She likes a boy
October 9th 1975 Thursday.5th year
Marlene, James and Lily were making their way to Hogsmeade, the others left a bit before them. James and Lily were walking up front talking to one another while Marlene was walking behind them kicking a stone not paying any attention to what they were talking about.
Suddenly Marlene feels someone run into the back of her almost making her topple over. “What the actual fuck was that” Marlene thinks regaining her balance ans turning around to see some random fourth year Hufflepuff standing behind.
“Sorry I didn’t see you I didn’t mean to bump into you honestly” The girl says starting to ramble on a bit, fidgeting with her hands.
“Merlin, she's acting like I’m about to fecking bite her head off,” Marlene thinks looking at the girl. “Hey, it’s grand no harm done” Marlene says looking at the girl slightly confused on why she’s acting so strange.
“Right yeah sorry” the girl says before running up to catch up with her friends. Marlene turns around to see James and Lily standing to the side waiting for her. She quickly walks up to them and stands there waiting for them to notice she was there.
“Marls there you are, we were wondering how much longer you were going to talk to that girl” for James says once he notices her standing there.
“Ha ha, very funny Potter” Marlene says rolling her eyes as they continue walking to Hogsmeade.
“You know that girl kind of reminds me of you when we were in first year” Lily says, linking her arm with Marlen’s.
“Yeah?, how so?” Marlene asks, looking at Lily slightly confused.
“Well you also used to be very shy and would apologise over small things like bumping into people” Lily exclaimed as they entered Hogsmeade.
The little village was full of school students wrapped in their cloaks, hats and scarfs. The paths were full of people laughing, talking and messing, Running in and out of shops arms ladened with the stuff they had bought.
The three make their way to the Three Broomsticks. Opening the door they were met with the smell of butterbeer, fire whiskey and the smell of a fire not that far away. As the three make their way through the packed pub catching snippets of conversations and the crackling of the fire. Eventually they get to a small table in the corner where the others were sitting.
“Nice of you to finally join us” Mary says as the three sit down, leaning against Lily wrapping one of her arms around Lily’s waist.
They quickly flow back into the previous conversation, all laughing and talking while drinking their butterbeer. Marlene zoned out about five minutes into the conversation not really paying attention just looking around the crowded pub.
She sees Dorcas and half considers going over to talk to her until she sees a guy walk in with her, a Slytherin who Marlene assumes is a year above them not having seen him before.
The two walk towards where Marlene and the others were sitting, finding an empty table near them and sitting down. The two have their heads together talking to one another and Marlene can see that Dorcas is laughing at something he had said while they drink their own drinks.
Marlene can’t help the sense of jealousy she feels towards the guy wishing that was her. She quickly stands up muttering some excuse about needing some air when the others look at her confused. Quickly Marlene leaves the pub and walks down towards the edge of the village. She ignores all the people laughing and talking with their friends. She doesn’t even hear the footsteps of someone following her until she feels someone tap her shoulder.
“Oi Marls you alright?” James asks once he finally catches up to her slightly out of breath. “You kind of looked like you were going to get sick back there”
“What yeah I’m grand” Marlene responds a bit too fast and she can tell James doesn’t believe her she can see the look in his eyes telling her to be truthful. “Trust bloody James Potter to be able to tell when somethings wrong” Marlene thinks to herself.
“Marls I can tell something is up” James says as they reach the edge of the village walking up to the forest that leads close to where the shrieking shack was.
“It’s just I don’t know “ Marlene explained letting out an exasperated sigh feeling frustrated with herself for not being able to explain to James what she means.
“That’s alright, do you want to just sit here for a bit instead?” James suggests. Marlene immediately nods, not in the mood for talking.
The two look for a place to sit, they eventually find a place not too far from the shrieking shack and sit down on the rocks there.
“You know I never understood why they called it the shrieking shack like I get the fact that screams come from it every now and again but why the shrieking shack?” James asks starting to ramble a bit after it had been quiet for a few minutes.
“I don’t know James, maybe they thought it made the most sense like didn’t it get that name ages ago?” Marlene responds looking over at him, slightly confused but also amused of how he can start questing something so simple.
“Yeah I suppose but still why shrieking?” James asks, still slightly confused, on the name.
“I don't know James, maybe they used shrieking more than they used screaming or something” Marlene says slightly confused on why James is interested in this.
“I suppose” James says and it falls quite between them.
All they could hear were the branches rustling, chirruping if the few birds that haven't migrated for the winter and the faint sounds of everyone back in the village.
“James” Marlene says after a few minutes her voice just above a whisper.
“Yeah?” James asks, turning to face her.
“You know when you like someone?”
“Yeah, what about it?” James asks, not quite sure where this was going.
“How do you deal with them being with someone else without having to leave?” Marlene asks, her voice still quiet.
“Well I just think that maybe they don’t like me that way or I just know that if something happens to them with that person I'll be there if they need it and I'll let them know” James says after a few minutes of being quiet.
Marlene stays quiet, not saying anything just staring at the shack. She thinks about it for a while. “Of course James would say that. Why does he always know what to say?” Marlene thinks slightly annoyed but glad James could give her an answer.
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As the sun starts to set Marlene and James make their way to the castle the others had left a while ago. It was much more peaceful now that most of the other students had left by now. The only sound brings their footsteps, the swaying of the branches in the October wind and a bird every now and again.
As they walk towards the castle Marlene notices Dorcas and the boy she’s been with all day not that far ahead of them with their arms linked and heads bowed. It looked as if time had frozen and it was just those two and no one else mattered. Marlene felt as if she was going to get sick if she kept looking at them.
She quickly looks down at the ground not wanting to look at them because she thinks if she does she might get sick. They continue walking towards the castle in a peaceful quietness. When Marlene eventually looks up she sees Dorcas and the guy have gotten incredibly close as if they were about to kiss and as if Marlene had guessed it they kissed not for long though. Marlene feels as if her heart has shattered into a million pieces and she looks back down at the ground. She links her arm with James’ as they continue to the castle. He doesn’t say anything but Marlene can tell he's worried about her.
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When they get to the Gryffindor common room Marlene heads straight up to her dorm, ignoring as the others give her confused looks. When she gets up stairs she quickly changes and goes straight to her bed shutting her curtains when she hears the door open. It was most likely Lily coming to check on her.
“Hey Marls you okay?” She hears Lily's concerned voice but she doesn’t open the curtains.
“Of course count on Lily to not be too overbearing” Marlene thinks but is grateful she respected to leave the curtains closed. “Yeah Lils I’m fine don’t worry just tired” Marlene says hoping her voice sounds convincing enough.
“Okay I’ll be downstairs with the others if you need anything alright” Lily says and Marlene can hear her walking over to the door.
“Ask her to stay for feck sake” Marlene thinks before quickly responding with “Yeah okay, night Lils”
“Night Marls” Lily says before closing the door.
When she leaves Marlene finally lets herself cry.