Beat the devil's tattoo

Chapter IV. "House of the rising sun"

House of the rising sun.

Marla talked to Remus and Sirius briefly before the ruckus down the stairs cut her. The firsts to enter the room were the twins, who, when they saw Marla rushed toward her and scooped her in another hug.

"Marla! I knew it was you in the corridor! Merlin, I can't believe you're here!"

She was squished between the two tall bodies of the redheads. The last time she had saw them, they were in their second year at Hogwarts and only reached her chin. Now they were towering her easily.

"Merlin, get off of me you big oafs, I can't breath!"

They eased their embrace and the young woman playfully glared at them.

"How come you've gotten this big, I sure hope your brains have too."
"You've no idea Birdie, our brains are monstrous, you need to see what we're doing now."

"Yeah, you're going to be baffled."

"Oh really?" She teased, "Well we will have to see about that, won't we? You better impress me Weasleys."

"We will!" They said at the same time before going to help their mother.

Next she saw Harry, he gave her a smile and approached her.

"Hello, Harry. How are you?"

"Good, thank you." He said shyly. "I..I just wanted to thank you...you know... for saving my life."

She gave him a smile.

"T'was my pleasure, anytime Harry." She winked at him.

"My father told me, you know, his echo. He told me to run to you, that you would help me after I broke the connection."

"He did?" The boy nodded. "Well, I guess that means they are always keeping an eye on you Harry."

His face lit up at the thought and he gave her a bright smile. Ron joined them with Ginny.

"So you're Marla, like the Marla?" Asked the younger girl.

"I guess I am, it's nice to meet you Ginny, you too Ron."

She knew of the two younger siblings of Charlie but she had never been able to meet them, since her parents refused that she spent any holidays at the Burrow. She only knew what Charlie had told her about them.

"Is it strange that I feel I already know you somehow?" Asked Ron. "I mean I heard so much about you, you know."

"Don't worry about it. I already know a lot about you too."

He seemed happy with her answer and wandered around the kitchen. She then met Hermione.

The young witch seemed nervous when she approached her.

"I am Hermione Granger, it's a pleasure to meet you Miss Blackbird. I have heard so much about you."

"Well, it's nice to meet you too Hermione, please call me Marla." She gave her a warm smile. "I've heard you are quite the witch, first in your year right?"

The girl lighted up at that, blushing furiously at the same time.

"Oh..oh thank you, wh-where did you heard that ?"

Marla simply turned to Remus who was listening to them. She bend to whisper in the girl's ear.

"Your old professor talks an awful lot." She said with a smile. Hermione blushed even more when she looked at Remus who had an amused smile plastered on his face, she did not answer and rushed to find Ginny.