14th of April, 1978
If another person tries to make a different point about the same fucking incident, Marlene thinks fiercely to herself, she’s going to lose her fucking mind.
Honestly, this so-called ‘Dark Lord’ (an embarrassing name that makes him sound like he’s a four-year-old trying to play a Star Wars character if you ask Marlene, not that anyone has), is proving to be more of a headache to the teenager than she knew he would be. Maybe 'headache' isn't the right word to use to describe a manic warlord. But. Semantics.
“Everyone shut the fuck up for a second please,” Marlene snaps, interrupting the quarrel between Lily and Peter. She knows they’re only fighting because they’re nervous. She can feel the anxiety shimmering in the air around her. And Dorcas likes to affectionately call her as thick as a brick when it comes to emotions.
She can’t fault them for being nervous though. Another young witch has gone missing, and everyone knows it could be one of them next. Especially Remus and Lily. She doesn’t think they have ever spent so many anxious mornings reading the newsletters, making sure their family name isn’t printed. How many times teachers will say their names in the hall, and they tense so much you would think they’re a statue, only for the teachers to be asking them a question about homework. And even though Remus’ Dad is a wizard, he’s still enough of a target only coming from a half-wizarding background.
Not to mention Mary has fled to the muggle world completely, refusing to come to the last year of high school despite her friends begging. Marlene obviously doesn't blame her though. Everyone is petrified. And if Marlene’s family was muggle like Mary’s, she knows without a shadow of a doubt that she would be with them to protect them from the war. Little Prue deserves to live a long life. They all do. So, no, Marlene obviously doesn’t fault her best friend for leaving at all. But she would be lying if she said she doesn’t feel the gaping hole of Mary's absence glaring at them. Just another reminder of what this war is costing them.
Her heart pangs for all of them, it truly does.
But arguing with each other isn’t going to solve the war out there.
And she says as much- albeit in kinder words. She ignores the guilty look and mumbled apologies Lily and Peter give each other. They also don’t have time for that.
Thankfully James distracts their attention from Marlene, instinctively knowing, as he has since he was a child, when his friends need help.
“So, what are we going to do about this?” He asks and the air seems to still for a minute as everyone looks at him.
“What?” Lily asks at the same time Dorcas says:
“What on Earth do you mean?”
James frowns. “Someone is missing, guys. This is the third person this week. The war isn’t weakening and it’s also not going anywhere. There aren’t enough aurors and honestly–“ James’ voice breaks and he looks away as though he’s ashamed of what he’s going to say before he sets his shoulders and turns back, continuing, “ and honestly, I don’t completely believe they haven’t been infiltrated, so what are we–“
“The aurors?” Peter repeats, eyes wide at the realisation of what James is saying.
“Do you really think the aurors have been compromised?” Marlene whispers, hugging her knees to her chest.
Lily presses her lips together tightly as she looks at her boyfriend. Sighing so softly you wouldn’t hear it if you weren’t looking at her, she starts to defend James. “Well, I wouldn’t be that surprised. There must be some reason the aurors keep being misdirected and killed at increasing rates.”
The rest of the group is silent as her words settle on them.
Oh, Marlene thinks. We’re so fucking screwed.
“Evil never prevails,” Sirius replies with a half-shrug, speaking for the first time. In hindsight, Marlene will think this should have been her first clue.
Sirius usually never stops talking.
Pete scoffs, absently tapping his drumsticks against the seat he’s straddling. “I like to think that, but I don’t think Adalyn Blueblood would have the same opinion.”
The reminder of the lost witch slices through the air sharply, a muttered, “Nice one Peter,” from Dorcas, the only sound.
Peter clears his throat and when Marlene looks up at him, he’s cupping the back of his neck in shame. “I’m sorry guys, I’m just-“ He coughs to dislodge the words in his throat and Marlene finally notices the bruised purple under his eyes that show he hasn’t been sleeping, “-I’m just worried.”
Marlene doesn’t think anyone has been sleeping. Not since this war became something that was officially happening.
Lily is the one to break the silence. “It’s fine Pete,” She sighs. “We’re all worried.”
“But what can we do? If we can’t join the Aurors then… what else is there?”
The silence after Marlene’s question feels different this time. And when she quickly looks up, she doesn’t miss the look the boys exchange, or the fact that Lily also seems in on it.
“Well actually…” Remus begins gravely, and Marlene’s hand almost instinctively finds its way to her girlfriend’s at his tone. Dorcas gives it a brief squeeze, holding it gently in her lap as neither of them tear their eyes away from the taller boy. “There is…” He clears his throat and Marlene’s heart tightens. She can’t help the sinking feeling that once he says what he’s going to say, there is no going back. “Dumbledore has asked us too…” He trails off again, looking at the other boys desperately like he doesn’t want to say it.
Marlene’s breath skips in her lungs that she’s left breathless, anticipation making her skin crawl.
It’s only Dorcas and I left out of this, Marlene thinks loudly, you don’t need to be so worried to tell us.
Lily comes to Lupin’s rescue, reaching slender hands towards Dorcas and Marlene which they accept. Her hands are cold. But her voice is gentle when she speaks. “
Dumbledore has started his own… well- his own army of sorts, I guess. It’s called the Order of the Phoenix. And he has asked us to ask if you would join the cause against the Dark Lord.”