☆ marlene ☆

Where: Rosa Lee Teabag 

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Edgar fixed his glasses as he read over the daily prophet. The paper was sprawled across his tiny table, his cream-cheese bagel and oat milk latte scattered across the pages like feature images. 

He was reading an article about medical advances at St. Mungo’s when someone bumped into his table, spilling the coffee all over the writing. The words tried to scurry across the page but were bound by the article box they were trapped in. 

“Uh excuse me.” he said, slightly annoyed. “Could you maybe watch out next time?” Whilst Edgar was slowly getting accustomed to loosing Amelia, he was still more edgy than usual. 

While Marlene was about to word a sincere apology, Edgars tone threw her off. Granted she couldn’t imagine what he was going through, yet still that didn’t excuse his attitude. “It was an accident Edgar. Frankly there is no need to be a dick about it.” Marlene spoke, tone a little blunt as she, cleaned up the spilt coffee with the newspaper before setting it alight with a snap of her fingers. Giving it a mere moment before it had vanished into nothing. “Stay there I’ll get you another one.” 

James wasn't entirely too sure what to say. He was both saddened and angered. Not at Marlene -- but at what had happened to Marlene. It wasn't her at all and James knew that. This war. This situation at hand was only beginning to get worse and this wasn't the first time he'd see something like this again. Good friends, and people he cared about losing their lives or losing their mind. Becoming puppets for a greater evil. As he stared at Marlene he realized he should probably say something.

"Other than the ball, how are you feeling?" James gave her a small smile in hopes that maybe talking about something else would help her feel better. "I think you would have been happy to know my tongue was tied, that's what the nurses told me so -- couldn't talk for once," this time should have been one of those times he couldn't talk. The rambling was too much, and too awkward he could feel it in the air as the silence came around after he finished talking.

James laughed at her jest, but it felt more out of place than anything. “I’ll be scared for what Doe has planned for me then, but I’m positive you’ll be able to do it yourself soon,” he wanted nothing more than to get her out of there. He had that standing with the aurors and he knew Marlene personally enough hopefully that they would listen to what he had to say. Seeing Marlene like this was rather heartbreaking. She wasn’t the fiery spirit she normally was anymore. It felt as if the light from her eyes were gone and James hated it with a passion.

“You want me to be honest? Okay, if they don’t listen to our testimonies you’re looking at a few years in Azkaban,” James didn’t want to say it, but she (or so they believed) had used an unforgivable. “And no of course I know you didn’t do it, you wouldn’t have. You have no bad blood against Camille that I know of and Merlin’s beard you’re in the Order Marls. The only time you’d use an unforgivable is if you truly needed to,” he looked her over, fighting back the tears he felt. “And if I broke Lily’s heart,” he joked hoping to lighten the mood.

"All I've ever wanted was for you to just be honest with me.... Ironic isn’t it? I think that’s the first time I’d hoped you’d actually lie to me for once." Marlene murmured quietly, pulling her eyes down to her heeled boots to mask her blurred vision from his view. She really hoped he would have just dressed it up in his typical charm and pretended that some how it was going to be fine. That somehow they’d figure it out like they always did, that Dumbledore or Moody would do something and she could get out of here by tomorrow. But they both knew it was far more complicated than that. Besides, weren’t they past play pretend? Tears playing at the edge of her eyes, the witch instead bit the inside of her to hide the fact that she was fraught with nerves. But really, was there any point in hiding anything from James? He could probably see right through her anyway. 

“I’ve never even met her before. How could I have issues with someone I've never uttered a word to? But no one in this fucking place is paying me but a glance. Let alone listening to anything I have to say for myself. Can you blame them if they really think I-” Shaking her head, the witch swallowed thickly as she moved to sit back down in the corner with a puff of air from her cheeks. “Does Dumbledore know what's happened?” The witch asked, hoping that somehow if he knew, then he’d be able to fix this. But even she knew that was Merlin’s cry for help. Scoffing lightly, the witch rolled her eyes lightly as she leaned her head back against the wall. “Believe me I'd do alot worse...How is she? Lily?”

where : the ministry’s holding cells. 

 Never in his life did Peter Pettigrew think that he would be visiting Marlene McKinnon in a holding cell. Not to mention having an allocated hourly slot with his good friend. Sure, his mates had a tendency to dick around but this? This was deeper shit that putting a few bubbles into a fountain or wearing James’ invisibility cloak and tapping people on the shoulder. Besides, if it had of been anyone. Peter would have imagined it to be one of the marauder’s to be locked behind bars for doing something stupid at a ball. Not Marlene McKinnon. Thanking the ministry guard politely as they cast a spell on his visiting card, Peter walked into the room. Where a charmed barrier held both Peter and Marlene apart. Even the sight of seeing his friend in such a state brought a lump to his throat. 

A quiet tone to his voice, Peter tried to push back his own anger and sadness at the sight for Marlene. Marlene had enough time to think about it all behind bars. Right now, she needed a friend. Coughing slightly, to distract from the lump in his throat. Peter glanced at her with a sad smile. “Merlin, Marlene. I know you said you were getting sick of your apartment..but do you really think this is an upgrade?” Wanting nothing more than to give his mate a hug. 

That was until her mind was drawn up at the sound of the voice from the corner of her ear. At first it took her a moment to pull herself back to reality, at this point thinking she was starting to hear the voices of her friends like memories in a room that felt colder than home in December. Despite the makeup smudged underneath her eyes and the sadness drawn deep on her face, Marlene tried to force a small smile as she looked over at him from where she sat on the floor. “I think if I played nice with a guard I could get a piano in the corner. Be just like home-.. Just with a fucking barrier- don’t touch it.. trust me.” Marlene spoke as she briefly moved to raise her hand to show the red almost sting like marks on her hand from the electric touch of the spell. “Is everyone okay? Doe, Mary, Remus, Sirius-? ..Are you okay?”

where: the ministry of magic jail cells

“Lene!” Lily arrived in a burst of energy, still half finishing some passive aggressive conversation with the staff that quickly died as the heavy metal door swung shut behind her and she came face to face with Marlene. Words died in her throat- she’d been fighting for hours to get in to see her, calling everyone she knew in the Ministry, reading any policy and procedure she could get her hands on, but now that she saw her best friend sitting in a holding cell, she had no idea what to say. “I wish I could hug you.” It came out raw and true, and she reached her hand out anyways, regardless of the magical barrier in between them. “I….Would it be absolutely tone deaf to ask how you are?”

James wasn’t entirely too sure what to say. He was both saddened and angered. Not at Marlene – but at what had happened to Marlene. It wasn’t her at all and James knew that. This war. This situation at hand was only beginning to get worse and this wasn’t the first time he’d see something like this again. Good friends, and people he cared about losing their lives or losing their mind. Becoming puppets for a greater evil. As he stared at Marlene he realized he should probably say something.

“Other than the ball, how are you feeling?” James gave her a small smile in hopes that maybe talking about something else would help her feel better. “I think you would have been happy to know my tongue was tied, that’s what the nurses told me so – couldn’t talk for once,” this time should have been one of those times he couldn’t talk. The rambling was too much, and too awkward he could feel it in the air as the silence came around after he finished talking.

As much as she hated to admit it, seeing him was comforting. Despite what had happened between them years ago, for so long he’d been her support system; and while she’d never admit it outloud, as much as she wanted to strangle him sometimes; times like this someone familiar was always grounded. And Merlin, did she need a distraction from the thoughts raging in her mind. “What’s going to happen to me James? And don’t lie to me or I swear to Merlin I’ll break out of here just to hex you myself.“ Marlene frowned, frowned deeply tugged together as a sadness pulled onto the edge of her features. It was her body, it was her hand, but her memory was far from it; she held no recollection, just harrowing mask before she was encapsulated with a haze of blue. “You know I didn’t do it right? Please tell me you know that atleast...”

THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC HERE BY CONFIRMS THE ARREST OF:

MARLENE MCKINNON FOR THE SUSPECTED ATTEMPTED MURDER OF CAMILLE ROWLE & CHRISTANO PARKINSON AND FOR USE OF AN ILLEGAL UNFORGIVEABLE CURSE

After hours of rigorous interviewing done by our esteemed colleagues at The Auror’s Office under the careful supervision of Leader of the Auror’s Office Alicia Avery-Jones, The Department of Magical Law Enforcment have made the decision to formally arrest Marlene McKinnon for the suspected attempted murder of two individuals and use of an unforgivable curse.

In the early hours of 21st June, 23-year-old Marlene McKinnon of Isle of Skye, was arrested and escorted to St Mungo’s Hospital to undergo a series of medical examinations.

At around 5am 21st June she was then transported back to The Department of Magical Law Enforcement to undergo further questioning.  

The investigation is currently still ongoing, though the Ministry believe we do have cause for a formal arrest at this time. After questioning Marlene Mckinnon amongst other members of the wizarding community who were in The Ministry of Magic at the time of the attack. 

After dutiful witness of Camille Rowle’s memory of the incident, Auror Amos Diggory arrested Marlene pending further questioning. The Ministry believe at this stage will be taking no further questions from the wizarding media regarding the criminal trial as Millicent Bagnold promises justice will prevail.

Following lengthy discussions with the fifty judges who sit in Wizengamot, we are able to tell you that in the last hour The Auror’s office have decided to charge Marlene Mckinnon with one count of attempted murder and one count of use of the cruciatus curse pending a trial. Her case is listed to be heard at Wizengamot late next week pending an official date.

✩•̩̩͙*˚＊˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩ @starryeyxdmckinnon​✩•̩̩͙*˚＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊˚*•̩̩͙✩

She’d have been perfect as something else but a good wing woman would have to do. “Yeah I’m not sure it’s going anywhere, like she’s cool and hot but I just…I don’t know. I think Mary was definitely overexaggerating how well it had gone.” Doe had taken the effort to steal a few extra glances Amiria’s way, but she was still psyching herself up to go over and talk to her. “Amiria.” Doe answered almost a little too quickly. “She’s the definition of punching above your weight though so I will need a barrel full of whiskey before I consider saying hello again.”

“Please Doe, you need to give yourself atleast some credit where credit is due.” Marlene spoke pointedly with a quirked eye brow at the other and a stern expression. Pausing only to pour them both a splash from her flash which she’d easily been hiding in her extension charmed purse all evening. “Firstly, nothing a little Scottish fire will not cure hmm?” She offered, holding out a glass for the other before downing her shot with ease. Nose scrunching only slightly as the fire of the dragon ran down the back of her throat. “Now. What you need dear Dorcas Meadows, is a little bit of confidence. You’re cool, you’re hot. What’s to say you’re not the definition of punching above her weight have you thought of that?” 

Where: Summer Solstice Ball, East India House Gardens

Booker Bagnold, Benjy Fenwick, Laurel Linwood. Everything seemed like it was falling apart at the seams. Only an hour ago she’d been sipping cocktails gladly with Laurel, only to then watch her apparate to Mungos due to ‘sun stroke’. Marlene had seen fainting enough in her career as a quidditch trainer, whatever was wrong with Laurel in her eyes was more complex than that. Frustration coursing through her veins with a sense of helplessness, the witch tightened her hand around her wand as she paced back and forth holding shaking breaths. Marlene wanted to believe it was just chance, bad luck even. But with so many strange things happening lately, she couldn’t help let her mind wander to what could realistically be happening. 

“Bombarda-” The witch uttered throwing the spell at a status making it explode and scatter around her in small pieces. Needed to unleash the storm that was forming in her chest. A shaken breath fell from her lips, her shoulders sunk as she looked upon the scene of destruction with sunken features. That was until her mind was pulled from a voice behind her. “Edgar- Not come to scorn me have you?” The witch tried to tease though it fell a little flat.

The incident with Laurel had sobered Edgar right up. He wished he had been able to do more, but he hadn’t. The situation was out of his control. Fainting and medical issues weren’t his forte. If she had been cursed on the other hand, maybe then he would have been able to help. Needing air, frustrated with the lack of his abilities, he left the ballroom and found his way into the elegant gardens. If it were another night, if things had turned out differently, he may have described the place as romantic. But now the rose bushes seemed to have lost their apparel and the hedges seemed to loom over him with malicious intent. With the ominous feeling of the gardens, it was no surprise that Edgar almost jumped out of his skin when he heard the statue explode. Rushing over to where the noise had come from, he skidded to a halt, sliding on the gravel beneath his feat. He was sure what he had expected, perhaps a duel taking place, an attempted murder, what he wasn’t expecting was to see Marlene, still as beautiful as ever, but with frustration and worry etched across her face. “Marlene –” he announced himself, not sure how to approach the situation.

“Scorn you? Of course not. That statue probably deserved it.” His lips stretched into a slight smile. He could only imagine that Marlene shared the same frustration as he did. Marlene had gone through a lot over the past 6 months. She had been the one who had found Booker’s body in the fountain and having to deal with that must have been emotionally taxing. “I’d ask if you were okay but obviously not –” he started, trying to think of what he should say next. “If you want, there are some statues of ancestors of the Black family around the corner. We could blow those up whilst you rant?”

Marlene couldn’t help the light smile that pulled onto the edge of her features at his comment as her shoulders sunk lightly with relief. “He was giving me an unwelcome side eye. You know how creeps can get some times.” The witch joked half heartedly, grateful to see the smile - however small - on Edgar’s face. Oddly it was refreshing and in a way almost calming. A distraction atleast from the storm that was raging like hell fire in her chest, threatening to let her anger boil over her outwardly slightly tense exterior. “Reparo-” She uttered softly with a gentle swish of her wand as the pieces of the statue carefully danced through the air piece by piece to it’s original formation; a statue with a luring grin. Though with a small smirk adorning her lips and a swift flick, the head of the statue swiftly crumbled to dust. Turning her head to glance over her shoulder at Edgar with slight mischief laced on her features, she gave a carefree shrug of her shoulder as she noted: “We’ll call it Greek umm?”

“Edgar Bones-” Marlene spoke with a smile brightening slightly across her features at the prospect of mischief and fun. Frankly, a welcomed distraction from the night and if anything seemingly with great company to top. Leaving the now headless statue, the witch made her way over to the other, wand in one hand while the other held the edge of her dress so she didn’t fall. “You really do know the way to a woman’s heart. I think that’s the best thing I have heard all evening, frankly I’d love nothing more. It’ll be good for their ego if anything. So after you-” 

Every Allison Scene:

Where: Summer Solstice Ball, East India House

Truthfully, Marlene hadn’t forgiven James yet after everything that had happened at Remus and Mary’s party. While granted, she should have and for most of her friends she might have, but her and James had a painfully complicated history which didn’t make situations like this any easier. Especially when he played with her trust so carelessly; something that was hard to come by from McKinnons and even more so harder to gain back after broken. 

Granted, sure, she’d play the pleasantries for the benefit of the friendship group; but that didn’t mean she had to willingly. Or for a matter, at all when it was just the pair of them. So really, when she caught an eye of James moving towards the drinks table she was standing beside, Marlene couldn’t help the automatic roll of her eyes at his presence. “I definitely haven’t had enough alcohol for this conversation.” The witch muttered with light tension in her jaw before downing a shot of fire whiskey, much to the apparent displeasure of an elderly pureblood couple watching her. To which, she raised another shot with a delicate faked smile, cheers them, before knocking it back with a scrunch of her nose. 

Tossing her hair over her shoulder and brushing the sequins adorning her golden dress, the witch set herself a task of pouring herself and Mary drinks so she didn’t have to pull her eyes up to the other. “What do you want Potter? Not got anyone else to bother right now?” Marlene spoke, words blunt, her features tight. “There is another drinks table over there- go use it.”

“I think it’d be rather beautiful, my body in flames as you cackle like a…witch,” James had spent one too many nights watching muggle entertainment, snickering a bit he cleared his throat trying to relax a bit. “Okay, okay I’m sorry Marlene. I’m done with this whole bit I promise, things just have been a lot and I need a good bit of a laugh. I don’t want to argue with you,” he gave her a small smile before looking down at the drink in his hands.

“I’m not going to claim I will change, but I will happily answer your questions truthfully from here on out,” he looked back at her with a soft sigh. “I’ll prove it – give me a question right now.”

Unamusment was written play as day across Marlene’s face, eyes like daggers she simply looked at James with persed lips as her arms folded across her chest. “Are you done?” She asked, tone dead pan as she shook her head lightly a slow sigh of annoyance falling off her lips. ‘Boys’. She thought before moving to take another sip of the drink in her hand. “Well James, if you want entertainment might I suggest you find Sirius or Peter? Better yet anyone but me to be your source of amusement.”

Her frown deepening at his words, the witch quirked an eye brow in almost a ‘seriously?’ expression before she spoke: “You’re not going to ‘claim to change’. fine, but then how can I expect you to give me a single answer of truth when all you’ve ever done is lie to me? That’s never changed. It’s all you’ve ever done. You lie like it’s breathing and then act like a wounded animal when you’re called out on your bullshit. I’ll give you a galleon if you can think of the last time you didn’t lie to me. I dare you. You want to prove it? I believe it when I fucking see it.”