Mary Potter

"Your scans show that you're in good health, Miss Potter." Madam Pomfrey stated not unkindly later the next morning. "Mind that in itself shocks me considering the scrapes you get yourself into."

"It's not like I do it for fun." Mary's stomach chose that moment to growl again.

"I'd like to keep you here another night for observation, but something tells me that you would find a way to get yourself in more trouble if I try. So I'm giving you leave to join the others at breakfast if you can promise to come to me if you feel the slightest bit uneasy." She told her with pursed lips and her wand pointed at her in a manner that promised a hex and lecture if she disobeyed.

"Yes, ma'am." Mary agreed and reached for her wands that laid on the bedside table.

Her fingers were inches away but as soon as they touched the polished wood, the images flooded her mind again.

Shattered mirrors. Snapping twigs. Heartfelt apologies that didn't ease the loss.

Sparks flew from the Blackthorn wand as it slapped into her palm.

It seemed like a cloud had been lifted from her mind. Mary felt better than she had in a very long time. She had to give Snape props on his improved Whatchamacallit Elixir, it really spanked the arse and put things into perspective. While she still didn't understand the source of the random images, it no longer bothered her. It was like a huge weight had been removed from her shoulders, one that she couldn't even remember having.


Severus Snape

From the head table, the professors stared on in trepidation and wariness, as Potter took quick and determined steps toward her spot at the Gryffindor table. She looked healthier than she had the previous two years, and far more up kept. Her long hair was pulled into a ponytail and her usually rumpled clothes were smooth and wrinkle free.

"Hey, Potter!" Draco Malfoy's haughty voice echoed through the hall, drawing the eyes of most of the castle's inhabitants. "I heard that the Dementors showed you how pathetic you are! Is that true?"

"Oh no." Potter shot back with a smile. "It showed me your ugly mug. I vomited twice."

Without another word she found her seat and was promptly joined by the rest of her ragtag group of friends.

"She has her mother's wit." Minerva sighed as she passed the gravy boat to her left.

"And none of her brains." Snape sneered as he pushed the gravy away in disgust, not wanting to think about his former best friend or her irritating chit of a daughter.

"I must admit I was quite pleased to hear she changed her electives," Dumbledore said as he poured an insane amount of gravy onto his potatoes. "The study of Ancient Runes can be quite intriguing."

"What courses did she drop, Minerva?" Professor Flitwick passed a bowl of potatoes to his right as he leant forward to speak to the stern witch. "Nothing important I hope."

"She only dropped Divination." McGonagall smiled slightly. "I asked if she wanted to do a trial course in Arithmancy. She purchased the books, but she was adamant that she would 'conquer that beast on her own time'."

"How very Gryffindor," Snape muttered.

"Why thank you, Severus," Minerva said proudly. "I find her opinion on her studies very heartening given the way she's spent the last two years following young Mr. Weasley's study habits."

"She'll do no better this year," He argued back. "She has always and will always be lazy and mediocre at best."

"We shall see." Minerva turned to him with a challenging smile.

And with that, the teachers went back to talking amongst themselves about inane things and their daily schedules.


Mary Potter

"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked as Mary sat down between her and Ron. "They didn't let us visit, but assured us that you were okay."

Mary let out a small sigh and smiled at her friend in gratitude. "I'm fine."

Hermione and Ron exchanged a glance that Mary didn't miss as she sat there and scooped some food onto her plate.

"You'll never guess!" Ron told her with a smirk. "The man that was in our compartment is our new Defense professor."

"Professor Remus Lupin." Hermione clarified. "And Hagrid is the new Care of Magical Creatures professor!"

Mary smiled widely in pride of her friend's accomplishment. "When is Hagrid's first class?"

"Yesterday." Ron smiled wistfully. "We went fishing in the lake. Hagrid said we would need the fish for the next class."

Hermione looked a little less enthusiastic about the class, but still gave her opinion. "He had us tell him about the different types of creatures we've heard about while we fished."

"Said he had a surprise for us for next class." Ron shoveled another forkful of eggs into his mouth.

"Professor McGonagall gave me your schedule." Hermione handed her a small piece of parchment.

Mary looked over her timetable and goggled at the amount of work she'd signed up for.

"I'll bet we have another review lesson." Ron grumbled then looked suddenly worried. "What are the chances this professor will try to kill us or remove our memories?"

Mary looked up to the head table where Professor Lupin looked about ready to fall asleep on his plate and felt a pang of sympathy for the man. "Unless he's capable of cursing us in his sleep, I think we're safe."

"He does look ill," Hermione said worriedly. "Third year is a crucial time in our education. I certainly hope that Professor Dumbledore hired someone that will survive the year."

"Way to prioritize." Ron chuckled and heaped more food onto his plate.

Mary left breakfast early and took off at a run toward Gryffindor tower to get her things for class. Luckily, the common room and dorm were empty when she burst in and dug through her trunk to get her books.

"Defense. History. Runes. Charms," Mary said aloud as she pulled out the textbooks and stuffed them into her backpack along with a new set of quills and pack of ink pens and a new notebook.

She hurdled down the stairs and straight into Oliver Wood who had his nose buried in a book.

"Potter!" He helped steady her and grabbed her backpack off the floor. "How are you?"

"Late for class." Mary gasped. "Or about to be."

He pushed her towards the door with a worried gleam in his eyes. "No need to get detention. We'll start training for the season soon and I'll not have any of my team missing."

"Aye. Aye. Captain." Mary saluted him with a laugh as she stepped out of the portrait hole and took off for the Defense classroom.

Her feet skidded across the stones as she rounded the corner and sprinted towards the open door where the last few students were walking inside. Mary stopped a few feet away, took a deep breath and walked in calmly with her head held high as she sat down next to Neville in the back row. The door shut a few short moments later and Mary let out the breath she was holding.

"Welcome to third year Defense," Lupin said tiredly. "I'm Professor Remus Lupin."

Professor Lupin sent a stack of parchment floating through the air that distributed one to each student. "As I've done with the other years, I'd like you each check off the things you've learned from your past two professors."

The students let out a collective groan, not seeing that Professor Lupin looked ready to fall over from exhaustion. "This is only so I can gauge where I need to start you at. Keep in mind I'm not asking what you know, only what you've been taught in the past. I'd hate to make this class boring by reteaching you things that you have already mastered. I promise you that the next time you walk into this classroom you will be far from bored. When you're finished with the list, bring it to me and tell me one thing that you'd like to learn by the end of this school year, and if it's within my capabilities, I'll see to it that you master it."

The rest of the day passed in the same mind numbing fashion of review of the previous years. The only highlight was Ancient Runes, where Mary finally learned something new. It was tricky and tedious work, but Mary loved to learn about all of the amazing things that Runes could do.

Mary, Ron and Hermione were walking back to Gryffindor tower after Charms when little Dennis Creevey – a first year – ran up to them and claimed that Mary was needed in the Headmaster's office immediately. Mary left her friends standing in the corridor in confusion and raced through the halls until she came upon the griffin statue.

"Mary Potter to see Professor Dumbledore," Mary said to the stone gargoyle.

It opened for her and Mary took the steps slowly and tried to calm her racing heart. The closer she came to the office door, the more she could hear irate screaming coming from the other side. The door clicked open before she could knock and Mary opened it to see a rather irritated Sirius yelling at Professor Dumbledore.

"I don't know what kind of school you're running these days, but to hear that my goddaughter, a child legally in my care, was attacked by Dementors and I have to find out through the effing Daily Prophet the day after she nearly dies!"

"Sirius!" Mary yelled loudly, garnering both his attention and Dumbledore's.

Sirius ran forward and pulled her into a bone crushing hug and stared down at her with tear filled fearful eyes. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Mary sighed and hugged him back. "They didn't suck out my soul. Apparently it wasn't to their taste."

"Merlin, kid." Sirius chuckled. "I almost had a heart attack."

"At your age." Mary scoffed. "Don't joke about such things."

"There's no need for insults." Sirius pulled her into another hug. "Do you want to come home? I can teach you whatever you want to learn."

Mary laughed loudly then smiled up at him. "I'm okay. Really, Siri."

A throat cleared and Mary and Sirius both turned to look at Professor Dumbledore who was watching them with twinkling eyes.

"As I've said." Dumbledore looked at Sirius over the rim of his glasses. "I had no idea that you had taken legal custody of Miss Potter. Had I known, you would have been informed as soon as we returned from the train."

Sirius looked at Dumbledore with a stony glare. "I've trusted you for years, sir, but Mary's well being is all that matters to me now. I trust you'll keep that in mind and know that I will stop at nothing to make sure that she is safe."

Mary squeezed Sirius's arm tightly, trying to get him to shut the hell up. "If you don't mind, Professor, I'd like to give Sirius a quick tour of the school."

"Take all the time you'd like," Dumbledore said with a smile. "You're welcome to join us for dinner, Sirius."

"I'll consider it." Sirius held his head up proudly and let Mary guide him out of the office.

She looked over her shoulder and grimaced at Dumbledore in apology as they walked out, only to see him frown in response. The moment the doors were closed and Mary was sure they were alone, she stopped in her tracks and turned to her godfather with a questioning look.

"I was in the Prophet?" She asked through gritted teeth.

Sirius reached into his robes and pulled out a rolled up copy of the paper and pointed to her picture. "Front page."

"Damnit!" Mary hissed as her eyes scanned the article that made her sound like a poor helpless victim that was doomed to be a soulless vegetable. "These people need to learn to get their facts straight. I am not a short little girl anymore. I'm almost as tall as Hermione!"

Sirius let out a bark like laugh. "Ah, to be young again. Way to prioritize, kiddo."

"Stuff it, Snuggly." Mary growled out and set the paper on fire.

"Hey, now!" Sirius yelped as the paper vanished in flames. "That was my only copy."

"So how are things at the home front?" Mary asked as they made their way through the castle. "Is Dobby okay?

Sirius shrugged carelessly. "I learned the little guy can't hold his liquor."

Mary stared at him in disbelief. "You didn't?!"

"No!" Sirius laughed and pointed at her. "You should have seen your face! You looked murderous. Do you really have so little faith in me?"

Mary gave him a shrewd look. "Faith has nothing to do with it, Siri. I'm just not sure I can trust you when left to your own devices."

"I said I was sorry about the glowy stars! I didn't know they'd be flammable!" Sirius pleaded.

"It said on the packaging not to use heating charms near them!" Mary argued and gestured wildly. "Not only did you ignore that, you tossed them into the Floo and sent them god knows where."

Sirius grimaced and shrugged. "It's a good thing you burned that paper then."

Mary glared at him and ground her teeth as she rounded the corner, only to walk straight into someone and bounce back.

"I'm sorry, Miss Potter," Lupin said quietly. "I didn't see you there."

Mary looked up at Professor Lupin, and winced as Sirius ran into her.

"Merlin, kid. You can't just stop like that." Sirius pulled her to her feet, not noticing they had company. "I almost bowled you over."

"Siri," Mary pinched his arm and spun him to face her new professor. "This is Professor Lupin, my new Defense teacher. Professor, this is my godfather Sirius Black."

Professor Lupin looked at Sirius who stared back stonily. "We've met."

Sirius swallowed hard. "This is awkward."

Mary looked from one to the other and realized that they would never make the move to reconcile on their own. She hooked her arm through Sirius's and pulled him toward her then looked up at Professor Lupin, trying to figure out the best way to make this happen.

"We were headed to the Great Hall for dinner, sir. Would you care to join us?" Mary asked him kindly.

"You look tired, Remus." Sirius observed casually, gaining a hard look from the other man. "How've you been?"

"Getting by as best as I can," Professor Lupin answered quietly, shooting a glance at Mary, then took a step towards Sirius. "How are you?"

Mary backed away while Sirius started talking about his recovery. Before they were out of earshot, Mary could hear Remus asking about how he met Mary. She hoped that they would be able to pick up their friendship where they left off. It almost hurt to think about how she would feel if Ron or Hermione had believed her guilty of a crime she didn't commit, but she knew for a fact that she'd forgive them and try to come to an understanding. She just hoped Sirius could do the same.

The Gryffindor common room was packed full of students when Mary walked in, some turned and stared at her like she was some kind of freak, but most of them just greeted her politely and went about their business. Mary flopped down onto the couch next to Ron and put her head in her hands, rubbing at her face with a tired sigh.

"What'd Dumbledore want you for?" Ron turned and asked, causing Hermione to pull her head from behind her book and shoot Mary a pointed look.

"Sirius heard about the attack on the train." Mary groaned and leaned back into the soft cushions. "Came to make sure I still had my soul."

Hermione closed her book with a snap. "It's nothing to joke about. You have no idea how frightening it was for us to see that happen."

"It wasn't exactly a tea party for me." Mary grumbled and leaned forward to grab her backpack. "Thanks for bringing my stuff."

"I have the reading assignments from yesterday." Hermione handed her a slip of paper, showing Mary that her homework for the night had doubled, then shot Mary an indignant look. "The Ministry is in very hot water concerning the attack, no one wants to believe that the current administration is too blind to see that more than half of the Dementors have gone rogue. It looks very bad on Fudge's part to appear so ignorant."

"He is that ignorant though." Mary shrugged. "Any idea what they're going to do to catch the Dementors?"

Hermione leaned forward slightly. "According to the Prophet, a team of Hit-Wizards and a group of Unspeakables have been dispatched to find them and take them back to Azkaban."

"Good luck with that." Ron mumbled as he picked up his Transfiguration text. "Dementors aren't exactly stray puppies."

Hermione suddenly looked very downtrodden and reached over Ron's book to grasp Mary's hand. "I thought you were avoiding us. We've barely spoken at all since last year."

"I'm sorry." Mary said wholeheartedly. "Things have been a little insane lately."

"She can't be blamed for being in a coma, Hermione." Ron defended her. "And it's not like we had a chance to sit down and chat when there was a bloody Death Eater rat attacking her."

"That's just what I'm saying!" Hermione hissed heatedly. "So much has happened and we've barely even had time to greet each other! I miss the times when we had a full year to figure out the mysteries."

"I'd rather forgo the adventures this year." Mary let out a small chuckle. "But I agree with you both. The past few months couldn't be helped, but we're back together now. And if you two don't mind, I'd like to go get some dinner. Something tells me it's going to be a very long night of reading."

Hermione nodded at her proudly. "It's a good thing it's the weekend then. We can get all caught up with our revising and maybe even read ahead."

Ron shut his book and groaned in disgust. "I hate homework."

He seemed to regret speaking so loudly when Hermione immediately set in on him about the benefits of reading ahead and studying outside the classroom. Mary smiled widely and shook her head as she walked alongside her friends to the Great Hall, finally feeling like she was home again.

"So how was the rest of your summer?" Mary asked as they sat down at their regular spot at Gryffindor's house table.

"Mum was in a right state that last week." Ron shook his head and grimaced. "Neither her nor dad could believe that Scabbers was Pettigrew. And then when you sent that letter saying you were living with Sirius, she looked ready to have kittens."

"It was quite a shock." Hermione took a drink of her pumpkin juice then gave Mary a searching look. "You'd just met the man and decided to move in with him that very same day. We're all just worried about you."

"Mum's still trying to get Dumbledore to let her adopt you." Ron smirked at her. "She started in on that after you rescued Ginny."

"I appreciate the thought." Mary smiled at them both. "But Sirius is my godfather. Had he not went to Azkaban, he would have been the one to raise me. It's what my parents wanted."

"How is it then?" Ron asked curiously as the food appeared. "Better than the Muggles I hope."

"Loads better!" Mary laughed. "Dobby is living with us too, so we have a blast!"

"That barmy house elf?" Ron's eyes widened and he dropped his forkful of food onto the table. "You're actually letting it stay with you?"

"Dobby," Mary corrected with a stern look. "Is a he. And he has become a very close friend of mine."

"I've never met a house elf," Hermione said with curious eyes. "What are they like?"

"We can go meet them sometime." Mary offered and wondered why she felt a sudden reluctance at the invitation. "There are a lot of them working in the kitchen."

"House elves? Here at Hogwarts?" Hermione looked shocked. "Why haven't we ever seen them?"

"Not supposed to." Ron shrugged and went back to his food.

"They take great pride in their work and in never being seen unless called upon." Mary repeated it as exactly as Dobby had explained it to her.

Ron and Hermione both looked up and Mary turned around to see Sirius walking up to where she sat. "There you are, kid. You just disappeared on me."

"Sorry, Siri." She scooted over to give him room to sit. "I have a mountain of homework that I needed to procrastinate about. And it looked like you two needed a minute."

Sirius let out a bark like laugh but didn't sit down. "We did. I'm sorry I can't stay, kiddo. I just wanted to say goodnight. Don't forget to give me a call if you need me."

Mary stood up and hugged him tightly. "Bye, Siri. Give my love to Dobby."

"And what about me?" Sirius put a hand over his heart in mock hurt.

"Love you too, Snuggly."

"Be good." He ruffled her hair. "Ron, Hermione, have a good term. Keep yourselves out of trouble."

"We'll fry," Ron said through a mouthful of potatoes.

Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron and looked at Sirius in exasperation. "Have a good night."

"You too." Sirius waved as he walked away.

Later that night, after Mary had showered and changed into her pajamas, she climbed into bed. Lavender and Parvati glanced at her and whispered at each other.

A hulking figure hovered over the body of a brown haired girl, his sharp teeth bright red with bloodstains.

"Mary?" A soft voice pulled her from the image and Mary shook her head to look up at the two girls. "You okay?"

"Yeah." Mary shrugged. "Just woolgathering. I guess I'm more tired than I thought."

"Get some sleep." Lavender smiled cheerfully. "You don't want to have bags under your eyes on the weekend."

"Thanks." Mary replied in confusion as she pulled the hangings closed. "Good night."

"Should we?" She heard Parvati whisper.

"She could use it." Lavender giggled.

Paper rustled in the background as Mary's eyes fluttered shut.


The weekend was just as quiet and peaceful as Mary could have hoped it to be. Well, for the most part.

First thing Saturday morning, Mary was woken by Lavender and Parvati, who insisted that she let them be in charge of her wardrobe. She hadn't even agreed yet and Lavender was already digging through her trunk, pulling garments out and looking at them with a keen eye.

"Do I look that bad?" Mary asked the other girls as Hermione huffed loudly from behind the stack of textbooks spread across her bed.

"Well-" Lavender looked at her sympathetically. "The past couple of years you've never really seemed to care what you look like."

"I really don't care," Mary replied in a kind, but honest tone. "As long as everything that needs to be covered is covered, I'm okay."

"You're so funny." Parvati giggled. "If you really don't care, then leave the wardrobe to Lav, I'll cover the hair."

Mary pulled a lock of her hair into her line of sight. "What's wrong with my hair?"

Parvati let her hands drop to her sides in indignation. "You've been blessed with gorgeous hair, Mary! And instead of taking care of it, you let it hang around like a wet towel."

"I'm sorry?" Mary apologized in complete confusion.

"Please say yes." Lavender pleaded, clasping her hands together with Parvati's. "We promise you won't regret it."

"As my godfather would say, 'Why the hell not?'" Mary shrugged and then lurched backwards as the two girls tackled her into a hug while squealing loudly.

Mary tugged at the hem of her jumper as she descended the stairs half an hour later. Her long dark haired was pulled back in a complex plait and twisted around into a bun.

Hermione was waiting in the common room and shook her head in annoyance at the sight of her. "I don't know why you let them subject you to that."

Mary shrugged her shoulders and put her hands in the pockets of her jeans. "They were right. I don't care how I look. Why should it bother me that they do? Plus, didn't you see how happy they were while repairing my 'image'? I think makeovers are some kind of hobby for them."

"You really don't mind?" Hermione asked incredulously as they made their way to the Great Hall. "They were pretty rough in their criticism."

Mary let out a quiet laugh. "I wore my cousin Dudley's cast offs up until last year. They might not know how I was raised, but they knew I needed help. Hell, when I went to the robe shop, I had to let Madam Malkin measure me because I didn't even know what sizes I wore. In anything."

Mary gave Hermione a moment for that to sink in and watched as the other girl's eyes widened in horror. "Even, well... undergarments?"

"Those were Dudley's castoffs too." Mary grimaced.

Hermione cleared her throat and sat down at the Gryffindor table, looking mildly affronted at the revelation. "How far have you gotten in your readings?"

Mary piled eggs and bacon onto her plate. "I read through all of the textbooks over the summer, but I finally caught up with the assigned re-readings while Parvati was working her magic on my poor old mop."

Hermione choked on her pumpkin juice and Mary patted her lightly on the back. "You read over the summer?"

"I do know how." Mary replied in mock indignation. "I only get stuck at the really big words."

Hermione chuckled and coughed again. "I didn't mean it like that. Usually you take Ron's approach to finishing things at the last possible moment."

Mary rolled her eyes. "I was bored and trapped in that room for weeks. Reading was my only escape. I even double checked my summer essays. Call the Prophet."

Hermione took a deep breath and sighed loudly. "I still have a hundred pages to read before I'm caught up."

"Why don't we go out by the lake after breakfast?" Mary suggested. "You can catch up on your reading and we can enjoy the last of the summer warmth."

"That does sound nice." Hermione agreed as Ron sat down beside her.

"What does?" He asked sleepily.

"We're going to study by the lake." Mary nodded her head in a comical manner. "And if we can't read the books we'll chuck them in the water."

"Ungh." Ron grumbled as he dumped heaps of food onto his plate.

Despite his displeasure, Ron still joined them to study by the lake. An hour or so in, Mary felt so bored that she was actually twitching.

"I'm going to say hi to Hagrid real quick." She told her friends quietly. "I'll meet you at lunch."

Hermione nodded from behind her book and Ron grunted as he flipped the page of his book and looked over at Hermione in resignation. Mary bit her lip to keep from smiling as she made her way over to the newly titled professor's home.

She knocked on the heavy door and waited as Fang barked loudly from inside.

"Mary!" Hagrid boomed as he pulled the door open.

Fang jumped into her arms, knocking her down the stairs and flat onto her back. She laughed and scratched behind the dog's ears while he licked her face.

"Fang!" Hagrid yelled. "Back!"

Hagrid grabbed Fang's collar and pulled him back as Mary stood up and brushed her muddy hands across her jeans.

"Sorry 'bout that." Hagrid apologized.

Mary reached forward and hugged him as tightly as she could. "I've missed you, Hagrid."

"Missed yeh too." Hagrid patted her on the back, almost sending her sprawling into the mud again. "Come on in, then. I've got the kettle on. We'll 'ave a cuppa."

"Sounds great!" Mary smiled and followed him inside.

She'd always loved how cozy Hagrid's hut felt. Everything inside had a reason or purpose, there were no silly decorations or adornments, it was all things that could be used for many different purposes. Her eyes drifted around the room and tried to find something new.

"Congratulations, Professor Hagrid." Mary grinned widely as she held up the massive cup of tea.

Hagrid blushed and tapped his mug against hers. "Couldna done it without yeh. And Ron and 'Ermione o' course."

"Tell me, sir." Mary rubbed her hands together. "How have your classes been?"

"None of that 'sir' business from yeh." Hagrid gave her a fierce look, then leaned back with flushed cheeks. "The upper years seemed ter enjoy it so far. I had somethin' special for yer first class, but considerin' the attack, I put it off 'til Tuesday."

"I look forward to it." Mary replied honestly.

Hagrid stared at her with dark worried eyes. "Yeh are okay, though, aren't yeh?"

"I'm great, Hagrid." Mary patted his hand. "I'm even living with Sirius now."

"I read 'bout him bein' innocent." Hagrid told her in a gruff tone. "Shoulda known he wasn't guilty. Ministry tried ter blame me when I was innocent too. How's ol' Sirius a doin?"

"He seems to be doing okay." She replied with a wary smile. "I worry about him being all alone after spending so much time in Azkaban though."

"He's a strong lad." Hagrid nodded reassuringly. "He'll be jus' fine."

A couple of hours later, Mary left Hagrid's and made her way to the castle for lunch. Her stomach growled loudly as she passed greenhouse seven and even the Devil's Snare poked a vine out of the window towards the sound.

Mary heard the sound of soft footsteps behind her and spun around, wand raised, only to see Professor Snape standing less than ten feet away, holding a white linen cloth full of clippings. She re-holstered her wand and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Expecting an attack, Potter?" He sneered at her.

"No, sir." She replied quietly. "Just a little on edge, I guess."

"Shouldn't you be out gallivanting around the castle with your friends?" Snape gritted out.

"I was visiting Hagrid." Mary buried her hands in her pockets and walked beside him towards the lake, leaving at least five feet between them.

A thought occurred to her that she couldn't ignore and wondered just how wise it would be to voice.

"Are there any good uses for basilisk parts, sir?" She asked quietly.

Snape stopped in his tracks and Mary turned to face him, sure to keep her eyes downcast in case he used Legilimency to read her mind.

"As it's near impossible to find, let alone kill one, I'd say that the market for them is great," Snape said, as though explaining it to a slug. "But as a very dark creature, its use in potions that would be considered helpful is unknown."

Mary resumed walking and Snape did the same, though she could see him cutting his eyes at her with a furrowed brow. "I'd hoped that the one in the Chamber could be of use to you."

"And what makes you think that the beast hasn't already been harvested?" Snape drawled.

Mary raised a brow and shrugged. "The Chamber only opens for a Parselmouth, sir. And Ron said that the entrance sealed itself after he escaped with Lockhart and Ginny."

"For once, he is correct," Snape said stiffly "I will speak to the Headmaster on the matter."

With robes billowing behind him, the dour man walked to the stone steps without another word.

Mary looked over to see Ron and Hermione still sitting under the old oak and trudged over to them while baking under the midday sun.

"Well if it isn't the black sheep of the Weasley family."

Mary spun around to see Fred and George walking up to her.

"Do my ears deceive me or did George just complete a sentence all on his lonesome?" Mary put a hand to her mouth in surprise.

"I forgot you could do that." Fred chuckled as he slung his arm around her shoulders. "I think you're the only one who can tell us apart besides Bill."

George grasped her hand in his and gave a slight bow. "Promise you'll never tell dear old mum how?"

"I would never betray you that way!" Mary stared at them in mock horror with her free hand over her heart in an insulted stance. "It would go against my honor as the daughter of a Marauder."

George dropped her hand as Fred's arm fell off her shoulders.

"Could it be?" Fred asked George in a serious whisper.

"She could be trying to trick us." George told his brother in the same tone.

"Or I could just solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." Mary smirked and spun on her heel, continuing her journey towards Ron and Hermione, leaving Fred and George gaping at her in deep thought.

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