Marlene

Biodata

Background

Marlene comes from a wizarding family that does not share the pure-blood supremacist beliefs she warns her Muggle-born roommates about. Her parents run a successful shop selling an assortment of goods, including bread, toys, and kitchen utensils. After buying the neighboring premises, they plan to expand the business, and Marlene expects to help with the redecoration during her first summer holiday 8 20.

Her older brother, Joss, is a Ravenclaw two school years ahead of her. She initially describes him as usually ignoring her because he considers her a little child. Her extended family includes a relative in Poland and a great-aunt who has lived in Peru for many years 13 32 34.

Appearance

Marlene has blonde hair and a round face 8.

Personality

Marlene is cheerful, affectionate, and fond of exaggerated jokes. She teases Rose about her appetite and growth, theatrically pretends to faint over an essay deadline, and turns her account of Rose punching Hudson Sparrow into a performance that leaves their roommates laughing 11 20 22 24.

Her concern for her friends is attentive and practical. She notices Rose’s improved health, worries about the expense of a broom, and asks whether training without being selected to play makes Rose feel unfairly treated. She also admits, through Lily, to worrying that she and Lily are no longer Rose’s best friends 11 20 28 35.

Although curious about other people’s affairs, Marlene respects their privacy. She refrains from pressing Rose about the recipient of a Christmas gift and later chooses not to ask how Rose knows where the Black family lives, accepting that everyone has secrets 15.

Relationships

• Rose Claude — Roommate and close friend. They spend their first Christmas holiday studying and playing Wizard’s Chess together. Marlene proposes pooling money for a broom as a future Christmas present, though Rose declines because of the cost 8 13 20.
• Lily Evans — Roommate and close friend. They study and visit Hogsmeade together; Marlene also helps organize Lily’s surprise birthday party 22 41 47 48.
• Mary Macdonald — Roommate and member of their regular circle for meals, conversations, and Quidditch spectating 8 11 16.
• Natasha Macmillan — Roommate who joins the other girls in supporting Rose after the confrontation with Sparrow 8 24.
• Joss — Older brother in Ravenclaw. Marlene claims that recognizing his romantic feelings at Christmas taught her how obvious boys become when they like someone 13 34.
• Parents — Her father supports her wish for a new Nimbus broom, but her mother considers it unseemly for a girl to spend all day flying. Their disagreement leads to a substantial argument 22.
• Mirabella — A portrait Marlene stops to converse with at Christmas. She introduces Rose and explains Mirabella’s separation from her merperson lover 14.

Story Role / Major Arcs

First Year: Roommates and Christmas

Lily introduces Marlene and Mary to Rose at breakfast after their first night in the Gryffindor dormitory. When Lily later leaves with Severus Snape, Marlene explains her concern about pure-blood supremacist families associated with Slytherin, rather than simply condemning every Slytherin student 8.

Marlene stays at Hogwarts for Christmas instead of accompanying her parents and brother to Poland. She and Rose spend afternoons playing Wizard’s Chess and evenings studying borrowed spellbooks 13.

On Christmas Day, Rose finds her speaking to Mirabella’s portrait. Both girls learn of a passage behind it leading to the place where the Whomping Willow has been planted. Their discussion of Mirabella’s decision to become a haddock prompts Marlene to ask whether a choice can still be brave if it ends terribly 14.

Rose then shows Marlene the kitchen entrance. Inside, Marlene handles the initial conversation with a house-elf when Rose becomes uncomfortable, eats the meal she missed, and watches Rose bake Christmas cookies for Sirius Black. She subsequently accompanies Rose to the Owlery to send them 14 15.

Second Year: Supporting Rose

Marlene accompanies Rose through the rain to Quidditch tryouts but waits in the stands rather than trying out herself. After Rose punches Sparrow for insulting her, Marlene worries that he might report the incident to Professor McGonagall. Back in the common room, she enthusiastically recounts the punch and agrees that Sparrow deliberately provoked Rose 24.

She remains concerned about Rose’s position as a reserve, privately telling Lily that training so hard without playing must feel awful. When Rose finally gets a chance to play, Marlene is openly delighted 28 33.

For Christmas, she gives Rose a peacock-blue quill made from a male macaw feather, found in a parcel from her great-aunt in Peru. After Rose leaves the Hospital Wing, Marlene excitedly congratulates her on finding Ravenclaw’s Diadem. She later pulls Rose away from Hufflepuffs overwhelming her with questions about their missing Cup 32.

Third Year: Hogsmeade and Lily’s Birthday

When Rose cannot attend the first Hogsmeade outing, Marlene promises to bring back Honeydukes sweets. She and Lily secure one of the last boxes of Fizzing Whizbees for her. Marlene’s complaint that Sirius bought the other remaining box reveals that his earlier gift to Rose was his own purchase 40 41.

Marlene notices the tension caused by Rose and James secretly planning Lily’s birthday celebration. Once Rose explains, she reassures her that Lily will understand. On the day, Marlene keeps Lily occupied with a supposed search for missing Transfiguration homework, then steers her toward the abandoned fifth-floor classroom by claiming her crystal ball predicted good luck there at seven 47 48.

Before Rose’s first Quidditch final as Seeker, Marlene and Lily persuade the nervous Rose to eat some breakfast 50.

Notable Quotes

“Is it still brave even if it ends terribly?” 14

“These boys are so obvious. They might as well have ‘I like you’ written on their faces!” 34

Trivia

• According to Lily, Marlene is frequently late 38.
• Marlene recognizes Slughorn’s invitation to “a bite to eat” as a Slug Club invitation and shows no resentment at not being invited herself 29.