Marlene McKinnon @codemarlene-blog - Tumblr Blog

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The Hogshead was at its busiest - the regulars had found their way in after dinner, and anyone else who wanted a drink away from the chaos of the Three Broomsticks was there as well. Although not exactly a chatty bunch (the general cloaked culture of the place getting in the way ) this was when Marlene had the most company. This was good for the Order of course, as it was generally when she heard something useful. But it also was good for her, staving off the boredom as the conversations at the Hogshead always promised to be interesting.

The creaking of the door alerted Marlene to the arrival of another customer, and as per usual she glanced up to try to ascertain something about the new guest. Her quick glance shifted, however, to a narrowed eyed stare. She’d recognize that scrawny build and that cloak just about anywhere. She turned away for a moment to fill a drink and answer a regular’s questions (part of her job was to charm them after all). When she turned back, she rose an eyebrow and spoke in a lowered voice.

“Do your head boy and girl know about the hooligans that are running about the taverns in the evenings? Maybe I should write one a letter and let them know.” Her words were threatening, but her voice was affectionate. She couldn’t really be angry with him for coming to see her, but Merlin didn’t he know what kind of risk it was to wander out after dark?

@phenomencn

#{ a truth so loud you can't ignore; interactions }#{ we are hiding in a safer place; family }#mason mckinnon #phenomencn

the-defected-one:

“I can name at least twenty reasons, and all of them are related to you.” Her family. All of them. Parents, cousins, siblings, every relative of Marlene McKinnon distant or otherwise.

“Don’t speak so loudly—” he cautioned, raising a finger slowly to his lips, “It’s winter, and the snow speaks.” It was so quiet out there, so eerily still and silent that their words probably sifted through the very walls. Already he was alert, his skin crawling with the realization that they may have already been discovered… his eyes itched to survey the area, but he refused to remove his gaze from the woman.

“The wand, Mic, lower it or you will see mine raised.” He had no intentions of fighting his once-friend, especially not in so conspicuous a place. It was a small town but he couldn’t manage an unbalanced fight should other wizards decide to intervene. Best to keep it between him and Marlene.

“The Shrieking Shack—follow me there, or you’ll hear none of what I have to say.”

Her mind was racing. Every bit of training that the Order had drilled into her said to send a patronus. Get backup. Where one death eater was there was likely more. The streets were silent and she heard no sign of anyone else, but even the regular noises of Hogsmeade at night were muffled by the snow. Tonight she wasn’t sure she trusted her senses. She certainly didn’t trust him. That had died the day he took the mark.

She wanted to cast a lumos so she could see his face. Maybe see what he was really thinking. But they were both caught, unmoving, and it seemed that she was the one who would decide what happened next. Never lower your wand, she could hear Moody say. That’s when they will turn on you.

But this was Regulus, a part of her said back. But this wasn’t the Regulus she’d known at Hogwarts - housemate and Sirius’ kid brother. She thought of how he had turned on Sirius, the unspeakable things he must have done. She was decided. She’d send a patronus - maybe to Dorcas or James. McGonogall was close. Stupefy or petrificus totalus.

But even as she decided, her hand was lowering her wand. Not pocketing it. She wasn’t a bloody idiot. “You try one thing, Black, and I’ll curse your skin inside out,” she finally said. “I’ll follow in five minutes.”

#{ a truth so loud you can't ignore; interactions }#regulus black #the-defected-one #look at our babies #being cute #threatening bodily harm #how precious

slythcriin:

thick raven locks cascade, coating part of her pallid visage as she views the perched animal. “ NO THANK YOU. I was actually just wondering cause he’s usually here by now. ” caramel hues dart up towards the hovering owls above, searching for jagger in the sea of feathers. “ Sometimes he gets so CURIOUS, it makes me worry about him when he doesn’t arrive on time. ”

She glanced up again - a few owls were drifting in still, delivering papers and packages to some of the stragglers still eating breakfast. She offered a cautious smile. “I’m sure Jagger’s just off hunting or on some other scheme - might even be back tonight. Gandalf will disappear for days at time - Merlin knows what he gets up to. How long has it been since you saw Jagger?” As if offended at the conversation about another owl in his presence, the great gray spread his wings and took off - his wingspan nearly knocking over a pitcher and a bowl in the process, Marlene reflexively reaching out to steady them.

#{ a truth so loud you can't ignore; interactions }#sophie roper #slythcriin

Marlene McKinnon: c o d e m a r l e n e

House: Slytherin Alumni Job: Hogshead barmaid Age: 20 (varies based on verse Blood Status: Pureblood Loyalties: Order of the Phoenix, McKinnon clan FC: Amber Heard

The hat took its time deciding with Marlene. She had all of the daring that came from a long line of Gryffindors, she had the loyalty that would serve her well in Hufflepuff, and she certainly had cleverness. But in the end her ambition, her cunning, and her dedication to her own earned her place in Slytherin. Her closest friends were Lily Evans and Mary MacDonald, and she wore the word blood traitor with pride. While not one to outright seek trouble, she never shied away when trouble confronted her - earning more than a few detentions. Even so, expectations were high for Marlene. She had offers from multiple quidditch teams and perhaps even an internship at the prophet. But in the end, she defied them all and took her place at the Hogshead - per the Order’s request. She’d fight the good fight however it was needed, even if what was needed was serving drinks to loosen lips.

Birthplace: The McKinnon estate, on the outskirts of Portree, Scotland Current location: Divided between Hogsmeade and Portree Parents: Matheson McKinnon and Rosalin McKinnon (nee Potter, a cousin of Fleamont) Siblings: (changes with verse) Mason (17), Maisie (18), Marchas (24), and Michael (27)

She was born in Scotland, the McKinnon estate not far from the magical settlement in Portree. The McKinnon’s were one of the first wizarding families to settle there, hundreds of years ago. The fortune that had built the estate was long since lost - inheritances divided up too many times over many generations. But the extended McKinnon clan still lives at the old estate - or at least spends part of the year there. The building is ancient, constantly being remodeled, and the grounds are wild and poorly kept. But it was in Marlene’s blood and there is no other place that she calls home.

Wand: Black walnut, dragon heart string, 13 3/4 inches, supple Boggart: Her younger siblings dead Patronus: Lynx Amortentia: Firewhiskey, lavender, and the woods at the McKinnon estate

The wand Marlene walked away with at 11 years old was not the wand Ollivander had expected to sell. His family had sold more wands to the McKinnons than could be counted - going back more generations than had been bothered to be tracked. Black walnut, dragon heartstring. Not the phoenix feather or unicorn hair he had sold to every McKinnon that had walked into his store in recent memory. A family of passionate natures, Marlene held the same fire - and yet her wand was for those steady of temperment and aims. Even as a child Marlene was pointed true north. A wand wood slow to to be mastered and only for the level headed, a core that is quick to give loyalty and for the more passionate of hearts. It was an unusual combination, and Ollivander knew that she would be one to watch. 10 years would not pass before he was finally proved right, in a way he wished he hadn’t been.

#{ i am what happens when thunder becomes a woman; about }#idk there's no real rhyme or reason to this #i've just been toying with all my thoughts and throwing it here #and it finally has some semblance of organization so i'm throwing it out there #i'll get a more organized page eventually #i've got class after this and then dinner and then i'm watching a move with a friend #but fingers crossed replies will be done tonight!

the-defected-one:

Regulus would do neither.

He waited there, hands carefully raised in front of him in a gesture of good intent. He was cloaked in black, the bottom hems of his robes dusting along the snow beneath his feet. A hood covered his face, hiding everything save what was beneath his nose from the light.

He had not seen her face since having left school. He had not heard her voice, nor stood as close to her as this. Regulus had abandoned everything after graduating from Hogwarts and entering the war; but he never forgot those to whom he was close.

“It is late,” he mumbled into the wind, remaining half-hidden by the shadow of the Hog’s Head Inn, “But it’s not too late. If you listen to me, it’s not too late.

“Mic, lower your wand. Follow me. What I have to say—you need to hear it.”

His voice was so familiar, but she couldn’t place where she knew it from. Her eyes tried to draw out any details, but the dim light from Aberforth’s upstairs windows weren’t enough and instead just cast further shadow across their face. The hood certainly wasn’t unusual, and was really more of a staple when it came to her usual crowd, but something clearly wasn’t right.

His first words set her on edge and she gripped her wand tighter. His words could have been a warning, but they also could have been a threat. She lowered her wand only slightly. “I’m going to need a lot more than that before I drop my wand, let alone before I follow you,” she said, voice clipped in tone.

But then her thoughts started piecing it together. That familiar voice. Mic, he had called her. “Merlin, Regulus is that you?” In her first second of recognition of her old friend, she did lower her wand. But that second was brief before she remembered why it they hadn’t spoken in so long. Almost instantly, her wand was back up. “Is there any good reason as to why I shouldn’t knock you out and drag you to Dumbledore?”

#{ a truth so loud you can't ignore; interactions }#the-defected-one #oh my god #he is so extra i love him #being all pointlessly mysterious and ominous #very 'only one shall die tonight' of him #i'm seeing your sirius regulus chill #your sirius is showing regulus chill

dvotionn-deactivated20240622

· ﹙ @codemarlene ﹚ ·

“ Have you seen a barn owl flying above ? Seems I have lost sight of mine within the last half hour. It goes by the name Jagger. It’s white with light brown. ”

codemarlene-blog

Marlene was seated across from Sophie at the Slytherin table, perusing the Daily Prophet and feeding bits of food to her own owl when she heard her speak. She first glanced up and down the table and then up towards where other birds were flying.

“I haven’t recently,” she answered, while her owl nibbled her finger. “I suppose Jagger might have already taken off. If you are wanting to send a letter, you’re welcome to use mine,” she offered, gesturing to the rather sizable great gray.

#{ a truth so loud you can't ignore; interactions }#sophie roper #slythcriin

It was late . How late Marlene wasn’t exactly sure, but even the most persistent of regulars had long since stumbled home and the street outside of the Hogshead was seemingly deserted. Locking the door behind her, she wrapped her robes tighter around herself as she reached for her wand to apparate. Her breath came out in puffs of mist as she thought longingly of the warmth of the McKinnon house, but the thought were disturbed when she heard the motion from besides the Hogshead.

Whipping her wand out, she held it aloft and turned to face the source of the noise. She could see a figure in the darkness, but there was not enough light to recognize a face from the distance they stood. “It’s rather late to be out alone like this,” she said, keeping her voice level. “I’d suggest you either head home or step forward where I can see you.”