refuse to sink

Now that all the planning, decorating, and preparing was out of the way, Mary was able to just sit back and enjoy her handiwork. Being able to charm the punch bowl to be never ending, the snacks to be ever replenishing, and the decorations to stay up with so much as a tack were just a few ways magic made her life easier. She and Lily could have spent hours do everything by hand, but why bother when a wave of the wand would solve the problem. It gave her ample time to get ready, pregame, and relax as people started to flood in. The common room was crowded with people, but the atmosphere was relaxed, upbeat, and pulsing with energy. It didn’t take her long to see the familiar face she had been waiting form.

As Marlene came into the common room, Mary’s grinned brightened. The people closest to her knew that any time she got to spend with her friends was time she valued above all else. Sure, this party was absolutely for everyone, but it also was for her. Being able to let loose with her closest friends was something she was beyond looking forward to. Taking another drink into her hands, she shimmied her way through the crowd to find her favorite Hufflepuff, “Marls! You made it” she half shouted before she got closer. Offering her one of the drinks, Mary grinned, “I’m so happy you’re here! Look at you, you’re killing it tonight”. 

@wallflowermarls​

Parties, Gryffindor parties especially, were loud and busy and so many people were all so packed together. For Marlene this made them part exhilarating, part exhausting. And even with an already exhausting first week back (getting back into school, and speculating and worrying about Addison had rather taken it out of her), she had actually been looking forward to this. So many of her friends were in Gryffindor, and the chance to have a fun night with all of them 

She hadn’t been in the Gryffindor room too long before she caught sight of Mary. As Marlene was still trying to figure the best and easiest way through the crowd her friend was already on her way over with another drink, “Hi!” He smiled, accepting the drink, “Me? Oh come on, look at you, you look incredible! And it’s amazing in here! You did such a good job, Mary!” 

“You live here?” he questioned teasingly, glancing around the owlery, “Seems a bit loud for my tastes but to each their own, I suppose.” He leaned against a banister as she moved into the room, watching as she began to secure her letter onto the owl. “Or perhaps it will simply encourage my owl to do better next time. A little bit of tough love never hurt, you know.”

“Yeah, of course, why wouldn’t I? I hang on the rafters upside down to sleep it’s very comfortable,” Marlene said, trying to keep her face straight and voice light, “This would be too loud? Don’t you live with James and them?” Sirius was one of the louder members of their little group but there was no discounting James’ exuberance, “I dunno. If it’s not working for you now it probably won’t get better that way. I’d try giving some honey not the vinegar.” 

“About bloody time I had a free day,” Sirius muttered as he rummaged through the canvas bag in his hand, not particularly speaking to anyone. “Is it just my owl or do they always take their damn time when flying to Hogwarts? I wanted some of those peppermint candies that they don’t ever have at Honeydukes and I swear it took nearly a month, and that is far, far too long of a wait for candy, you know - ?” Looking up, the Gryffindor paused, “When did you get here?”

Marlene had come up to the Owlery with her usual first letter of the term to her parents confirming that she and Charlie had, in fact, arrived at school safely. Normally the expectation felt slightly redundant and unnecessary to her, but this year very much not. As she ascended the stairs she could hear someone talking, and as she drew closer she recognized the voice and was able to make out what he was complaining about. She entered the room, at which point Sirius was looking at her, “Oh y’know, I just live here,” Marlene shrugged, “If the owls hear you complaining about yours they’re gonna tell them and your mail will be even slower,” She teased.

The hufflepuff knew all too well how anxiety inducing it was to be taking up too much space, for too long of a time. It was easy for her to forgive it when it was other people. She never minded having to wait an extra moment while someone got themselves sorted out, but she knew that some people were entirely too rude about it. Helena had spent her whole life trying to shrink herself around the right people, and so she could feel Marlene’s anxiety from across the hall as if it was her own. Giving her an out was easy, and truthfully, she was grateful to be in company that wasn’t the pureblood circle. 

“I do, and absolutely. It’d be boring to be all on my own anyways” she grinned. Offering her hand, Helena helped the other girl with her bag, “I don’t mind at all, promise,” she answered with an easy smile. As she started them towards the compartment, she asked the other girl brightly, “So, how was your summer Marlene? Anything interesting happen?” she asked.

One of the things that Marlene appreciated the most about her sorting into Hufflepuff was how reliable her housemates were. How much they all looked out for each other. Especially people like Helena. Like many others Marlene was initially a little nervous around the girl, the same way she was nervous with so many of the families so obsessed with blood purity. It made her feel a little bad now, thinking that Helena could possibly have been anything like the other members of the Rosier family. 

“Oh no, can’t have you being all alone,” That wasn’t any way to spend a train ride back to school. The trunk was much, much easier with someone else, still heavy, but actually manageable, “It was--” Marlene thought about the summer, following Charlie around to make sure he didn’t get in too much trouble, all that time spent with the muggle girl, being sure something would happen between them but unable to make a move, “It was good! How was yours?” 

Lily chuckled behind the girl, having seen this scene far too many times beforehand. Having often been on the other side of the case, helping to move it through the tight corridor with Marlene. 

“You take your time Marls,” she said. “If anyone kicks up a fuss, I’ll send them on their way,” she added, promising her so. “I came to tell you that I snagged a compartment a carriage over with Dorcas, and there’s space for you and all your art supplies,” she said. Obviously, there was space. There was always space for Marlene in any aspect of Lily’s life. After all, they were first-day friends. Having found each other and stuck together from the station to the hat stool itself. Of course, they’d both thought they’d be housed together, having vibed so well, but little did they know the sorting hat had had a different plan for them. A Lion and a Badger. But that hadn’t stopped them from sticking together. No. Lily didn’t think anything would have.

“Lily!” Marlene actually let go of the trunk for a moment so she could turn around and give her friend a hug. She had said goodbye to her biological sister on the Platform, but here was her other sister, and Marlene couldn’t help but take a second for a hug. Especially when she knew things with Lily’s family were so strained and difficult. Lily had been like family for her since they had met on the train first year, and Marlene really hoped she could be the same. 

“Aw, you’re the best. Is there room for Mister Ribbert too?” Marlene joked. During transit her toad usually stayed in a special container in her book bag, as she didn’t want him getting jostled about or maybe hurt anywhere else, “Which way is it, up or down the hall?” 

Theo smiled the moment he saw Marlene, only becoming aware of how deeply he missed her when she caught his eye. He already knew exactly why she was struggling. How many journeys had he made throughout the castle dragging heavy art supplies and awkwardly shaped easels? It wasn’t an easy thing to do. “I would never ask you to move.” He said, his smile growing as he thought back on their brief time together over the summer. He could always count on Marlene and her family if he needed a place to stay, and new information had come to light when he met her new… friend at the beginning of the holidays. Though of course she had yet to confide in him, he knew she eventually would. “Do you need some help?” 

If anyone would understand Marlene’s struggle with her trunk it was Theo, probably something he had had to deal with not too long ago getting his own things onto the train, “Hey!” She greeted him, quite pleased to see him again after he had left their home. Letters were never the same as actually having her friend around, “Er... Yeah, yeah if you wouldn’t mind... I’m starting to think the alabaster might not have been my best idea, it’s quite heavy,” She admitted, looking ruefully at her trunk.

Once Helena was settled, she got up so that she could stretch her legs some before the train ride. She was tempted to head back out to the platform for a while so that she could get some fresh air before they were trapped indefinitely in the moving metal tube. However, he eyes caught sight of a familiar face and she could hear the distress coming from her tone. 

Quickening her steps, Helena gave the other girl a bright smile, “Marlene! Hey, I’ve got a fairly empty compartment if you want to come sit?” she offered. “Sorry, we’ll just be a second” she said to the person behind Marlene. Glancing back to her she asked, “Need a hand?”

Oh no, now there was someone coming from the other direction too. Marlene bit the inside of her cheek, but as the other figure approached she recognized it as her housemate, Helena, and breathed a small sigh of relief. And Helena didn’t even seem that bothered, and was even offering her an escape, and somewhere to sit. The sweet’s was definitely going to be on Marlene when she came around later. 

“Do you? That would--Okay yes, thank you,” She nodded, shooting another glance over her shoulder with another mumbled apology. While she was embarrassed at needing help at this point it would be rather hard to deny, and Marlene’s cheeks flushed as she nodded, “Yeah, er, if you wouldn’t mind? Thank you.” 

For a moment she paused, catching her breath when she heard someone coming up behind her, “I know, I know I’m blocking the corridor. I’m sorry. Just give me a sec, okay?”

Bellatrix’s head turned at the sound of someone entering the compartment, but it was not one of her friends as she had expected. Rather, it was one of the younger students that she recognised, but had never really paid much attention to. Her expression was cool as she regarded the girl, giving nothing away as to what she might be thinking. In truth, she wasn’t actually thinking much at all, but it was always fun to let people sweat a little. 

After what she deemed to be a reasonable amount of time, she gave a small shrug. “Go ahead,” she nodded, her tone casual, with perhaps an air of disinterest. “I trust it won’t take you too long?” 

Bellatrix’s face remained unreadable as Marlene stood in the doorway, bouncing on the balls of her feet a little as she waited for a response. At some point she would have to get her stuff whether the older girl gave her permission or not, but they hadn’t even gotten to Hogwarts yet. Marlene did not need to go making any enemies or rubbing anyone the wrong way. 

“Of course yeah, yeah definitely,” Marlene nodded a little too quickly as she entered the compartment and climbed up onto the bench seat across from Bellatrix. It was when she reached up to pull the trunk down that she realized it was a little too heavy for her to pick up on her own. To her chagrin she had needed Charlie to help her get it onto the rack in the first place (he was only 14 how did he have the right to be taller than her already?), “Er...” She flushed, “Sorry but Could you help me?” 

Though she was going to have to make her way to the prefects’ carriage soon after the train left, Bellatrix had every intention of catching up with her friends first. They had seen each other at several galas and other such events over summer, but they could hardly relax and just have fun at those. Shopping trips to Diagon Alley had been arranged and taken place too, but with families going away at various times it had been virtually impossible to get all of them together at any one time.

Having said her farewells to her parents, she had made her way onto the train and to the usual compartment where she now sat, looking out of the window absentmindedly as she waited for the others. 

It was probably her own fault for choosing a compartment at random, quietly putting her trunk up on the rack, and then going to make sure her brother had found his friends, leaving her things unattended. Of course someone else would have taken the compartment while she was gone. And of course it was none other than Bellatrix Black. Marlene didn’t know how to act around the older girl, she never did with the overly fancy pureblod types but Bellatrix was intimidating not to mention very pretty. Unfortunately she was definitely going to draw attention to herself, needing to stand up on the seats to even reach her trunk. 

“Hey I, er, sorry, I left my stuff here if I can just--Grab it?”