Chapter Text
Marlene McKinnon
Tuesday the 31st of August 1971
Growing up being home-schooled could be lonely, sure. Especially with no siblings. The only people Marlene had really connected with, prior to the age of seven, were her parents and her parents’ friends. And, for a lot of witches and wizards her own age, Marlene could easily be perceived as… too much. Although that feeling very much seemed to extend to her mother at times too.
It really was no surprise then, that Marlene found herself drawn to James Potter. He was the king of too much. He saw too much and raised it several units of loud chatter, obnoxious musical performances, and an ego that could circle the world three times.
Before Marlene had known Peter Pettigrew, she would have said that he was the complete opposite of James. He appeared more nervous and reserved. Although James did a pretty good job at leading the other boy out of his shell majority of the time. Now that she knew him, she knew that all that brilliance that was Peter Pettigrew was just a little less readily shown. Blocked behind a few walls of insecurity.
After getting to know them both properly, Marlene quickly learned that they were very similar to her. Only, what people called ‘too much’ when they saw it on Marlene, was called something entirely different on the two boys. They were ‘confident’ or ‘talented’ or ‘assertive’. Their muchness was greeted with love and pride, not annoyance and mothers telling them they needed to be more humble.
That was likely another reason they became such good friends. Marlene probably spent more time at the Potter’s than she did her own home nowadays. And Euphemia and Fleamont were as much parents to her and Peter as they were to James. They never criticised her for talking too loudly or wearing the ‘wrong’ clothes.
It hadn’t always been that way of course. The McKinnons had always run in the same circles as the Pettigrews and Potters. It didn't hurt that they all lived in the same village. She’d grown up seeing James, an ever alluring and self-assured presence at his parent’s parties, always accompanied by his sidekick and childhood best friend Peter. But up until the Boxing Day party of 1967, she’d never really spoken to either of them.
***
It had been a beautiful party; Euphemia had outdone herself with the baked goods. The many bookcases and mantelpieces shone with tinsel and enchanted candles hung from the ceiling creating a warm homily feel. The house smelled of Cinnamon, and Marlene immediately sought out the Potter’s signature Christmas Snickerdoodle biscuits. Fleamont and Euphemia potter were joyful as ever, greeting newcomers, offering drinks, and sparking up cheery conversation with guests. Euphemia had donned a traditional Indian Sari in a deep red colour with intricate gold embroidery and had her long brown hair flowing at her shoulders. Fleamont had on a flowy, red set of robes, matching that of his wife, with a gold pocket watch, curly brown hair, and a pair of circular glasses over his brown eyes. The Potter’s parties were truly the talk of the wizarding community.
Marlene’s mother paraded her around like a lamb up for auction. She told anyone who would listen about the latest spell Marlene had learned or how much of magic history she could recite. She deliberately left out the amount of times that Marlene had already been told off that day for playing her new Beatles record too loudly, or for getting a bit too muddy after going outside.
Pride had always been an important thing in her mother’s eyes. She’d spent a good hour prior to the party straightening the waves out of Marlene’s blonde hair. She’d picked out at least nine options of dresses she could wear. And found the shortest shoes, insisting that Marlene was too tall. Marlene loved her wavy hair and the fact that she was taller than most people her age. And she’d hated every dress her mother had suggested. But Melissa McKinnon’s opinion of how Marlene should present was clearly more important.
She looked a lot like her mother. In her cool blue eyes and pale, rosy skin. In the way their faces formed the same lines when they smiled. But, while that was a reason Marlene had to strive for some sense of individuality, it seemed her mother was more focused on creating a carbon copy of herself.
It was just as Marlene had managed to give her mother the slip and join her father at the back of the room that James had entered, golden electric guitar hung from his shoulder. He was taller than Marlene, with the signature Potter mass of messy brown hair on the top of his head and a pair of circular glasses over his brown eyes. He bore striking resemblance to his father in those features. He had Light brown skin and he had on a set of tinsel covered dress robes for the occasion. Peter entered at his tale with a matching gold base. Dirty blonde, slicked back hair framing his pale face and blue eyes. He wore the same tinsel covered robes as his friend, although he lacked a good few inches on James’ height, and had to pick up his robes to keep from tripping as they walked into the room.
“Attention!” James grinned from beside the fireplace. “We’d like to play you all some Muggle Christmas music.”
He turned his head and gave a slight nod to Peter. Peter, albeit, slightly more nervously than James at the sight of the packed room, gave a nod back.
What followed was, at Marlene’s best guess, a rock version of ‘Jingle Bells’. And it was awful. But all the while, Marlene envied the boys. They had such confidence. And even though she was sure majority of the room couldn’t wait for the song to be over, James was the life of the party. His parents stood at one side, Fleamont’s arm slung around his wife’s shoulder, chucking proudly.
When the pair had finished ‘fake’ smashing their guitars up like rock stars, (Euphemia had warned them sternly they were not to break their new instruments) they gave a bow to their clapping audience. That’s when James’s eye had caught Marlene’s. He tapped his friend’s shoulder and Peter followed him towards Marlene and her father.
“Hi.” James said with a wide grin on his face, extending a hand to Marlene. “I’m James.”
Marlene knew who James was. She knew who they both were. Her parents were good friends of James and Peter’s parents, so she’d heard their names plenty of times. And Marlene was sure James had heard her’s too. But still, he introduced himself like Marlene hadn’t heard a million times about the Potter boy’s amazing magical ability. Like his name hadn’t been used as incentive by her mother to get her to practice or read more. It was nice.
Marlene shook the boy’s outstretched hand. “I’m Marlene.” She replied.
“This is Peter.” James referenced with a tilt of his head. And Peter gave a nod and smile to Marlene. “Did you like our performance?”
“It was bloody terrible.” Marlene answered honestly.
“Language!” Marlene’s father chimed in, although smiling at his daughter making friends all the while.
James just let out a hearty laugh. “We’re still practicing, gonna start a rock band one day! Still need some more members though, do you play any instruments?”
“Marlene here plays the drums.” Her father prompted.
“Really? That’s so cool!” James said eagerly. “Do you want to join our band? We’re going to be famous! That’s if Quidditch doesn’t work out though.”
“No way, I love quidditch! Who’s your favourite team?” Marlene asked.
And with that, Marlene, James, and Peter became best friends. They spent the night fawning over James’ broomstick collection, coming up with band names and debating who was the better quidditch team, Marlene strongly advocating for the Holyhead harpies and Peter talking animatedly about the Chudley Cannon’s tactics.
***
“Oi, earth to Marlene!” James yelled, waving a hand in front of her face.
Marlene slapped his hand away smiling. “What’d you want, potter?!”
The sun was disappearing, all but a suggestion of dusk on the horizon. The Red hue of light giving way to darkness. To new beginnings. Marlene, Peter, and James had just finished a game of quidditch and were laying breathless in the garden of the Potter residence. Marlene picked absentmindedly at a daisy in the grass next to her.
“Oh, just telling Pete here about how I absolutely beat you at that game of quidditch just now.” James said with a smirk.
Marlene sat up, horrified by this notion. “Did not! I blocked way more goals than you scored!”
“I beg to differ, I most definitely scored more!” James declared.
Peter sighed. “You see, this is why we need more friends, then we could play an actual game.”
“Oh, we will Pete, you’ll see, Hogwarts is going to love us.” Said James, stretching his arms behind his head where he lay on the lawn.
Tonight, was the last night of summer before the trio boarded the Hogwarts express and began their school journey. Marlene hadn’t exactly been surprised to receive a letter. She was pureblood after all, the chances of the magic gene skipping her were pretty slim. It was the same for Peter and James too. Marlene had known she was a witch since she accidentally made a plate of broccoli explode when she was six, while protesting her hatred of ‘mini trees’. Her parents had taught her everything she knew about magic since then, she knew basic summoning charms, Lumos, things like that. Useful too, as she was always losing stuff. Marlene didn’t know how Muggles coped without the ability to find lost socks with the swipe of a wand.
It wasn’t that Marlene wasn’t excited about going to Hogwarts, just nervous. What if she was put in a different house to Peter and James and they were no longer friends? James was sure to be put in Gryffindor. Just like his father. And wherever James went, Peter was sure to follow.
“Kids, dinner time!” Fleamont called from the house.
All three of them sat up glancing between themselves.
Marlene grinned, getting ready to race to the house. “Last one to the door—”
“Is a rotten egg!” James finished, jumping up as Marlene and Peter scrambled to follow him.
Marlene ended up being the so-called ‘rotten egg’. But she insisted that James had cheated by getting up first and that she had still been tired from flying.
Inside the Potter’s Kitchen smelled strongly of Beef roast and Marlene’s stomach began to growl.
“So, what are you three most excited for at Hogwarts?” Fleamont asked when they had all washed their hands and settled at the table.
“Quidditch!” The three chorused at the same time which resulted in fits of giggles.
“Now, now, first years aren’t allowed to play quidditch.” Fleamont reminded them.
“I can’t wait to see the castle.” Peter said. “I’ve heard there’s a monster living there. And real-life Ghosts!”
“Must be awful to be a Ghost.” Marlene said with a shudder. “You’d never get to eat food again.”
“Marlene here has her priorities straight.” James chuckled, pretending to weigh up options on his hands. “Food… or eternal life.” This managed to coax a laugh from Marlene.
For dessert, they had homemade trifle, talking all the while with Mr and Mrs Potter about their time at Hogwarts. Fleamont had been a chaser for Gryffindor team back in the day, and James looked on with pride as he told them stories of their landslide victories.
It was just when they’d all finished the trifle, and Marlene and Peter had offered to help Gimkey, the Potter’s house elf, with the washing up, that Marlene’s parents knocked on the door.
“Michael! Melissa!” Euphemia’s warm voice could be heard greeting them in the hallway. “Would you like a cup of tea?”
“That would be lovely, thank you Mia.” Marlene heard her mother say.
Marlene felt a nudge on her left hand, and then the unmistakable bark of her dog.
“Heracles!” She greeted, patting the golden retriever’s head.
Yes okay, admittedly the name hadn’t been her best thought. Ever since she was a kid, she’d loved to learn all there was to know about Greek Mythology. Books about Greek gods and goddesses were about the only books her mother could get her to enjoy. And then when her parents brought home a puppy for Marlene’s 10th birthday, she’d decided Heracles to be a fitting name, the greatest of the Greek heroes! Marlene had been devastated to learn that dogs weren’t on the approved pets list at Hogwarts, even debating transfiguring Heracles into a toad or an owl to attempt to sneak him in.
When the washing up was done, and the adults all sat down for tea in the sitting room, Marlene, James, and Peter returned to the garden to play one last game of fetch with Heracles before their big day tomorrow.