September 1st ,1994

Mary Potter

Mary found Fred and George's cabin easily enough, you could hear the commotion from the other end of the train. Hermione and Ron both argued with her decision to track them down, but gave in when Mary said that she only intended to check in with Katie about who was team captain. All of her plans for a few minutes alone went out of the window when Ron and Hermione insisted on following her everywhere.

"Come with us, Mary." Hermione grabbed her arm. "We'll find a compartment further down and you can take a nap, I know you didn't sleep last night. I told Sirius and Professor Lupin that I'd make sure you'd sleep for a few hours on the way to Hogwarts and I'm sure all of us could use a small nap considering we've been woken at all times by your nightmar-"

Mary sucked in a breath, ready to tell Hermione off for blurting out something so private on a train full of people, but Ron saved her.

Ron pulled Hermione's hand off Mary's arm, looking into the compartment window. "They've got room for a few more."

The door slid open and Fred and George smiled in a way that made Mary wonder what they were up to. "Sis!"

They dragged her into the compartment, closing and locking the door behind them, leaving Ron and Hermione stuck outside. Angelina looked up from behind her magazine and laughed. "Hiya, Mary, have a good summer?"

The rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team ignored Hermione's incessant knocking on the door, and Mary would have felt a little bad about leaving them out there - mainly Ron - thanks to Hermione's non-stop badgering, had they at least spared her a few moments of peace.

She flicked a silencing spell toward the door and felt a pang at the thought of Ron getting an ear lashing from Hermione.

"Great!" Mary exclaimed, glaring as George shook his head in disagreement. "Nothing worth mentioning."

"I'm going to act like I didn't hear that." Katie set her Ancient Runes textbook down on the bench. "You spent over a week hanging out with Viktor Krum. That isn't nothing."

"Yeah!" Alicia butted in. "Spill, Mary."

"There's nothing to tell." Mary held her hands up as a sign of surrender. "Honestly, we just talked about Quidditch and school."

"Really?" George leaned back in his seat.

Fred echoed his brother on the other side of her. "Do we need to have a talk with him?"

"Where's Lee?" Mary questioned instead. "I thought he was the third part of your trio."

"Uh uh." Katie shook her head. "Oliver was beside himself that he'd already graduated and wouldn't be here to quiz you about Krum. So he made sure to tell me to inform you that if you're spending time with a professional Seeker, you better be learning strategy and tactics."

"And then some." Alicia waggled her eyebrows.

Angelina laughed, clapping her hands. "I'll say."

"We don't want to hear this." Fred and George said in unison as they reached over Mary to cover each other's ears.

"Seriously though." Katie pulled a face. "Did McGonagall send any of you a letter? Usually we know who our captain is by now."

"Not me." The others echoed as they shook their heads looking confused.

And then they assumed wrong when Mary said nothing. "It's you?"

"Oh, hell no!" Mary lurched forward. "Look guys, you can't tell anybody about this. I overheard Sirius and Ludo Bagman talking last week. The reason they haven't sent out captain's badges this year is because there's not going to be any Quidditch."

"What?" Fred sat forward with his hands clasped.

"Why the hell not?" Katie asked.

Mary swallowed hard. "Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament."

The rest leaned back in their seats in total silence as though they didn't believe their ears.

"Are you sure?" Alicia tilted her head to the side. "The Ministry hasn't held one of those since the 1800s."

"1792," Mary said, willing the aching pain behind her scar to go away.

"Against which schools?" Angelina asked, glancing at the door and back to Mary.

"Beauxbatons and Durmstrang," she replied in a whisper.

"But no Quidditch?" Alicia stared at her, appalled at the news. "That's ridiculous!"

Mary improvised best she could. "Apparently they're using the pitch for one of the tasks."

"They better not ruin it!" Katie clenched her fists. "We really could have used the practice time to train Ron for Keeper."

"I'm entering!" Fred yelled suddenly.

"Same." George nodded, looking to Fred who smiled widely.

Mary shook her head and interrupted their gleeful rant by standing up. "They've changed the bylaws. You have to be seventeen to enter. It's the only way my godfather agreed to let me attend Hogwarts this year."

"That's rubbish!" George hissed angrily.

"Complete sabotage!" Fred nodded in agreement.

"I propose we still practice Quidditch whenever we can. We don't want to be out of shape." Katie stared at her teammates in a silent plea, then looked down at the tiny shrunken broomstick in her hand. "I know I could use the flying practice too. Otherwise I might as well throw this in the tip. I won't remember how to use it if I have to wait another year."

Mary stayed quiet, sitting back down and letting her teammates discuss the tournament while she leaned her head against the cool glass, trying her best not to worry.

"Well," Alicia said, "any ideas on what we should do?"

Angelina shook her head as she pulled her own miniature broomstick out of her pocket. "I'm getting a bit rusty too."

"Can't have that, love." Fred put an arm around her shoulders in a playful manner as he worked to open the window to their compartment.

"We can slip it," George said confidently as he eyed the large opening.

"Easy," Fred agreed.

Mary groaned and shook her head. "What on Earth are you two up to?"

"Well, sis," George said as he knelt down beside her. "Gred and I are climbing out of that window. You can follow if you've got the guts for it."

"Why in seven hells are you climbing out the window?" Alicia asked, trying to push her way past the twins to shut said window.

George started, "We're going to fly -"

"-to Hogwarts!" Fred finished with a flourish of his hands.

"I've done that." Mary sighed, remembering the poor Ford Anglia. "I don't recommend it."

"I'm with her." Katie nodded, pointing at Mary with wide eyes.

"What are they going to do, banish us from Quidditch for the year?" Angelina rolled her eyes. "I say let's go for it."

Fred dropped to his knees in front of her, holding a hand to his heart. "Forge, I think I'm in love."

Flashes of a past that wasn't her own assaulted her mind, making Mary grimace as the declaration echoed both what should have been and what never had the chance to really be. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, but still the sight of George staring in shock at Fred's lifeless body was burned into her eyelids, leaving her feeling broken and useless.

"I'm in." Mary turned around quickly, wiping the tears away with the sleeve of her robe as she reached into the overhead compartment and pulled the tiny Firebolt out of her rucksack.

Alicia stood up. "How about we go to the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw cars first and see if they want to join us as a sign of solidarity and protest over missing out on Quidditch for a year?"

"Now that's an idea I can get behind." Katie stood as well and returned her broom to its regular size.

"How about we fly to their windows instead?" Angelina smiled brightly, "At least then they wouldn't be thinking that we were trying to prank them."

"I like it!" Katie clapped her hands.

"We have to get Lee first." Fred added.

"He wouldn't miss it." George finished in a serious tone.

"We'll stay with the train?" Katie gave them all a serious look. "No serious stunts that could end up with any of us expelled and next year's team on the outs?"

Mary copied Fred's stance and put her hand to her heart in mock shock. "Don't all of you stare at me! It's not my fault!"

Alicia laughed and tapped her wand to her broom, causing it to go back to normal size. "How about we all fly around Mary in a protective formation?"

George patted his potential girlfriend's shoulder and shook his head in sympathy. "Don't antagonize her. We'll need everyone with a broom to protect poor Mary here."

"Hey now!" Mary tapped her Firebolt with her wand. "I'll remember that Georgey!"

The six of them stood in the compartment staring at the window for a whole two seconds before George dove out, climbing quickly onto the roof. A pale hand shot down and Angelina gasped and backed away, but Alicia stood on the bench seat and climbed out the same way George had, grabbing his hand and letting him help her onto the top of the train. One by one they waited until there was only Mary and Fred left.

"Go ahead." Mary waved a hand toward the window.

"That's a hell no, sis." Fred shook his head. "I'm staying back to make sure you make it up there safely. Just imagine the Prophet's headline: Mary Potter dies by falling from a train window!"

Mary let out a breath. "They'd have a record sales day. Might even ask my teammates to autograph it."

"You don't have to go," Fred added in a softer tone. "none of us will judge you if you don't want to."

"Screw that!" Mary ground her teeth together, stepping onto the seat and crawled into the window sill, then turned to look back at Fred. "If I die out here, I'm going to haunt you all."

"I'll look forward to it." Fred held her hand and squeezed it tightly.

Mary smiled brightly and finished crawling onto the top of the train. The wind whipped around her and her teammates were all struggling to keep in place as the train continued to gain speed. Fred was up and with them within a few seconds, his red hair plastered to the side of his face as he ducked and scrambled over to his twin.

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Angelina screamed over the roar of the wind, holding onto the roof of the train for dear life.

Alicia was practically laying down, clutching her broom. "Doesn't feel like it!"

"It never does!" Mary yelled back, closing her eyes once more and feeling the wind rush over her face.

Her Firebolt laid on the flat black surface of the compartment's roof and she rolled onto it, gently guiding it into the air. A laugh escaped her lips as she effortlessly glided above the train, feeling more in control of the situation now that she was on her broom. She looked back to see the others following suit and mounting their brooms. A half minute later the entire team was in the air. They flew in sync weaving and dodging the tree limbs that scattered the tracks, staying as close to the train as possible. And then the wind shifted. All of them scrambled as the cloud of white smoke and steam was pelted directly toward them.

"Go higher!" Katie urged them.

A straight path showed just above the ridge and they all sighed in relief that they would be able to fly above and around the train with no surprises cropping up.

"Now's the time to get the others!" Angelina called out. "How about Hufflepuff first?"

"You go there and I'll get Ravenclaw!" Alicia called back diving toward the windows of the train and slowing her broom to peer inside.

Katie pulled her broom up beside Fred's. "What about Slytherin?"

"What about them?" He looked at her in curiosity.

"I'll get them." Mary sighed. "I have the fastest broom and I can easily dodge their hexes."

Katie grimaced, but Mary angled her broom down to where the Slytherin compartment was in the front of the train, hoping that she wouldn't need to use her wand. She was confident in using her Firebolt with one hand, but it was more difficult to use both her wand and her broom at the same time.

She pulled back to slow her speed as she neared the compartment's window. With a tap of her knuckles on the glass, she effectively scared Pansy Parkinson into jumping into Daphne's lap. Millicent rolled her eyes, stood and quickly slid the glass down.

"What do you want, Potter?" Millicent asked in a gruff voice. "And what in Salazar's name are you doing out there?"

"We're all flying to Hogwarts to protest Quidditch being cancelled for the year." Mary shrugged her shoulders and stretched her Muggle hand toward where now twenty or more people were flying around beside the train. "All of you well trained on a broom are welcome to join us."

"Trying to get yourself killed, Potter?" Malfoy strutted toward the window. "The term hasn't even started yet."

Mary clenched her jaw and looked back at Millicent. "Spread the word to any Slytherins that want to fly to Hogwarts, Milli."

Not waiting for Millicent to respond, and knowing that the message was in great hands, Mary angled her broom toward the midday sky and flew straight towards it, not holding back on her Firebolt's speed or capability. The clouds were getting darker and more ominous as the train rode on, but the large group of Quidditch players had flown in worse and weren't deterred by a little wind or rain. Eventually, Millicent, Montague, Warrington, and even Malfoy joined the fray.

Mary could both see and hear the students on the train as they opened their windows and shouted up to the members of their house team who flew around high fiving random passengers. They flanked the train, flying in straight lines along either side of the Hogwarts Express as it steadily made its way towards Hogsmeade station. There was no competition or rivalry, even among the Slytherins, and they all simply enjoyed the ride.

Mary felt like she'd flown through a hurricane as she landed her broom on the roof of the train hours later. Diggory had called a halt to their flight when lightning began lighting up the evening sky and hail pelted them from above. The train whistle had blown twice signalling their arrival at the station and all them scrambled to get back inside where it was warm and dry. The second they slipped into the compartment windows, drying charms were vigorously used and students hustled to straighten their robes.

All in all it was well worth it.

Angelina turned around after pulling on her robe, staring at Mary for a moment before bursting out laughing. "Mary, your hair looks really wild."

Mary turned to see her reflection in the window and grimaced as she quickly pulled it up into a suitable bun and pulled her hood up to cover the haphazard job she'd done. "Better?"

"So much better." Angelina smiled, reaching up to grab her bag from the upper compartment. "Need me to get yours?"

"Sure." Mary focused on making sure her tie was straight.

Fred slid the compartment door open with a guilty smile on his face. "Just a heads up, ladies. McGonagall is on the platform and she looks ready to breathe fire."

Mary stared at her feet as she shuffled along behind her teammates along the long corridor of the train. It felt like she was walking to her own beheading. McGonagall had become an aunt of sorts to her and the thought of disappointing someone she respected so much felt like a kick in the chest. She was trying to do better, but sometimes her impulse control was next to nothing. Sure she could have stayed back, alone in the Gryffindor compartment, or she could have gone and found Hermione and Ron, but she didn't think of that at the time. Regretting things wasn't something she was fond of, and no matter how much trouble she would end up in later, she couldn't find a single ounce of regret in herself for what she actually did, only in upsetting Professor McGonagall.

Mary grabbed Angelina's hand as they stepped off the train. "Together."

"Together." Alicia echoed, grabbing her other hand.

One by one, those that had dared to mount their brooms and fly linked hands - or arms - and exited last from the Hogwarts Express. Draco Malfoy was kind of forced into it by Millicent who had joined them in the stormy skies by commandeering Adrian Pucey's broom.

The wind and rain whipped around them and they released each other's hands so they could secure the hoods on their heads and protect their trunks from the watery assault. McGonagall stood tall and ominous under the streetlight, her wand held high as she cast an umbrella charm over herself.

"Follow me," she said simply, turning and marching up the path.

"What about the carriages?" Malfoy's voice echoed over the din.

A loud 'oomph' could be heard and Mary turned to see Malfoy rubbing his ribs and Millicent looking quite pleased with herself. They trudged up the long winding path to the school, slipping and sliding on the slick stones. No more words were spoken, and as Mary looked around at her fellow rule-breakers, she realized that they were all just as anxious as she was to find out what their punishment would be.

The first shock was that they weren't going to the main entrance hall. They instead went in via a side door on the first floor near the Muggle Studies classrooms.

"Leave your belongings here." McGonagall didn't even bother turning around, just kept her back to them as they piled their stuff next to the large wooden doors.

At least we're out of the weather. Mary told herself, trying to find a silver lining amongst the dung heap that they'd landed themselves in. None of them dared using magic to dry off, not wanting to be berated by the Deputy Headmistress. Instead they squished and squeaked along the corridor with their soaking robes and waterlogged shoes.

What felt like hours later they arrived in an unused classroom on the ground floor. It was large and clean, but wholly empty of any furnishings.

"You are to wait here until I return for you," McGonagall said finally. "You are not to leave. You are not to cause any chaos whatsoever. You are here to think about the foolish act you've committed while I go and get our incoming first years Sorted. There is a washroom in the back. Do make yourselves presentable."

A collective groan of relief was exhaled when the large wooden door closed behind her with a heavy click.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Katie moaned, casting another drying spell on her robes and shoes.

"What's the worst they can do?" Millicent asked in a bored tone.

"Expel us," Cedric answered, sitting down on the stone floor.

"Ban us from Quidditch for the rest of our time at Hogwarts." Katie sat down heavily.

"Detention with Filch for the rest of the year." Ricket put his head in his hands. "I've never had detention before."

"Detention with Snape for the rest of the year." Roger Davies shook his head in dismay. "He hates me already."

"Detention with Hagrid for the rest of the year." Cho Chang piped in, inching closer to Cedric's side. "I hear he still has a few hippogriffs in the paddock."

Malfoy and a few others shuddered dramatically.

"They could write our families," Maxine O'Flaherty - the beater from Hufflepuff - said, "My mum's going to be furious."

"We can handle Howlers," Fred and George said together.

"Why'd I even go up there?" Grant Page groaned loudly. "I hate all of you."

They all sat on the cold stone floor in contemplative silence after that. It wasn't until half an hour later that four trays of finger sandwiches and pitchers of pumpkin juice popped into existence in the middle of the room. A few of the more paranoid flyers jumped back in surprise, but those that were used to living in magical households were barely bothered by food showing up at random.

"The house elves remembered us!" Fred exclaimed loudly.

"Love us they do." George swatted his brother's shoulder playfully and dove for the tray.

Their spirits were bolstered by the food alone and Mary knew that things couldn't have been too bad if the professors were feeding them. If McGonagall was as furious as she looked, she would have expelled them straight away and sent them home without dinner.

The sandwiches were great, but Mary could barely take two bites before her nerves got the better of her and her appetite retreated completely. Instead she sipped at her paper cup filled with pumpkin juice, observing the people around her. Where would their loyalties lie when the world turned upside down? Would they still be able to sit in a room with each other and eat a meal? Who would live and who would die? Mary shook her head to break out of those dire thoughts. Focus was something she had less and less of each day. She never really knew if she was doing the right thing. What if she failed and messed everything up? Who would pay the price for her arrogant mistakes?

The door opened an hour later and professor Dumbledore walked in, a frown on his face even though his eyes twinkled slightly. "It's quite a shame that you all missed the Welcoming Feast. The Hogwarts elves truly outdid themselves this year. As well, you missed some very important announcements. I will not keep you any longer, as I'm sure you're housemates will be very vocal in updating you on the upcoming events and new rules in place."

Everyone stood up in shock, sure this had to be some kind of ruse. They weren't going to be punished?

"Ah, yes." Professor Dumbledore sighed, reaching into his pocket and producing a small bag of lemon drops. "Professor McGonagall will be expecting each of you in her office tomorrow after dinner. Your parents and guardians have already been informed of what happened this evening, so you will be writing to your families explaining to them the danger of what you did. As such, the Quidditch season has been banned in light of the Triwizard Tournament. Professor McGonagall will take possession of your brooms until she feels you understand the ramifications of your actions."

Everyone gasped, but had more respect for Headmaster Dumbledore than to interrupt him.

"And now, I must wish you all a very good night and urge you to hurry back to your dormitories." Professor Dumbledore flicked his wand and the time glowed brightly mid-air. "Curfew is in half-an hour and classes start first thing in the morning. Lemon drop anyone?"

The Headmaster held the small bag out and moved out of the way. Each and every person that went by smiled and thanked him as they walked past, but Mary noticed that very few actually grabbed a sweet. She grabbed three, popping them into her mouth and ducking her head before Professor Dumbledore could make eye contact with her.

Things between them had been neutral at best since his last visit to Grimmauld Place. He didn't contact her, and she felt no need to contact him. In fact, the less they were around each other the better. Her skill in occlumency was fairly decent, but someone with Dumbledore's power could easily break into her mind and obtain the knowledge she had, and that wasn't something she ever wanted to happen.

They made it up to the portrait of the Fat Lady in record time.

"Password?" The Fat Lady asked in a bored tone.

"They didn't give it to us," Katie answered politely. "Come on, you know who we are."

"Very strict policy this year, child." The Fat Lady rolled her eyes. "No password. No entry."

"Well this sucks." Angelina sighed.

Just then the portrait swung forward violently, making the Fat Lady squeal in terror.

Lee Jordan stumbled out and launched himself toward Fred and George. "You're here! Come on, everyone's talking about you!"

They followed Lee into Gryffindor Tower and were immediately accosted by cheers and screams of delight. Mary ducked and dodged, but when the other students began peppering her with questions about the flight, and their subsequent punishment, she lightened up and began to enjoy the moment, seeing that her teammates fared no better. That is until Hermione got a hold of her.

"What on Earth were you thinking, Mary?" Hermione screeched, pulling her away from Lavender and Parvati. "You could have been injured, or worse!"

"I'm fine." Mary assured her, looking to Ron for help, but found none when he shook his head and looked away. "I'm sorry, Ron. It was to protest Quidditch being cancelled. It was done in the cause of solidarity and school spirit."

"That's a load of bull and you know it!" Hermione pointed out, crossing her arms. "And I hope you have a better story to tell Sirius and Remus."

Mary shrugged, not thinking much of it. "They won't mind."

Ron grimaced and put a hand to his forehead. "Good luck with that."

Mary looked from Ron to Hermione in confusion, her heart dropping into her stomach. "What do you mean?"

"Hermione may have used your mirror to call them while you were out flying," Ron squeaked out. "She may have let them watch some of it."

Mary groaned loudly, holding out her hand. "My mirror, now."

Hermione handed it over, looking far from guilty. "I promised to look out for you and I don't go back on my word."

Mary shook her head, pocketing the mirror as she took the stairs to the girls dorm two at time. She flung the door open, running to her bed and closing the curtains around her. Best to just get it over with. It didn't do anyone any good to let things fester. She'd learned that the hard way. Damage control was easiest when done quickly.

"Siri," Mary whispered to the mirror, almost hoping they wouldn't answer.

"Mary!" Sirius' smiling face beamed back at her almost instantly. "We've been waiting for your call."

"Got held up in limbo while Dumbledore and Aunt Minnie decided my fate." Mary went for lighthearted and carefree, hoping they'd go along with it.

"How was it?" Remus asked with a smile that showed too many teeth. "Did you have fun up there?"

"It was okay." Mary backed off the happiness a little, feeling ill at ease. "It was for solidarity, you know. And Quidditch. We had to protest!"

"As long as you enjoyed yourself." Sirius replied after a moment.

"Yeah." Mary nodded. "It was fun."

"Good." Remus closed his eyes. "Because you're grounded."

"What?" Mary was thrown for a loop. "Why? I thought you guys would be proud! Wasn't that something you'd always wished you'd done?"

"Absolutely," Sirius said, letting out a breath. "But we never actually did it!"

"Sucks to be you," Mary muttered.

"What was that, Mary Jane?" Remus' face filled the mirror and she could see the slight glow to his eyes.

"I'm just gonna go." Mary set the mirror down, holding a hand to her aching head. "Love you both. Time to go to sleep."

"Oh no you don't!" Sirius' voice echoed through the mirror.

The phantom rage and pain that'd been plaguing her all day was finally rearing its ugly head and Mary lacked any will to fight it.

"Look," Mary said picking up the mirror and holding it barely a foot from her face. "For me this was a really good day. I've flown from London to who knows where in Scotland during a thunderstorm. I've just walked all the way from Hogsmeade in that same thunderstorm. Sat in a cold room with more than twenty people who smelled like a swamp. Missed the Feast. Been interrogated and snitched out by my best friends, and now I'm getting to my breaking point. I'm not hurt! I'm not injured in any way. I'm sorry I worried you, but I'm honestly just so tired of being micromanaged and overprotected. I had a few moments to have fun and be free and I took it. So you can ground me and you can lock me up, I don't really care. It was worth it!"

"Mary," Remus said in a softer voice. "Your scar is bleeding."

"What?" Mary put a hand to her forehead and pulled it back, finding her fingers covered in her own blood. "Oh no. I'm okay. I'm fine."

"You're not fine." Remus sighed, rubbing his tired face. "Sirius is on his way there."

"No, really." Mary shrugged, looking at the blood on her hands. "It's okay."

"We'll figure this out, Mary." Moony tried to placate her. "We've had a plan in place ever since Dumbledore warned us about this being a possibility."

"It's too soon, Moony," Mary whispered. "It's just too soon. The connection shouldn't be this strong! What do I do?"

"You're not doing anything, Mary Jane." Remus assured her. "It's just a little blood, okay? We'll have Madam Pomfrey check you out and then you can go to class in the morning."

"I'm running out of time," Mary whimpered, her legs giving out and letting her fall to the floor.

She'd faced Voldemort before. Twice. She'd made it out in one piece. Both times she went in thinking that if she couldn't stop him someone else could. But now, with the pressure of it being all on her was a bit too much. If her scar was bleeding, was he close? Had he changed his plans? Was he trying to break her mind? Was he trying to break into her mind? What if he knew what she did? What would Voldemort change to his advantage? What kind of horror could he subject the world to if he knew what she did?

"Stay calm!" Remus urged her. "Just breathe, Mary Jane. Just breathe."

The door opened, but Mary didn't bother to stand or look up. Instead she crossed her arms and put her head down. She couldn't bear to face Hermione, Lavender, or Parvati at that moment. Instead it was Professor McGonagall who walked in, all of the disappointment on her face was gone and was replaced with sincere worry.

"Come along, Potter." McGonagall reached for her hand and helped her get up off the floor. "Your guardian is waiting outside the portrait hole and I think he and the Fat Lady are about to have a fight."

Mary wiped her face on her sleeve, only smearing blood everywhere.

McGonagall flicked her wand at Mary's face and the feeling of dried blood vanished, yet the wound didn't close or stop bleeding. "Here, Potter."

Mary accepted the handkerchief - with a little scottish terrier stitched in one corner - gratefully and placed it up against her burning scar. "I'm going to make a scene going down there like this."

"Nonsense," McGonagall said, smiling in sympathy. "I've sent everyone to their dorms with threat of detention for the year if they step out of bounds before morning. Your roommates have been told that your godfather wanted to have a talk with you and it's to my own understanding that they believe you are in quite a bit of trouble from your earlier escapades."

Mary stumbled slightly as another burst of searing pain erupted from her skull. "We better hurry."

McGonagall grabbed her arm to steady her and guided her down the stairs. Hermione, Lavender and Parvati all stood when she reached the common room.

"Are you okay?" Hermione rushed forward.

"I'm fine." Mary assured her tightly.

In all truth, she was a bit ticked off at Hermione. Had it not been for her meddling she could have dealt with this on her own in peace and quiet. Instead she would have to deal with Sirius and his intense mothering while being berated for doing things she knew he was jealous only because he didn't have the gall to do it himself. Mary ground her teeth together as another wave of anger burned through her. What right did any of them have to tell her what to do? Who gave them permission to dictate her entire life?

Mary turned away when Hermione moved to embrace her, pulling the hood of her cloak up to hide her face. She didn't feel capable of looking at her. Of looking at anyone. She just wanted to be left alone.

"Calm yourself, Potter." McGonagall urged her gently as they made it to the portrait hole.

Sirius rushed forward, enveloping her in a hug that she couldn't bear to reciprocate. She felt like she was suffocating. As though he could sense her thoughts he released her immediately.

Sirius knelt down on the stone floor in front of her and stared into her eyes. "Mary?"

She looked away immediately. She couldn't do it. She couldn't look at him. Not like that. The anger, the hatred, it wasn't hers and she never wanted Sirius to see her looking at him like that.

"Don't." She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself. "Just say what you need to say and let me go so I can sleep. I have class in the morning."

"I've got this, Minnie," Sirius whispered.

She heard him get to his feet and the sound of Professor McGonagall's stiff tartan skirt rustling as she walked away.

"Go ahead," Mary whispered, readying herself for a lecture.

"Walk with me," Sirius said instead, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Just close your eyes and think about flying. I'll be here to guide you. Trust me."

She didn't close her eyes, instead she kept them focused on the stone in front of her. Down and down they went. Two staircases and three corridors later, until Mary realized where they were headed and the thought alone sent panic flooding through her.

"No." Mary shook her head vehemently. "I can't go there. Not now."

"It's for the best," Sirius said in a pained tone, knocking on the simple wooden door. "He's the best person to help."

The door opened, but Mary didn't look up. She was afraid to look at him. Why now? What was Voldemort so angry about? She'd done her best to keep her mind clear, why was his anger still coming through? It was too soon for her to be feeling this way.

"Enter."


Severus Snape

Severus was shocked when the headmaster called him shortly after dinner. He'd been in the middle of meeting his new first years when Fawkes arrived in a burst of flames, scaring his new charges half to death with his sudden appearance. He read through the letter, placed it in his pocket and then continued his speech as though nothing happened. The First years were so wound up, waiting for something else to pop up, that he doubted they retained a single word he said. And of course he had Potter to blame. Still though, he went through his yearly routine without sparing the girl no more than a thought. His House was his main priority and he wouldn't see them fall to the wayside just to placate Potter's untimely fits of inconvenience.

So to see her and her dogfather standing at the door to his personal quarters hours later wasn't so much of a surprise as was the fact that said mutt had little to no issue with the situation. All of his concern was focused on the girl who had yet to remove her hood or take a step into the room.

"Now, Potter," he said with a little more sternness in his tone.

Potter lifted her head and he could see the faint glow to her green eyes despite the fact that her hood shrouded her from the light. He reached forward slowly, pulling the hood back and had to hold in his shock at seeing the infamous lightning bolt scar standing out as swollen and fresh as the moment it was made. Blood trickled down the bridge of her nose and down to her lip in a steady stream.

"I shouldn't be here." Potter almost growled out, staring at the wall behind him.

"Sit down, Potter," he instructed her with no sympathy.

Potter sat automatically, holding herself stiffly at the edge of the couch as though she was ready to bolt at any given moment. Black looked down at her with a mixture of worry and pity. Neither would help the girl.

Severus took the few short steps to the small cabinet in his rooms and pulled out a light green potion vial and went back to Potter who hadn't yet moved.

"Drink this."

Potter didn't look up. "Will it inhibit my ability to keep my mind protected?"

"A Calming Draught would in fact bolster control on your mental faculties." He explained, holding in a sigh. "You would know this had you truly studied the effects of potions on the practicing Occlumens."

"And miss out on this lecture?" Potter clenched her left hand at her side before reaching out to grab the vial. "Thank you, sir."

"Just drink it." Severus snapped out.

"He's angry." Potter rolled her shoulders. "I don't think he can sense me at all, but that doesn't stop me from feeling what he does. I hate it! I hate him! I wish he was dead!"

Severus nearly smiled at the way Black shuddered at the conviction in his precious goddaughter's voice. He would have smiled had the statement not sounded like something he would have said when he was her age.

He was tired and ill tempered, knowing that a castle full of listless brats surrounded him. It didn't help that a quarter of them were his own personal responsibility. Now with Potter's predicament it caused even more issues. To top it all of, his Dark Mark had been burning consistently for the entire day. Not enough to make him think that he was being summoned, seeing as the Mark was still a faded gray, yet it was a pins and needles feeling that set his teeth on edge. Potter was correct in stating that the Dark Lord was angry. He was angry and slowly growing in power. And that didn't bode well for anyone.

"That's not you," he replied calmly, "that is his anger, and his hatred. Not yours."

"You're just like everyone else." She pinned him with that haunting green stare. "Always telling me what I can and can't do. All of the sudden everyone's the expert at keeping me safe. Where were all of my champions when I was starving in my cupboard? Where were you when I was spending hours in the blistering sun weeding Aunt Petunia's flower bed until my hands were raw? You didn't care then. Why do you care now?"

"I didn't know about any of that," Severus answered honestly. "I knew your aunt was a coldhearted woman, but I hoped that she would take care of you the way Lily would have had situations been reversed."

"Isn't that a thought," Potter said with a hysterical laugh. "My parents alive and Dudley skinny and being raised like my brother?"

"I wouldn't go that far," Black muttered, leaning his hands on the back of the sofa.

Potter dabbed at her forehead with the soaked handkerchief and Severus flicked his wand, removing all of the blood from the cloth, leaving it crisp and clean.

"Sorry," Potter deadpanned. "Wouldn't want to stain your sofa with my Potter blood."

"I am a Death Eater," Severus deadpanned. "Removing bloodstains is second nature for me."

Black bristled at the admission, but Potter nodded stoically. "I can kill him, I know I can. I just really really don't look forward to it."

"You won't ever get close to him, Potter." Severus said automatically. "That is not your task to complete."

Potter chuckled humorlessly. "If you say so, professor."

She was calmer now. It seemed that letting out some of the foreign anger instead of repressing it seemed to help. He pointed to the calming draught in her hand and she lifted it to her pale lips, downing it quickly.

A moment passed and she stood brushing her hands across her robes. "Thank you-"

All at once her eyes rolled back in her head and she slumped to her side, leaving Black scrambling to either help her or hex him. "What the hell, Snape?"

"I laced it with a mild sleeping draught," Severus replied easily. "If she'd been sleeping regularly she would have made it back to her dorm before falling into a relaxed sleep. I'd say she hasn't slept well in weeks."

"Would you if you had that dark bastard in your mind?" Black growled.

"I am capable of brewing potions that will put a giant into a coma," Severus said without boasting. "Had you informed me she was having trouble sleeping I would have provided you with a way to help her."

"She said she was sleeping." Black's shoulders slumped in defeat. "And I believed her. I wanted to believe that she was okay."

"If old dogs can learn new tricks, you'll eventually realize that Potter is rarely honest when it pertains to her own health or state of mind." Severus was unsure of why his words had come out more placating and less the insult he intended.

Black looked up at him with narrowed eyes. "I'll keep that in mind. Do you think I should take her home or back to Gryffindor Tower?"

His shock that Black was actually asking for his opinion was overshadowed by the fact that Black seemed wholly lost and looking to him - of all people - for guidance.

"Potter has been Occluding her thoughts heavily. Should she wake up in a vulnerable frame of mind it will only make her more susceptible to a mental attack. I will keep watch over her tonight." He offered after a moment of thought.

Black breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm only a Floo call away. I'd stay and take her back home with me, but I think I'd have better luck taming one of Hagrid's pets."

"Indeed." Severus nodded, unable to find an eloquent retort to that statement.

He was mildly surprised once again when Black Floo'ed out, leaving Potter in his sole care. All at once he felt uncomfortable and alien in his own home.

Potter's hair draped over the edge of the sofa like a dark tidal wave. The lightning bolt scar on her forehead continued to bleed slowly, and he knew he'd have to do something about that before anything else. With a flick of his wand he summoned a clean cloth and a vial of his best numbing potion. They floated into his grasp and he took great care in treating the cursed scar, hoping that it would provide the girl with at least a little relief so that he could get some well deserved rest. She didn't stir as he removed her shoes and situated her more comfortably on the sofa and covered her with a warm quilt.

He moved to the chair nearest the fire and sat down heavily, grabbing the latest potions journal and made ready to stay up throughout the night while keeping watch over Gryffindor's golden girl.


September 2nd, 1994

Mary Potter

Mary woke up tangled up in a warm blanket. She yawned widely, rubbing her eyes and wondering where the irritating racket was coming from. She sat up and looked around. This wasn't her room and this wasn't Gryffindor Tower. She put a hand to her head and closed her eyes, wondering what in the hell was going on. And then it came back to her. Voldemort's anger. Sirius taking her down to Snape's quarters.

He spiked the calming draught! She slapped a hand over her mouth, staring at the dark shadow that was snoring in the armchair across from her.

Though every part of her wanted to be irritated at Snape's actions, she couldn't really put much effort into it. Not when she saw the dangerous position she'd placed him in. Of all people that she needed to keep her distance from when she was channeling Voldemort's anger, he was on the top of the list. Especially now that Voldemort was on the warpath, knowing that one of his Horcruxes had been destroyed.

The last glowing embers in the fireplace gave off just enough light for her to check her watch and find her shoes. She barely had enough time to get back to the Tower, get ready for the day, and hopefully come up with a story that didn't leave her friends asking questions.

Mary tied her shoes and stood, quietly folding the quilt and placing it on the arm of the sofa. Then she turned around, wondering if she should wake up Snape. The fire was dying and he had class to teach in a couple of hours. She didn't want him to get cold, and she also didn't want him to be late for class.

She bit her lip and grimaced as she grabbed the quilt and carefully placed it around the irritable man, backing away instantly when he shifted in the chair.

"Trying to smother me, Potter?" Snape's droll tone made her jump.

"I didn't want you to get cold." Mary blurted out, holding her hands up to show that she had no ill intentions. "It's just after five and I was going to head back to the Tower, but I didn't know if I should wake you or not."

"Use the Floo." Snape ordered her gruffly. "You stayed with that mutt you claim as a godfather last night."

"Yes, sir." Mary sighed in relief, moving towards the fireplace, wondering when Snape became so good at subterfuge.

"The powder is on the mantle." Snape ground out, flicking his wand to make the flames roar into life.

"Oh, er, thanks, sir," Mary stammered, grabbing a pinch of Floo powder and throwing it into the grate.

She didn't wait for his response as she stepped in. "Gryffindor common room!"

The Floo spat her out on the worn maroon rug and Mary grimaced as she picked herself up off the ground.

What a way to start the new year.

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