First I would like to apologize for such a long break between updates…I had finals, then the flu, and then my workplace blew up…no joke! So please don't hate me. I do want to continue and I hope you will keep reading and reviewing!!!

Enough with the sappy sht… this chapter is a lot shorter that I originally intended. It was originally going to end after the feast… but I was given some great ideas about the feast scene…so I am still working on it…sigh…but it has been so long since I updated I figured it was the least I could do to put this scene up…though it's a little short, it has a HUGE impact on the rest of the story…let me know what you think!

And yet again… I own nothing but my mind…and I lost that years ago…give it up to JKR

"I can do this…I can do this…"

Mina kept repeating these words to herself as if the more she said them, the more they would become solid fact. She was sitting up in her hospital bed thinking. After Dumbledore had pulled her out of the pain she was drowning in, they had talked about her situation. She knew he was right. She could not carry on like this alone. She had to share the truth of her past with someone before it tore her apart. It was just…she had always been the cool, calm, and collected one. She was the one everyone always came to when they needed a shoulder to help bear the burden of their troubles. Now the shoe was on the other foot. She would have to lean on someone and she wasn't sure if she could, it scared her. But, if she was going to be honest with herself, what she had to do first was what was making her nervous…could she pull it off? At first Dumbledore had objected when she had shared her idea's with him, saying she already had too many burdens to bear without this 'special project' added onto it. In the end he had to give in to her logic that if she did not start right away, the opportunity could be lost forever. He had finally agreed and left to send the others in. Only now that she was alone was she beginning to doubt herself and her strength. "I can do this, I can do this, I can do…"

She was so focused on her inner monologue that she did not notice the others enter the hospital wing until she heard a loud squeal and was attacked by a mass of red hair.

"Mina! Oh God Mina. I was so worried about you, are you ok?" Lilly said babbling while hugging her.

Mina pulled back and smiled at her "I am fine, just a bit tired."

"Of course she is fine" said Sirius as he draped himself across the foot of her bed "She is a Black. We are made tough" he said grinning

"You lie" said Mina in mock outrage "I am a delicate flower." She fluttered her eyelashes and faked a swoon.

Sirius just snorted at her "Yah right you are a 'delicate flower'…and I am a natural blond!"

"That would explain a lot" she quipped

'Oh yeah, she is going to be fine' Sirius thought to himself with a smile

James had set himself down on a chair on one side of her bed, while Remus stood nervously on the other side. Mina grinned to herself while watching Lilly and James trying to sneak glances at each other while they thought the other wasn't looking. She turned to Remus and gave him a reassuring smile while discreetly grabbing his hand under the sheet and giving it a comforting squeeze. She knew how much he craved that kind of contact, contact he so rarely allowed himself to have. He smiled at her and blushed, but did not let go of her hand.

She finally looked at all of them, sighed and then asked them nervously "I suppose Dumbledore spoke to all of you about my…condition?" Remus jumped a little at her choice of phrasing…it was the same phrase he used to describe himself.

James leaned forward in his chair and looked at Mina. "Yes he did, and don't worry. You have friends who care about you, no matter what. You do what you need to do, however you need to do it, and we will do whatever we need to do to help you do it."

Sirius rose an eyebrow at him "You know James... that almost made sense." Remus just rolled his eyes.

James glared at them "Knock it off Padfoot! I am just saying she is not alone in this, that she has us."

"I know James" said Mina "and I appreciate your friendship…all of you. And speaking of friends and things I need to do, Peter?" Mina said to the boy hiding behind Lilly "can you com here for a second?"

Peter walked up to her with his head down, flinching, as if he expected her to start screaming at any moment.

"Peter look at me please." He looked at her with fear in his eyes and she smiled sadly at him. "Peter, I just wanted to say I am sorry. I am sorry I scared you earlier. It wasn't your fault. I was thinking about some old friends when we ran into each other. It startled me and I was reminded of someone who had hurt us very badly in the past. It was not you that caused this to happen, it was that memory and I am sorry if I hurt you because of it. I am hoping we can still become good friends."…'well that's the closest to the truth I can get' she thought and she held out one of her hands for Peter to shake. The other hand was behind her hidden and still holding onto Remus's hand in a death grip the whole time she was talking to Peter. Remus didn't even flinch, but he knew it was another question to add onto the list of things that puzzled him about the girl that had so quickly become the center of his universe. But if she needed him for some kind of secret support, he would be there. It was not, however as secret as they thought. Sirius had seen the gripping hands out of the corner of his eye and had filed that fact away for later examination. Oh, Sirius could be discrete when he wanted to be, but come hell or high water; he was going to figure out what was going on between his fury friend and his newest relative. He had long ago sworn to take care of Remus and now Mina…and nothing was going to get in his way…not even them.

Peter, at this point, had gotten over his shock at someone actually apologizing to him and was smiling tentatively at Mina. He took her offered hand and shook it

"Um…wow…thanks" he stammered "I am just glad you are ok…and um…well, we Marauders stick together…and if your…your Honor guard needs a squire…I am your man" he said puffing out his chest a bit. Mina surprised herself by laughing good-naturedly.

James stood up and clapped Peter on the back "That's the spirit Peter my boy…All for all and one for one!"

Lilly rolled her eyes and sighed exasperatedly "It's All for One and One for All you dolt. Honestly, how you made it to the 7th year with grades you have is beyond me." She then turned to Mina "I am going to head back to the room and straiten out a bit. I will come back for you in a little while so you can have time to get ready for the feast. Ok?"

"OK, thanks Lilly." Mina said with a yawn

"That's our cue men" said Sirius jumping up. He gave a small bow and signaled for the others to follow him "See you at the feast Milady" he said with a grin

Mina gave Remus's hand a final squeeze and let go. "See you guys later."

Remus was the last to leave. He turned to give her a parting wave and found her staring at him intently. She mouthed the words 'right pocket'. Puzzled, he reached into his pocket and found a small scrap of parchment that had not been there before. It read 'Astronomy tower. 8 o'clock. Alone' He looked at her and nodded. She nodded back and closed her eyes to rest. He looked at her a moment longer with a blank expression, then turned around and left. As soon as the door closed, Mina opened her eyes and sighed...

"I can do this, I can do this, I can do this…"

The feast and tower scene should be up soon…house sitting for a bit so I should have ample time to type between dog walks! My laptop never leaves my side!! Cheers!