Hamilton Mania, reminiscing: photo album (Marius Black)
Character Appreciation: raised by someone other than parents
Showtime, Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story: time
Lyric Alley: Your family brings out a different side of me.
Easy piƱata
584 words
"No need to be so tense, dear," Josephine Murray says brightly. "I assure you, we don't bite."
Dorea blushes, her cheeks burning with color. She mutters a quick apology before glancing at Marius. It still seems so strange to her that he is her brother, yet they are so different now because of the Muggles who raised him. She wonders what he might have been like if he hadn't been a Squib; how different would things be right now.
"You're staring again," Marius chuckles pushing a hand through his messy black curls.
Before Dorea can say anything, Thomas Murray appears, beaming. "Found it!" he calls, holding up a photo album before setting it on the table.
Marius groans and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Must we?"
"I want to see," Dorea says, and Josephine is happy to oblige.
The older woman opens the photo album, and Dorea gasps. Sometimes, it's easy to forget how much had passed. Seeing Marius there, looking so young, feels strange. Her eyes flicker back to him now, as though she's trying to reassure herself that he and the frail, skinny boy in the album are the same person.
"Poor dear was skin and bones when he showed up," Josephine says. "Not to judge your family or anything, but Marius was in a bad way."
Josephine flips through the album, and Dorea watches as her brother grows before her very eyes. Dorea blinks rapidly, trying not to let the tears fall. Growing up, she had been forced to accept the fact that Marius was no longer part of her family. Watching Josephine go through the album now, seeing every birthday and holiday she's missed with Marius breaks her heart.
She clears her throat. "Excuse me for a minute. I just need some fresh air."
She hurries out the front door. The cool air whipping against her face does little to steady her nerves, but it feels like a weight has been lifted.
It isn't just missing so many years with her brother, she realizes. The Murrays are such good people. Marius had been raised in love. Maybe there's part of her that's jealous of that fact.
"You okay?"
Dorea startles, turning and finding herself face to face with her older brother. She swallows dryly, offering him a shaky smile. "Sorry. I don't know what came over me."
Marius shakes his head. "I do," he assures her, ruffling her dark hair. "They're nothing like the Blacks. When I first started living with them, I had to run away sometimes too." He pauses turning his attention to the soft glow of the nearly full moon overhead. A small smile plays at his lips. "You'll get used to it. I did, at least."
She wraps her arms around him, resting her head against his chest. "I'm glad you're back in my life," she whispers.
He presses a kiss to the top of her head and holds her close. "I don't plan on going anywhere," he assures her. "I'll stay as long as you'll have me."
"Good. I'll always want you around."
They pull apart. Marius nods towards the door. "Come on. They haven't even gotten to my humiliating teenage pictures," he chuckles.
Dorea takes his hand and allows him to lead her inside.
She is grateful Marius and his family are willing to allow her to be part of their lives. Maybe it will take some time to get used to, but she knows it will be worth it in the end.
