June 25th, 1995

"You've had us worried, Miss Potter," Madam Pomfrey said, the sound of her skirts rustling giving away her location.

Mary blinked again and again, trying to clear the fog from her eyes. "I can't see."

"Blurry, or nothing at all?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"Like I'm stuck in a heavy fog," Mary said, holding her hand in front of her face but unable to see the outline.

Something tapped her between the eyes and a small rush of magic went through her skull, making her head spin and her eyes water.

"Stay very still. You have a hairline fracture that needs repaired and you'll have to wait for the swelling to go down."

Mary clenched her eyes closed, feeling crowded by Madam Pomfrey's presence.

"Just let us talk to her!"

Ron's voice called from the other side of the door. The potions kept pulling her back towards sleep, but she fought against it. There was no time for rest. Voldemort was back, that continuous burn emanating from her scar was proof enough that she'd royally messed everything up.

"Another dose of Skele Gro and you should regain your vision." Madam Pomfrey patted her hand and Mary flinched. "Are you still in pain, child?"

"It's bearable," Mary whispered.

The sound of heels clicked across the floor. "Here we are. Oh, Mary, sweetie, I'm so glad you're awake."

"Aunt Andy?" Mary reached out. "What are you doing here?"

"For tea of course." Aunt Andy grasped her hand gently, but Mary flinched, unable to bear the feeling.

There was a loud knock on wooden doors and Madam Pomfrey stepped away. "If it's Black again, I'm going to hex him."

Mary's heart clenched. She didn't want to see her godfather right then. She didn't want to see anyone. Not after her epic failure.

Sharp steps, calculated and quiet. "Professor Snape?"

"Severus," Aunt Andy said, "do you have it?

"Yes, but I need Potter's memory of the night's events before you give it to her."

Mary flinched, feeling his wand against her temple. "Don't let Sirius and Remus watch it."

"That's out of my control, Potter," Snape said coldly. "Think back and focus. Start with the Third Task."

A tear slid down her face, creating a warm trail as the spell was spoken. They would hate her. They would see how weak and useless she was. That they were doomed if it was her fate to off the red eyed bastard. But that was why they needed to know. Asking Snape to withhold the memory from her godfather's would do the exact opposite. With any luck, they'd see that she was a waste of time and leave her on her own. She would destroy the snake, the cup, and go after Voldemort alone.

"You cannot go in there!" Madam Pomfrey ordered sharply from outside the room. "Miss Potter is unconscious."

"By order of the Ministry-" another voice said.

"Drink this, Mary," Aunt Andy held something to her lips. "Quickly now."

Mary had no choice but to drink the foul liquid that was poured down her throat.

"Potter is now under the custody of the DMLE." The man added. "If you fail to comply you will be arrested as well."

Mary's head spun and her eyes grew heavy. This was it. She was being arrested. Would they give her a fair trial or would she go straight to the Dementors? Her thoughts grew sluggish as she wondered what it would feel like, to have your soul ripped from your body. Would it hurt? Would it at least destroy the Horcrux within her? If the dementors could eliminate that piece of Voldemort's soul it would be worth it. Wouldn't it?


"What are we waiting for?" Sirius growled, pacing in front of Dumbledore's desk. "Let's just view the memory so that I can go back to Mary."

The fireplace flared green and Snape stepped out, dusting off his robes. "The Aurors are here, Headmaster, I've obtained Potter's memory of the night as well."

"She's awake?" Sirius stopped, moving towards the fireplace.

"Not any longer," Snape said easily. "I've made a sleeping draught that should keep her unconscious for the next day or so."

"What?!" Sirius whipped out his wand, closing in on Snape. "What would you do that for? You knew we wanted to speak with her!"

"It may spare us enough time to unravel this mystery before the Ministry can come to their own conclusions." Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder. "Come now. We will watch Miss Delacour's memory and then young Mary's."

Sirius glared at Snape, but stood next to Dumbledore, watching while he poured the silvery substance into the bowl.

They stuck their wands into the pensieve and the office was shrouded by fog for a scant minute until it cleared to reveal the gloomy dark maze.

Fleur stumbled, scrambling back when the massive graphorn darted through the hedges, mowing down the maze and giving her a clearer path to the center.

The relief was clear on her face when Mary's voice echoed through the hedgerow. Fleur opened her mouth to speak, but a hand covered it and a man put a silver blade to her throat, his face shrouded in shadow until he guided her towards the center of the maze.

"That's not possible." Sirius shook his head. "He's dead. I watched the Dementors bury him at Azkaban."

"Clearly not." Snape raised a brow, narrowing his eyes. "Potter's had visions of him at the Dark Lord's side since last summer."

Remus stood stock still, a snarl on his face while he watched Barty Crouch Jr's hands wrap around Fleur's waist as he guided her forward. The insane wizard had the gall to lick her neck and Sirius' fear ratcheted up. This was the man who tortured Frank and Alice. If he did anything at all to hurt Mary, or her friends, Sirius would rip him apart with his bare hands.

Junior and Fleur moved around the corner, walking into the middle of the maze.

"Quiet now," Junior whispered into her ear. "One quick swipe and they'll be mopping you up for days."

Fleur shuddered, clenching her eyes closed, Junior pulled her closer to his body. The blueish green glow of the cup illuminated the scene and Fleur let out a gasp, fighting against him when Mary and Viktor came into view. Barty Jr. shoved her forward, his wand at Fleur's back.

"Fleur!" Mary cried out, relief evident in her tone as she took a step forward.

Snape and Dumbledore watched the scene while they walked around, taking in every detail. Sirius and Remus moved to Mary's side, noticing that other than a few scratches, she was unharmed.

The cup lay on its side in the short grass, casting an eerie light on the scene as Mary was forced to give up her wands.

"How did he know she had two?" Remus asked, grabbing Sirius' arm.

"Can't wait for him to try and touch them," Sirius said through his teeth.

Snape froze when the Cruciatus curse was cast on Krum time and time again. The man stood and watched the scene without emotion, his eyes taking in every tremor as though it was telling him a story.

Sirius held back his own scream as Mary tried to shield her friend with her own body. His pride for her bravery was outweighed by his need to see her unharmed, even if he knew the outcome was not so.

Dumbledore paused the scene after listening to Barty Jr. ranting out the villainous plot to kidnap Mary. "This explains quite a lot about Mr. Diggory's odd behaviour. I'll be sure to let the Healers know."

"Petrificus Totalus!" Barty Jr. laughed as Mary fell to the ground, her eyes filled with hatred and fear.

Unease boiled in his gut as Fleur's blood puddled on the ground. The girls were face to face, both unmoving.

Mary was pulled to her feet, held by the madman as Viktor was flung into the air by Junior's spell.

The memory was starting to blur around the edges while Fleur slowly bled out, losing consciousness.

"Nice work, Potter. Now for your final task." Barty's voice sounded far away, the edges of him shifted as he grabbed the Tri-Wizard Cup and he and Mary disappeared.

Dumbledore knelt down next to Fleur, watching as she choked and gasped, struggling to crawl towards the discarded wands. Her thin fingers trembled, grasping a dark wand, pointing it at the sky. A lone red light shot into the air and Fleur lay still, watching it explode into a flurry of red sparks. A final call for help as darkness encroached.

"Is that enough proof for you?" Remus gripped the back of the chair when they were back in the office. "You've seen it with your own eyes that Mary did all she could to protect her friends. She wasn't the cause of their injuries or what happened with the Diggory boy."

Dumbledore lifted the memory back into the vial and turned to Severus. "There are still many questions that remain unanswered. Pieces of the story that we must know if we are going to take the suspicion away from Mary."

"Suspicion?" Sirius scoffed. "The only one who's suspicious of Mary is you and the brain dead foreign officials!"

"Thanks to Potter, I do have a rather long list of potions to brew. May we please get on with this, Headmaster?" Snape intone drolly.

"Certainly, Severus," the headmaster nodded.

Sirius ground his teeth together, wand at the ready while Mary's swirling memory was added to the basin. Trepidation filled him as they entered the pensieve together.

Krum walked toward Mary, an odd gleam in his eyes.

"Viktor?" Mary frowned.

"Avada-" Krum shouted, the green spell shot at her.

"What the hell is he doing?!" Sirius shouted, walking between them.

Mary's eyes widened and she dodged the curse. "Stupefy!"

Another spell shot toward her and Mary pulled up a shield charm just in time, letting the unknown spell bounce back at its caster.

Krum fell to the ground and Mary gasped, running to his side. The boy was lifeless, in her arms and Mary cried, tears falling fast. Her eyes narrowed and she scrambled back. Remus grabbed Sirius' arm and watched as another Sirius in the memory fell backwards, shock on his face, and those same lifeless eyes. And then it was Remus, lying dead on the ground, his body broken and bloody next to that of Nymphadora. Fred Weasley lying still with the ghost of a smile on his face.

"Look at me," Snape whispered to her, before going still.

"Riddikulus!" Mary's furious shout caught him off guard.

The boggart fled and Sirius took in a deep breath. "That's her boggart now? I thought it was James."

"It seems young Mary has bigger fears than now her father's approval. Namely, losing the family she now has," Dumbledore whispered, briskly following Mary.

They could see the fire creeping closer as Mary argued with the Sphinx, unaware that the creature she faced was far more deadly.

"How touching," Snape drawled, but was clearly shaken. "I'm surprised Potter didn't invite it over for tea."

"Mary has a deep respect for all living things," Remus said, his gaze lingering on Dumbledore.

Remus' words were ratified a moment later when Mary not only saved the Sphinx, but rescued the shackled hippogriff. Together they took off. Mary had the chance to go straight for the cup, to win the Tournament uncontested, but she stopped to rescue Krum from the graphorn.

"Just a bad feeling. Something isn't right. I've had the oddest dreams lately and I don't think we're safe," Mary said, running alongside the taller boy.

"She knows something is wrong." Remus bit out. "Why didn't she say anything? We could have helped her. Increased security."

"The Tournament has tied even my hands, Remus," Dumbledore moved closer to Mary, looking into her eyes.

"Not a safe task. None of them vere, but you did vell."

"This is different. Just don't touch the Triwizard cup, okay?" The scar on Mary's forehead was a vivid red, almost as bad as the night it was made.

"She suspected it was a portkey," Snape intoned, moving beside Mary as she struggled between destroying the cup and saving her friend.

Sirius watched Barty Jr.'s speech for the second time, taking in details he didn't notice the first time. The manic glee in the man's eyes, the way he got handsy with Fleur. Gods, if he so much as looked at Mary the wrong way. He didn't have to wait long. Barty Jr. spared little care with handling Mary, getting too close and too familiar with her. The fear, disgust and rage in her eyes was evident even though she was petrified.

Barty Crouch Jr. grabbed the cup, letting it transport him and Mary to an unknown location. The scene around them blurred and then came back into focus.

The outside of the house was dilapidated and weathered. The inside was no better, every surface covered in dust, every corner covered in cobwebs. Barty Jr. spared little care in his handling of her, excitement making his movements jerky and careless.

"Her scar," Remus whispered, standing closer to Mary.

Sirius turned and grimaced at the sight of the blood trickling down her face. There was little time to contemplate the agony she was in. Voldemort was there.

Sirius had the urge to run back to the hospital wing. To hug her and assure himself that she was alive.

The creature was hideous and Sirius wanted to look away, but couldn't. This was the man who killed James, Lily, and Marlene. The self-proclaimed Dark Lord that was nothing more than a withered husk.

To his left, Dumbledore moved in front of the swaddled grotesque form. "Oh, Tom. What have you done?"

Snape shuddered in the corner of the room, staring as the blankets on the bed moved. "A woman's body, headmaster."

"I'm afraid so," Dumbledore examined what he could see, then turned to look at the massive snake with a gleam in his eyes. "Another one, Tom?"

Sirius cringed as it slithered across Mary, wrapping around her like a curious pet, letting out a small his as its tongue touched her cheek. Dumbledore held up a hand and the scene paused and went back again.

"What happened?" Remus asked.

"Oh nothing, my boy," Dumbledore said moving in front of Mary and looking from the snake to her scar. "Something I hadn't expected."

"Is it something you care to share?" Sirius said, his voice rising while he clutched his wand.

"Not at this juncture, no," Dumbledore said absently, something akin to fear in his tone.

Barty Jr. released Mary and she lashed out like a feral creature. The rage on her face was frightening. Sirius flinched when she insulted Barty Jr and Voldemort in the same sentence. For what felt like hours as Barty Jr. cackled in glee as Mary thrashed helplessly on the dirty floor, refusing to make a sound; her teeth buried into her lower lip while held under the torture curse.

"How long, Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

"Ten minutes," Snape answered. "Not long enough for the damage to be permanent, but the treatment methods I have on hand will need to be modified."

The petrification spell hit her again and the memory blurred around the edges, spinning like a white fog until it lifted and they were in a graveyard.

A low growl rumbled from Remus' when they watched Barty Jr. lean closer to Mary, almost in a lover's embrace as he tied her hands behind her back. His spoken threat lingered in the air and Sirius felt fear wash over him. He knew what Death Eaters did to entertain themselves. Men, women, children. None were safe from the violations they put them through.

And then Mary bit the little bastard. Sirius feared for her mind, seeing the way she thrashed against the bindings like a wild animal. Her hoarse laughter was sharply reminiscent of Bellatrix. That same feral gleam in her eyes. Guilt flooded him at the comparison, but there was nothing hopeful about her expression while Barty Jr.'s blood poured down her chin.

The resurrection ritual was the most horrifying thing he would ever witness, knowing that his goddaughter was there. A victim. A sacrificial lamb in this cruel game that played between Voldemort and Dumbledore.

He was back. Voldemort was whole and alive. As powerful and deadly as ever. Remus grasped his shoulder and Sirius was grateful for the support, fearing that his knees would give out from the shock of it all.

Dumbledore stood there in front of the cauldron, face to face with the newly reborn Dark Lord with a look of shock and guilt in his eyes. "This shouldn't be."

The Death Eaters were called. A small number appeared in full garb, fear and unease palpable amongst them as Voldemort spoke.

"Go fuck yourself, Tom," Mary rasped.

Bleeding and in clear agony, his little girl faced down the most evil man in history and cheeked him. "Merlin, kid, just shut up."

Voldemort continued his monologue unhindered, a glint of pride in his eyes as he touched her face with reverence. "I can touch you now."

Sirius felt sick at the tone of his voice. But Mary wasn't deterred or intimidated. She headbutted the dark bastard.

"How did she escape this?" Remus whispered, clenching his fists. "All she's doing is making him angry."

Sirius clenched his eyes closed. It was one of the tactics he used with his mother. When he made her angry enough, the punishment was brutal but swift.

"She's working him into a fury until he's fed up and kills her. She doesn't want to be tortured and kept alive," Snape spoke Sirius' exact thoughts as though he'd used the same tactic in the past.

"Lucius," Voldemort said easily. "The Cruciatus, if you will."

"Crucio!"

The spell was spoken and Mary gasped, her body curling up as though she sought to hide from the pain.

"I'm going to kill him!" Sirius shouted, pacing around Malfoy's shaking form. "I don't care if I go back to Azkaban. I'm killing him."

"You can't," Remus stopped him. "Mary needs you now more than ever. We will get revenge. I promise you that, Sirius, but she's more important."

And then it happened. While Voldemort was distracted with his followers, Mary wandlessly and wordlessly broke the spells and summoned Voldemort's wand.

"Run, Potter," Snape whispered, walking around Mary and scanning the area as though searching for the best escape route.

They watched as Mary ran. As she killed Macnair and Nott Sr. without flinching. As she stood toe to toe with Voldemort and insulted him. And they watched as the killing curse sped towards her. Her green eyes glowed as she disappeared and reappeared at King's Cross.

"Badly splinched," Snape said as he watched Mary inspect her severed limb. "The suppression cuff is treating her arm like a separate entity."

Dumbledore said nothing, tapping his chin in deep thought when they were back in his office.

Sirius rubbed at his face, surprised to find wetness on his cheeks.

"Fifteen minutes under the Cruciatus Curse." Snape stood and walked to the fireplace. "I need to start another batch of Nerve Regenerator."

The Floo flared and Andy stepped in, fury in her eyes. "They've taken Mary to the Ministry. She's under arrest."

There was no time to question Dumbledore, both he and Remus went straight to the Floo, ready to save their goddaughter.


June 27th, 1995

"Wotcher, Mary."

Tonks' voice grew closer. Mary rubbed at her eyes with her left hand. Two days with the Dementors guarding her room and she felt like she was losing her mind completely. She didn't want to wake up.

"She's awake?" Remus said in a low growl. "Mary! Are you okay? Move Kingsley, or I'll move you myself."

"I'm sorry, but no one is allowed past this door until she's questioned." Shacklebolt's deep voice thrummed along with the pounding in her head. "We'll keep you informed."

Mary pulled the blanket further up. Of course they'd question her. She was a murderer. Fleur and Viktor. It was all her fault. Thoughts of Azkaban and Dementors floated along in the foggy depths of her mind. Without her wand and her patronus the Dementors would eat her alive. She deserved nothing less.

"Ami, surely you could stop this." Sirius started. "She's a child! She's been through hell and she has done nothing to deserve Dementors guarding her cell and an interrogation!"

"Black, I've told you, we're going by the book here," Madam Bones said from the hallway. "As soon as we can get her testimony to corroborate with her memory's of that night, she'll be free. You know how this works."

"Proudfoot, did you bring the Veritaserum?"

"Two vials, Minister." Proudfoot answered, his voice low and soft. "As well as the dictation quills."

"Veritaserum!" Sirius ground out. "She's a minor! You'd have to get my consent!"

"Under these circumstances, with these charges? No, Sirius. I'm afraid the DMLE has full control here," Madam Bones replied in a somber tone. "We'll have everything documented. You're free to obtain a copy once we've gone through all of the details."

A lump formed in Mary's throat. Veritaserum? They weren't here to question her. They were here to interrogate. That part didn't scare her. What scared her was the fact that she would have no control over her own mouth or answers.

The door clicked closed. Mary's vision was clear enough that she could see Madam Bones standing at the foot of her bed, hands clasped in front of her. Two tall imposing Aurors were on her right. Tonks and Kingsley were on the left, holding their wands out as their patroni fought off the chill.

"Miss Potter," Madam Bones said, moving closer, "are you comfortable answering some questions for us?"

"Do I have a choice?" Mary asked, her voice quiet and shaking.

Madam Bones straightened her shoulders, a glint in her eyes. "If you refuse, we'll have no choice but to believe the worst. I assure you that will not be in your favour."

"It's all my fault. Viktor. Fleur. It's all on me. What else do you need to know?"

Mary rubbed a hand across her face, then pushed herself up to sit. Pain arced through her right arm and left leg, nearly making her scream. Her stomach rolled and she choked down the bile that threatened to rise up.

"Don't speak yet," Proudfoot ordered her, setting up a length of parchment on the bedside table.

Mary stared at the door with longing as Proudfoot cast a spell over the parchment, a quill standing on it, ready to transcribe her every word.

"Potter," the second man moved to her side. "I'm Auror Savage. Will you allow me to administer the Veritaserum?"

Mary felt her heart drop. She looked at Tonks' pained face. To Kingsley's stoic stance. To Madam Bones' grimace.

"Yes."

Savage dipped the dropper into the vial, pulling it out, filled with clear liquid. "Three drops, open up."

Mary opened her mouth and leaned her head back. One. Two. Three. The cold drops hit her tongue. She closed her mouth and swallowed. It was nothing like she expected. There was no flavour, no scent, just nothing. Even water had a slight taste, but Veritaserum was an absence of everything. The effects hit like a bludger. Her head swam. A heavy fog once again drifted into her mind and Mary buried herself behind the thick walls of her Occlumency shield.

"Is your name Mary Jane Potter?" A voice asked.

"Yes," Mary answered instantly, her mouth moving without thought.

"How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

"When is your birthday?"

"Thirty-first of July, nineteen eighty."

"Glazed eyes. It seems to be working, we just need to test it, Minister."

"I don't feel comfortable having my Aurors ask a fourteen year old girl personal questions, Savage."

"How about we keep the questions focused on the end of the Third Task?" Kingsley's deep tone sounded far away.

"What spells did you use against Krum, Potter?"

"None." Mary replied in that same dead voice.

"Where did you obtain the knife you slit Miss Delacour's throat with?"

"It wasn't my knife."

"Did you cast the Explosion Charm?"

"Yes."

"To beat Mr. Krum to the Triwizard Cup?"

"Yes."

"Did you do so with the intent to kill him?

"No."

"Why then?"

"To destroy the Cup before he could touch it. To keep him safe."

"Safe from what?"

"Barty Crouch, Jr."

"Your spell hit him on accident then?"

"No."

"It wasn't an accident?"

"My spell didn't hit him."

"You're saying that you weren't the cause?"

"I was the cause. Am the cause." Mary babbled.

"We're getting nowhere like this," Kingsley said. "May I, Minister?"

"Proceed, Kingsley, this dose will only last for ten more minutes."


June 28th, 1995

"This is unthinkable," Ami rubbed at her face, looking down into the pensieve she just exited. "You-Know-Who is back. He's really back."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you!" Sirius slapped his hand on her desk. "My goddaughter went through hell that night and instead of taking my word that she was innocent, you subjected her to dementors and Veritaserum!"

"It had to be borne, Sirius," Ami said quietly. "If we had not followed protocol, both the Bulgarian and French Ministers would take this matter before the Confederation of Wizards. The latter is already breathing down my neck to mend relations with the foreign delegates. What was I supposed to tell them? 'We have no sustainable evidence to believe Miss Potter's claims, but she's the Girl Who Lived, surely she wouldn't commit such an act.' They would laugh in my face and have her sent straight to Azkaban, or worse, she'd be put to death on the spot."

Sirius flinched. "You should have trusted that the Old Crowd would figure out what happened."

"As Minister, I'm privy to more confidential information now than I was in the first war. While I can say that at the time, the 'Old Crowd's' presence was an advantage, it also went outside the bounds of the law. Headmaster Dumbledore's meddling left both the high ranking officials and my Aurors struggling underneath the weight of missing information." Ami said harshly. "Now that I know the truth of what happened to Mary and You-Know-Who's return, I can only say that instead of keeping the secret for days on end, giving the Death Eaters time to clean up their mess, you should have come straight to me. But no, as you've always done, you ran to Dumbledore. You let him play his games while your child suffered."

"Dumbledore is the only wizard that Voldemort ever feared!" Sirius said, his vision tinting red at the implication. "And why should I put any trust in the Ministry? Where were you when I was locked away without a trial?"

"You admitted to it!" Ami shouted, leaning over her desk. "You stood in that street surrounded by bodies and you laughed!"

"I'd just lost every one I loved!"

"Had you the sense to say something along the lines of 'Pettigrew killed these Muggles. I wasn't the Secret Keeper for the Potters. He's a rat animagus working for You-Know-Who.', you would have gotten that trial! You bloody idiot! Don't you see that Mary is picking up your self-destructive traits? Her first words to us were admitting her guilt for the deaths of Krum and Delacour."

Sirius froze. "That's just Mary. She blames herself for everything."

"I know!" Ami cried. "Susan is no better, nor am I. It's called survivor's guilt. The only difference is we don't go spouting it at the scene of a crime!"

Sirius held in some choice words. The murder of the Bones family was a horrific act with devastating consequences.

"What do I do, Ami?" Sirius whispered, his anger simmering. "Your Healers said she may not recover. Between the Cruciatus and what you subjected her to, her mind may never heal."

Ami walked around her desk and put a hand on his arm. "I truly am sorry. Had I known what she faced I would have taken another route to get the truth. Our miscommunication has cost her dearly and I regret the part I played, but we are faced with reality now. She's a strong girl, Sirius. She will get through this."

"At what cost to her?"

"I don't have the answer to that," Ami knelt beside him. "All I can do is offer all of my support and that of the Ministry for what's to come. If you should need me or anything that my position can provide, you need only ask."

Sirius nodded and stood, holding out a hand and helping her to her feet. "I may take you up on that. Very soon, but for now, I'm taking my daughter home."

"I'll escort you to St. Mungos." Ami grabbed a wooden box from her desk and held out the pot of Floo powder.

The sterile air of the hospital greeted him on the other side of the Floo connection. He hated the place. The smell and the overly bright lights. The hovering Healers and their incessant questions.

Sirius skirted past the Welcome Witch, already knowing where Mary was. Four flights of stairs later, he was back at the Janus Thickey Ward. Tonks and Kingsley stood on either side of the door, turning and smiling sympathetically at them.

"Any trouble Auror Shacklebolt?" Ami asked.

"Not a sign of anything, Minister." Kingsley shook his head.

Ami pulled an envelope from her robe pocket and handed it to Kingsley, letting him cast revealing charms on it before he accepted it. "Miss Potter's release forms have been approved. She is no longer under suspicion nor does she need guards. You are both to report to Rufus in the morning for new assignments."

"Minister," Shacklebolt bowed his head slightly toward her. "Potter is in room seven."

"Minister," Tonks copied the movement, popping a piece of gum into her mouth. "Wotcher, Siri! Good to see you."

"Is Remus with her?" Sirius asked, unease bubbling in his gut.

"Hasn't left her side." Tonks nodded. "She woke up for a bit. Healer Strout thinks she's going to pull through."

"Go on then," Ami said, nudging him toward the door. "I'm going to speak to her Healers and I'll meet you in her room."

Sirius nodded, hugging Tonks quickly before taking a breath and opening the door. It was eerily silent, making the hair on his neck stand on end as he passed each set of closed doors. The reason made his heart ache. Silencing spells to keep the ravings of the permanent residents from setting off the madness in the others. Sirius walked with Ami to the healer's desk at the end of the long hall, trepidation dogging his steps.

"Mr. Black." The elderly witch looked up from her paperwork with a beaming smile. "Here to see Miss Potter?"

Sirius nodded, his heart in his throat. "How is she?"

"On the mend," Healer Strout said, stepping around her desk. "The door is unlocked. Would you like me to go with you, or would you prefer to visit her first?"

"Visit," Sirius rasped out.

"I'll be in there shortly." Ami squeezed his hand and turned to the Healer. "I'd like an update on Miss Potter's condition and treatment plan, Healer Strout."

"Of course, Minister," Healer Strout said. "I'll just need Mr. Black's approval."

"She has it," Sirius said over his shoulder. "Just for the injuries Mary came in with."

"Noted, Mr. Black," Healer Strout replied.

Sirius walked to the door and opened it slowly, not knowing what to expect. Remus stood quickly, his wand in hand, but put it down upon recognizing him.

"How did it go with the Minister?" Remus' voice was hoarse, his eyes red as though he'd been crying.

"Mary's been cleared of all suspicion. Ami called off the Auror guard too."

Remus nodded silently, and sat back in his seat. "She had a nightmare last night. She was thrashing and screaming. Nothing I said would calm her. The attendants tried to restrain her so she wouldn't hurt herself."

"Sirius, she woke up, looked at me and went completely still. I'm worried that she didn't recognize me. I didn't even have a chance to say anything. They forced me from the room and dosed her with potions. She hasn't woken up since."

Sirius choked down his worry and went to the other side of her bed. The bruises on her face were fading. Her color had returned, no longer a sickly shade of grey. Her right arm was in a sling, the only part visible was the silver suppression cuff. And a thick scar where she'd been splinched. Her left leg was still in the heavy looking Muggle cast, propped up by a magical sling.

"They haven't healed her yet?" Sirius bit out. "What the hell are they waiting for?"

"The spells won't take. Even their strongest potions are failing to work more than an hour or two." Remus scrubbed at his face. "They're afraid that giving her too many potions at once could potentially shut down her organs."

The door opened and Healer Strout walked in, followed closely by Ami. "Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin, do you approve of Minister Bones attending while I update you on Miss Potter's diagnoses?"

"Yes," Sirius said.

"She was fine before the Veritaserum." Remus growled. "She was talking and healing. You did this."

"That's simply not true, Mr. Lupin." Healer Strout put her hands on her hips. "According to Healer Tonks' report, Miss Potter's injuries failed to heal why she was at Hogwarts. As to her mental health, that is to be determined when she wakes up."

Sirius put his hand on Mary's shoulder, reassuring himself that she was really there, alive and safe.

Remus' eyes widened. "Sirius, don't-"

It was too late. Mary's entire body shuddered and her eyes flew open, going from Sirius' hand to the other people in the room in quick succession while she scrambled to get away from him, on she was held back by the magical sling.

"You're safe, kiddo." Sirius held his hands up. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"Sorry," Mary whispered.

Healer Strout took a step forward. "Do you know where you are?"

Mary shook her head.

"What's the last thing you remember, Miss Potter?"

"Uhm," Mary clenched her eyes shut. "Shacklebolt conjured a bucket for me. I got sick."

Healer Strout's smile was encouraging. "This is the part where I ask how you're feeling."

"I'm fine," Mary replied.

"I highly doubt that, dear." Healer Strout let out a sigh. "You lost consciousness at the Ministry and were brought here - to St. Mungos - last evening."

"Oh." Mary looked down at her hand. "Everything's blurry again."

"Your vision?" Healer Strout clarified.

Mary nodded. "It was like that at Hogwarts too."

"Healer Tonks is working on something that might help." Healer Strout took another step towards Mary, holding eye contact. "You panic when others make contact with you, even in sleep. Is that because you're in pain?"

Mary flinched and nodded quickly. Too quickly. Remus narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

"We've been having trouble getting potions and magic to stick to you, so it might take awhile for you to heal. Healer Tonks has provided us with Muggle sedatives and pain relievers. If you'd be okay with that form of treatment, I will fetch them now."

"That's fine," Mary said, blinking and tilting her head back. "I don't mean to be nosey, but why are you healing me if I'm going to Azkaban?"

Healer Strout's mouth gaped open and Ami stepped forward. "You've been cleared of all suspicion, Miss Potter. I sincerely apologize for the harsh treatment you faced while in my care. It was simply a formality that we had to take so that our foreign allies didn't lose faith in our judicial system."

"It's okay," Mary said, closing her eyes.

"It is not okay." Ami reached toward Mary, put paused, slowly pulling her hand back. "Miss Potter, I ask that you reach forward and place your hand on this box."

"What is it?" Mary asked.

"After my Aurors searched both Hogwarts and Little Hangleton, we were able to obtain your wands and wand holsters and one remarkable invisibility cloak. They have been checked for hexes, curses, and portkeys. The only ones on these objects were put there with your own magical signature and that of your godfathers'." Ami answered quickly. "Considering what I've put you through over the past couple of days, I wanted to return these to you with my offer of help. Should you need it, you need only ask."

"Thank you, Minister Bones. For my stuff and the offer." Mary nodded, putting her hand on the wooden box, wincing as it flashed blue. "So if I'm not going to Azkaban, when can I leave?"

"You are in no shape to leave, Miss Potter," Healer Strout walked back into the room with a tray of odd looking bottles. "Are you finished, Minister? My patient needs rest if we're going to have any chance at healing her."

"My best wishes for a quick recovery, Mary," Ami said with a small smile, then turned to Sirius. "Remember what I said, Mr. Black."

Sirius nodded, then shifted his focus back to Mary. "We should talk, kiddo."

"I just want to sleep." Mary shook her head.

"Okay." Sirius let the word rush out with a shaky breath. "Sleep then. Remus and I will be here to watch over you."

"I'm sorry, dear," Healer strout said, taking a step toward Mary with a needle. "I'll need to grab your arm to inject the medicine."

Mary shook her head. "I can do it. I've watched Madam Pomfrey enough times."

Healer Strout frowned. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Mary whispered, taking the needle from her hand.

Her left hand shook so bad that Sirius couldn't take it. He stood up, pacing and running a hand through his hair. What if they couldn't fix her? What if this was it?

"Fuck it," Mary hissed, pulling the sheet back and jamming the needle into her right thigh and pressing the plunger down. "That's better."

Mary pulled the needle from her leg and dropped it onto the bed, pulling the blanket back over herself. Within moments her eyes dropped closed and her head lolled to the side.

Healer Strout grimaced and plucked the used needle off of the bed. "I'll return in a few hours to check on her. Mr. Lupin, there is a button on the side of that chair that transforms it into a cot. The same for yours, Mr. Black. I daresay you both need to get your rest. Miss Potter will need you both at full strength in the coming days."

When it was once again just the three of them in the dim and overly warm room, Sirius turned to his best friend. "What have you heard from the other side?"

"Andy and Severus are working together on a solution to stabilize Mary's magic. Dumbledore is assembling the Old Crowd in preparation for Voldemort's next move. Last I heard from Tonks, Viktor woke up and is recovering. Fleur is able to speak now. Only in whispers, but it's better than before. They are both worried about Mary."

"I don't like this." Sirius tapped the button on his chair and leaned all the way back, staring at the blank ceiling. "Between Dumbledore's maneuvering and Ami's cold approach to justice, I fear that we're being pulled in different directions when it comes to Mary's wellbeing."

Remus let his chair transform and laid down, facing Mary as he spoke. "We're too exposed here at St. Mungos. I hate to say it, but I felt better knowing there were guards outside these walls."

"I agree." Sirius nodded. "As soon as we can, we'll have her transferred back to Hogwarts. No matter how little faith I have left in Dumbledore, I know that Andy and Poppy would be the best choice of Healers for her."

"Severus too." Remus yawned widely. "I don't think he's slept at all since before the Third Task."

Sirius grimaced, not wanting to think about Snivelly in a kind light. "Go to sleep, Moony. I'll take the first watch."


A/N:

At this point in time, Mary has no clue that Viktor and Fleur are alive, thus her extreme apathy to what's going on around her.

As it was in Book 5, Order of the Phoenix, things will get drastically darker in these later chapters, so I've upped the rating to M just in case.

The breadcrumbs I've been dropping since the first chapter are finally starting to trickle back in to where they get to play a larger part of the story. I apologize that certain plot points were received as 'just thrown in there' but I have a reason for them. It all just had to play out to a certain point. Hopefully all the dots will connect over the next few chapters.

I'm thrilled that I've received PMs and comments/reviews with your theories on what's to come. I love hearing what you all think.

Thank you for taking the time to read. I wish all of you a happy, safe, and healthy New Year.

Next Chapter: Farewells