Chapter Text
Mary shimmied into her dress, fixing the sleeves so they didn’t fall down. She looked stunning, if she did say so herself, the silky red fabric was slightly tight, highlighting her curves, the spare fabric pinned to create swoopy patterns on the skirt. She’d finished her hair and makeup before she put on the dress, her hair was left natural, the thick curls bouncing just above her shoulders. Glittering eyeshadow and bold makeup decorated her face, bright enough to be visible by the people sitting further back in the theatre. Fake pearl earrings were clipped to her ears, although they weren’t very easy to see.
“Five minutes to curtain, Mary, get down to the stage.” Bertha announced, poking her head through the door of Mary’s dressing room after a light knock.
“I’ll be right there.” She groaned, craning her neck slightly to look at the short woman in the doorway.
“Don’t be late!” Bertha trilled as she walked away down the corridor, her boisterous voice growing fainter.
“When would I ever be?” Mary snarked, mostly to herself because there was no way even nosy Bertha could hear her from here. It was sarcastic, Mary was often late for things, but she always made an impression and in her mind, that was all that mattered.
She slid off the little stool that stood in front of her dressing table, smoothing her dress slightly to make sure she hadn’t wrinkled the silk too much. Mary winced as she looked at the dressing table, it was always a mess after she got ready, different bits and bobs scattered all over. Lily had never liked it and had tidied Mary’s house or room obsessively whenever she’d got the chance, usually successfully ignoring Mary trying to distract her.
Shaking off the memories, Mary hurried out of the room with a flourish, hitching her dress up slightly so she didn’t trip, letting the door slam shut on its own behind her. The corridor was a lot colder than her dressing room somehow, probably the lack of furnishing. As she got closer to the stage, she could hear the chatterings of the crowd behind the curtain. Mary loved the performance, she loved the feelings of a thousand eyes on her, the thrill. It never got old.
“You’re not late, maybe we’ll have the curtain rise on time for once.” Bertha snarked once Mary jumped down the rickety old stairs. The opera singer rolled her eyes at Bertha, bitch , she thought, striding past her onto centre stage. Mary dropped her skirt so the dress pooled around her on the floor, one leg slightly forward to highlight the long slit in her skirt. She wasn’t wrong about the immodesty of the dress , she thought with a grin.
The theatre hidden from view behind the curtain went dead silent, only a slight rustling of people reached her ears before the heavy velvet curtain started to lift. Blinding her for a moment, the lights shined down on her, glimmering off her dress, and then she started to sing.
.~.
Mary took out her earrings, dropping the shiny, round pearls into a tray on her dressing table. A knock sounded behind her.
“Come in.” She called, not looking around.
“Brought you the paper.” Remus flopped down onto a small squashy chair that Mary had crammed into the room just by her dressing table.
“What paper?” Mary frowned, she didn’t read the paper, she heard about all her news from Remus while they had tea or whatever.
“Gossip paper.” Remus grinned, sliding her the copy of Lady Hogwarts . Mary’s face split into an excited grin, hastily grabbing the paper and starting to read.
Lady Hogwarts
Dearest reader,
It has been said that only a lady of impeccable value can catch the Queen's eye, and this season, Miss Dorcas Meadowes has done just that. The Miss was dancing quite pleasantly with an abundance of Lords last night, most notably Regulus Black, the second son of the recently deceased Duke and Duchess Black, and Evan Rosier. Indeed, the reputable Miss Dorcas Meadowes may have a number of suitors this season.
Onto rather more surprising gossip, Miss Marlene Mckinnon, our resident non-conformist, has been seen getting rather cosy with Duke Black. The two were whispering all through the last ball, and they’d better be careful to maintain their honour, after all, rumours fly.
Marriage fever can be a dangerous thing, and compromising one’s chastity or honour would spell ruin for any young lady. Certain gentlemen as well might want to reign in their gambling habits or pay their debts, in case a watchful father or brother might catch them out.
Although many notable gentlemen seem to have already made their pick of the ladies, it’s not as if they are without competition. Plenty of suitors still line the halls of The Evans’ household and the Fenwicks are certainly not without visitors (although Miss Anna Fenwick’s rake of a brother seems to be rarely in his own home).
Amongst the hubbub that has surrounded the Black brothers return to London, their cousins, Lady Lestrange and Lady Malfoy have been unusually absent from the gathering of the ton. Although Lady Lestrange was notoriously on the edge of society, perhaps her husband and family have deemed it best to keep her in the country. Lady Malfoy however, if some of the Mamas with better memories might recall, was the diamond of her season (although she was Narcissa Black then), and quickly snatched up by Lord Malfoy, quite a catch on both their parts. Not to mention the turmoil that surrounded Duke Black’s cousin (the Ladies Malfoy and Lestrange’s sister) when it came for her turn to be married, and I hear that the Duke visited the wild land we know as Wales on his travels, although I can’t even think what may have attracted him to travel so close to home in that cold place. Perhaps it was a certain relative.
…
Dear reader, the game of courtship is a treacherous one, and the players are making their moves. I am just here to observe and inform the ever ravenous members of high society of who may stumble and fall, and who may reach the end triumphant. Until next time.
- Lady Hogwarts
Mary winced as she finished, although she devoured the gossip as readily as anybody else in the city, she couldn’t help but worry how Marlene would react to it. Either take it in her stride, or flip out. There was hardly much mention of Lily in this edition of Lady Hogwarts , which she was sure her redheaded friend would be pleased about, however there were some remarks (which Mary knew were not true) on Marlene and Duke Black, who Mary figured must be the Duke of Hastings recently returned to London.
“What do you think?”
“I think they’ve got guts.” Mary grinned, she was right, going after the Black family like that, a family who were famously influential took a resolve of steel.
“That’s the truth.” Remus agreed, stretching his lanky legs out until they almost reached the door. Remus Lupin had been Mary’s friend ever since he met her when they were children. Some boys had been heckling him about his scars, and Mary had taken one look at this scrawny boy, head turned down trying to ignore them, and punched one of the boys in the face. They hadn’t bothered either of them after that, not willing to admit they’d been punched by a girl. One of her proudest moments, she always told Remus whenever it was brought up. Since that day, the two had stuck together, despite their almost opposite personalities. Where Mary was outgoing, flirty and slightly shameless, Remus was quiet, bookish and secretly extremely sarcastic.
“I’m telling you, I would pay to see these people’s faces when they read this.” Mary’s eyes brightened excitedly at the thought, “I bet they’re absolutely horrified.” She cackled.
“You’re horrible.” Remus snorted.
“Excuse you,” Mary said, faking offence, “I didn’t write the thing, I’m just enjoying it.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised, but then again,” Remus raised an eyebrow, “You’re not literate enough to write it.”
Mary made a rude gesture at him, finally finished taking off her makeup and jewellery.
“Not even a response? Looks like I’ve stunned the famed Mary Macdonald to silence.” Remus widened his eyes, “Wait until Emmaline hears about this.”
“I assure you,” Mary shot back, “Emmaline is very practised in shutting me up.” She winked at him cheekily as he wrinkled his face in disgust.
“I didn’t need to know that.” Remus groaned.
“Well now you do.” Mary shrugged, standing up and reaching over to her wardrobe.
“What do you think of this black dress?” She asked, holding up a plain, slightly heavy black dress for Remus to see. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was comfortable and she doubted that her friends would care.
“Go for it.” Remus nodded.
“Help me out of this?” Mary gestured to the dress she was currently wearing.
“Oh, sure.” Remus stood up, helping Mary shimmy out of the stupidly difficult to take off dress and into the plain black one.
“So where are we headed tonight?” Mary asked, pulling a shawl around her shoulders as the two walked out the back entrance of the opera house.
“I'm afraid I can't go out in revelry tonight, Mary.” Remus sighed dramatically, and Mary snorted slightly, before covering her mouth with her hand.
“What now, do you have other friends who are more important than me?” Mary pretended to cry.
“Not exactly a friend.” Remus grinned wolfishly. Mary grinned back, whistling, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.
“Shut up.” He groaned.
“Not a chance, who is this mystery man?” Mary leaned close conspiratorially.
Remus's eyes glimmered as he leaned close to her as well, “Not a chance.” He grinned, pulling back.
Mary gasped, betrayed, “You are a cruel man, Remus Lupin.”
“The cruellest.” Remus grinned back, “And it's not like you've divulged all of your… escapades to me.”
“When have I never?”
“What about when you were shacking up with that girl a few years ago, blonde, I think.” Remus teased. Mary went still, knowing exactly who he was talking about.
“I will let you keep your privacy, Rem.” Mary held up her hands, “If you will afford me the same.”
“Of course.” Remus pulled Mary into a hug, “Want me to walk you home?”
“That's alright, go and meet your new man.” Mary smiled. The two said their goodbyes and started off in desperate directions, Remus towards his home next the the printing house and Mary towards her own.
She remembered the year Remus talked about. It was an interesting time, when Mary was stupidly and recklessly in love. It didn't end badly, but it didn't leave Mary feeling great either.
.~. flashbackkk .~.
Mary lay on the floor staring up at Marlene who was dangling off the sofa. Flames flickered over her face, lighting up Marlene's blonde hair like pure gold. Suddenly, she saw a mischievous gleam in Marlene's eyes.
“What did you do?” Mary rolled over onto her stomach, head in her hands so she could still see Marlene.
The blonde grinned, reaching behind her and pulling out a silver flask. “I got us this.”
Mary frowned, pulling herself up, “What is it?”
“Whiskey.” Marlene smirked excitedly, sliding down to face Mary directly.
“Whiskey?” Her eyes widened, “Where did you get such a thing as that?”
“Stole it from my brother's liquor cabinet.” Marlene smirked, spinning off the top, the lid making a slight scraping sound as she turned it.
“Try some.” Marlene offered.
“You first.” Mary snorted, slightly wary. Marlene shrugged, taking a gulp from the flask, and Mary did not miss her wince as the alcohol hit her throat. Marlene shot her a thumbs up, passing her the decorated flask.
Taking a breath of courage, Mary took a swing from the flask, coughing as she swallowed it.
“Good?”
“Marlene, this is awful.” Mary laughed, still coughing. Marlene burst out into laughter right behind her, feeling the effects of Mary’s infectious laughter and the alcohol going to her brain.
Suddenly feeling a burst of courage that she put down to the awful whiskey, Mary blurted out, “Can I kiss you?”
“What?”
“What?”
Marlene stared at her for a moment, bright blue eyes boring into hers, before she leaned over, pulling Mary towards her at the same time, and kissed her.