August 30th, 1995

Mary resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she sat in the brewing room. "I'm fine, sir. Really."

"And you're making sure that you're catching up with your brewing?" Snape looked down at her.

Mary pulled the list from her pocket. "Everything except for the Draught of Peace," Mary said, gesturing to the cauldron in the corner of the room. "I'll finish it later on tonight."

Snape tapped her over the head with his wand, then stepped back, examining the results. "No change."

"Still stuck at twenty-five?" Mary asked, her heart faltering.

Snape nodded, putting his wand back up his sleeve. "You seem to be aging normally now."

"Well, I guess that's better than being ninety before I graduate." Mary let out a small laugh, hopping off the table. "How have you been, sir? Any issues out of the Mark?"

"Only when he's feeling particularly vidictave," Snape said, shooting her a stern look. "Are you keeping up with your Occlumency?"

"All the time," Mary answered, rubbing at her scar. "It feels different though. Like he's so far in the background that I don't even notice."

Snape's eyes narrowed. "That's no reason to let up."

Mary shuddered. "Oh, I have no intention of that. Believe me."

Snape tapped her left arm with his wand. "Cast a Lumos."

Mary lifted her blackthorn wand. "Lumos!"

It was still too bright and she pulled back her magic until it was no longer blinding them both.

"With your dominant hand now," Snape said. "Try to temper the spell as you cast it to match the other."

Mary focused on the ball of light clinging to her blackthorn wand and lifted her holly wand to the same height. "Lumos!"

"Passable," Snape said quickly.

"Nox!" Mary said, making the room dim as both lights were extinguished. "Want to see something neat, sir?"

Snape lifted a brow, a scowl on his face. "I don't have all day, Potter. I too have a long list of potions to brew before your idiotic classmates return to the school."

Mary holstered her wands and cupped her hands together, focusing on what she wanted the magic to do. When she pulled her hands apart, a glowing orb floated into the air, growing brighter as she guided it toward the ceiling.

"Are you expecting applause?" Snape sneered, grabbing his bag from the table.

"No sir." Mary grinned, making the orb disappear. "I'm getting better at focusing my magic."

"Well, should you experience any changes, whether with your visions, magic, or you feel as though you're aging rapidly again, you must let one of us know." Snape paused, his hand on the door. "And you should consider keeping your new aptitude for magic a secret. That knowledge could be dangerous among many of the children with parents loyal to the dark lord."

"Yes, sir," Mary replied, looking into the cauldron one more time. "Are you staying for dinner?"

"No, Potter, I'm needed back at the school," Snape said, turning and walking out of the room.

Mary cast a monitoring charm on her potions and walked out, shutting the door behind her. With nothing better to do other than practice, Mary went into the kitchen, wrangling Neville, Daphne, Kreacher, and Dobby into helping her make dinner and prepare for the Order meeting scheduled for the following night.

"Smells good, kids," Sirius said, stepping into the room and adjusting the collar of his suit.

"You look nice." Mary walked over to him, slapping his hands away as she straightened the collar and unwrinkled his waistcoat. "Ready for your big date with Ami?"

Sirius let out a low breath. "I'm breaking up with her."

"Oh, Siri," Mary whispered, pulling him into a hug. "Are you sure that's what you want?"

"It's for the best." Sirius rubbed a hand over his face. "We both have more important things to focus on right now."

"That's not an excuse and you know it." Mary took a step back, crossing her arms.

"I was unaware you were interested or had any say so in my relationships," Sirius replied with a raised brow.

The words stung, but Mary didn't react. "You're right. I don't. Give me a minute and I'll pack dinner for you both."

"I didn't mean it like that, Mary," Sirius said, taking a step toward her.

"It's fine," Mary said, a tight smile on her face as she grabbed the small basket from the lower cabinet. "Nev, will you wrap up some of the pasties?"

Sirius' stomach rolled, the aroma of delicious food nearly made him question his resolve. At the same time, the guilt for his harsh words battled with his appetite. Mary didn't deserve his vitriol.

What made it worse was her stoicism as she packed a feast into the basket and handed it to him with a contemplative frown. "Give Ami my apologies for, well, everything. And be careful, Siri."

Sirius hugged her quickly. "Remus and Tonks should be here shortly. Don't leave the house. No dangerous magic."

"Understood." Mary nodded and went back to the kitchen.

He let out a sigh and stepped into the floo, calling out for Ami's office at the Ministry of Magic.

"I was wondering if you'd show up," Ami said easily, not looking away from her paperwork.

"It's been a busy week, I'm sorry." Sirius sat in the leather armchair across from her. "Mary sent dinner."

"How is she?"

"Awake and doing much better."

"Did Andromeda and Severus find a cure?"

Sirius leaned back. "They found a way to stop the aging, but there's no reversing it."

Ami met his eyes. "Croaker and Lobosca assumed as much."

Sirius' brow furrowed. "You've had your people looking into it?"

"Of course I have," Ami said defensively. "Mary's important to me too."

"Is she really?" Sirius asked, his hackles raised. "Or like the Prophet, do you consider her a threat?"

Ami splayed her hands on her desk, standing up. "If I truly believed that Mary was a danger to herself or those around her, she wouldn't be free right now. My only goal has been to help her Sirius."

Sirius scrubbed a hand over his face. "I'm sorry, Ami. I shouldn't have snapped at you, it's just, all of this is a lot to deal with. I don't know who to trust anymore."

Ami pulled a file out of her desk and walked around to hand it to him, sitting in the chair on his left. "The Unspeakables examined the Goblet and the parchment that came out. It was in Mary's handwriting, but she wasn't the one to put it in the Goblet."

"I told you that," Sirius said.

Ami held a hand up. "Mary isn't under any suspicion. According to their findings, Mary was of age when her name was put in the Goblet. It wasn't Confunded to choose her, it simply picked her as the most worthy Hogwarts champion."

Sirius read over the list of spells they'd used to get to their conclusion and Croaker's final statement. "So all Junior had to do was put her name in. Her rapid aging got him around the requirements of Dumbledore's spell."

"Exactly that," Ami said, taking the file from him and tossing it into the fire. "Though I say that is at the bottom of a very long list of worries I have concerning Mary."

"Tell me," Sirius said, sitting up straighter.

"There's been an influx of transfer students." Ami handed him a long scroll of names. "Minerva brought me the list this morning. They're mostly homeschooled students, but the number is enough to cause worry."

Sirius handed the scroll back. "Everyone's scared. I don't blame them for wanting their kids at the safest place in the country."

"Nor do I, but it makes my job even more difficult. Rufus has the lowest number of willing Auror trainees in almost sixty years." Ami pulled her short hair back. "I'm sorry, Sirius, I know you didn't come here to discuss my work."

Sirius took in a breath. "You're right. I think you and I need to have a talk about us."

"You feel it too. The end of this." Ami stated it easily, no question in her tone. "I can't say that I'm surprised."

"I'm sorry," Sirius said genuinely, grabbing her hand. "You're a wonderful woman, Ami. I just think we both have too much on our plates to really give this relationship a shot."

"I agree," Ami said with a smile, patting his arm. "In fact, I say we go back to being co-workers and call it a day."

"Co-workers?" Sirius tilted his head.

"I need Aurors, Sirius." Ami clarified. ""At present, there are only five hundred Aurors in the country. We have around a hundred trainees and around two hundred hit wizards. The numbers dwindled in Fudges reign and I can't keep up with the demand."

"That's Rufus' job," Sirius said.

"I need him as Head of the DMLE," Ami said. "And I don't think Pius is going to pass the test."

"Thicknesse?" Sirius balked. "You really considered him?"

"He's the only one that applied for the position," Ami said. "Unless you'd agree to submit your resume, of course.You're capable. You have all of your limbs. And you have experience both in the field and as a teacher. I would be hard pressed to find a better Head of the Auror Office and mentor for the newest trainees."

Sirius rubbed at the stubble on his chin, his mind spinning. "I've already agreed to teach dueling and DADA at Hogwarts. And Mary needs me there now more than ever. I can't just step away when the term starts in a few days."

"If I can find you a replacement, will you consider it?" Ami asked, her hand twitching slightly as she grabbed another file. "I'll even work out a schedule that will give you time to run your dueling classes."

"Who do you have in mind?" Sirius asked, opening the envelope and feeling his heart stutter to a halt. "Where is she?"

"A safehouse here in London." Ami closed the file. "I know the two of you were close. Do you trust her with this?"

"I'd like to speak to her first," Sirius whispered.

Ami patted his arm. "I'll send a message through the normal channels. She's almost as bad as Mad Eye these days."

"Yeah," Sirius breathed. "How long has she been undercover?"

"Almost fifteen years," Ami answered. "Her work with the MACUSA has been invaluable."

"Look where that got her," Sirius said heavily.

"She's a strong woman, Sirius. And I think she will make a wonderful professor. Now come on, I'm starving." Ami grabbed a bottle of firewhiskey from the side table and two glasses.

Sirius cleared off her desk and they spent the next few hours enjoying the large meal and working out the details of Sirius' contract. But he couldn't focus on any of it. Mac was finally home. It wasn't guilt keeping her away, but her job.

Ami put her glass down, meeting his gaze. "You're distracted."

Sirius picked up his fork. "It's a good meal."

"You haven't taken a bite in a half-hour," Ami said with a snort. "Just go, Sirius. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you."

Sirius balked. "Ami, I-"

Ami stood, putting her napkin on the desk. "We both knew this wouldn't last. There's no sense in acting like it was more than it was."

"I care about you," Sirius said in his defense.

"And I you," Ami replied, hugging him quickly. "Now go. Here, you can take Agent Macdonald her next assignment. And don't try to open it. The files are hexed."

Sirius knocked on the door for the second time. "Hurry up, Mac, I'm dying here."

Mac opened the door, clearly half awake. "Sirius?"

He brushed past her, tossing the envelope her way and rushing toward the bathroom, turning on the tap.

"Are you okay?" Mac asked through the door. "What are you doing here? How'd you find me?"

"Will you hush?" Sirius hissed, sloshing water down his front. "My dick's on fire here."

A low giggle filtered out, turning into a full bellied laugh at his expense. "Did you try to open my mission report?"

"No," Sirius whimpered. "But, uh, on the off chance I did, is there a counter spell?"

Mac opened the door, staring at him with a gleam in her eyes. "It wears off after a bit."

"A bit?" Sirius repeated in a high voice. "How long is a bit?"

"Eight or nine hours," Mac said, opening the envelope. "Was satisfying your curiosity worth it?"

Leaning against the wall, he couldn't think of a more humiliating reunion. Obviously Ami wasn't as amicable about their breakup as he thought. The fires of the seven hells engulfed his crotch and Sirius doubled over, letting out a low whine. It wasn't worth it. The files were encoded and spelled in a way he couldn't read the first word. Not that he'd admit as much to Mac. Or Ami for that matter.

"Seven months and I don't even get a proper hello," Mac said, pushing the door open.

"You said you wouldn't return for two years," Sirius bit out.

Mac slid down the wall across from him, crossing her legs so that her knees almost touched his in the tiny bathroom. "My mission changed when Voldemort returned."

Sirius grimaced at the pain, pushing it to the back of his mind as he met her eyes. "You said that you worked for a furniture store in the States. Was that your cover?"

Mac pushed the pale blonde hair out of her face. "It's a funny thing really. Ever since Mulciber cast that curse, no one has ever second guessed what I said. Not once."

"Well yeah," Sirius argued. "That's the whole point of the Veritas Curse."

"Saul and Lily broke the curse not long after we graduated," Mary admitted, looking down at her hands.

"But you broke up with me." Sirius breathed. "You said you didn't love me. That you never had!"

"And you believed me." Mac let out a small snort. "You didn't even give me time to move out before you started shagging Marlene."

"You broke my heart," Sirius said, standing up.

"Then why are you here?" Mac looked up at him, her light grey eyes piercing his soul.

"I don't know."

"Let's talk over tea." Mac reached for his hand, letting him help her to her feet.

"I better get home." Sirius shook his head.

Mac waved her wand at him and the burning pain disappeared. "It was good seeing you again, Sirius, even if I wish we could meet under better circumstances."

He didn't let go of her hand. "Come back with me. Remus and I will update you on the lesson plans."

"Lesson plans?" Mac pulled away, leaning against the wall as she pulled the papers out of the envelope and read through them. "I see."

"Professor Macdonald, you've stolen my job." Sirius smiled slightly.

"I'll talk to Ami." Mac tapped the papers with her wand, letting them fall to the sink as nothing more than a pile of ash that she quickly vanished. "This isn't something I'm prepared for."

"You have to be," Sirius said, moving closer to her. "I'll be leading the Auror Office and Remus can't retake the position because of his furry little problem."

Mac let out a snort. "You still call it that?"

"As often as he'll let me," he replied. "Come on, you have no excuse not to finally meet Mary."

Mac grimaced and backed away. "I haven't even been back long enough to unpack. Just give me some space, okay?"

"Why are you so scared to meet her?" Sirius took a step toward her.

"I'm not," she said, avoiding his eyes. "I just have a lot to do. There's only a day before I have to go to Hogwarts. I don't have the first thing planned. I still have to finish my reports from my last mission and contact my replacement."

"What are you hiding from?" Sirius asked, a cold feeling settling in his stomach. "What did you do, Mac?"

"A lifetime of failures," she said in a near whisper. "I was with the team when we went to Marlene's house. And James and Lily. And Frank and Alice. Always hours too late to help. Crouch only had me there to identify the bodies. To sift through the ashes of my former life."

Sirius flinched. "We were both too late."

"The Ministry offered me custody of Mary." Mac finally blurted out, digging her fingers into her scalp. "Bagnold was pressured by some of the old purebloods to place her with a magical family. As her godmother, I was given the choice to take her and raise her or leave her with Petunia. I- I couldn't do it. I was in no shape. I'd lost almost everyone. Sirius, I couldn't even go to their funerals."

Of all the things she could have admitted to, that hurt the most. Knowing what Mary went through made it even worse. "Why did you leave her there? Do you know what those Muggles did to her? How they treated her?"

"No," Mac said. "She was already living with Petunia and I didn't want to take her from her only living family. And I had a situation of my own to deal with."

"So you left." Sirius felt his heart breaking all over again. "Without a second thought for her or me."

"I had nothing left to stay for. My friends and family were dead. Mary was safe. You were in prison and no one would listen when I said you were innocent. They wouldn't even let me visit you. I begged Petunia to let me visit with Mary, but she wouldn't allow it. Remus went through the same fight as I and he had no better luck." Mac caught her breath, finally meeting his eyes. "I asked Rufus to find me a job as far away from here as I could go."

"There isn't a mission out there that lasts fourteen years." Sirius scoffed.

"I've been tracking Vinda Rosier and the remnants of Grindelwalds most loyal Acolytes," Mac said quickly. "Believe me. I've put off coming back here for as long as I could. Three of them, including Vinda, returned to England. That's why I'm here."

The 'Not because of you' went unsaid, but Sirius heard it clear as a bell. "Grindelwald's in Nurmengard, why are they back?"

"You don't have the clearance for that," Mac said, opening the front door. "There is something we need to talk about when you have the time, but not tonight. Now if you'll leave me in peace, I have work to do."

Silence hung heavy in the air as Sirius stepped across the threshold and took in a deep breath. "My offer still stands. You're welcome at the house if you change your mind."

Mac nodded and closed the door, leaving him standing in the rain with a heavy heart.

Mary stood on the dueling platform waiting for Neville and Daphne to catch their breath. "Again."

"We can't keep up." Neville clutched at his side. "It's no use."

"I'm starving," Daphne said, dusting off her cloak and casting a water repelling charm on her shoes. "Come on, Potter, it's been six hours. We need a break."

Mary nodded. "You two go ahead, I'll be in soon."

"No you won't," Daphne said with a laugh, linking her arm through Neville's.

"Make sure Saphira has her bottle!" Mary called after them, placing the device at the far end of the platform and pressing the three largest runes.

The rain blew in sideways, plastering her hair against her face as she held up her hands, determined to master blocking spells without a wand. Every part of her ached and begged for mercy, but time was running out. Voldemort grew stronger each day and put more people in danger. There was no excuse or time for rest.

The music blasted from her radio and the spells shot out at a furious pace. Her wandless shields were small and unpredictable with their effectiveness, making her flail around as she tried to bat each spell away. The rain grew colder and her focus was split, making it difficult to concentrate and a few of the stinging hexes got through, causing her to stumble.

Mary righted herself, taking in a deep breath and holding up her hands as her breath created a fog around her. She batted away the next few stinging hex and dropped to her knees next to the device, stopping it. The hair on her arms stood on end, an overwhelming sense of dread filled her, making her breath catch. She'd failed. Almost a hundred deaths and she was the cause of it all.

Heart hammering behind her ribs, she stepped off the dueling platform. The cold air blew across her face and Mary clenched her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering.

High cold laughter echoed around her.

The flowers in the garden wilted and froze.

A bright light flashed in her eyes and a body landed next to her with a loud thump.

"No," Mary whispered, kneeling down and staring at Sirius' stunned face. "Siri?"

Teeth chattering, she pulled him closer. "Wake up. Please wake up."

This wasn't right. They were safe here. Sirius was at the Ministry. It wasn't real. Mary told herself.

The low rattling noise grew closer and Mary called her wand to her hand as the fairy lights in the garden dimmed around her. "Expecto Patronum!"

A wisp of white smoke wafted out of her wand. All along the outer edge of the stone wall, the tall skeletal creatures hovered in the air, watching her. They didn't try to move closer, they weren't trying to get past the wards, they were just waiting.

"Ex- expecto Patronum!" She called out louder, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

A faint light surrounded her, growing brighter. But the two large glowing wolves that bounded past her were not her patronus.

"Expecto Patronum!" Mary said again, calling forth her happiest memory.

Nothing happened.

"Get her inside," Remus said loudly, sending his patronus in a wide arc around the house.

"Sirius," Mary said, scrambling to her feet and wandlessly levitating him into the house.

"Stay here," Tonks said, a dark look in her eyes as she joined Remus in the back garden.

Mary kept her hand on Sirius' chest while she pointed her wand at the doors. "Expecto Patronum!"

Over and over again she called for Prongs, but he failed to appear, leaving her drowning in the depths of overwhelming grief.

Closing her eyes and taking in another deep breath, Mary Occluded her mind. Early morning light shone over the top of snow capped mountains. The lingering scent of campfire smoke drifted around her. The crisp winter air tugged at her face as she pulled her broom higher into the air.

"Expecto Patronum!" Mary called out, resignation setting in when the spell produced nothing.

Tonks rushed past her, talking to something in her hand.

Remus followed not long after, stopping next to Mary and Sirius. "Stay here, Mary Jane. Help will arrive shortly."

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"We have to make sure the Muggles in the area are safe," Remus said, squeezing her shoulder gently.

"I can help," Mary said, carding her fingers through Sirius' hair.

"You're no help without your patronus." Remus turned around and walked away.

The fireplace flared and Mr. Weasley stepped out, followed closely by Bill.

"Where are Tonks and Remus?" Mr. Weasley asked, pausing at the sight of her.

"Checking on the neighbors," Mary whispered. "They went out the front door."

"I'll go help them until the Ministry arrives. Bill, stay with Mary. They might come back."

Bill helped her levitate Sirius to the couch, watching as Mary trembled, her teeth chattering as she sat heavily next to her godfather.

He put a hand on her shoulder. "You're freezing. Stay with him and I'll get the elves to send in hot cocoa and chocolate."

"I was useless out there," Mary said, making Bill pause. "My patronus wouldn't work."

Bill cast a drying and warming charm on her clothes, then did the same for Sirius. "You're going to be okay, MJ."

Mary met his eyes. "He's not going to stop until I've lost everyone."

"We're getting close to getting the next piece," Bill said, pulling her into a hug. "Just don't try to rush this. Okay?"

"How can I fight him if I can't cast the one spell I've always been good at?" Mary asked, more to herself than to him, as she stared down at her hands. "What if I fuck it all up and he wins?"

"That's not going to happen," Bill said, shaking his head. "You're not in this alone. We'll all be fighting with you. I promise."

"I don't want anyone to fight with me." Mary stood up suddenly. "I just want the bastard dead so I can be at peace."

"Dobby, Kreacher," Mary said quietly, waiting for the two elves to appear.

Dobby was trembling and Kreacher's ears were flat back against his head. "Mistress calls for Dobby and Kreacher?"

"Dobby, please go upstairs and get Neville and Daphne. Let them know Dementors just attacked and ask them to come down to the kitchen. Kreacher, bring Saphira downstairs. I'll make hot chocolate and you both look like you could use some as well."

"I'll go outside and check on the others," Bill said as soon as Dobby and Kreacher disappeared.

Mary nodded quickly, levitating Sirius down the stairs behind her.

The fireplace flashed again and Mary pointed her wand at a blonde woman that eerily resembled a much older Luna. "Stop. Who are you?"

The woman looked from her to Sirius and rushed forward, unfazed by Mary's hostility. "How long has he been out?"

"Ten minutes, maybe," Mary replied. "I hate to say this, but I will hex the shit out of you if you don't identify yourself."

"Mary Macdonald," she said, holding out her hand. "Everyone calls me Mac."

Mary shook her hand quickly, letting go when Mac rushed back to the fireplace and threw in some powder. "Finn, grab the potions case and come on over. It's safe."

"What are you doing here?" Mary asked, letting Sirius' rest on the small sofa in the corner of the dining room, not taking her eyes off the newcomer.

Mac held up a chocolate frog card and what looked to be a gold credit card. "When the Order and the Ministry both summon you, it's a difficult call to ignore."

Mary looked closer at the golden card. "I always wondered how they communicated."

Mac smiled softly. "There's a two way mirror on the other side. I'd let you examine it, but they're charmed to only respond to the person they're issued to."

"I understand," Mary replied, going to the cabinets and working quickly to get the hot chocolate and brownies finished and plated up alongside the bars of Honeydukes' finest chocolate.

The fireplace flashed again and a boy stepped out. He brushed the ash from his dark hair and he looked up at her and his grey eyes widened at the sight of Sirius passed out on the couch.

"What's going on, Mom?" He asked in a heavy American accent.

"Have a seat, Finn," Mac said, digging through the case. "Mary's this is my son Finn. Finn, Mary Potter."

Mary smiled slightly, placing the tray on the table. "I'll just get the others. Do you mind watching Sirius for a moment?"

Mac nodded quickly, putting her hand under Sirius' neck and pouring a potion down his throat. Her hand lingered on his head as she set him back down, an odd look of longing in her eyes. Only Sirius could leave to break up with his girlfriend and have an old flame and her kid show up that same night.

Mary turned away, feeling an odd weight lift from her shoulders. At least she knew Sirius wouldn't be alone when the time came for her to leave everyone behind. He would be okay. They all would.

With that thought in mind, she stepped out into the back garden and held up her holly wand. "Expecto Patronum!"

It started as a small wisp of blue-ish white light that slowly grew in size and brightness until it had her covering her eyes. Her patronus had changed. It dimmed slightly, moving toward her, and Mary held her hand out, letting it hover over the creature.

"Saphira," Mary whispered in awe. "Go get them, darling."

Her new patronus turned around, spreading her wings and flying towards the dementors with the gracefulness of an eagle. She swooped down, barreling towards the dementors and pushing them back from the wards until they fled high into the clouds. Mary took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the summer air return ten fold.

It's going to be okay, she thought, looking up as the clouds parted and the stars shone bright overhead.