𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲 , marlene mckinnon

𝐱𝐱𝐢𝐯. Sacred haven

" unending torment you've brought me "

Apparating back into faraway lands from Birmingham, Charlotte leans her back against the wall as her head aches terribly from apparating without much focus. Out of breath, she collapses into the ground and loud ringing comes to her ears like never before that she gasps and covers her ears like a child being yelled.

"Charlotte— Charlotte!" Marlene calls, hovering over her and shaking each side of her arms. "Hey, what's wrong?" She asks worriedly, holding Charlotte's face, her eyes were closed tightly in her own state of mind.

"It's Voldemort, he's trying to get in my head— Leave me be... It comes and goes." Charlotte managed to stay through a tight throat, felt someone trying to break through her mind like before but she wouldn't let it. But she had to admit, her father did quite had timing in wanting to get in her mind.

"What— No, I won't." Marlene kneels down on the ground yet she didn't know how to act. Instead of doing anything, she carefully places Charlotte's head onto her lap who was fighting on her own in her mind and against a powerful source of darkness that can't be stopped. "It'll pass." She assures like said.

Charlotte pants, seeing her worst fear and them being dragged across the end of her memories to bit her off the edge, to lower her guards, for Voldemort to see where James and Lily are or at least what she knows. Now Charlotte didn't want that and it certainly won't do any good for Severus Snape, as much as she wanted him to suffer for being the cause of the Potter's son being in danger.

"God— it hurts..." Charlotte cuts through, breathing more normally as she whisked away her father from ever stepping foot in her mind ever again. He's left a message but she'd rather not think of him offering her another chance to join him.

Marlene looks down, waiting as Charlotte's return to her sole self and in her own comfort by gathering her sanity. "Is it always like this?" Marlene can't help but ask, her eyes filled sorrow she can't withdraw. Charlotte was about to evade but as she looks up, the Mckinnon witch's pleading look for her to answer caught her right off the bat.

"Yes." Charlotte admits then sits up, holding the sides of her head to adjust. "Ever since the Prophecy, he wants more answers and information he can't get from anyone else. I can't stop him, Marlene. Eventually, I'd break." She whispers and leans her back against the wall, only now realizing they were in her temporary home in the inn in Scotland.

"You're stronger than him." Marlene states confidently, didn't move from her place and partly felt betrayed when Charlotte moved away from her.

"I am not." Charlotte scoffs, shaking her head even when Marlene looks at her with disbelief in her eyes. "His commitment to make me suffer will always work. No matter how much you or Albus tells me I'm stronger, you're wrong."

"Why do you always—" Stopping, Marlene winces as she moved to face Charlotte but only felt sharp pain on her side from the duel earlier.

Charlotte (alarmed) sat up and hovers her hand behind Marlene in case she tips over and falls. "What is it? You're hurt." She says, analyzed entirely quickly than usual as she dropped the idea of Voldemort's hold on her head. "Let's get you to the bed, come on." She pursues, gently holding Marlene's side and her hand to help her stand.

"I can walk, Charlotte." Marlene lied and felt immediately weaker on her knees, having to hold Charlotte's shoulder as the tight pain in her side occured.

"I'm sure you can. Just not now, don't be stubborn." Charlotte leads and gently rests Marlene's figure on the side of the bed, the girl squirmed and releases a breath of relief when she relaxed into the soft mattress. Eyes gazing down to her hand on her side, Charlotte holds it that made Marlene glance at her with uncertainty. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this..." She whispers and gently removes Marlene's hand from her shirt.