Work Text
Nobody can tell you
There's only one song worth singing
They may try and sell you
Cause it hangs them up
To see someone like you
The front door closed behind Marlene, while she was walking up the stairs. Walking was maybe a bit of an overstatement, since she was trying to be quiet, so tiptoeing up the stairs was a bit more accurate. Marlene had a tendency of coming home, as late as after curfew. She knew the risk of a scolding from her mum, but she didn’t care. It was just too much fun when she, James and Peter were together. Marlene Mckinnon, James Potter and Peter Pettigrew had been friends since they were all 7. Now 4 years later, they were as close as ever. Maybe even closer.Marlene Mckinnon met her best friends, Peter Pettigrew and James Potter a few days after her 7th birthday. She had never really been good at making friends, and Marlene had been just as awkward as always, when she met James, but he didn’t care.
She was at the muggle playground, with Liam and her dad. The playground was big and spacious.There were swings, monkey bars, a sandbox and lots of benches. It was the perfect spring weather. Not so warm that you almost couldn’t be outside, but not so chilly that you needed a scarf. She was sitting at the edge of the sandbox, the sun shining down on her black long hair. James had noticed her almost immediately. Marlene was beating herself up over another time that she screwed up an interaction, when James ran over to her. But not before helping a toddler get up on the monkey bars. As the helpful chap he was. Just as soon as James had run over to her he said with a smile:
“Hey there.”
Marlene looked him up and down. James Potter was a brown skinned boy, with curly brown hair, brown eyes and glasses that looked like they had been broken quite a few times. James later explained they had, but he could never get rid of them.
“Hi.” she said back.
“I couldn’t help noticing you sitting there and i wanted to ask you, if you wanted to be friends?”
Marlene blinked then blinkled some more, but James just kept on talking.
“Can you see that boy over there?” James said while pointing to a white chubby boy, who was semi tall, with sandy brown hair and blue eyes.
“His name is Peter and oy!” James all of a sudden said.
“I totally forgot to introduce myself. My name is James. James Potter, but as I was saying, that over there is my boy Peter Pettigrew and we were wondering if you wanted to be our friend?”
Marlene blinked a final time, taking in James and afterwards looking at Peter, before she finally could form a coherent sentence.
“And why do you want to be my friend James Potter and I assume Peter Pettigrew?” asked Marlene.
“Because we need a black haired girl in our group and you seem to fit that description perfectly.” answered he.
And that sealed the long lasting friendship of Marlene Mckinnon, Peter Pettigrew and James Potter.Marlene Mckinnon lived in Saint Johns town of Dalry, in the south of Scotland. She had always lived there, since her mum, Marie Mckinnon and dad, John Mckinnon had moved into the small 3 bedroom house, shortly after they were married. John was a tall white bald man, while Marie was a black haired small woman. Marlene was the only girl in the family. She was the third youngest of her siblings, out of four. Marlene had two older brothers. Michael Mckinnon that was 5 years older than her and Miles Mckinnon that was 3 years older than her. Her younger brother was named Liam, and Marlene was just 2 years older than him. She and Miles shared a bedroom, but since Miles was away for Hogwarts most of the time, Marlene mostly had the room for herself. Hogwarts was the best school for witchcraft and wizardry in the world. The only breaks you had from Hogwarts were summer break and Christmas holiday, but you spent the Easter holiday at Hogwarts. Michael and Miles were already off to Hogwarts. Michael was in year 6 of Hogwarts and he was put in Gryffindor by the sorting hat. While Miles was in year 4 and he was put in Ravenclaw. Though the sorting hat did take quite a while, to decide where to put him.Even though the Mckinnon family lived in a mainly muggle populated town, they were wizards. Well most of them were, since Marie, Marlene’s mother, was a muggle.
She had known that John was a wizard when she married him. Marie and John had met a few years before they married. Marie had worked at an office as a secretary at the time, and since John worked in The ministry of magic, they had met by accident. John had told Marie he was a wizard before they got engaged. And Marie had chosen to love him anyway. She couldn’t imagine life without him.
What she didn’t expect was a house too small for the whole Mckinnon family to be filled with a little witch and several wizards. The Mckinnon house was made out of yellow brick, with 3 bedrooms, one toilet, a dining room and a kitchen.
Michael had arrived the year after the wedding, and was named after Marie’s maiden name; Carmichael.
Weird things were always happening in the Mckinnon house and Marie wasn't very equipped for it. Marlene was the next witch in their family line that was going to Hogwarts. That was if she got her letter. It was very unlikely that Marlene was a squib, but there was a little voice in the back of her head that whispered doubt to her. Sometimes daily. Marlene had turned 11 on the 11 of march that year. It was now august. So all of the new Hogwarts students would be getting their letter soon. Marlene just hoped she would be one of them. Marlene had of course told James and Peter of her troubles. For Marlene James was the sun shining on everyone around him and Peter the sky holding him up. Like the real sun and sky, Marlene needed them. It wasn’t like she couldn’t talk to her family, but it was just easiest with Peter and James. Marlene thought she was in the clear from having a scolding from her mum, when she was almost to her room, but just as she was reaching for the handle she heard a shrilling voice.
“And where do you think you have been?”
The voice was her mother’s, Marie. As Marlene turned around she saw her mum standing by the stairs in her bathrobe, hair up in a bun and her reading glasses on. Marlene must have walked by her, when she was going up.
"Hello, mother. I must say you are looking just stunning. Have you done anything new to your hair this fine evening?” asked Marlene mustering up the most innocent smile she could.
Marie, looking less than pleased just said “Bed. Now. We will talk to your father about this tomorrow morning.”
And with that Marie turned around on her heel and walked down the stairs. Marie and John’s bedroom were on the first floor of the house. While Marlene’s and Miles' bedrooms were on the second floor, with Liam’s and Micheal’s room also being on the second floor. Their parents did this so they could get some privacy. And while it wasn’t the most peaceful up on the second floor, at least the bathroom was close by.Marlene couldn’t believe her luck. Sure she needed to talk to her mother and father tomorrow and probably get a scolding from her mum, which yes that would be a couple of unpleasant minutes, but her father, well her father she could handle.
When she finally made it to her and Miles' room, she collapsed on her bed and groaned.
Miles wasn’t in bed yet since he, at the age of 14 didn’t have a curfew or a bedtime, unlike Marlene. He was sitting on the floor with his back to his bed reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. Miles was a huge bookworm. He often lent his books to Marlene who also liked reading. She didn’t read as much as Miles did though, since there always seemed to be more interesting things to do. But when she could actually take some time to sit down and concentrate she enjoyed it.
Miles and Marlene didn’t have a bookshelf, so they stacked their books up against the wall. Almost the entire wall besides Marlene’s bed, was covered with books. Besides that the room was a bright yellow colour. Marlene chose the colour and Miles didn’t mind, since he was as indecisive as their father. There were two beds in the room, one for each. A desk that Miles often used, because of all his Hogwarts homework. Many plants that neither Miles nor Marlene were good at taken care of. And two big windows. Even though they had curtains in the room for said windows, Marlene loved not to use them, since she liked looking at the sky at night. She often regretted it in the mornings, when she got sunlight in her eyes. On the walls were tons of quidditch posters.
All the family loved quidditch, even Marie, and they all cheered for The Chudley Cannons. They were sure that they would soon win the world cup in quidditch, and when they did Marlene would gloat and celebrate her victory against James. James cheered for the Puddlemere United. Peter couldn’t care less about quidditch. It wasn’t like he hated quidditch, but he would go nowhere near a broom. Unlike James and Marlene who loved watching quidditch and playing it.
They hoped when they got to their second year at Hogwarts they would get on their houses quidditch teams, James as chaser and Marlene as beater. That was another reason that Marlene hoped they all would get into the same house. She couldn’t imagine playing against James. In a perfect world they would all get into the same house, and Marlene and James would get into their house quidditch team, while Peter would cheer for them every game they played.
Michael, Marlene’s big brother played as beater for Gryffindor in his third year, but stopped in fourth year due to an injury. So Marlene knew how dangerous quidditch could be. But she didn’t care. She loved it!After a long groan from Marlene, Miles looked up from his book.
“What's going on?” he asked.
Miles was a young white boy with curly brown hair and blue eyes. He was fairly tall for his age and he had a bright smile. Some people, at first glance at least mistook him for an American, but he was proper Scottish, and you could hear it when he spoke.
“Mum is pissed at me again.” said Marlene after another long groan.
“Has that anything to do with you hanging out with Peter and James past curfew?” asked Miles sarcastically.
“Y’know this is not fair. Both you and Michael don’t have curfew, and Liam doesn't mind his curfew.”
“Me and Michael don’t have curfews because we are at Hogwarts most of the time and Liam doesn't mind his curfew because he does what mum and dad tells him, so they're not on his arse most of the time.”
“It’s not dad. It’s mum.”
“And do you think she thinks it's fun to be mad at you most of the time?” asked Miles.
Marlene and her mum didn’t see eye to eye most of the time, mostly because Marie was taller then Marlene, but other than that, it was because they had different ideas of what’s right and what's wrong. Even though Marlene had a very black and white outlook on life and Marie's ideas didn’t fit into that outlook, Marlene couldn’t help but feel bad for her mum at that moment.“Besides you won't have a curfew when you are at Hogwarts in a couple of weeks. Well technically we do, but the professors don't check your bed to see if you're asleep or not.”
At that Marlene didn’t feel so bad. She just hoped that she would get her letter soon, so she could go to Hogwarts. Neither James nor Peter had gotten their letters yet. So Marlene was positive that they all would get their letters soon. She just also hoped they all would get in the same house. She didn’t know what she would do without James and Peter. She wasn’t the easiest person to love, at least that is what she's been told, after every fight with her mum. And she wasn’t good at making friends either. She was actually really afraid of losing Peter and James when they got to Hogwart. What if she didn’t make any other friends? What if nobody liked her? Marlene was staring up at the ceiling with a worried face. Miles noticing her face asked her what was wrong.
“What if James and Peter don’t want to be my friends when we get to Hogwarts?”
“What! And why wouldn’t they want that?”
“Well, it’s not guaranteed that we even get into the same house and that could lead to us drifting apart. And even if we get into the same house, who's to say they even would want to hang out with me anymore. I mean they could find so much better friends than me.”
“Better friends than you? Impossible!” exclaimed Miles.
Not only was Miles Marlene’s wise older brother, but he was also always there for her. After all, he took his job as an older brother very seriously, even at the big age of 14.
“You don’t mean that.” said Marlene doubtful.
“Sure I do. And even if Peter and James are stupid enough not to be friends with you anymore, then you will still have two friends at Hogwarts already.”
“Who?” asked Marlene rather stupidly.
“Me and Michael. And in a few years Liam will join us.”
“Thank you.” said Marlene, because she did feel better. She was grateful for Miles. She loved all her brothers, but Marlene and Miles had a special bond. Maybe it was because they shared a room, where they stayed up late talking and reading, or maybe it was because Miles, amongst the few people who did, understood Marlene.“Can you read out loud for me?” asked Marlene
It was a tradition they had had since Marlene was 4 and Miles was 7. Marlene loved to read, but she loved being told stories even more. And secretly Miles loved reading out loud for her.
“Well Little Fox, you can’t just start in the middle of the story.” said Miles, who was already half way through Frankenstein, even though he started it the day before. Little Fox was Marlene’s nickname. It was given to her by her dad. Since she had a fox teddy bear that she carried around with her when she was little. She would go no place without it. Its name was Stewie.
“Don’t call me Little Fox!” said Marlene blushing.
Ever since Peter and James had heard the nickname they wouldn’t call her anything else. Well except from Marls.
“Why not! I think it’s cute” said Miles while smiling innocently.
“It's embarrassing!” exclaimed Marlene.
“Really? It’s embarrassing? Then why do you still sleep with Stewie, even though it’s embarrassing?”
Miles was pointing at Stewie sitting on Marlene’s bed while saying this. Marlene couldn’t sleep without Stewie. That was why Stewie was sitting on Marlene’s bed. But Miles didn’t need to know that. Only Peter knew that. And it should remain that way.
“Because he decorates the room well. I think he matches the walls” lied Marlene. Even though Stewie did match the walls well, with his flamin oranges colour.
“Right. Thats why”
The rest of the night was spent with Miles reading out loud to Marlene. Until eventually they both fell asleep. Marlene on her bed and Miles on the floor._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The sun shined down on Marlene through the windows. As always, Marlene regretted the decision not to close the curtains shut. She groaned and rolled around to the sign of Miles sitting on the floor sleeping. At that a silent chuckle came from her. She didn’t know what time it was, but she knew that if she didn’t get down to breakfast soon, she would be in even more trouble. Her mum and dad loved punctuality. So she rolled out of bed, pulled fresh clothes on and poked Miles awake.
“What?” he mumbled when he finally awoke.
“We need to get down to breakfast, meat brain.” answered Marlene. She was used to Miles' bad temper in the mornings, not that she was any better, but she normally awoke early, so she had time to wake up.Marlene walked down the stairs down to the dining room. The Mckinnon house was beautiful. The kitchen opened up to the dining room. So even if you needed to get something from the kitchen, you didn’t feel excluded from the rest.
Marlene could smell the bacon, toast, eggs, tea and coffee. She hurried down the last few steps and walked into the kitchen. She saw her mum standing hovering by the pans, turning the bacon over. Marlene walked over to her mum and hugged her from behind. Even though Marie hadn’t forgotten the trouble Marlene got into the day before, she couldn’t help, but chuckle.
“Oh you.” Marie said
“Yes?” said Marlene, smiling.
Marlene enjoyed these peaceful moments with her mum.
“Don’t think I have forgotten what you did yesterday, little fox.”
With the mention of the infamous nickname and the trouble she got into yesterday, Marlene groaned and walked into the dining room. Her dad sat and read the daily prophet, probably already on his second cup of coffee. John Mckinnon sure loved his coffee. He took it black, with no sugar.
John looked up at Marlene with a disapproving scowl.
“So, your mum told me all about the breaking of the curfew yesterday.”
Marlene knew that a little sweet talking would wipe the scowl right of her dad’s face.
“I was just a little late.” said Marlene, looking as innocent as she could.
“I don’t think a little can cut it this time, Marls.”
“But dad, it’s summer!” pleaded Marlene.
As Marlene had expected, that softened her dad’s expression.
“Well when you get to Hogwarts I expect better behaviour from you, okay, I don’t want a letter from one of your teachers saying you have been sneaking out late at night with Peter and James.”
”Got it?” he asked.
“Got it!” answered Marlene.
With that Marlene sat down besides her dad, trying to get a better look at the daily prophet.
Marlene barely got to sit down before her mum called on her. Marlene walked into the kitchen and waited for her mum to speak.
“Marlene, I love you.” Marie started.
Marlene knew this would be a bad round of scolding from her mum. It always started this way: “Marlene, I love you, but you’re difficult to love”, “Marlene, I love you, but it’s not very lady like to sit like that”, “Marlene, I love you, but sometimes you make me feel like a bad mum.” and so on. It always hurt a little even though it shouldn’t. Her mum just wanted what was best for Malerne, even if she sometimes was wrong.
“But, it’s not okay that you get home so late. I get worried, okay?”
There was a stab of guilt in Marlene’s ribcage, at her mum’s words. She was right.
“Mum, I'm sorry. I didn’t think. I will try to get home earlier next time.” said Marlene.
“Good, now help me with this food.”
While Marlene made more toast, she heard her mother mutter: “Sometimes I think, you never think.”Bacon, toast and eggs were served, with tea and more coffee. As the rest of the Mckinnon family were already seated. Marlene and her mum was the last ones to arrive. Slowly, conversations started.
“So what house do you think you will get into, Marls?” asked her little brother Liam.
Liam was a scrawny skinny kid, with black hair like Marlene and their mother.
Marlene hadn’t done a lot of thinking of what house she would get into. Unlike James, that was positive he would be in the Hogwarts house Gyffindor. And where James went Peter went. So Peter just hoped he also would be in Gryffindor. But Marlene wasn’t sure where she belonged. She just hoped she, James and Peter would be together.
“I don’t really know, Liam.”
“Well, I know that our little Marls is smart enough to be in Ravenclaw with me.” said Miles.
“HA! Our little fox smart. I don't think so.” exclaimed Michael teasingly.
“Michael, be nice!” said Marie.
“I think you're good enough to be in any house that you want, Marlene.” said John.
Marlene and her dad were close. Anytime Marlene was down, her dad was the one to cheer her up. Marlene often thought that nothing could come between them.After breakfast Marlene hurried out of the house. She wanted to spend every last moment with James and Peter. Her fear of them being separated or them not wanting to be friends anymore, when they got to Hogwarts was still nagging her. Peter and James were already at the lake that they usually meet at when they wanted to be together. By the lake were several willow trees. Marlene had often tried to climb the trees, but as she quickly found out, willow trees weren’t trees you could climb. So she would often sit at the bunk of the trees and admire the beauty of the sight of the lake and the trees around her. Sometimes in the early summer when it would get unbearably hot, Marlene, Peter and James would swim in the lake in their underwear. They had found the lake one spring afternoon some years after they had met. They were lost when they came across it. The only adult that knew about their secret spot was Fleamont Potter, James’s dad.
They had told him shortly after they had found the place, because they wanted a letterbox, so they could give letters to each other. Fleamont loved the idea and swore never to tell anyone about their place, not even his wife Euphemia. And he had kept his promise.
Now years after they had found the spot and had installed the letterbox with help from James’s dad, they still visited and used the place regularly.
Marlene sat beside James while Peter was knee deep in the lake trying to sample swamp potatoes. Peter was a genius when it came to plants and animals. He was also the kindest person Marlene knew. James was sitting in the sun. Marlene didn’t know what shined brighter the sun or James. But if she had to bet, she would say James. He just had that kinda shine to him. And it was addicting.
When James noticed Marlene sitting beside him, he smiled and gave her a side hug. He yelled at Peter to get out of the lake and to get over to greet Marlene.
The day went away just as fast as it came. Marlene spent the whole day with Peter and James. She helped with the swamp potatoes. Sampling them and putting them away. A little after noon, after Peter and Marlene had finished collecting the swamp potatoes James refused to help.
(“We will have plenty of herbology to do at Hogwarts. Why do we need to start now?”)
It was getting so hot that they decided to take a swim in their underwear or in Marlene's case her underwear and a tank top. After they had taken a swim, they decided to eat the food that Euphemia had given James when he ran out of the door.
The food was inspired by the food that Euphemia and Fleamont used to eat , when they lived in Iran. Even though the Potter family were a pureblood family, they took pleasure in seeing the muggle traditions from the places they had gone. Fleamont and Euphemia were from Iran, but Immigrated to Scotland in the early 1950s. They had faced a lot of prejudice for their skin colour, when they had first arrived. It became better when time progressed, but they still hoped James would never have to go through what they had gone through.Marlene kept her promise, and went home earlier than the day before. It was sunset when she finally got home. Her mum and dad were sitting in the living room, and said a quick hi, when they saw her. Marlene was tired after the day, after such a long day, and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth before bed. She had to wait 10 minutes though, since Michael always used forever to make his hair pretty. When she finally collapsed on her bed with fresh brushed teeth and pyjamas on, it didn't take long for her to fall asleep.
What Marlene didn’t know was at this moment, there were several owls on the way to hundreds of young wizards and witches from Hogwarts.