Chapter One

Happy New Year

Meredith McKinnon was drunk. This was not an unusual occurrence, but it somehow seemed more vulgar when she was wearing her finest scarlet lace dress robes and had insisted on using the 20 seater dining table instead of sitting around the table in the kitchen like usual, even though it was only the four of them there. Marlene watched her mother, keeping her lips carefully curled in a sneer to show her disapproval, and tried to concentrate on what Gideon was saying instead of Meredith's muttered complaints.

"Any resolutions, Marly?" Gideon said cheerfully, topping up her glass of champagne.

Marlene shook her head without answering and reached for her now-full glass. She knew she should be friendlier. She liked Gideon, and it was important to her sister that they got along, but her mother's behaviour was making her uneasy and none of them could pretend this was just like any other New Year.

"She's saving up her resolutions," Tilly said with a smile. "She's going to use them all to be the most wonderful aunt to this little guy."

Tilly put her hands on her rounded stomach and grinned at Marlene. Marlene couldn't help smiling back. She thought her sister was mad to be having a baby right now, given everything going on in the world, but Tilly always looked so happy it was hard to disapprove. And she couldn't deny that she was a little bit excited to meet her new nephew.

Gideon put an arm around Tilly and kissed her forehead, then stroked her dark curls back from her face. She reached up to stroke his jawline, the ruby on her engagement ring sparkling in the candlelight.

"Pass the champagne," Meredith called from her place at the end of the table. She was leaning forwards, elbows pressed against the wood. She would have criticised Marlene or Tilly for sitting like that at the dining table, but was apparently past caring about pureblood etiquette.

Gideon's forehead creased and he glanced at Tilly, obviously unsure whether he should facilitate his future mother-in-law's mission to get completely inebriated and forget they were in the middle of a war. Marlene took pity on him and slid the champagne bottle down the table to her mother to save him the guilt of being responsible. She was used to Meredith's drinking. Ever since her father's death ten years ago, her mother had tried hard to avoid being sober; the worse the news from the wizarding world got, the harder she tried.

Meredith picked up the champagne and took a swig straight from the bottle, then fixed her gaze on Marlene. Her eyes were mean and narrow, and Marlene doubted she was about to thank her for passing the alcohol.

"You could at least have brought a date," Meredith said, hiccoughing.

"What, and inflict this dinner on an innocent outsider? No thank you," Marlene said drily.

Her mother glared at her and took another loud gulp of champagne. "You're seventeen now. It's about time you found...hic...somebody. Like your sister has. Such a good girl, Matilda, with her...hic...nice young man"

Tilly laughed, presumably trying to lighten the mood. "If my Hogwarts sources are telling the truth, it sounds like Marly's problem is more that she finds too many nice young men."

Marlene mimed stabbing her sister with her fork. Tilly winked at her. Meredith ignored them both.

"You need someone to...hic...look after you when you...hic...graduate."

"I'll look after myself."

Marlene slouched back in her chair and scowled. The few times her mother had been coherent enough to engage in real conversation over the holidays, this had been her subject of choice. She was proud of Tilly for finding a man and starting a family and generally behaving like a McKinnon lady should. In Meredith's view, it was time for Marlene to do the same.

"If only...hic...you'd let me…"

But they didn't get to hear what Meredith wished she'd be allowed to do, because a large silver leopard materialised in front of her.

It padded over to Gideon and looked straight into his eyes. When it spoke, its voice sounded just like Gideon, and Marlene knew it must have come from his brother.

"Gid, we need you," it said in a breathy voice that didn't seem natural from a leopard. "There's been an attack. Near us, in Ottery St. Catchpole. A muggle family. Come quick."

Gideon stood up immediately and took a step away from the table before seeming to remember himself and bending down to kiss Tilly quickly on the lips. He stared at her for a moment, as if unable to think of the right words to express what he wanted to say, then kissed her again and disapparated.

The McKinnons sat in silence for a while after he left. Fabian Prewett's voice still seemed to echo in the cavernous room and, without Gideon's lightness, the three of them didn't have much to say to each other.

Marlene looked at Tilly. She was chewing her lip and one hand had drifted back down to her stomach.

"He'll be alright, Tilly," she said softly.

Tilly nodded emphatically. "Oh, I know. Of course he will be. He always is."

Meredith chose this moment to slump forwards and fall asleep at the table, knocking over the remains of the champagne bottle as she fell. Marlene and Tilly both turned to stare at their mother in horror and then stood up, deciding without needing to confer about it that they'd be happier in a different room.

"Has she always been like this?" Marlene giggled as they moved into the small parlour at the front of the house. "It's pathetic."

Tilly shook her head. "I don't remember her drinking when we were little, when Dad was still here. Try not to be too hard on her, Marly. She's had a sad life."

"Find me someone who hasn't."

Marlene lay down on the velvet sofa and kicked off the high heels she'd put on in a nod to the fact it was New Year's Eve. She stretched her bare feet up into the air above her, then dropped them down over the arm of the sofa.

Tilly chose an armchair near the fireplace. She wrapped her arms around her stomach, giving herself a hug, and stared into the flames. Marlene knew she was hoping Gideon would materialise in the fire, but she didn't say anything. They were McKinnons. They were used to pretending everything would be fine when all the evidence pointed to the contrary.

"I like him, Tilly," Marlene said sleepily. "He's good for you. You seem happy."

Tilly smiled faintly. "I like him too. A lot."

"Do you remember when we were little I made you promise you'd never get married because that would mean you were leaving me?"

Tilly nodded, gaze still fixed on the flames.

"I don't mind you breaking the promise," Marlene said.

At this, Tilly laughed, and the sound was so musical and delighted and charming that even Marlene smiled.

"I can't say that promise was particularly holding me back," Tilly said. "But I appreciate the thought."

"I'm glad you're marrying him."

It was warm in the parlour and the sofa was comfy. Marlene turned her face into one of the cushions and closed her eyes, pleased to know her sister was there with her.

When she woke up, the room was dark, the only light coming from the flickering fireplace. Marlene could see Tilly curled up in her armchair with her eyes closed. Marlene yawned and stood up. She summoned a blanket from upstairs and draped it over her sister. Tilly didn't stir. She had always been a deep sleeper. As Marlene watched her, she let out a soft snore.

Marlene glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room, then lit her wand so she could see it more clearly. This was her first time home since turning seventeen at James' house in the summer, and being able to use magic outside school was still a novelty. She sighed as she looked at the clock face. It was past 2 in the morning. She had slept through the New Year.

"Bring on 1978," Marlene muttered, dragging her feet over to the drinks cart by the door. She picked up a bottle of something that could have been whiskey but could very well have been something else, filled a glass and lifted it to her lips.

A noise from the fireplace stopped her from drinking, and she turned just as Gideon stepped out. He was coughing and his skin looked pale, ashen. He stood on the rug by the fireplace and stared at her.

Without speaking, Marlene offered Gideon the drink she had just poured. He took it wordlessly and she poured herself another one. She watched as Gideon swallowed his drink in one go and then refilled it.

"Where's Fabian?" Marlene said, suddenly terrified that Gideon looked like this because his brother was dead. As soon as she'd said it, she realised it was tactless. If something had happened, this was hardly the way to talk about it.

"Doing damage control," Gideon said (Marlene breathed a sigh of relief). "Always takes a lot of clean up when muggles are involved."

He finished his second drink, then sat down on the floor and drew his legs up to his chest, resting his jaw on his knees. Marlene couldn't see his face clearly in the firelight, but his shaking shoulders told her he might be crying.

"Should I wake up Tilly?" She whispered.

Gideon shook his head. "No. I don't want to upset her. Don't want her to see me like this."

Marlene slid to the floor to sit next to him. As an afterthought, she held out one hand, offering it to him. Gideon clutched it like a lifeline.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Marlene said, the words feeling unnatural on her tongue. She wasn't used to being a listening ear. At school, that was always Lily's role, and at home nobody talked openly about their feelings.

"It was awful," he said, voice flat and empty. "I mean, it's always awful. But this just felt like a fucking tragedy."

Marlene squeezed his hand. Gideon squeezed back. His grip was too tight and it was uncomfortable, but she didn't feel like she could let go.

"It was a muggle family," he explained. "They lived near my Mum and Dad, so Fab and I knew about them. Their son was a wizard. He must have been about your age, I think. Anyway, the death eaters must have found out there was a muggle born wizard there and thought they'd have some fun. It was fucking awful, Marly. They lived in this huge manor house with massive gates and...and fucking land, and muggle guards. It was the kind of place you'd assume you were safe. And they were big deals. This will make it into the muggle news."

Panic was rising up in Marlene's chest and she tried telling it to squeeze back down again. Gideon hadn't said who the wizard was. It might not be what she thought.

Gideon let out a racked sob. "We should have warned them. You know how the death eaters feel about wealthy muggles, how they don't think they deserve their riches. And this family...they had titles and horses and statues in the gardens. We should have seen it coming. Should have offered them more protection."

He crumpled, pressing his face into his knees and letting go of Marlene's hand so that he could tangle both hands up in his hair. His back shook as he sobbed and Marlene wondered if she should stroke his hair or rub his back or something, but instead she just sat still.

"Who was it?" Marlene asked, fearful that she already knew the answer. "The muggle born wizard that died. What was his name?"

Gideon turned his head to look at her. "Sebastian Sutherland."

Marlene's stomach plummeted. She turned away from Gideon just in time to throw up all over the floor.

Author's Note: Hello! This is not my first fanfiction story, but it's my first on this account - I've forgotten my old password and haven't used the account for a long time so liked the idea of a fresh start! This is a story I've had brewing in my mind for a long time and I'm so excited to share it with you. Leave me a review and let me know what you think! Do you like Marlene? What do you think of Gideon Prewett? Who are you looking forward to meeting next chapter? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Jem xx