Disclaimer: Not JK Rowling

Cast:

Harry Potter - Daniel Radcliffe

Ron Weasley - Rupert Grint

Hermione Granger - Emma Watson

Molly Weasley – Julie Walters

Mary McDonald – Zoe Sadana

April 1999

It was finally here: the end of the war. It resonated throughout the land – the birds happily chirped, the wind blew gentler and even the tree seemed to have a lighter glow. When you passed by a stranger on the street, they weren't looking over their shoulder, to their past.

A year after the second war, the boy who lived opened the gates to his childhood home. The place was in utter ruins. Even after 18 years of abandonment, no one has taken it down. It was just cut off from the rest of the world. He stared up at the place where it all started. If he tried hard enough, he could almost imagine how the place used to be. Everything started to get blurry. He took off his glasses and wiped his eyes. No more tears needed to shed for what happened. It was time to move on.

He heard two pops behind him and smiled as he felt two other people joined them.

"Bloody Hell. We have to clean this mess up?" said a male voice. Harry turned around to see Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. War had changed Ron. His hair was still flaming red and down to his ears. He had grown a little and you could tell that he was taller than Harry. He had many battle scars but the one next to his left eye seems to be the most noticeable. Those scars in themselves seemed to have aged Ron as his eyes lost the child look.

"Honestly Ron. Show some respect," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. Hermione had matured. Her hair grew out and is actually tamable. You could see that she was a strong woman. The way she handled herself intimidated many others. She did have a few scars but most of them were hidden away by her clothes.

Harry smiled and laughed. He gave them both a hug and all three of them turned around to face the house in a battle stance. At the end of the war, Harry, Ron and Hermione went back to Hogwarts to actually finish their 7th year. Even though the trio had many offerings they felt that it was best to end Hogwarts with a complete education.

"It won't be that bad!" Harry said, not believing it himself and giving Ron a guilty look. "We may as well get started." Harry started to walk into the abandoned house. He could hear Ron grumbling behind him.

"You know if you don't want to help me you don't have to" Harry said with a fake sad look on his face. Ron immediately stopped grumbling and walked in with Hermione.

After graduating, Harry wanted to go back to his childhood and live there. Rather than having someone else repair it, Harry thought it would be a good project for him to do it. It would take mind off things and it would definitely help him reconnect with his past. Who knows what things of his parents he would find here. When Ron and Hermione heard of this idea, they immediately volunteered their help without Harry even asking. As the trio stood together in the entrance hall, they felt determined to make this house stand as elegantly as before. As for Harry, he never felt more at peace than he did here.

A few hours later…

"HARRY! Look what I found!"

Harry looked up from boxing stuff up and saw Ron rushing down the stairs with a box. When Ron came next to him, he couldn't even speak due to his loss of breath.

"What's all the commotion about?" Hermione said walking in.

"No idea. Ron just ran in here, saying he found something. And now he can't breathe." Harry said laughing at Ron's even redder face. After a few seconds, Ron finally calmed down and put down a box he was carrying. He rummaged through the stuff and brought out a very old scrapbook. Ron placed the book on the table and Harry and Hermione came on either side of him to look at the book. On the first page, it had a quote "friendship is a golden thread that ties all heart together," – unknown. Looking weirdly at his friends, Ron turned the page to see a group of eight individuals smiling at the camera in their graduation gowns.

"Hey, I know who these people are. They were in the album that Hagrid gave me." Harry said looking closer at the picture. "There's my dad, my mom, Sirius, Remus, Peter, my mom's friends and…"

"Who's the one next to Sirius?" Hermione said pointing to a short girl who was looking at the camera, laughing.

"No idea, we can ask Mom tomorrow. She might know"

The next day, they arrived at the Weasley house which was the one thing that remained consistent throughout the war. Although the Weasleys were doing financially better with their children in the real world, they never felt the need to move out of their family house or renovate it.

As they walked into the house, the smell of Molly's cooking filled the house, causing their stomachs to growl.

"MOM, I'M HOME!" Ron shouted, walking through the living room and towards the kitchen from where Molly emerged with an annoyed look.

"There's no need to shout Ron" Molly remarked before embracing him. "Have you been eating properly?" She asked as she pinched his cheek. Ron rolled his eyes as he let her fret over him.

"Hello Molly" Hermione said as she stepped up to embrace her mother-in-law. Molly turned her attention to Hermione.

"Hello dear! How is married life treating you? When can I expect a little grandchild to be running around here?"

"MOM!" Ron said as he blushed a deep red. Harry tried to stifle his laugher as Hermione's eyes widened. They had only been married for two weeks and since that their wedding day, Molly took every moment to ask about grandchildren.

"Oh Ron, don't be a child." Molly said, dismissing his embarrassment. She turned to Harry, hugging him. She then turned to go back into the kitchen, the trio filing in behind her.

"Mom, we just have a question for you." Ron said as he retrieved the scrapbook and put it on the dining table. He opened it to the picture and pointed at the mysterious woman. "Do you know who she is?"

Molly squinted at the picture before shaking her head. "She does seem familiar but I couldn't tell you." Molly replied as she put the book down. She looked up to see disappointed faces. "What's this about?"

"We found this in my parents' home yesterday." Harry said looking at the picture again. Every time he looked at it, his interest piqued. No one had ever mentioned this woman to him which made her that much more interesting.

"You could try asking Mary Macdonald – she was a Gryffindor at the same time as your parents and if I remember correctly, she used to hang around them." Molly said putting a hand on his shoulder. "She would give you a better answer."

After learning that Mary left the magical world, Hermione led the charge in tracking her down in the muggle world. They went through every directory they could find and called every Mary Macdonald they could find. Close to giving up, they finally picked up her location which put them on a flight to Paris, France.

They checked into a hotel near to where Mary's address was and headed out in the evening to her address.

"Now that I think about it, we probably should have called ahead or something." Hermione said shaking her head. "This could be creepy."

Both Ron and Harry looked at each other with a sheepish look. Neither of them had considered that. Harry knew this investigation was obsessive but he just needed to know who the woman was. She was the only connection he had left to his parents and Sirius. It was too late to turn back now. They were already at the steps of her house.

"Too late now" Harry said as he trekked up the stairs and knocked on the door. A few minutes later, an older lady opened the door. Before he could say anything, she dropped the glass she was holding.

"James?" she said looking at Harry as if she saw a ghost. Harry smiled as their trip wasn't wasted.

"I'm sorry, no. I'm his son – Harry Potter" Harry said. "Are you Mary Macdonald?"

Mary nodded, the shock sliding off her face, and smiled. "Oh of course you are. I'm sorry, you just look so much like your father. Please come in."

Mary said as she opened the door to let them in. She led them to the living room and left to get water for the trio. A few minutes later, Mary returned with a tray and handed them each water.

"I know it was many years ago but I am sorry to hear about your parents. They were truly wonderful people" Mary said as she sat down in one of the armchairs.

"Thank you." Harry said smiling back to her. "If you don't mind, I have a question for you." Hermione handed Harry the scrapbook and he opened it to the picture. He gave her the scrapbook.

"Do you know who the woman is next to Sirius?"

Her eyes looked at the picture and her demeanor changed. Her face reflected almost a sad look. But it was gone as quickly as it came. She sat up and quickly smiled. "Yes, I do know who she is. Everyone knew her by my last year." She said softly. "In fact, if I remember correctly, she was the reason your parents got together."

Harry sat up at her last remark. "She was?"

Marry nodded. "Oh yes, she convinced Lily to give James a chance."

"Did something happen your last year?" Hermione piped in.

Again, a flash of sadness before Mary composed herself. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Hermione looking at him in confusion. "Oh, that was the year she became a legend." Mary said laughing, her demeanor once again changing. "She was the girl who made Sirius Black fall in love"

The trio looked at each other in shock. They weren't expecting that response. Harry knew that Sirius had a reputation at Hogwarts for being the ladies' man. He had always imagined Sirius with different girls, never settling down. He would have never expected Sirius and love to be in the same sentence.

"Sirius never mentioned her" Harry said hoping to get more information out. "What can you tell me about her?"

Mary sat back, her eyes never leaving the picture. "She was a shy girl and kept to herself mostly. She was an incredibly nice and forgiving person. Also quite brilliant – gave your mother a run for her money." Mary started as she gave back the picture to Harry. "But I'm assuming you didn't travel miles to hear about her grades."

Harry smiled and shook his head.

"Everyone knew their story so it's only fair that you do too." Mary said smiling. "It all started with a scream filled morning…"

Thanks for reading! I started this story a long time ago and I've decided to finish it. I'm hoping to become a full time writer so all reviews – negative and positive are helpful. This story is Sirius/OC based loosely on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and John Tucker Must Die.

Until next time,

Ms. Sappho