astronomy • marlene mckinnon

nine

The winter break passed away quite quickly and before Marlene knew it, she, Mitchell, and Matthew were making their way through the crowded platform towards the scarlet train.

"I really think you two should shut up now," Marlene grumbled as the three made their way through the crowd of Platform Nine and Three Quarters trying to find an empty corner.

"Why?" Mitchell teased. "Afraid your girlfriend will hear us? Or girlfriends?"

"She is not my girlfriend." Marlene hissed at the two. "None of them are."

"Who is?" Matthew frowned as he looked at the girl with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Marlene rolled her eyes.

"Look," Mitchell put a hand on Marlene's shoulder. "All we want to have is a look at your possible future girlfriend."

"Would you lower your volume?" Marlene slapped Mitchell's arm as she looked around with wide eyes.

The entire break she had been teased about Astraea making her regret telling Mitchell about anything. And after the day she had accidentally told two of her brothers about Dorcas out of frustration, it became worse.

"Look as your brothers-"

"Please do not say whatever I think you're going to say." Marlene cringed as she cut off Mitchell.

White clouds blocked the sun rays and cold winds blew occasionally, causing Marlene to tighten her coat around herself, as she stood on her tiptoes trying to look for any one of her friends.

"Which one is better looking according to you?" Matthew casually leaned across a wall. "Dorcas or Astraea?"

"I'd say Astraea." Mary McDonald grinned at Marlene as she walked up to the three and waved at the blonde girl's brothers. "I mean Dorcas is pretty, no doubt, but Astraea is terribly hot. Your words Marlene, don't look at me like that."

"I was drunk, I didn't mean it." Marlene scowled at the brunette as Mary raised her arms in mock surrender.

"Of course, you didn't." Matthew patted the younger girl's head.

"Shut up." Marlene pushed the brunet's hand away from her and consciously ran a hand through her hair.

"It's alright Marls, you don't have to hide it. We're completely okay with you liking Astraea Black." Mitchell laughed. "We don't care if she's a Slytherin."

"I don't- oh fuck." Marlene's eyes widened as she made eye contact with a familiar pair of wide grey, almost silver eyes.

Astraea paused, clearly hearing Mitchell's words, and stared at Marlene, her eyes returning to the usual emotionless barriers, blocking every single emotion one could feel, and a smirk formed on the black-haired girl's face as she removed non-existing dust from her black skirt before she waved at Marlene.

Marlene crossed her arms and scowled at the black-haired girl, only causing her smirk to widen.

"Astraea walk faster, we don't have all day. We're already running late," A stern and demanding voice, which Marlene assumed belonged to Astraea's mother, sounded and the Slytherin rolled her eyes.

Marlene's eyes drifted to her family, Sirius and Regulus were looking at Astraea, the elder boy's eyes flashing with concern before they showed nothing but annoyance while the youngest Black's ice-blue eyes remained cold.

Marlene looked at the man standing behind Regulus and then at the woman behind Sirius.

They both were staring without any emotion at the grey-eyed Slytherin whose gaze had returned to Marlene, impatient as if waiting for a certain blonde-haired girl to lock eyes with her again, which she did.