A/N: Thank you to apoorvam77 for reviewing! Your review did make me smile. Reviews encourage me to write. Please don't read in silence :( A new thing starting from now, is if you review you get a sneak peek of the next chapter. See, it is worth it :) I don't really like this chapter much but THINGS WILL GET INTERESTING GUYS. I know this chapter is a bit shorter but it felt like a good place to finish :)

Disclaimer: Obviously I'm not the owner of Harry Potter. My laptop is six years old.

Chapter 5- Surprise!

Marlene's stay at the Potters had become very enjoyable. By mid-August, Marlene, James and Sirius had played numerous games of Quidditch, pulled pranks on each other, and stayed up into the early hours of the morning playing games of exploding snap. Marlene was excited for Lily to arrive (as was James) but was also excited for her upcoming birthday just before. She was not yet of age, due to being an August baby, something which James and Sirius teased her of endlessly. She couldn't wait to be able to use magic! Her pranks would be much better, without the help of James, who often swapped teams.
On the morning of the 15th August (Marlene's birthday), Marlene awoke bright and early. Finally, she was seventeen! It was only 8.30, yet the smell of breakfast wafted up the stairs. Marlene jumped out of bed, wrapping her silk crimson dressing gown over her pajamas as she did so. Eagerly, she ran downstairs, where Mr and Mrs. Potter were sitting in the dining room.
"Happy birthday, darling!" Mrs. Potter beamed, standing to hug her.
"Happy Birthday, Marlene," Mr. Potter also hugged her, "How do you feel to finally be of age?"
"Amazing!" Marlene grinned, "Finally, I can outsmart the boys!"
Mr. Potter laughed heartily, "They don't stand a chance!"
"Now, breakfast is nearly ready," Mrs. Potter informed, "So take a seat. The house elves have prepared everything. Pancakes, bacon, the works. I expect the boys will be up when they smell it!"
Marlene giggled, "I don't doubt it."
The girl couldn't help feeling a little sad that her family wasn't here to celebrate her birthday with her. Everybody used to get together, and there were a lot of them. Marlene got to see her nieces and nephews, a rare occurrence, not to mention her brothers and sister.
Although they sometimes clashed, Marlene was closest with her sister Scarlett. They connected on so many levels, from laughing at their mother's obsession with them marrying respectable men (and becoming respectable ladies), to teasing each other about where they'd been sorted. Scarlett was two years ahead of Marlene, and a Ravenclaw. Out of her whole family, Scarlett was the person she missed most.
What was even more comical, that after years of declaring that she would forever be an independent woman, Scarlett was now engaged, with a little girl, Audrey. Audrey was only a few months old, and Marlene had never met her youngest niece. It was obvious that Marlene's mother did not like the idea that Scarlett had had a child before marriage, but was happy enough that Scarlett was even getting married.
"Here is your gift," Mrs. Potter re-entered the room. While she was thinking, Marlene hadn't even realized Mrs. Potter had left.
"You shouldn't have!" Marlene gasped, in surprise.
"We certainly should have. And we did," Mrs. Potter beamed, "You've been like a daughter to us over these past couple of weeks. I hope you like the present. We were a little unsure of what to get you, considering we are used to buying for James but we think you will like it."
Mrs. Potter handed Marlene a gold gift bag, and inside was something wrapped in red tissue paper, with a gold ribbon tied round it. Red and gold had been Marlene's favourite colours since she was tiny. Her room as a girl was decked out in red and gold (and still was). Marlene was never quite sure why she liked the colours, but she thought it was probably because she really wanted to be sorted into Gryffindor, just like her father was before her.
Carefully, she removed the packaging, and inside was a small box.
"This isn't one of those joke gifts which keeps on going is it?" Marlene joked, to which Mr. and Mrs. Potter both laughed.
"No Marlene," Mr. Potter said, "Now, open it before my dear wife dies of suspense."
Lifting the lid to the box, Marlene peeked inside and let out a small sigh. Inside, was a beautiful gold locket, with a phoenix pendant, breathing fire of encrusted rubies. Marlene looked at the intricate detailing more closely, and saw that for eyes, two diamonds twinkled back at her. It must have cost a fortune!
"It's too much," She told Mr. and Mrs. Potter, "It looks like it cost more than this whole house!"
"Don't be silly, Marlene," Mrs. Potter assured her, "We have the money to spend, and besides, it is a special birthday for you."
Marlene smiled widely, "I love it. I absolutely love it! It's perfect-thank you so much both of you."
"It's our pleasure," Mrs. Potter smiled back, "Right! Let's not delay breakfast any further." She waved her wand, and the marvelous spread appeared on the table.
"I smell food," came a sleepy grumble from the bottom of the stairs. Sirius and James came in both looking rather disheveled. It was Sirius who spoke. Obviously.
"Happy Birthday, Moo," James yawned, hugging Marlene, and handing her a present.
"Thanks James!" Marlene smiled.
"Loretta, I hate to dampen the mood, but why on earth is breakfast being served so early?" Sirius asked, "I was sleeping perfectly fine and then the smell of damned bacon woke me up!"
"Well maybe if you weren't so greedy, you'd have slept through!" Mrs. Potter teased, "And if you are so annoyed about being awoken, you won't want any food, will you?"
"I never said that," Sirius scowled, "Catch." Sirius tossed a gift at Marlene. Luckily, she had the reflexes of a keeper, and caught it before it fell in the scrambled eggs.
"Thanks, Black," Marlene rolled her eyes.
"Eat breakfast first, dear, and then open your presents," Mrs. Potter said. Marlene nodded and piled her plate high, before tucking in. Ever since she was little, Marlene had had a massive appetite. She used the excuse that it was because she grew up with older brothers, even though Scarlett was nowhere near as greedy.
Midway through breakfast (a silent affair, as the food was so good) there were loud taps on the dining room window. Everyone looked up, to see four owls at the window. Marlene stood to open the window, to let the owls in, and the dropped four letters at her place.
Marlene recognized the handwriting as Lily's, Emmeline's, Mary's and Dorcas'. Three of them also had a parcel. The owls were not expecting a reply, as they flew back out of the window, as soon as they received a treat from James.
"Birthday gifts," Marlene explained, "From Emmeline, Mary and Dorcas, and a letter from Lily. I presume she will bring a gift when she comes to stay."
"Open my present now! Can she mum?" James asked.
"I don't see why not."

Mr. and Mrs. Potter, James, Sirius and Marlene were sitting in the living room, in the evening after dinner. Marlene's cake had been brought out, red velvet with gold icing, and the birthday dinner had of course been spectacular.
From James, she had received a box of Quidditch themed chocolates and a butterbeer scented candle, from Sirius she had gotten a Holy Harpies mug and a tea towel with his face on (typical), Dorcas had bought her a set of red and gold quills, with different coloured ink, and some Honeydukes chocolates, Mary had sent her a woven bracelet from her holidays in Greece, and Emmeline had bought her a silk scarf and a set of bath bombs and soaps. Marlene loved and appreciated all of her gifts; with the exception of the towel from Sirius (apparently it was 'novelty').
To finish the evening, a game of exploding snap was taking place between Marlene, Sirius and James(a common occurrence), as Mr. and Mrs. Potter watched on in amusement.
"I have to win! It's my birthday," Marlene whined.
James grinned, "Good luck, Mar. I'm the long reigning champion.
"Only because I let you win!" Sirius scoffed.
"Suuuuuure," James said, disbelievingly. Suddenly, a loud crack startled them from their game. Marlene's heart rate sped up. There were all sorts of charms around the house. Only people with permission could apparate in, couldn't they? James, Sirius and Marlene looked at each other in bewilderment. Why were Mr. and Mrs. Potter so calm?
Then the person entered the room.
"SCARLETT!" Marlene squealed, and ran to hug her sister.
"Happy birthday, Marls."

Oooooh.
Next chapter: Marlene spends time with her sister!