Incognito

✑ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏.𝟎

𝙷𝚘𝚐𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝙷𝚀
𝟷𝟶:𝟺𝟽 𝚙.𝚖 I

Lily didn't think that Marlene Camilla McKinnon looked like the newbie-handler type. There was something intimidating about the way she was beautiful; severe blonde ponytail and sharp blue eyes, and Lily wondered who she really was. Underneath the bravado, was she kind? Funny? Gentle?

Marlene clapped once and gestured for Lily to follow and she resigned herself to the fact it might be a while before she found out.

The building she found herself in was much larger than Lily had anticipated and she found herself nearly getting dizzy as Marlene guided her up staircases and along corridors. Most of the walls were painted an opaque grey, some had notices or Polaroids stuck to the walls, red string connecting a few of them. Some doors were ajar, others had padlocks or key codes firmly keeping their secrets.

This place (Hogwarts, had they called it?) seemed to be some type of Headquarters.

"You'll get used to this place eventually. It took me nearly a fortnight before I had to stop asking for directions."
Marlene's voice matched her appearance, strong and clear, but there was something reassuring there too.

"How long have you been here?"

Questions were flooding every single vestibule of Lily's being but she did her best to keep them at bay. If Marlene was sent to escort her... wherever they were going, then she would be equipped to answer her questions in time.

"About three years? I came here myself, heard about it from too much time hanging around the city, listening to things that weren't for my ears."
This only invited more questions to add themselves to her list to ask but Lily bit her tongue.

"Sounds a lot better than being kidnapped."

Marlene's laugh was bright and clear as it rang around the corridors.

Eventually, they reached a corridor with a series of doors, each one was labeled with a silver plaque just above the handle.

Arson...
Cobra...
Moony...
Hunter...

Eventually, they came to a stop outside a door that read Falcon.

"Okay. Here's what you need to know:"
Marlene leaned against the door holding Lily's childhood nickname. How did they know this stuff?
"This is Hogwarts. It's a spy institute. Our goal is to take down the Death Eaters, a threat beyond measure to our society as we know it. Hogwarts is divided into four main compartments– Houses, if you will, they are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. You will be undergoing a series of trials to determine which House you fit in best, starting with Hufflepuff tomorrow. Mega, also known as Mary, will collect you first thing. Each Head of House will explain more to you as you progress." Marlene's eyes zeroed in on Lily and she refused to back down from the taller girl's gaze. Eventually, Marlene's face broke into a smile.

"I like you, Lily Serenity Evans. I think we'll get along."

A surge of pride burst through Lily at the compliment from such a guarded personality.
"I'd like to hope so."

"Good. Well, this is yours," she gestured to the door, "it's your quarters, labeled by your code name. If you have any further questions then I would advise finding a Head of House or James. You'll come to realize he's not as bad as he'll try to convince you." She let out a small chuckle at the grimace Lily made.
"Anyway, get some sleep, Mary's an early bird."

"Alright. Thank you, Marlene."

"No bother."

Lily opened her door and glanced behind her to see Marlene on her way back down the corridor. Just as she was about to round the corner she stopped.
"Oh, and Falcon?"