𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲 , marlene mckinnon

𝐱𝐯𝐢. Undying worth

" go back in time "

If you asked Marlene if she was ever in love with someone other than her family, she would say yes. Other than the obvious with her most closest friends, she did have this crush on Dorcas when they were in their third year in Hogwarts. It was the kind of crush most dumb kids would have. To like someone because other kids her age liked someone else.

Perhaps it was nothing as Marlene grew older, her love turned brittle and never touched again. She still loves Dorcas, of course, but only as a friend that would never be forgotten in her heart.

For when she grew much more of age, Marlene dated way too much for Lily's liking but who was she to judge her? To Ravenclaw girls and Gryffindor boys, Marlene knew that none of those would ever come close to what she feels now.

"Charlotte."

Charlotte turns away from staring at the bottom of the river below the long bridge she stood, her hair afloat behind her as the wind grew unsteadily hectic in Scotland where Hogwarts is located. Due to unconventional resources she has and got, Charlotte refrained from leaving her flat if it means not charming herself to cover up and hide the painful scorch marks on her once flawless skin.

"I'm here, what do you want?" She says bluntly, squinting a bit by the unusual sunlight beaming down on her and Albus Dumbledore who walked all the way in the middle to greet her halfway.

"Time to freely speak without circumstances." He says, reaching his hand towards his school that Charlotte sometimes wished she's go back into. To reverse her decisions of growing up and even interact with Marlene Mckinnon to get a much better beginning than what they have in reality. "Let us talk inside."

Charlotte couldn't avoid her problems, she knew that very well when she tried to refuse Lord Voldemort as a father who never wanted her either. It was funny how they both weren't keen on getting to know each other and yet the war has them connected whether they like it or not. Charlotte would've done anything to know why Tom Riddle is the way he is now but all she has seen is a monster who can do a lot worse than set things on fire and destruction.

"How come Hogwarts is untouched?" Charlotte asks as soon as they enter the empty courtyard, recalling it's ten in the morning in the middle of the week where students from all houses are cramming in classes like she used to do.

"There are many place Tom has left to torment, he knows better than to approach Hogwarts."

"He's killing muggles and now traitorous Pure-bloods who oppose him and all you can do is protect one location?" Charlotte asks ridiculously, finding it better if Dumbledore mans his defenses somewhere other than Hogwarts. Perhaps the Ministry, Saint Mungo's... Why just a school?

"It is already one with difficulty, I'm afraid." He answered as if it was that simple but it isn't.

Charlotte could feel warmth around her and in her chest when she walks through familiar rooms and passing the Great hall which was temporarily empty. It made her recall the many times she eats alone in a usually quiet table, surrounded by other houses who were usually loud. There were less times she'd spend it in the Great hall and instead go to the library, through the Restricted section to harness her potential.

All those achievements of securing a locked mind and mastering wandless magic... Charlotte felt like it was all utterly useless when all it took was blue fire and she was out like a light for two days.