Hello and welcome back! I hit a little bit of a writer's block so it took a while to get this chapter out, plus i was less motivated. Anyway, here it is. For some reason it's really short compared to my other chapters, which is weird. It's the same length but it has way fewer words which is annoying. But without further delay:

Recap: Quidditch tryouts are held and Lori Timmon gets in the team, despite James spelling her name "Timmons." Death Eaters are spotted in Hogsmeade near the castle and Sirius thinks they were recruiting students for their cause. Marlene's parents have not made contact in months and she is suffering greatly from this.


"POTTER!"

James had simply walked into the locker room, completely unsuspecting, when Hurricane Lori struck upon him.

"What the hell is this?!" she screeched. She held her jersey in her hands. It sported the usual red and gold that one would expect. But her name, Timmon, was printed, "Timmons."

"Oh, yeah," James said, "I meant to tell you about that. Sorry."

"You expect me to play in this?" Lori asked, her face red with anger.

"Yeah, actually, I do," James shot back, starting to get angry himself. "Unless you can find a way to fix it, that's what you got. Be happy with that. No, be happy you're on the team. And, by the way, I'm captain, you do what I say, and if you have anything to say about that, then you're off the team. Got it?"

Lori stared, dumbfounded. So did everyone else. No one ever spoke to Lori like that. But James had been having a good day, and he'd be damned if he let Lori ruin that. Lori could only nod in response.

"Good," James said. Then, to everyone else, "Practice starts in two minutes, anyone late runs laps." With that, he walked out onto the pitch with his broom, Sirius right behind.

"That," Sirius said, astonished, "was amazing. I have never seen anything so awesome."

"Thanks," James said. "Hopefully it's enough to keep her under control."

"That might be pushing it, but we'll see," Sirius said, shrugging. As they walked onto the pitch, Sirius looked into the stands and smirked. "Look who showed up to watch."

James followed his gaze and grinned when he saw the familiar red-head. He got on his broom and flew over to her. "Evans," he called out, "I appreciate you coming out to see me play, but you should have told me you were coming! I would have made it a private practice, just you and me."

Lily looked up from the book she was reading. "I'm here for Marlene, you git," she said as he got off his broom and sat down next to her.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because," Lily hesitated, thinking about what to say without giving too much away, "she's going through some stuff. I don't really let her out of my sight anymore. I'm too worried."

"Okay, completely between you and me, what's going on with Marlene," James asked.

"Absolutely not," Lily said. "I am not telling you. No."

"Why?" James whined.

"Because, it's not about me and not my decision to tell you," Lily said, as if this should be obvious. "Why don't you ask Marlene?"

"I did!"

"And?"

"She…" James looked away. "She said no."

"Well then I'm definitely not telling you," Lily said. The Gryffindor players started walking onto the pitch. "Your troops have arrived," Lily told James.

"She's one of my best players, I need to know if something's wrong" James reasoned. He gestured for Sirius to start practice without him. "Please?" He looked right into Lily's eyes as he said it, and, for some reason, she caved.

"You won't tell anyone?" she asked.

"I swear on my life."

And Lily told him.

xoxo

"So it's Marlene's parents?" Sirius asked James, in the dormitory later that night.

"Apparently," James shrugged. "Which makes sense. I mean, in addition to losing her parents, she would have to probably become the complete legal guardian of the little McKinnons."

"What should we do?" Sirius asked.

"Well, we can't really do anything," James reasoned. "If Lily finds out I told you, we will both probably die. But if Marlene's ever, you know, feeling like Remus on a full-moon-night, then we can help more easily."

"And by help, you mean…?"

"I don't know, get her drunk? That worked for you last time," James suggested.

"Yeah, but I didn't know her problems were this bad," Sirius defended. "Getting her drunk now will just lead to more depression!"

"Well, then, find another way. Be creative!" James said.

Sirius sighed. "I hope her parents are okay, for her sake. And the little McKinnons."

James nodded.

xoxo

Defense Against the Dark Arts was interesting for those in the class with James Potter. He went out of his way to get the professor to divulge something about her past that would explain why she was at Hogwarts.

On Monday, they were studying how to resist the Imperius Curse when James raised his hand. Professor Turing sighed. "Yes, James?"

"Have you ever had to resist the Imperius Curse?" James asked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I have," she answered. "And, before you waste energy raising your hand again, please just ask your next question."

James grinned. "How thoughtful of you," he said. "Have you ever cast the Imperius Curse?"

"Only in training," she said. "Anything else, before we get back to the lesson?"

James thought. "What were the circumstances under which the Imperius Curse was cast against you?"

Instantly, the class became very quiet and very still, everyone watching Professor Turing to see what she would say.

Professor Turing's eyes shot around the room, before flashing at James. "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint everybody, but that information is classified. Now, back to the lesson. The most important aspect is keeping…"

"What do you think?" Sirius asked.

"That was the only answer I expected," James answered. "She's not allowed to talk about any missions to non-aurors."

"Then why did you ask?" Sirius asked, wondering if James just wanted to annoy Professor Alluring, as Sirius called her.

"Because I wanted to see how she reacted. I thought it might give something away."

"Did it?"

"Well," James said, "no. But I have to keep trying. I can't admit to Moony or Evans that she's not here for something. Other than teaching, I mean."

"You better find something quick," Sirius said. "I hate when Moony gets all gloat-y. It's an unbalance in the universe. We are the gloat-y ones, not him."

"Black," Professor Turing called out.

Sirius's head turned quickly to look at her. "Yes, dear?"

"Quiet," she snapped, used to Sirius's antics.

"Okay," Sirius said, cheerily. He refused to talk for the rest of class.

xoxo

Lily sat at a desk on the first floor of the library, Tommy across from her. They weren't doing anything, just talking.

"So, how's Avery," Lily asked, referring to Tommy's sister who had gone to America to be an actress.

"Good," Tommy said. "She just got a job… as a waitress."

"Oh," Lily said, sadly. "Well, I'm sure she'll get there eventually! You'll see, she'll be famous one day!"

"I hope," Tommy said. "She's too much of a dreamer."

"What's wrong with being a dreamer?" Lily asked, taken aback by his words.

"Lil, you can only dream so much and for so long. Then you have to move on," Tommy said, as if this were obvious.

"What's the point of dreaming if you have to move on?" Lily asked, getting upset with his narrow-mindedness.

"It gets you off the ground, sure, but it can't help you fly," Tommy reasoned.

"What are you talking about? That's the entire reason people dream! To fly! To go places!" Lily said, loudly. Too loudly. Madam Pince, the librarian shushed them from her desk.

"You okay, Lils?" Tommy asked.

"Yes," Lily sighed. "But, change of subject."

"I'd love to, but I have to go," Tommy said, checking his watch.

"Go?" Lily asked. "Go where?"

"Quidditch practice," Tommy answered, getting his things and getting up. "I'll see you at dinner, Love."

He kissed her and left.

xoxo

That night, the Marauders and Eric Tomkins were playing Exploding snap in the common room. Eric was joking about Lori Timmon being Keeper when the clock struck midnight.

"We should go to bed," James said.

"Or at least, go to the dormitory," Eric said.

They started to get up, but when Sirius saw Marlene sitting on one of the sofas, staring at the fire, he told the others to go without him.

"Mind if I sit down?" Sirius asked Marlene, gesturing to the seat across from her.

She shrugged passively. "Go for it."

"What's got you up at such a late hour?" Sirius asked.

"Let's just say, I could use some more Firewhiskey," she said suggestively to him.

"No can do. But I can probably help with what you're going through," Sirius said. "Your parents have been trained by the best. The chances of something happening to them aren't good."

Marlene turned to look at him in horror. "How did you find out?" she half-yelled, causing the other eight students in the room to look at her.

"Shh, Love," Sirius said, quieting her. "Look, it doesn't matter how I know, what matters is that I do know. And I'm sorry. I know this is hard for you."

Marlene sighed. "The worst part is that I don't know how to tell my siblings."

"Well, tell them all together, for one. That way you don't have to drag the process out for yourself. And make sure you're straightforward about it. Oh, and take them to a neutral place."

"A neutral place?" Marlene raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Sirius said. "You know, a place with no good or bad memories for them. If you take them to a place with good memories, it will spoil that place and those memories. If you take them to a place with bad memories, it will make them feel worse when you tell them and they will hate that place forever and ever. So, take them to a neutral place."

"You make it sound easy," Marlene grumbled.

"Look, Love," Sirius said, kindness in his voice, "there is no easy way to do this. It will be hard. But the goal is to make it as less hard as you can."

Marlene thought this over. "Sirius?"

"Yes, Love?"

"How do you know all this?" Marlene watched him closely as he answered.

"Because, in addition to being outstandingly handsome, I am amazingly smart," he answered.

Marlene stood. "Well, thank you. You actually helped. I'm going to go to bed. Goodnight." She leaned over and kissed Sirius on the cheek.

Before she could stand back up, Sirius grabbed Marlene's wrist and turned his head, so that their faces were an inch apart. "You can't expect me to let you get away with just that?" He raised an eyebrow suggestively.

"Anything more and I'll end up in a broom closet with you," Marlene answered.

Sirius smirked and let her wrist go. She stood up and started to walk away. "You'd love it!" he called after her.

"You wouldn't be able to handle it!" she called back, just before she walked through the door to the dorms.

xoxo

James walked through the halls of the castle long after curfew, the Invisibility Cloak over him, the Marauders' Map in his hands.

The Marauders' Map was a complete map of Hogwarts created by the Marauders themselves. It showed where everyone on Hogwarts grounds was and where they were going, along with every single passageway, nook, or cranny. It could only be accessed by pointing your wand to it and saying, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Then, you had to say "Mischief Managed" for the map to hide itself again.

James rounded a corner and saw Lily and Remus walking directly towards him. He had forgotten they were patrolling that night. He turned around to avoid them, not wanting Remus to find out where he was or what he was doing, but stopped when he heard his name in conversation. He turned back to them and listened.

"No," Remus was saying, "he hasn't told me anything about Marlene. Why?"

James let out a breath. He had been thinking about telling Remus about Marlene, but he had decided against it for this very reason. If Lily asked, he wouldn't lie about knowing.

"I just wanted to make sure," Lily said. "I told him what's wrong with Marlene and I made him swear not to tell anyone."

"But you worried?" Remus asked, smiling.

"Of course I did!" Lily said, laughing a little. "It's James. But if he didn't tell you, then maybe he kept his promise."

James was almost hurt by how doubtful she sounded, but then he remembered that he actually did break that promise. Lily and Remus rounded the corner, so now James was a few feet behind, keeping up to hear the conversation.

"If I may, Lily," Remus said, almost hesitantly, "why did you tell James in the first place?"

Lily took a moment before responding. "I… don't know, actually. I suppose I just wanted him to leave me alone."

"Is that the only reason?" Remus asked.

Lily looked at him, frowning. "What are you asking?"

"Well," Remus reasoned, "last year you were ready to throw James in a lion's den for a good laugh, and now you're telling him secrets about your best friend just to get him to leave you alone? Kinda weird."

Lily looked down at the floor for a few moments. "A lot changed over the summer," she said finally. "Or, perhaps, I changed a lot over the summer."

Remus sighed. "I know, Lily. But you're doing fine now."

"Because I had a summer to collect myself," Lily said. "Many of my ideals and opinions have changed. And, so far, it's worked."

Now, James was thoroughly confused. What did Remus know about Lily that he didn't? What happened to Lily over the summer? Why was he still following them when he had more important things to do?

"So," Lily said, interrupting both the silence and James's thoughts, "you have waited patiently, Remus. Would you like to know what's wrong with Marlene?"

"Lily you have known me for six years. You know almost as much about me as the Marauders do! I'm offended you have to ask. But do I have to promise not to tell anyone?" Remus joked.

"No, I trust you," Lily said, laughing.

James was offended.

As the two started up some stairs, Lily telling Remus about Marlene, James stopped and looked at the Map. Professor Turing had returned to her office.

James sighed and started to head back to Gryffindor Tower. He would have to try again some other night.

xoxo

Marlene led her three younger siblings along the edge of the lake, out to where it was very rocky and students seldom went.

The Wednesday sun was setting over the horizon, shooting out rays of red and orange that reflected back over the water. There was a chill in the air—October was only two days away.

"Where are you taking us?" Bradley complained.

"And why?" the twins asked in unison.

"Here," Marlene answered, sitting down on a large rock. She looked to her left to see Hogwarts, its stone walls gleaming with the orange-red tint the sun cast on everything around them. "Sit down," Marlene told the others, her voice commanding but somehow also caring and calm.

The twins sat on the same large rock, while Bradley sat on his own. They faced Marlene.

"What's this about?" Valerie asked, suspicious.

"Is something wrong?" David asked, his tone matching Valerie's.

Marlene looked at them and took a deep breath. "Mrs. Peters wrote to me two weeks ago. It's about Mom and Dad."

Valerie's face lit up. "Are they coming back?" she asked, her voice excited. At her words, Bradley grinned and looked to Marlene for confirmation, but David didn't. He knew Valerie was just desperately trying to be optimistic. He took her hand and looked to Marlene for the real news.

The anguish on Marlene's face clearly gave Valerie her answer. Tears formed in the eldest McKinnon's eyes as she said, hoarsely, "No."

Valerie's face fell and her gaze dropped to the rocks below them, her hair covering her face. David held onto her hand and also redirected his gaze from Marlene. Bradley's face also fell, realizing what Marlene's words must mean.

Marlene took a deep breath before continuing, trying not to cry for their sakes. "Mom and Dad haven't written in two months. Mrs. Peters is worried. They've never taken this long to write before."

"But that doesn't mean they're dead, right?" David asked. He hesitated, but when there was a silence he looked at Valerie. "I mean, it could just be too risky to send owls right now," he said, for Valerie.

"Could they really be dead?" Bradley asked.

"Or maybe they're on their way back!" David pointed out. Again he hesitated, but when Valerie said nothing, he continued: "And they can't tell anybody because it's all secret stuff!"

"What's going to happen to us, Marlene?" Bradley asked, his eyes full of fear.

Marlene couldn't believe the scene going on in front of her. The brother that was always optimistic, was seeing only bad outcomes everywhere. The sister that always had a snide remark or had to get the last word was not saying anything. And the brother who only thought of reasonable answers to every problem was thinking up unlikely explanations.

"Okay!" Marlene said, quieting her two brothers. "Okay. I know we are all scared and upset. But look, I didn't tell you so that you could tear yourselves apart with worry! I told you because you have a right to know what Mrs. Peters and I know. Because they are our parents, not just mine.

"I know you guys are afraid, and you have every right to be, but the fact is, as far as we know, they're alive. As of right now, all we know is that they couldn't send any letters. That's not something to worry about. They probably shouldn't have been sending letters anyway. You guys have to stay positive, for your own good.

"As for us, we are fine. We are going to live like we normally do. We can worry, sure, but we can't let this take over our entire lives. I was told to take care of you guys. And I'm doing that as best I can, but, hell, I'm not Mom. I'm not capable of being Mom. I'm not capable of being the most powerful wizard in the family. I'm not capable of half the things she thinks about doing! But I am capable of one thing.

"You guys, you are the most important people in my entire life. Whatever happens, I need you to trust me. Trust that I will protect you. Trust that I will keep you safe. Trust that I won't let anything happen to you. Just, please, for the love of Merlin, trust me."

There was silence for a while. The sun set over the trees, covering the McKinnons in shadow. It was a while before any of them stirred.

Bradley was the first. He looked up at Marlene, tears in his eyes, and said, "I trust you, Marlene." He stood and, to Marlene's great surprise, hugged her. "I love you," he whispered in her ear.

Tears escaped Marlene's eyes. "I love you, too, Brad. Now, you should go back to the castle. Be careful, I told McGonagall we were out, but none of the other professors."

Bradley nodded and started walking back.

Marlene looked at David and Valerie. They had not moved since Marlene started her speech.

"I trust you, Marlene," David said, suddenly. He, too, hugged her, and told her he loved her.

"You should go back, too," Marlene said to him. He looked at Valerie, whose head was still down, and started to argue. "I'll take care of her," Marlene interrupted. "Just go." He nodded and started off in the direction Bradley went, quicker so as to catch up to his younger brother.

Marlene watched Valerie for a few moments before looking up at the night sky. It was lit with thousands of stars, and off to the left, Hogwarts glistened with its own stars. "It's a beautiful night," Marlene said. "Such a shame you're missing it down there."

At first, Valerie didn't move. But after a few moments, she picked her head up and looked at the sky. Marlene could see dried tears on her cheeks, reflecting the light of the stars. "You okay?" Marlene asked her younger sister.

"No," Valerie said, her voice hoarse. "But I don't know how you are."

"Oh, I'm not," Marlene said, laughing a little. "I've just had a couple weeks to sort this out. It gets easier, with time."

"You know you were wrong," Valerie said. She waited for a moment, but then realized that David wasn't there. "About Mom being the most powerful wizard in the family."

"Then who is? You?" Marlene asked, knowing it would be just like her sister to say that.

"No." Valerie shook her head. "You."

Marlene stared at her in shock. "That's nice of you to say, but, Val—"

"No," Valerie cut her off. "You don't understand. It wasn't a compliment. It was a fact. You are the most powerful member of this family, more powerful than Mom and Dad. David and I checked. So, yes."

"Yes, what?" Marlene asked confused.

"Yes, I trust you," Valerie said. "I would trust you with my life. I would trust you with David's life. I would trust you with anything. I am so lucky to have you. All of us are. And I know I don't always act like it, but I appreciate everything you do for us. And I'm sorry for all the trouble I cause. I love you."

Marlene was crying by the end. How could she not? "I love you, too," she said, nodding. She took a moment to wipe away her tears. "We should head back," she said, finally.

Valerie nodded and stood with Marlene. They walked back to the castle the way Bradley and David had gone, Marlene's arm wrapped tightly around the smaller girl's shoulders.

All was not well in the McKinnon family, but that didn't mean they weren't alright. They had faith in Marlene that it would be okay. And she had faith in the world to solve problems like these. Problems that shouldn't even exist.


Okay, so if you liked or didn't like this chapter, please tell me so i know what to do in the future. And reviews always make my day. If you aren't already, follow and favourite, because that's more fun for everyone! Alright, everyone have a good night and see ya next time!

~Jill
MissSlytherinxoxo

XOXO