Hermione Granger

While she was still young, and had a lot left to learn, Hermione had always prided herself in being both more studious and observant than most of her peers. It wasn't that she thought herself better than them, if anything it was a flaw of hers. In most situations, she was able to help and do more for others by simply applying her knowledge to difficult situations. But lately she felt at a loss.

Mary was hiding something - something big - and Hermione didn't know how to handle it. She always trusted Mary to do the right thing and it never really seemed to be a problem. If there was an issue or problem, Mary, Ron and herself would figure it out and deal with it. It didn't matter if it was homework or Voldemort, they were always together, a team. But over the past year, it felt as though she and Ron were left in the dark, being given only vague bits of information. And quite frankly it rankled and Hermione wasn't going to let it go. Mary needed her friends, and Hermione wasn't going to sit quietly and let her best friend do something that could quite possibly get her hurt.

By the time Professor McGonagall walked into the Common Room for the head count, news was already spreading around the tower that a student had been attacked in the most recent Dementor invasion. Ron's eyes met hers from across the room and they both stepped toward their Professor.

Professor McGonagall looked from Ron to her and sighed deeply. "Potter is in the hospital wing. As far as I know, she's going to be just fine, but she isn't allowed visitors."

"Did the Dementors get to her again?" Ron asked tugging at the hem of his jumper.

"I wasn't given details, Mr. Weasley," McGonagall said, putting a hand on each of their shoulders. "I'll let you know as soon as I find anything else out."

But it wasn't Professor McGonagall that approached them the next morning, It was Sirius, looking tired and like he had been drug through a hedgerow backwards. His usually bright smile was absent from his pale face and his eyes held no sparkle.

He sat heavily between Ron and herself, ignoring the curious stares of the surrounding students. "Mary wanted me to let you know that she's okay and that Madam Pomfrey is threatening to keep her in the infirmary for the rest of the year if she has visitors."

"What happened?" Hermione leaned forward, her mind coming to conclusions that she didn't like considering the date. "She's never been banned from having visitors before. Why is Madam Pomfrey denying her that right?"

"Whoa." Sirius leaned back slightly, his eyes widening. "Don't get all worked up about it. Mary agreed to the deal so that she could escape earlier. I promise. Madam Pomfrey may be strict, but she has Mary's best interest at heart. Considering everything, we should all be grateful that she gets such great care here."

Ron nodded emphatically. "Yeah, she usually visits the infirmary more than all the other students combined."

"Well," Sirius whispered, "I'm going to need both of you to help me this summer. I'll be teaching Mary dueling and defensive skills. You're welcome to join if you'd like."

Ron's eyes met hers and where she thought she would find enthusiasm and glee, all she could sense from her best friend was a calm determination. It mirrored her own stance to the tee. It had always been the three of them against some of the biggest obstacles most adults would never face. Nothing would change that now. She would figure out what Mary was hiding. She would help her. And she'd do everything in her power to keep her and Ron safe.

"We'll help out as much as we can." Ron answered for them both.


Mary Potter

Mary laid in the lonely room in the infirmary, staring up at the ceiling, and coming up with ways to make the future better, safer, for those around her.

"Madam Pomfrey?" Mary asked as she finished bandaging her arm. "Can I leave today, before dinner? No one knows about Remus and I'd rather not have rumors starting."

Madam Pomfrey gave her a searching look and nodded. "You'll be wearing the sling again. Even you should know that getting too close to the Whomping Willow can be dangerous."

Mary caught the sly smile on Pomfrey's face and smirked in return. "And my damn Muggle arm can't be healed the normal way. Those sharp twigs and branches just ripped it apart."

Despite the stinging pain in her arm, Madam Pomfrey let her leave the hospital wing, promising that if she didn't visit everyday, she would come looking for her. "I mean it, child, you don't want me to have to track you down."

"I'll drag her here myself." Professor McGonagall stepped around the curtain, holding a stack of freshly laundered robes. "After all, she can't keep her promise of accompanying me to Diagon Alley if she's unwell."

"I'll be here." Mary promised again with a laugh. "You're going to have to beat Sirius to the stores, Professor. He's bound and determined to buy everything he sees."

She sniffed indignantly and lifted her chin. "I've been managing Black for years. He'll dare not cross me. And if he gives you any kind of trouble, Potter, you owl me immediately."

"Yes, professor." Mary bit her lip to hide her smile, immediately grateful for the long-sleeved shirt, knowing that it was vitally important to keep the wounds hidden. "Looks like I'll be needing a wardrobe adjustment for the summer."

"You've grown taller as well." McGonagall nodded quickly. "I've recently been told to put Dress Robes on the supply list, so we'll be looking into those towards the end of summer."

Mary grimaced and made a face at the thought of having to dress up, but then realization hit that it wasn't just any old party. Right then and there she decided that going to the Yule Ball was not going to happen. She was stuck in that dazed mindset of excuses and mental preparation while she walked back to Gryffindor Tower after her escape. Not that it helped, she barely made it into the Common Room when Ron and Hermione pulled her to the side.

"Why were you in the Hospital wing again?" Ron asked, his hand on her arm. "Fred and George said that you disappeared after the pick up game."

Mary made sure that no one was within eavesdropping distance and spoke quietly, her ears still ringing from the loud laughter that filled the room. "Sirius and Professor Lupin were on the grounds last night. I had to warn them about the dementors. I ended up getting too close to the Whomping Willow and it kind of tore up my arm."

Hermione's gaze narrowed as she stared down at the sling in disbelief. "Last night was the full moon."

"Yeah." Mary nodded, knowing that Hermione was probably well aware of the secret. "Too bad I was injured after the exams ended, might have been nice to get an extension on them. I didn't miss anything, did I?"

Ron shrugged. "Nothing interesting other than the Twins being more irritating than normal. They've been pranking everybody."

"I'll have a talk with them." Mary smirked, patting Ron on the shoulder and turning around.

Mary spotted them in the corner, trying to talk a frightened second year into eating an odd looking sweet.

Hermione grabbed her good arm and Mary turned to her with a pointed look on her face. "Later, Hermione. I'll explain everything to you and Ron. I promise."

Hermione nodded and sat back down while Mary walked up to the Twins. "Fred, George, I need a word with you two in private."

Fred looked at her in a mixture of curiosity and worry, glancing down at the sling and her heavily bandaged arm. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." Mary shrugged. "It's important. Come on."

They followed her out of the Common room and down to Professor Lupin's quarters, talking quietly about the pick up Quidditch match. Mary knocked on the door and Sirius opened it quickly, then stood there in surprise to see the two Weasleys with Mary.

"I need a favor from you and Moony," Mary whispered to where only he could hear her.

Sirius nodded quickly and smiled at the Twins. "Come on in. Tea's about ready."

And with great pride, Mary introduced the infamous Weasley Twins to their idols the Marauder's. Sirius and Remus both laughed loudly at the Twins' stories about some of their failed pranks and Fred and George both listened intently as the older generation of pranksters gave their words of wisdom.

"These two need a safe place to experiment." Mary looked at her godfather with pleading eyes. "What do you say, Padfoot?"

Sirius looked from Fred to George to Remus. "We could use the help cleaning the old place up."

"They're quite talented with spells." Remus nodded in agreement. "I'm sure we could find a suitable arrangement."

"What do you say?" Mary asked the shell shocked twins. "Would you be okay moving your enterprise to our place?"

"Working with the Marauders?" Fred beamed at them.

George bowed his head solemnly. "It would be an honor."

Later that night, Mary returned to the Common room, only to stop by the portrait hole and wave Ron and Hermione over. "I have something to show you guys."

They walked together in silence, not wanting to attract attention as it was getting quite close to curfew.

"What's up, mate?" Ron asked in confusion as Mary paced in front of a portrait.

Hermione gasped when the door appeared out of nowhere. "What is this place?"

"Come on." Mary led them into the room and shut the door behind them. "Welcome to the Room of Requirement. It turns into just about anything you want it to. I found it not long ago."

"Is this where you've been hiding out at night?" Hermione asked with a knowing look. "You can't deny it, Mary. You've looked exhausted even when you've claimed to go to bed early every night. Not to mention that when I check on you, you're not in your bed."

Mary shrugged. "I come here to study without bothering anybody."

"This is bloody brilliant!" Ron exclaimed as he walked around the room. "We can use this as a hideout if we need to."

"So about the Whomping Willow?" Hermione crossed her arms and sat down on the couch. "How about you tell us the real story."

Mary sighed and ran a hand across her face, trying to find the best way to put her thoughts into words. "What do you know about Professor Lupin?"

Hermione waited for Ron to sit down and breathed deeply. "He's been absent during every full moon. I've even caught him coming back into the castle on the mornings after. He looks pale and sickly during that time, always better a few days later. I think he's a werewolf."

"What?" Ron gaped at her in disbelief.

"It's true." Mary nodded tiredly. "I probably shouldn't have told you, but there was no way to keep this secret. Not from you. So I'm trusting you both not to make a big deal out of it."

Ron looked green and horrified, but Hermione nodded quickly. "He bit you."

Mary undid the strap on her sling and carefully pulled her sleeve up. "Yes."

"Shite!" Ron jumped back, staring at Mary with fury rolling off of him. "We have to call the Ministry!"

"No!" Mary stood quickly. "You can't do that, Ron."

"But he hurt you!" Ron cried out, eyes widened in fear. "He's a bloody werewolf, Mary! You can't trust him!"

"I do trust him!" Mary shouted back. "He was a close friend of my parents. And he didn't mean to hurt me. Snape brews him the Wolfsbane potion every month and he's completely safe to be around. It was the Dementors that mucked it all up the other night. Their presence overrode the potion, it made him irrational. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, as usual. Sirius was already unconscious by then and Remus was barely keeping it together. Had I not been there they would have both been Kissed. He didn't mean to bite me. I surprised him and he just reacted."

"But you're a werewolf!" Ron moved toward her, grasping her shoulders gently. "You'll be outcast. You don't know what it's like! Everyone looks down on werewolves."

"I'm not a werewolf, Ron." Mary shook her head, placing her hand on the silver cuff. "This saved me. The magical cuff kept the disease contained. I'm fine."

"You're sure?" Hermione asked, looking at the scars with sympathy. "Sure that you can trust him?"

"Of course." Mary smiled at them. "You both know what he's like. He's a kind man, he'd never hurt anybody. Normally he locks himself up during the full moon, but when the Dementors attacked the Shrieking Shack, he had no choice but to run."

"Okay." Ron nodded and squared his jaw. "I don't like it, but I'll trust him if you say so."

"No." Mary smiled sadly. "Don't do that. Just keep the secret and get to know him. He's part of my life. Part of my family. I'm not going to ask you to like him because he's important to me."

"But we already like him." Hermione smiled at her. "He kind of treats you like my dad treats me. We know how much he cares about you, Mary. We're just worried about your safety during the full moon."

"He always goes to a safehouse." Mary sighed in relief, grateful for her wonderful friends. "But I have one more request from you guys. Now that I have a more hospitable home, I need you guys to visit frequently. I can't stand the thought of going another summer without seeing you."

"You'll get sick of seeing me," Ron said with a grin. "Percy's already talking non-stop about his job interview at the Ministry. I'm going to go barmy if I'm stuck at home with him."

"You can count on me visiting." Hermione nodded resolutely. "Someone has to make sure you get your summer assignments finished."

Mary laughed as Ron groaned, while she pulled them both into a quick hug.


June 7th, 1994

The Great Hall was packed full and everyone was talking loudly, excited over the upcoming summer holidays. Ignoring the typical standards, Mary, Ron and Hermione sat at the Hufflepuff table with Susan, Hannah, and Ernie.

"Any room over there for us?" Daphne called from across the hall.

Hannah smiled and waved her over, leaning over to a firstie. "Go sit with your Gryffindor friends. Take this lot with you."

The nervous looking first year looked over to the Gryffindor table and waved at Dennis Creevey, who waved at him with a wide smile. Before long, half of the Hufflepuff table was covered with third years from all different houses, eating and talking while exchanging Floo addresses and in some cases, phone numbers.

"Here." Mary pulled a biro out of her robe pocket and wrote her mobile number and Floo address on it, then duplicated it twenty times, handing it out to each of her friends. "You're all welcome to call or Floo anytime. Otherwise I'm counting on you guys to owl me."

"You're staying with Professor Lupin, aren't you?" Tracey asked with a wistful gaze.

Mary bit her lip to hide her smirk, knowing that Tracey had a small crush on Moony. "Yeah, he's my other godfather."

"How the mighty fall." Malfoy smirked as he walked by, his bodyguards not far behind. "Mary Potter, living with a lonely werewolf. You better watch out, Weasley. Get bitten and you'll end up poor and destitute."

"Shut up." Mary growled, standing slowly. "You have no right to say anything about him."

"You can't deny it." Malfoy laughed loudly. "Or did your arm shred itself?"

Mary marched toward him in fury, smirking at the way Malfoy's mouth had disappeared in her fit of accidental magic, leaving a blank patch of skin where it should have been. She pulled off her cloak and threw it to the ground, ready to knock the little shit's lights out. Hands grasped her arms and she pulled free with an ease that seemed almost fluid. It wasn't until she had backed Malfoy into the corner of the Great Hall that someone managed to break through the haze of her rage.

"Potter!" Snape grasped her shoulders, pulling her back and turning her around to face him. "Control yourself!"

Mary ground her teeth and looked away, trying to get her temper under control. "Can I go back to my table, sir?"

"Go." Snape sneered at her in disgust, letting go of her arm and pushing her towards the friends that were watching her in a mixture of shock and sympathy.

No one else knew that Remus was a werewolf. Either one of the people she cared deeply about betrayed her trust, or Wormtail was talking to someone. Either way, it didn't bode well for any of them. And more importantly, it put them all in a lot of danger, knowing that someone out there was giving away vital information.

By the next morning, the whole of Hogwarts knew that Remus was a werewolf. Worst of all, they didn't stop pointing or staring all during breakfast. Mary's appetite was gone and she pushed her food around her plate with her fork, trying not to let the irritation take over.

"Don't listen to them." Daphne put a hand on her arm. "Being a werewolf doesn't change the kind of person that Professor Lupin is. We all like him, so don't believe those idiots' opinions matter one wit to us."

"She's right," Hermione said proudly. "Don't let them get to you, Mary. That's what they want."

She looked around and realized that none of them had left despite the fact that one of her godfathers was a werewolf. "I appreciate this. And I won't forget it."

They nodded and went back to talking about the upcoming summer. Daphne, Tracey, Lavender, and Parvati were all talking about the newest fashion styles, both Muggle and Wizarding alike. Neville, Padma Ernie, and Hannah leaned their heads together as they quietly discussed what their family homes were like.

Ron nudged Mary with his elbow. "You okay?"

"Yeah." Mary smiled, looking at the houses united and all of her friends, then turned to her best mate. "I think it's going to be an interesting summer."

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