Chapter 2 (Marley, Welcome to Hell!)

"Marlene! Are you ready yet?" Ugh. I could hear the impatience in my mother's demanding voice, and knew that I would have to face my life soon.

Tonight was the last night before I left for Hogwarts for the final time, and in honor of that, my parents had decided to throw a party of sorts. Everyone would be walking around and mingling in formal attire; the ladies looking like Christmas tree ornaments in their colorful gowns, and the men like penguins in their tuxes and dress robes. There'd be all kinds of refreshments from caviar to rolled-up pieces of ham with spinach, from champagne to flavored water. And worst of all, dancing. It's not that I disliked dancing – in fact, it was one of my greatest pleasures, but my parents always made me waltz around with some pricks or dandies that they considered to be "acceptable gentlemen." I hated it, to say the least. They might as well have hung a sign above the door that said "Marley, Welcome to Hell!"

"Marlene!" My mother's voice cut into my thoughts.

"Coming, Mother!" I called down to her.

I examined my reflection once more. The deep blue of my dress exactly matched my eyes - I was the only one of my siblings to inherit my father's eyes; the rest sported my mum's mocha brown. I had chosen a simple dress; well the simplest Mother would allow me to wear. It was strapless, much to my despair; fairly tight-fitting until it reached my hips; and then the fabric softly flowed to the floor. I had allowed my wavy, raven-colored hair to flow freely down my back with only a glittering pin on one side to restrain it. My eyelids were dusted with a sparkling powder that reminded me of raindrops, and I wore a little mascara and blush, choosing to keep my lips their natural light rose color. Turning away from the mirror, I was reminded of my silver heels by nearly tripping over the hem of my dress. Kill me now, kill me now.

I descended into the grand foyer where the rest of my family waited not-so-patiently. My father smiled at me and discreetly sent me the thumbs-up sign. I grinned back. Being the only girl of his four children, I was "Daddy's Little Princess" and thoroughly enjoyed it. My relationship with my father was great, unlike with my mother. The twins snickered at my get-up from behind their palms, but they couldn't say much as they looked slightly funny (Who am I kidding? They looked down-right ridiculous!) in their rich-boy dress robes. My mother, despite looking gorgeous in her chocolate brown dress that hugged all of her curves, had a distinctly irritated expression that ruined the whole illusion of a happy family. I don't know how my father had put up with her for twenty-three years.

"It's about time, Miss Marlene May McKinnon. You're late for your own party," my dear-old-mum spit at me. I spared a glance at the grandfather clock in the corner. The party didn't start for another fifteen minutes, but as the hostess, Mum considered that terribly late.

Rolling my eyes, I followed her into the elaborately decorated ballroom. Streamers hung all around, the stage for the orchestra that was still setting up was lit with fairies that were captured in tiny little clear tubes and hung on strings, and the many tables spread throughout the room were elegantly, but simply covered with white table clothes, and a single candle in the middle of each glowed charmingly. If I hadn't been used to it, I would have gasped at the beauty of the room.

As we crossed the threshold, I was surprised to see an arm held out for me. I turned to find out who the mysterious stranger was only to find that he wasn't a stranger at all. My twenty-one year-old brother, Kirk, stood there, grinning down at me, his eyes sparkling with silent laughter. I hadn't seen him since winter holidays, so, needless to say, I was elated. "What are you doing here?" I whispered with excitement.

"Can't a brother just want to see his little sis?" he joked, pretending to be hurt by my question.

"Of course. But I thought you were in India to learn about traditional medicines?"

"I got home yesterday, and-"

I cut him off. "You got home yesterday and you didn't let me know?"

"I wanted to surprise you," he replied sheepishly.

"I guess I'll let you off the hook, but only because this is such a wonderful surprise." Kirk and I were very close, and I had been pretty bummed that he wouldn't be at the station to see me off like he had ever since he graduated from Hogwarts three years ago. Matching his wide grin, I laid my hand on his arm, and he escorted me to the door where we would greet the guests.