Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my ideas. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Seven: Don't Let Me Go

"Look, Mum - er - it's alright. Really, I'm sure it is."

Marley stopped in her tracks on the way to the Potter kitchen at the sound of Ginny's sobs and James's nervous tone. She was sure that she had only ever heard Ginny cry when she had been pregnant with Lily and overly emotional.

Marley had ended up Flooing upstairs to her bedroom instead to change her outfit before heading over to the Potter's. Now she wished that she had just come straight away.

"Shall I go find Dad?" James asked.

"N-no! I'll be f-f-fine, really." Ginny choked.

She looked back at the Floo, wondering if she should simply turn back and go home. Sighing, Marley knew she couldn't. She had to see if her godmother was alright.

Before she could head further into the living room, James appeared in the doorway between the kitchen. His eyebrows raised at the sight of her and she instantly blushed.

"I can come back if you'd like." Marley offered quietly.

"No, no. Stay." James said, shaking his head and quickly crossing the room to meet her. "I'll just be a second. Mum's... yeah."

He quickly darted back into the kitchen, leaving Marley to herself. She sat down upon a couch having only a second to herself before hearing the pitter patter of somebody's feet. She looked up to see Lily standing in a nightgown holding a stuffed teddy bear.

"Lily, what are you doing?" Marley asked, getting up immediately and stepping to the younger girl.

"I heard Mummy crying." Lily said in a soft voice, her green eyes wide.

"Yeah. Mummy's just a bit upset right now, but James is looking after her, okay? Don't you worry." Marley soothed, crouching down before her and smoothing back her hair.

"Where's Daddy?" Lily asked, her lip beginning to quiver.

"I don't know, Lil." Marley said.

She quickly recognized the beginnings of Lily starting to cry. She had been around the girl enough to know how easily upset she was when she was tired - as she clearly was right now. Marley scooped her up into her arms, glad that she was still small enough to do so.

"I want M-m-mummy." Lily whimpered, ducking her head into Marley's shoulder.

"Okay, love. Let's go." Marley said, deciding to do as Lily wanted and head into the kitchen.

She found Ginny sitting at the kitchen table, with James standing next to her, his hand clasped on her shoulder and a nervous expression on his face.

"I'm really sorry, Aunt Gin, but Lily wants you and she was starting to get upset." Marley said, approaching her.

Ginny looked up at Marley, her eyes red as evidence from a lengthy amount of crying. She stood up and took Lily from her arms.

"Thank you, Marley." Ginny whispered. "Hi, Lil. Let's get you back into bed."

Without another word, Ginny left the room, leaving the two teens alone. Marley looked back at James, finding him in the same place, his fists clenched at his sides.

"What is it?" Marley asked, stepping to him.

"I can't stand seeing my Mum cry." James stammered.

"I know. Neither can I." she said, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

For a moment, he flinched away and Marley closed her eyes, trying not to let it get to her. Sometimes, when he was like this - stressed out and frustrated and upset - he pushed her away. And she usually let him.

"Don't." she managed to whisper.

"Don't what?" he said harshly.

"Don't push me away, James."

He crossed his arms tight over his chest and turned away from her. Marley closed her eyes again and took a deep breath, trying not to get upset with him.

"James." she said.

"Can you go please, Marley? I... I just need to be alone." he said.

"No. I'm not going." Marley insisted.

He whirled back around, this time with his own eyes watering. Marley's heart softened at the sight. She hadn't seen him cry since they were kids and she wasn't exactly sure how to handle it.

"James, hey. What is it?" she asked softly.

When it became clear that he wasn't going to say anything, Marley stepped closer to him. She wrapped her arms around him carefully, despite his continual moving protests.

"Marley, stop. Let me go." he grumbled.

"No. Not this time." she whispered.

After a minute, he hugged her back, much tighter than usual. She began to rub his back slowly as she held him, feeling him just become more and more relaxed.

"We don't have to talk about it, okay? Not at all. But I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." Marley whispered, pulling back just enough to look at him.

"What are you doing here, anyways?" he asked.

Marley opened her mouth, thinking back to her conversation with her mother. Holding him in her arms, Marley knew that she never wanted to be anywhere else. She didn't care if she was young - she knew.

But... this didn't feel like the right time to tell him. Then again, would there ever be a right time?

"It... we can talk about it later, okay? Right now, I'm here for you." Marley whispered.

"M&M, I gotta get out of this house." he said.

With that, Marley nodded, grabbing his hand and pulling him back towards the fireplace to bring him to her home.

. . .

When James and Marley arrived at the Malfoy's house, James was surprised to find his father with his arm wrapped around a crying Hermione.

Why were all the women crying tonight?

"Mum? Are you alright?" Marley asked instantly, letting go of James' hand hand rushing to the couch.

Hermione sat up, wiping her eyes and Harry straightened in his seat, clearing his throat before catching his son's eye.

"I'm fine, Marley. Just fine." Hermione croaked.

"Dad, Mum's really upset. You need to go talk to her." James sighed.

Harry sighed. "Bollocks. Okay, Hermione, will you be okay until Draco gets home?"

"I can take care of myself, Harry." Hermione grumbled.

"Honestly, Hermione..." Harry groaned.

"Yes, I'll be fine."

James watched as his father leaned down to kiss Hermione's forehead before approaching James himself.

"Thank you, son." Harry said quickly before stepping into the Floo and disappearing.

"Mum, what's wrong? What can I do?" Marley asked, sitting down on the couch just as Hermione stood up.

"It's fine, Marley. I'm just going to go lie down. If you're still up when your father gets home, please tell him where I am, okay?" Hermione said quickly, bending down to kiss Marley's forehead.

"But, Mum -"

But Hermione was already rushing out of the room and up the stairs. James looked down at Marley's shocked expression and sat down on the couch next to her, pulling her into his arms without a second thought.

"Well... it's been a weird few minutes." James decided to say.

James looked at Marley from inside their embrace. His arm was wrapped around her, pulling her as close as he thought she would allow, even though he wanted her much closer. He couldn't believe that he'd almost lost it in the kitchen with her. He hated seeming weak, especially around her. Even though he knew that she wouldn't mind if he let his guard down.

"Marley?" he whispered softly.

She turned her face to his. He heard her let out a small gasp as he knew she realized just how close they were. James knew if he moved just an inch, his nose would touch hers.

"What?" she whispered back.

He could smell her lip gloss - raspberry. The same kind he had associated with her for years. She was almost never seen without it. She was so close, why wasn't he just going for it? He knew that she liked him too - he was almost certain.

But he knew that he was afraid she would move away again. Then again, she hadn't moved away so far and they were pretty damn close.

James leaned in closer, getting ready to go for it. He heard Marley take in a shaky breath and he reached for her hand, taking it in his and giving her a comforting squeeze. He moved in, watching as Marley shut her eyes. He did the same, taking his other hand and cupping her cheek gently before he -

"Uh..."

James sprung back, feeling Marley do the same. His face was hot as he ran a hand through his hair, looking around to find Marley's father staring at them with crossed arms.

"Oh, uh, hi Dad." Marley muttered.

James nodded at Draco, his face growing warmer by the second as he inched away from Marley. Draco had a smirk on his face and James suddenly wanted to be anywhere else.

They had been so close.

"I'm gonna just - uh - yeah." James mumbled, standing up and heading over to the fireplace.

"No, James. Wait." Marley called out.

James was determined to leave. He could feel Draco's eyes on him. He knew that his parents and Marley's were expecting them to get together, but he also knew just how protective Draco was over his children - especially his girls.

"Stay. Please." Marley whispered.

James sighed, knowing that he couldn't leave. Not when she didn't want him to.

. . .

Draco felt bad for interrupting Marley and James - but then again, he didn't really feel all that bad at all. They both were so clearly embarrassed, but Draco really didn't mind. He knew how they each felt about each other - but that didn't mean that he wanted anyone making a move on his little girl.

"Dad... can you - you know - leave?" Marley groaned.

Draco raised his eyebrows at Marley, finding her having crossed her own arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him. Her stance reminded him clearly of his wife when she was angry.

"Mum's upstairs. She was in tears. So, you know, go." Marley continued.

Draco's whole demeanor instantly changed. Hermione had been crying?

Without another word, he left the room, running up the stairs to his room. When he opened the door, he found Hermione curled up under the blankets sobbing softly.

"Oh, angel." Draco whispered, approaching her instantly.

He suddenly cursed himself for having gone to see Astoria at all - especially when Hermione had so clearly needed him.

She looked up, her eyes were wide and filled with tears. He pulled her into his arms, holding her close against him as he had so many times.

"What's happened?" he whispered.

And then she recounted what Harry had told her. Fury erupted in Draco instantly. He couldn't believe that Ron had the nerve to show up again. He had never gotten the chance to see the bastard who had taken his daughter - but he knew that if he ever saw him again, he wasn't sure if Ron would make it out alive.

"So, Molly's going to call back in the morning?" Draco said.

Hermione nodded. "Yeah. Harry's said we could come over, see what Molly has to say for ourselves."

"Okay."

Draco really didn't know what to do. Should they tell Meredith about this? She wasn't a little girl anymore - she had a right to know. But then again, she already seemed so worn down and broken these days.

"What the hell does he want, Draco? Why is he back? He's left everyone alone for all these years and-and why can't he just do it forever?" Hermione mumbled into his shoulder.

Draco held her closer, sliding down underneath the blankets. "I know, love. I know. What can I do?"

"I don't know. This." Hermione mumbled.

"Okay, angel. Okay."

. . .

Marley took James' hand in hers and led him up the stairs, following the path to her room.

"Marley, are you sure this is a good idea?" James whispered.

"Dad's going to be distracted with Mum all night. They'll never know. Besides, you said you needed to get out of the house and you stay in my room half the time anyways." she reasoned.

Marley couldn't stop thinking about the fact that James had almost kissed her. That was without a doubt the closest they had come - and Marley cursed her Dad for having interrupted.

James finally intertwined his fingers in hers and gave her hand a light squeeze. She opened the door to her room, letting him go in first. He sat down on her bed, and she sat down beside him, tucking her knees up to her chest and hugging them.

"Can I ask you something?" she said.

He nodded. She had to ask him what was going on at home. She had to know. He had been so completely distraught and he knew that it had to be something more than Ginny crying.

"What's going on at your house?" she asked.

"Nothing." he said immediately.

"James, come on. Your mum was crying. You were almost -"

"Don't, Marley. Please."

Marley quieted down immediately. She knew how James operated. He would stay quiet until he was ready to speak - and then he would open up.

"Look, I don't know what's going on." he began. "All I know is that my grandma was on the Floo earlier, talking about Ron - the man who kidnapped your sister - and saying that he had showed up at her house. And then Mum and Dad were shouting at each other - because that's all they do these days - and Mum was crying and Dad just left to go - well, here apparently - and I can't take listening to them row anymore. I mean, Marley, they're worse than me and you. Lily's... Lily's worried that they're going to split up."

Marley's heart broke for him as she tried to process everything he had just said. It now made sense why her own Mum had been crying. Was she going to tell Meredith? Should Meredith even know?

And Lily - poor, six year old Lily - should not have to worry about her parents splitting up. That should be the last of her worries.

"James, come here." Marley whispered, holding out her hand for him.

James moved to her and she wrapped her arm around his shoulder.

"Are you worried that they're going to-to split up?" Marley asked hesitantly.

"Yeah. So's Albus, but he's not saying anything. He just shuts himself in his room and doesn't come out."

Marley looked at him, her heart breaking for all of the worries and vulnerability he held. She touched his cheek softly, her stomach filling with butterflies as it always did.

"You can sleep here again tonight, okay? And any night you want." she whispered.

As much as she wanted to kiss him - she knew that the moment had passed. She would have to wait - wait for him to do it, or wait for there to be another moment like earlier. And she would wait.

She would wait forever for James.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading, as always. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! xxx Happy New Year again to everyone! (: