who could ever leave me darling?

The thought of being run over by a dozen McKinnon children was a terrifying one. Remus didn’t mind kids, but kids tended to love him. He figured the reason was because he didn’t treat kids any different than he would treat his peers and talked to them as though they were equals. Children love being treated as friends rather than kids, and they tended to gravitate towards that. “I wouldn’t mind, any time I’m around kids they’re usually all over me. And my best friends are pretty much kids in bigger bodies, so I think I could handle it.” Remus couldn’t help but to get a jab in at his friends whenever he could, though he did have to admit they had done a lot more maturing recently. “Well if you can’t attend we’ll just cancel the whole thing and reschedule for when you’re available. No point in partying of Marlene McKinnon isn’t there, everybody knows that.”

“Okay, but if the kids start to like you more than me I’m kicking you out. Right now I’m their queen, it needs to stay that way,” she grinned. Marlene was the only sibling without any children, and she sure didn’t plan to start having them anytime soon. She loved being able to be ‘Fun Aunt Marlene’ and shake things up when she was around. She turned her attention back towards the prospect of a party, still pretending she was hurt by her lack of invitation on New Year’s. She sighed dramatically, tossing her hair over one shoulder, “Sounds about right. So when is this party?” 

His eyes looked around the space that they were in, sometimes forgetting about the world that was just outside of the wizarding world. “Sorry.” He commented, smiling a bit before continuing to listen to her. There was a small laugh at her words and he nodded his head. “Well, let’s hope that time goes by quickly and you get to enjoy it a little bit.” The young wizard responded, keeping a friendly smile on his face. “She’s doing good. Dealing with all the same stuff we are.” James answered, wanting to keep his words as vague as possible in case someone did here him. “And how are you? Beyond working of course.” 

Marlene listened to him as she prepared him a drink. It wasn’t fire whiskey- but it was the closest she could get to it with the stuff the Muggles seemed to like so much. She smiled at him as she placed his drink down in front of him, “I’m good, keeping an eye on Remus and Sirius since someone went off and dared to be happy and married.” Of course, Remus was keeping more of an eye on her than she on him, but she’d skim over that part. 

“I’ve always wondered what it was like to have a big family. Mum and dad always said they wanted another child, but then… Things happened. I suppose I was a bit much for them to handle.” Having five year old werewolf would have been enough to stop anybody from wanting to have more children. “Bet it was nice to see everybody all at once, though, despite how hectic things are.” Remus smiled, glad to be on any other topic besides death. “It’s not like it was planned, Marlene. Obviously we know parties just aren’t the same without our favourite girls there. We just so happened to have an abundance of booze, and, well, ‘tis the season.” He chuckled softly, any excuse to get drunk with Marlene was a valid excuse, she always had the right vibes. “We’ll have another party soon, I promise, it’s been too long.”

“I’ll take you over some time, but if the kids knock you over it’s not on me,” she laughed. Marlene loved her family more than anything, but she felt like just being there put them all in danger. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if something were to happen to them, especially if it was her fault. So she’d moved out after school, and kept her distance most of the time. Not being able to see them until the war ended was better than never seeing them again. As much as she was complaining about not being invited to party, she’d enjoyed her New Years. She’d done shots with all of her brothers, much to her parents dismay, and the kids had cuddled up on her lap just in time for Midnight. She wouldn’t have wanted to spend it any other way. Still, she had to tease Remus, “I suppose I’ll attend. Even though you forgot me the first time.” 

“Not everyone’s as smart as you are,” he told her, unfazed by her reaction to his threat. In terms of taste and foolishness, fewer people kept their distance from him than he’d have liked, so when Marlene did, actually, need assistance of a sort, he relented some, considering her question properly. “Properly cleaned, any cauldron should be safe enough, given you don’t fuck up your refilling charms. Probably the only way that’d go poorly without outside interference. Unless you want to turn your mates into frogs? I could help there, but beyond that..I’d say you’re probably fine.”

“So if I buy a fresh one, you think I’ll be good?” she asked, tilting her head a bit as she thought about it. Sure it was cliche of her to serve liquor out of a cauldron at her bar, but they’d left the theme up to her and well- she’d have a good laugh about it. It wasn’t as if the Muggles ever suspected there was anything different about her. “Most of ‘em are Muggles, so I’d prefer if I didn’t have to answer to the Ministry about that one.” 

Who: Cassius + OPEN Where: Borgin and Burkes

“If you kiss me, I will kill you,” he said, voice even and full of seriousness as he jabbed a finger in the direction of the person before him before pointing it upwards. Besides interrupting his task - he was trying to remove the many stubborn bundles of mistletoe someone’d decided it would be amusing to attach to the storefront - they were in his way, and, honestly, Cass couldn’t tell if they were trying to get inside the shop or simply curious. He also didn’t care all that much, but decided to ask anyways. Maybe it would get them out of mistletoe range - he couldn’t deal with that today. “Did you need something, or….” he trailed off, tilting his head, “are you gonna get the fuck out my way and let me get back to it?”

Marlene wasn’t paying all that much attention as she walked into the shop, stopping short when she nearly ran into the man standing at the door. Words didn’t have time to exit her mouth before he was barking at her, and her eyes trailed up to the mistletoe hanging in the doorway. A look of disgust crossed her features as she tossed her hair over one shoulder, “As if I’d want to kiss you anyway,” she said with a roll of her eyes, “I do need something, though. Tell me this, do you think it’s safe to make punch in a cauldron? Or am I accidentally going to turn my friends into frogs?” 

Training to become an Auror was far more serious than James had thought it might be. Sure he knew he wasn’t going to be able to just show up and make things up as he went through the it all, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try. However, add in everything that happened to the previous Minister, and the intensity grew even more, so, he decided to go grab a quick drink before heading home. It was his surprise to show up and see Marlene standing behind the counter. There was a smile as he leaned against the counter and responded. “I’ll take a fire whiskey.” He said. “How’s your day, Marlene? Not to crazy I hope.” 

Marlene had been hoping for no wizards at all, but she supposed she could make an exception for James. A smile crossed her lips as he sat down, and she placed a coaster in front of him as he spoke. Her eyes darted around to see if anyone was listening before she leaned in and kept her voice low, “Sorry, James-ey, none of that here, Muggles own this place.” She backed up again, her voice returning to a normal volume, “My day’s been fine. Just starting, really, I’m on the night shift. I’d ask about yours, but I have a pretty good idea of what it involved and I’ve decided to not discuss that topic any further today. So instead I’ll ask you this, how’s Lily?” 

Remus smiled, a small chucked escaped him, “I understand that. I’ve spent almost as much time living with Sirius than my own parents, it’s always so strange going back for a visit.” They had shared a dorm room all throughout Hogwarts, and now living together, Remus felt he could never go back to living with his parents. “Mine were pretty good. I just spent Christmas Eve with my parents, I couldn’t leave Sirius alone on Christmas.” Holidays were rough for people without families, the least Remus could do was be there for one of his best friends, “We had a wild New Years Eve party, though… I think we did, anyway. The flat was trashed and I don’t remember a thing, so it must have been fun.”

“My house has always been insane, there’s five of us you know? But now some of my brothers have wives and kids of their own and it’s like, I never thought it could get any more mad. But here we are,” she chuckled softly. Marlene was thankful that Remus had stayed back with Sirius, she’d considered doing it herself, but she felt as though it was extra important to see her family this year. With their current climate, she worried there would be no next year for her. Not with the target they’d painted on their backs. “Did you now? Why is this the first I’m hearing of this? No invite for your old pals Marlene and Dorcas, huh?” 

Her entire body relaxed, hand stilled in her bag as Marlene spoke and moved into view. “That isn’t funny, Marlene,” she said, despite the way her lips teased a smile. Turning back, she retrieved the keys from the door and sighed. “I am starving, but if you keep up your sarcasm, I might just make you regret it.” She wouldn’t, of course. Dorcas skipped down the steps to stand next to the blonde. “Wanna get some Chinese? I’ll go halfsies if you promise not to take the leftovers when you leave later,” she said, brow arching pointedly. “Have you even slept in your bed this week?”

“Sorry babes, you know I’m still trying to get a handle on the whole apparation thing. Maybe I should have listened and studied when were still in school,” she linked her arm through Dorcas’ once they were next to each other, steering them in the direction of the nearest Chinese takeaway spot, “I can promise that I won’t take them. I can’t promise that Sirius won’t sneak over and steal them after we’ve fallen asleep,” She shrugged, humming for a moment as she thought about it, “‘m not really sure. I definitely did on New Year’s. Think that might have been the last time.” 

closed starter for @marlsxmckinnon​

he’d been woken with the news .  he’d gone out and had to talk to people he hated about the news .  he’d gone into work and been bombarded with more updates about the news .  to be frank ,  sirius was sick and tired of hearing about the dead minister .  sure ,  he felt  terrible  about it ,  but how could he keep thinking about it when every time that he did he was sent into a  rage  and filled with a desire to murder a  family member  ?  he needed to get away and he knew the one place he could always go if he wanted to forget his emotions .  the flat of one marlene mckinnon who was an  expert  at avoiding emotions ,  almost as good as him ,  though he reckons she’d say she’s  better .  he let himself in ,  a horrible habit he’d picked up ,  but marlene had never called him out on it .  when he didn’t see her immediately ,  he went to where he knew she kept the alcohol ,  and poured them both a drink .  he finished his and then poured himself another one .  it was at this point he figured it pretty strange he was in her house and hadn’t even seen her yet ,  when usually she came out to greet him or at least shouted some acknowledgement of his presence .  he tried to swallow the sinking fear in the pit of his stomach .  he was just being paranoid .  ‘  oi ,  marls ?  you home ?  ’ 

Marlene had just gotten off of her shift at the bar, and while she’d been hoping for a quiet night away from any talk about the Minister she’d found an odd amount of Wizards and Witches hiding out in her Muggle London bar. She’d usually walk home, enjoying the cool air of the night and the bit of exercise, but tonight she was too exhausted, both emotionally and physically. On top of that she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t on edge, and with everything going on, there was no time for her to go and die on everyone. So she acted like she was leaving on her usual walk in front of her Muggle coworkers and then promptly dipped into a hidden alley and apparated home. When she arrived in her flat she heard a familiar voice, and she held back a grin as she emerged from her bedroom and rolled her eyes at Sirius, “You know, if you’re going to break into my flat, the least you could do is bring your own alcohol.” She brushed past him and picked up the drink she could only assume was for her, settling into a kitchen chair and taking a long sip before speaking again, “If you bring up the goddamn dead Minister I’m kicking you out.” 

open;

Dorcas backed out of the shop as she settled her satchel over her neck, and then she pulled a ring of keys from inside. After finding the right one, she slid it into the slot in the door, and as she turned it over and initiated the charms and wards that went up automatically every night, she looked up to catch the sight of someone standing behind her in the reflection of the glass panes. Involuntarily, her body jumped and she wheeled about, eyes wide as she fumbled in her bag for her wand. The news of the former minister’s death had her on edge, more so than usual, so even though she wasn’t sure if the person was friend or foe, her body reacted as if it was in danger. “Why are you standing so close to me?” Her voice was strained, eyes finally focusing to take in the face of the other. “Do you want to get blown across the street?” She asked, as if she wasn’t still trying to pull her wand free. 

Marlene had finished her shift early and decided that, as usual, she wanted to eat out for dinner. She decided to pop over to Dorcas’ work to see if she’d like to join her, perhaps they could pick something up on the way home. She’d found a hidden spot behind the bar she worked at and apparated over, accidentally landing just a little too close to Dorcas. She couldn’t help but laugh at Dorcas’ threat, moving so she was in her view, “Wanted to see if you’d get dinner with me, but I suppose being blown across the street could be fun, too.” 

He was glad it was just Marlene sitting so close to him. Normally he noticed everyone around him, but he was having a hard time focusing on anything. A small smile crossed his lips as she sat across from him, before a look of sadness washed over him once again. Nodding slightly, Remus sighed, “Absolutely. I wouldn’t have ever thought they would do such a thing. They usually attack parties and celebrations, I haven’t heard of them seeking someone out in their own home.”

Remus shook his head, it had been a bit of time since he had last spoken to Marlene, not for any reason besides the fact that everyone had been terribly busy around the holidays, he didn’t want to just talk about bad news with her. He cleared his throat and took a sip of his Butterbeer, “I’m not sure about you, but I’m horribly tired of focusing on the negatives. How were your holidays?”

Marlene shook her head, taking a sip of her drink as he spoke. The news had mad her both angry and sad at the same time, and she was glad that she’d found Remus before she wound up spiraling into a more sour mood than she was already in. “They were good,” she said after a moment, “It felt weird to go back to a house full of people after living with just Dorcas for the last few months. But nice, too. Glad to be back though, never realized quite how much I enjoy the quiet,” she smiled softly, titling her head at him, “And of course I missed you and Sirius. How were yours?” 

Mary heard the news. It was all anything anyone could talk about at work. She was feeling panicked by it, the randomness of it. She needed to go somewhere, walk somewhere, just get away from the talk. She found herself out of the wizarding world and into the muggle world. How strange to call it that, it was her world for eleven years. Running her hand through blonde the small girl found herself in bar. Sitting down she let out huff and sighed. “Whiskey, whatever is cheapest and just make it double please.” Lithe fingers circled the stained wood as she kept her eyes down.

Marlene looked up, recognizing the girl from their shared time at Hogwarts. Great. She just hoped she wouldn’t want to talk about what was going on in the Wizard World. “You’re lucky I recognize you, or I’d be asking for ID,” she said once she’d prepared the drink, setting it down in front of her, “Mary, isn’t it?”