A/N: Welcome back! I don't really know why but it feels like ages since I last posted. Anyway, I'm looking forward to posting this chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: the only thing I own is the storyline.

Chapter Nine

The front door of Marlene's house opened to reveal her step-father Steve grinning at the new arrival, a half-eaten bacon sarnie in his hand. Gesturing for her to come in, she obliged and wiped her feet, smiling back.

'You're just in time; we're having a late breakfast. Want some?'

'I'd love some.'

Taking off her coat, Lily hung it on the coat rack by the door and Steve shut it behind her. Depositing her bag on the floor, she turned around to see Marlene hovering in the doorway, her face neutral. Lily's smile widened.

'Long time no see, Marlie.' she joked and embraced her friend in a one-armed hug. Whether Marlene found what she had said amusing or not, she didn't show it but returned the hug before awkwardly gesturing that Lily enter the dining room. Despite the stiffness of her movements, Marlene looked very redolent of Steve in the way she moved, not that that was surprising; Marlene never said anything, but Lily knew she idolised her step-father.

They had an enjoyable breakfast together, Lily snorting loudly as Marlene's mother Nellie teased Steve about his new haircut. Her husband's mimic of one who was angry, but of course in a highly exaggerated fashion, had even Marlene crack a smile as she looked down at her plate, hoping to disguise her amusement. Once finished, the girls went into the kitchen to do the dishes; Lily washed the dishes and Marlene was tasked with drying and then putting them away.

'So how long is until you're officially adopted by Steve?' Lily asked, filling the washing up bowl with hot water. She winced as she tested it, the temperature burning her fingertip, so she hastily added some cold water before mixing in the washing up liquid. 'He's been married to your mum for over a year now and I remember their lawyer said it was better to wait a year before starting the whole process – I suppose it looks better on paper after a year of marriage – it's a bit stupid though… I mean, they've been together since you were, what, two?'

Marlene shrugged, waiting for Lily to finish washing the plate in her hand.

'It'll be strange, you know.' Lily remarked, handing over the washed plate and picking up another dirty one, her voice reminiscent. 'I've known you as Marlene McKinnon for just over five years now. Soon you'll be Marlene Price… although I suppose you could have taken your mum's surname if you'd wanted to before…'

Marlene stooped down to place the dried dish in one of the lower kitchen cupboards, her hair falling in her face.

'Or will you keep your dad's – biological dad's – surname?' Lily turned to glance at her friend, who had straightened up, her whole body tense at the mention of Mr McKinnon. 'Sorry… I shouldn't have brought him up…'

Her friend jerked her head oddly, reaching around her and taking the plate Lily had been washing out of the washing up bowl to dry. Lily studied her shrewdly; she couldn't read her friend at all, she never really could, and since Marlene barely revealed anything it made things difficult. Something had happened but she couldn't work out what.

'Marlie?' she said softly, wiping her hands on a free tea towel to remove the foam on them and walking over to Marlene. Tentatively, she placed a hand on her shoulder. 'What's wrong?'

Marlene's hands shook and she dropped the plate she was holding. The great smashing of the ceramic distracted Lily, thus directing her gaze away as Marlene quickly wiped a tear away from beneath her eye. Kneeling down, Lily started to collect the larger pieces of broken plate together.

'Oh, sweetheart!' Nellie had burst into the kitchen, drawn by the sound of a crashing dish, and spotted Marlene's trembling form. She engulfed her daughter in a hug and waved at Lily to stop clearing up. 'Don't worry about that, Lily. You girls head upstairs, I'll clean that up.'

She rocked Marlene for a moment as Lily stood up. Throwing a smile at her, she pulled back and stroked her cheek tenderly with her thumb.

'I'll bring up some biscuits for you. How does that sound?' Marlene nodded once and Lily smiled. 'Good… enjoy yourselves a bit before the protest.'

'Thanks, Nellie.' Lily said as she made to pass her and steer Marlene out of the kitchen.

'He wrote to her.' she muttered in Lily's ear as she passed her, and Lily's eyes widened. Nodding once, Lily latched onto Marlene's arm and took charge in leading her to her room.

Inside Marlene's room, Lily deposited her friend on the bed and then settled herself beside her. Glancing sideways at her friend, Lily bit her lip, considering what to say, because Mr McKinnon was not a topic to be taken lightly.

The parental situation in regard to Marlene was both simple and complex at the same time. Nellie had fifteen or sixteen years ago been engaged to one Roland McKinnon and also been pregnant with his child, Marlene. They had been in love, a Muggle-born and a pureblood, or so everyone thought. One night, Roland had come home to announce that he was leaving, that he couldn't deal with the pressures of fatherhood, and had his things packed an hour later. Two days later, his face appeared in the society pages of the Daily Prophet married to another pureblood witch. One year later, and the birth of their son Nathan was announced.

Sensing the climate of the Wizarding World, Nellie chose to give her own daughter the surname of her once fiancé, the father of her child. Having the same name as a prominent pureblood family would be far better for Marlene than that of an unknown Muggle-born witch. She met Steve, a Muggle, a year later and sparks flew. He moved in and became the father that Marlene had never had, loving her as his own.

Roland had never bothered to find out what had become of his daughter. Never. Until now it seemed. Unfortunately, for him at least, Marlene had grown to hate the man who had abandoned her mother.

'What did he want?' Lily asked finally, tentatively, everything about her nervous. She reached out and squeezed Marlene's hand.

Her friend's mouth opened and closed, no words coming out, her long held silence suffocating the sound she tried to produce, willing her to remain quiet. Lily waited patiently, smiling encouragingly. Marlene would speak when she wanted to, there was no use rushing her if she wasn't ready.

'It's okay, Marlie.' she said gently. 'You don't have to say anything.'

Marlene nodded, getting up abruptly and striding over to her desk. She pulled open one of the desk drawers and pulled out a crumpled bit of parchment. Returning to the bed, she handed the paper to Lily, who straightened it out and read.

Dear Marlene,

I know you must be rather surprised to hear from me; I have never reached out to you before after all (something I regret deeply). Nathan, your half-brother, is now fifteen, meaning you must be sixteen and soon on your way to being of age. With that in mind, I should like to meet – at a time that is convenient to you of course – and perhaps get to know one another.

My absence in your life was selfish of me but I feel I may be of some benefit to you now that you are of an age where you must consider your career path. I know your mother has limited contacts in the Wizarding World, but the McKinnon family is an old one and if I can offer you, my daughter, a leg up in any way then I would like to offer it. So, perhaps you will consider my offer and reply to this letter.

Awaiting your response,

Your father,

Roland

'Jesus Christ!' Lily seethed, the letter re-crumpling in her fist. 'What a conceited little prick! I – sorry…' She looked sheepish, unsure if she was allowed to insult Mr McKinnon even if Marlene did hate him.

Marlene shrugged, a slight grin making its way onto her lips. She bumped her arm against Lily's and Lily grinned, chuckling slightly.

'God, Marlie, he sounds smug.' she said, resting her head on Marlene's shoulder. 'For a dad who's never contacted his daughter before, he sounds awfully pleased with himself. Must be all those leg ups he's been able to give.'

Marlene snickered.

'Maybe Nathan's nicer. I don't think I could place him… but if he's a fifth year then that's not surprising.' Lily mused, glancing at Marlene. 'Do you know him?'

She nodded slowly and got up again, shuffling over to her desk again and pulling out a large photo album. Flicking through the pages, her eyes scanned each photograph until she found the one she was looking for. Coming back to the bed, she pointed her finger at a boy very much in the background of a group picture with Marlene and Lily's friends.

'Him?' Lily checked, and Marlene nodded again.

The photo was one taken with Marlene's Muggle camera, she always arrived at school with it stuffed somewhere in her trunk, and so the boy, Nathan, had his face frozen in time. He was in the picture entirely by coincidence, the photograph catching him mid-sentence with one of his friends. Lily squinted. There was certainly an element of Marlene in his face; their eyes were identical.

'Is he nice?'

Marlene shrugged noncommittedly. Lily wasn't quite sure what to make of the action.

'I'll go with you – if you want – if you meet Roland… You don't have to go alone…'

Reaching out, Marlene squeezed her hand, which she decided was meant to be in thanks. Then Marlene took the photo album back and Lily took that to be a sign that she ought to change the topic of discussion.

'Are you excited – about the protest?' Lily asked conversationally and received a jerk of the head from her friend as she went to replace the album. 'I think I am.' she decided, pushing herself back along Marlene's bed so she could lean against the wall. 'I even brought a change of clothes.'

Marlene turned around to face her, her eyebrow raised. Lily laughed.

'No, not for the protest.' she explained, giggling. 'For afterwards. My parents think I'm at yours for a party, so I have to come back looking like I've been to one.'

Lily closed her eyes and Marlene sat back down beside her.

'It shouldn't be too hard.' She laughed again, but this time there was a bitter undertone. 'The lengths I go to, to lie to my parents…'

…

Later they went downstairs and painted the placards they would be bringing with them. They were just about done when the others started arriving and soon Nellie was announcing it was time to leave. Mary had arrived with her face painted as if at a festival, but she claimed it was her warpaint. Dorcas had rolled her eyes at this, catching Lily's eye; she had smirked in response.

The girls flooed to The Leaky Cauldron in pairs and then Nellie took the rear, kissing Steve swiftly on the lips before leaving. There was a bit of time to go shopping before the protest arrived and Lily decided to abandon her friends in Madam Malkin's and head to Flourish and Blotts. Dorcas leapt at the opportunity to join her, so the two girls made their way together.

'Are you okay?' Lily pried tentatively, watching Dorcas' concernedly as they entered the book shop. An apprehensive frown had been forming on her face all the way there and the more it grew on her friend's face, the more worried Lily became.

'I…' Dorcas trailed off as the shop bell tinkled upon their entrance. 'I…'

Lily didn't push her, choosing to lead the way to the potions section of the shop. She scanned the shelves, looking for a book on home remedies; it had occurred to her such a book might be useful to keep at her parents' house, where she didn't have access to a whole library of magic-related books.

'I think this protest's gonna go to shit.' she confessed as Lily found her desired book.

'What do you mean?' Lily asked, her forehead creasing as she stretched her arm to reach for the book.

'I mean, there is no way no Death Eater's are gonna turn up.' she elaborated, pulling at her sleeves. 'From what Mary's been telling me, this some serious protest. Her parents completely banned her from getting involved – said it's gonna attract some dangerous people. She's snuck out anyway but that doesn't change that this is gonna go shit.'

'I know.' Lily sighed. 'I thought that when Mary first told me about it…'

'Yeah…'

Lily gripped tightened on the book she had chosen.

'But this isn't about that.' she said firmly, her voice strong. She wasn't looking at Dorcas but her friend was watching her intently. 'This is about protecting people. This is about my family – about Muggles like them – I'll do anything to keep them safe… anything…'

Dorcas smiled slightly, resting her hand on Lily's.

'C'mon. Let's go pay for that book. It'll be starting soon.'

And the protest draws closer...

What do you think about some of Marlene's backstory? Sorry for the onslaught of info. I didn't really want to just write it out in a chunky paragraph or two but since Marlene barely speaks she didn't give me much choice. Besides, I didn't really want to draw out a bit of backstory too much. It might seem a bit random now, but Marlene's complicated family will come more into play later on... I'd remember Roland's name if I were you. Oh, and maybe Nathan's too...

Anyway, make my day and leave a review! And I'll see you in the next chapter!