Chapter 1
2nd September 1971
Marlene
Yesterday
All my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they’re here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Yesterday, the Beatles 1965
Marlene had a good idea of how Hogwarts was going to play out for her. An Irish half witch attending a school full of prestigious pureblood from the south of England. Absolute hell. Of course, she had no idea who her peers would be or where they would be from, but judging by both of her older siblings year groups, it was looking dire.
There was nothing against southerners, so to speak, but Marlene still found it infuriating on how they would correct her diction every time her brother Ronan’s friends visited, or the odd time she had to pass the phone onto her sister Quinn.
“Alright kids, we’re here!” her mam chirped as she opened the old door of the ford cortina, of which Marlene can’t remember a time before it. The paint job had started to peel off and had faded from the original bright red to a more muted tone.
Marlene fiddled with the hem of her dress, a hand me down, as she thought about what she was getting herself into. She had been made to tell Niamh that she was going to boarding school, but it hadn’t felt right, knowing her best friend would be left to go through a high school, maybe even university or college. Completely different paths. What would happen if she turned back? Pelted it? Decided she wanted to stay in the system that she had grown up in, rather than turn her life upside down? All for a glorified stick and a clap on the back…
“Marlene come on, don’t make us late.”
Quinn was rolling her eyes. Of course she was.
They weaved their way through the platforms until they found the wall. Marlene knew what happened. She had been told by both siblings when they arrived at Hogwarts too. That didn’t stop her from holding her breath though. Growing up in a nearly completely muggle household, she honestly still found it hard to believe she was here.
Upon passing through, her mam was almost immediately told to “bugger off” and “stop being embarrassing”, of which she complied, much to Marlene’s dismay as now she had to navigate the platform by herself. Slipping between the array of colourful clothing, magical and muggle, she stumbled into someone.
“Oh Merlin, I’m so sorry,” the other spoke before she could say a word. He was a short boy, most likely her age, with a butchered at home haircut and an atrociously purple patterned robe. He was quite portly and looked more scared than even she was. Realising that once again she had got lost in her thoughts, she opened her mouth to reply.
“Oh erm no it’s okay, errr sorry for bumping into you”
His face brightened at her words, and she wondered if anyone had spoken to him since arriving at the platform.
“I’m Peter. Is this your first year too?”
“Erm yeah, my names Marlene by the way..”
“Oh great! I’ve been looking for someone to be my friend. I lost James in the crowd, don’t think I’ll ever find him again!”
Marlene smiled. Quite frankly, she had no clue who ‘James’ was, but she found the other boy getting flustered very amusing. Peter smiled back, continuing whatever he was saying. Bloody hell this boy talked a lot.
***
After what felt like ages, they were instructed to board the train, tugging their luggage over the gap. Poor Peter seemed to be struggling with this task, holding up the messy queue of students piling into the train, and gaining glares and tuts from some fifth years behind. Great, thought Marlene, exactly what we need. More people giving her unwanted attention.
After squeezing through the bustling corridor trying to find an empty seat, she heard Peter behind her let out a squeal of excitement.
“Marlene! Marlene! Look it’s James’s compartment!" He declared as he struggled opening the door and let them both inside.
“Peter!” exclaimed one of the boys inside, with messy hair and glasses which were too big for his face. James, Marlene assumed. Next to him was another boy, which Marlene had to put effort into not rolling her eyes at. Judging by his posture and… well, clothing choices… he was rich, pureblood, almost definitely from central London, and more importantly, most likely an absolute bellend. He began to speak in an upper class southern accent and Marlene smirked to herself. Maybe she should be a detective, or whatever it is magic folk have as detectives.
She can’t remember much of the conversations in that carriage. Mostly talking about some made up sport with questionable rules, so Marlene zoned out.
Upon getting changed into her school robes, she decided to find a different carriage to sit in. Maybe with Ronan and his seventh year friends. After all, he’s a prefect, what’s the worst that could happen?
Wandering along to the prefect compartment, she noticed a girl sat alone, her robes dark and without a house. Shit, she can’t ignore her now.
Steadily opening the door, she anxiously sat down. The other girl only looked at her puzzled.
“Erm hi I’m Marlene,” she began awkwardly, trying to work out what the other girl was thinking.
“Dorcas Meddowes.”
Dorcas looked back down at the table, where a small box lay.
“Jelly bean?” she offered after a moment.
Marlene accepted, picking up a red one. Berry flavoured sweets were always her favourite back at home.
Dorcas grinned as she popped it in her mouth, snapping her eyes up expectantly.
“What the hell?!”
The sugary coating had disintegrated onto her tongue leaving behind a stale, metallic and dirty taste.
“What is this?!”
“Not sure in all honesty. Didn’t see the colour. Looks to me like it could be bloodworm, cherry or maybe giant crab?” a small smile played on the girl’s face as she watched Marlene recoil in horror. “Oh come on, everybody knows you can’t just pick out a Bertie Botts bean like it’s Russian roulette!” She was playing with a thick curl of hair that sprang over her shoulder.
Sneaky little bitch.
Marlene spent the rest of the journey with Dorcas, who was much more interesting than the boys conversationally. Before they knew it, they were at Hogwarts, rowing their way to the boathouse on the other side of the lake. Why they couldn’t take the convenient bridge leading to the castle, Marlene had no idea. Some sort of initiation or something was what Dorcas had said. Marlene thought it was a load of bull.
***
The sorting ceremony was strange. Marlene had never seen anyone so excited to be given the colour that they could exclusively wear around school. She looked over at Ravenclaw, where Ronan sat, smiling at her with his friends. She looked at Quinn, who couldn’t care less what was going on, and was animatedly talking to another fifth year Hufflepuff at her table.
The first person to be called that she recognised was the posh boy, who she found out was called Sirius Black. And in all honesty she now felt sorry for the poor kid, having to live his life with such a ridiculous name. The hat paused for almost ten minutes before deciding. Dear lord Marlene hoped that other people were faster than that. She wanted this whole fiasco done as soon as possible.
“GRYFFINDOR!”
Everyone in the hall hushed at that. Marlene had no idea why. The uncomfortable silence carried on as he sat down at the table, before being broken by someone shouting from the Slytherin table. Marlene sort of zoned out after that. She really couldn’t be arsed with posh people arguments.
Before she knew it, the thin professor standing at the hat had called her name.
Sitting on the faded upholstered stool, the hat began to speak to her. Had it spoken to the others? As far as Marlene was concerned it had only yelled out house names. What was going on?
“Oh I haven’t seen a McKinnon in a while… I see you have your brother’s talent for academics… you might go far in Ravenclaw…” It was a strange feeling, having a hat mumble in your brain. Like it could hear your thoughts, and you could hear it. “But I don’t see much ambition for the wizarding world… and your core doesn’t seem as strong…”
Great, now it’s just insulting me, Marlene thought, which got a surprised grunt out of the hat.
“Not afraid to speak your mind I see… GRYFFINDOR”
***
Her common room was nice at least, she supposed, stepping into the warm room and observing the worn red sofas and patterned rugs by the fire. It was a pity that they couldn't spend more time down there, because as soon as they entered they were shown to their dormitories, which Marlene was last to enter.
There were two other girls in her dorm, one with the prettiest green eyes and titian hair, and the other with beautiful bronze skin and long thick eyelashes. They had each already claimed a bed, leaving marlene the one in the corner furthest from the door.
“Oh, hi!”
“Hello, I’m Mary and this is Lily. Are you a muggleborn too?” the one with dark hair said, eyeing Marlene’s muggle jewellery: silver studded earrings and bright friendship bracelet. Mary was northern, Lancashire accent thick against Lily’s generic London one.
“Erm no, but my mam’s a muggle and i don't really know my da anyway”
“Ha me neither. I live with my mum and stepdad, a lot calmer since my brother Michael scampered off for uni. I think we’re gonna get on just great.”