Marlene

38- Adorable Babies

Marlene and Lily sat on sofas talking and laughing, as the two babies played on the floor together.

Harry was just a month away from turning one, so was happily walking and running around the room (bumping into lots of items of furniture as he did), whilst sprouting the occasional word like, "vroom!" or "Ouchie!"

Venus was not as steady on her feet, and had given up trying to chase Harry by running, and had instead opted for crawling. She was very fast on all fours, and with Harry continually falling over, she had managed to keep up with him quite well.

"Aren't they just adorable!" Lily grinned down at the two.

"Yeah," laughed Marlene, fiddling with the silver necklace that her mother had given her when she turned seventeen, she glanced down at her watch, "Merlin, I should've left ten minutes ago, I've got to get to Mum and Dad's!" She got to her feet and hugged Lily, "I'll visit on Tuesday with Venie, I'll try and get Sirius to come and see James."

"Take care of yourself Marls," Lily told her.

"I will," she lent down and picked up Venus, much to the little girl's complaints, "I'll see you soon Lil."

She left the Potter's house, after bidding Harry goodbye. Perhaps, if she had known that it was the last time she would see them, she would have lingered a while longer.

********

"Hello, Venie!" Erica took Venus in her arms the moment that Marlene walked through the door.

"You'd think I weren't even here!" Complained Marlene with a laugh.

"Hi!" Erica said, not taking her eyes off of Venus.

"Hello sweetheart," David hugged his eldest daughter, "how have you been?"

"I'm alright," Marlene grinned, "just tired really."

"Where's Sirius?" Sarah asked curiously.

"He should be here soon," said Marlene, "he was visiting Peter, I told him if he was late, I'd kill him."

"I'm sure he'll be here soon," laughed David, hanging up Marlene's travelling cloak for her. "Come straight through, dinner will be ready soon."

"Brilliant, I'm starving," Marlene followed her father into the living room, where Erica sat cooing over Venus, whilst Sarah watched them, smiling at her daughter and granddaughter.

Marlene sat down and laughed with the others when Venus's tiny fist made contact with Erica's cheek, a clear indication that Venus did not want to be bothered anymore.

"She's definitely got the McKinnon spirit!" Sarah chuckled, "no one else can punch like that, apart from the McKinnon girls!"

There was a bang from outside, and all of the adult's heads whipped around, knowing immediately what that sound was. Someone had tripped their security charms. They had an unknown and most likely unwelcome visitor in the house.

"Lenie, take Venus," David raised his wand and pointed it in the direction of the now quivering front door, which looked as though someone was trying to bash it in.

"No- I want to-"

"-Lenie, take your daughter and hide!" Sarah snapped, Marlene was shocked, she had never heard her mother speak in such a desperate tone before.

Marlene picked up Venus. She cast a look around the room at her family, all of whom had their wands raised, pointed at the shuddering door.

"Go!" They all insisted. Marlene didn't wait another moment. She hurried away, just in time to hear the door burst from its hinges, and the sounds of duelling filling the house.