WC: 1,181

The next morning, Marnie woke up a bit disoriented but then she realised she had slept over at her mum's. She got up and walked down to the kitchen.

"Morning Marnie," her step dad greeted.

"Morning Malcolm."

He rambled. "You don't have to call me dad if you don't want to. I know you're closer to your biological dad. I'm not offended. I know this is still a lot to process."

"Okay."

"You want some tea?"

Marnie nodded as she sat down. Malcolm handed her a steaming cup of tea as her mum walked in.

"Morning you two."

Malcolm walked over to her and greeted her with a kiss.

"Oi! I rather not wake up to see my parents snogging!" Kyle exclaimed walking in the room.

Gillian and Malcolm separated.

"So, have you had any romantic interests?" her mum asked her.

Marnie blushed. "Not really, I had my first kiss with Derek Nixon on New Year's Eve last year. I didn't feel anything towards him."

Everyone nodded. Marnie stayed for breakfast then left to her house.

"I'm home!" she called.

"Mar!" Marley yelled running towards her older sister.

She smiled and greeted her youngest sister. The rest of the family came to greet her too.

"Did you have fun over your mum's?"

Marnie nodded. "Yes, I did. I babysat my brothers along with Kyle until his girlfriend came over and he left me to babysit. We ate some Mac and Cheese and put them to bed."

Nixie came up and rubbed against her owner's leg. Marnie bent down, picked her up and stroked her fur. The cat purred loudly in response.

It was good to be home. She decided to go up to her room, she put Nixie on her bed and grabbed a book to revise for Charms.

Within maybe two hours of revising, she fell asleep. The only thing that woke her up was Maureen knocking on the door to tell her that dinner was ready. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, got up from her bed and walked down the stairs.

"It's been really quiet in your room since you got home."

Marnie said filling her plate with food. "I started to revise but I fell asleep two hours into the revising. I don't understand how Atticus can revise for hours on end."

"I was never much for revising either," Martin said.

Marnie said. "At least it was Charms, if it was Transfiguration I probably would've fallen asleep instantly."

Martin nodded. The family continued eating and chatting. After dinner it was time for dessert, it was treacle tart. She helped her dad wash dishes and then walked up to her room. She decided to start on her project that she was taking on. She wanted to try and make it through the 'Roald Dahl' bibliography in order. The first book in the bibliography was called 'The Gremlins'. The good thing about his books most of them were short. By the time she was half way through the book it was time for her to get ready for bed. She took a quick shower and changed into her dad's old jersey and a pair of shorts. She crawled into bed and continued reading until she fell asleep.

It was about a week later and time for Marnie's fifteenth birthday. She invited her mum, stepdad and her step brother and half-brothers along with the regular attendees Jaq and her parents and Atticus and his parents.

"There's the birthday girl!" Jaq exclaimed as she appeared out of the fire.

The two girls greeted each other enthusiastically. After the greeting, Atticus arrived with his parents.

There was a knock on the door and Marnie rushed to the door. She opened it to face her mum, stepdad, step brother and half brothers.

"Marnie!" Brett exclaimed greeting his half sister excitedly.

She smiled. "Hey Brett."

"Happy Birthday." Gillian said hugging her daughter.

"Thanks mum, come on in."

They walked in.

"Let me introduce you to my friends." Marnie said.

Gillian nodded as Marnie pulled her by the arm.

"Mum, this is my best friend Atticus Quigley," Marnie said introducing her.

"Atticus, nice to meet you. Atticus is from 'To Kill a Mockingbird' ? Isn't it?"

"Nice to meet you too. Yes, my name is from that book."

Gillian nodded.

"Mum, this is my other best friend Jaq Fraser."

"It's nice to meet you, Jaq."

She smiled. "You too."

The parents introduced themselves. After the introductions, her grandparents arrived.

"Gran! Grandpa!" Marnie yelled running to greet her grandparents.

They greeted their granddaughter.

"Do you remember my mum, Gillian?"

Rose turned to her son's ex-girlfriend. "It's good to see you, Gillian."

"You too, Rose."

Though the greeting was cordial but you could sense the edge in Rose's words. Lastly, Stephan and his family arrived.

After the quick introductions the party started. They had Marnie's traditional birthday meal. Then they had birthday cake.

"So, I hate to bring this up at Marnie's birthday party but my curiosity is killing me. Why did you abandon my sweet little passerotta?" Walter asked.

Gillian grimaced. "She started to show magic about six months before she turned three. I hid the outbursts from my sister who I was living with at the time. I was successful until a few days after she turned three. My sister freaked out."

"A lot of muggles freak out when their child shows magic. I know I did." Mr. Quigley said. He was the only muggle in the room besides Gillian.

"They do but it was more in anger than shock."

"Why anger?"

Gillian sighed. "She's scared of magic. She was scared that Marnie would abandon us once she discovered the magical world."

"Why would you think my granddaughter would abandon you?" Rose asked patiently.

"I regret it now but she thought she would turn out like our little brother Gilderoy."

Madison asked. "Is your maiden name Lockhart?"

Gillian nodded.

Madison looked disgusted. "I fancied my half sister's uncle for most of my second year. I need a minute."

Marnie couldn't help but burst out laughing at her sister's reaction.

"How do you know my baby brother?" Gillian asked confused.

Marnie who was still laughing said. "I'll go grab one of his books."

Gillian nodded still confused. Marnie rushed up to her room and grabbed one of her uncle's books. It still feels weird to call Gilderoy Lockhart her uncle. She walked down to the kitchen and handed her mum the book.

"My baby brother is an author." she said amazed.

Marnie nodded. "Sadly, he was a fraud and a coward. Mum. He faked all these encounters."

"As much as I wish I could say I was surprised, I'm not."

"You aren't?"

Gillian shook her head.

"He was also our Defense Professor last year. He lost his memory when he tried to use the memory charm on a second year named Ron Weasley when they went down to the Chamber of Secrets to save his little sister."

"I doubt he was a good Professor."

"He wasn't."

Gillian nodded. The party winded down and everyone left.