just lovers like we were supposed to be

ACT SIX: Part One

Chapter Notes
okay, okay, a few explanations are in order. im a day late, whoops. it was unexpected, but i ended up having to pull TWO double shifts, one saturday and one sunday, so i didn't get home on sunday until after 1am, and i was dead on my feet. i literally came home, fell into bed, and essentially died before having to get up and do it all over again. im still dragging, to be honest. very tired, but i was determined to get this posted when i got off today as soon as possible. so very sorry to everyone, and i am so warmed by the concern of everyone checking on me. i am alive and well (just exhausted), and i apologize for making anyone worry! to those of you who were demanding the update, very sorry, life just gets in the way sometimes!!!
alright, so for this chapter, let's get into it. a couple of things:
1.idk how many of you know, or if it's the same on all platforms, but it's currentlysapphic week on marauders twitter, which feels like fate, because this chapter is centered around dorlene. i had the idea WAY back and started writing it before, but the timing is so good that im pleased about it. sapphic week isn't just dorlene, of course. i haven't been on twitter because ive been working, but i don't doubt that other sapphic ships are getting a lot of love as well (as they should), like dorcas/mary, alice/pandora, lily/marlene, mary/marlene, lily/pandora, alice/emmeline, mary/lily, etc etc (these are all ive seen/had people talk to me about, at least right off the top of my head). we see a lot of love for wolfstar/jegulus and other mlm ships, and the ladies deserve just as much, so im really glad i get to participate. i have a lot of love for dorlene and marylily in this fic, so getting to give them the spotlight was very important to me.
2.as i mentioned before, this is centered around dorlene, which means it's marlene anddorcas' POV, and THEIR story in just lovers. it takes place over a few years, and ive provided approximate dates before each scene to keep it organized, but you'll likely recognize what's going on, because it was already referenced in the fic before. there are a few scenes we've seen from either james or regulus' pov, so some brief dialogue is the same. HOWEVER, it's very brief and from an entirely different perspective now.
3.in this fic, we've seen brief hints at marlene struggling with being queer, so we seesome of that more clearly from her perspective. rest assured, there's no slurs/bashing/etc. it's just something that i think a lot of people find relatable, things like repression and the mixture of fear/excitement, and it's not ALWAYS a common queer experience, but i know i personally have dealt with it/similar to it, as well as many others have, so it was important to me to show it and also show meaningful growth/hope in situations where struggling like that occurs, as well as support from other people.
4.we do see the other characters/relationships, of course, and there is briefmarlene/original female character. i know that's not everyone's cup of tea (original characters, i mean) but it's very brief and before her and dorcas get together. just wanted to warn for it, so no one gets blindsided.
5.so, warnings for this chapter, as concisely as i can put it: some awkwardness, someembarrassing moments, bitterness (enemies to lovers dorlene my beloved), brief marlene/oc, some relatable struggles with accepting oneself, flirting, teasing, humor, fluff, and very mild angst. overall, i would say that it's a wholesome chapter. nothing explicit, of course, but there is some kissing!
with all of that being said, this chapter is LONG (i did warn all of you), so sorry or you're welcome, whichever suits you. this is my surprise, technically, that i was mentioning before, and also why we won't be seeing james or regulus' POV for a bit. i hope you all enjoy!
See the end of the chapter for more notes

Hogwarts circa March, 1975

"I'm telling you," Lily whispers, "it's Doxycide."

"I can barely remember what Doxycide used," Mary hisses, leaning back so far that her chair wobbles precariously on two legs. Marlene can see Peter hook his foot on the edge as if to add additional security. "Lily, can I partner with you?"

"No, no, she's mine," Marlene interrupts quickly.

Mary groans. "Oh, don't do this to me." She leans back farther and pokes her bottom lip out, batting her eyelashes. "Please, Marlene? I'll do your transfiguration essay for you."