Chapter 13: Martyn

Dear Sister

I hope this letter finds you well, I heard from our dear parents that you had a little run in with some dark lord follows. I must apologise for their behaviour and I can assure you, it won't happen again.

I have recently taken up a new job within the Ministry, deciding that I have travelled and seen enough. I owe my thanks of a job to our dear uncle, Augustus Rookwood and although it isn't a glorified job, it's rung on the Ministry ladder - albeit the bottom rung.

However I can't shake the feeling that I am being unappreciated. I have seven NEWTs and nine OWLs however to be deemed as a Watchwizard, spending my days behind the security desk and my nights patrolling the corridors is a task that a mere muggle could perform, however I am not complaining, just happy to help the cause.

But enough about me, after seeing you with your boyfriend at the house before Christmas, I made it my duty as the over-protective brother I am to find out everything about Sirius Black and to find out if he is suitable. Having spent the Christmas with the Blacks (curtsey of my old school friend Rabastan Lestrange - who's brother in now connected to the Blacks by marriage,) I have deemed Sirius Black unsuitable for my little sister and that you should strike up a friendship – and hopefully more – with his brother Regulus. I know it is hard because of the unfortunate situation of you being in Gryffindor, however Walburga Black has decided to overlook that fact in favour of purity and power.

I look forward to hearing from you as it has been so long (almost six years this June) since I have left Hogwarts hallowed halls, and almost three years since I came home for the summer, I think I have apologised for that summer, however you must realise that what I did were survival skills that surely saved your life at New Year.

I would therefore very much appreciate a visit from you on your next Hogsmeade weekend. I know it'll be awhile before you find it in your heart to forgive me however, I would very much like to hear from you and I will be happy if you could accept me as your brother once more.

Yours in family

Martyn McKinnon

The letter had long since burned and disappeared from the fireplace, however it's wording was still etched in Marlene's mind. It was the Tuesday after the falling out, she was embarrassed about the scene she caused in the hall over dinner the day before, but having talked it over with Lily she could see how silly she was, before she spoke to the boys however there was one thing she needed to clarify, and for that she needed to speak to Regulus Black.

The chance came that Tuesday morning, they had been given the task of self study for Potions and Marlene had nipped to the library during break to look up some reference books when she saw Regulus over by the restricted section. He was looking around and contemplating whether or not the coast was clear.

She thwarted any plan he had to sneak in undetected my tapping him on the shoulder and dragging him down the charms section before he could disappear.

"I need to ask you a few questions." Marlene muttered as some fifth year Hufflepuffs walked past the spot they had occupied a couple of seconds before,

Regulus looked surprised but didn't say anything, he just gestured at her to continue.

Marlene took a deep breath; "Do you know anything of this arranged 'friendship' my brother and your mother have discussed?"

Regulus nodded, a small smile splayed across his lips. "Interesting turn of events isn't it?"

"I wouldn't say they were interesting just darn right annoying. Second question. Did my brother spend Christmas with you due to his friendship with Rabastan Lestrange?"

Regulus nodded again, unsure of where this questions were going, so he decided to elaborate. "Martyn and Rab have been friends since first year, they were in the same year and same house. Bellatrix and Rodolphus were two years ahead and all four of them got on well together, Martyn even dated Bella for a year before she decided to date Rodolphus. Martyn also dated, Andromeada who was in the same year as them. Your brother certainly gets around my cousins. He was always going on about joining two great families." Marlene sighed; there was a lot more to her brother than she knew.

The school bell rang and Regulus glanced at his watch he hadn't managed to look up the books he wanted. He wanted to do some research before the summer. His 16th summer.

Marlene could sense Regulus' impatience. "One last question. Is my brother a Death Eater?"

A blunt question needed a blunt answer: "Yes."

She was only a few minutes late for Defence. Regulus had hovered after the devastated blow but Severus had seen them and he scarped not wanting to be questioned by his fellow house-mate at why he was with a Gryffindor.

She took the long way to Defence thinking about what Regulus had just said and why it summed up her brothers attitude in his letter. She just wanted to cry though, her worst fear, had come true. The elder brother she had loved and idolised had turned over to the bad side. Memories of 4th year came back to her, the year she started to doubt her older brother. The year he came back a changed man.

She bowed her head in apology to Professor Livingston as she handed him her Dementor essay and sat down next to Lily.

Lily shot her a worried glance and handed her a tissue from her bag. Marlene hadn't realised she had been crying.

She needed to speak with the boys as well as Lily, but next period was no good, as James and Sirius had Muggle Studies.

Tearing of a piece of her parchment she scribbled a quick note. 'MWPP. LM need to talk. URGENTLY. Need place to meet.' When Livingston's back was turned she used magic to throw the parchment onto James' desk.

James raised his eyebrows at the note but understood. He wrote on it and sent it back.

"Common Room at midnight, Prongs will personally make it his job to clear the area."

"I suppose I better start with the boggart." Marlene glanced around at the five teenagers. Lily and James had surprisingly sat together on the sofa, with Sirius on the other side of James. Remus and Peter was sat on the armchairs. All five of them were watching Marlene, waiting for her to launch into her life story.

"Third year and rats, was curtsey of James Potter over there," James looked confused. "I was five and Charlus and Dorea were babysitting me and Martyn – my brother for those of you who don't know – who was twelve and about to start his second year. I was in the living room playing with my dolls when James thought it would be a great idea to play a trick on me. Even as a five year old James loved playing pranks. One of my dolls was behind me and on James' request Martyn had transfigured it into a live rat. I picked it up with out realising and it bit me. That one incident fuelled my fear of rats. After all she was my favourite doll."

James looked around sheepishly, as soon as Marlene had started explaining he remembered, partly because he remembered that Marlene had to spend the night in St Mungo's for observation.

"That was my fear until the summer between 3rd and 4th year. Martyn had left school in 1971. The year we started, he then left with his friends on a trip around the world. He came back for the summer holidays in 1974. He was back for his best friends brothers wedding."

"Bellatrix." Sirius muttered, he remembered that wedding and the hideous robes he had been forced to wear.

Marlene nodded and continued. "One evening before returning to his travels, he decided to teach me – what he called life skills – but what was in actual fact a way to completely overthrow an Imperius Curse. My parents never found out that he had been putting me under the curse and having me overcome it, it took me a week but I can now safely come out of the curse and counter attack as normal." Marlene glanced down at Lily and Lily understood how Marlene had managed to counter-attack the Death Eater that tried to curse her back in January.

The other four just stared at her, Sirius knew what she was going through. He too had been put under the curse at a young age and had been forced to overthrow it.

"You should've told your father." James stated coming to his senses first.

Marlene shook her head. "I was too scared, that's when my fear changed. My one fear was that my brother would become one of them. A Death Eater. If I had let the figure the boggart turned into finish what it was doing then the forearm would have had the Dark Mark etched into it's skin." She held up her hand to stop Remus from saying what he wanted to say. "I'm sorry for boring you with my life story I am just merely explaining why I was so upset yesterday. My brother set me a letter on Sunday, a letter in which he apologises for the actions of the Death Eaters in January, he also tells me about his new job – a job he describes as below him. He also wants me to break up with Sirius and date Regulus. Wait until I'm finished please Sirius." For Sirius had looked at though he was going to speak. "I have no intentions of dating Regulus although I did speak to him today and he confirmed my fears, My brother is a Death Eater. Now I know this explanation has gone on long enough and I am apologising for my behaviour yesterday. Sirius your surprise; although somewhat disturbing and sweet was just in the wrong place and at the wrong time and I am sorry you felt the brunt of my anger. As for what I said yesterday at dinner. I didn't really mean it, I just said the first thing that came into my head because I was annoyed at that bogus teacher for implying that a grim in my bed is a sure sign of death."

Marlene took a deep breath, talking about it had made it feel like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She didn't really like sharing her problems with other people, she felt guilty for making them feel sorry for her, but she felt if she didn't tell someone then she might end up cracking under the pressure and she didn't want that to happen.

James broke the silence. "So to sum up what you've just said, Martyn McKinnon son of the Head of the Auror Department is a Death Eater?"

"Ironic isn't it? Like some random muggle soap opera." Marlene said accepting a hug from Sirius who had risen from the sofa and engulfed Marlene in his arms.

Remus was next: "The figure the boggart turned into was your brother?" Marlene nodded, "He was here during the winter break apparently he asked Dumbledore for a job, preferably Defence Against the Dark Arts but the only position coming up was Muggle Studies as Professor Bloggs is retiring at the end of this school year. I only know because Peter and I were outside having just finished our snowball fight with some first years and I overheard him talking to Professor Slughorn in the Entrance Hall."

Marlene wasn't surprised by this, "My brother got Os in both his OWL and NEWT Defence exams and one of the reasons for his world tour was to gain first hand experience and knowledge of the Dark Arts, he always wanted to teach it. Looking back it's probably the only thing he wanted to do that our parents approved of."

James leant back on the sofa stretching his arms and accidentally placing one on the back of the sofa behind Lily.

Lily didn't notice and looked at her friend. She now understood the little things that had puzzled her before, like the way she threw of the imperious curse, why she got an O in the essay on that curse where Lily, Severus and the rest of the class got Es and As, why she had left during breakfast on Sunday when they had planned to go to the library, why she had been so moody and un-Marlene like on Monday. "Are you going to tell your parents?"

Marlene shook her head. "It would break their hearts, and ruin my dad's career, he says he's retiring soon I just hope Martyn doesn't get found out before." Marlene sighed and shook her head, extracting herself from Sirius she addressed her friends once more. "Guys again I'm sorry I shouldn't have lost my temper at such trivial little things, I hope that what I've told you clears up anything theories you had of me. However now I'm going to bed and as much as I need a hug from you Sirius I would prefer it if you kept to your own dormitory."

Sirius sighed a little but complied, he pulled Marlene into another hug and kissed the top of her head. "You're not alone." He whispered. "And I'm sorry."

Six little words made Marlene reach up to kiss Sirius, her worries forgotten as their lips touched.

A/N: Warning a long A/N coming up :D. Okay first things first I apologise for the way the chapters have been slightly Angsty and Marlene central but it had to be said, I hope I hinted enough times throughout the first twelve chapters about Martyn but if I surprised you... *does a little dance.* Hopefully now the story will return to more Pranking from Marauders more Quidditch and it will swiftly move to the end of sixth year. Also soon... (well okay not until after seventh year) but I will be asking your opinions on something. My story can go one of two ways and I have planned both ways out, I just would like to know how my lovely readers would feel about which way it went. But that will be a long while off yet. I hope this Chapter (and previous Chapters) haven't been too confusing, I've been trying to put across that Marlene doesn't do too well when under pressure especially when she doesn't talk about what's on her mind. Anyway I'd best leave you to what ever it is you guys do because I'm off to build a Snowman, because yes folks It's snowing again ¬_¬.