marlene m. mckinnon

A lull in costumers gave pause to Lily’s afternoon in the potion shop; she was almost certain her boredom had become incurable, resorting to rearranging the vials alphabetically, then by color, and then ultimately returning them to where she originally found them. When there hadn’t been any sign of life by the time the clock struck four, she slid her beaten down, contraband radio out from beneath the front desk and began searching for any stimulating station. A static infested Mr. Blue Sky was playing. She settled, leaning back in an ol’ rickety chair she dragged out from an abandoned room. Her filter gave way upon reaching the chorus, hardly registering her own singing voice until the chime of the door interrupted her. “… Bloody hell,” she murmured in embarrassment, spinning to face the front of the store and reaching over to click off the radio. “Good afternoon! Anything I can help you with?” said Lily, discarding the natural grooves in her voice for a tight, formal tone.

Marlene had been absent for the past almost three months, she had been away on secret missions for both the Order and The Ministry. One of the cruelest parts of being away on such business was the minimal outside contact she was able to have— so of course soon as she was home and had a spare moment she had to see the ones that meant most for, that made everything so worth it. 

The blonde entered the empty store, two take away cups of coffee in hand. If there was one thing she had learn from her muggle-born friend is that muggles definitely know how to make a much better coffee than what the wizards were capable of. She could hear the crackling of the music, she smirked slightly when the music shut off. “Oh, damn. I love that song, don’t go turning it off because of me” she called back to the very familiar voice. “There is actually something I hope you can help me with, you see I have an extra coffee here looking for a good home” she jokes, holding up the cup. 

She leaned against the post watching the familiar figure fumble about. “Hey, you wouldn’t happen to know anyone that would accompany me to a Quidditch game next week would you?” She spoke out. She had only returned home from her mission a few nights ago, she hadn’t even told anyone she was home just yet. She gave him a smile, tucking her blonde waves behind her ear as she walked towards him “Okay, okay go on tell me. T e l l me how much you missed me” the hint of sarcasm defined in her voice.

@potteringpcttr

She ran her fingers along the embroidered wallpaper as she walked down the hallway, being later in the evening she figured most occupants would be out, but of course she was mistaken but not surprised as she spotted a familiar face. She leaned against the doorway to one of the studies. She pursed her lips, smiling softly as she watched the figure. Her eyes flickering over to the boards and posters all over the rooms. “I spy with my little eye a overworked, occasionally insufferable, potentially grumpy man-child” she said, with almost a little tune in her voice— it had been months since she had seen him, but she wasn’t about to let that change anything. 

@axmoody

“I mean, you’d assume so, right?” Remus chuckled out as he thought about it, “If only to keep people from finding out more about you or anything? Who knows though. It is an interesting thought.” He grinned softly at her, knowing that he’d be wondering about it himself as well.

Chuckling softly as she said that, he nodded his head. “It must be incredibly dull for those who haven’t heard it. I don’t think I’d want to be one of those people, do you?” He offered her a gentle smile, setting the magazine he’d been glancing at down, to focus his full attention on her. He felt an ache in his chest as she began to speak, and he fought the urge to reach out and squeeze her arm, not wanting it to be an unwelcome gesture to her. “I’m glad to see you’re home and in good health,” He spoke gently then, “I’m sorry. I…” he sighed and shook his head then. “I don’t know,” He stated honestly, “I never thought that it could happen like that. It doesn’t seem logical.”

He reached out then, unable to help it, as he put his hand softly on her arm. “It’s good to see you again too,” He agreed, “Your face is always needed around here, you know. James is doing alright, I think. Got him to fit five cookies in his mouth last time I hung out with him, before we went flying.” He smiled softly at that, hoping it’d make things a little brighter, then added, “As for Sirius and Peter, I haven’t seen them lately. I need to see how they’ve been. I’ve been trying to be good though, oddly enough, yeah?”

She pursed her lips as she thought to herself for a moment. “It’s just heartbreaking you know?” Her voice slightly hushed. “Who would have thought that this is what was waiting for us when we left Hogwarts.” She looked back at him for a moment. “Sometimes I can’t help but wonder how different our lives might have been if none of this was happening around us.. I’m just glad we are all together in this either way. As corny as it sounds the past few months the idea of coming home to you all is really what keep me going on the harder days. And trust me, there were plenty of days like that”

Marlene placed her hand on top of his instantly, she gave him a soft smile. “Well, fingers crossed this face isn’t going anywhere anytime too soon” she rolled her eyes at the mention of James. “Five? Only five?! Sounds like Potter has gotten weak since I’ve been away. That’s going to have to change.” she teased. “As long as they’re staying out of trouble, but then again I swear trouble has a way of following you guys.”

There was never a week that went by at Hogwarts when she was either in detention with one of the boys, or trying to help them escape. “How about you Remus, how are you doing?”

— a time my muse felt safe with yours.

Marlene was never one to cry, or to at least show her most vulnerable side to others. the blonde sat up in the quiet and isolated astronomy tower. softly sniffed, wiping away her tears as she stared out at the forrest and lake below.

“go away” she yelled out upon hearing someone walking up the metal staircase.   “seriously, go aw—“ stopping mid-sentence as she came face to face with Desmond. Part of her wanted to tell him to not worry and to leave her alone but instead she found herself stepping towards him.

Not even saying a word she wrapped her around around Desmond’s waist as she rested her head on his shoulder. She winced from the hex burn she had on her arm but just for a moment, here with Des— it had been the safest and most secure she had felt all day.

     Greta nodded in an animated fashion, agreeing – only to give a contemplative tilt of her head within the next brief moment. “Oh, you know, maybe he’s part veela!” nimble fingers curiously reached to snag one of the magazines from its resting place. Not recognizing much else displayed on its cover, as most of her muggle-related “pop culture” was interlaced through her mother’s eyes. Films being one of the only things she’d really embraced, though herself and her best friend lived fairly muggle-mirroring lives for young wizards. 

Gingerly placing the magazine back in its place, she made a mental note to stop by Flourish and Blotts for its magazine rack, as Greta had recently submitted to Witch Weekly a new recipe and received an owl that it’d be printed in the newest issue. Turning, the blonde offered Marlene a warm smile. “If only they could have played at the Melodaze Music Festival,” her brows knitted together to dismiss her own comment rather swiftly. “Nevermind, that would have been a nightmare.” It already had been. “I wonder if this is one of the ones with like, a fold out poster in it–” she squinted towards the titles littering the page again. 

“Veela? You know that would make complete sense after all most people are just drawn to the man” she replied, shrugging her shoulders. She was surprised she hadn’t thought about it earlier herself.

“I wasn’t at the festival to witness what happened.. but I had heard that it turned in to a chaotic mess” she said, frowning slightly. “Though you know the muggles really know how to host a festival. The Reading Festival is amazing as is Glastonbury” she watched as the other flicked through the magazine. “I usually hold the magazine by the cover pages and shake to find the told out sections”

“Well, now I’ve got to see this band if all the members are attractive.” Nimona smirked before it turned into a full blown laugh as she shook her head. Alastor could be challenging, but no one seemed to butt heads with him as much as Marlene did. She licked over her lower lip, quieting her laughter as she spoke. “Already back and looking to rile his feathers, huh?”  

Nimona grinned back, pleased that she was going to be able to steal the blonde away. She’d spent all morning in her shop and had needed an escape for a little while to give herself a break. Nimona wrapped a hand around Marlene’s arm as they linked up and leaned in to give the other a small squeeze before moving along with her. “Mhm, less than you may think.” Nimona said admittedly. “I’m sure you heard about the fire in Hogsmeade?” She murmured, glancing to the other’s face to check her reaction to the travesty before continuing. “Other than that, nothing spectacular has gone on.”

“Next time they’re in London, I’m going to steal you away for the night in that case!” Marlene basically pronounced, already knowing she wouldn’t take a simple no or maybe as a response. “You know what weird feeling you get when you forget to put on jewellery that you wear everyday? Like you feel it’s a necessitate to do or have before continuing your day? Well seeing that little angry vein on Moody’s forehead after a good riling is just far too entertaining to go without” she told her, letting out a small laugh. “how is mr grumpy pants anyways? missing me I would sure hope” she asked, a note of sarcasm escaping her lips during her last question. 

She walked beside the redhead, frowning softly at what she had mentioned about the fire. “Fire? No one told me about a fire, mind you no one has told me much at all while I’ve been away” she told her. “Was anyone hurt? Couldn’t have been that horrible seeing that diagon alley is still as busy as ever. If not busier” 

Chuckling softly, Remus raised an eyebrow as he glanced over at the girl from where he’d been glancing at the magazines as well. “You think so?” He hummed out, “You reckon that he uses his real name then, or do you think it’s a made up name, to distract from the muggles finding out?” He’d been a little surprised to see Marlene back, but happy to see her all the same. He wasn’t completely sure if she’d been directing the comment to him or not, but he figured that responding obviously couldn’t hurt.

“I’d also be a little worried if anyone around hadn’t heard him yet; though, I suppose maybe some who don’t prefer muggle music, and maybe hadn’t heard it play anywhere yet,” Remus stated thoughtfully, before shrugging a shoulder. “Have you been alright?” He asked her then, glancing over her again with a concerned look.

“it’s definitely a made up name, surely.. right?” she thought out loud. She pursed her lips as she actually had to think about it. “You know, you’ve given me a bit to think about that’s for sure, Remus” she wasn’t overly expecting on seeing anyone let alone one of the boys she spent her days at Hogwarts with. 

“Imagine how dull it would be to not know the majestic glory that is Queen” she said, smiling softly. This would have been the first conversation she had that was more than two sentences long in the past few months. She let out a deep breath, before her eyes met Remus’ “I’m just glad to be home.. for now” she responded. “It’s not getting any better out there. I’ve been north of Scotland for the past few months helping families relocate and also trying to locate some that have gone missing. How do people just go missing Remus? Like physically it’s not possible but they’re defied that. They’re just gone, as if they never existed” she told him, every night for the past month it was the thought that haunted her. The Ministry was denying any and all sorts of dark magic around the disappearances and mysterious deaths but Marlene knew better than that, she knew something more was happening but what exactly it is left her clueless. “It’s really good to see your face again, how is everyone? James? Sirius? Peter? I hope you lot have at least had some time to cause a little bit of trouble from time to time” 

Nimona grinned, licking over her lips as she nodded ahead to her fellow Gryffindor alumni. She’d only just caught sight of the blonde and managed to persuade her into stopping for a conversation before she flit off to finish off whatever was on the rest of her to do list for the rest of the day.  “You know, I’ve never heard him, but the way that you’re describing him makes me want to now more.” She teased, tapping the base of her index finger against her chin with curiosity. 

“You know, if you aren’t too busy, maybe we could pop into one of the shops or bars for a drink? I haven’t seen you in forever, and I’d love a chance to catch up. My treat?” Nimona offered, knowing that her rolls of fabric she was due to pick up would still be around in an hour or two. She would always be inclined to make time for old friends before she gave herself over to her work.

“He’s absolutely gorgeous, though the drummer is more my type. I’d bring my vinyl over to the main head quarters, but I can already hear moody being well.. moody over my choice in muggle music” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “actually.. it might not be such a bad idea after all—”

“Hm, you should well know by now that i’m never too busy to stop by somewhere for a drink.. or two” she grinned, it had felt like ages since she had been able to go to a bar or a store with a actual friend and do normal things. she had been either locked away in a small cabin or hiding in alleyways watching potential threats. she linked her arm with nim’s “okay so tell me everything, i’ve been gone for two months.. almost three— what have i missed? i wanna know everything please” 

she was yet to report back into the order or let anyone know she was back from her trip as of yet but in true marlene mckinnon fashion she had managed to get herself distracted by a muggle magazine she purchased before dropping by diagon alley for a quick drink and potion supply shopping.