Marlene soon gained control over her emotions. She was aware of Lily's hand on her shoulder, but she didn't shrug it off. Grasping what comfort she could from Lily, she focused on calming her nerves. After awhile she was set, and looked up at Lily.
"So, is it true?" Lily asked when she saw that Marlene was cool and collected.
"Is what true?" A spiteful tone had slipped into her voice by accident. Marlene tried to fight back her irritation when she saw that Lily was judging her. "The fact that I'm a Malfoy? My mother was a Malfoy, but my father was from Transylvania. I've never done anything to be considered part of the family; they see me as a sort of failure. I'm not complaining."
"Oh." Lily said after a moment. "Are you related to Sirius? Before you said you didn't know him, but you seemed to recognize his brother and cousin pretty well."
"I didn't know him for his reputation. I'd met him once at a stupid Pure-Blood gathering. I'd seen Regulus and Bellatrix one time too many. The Blacks and Malfoys are only distantly related by blood, but I'm not related to the Blacks at all. The blood in me is too diluted to count. I'll explain it later." Marlene ran a hand through her hair. The silver-blonde hair darkened to the red-streaked black she preferred. Rubbing her hands over eyes and the grey brightened to a brilliant green. Lily looked on in amazement.
"How can you do magic without a wand? I was wondering when you were dealing with the Slytherins."
"You mean you've never done it?" Marlene asked with a questioning look. Lily just shook her head no. "Really?" Marlene continued. "I'll explain it later. Right now I think we should head back to the compartment. Oh, and would you mind not telling the others. I'd prefer telling them in my own time."
"Don't worry. I won't."
The night was dark and cool. Marlene couldn't help but shiver as a gust of wind struck her as she stepped off the train. She was extremely nervous. The school couldn't be seen from where se was, and she didn't have a clue on what to do. An arm linked itself through hers. Sensing that she had startled her, Jenelle gave her a reassuring smile. She could tell that Marlene was feeling a little nervous.
"C'mon. " Jenelle said over the hissing of the train. "Dori and Lily went ahead to grab us a carriage. If you can see the thestrals, don't be frightened. Personally, I can't see them. But Dori can; and the way she describes them, well they can't be pretty." Jenelle continued to pull her through the crowds of people. She seemed to be heading for a carriage in the middle. Marlene stopped short when she saw what was harnessed to them. Great scary winged scaled beasts. Marlene shook her head, as if she could rid the image out of her head. Jenelle, confused at Marlene's sudden refusal to move, looked back. Catching sight of Marlene's wide eyes and pale face, she understood.
"You can see them?" Marlene slowly nodded to Jenelle's soft-spoken question. "Oh, Marlene. I'm so sorry. Let's get in the carriage and we'll explain." Jenelle led her to the carriage where Dori was hanging out the window. Marlene relaxed when they had all settled in and started moving.
"So those were the Thestral things you were talking bout?" Marlene asked quietly. Jenelle nodded. "Oh." Marlene continued. "Thanks for the warning. How come I can see it, but you can't."
"Thestrals can only be seen by people who've seen…well..Death." Jenelle ended in a whisper.
"Oh." A still silence filled the carriage. Only the sound of the crunching gravel underneath the wheels could be heard.
"I was wondering." Lily said. "When are you going to be sorted into your house?"
"Well," Marlene answered. "Dumbledore wants me to meet him in his office before the feast. So I guess that's when it'll happen. How do I get sorted?" Dori cut Lily of before she could answer.
"First they take away your wand, than they lock you in a dark chamber. Then a big troll enters the room." Dori's hands were gesturing wildly as she tried to demonstrate the size of the troll. "After the troll enters, they dose all the lights and you have to wrestle it…"
"Dori! You're starting to sound like James!" Lily exclaimed before Dori could finish her wild tale. "It's nothing like that! You just have to put on the Sorting Hat! Then it tells you what house you're going to be in!" Lily glared at Dori, who looked a little cowed. Jenelle, who had been staring out the window, gave a little yelp of surprise and dragged Marlene over to the window.
"Look!" Jenelle pointed into the distance. "You can see the castle now!" As they passed the last few trees, they were given an unbroken view of Hogwarts. Marlene couldn't help but feel over-whelmed by the beautiful sight. The windows of the castle had been lit, and were shining brightly against the dark mountainside. The towers were big and imposing. The lake shone with the lights of the castle. The reflection was broken by little boats floating across the surface. Marlene took it all in and felt…safe. She was puzzled by this emotion. Never in her life has she felt safe. Frankly, it frightened her. But her thoughts were broken as the slowed to a stop in front of the great oaken doors.
Relief. That was the only word Marlene could find to express the way she was feeling at the moment. She pressed her back against the stone wall and felt the chill seep through her body and calm her nerves. Ever since she stepped off the carriage and into the Great Entrance, her nerves have been in overdrive. She had been dreading her sorting ever since her encounter with Lucius on the train. But it was over. Her body was tense no longer and she could precede with a clear head. Pushing herself up, she headed toward the Great Hall.
Not one of her footsteps echoed as she made her way down the corridor, away from Dumbledore's office. Living in her father's house, she had taught herself to walk with ought a sound, and to keep her senses alert at all times. As she approached a huddling mass of black robed children; she forced herself to relax and walk toward the tall imposing figure in the front.
"Are you Professor McGonagall?" Marlene asked hesitantly. McGonagall stared at the girl though her square shaped glasses.
"Yes. You must be Marlene McKinnon. Hurry it up. Dumbledore just entered. Gryffindor table is the one on the far left. Don't dilly-dather now! In you go!" With an impertinent nudge, McGonagall pushed Marlene into the Great Hall. All heads were turned to the front where Dumbledore was standing at the podium and making a speech. No one had noticed her entrance. She had no time to stare in wonderment at the beautifully decorated Hall. Dumbledore was introducing the first years, which she suspected was the great mass of children currently outside the doors, for now. Marlene caught sight of red hair and quickly made her way to the empty seat to the left of Lily before she could get caught in the crowd of children. With a sigh of relief she settled into the seat. Lily flashed her a smile before focusing on the hat that now sat on a stool in the front. Marlene looked up and down the table. Jenelle was on her left, Dori on Lily's right. The Marauders were settled in seats across from them. Marlene glanced over Remus' shoulder, and wish she didn't.
Lucius was glaring at her, had been glaring at her since she first entered. She knew he had been watching, and feared what it ment. He had been expecting her acceptance info Slytherin, the whole family had. When she made it obvious that she hadn't infact been accepted into Slytherin, he was furious. He now had the unsavory task of reporting to the family that she, a member of the Malfoy family, had been accepted into Gryffindor. Oh, she may not be a Malfoy in name, but her looks, stature, and purity of her blood screamed Malfoy. Lucius curled his lip into a grimace. This was worse then when that brat from the Black family turned into a blood-traitor and ran into the open arms of Gryffindor. At least that time it had happened to the Blacks, no whisper of gossip had touched the Malfoy family over that. But this, this was worse. Now the Malfoy family had a stain upon it's untarnished name. And that was insufferable. All the carefully set plans were ruined, and now they had another problem.
The family was not going to be happy. Not happy at all.