Marigold held her sleeping nephew in her arms as she sat in the sidecar of the flying motorcycle Hagrid was flying above Surrey, England. The two were meeting with Professor Dumbledore near the house of Marigold's cousin. The flying motorcycle comes down from the air. It skids on the street and halts a few feet away from Dumbledore and McGonagall.
Hagrid takes off his goggles and greets the two as he helps Marigold out of the sidecar, "Professor Dumbledore, Sir. Professor McGonagall."
"No problems, I trust, Hagrid?" Dumbledore asked.
"No, sir. Little tyke fell asleep just as we wer flyin over Bristol," Hagrid replied as he and Marigold walked toward the professors.
"I am sorry about your loss, Marigold," Dumbledore apologized, "and that you must do this so soon after, but-"
"I know," Marigold interrupted, not taking her eyes off her nephew, "It is the only way."
"Albus, do you really think it's safe, leaving him with these people?" McGonagall questioned as they walked toward the house, "I've watched them all day. They're the worst sort of Muggles imaginable. They really are…"
"The only way to keep him hidden," He said. They stop outside a house, 4 Privet Drive.
"This boy will be famous. There won't be a child in our world who doesn't know his name," McGonagall said.
"Exactly. He's better off growing up away from all that. Until he is ready," Dumbledore places a hand on Marigold's shoulder.
"Don't worry, sweetheart," Marigold said to her nephew. She kisses his forehead before slowly placing him on the ground at the foot of the door, "I promise to look after you."
Hagrid sniffles, he is sobbing a little, he clears his throat.
"There, there, Hagrid. It's not really goodbye, after all," Dumbledore comforted him, Hagrid nodded. Dumbledore takes a letter and places it on the baby, "Good luck...Harry Potter."
It had been almost eleven years since that night, and Marigold was in disguise. Her half back and half white-blonde hair was now brunette and her clothes were a maroon-colored wool coat, a white button-down shirt with an open v-neck collar, a blood-red circular midi skirt, ending just below the knee cinched at the midsection with a belt, high heeled black ankle strap round toe pumps, black deco floral mesh mid-arm gloves, and a black straw headband disc hat.
She watched from a distance as the Dursleys and Harry left the house and walked to the car. Marigold saw Harry about to get in the car, but Vernon stopped him by closing the door.
"Sonorus," Marigold spoke, allowing her to hear Vernon.
"I'm warning you now, boy. Any funny business, any at all, and you won't have any meals for a week. Get in," He told Harry. The two got in the car and drove away.
It made Marigold's blood boil at the way he threatened Harry and she was furious that they had treated him like scum since they had taken him in, but Marigold knew that things were about to change for the better for Harry in just a matter of time.
At the London Zoo, Marigold keeps a safe distance from the Dursleys and Harry so they wouldn't notice her. She watched them looking at a large Boa constructor in its enclosure. She was still able to hear what they were saying because of the charm.
"Make it move," Dudley told his father.
Vernon taps the glass of the cage, "Move!"
Dudley taps the glass much harder, and Vernon nervously winces at his son's actions.
"MOVE!" Dudley demanded.
"He's asleep!" Harry told his cousin.
"He's boring."
Dudley and his parents head over to another enclosure. Harry stays behind at the Boa enclosure, looking at the snake.
"Sorry about him. He doesn't understand what it's like, lying there day after day, having people press their ugly faces in on you," Harry said. A look of surprise overcomes his face as the snake looks up and blinks, "Can you...hear me?" The snake nods, "It's just...I've never talked to a snake before. Do you...I mean...do you talk to people often?" The snake shakes its head, "You're from Burma, aren't you? Was it nice there, do you miss your family?" The snake turns its head in the direction of a sign which says, Bred in Captivity, "I see. That's me as well. I never knew my parents, either."
The now awake snake has attracted Dudley's attention. He comes over to the glass, knocking Harry to the floor.
"Mummy, dad, come here! You won't believe what this snake is doing!" Dudley called his parents. Dudley puts his hands on the glass wall. With his back turned, Harry glares at him. Suddenly, the glass disappears, causing Dudley to wretch forward, losing his balance.
"Whoa! Ahh! Ahh!"
Dudley falls into the snake enclosure, sputtering in a pool of water. Harry snickers at what he saw. Marigold tried to hide her smile while trying not to laugh. The snake gets out of the exhibit, stopping in front of Harry.
"Thanks," The snake said to Harry.
"Anytime," He said.
The snake slivers off to the exit. There is a lot of screaming as the snake moves toward its freedom. Dudley gets up to get out, but the glass is now back over the enclosure. Seeing that he is now trapped, he pounds the glass in panic.
"Mum, mummy!" Dudley called.
"AHH!" Petunia screamed when she saw her son in the exhibit. Both she and Veron rush over to the glass.
"Mum, help! Help me!"
"My darling boy! How did you get in there?! How did you get in there? Dursley, oh, Dursley!" Petunia cried in confusion and fear.
Harry grins and snickers, Vernon notices this and glares down at him. Harry's grin disappears, knowing that he is in trouble with Vernon.
Later, that day, Marigold walked into the Leaky Cauldron, a pub and inn for wizards, which serves as a gateway between the non-wizarding world and Diagon Alley, and the moment she stepped foot into the pub her disguise disappeared as her hair returned to its black and white color and her clothes transformed into those of a witch. Marigold walked over to a table where a familiar face was sitting at.
"Hello, Hagrid," Marigold greeted him.
"Ah, Marigold. Good to see yeh," Hagrid said as he stood up and hugged Marigold. The two pulled apart and sat down at the table, "How 'ave yeh been?"
"Good," She replied, "And you, I hope?"
"Oh, nothin ey can't complain about," Hagrid answered, "Ey believe the reason for meetin here so suddenly is 'cause o-"
"Of my nephew," Marigold interrupted. She nods her head as she says, "Yes. I witnessed his magic today and I must say that my other nephew deserved what he got coming to him."
"Right. Ey'll let Dumbledore know and that when the time comes yeh will pick up Harry," Hagrid informed her.
"Agreed. Thank you for meeting me here at such short notice, Hagrid," She told him.
"Oh, think nothin of it," He replied, "It was good to see yeh again and Ey'm glad that yeh accepted the teachin position Dumbledore offered yeh."
"As am I," Marigold smiled, "It will allow me to spend time with Harry and I'll still be an Auror during the summer, and if need be during the school year."
Hagrid took out his pocket watch and looked at the time, "Ey better get goin. Don't want to be late gettin back to Hogwarts," Hagrid stood up from the table and Marigold did the same before the two hugged goodbye. When the two pulled apart, Hagrid says, "See yeh again when it's the first of September."
"See you then, Hagrid," She replied. Marigold smiled at Hagrid before a deep dark purple smoke cloud came from the ground and went up, surrounding her. When the smoke disperses, Marigold is gone.
Some time had passed before Marigold received a letter while she was in her office at the Magical Congress of the United States of America building in New York. When she examined it closer, Marigold saw that it was from Dumbledore himself. She grew worried that something was wrong with Harry and so she quickly opened the letter to read its contents.
"Marigold,
It has been my knowledge that after several owls were sent to your nephew with his acceptance letter to Hogwarts, many of which were thrown away by your Cousin Petunia and her husband Vernon Dursley. They have also recently moved to a house on a rock island in the sea due to the numerous letters that were sent. In three days, I ask that you meet with Hagrid here at Hogwarts before the two of you go to retrieve your nephew and help prepare him for his first year at Hogwarts.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Upon finishing the letter, Marigold walked out of her office to speak with her boss about letting her leave a few days earlier than expected. After her boss had allowed her to leave earlier than expected, Marigold returned to her office and responded to Dumbledore saying that she will arrive on the set date at Hogwarts to meet with Hagrid before picking up her nephew. She sent the letter to Dumbledore by making a deep dark purple smoke surround the letter in her hand before it dispersed as the letter was sent.
It was the night before Marigold was to leave for Hogwarts, she laid asleep in her bed but it was not a peaceful sleep. Her nightmares were memories of a tragic night and it was so clear in her nightmare as she slept.
She was with her cousin Lily in Harry's nursery while James was out in the hall. Marigold stood in front of the door standing guard to protect Lily and Harry, but suddenly the door exploded. Marigold was thrown back across the room, hitting the wall. Lily screams as Marigold falls to the floor semi-conscious but unmoving. Lily quickly puts Harry in his crib before turning around to face Voldemort.
"Stand aside," He hissed.
"No," Lily said, firmly.
"Stand aside and you will not be harmed, "Voldemort told her.
"I will not let you hurt my son," Lily told him, standing her ground to protect her son.
"Very well," Voldemort raises his wand at Lily, "Avada Kedavra!"
A bolt of green light hits Lily in the chest causing her to scream. Her body falls to the floor, her lifeless eyes are open. Voldemort steps forward to the crib to get Harry, Marigold sees this and uses all the strength she has left in her body to push herself up off the ground and raise her wand at Voldemort.
"Depulso!" She shouted, causing Voldemort to be pushed away from Harry's crib and hit the wall next to the door frame. Marigold felt blood dripping on her brow but ignored it as she kept all her attention on Voldemort.
Voldemort pushed himself away from the wall and quickly raised his wand at Marigold and before she even had a chance to do anything, he spoke, "Expelliarmus!"
Marigold was forced to drop her wand, but that did not leave her defenseless. She summoned a ball of fire in each hand, but before she could throw them at Voldemort he cast a spell on her.
"Crucio!"
Marigold fell to the ground in pain, but she did not scream and that seemed to displease Voldemort.
"Crucio!" He repeated, causing more pain to Marigold, but she still did not scream.
"I will not give you the satisfaction of hearing my screams," Marigold gritted through her teeth.
Voldemort takes notice of Marigold's Ilvermorny uniform and the Wampus emblem on it, "Ah, the Wampus. I have heard that those of that house are brave. Perhaps I should reward you for your bravery. Cum sentire iram an vel dolorem erit conversus in leaena."
Marigold began to feel the most Excruciating pain she has ever felt in her life and when she opened her mouth to scream all that came out was a roar.
Marigold awakens from her nightmare as she shoots up panting and in a cold sweat. Her hand drew up the scar that created an angled slit in her left eyebrow. She took a few deep breaths before lying her head back down on the pillow and trying to sleep.
The next day, it was time for Marigold to leave. She packed everything she would need in the suitcase that her maternal Great-uncle Newt Scamander had given to her when she had graduated from Ilvermorny. During her summer breaks, Marigold would spend a lot of time with her great-grandmother Amara and great-granduncle Newt. The three of them would spend their time taking care of magical creatures that were in their care.
Marigold was in her office and was saying goodbye to her two best friends who she knew since her first year at Ilvermorny and have worked together as Aurors. Lyra is pure blood, Emilia is a no-maj born, and Marigold is a half-blood. The fact that they were each in a different house did not stop them from being friends. The trio is currently in a group hug.
"I promise to write as often as a can," Marigold told her friends before the hug ended but the three continued to hold hands, "And I'll try to keep you informed of everything."
"We'll do the same on our end," Emilia promised.
"And do let us know if there are any available handsome English gentlemen. I do hope they live up to the hype," Lyra joked, and the three shared a laugh.
Marigold looked at the clock in her office, "I better get going. Blessed be, sisters."
"Blessed be, sister," Emilia and Lyra replied.
Marigold grabbed Trick, her Bowtruckle that she has had since she was a child, off her desk and placed him in her coat. Marigold stood in the middle of her office when a deep dark purple smoke cloud came from the ground and went up, surrounding her. When the smoke cleared, Marigold was now on the Hogwarts' grounds just a couple of feet away from Hagrid's home. Marigold walked over and knocked on the door. A moment later, the door opened and Hagrid stood in front of Marigold.
"Ah, Marigold, jus in time. Ey was 'bout ter leave an' get Harry. Have yeh got everythin yeh need?" He asked her.
Marigold held up her suitcase for Hagrid to see, "Of course, I do."
"Let's get goin' then," Hagrid said before he and Marigold got into the flying motorcycle before flying off to where Harry and the Dursleys are living.