WC: 787

It was now time to leave for Christmas, Marnie and Atticus were in their usual compartment after their rounds.

"So, have you thought about what I said a few weeks ago?"

"About setting up Becky and Ailín?"

Atticus nodded.

"I don't know, I'm not sure how Becky would react to being set up with your brother."

"It might be easy, the Quigley brothers seem to easily charm the Jacobs girls." Atticus smirked at her.

Marnie snapped playfully back at him. "You're never going to let me live that down are you, Quigley."

"Nope, Jacobs," he smirked.

"You're insufferable."

Before Atticus could respond there was a knock on the compartment door.

"Come in."

Lee slid the door open and sat next to Marnie. Nixie was lying down in the seat next to him meowed loudly for attention from the new member.

"She wants you to pet her, Lee."

He turned towards the cat and reached over to pet her. She purred loudly and licked his hand.

"She seems to like you." Marnie smiled.

Lee smiled back at her.

"Do you have any pets, Lee?"

He nodded. "I have a Jack Russell terrier named Taffy. I wish I could bring her to Hogwarts."

"You'll see her when you get home."

They reached Kings Cross around 6pm, Marnie met up with her sisters and they walked off the train.

"Daddy!" Marley exclaimed bolting towards their father.

Martin hugged his youngest daughter. All three Jacobs sisters greeted their father.

"How was your first term, sweetie?"

"It went fine, I watched over Marley with some help from Cedric."

Marley smiled. "I think Cedric is kind of cute, he's seeker on the Hufflepuff team."

"So, my first crush was my half sister's uncle, Marley's first crush is a Hufflepuff Quidditch player, Marnie's was a seemingly muggle boy."

"Actually, you're wrong about my first crush, I had a crush on Atticus' older brother Ailín during my first year." Marnie corrected her sister.

"Is that the reason you befriended Atticus?" Madison asked.

"Nope, he shared his 'Irish Chocolate Potato Cake' with me. No wonder I was nearly sorted into Hufflepuff."

"Us Hufflepuffs do like our food," Martin chuckled as he escorted his family towards the apparition spot.

They apparated back to their house.

"I need some advice, dad."

"What is it, sweetie?"

Marnie said. "I feel like I'm growing close to this Gryffindor boy named Lee. He's really nice."

"I think your grandma mentioned that Patricia upset you while she visited Madison during her first Hogsmeade weekend." Martin said changing the subject.

"Yes, she did. She criticized my career choice. She called me a reject because my biological mum abandoned me."

Martin said. "I really got lucky with Maureen, not many women would help raise their husband's daughter from another relationship."

"You sure did, dad."

Martin asked. "So, what do you need advice about?"

"I'm thinking of telling Lee about the fact that I'm related to Gilderoy Lockhart."

"What's the big deal about that, sweetie?"

"Uncle Gilderoy was a fraud and a coward, he almost let Ginny Weasley die in the Chamber of Secrets. He's a narcissistic git. It would ruin my reputation if anyone but my friends and sisters knew I was related to him."

"Your reputation shouldn't matter, he's your family."

"Part of the family that abandoned my mother. If that hadn't happened my aunt probably would've been more accepting of my magic."

"So, you're doing this to protect your mother who isn't as bitter about the abandonment of her brother and mum."

Marnie nodded. "Is that so bad?"

"Not necessarily. You sound like your aunt though."

"I thought you never met my aunt?"

Martin shook his head. "I never did but your mum would complain to me about her."

Marnie thought for a moment. "I suppose so, I don't want to be like her."

"You said you're getting close with this boy, you might be able to trust him."

Marnie nodded and walked back up to her room.

It was a few days later, Marnie was over Derek's they were swapping stories about their term.

"This is probably an awkward request but here it goes."

"What is it?"

"I was wondering if you'd be willing to ya know with me just to know what it's like?"

Marnie caught his drift. "I'm not sure."

"You want to lose your virginity to someone you actually have feelings for or someone who has a chance of developing feelings for you at least."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing forget I said anything," he said quickly.

Marnie nodded. She stayed a little while longer and left still thinking about what Derek offered. She'll ask Becky for advice when she comes over for Christmas in a few days.