𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲 , marlene mckinnon

𝐱𝐢𝐯. Affliction of causes

" no one knew but her "

When Lily Potter heard of the news of Cokeworth, Midlands, held a fire outbreak, she knew not better to reign a witch who is sober and compatible to fight. Her parents are muggles and Lily worry and she should. Especially when she was part of a war that seems to never end by each second that flew by her head.

The fire was insanely close to the street she grew up in. Insanely close to where she and Severus Snape had met the first time when they were nothing but children in a world dreadful and sorrow.

Lily should've expected it was Severus Snape who would cause such a mess just to grab her attention. Because it wasn't a taunt he came for, it was an offer she shouldn't refuse if she wanted to live along with her friends and her new husband.

Severus pleaded to the Dark lord to let Lily Evans, a muggle-born to join the Dark forces despite her blood heritage. It wasn't something a lot of Death eaters would appreciate, especially when they were fighting for Pure-blood to lead the wizarding world. Despite it, Voldemort (with much deliberation) agrees to Snape's pleads but even it did not meet to end when Lily refused that offer herself.

He even made the same offer to James. Severus expected him to be there with Lily but he expected wrong and injured the wrong person by the time he flee.

Charlotte never risked her life for anyone, even if it was Fabian, Frank or anyone in general that she has spoken to formally or informally. There never came a time when she had to except twelve hours ago in Cokeworth, near Spinner's End.

Even if she wasn't awake, deep inside her embedded mind, she would do it again.

"How is she?"

"There's nothing much to go on at this point but to re-heal her injuries until they've healed completely. Until then, she remains asleep."

Charlotte couldn't make up on who was speaking near her but she couldn't talk or move either. It was as if she was stuck in her own thoughts to bare, felt her skin itch and in tremendous annoying pain she's ever felt in her life. She couldn't make a wince of pain to alarm anyone and that was the part that irked her most.

It didn't strike to James Potter that Charlotte would ever put herself in the line of fire if it meant protecting his wife or anyone in general. Then again, he did witness Charlotte do the same thing six months ago in Diagon Alley. She wasn't hurt at all the first time and the second, it made him feel like a burden for all the wrong reasons to.

Marlene wasn't suppose to wake up by force by one of her best friends, Dorcas, saying that something happened. Her headache was suppose to stay with her unless she drank a hangover cure but it seems to have stopped altogether when she heard that something bad happened.

It was the beginning of term in Hogwarts that Dumbledore couldn't make Poppy Pompfrey stay to narrow Charlotte's well-being. He's the head of Hogwarts itself so of course, he can't also do that himself. The only person training to be a healer was Marlene who was still trying to figure out why Charlotte would do such a thing to risk her life when she was a key person to the war.

"It's okay, I can stay." Marlene says despite to what everyone tried to prevent. "Charlotte wouldn't want anyone crowding in her flat anyways."

"And if you need help?" Gideon asks, clutching on his long coat with anticipating steps besides his twin brother who was rather quiet than usual.

"I'll send a Patronus." Marlene confirms, head awfully heavy yet that didn't stop her from carrying on a task Charlotte needed her. "Madam Pompfrey gave me clear instructions on what to do anyways, this should be fine. I got sober the minute I woke up."

That was partially the truth but she didn't need to worry people already worrying about someone's rocky health. Marlene wouldn't dread to see Charlotte peaceful and silent, bandages wrapped around her arm and below her jaw that it was painful to see in person. It didn't make sense on how they kissed no less than twenty-four hours ago and now she was the one sitting on the edge of Charlotte's bed.

Marlene recalled, of course she had. It was a drunken memory even her stubborn mind won't let her forget. By the way it felt right yet wrong, to have seen Charlotte so guilty yet upset at the same time after they kissed. Was she upset at Marlene or herself? Marlene could never tell when it comes to figuring her out.

She didn't know why a tear slips out her own eye. Marlene was only re-dressing the bandage around Charlotte's arm when she found herself crying silently over someone she yearned to know and the possibility of it ending gave her a fright.

Charlotte's fine, yes but Marlene would've never forgave herself if she was in a much more serious predicament beyond healing could even save. After everything, being Voldemort's daughter and growing up alone with practically no mother... Charlotte deserves better than what life had given her in return for her kindness and dedication.

"Is this a bad time?" Remus knocks on the door after he opens it, leaving Sirius in the living room by himself to stay on guard.

"Uh—" Marlene shook her head, looking down and wiping away tears that felt like it won't be stopping anytime soon but did when Remus stood behind her. "No, Remus. What can I do?" She says and voice left unwavered.

"What's there to do?" Remus softly closes the door behind him, approaching the side of the bed where Marlene sat and pulls a chair to sit down on. "You okay?" He can't help but ask, eyes gazing to Marlene's hand resting on top of Charlotte's injured one on the mattress of the bed.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She answers with a lie, continued wrapping a new case of bandage around Charlotte's arm that is covered by burns too painful to see.

"Because the girl you like's heavily injured right now."

Marlene amusingly scoffs, wiping yet another tear away from her cheek and looking over at the sidetable, seeing a necklace with a broken lead, preferably burnt. It was Charlotte's, the one she told Marlene about. The one her mother left her with.

"We kissed last night." Marlene confessed, reaching over and holding it delicately on her open palm. There was no engraving, just partially visible scratches from lack of general care from its owner (Charlotte) and scorch burnt marks from the fire. Remus didn't know what to say at that point. "I was drunk... but she wasn't and kissed me back." She whispers in addition.

"What does that tell you?" Remus says, silently encouraging Marlene to say what speaks her mind.

"I'd have an idea if I ask her. I unfortunately can't do that right now." Marlene, unamused by the situation, laughed bitterly. "I should've done it when I was sober." She sighs, placing the ring on Charlotte's open palm and closing it herself very gently.

"But she kissed you back, didn't she?" Remus adds on, shrugging slightly when Marlene glances at him. "It's gotta count for something."

"Hopefully, it does."