Have a little faith in me

Secrets

'..WHY DO YOU NEED TO KNOW' shouted Marlene it was already closer to breakfast then when Lily came through the door.
'WE'RE MEANT TO BE BEST MATES AND YOU CAN'T BRING YOURSELF TO TELL ME THIS ONE IMPORTANT THING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU' Lily replied her anger bubbling over she wasn't angry when she first got back but Marlene had a way of making every situation worse.
'It happened once or twice you don't have to be such a bitch' For the first time Marlene made it personal it was one thing they never did in arguments, name calling was something they just never did. Lily ran out the room tears streaming down her face '...slag..' was the last thing Marlene heard before flopping down on her bed. She didn't cry, she never did. Still she had to get the emotions out the only thing she could think of was getting on her broom and flying away. She would be back but she couldn't be here, not now.
She whisked on her robes ,charged down the stairs and through the portrait.

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'Lily what happened' James asked confused how she could be in this state when he felt like he was walking on air.
'Ask him' she gestured towards Sirius who looked as confused as James. 'Ask him why he thought that I was Mar last night. Ask him how many times they shagged and lied about it to me to you to Rem to Pete to everyone.' She collapsed onto the sofa where Remus was sitting gobsmacked.
Now it was James' turn to be angry. Turning on his best friend he snarled 'You did what with who?'
'James it was-'
Remus was only just able to catch James before he beat Sirius to a pulp, Peter was able to throw a pillow to Sirius to defend himself with.
'How could you, the one girl in the school that I told you was off limits. The one girl I said you couldn't do this to.'
'Do WHAT exactly'
'Be yourself. She is like a sister to me and you knew that. This is one heart I asked you to never go near'
James spun away his hands in fists as he walked towards the boys staircase he saw the flashing of Gryffindor quidditch robes leave the portrait. He knew there wasn't a practice, he was captain.
Before anyone could say anything he raced to catch up with Marlene.

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James had searched the pitch, the stands, the changing rooms, the broom cupboard but couldn't find Marlene, his sister. He walked back to the school keeping an eye out for any sign of the girl. As he walked up towards the stairs he heard laughs, cruel laughs that he knew to well, Slytherin laughs. He waited for them to quieten down as they walked away and followed knowing that this wasn't the smartest thing as he didn't even have his wand but something urged him to carry on.
He walked down a corridor and heard whimpering, he rushed towards the noise and found Marlene McKinnon crumpled on the floor, a pool of blood forming around her.
'Mar, MAR, HELP SOMEONE HELP Marlene please, please open your eyes please' He cradled her head watching her breaths slow and weaken.
'POTTER, what happened'
'I don't know I just found her like this, please help, please professor, I-I-I-I need her'
'Please make your way to the infirmary we will be there shortly' James ran through Hogwarts, he got to the infirmary after what felt like years to find Marlene hooked up wires coming out of her, scars everywhere.
'Mar..' it came out no louder that a whisper but Professor McGonagall had heard it no less.
'Potter, I need you to be calm..' He looked up and nodded 'This is a spell no one here has heard of, word has been sent to St. Mungos and we expect to hear back in a matter of minutes, in the meantime I would prefer you stay here with miss McKinnon but not alone I will inform you friends Black,Lupin,Pettigrew and Evans of the situation'
'Not Lily, please not Lily'
'Potter I'm trusting your reasons here' she left and in around two minutes the rest of the marauders rushed into the infirmary.

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'MARLY' Sirius ran to her completely blocking out everyone, his eyes welled up 'What happened' his voice faltering.
'Slytherins Pads, I heard them laughing while walking away' Sirius' hands balled into fists
'You're gonna need this Prongs' he looked over to James and threw him his wand 'I'm gonna kill them' He turned and was only stopped by Remus putting his body in between Sirius and the door.
'Stay here with her Pads its obvious she wasn't just another girl' James hugged the boy gave Marlene a kiss on the forehead and lead out three of the four marauders.
'James we can't go in there look what they did to Mar and she's one of the best, we would be outnumbered at least fifty to three, we will get them back but not now' Remus hoped his message got through.
'They'll be expecting it' Peter added. Only when they took a right turn instead of a left did the guys know they were going back to the dorms before they got to the portraits Remus remembered 'The girls..'
James finally spoke 'Don't tell Lily...please. She will blame herself and that can't happen right now' The others nodded in agreement.

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For a bit Lily didn't ask about where Marlene was. None of the girls did. Though after a while Lily couldn't stop thinking about where Marlene was and if she was okay.
' I want to see her' Lily was answered with confused faces 'I know you've been seeing her you take it in turns so it isn't suspicious but I noticed. I need to know she is okay and I need to say I'm sorry. James forgave Sirius the day after so I'm being petty she is my best friend and I would do anything for her. Where is she?'
'Lils don't overreact' Lily's eyes sharpened, that was never a good phrase 'She is in the infirmary, has been for the last week.'
Lily looked to see if James was joking but was met with dull eyes that could only be telling the truth. She ran out making a beeline for the infirmary. She saw her hair first the familiar messy mop on a pillow.
'Mar?' Her eyes welled up realising how many scars were on her body 'Mar' now trying to wake her up. Grumbling Marlene woke with a start fear in her eyes
'GET OFF ME'
'Mar it's me, it's Lily, Lily Evans from Gryffindor.'
Marlene's eyes widened and a smile spread on her face 'Lils'
'I'm sorry' the girls said at the same time. Giggling as if nothing happened but then Marlene grabbed her side in pain.
'Mar what is it are you okay MADAM POMFREY' she shouted worried about the girl before her. Madam Pomfrey came instantly with exactly the right thing to make the pain stop and left just as abruptly.
'What happened Mar' Lily couldn't keep the tears back.
'I was going out to fly after' She stopped and squeezed Lily's hand to show she forgave her 'and I was about to go out when some Slytherin boys approached me saying things like "do you wanna snog" "go on kiss me" and calling me a slag, so I punched one in the nose. They pinned me on the wall and I was scared and screamed but someone got a hold of a wand and shouted something I don't know what I've never heard it before and then I woke up here all I can remember is the pain I was in.'
'Mar did they do anything to you, you know...' Her concern rising every second.
'One of them tried to kiss me but I kicked them away, nothing else I promise nothing else' At this Lily got in to the hard bed with Marlene and didn't leave until the next morning coming back as soon as she had got food from the Great Hall one thing Marlene couldn't stand was hospital food.
'Did you see the others' Marlene questioned munching down on toast and jam.
'I said they could come up later if they wanted I can go and tell them not to if you don't want'
'No need...I'm allowed back out. Pomfrey said that if anything started hurting to come back but I'm officially discharged at 4pm.'