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𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐀 𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐖 the smoke out of her cigarette. It seemed like her cigarettes were one of the things that were keeping her sane these days. Just the thought of losing her friends or family during Voldemort's return made Marina vomit. Now, the summer of 96' was coming to an end. And it was already so noticeable the second wizarding war was bound to start soon.
The fifteen-year-old (soon to be sixteen on March 21) was sitting on the kitchen countertop while her mother was waiting for father to arrive from a late shift and with the rest of her siblings and Hermione were upstairs chatting away. As the girl continued to sit in peace, she heard a sudden crack.
Marina threw her cigarette into the trash bin, looking confused. "What the hell was that —"
Suddenly, another crack was heard, a snowy owl (recognized as Hedwig) appeared, then a tall thin handsome male with messy raven hair and round glasses appeared in front of her. It was Potter.
When the redhead had saw Harry, she felt like she couldn't breathe for some reason. Harry looked very different. It seemed like had grown at least half a foot, and Marina had admitted it to herself, Harry Potter was very handsome.
But she didn't need to tell anyone that. So what if she found her brother's best friend hot? It didn't mean anything...right?
"Hi," Harry breathed with a grin on his face. (He as well had noticed that Marina had gotten more pretty over the summertime)
"Hi moron." Marina said as she greeted him with a hug.
"When did you greet me so nicely?" grinned Harry looking down at her.
Marina rolled her eyes and punched his shoulder.
The honest truth why she hugged him was because she was worried to death that Voldemort would come back for Potter over the summer time.
"Harry!" Molly laughed as she entered the room. Making Marina step away from Harry.
"Oh dear you've grown up so much dear! I see Marina's already greeted you nicely, she's supposed for a truce I'm hoping." smiled Molly.
Marina winked to Harry, "Don't be silly mummy. I'll never forgive Haroldine for breaking my reading glasses."
Harry's face turned a scarlet red as Ron, Ginny, and Hermione came running downstairs.
"Harry!" Hermione grinned.
"Sup Harry. I see Marina's already given you a private greeting?" Ginny said wiggling her eyebrows.
Marina scoffed as she folded her arms.
"Hiya Harry," Ron said giving his friend a hug then looking to Hermione.
"What is it?" Hermione mumbled as her cheeks turned to a rosy shade.
"Us Ronmione shippers are screaming right now," Marina whispered to Ginny.
"Crap, I forgot to write to Dean. I better go do it now." Ginny said, smiling at Dean's name then running upstairs.
"Toothpaste." Ron said wiping it off Hermiones' cheek.
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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 Marina woke up in her and Ron's bedroom to see Ron's bed empty. She had assumed her brother was with Hermione and Harold, which she correct.
After Marina had brushed her hair and teeth, Marina walked to Fred and George's bedroom (now used by Harry) to see she had assumed right.
"Morning losers." Marina yawned putting her blue knitted cardigan over a purple tank top.
"Morning Marina." Harry said (feeling more happier as Marina walked in).
Ron rolled his eyes looking disgusted at Harry. "So, what's been going on?"
"Nothing much, I've just been stuck at my aunt and uncle's, haven't I?" Harry said as Marina sat on the floor next to Harry's bed.
"Come off it!" said Ron. "You've been off with Dumbledore!"
"Of course Potter has been with Dumbledunce, he's the Chosen One isn't he?" Marina joked.
Harry laughed a bit then shrugged. "It wasn't that exciting. Dumbledore just wanted me to help him persuade this old teacher to come out of retirement. His name's Horace Slughorn."
"Oh," said Ron, looking disappointed. "We thought —"
Hermione flashed a warning look at Ron, and Ron changed tack at top speed.
"— we thought it'd be something like that."
"You did?" said Harry, amused.
"Yes because everyone goes with the headmaster at the end of the summer to help get an old bozo out of retirement!" Marina sassed.
"Oh shut up Marina!" Ron spat.
"Anyways . . . yes, now Umbridge has left, obviously we need a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, don't we? So, er, what's he like?" Hermione asked trying to avoid Marina and Ron bantering.
"He looks a bit like a walrus, and he used to be Head of Slytherin," said Harry. "Something wrong, Hermione?"
She was watching him as though expecting strange symptoms to manifest themselves at any moment. She rearranged her features hastily in an unconvincing smile.
"No, of course not! So, um, did Slughorn seem like he'll be a good teacher?"
"Who cares about that, it's about whether he's going to try and torture us or is actually a good professor." Marina scoffed. Making everyone except Hermione laugh.
"Well," said Harry. "He can't be worse than Umbridge, can he?"
"I know someone who's worse than Umbridge," said Ginny from the doorway.
"What's up with you?" Ron asked.
"It's her," said Ginny, plonking herself down on Harry's bed. "She's driving me mad."
"Oh fine yes she's very fucking irritating, but she's going to be apart the family whether we like it or not." Marina said putting her hair in a loose ponytail. "Plus, she's actually quite nice once you get to know her."
"Oh Ginny...what's she done now?" asked Hermione sympathetically.
"It's the way she talks to me — you'd think I was about three!"
"I know," said Hermione, dropping her voice. "She's so full of herself."
"Can't you two lay off her for five seconds?" Ron spat.
"Oh, that's right, defend her," scoffed Ginny.
"Of course Ronnie will defend her, he's probably going to try and swipe a kiss from her today." smirked Marina.
"Shut up Marina!" snapped Ron.
Harry looked confused, "Who are you — ?"
Fleur bursted into the room carrying a breakfast tray.
" 'Arry," she said in a throaty voice. "Eet 'as been too long!"
Marina scoffed as Harry and Ron turned pink.
As she swept over the threshold toward him, Mrs. Weasley was revealed, bobbing along in her wake, looking rather cross.
"There was no need to bring up the tray, I was just about to do it myself!"
"Eet was no trouble," said Fleur Delacour, setting the tray across Harry's knees, "I 'ave been longing to see 'im. You remember my seester, Gabrielle? She never stops talking about 'Arry Potter. She will be delighted to see you again."
"Oh . . . is she here too?" Harry croaked.
"No, no, silly boy," said Fleur with a tinkling laugh, "I mean next summer, when we — but do you not know? Bill and I are going to be married!"
"Oh," said Harry blankly. "Wow. Er — congratulations!"
She swooped down upon him and kissed him again.
"Bill is very busy at ze moment, working very 'ard, and I only work part-time at Gringotts for my Eenglish, so he brought me 'ere for a few days to get to know 'is family properly. I was so pleased to 'ear you would be coming — zere isn't much to do 'ere, unless you like cooking and chickens! Well — enjoy your breakfast, 'Arry!"
With these words she turned gracefully and seemed to float out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
Mrs. Weasley made a noise that sounded like "tchah!"
"Mum hates her guts," whispered Marina quietly.
"I do not hate her!" said Mrs. Weasley in a cross whisper. "I just think they've hurried into this engagement, that's all!"
"They've known each other a year," said Ron, who looked oddly groggy and was staring at the closed door.
"They've known each other a year," Marina mimicked making Ginny snigger.
"Well, that's not very long! I know why it's happened, of course. It's all this uncertainty with You-Know-Who coming back, people think they might be dead tomorrow, so they're rushing all sorts of decisions they'd normally take time over. It was the same last time he was powerful, people eloping left, right, and center —"
"Including you and Dad," said Ginny slyly.
"Yes, well, your father and I were made for each other, what was the point in waiting?" said Mrs. Weasley. "Whereas Bill and Fleur . . . well . . . what have they really got in common? He's a hard- working, down-to-earth sort of person, whereas she's —"
"A cow," said Ginny, nodding. "But Bill's not that down-to-earth. He's a Curse-Breaker, isn't he, he likes a bit of adventure, a bit of glamour. . . . I expect that's why he's gone for Phlegm."
"Stop calling her that, Ginny," said Mrs. Weasley sharply, as Harry and Hermione laughed. "Well, I'd better get on. . . . Eat your eggs while they're warm, Harry."
Looking careworn, she left the room. Ron still seemed slightly punch-drunk; he was shaking his head experimentally like a dog trying to rid its ears of water.
"Don't you get used to her if she's staying in the same house?" Harry asked.
"Well, you do," said Ron, "but if she jumps out at you unexpectedly, like then . . ."
"It's pathetic," said Hermione furiously, striding away from Ron as far as she could go and turning to face him with her arms folded once she had reached the wall.
"You don't really want her around forever?" Ginny asked Ron incredulously.
When he merely shrugged, Marina said, "Well, Mum's going to put a stop to it if she can, I bet you anything."
"How's she going to manage that?" asked Harry.
"She keeps trying to get Tonks round for dinner. I think she's hoping Bill will fall for Tonks instead. I hope he does, I'd much rather have her in the family." Ginny said.
"Yeah, that'll work," said Ron sarcastically. "Listen, no bloke in his right mind's going to fancy Tonks when Fleur's around. I mean, Tonks is okay-looking when she isn't doing stupid things to her hair and her nose, but —"
"Oh Ronald, not all males are just attracted to the hotties like you. Some actually think something called intelligence is attractive as well." Marina spat.
"And Tonk's more clever, she's an Auror!" said Hermione from the corner.
"Fleur's not stupid, she was good enough to enter the Triwizard Tournament," said Harry.
"Not you as well!" said Hermione bitterly.
"I guess you've got a soft spot for Veelas too don't you?" Marina rolled her eyes.
"No it's not like that!" said Harry, "I was just saying, Phlegm — I mean, Fleur —"
"I'd much rather have Tonks in the family," said Ginny. "At least she's a laugh."
The door opened again and Mrs. Weasley popped her head in. "Ginny," she whispered, "come downstairs and help me with the lunch."
"I'm talking to this lot!" said Ginny, outraged.
"Now!" said Mrs. Weasley, and withdrew.
"She only wants me there so she doesn't have to be alone with Phlegm!" said Ginny crossly.
"Alright, I'm coming!" Marina said getting up
"No..." Harry mumbled, "Stay with us. It's fine."
Marina shrugged (covering her now red cheeks) as she sat back down.
"Your mum said the shop's going well," said Harry. "Said Fred and George have got a real flair for business."
"That's an understatement," said Ron. "They're raking in the Galleons! I can't wait to see the place, we haven't been to Diagon Alley yet, because Mum says Dad's got to be there for extra security and he's been really busy at work, but it sounds excellent."
"Yeah, I need some pranking supplies anyway, I'm thinking about sending Percy a fake letter saying he's fired from the ministry!" laughed Marina.
"I bet it's brilliant...wait... how is Percy?" asked Harry, "Is he talking to your mum and dad again?"
"Nope," said Ron.
"Little fucking piece of shit got a lot of guts doesn't she?" mumbled Marina.
"But he knows your dad was right all along now about Voldemort being back —"
"Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right," said Hermione. "I heard him telling your mum, Ron."
"Sounds like the sort of mental thing Dumbledore would say," said Ron.
"He's going to be giving me private lessons this year," said Harry conversationally.
Ron choked on his bit of toast, Marina almost fell, and Hermione gasped.
"You kept that quiet!" said Ron.
"I only just remembered," said Harry honestly. "He told me last night in your broom shed."
"Blimey . . . private lessons with Dumbledore!" said Ron, looking impressed. "I wonder why he's . . . ?"
"Oh your not that thick. It's been obvious since the day I met this idiot. Potter's got to finish Voldy for good." Marina said as flipping through Fred's list of pranks.
"Nobody knows what the prophecy, though," said Hermione quickly. "It got smashed."
Harry took a deep breath, "Marina's right. I think I'm the one who's got to finish off Voldemort. . . . At least, it said neither of us could live while the other survives."
Ginny then shouted that their O.W.L results had come. The four then rushed down, Marina grasped her letter from Pigwedon, and sat down at the breakfast table.
Ordinary Wizarding Level Results
Pass Grades
Outstanding (O) Exceeds Expectations (E) Acceptable (A)
Fail Grades
Poor (P) Dreadful (D) Troll (T)
Marina Delizia Weasley has achieved:
Astronomy A
Care of Magical Creatures O
Charms E
Defense Against the Dark Arts O
Divination P
Herbology O
History of Magic A
Potions E
Transfiguration O
Marina knew she would have done well. She studied hard and already knew that she wanted to do something in Transfiguration or with Creatures. She looked around. Harry was smiling, Hermione had her back to her and her head bent, but Ron was looking delighted.
"What did you get? Of course you got mostly Os.." Harry said looking over her shoulder. Marina felt her face burn.
"Only failed Divination and History of Magic, and who cares about them?" Ron said happily to them. "Here — swap —"
"Knew you'd be top at Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Ron, punching Harry on the shoulder. "We've done all right, haven't we?"
"Well done!" said Mrs. Weasley proudly, ruffling Ron's and Marina's hair. "Marina's got five O.W.L.s, you'll have no problem being a N.E,W.T students then! And Ron, three O.W.L.s, that's more than Fred and George got together!"
"Hermione?" said Ginny tentatively, for Hermione still hadn't turned around. "How did you do?"
"I — not bad," said Hermione in a small voice.
"Probably eleven O's on that report." sniggered Marina.
"Oh, come off it," said Ron, striding over to her and whipping her results out of her hand. "Yep — nine 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations' at Defense Against the Dark Arts." He looked down at her, half-amused, half-exasperated. "You're actually disappointed, aren't you?"
"Well your grades depend on what job you want." Marina said standing up. "I think I have enough O's in Transfiguration to be a professor or something."
"Oh an E...that's not good enough for an Auror is it?" Harry sighed.
"Don't worry Potter, I'm sure the Ministry will allow the Chosen One to be an Auror now won't they?" smiled Marina. Making Harry turn bright red.