Mary Potter

It wasn't until the eve of Halloween that life in the third year dorms became suddenly more tense.

Mary was practicing her knowledge of hexes, trying to get the wand movements right with her left hand, while Lavender and Parvati oohed and ahhed over their dream journals from Divination. Just as they had been in Harry's universe, the two girls were mystified by Professor Trelawney, always taking each word the woman said with the utmost seriousness.

Hermione was sitting cross legged on her bed behind a mountain of tomes, her quill scratching away at a long roll of parchment, glancing up every few minutes with a scowl on her face.

"Last night I dreamed that Seamus and I were snogging in the middle of potions class?" Lavender giggled loudly. "What do you think that means?"

"Will you two just SHUT UP!" Hermione slammed her book closed and stared at the two girls with a beet red face. "I'm trying to study. Actually trying to further my education so that I can have a steady career. And all I can hear is you two nattering on about; 'Who's hot and who's not, robes, make-up and hairstyles!' You're so vain that you can't see that half the boys you're talking about wouldn't look at you twice! Also, your obsession with Trelawney is unfounded and disgraceful as she regularly predicts the death of someone you claim to be friends with." She spun around and pointed her finger at Mary with a narrowed gaze. "And you have been secretive, quite positively downright evasive about what you're up to. And I know you're up to something, because you're actually studying that book on hex removal! All that waving your wand and muttering under your breath is distracting! When all I want is some bloody peace and quiet!"

Hermione stormed out with angry tears rolling down her cheeks, leaving Mary to damage control.

Mary looked over at Lavender and Parvati with a resigned sigh. They were both wearing the same indignant and highly offended expressions that told Mary that Hermione's words had both hurt and angered them.

"I'll go talk to her," Mary whispered. "She didn't mean it, really. I think she's just stressed out."

Mary ran down the stairs, and upon not seeing Hermione, left the common room. She just caught the sight of Hermione's bushy hair rounding the corner as she stepped through the portrait hole, ignoring the Fat Lady who yelped in surprise.

Mary sprinted down the stone steps until she caught up with her friend, who was sniffing and huffing loudly.

"Hermione!" Mary finally yelled, when the other girl showed no interest in stopping. "Wait!"

Hermione spun around, dark circles under her red rimmed eyes, looking furious as ever. "I don't want to talk right now, Mary. And I'm not going to apologize."

Mary lurched back at her tone and stood stock still. "So you really think you're justified in treating us like that?"

Hermione squared her shoulders. "When none of you put forth a real effort in your schooling? Yes. I do."

Mary's heart dropped into her feet. "I'm sorry you feel that way."

"Well, I won't apologize for being right." Hermione sniffed, rubbing a stray tear from her eye. "The three of you don't give one wit about the fact that I'm actually applying myself to my work."

"But you're wrong." Mary pleaded with her. "We know how hard you've been working! But at the same time, we are four individual people. We don't have to like or want the same things. That's something you're going to have to accept and move past."

"I won't!" Hermione argued. "It's my dorm too and I should feel comfortable there!"

Mary stared at Hermione in confusion. "So the rest of us should be quiet? Seen and not heard? Having to walk on eggshells in the room that is meant to be our home for most of the year?"

"So you're taking their side?" Hermione ground out. "I thought we were better friends than that."

Hermione spun around and left without another word, leaving Mary standing there with a heavy heart.

Mary went back to Gryffindor Tower and curled up in an armchair by the fire, staring into the flames and wondering if saving the world was worth it if she lost her friends in the end.

Hours later, little Colin Creevey ran into the Gryffindor common room, saying that Professor McGonagall needed to see both her and Hermione.

Mary stood up and ran a hand over her robes, rushing down to McGonagall's office while fearing the worst. Was something wrong with Sirius or Dobby? Hedwig had visited her just that morning, so she knew it wasn't her, and everyone else she cared for was currently at Hogwarts. So what could it be?

Mary walked into the open room minutes later, breathing heavily as she'd ran most of the way there. "You wanted to see me, Professor?"

"You are to be at the entrance hall at four o'clock this evening." McGonagall didn't bother to look up from the parchment she was focused on. "You're free to leave, Potter. I have other students to see."

Confused, Mary walked out with her mind whirling at what she'd done to irritate Professor McGonagall and wondered as to why she was being summoned before dinner on Halloween. Professor McGonagall stood as well and escorted her to the door.

Hermione was sitting on the bench outside the office with a worried look plastered on her face when Mary walked out.

"Miss Granger." McGonagall gestured for Hermione to follow her into the large room. "Come in and have a seat, please."

Hermione turned around and looked at Mary in stunned silence before quickly sitting down. "Colin said that you needed to see me, Professor?"

"Yes," McGonagall replied heavily, then turned to Mary with a nod. "Close the door, Potter."

Mary nodded and gave one last mournful look to Hermione before exiting the room.

She was too wound up to join in with the raucous celebrations everyone was having in Gryffindor tower and eventually sequestered herself to a bench just inside the entrance hall, wondering what was going on.

"There you are." Sirius' voice sounded from behind her, making her spin around to face him. "I thought I'd surprise you."

"Hey," she said quietly, when he wrapped her up in a hug. "What are you doing here?"

Sirius looked pale and unsure, making Mary wonder what had happened. Her confusion must have shown because Sirius sighed loudly and shook his head.

"Dumbledore and I were talking earlier and he let it slip that you've never been back to Godric's Hollow." Sirius told her quickly, his voice shaking. "I know this means missing the feast and the first day in Hogsmeade, but with the Dementors still around I figured it'd be safer for you to skip it."

It took her a fraction of a second to follow his train of thought. When it finally clicked in place, Mary took a step back, suddenly nervous. "Oh."

"We don't have to go if you don't feel up to it." Sirius assured her.

"No." Mary shook her head. "I'm okay. I'd really like to go."

Sirius ran a hand over his face. "Alright then, shall we?"

It occurred to her that it was probably Sirius' first time going back there too. It was evident in the way his hands slightly trembled while they walked to the main gates.

He wrapped his arms around her when they finally passed through the iron archway. "Hold tight and I'll Apparate us both."

Mary nodded silently, afraid that her composure would break if she spoke. It unnerved her to see her normally jovially and joking godfather so rattled. She buried her face into his robes as the world turned inside out, turning and twisting in a way that made her stomach roll.

They appeared on a small quiet street. The lights from the surrounding houses cast an eerie glow on the pavement that made the hair on Mary's arms stand on end. She looked up at the only house on the street that remained unlit and almost stopped breathing.

Sirius looked pale and unsure, making Mary wonder what had happened. Her confusion must have shown because Sirius sighed loudly and shook his head.

Sirius let out a small choking noise as he gazed at the wreckage. Time had taken its toll on the small cottage. The tiny yard looked unkempt and overgrown. Faded and peeling paint covered the wooden planks, leaving the once cute house looking like something out of a horror film.

This was my home. Mary thought, putting her hand on the wrought iron gate. I was loved here.

Sirius' hand landed lightly on top of hers and squeezed lightly. "I'm so sorry."

She looked up at him with watery eyes. "I'm sorry too."

They had both lost so much on that night twelve years ago. Both of them had been forced to delay their grief while life got in the way. But here and now, they couldn't help but face the tragedy of what Voldemort had done.

The gate clicked open and Mary stepped forward, shrugging off Sirius' grip. The paving stones shifted under her feet as she made her way to the door that opened without even so much as a creak. Her father's voice echoed in her mind as she stepped into the entryway. A flash of green out of the corner of her eye when her hand grasped the handrail. Her mother's pleas sounded through her mind when she stepped onto the landing. The door stood open, half hanging from the hinges. The caved in roof hovered above her as she stood in the room that used to be her nursery.

She could almost see the green eyed child staring up at her with tears rolling down her small round face.

"Mary!" Sirius grasped her by the shoulders, breaking the trance.

She looked up at him with cold eyes. "I'm going to kill him."

Sirius looked back at her in a mixture of shock and horror. "You shouldn't have come in here. The house is unstable."

"I remember it." She replied, gesturing to the demolished room. "I've seen it from his point of view and mine. The Dementors brought it all back."

Sirius choked back a gasp and shook his head in sorrow. "You were too young. Lily, James, you were all too young to be a part of the war."

"So were you." Mary gripped his hands tightly, feeling the tremors that ran through his arms as he stared at the scorched part of the wall. "You're right. Let's get out of here."

"This wasn't part of the plan when I brought you out of the castle." Sirius smiled sadly as they exited the house. "I thought we could both find some peace and closure."

"Some plans are meant to be changed." Mary shrugged, trying to rid herself of the cold feeling.

Together they walked side by side into the cemetery just down the street. Sirius looked from headstone to headstone in search of the right one, but Mary knew which way to go. Her feet carried her to the double marble headstone of their own volition. The pull to her parents last resting place was tugging at her like a Portkey. She saw it in the dream, but in person it was so much more surreal.

As a small child she always hoped that some unknown relation would rescue her from the Dursley prison and tell her that it had all been a huge mistake. Her imagination wanted her to believe that someone would save her from their non stop stream of insults and degradation.

More than that, she hoped and prayed that her parents were alive and that some unfortunate accident separated them and that they had been searching for her the whole time.

Mary ran her hand across the cold marble tombstone, knowing that while she was given the chance to remake the future, there would never be a way to get her parents back.

"I miss you," she whispered to them.

Sirius knelt down beside their graves and his shoulders shook while he silently cried over his lost friends. Mary didn't hear the words he said, but stared into the starry sky as she gripped his hand and sat beside him.

It was closure that her godfather needed.

It was revenge that she longed for.

It was the wake up call that echoed through both her mind and bones. Over the past few months, she treated the dream as the next grand mysterious adventure. While doing her part to ensure that Voldemort never rose again, she was quite careless and almost got her friends killed time and time again. She wouldn't make that mistake again. No one could ever know of her dream. Her friends and new-found family would never be involved in her mission to destroy Voldemort. She would protect them with her own life if she had to.

And she knew she would have to sooner than she'd liked. I'm a Horcrux, mum.

"Are you ready?" A red eyed Sirius looked over at her.

"Yeah." She nodded once, before looking back at the tombstone. I'll see you in just a few short years, mum and dad. Maybe sooner.

Sirius pulled her into a hug and Apparated back to their flat in Diagon Alley, effectively pulling Mary out of her morose farewell plea.

"I thought we were going back to Hogwarts?" Mary looked at him in confusion.

Sirius shrugged. "It's the weekend. I'll Floo Dumbledore if you want to stay."

"I'd love that." Mary nodded heavily, then walked into her room and flopped onto her bed with a sigh.

Her dreams that night took on an odd twisted pattern. She watched from above, as though viewing the scene on the telly, as a young Harry Potter woke up in a cold sweat, staring in confusion at the pale walls of St. Mungo's.

She witnessed him going with McGonagall to get his supplies and being left at the Dursleys. It was though everything that had happened to her was now happening to him. They both reacted and thought the exact same way, leaving no doubt in her mind that somehow her actions were being used in some kind of weird time warp.

And then suddenly the scenes changed from mundane to outright horrific. Cedric's dead eyes stared up at her. Sirius fell through the Veil while Remus held her back.

Mary screamed and screamed, trying to escape from the horror she was forced to watch. Finally she opened her eyes and gasped, taking in short stuttering breaths to try and alleviate the pain in her heart and lungs.

She dragged a shaky hand up her face, pulling back the strands of hair that clung to her cheeks, then sat up in her bed. The Muggle clock on her bedside table showed that it was just after two in the morning, but Mary didn't think she could fall back asleep tonight, let alone ever.

Stumbling out of her room and across the hall to the toilet, she promptly expelled everything that she had eaten in the past day. It was there, leaning between the tub and commode, that she finally let herself break down. There were no heavy sobs or tears, only an overwhelming sense of grief that assaulted her body like a tidal wave.

The heavy burden of Fate hung over her like a dark cloud. Each and every time she closed her eyes she saw the blinding flash of green light encompassing her. Just over thirteen years old and she already received her death sentence.

There would be no time to pursue a career. She would have to endure years of her classmates falling in and out of love and friendships, knowing that there was no future for her beyond Voldemort. Wanting anything more seemed like a fool's errand.

The mirror shattered under her emotional assault. Tile cracked in response to her boiling anger. Steam burst from the pipes, spraying everything in the room.

It was all too much.

She sat there for hours, letting all of it wash over her again and again until she felt drained. With swollen and puffy eyes she finally registered the damage that she caused. Nothing was left unbroken. Her pale skin was beet red from steam burns and large gashes covered most of her body where pieces of tile and glass had embedded into the tender flesh.

A light knock on the door sounded before it swung open. Sirius stood there bleary eyed, almost ready to step into the mess, when Mary flung her hand up to stop him.

"Watch out for the glass!" She hissed at him in worry. "I kind of wrecked it."

"Mary?" He asked, eyes widening in horror. "What happened in here?"

She looked down in shame and embarrassment, shaking her head. "I don't know, really. I didn't mean to. I swear, Sirius."

"You're bleeding." Sirius growled lowly, staring at her crimson stained pajamas.

She tip-toed through the wreckage, pushing a sopping wet hot flannel across the floor to clear a path. "I'll get my wand and repair this mess. I'm so sorry."

Sirius ignored her and cast the needed spells to repair the damage. "Go sit at the table while I get Pomfrey."

"No!" Mary yelped, grabbing his arm as he started for the fireplace. "I can manage on my own. She's going to get all kinds of nasty if she sees me like this."

Sirius stared at her for a long moment then sighed. "Okay, kid. I'll do my best to patch you up, but if I can't then you're just going to have to deal with her. Or I'll be dragging you to St. Mungo's."

"Thanks." Mary breathed in relief.

Sirius ended up being far better at healing than he claimed to be, and before long only Mary's unmagical arm was the only evidence of injury. Her godfather carefully cleaned and bandaged the wounds, quietly talking to her all the while about how he learned healing by helping a friend that had been very accident prone.

He didn't ask any more questions about her episode, nor did he give any inclination that they would talk about it later. It was something that she felt greatly appreciative about, because she couldn't stomach the thought of putting that kind of pain into words, especially when Sirius had endured so much already.

After making sure that she was going to be okay, Sirius went back to his room to catch up on sleep while Mary was left alone with her thoughts. She laid down on the oversized leather couch and stared at the crackling fire, letting the numbness wash over her.

She spent the rest of the morning and day making Sirius laugh with various stories about the school year, hoping to keep the mood lighthearted and calm. They had a nice dinner with Dobby that evening, enjoying the way the little elf had opened up and now talked freely about his thoughts and opinions.

"Look, kid." Sirius winced and ran a hand through his hair. "I've never been one for mushy talks. And I'm certainly not the best person to be giving advice, but if you need to talk, about anything. I'm here for you."

Mary knew that he was referring to her episode in the bathroom and felt a rush of shame for putting him in the middle of her problems. "Thanks, Siri. Love you."

"I love you too, kid." He hugged her tightly while trying not to upset the wounds on her arm.

Mary Floo'ed back to Hogwarts that evening, and by some stroke of luck, McGonagall wasn't there, leaving her free to make it back to the common room without garnering any extra attention.

She stepped through the portrait hole quickly, wanting to get the last of her homework finished before Monday's lessons, only to see Hermione standing in the common room looking both pale and furious. She took one look at Mary and sprinted towards the girls dorm without a word.

Ron stood from the armchair by the fire and walked over with a slightly aggravated stance.

"What's wrong with Hermione?" He asked quietly, sitting next to the roaring fire. "She ran in here the other night crying and when I tried to talk to her she said that you betrayed her."

Mary's mouth dropped open in confusion. She'd been gone all weekend and had hoped that Hermione would be in a better mood when she returned.

"I may not have taken her side in the argument, but betrayal is a bit harsh." Mary tugged at the edge of her sleeves, trying to keep the wounds out of sight. "She lashed out at Lav, Parvati, and I over being loud while she was trying to study and then stormed out."

Ron looked torn between agreeing wholeheartedly and wanting to stand by Hermione. "Well.. I mean... going to McGonagall was a bit of a leap. You know how Hermione is."

"What?!" Mary lurched back in shock. "I didn't go to McGonagall about anything!"

Hermione stood at the bottom of the stairs and glared at both of them. "Talking about me behind my back? Again?"

"I'm just trying to figure out what the eff is going on." Mary stood and stared at her friends in shock. "Ron just finished telling me that I'd gone too far by getting McGonagall involved. I never mentioned you to McGonagall."

"Really?" Hermione brushed angry tears from her face. "So you were just visiting her when she decided to drop me from two classes?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Mary hissed back, garnering the attention of the others in the common room. "McGonagall called me to her office because Sirius was coming to pick me up."

"I don't believe you!" Hermione threw her hands in the air. "It's too big of a coincidence. Not to mention the fact that there is no reason for him to show up in the middle of term!"

"Well you and everybody else may have been too busy studying or eating at the grand feast to notice," Mary ground out, "but Halloween happens to be the anniversary of my parents' death! And my godfather took me to visit their graves! The only thing McGonagall said to me was that I was needed in the entrance hall. You never came up in that very short conversation."

Her vision was tinged with red. She couldn't believe that Hermione, of all people, would think of her as so untrustworthy. Ron looked from Mary to Hermione, his freckles standing out starkly on his pale face. Hermione's mouth dropped open in realization, her eyes staring pointedly at her feet.

Accidental magic could be a beautiful thing, Mary realized, when her broom floated down the stairs to hover in front of her. Her hand shook as she grasped the handle and spun around, leaving the common room and the numerous stares behind.

It had been stupid to blurt out her whereabouts, she shouldn't have to explain, but they were her friends! She shouldn't have to hide anything from them. Let alone how much it hurt to spend the past two Feasts watching everyone laugh and having a grand time while inwardly all she could think of was the family that she lost.


Ron Weasley

Ron watched her leave, feeling torn between his best friends. Hermione sat heavily on the steps and put her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking slightly.

"You were wrong to accuse her," Ron said, rocking back on his heels. "You know she wouldn't have done something like that."

"We went to McGonagall." Lavender walked over, with Parvati trailing close beside her. "After everything that happened with Ginny last year, we were scared that you were possessed."

Hermione looked up at them in shock. "Why would you think that?"

"You've been acting really weird lately." Parvati nodded emphatically. "Like scary weird."

"We didn't mean for you to get in trouble." Lavender sighed.

"We were just worried about you." Parvati added. "Professor Trelawney said that one of our number would leave us and we didn't want it to be you."

Hermione nodded, tears dripping down her face. "I guess I better find Mary and apologize."

"Stay, Hermione." Ron put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll go talk to her. She might need some time to calm down. I know I always do when one of my brothers tick me off."

He found Mary on the pitch, gliding effortlessly across the evening sky, looking as though the world was about to crumble down around her.

"You okay up there?" Ron shouted, reaching for the storeroom door where the school brooms were kept.

Mary flew down and landed a few feet away, hopping off her broom and marching toward him. "I'm fine. Take my broom and I'll get one of those. We'll start training you for Keeper."

"Now?" Ron caught the stony glare she sent him and winced. "Okay, guess now's fine."

"Wood wants you at the next team practice, so we don't have much time." She pushed the Nimbus 2000 into his hands and pulled one of the better school brooms from the rack. "Well, get going."

Lift off was a little wobbly as he tried to learn the new broom. The Nimbus was far faster than any broom he'd ever been on and he couldn't believe that Mary was trusting him with it. He'd always loved flying and truly hoped that he'd make the team one day, but it just never seemed to be a possibility. He knew he'd never be qualified enough.

She flew up next to him and pointed at his hands. "You're holding on too tight. That's why it's so jumpy. Just relax and you'll be fine. You've been flying for years. You know how to do this, Ron."

He did as she said, holding back the small pang of annoyance at having her tell him what to do. The broom was wonderful! Once he relaxed it seemed as though the Nimbus could read his mind. All of his earlier troubles were forgotten as he gave in to the sheer pleasure of the cool wind biting into his skin as he flew in small looping circles.

"Get to the goals!" Mary ordered him in a teasing tone while she conjured a large round ball.

"What's that?" He asked, pointing to the pumpkin sized orange sphere in her hand.

"Muggle basketball." Mary shrugged, pulling her arm back and throwing the ball. "The Quaffles are locked up in Hooch's office."

Ron darted forward and stopped it from flying through the far right hoop. He had kind of expected her to take it easy, but Mary tried to put him through the wringer, conjuring more and more basketballs until Ron's vision was filled with orange blurs flying by his face at high speed.

"Nice form, Weasley!" A deep voice boomed from the ground.

Ron looked down and his heart jumped into his throat at the sight of Oliver Wood and the rest of the Gryffindor team watching them with wide smiles.

"Told you he was good." Mary laughed quietly as she landed next to her teammates.

Ron's heart swelled at the praise and he carefully maneuvered the broom to the grass. His brothers slapped his back and ruffled his hair as he tried and failed to get away from them in time. Mary gave him a high five and smiled proudly at him.

"Be at each and every practice." Wood ordered him, then turned to the others. "I won't have anyone say that I left my team unprepared."

Ron was so ecstatic over Wood's statement that he completely forgot the whole reason why he had followed Mary. But the next morning when breakfast started, he finally realized that he was out of his element and that his best friends would have to sort things out for themselves.

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