Christmas
Marlene smiles happily at the Christmas tree, watching the train go around the base of it. “Is it magic, mummy?” she asks with wide, blue eyes as she looks up at her mother, holding tightly to her hand.
Vivian laughs softly. “No, love. These are daddy’s parents. They don't have magic.”
✦✦✦
That’s the first time she started to understand the difference between her mother’s family and her father’s. Whilst the Rosiers used magic for everything from brushing their teeth to travelling, the McKinnons did everything the muggle way. It wasn’t that they didn't like magic, as her parents explained many times, they just didn’t have any.
✦✦✦
The next Christmas is spent with the Rosiers. Marlene was five now, old enough to get magic presents, something she’d been denied thus far by her father’s wish that she have a balance of muggle things. She sat in front of the christmas tree with Evan, smiling as she unwrapped an expensive looking children’s broom. “Look, Evvy!” She says with a bright smile, showing her younger cousin the gift.
“Wow!” the four year old returned, slightly envious and excited for when his parents deem him old enough to fly like the people in the posters on his wall.
Marlene jumps up to hug her mother. “Thanks, mummy!”
Vivian’s expression softens slightly, as much as she allows it to around the family that have never quite been ok with who she married “No problem, my love. I’m glad you like it.”
✦✦✦
At seven, Marlene gets to go to a pureblood ball with her cousins. She wonders why people keep looking at her, if they think her pink frilly dress is as silly as she does. “Bella? Why are people looking at me?” she asks Bellatrix, with whom she is walking through the ballroom.
The thirteen year old leans down like she's telling Marlene a secret. “Because your daddy is a mudblood.” she says, something mean flashing in her eyes as she bares her teeth in what Marlene thinks is meant to be a smile.
Marlene frowns a little, not knowing the word, but not liking how harsh Bellatrix sounded when she said it.
“It’s a good thing you look like your mother.” Bellatrix says, much to Marlene’s immense confusion.
✦✦✦
A year later, she sees her brother sit on the other side of the church with someone she doesn't recognise. “Daddy, where’s Becky going?” she asks, wishing her brother would sit with her and not his school friends.
“He’s just sitting with some people from Hogwarts.” Lawrence says with a warm smile, putting an arm around Marlene.
“They’ll let anyone in that school nowadays” her uncle Cygnus mutters, giving Lawrence a look that sends chills down Marlene’s spine.