Being Minnie's Daughter

Chapter 63

Marlene's POV

My eyes shoot wide up, immediately noticing the cream ceiling with a simple light hanging down from it. I sit up fast, seeing pale green couches and chairs strategically placed around the room. My breath speeds up quickly, this isn't my house.

Footsteps tap down the hallway quickly towards me. I jump off the floor and reach into my pockets frantically, trying to find my wand.

"Marlene," a familiar voice says softly, drawing my attention up to the tall woman standing in front of me.

"Professor," I sigh, happy to see Mackenzie's mother standing in front of me.

She hesitantly takes a few steps towards me and holds out a cherry wand in her hand. "This is yours."

I lift it out of her hands and roll it over in my hands, "Thank you." I look around the room, "How did I get here?"
Her face falls and she gestures towards the chair, "This is my home, Mackenzie's home, take a seat while I finish making the tea." She smiles softly when I lower myself into the chair. "Everything will be explained once Mackenzie gets home."

"Mackenzie!" I shout, jumping out of the chair. "She was at the manor! The killing curse was shot at us!" I cry, reaching for my wand to disapparate out of here.

Minnie rushes back to my side and pushes me back in the couch. "Mackenzie is fine," she cooes softly. "She saved your life from the killing curse. She had to go back to the Potter Manor after she dropped you off."

I look up confused, "Why did she go to the Potters?"

Minnie sits down next to me and grabs my hands. "Your entire family has been killed Marlene and your family was obviously targeted for a reason."

"My brothers were part of the Order."

She sighs, "Yes but you know that is not the complete reason. You told Mackenzie yourself, they came to kill you to try to get her to show herself, which is what happened."

"They aren't supposed to know who she is, right?" I ask softly, taking a deep breath.

"We feared this would happen," Minnie says quietly, "Albus was completely correct in wanting to hide Mackenzie."

"Well everything is okay now," I try to smile happily, "She's still alive."

WHOOSH

We turn to face the fireplace just in time to see Mackenzie come stumbling out, covered in soot.

"MARLENE!" She cries, rushing over and wrapping me in a tight hug. I struggle to unpin my arms from my sides as she sobs into my shoulders. "Thank goodness you are alive."

"What are you talking about?" I say softly, leaning away from Mackenzie.

She takes a deep breath, "Don't punch me," she warns. "I shot you with a stunning curse and tackled you to the floor a split second before the killing curse would've hit you."

"Yeah, I know. Why would I punch you?"

"Everyone saw," She whispers, "Sirius, James, Remus, the Deatheaters, the Aurors. They all think you are dead."

I slide out of her grip and fall backwards into the couch. My gaze drops to the floor.

"I'm so sorry Marlene," Mackenzie pleads softly. A banging noise echoes the room as she drops onto her knees into my field of vision. "I didn't know what to do."

"Sirius," I gasp. "He thinks..."

She reaches up and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. "He's a wreck," she murmurs. "But he's strong."

I shake my head, forcing the shock to the back of my brain. "No! I need to go tell him the truth."

"Expelliarmus," Professor McGonagall says quickly, pulling my wand out of my hand. It floats across the room softly before landing in her hand. "You cannot do that Marlene."

"Why not?" I shout, standing up quickly.

She sighs and looks down. "Someone sold out your family and knew you were close to Mackenzie. Just wait until after Sirius graduates Hogwarts, then you can tell him."

Mackenzie grabs my hand. "She is right, what if Sirius talks at Hogwarts that you are still alive and someone overhears. They will start hunting for you again."

"I can't sit here and do nothing," I shake my head.

"I never said that you have to do nothing," Professor McGonagall says with a spark in her eye. "Did Mackenzie ever mention this place is untraceable? You can continue your studies in magic here."

Mackenzie looks at her mum with a grin, "You've got to see our library!" She grabs my hand and tugs me out of the room. We cross a small hallway and enter glass double doors.

"Woah," I say softly, looking at the books shoved in every nook and cranny of this room. "Unbelievable."

"There's books on everything," Mackenzie smiles softly, "some of the more dangerous books are in mum's office." She points towards a dark wooden door. "And some of these books are not about magic at all."

"So, this is how you are so good at magic," I laugh. "You had a whole library to teach yourself with!"

She looks at the ground and tucks her hair over her ear, "Yes, and since this place is untraceable I have been able to perform magic continuous since I was very little."

"Teach me."