1st September 1971
Marlene could feel herself bursting with nerves as she walked with her parents through the magic barrier that separates platform 9 and 3/4 from the rest of King's Cross. With her trunk in tow behind herself, her other hand holding her mother's hand, she smiled and took in the scene of it all.
The energy was buzzing with new and returning students. Parents rushing to hand off items their kids have forgotten and most first year parents, teary eyed as they hug their children and promise to write everyday.
Among the crowd was a group of five. Four of which shared black hair. The fifth had blonde hair like Marlene's and was clinging off the arm of a boy, roughly her age, also blonde. The five aforementioned had high cheek bones and piercing blue or grey eyes and a sort of posh air about them. The mother was messing with her eldest son's hair much to his detest though she didn't give up. Marlene had heard of this family. Of course she had. Few families were well known in the wizarding community. The Blacks. Purebloods and snobby about it, all have been Slytherin. Marlene even remembered the drama around Andromeda running away. Drove Walburga and Druella insane. She sighed and shook her head, pushing through the crowds with her father's gentle hand on her shoulder.
They passed a red head girl who was giving many hugs to her parents and ignoring her sister who chastised her and called her a freak. The red head seemed a little hurt but offered a smile anyways. "Petunia, I told you I'd talk to Profess-"
"No. I don't want to go to your freak school, Lily." Petunia replied with disgust, earning a lecture from their mother to which she griped about not wanting to come at all. Marlene felt her mother steering away and heard her muttering about how it's rude to eavesdrop.
They stopped in front of the train cars and Marlene turned to hug her parents again, more tightly than any of the times this morning. "Well uh... I'll see you guys for winter holiday?"
"Are you sure you don't want me to help you get your trunk in, Marls?" Her dad offered, reaching out for the handle which Marlene grasped firmly. "I know it can be quite heavy. Nearly toppled me in my first year." He chuckled.
Marlene whined and groaned. "Dad, no. Please. I love you but that would be so embarrassing." She had a light pink tint on her cheeks now, opening the car door and taking one step backwards into it. "I promise I'll write to you tomorrow morning. Love you both." With that, she dragged her trunk onto the train and disappeared from the view of her parents.
She ended up bumping into an older girl and profusely apologized only for her to laugh gently and lay a hand on hers, making her cheeks turn red. "first year?" The girl asked and Marlene nodded. The girl smiled and nodded. "I'm Alice Fortescue. And it's no worries. Here, let me help you with your trunk." Alice didn't give Marlene a chance to protest, taking the handle and lugging it to a compartment, hoisting the trunk onto the overhead compartment. "I'm a Gryffindor prefect but please, come to me if you need any help." Alice flashed her a sweet smile then left.
Marlene sighed, ran a hand through her hair and plopped down onto the empty bench. It was then that she noticed the other girl in the compartment. She had dark skin and hair but a very bright smile and enthusiasm radiating off of her like a heat source. "I'm Mary MacDonald. You are...?"
"O-oh... Uhm. Marlene Mckinnon."
"It's nice to meet you Marlene. I'm so excited. Have you read Hogwarts: a History? I have and it's so cool! The ceiling in the dining hall is enchanted to mimic the sky outside at any given point. And then the houses..."
Mary continued excitedly spewing facts from the book though Marlene hardly noticed. Her attention was now on another girl still on the platform. She had piercing eyes and strong facial features and there was just something about her that caught Marlene's attention. She was only brought out of her trance by the red head girl pinching her. She let out a gasp and turned to look at them. "What??"
