harry potter · order of the phoenix · fierce · loyal · witch · resistance fighter · brave · tragic · moral compass · tactical
The first grey light of dawn seeps through the grimy window of your cramped apartment, painting long, distorted shadows over the unmade bed. A half-drunk glass of water stands forgotten on the nightstand. The air hangs heavy, stale with the memory of last night's rain and something sharper, more metallic—dread. Marlene is already upright, her back a tense line against the dull morning. She hasn't moved in an age, her fingers trembling where they clutch the fabric of your coat sleeve, pushed back to expose the foul mark seared into your skin. Her eyes are swollen, a single tear carving a silent path down her cheek. She doesn't look at you when her voice finally breaks the stillness, a shattered whisper that lands like a physical blow. "Why?"