InsaneJournal

Backstory: Happy Birthday to Me
When: 20 August, 1961
Summary: Break-ups, mothers and birthday parties

Marlene had a boyfriend most of the year, and Felix was good for kissing and groping, but when there was something important to discuss, she only had two people: her mum and Alastor. When she caught Felix kissing another girl, she didn't make a fuss, but instead wrote her mum asking for advice since Alastor was pants at this relationship stuff.

Mum's answer had been simple: don't get mad, get smart. So she broke up with him, and if there was a rumour that he was a lousy kisser and had a small cock, no one could trace it back to her. And if all of his notes became a big blot of ink three weeks before his OWLs, no second year could do that. And if he spent those three weeks in the dormitory, doing nothing but study while she forced Alastor to take her to the lake for peaceful picnics... well, so it was her doing and she was really proud of it.

Marlene forgot all about Felix when she got home. Grandpa took them to Japan and Thailand and Hong Kong. It was spectacular and she sent Alastor postcards from every place they went, both wizarding and Muggle, because Alastor didn't look down at Muggles. He was like her. He wanted to know everything.

They got back to England before her birthday. Grandma planned this grand affair inviting all the crème de la crème of British wizarding society. Marlene hated all of them. They were the ones who called her mum names.

"Do I have to?" she asked her mother.

"It is your birthday party," she answered with an easy laugh that made Marlene smile despite of everything. "Your grandmother means well, and you can still have fun. I have a surprise that will make everything better. You should wear this."

Boy, oh boy, mum was the best. She had bought a white cotton top, all nice and tight like the ones that the Muggle girls were wearing. It made her boobs look soooo good. She also had bough a black skirt that hugged her hips and went past her knees. You showed you legs, and to top it all, it had an opening in the back to help her walk. It went all the way above her knees. It was absolutely scandalous. "Grandma is going to kill us," she said, as she looked at her reflection.

Her mother giggled. "She put up with me. I hardly think you've done worse. She just doesn't want people to say bad things about you."

Marlene shrugged. "They already do and they aren't even true."

"And if they are going to talk anyway, you might as well enjoy it," her mother said. "All right, now for the finishing touch: stockings. You have to look good after all."

Marlene giggled. "No one is even going to know."

"It doesn't matter as long as you know. You have to find yourself beautiful, see how sexy you are. What you think is what's important. What everyone else thinks is irrelevant," her mother told her as Marlene put the stockings on and used a garter for the first time. She hadn't understood what her mother meant, but with time she learnt that too.

"Shoes now." Her mum handed her a pair of black flat and then looked at her for a few moments. "You look amazing. I'm sure your boyfriend, Alastor? He'll agree with me."

Marlene laughed. "He's not my boyfriend. He's my best friend."

Her mother smiled. "Of course, dear, but make sure that he dances with you, show you off."

Marlene sniggered. "Mum, Alastor doesn't dance."

Her mum waved a hand. "Nonesense. It's your birthday and he has to do what you say, especially if he's such a good friend." She kissed Marlene's forehead. "One dance will make the rest of the party be worth it and now a drop of Chanel No. 5, something every woman should wear."

Marlene thought her mum was pretty mental sometimes. The perfume was too strong and one dance wouldn't make up for the time she'd spend with those horrible people, but she went to the garden and greeted her guests, trying not to hex anyone. Then Alastor arrived and he didn't look like his robe was so starched that it could walk on its own.

Marlene greeted him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and didn't let go for the rest of the party, except for when he took the robe off to reveal his Muggle clothes. The other kids whispered, but her mother giggled and softly she told Marlene, "I like him." then she shrunk the robe and gave it to Alastor with a wink, before disappearing again, because Mum knew how to be there right when you needed her.

It was much later, when the sun had gone down and there were lights all over the garden that she convinced Alastor to dance. When he took her to the middle of the makeshift dance floor, Will You Love Me Tomorrow? began playing. Marlene raised her eyes and saw her mother smiling at her. She smiled back and then rested her cheek against Alastor's shoulder. She closed her eyes and moved to the music.

The music was rebellious for the wizarding world, their clothes were all wrong, boys didn't have female best friends, and they were going to save the world together. They were completely different from everyone here, and yet so much alike.

He held her close, not like Felix did, not like he wanted to own her, but like Alastor, and she didn't have to wear heels or play stupid, she could be Marly. At that moment, she knew that her mum had been right again. One dance was all that she needed; one dance with Alastor made it all worth it.

When the music ended, she pulled back and smiled at him. "I will always love you."