𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲 , marlene mckinnon

𝐢𝐯. Cigarettes under stars

" i'll be living in vain "

   After the wedding ceremony, dinner was taken in the grand ballroom, scattered tables for guests and a smaller one at the front where the married couple would sit. The room was fairly spacious, Charlotte was certain it was spelled to be larger than average as it is a ballroom. People need a little space to dance, thus a space in the middle with lively music stands out.

There were only a few people attending, albeit the parents of the bride and groom, as well as their friends. They've also invited Dumbledore to attend even for a second out of respect for he agreed to let most of the people there to join the Order. Unfortunately, Albus Dumbledore was arranging misdeeds in the Ministry and therefore couldn't make an appearance.

Though he wished to see Charlotte living the best day of a lifetime, hopefully to see her dance with someone her age and laugh like a normal teenager. Albus sometimes blames himself for the woman that she turned to. Hostile, prone to keeping to herself all the time and always afraid to meet new people.

It was unfair of him to throw her in a world where adult priorities she'd need to handle on her own. Charlotte hardly ever blamed him. She'd be more angry if he tries to keep Tom Riddle being her father a secret.

After congratulating James and Lily, Charlotte slyly stepped outside to the balcony and (yet again) lighting up a cigarette. A wand wouldn't have fit below the seams of her dress anyways, why not bring a lighter and a death stick instead? That'd be more reasonable.

"And she smokes too. Wonder what else Charlotte Adler has under her sleeve to impress me." Marlene enjoyed the aftermath of the wedding. The only thing she couldn't tolerate was Sirius Black being a sober mess and now an even messier mess when taking a shot of Firewhiskey.

The man was currently forcing Remus to dance with him in the ballroom.

"You'd be surprised." Charlotte rests her arms on the ledge, letting the cigarette slowly disinterested between her fingers. "I've never met someone who finds someone else smoking impressive." She adds, a bit confused as Marlene joins her.

"Maybe not impressive. More easy on the eyes." Marlene nods, complimenting a girl who isn't used to getting noticed. Now Marlene didn't let the blush on Charlotte's face go unnoticed and grins slyly. "Truth be told, you look like someone who'd smoke cigars."

"I tried." Charlotte admits. "Too big for my little hands."

Marlene softly laughs and Charlotte finds herself relaxed. "Where's that lighter you used?" She asks while untying her hair clip and grabbing something below her dress. Charlotte doesn't look and slides the silver lighter on her way on the concrete ledge. "Thanks."

Under the moonlight, two witches who were seen to be too young to do things such as this were smoking without a care to the relentless viewpoints. Besides, there was a war going on their world, let them have an escape to the stress of it.

"Are you joining the Order like your friends?" Charlotte asks, wanting to bring light between them and make an effort to not be so defensive all the times. She didn't know why, she felt more free when around this woman. And they only met twice.

"Mhm. Anything I should know about before I plead my heart to protect our lovely wizarding world?" Marlene meant no harm. Truly. But Charlotte felt attacked and didn't know why. Probably because she has a secret that would make Marlene look at her differently. "Charlotte?" She calls, not being answered for a whole fifteen seconds.

"No, nothing." Charlotte replies calmly. "Just... keep an open mind."

"Open mind, check." Marlene smiles as the end of the cigarette was resting between her teeth and lips. "I hardly ever saw you in Hogwarts." She realizes.