mckmarl

[mckmarl]

g-parkinson​:

Georgie took the photos, studying them carefully. She hadn’t ever thought about how her skills might be used in court. She didn’t have the best view of them at this moment but she didn’t want someone to get away with something they actually did. “Not a dragon,” she said after a few minutes. “Their fire is harder to control. It’s one big ball when they first start….it doesn’t look like there was one. They do move their head as well. But this is too much of a line. A dragon’s fire wouldn’t be this clean.” She took a look at the other photos, only confirming her suspicions. She pointed out the clean lines of the ash. “Dragon fire doesn’t do this. It’s more wild. Even with some of the smaller dragons, this line would not be straight. Personally? I think this is from a wand.” 

Marlene  slapped  the  photo  she  held  back  onto  the  desk.  “But  why  listen  to  me  right?”  Ministry  parents  should  have  come  with  some  level  of  value,  but  apparently  her  childhood  ear  pressed  to  the  door  was  beyond  even  a  shred  of  validation.  She  felt  herself  get  hot  from  the  reaction,  a  little  angry  that  even  when  she  could  be  right  her  choices  were  wrong.  Marlene  did  not  want  to  rely  on  a  dragonologist  to  get  someone  to  believe  her.  “Thank  you.”  Lips  pursed  a  little,  as  she  knew  she  needed  to  let  herself  down  before  her  wand  could  emit  its  adolescent  sparks  from  within  her  sleeve.  “Figure  I  should  write  it  down,  then.”  She  did  let  her  wand  slip  from  her  sleeve,  incantation  allowing  for  whatever  dictation  Miss  Parkinson  wanted.  “Could  you  just  say  it  again.  M’betting  they  forgot  about  meeting  down  here  now.”  Or  maybe  this  was  an  assignment  and  someone  did  actually  trust  her,  but  stinkingly  that  felt  like  false  hope.  

[mckmarl]

macdonthavealamb​:

@mckmarl • mary’s flat, london

“Marls. Hey. You think it’s too early for breakfast?” Mary stifled a yawn as she spoke, hand half muffling her words before she let her head drop over the back of the armrest, legs dangling off the other end as she looked at Marlene, brows raising. “Or should I just say, fuck it? Though, drunk cooking is probably not the best idea.” It was increasingly tempting, laying there with her feet dangling and wand held limply in her left hand, to raid her kitchen. 

“Not  too  early  if  you’re  making  it.”  She  grinned,  sleepily  through  half-closed  eyes.  Somehow,  she’d  taken  to  the  floor,  long  limbs  appreciating  the  space  more.  And  after  being  on  desk  duty,  more  than  provided  the  stretch  she  needed.  A  deep  breath  and  one  shoulder  rose  to  peer  over  her  knees  to  Mary’s  space  on  the  couch,  an  immediate  groan  throwing  her  back  to  the  ground.  “Maybe  if  we  sleep  a  few  more  hours  there’ll  be  food  on  the  table.”  Sweet  smile  turned  her  lips  upwards  with  closed  eyes,  as  that  was  how  she  lived  for  almost  seven  years.  “Or  summon  it  from  the  flat  below  you,  darling.  They  won’t  miss  it.”

[mckmarl]

jamespartha​:

@mckmarl​

“Two sickles says I can knock that witch’s hat off from here.”

“Three  sickles  I  can  knock  it  off  and  land  it  on  your  head.”  She  grinned,  maybe  a  little  too  willing  for  the  challenge  unplanned.  The  time  in  between  trainings  was  boring;  and  Marlene  could  have  other  plans,  but  she  was  truly  attempting  to  wait  instruction.  “From  here.”

[mckmarl]

[mckmarl]

g-parkinson​:

She was right about that. There were no reserves outside Sheffield. “The closest one is off the coast of Wales,” she said, a puzzled look on her face. It was….odd to say the least. “And no reports of anyone seeing a dragon?” It would be obvious there was one if it was. She may not be in the field all the time but their size was well known by most wixen. “We haven’t had any go missing. To go that far, we would have noticed. Or at least gotten a report of dragons being seen around England. If there is, we usually get someone from the Ministry to come by and yell at us about the Statute and all that.” There was no way it was a dragon. It would be almost impossible. “You said you had pictures, yes?” 

Hearing  how  right  she  was  put  a  major  pep  to  her  step  as  she  removed  her  wand  from  her  sleeve  and  quickly  summoned  all  of  the  pictures  to  the  desk  in  the  center  of  the  room.  “’Course  I  was  right,  if  bloody  babbling  brickheads  would  just  listen.”  She  grinned  slightly,  eyes  looking  up  slightly  to  see  where  the  dragonlogists  interest  would  lay.  Marlene  did  think  she’d  be  a  good  auror,  she  was  watching  just  as  much  as  she  was  fighting  -  because  this  was  something  she  could  watch.  Sure  she  listened  to  Moody’s  lectures,  the  vague  essence  of  trusting  no  one  -  and  she  understood;  however,  doing  so  wasn’t  going  to  get  them  anywhere  on  this.  “They  think  it  was  an  illegal  breeder  with  one  raised  in  captivity.  But  I  don’t  think  these  show  that,  look  there.”  She  couldn’t  help  but  point  it  out,  despite  wanting  to  see  what  the  other  thought,  “Look  how  focused  that  it  is,  it  blew  one  hole  right  through  the  structure.  Dragonfire  would  have  splayed  out  across....you  know  because  they  like  move  their  head  and  all.”   

[mckmarl]

sirius-blaxx​:

To say that Sirius was feeling cocky, would be a massive understatement.  He did usually sort of amble around with a certain air of self confidence, but it was nothing compared to today.  Not only was he free, he had showered, ate and most importantly, he had slept.  He couldn’t remember when he had last slept so soundly. Of course, there were still some things on his mind such as what was going to happen to Regulus now, and where he even was…. But for now, Sirius was kinda done with being constantly tormented by the what ifs, and maybe’s.  

Pushing the door open to the Three broomsticks, he genuinely did not give a single shit that once again everyone was looking at him.  Ah let them.  Strutting over to Madam Rosemerta, Sirius tapped the bar with a wide grin across his face and said, “Have you missed me?”

@antemortemstarters

Her current living space wasn’t nearly as near Hogsmeade as she’d like, and yet any excuse to be in the vicinity was worthwhile. In the recent days, closer to Hogwarts felt safer than in her single-occupancy spot alone for the times she wasn’t at work. “Darling, I honestly think you should say you were missing me.” A sly grin grew across her lips, entertained eyes darting between Madame Rosmerta bar-tending and the familiar lad across the stools. The image felt familiar. But most of the chaotic joy she felt was in that things could maybe finally be better now. They felt infinitely better in seeing Sirius not lurking in dark corners or behind bars. 

 Without much hesitation, she slid herself across the way until quite literally knocking shoulders with him, forcibly but friendly. The action emitted a bright laugh she desperately missed even hearing from herself. “And you’re not nearly as scraggly as I was expecting you to be. Always needed your beauty sleep, Black.” It felt fine to make jokes now, comments on things that would have sent her stomach reeling just days ago. “ N o w what do you think will happen if we mix up a pepper up potion with a firewhiskey?”

[mckmarl]

sirius-blaxx​:

Sirius should have known that he could rely on Marls for a welcome incorporating pretty much every emotion. The seconds that passed before she had ran over to him, Sirius wondered if this was wrong, what if his friends and family were going to get hurt now, just because he couldn’t go more than afew months without seeing them.  Maybe this was all completely selfish…. Maybe he should have stayed exactly where he was.  What if someone had followed him? What if they expected this sort of sentimentality from him?   The smallest of smiles that had been living on his features faded almost completely despite being pulled into a hug that he definitely needed.   He knew that seeing his friends again would wreck havoc on his already fit to burst conscious, but even just hearing Marl’s voice and having her familiar scent ringing in his nostrils made the war in Sirius’s head even worse.   It was selfish to see them, but he just needed to see them.  He couldn’t have held out much longer. And yeah, maybe that was selfish. 

The sudden hits to his arms thoroughly ceased him overthinking, at least for now anyway.  Grabbing both her wrists to prevent further strikes, Sirius lowered his voice to a hush.  “Can you be mad at me a little quieter please.”   Pausing to look over his shoulder, he released his grasp on her.  “I can’t really loiter around here, this isn’t skiving fifth period.”  His hushed tone went up slightly, as his nerves of being watched kicked in again, knowing that if he were to be caught outside the consequences would be alot worse than spending a detention with Mcgonagalll.  “Can we go somewhere? and I’ll explain I swear.”

She  fought  her  next  instinct  which  was  to  start  kicking  when  he  grabbed  her  wrists,  hating  that  he  was  right.  He  had  no  right  to  be  demanding  anything  of  her,  but  she  bit  her  tongue  and  stared  back  at  him  for  a  moment  longer.  And  the  same  sense  she’d  felt  when  she’d  first  hugged  him  washed  over  her  again.  But  Marlene  would  be  damned  if  she  let  Sirius  get  away  with  whatever  was  happening  right  now.  Her  hands  retracted,  remembering  the  sense  of  her  own  wand  within  her  sleeve,  the  only  sense  of  protection  she  had  as  the  reality  of  the  situation  set  over  her  again.  Anger  was  at  least  subdued  as  she  grabbed  onto  his  shoulder.  “You  know,  I  never  liked  apparating  with  a  second  person,  makes  them  feel  really  funny.”  But  all  the  same,  she  warped  them  through  into  the  place  she  was  let  herself  call  home  for  now.  On  her  first  breath,  she  considered  that  perhaps  she  should  have  looked  back  over  her  shoulder  to  see  if  anything  else  seemed  awry.  

“Sit.”  She  shoved  at  his  chest  towards  the  sofa,  first  making  her  way  over  to  her  fireplace.  It  may  be  even  more  of  a  red  flag  that  she  was  about  to  disable  her  floo  network  connection,  but  it  seemed  like  the  best  option.  What  if  her  mother  decided  to  pop  in?  It  was  rare  but  known  to  happen,  and  she  suddenly  resented  Sirius  for  making  her  be  the  adult  right  now.  It  didn’t  cover  all  bases,  but  it  was  more  than  any  other  idea  she  had . . .  other  than  transfiguring  him  into  a  lamp.  Once  the  work  was  done,  she  turned  back  to  the  boy.  “We  missed  your  birthday.”  There  was  a  little  regret  in  her  voice,  but  the  words  ‘what’s  going  on’  were  just  caught  in  her  throat.  For  all  time,  Marlene  just  wanted  some  level  of  honesty  in  the  operations  that  were  always  in  her  periphery,  but  something  made  her  jitter  to  think  she  may  be  about  to  know  more  than  she’d  handle.  “We  didn’t  get  to  do  anything  for  you  this  year.”

[mckmarl]

peterparlak​:

peter had been so distracted lately, there was a layer of worry and anxiety that filled every part of him, so many things that he had wanted to say but was unable to say because he didn’t know how to say them. it showed in the state of their flat and fridge, being unable to do much but bare minimum with most things. he looks over at marlene, his head against the couch as he reached out to pet his cat who purred underneath his touch. a cat and rat, he thinks, getting along, the thought almost makes him smile but nothing really comes out of him, just a long sigh, a close of eyes trying to keep himself calm and present. “peaches is glad that there’s another person here giving him attention.” he finally says, working up the small smile.

“you’re more than welcome to try and cook though me and james haven’t bought much groceries in a while.” he shakes his head now, “we can just order in something, marls.” it was funny, all things considered, that peter worked at a diner but never brought home much food unless it was some dessert that was subpar.

Even  though  there  was  something  greatly  comforting  in  holding  onto  the  creature,  soft  and  warm  with  a  familiar  sense  of  wanting  to  be  loved,  she  handed  him  back  over  to  Peter.  “I  still  think  he  likes  you  best.”  She  smiled  as  best  she  could,  something  weighing  her  down  besides  the  tiredness  of  her  own  limbs  against  the  sofa.  This  new  awareness  was  what  was  truly  exhausting.  And  to  see  it  affecting  others  who  she  should  be  protecting  made  this  quite  like  trying  to  find  her  way  in  the  dark.  But  there  was  little  more  she  could  say  to  comfort  her  friend,  even  if  she  wanted  to,  since  words  would  never  really  cover  it.  

“I’m  quite  the  creator.”  An  inkling  of  a  smirk  crossed  her  lips  as  she  finally  lifted  herself  ungracefully  from  her  seat  and  took  long  strides  to  the  refrigerator  as  if  that  would  bring  more  purpose  to  it.  But  she  found  peter’s  words  to  be  a  little  more  true  than  she’d  like.  “And  they  bring  it  you?”  Maybe  it  was  being  raised  in  such  a  home  as  she  had  been,  or  having  all  meals  appear  before  her  at  Hogwarts  -  but  ordered  food  to  your  own  door  sounded  like  a  luxury  not  meant  for  her.  “All  right,  if  you  think  that’s  what’s  best.”  The  words  felt  foreign,  the  trusting  of  even  something  so  small  to  another  person.  It  made  her  question  where  and  when  exactly  she  was  supposed  to  be  a  leader.  

[mckmarl]

Where  was  she  to  focus?  It  didn’t  seem  that  she  had  looked  straight  ahead  anywhere  in  days  until  she  had  made  it  to  a  practice  room  where  there  was  less  chatter,  less  footsteps,  and  less  of  the  world  at  all.  It  was  her  and  some  disfigured  mannequins  in  here.  If  she  could  be  best  at  anything,  this  was  it.  A  little  target  practice,  if  she  could  call  it  that,  may  help.  Wand  slipped  from  her  sleeve  and  she  immediately  found  herself  just  going  down  the  rows.  She  had  no  particular  strategy  in  mind,  she  didn’t  want  to  need  one  anyway.  Verbal,  non-verbal  -  it  was  all  an  array  of  light  and  little  fragments  falling  to  her  feet.  

But  maybe  she  was  sharper  than  she  felt  because  she  caught  the  shadow  enter  the  room  by  the  corner  of  her  eye.  “Oye,  oye,  watch  your  face.”  She  called  out,  but  the  motion  of  her  wand  and  feet  never  slowed,  finishing  out  the  row  of  demolished  mannequins  along  with  a  little  peice  of  wall.  “You  really  should  knock,  Frank  darling.  Mr.  Longbottom,  whatever  it  is  I’m  supposed  to  be  calling  you  in  here.” @frvnklongbcttom​

[mckmarl]

mcllyprcwett​:

“were you not the one that asked me what’s left to study for?” cocking a brow, “madam pince would be so proud” that was if she believed them to begin with, “what book has cast a spell on you? if only i had that beckoning – this process would be so much easier” 

the smile that stretched her lips was big and bright, “i’m not surprised in the slightest” marlene mckinnon was fearless, the kind of spirit that she could see out there and succeeding – maybe there was a time that molly had wondered if she had chosen the right path, that if her role had enough to keep her fulfilled and not yearning for adventure, but after bilius, she didn’t she would be able to do it - be able to go out there and be brave with a little boy waiting for her at home, “i’m so happy for you” giving her arm a squeeze. “i think we’re missing a food fight quite desperately, what if you could pie arthur? that might just be the highlight of the year” she teased, “do i really look like i’m in need of a good scream?” curious, “that might be worthwhile”

--

“Why,  oh,  it’s  this  lovely  thing  right  here.”  She  ripped  the  book  from  the  shelves  and  held  it  to  her  chest.  The  grin  across  her  face  should  have  been  signal  for  the  little  play  she  found  herself  about  to  act  out.  Marlene  pulled  back  the  front  cover,  eyes  scanning  over  -  dramatically  wide  in  fascination.  “Transforming  Molds  to  Moulds.  My  love,  my  passion.  My  breath  is  caught  just  looking  it,  Molly.  I’m  tingling,  my  arms,  look  at  this  right  there.  I  thought  of  some  mossy  green  mold  and  I  have  goose  bumps.”  She  gripped  to  close  to  her  chest  again.  “Darling,  I’m  afraid  this  book  and  I  are  going  to  need  a  little  more  privacy.”  She  ended  with  a  wink,  slumping  down  her  shoulders  and  lazily  placing  the  ugly  little  paperback  on  the  probably  wrong  shelf.  “I  think  that  might  actually  be  what  Pince  did  in  that  library  at  night.”  

Her  arms  stretched  out,  considering  the  event  with  a  fondness.  If  Molly  was  telling  the  truth,  even  a  little  bit  -  that  was  more  than  she  usually  received  from  anyone.  Marlene’s  heart  could  hurt  a  little,  but  the  pain  was  subsided  with  the  rapid  change  in  their  conversation.  It  was  less  time  to  think  on  such  things.  “If  you  bake  the  pie,  I’ll  make  sure  it  lands  right  on  his  face.”  She  could  have  giggled,  the  image  something  probably  like  a  tableau  of  their  childhood.  “Aye,  I  think  you  do  need  a  good  scream.  I’ve  got  a  roof  for  it.  But  like  finding  yourself  on  the  Cliffs  of  Dover  is  a  mighty  fine  spot  for  it  as  well.”

[mckmarl]

lycxnthropes​:

          ❝  not  even  a  hello  -  ❞   remus  begrudgingly  pushes  himself  from  the  counter  he  had  been  resting  against  for  the  past  minute  with  a  shake  of  his  head  .  there  was  no  fighting  with  marlene  mckinnon  ,  she  was  simply  a  force  of  nature  he’d  rather  not  fight  right  now  .   but  his  eyes  are  already  fixed  on  the  colored  owl  resting  on  her  person ,  only  saving  a  quick  glance  towards  her  face  when  he  notices  the  oddity  .  ❝  if  i  bother  to  ask  what  you  were  sending  or  to  who  ,  it  wouldn’t  even  help  would  it  ?  ❞   there  is  still  a  bit  of  skepticism  in  his  voice  ,  but  that  certainly  didn’t  deter  remus  from  knowing  what  to  do .  it  was  always  around  the  holidays  when  the  clueless  parents  of  wizarding  parents  came  in  after  wizarding  minors  tried  to  secretly  do  magic  unsupervised .  ❝  have  you  tried  a  simple  untransfiguration  charm  ?   ❞  he  questions  then  ,  extending  a  hand  towards  the  calm  owl  in  an attempt  to  be  friendly  .  ❝  a  reparifarge  should  work  .  always  did  at  hogwarts .   ❞ 

“Hello  darling,   R e m u s.   Your  hair  looks  lovely,  and  I’ve   m i s s e d   you  so  much  this  week  I  thought  I  could  just  absolutely  dissolve  into  a  puddle  of  melancholy  until  I  should  happen  to  see  you  again.”  She  propped  her  head  on  her  chin  to  rest  on  the  counter,  with  a  bat  of  eyelashes.  The  reaction  was  instinctually  playful,  but  her  eyes  kept  turning  back  to  the  poor  owl.  For  some  reason,  she  thought  having  a  lizard  tail  might  be  an  uncomfortable  situation,  and  her  usual  grin  had  a  slight  downturn.  Marlene  almost  answered,  but  Remus  of  all  people  had  moods.  It  took  quite  a  bit  of  strength  not  bite  back  at  his  bark,  and  be  sure  she’d  get  her  way  in  the  end  anyway  but  that  was  besides  the  point.  She  moved  the  cage  forward,  eliciting  a  little  hoot  from  the  bird.  “I’m  pretty  sure-”  Her  words  cut  short.  She  had  assumed  this  incident  happened  at  Hogwarts  itself.  It  seemed  like  some  measly  student  work  -  something  she  would  have  done  to  one  of  the  older  students  back  in  the  day;  but  then  she  was  not  even  sure  if  her  letter  reached  where  it  was  supposed  to  go  at  Hogwarts.  Her  body  leaned  in  more  to  the  counter.  It  wasn’t  defeat,  but  perhaps  more  of  a  plea  than  she  would  have  comfortably  admitted.  “Do  you  ever  think  maybe  I  came  in  to  ask  you  because  I  thought  maybe  you’d  know  better?  I  can  do  a  reparifage  just  as  good  as  you.  But  what  if  she  ate  or  drank  something  and  wasn’t  actually,  transfigured  yeah?  Looks  like  I’m  doing  your  job  anyway.”  She  bit  her  tongue,  letting  herself  go  silent  and  uncomfortably  so.  “I  mean  it,  Remus.  You’re  going  to  know  better  on  this  than  I  am,  alright.  I’m  sorry.  Of  course,  I  don’t  want  to  hurt  my  lady  here,  I  was  worried  it  might  already  feel  funny  to  her.”

[mckmarl]

g-parkinson​:

Sometimes it felt like she spent more time at the Ministry than at the reserves. It wasn’t a bad thing, really. It was easier for someone like her to be there than some of the people she worked with. She was happy to do it. It had been the path she thought she was going to take for years. But life had other plans for her. It was the exact reason she was standing in front of the other woman today, her dragonhide pants and all. It wasn’t her fault she looked this good in them. “I get that a lot,” she said with a wink, following her down the hall. “Georgiana Parkinson but you can call me Georgie. Where was the burn sight? Was it near the coast or mountains? Or near any reserves?” 

She  liked  leading  down  the  hall,  more  confidence  fell  into  her  step  with  the  certainty  of  where  she  was  going.  It  was  a  little  command  she  could  exert  in  the  mean  time.  “Well,  Parkinson,”  Marlene  smirked  to  herself,  kicking  the  next  door  open  with  her  boot,  “don’t  think  we  really  have  any  reserves  on  a  muggle  highway  outside  Sheffield.”  Blonde  hair  flipped  back  around  to  the  brunette  to  meet  her  eyes.  “So  maybe  you  see  why  I  don’t  get  like  why  they’re  saying  some  dragon.  It  would  be  mighty  more  rough  to  load  in  the  lad  and  get  him  out  that  fast.  Would  they  even  cooperate  with  a  portkey?”  If  it  was  a  dragon,  then  it  was  under  some  command.  Maybe  she  was  trying  to  be  difficult,  as  she  was  often  told,  but  the  layout  seemed  wrong  and  she  wanted  Georgiana  Parkinson  to  prove  her  right  for  one.  

[mckmarl]

wecsleys​:

❝   godric   balls   ?   ❞   arthur   was   stunned,   but   not   in   the   least   surprised   at   the   choice   of   words   that   so   effortlessly   fell   from   marlene’s   mouth.   it   was   a   good   thing   little   william   barely   listened   to   arthur   and   molly   at   his   age.   he   couldn’t   help   but   chuckle,   especially   as   marlene   threatened   him.   ❝   you   sure   you   don’t   want   to   take   that   chance   then   ?   i   think   you   could   become   real   famous,   you   know.   ❞   he   reached   for   the   clean   diaper   and   shoved   it   back   into   his   bag,   moving   bill   to   sit   on   his   shoulders   as   he   chatted   with   marlene.   ❝   you’ve   been   looking   at   me   like   i’ve   got   three   heads   since   we   ran   into   each   other,   you   know   ?   ❞  

Despite  her  jokes,  having  that  thing  out  of  her  hand  was  a  relief.  To  embarrass  with  it  was  one  thing,  but  holding  it  gingerly  knowing  it  was  needed  was  another  sensation  all  together.  Regardless  of  what  it  was  for,  the  idea  of  who  it  was  for  seemed  to  make  the  difference.  Another  sense,  only  to  be  described  as  guilt,  washed  over  her  briefly  to  assume  she  could  be  that  way  towards  someone  she  desperately  wanted  to  like.  “I  could  do  nearly  anything  and  be  famous.”  She  winked,  eyes  darting  to  the  little  one  once  more.  “Well,  you  practically  have  two.”  Maybe  she  could  make  faces  at  him  again,  it  had  worked  once  before  -  and  the  little  pleasantry  of  it  had  been  the  best  thing  that  week.  For  whatever  reason,  in  front  of  others  it  was  a  bit  of  a  different  game. 

[mckmarl]

sunshinexlovegood​:

location: hogsmeade. open to everyone.

There was hardly a thing that could keep Sunshine indoors. The feeling of walls closing in on her was too much. She needed open air and space to walk — er, strut. The tiny slice of London was nothing compared to her traveling life but at least it was familiar. She both loved and hated the familiarity. Fond memories of fellow classmates causing mayhem for the sheer joy of being a teenager causing mayhem. But Heaven — her death permeated everything. Hogsmeade had lost its luster after her mother died. Sunshine didn’t feel like she was allowed to be a child after that day but, like every contradiction that followed her, Sunshine had the potential to be more childish at twenty-eight than fifteen.

It’s not like she had just gotten back to London. Memories (good and bad) were simply clearer on certain days. It was easier for her to pose in front of a camera and take on a persona the company she modeled for requested. And, Merlin, she was good. She was great — no, brilliant. She got to be herself by not being herself. Another contradiction. Unfortunately there weren’t many modeling gigs in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley but perhaps it was for the best. It gave her an excuse to leave the area whenever she damn well pleased with an excuse that couldn’t be argued. She also wasn’t wanting for money — modeling had set her up nicely — but she would always question why stop what you’re doing if you love it? And she loved modeling.

So there she was, thinking and standing by two storefronts. Childhood and adulthood: “What do you think? Honeydukes for a big, swirly lollipop or judging Gladrags Wizardware?” she casually asked the person who had been silently standing near her a little too long.

Sometimes  Marlene  found  herself  stopping  in  the  windows  of  shops  when  she  knew  there  were  other  places  she  needed  to  be.  Sometimes  it  was  places  like  the  bookstore  where  for  the  first  time  ever,  books  seemed  interesting  at  all.  They  were  better  than  the  answers  and  questions  waiting  in  ministry  halls  or  the  desk  of  Gringotts  where  she  needed  to  have  a  new  awareness.  Surely,  she  could  listen  to  the  footsteps  and  know  how  many  people  had  passed  by  her,  how  many  windows  were  behind  her  -  aware  of  what  she  could  see  and  could  not  see.  The  tiresome  part  was  having  to  explain  in  back  throughout  the  day  whether  she  was  working  or  not.  

Gladrags  in  particular  was  somewhere  that  cocked  her  head.  Her  mother,  on  finer  occassions,  might  have  taken  to  the  shop,  a  little  blonde  girl  with  messy  bangs  reluctantly  behind  her.  But  Marlene  wouldn’t  even  dare  to  dream  she’d  afford  it  now.  She  was  told  often  enough  new  things  weren’t  worth  the  while  if  she  couldn’t  care  for  them.  Sadly,  maybe  now  she  knew  that  was  true,  but  the  knowledge  did  not  feel  like  it  was  equating  to  a  sense  of  responsibility.  

“I’ve  got  more  chance  with  the  sweets.”  She  could  probably  bum  a  few  sugar  quills  off  anyone  if  she  smiled  nicely  enough,  nobody  would  probably  hand  her  a  silk  robe  -  and  she  wouldn’t  want  it  either.  “Well,  depends  on  what  you’re  getting  me.”

[mckmarl]

sirius-blaxx​:

Lonely was not a strong enough word to describe how Sirius was feeling. He had hoped that escaping during the wee hours to have time to himself would have helped, but honestly all it did was make him hurt more.  Knowing that his closet friends must have thought he had just abandoned them, what must they all think of him right now?  He was scared to know the answer.  

Diagon Alley was pretty eerie at night, a street which was usually so full of life so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Pulling a pre rolled smoke from behind his ear, he lit it as he started up walking again, he had only pause to look at the Leaky Cauldron, a place that held so many fond memories for him.  A sad smile twitched at his lips as he pulled his hues away from the place. As he looked ahead, he could just about make out a figure hovering near the Ministry, usually there would too many people crowding the streets to be able to see that far.  Though, the late hour really exposed anything hiding, which included him.  That thought occurred to him just as the figure turned to look at him.  Sirius’s eyes locked with the person and he realised that it was not a stranger.  If she had not seen him, he may have ran off, but they seemed to clock eachother at the same time. “Marls?”  He said quietly, though it echoed against the stone walls all around them. 

@mckmarl​

No,  she  wasn’t  supposed  to  be  out  here  without  a  partner.  Not  for  the  DMLE  and  not  for  the  Order.  The  dark  seemed  to  equate  to  cold  with  the  stoney  sound  of  steps  ringing  out  just  a  little  too  loudly  for  comfort.  At  this  point,  even  the  last  of  the  drunks  out  of  the  Leaky  Cauldron  were  down  for  the  night  so  the  mere  soundscape  tensed  her  jaw  and  chilled  her  spine.  That  could  be  the  November  air,  however  something  out  here  felt  like  another  pair  of  eyes.  But  she  was  Marlene  McKinnon  and  she  never  could  be  afraid.  

And  it  was  true  that  she  felt  no  fear  locking  eyes  with  Sirius.  It  was  like  all  of  Moody’s  precautions  on  disguises  were  secondary,  completely  gone  even.  She  was  only  ever  Marls  to  close  friends,  but  that  barely  registered  since  the  wand  in  her  sleeve  did  what  it  always  seemed  to  do.  To  a  stranger,  it  would  explain  the  singe  marks  that  always  surrounded  the  right-hand  hem  of  her  shirts  and  robes,  emanating  little  flecks  of  ruby,  green,  and  sapphire  that  pattered  out  after  feelings  she  didn’t  say.  It  wasn’t  a  defect.  “Shit.”  Filterless  terminology  left  her  lips  as  she  flung  herself  at  him.  It  could  have  been  a  hug  like  one  out  of  some  story  of  returning  heroes  and  she  just  let  herself  have  that  moment  hanging  on  to  someone.  “You  could  have  told  me.”  An  unusual  softness  to  her  voice.  A  little  relief  and  a  little  joy; exasperation  of  feelings  that  she  usually  ignored.  This  meeting  was  an  answer,  but  not  enough  of  one.  “And  what  the  fuck?”  Suddenly,  her  whispered  hardened  and  she  shoved  at  his  shoulders.  “Lucky  it’s  me,  you  bat.”  Another  hit  since  he  could  just  be  out  here  when  he  wanted  apparently.  “What’re  you  doing?”  Because  his  free  will  was  apparently  the  most  important  thing.  “What?  Can’t  say  anything  for  yourself  now?”  Her  words  battered  more  than  her  hands,  volume  suddenly  unconcerned  since  it  was  just  like  those  times  nobody  ever  cared  to  tell  her  a  thing  that  went  on.

[mckmarl]

Maya Hawke as Margaret in the trailer for As They Slept (2019) dir. Haroula Rose

[mckmarl]

mcllyprcwett​:

“maybe –” wistful was what she was as she thought of him growing, let alone forming his own opinions, he was already a year old and she already found that time wasn’t her friend - too fast was what it was. her own gaze following marlene’s along the various spines - waiting for something to jump right at her, “you never told me what had you in here? fun read or did work give you homework?” 

“how’s training going?” reaching for one thousand magical herbs and fungi, she knew it was premature considering spring wasn’t knocking anytime soon, but at least  she could get an idea of what she wanted to expand her garden with, “are you at your parents? you should come by for dinner –”

-

What  she’d  never  admit,  to  anyone,  was  that  her  own  glorious  little  flat  was  a  quiet  place.  The  joy of  dorms,  and  maybe  even  home,  was  the  constant  patter  of  some  distant  sound  that  she  could  focus  in  on  when  she  needed.  That  when  Marlene  needed  to  say  something  she  could  just  turn  her  head  and  whisper  it  to  a  friend  who’d  giggle  in  the  dark  with  her.  Alone  she  could  say  whatever  she  wanted,  but  the  time  passed  and  what  she  thought  really  became  as  close  to  conversation  as  she’d  achieve  there.  But  that  girl  could  not  stay,  so  solemn  lip  turned  back  to  jocular  grin.  “Can’t  it  just  be  for  the  dear  love  of  knowledge,  Molly?  The  undenying  power  of  some  written  word  has  called  to  me,  of  course.”  

“Ah,  well  I’m  feckin’  brilliant  out  there.”  A  boast  which  she  claimed.  “Have  the  highest  hit  count  in  training  like  duelling  club  all  over  again.”  True  enough.  “Now  you  don’t  want  me  in  a  food  fight  at  your  lovely  place.”  Where  could  she  even  fit  in  the  domestic  -  back  to  the  children’s  table  most  likely.  Somehow  she  was  positive  that’s  where  her  parents  would  sit  her  while  she  could  watch  everyone  she  cared  for  grow  and  change.  Perhaps  she’d  be  stuck  at  sixteen.  “I  say  you  should  come  over  and  we  just  blast  radio  for  a  few  hours.  Get  out  a  good  shout.  It  would  be  good  for  you,  darling.”