Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl- Chappel Roan
When she entered the changing rooms Marlene cringed slightly, the scent of air freshener and about five different brands of perfume did not cover the smell of centuries of sweat and the combination had always been unpleasant. She had asked Professor McGonagall once why they didn’t just clean it magically, to which the professor had explained that the changing rooms were a strictly magic free zone because they couldn’t have magically doping occurring.
Apparently Filch cleaned it every holidays, but Marlene found that hard to believe, especially considering the wad of chewed gum in the back corner of the first stall had been there since before Marlene’s first year. It had become something of ritual for a number of the girls to add to it before a match for luck. It was rather gross if you thought about it too much.
“Disgusting, isn’t it?” the voice was smooth and dark. She whipped around, coming face to face with one Dorcas Meadowes. Her face twisted in disgust as she gazed upon the gum pile.
“Yeah.” Marlene breathed. She was way too close. Marlene had known she was a raging lesbian since fourth year when she had kissed Sirius at a house party and after pulling away her first thought had been that it would have been better if he was a girl. Her and Mary had experimented for a couple months last year before Marlene had realised the focus she held for Dorcas Meadowes was more than just admiration. Since then, the poor girl had pined silently from across the Great Hall to the great amusement of her friends. And now they were standing face to face and Marlene was struggling to think.
“McKinnon? You good?” There was a smirk on the face of the dark-haired girl as her breath fanned across the blonde’s face.
“Marlene.”
“Hmm?”
“Call me Marlene.”
“Marlene” Dorcas repeated in a voice that sent a hoard of ravenous butterflies straight through Marlene’s insides and smirked, leaning closer till her lips were almost brushing Marlene’s own,
“Then call me Dorcas.”
The gryffindor’s knees were weak and she was more focused on not leaning into Meadowes’ mint breath than getting ready so when Sirius hollered from the doorway to hurry up she jumped.
Dorcas was already dressed so she stepped back with a wink and snatched up her broom, exiting the changing rooms with a grin. She passed Sirius with a nod.
Once she was out of earshot Sirius called out to Marlene,
“Is there anyone else in there?”
“No,” Marlene replied in a slightly shaking voice.
“You good?”
“I don’t know?”
“I’m coming in.” Sirius checked if anyone was watching before slipping into the girl’s change rooms. Marlene was standing there fully dressed in her regular uniform. He sighed. “Gay panic?”
She nodded silently. Sirius leaned back against the wall, lips pursed to try and hold back a chuckle that burst forth in a violent fit of laughter.
“Don’t laugh…” Marlene whined, smacking his shoulder. But her own mouth was twisted up in an upside down smile and she began to giggle. “It was so bad Siri. She was standing right in front of me and she told me to call her by her name and I was frozen and she smelled so good!”
“Oh my god.” Sirius shook his head with a laugh, “You’re down so bad.”
“I know.” She sighed.
James called out from the Quidditch pitch, snapping the two idiots back to reality and Marlene hurried to change.
“Woah don’t start stripping in front of me McKinnon, you’ve got a girl!”
“Oh, shut up. It’s nothing you haven’t already seen.” Sirius screwed up his face at the reminder of their awkward few weeks of dating and shitty hookups from the end last year. It had been a poor attempt at convincing herself she could ever like guys.
Marlene grabbed her beater’s bat, twirling it in her hand. The two beaters walked out onto the damp pitch, brooms in hand. The sun had just started to break through the morning mist, bathing the grassy stadium in a pale gold light. Slytherins were flitting around the pitch while a majority of the Gryffindor team were still stretching. James of course was already in the air, winding between the spectator stands at full speed.
Sirius and Marlene settled on the grass to warm up for ten minutes before they took off simultaneously. The two beaters were a chaotic duo that worked in perfect synchronicity, ensuring that if one of their bludgers were dodged, the second wouldn’t be. They were brutal and more than a few times had caused broken bones, earning them a reputation that made younger students scared to play against them. They also threw the wildest aftergame parties.
“Alright! Alright!” Vanity called out, “Everyone meet center pitch.”
Players shot from all directions to the centre, landing in a circle surrounding their two captains. Gryffindors to one side. Slytherins to the other. James and Emma Vanity shook hands, and then each of them grabbed a handle of the Quidditch ball box, opening it and setting them free. James began to count down and upon reaching one all player kicked off.
The game began.