1st of September, 1971
If Marlene McKinnon was asked to describe her life in one word, she would probably say… full.
A different voice, familiar in its unfamiliarity, snaps her from her musing.
“Are these seats taken?”
She’s reminded of the present, a time where she stands just behind a girl she’s just met. They've become fast friends in the short time they’ve known one another, Marlene realises, as they ask yet another stranger a question. Marlene thinks that most people would be uncomfortable with all the change that her eleven-year-old self is being subjected to.
Marlene isn’t though. Uncomfortable. She’s used to the unknown by now. Growing up in the travelling family circus will do that to you.
“No, no, they’re free, please sit,” The red-haired girl with a face full of freckles says hastily as she shakes her head so much Marlene wonders if it makes her head spin. Judging by her slightly gap-toothed smile, Marlene doubts it.
“Mary MacDonald,” Her new friend introduces herself as they make their way into the carriage, reaching out a hand to the girl already in it.
“Lily Evans,” Marlene hears the other girl say as she reaches the seat by the window and plonks herself down on the cushions. She likes the windows. She sometimes gets awfully travel sick.
She finds herself winking as she makes eye contact with the new girl. Lily. She has to remember that. (She sometimes forgets that names are important because she’s been around so many people who change their names as fast as they change clothes). “Marlene McKinnon, at your service,” she introduces, blowing a bubble with the gum she has in her mouth. She needs a new piece; this one is stale now.
She watches as Lily’s green eyes widen at the bubble and finds herself grinning at the wondered expression. She rummages through the bag she brought on the train with her until she finds the packet she’s looking for, hands closing triumphantly around the thin cardboard. “You can have one if you like,” She finds herself saying and the girl hesitates for a moment before reaching out tentatively toward the packet like Marlene is extending more than just gum.
Though… well, Marlene supposes that if the girl is trusting her enough to not assume it’s poisoned then maybe she is.
The other girl she came in with, Mary, grabs the last piece out of the packet before it’s given back to Marlene and she rolls her eyes as she places the empty packet back, ignoring the slight tingling feeling that seems to be affecting her chest. Maybe she’s got pins-and-needles in her heart? And maybe she doesn’t need another piece after all.
“Got room for one more?” A smaller voice says, and Marlene looks towards the entrance to see the most beautiful girl she has probably seen in her whole entire life.
Merlin above she is absolutely stunning.
Her mouth dries out a little, but luckily Mary has sensed no one is about to start talking and cheerfully invites her in.
Merlin above, say something Marlene.
“So, what’s your name then stranger?”
“Marlene, ask nicer!” Mary hisses at her and Marlene pokes the girl in the stomach as though she isn’t also absolutely mortified with what she just said.
“It was just a simple question!”
“Still.”
Marlene catches Lily grinning out the corner of her eye as she turns to the girl and excuses their ‘behaviour’ (the words causing justified grumbled “hey!”’s from the two in question). “My name is Lily,” Marlene hears the red-haired girl introduce herself. “The loud one with sunglasses is Marlene and the equally loud one with the grandma bag is Mary.”
Marlene laughs as she watches Mary grab a stuffed animal from her very appropriately name ‘grandma-bag’ and hurl it with impressive accuracy to hit Lily’s shoulder before bouncing to the floor.
And then the pretty girl says her own name, the syllables rolling off her tongue.
Dorcas Meadowes.
Sounds like a name Marlene could adore.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Lily is saying and when Mary mimics her, Lily gasps in faux outrage and throws the poor plush toy that has evolved into a missile back at Mary’s face.
Marlene snorts but interrupts before it turns into an all-out toy war in which she’d have nothing to defend herself with. “Never thought I’d say I’m excited to go to school but here we are.” She’s marginally surprised by the genuine happiness coursing through her body. She hasn’t gotten attached to a place so quickly before.
“I am so, so excited,” Mary sings from the spot beside Marlene, and Lily and Dorcas quickly agree.
“What do you think will be your favourite subject?” Dorcas addresses the group quietly and Marlene’s stomach swoops at her voice. Ugh, she’s already in love and they haven’t even made it to school yet!
Mary answers before Marlene even has time to understand the question. “Not a subject, but I really wanna be on the quidditch team.”
Marlene perks up at the mention of her favourite sport and she nods eagerly.
“What’s quidditch?” Lily asks and Marlene gasps loudly, pressing a hand to her chest and delighted when Dorcas laughs at her antics.
“Muggle parents, huh?” Mary asks Lily gently and understanding dawns on Marlene with the words and the hesitant confirmation. “Same,” Mary continues,” but from what I’ve heard, I think it’s like football.”
“What’s football?” Marlene asks.
Lily and Mary exchange a look before chorusing, “It’s like quidditch!”
All four girls laugh at that, and Marlene feels the excited stir for friends that might turn out to be permanent in her life of many changes.