Prologue: 12 December 1975
Chapter 1 of 17
diana_hawthorneWho was Marlene McKinnon? An Auror, a member of the Order of the Phoenix, a powerful witch who was killed by Voldemort himself, along with her entire family. But before she was an Auror, before she joined the Order of the Phoenix, before she was married and had a child of her own, she was Lily Marlene McGonagall.
Beta thanks are necessary, but the name shall be held until the reveal.
The Dark Mark shone above a small cottage in Cramond, its eerie green light throwing the building into sharp relief. Two figures, one belonging to a tall man and the other to a slightly smaller woman, appeared suddenly on the edge of the property. The woman disappeared, and a cat ran into the house as fast as it could. The man had followed too, though not running quite as fast as his companion, but quickened his pace as he heard a heartbroken scream emanate from the cottage.
He found his companion tenderly cradling the body of a woman with rich auburn hair; and he watched her cry.
“She’s dead, she’s dead, my baby, my only child, she’s dead,” the woman moaned in grief, rocking the body gently in her arms. Her partner knelt down beside her, wrapping his arms around her as his tears joined hers. She turned a teary, broken-hearted gaze on him.
“How could they do this to her, Albus? How?” The man she had called Albus shook his head, wiping away the few tears that escaped. He stood and made his way upstairs.
As he expected, he saw the body of a man lying stretched out on the landing, obviously caught while rushing downstairs to see what had happened. He continued his way upstairs, pausing before entering the room whose door was ajar.
It was a child’s room, decorated in blues and yellows. Numerous toys littered the ground, and books were overflowing from the too-full bookcase. Lying in the small bed was a young boy, no more than three years old. Albus walked up to him and took the boy’s wrist between his long fingers, checking for a pulse. Nothing. He made his way downstairs again.
His companion was still sobbing over her daughter’s body, and it took Albus quite some time to get her attention.
“Robert and Frederick are dead, as well,” he told her sombrely. As much as he wanted to spare her the pain, he knew that he could not, but that did not stop his heart from aching as the woman let out another grieving wail.
“They cannot all be dead, Albus,” she said. “They cannot all be dead. It is not fair!”
He picked her up from her spot on the floor, ignoring her protests and attempts to get out of his arms.
“You need to rest, Minerva,” he told her. “You need to rest so you can be strong enough to handle the pain.”
She burrowed her head into his chest, as though she tried to escape his words. He walked silently to the edge of the property, still holding her in his arms, and Apparated away.
Prompt 72: Life stories: JKR says she has reams of notes on the characters in the Potterverse (ex: Dean Thomas’ father was a wizard who abandoned his family). Tell the life story of a character/creature/ inanimate object, incorporating canon as much, or as little, as possible.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Lily Marlene
136 Reviews | 4.25/10 Average
Oh, this is such a tragic ending. I am still shocked that Lily was killed by the boy who everyone thought was Albus' son! But then I suppose the bitterness of the boy's mother, her anger and hatred simmered and grew into posion, and warped her son.
I've enjoyed this story, and I found it intriguing and heartwarming at times. Even ruffled my feathers more than once - a sign that I even got into it. Well done.
This was such a sad story but I saw it through to the end. Thanks so much!
Response from diana_hawthorne (Author of Lily Marlene)
Thank you so much for seeing it through! Sorry the ending was so sad.
Oh my what a predicament! Albus wants to protect his family and well hurt them at the same time. What a Catch-22 he is in. And we already know what happens to Marlene. Poor Minerva, she is in for a world of hurt.
Poor Albus. It's amazing how much wisdom you accumulate over the years and clearly had to learn from the bad as well as the good.
Well, he couldn't have asked for anything easier, could he? She just handed him what he wanted. At least he and Minerva are now free to be together.
Glad to see he got to the bottom of it. Though I do worry about his statement about not leaving her again. He has quite the mess in his family waiting for him. Nothing like a meddling mother.
Good job, Albus. You are halfway there. Now he just has to be on guard while confronting Alastor. And when he learns it was his mother's idea... That's going to be a hard one.
Good job, Fawkes. Now to see if he can get to the bottom of the enchantment.
Oh, Alastor you bad man. I can't believe he would do that. And Kendra, you bad woman. I curse you. At least there is Fawkes who will hopefully wake Albus from his stupor.
Interesting that Fawkes would seek them out on his own. Then again,
Response from diana_hawthorne (Author of Lily Marlene)
es are quite intelligent and probably know more than their masters sometimes. I hope that Minerva doesn't stay in seclusion too long.
Oh, poor both of them. And Moody, well, still not happy with him. Better be a darn good explanation for that. And for him talking Albus into getting married so quickly. Poor Minerva left all alone during this time. *sniff*
Oh what a horrible blow to a new mother. She really should have paid more attention to the wizarding world, though Poppy really should be flogged for not filling her in on Albus's marriage. And if it was Alastor letting the cat out of the bag like that... Well, I have a few things to say about that, too. LOL
Oh, Minerva. What will happen when Albus finds out? It really is a compelling story and nice to see something featuring the older professors and such when they were younger.
Oh, poor Minerva. One moment of happiness and then being lost like that. I hope that someone will come looking for her.
Oh, what a horrible start, but it seems to ring so true that Minerva would have once had a family and that something horrible had to have happened to them. I look forward to journeying back to the past and happier days.
very interesting. what a charming woman Colleen is. and Kendra is even more delightful. (Almost as nice as Sirius's mom, as Harry would say.)Well that was a surprise. thanks for the update!
OH, what a nasty piece of work she turned out to be!
Don't know how I missed this one before, but it explains a lot!
Considering that she's remarried, why is Albus paying alimony, anyway? Child support - yes, but not alimony.
Response from diana_hawthorne (Author of Lily Marlene)
Albus hadn't known that she had remarried, so that's why he was still paying alimony.Thanks for the review!
Response from diana_hawthorne (Author of Lily Marlene)
Albus hadn't known that she had remarried, so that's why he was still paying alimony.Thanks for the review!
Wow here if you remarry you don't get alimony anymore. Wizarding ways sure are different. I want to live there. lol Though I'm not sure I like Colleen even more now. She is becoming more of a b...h. I hope Albert doesn't become like her. I really enjoy reading your story.
Response from diana_hawthorne (Author of Lily Marlene)
You don't get alimony if you remarry here either - but Albus didn't know that she had remarried - therein lies the problem.
Response from Arabella Bloodgood (Reviewer)
Ah, I see. Colleen is pretty smart, then.
Response from diana_hawthorne (Author of Lily Marlene)
You don't get alimony if you remarry here either - but Albus didn't know that she had remarried - therein lies the problem.
Response from Arabella Bloodgood (Reviewer)
Ah, I see. Colleen is pretty smart, then.
Does Albert belong to Albus or Travers? Great story, I like this non all knowing Dumbledore.
Response from diana_hawthorne (Author of Lily Marlene)
Glad you like it, dear! Thanks for your review!
Response from diana_hawthorne (Author of Lily Marlene)
Glad you like it, dear! Thanks for your review!
Haha! How surprising. lol
Well, that is resolved, kind of.
They may be awake, but they are definitely dreaming. Albus has a wife. And another child. His life is seriously screwed up.
I wish he'd have done something... more to Moody. LOLNow I wonder what he's going to do about his wife and child. :( Tough subject.
Response from diana_hawthorne (Author of Lily Marlene)
The next chapter reveals what happens between Albus, Colleen, and their son. And believe me, it's not what you'd expect.Thanks for the review!
Response from diana_hawthorne (Author of Lily Marlene)
The next chapter reveals what happens between Albus, Colleen, and their son. And believe me, it's not what you'd expect.Thanks for the review!