready?"

Marlene glanced down at her cousin. She'd just seen Alice that afternoon in class. She still hadn't told anyway that she was pregnant. She considered blurting it then, but instead she nodded. The scene was nothing short of chaos when they arrived. Alice shot off into action. Marlene glanced around the street of once magnificent houses; they were burning down, great green skulls hanging above their roofs and bodies littering their lawns. Marlene's eyes sought out the Aurors fighting alongside the Order and Magical Law Enforcement. Marc would be there, she knew it.

"Flipendo," a familiar voice shouted at Marlene as the spell crashed into her back. She hit the ground and rolled back onto her feet, wand drawn at Bellatrix. The blacked haired death eater wasn't even wearing a mask. Her hair whipped wildly around behind her, Marlene's whipped against her face. Regulus had been right; Marlene could see it in the witch's angry stare, Bellatrix wanted to kill her. Her dark eyes followed Marlene's every movement.

"Protego," Marlene shouted as Bellatrix threw a hex at her. The witch smiled in a haunting way.

It started like that. Marlene jumped over debris as they fought each other. She spun around avoiding a flash of green. Marlene returned it but Bellatrix dodged it as well, her laugh sounding even over all of the destruction. Marlene cut her off with blast from her wand. The witch fell over the curb and into ground. Marlene held her free hand out and caught the witch's wand as it flew into her outstretched palm. Bellatrix stared up at her with narrowed eyes.

"I'm going to kill you," Bellatrix said darkly. She shouted, "I'm going to kill you, you filthy blood traitor." Marlene kicked her in the face, ropes spun out of her wand and around Bellatrix' body. Marlene took a sharp breath as a spell blasted into her back. She rolled off of Bellatrix and pushed herself from the ground.

"I think you still owe me a wand from seventh year," Rosier said, from behind his mask.

Marlene fired a flash of green at him, but he was fast, much like his predecessor. She swore as he disappeared in a cloud of black only to reappear a few feet away. She leapt over a fallen body as she pursued him, alternating between flashes of red and green. She managed to dodge most of his spells, despite the ache in her spine. She twisted around a stream of dark purple, wincing as it exploded against a letterbox. Her only relief was Sirius' sudden appearance at her side.

"I'm still mad," Sirius said as they fought.

Marlene jerked him down behind a vehicle. Her teeth slammed together as it rocked against their backs. "I think I've got to tell you something," Marlene said as he jerked her up with him.

"Right now?" Sirius asked when he got the chance. "Marlene," Sirius shouted, as something jerked hard on her hair. Her back arched into someone behind her.

"Drop your wand," someone advised into her ear, their wand jabbing into her jugular.

Sirius had recovered from Rosier's hex and was trying desperately to get to her but to no avail. Rosier kept him busy as Marlene contemplated her options. Her eyes spun around her surroundings, but nothing and no one were near enough to help. As she looked, she realized they were somehow outnumbered. She'd never seen so many wizards in one place other then Hogwarts or the Ministry. She'd unknowingly entered into one of the biggest battles that had probably ever been had.

"Drop it," the death eater repeated, stabbing his wand into her throat. Marlene gagged and dropped her wand. The death eater's wand was replaced with a tight arm, choking her as he dragged her around. Marlene grasped at it, her eyes watering as they passed several battling couples. Whoever was dragging her along was twice her size; his forearms were the size of her head. She didn't think it would work but she drove her foot between his legs. His arms loosened enough so that she could slip free. She jumped off the ground running as he shot spells after her. She knew she would be useless without her wand and desperately circled around for it. She held her hand out as she ran forcing all of her magic into concentration as she tried summoning it wandlessly. She was too far away.

She cried out as a crippling pain hit her ankle. Her knees crashed into the ground as her foot twisted up, the bones breaking loudly. Tears budded at the corner of her eyes as she tried to pull herself onto one leg. A hand circled around her waist and then she was being easily lifted into her brother's arms. Marc was nearby. He entered into a duel with the death eater who had been chasing her as Michael began to run. Marlene screamed as the bones began to crack in her foot.

"I know," Michael said, above her.

He dropped her as he drew a shield. Her body slammed into concrete as Michael stepped over her to duel.

"Marlene," Sirius' voice came. She looked up in time to catch her wand.

"Get her out of here," Michael yelled, appearing and disappearing in a blur of magic.

She pressed her hands into the ground and sat up. Sirius helped her up and supported her weight as she stood on one foot with labored breathing. "Can you walk?" She shook her head. When she glanced up she drew a shield. Sirius added an offensive spell; a stunner. They watched the death eater fall. "Hold on," Sirius said, pulling her into his arms. "Cover us."

Sirius seemed to be attempting to get her to some sort of safe point. It didn't seem that he could disapparate. Various Order members seemed to help them as he ran. Marlene slammed her palm into his chest, unable to speak. He stopped running as he glanced the way of her pointed finger.

"We've got to help them," Marlene said, wriggling in his arms.

"And what are you going to do, Marlene? It's Voldemort."

"You go, leave me here," Marlene said, tearing her eyes away from Alice, Frank, James and Lily.

"I'm not leaving you."

"I can take care of myself."

Sirius searched her eyes. "What did you want to tell me?"

"It's not important right now," Marlene said as he carefully sat her on the ground. "Go."

Sirius nodded and started running. Marlene took a deep breath and lowered herself into a kneeling position. She pulled her battered foot out with a cry, closing her eyes against a flood of tears. She took several quick deep breaths and then pointed her wand at her toes and muttered a bone healing spell. She cried out and sat on her bottom as she hissed in pain. It took her several more minutes to fix the majority of the bones. She was running out of time. Her head was throbbing as she stood up, testing her weight on the broke-but-healed foot. She could manage it.

She looked around, scared to find herself alone. The street was clearing away, and the crowd of dueling Aurors, Death Eaters, Order members and Law Enforcement, were steadily moving toward Voldemort. It seemed that Dumbledore had arrived. She watched in awe as he dodged a great flash of lightening from the sky. It twisted around, looking around him, directed by Voldemort, and then Dumbledore directed it back with some sort of odd shield. Marlene winced and looked down at her stomach; her gut was beginning to cramp. Blood began to dribble down the inside of her thigh. Marlene swore.

"Are you busy?" someone shouted from behind her.

Marlene spun around; it was a healer. She jogged over to the young girl's side, and recognized her immediately. "Talon?" she asked. Marlene had only seen the girl once or twice at school. A gash wound down the side of her sweat sparkling brown skin. If it was hurting her, she didn't say. She led Marlene in a quick run. The street where the fighting had begun was eerily quiet as they passed by it and into the lawn of a great light blue house. The gate at the houses back had been blasted away though they still had to climb over its mangled form to join the fighting behind it. It looked like the healers had set up camp behind the home. They were defended the injured against four circling death eaters. Marlene and Talon threw out stunners at one of them, entering into a duel.

Marlene ignored the pain between her legs as she fought. Talon seemed to notice that something was wrong with her as Marlene fumbled through spells, her feet twisting around each other as she forced her body against its threshold of pain. Talon punched her fist in the air as Marlene managed to stun their attacker. He fell to the ground in a heap and Talon tied him up as Marlene moved around rows of bodies, some moving and some silent, to another dueling pair. Marlene recognized the healer.

"You shouldn't be here," Carol said as Marlene fell into step with her.

Marlene shielded her. She took a breath and glanced at Marlene who only frowned and shook her head once. Carol was good, and the more they fought, the more Marlene thought that Carol could have been an Auror herself. They both stunned the death eater at the same time; his body soared backwards and crashed into a large Oak tree before crumpling at its roots.

"Around here," Carol said, leading Marlene around the tent.

There was only one death eater left and he was surrounded. Five healers began to advance on him with Marlene; he disapparated. They all began to cheer apart from Carol, who turned toward Marlene immediately. She looped as arm under Marlene's as her legs shook. Carol helped her to an empty cot.

"You can't help me, just help the others," Marlene said quietly.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?"

"My back, but I think it was just a blasting hex." Carol nodded and moved to another cot across from Marlene. Marlene watched her work and asked,

"Is the minister dead?"

Carol worked, accepting gratitude before turning briefly toward Marlene. She looked worried but nodded and then moved onto the next patient. Marlene swallowed and pressed her hand over the slight curve of her abdomen. Carol returned to her after a while, when Marlene could no longer hear the sound of fighting in the distance.

"It's over now," Carol said, waving her wand over Marlene.

"I'm fine –" Marlene began to object.

"You've lost a lot of blood and I'll be damned if I let Marc's little sister die," Carol said fiercely. "You shouldn't even be conscious. You know you're very stubborn."

"So everyone says," Marlene said, closing her eyes and wincing as the pain doubled between her legs.

"I have to remove some tissue," Carol said, looking up at Marlene.

"Do it," Marlene said weakly, closing her eyes against the pain.

"It's going to hurt."

"Just do it," Marlene breathed, draping her arm over her watering eyes.

"It's not very private."

When Marlene didn't answer her she continued. Carol must have stunned her because the world went dark. When she came around Carol had gone and she'd been moved to her bed, in her bedroom. It was too quiet, startling her into a sitting position as pain erupted throughout the lower half of her body. Marc pressed her back down against the bed.

"Lie down," he instructed gently. "Carol says you'll be sore for a few days."

"Is everyone –"

"We lost some Aurors and some civilians, but your brothers are fine and so are your friends. They came by to visit once they'd finished their business. That was about an hour ago. They wouldn't leave until they seen you were okay."

"What about Sirius?"

"Sirius didn't come."

Marlene lifted her hand to her face. "You told him."

"No, Lily did. There's something else," Marc said tiredly. Marlene didn't even peak at him through her fingers. "Your miscarriage was complicated by your previous one. Carol explained all of it to Lily and Sirius when they found you."

Marlene felt like she couldn't breathe. "Carol told him about – she – he –"

"Yes," Marc said. "He'll come around Marlene; he cares about you a great deal."

"I've got school," Marlene said, trying to sit up again.

"Moody thinks you should take a few weeks off. It's not a suggestion," Marc said as she opened her mouth to argue. "To be frank, he was rather mad when he found out that you were pregnant and you hadn't reported it to the department. He wanted to suspend you from the program for the remainder of the year, but Frank and I managed to talk him around. He hasn't reported it to the department, but he does not want you to return to class until October."

"That's six weeks," Marlene said angrily.

"It's a much shorter suspension then the ministry would have given you. There are strict rules about this sort of thing. It was very irresponsible, not to mention you weren't even supposed to be there," Marc said, his frown deepening.

Marlene's cheeks burned. "Sirius left, I knew you would be there. I can't just sit around while everyone I love goes off to fight Voldemort."

"Yes you can, and you will until you're an official Auror. You're not experienced enough, Marlene. You would have died if it hadn't been for Michael. I didn't even see you," Marc said, glancing away from her as he swallowed and glared at something across the room. "Maize said you were considering joining the order and he was too. He said the two of you had agreed not to. Did you do it anyway?"

"No, I just talked to Maize today," Marlene said. She wasn't even sure if she was lying; it seemed like there should have been some more instruction or an initiation. It more felt like Dumbledore was allowing her to fight alongside them. She wasn't really sure, but she wasn't going to tell Marc anyway.

"Why were you there with them then?"

"You don't believe me," Marlene said incredulously. "I've been bending over backwards just to earn you trust back."

"Then you do something I strictly forbid," Marc said, cutting her off. "I don't think you understand how dangerous all of this is. That's why Moody suspended you, Marlene. To be honest, I don't know that I did the right thing, arguing with him today. He's my superior, he's Frank's superior, we had no right."

"And I'm grateful, I'm so grateful," Marlene said fiercely. She begged Marc to believe her with large round yielding eyes. "I don't think you understand that I'm grown up now, and if I want to fight I will. I've accepted that you might not come home one time, I think you should start to accept the same, but with me."

Marc looked down, breaking eye contact with her. She'd struck a nerve. Marc's chest swelled and then without looking at her, he asked, "Do you honestly believe I haven't thought about that?" Marlene's eyebrows shot up. Marc looked back at her. "Do you think I don't think about that? Maize is almost five years younger than me. I taught him how to ride his first broomstick, I carried him to the house when he broke his leg jumping out of that tree, I helped him study his first year at Hogwarts – and every day, I think about the fact that he could die. Michael could die. Max almost died twice now. You almost died, and one time it wasn't even because of death eaters." His eyes burned into hers. She looked away from him, shame coloring her face and burning up her throat, turning her stomach and pounding in her head. "I identified Mother and Father the day they were murdered. I watched you go through hell. I watched it change you," Marc toned. She caught his eye, blinking back the stinging in hers as she noticed the glassy look of his own. "Death and its reality are very real to me, Marlene. I think about it all of the time."