A note here: I do not write accents. Just a heads up.


(Mercy)

The last task was upon us, and it was a surprise.

I glanced at Albus, who looked anxious but also proud at the same time. I caught him talking to his father before the task started. I eavesdropped.

"Dad, do you think I can do this?" he asked softly.

"I'm sure you can." Harry replied.

"Everyone else is so much more talented than I am though..." the boy trailed off.

"Albus, look at me. They may be more skilled, but there were a lot of witches and wizards more skilled than me. It's all in here, and in here. That's what my friend told me." first he tapped his son on the head, then the heart. I'd told him that. Tears sprang to my eyes. He still remembered me.

"Who?"

"Her name was Mercy. She died during the Battle of Hogwarts, just after Fred. She was one of the most skilled witches I'd ever seen. She rivaled your Aunt Hermione. She was a Ravenclaw, but I could have sworn she was supposed to be a Gryffindor. She was brave enough." he told his son. I had to walk away. I couldn't do it, be so near to them and not be able to show myself.

(Harry)

I turned to see a familiar girl running down the hallway.

"Mercy?" I wondered quietly, following her. I paused, peering around the hallway to see a girl who looked similar to my friend, who I thought had died touch her name on the wall. Her hair was lighter, and her eyes were different, but it looked like her when we'd met.

"Mercy Fides is gone. You're Mercy Tempus. It's time to let go of the past." she whispered, letting her hand drop to her side.

"What?" I wondered softly.

"Mercy?" one of the judges, who looked like a large rabbit came over.

"Hey Bunny." she said softly.

"You alright, Sheila? You're looking blue." he said in an Australian accent. I'd seem some strange people but the judges topped my list.

"Just thinking." she said.

"What's wrong?" he insisted.

"I was thinking of how Harry and the others have been getting along without me. It's been so many years since Mercy Fides died. Though it's been even longer since Mercy Spero died a thousand years ago. I never thought I could miss Helga and Rowena and Godric and Sal so much." tears filled her eyes.

"You've left a lot of people behind haven't you?" Bunny asked softly.

"I'm a lot older than you, Bunny, I've got you beat by a few thousand years at least." she teased, wiping her eyes.

"Oh, ha ha. The only one not older than you is Pitch."

"Kind of. I was human when he was. I only became a spirit a few years after he became Pitch. I remember when he was Kozmotis, hopelessly in love and wrapped around his little girl's finger. It was heartbreaking, when the Fearlings possessed him. I wish you had let Ombric do something." she scolded.

"He would have messed up the whole time stream." Bunny grumbled.

"For better or worse? The Golden Age would still most likely exist had Pitch Black never come to be. Things like this, the Battle of Hogwarts, never would have happened." she said, gesturing to the wall covered in names.

"Perhaps. But was it a risk worth taking?" Bunny asked.

"That will never be answered, old friend." she said softly.

"Who's older here?" he asked in a teasing voice.

"Hey, I don't show it." she poked fun at him.

Though I was completely confused only one thing seemed to make sense.

Mercy was not all she said she was, back when I was a student with her or even now.