𝗗𝗜𝗘 𝗔 𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 ☼ 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘆

↘︎ chapter seventy-five

"You really make me resort to the measures we used to get Scrimgeоur to speak. Unfortunately, the fool didn't say a word and was punished. And now it's your turn. Any of you all know something about little Potter. Let's start with his attractive sister, Miss Potter."

"I don't know where is he!" she said.

"LIES!" yelled Yaxley. "You're just like your stupid father. He used to tell lies to protect the people he loved. And how do you think your father ended up with these lies, Potter? In the grave."

Marley clenched her hands into fists. Her whole hands to the wrists were stained with warm blood, and the wounds were caused by broken glass on the floor of the tent. Everyone here had minimal injuries. Marley's eyes filled with tears, and she tried to stop them from coming down her sides.

"So be obedient and tell us where your little brother is. Do not try to lie, because you will end up like Scrimgeour, your father and anyone who opposes the power of the Dark Lord."

"For the last time, I don't know where Harry is!" Marley yelled at him, her whole body was trembling but her voice (although her yelling) was mastered. "Even if Voldemort comes to ask me by himself, he'll receive the same answer."

"Don't ask for it, girl," warned her Yaxley. "Don't you dare say the name of the Dark Lord. You really want to feel his anger. Maybe if he tortures you, you'll be capable to learn your place in the hierarchy. On the bottom."

"Stupefy!" Marley's anger was on the edge and she didn't realise when she had reached out for her wand and stunned Yaxley. The other Death Eaters raised their wands; Mrs. Weasley was looking at Marley shocked. "I know you're here because of my brother, but he's not here. We don't know where he is. He went into hiding after Dumbledore's death."

"How can we be sure you're telling the truth, Potter?" asked Travers. "Take off your wand and we will take ours. No one of your friends will get hurt. But if you shoot, we'll make sure they won't survive to the sunrise."

Marley's arm relaxed and she pulled her wand away, still staring deadly at Travers. After Yaxley recovered, the Death Eaters questioned them stubbornly, hoping to dig up information and leave it just after sunrise.

"What were you thinking?" asked Brielle. There as no reprimand in her voice. Even in her eyes, Marley read that she was proud that her daughter had acted boldly, though a little impulsively. It would seem that she would now scold Marley just because Mrs. Weasley stared persistently at Brielle. "Because of you we could-- oh, you know, Molly, I'm giving up! I can't scold my own daughter when actually I'm proud of her."

Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth in a sign of protest, but Brielle raised her hand, cutting her off. "Yes, it was impulsive and some of us could get hurt because of this."

"Marley wasn't in her right to stun Yaxley!" shouted Mrs. Weasley, crossing her arms angrily. "Now that's why she's got us into bigger problems with You-Know-Who. In addition to being constantly watched, Yaxley will always have a tooth for what Marley did. We're under surveillance, Brielle."

"I'm going to send my Patronus to say to Harry, Ron and Hermione we're okay." mumbled Mr. Weasley with an excuse to leave the room with the bickering Brielle and Molly.

"I never said that to stun Yaxley was good." said Brielle, anger in her green eyes. "But he provoked my daughter. But I'm sure you didn't hear how he was talking about James, right? Because that's her fucking father, Molly!"

"But he never understood, did he, Brie? Because you were scared and ran away like a coward, leaving him alone, right?"

"I was trying to protect Marley," yelled Brielle and Marley noticed the tears in her mother's eyes. "Everything I've done was dedicated to my daughter's safety. That's why I faked my death so many years ago. Because I had to her safe from the prophecy. What if it was for her, but not Harry?"

"Let's clean your hands," someone whispered in her ear and she recognised George. The girl nodded and the couple left the living room, going in silence to the untidy kitchen, where the sink was. George carefully took her hands and put them under the lukewarm water. Marley felt a pinch and clenched her teeth.

"How are you feeling?" he asked after he had put some healing medicine on the wounds in her palms and hands. He had now taken small bandages to bind them.

"Теrrible," she sighed. "Our mothers are fighting because of something stupid I did. I knew I mustn't use the Stun Spell, but he was talking about my father and there was so much hatred in me-- I was so angry, because no one can talk about my family like this--"

"It's over now," George said softly. "I truly understand you. I'd do the same if they were talking shit about my father."

They sunk in silence again. Marley could hear the yelling of Brielle and Mrs. Weasley from the living room.

"YOU NEVER CARED ABOUT THE POOR GIRL AS SHOULD, BRIELLE! YOU PRETENDED TO BE DEAD AND HID HER, DID NOT TELL HER THE TRUTH ABOUT JAMES AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY SHE IS DOING ALL THE THINGS SHE DOES NOW!"

"ARE YOU TELLING ME I'M A BAD MOTHER, MOLLY? THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF MY OWN DAUGHTER?"

"ACTUALLY, YES." confirmed Mrs. Weasley and Marley's tears erupted like waterfall from her eyes, which were red and swollen.

"Your mother thinks I'm a freak," she sniffled. "It's all my fault. Why did I had to be so selfish, George? I didn't think what could happen to all of you if I stun Yaxley."

He had finished to binding the bandages around Marley's hands. The red-haired boy pulled Marley for a soft hug, while she was sobbing, her head burried in his chest. "You weren't selfish, Mar. You just protected your family. Even though James is dead and he's not physically with you, he's still with you. And he's proud."

Marley exhaled. The screams from the living room seemed to get louder. Why no one was trying to stop them? She just carried on sobbing. George kissed the top of her head softly.

"I PERFECTLY KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF MY DAUGHTER, MOLLY!" yelled Brielle. "I LEARNT HER TO PROTECT HER FAMILY'S HONOUR."

"BUT NOT ON THE PRICE TO GET ALL OF US INTO TROUBLE!" protested Mrs. Weasley. Make it stop, make it stop, please, make it stop... "It's wonderful to keep your family but think, Brielle. Those were Death Eaters, following the most dangerous wizard of all times. She cannot just make them angry any more."

"I'm going to get this dress off me," Marley broke the hug, quickly wiped out her tears and left the kitchen, while her heels were knocking on the floor.