Ron Weasley could honestly say that he'd never felt true fear until he watched his best mate turn her wand on herself in the Dark Arts classroom. He stood there beside Hermione, watching, waiting, and hoping whatever spell Mary cast wouldn't embarrass him too much. Sure, it was funny to see Malfoy act like the sod he was, but he didn't feel particularly keen on one upping the snobby Slytherin. Yet, in the back of his mind, he also feared that Mary would cast a spell that would do something far worse than Tarantallegra. Mary spent months combing through the books in the Black Family library, and they didn't seem the type to keep prank books on hand.

Mary lifted her arm and Hermione began mumbling something about how wrong it was that Moody was making her do this and she didn't feel it was right. Ron wholeheartedly agreed when the dark wand rose to point between them. And then Mary did the daftest thing he'd ever seen her do, and that was saying a lot in itself.

She pointed the wand at her temple. "Av-"

Hermione let out an odd sound and Ron took a step forward, ready to knock the wand out of Mary's hand, but Moody was faster. His spell hit Mary, knocking her sideways, and breaking the spell before it could be completed.

Hermione looked fit to burst into tears all through dinner, and Ron's nerves were so on edge that he barely touched his food. Right up until Mary walked in, a grimace on her face as she sat down, looking down at her plate as though the pile of gravy she poured there had insulted her.

"You alright there, mate?" Ron asked before Hermione could begin her inquisition.

Mary looked up and smiled - a fake smile - in a way that set him off his food. "I'm fine. Just hungry."

"Let Potter eat, Weasley." Malfoy guffawed from across the table. "Wouldn't want her to off herself, would you?"

"Why you foul little-" Hermione moved to stand, but Mary pulled her back down by the sleeve of her robe.

"He's not worth it, Hermione." Mary sighed, pushing the gravy around with her fork.

"Let's get out of here." Ron stood, wiping his hands on his robes as Mary and Hermione gathered their things and followed him out of the Great Hall.

"Reckon you can show us to the kitchens?" Ron asked Mary as soon as they were in the main hall. "Didn't much feel like eating in there. Not with Malfoy sitting so close."

"He put you off your dinner?" Mary asked, a true mischievous smile lighting her face.

"You have no idea." Ron shook his head, letting her take the lead.

Hermione was glancing around while they travelled down another staircase, as though she was memorizing the path. "How often do you come down here, Mary?"

Mary dug her hands into her pockets. "As often as I can. The elves are great company."

"And we're not?" Ron asked, a grin on his face.

Mary let out a laugh. "I didn't hex you today, did I? That should be an answer enough."

Hermione reached out hesitantly and grabbed Mary's arm, stopping her in the dim corridor. "You weren't going to-"

"Off myself?" Mary finished for her, pulling out her wand. "No. Avis!"

Ron watched as a small flock of twittering birds launched themselves from her wand and then quickly flew toward the nearest exit.

"A bird conjuring charm?" Hermione raised a brow at Mary. "Really?"

Mary rubbed her shoulder and winced. "Don't know why I got flung into a wall over it though. I mean it's not like the birds were going to hurt anyone."

"The way your wand was pointed they would have flown straight in one ear and out the other." Ron shook his head.

"Ronald Weasley!" Mary put her hands on her hips. "Are you saying I've nothing between my ears?"

Ron grinned as they stopped just in front of a portrait depicting a bowl of fruit. "You said it!"

"I take offense to that." Mary grumbled, moving forward to tickle the pear on the portrait. "Here we are."

They stepped through and Ron found himself in food heaven. House elves were everywhere, bustling to and fro and whistling while they worked. The long tables were heavy laden with huge pots and bowls of food that immediately refilled their counterparts in the Great Hall. The huge dish in the back - filled with cottage pie - called to Ron in a way that made his stomach do a flip.

An older looking elf shuffled toward them with his long nose in the air. "Is you here to clean, Mary Potter?"

"No, Micky," Mary replied easily.

"That is being good." Micky narrowed his eyes at the three of them. "You is to be sitting and eating. You's did not get enough for dinner."

"We didn't come here to cause you more work," Mary said in a gentle tone.

"Follow Micky." The elf waved a spindly hand and guided them to a stack of plain wooden plates that stood before the largest buffet Ron had ever seen. "You is to be eating as much as you can. You know where the table is, Mary Potter."

Ron goggled at the expansive spread of food in front of himself and grabbed a plate without a second thought. He didn't care if Hermione hexed him into a puddle of goo later, but there was no way he was passing up dinner a second time. Ron piled food onto a plate and made his way to the back of the large kitchen where Hermione and Mary were sitting with their own plates.

"I don't know if I'll ever go to the great hall again!" Ron exclaimed.

"We really shouldn't be causing them more work." Hermione looked over her shoulder to see the elves whistling and talking amongst each other as the cooked and cleaned. "They have enough to deal with taking care of the castle and the meals."

"Keep your voice down," Mary hissed. "If you reject their kindness they take it as a personal offense."

Hermione immediately looked down at her plate and began eating, giving Ron leeway to enjoy his meal in peace. He kept an eye on Mary watching as she'd push her food around her plate to hide the fact she wasn't really interested in the meal. It was something he noticed about her since they'd started Hogwarts that Mary would usually forego food when she was in a mood.

"I'm going to the Room of Requirement to call Sirius." Mary stood up, taking her plate to the nearby sink.

"Can't you do that from the common room?" Hermione asked loudly, looking forlornly at her half empty plate.

"I'm still in some hot water over the other night." Mary shook her head. "You two finish up in here and I'll meet you back in the tower."

Ron and Hermione stayed silent as Mary left, leaving Ron just a few spare seconds to get another bite of food in before Hermione started up.

"You're not buying that bird charm, are you?" Hermione glared at the door.

"Sure I am," Ron answered. "Mary wouldn't hurt herself."

Hermione didn't look appeased. "There's more to this than she's telling us."

"Of course there is." Ron took another bite of his chicken. "It's Mary we're talking about. Just 'cause I'm letting the matter go doesn't mean I'm not going to keep an eye on her."

Ron thought back to that fateful day on the Hogwarts Express. He'd walked into that cabin, seeing nothing but a boy with oversized ragged clothes and a bad haircut and figured it was as safe a place as any to keep away from Fred and George. The boy across from him barely spoke and kept his eyes -hidden behind thick dark framed glasses - pointed at the window.

It wasn't until Hermione barged into the compartment an hour later that Ron learned the truth. The boy sitting across from him, sharing his candy, wasn't a boy at all. It was Mary Potter, the witch that Ginny dressed up as on a daily basis as she ran around the house banishing pretend dark witches and wizards. Ron was appalled when remembering his rant.

"You can't be Mary Potter!" Ron stood up, grabbing Scabbers off the seat. "Mary Potter is famous and, well, rich! Not some shoddy looking little boy."

If Malfoy hadn't burst in right then spewing his normal pureblood shite, then Ron would have very well walked out to never speak to her again. But Mary'd put Malfoy in his place and stood beside him and Hermione even though she didn't have to.

Despite her fame and her reputation - and the fact that she was a girl - Ron couldn't find a reason not to be her friend. He figured it wouldn't last anyway, not after they were sorted. But Mary refused to let anything stand in her way. And through all the adventures and bad times in their first two years at Hogwarts, he couldn't help but feel lucky that he'd chosen that compartment. Mary and Hermione may have been girls, but they were the best mates he'd ever had.

"Is you's be wanting anything else?" Micky the elf shuffled up to the table.

"What does Mary usually do when she is here?" Hermione asked in a gentle tone.

"Mary Potter is cleaning and doing the washing." Micky grumbled. "Tis not a thing for students to be doing. You is supposed to be studying and making friends."

"Thank you, Micky." Ron interrupted before Hermione could say anything that would disrupt the elves and their cooking. "Let's go, Hermione. We better make sure Mary makes it back to the common room before curfew."

But when they finally walked into the common room, Mary was already there, head down as she examined a piece of parchment with Fred and George. Girls were barmy and Ron was starting to fear for his own sanity if things didn't improve soon.

"Look, they've just placed the announcement!" Dean shouted to Ron as he waved him toward the board.

TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving at 6 o'clock on Friday the 30th of October.

Lessons will end half an hour early.


October 29th, 1994

Mary Potter

Things went back to normal at a faster pace than Mary thought they would. And while her year-mates were still a little skittish around her, they didn't treat her with any hostility. Instead, Ron and Hermione rarely left her side and it was making it even more difficult for her to find time alone to train. And no matter where Mary went in the castle, Mad-Eye was sure to be just around the corner. It had her on edge wondering if he was watching her or if he was waiting to catch her unawares so that he could put her under the curse again. Either way, she tried to keep the Marauders Map on hand just to stay a step ahead of him.

Classes were becoming more taxing and Mary found herself in the library with the rest of the fourth years going over textbooks for hours on end. By the time they made it back to Gryffindor tower in the evenings there wasn't much else to do other than say their goodbyes and head to bed where Mary would toss and turn restlessly until the sun came up.

"Instructions are on the board." Snape bit out that next day in the potions classroom.

Mary squinted her eyes to try and see the tiny text on the blackboard, reaching down to grab another Billywig sting. She tossed it into the cauldron and made three anticlockwise turns and waited. The cauldron began to bubble and hiss and Mary looked down to see where she'd gone wrong. It was supposed to be simmering and turning a pale violet, not acid green and boiling.

"What have you done, Potter?" Snape stalked toward her.

Mary retraced her steps. "I just added the third Billywig-"

Her cauldron began to shake violently and Mary panicked, doing the only thing she could to stop it. She whipped off her work robe and covered the cauldron just as it exploded.

Snape flicked out his wand and vanished her work robe and the potion she'd spent the past two hours on in one go. "Detention, Potter."

"Yes, sir." Mary rubbed a hand over her face.

"Class dismissed." Snape called out. "Place your completed antidotes on my desk. Potter, I expect you here before breakfast on Saturday."

"Yes, sir." Mary grimaced.

Hermione reached over and grasped her hand tightly but Mary shook it off, stuffing her textbook into her bag before rushing out of the room. She ran all the way to the Room of Requirement and waited as the door opened for her. Stepping inside, Mary saw a plethora of glass vases and porcelain plates exactly like the ones Aunt Petunia had in her curio cabinet. They were all so pristine and perfect and it reminded her of beautiful spring days when she'd stand there carefully dusting the china while Dudley played outside.

The mirror seemed to mock her and the lighting only accentuated the scars that covered her limbs. Anger and pain flooded through her and she gave in to it, kneeling on the floor and screaming until her throat was raw. Glass shattered and the room shook, but Mary was lost in the deep loathing that was not her own. All she felt was agony and rage.

Mary grabbed the largest vase and flung it at the mirrored wall. It shattered into a million pieces and Mary stood there for a moment, looking at the destruction she'd caused.

"You're bloody well useless aren't you?" Mary screamed at her reflection. "Look at the opportunity you've been given? What have you done with it other than get yourself hurt and muck up everything else?"

The silver band on her arm glinted in the torchlight.

"And this double effing thing!" Mary dug her fingernails under the magical cuff. "Argh!"

Her arm bled and stung from her abuse, but the cuff didn't budge. The ache only persisted to get worse and Mary knew she'd have to scrape out what little healing paste she had left just to patch herself up.

What felt like hours later, Mary finally came back to reality only to be surrounded by destruction. Despite it all, she felt better. Voldemort's emotions were far back in her mind and she no longer felt like she was being ripped apart at the seams. The vase had no fault in anything and she'd broken it simply because she could. With a wave of her wand she repaired it and sent it flying back to its place on the shelf, feeling tired and drained.

It was the dinner hour, but she didn't feel much like eating, not after everything else. Instead she went to the common room and began tackling the pile of homework that was waiting for her, knowing that there was at least something she could do to bide her time until fate interrupted her life once more.


The castle was spick and span by the next evening and many of the portraits were loudly complaining from their dust free frames as the trio walked out of the castle to meet the contingent of new students.

"If it isn't the ickle trio." George ambled up between Ron and Hermione, putting an arm around each.

Fred put his arm around Mary. "Are you looking forward to seeing your little Krummy?"

"Thrilled!" Mary laughed, slipping a lit dungbomb into Fred's pocket. "Gotta go, Gred, Forge!"

Ron and Hermione darted down the steps just as it went off, leaving the Twins scrambling to find the source of the foul smell. Mary kept up with their brisk pace, hoping to find the best place to see the Durmstrang ship arrive. Ron and Hermione followed her to the long bridge where groups of students were gathering.

"This is where the first years arrive!" Ron looked around in confusion. "Why are we here, Mary?"

"You'll see." Mary cut a smile at her friends.

"Has Viktor told you?" Hermione asked, looking extremely curious.

"Any minute now." Mary grabbed hold of the railing.

And then there it was, the crow's nest of the Durmstrang ship surged forth from the depths of the Black Lake, quickly moving toward the docks. The people around her screamed in delight as the ship made port and red garbed students walked up the stone path.

"Everyone needs to be in the Great Hall!" Professor McGonagall called out. "Ten house points from every person still standing here within the next two minutes!"

Mary weighed the pros and cons of running down to meet Viktor, but decided it was best for her own health if she didn't lose Gryffindor any more points. Still though, she wanted at least the chance to greet her friend before she left.

"We'll pull him aside beforehand," Hermione assured her, keeping a strong grip on Mary's arm. "He won't hold it against you."

"You wrote to him about it, right?" Ron asked, taking his seat at the fourth year table.

"He knows." Mary sighed, rubbing her face.

Dumbledore made quick work of his speech before Filch ran forward signaling that the visiting schools were ready to be introduced. While Mary had Harry's memories to go by, nothing beat seeing it happen in real time. Her heart still raced when the two other schools were introduced along with Madame Maxime and Headmaster Karkaroff, who went up to the head table, while Dumbledore instructed that the students of both schools make themselves at home at whatever table they wished to dine at.

"Here he comes!" Ron wheezed out.

Mary stood so Viktor could see her and ignored the gasps and whispers as he made his way to the fourth year table.

"Is good to see you." Viktor pulled her into a quick hug.

"You too." Mary dragged him over to the space Ron made at the table. "Viktor, this is my family away from the chaos of my godfathers. Everybody, Viktor."

"Good to meet you." Viktor nodded quickly, but seemed ill at ease with the blatant staring and gawking that her yearmates had succumbed to.

"I'm Hermione Granger." Mary breathed a sigh of relief as Hermione extended her hand to Viktor and welcomed him to the table.

"Weasley," Ron squeaked out. "Ron Weasley."

"I have heard of you both." Viktor smiled at them.

"I'm so sorry I can't stay after the Feast," Mary said with a slight pang of regret. "I really am."

"You must pay your respects." Viktor looked down, suddenly very serious. "It is nothing to apologize for."

"Thanks for understanding." Mary let out a breath of relief, piling food onto her plate. "I'll be back by dinner tomorrow though, I promise."

Viktor put a hand on Mary's back. "Vill you be okay?"

"I'm a tough old bird." Mary dug her hands into her pockets. "Will you be okay while I'm gone?"

"No. I think not." Viktor deadpanned. "I am in most danger."

"Ange, Katie!" Mary called out to the sixth and seventh year tables and waved the older girls over.

"Yeah, Mary?" Katie stood up and glanced at Viktor, before she followed Angelina to the fourth year table.

"Will you two keep Viktor from being mauled and maimed while I'm gone tonight?" Mary pleaded with them, ignoring the way Viktor was staring at the two other girls in embarrassed shock. "Maybe enlist a few friends?"

"We've got this." Angelina nodded resolutely, sticking her hand out. "I'm Angelina Johnson. This is Katie Bell. Gryffindor Chasers."

"Viktor Krum," he shook their hands.

"We'll protect your innocence, virtue, and anything else you want us to." Katie giggled. "Unless you don't want us to."

Viktor looked shell shocked and Mary intervened, rethinking her plan. "Maybe the Twins could-"

"We're on it, Sis." George appeared out of nowhere.

"We'll keep your foreign friend entertained." Fred finished.

Mary turned back to Viktor. "Maybe it'd be best if you just stayed on the ship tonight."

"I agree." Viktor let out a laugh before digging into his meal with a gusto that was only surpassed by Ron.

Sometime later, once the golden plates were clean and gleaming and pudding was well over, McGonagall interrupted their reunion by walking up to the table with pursed lips and looking wholly irritated. "Potter, Weasley, Granger, it's time for you to go."

Mary put a hand on Viktor's shoulder as she stood. "I'll see you tomorrow."

He didn't respond to her, but to Hermione and Ron. "Look after her."

"We will." Hermione nodded resolutely.

A few moments later, Mary grabbed a handful of powder and threw it into the roaring fire of McGonagall's office. "12 Grimmauld Place!"

The Floo spat her out in the overly bright white sitting room, and Mary winced as Padfoot bounded toward her in dog form, knocking her to the ground.

"Bloody hell, Snuggly!" Mary hugged the massive black dog. "I'm thinking obedience school this summer. Muggle doggie obedience school. Get your manners back on track."

Padfoot transformed into Sirius who took a few steps back in horror. "You wouldn't!"

Mary looked around innocently. "Or maybe the veterinarian."

"That's just cruel, Mary Jane." Remus laughed as he waved his wand over her, Ron and Hermione to remove the soot. "At least take him to the groomer first."

Mary grimaced and backed away from her godfather. "Good gracious you reek, Siri! What on earth have you been doing? Other than showering, of course."

Sirius looked scandalized. "Research! Dumbledore has me looking up a few things and it's taking up most of my time."

Mary waved her wand at Sirius and performed a few strong freshening charms. "That might hold for a minute or two, you really need to back off the research and take a shower though. At least tell me you've both been feeding yourselves?"

"Kreacher has been taking care of bad master and his pet." Kreacher ambled into the room. "Kreacher will not let Mistress Mary's guardians starve."

"Thank you, Kreacher." Mary bowed her head to the old elf, then turned to put her hand on Remus' arm. "You're still the pet?"

"Don't start in, Mary Jane. I catch enough hell from Sirius." Remus rolled his eyes in obvious amusement.

"Kreacher, dear." Mary leaned down to the elf's eye level. "If Sirius doesn't bathe before bed, please do whatever you must to get him clean. Maybe a bubblebath and some harsh scrubbing."

"As young Mistress asks." Kreacher bowed lowly, a glint in his large eyes.

Sirius growled under his breath. "Alright you three, I suspect you have your own mischief to get up to. Try to make an early night of it. It's Dobby's turn at breakfast, so make sure you're ready by at least noon."

"Breakfast at noon?" Hermione asked, looking around in confusion.

"We don't do mornings here." Mary laughed at her friends confusion. "Or at least Sirius doesn't. Moony will sleep for days if allowed, so it's usually a free for all on when meals are served."

"I see," Hermione said with pursed lips. "We're still planning to make the Feast tomorrow, right?"

"We'll have you there in time." Remus put a hand on her shoulder. "Now off with you three. No need to waste your time with us old folk."

"Speak for yourself!" Sirius ran a hand through his greasy dark hair. "Yeah, I need to have a shower."

Mary, Ron and Hermione played chess and Exploding Snap in her room. But after they got bored of that, they opened up the Marauders Map, watching it intently before finally passing out on the large bed just as the sun rose in the distance.


Despite the fact she'd taken Dreamless Sleep the night before, Mary still woke before anyone else. Hermione'd stolen the entire duvet and Ron was curled up in a ball on his side of the bed. Mary was left freezing in between them until the potion had worn off enough to rouse from her slumber. She quickly donned a robe and grabbed another blanket to cover up Ron before walking quietly out of her room.

Dobby greeted her with a hug the second she walked into the kitchen. "Dobby is so happy that Mary Potter is here!"

"Happy to be here, Dobby." Mary rubbed the elf's back. "How've you been? Sirius and Remus treating you okay?"

"They have both been very good." Dobby nodded. "And they have been working very hard for Headmaster Dumbledore. Mary Potter would be proud."

"Really?" Mary's interest peaked, but she wanted to act like she knew what he was talking about. "Which task are they tackling, Dobby?"

"Oh they are looking for rare magical artifacts." Dobby nodded his head, making his long ears flap around wildly.

"Oh that one," Mary said after a moment, trying to collect herself. "I can't remember. Which one were they looking for last?"

"Something of Lady Ravenclaw's." Dobby leaned forward and whispered. "Dobby has never heard of it."

Mary's breath caught in her throat. He knew. Dumbledore knew about the Horcruxes and he was already going after them. Had he already contacted Horace Slughorn and forced the old wizard into confessing his darkest memory? Was Dumbledore simply going off of instinct?

The strong urge to find Sirius and Remus and tell them everything was in the forefront of her mind, but Mary shoved it aside. If she told them, they would go straight to Dumbledore, and while she trusted the headmaster with almost anything, this case wasn't one of them. He would have her and her godfathers Obliviated or worse. Dumbledore would never trust her to do the right thing.

"I hope they find it." Mary patted Dobby's shoulder numbly. "Let's get to breakfast, shall we?"

Mary was still on edge later that evening when Sirius placed the Portkey in front of her. Ron and Hermione stood nearby, both melancholy and quiet.

"Alright then," said Sirius with a strained voice. "Everybody hold tight and we'll get going."

Mary placed her fingers on the old plate, cringing as the feeling of being slung around from the inside out accosted her. Luckily, Remus caught her before she could land in the nearby mud puddle and quickly cast a water repelling charm on her cloak.

"Nasty evening." Ron shook out his wet hair, looking around at the brick alleyway. "Where are we?"

"Next to the church in Godric's Hollow," Mary replied quietly. "It's the best place to Portkey or Apparate to as it has little traffic."

"It's also close to our destination." Sirius added in a dark tone.

They followed him out into the quaint town and around the large building before turning left and walking through the gate. Mary stayed a few steps back with Ron and Hermione, letting Sirius and Remus lead the way. She'd said all she needed to last year when she visited, and now she was just there to support her godfathers. Ron and Hermione had only tagged along at Sirius' request as he felt that Mary needed the support, but in truth, she'd have preferred that they stayed at Hogwarts so they didn't miss out on the fun surrounding the Tournament.

Mary stopped at the foot of the graves, a bitter taste in her mouth as Remus waved his wand and produced a small wreath of snowdrops. She wondered if it was just the first flower he thought of or if it held any significance.

"Thirteen years, Prongs," Sirius whispered as he knelt down in the mud beside the grave. "It feels like centuries ago. And it feels like yesterday."

Mary took a few steps back, standing between her friends. Would Ron and Hermione mourn her when she was gone? It felt wrong to think of them like that. Ron and Hermione both had bright futures ahead of them. She could see Ron being the one whose great mind for strategy brought the Chudley Cannons out of their funk, and for Hermione there was no limit to what her best friend could do. No, she didn't want them to remember her with sadness.

"Come on," Mary whispered to her friends, grabbing them by the arms as she guided them back out of the cemetery.

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked, keeping her head down to avoid the torrential rainfall. "Shouldn't we tell Sirius and Remus?"

"They'll understand," Mary replied, picking up her pace.

"Look!" Ron stopped when they reached the statue in the center of the town. "It's you!"

"Yeah." Mary tried not to look directly at the monument of her parents, but couldn't help but slow down as they walked past it. "It's beautiful."

The statue was only a precursor to their true destination. The crumpled and dilapidated house was wholly sad in a way that mirrored the weather.

"Is this-" Hermione started, her breath catching.

"My home." Mary placed her hand on the stone wall.

"I didn't think it'd be so-" Ron trailed off, looking at the damage with a look of shock that made him seem paler than usual.

"Broken." Hermione finished, grabbing Mary's arm. "Oh, Mary."

Mary peered over her shoulder to see her godfathers watching from a distance and felt a sense of relief. That was until a crouched figure toddled up to the gate and placed a pot of lilies on the ledge. The woman arranged the flowers with aged hands and then looked up in surprise.

"Can you children see the house?" The old woman took a step toward them.

"It was my parents' home," Mary said gently, pulling her cloak back to reveal her face.

"You can't be!" The woman put her hand over her heart in shock. "Oh but it is!"

Mary knew Bathilda Bagshot only from memories, but what few moments she could recall were far from good. Luckily, this Bathilda didn't seem to be possessed by a snake. Or at least Mary hoped she wasn't.

"Mary Potter." Mary extended her hand.

"I'd know you anywhere, child, and I'm Tildy to you." Bathilda grasped her hand in a firm grip. "I changed your nappies when you were just a wee thing, so I don't want you calling me any different."

"These are my friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger." Mary introduced them.

"Wonderful to meet you. Come along now, let's get out of this nasty weather," Bathilda said, waving into the distance. "Your godfather is likely wondering why I'm keeping you dithering around with it pouring down like this."

Mary looked over her shoulder to see Sirius and Remus following after them at a quick pace, but didn't have time to do much else as the slick stones under her feet and Bathilda's brisk pace took up most of her concentration. Ron and Hermione, on the other hand, were constantly looking at her and each other in question and only gave in when Mary shook her head at them.

"Here we are." Bathilda opened the door to her home and waved them inside, casting drying spells on their cloaks and only waiting until Sirius and Remus entered to shut the door. "Shoes off. Cloaks on the rack please. And, Black, tell me why this group of youngsters aren't in school?"

"Oh, Batty," Sirius said, putting his arm around Tildy's shoulders. "You remember me!"

"Of course I do, you nitwit!" Bathilda batted at him with a weathered hand. "How could I forget the boy who set my hedges on fire and nearly killed my cat? And I have half a mind to beat you within an inch of your life for that stunt you pulled!"

"Which one, Madame Bagshot?" Remus asked kindly.

"You know the one, Remus Lupin!" Bathilda stalked toward him, wagging her finger at his face. "The one that got your friend here locked up in Azkaban!"

The mood soured almost instantly and Mary could see that Bathilda hadn't anticipated such a reaction.

"Well, now that I've killed the mood. I'll go and get tea ready," Bathilda said quickly, wringing her hands. "A warm drink on a cold day does the soul plenty good. And I can't think of a time I needed tea more."

"I can take care of that, Tildy," Mary said gently. "If you'll tell me the way to the kitchen."

Bathilda patted her arm and pointed down the hall. "It's that way, child. I thank you. Since my house elf died I've had little company, so if you find it in a state the fault lies solely with me."

"I'm sure it's just fine," Mary replied, taking off down the hall with Ron and Hermione at her back.

The moment they reached the large dusty kitchen, Hermione set forth on a tirade of questions. "That's Bathilda Bagshot? The Bathilda Bagshot? And she lives here? This is amazing, Mary!"

"Who?" Ron asked, sitting down at the worn table.

"Bathilda Bagshot!" Hermione hissed. "She wrote Hogwarts: A History!"

Mary opened and closed cabinet doors until she found what she was looking for. Casting a quick-boil spell on the kettle, she then summoned six cups and saucers onto the table, ignoring her friends who were still arguing. Mary though, was lost in thought, remembering Harry's meeting with Miss Bagshot. At least she didn't have to deal with seeing the poor woman split in two by Voldemort's snake. If Mary had anything to say about it, she'd make damn sure that Miss Bagshot lived out the rest of her life in peace.

"Oh, imagine the stories she could tell us! And everything she's learned!" Hermione gushed, seeming as though she was ready to run into the drawing room and interrogate Miss Bagshot.

"There we are." Mary placed all of the necessary equipment on the tray and winced when raised voices sounded from the front room. "Let's get in there before Miss Bagshot hexes the pants off Padfoot and Moony."

Hours later, Mary's ears were still burning from the stories Bathilda had to share. The woman spared no one in her recounting of events and there were times that even Remus and Sirius looked embarrassed as Bathilda spoke of some of their more dastardly acts.

"I really do hate to cut this short, Tildy," Remus interrupted her. "But we promised to have the kids back before the Feast."

"It's the Tournament this year, eh?" Bathilda's eyes glinted. "Always wanted to watch one of those. They banned them long before I was born, you see. Well, you children best be off then. Black, Lupin, feel free to drop by anytime. I don't get many visitors these days."

"We'll be back, Tildy." Remus enveloped her in a hug. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"Don't mention it, child." She patted his cheek. "Come here, Black."

Sirius laughed and embraced Bathilda with a smile on his face. "I'll keep in contact, Batty."

Bathilda whipped out her wand and sent a spell at Sirius that had him clutching his rear and yelping as he ran back outside. "I told you not to call me 'Batty'!"

"Sorry, Tildy!" Sirius clutched his backside, jumping in place as he looked to Remus for help. "Can we just go now?"

Remus pulled the Portkey from his pocket as Mary, Ron and Hermione said their goodbyes. "Twenty seconds."

Mary followed her friends and placed her hand on the small plate. Within moments she was tossed out on the floor of Grimmauld Place's dining room. Ron and Hermione both made a better job of the landing and quickly helped her to her feet.

"I hate that feeling." Mary dusted off her cloak.

"Get changed as quickly as you can." Remus urged them toward the stairs. "Minerva is expecting you before the Feast."

The three rushed up the stairs and Ron took his leave at the bathroom to change into his school robes while Mary and Hermione changed in her room. Mary shoved all of her needed supplies into her pack and then grabbed her mirror from the bedside table.

"We better hurry." Hermione handed Mary the extra clothes she'd brought. "We don't want to miss the champions being announced. Oh who do you think will get it? Angelina put her name in. And I heard Cedric Diggory did too. Do you think Viktor will be picked?"

"It's likely." Mary sighed, wanting nothing more than to not talk about the champions.

Still though, she'd kept a careful eye on the map and there was absolutely no evidence that any one had tampered with it, so it gave her a fair amount of hope that she'd be able to enjoy the contest as merely a bystander.

A few minutes later Mary let out a breath as she hugged her godfathers and stepped back into the Floo. "Bye, Moony, Snuggly."

"We'll see you at Yule." Sirius countered, keeping her hands on her shoulders. "And we expect you to mirror call at least every other night. Ron, Hermione, you keep her to that."

"Take care of yourselves," Moony said to the three of them.

With Hermione on her left side and Ron on her right, they Floo'ed to McGonagall's office. The two kept Mary from flying face first into the rug and she was able to stand straight and dust off her robes without making a complete fool out of herself.

"Leave your things here." McGonagall stood from behind her desk. "The Feast will begin shortly and I have little doubt that the meal itself will be grand."

Mary dropped her pack and followed the Deputy Headmistress to the lavishly decorated Great Hall. McGonagall left them at the fourth year table with barely a word, before making her way up to the head table that was fully occupied by both the standard Hogwarts professors, Madame Maxime, Professor Karkaroff, Ludo Bagman, and Bartemius Crouch.

After a quick check of the map to make sure that everyone was exactly who they claimed to be, Mary dug into her meal, glancing up every now and then to take in the atmosphere. The Durmstrang students now had their own table and Viktor was sitting at the end of it looking forlorn, making Mary wonder what happened while she was gone. Fleur was at the Beauxbatons table looking down at her food with a glum expression. Either she didn't like the food or there was something else going on.

Mary kept her head down and her eyes on the map all through Dumbledore's speech and the unveiling of the Goblet of Fire, only putting it away when Dumbledore announced that it was time for the Champions to be chosen.

The blue flames in the Goblet flashed a blood red and Dumbledore plucked the smoking strip of parchment in the air. "The Champion for Durmstrang is: Viktor Krum!"

Mary clapped along with everyone else, watching her friend smile and wave as he walked into the antechamber.

The Goblet spit out another name and the room silenced as Dumbledore read it. "The Beauxbatons Champion is: Fleur Delacour!"

The Beauxbatons contingent cheered the loudest as the tall thin girl smiled proudly and walked out.

Mary glanced over at the Hufflepuff table, watching as a few of Cedric's friends gripped his shoulders in anticipation. She didn't want him to be chosen, and looking around at the remaining students, there wasn't a single one that she would put forth to have to compete in the Tournament. Sure they were brave enough and smart enough, but it was already too much knowing that Viktor and Fleur were already obligated to participate. It was too dangerous.

The Goblet flashed again and Mary closed her eyes, making a silent wish to anyone that'd listen that whoever was chosen would come through it unscathed and that for once, Harry's memories would be wrong.

"Mary Potter." Dumbledore's stunned voice echoed through the silent hall and Mary opened her eyes in shock. "Mary Potter!"

Mary stood on shaky legs, eyes on the Headmaster, while the whispers echoed around her. Hermione had a firm grip on her arm and Mary numbly peeled her friend's fingers away with trembling hands. Head up and vowing not to show her fear, Mary walked pointedly to the antechamber. Her heart raced, pounding against her rib cage as she collapsed on the step just inside the doorway. She felt like she couldn't breathe. What had she missed? Who put her name in the Goblet?

"Mary?" Viktor walked over and sat down on the step. "What is wrong? Are we needed?"

Mary opened her mouth, but only a wheezing sound came out. She didn't even have the chance to formulate a reply before the door burst open and the Professors and judges rushed in, aiming straight at her.

Dumbledore pulled Mary to her feet, his eyes boring into hers and Mary had to push down the urge to look away. Doesn't he realize how dangerous I am? She wasn't convinced that Voldemort knew about their connection, and she hoped that he'd never figure it out. Still though, she had to keep her wits about her.

"Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?" The headmaster asked calmly, but his blue eyes showed that he knew the truth.

This was all an act on his part. It was an act that would prove her innocence to both the judges and the heads of the foreign schools.

"You know I wasn't here, sir," Mary said clearly. "I left before the Feast was over last night."

"Did you ask another student to put your name in, girl?" Mad-Eye stomped forward.

"No, sir," Mary replied as Dumbledore released her.

"I can attest to the fact that Potter was not out of my sight, Headmaster," Professor McGonagall said, her voice thick with concern. "There wasn't a second of opportunity for her to go near the Goblet."

"It is no matter." Madame Maxime laid her hands on Fleur's shoulders. "The Champions have been chosen."

Mary's heart caught in her throat, looking around at the group of people. Where was the other Hogwarts Champion? Where was Cedric?

"This isn't fair, Headmaster!" McGonagall spat. "Potter is only a Fourth Year. Surely we can convince one of the older students to take her place!"

"I'm afraid that is no longer an option." Barty Crouch stepped forward, his hands trembling slightly. "The Goblet has chosen. The oath has accepted her. I'm afraid Miss Potter has no choice but to compete lest she face the ramifications of breaking the magical contract."

"Let us get on with it then, chap." Ludo clapped his hands, turning to Barty with bright and excited eyes. "Tell them about the First Task they'll be facing."

Mary tuned everyone out, staring blindly at the trophies, as they began arguing over her place in the Tournament. She felt like she was in a trance as her mind flopped between Harry's memories and the present. Harry got through it alright, didn't he? Sure the tasks weren't easy and Moody had helped quite a bit, but if things stayed the same, Mary already knew what to do. All she needed was to practice her spellwork, convince McGonagall to give back her broom, and hope that she survived.

"Come along, Potter." McGonagall placed her hand lightly on Mary's shoulder. "I'll escort you back to Gryffindor tower. No doubt your friends have worked themselves into a state over this."

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