Chapter Text
“I’m Mary.” Those were the first words that Marlene ever heard her soon-to-be best friend say. They were the first words she ever heard at all. Marlene’s jaw almost dropped as Mary held out her hand. Marlene took it, squeezing it probably a little tighter than was necessary, due to her slight shock. She swore she felt sparks fly.
The only reason Marlene actually understood what Mary was saying was because she was signing as she spoke. Apparently she was one of those odd people who practised speaking before she could hear. Or maybe she'd already met one of her soulmates. Marlene had no idea. She remembered those lessons at school when she was younger. The teachers would get them to move their mouths in the shape of words - good practice - they'd said. Marlene had gotten the hang of it pretty quickly, but she'd refused to do it in class because she didn't like the way that the teachers would look at her, as if wondering if it was really worth their time to try and teach her to speak when they didn't think she'd ever meet her soulmate. By their looks, Marlene didn't think they thought she deserved a soulmate. She’d pretended it didn't sting. She'd say in the lessons with her mouth shut and arms folded, pretending she wasn't paying attention. Pretending she didn't mouth words in the mirror when she got home.
“Are you okay?” Mary signed, a frown on her face. She’d just sat down in the seat opposite Marlene, tucking her trunk into the luggage rack. Her fingers moved in a flourish, using large gestures. Everyone signed differently, it was like an accent, or that was what people said it was like. Marlene wouldn't know. Marlene signed very quickly, as did James. Well, people told her she did. Marlene thought she signed normally.
Mary was very pretty, with dark skin and an afro tied back on her head. Her eyes were dark and cautious, probably worried she'd chosen to sit in a compartment with a weirdo, Marlene thought. She looked cool, with a soft face and a smile that reminded Marlene of strawberries in summer.
“What’s your name?” Mary signed, leaning closer to her.
“You're Mary.” Marlene croaked out the words, her fingers tapping out Mary’s name on instinct. Mary's eyes widened and emotions flitted across her face, not dissimilar to how the blonde looked a minute ago. Marlene grinned at the sight, for all her bravado, she'd never really imagined she'd meet her soulmate, and definitely not at 11. She had no idea whether Mary was meant to be her platonic or her romantic soulmate, but honestly she didn't care that much. Marlene ached to be loved, beneath everything, and soulmates were proof of that bond. Someone who the universe said would love you. She was aware that it didn't always work out, but she was so certain it had to work for her, because she was certain about everything.
“I'm Marlene.” Marlene's voice felt scratchy in her throat and unfamiliar. When you met your soulmate, you apparently didn't also gain the magical ability to talk.
“Marlene.” Mary's voice was less broken than Marlene's, less like someone had shoved that scratchy metal-wool thing that her mother used to clean things down her throat. She tried again, moving her lips carefully around the sounds that for the first time, she could hear, “I'm Marlene.”
When Mary smiled, Marlene could see her shiny lip gloss.
Suddenly, as if a dam had broken, it all came rushing in. The ‘background noise’. The pounding of feet as they raced across the platform, the chatter of some adults. All of this was dwarfed by the train. It rumbled, a low steady noise that Marlene wasn't quite sure what it was like because she's never heard anything to compare it to. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine that the vibrations were music, that rock music that if you didn't pay attention just felt like all one beat. Marlene hoped that it didn't actually sound like the train, that would be really very disappointing.
Her top rustled as she moved and she flinched, unused to the sound that felt so close to her. Mary leaned forwards, apparently having just undergone similar revelations about the new world of sound that awaited them.
“Everything makes noise.” Marlene signed, guessing this fact. Mary nodded.
“We'll get used to it.”
Marlene grimaced, she wasn't that used to getting used to things. She usually just dove in headfirst and by the time she realised that she was meant to be worried or scared, she was already waist deep in a river, floating on her back, trying to learn how to swim.
“When?” Marlene tapped her fingers against her face, immediately flinching when it made a noise. Apparently absolutely everything did make noise. Mary was right, that was going to take quite some getting used to.
Mary shrugged, and then a brightness appeared in her eyes, subtle, unnoticeable if you weren't paying her complete attention - or almost complete attention (although Marlene wasn't sure who couldn't pay Mary their attention, she was magnetic).
“I don't know.” Her hands signed as she spoke, and Marlene’s eyes flitted between them and her mouth, trying to pick up the words as best as she could. Mary's voice was still fairly smooth, but Marlene could hear the hoarseness that underlaid it.
Marlene nodded, and her choppy blonde hair fell in front of her eyes as she did. Mary grinned at that, especially when Marlene started to try and blow it out of her face without touching it. A warmth ran through Marlene at the sight, so she continued to try and blow her hair away, if only to hear Mary laugh. She hadn't heard much - but she was sure it was her favourite sound.
The train gave a jolt suddenly and a great loud whistle that made Marlene cringe. It clanked and steamed and bellowed in her ears. Marlene wished, for a moment, that she could have met her soulmate somewhere quieter. Mary’s gaze flicked as well, before she held out her hand towards the blonde, like an offering. Marlene grabbed it, and with a grin, reached over and pulled Mary over towards her. The dark haired girl shrieked happily, spinning as she landed next to Marlene with an oomph.
The two girls got on like a house on fire, although Marlene supposed that was to be expected. It was about half of the way through the train ride and Marlene was just bouncing with excitement, telling Mary about everything magical. Mary was a muggleborn, and didn't have much experience with the wizarding world, so Marlene had promised to teach her everything and make sure she found her way around.
“I'm hungry.” Mary spoke as she signed, trying to get used to the way that the words sounded. Neither of them had an extensive vocabulary, so their speech was broken, limited and clunky, but neither of them cared.
“The trolley cart should be along soon.” Marlene sounded out some of the words, signing others, slightly frustrated at her limited vocabulary but enjoying it nevertheless. Peering out of the compartment to look for the trolley, she heard a rustle behind her. Marlene turned to see Mary pulling a sandwich out of her bag along with a packet of what we're presumably muggle crisps.
“What have you got?” Marlene asked, peering closer.
“Packed lunch.” Mary gave her a fond smile, “My dad made it for me.”
Marlene's mum had never made her a packed lunch.
“Cool!” Marlene grinned.
“You want some?” Mary ripped off a bit of the sandwich, holding it out towards her new friend, “It's cheese.” She shrugged, “Not the best, but we were in a rush this morning. My mum was complaining about not giving me about 5 tupperware tubs worth of food.”
“Please!” Marlene took it happily, “I'll buy us some snacks when the trolley witch comes by.” She promised, biting into the sandwich, “I wish your mum had given you lots of food.” She joked.
Rolling her eyes, Mary just shoved her with her shoulder, laughing as the train trundled on towards Hogwarts.
~
Marlene was standing with Mary in a room just off the great hall. It was fairly big, it had to be to fit all of the first years in. She caught the eye of a redhead girl over in the corner and smiled at her. The boat ride over had been fantastic, and seeing the castle for the first time had sent a thrill down her, right in her bones. Hearing the water slosh against the side of the boat as she clung onto Mary’s hand, hoping that she wouldn't fall over the side of the edge. The water sounded incredible, smooth, soft and cool, but rough as well. Exactly how it felt when she dragged her fingers through it.
“Mars!” James Potter popped up in front of her suddenly, signing her name.
“James!” She brightened, excited to tell him about finding Mary when she noticed the black haired boy trailing behind him. He was incredibly pale, with black hair cut around his shoulders, high cheekbones and colourless grey eyes. Marlene supposed he was handsome, if you looked closely enough. Peter also stood behind them, waving at Marlene. She grinned and waved back. Her, Peter Pettigrew and James had all been friends since childhood.
“This is Sirius!” James’s hands moved quickly. He signed very openly, and combined with his cheeky smile and wide brown stare, it warmed people up to him very quickly. It took Marlene a moment to register that James was speaking slowly as he signed. She'd never heard him speak before. He sounded different from Mary. More similar to her. “He's my soulmate.” James finished proudly, almost jumping up and down with excitement. The boy behind him - Sirius - gave them a sharp grin, sparkling with the same mischief that ran through James.
Marlene grinned. Her and James had done everything together since they were children, it was only right they found one of their soulmates together too.
“I'm so happy for you!” Marlene's hands flew quickly, before she pulled James into a fierce hug, squeezing the breath out of his lungs. He gave a wheeze at her force, although he was used to her so called death hugs by now, and squeezed her back. The two had always been slightly disappointed that they weren't platonic soulmates, but they'd accepted it, and become as close as siblings.
“Guess what James?” Marlene’s smile widened, toothy and ecstatic. She sounded out the words as she spoke, the steel wool in her throat feeling more like cotton now, but still scratchy and sore. James gasped.
“No way.” He signed, jaw dropping in shock, waving his hand over his shoulder.
“This is Mary.” Marlene grinned, pulling the curly haired girl forwards, beaming. A quick glance to the left told her that Mary was smiling, not seeming particularly uncomfortable. Marlene squeezed her hand anyway. James laughed, pulling Marlene in for another hug.
“Look at us go!” He grinned, slightly surprised at the coincidence, but taking it in his stride.
Marlene caught the eyes of Peter over James's shoulder, looking a bit lost. A flash of sympathy ran through her. Marlene and James had always been brash, and they'd gotten the sense that Pete always felt a bit left out, no matter how much they tried to include him. Now the two of them had met their soulmates, and by the happy but still slightly miserable look on his face, Peter hadn't.
“Come meet Mary, Pete.” Marlene grabbed his attention, gesturing to the girl beside her. Before Peter could respond, Professor McGonagall walked in and started instructing them on what to do. A thrill ran through Marlene. This was it. This was what she'd been waiting for since she understood what Hogwarts was. With Mary next to her, trying to maintain a straight face as Marlene whispered in her ear, she felt on top of the world. Even though her brother told her she'd have to fight a dragon. Marlene reckoned she could take a dragon.