Chapter 1
Marlene hears the familiar ‘trot-trot’ of hooves crashing against the ground, it’s a comforting feeling, being this close to a horse— she hasn’t been on a journey this long in months, the evening breezegently lifting her hair, the last few rays of sunlight falling on her face, it’s doing wonders for her nerves.
“Marlene!”
Her head snaps back at the sound. Moody, her mentor.
“Where’s your head, Mckinnon?” He demands.
“Sir?” She asks, confused.
“I’ve been calling out your name for the past five minutes!”
Oh. Not again.
“Sorry, sir. Won’t happen again.”
“It better not. This is an important post you’re at now, you understand that, lass?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Honestly, Marlene, you’ve got to step up now, don’t make me regret recommending you for this position.”
“I won’t!”
“I won’t.” She repeats, party for Moody’s sake, and partly for her own.
Moody only nods.
“What was it you had to say to me?” Marlene questions.
“We’re stopping here for the night, well not here, a little behind, we’ve missed it,” He informs her.
“Oh. Sorry.”
“Let’s go.” He says, turning around.
_____
Marlene Mckinnon cannot sleep. She ought to be tired, she ought to be exhausted, she ought to be absolutely knackered— she is not. She’s restless and anxious for tomorrow and so, so awake. She knows she shouldn’t, she knows she should force herself to lie there until she sleeps, she knows she’ll be drained tomorrow, she knows she shouldn’t— she gets up anyway.
She makes her way over to shared balcony between her and Moody’s rooms and takes a seat on one of the little wooden chairs.
Tomorrow, she thinks, repeating the word in her mind until it begins to lose its meaning. She’s just starting to think about returning to her room and getting any amount of sleep she still can when Moody steps out onto the balcony.
“What are you doing out here?” He questions.
“Couldn’t sleep.” She tells him, truthfully.
Moody nods and turns to leave. Stopping at the door, he looks back at her.
“You’re going to do great.” he reassures her.
“You think so?”
“I know so. You’re one of the best knights I’ve trained, Marlene, you didn’t get this job for nothing. Keep your head out of the clouds and you’ll be just fine.”
“Thanks, Moody.”
He nods and steps through the door.
_____
Looking up at the palace, Marlene shudders. “How set are we on this whole me becoming a royal guard thing?”
“Come on, Mckinnon, you’re no flake.” Moody says disapprovingly.
“I was joking.”
“That’s certainly no thing to joke about.”
“You’re no fun, Moody.”
“Well, we’re here, ready to go in?” Moody asks, changing the subject.
“As much as I’ll ever be.”
“Well go on then, lass.”
“Wh— alone?”
Moody nods. “Can’t hold your hand forever.”
“I know, I know, it’s just scary.”
Silence.
“I’d prefer if you went in some time this century.” Moody quips.
“Sorry. I’m going.”
Marlene takes a deep breath.
“Bye, Moody. Thank you for… everything.”
“I’m not dying.”
“Why’d you have to ruin the moment?!”
“Sorry.”
“Bye, then.”
Moody opens then closes his mouth. “Mckinnon.”
“Yeah?”
“Your dad would have been proud.”
And she doesn’t know why that hits the way it does. Do not cry, Marlene. Don’t. You’re a knight for fuck’s sake. Pull it together.
She smiles at him before turning to leave.
_____
“Mckinnon. M-C-K-I-N-N-O-N. Of course it’s a name!”
“I don’t see it here. Are you sure you were supposed to arrive today?” The man asks her while clinging to his cat like his life depends on it.
“I’m sure.”
“Don’t see your name.”
“Well, can you get someone who might know something about it?”
“I’ll ask.” He groans, putting his cat down. “Don’t try anything, she’s watching.” he says gesturing to her.
A few minutes later, he returns, accompanied by an older lady dressed in a deep shade of green.
“Marlene Mckinnon, she says her name is, claims she’s the princess’ new guard.” he mutters to her.
“Perhaps because she is the princess’ new guard, Filch. Let her in.”
The man— Filch, apparently, moves to open the gate while mumbling something to himself.
_____
“Marlene Mckinnon, I’m the princess’ new— ”
“No need for that, I know just who you are.” The young man says smiling wide, yet, it makes the hair on her arms stand on end.
“You do?”
“I’m Tom Riddle, I’ll be supervising you here, if you have any problems, make sure to come straight to me, yes?”
“Uh— yes, I will, thank you.”
“This is Severus.” he gestures to a greasy-haired boy standing behind him. “He’ll show you to the guard quarters and your room.”
“Come along.” Severus instructs.
Marlene follows him through the palace towards her room.
Wow. Marlene hasn’t seen a guard’s room like this since, well, ever.
“Mckinnon!” The grease-ball voices.
“Yes?”
“Did you hear anything I said?”
“No?”
He sighs dramatically. “Your duties begin from tomorrow, you may take the rest of today to rest or to have a look around, if you do choose the second option, there’s a map in that drawer of places you’re allowed to go.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“Goodbye.” He utters, not sticking around long enough to get an answer.
Marlene falls back onto her new bed with a ‘thump’. What a day.