Author: Ladyfun

Pairing: Dorcas Meadowes/Marlene McKinnon

Rating: Generally T

Disclaimers: All of this (Ladyfun gesturing big wide circles over the computer with her hand) belongs to J.K. Rowling. I own nothing, and this is all for non-profit fun.

SUMMARY: For the QLFC.

Dorcas has felt like the proverbial ugly duckling her entire life; her time at Hogwarts only compounding that dread. Worse, her longtime crush is the unattainable, attractive, and outgoing Griffyndor, Marlene McKinnon. Marlene is too involved with her friends Lily, James, and Siruis to notice someone as introverted as she…until one fateful day that will change her life forever.

A/N: Written for Round 5 /Season 2 of the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition. Position is Beater 2 for the Wigtown Wanderers. Prompt: First Date. Optional prompts used: 1. (quote) No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit. Helen Keller 2. (word) frostbite 3. (word) pristine

Round 5 - Some Love for the Early Exiters

Title/Link: In Praise of the Ugly Duckling

Team: Wigtown Wanderers (Dorcas Meadowes)

Position: BEATER 2/ First Date

Dorcas had become a skilled observer of life.

That's what happens when one is not a participant; they fall into the the category of either completely oblivious, or overly observant.

She wasn't always so introverted. Her family had moved to England when she was nine years old from what had been her happy life in Greece with her boisterous extended family to the prim and proper society life of England, due to her father's promotion. Being an only child, she missed her cousins and aunts and uncles, and the joy of life that Greeks possessed. The pureblood circles they ran in nowadays were as much fun as putting a fork into your eyeball; and her mother was constantly worried about how Dorcas would embarrass her. She liked nature, exercise, reading; she didn't like parties, or doing her hair, and worst of all, She wouldn't join in on "mudblood" baiting. Her sense of fairness quickly earned her the nickname "Dork-Ass" from her peers. She was met with a cool reception after one horrid day she spoke up when three purebloods were ganging up on a muggle-born exchange student; after that, she practically got frostbite when she tried to enter any games or conversations following her act of social justice.

Instead of commending her for standing up for the battered boy, her mother advised her to "try to fit in, a little better, for once, Dorcas!" She told her only child that she was creating unnecessary challenges for her family to get acclimated in proper society.

When she got her letter from Hogwarts, both her parents had a visible sigh of relief. They were prepared to donate heavily to Beauxbaton's to get her in; but somehow, she managed to secure a spot, despite her less than stellar social skills and her progressively introverted personality.

She had hoped that Hogwarts would provide her a different life, or at least a small reprieve from her loneliness.

At first it looked promising. All the horrid children of her parent's acquaintances were sorted into Slytherin; miraculously she was sorted into Hufflepuff. But at the end of her first year, she had her growth spurt and went through puberty, becoming as physically awkward as she felt inside; no one else had gotten their period yet – and she was a constant source of teasing, although it was much kinder by the loyal Hufflepuffs, at least.

Oddly enough, it was the boisterous Gryffindors that were the kindest of all to her. She remembers vividly two of the prettiest girls in her year, Lily Evans, and Marlene McKinnon telling a group of Slytherin girls to "sod off" when they were playing with her maxipad case, playing keep away with it in the bathroom. Marlene had extended her long, elegant arm, and intercepted the case with lightening quick reflexes, handing it back to the mortified Hufflepuff. She winked at the bright red Dorcas, whispering, "Hey, we'll all be needing these, soon enough, right? Except for Alicita, over there," the blonde Gryffindor said, pointing to the meanest Slytherin. "…because she's secretly a man, and will never menstruate." Dorcas laughed, for the first time, that afternoon.

Lily finished up giving them all a verbal tongue lashing and the Slytherins sulked out of the room.

"Chin up…er, what's your name, again?" Lily asked.

"Dorcas. Dorcas Meadowes." She whispered.

"Well, chin up Dorcas." Lily smiled.

The beautiful blonde Gryiffindor next to Lily grinned again. "Yeah! Besides, you're like a foot taller than all of them – you should kick their Slytherin bums next time! Bye the bye, I'm Marlene – but everyone calls me Marny-and this here is Perfect Lily Evans, who is going to be late to her first class ever if we don't hurry up!"

"Oh, bloody hell! Thanks Marny! See you around, Dorcas."

She watched, wistfully, as the two Gryiffindors bustled out of the bathroom, running towards their next class. She envied them – their grace, their camraidare, just their joy de vivre in general. She would grow to envy something else, asl well: That night, she had her first dream filled with blond hair, and long arms, and the girl with the infectious smile.

XOXOXOXO

It wasn't until their second year she would have her next run in with Marny. During the Care of Magical creatures class , she observed the goings on, as she usually did, from the back of the class. The teacher was slightly overwhelmed during the hands on portion of their session with Fire Crabs; Marny was in deep concentration, trying to coax her Fire Crab into behaving, and didn't realize four Slytherin boys, two from her neighborhood, had snuck up behind her, and turned their crabs backwards facing Marny, which Dorcas found curious. She followed their line of sight when they started backing away; off to the side, she saw a fifth boy aiming his wand towards the crabs to hex them.

She knew what would happen if they got attacked and agitated; they would shoot a scalding flame from their bum, hitting Marny squarely on her backside!

With an agonized "No!" She lept into action, sprinting at full speed. She lept over the chairs, pushing Marny away from the crabs as the hex was fired off. In a blaze of fire and explosions, Dorcas didn't realize what happened, only feeling a pain so intense she passed out on the spot.

When she came to, she saw the curious faces of her bunkmate from Hufflepuff, and five Gryffindors, oddly enough, sitting by her bedside.

Her bunkmate Elese just looked worried, but the Gryffindors looked … grim. Grim and determined. She knew Lily and Marny, of course, but didn't know the boys. Marny quickly introduced them. James Potter. Remus Lupin. And Sirius Black.

She recognized James from Quiddich matches she had watched, and she vaguely recalled Sirius from some balls she had been forced to go to. It was he that spoke first.

"That was a pretty idiotic thing you did, Meadowes. Its not everyday a Pureblood sacrifices themselves for a half-blood, y'know." Sirus said, gesturing towards her badly scalded leg.

She swallowed.

"Sure you're not a Gryffindor?" James said, with a grin.

"What's wrong with Hufflepuff?" Her bunkmate said , irritated.

Lily quickly interjected. "Nothing. Besides, I think Dorcas showed she's a true Hufflepuff. Loyal and kind. You were really amazing, doing what you did. I saw you leaping over chairs faster than James, here, ever caught the Snich. It was amazing!"

"Yes," Interjected the cerebral Remus. "You really earned your name….Did you know your name means Gazelle?"

"I did not." Dorcas croaked out.

Marny, who had been quiet the entire time, finally spoke. "So…so you're a pureblood?" She asked, quietly.

Sirus laughed. "Blimey, McKinnon? Where've you been? Yes, from one of the oldest lines in Greece! The Meadowes are bloody loaded!"

"Oh." She said, quietly, looking down, frowning.

James was laughing. "Yeah, old Dork-Ass and Siriusly Mental here are the two that got away from Slythern! Slytherin refugees."

"Your family…were Slytherins?" Lily said, in disbelief.

"yes, the ones that didn't go to Drumstrang or Beauxbatons, that is." Dorcas said, uncomfortable with all the attention on her.

"Is that why they Slytherin girls are so mean to you, all the time?" Her bunkmate said, with sudden realization.

"I guess. That, and I wouldn't let them beat a muggle born exchange student to death when I was ten."

Sirus let out a low whistle. "Dangerous! I like you, Meadowes!"

The newly appointed Nurse Pomfrey came around, shooing out Dorcas' visitors, informing them she had to graft and debrede Dorcas' leg, again, and insisting on her resting. Everyone shuffled out – save one.

Marny McKinnon.

"I never said thank you, Dorcas. So..thank you." Marny said, quietly. "I feel terrible…you're going to have scars, for life…"

Dorcas shrugged. "Eh, no biggie. Besides, I never said thank you, either."

"thank you…to me? What on earth for?"

For being so impossibly beautiful, that's what… Dorcas thought to herself.

Blinking, she said, "For…um, rescuing my feminine protection, you know."

The blonde Gryffindor looked at her like she was insane. "Merlin's beard! You're not serious…are you?" She laughed, outright.

Her laugh was magnificent. So pristine, so joyous, so perfect…just like her.

Dorcas followed her out, when Nurse Pomfrey finally banished her from the ward. Smiling, she said, "You've got it bad, dear."

"What?"

Madame Pomfrey looked at her incredulously. "You sustained third degree burns, on 20% of your body for that girl. That's typically what's known as "you've got it bad" means." She said with a smirk, as she went to work.

XOXOXOXOX

Marny became a regular fixture in the infirmary, even helping Madame Pomfrey from time to time. Dorcas was happy, for the first time in her teenage years in the two weeks it took to recover.

It was Marny that helped her carry all her belongings back to Hufflepuff tower, and Marny who patiently stacked everything away.

It came time to go, after they devoured the "congratulations" chocolates that the Gryffindor contingent had bought for her. As Marny was leaving, she noticed a wadded up parchment she had missed in Dorcas' bag.

"What's this?"

"Nothing!" The embarrassed Hufflepuff said, snatching it out of her friend's hands. "Its just a letter from home."

Unexpectedly, tears immediately welled up in Dorcas' eyes.

"Dorcas!" Marny said, alarmed, scooping the girl up in her arms. She sat her down on the bed, and said, "you're really upset. Can I read it?"

Marny was genuinely concerned, and ever so gentle with her friend.

Dorcas nodded, glumly, handing it over. She watched as Marny's beautiful face quickly dissolved into confusion, and then anger.

"Bloody hell!" She looked at Dorcas. "How do you deal with these…these…"

"My parents?" Dorcas said, glumly.

"I don't believe this! Reprimanding you for getting those slags from Slytherin in trouble! They should be commending their brave daughter!"

Dorcas looked down at the floor, saying nothing.

"Did they, Dorcas?"

"Did they what?"

"Did they commend you, for what you did? For saving me?"

The taller girl just sighed. "Look, my family…purebloods, in general, have sort of a different set of …ethical values than the rest of the world. I did something shameful. I ratted out some of my parents' friends children."

Now Marnie was tearful, and sat next to her friend. Placing her hands on either side of her face, she spoke, passionately.

"They're wrong, Dorcas. You're worth so much more than that! You're worth more they they will ever be."

"I hope so." She sighed. Her stomach was in knots, with the proximity of her longtime crush next to her.

It was almost too much.

"Marny, I'm…I'm kind of tired. Do you mind…?"

It was Marny's turn to blush. "I'm so sorry, I'm being a real prat! Of course you're exhausted. "

She stood and turned to leave, pausing at the door to issue a sad smile.

"Good night, Dork." She teased. "Thanks…for being you."

"What choice do I have?"

Marny shut the door, gently, as Dorcas continued to smile at the door, staring at it long after the beautiful Gryffindor had left the room.

XOXOXOXOXO

By her fourth year, things had turned the corner for Dorcas Meadows. She had friends. Real friends. Most importantly, she had a best friend.

And that best friend had become something else, indeed. Marny had blossomed into an even more beautiful woman, if that was even possible.

Any time a slag from Slytherin would threaten her, calling her a blood trader, she could laugh it off, now. Even when that bint Rupert Travers said the Dark Lord would personally come get her for betraying her kind, turning her back on such a wealthy and prominent pureblood lineage as the House of Meadowes, she could simply roll her eyes, nowadays.

It didn't bother her, anymore.

On one of their many weekends out together with the posse, James and Sirius had converted her into a Quiddich player, after discovering her speed and athleticism, and skill on a broom. After a few hours, she was almost as good as they were.

The boys strong-armed Hank Diggorey, the Hufflepuff Quiddich captain, into giving her a mid-season tryout; the Hufflepuffs regarded her warily as she was practically a card carrying Gryffindor now, at this point. However, she was undeniably good, and a new member was added to the team.

Diggorey would later buy Potter and Black Butterbeers for a month.

Over time, Dorcas became one of the best chasers that Hufflepuff had ever had. It didn't hurt she had the galleons to buy the fastest broom available, either, for her and the entire team. She had also grown into her body, and was as tall as most of the boys in the school, with a wingspan that was unheard of, in a female.

By the time their seventh year rolled around, ironically, the championship that year came down to Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, with Dorcas essentially carrying the team. Peter Pettegrew threatened to behead James and Sirius for giving Hufflepuff the ammunition to kill them with via Dorcas Meadows.

With ten seconds left in the game, Hufflepuff's star chaser threw the Quaffle in the deciding goal, giving the black and gold the lead. Hufflepuff was headed towards its first ever school championship.

That is, until James Potter caught the snitch with three seconds remaining.

Marny, understanding her friend's conflicted feelings, opted to walk with Dorcas around the lake instead of celebrate in the Gryffindor common room. They spread out a picnic blanket, and drank their own private butterbeers under the stars, laughing and enjoying their private moment.

Marny giggled out of the blue.

"What?" Dorcas said.

"What what?" Marny repeated, laughing harder.

"What are you laughing about, goof?"

Marny sighed, congenially, looking at the stars above them. "I was actually thinking, this is the best date I've had in a long time."

Dorcas looked over at the Gryffindor, shyly. "Is that what this is, Marny? Is this.. a date?"

Marny paused, propping herself up on one arm. "Do you want it to be?" She asked, quietly. Although nervous, she did possess that famous Gryffindor bravery, and her gaze was unwavering.

Dorcas averted her intense gaze, chosing instead to look up at the stars, thinking hard. She felt Marny's eyes and an unexpected warmth filling her entire body.

After a long pause, she said quietly. "I don't know…I've never been on a date. I don't know what that entails, exactly."

She looked at the beautiful woman leaning over her, and said, nervously. "Marny, I'm not going to lie. I don't know what to do…I'm a little afraid, really."

Marny grinned. "You know, there was a famous muggle named Helen Keller who once said, 'No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit' Don't be afraid. Just…go for it!"

"Go for it? Meaning what?"

"Oh! Well, I can answer that." Marny said, as she leaned closer towards her friend, who was trembling. "Meaning this." She leaned in, all the way, gently grazing her lips against the surprised ones of her longtime friend, which eventually kissed her back.

Marny pulled away, arching her eyebrows as she looked at Dorcas, as if to say, "well?"

Nurse Pomfrey was right...she did have it bad! Thought the Hufflepuff to herself. She then smiled, a goofy, enamored smile, and commented with a sigh:

"Best first date... ever."

Then, with the wing span she was so famous for, she reached up, pulling the Gryffindor down gently, kissing her again.