burning skies

Marlene McKinnon Order of the Phoenix

[magda-lennah]

[proudlestrange-blog-deactivated]

“How long have you been standing there?”

It’s raining, and that’s the worst part—Rabastan wouldn’t mind the cold if it wasn’t coupled with the freezing drizzle, and he’s not eager to alert anyone to his presence, so there’s no possibility of magic to at least keep himself dry. Of course, he can’t blame anyone but himself, since it was his idea to contact the McKinnon girl, and she might’ve agreed at the time but there’s no guarantee she’ll show. After an hour’s nearly passed, he’s just about ready to give up, cede defeat in a rare instance of humility, but then he hears her, and a grim smile lights his lips before slipping away into the darkness.

They’re in a godforsaken alley in a poorer area of London, chosen randomly to ensure their location wouldn’t be easily traceable, and he pulls her around the corner without answering long enough like he wants to; the awning over the building isn’t enough to shield them entirely from the rain, but he supposes it’s the intent that counts. For a moment, he just looks at her. The lighting is worse than dim from the far away street lamp, but her eyes are tired, unhappy.

She gets impatient with his silence, though, and crosses her arms over her chest. Rabastan fights a smile at the defense mechanism. “Care to tell me what I’m doing in the rain on a cold night in the slums, Lestrange?” she bites out, and he holds up his hands, conciliatory. There’s no love lost between them, he knows that, but somewhere deep, deep down—that he doesn’t want to examine too closely—he respects her, maybe even empathizes.

"Look," he says, after searching for the words, "it’s not really a secret that everyone’s been treating you like dirt since they learned you’d rather kiss a lady. And, hey, I really can’t blame you," Rabastan adds, smirking a little before sobering again. "I’ve got a proposition," he says bluntly. "The Dark Lord doesn’t care who you want to fuck. He only cares if your blood’s pure, and I know yours is. None of us care.

"You better think long and hard about the people you want to surround yourself with in this war, because if the Order were to come out on top—impossible as that sounds, I know—nothing would change. Your so-called friends wouldn’t treat you any better than they do now. Under the Dark Lord’s vision, though, you’d be no different than the rest of us. When you get sick of feeling worthless around the people who are supposed to care about you, send me an owl."

He watches what he says sink in and Marlene opens her mouth to speak, but Rabastan shakes his head. “Just think about it.”

He disapparates.

[evolutionofstars]

[caeliardentis]

I will never leave you again, Caroline. I promise.

[bohemiaval-deactivated20170228]

Visit Original Link

"The spotlight’s hitting something, that’s been known to change the weather……"⋆

[proudprongs]

ENFP ✘ Marlene McKinnon

ENFPs are initiators of change, keenly perceptive of possibilities. They energize and stimulate others through their contagious enthusiasm. They prefer the start-up phase of a project or relationship, and are tireless in the pursuit of new-found interests. ENFPs are able to anticipate the needs of others and to offer them needed help and appreciation. They bring zest, joy, liveliness, and fun to all aspects of their lives. They are at their best in fluid situations that allow them to express their creativity and use their charisma. They tend to idealize people, and can be disappointed when reality fails to fulfill their expectations. They are easily frustrated if a project requires a great deal of follow-up or attention to detail.

Strengths

Observant. ENFP personalities believe that there are no irrelevant details or actions.They try to notice everything, seeing all events as part of a big, mysterious puzzle called life.

Very popular and friendly. ENFPs can get along with nearly everyone and usually have a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Energetic and enthusiastic. ENFPs are always eager to share their ideas with other people and get their opinions in return. Their enthusiasm is contagious and very inspiring at the same time.

Know how to relax. People with this personality type know how to switch off and have fun, simply experiencing life and everything it has to offer. 

Excellent communicators. ENFPs tend to have great people skills, and they instantly know how to present their ideas in a convincing way. They can handle both small talk and deep, meaningful conversations.

Curious. ENFPs are very imaginative and open-minded. They enjoy trying out new things and do not hesitate to go outside their comfort zone if necessary.

Weaknesses

Highly emotional. ENFP personalities tend to have very intense emotions, seeing them as an inseparable part of their identity. This may often cause the ENFP to react strongly to criticism, conflicts, or tension.

May have poor practical skills. ENFPs are brilliant when it comes to solving problems, creating processes, or initiating projects (especially if they involve other people). However, they are likely to find it difficult to follow through and deal with the practical, administrative side of things.

Overthink things. ENFPs always look for hidden motives and tend to overthink even the simplest things, constantly asking themselves why someone did what they did and what that might mean.

Get stressed easily. ENFPs are very sensitive and care deeply about other people’s feelings. This can cause them a lot of stress sometimes: people often look to them for guidance and encouragement, and the ENFP cannot always say “yes.”

Find it difficult to focus. People with the ENFP personality type lose interest quickly if their project shifts toward routine, administrative matters. They may not be able to stop their mind from wandering off.

In-depth / Source

[vindicem-mary]

TOMBSTONE

Mary hadn’t spoke to anyone since it had happened. She’d hardly even looked at anyone at the funeral. She could hear Molly sniffling one row behind, and Dorcas had reached for her for either strength or support, but Mary ripped her hand away. Eventually, people had stopped checking in. They had lost members before, but this one was different. This was Marlene. 

A cold wind sipped around the nearly empty graveyard. Mary had read the words at the funeral, but even now, staring at them for ten minutes, she couldn’t believe them. She didn’t want to admit that the marble stone did Marlene justice. 

                                                     A loyal and loved friend. 

That didn’t do her justice, Marlene was so much more than that. She was bright and cheery, misunderstood but honest. Marlene was so much more than just a friend, she was a lifeline, and without her Mary could feel herself quickly sinking. 

"Why didn’t you just fucking leave?" Her tone was low and short, and she half expected - or wished, that she’s here Marlene laugh behind her. "Why didn’t you get the hell out of here when you said you would? You should have left with that quirky little red head from your bar and you guys could have listened to your shitty music and drank your shitty beer." She waited for Marlene to answer, but she never did. Mary frowned. She knew why Marlene stayed. She stayed for Molly and Dorcas, and for Arthur and James and Lily. Marlene stayed for Mary. 

Marlene had always been there for Mary, since the day they were sorted together. Her infectious smile made Mary laugh, even through her nerves. Marlene was her first friend, had quickly become her best friend, they’d been through everything together. Now Mary would have to face it all alone. She would put on a strong facade as she always did, something Marlene always had a talent of seeing right through. Mary would hold her head high, fight back the tears, and pretend that she wasn’t completely lost. 

Marlene had always been there for Mary, since the day they were sorted together. Her infectious smile made Mary laugh, even through her nerves. Marlene was her first friend, had quickly become her best friend, they’d been through everything together. Now Mary would have to face it all alone. She would put on a strong facade as she always did, something Marlene always had a talent of seeing right through. Mary would hold her head high, fight back the tears, and pretend that she wasn’t completely lost. 

The chill encircled Mary, and she tugged her jacket tighter, eyes shifting from Marlene to Marcus and back again. The McKinnon family had come to an end, and Mary couldn’t help but feel like it was her own family who was now six feet below the ground. A once prominent Pureblood family who had practically taken a small muggleborn into their home for dinners and holidays and galas where Mary was completely out of place. Yet most of her childhood was spent being pulled forward by Marcus and Marlene. Now who would push Mary forward when she didn’t have the courage? Her throat tightened and her vision blurred, tears threatening to roll down her cheeks, but Mary refused. Marlene wouldn’t want her to cry, she would want her to be strong, and Mary at least owed her that. 

[ladybeaufortstuart]

Candice Accola + photoshoots 

[neque-deditionem]

NEQUE DEDITIONEM;  No retreat, no surrender.

There was a time, once, when they were young. When the world was full of promise, and they still believed in goodness of others. But war makes cynics of even the most determined optimists, and soldiers of us all. They had been promised a future, promised so much more than fear and death, but all they were given were orders. They are too young to have become so cold. Too young to fight this war. [x]

No Surrender Bruce Springsteen ● Mother Danzig ● My Friends Red Hot Chili Peppers ● A Good Man Is Hard To Find Sufjan Stevens ● A Bad Dream Keane ● A Method Tv On the Radio ● Timshel Mumford and Sons ● The Golden Age Woodkid ● Noro Brand New ● Bloodbeat Patrick Wolf ● Alpha In Tauris The Mountain Goats ● Gasoline Brand New ● Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors Editors ● My Father’s Fathers The Civil Wars ● The Worst Day Since Yesterday Flogging Molly

[murmurrs]

Home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling.

Cecelia Ahern, Love, Rosie (via murmurrs)

[gosh]

[murmurrs]

You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That’s the only thing you should be trying to control.

Elizabeth Gilbert (via murmurrs)

[impalatunes]

Visit Original Link

[caeliardentis]

Everybody Plays the Fool - The Main Ingredient

[mollylucilleweasley-blog]

Cellphone

In continuation of Tombstone:

"Hey! You’ve reached the voice mail of Marlene McKin- what, no, James stop that.” Molly could hear the sound of shuffling, and laughed to herself. Her laugh was miserable, even to her own ears, all hiccups and sobs. She could remember when Marlene had set up her voice mail. Cellphones were a relatively new thing, so it was novel and fun. Marlene had been on Molly’s couch, her feet in Molly’s lap as Molly knit a sweater. The boys were doing that they did, touching, picking up, and knocking over things. Mary had been there too, in the kitchen somewhere foraging for snacks. Molly had taken those precious moments for granted. “Obviously,” Marlene’s voice came back after a second. “I’m busy right now. Leave me a message at the beep.” Molly heard the drone of the beep in her ear, and automatically brought her phone down to her lap, her thumb coming down on the ‘redial’ button.” 

[mollylucilleweasley-blog]

TOMBSTONE :D

Funerals were terrible places to be, Molly thought. She could not celebrate life within the restricted walls of a funeral home. Marlene’s essence could not be captured within such a confined space, and especially not in a coffin, her face still and silent. Molly hated that they opened the casket— how was she supposed to look at her darling Marlene, dead and unreachable? But Molly was not in charge of the event, so all she could do was smile a thin smile that could only be described as predatory, and distract herself from crying by fixing the flower arrangements and hugging other patrons. 

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[carolineforbae]

Beautiful queen Candice during her honeymoon. ♥

[caeliardentis]

Rock and a Hard Place | Mary & Marlene

[vindicem-mary]

Snapping back into the Minister’s estate, there was only one more person Mary needed to ensure was safe, but Mary hadn’t even seen Marlene all night. Fighting her way back into the ballroom, her eyes scanned the room, taking in as many faces as she could before continuing deeper into the chaos.

With her wand pressed tightly into the palm of her hand, she watched every angle, but didn’t know what direction to start. She could see fragments of Ted and Andromeda, and even from across the room she could see how much the others safety meant to the other. Fenrir was aiding Inanna, and Puis was leading Daisy to safety. Maybe the rest of the Order had already got out, but Mary wouldn’t leave until she knew Marlene was still in one piece.

A giant charged in her direction, and she raised her want. “Aresto momentum!” and the giant slowed enough that it was barely able to get enough momentum to swing it’s own limbs. Then in the midst of the inaudible screams, Mary could hear her own name. Frantically, she scanned above the crowd, looking for the source until her eyes landed on Marlene. Why the hell was she still here? Mary knew exactly why, though that hardly made Marlene’s reasoning any better. “Marlene!” Mary screamed as loud as she could, trying desperately to shove through the crowd to get to her, but she only made it a few steps before she was airborne.

Her spell had only worked on the giant for a matter of minutes, and when he regained his speed, it had come for her, his back hand knocking her off her feet and into the wall adjacent to her. Mary collapsed into a bruised and broken ball on the floor, her hands clutching ribs that were undoubtedly broken. Mary gasped for air, but the more she did, the harder it felt to breath. The giant charged again, and using what little energy Mary had left, a spell leapt from the tip of her wand, causing an explosion on the giants face, rendering him blind. She watched at it screamed and stumbled, collapsing on the ground not far from her. Pushing herself from the ground, Mary winced. Her dress was torn beyond repair, and bones she didn’t even know she had felt broken. Leaning herself against a barely standing column, Mary called out to Marlene again.

[caeliardentis]

She shouldn't have come. She had known from the moment she saw the invitation that she should have tossed it in the trash and ignored it, but she hadn't and she would regret that choice forever. The things she saw would haunt her in both daylight and darkness: the broken bodies of people, the terror in their frozen faces.

Marlene was not a fighter. War weighed heavy on her shoulders and she hated it, hated everything about it. Her specialty had never been in offensive magic, and she had shied away from dueling all her years at Hogwarts. If she had to participate she tended to play defensively, focusing on survival rather than attack. Her mindset was the same now as she hitched up her dress with one hand and darted carefully through the commotion, still yelling Mary's name. 

It wasn't until she heard her own called that she stopped, twisting toward the sound. For the briefest of moments she felt a wave of relief at seeing her friend alive and in one piece, but the moment was short lived. "Mary!" the name was ripped from her throat and immediately she started running toward her, wand flicking at the fallen giant as an afterthought. Vines sprouted from the nearby grass and twisted around the giant's limbs in attempt to stop it from rising, like a modern day Gulliver. After that she spared no glance for it, kicking off her heels and closing the distance to her best friend.

"Mary," her name was a low whine, a half-formed apology that they didn't have time for. This was her fault, she knew it was. Mary hadn't even known she was in attendance but she was still looking for her. Marlene reached out, pressing her hand to the side of Mary's face. She wasn't well versed in healing, but she knew the damage was bad. Moving her in this state would be bad and likely cause more damage, but there was no time for lengthy healing spells. Even if they did, Marlene would have to know exactly what was wrong before it could be fixed; throwing bone-mending spells around without care could be potentially dangerous. There was really only one option, and it wasn't a good one. "I have to move you," the words were quiet, tinged with sadness. She didn't have to say it would be extremely painful for Mary.

Behind her, the giant stirred, vines snapping as it tried to regain its feet. Her hand clenched over her wand and she stood to face it, lips pressed into an unforgiving line. With barely a thought she raised her wand, hissing, "Incendio," sending a burst of flame into its eyes. It screamed as the vines caught fire, toppling back down. It wouldn't burn to death, thanks to its thick hide, but it would keep it busy long enough. Stuffing her wand down the front of her dress, she knelt by Mary and slid her arms under her, murmuring apologies. There was no time to do this gently. Determined to escape, she lifted her friend up, cradling her broken body to her chest, barely thinking that she normally couldn't lift her.

Then she ran, not looking back. 

[egwgwgewg]