August 26th, 1994
Severus Snape
His scowl was firmly in place the moment he stepped into the Headmaster's office, wondering why the old man had called him for a surprise meeting when term would be starting in two days, and he was desperately trying to catch up with resupplying the Hospital Wing with potions. The task had been difficult enough before his mentor had sent him on various missions to search for the Dark Lord's whereabouts.
"Ah, Severus." Albus walked out of the side room and stood beside the fireplace. "I hope I haven't interrupted anything important."
Would that have stopped you? "I was bottling the last of the Calming Draughts for Poppy, Headmaster."
"Good, good." Albus adjusted his bright yellow headpiece. "Young Mary's guardians need to be informed of our latest findings and I hoped you would join me in the discussion."
Of course it had to deal with the Potter brat! He'd be forced to see her in just two short days, why couldn't he just have some peace and quiet before dealing with the insufferable child? "I'm not sure my presence would be conducive to any dialogue where Black and Lupin are present."
"Nonsense, my boy." Dumbledore brushed off his reluctance with the wave of a hand, holding out the jar of Floo powder. "They are both fully aware that you have Mary's best interest in mind. Shall we?"
The Headmaster stepped into the Floo and disappeared in a column of acid green flames. Severus took a deep breath and counted to ten before growling out the address to the place that housed the three people he despised most on this wretched Earth. His mouth was set in a thin line, his lips mashed tightly together so that he didn't offend the aging headmaster with his vitriol on being brought to such a place.
Lupin and Black sat at the highly polished oak table, nursing cups of tea. Black didn't acknowledge his presence and Lupin only nodded in greeting when he stepped out of the Floo.
Black stared at the old wizard with narrowed eyes. "What have you learned, Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore seemed unfazed by Black's rude tone. "The men responsible for the attack at the World Cup did not do so on Voldemort's orders. If anything, they were as fearful as the rest when the Mark appeared. It seems as though they were acting of their own volition, seeking a bit of pastime by reenacting their younger days."
"The idiots were inebriated." Severus added to his statement. "No doubt they soiled themselves when the Dark Mark shown in the sky."
Black's gaze cut sharply to him. "Did your friends have fun cursing my goddaughter? Did they brag about it through the Floo? Did you laugh when they spoke of cursing innocents with Unforgivables?"
"Sirius!" Lupin hissed. "Don't start."
"It would have been entertaining to hear tales of the girl's stupidity were I not the one that has to patch her up after each idiotic escapade." He sneered back placidly, inwardly pleased to see the way Black's hackles raised. "Yet no stories have reached my ears."
Dumbledore held up a weathered hand to stave off any more outbursts of Black's temper. "Sirius, I must ask if you remember the last time you saw or heard of Barty Crouch, Jr. during your time in Azkaban."
"Junior?" Black stared at his teacup. "I remember seeing his parents pass by my cell to visit him. Though I have no clue when it was, only that he died a few days later."
"The Ministry recorded his death to be September 10th, 1982, meaning Barty Jr. survived less than a year in prison." Dumbledore mused, seemingly more to himself than anyone else. "I find this to be most disconcerting, as at the time of his trial he was young and in good health."
Black's shoulders shook like he had some kind of cold chill. "The Dementors buried him on the grounds behind the fortress. Not a comforting sight, that. Still though, can't the Ministry look into what caused his death?"
Dumbledore sighed deeply. "When I found such shocking things, I did ask around for more information. Rufus is adamant that the DMLE wanted to investigate the cause of death, but Mr. Crouch denied the request to exhume his son's body, though his response could well have been grief at losing both his wife and son within such a short frame of time. I will try to open the topic again at the next opportunity. It's of the utmost importance that we find if there is any relevance to young Mary's visions."
"She has nightmares constantly now." Lupin looked to Severus, unhindered by the look of disdain that he tried to project. "Having Ron and Hermione here has helped tremendously, if all they provide is a distraction, but still, I find that she's been avoiding sleep."
Black dragged a hand down his unshaven face. "She's in pain too. Around the full moon we've found her favoring her arm and she gets defensive if we ask her about it. Do you think the magic in the Cuff is wearing off, Dumbledore?"
Severus was shocked to hear that the girl had actually let her façade slip. It had become the norm to hear that the little brat was well and good, even when there was no possible way for her to be. It perplexed him on why she behaved in such a way. His Slytherins were always quick to beg for potions if they had so much as a headache, yet Potter had never requested more than she was given at initial treatment. Surely she couldn't think of Poppy as so unkind as to deny her relief from the pain, could she? Or maybe it was that idiotic Gryffindor bravado that made her feel weak to admit that she was human and felt pain like the rest of them.
As for the Cuff, Severus knew the damned thing was doing far more than Dumbledore claimed it was. In fact, when she'd landed in the Headmaster's office all those years ago, her arm mangled and bloody and Fawkes crying on her wounds, Severus was sure all she needed was sleep and a few strong healing potions. She'd been unconscious, but didn't show any signs of after effects of the basilisk venom. Yet he followed the headmaster's orders and helped him place the cuff on her arm, trusting that Albus knew more than he did about volatile magic. Looking back on it now made him regret his instant faith in the old man.
Dumbledore looked as though he was thinking of the most diplomatic answer, something that struck Severus as very suspicious. "While it was once an archaic artifact used to torture magical folk, the Cuff itself is Goblin made, therefore it only imbibes the properties which make it stronger. The past few months are testament to the fact that young Mary survived traumatic accidents and came out relatively unscathed. I'd not worry overly much about it failing and worry more about curbing the side effects the Cuff may cause."
"Side effects?" Black leaned forward, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I thought it was safe. You told me that it would only cut off the magic to her arm, making the basilisk venom, phoenix tears, and werewolf saliva dormant."
"Dormant is an apt term," Dumbledore said calmly, but Severus knew he was holding back as Albus pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket, showing them a blueprint of the device. "I'm afraid that if Mary, or anyone wishing her harm, were to find a way to remove or alter its properties, she may not survive."
Severus flinched sharply, clearly remembering the night they placed the Cuff on the girl. He could still hear the sound of her flesh being ripped apart as the sharp splines embedded into her skin. Her lifeless body thrashed and seized violently under the intrusion to her magic.
"Which is another reason for today's visit," Dumbledore continued. "While at the Ministry I looked into making sure that young Mary's use of magic at the World Cup didn't look badly in her records. I'd hate for her to be reprimanded again for use of magic while underage."
Lupin's eyes glowed slightly and his teacup shattered in his grasp, making Severus grab tightly to his wand should he need to stop the werewolf. "Mary was defending herself! The Ministry should have no reason to punish her for that!"
"Hear me out, Remus," Dumbledore said in a gentle tone. "There is no reason for alarm, as young Mary's Trace charm is no longer functioning. My theory is that she came much closer to death than we ever imagined that day in the Chamber, for the Trace only breaks when a child reaches the age of seventeen or passes away before doing so. Technically, I should have informed the Ministry of this, but the need for subtlety could work well in her advantage."
"We are not telling her that!" Black hissed at Lupin. "She already thinks she's bloody invincible! I'm not giving her leave to run amok in the world."
"I agree." Lupin nodded resolutely.
Severus nodded quickly, then realized his mistake when the twinkling eyes of Dumbledore met his. It was a stark reminder that while he had been tasked to protect the little chit, he had no say in how she was raised.
"What can we do about the Trace?" Black argued. "Wouldn't informing the Ministry help us track her down if she is taken or runs away?"
"No matter how good the ones in power are, there is no permanence in politics. If any Ministry worker can track her down, how are we to stop those also in the service of Voldemort from doing the same?" Dumbledore answered calmly. "No, it's best if Mary stays well out of the reach of the Ministry, especially considering the upcoming year."
Lupin looked reluctant to join the fray. "Are you sure that Voldemort is a threat? As it is all we have is a prophecy, nightmares, and ghost stories for evidence. Couldn't it be possible that he's gone for good?"
"He is not dead, my boy, nor has he ever been fully removed from this world. It is a reality that must be faced." Dumbledore answered quickly. "The threat is all too real and I want to leave nothing to chance."
"Who's replacing Remus?" Black asked the question that Severus had been trying to get the answer to since last term had ended.
Dumbledore shot Severus a quick glance. "Alastor has agreed to teach as he is finding retirement to be wrought with too many dangers."
Black slapped the table and nodded in approval. "Good Ol' Mad -Eye! He's perfect for the job!"
Severus' blood boiled at the news of the judgmental scarred fool staying at the school for a year. "That lunatic should not be around children or civilized beings."
"Why are you here anyway?" Black turned to him with narrowed eyes.
Severus was moving to stand and curse the mongrel when the Headmaster stopped him. "I asked Severus to join me so that we may prepare for any circumstance that may arise this year. As you know, with the delegations of foreign schools visiting, Hogwarts will be overflowing with new students and instructors alike. Among them Durmstrang's Headmaster Igor Karkaroff."
"The Death Eater?" Lupin looked to him for confirmation.
"No." Black looked furious. "Mary will not go if that maniac is there."
"Think on this, Sirius." Dumbledore mollified him. "Keeping her out of school will only alienate her from the people she cares about."
"She'll be with us." Black stated resolutely. "We're the people she cares about."
"And her friends?" Dumbledore pointed out.
"He's right, Padfoot." Lupin reasoned with him. "Mary will sneak out at every opportunity. There's no way she'll stand for being locked up in this house for the year."
"We'll force her to see reason!" Black slammed his palm down on the table.
"We all know that wont work, Sirius." Lupin shook his head in resignation. "Mary's far too stubborn for that."
"So how do we keep her away from Karkaroff?" Black looked straight at him, the set of his jaw suggesting that seeking advice from Severus to be the lowest form of humiliation.
"I do not believe he will be a problem." Severus drawled out as though it wasn't a serious issue. "Igor is notoriously paranoid and cautious, he will do nothing that might jeopardize his position or put him in the Ministry's spotlight. Our main priority should be finding out who is working with the Dark Lord and how they plan to infiltrate the school."
"So basically you want us to stay here quietly while you use Mary as bait to lure out Voldemort?" Severus flinched sharply at the name, but Black continued unhindered. "Damn the consequences if she gets hurt, again?"
Dumbledore held up a hand to intervene. "We will do everything in our power to be sure she is safe, Sirius, but as Remus has said-"
"Don't act like I'm okay with this!" Lupin growled defensively, standing up and leaning toward Albus with fury in his eyes. "I agree with Sirius that she isn't going to be safe there. As you well know, we're both over a barrel when it comes down to keeping her safe or letting her have a normal life."
"Potter will never have a normal life!" Severus sneered, causing Black to stand abruptly. "She was marked for death as a child! The only thing that can be done is to prepare her for the confrontations she will undoubtedly be faced with and do our best to see that they never comes to pass!"
The damned old coot's eyes twinkled at his outburst. Black and Lupin stared at him with jaws slack and open, not knowing how to respond to his admission. Severus just wanted to get back to his potions. Being in that house set him on edge, reminding him far too much of how far his life had gone off track. But worst of all was the sense of unease that did not bode well for the upcoming school year.
August 31st, 1994
Mary Potter
Ron and Hermione spent the following six days and nights in Mary's room. Although her bones had mended and her leg was fully healed, Sirius had confined her to bed rest as punishment for her stunt at the World Cup. In addition to that, he'd placed both of her wands in a padlocked safe that only he knew the combination to, effectively cutting her off from magic. It was one of those moments when she felt truly trapped and uneasy about being constantly surrounded by friends and family. While ultimately grateful for their protectiveness and support, she felt like she was constantly under a microscope, never able to do anything without being watched. It also made research and planning the destruction of the next Horcrux bloody impossible.
Mary was exhausted, having only slept a few hours since the World Cup. Her visions made her reluctant to sleep and when she finally gave in and closed her eyes, her dreams quickly turned into nightmares. Nightmares that often woke her friends and left her to deal with lengthy explanations – and lies – about their content.
The night before they left for Hogwarts, Mary had yet another dream. The green light of the Killing Curse struck her full on, sending her spiraling down into a blinding white pit. Further and further she fell, feeling the air leaving her lungs as she screamed for anyone to help. It went on and on until her feet softly landed on the clean tiles of Platform 9 ¾. The train station looked brand new, untouched by anyone, yet there was no train in sight.
"You need to wake up, Mary." A calm recognizable voice told her.
She turned quickly to see Dumbledore standing there, smiling softly as he gestured for her to sit on the white concrete bench to his left. Her legs trembled slightly as she stepped toward him, knowing in her heart that whatever the old wizard would say would be very important to her cause, but when he opened his mouth to speak, all she heard was white noise.
"I can't hear you," Mary tried to tell him.
Dumbledore kept speaking, acting as though he hadn't heard her, while his words didn't make any sense.
"Please!" She pleaded with him. "I don't understand. I can't hear you at all!"
"Mary!" Another voice grasped her attention as the wizened old man pointed out the horrifying form of a grotesque infant like Voldemort underneath the bench in front of them.
Glowing red eyes, filled with hatred, bored into her own. "POTTER!"
No! She thought frantically. I won't let you into my mind!
Mary's vision went dark and the next thing she knew, someone or something had grasped her shoulders and was shaking her forcefully. She thrashed against them, breaking their hold on her and scrambled back and away until she felt they could no longer reach her.
A lamp flickered to life and Hermione's worried face stared down at her in concern. "Mary? Are you okay?"
Heart still pounding against her rib cage, she took a shaky breath and nodded, trying to compose herself. "I'm fine."
"You're bloody well not fine!" Ron stood up to stand next to Hermione. "You threw me off the effing bed and screamed like a banshee!"
Hermione's mouth was set in a grim line. "Your nightmares are getting worse. I think you might need to talk to someone. I don't know if the Wizarding World has therapists, but I'm sure going to a Muggle one wouldn't be unheard of. You really can't think of going on like this, Mary, you're barely sleeping as it is. Honestly, I'm going to go get Sirius and see if we can find a solution."
"No!" Mary jumped to her feet, grabbing her friend's arm to stop her. "Really, Hermione, I'm fine. I've had nightmares for years and survived."
"You are not fine!" Hermione hissed, pulling her arm free. "You've had nightmares every night we've been here! I've caught you up and reading at four in the morning at least four times this week. So not only are you suffering, but you're losing sleep and it's affecting your health!"
"Will you shut up!" Mary growled out, glancing at the closed door to make sure that they weren't going to wake up the whole house. "Sirius is ready to lock me in this room and keep me from going back to Hogwarts! Do you want to give him one more reason to trap me in this safe little tower? Do you want to be the one that denies me an education?"
"No!" Hermione cried out. "I don't want that! I just want you to be okay."
Mary took a few steps toward them. "I'll be okay, guys, really. We've all been through a lot over the past few years and I'm dealing with it as best as I can. I just need you two to support me and let me handle things at my own pace."
"You've got a month." Ron crossed his arms and kicked the covers with his bare foot. "If you're still screaming like a nutter at night, we'll be writing Sirius and Remus. And if they pull you from school, we'll just have to visit you everyday after class."
A relieved laugh bubbled up in her throat. "Thanks, Ron. That means a lot."
"Can we please go back to sleep now?" Ron pleaded with them. "Mum's going to be here at eight and I have to have a few hours of sleep before she starts in on me."
"Sure." Mary helped Hermione fix the covers. "Sorry about waking you up."
"Don't." Hermione glared at her. "Just keep your promise."
Mary nodded – walking to the loo to get cleaned up - thinking that technically she hadn't promised them anything. Ron's threat was only valid if they found out she was still having nightmares. Once she was back at Hogwarts she could put a Silencing Charm and privacy spells on her bed hangings, they'd never know if she was having a nightmare or not.
The face in the mirror looked at her in stark mocking vividness. Dark circles stood out underneath her eyes, cheeks sallow and sunken as though she'd skipped one meal too many framed a mouth with chapped lips that bled where she'd bitten into them.
I look like shit. Mary mused, looking down to splash cold water onto her face. I really need to learn to brew Sleeping Potions soon.
But how could she just get over the fact that the future of her friends and newly found family rested solely on her shoulders? Every mistake could be costly. Every change she made could spell out a future far worse than she imagined. And what if she failed? What if she couldn't destroy the Horcruxes before Voldemort took over?
Mary returned from the washroom, to see that Hermione was awake and sitting on the large bed with a book in her hands and the lamp on, while Ron was curled up on the other side, snoring loudly. She crossed her arms, trying to quell the bone deep ache that worsened each day as the full moon approached.
"Enjoying the symphony?" Mary lifted a brow at her, trying to wipe the oppression from her face.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's distracting."
Mary crawled between them and pulled the covers up, ready to fake sleep until it was a decent hour and she could escape into the more solitary areas of the house.
Hermione leaned toward her, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "How did you know Ireland would win, but Krum would catch the Snitch?"
Mary covered her mouth to hide her smirk at her friend's observational skills. "Observation and strategy. Krum is by far the better Seeker, but Ireland's chasers are near unstoppable."
Hermione's mouth opened in shock. "That's it?! Ron's been running around claiming you have Seer blood. He's adamant that there is no way you could have known the outcome otherwise. And the whole time it's just been Quidditch strategy?"
Mary shook her head in amusement. "If I was a Seer, I'd at least use the gift to stay out of trouble, not forecast Quidditch."
"That makes sense actually." Hermione giggled quietly and set her book down on the bedside table. "Goodnight, Mary."
"Night, Hermione," Mary whispered as the lights went out, leaving the room in complete darkness.
It didn't take long before both of her friends were sound asleep, leaving Mary awake and very much alone with her thoughts. Borrowing Hermione's wand, she cast a clock spell that revealed it was just after five in the morning. Another spell silenced the area around the bed, leaving Mary free to finish packing her truck and get ready for the day without waking her friends.
Her head pounded furiously behind her eyes, setting her teeth on edge and making her vision blur. The aches and pains had become so normal that she couldn't remember what it was like to actually feel good. The rough patches of scarred skin on her arm itched in a way that made her long to claw off her own flesh. Even in the dim light of the small lamp Mary could see the grotesque shadows off the raised skin, knowing full well that the pain would always be there and the scars would never fade.
An hour later, Mary stepped out of her room to see Kreacher mopping the hallway.
His large eyes peer up at her in scrutiny. "Young Miss is feeling better?"
"I'm fine." She shrugged. "What would you like for breakfast, Kreacher?"
Kreacher narrowed his eyes at her. "Dobby is making breakfast, Mistress. Bad Master said that you are not to help. That you are supposed to be counting sheep."
"Can you summon sheep, Kreacher?" Mary leaned down toward him. "I have an idea."
Kreacher smiled in a sinister manner. "Anything for young Miss."
"Let Dobby sleep in." Mary winked at him. "I have breakfast covered."
Cooking breakfast for the Dursleys had always been a chore that she'd enjoyed, mainly due to the fact that she could sneak bites of food easily while they were still asleep. The simple task of making bangers and eggs at Grimmauld Place was quite simply blissful. With her mind set on a set task, everything else just easily floated into the background, giving her a few peaceful moments to simply be.
Remus walked into the kitchen just a little after seven, his dressing gown on inside out and tied haphazardly on the side. "You're up early."
Mary put a mug and saucer on the table and poured him a fresh cup of tea. "The elves at Hogwarts would be appalled if I tried to use their kitchen, so I figured this was my last chance to cook for a while."
"Ugh," he murmured incoherently, pulling the plate of toast closer.
Before he could even take a bite, a large brown owl flew into the kitchen and skidded across the table until it came to a halt right in front of Moony's plate.
"Everything okay?" Mary plucked Errol off the table and set him up with an owl treat and bowl of water, casting a glance over her shoulder to where Remus was reading through the letter with narrowed eyes.
"Molly is sending the kids over and asks that we get them to the Station," Remus said, stuffing the letter back in the envelope. "Apparently Arthur and the rest of the Ministry are scrambling to prove that the security at the World Cup was more than adequate and that they weren't at fault for the attacks."
Mary thought back to the stacks of paperwork that was littered throughout every nook and crevice in the Burrow and knew that poor Mrs. Weasley had her work cut out for her. With a new mission in sight, Mary set to making a larger batch of breakfast foods, knowing that the incoming crowd could easily out-eat an army.
Charlie Weasley
The shrill sound of the alarm spell sounded loudly in his ears, waking him from a deep and restful sleep. Casting the spell to stop it, Charlie sat up and rubbed his eyes, trying to catch his bearings. Unlike the past few mornings, there was no smell of bacon frying to lure him out of bed. It was something that seemed quite unlikely considering it was just after six in the morning on September 1st. Mum was usually up and cooking by that time. The bright orange paint of Ron's room seemed to glow in the first morning light, burning into his retinas and making him regret emerging from bed. Still though, he had chosen to take his vacation from work to spend time with his family, and he didn't want to waste it sleeping in.
"Charlie?" A soft voice asked from the other side of the door. "Are you awake?"
"Not really," he mumbled, casting a spell that opened the door. "Mornin', Gin."
She stepped into the room, her bright red hair a mess and looking like something a Bowtruckle would live in. "Mum's on the fritz trying to help dad with work. She wants us to go over to Mary's after we get our stuff together."
Still half asleep, Charlie scratched his head. "I'm not going back to Hogwarts."
"No shite, old man." His sister deadpanned. "Mum just wants you and Bill to see us to the station. You don't really have to, just drop us off at Grimmauld Place, we'll make it from there."
Rubbing his eyes, Charlie shooed her out of the room. "I'll be ready in five. Get everyone ready and downstairs. Tell Bill that he owes me a bottle of Hogdens."
"Sure." Ginny rolled her eyes and went back down the stairs calling out; "Charlie still sleeps with a teddy bear and sucks his thumb!"
Fred stuck his head out of the third floor doorway at the sound of her loud voice. "Not our fierce dragon keeper!"
"He wouldn't dare!" George yelled back mockingly.
"Quiet!" Bill hushed them, stepping out of the bathroom. "Mum's on a rampage and you are not going to ruin my last bit of holiday by getting her stirred up."
Closing the door, Charlie quickly dressed in the closest things he could find, wondering if there was anything he could do to help his parents. Tucking an unlit cigarette behind his ear for later, he stepped out into the normal chaos of his family home.
"Cast a shrinking charm on our trunks, brother dear?" Fred asked Bill, hopping on one foot while putting his socks on.
Bill quickly shrunk the three trunks and winced when his stomach growled loudly, glancing at Charlie with a disgruntled look. "Think we have enough sickles to get this lot breakfast?"
Charlie knew that he had a small amount of coins saved up and nodded quickly. "I've got it covered."
Mum rounded the corner holding a stack of parchment as she headed toward the Floo. Seeing them all standing there haphazard and looking quite miserable, she set the papers on the table and pulled the younger kids into a quick hug. "Be good. No pranks, Fred, George, and keep an eye on your brothers and sisters."
"There's only one of me." Ginny groused, crossing her arms.
"I was speaking of Mary and Hermione, dear." Mum patted her cheek. "You keep an eye on Ronald and give him a hug for me. Tell him that his dress robes are packed in his trunk. Bill, give Remus my thanks and tell him I'll reimburse him for the food later."
Dad's head popped up in the grate and he smiled around at them. "Morning, everyone! Sorry about all this. Molly dear, will you grab the tome off my desk labeled : International Cooperation Guide? Amos has misplaced his copy."
Mum waved her wand in the air, causing a huge leather bound book to fly into the kitchen. She picked up the stack of papers and let out a loud huff, shaking her head and muttering about the stupidity of reporters. "Move aside, Arthur, I'm coming through," she said before throwing a pinch of powder into the grate. "I could strangle that Skeeter woman."
"Food?" Bill asked Ginny. "Where?"
Ginny giggled. "You sound like Ron. Dobby and Kreacher are getting breakfast ready."
"Got everything?" Charlie asked them, handing them each their trunks and a pinch of green powder.
The twins and Ginny disappeared moments later in a tower of emerald flames, leaving himself and Bill to follow. He stepped out of the Floo moments later to find that the large dining room smelled wonderful and platters of food lined the table. Remus sat at the far end reading the Prophet and picking at a piece of toast.
"Come on in and have a seat," Remus said kindly, folding the paper and setting it aside. "Ron and Hermione should be down soon."
Mary walked in holding a tray of croissants and a pot of tea, smiling brightly when she spotted them. "Morning, Weasleys!"
George plucked the tray from her hand while Fred grabbed the kettle. "Morning, Mary!"
"Gred, Forge." Mary hugged them quickly. "You have perfect timing. I've just finished the cooking."
"I thought the elves were cooking." Ginny chimed in, looking at the fantastic spread in wariness. "Is this edible?"
"I've sent Dobby and Kreacher on errands," Mary answered in an offended tone. "And you'll just have to find out for yourself if it's edible, now won't you?"
Gin grimaced and sat down. "No offense but Sirius didn't help cook it, did he?"
Remus and Mary both choked down their laughter and Remus smiled over at Ginny kindly. "Sirius is no longer allowed in the kitchen."
"Good." Ginny nodded and started serving food onto her plate, looking relieved.
"Food ready?" Ron groused, looking half awake as he stumbled down the steps.
"Come on you lot." Bill waved them on. "Get started, it's going to be a long morning. Thank you, Mary, it looks wonderful."
Mary smirked at Ginny and stuck her tongue out, making his sister shake her head.
They'd barely started eating when shrill screams echoed throughout the large house making Bill and Charlie jump to their feet. Bill pushed the other kids back as they made their way to the stairs, following closely on Remus' heels. Fred and George had their arms out, holding Ron, Hermione and Ginny back while Mary put her head on her folded arms and laughed so hard she couldn't breathe.
"Keep them here," Charlie ordered the twins.
Ginny turned to Mary in shock, wand held tightly in her hand. "What's going on with you?"
Mary opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't get out a single word, collapsing into another fit of laughter as the high girlish screams sounded again. Her outburst had Charlie reeling in confusion and he was unsure if he should go to help Sirius or make sure that Mary was okay.
"Sheep!" Sirius yelped from the top of the stairs. "Sheep in my room! Oh my, get out of that!"
"Mary Jane!" Remus yelled from the landing, making Mary laugh even harder. "Call them off before they eat your godfather!"
Bill and Charlie sat back down, tucking into their breakfast with a gusto, knowing that it was just more insanity spewing forth from close proximity to the Marauders. Charlie knew that this was just Mary's way to let loose and have fun before going back to school and it looked like she really needed it.
Kreacher popped into the room, a wide smile on his face, his long nose in the air. "Kreacher enjoyed that."
Mary patted the old elf's shoulder. "Did you get it?"
He handed her the set of Omnioculars with a toothy grin. "All of it, Young Miss."
Mary watched through the lenses as the scene played back, a smile tugging on her lips, making Charlie wonder what she had done. As though she sensed his gaze, she looked up and handed him the Omnioculars. "You have to see it."
He took a drink of his tea and accepted them, watching in amusement as the scene started with Sirius sleeping peacefully in his bed, totally unaware that there was small herd of sheep lined up, bounding from one side of his room to the other, until one of the sheep started chewing and tugging at his pillow. Sirius swatted at the air and opened his eyes, blinking at the sheep staring at him.
"Baaa," it said to him.
"Ahhh!" Sirius screamed, pulling his covers up.
"Baaa." The sheep bleated together, suddenly very interested in Sirius and surrounding his bed.
One bold young ram hopped up on the bed and began to bounce on the thick mattress, clearly thrilled at finding such a wonderful invention, making Sirius topple onto the floor, where he was immediately sniffed and taste tested by the other fluffy creatures.
Charlie choked on his tea and sputtered as he handed the Omnioculars to Bill. Mary sipped her tea primly, looking every bit innocent and harmless, except for her bright green eyes that were twinkling with mischief.
Sirius sprinted into the room, looking bedraggled, his sleeves and hair chewed up. "Mary Jane Potter! How in the name of Helga's left tit do we get rid of those rabid beasts? We've tried everything and they won't go away!"
"I want my wands back." Mary stared him straight in the eyes. "I can't go to school without them."
"You can wait until we're at the station," Sirius said after a moment.
"But how will I get rid of the sheep from there?" She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.
Remus stepped in, looking no better than Sirius did and pulled the small wooden chest from the mantle, tapping his wand on the lid. "No trouble making."
"I'll cause no more trouble than the Marauders did at my age." Mary argued, quickly placing her wands in their holsters. "It'd go against the code if I did any more or less."
"That's what scares me." Remus responded with a sigh. "Just get rid of the damned sheep already."
Mary smiled tightly and tapped her fingers on the table. "All gone."
Remus left the room with narrowed eyes, Sirius following him at a slower pace. Fred and George leaned forward, dewy eyed looks plastered on their faces, begging Mary to let them in on the secret to how she pulled it off, but she just shook her head, saying that a true master never revealed their sources. While the morning started off lighthearted and fun, things started to slowly decline from there, leaving everyone in a tense state.
There was something in Mary's stance and attitude that didn't sit right with Charlie. She looked like one of the dragons that they'd had to relocate, ready to snap and snarl at anyone that got too close. He guessed that he was far too used to seeing her stoic and ready to tackle anything, that this new sense of defensiveness and unease made him wary. Sirius must have sensed it too, as he was the one that looked ready to pull her back into the house and keep her locked up there.
"Bye, Charlie." Ginny hugged him tightly and he leaned down to kiss her cheek.
"Be good, Gin," he said. "Keep this lot in line."
"I'll try." She chuckled, letting go of his hand and stepping onto the train.
He cast a sly spell at the twins, that made their hair glow like orange bulbs, and then moved to stand by Remus and Sirius. Bill was speaking to Ron in hushed tones and then hugged the younger boy quickly, earning himself a groan of embarrassment.
The whistle blew again and Bill pushed Ron towards the train, stopping to grab Mary's arm and pull her into a hug. The look of surprise on her face caught Charlie off guard, almost like she hadn't expected it at all. He'd thought that his family had made it very clear to her that she was one of them, but apparently she wasn't quite convinced. Bill whispered something and Mary bit her lip and nodded before extracting herself from his grasp and hopping onto the train.
"She okay?" Charlie asked when Bill walked over to where the adults stood.
Bill nodded sharply, not taking his eyes off the train. "It's going to be an interesting year for all of them. Makes me wish I could be there too."
Charlie looked at his older brother, wondering what was running through his mind. "Me too."
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