"Are you sure it'll be all right?" The bright red-headed woman asked her friend, biting her lip nervously. It was easy to see the concern and worry on her face as she kept flicking glances towards the stairs.
Marlene McKinnon smirked at her, putting a hand on her hip. "They'll be fine, Lily. I can handle this."
Lily looked at her doubtfully and opened her mouth to reply but they were interrupted with the door opening loudly.
"Prongs!" Marlene smirked as she recognized the loud and boisterous voice of the man.
Sirius Black came bounding into the room, a bright grin on his face. His eyes immediately searched the room and he let out a pout when he noticed there were only the two women.
"He's putting Harry and Amaryllis to sleep," Lily informed him, her lips quirking up in a smile. The man grinned before turning to Marlene with a grin.
"So I heard you're the one who made this night happen, Mar."
At his bright grin, Marlene rolled her eyes but gave him a nod. "With both of my best friends locked up for over a year, I think they need a night to get drunk."
"Marlene!" Lily scolded.
Marlene grinned at her. "Don't' worry. I won't tell him about your bachelorette party."
Lily groaned pushing her blushing face into her hands as Sirius immediately perked up with an intrigued grin. "What happened at the Bachelorette party?"
"Nothing that concerns you!" Lily said furiously before Marlene could reply. Marlene laughed at her red face.
"Besides, it's been a while since I've heard of any Marauder shenanigans. I could use some more mischief in my life." Marlene said, giving him a wink.
Sirius wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "I could give you some mischief without the boys. Ow!" He groaned as Lily smacked in him the back of the head.
Lily turned to Marlene with a scolding expression. "There are children in this house!" With her hands on her hips, Lily truly looked like a scolding mother.
Marlene smiled softly at the sight.
"Padfoot!"
Lily scolded them but she had a smile on her face.
James grinned at her briefly. "The silencing charm is already in place, Lily."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Fine. Where's Remus, Sirius?"
Sirius and James let go of one another and Sirius gave them a huge grin. "He's with Alice and Frank. Peter couldn't come; he said something about his mother being ill." Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Yes, because an ill mother means nothing anymore," Marlene said dryly.
Sirius grinned at her. "Hey, I'd give anything for my mother to get ill and keel over."
Marlene gave him an amused smile. "Not everyone has a banshee for a mother, Sirius."
Sirius laughed before turning to her with a genuine smile. "Thanks for doing this, Mar. I really appreciate it."
Marlene smiled softly at him. "It's my pleasure."
As he and James exited the room laughing, Marlene knew he had no idea.
Marlene turned to Lily with a smile. She was staring at the staircase. "They'll be okay, Lily. I promise."
Lily smiled at her friend before leaping forward and grabbing her into a hug. "We could stay here with you, me and Alice-"
"No, Lily," Marlene told her firmly.
Marlene gave her a smile. "You and Alice have been under so much stress for the past year. You need this. I promise you Harry and Mara will be okay."
Lily rolled her eyes. "That's not her name, Marlene."
Marlene grinned. "Amaryllis is such a mouthful, Lily. Let me give her a nickname. Sirius got to name Harry 'pup'."
Lily laughed.
Marlene continued with a smile, "Go, Lily. Everything will be fine. Enjoy yourself."
Lily sighed as she finally relented and Marlene watched as she cast a glamour charm over herself, becoming an unfamiliar woman with brown hair.
"Everything you need is in their room." Lily quickly hugged Marlene one last time before leaving the house with a wave goodbye.
As the door locked behind the fiery redhead, Marlene dropped her smile. She looked a the clock on the wall with a forlorn expression. One Hour. Marlene moved through the house, heading to the bag she had dropped on the sofa.
Bringing out her wand, she reached into the bag, pulling out an old, crumbling book. She flipped to an open blank page and lifted her wand to the pages.
"Revelio."
Ink bled onto the pages of the book, staining the book in an unfamiliar language. Marlene frowned at the book. Pocketing her wand and the book, she headed upstairs. Marlene paused in front of a room, her expression turning darker.
She balled her hands into a fist, shutting her eyes with a tortured look upon her face. Finally, she exhaled, letting her shoulders and hands slump. Opening her eyes, she entered the room silently, shutting the door behind her.
Two cribs sat side by side.
Traveling forward, Marlene looked down into the cribs. The right crib had a baby boy sleeping away, his hair dark and already as messy as his father. Behind his closed eyes, she knew they would be Lily's emerald green. The boy was fast asleep, breathing softly.
In the crib beside him, lay a baby girl with bright red hair sleeping just as soundly.
Marlene smiled sadly at the small children. She brushed her hand over the little girl's head before doing the same to the boy.
"I'm so sorry," She told them, her eyes misting up. "This is all I can do for you."
She swallowed heavily, bringing her hand away. Softly, she grabbed a hold of the little girl's tiny hand, and with a deep breath, she pulled out her wand and slice the girl's hand.
The girl's eyes shot open in a cry but Marlene waved her wand over the girl and she fell back to sleep. A tear fell down Marlene's face as she quickly conjured a small vial and squeezed a few drops of blood from the girl's finger. When she was done, she waved her wand over the cut, watching as it magically sealed.
Giving a heavy sigh, she repeated the process on the boy.
When she had two vials full of blood, Marlene felt her lips tremble. "I'm so sorry, please forgive me," she said.
"I know how important you are." She told them, smiling sadly. She brushed away a few tears with her hand, as she moved away from the children, opening her hand.
"I won't let anyone else die."
Shutting her eyes, she slashed her wand down her hand. Wincing, she quickly conjured a small bowl and let the blood drip into the bowl. Once she was satisfied, she healed her wound as well and turned to the children. With a breath, she quickly poured in the two vials.
"You won't remember me." Marlene smiled at the two children. "But this is all I can do for you. I'm so sorry I'm not strong enough to help you. I'm not strong enough to change your fate."
She let a few tears fall down her face. With a sad smile, she held the bowl to her face, letting her tears fall into the bowl, mixing with the blood.
"Please, remember this. All magic comes with a price." Marlene frowned at the sleeping twins. "You cannot make something from nothing. Magic always requires a price. Tonight, I will gladly pay it."
She looked at the clock on the room. It was nearing midnight.
"One day, you will have to pay a price for the magic you were born with. At that time, please, make the right choice. For all of us."
Marlene McKinnon smiled for the last time as the clock struck midnight.
The darkest night has begun.