A/N: The next chapter, for my imaginary readers ;) Potterverse is JK's not mine.

Chapter 3: Wit

1979

"Congratulations Marley! You've passed your Obliviator training!" The over-enthusiastic blonde hugged Marlene tight. The darker haired girl pulled away from the strangling embrace.

"Thanks Diana, I guess the course is relatively simple compared to most Ministry training…"

It'd been about three years since the end of her last summer holidays. It felt so surreal that she was now a fully trained Ministry employee, she had a real job, and she and Caradoc had just moved in to an apartment together. She felt so grown-up.

Her mother and father had toured magical Europe together after they left Hogwarts in a group of friends, doing odd jobs in Bulgaria and France. They had not had to settle so quickly.

Marlene and her friends had been forced to grow up fast though. The war (and, yes, Marlene thought, it was a war now) had arrived, He Who Must Not Be Named was the most dark and powerful force their world had ever seen. The Order was barely managing to resist the antics of his followers and his campaign was just beginning; Marley shivered as the thoughts of the dark months to come filled her mind.

She pushed those depressing thoughts aside, however, to concentrate on the small and happy things in her life at the moment. It was how Marlene was dealing and coping with the atmosphere of terror that was slowly gripping her world. When everything got too much, she would force herself to concentrate on those pinpricks of light in the darkness.

So instead Marlene filled her mind with the dresses she'd bought with Dorcas yesterday in preparation for next month. With the current climate people weren't hanging around; after leaving Hogwarts, many a diamond ring had been proffered and April promised to be a month of marriages and relative happiness.

Relative happiness, Marlene thought with a tinge of bitterness, was as much happiness as one could hope for these days. Things would get a lot worse soon.

The girl longed for the safe walls of the castle; she thought of her little brother Jonny and of Sirius Black and his silly mates, of Lily Evans who had idolised Marley so. They probably had no clue, or very little idea, about the storm clouds gathering. It would hit them soon enough.

The first wedding Marley would be attending was that of her good friend Alice Prewett to Frank Longbottom. They were one of the sweetest and most loved-up couples Marlene knew; they were one of the few she did not think were rushing into their wedding.

The date was set for that weekend, Saturday the 14th of April; the weather forecast was good, the couple's Auror training ensured that the event would be protected by the most stringent of security spells. It promised to be a good day.

Marley chose her dress that Saturday morning with little help from Caradoc who was transfixed by the wireless, spouting an endless Quidditch commentary.

"I swear, all these goddamned weddings are scheduled on the day of key matches…" Caradoc shook his head as Marlene ushered him out of the flat. "They're mental, the bloody lot of them!"

"Every Quidditch match seems key to you," his girlfriend muttered as she fumbled with the front door keys.

"And anyway," she said as she straightened up and set off down the road. "What do you mean 'bloody mental'? For getting married, do you mean? That's not a nice thing to say."

He slung his arm over her shoulder. "I was actually referring to the dates they'd chosen for the end of their happy and independent lives." He paused for a moment, allowing Marley to stop and hit him affectionately.

"I'm joking, Marls. You'll get your big, white dress one day."

"Not that you'll be around to see it if you don't start doing your fair share of washing-up!"

"I took one day off of my slave labour and you're threatening to break up with me! Dear Merlin…"

A moment of suffocation darkness later and they were in a country lane; they'd have to walk a little way to the chapel. Frank had ensured that Apparation directly into the site of the wedding was impossible.

Marlene didn't particularly enjoy the sensation of Apparating, it felt too much like stepping into the unknown. She used to fear accidentally Apparating to a spot off the edge of a cliff or something. These days she imagined opening her eyes and being nose-to-nose with one of those Death-Eaters.

All thoughts of Death-Eaters and war disappeared from Marlene's mind as soon as they crossed the protective barriers surrounding the church. Bright blooms overflowed from the ancient building, their friends were milling around in their formal dress robes and with smiles on their faces.

Marley turned to Caradoc, a grin also spreading across her lips. He returned her secret smile before leading her to where the groom stood.

"Frankie boy, you ready for this?" Caradoc called in greeting to the tall man.

Frank turned at the sound of his friend's voice and raised one large hand to wave at the pair. Frank, Marlene noted, was one of those people that just looked awkward; cute in a goofy sort of way, still handsome but definitely awkward.

He was taller than most of the men around and had a fuzz of tightly curled, sandy hair. His large ears and hands and feet were rather out of proportion with his skinny limbs. His pale blue eyes were always smiling and friendly, the colour of a perfect summer day sky.

"Oh yes Caradoc, I can't wait." Frank grinned at the thought of Alice as he always did and adjusted the flower attached to the lapel of his jacket.

"You look very dashing might I say, Mr Longbottom." Marley chuckled. "But speaking of your lovely soon-to-be-wife, I must dash and see her one last time before she becomes Mrs Longbottom; do you know where she is?"

Frank pointed Marlene in the direction of the sister chapel, just to the side of the main church area. As she headed in that direction, she bumped into Hestia who it seemed had just arrived.

"Merlin, it was such effort even getting Benjy out of the front door!" Hes complained as she caught up with her best friend. "He kept going on about some stupid Quidditch match."

"Hah, if you thought you had it hard imagine what it was like for me!" Marlene shook her head and hugged her friend. Marley was always sure to greet her friends and bid them farewell properly; you couldn't be sure when you'd next see someone in this climate.

As the friends rounded the corner they could see a large cluster of women all sitting together. Some waved when they noticed Marlene and Hestia and one figure, dressed in white, detached herself from the crowd to run up to them in enthusiastic greeting.

Alice Prewett stumbled slightly as she dashed towards her friends - she'd always been quite a klutz. She was sure she'd trip on her way up the aisle but she didn't mind; nothing could take away from her happiness on this day. She just couldn't wait to see Frank, to be married to him, to be Mrs Longbottom.

"Alice, you look positively radiant!"

"You're glowing, honestly you are! I always thought that was a myth…" Marley laughed, hugging Alice carefully in order not to mess up her carefully styled hair.

"Do you like what they've managed to do with not an awful lot?" Alice laughed, indicating her hair.

It was something of a joke Alice's hair. When she'd first arrived at Hogwarts her dark brown locks were incredibly long, almost to the back of her knees. Year by year, she'd arrive in September with it shorter and shorter. Now it was a bob, the longest strands of hair just at the level of her chin. She called it her flapper hair.

Today it was tousled, with tiny little white flowers nestled in the waves. Her sheer veil fluttered to her shoulders from the crown of her head.

One by one the women congregated in the sister chapel drifted away to find partners and family and take their seats. Eventually only Alice, Marlene, Hestia and Alice's sole bridesmaid Emmeline Vance remained.

Music began to play from the other side of the ornate screen that separated the smaller chapel from the main seating area. The four women grasped hands; no words could be spoken but each woman knew she was feeling the same emotions as the others. The fear and the sadness, the happiness and the hopes for a normal future with a husband, two kids and a dog. The horrible fact that this was not a given, the uncertainty and the knowledge that most of them wouldn't ever have that.

Alice slipped her hand away from Marley and Emmeline. "You two had better find your seats," she whispered. "It's my time to shine."

It was about a week later and Caradoc had insisted, despite Marlene's arguments, that they should brave a picnic in the hills near their new home in Ottery St Catchpole. She moaned quietly to him all the way up the hill he had earmarked for their lunch, stopping only once she saw the fine spread he's laid on and the stunning view across the lush English countryside.

"Caradoc," Marley murmured. "This is… really something. Thank you."

Her boyfriend laughed at her sudden change in mood. "It's no problem. You've been really stressed out lately Marls; I thought you needed a break."

She sat down on the red checked blanket, leaning against Caradoc when he joined her. She felt very grateful for him. It was one of those moments where she felt slightly overwhelmed by the fact that she really did love him.

A couple of hours later and Caradoc was filled with a similar sensation. He watched her packing away the leftover food and empty cartons as he topped up their champagne flutes.

"Marlene." She turned at the sound of his unusually grave voice. He rarely ever used her full name. Caradoc looked at her a moment more, a blissfully happy smile touched his lips. He reached into his pocket to pull out a small black box.

"Marlene McKinnon, I love you." He spoke clearly and unwaveringly. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Marley; I've never been more certain about anything before. Will you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?"

She blinked at him, attempting to process it all. The perfect diamond ring, set into the silvery band; his face shining with hope and love; her almost insuppressible urge to shout out "yes"!

"No." Marley swallowed hard, hating herself for saying it. "Caradoc, listen to me!"

He had snapped the box shut and stood up, almost automatically. His face was etched with unspeakable hurt and disappointment. She grabbed his hand, trying to drag him back to sit with her.

"Caradoc, you fool! I love you!"

"Then why did you say no." His voice did not have enough expression in it for the words to be a question.

Marlene sighed. "I don't want to marry you because of the pressure of war, because there is a dark cloud hanging over us. I want to marry you because I love you. That and nothing else."

He did not look convinced.

"Would you have proposed to me aged 22 if there was no war?" She asked.

Caradoc shrugged and then shook his head mutely. There was a quiet pause between them. Then he bridged the gap separating the couple, to pull her against him in a tight embrace.

"I love you too. Obviously," he mumbled gruffly into her dark hair. He felt her body shake against his as she laughed.

"I'll marry you one day, Dearborn, mark my words!" She threatened jokingly on their journey back to the house.

"And by the way, that ring was perfect."

A/N: I don't think anyone is reading this (she said bitterly!) but I actually surprisingly don't mind too much; I absolutely loved writing this fic so that's what really matters.

However, if anyone is lurking? Then if you'd just drop off a review even if it's just one word or if it's 'constructive criticism', I don't care ahaha! It just helps a writer's motiviation to know that anyone is actually reading 3

Elle xo