June 29th, 1995

A shudder fluttered through her body, pulling Mary from the deepest recess of sleep only morphine could bring. Something cold touched her arm and she twitched, sluggishly pulling back only to realize that the 'cold thing' was her own fingers. And someone stuffed cotton under her eyelids, had to have. It was the only way to explain the scratchy irritation caused by trying to open her eyes.

A soft orange glow surrounded her, the shapes were distorted and wrong. A few more blinks and things came into focus. The only problem was staying awake. Sleep kept grabbing her, dragging her back to the bliss she longed to drown in. Where all was quiet and her mind was blank. A spasm ran through her, an ache settling in her chest at the thoughts running through her head. That dull throb in her head reminded her that time was running out and sleep was the last thing she needed.

Voldemort was back.

The haze of the painkillers started to ebb away, giving her more control over her own mind and she quickly occluded to block out that phantom anger that was not her's.

"She eez awake," a musical voice whispered to her left.

Mary turned her head to the side and choked back a gasp. If this was the afterlife, why did she still hurt so bad? Death was supposed to be painless. Wasn't it?

"I'm sorry," Mary rasped out, her throat dry. "I'm so sorry, Fleur."

"No, Mary," Fleur said, kneeling next to her bed. "Do not be sorry for what that man did."

"My fault. Gods, Fleur. It's all my fault." Tears built in Mary's eyes, slipping down her cheeks.

Fleur's slim arms pulled her into a gentle hug and Mary bit down on her own lip to keep her body from thrashing against the intrusion to her personal space. Deeper she buried her fear, letting her shaking hand rest on Fleur's back as the older girl began to cry.

"I was so worried that you were dead," Fleur choked out, leaning back. "Zey wouldn't tell us anything."

Mary reached out, willing her hand to stop trembling as she touched Fleur's neck.

"He killed you in front of me." A harsh wracking sob ran through Mary. "He killed you and Viktor. I tried- I should have done more to stop him. I know that now. I'm so sorry!"

Fleur looked around frantically, as though searching for something. "Just breathe, Mary. Please."

The pressure in her chest rose to a crescendo and Mary wheezed in a breath. It was too much. Every nerve was on edge, every sense was on ten. The sheet felt too heavy. Her own body felt foreign and just- wrong.

A gust of wind whipped her hair into her face and Mary lay there, staring at the ceiling, struggling to take in a breath. Something shouted in the distance. A curse was muttered.

"Mary!" Aunt Andy's face hovered above her. "Just breathe, child. In through your nose - as deep as you can - and out through your mouth."

What was Aunt Andy doing here? Was she dead too?

"Again!" Aunt Andy hissed. "Circe's sake, I don't want to sedate you. So please just breathe."

Mary occluded deeper, going back to the bare basics of emotion and letting the rest fall to the side.

"That's it. Another breath." Aunt Andy encouraged her.

A soft illegible whisper came from the left, but Mary was too deep in her mind to pay it much attention. In and out. It was just air, but with each intake of it, Mary's panic began to ease.

"Water," Mary rasped out minutes later.

Aunt Andy handed her a glass. "Small sips. Just enough to coat your mouth."

Mary obeyed and relished at the cool relief garnered by something so simple.

The door opened again and Mary leaned up to see Fleur walk in followed closely by Viktor.

"You are avake," Viktor sat in the chair next to her, reaching for her hand.

"Don't touch her, Mr. Krum," Aunt Andy said gently. "She still hasn't been treated for the Cruciatus."

Mary's eyes darted between the three of them, her mind spinning at a snail's pace as she tried to make sense of it all.

"I told you, Mary," Fleur said from beside Viktor. "We are not dead, no. We are here and alive. Just like you."

"But-" Mary shook her head. "I saw him slit your throat. Viktor, your head-"

"Hurts bad at times, but such small injury cannot kill me." Viktor smiled softly.

Her arm twitched awkwardly and Mary clenched her fist, trying to control it. "Is this real? Are you real?"

"We are very real," Aunt Andy said. "And all of us are very much alive."

Mary closed her eyes and let out a sigh of relief, feeling that ache in her chest ease just a little bit.

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Aunt Andy asked, running her wand over her.

"Better now." Mary replied

"Physically." Aunt Andy clarified with a stern look. "While your mental health is of extreme importance, your physical health takes precedence."

"Everything hurts," Mary answered honestly, putting a hand to her chest. "And I feel like there's an elephant sitting on me."

"Mr. Krum, Miss Delacour, I must finish Mary's exam." Aunt Andy turned to them.

"Don't leave," Mary pleaded.

"We will return shortly, no." Fleur smiled. "And we will tell your friends that you are awake."

Mary watched them leave with a mixture of relief and fear. This was the way of things. A new pattern that she had to get used to. There was no sense worrying nonstop. The only thing she could do was fight and try her best to make sure they were safe. And that would only be accomplished by making sure she properly healed so that she could finish the task set before her.

The door opened again and Madam Pomfrey walked in followed by Snape. The latter barely spared her a glance. By the look of him, either he hadn't slept, or Voldemort was being particularly nasty.

"Extend your left arm and hand all the way out and hold it still for as long as you can," Aunt Andy said, taking a seat next to her.

Mary did as she was asked. The tremors ran through her arm and hand, sending sparks of pain up her elbow and into her shoulder. With a grunt of frustration, she willed her muscles not to move, but that made the shaking even more pronounced.

"That's enough," Aunt Andy said, writing something on her scroll.

"I can do it." Mary bit out, still holding her arm out.

"You're making it worse," Madam Pomfrey said softly.

Mary let her arm drop to her side, feeling like an utter failure.

"This batch is twice the normal strength." Snape held a vial out to Madam Pomfrey. "Inform me of the outcome."

"Do stay, Severus," Aunt Andy said. "We might need you on hand shortly."

"I'm finishing the improved Skele Gro and it's at a critical stage in the brewing process." Snape answered tightly.

Neither woman said a word as the dour man exited the room, closing the door with a faint snap. It was blatantly obvious that Snape hated her now more than ever. Just when she thought he was coming around, and starting to tolerate her presence, she went and got Voldemort revived, dragging him back into a life he'd sought to escape for so long.

"Let's see to that arm and then we'll get started on your leg." Aunt Andy arced her wand and the sling unwound from her neck and fell to her lap.

"Extend your right arm slowly, Miss Potter." Madam Pomfrey instructed.

Sharp twinges of pain ran through the limb, making Mary hiss with each movement. "It's a lot worse than the left."

"Well, that's to be expected, child. You did splinch it off completely. Luckily we were able to find you before the Muggle Healers used their grotesque methods to reattach it." Madam Pomfrey shuddered.

"Muggle Healers?" Mary frowned, thinking back to that night. "That's right, I remember the paramedics arriving. How'd you find me?"

Aunt Andy smiled. "Your house-elves accomplished that feat all on their own. I daresay Sirius was ready to beat down every door from here to Siberia if he had to. All of us were trying to find you when you went missing."

"Even the Ministry," Mary muttered.

"Yes, well, the elves took Sirius and Remus to a hospital in London, claiming you were there. We had a bit of a time convincing them that you needed to be transferred into our care, but it worked out in the end." Aunt Andy finished, not meeting her eyes.

"The stitches seem to be holding up, but I think a spell or two could finish the healing process." Madam Pomfrey inspected the long knife wound. "It was a cursed knife, dear, so there will be a scar."

Mary stared at the deep gouges left by Moony, the circle left by the basilisk tooth, and the thin red line that went from her elbow to wrist. "I'm about ready to chop that arm off completely for all the good it does me."

"You may rethink that in the coming days." Aunt Andy shot a spell at the door and then arced her wand around the room at large, whispering a long incantation. "Can I share a secret with you? One that you will tell no one else, not even your godfathers or closest friends?"

Mary's brows furrowed. "Yeah, I can keep a secret."

Aunt Andy pointed her wand at the Suppression Cuff. "Finite."

The silver cuff slipped from her arm and Mary let out a gasp. "What the fuck?"

"Severus and I were able to safely remove it before we attached your arm. If the Headmaster were to find out, I think we'd both be in a great deal of trouble." Aunt Andy said in a near whisper.

"Thank you," Mary breathed. "You don't know how much this means to me."

"Yes, well, I believe it's made our task at healing you that much more difficult now that your magic is mingling with the odd substances that were trapped in your arm."

"That's the reason I had the cuff in the first place, right? Professor Dumbledore said that if anyone removed the Cuff the mixed magics would kill me."

"He theorized," Aunt Andy said with a pointed look, placing the Cuff back on her arm. "After all, I can't say there's ever been recorded evidence of someone being bitten by a basilisk, werewolf, and healed by a Phoenix in all of history."

"What can I say, I'm just lucky." Mary groaned. "Okay, so it obviously hasn't killed me. What else should I know?"

"We didn't foresee that removing the Cuff would create a magical backlash. It seems as though your body interprets all forms of healing magic and potions as a threat, meaning that Severus is having to make them stronger than normal to combat the effects."

"Well, as long as I got my magic back in my right arm, I'm okay with taking a little longer to heal."

"You won't be using magic at all for some time, Miss Potter," Madam Pomfrey interjected. "Not until your magic has stabilized and your body is fully healed."

"How long will that take?" Mary asked, feeling her earlier relief fade away.

"That's what we're here to determine." Aunt Andy leaned forward. "It may take some time, Mary, but we will see you fully recovered. No matter what it takes."

"Would you like some pain medicine before we start?" Madam Pomfrey offered. "It will make it easier for you to bear the process."

"I don't want to fall asleep again."

"Just a small dose should do."

Mary trembled as Aunt Andy moved closer and flinched when the warm hand grasped her arm, putting the needle to her vein. Seconds later she felt the morphine kick in and her body relaxed, the ache in her chest receding to a more manageable level. Madam Pomfrey started whispering in latin, letting her wand hover over the knife wound and Mary watched, feeling intrigued by the way sinew and skin wove together.

"Okay, so I was taken to a Muggle hospital in London, then Sirius and Remus brought me here. Then I went to the holding cells in the Ministry, followed by St. Mungos. How'd I get back here?"

Aunt Andy pulled the blanket to the side revealing the dark blue brace that wrapped around her foot and extended to the top of her thigh.

"Due to your numerous injuries and the state of your magic, we thought it best to keep you immobile during transit. We sedated you before you woke up last night, put you under a petrification spell, and used a portkey to bring you straight here."

Mary shuddered at the thought, her left arm jerking sporadically. "Yeah, it was probably best that I wasn't awake for that. Barty Jr. did the same thing to take me to the graveyard.

Aunt Andy was taking the velcro straps off of the leg brace and paused at Mary's statement. "I'm sorry, sweetie. If I'd have known that, I would have used another method of travel."

Mary shrugged. "I wasn't conscious for it. No harm done."

Aunt Andy finished taking off the brace and Madam Pomfrey stepped back, finished with her arm. They both joined Mary in staring down at the mangle mess her leg was in. It was swollen and misshapen, the bruising covered the entire thing.

Of course that was the exact moment someone knocked on the door.

Aunt Andy waved her wand and stood, going to answer it. "We're treating her now, you can come back later."

"Is she awake?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Can they come in?" Mary asked Madam Pomfrey. "They'll be quiet. I promise."

"Are you sure you want them in here for this?" Madam Pomfrey asked with a stern look. "The process might get gruesome."

"Aunt Andy, would you mind?" Mary looked up with pleading eyes. "You can ask if they're up for it."

Aunt Andy stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her. A few minutes later, Ron and Hermione walked in with her. Hermione looked at her leg, her arm, and her battered face and let out a gasp, putting a hand to her mouth. Ron paled, clenching his fists at his sides.

"Oh, Mary," Hermione cried. "They said you were hurt, but I-"

"I'm fine, just a little banged up," Mary smiled. "So tell me what's going on outside of these walls. How is everyone?"

"Worried, of course." Hermione started. "Everything was so confusing. We were all in the stands for the third task, waiting for an update, when the Aurors showed up to evacuate everyone back to the castle."

"We just thought it was because of the fire," Ron said, focusing on the wall beside her. "We wanted to help. Really. Most of the teachers were battling the blaze and we didn't want to leave until we knew you were okay."

"Professor Sprout wouldn't let us. She practically dragged us back to the castle." Hermione frowned. "Hours later Mr. Bagman announced that there was no clear winner to the tournament as of then. Professor Dumbledore called everyone to the Great Hall and said that Fleur and Viktor had been gravely injured and you were missing."

"No one would tell us anything other than that." Ron complained. "And they forced all of us, even the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students to stay in the Great Hall all night."

"That was because there was a sphinx and Graphorn loose on the grounds." Madam Pomfrey said, pausing her spellwork. "Brace yourself, Miss Potter, this will be quite uncomfortable."

Mary nodded, gritting her teeth as Aunt Andy and Madam Pomfrey set in on straightening the bones in her leg. They had a magical X ray hovering in the air between them, showing exactly how the bones were moving, careful not to damage any arteries.

"Did they capture the creatures?" Mary hissed, gripping the blanket.

"Yeah," Ron answered, drawing his eyes away from the X Ray. "Took about ten Aurors, Hagrid, Mr. Scamander, and his grandson to get them back in their pens."

"They weren't hurt were they?" Mary asked, clenching her eyes shut.

"The people or the animals?" Ron asked.

"Either."

"No, no one was hurt, Mary." Hermione answered after a moment. "Only you three champions."

"Yeah, that was in the Prophet the next morning. Learned more from that old rag than anyone here at the school." Ron snarled.

"Ron!" Hermione hissed, elbowing him in the ribs.

"Oh gods." Mary felt her stomach roil. "How bad is it?"

"Terror at the TriWizard Tournament," Aunt Andy said. "A rather sensational headline, if you ask me. Mary, we're about to start in on the bigger bone fragments. I'm going to up your dosage of morphine, okay?"

Mary nodded, gripping the bed even tighter. There was a sharp jab in her thigh and the ache eased. The relief was short lived. Her whole body felt awash with an odd chill and began to convulse, as though she was being held under the Cruciatus again. A spell hit her and she was glued to the bed, the confining feeling overwhelming her to the point that a scream erupted from her throat. She heard chairs shuffle, a muttered curse, the door opening and closing. The air heated and sizzled around her, burning her very bones.

"The spell. Take it off," a dark familiar voice hissed. "Calm yourself, Potter! Close your mind."

The room around her shook, or maybe it was her that was shaking. Mary did as she was told, falling deeper into the nothingness until everything else faded away. And then she was in her safe place. Clear blue skies, the wind in her hair, and the Snitch hovering lazily in front of her as she flew around on her Firebolt.


"What have I done?" Andy rushed to the other side of the bed, holding down Potter's uninjured arm.

"We couldn't have predicted this," Severus remarked, holding the girl's leg steady lest she undo their hard work. "Give her time. Potter's adept at occluding."

Poppy held a hand to Potter's chest, applying a light amount of pressure. "I've never seen such a strong outburst of magic, not even when we put that damned Cuff on her."

"We should have anticipated this reaction. It was draining her magic for nearly two years. Now that she's unhindered, it's going to take quite awhile for the magic to stabilize." Severus muttered. "Do you believe she's ready for the Skele Gro, Poppy?"

The matron looked down at her ward, seeing the girl's chest rise and fall in a steady pattern. The tremors had abated, leaving them with nothing but an echo of shock and awe at the sheer force of power that had accosted the room.

"I wouldn't give it to her until she's awake. If that was a reaction to the Muggle medicine. I dare say we should be cautious about giving her something magical in nature." Poppy breathed, withdrawing her hand.

Andy cast a monitoring charm and the readings hovered on the wall above Potter's bed. "She's not asleep."

"No, she's occluding like I told her to." Severus explained. "It was the only thing I could think of to stop her from blasting the castle apart at the seams."

"Can you bring her out of it enough to warn her that we'll be administering the Skele Gro? The longer we draw this process out, the harder it will be for her to heal." Andy cast the charm to monitor Potter's bone structure and vital statistics.

Severus paused, his hand suspended over her bruised face. "Do not touch her or I. The last thing I want is to be trapped in Potter's addled mind forever." At Andy's nod, he gently pulled back Potter's eyelid, and pointed his wand at her. "Legilimens!"

Straight away he was pulled into her mind. The space was small and uncomfortable. A ratty cot underneath the stairs, littered by broken toys and a single tattered blue blanket. The oddly shaped door was cracked open, nothing but darkness on the other side. He wondered why she chose a place of grief for the first layer of protection in her mind. Could it be that Petunia damaged her psyche more than she let on? Severus didn't have time to think about it beyond that. He leaned down and slowly opened the door the rest of the way. It was pitch black, as though the cupboard was drifting in the vast empty vacuum of space.

There was no sign of Potter, no thoughts or emotions to show him which path to take. It was a test. With a breath, he stepped into the emptiness, falling and feeling his stomach drop at the sensation until the world around him glowed blue and the air rushed around him.

A thin hand grabbed his wrist and suddenly he was sitting on a broom, hovering in the air next to Potter.

"Do I have to go back, Professor?" Potter smiled at him, reaching forward to pluck the Snitch out of the sky.

"Yes, Potter," Snape drawled. "And this time do try not to explode the castle."

"Was anyone hurt?" Potter paled dramatically and looked away.

"You scared your Gryffindor friends spectacularly," Severus smirked.

Potter let out a huff. "Sorry. I don't have any control over it."

"Can I ask what has caused this sudden aversion to touch?" Severus took the opportunity that was presented to him. "In the past you were irritatingly tactually exuberant."

"Yeah well, after a few rounds of the Cruciatus and having a Death Eater's dick pressed into my back for an hour, the very thought of someone - anyone - getting too close kind of makes me wanna hurl." Potter shuddered.

Severus' teeth clicked together at the rather blunt admission.

"Oh sorry, sir." Potter's eyes widened. "I didn't mean to imply-"

"Do shut up, Potter," Severus said with a forced calm.

"How about you go first, sir?" Potter offered.

Severus nodded, withdrawing from her mind as quickly as he could.

"Finally," Andy said when he moved away from Potter.

"She should come around shortly." Severus winced as his back cracked. Gods the girl was killing him slowly.

Potter twitched, her eyes flying open and she blinked, rubbing her left eye. "Oh, ew. I just realized what you had to do."

"Professor Snape was very careful." Poppy rushed to his defense.

"I'm not saying he wasn't," Potter said with a grin. "It's just- You know what, never mind. So let's do this, what are you lovely ladies and, er, Professor, torturing me with this time?"

"Skele Gro." Severus stepped forward with a tall clear vial. "If at any point you feel any differently than you do now, you must let us know. The last thing we need is another magical outburst or to poison Gryffindor's Golden Girl."

"I don't like gold," Potter muttered nonsensically. "It's tacky."

"Shall I give the vial to Madam Pomfrey or are you capable of drinking it on your own?" Severus asked.

"Well I'd feel a sight better if she drank it for me, but I doubt it would do me much good." Potter snarked.

Andy snickered. "We're wasting time here, sweety. While I'm glad to see your spirits lifted, this must be done at all haste."

"Madam Pomfrey better hold it then," Potter murmured. "No point in me sloshing it all over the place."

Poppy took the vial from his hand and moved to Potter's side. He watched as the girl gripped the bed like a lifeline as the matron leaned over and pressed the vial to her lips. Potter drank it quickly, clenching her eyes shut the entire time.

"Gods, that was more foul than usual." Potter grimaced. "So what do we do now?"

"We wait for the potion to activate and we monitor your healing." Andy cast the spells on the far wall so Potter could watch with them.

Potter looked between the three of them. "No offence or anything, but can you all sit down or something? All of this standing and hovering thing is making me a touch nervous."

Poppy was the first to take a seat, her starched skirts rustling noisily. Andy sat down as prim and proper as her highborn upbringing demanded. Severus felt at odds with taking an order from the insolent child, but complied nonetheless, not wanting to set her off.

"It's working," Andy breathed, leaning closer to the image of Potter's bones knitting back together.

Potter's nose scrunched up at the sight. "How long will it take to finish?"

"An hour or two at the current strength," Severus answered honestly.

"Any chance you can speed that up? I feel sick," Potter admitted.

"Bear it as long as you can, dear," Poppy said with a sympathetic look. "The sooner we get your leg repaired the sooner you can leave."

Potter nodded, a sheen of sweat on her brow and an odd hue of green tinting her face. Much to his relief, the girl was too ill to continue with her incessant babbling, leaving them in tense silence as the bones in her leg mended.

A half hour passed this way, until Potter shook her head. "Bucket!"

Andy was surprisingly the quickest of the three of them, conjuring a wooden bucket straight onto Potter's lap. Potter buried her head in it retching profusely. After the fifth time, nothing was left in her stomach, but Potter continued to dry heave, her body shaking with exhaustion.

Poppy hovered at her side, a helpless look on her face. "Can we at least give her a stomach calming draught?"

"There's every possibility that her stomach will reject that as well," Severus replied, standing up. "Andy, did they feed her at St. Mungos?"

"No, they didn't even try nutritive potions." Andy shook her head. "I should have considered that. I'm so sorry, Mary."

"Uh," Potter replied, breathing heavily. "No food. Sleep."

Andy examined the scans. "Another day or so and we'll try the Skele Gro again. It seemed to work well while it lasted."

"We should start the Nerve Regenerator later this evening," Severus said, standing up. "I'll start on a stronger dose. Potter will need to eat something first."

"Do we dare try the morphine again?" Poppy asked.

"A smaller dose than the last," Andy replied. "Just enough for her to sleep comfortably."

Potter released the bucket. "Can I get a few freshening charms? And maybe something to get that foul taste out of my mouth? I feel grotty."

Poppy cast the requested charms and Potter let out a long sigh.

"That's much better. I'd prefer a shower though, I still feel like I've got chunks of Death Eater in my hair," Potter whispered, dragging the blanket higher.

Andy let out an odd noise, her face as pale as Potter's. "We'll see about that tomorrow."

Severus grabbed the syringe and siphoned the appropriate amount of morphine into the device, handing it to Poppy. Potter's earlier admission made him question if she was uncomfortable in his presence and he didn't want to do anything that would delay her healing.

With that thought in mind, he exited the room only to be set upon by Black and Lupin.

"Is she awake?" Black asked.

"How is she?" Lupin asked at the same time.

"Potter is alive and stable for the moment," Severus answered with an acid tinge to his voice. "Should you wish to speak to her, I suggest you act fast. Poppy is giving her another dose of morphine presently."

They rushed to the door without a word, letting him exit the hospital wing only to come face to face with Potter's fan club waiting in the hallway. They were easily ignored, not brave enough to stop him or question him on her wellbeing.


Mary woke up later that night to the sound of loud snores echoing through the small room. On her left, Remus was sleeping with his head at an odd angle. To her right, Padfoot was curled up in a chair, the source of the racket. Her stomach rumbled and she leaned back and closed her eyes. Food was a heavenly thought. Even if her earlier reaction to the Skele Gro had been rather disgusting, there was still that all too familiar ache in her gut. She could bear it a little longer though. If there was one thing she knew how to do, it was block out hunger pains.

The door opened and Snape strode in, ignoring the way Remus reached for his wand frantically and how Sirius seemed to jump out of his very skin as he transformed.

"How long were you going to wait before you informed someone you were awake, Potter?" Snape called her out marvellously.

"I don't know," Mary said in a forced calm. "It wasn't much of an issue and I figured they needed sleep as much as I do. Speaking of, you're looking a little drawn, sir? When was the last time you slept?"

Snape placed a tray on the edge of her bed. "My sleeping habits are none of your concern. Eat as much as you comfortably can and have one of your mutts retrieve me so that I may administer the nerve healing potion."

Snape strode out, robes billowing behind him before she could think of a witty retort. Her hands jerked uncontrollably while she dragged the tray onto her lap, wondering how in the hell she was supposed to eat this in her current predicament. Her stomach growled loudly at the smell and she grimaced, giving her godfathers' a glance.

"Can you order something from the kitchens so I don't feel like more of a sideshow?" Mary asked. "And possibly transfigure something into a straw?"

Remus went to order their food and Sirius transfigured her spoon into a passable straw, placing it in the bowl of soup. With a sigh, Mary bent down and slurped up what she could of the warm broth. It was a humbling experience to say the least, but with only Sirius and Remus as her witnesses, she didn't mind.

Ten minutes later, she pushed the tray away, feeling full and tired.

"Should I get Severus?" Remus asked, rubbing his neck gingerly.

"If you don't mind," Mary murmured. "I want to get this over with."

Snape walked in minutes later with a luminescent green potion in his hand. Aunt Andy, Madam Pomfrey, and Remus walked in next. Then Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore.

"It's a bit crowded in here." Mary heaved in a breath. "Did something happen?"

"No, dear child," Professor Dumbledore looked at her over the rim of his glasses. "Would you prefer some of us to leave or would you rather be moved to the main area of the infirmary?"

Mary looked away from him. "The open space would be nice."

"Shall I?" Professor McGonagall asked, holding out her wand.

Mary flinched. "You're not going to petrify me or anything are you?"

"No, Mary, I will simply transfigure your mattress into a gurney so that we can levitate you out," Professor McGonagall said gently.

"That's alright then." Mary nodded again.

Before long she was back in her usual bed, surrounded by bright colored armchairs, feeling as though she was the main act in some sordid play.

Madam Pomfrey conjured a bucket and placed it on the bedside table. Aunt Andy cast the diagnostic charms onto the curtain across from Mary's bed, well in view of all present. Snape moved to her side, extending his hand with the vial. Mary shuddered as he moved closer, but grounded herself in the knowledge that he wouldn't hurt her. He wasn't dangerous. It would be okay. The vial was pressed to her lips and she drank quickly, trying to get it over with as fast as possible.

When the last drop hit her tongue, Snape stepped back. "Record the time, Andy. We should only have to wait a few minutes for it to take effect."

Five minutes of tense silence and Aunt Andy leaned forward. "Hold your left hand out. Don't try to force it to be still."

The tremors ran through her arm, but as the seconds ticked by, it seemed to get better.

"What's that mean?" Mary asked, putting her arm down.

"We'll see how long it lasts," Aunt Andy answered.

The answer to that was fifteen minutes before she was humiliated once again by getting violently ill in front of an even bigger audience. McGonagall had tears in her eyes as she cast the spells to clean Mary up, leaving her wanting to do nothing else other than hide under her blankets.

"Do you feel well enough to answer some questions, child?" Dumbledore asked, not meeting her eyes.

"Sure," Mary said, letting out a harsh breath and keeping her Occlumency at full force. "You know me, sir. Never felt better. Always up for a chat."

"The night of the Third Task you told Mr. Krum that you had a bad feeling. Can you expand on that for me?" Dumbledore asked gently.

Mary formulated a story, one that wasn't far off the mark. "Uh, er, that's not too difficult to explain. I kept getting these twinges of anticipation the closer it got to the task. It only got worse when I was in the maze. I knew Tom was up to something. Then the fire. It was pushing me in the right direction. Like it was guiding me to the cup. Then I thought about it, if I was him, how would I get a student out of Hogwarts? What would be something that no one would suspect? It had to be the Triwizard cup."

Dumbledore steepled his fingers and leaned forward. "And the snake, at Lord Voldemort's house. What did it say to you?"

"Nagini said, and I quote, 'She smells odd, Master. Special'." Mary let out a dark laugh. "I'm guessing it wasn't my shampoo she was talking about. Was it, sir?"

Dumbledore wouldn't meet her eyes, telling her exactly what she needed to know. "Is there anything else you can tell us about that night, Mary? Something that may not have come across when we viewed your memory?"

Mary felt her own anger ratchet up a notch. "You know, it's not a very good observation, but it may have been something I did. When Barty came over with the knife, he had already said it; 'blood of the enemy, forcibly taken'. He didn't take it by force, I willingly extended my right arm. I'd hoped that those 'warring magics' you were talking about, would kill the little bastard. That my willingness would mess up the spell and I would have a chance to escape."

"Can you explain that to me, sir? If my blood was harmless all along, why have I been forced to wear the Cuff? Do you know how much easier it would have been to fight if I could use my dominant hand?" Mary finished, begging him to meet her eyes.

"I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that," Dumbledore said, his voice low and full of something akin to shame.

"Another question, sir." Mary decided to throw in. "I told you last summer that someone named Barty was assisting Tommy boy. How is it that he was never caught?"

"He was using Polyjuice potion to impersonate his father," Dumbledore answered. "We had no reason to suspect Mr. Crouch. Nor did we find any evidence that Barty Crouch Jr. had escaped Azkaban."

"Do you know what he did to Bertha Jorkins?" Mary asked, a shudder running up her spine. "I saw it in his mind. Barty violated her until she begged for death. Barty enjoyed it. They kept her alive and under the Imperius curse until that thing could be born. Tom killed her when he was strong enough to hold a wand. And they kept her body in that room as both a trophy and a quick meal for Nagini."

"And you know what's the worst part, sir? That's what they had planned to use me for if the ritual didn't work the first time." Mary clenched her eyes closed and rubbed at her forehead. "Luckily, I was very safe and well protected here at Hogwarts."

"I think Mary needs some space," Aunt Andy said quietly.

The tremors returned. Not as bad as before, but enough that it set her teeth on edge and she had trouble grasping the bucket when her stomach rolled again. Chairs scraped along the stone floor and soft whispers floated in the world around her, but she didn't care. If Dumbledore was going to keep his secrets, she would keep hers too.


"Feeling up for visitors, Miss Potter?" Madam Pomfrey asked after breakfast the next morning.

"Who is it?" Mary asked.

"Miss Patil, Miss Brown, and Miss Weasley."

"That's fine." Mary sat up, wincing at the ache in her body.

"If they're willing, I'll have them assist you with a bath while I run these potions down to the Hufflepuff common room for Mr. Diggory. Is that okay with you, or would you prefer I stay?"

"No, you go ahead." Mary waved her hand absently.

"Use the cane, Potter!" Madam Pomfrey called over her shoulder before she stepped into the fireplace.

The door opened and the three girls walked in, gasping when they saw the state she was in.

"Your hair!" Parvati cried out.

"Your face," Lavender whimpered.

"You're alive!" Ginny rushed forward, stopping just shy of crashing into her. "Merlin's ballsack, you look horrid!"

Mary let out a small laugh. "Well, apparently you lot are helping me get cleaned up. I don't need you to scrub my ass or anything, but my hands are too twitchy to do anything about my hair and clothes."

"We'll get you sorted out." Parvati passed her the Holly walkingstick Professor McGonagall made for her. "Lav's brought clothes for you."

An hour later, she was sitting on the edge of her bed, her leg back in the Muggle cast, while Gabrielle Delacour painted her toenails with a spell Lavender taught her. Lavender was fixing her hair, and Parvati sat off to the side, fixing the hem on her cloak.

"You're so lucky, Mary." Parvati looked up. "I'd give just about anything to grow a couple of inches."

Mary gestured to her broken body. "I doubt that."

Ginny stepped around the corner with Mary's backpack. "Sorry it took so long to track it down. Everyone's wanting an update on how you are."

"Maybe I should skip the feast, stay here, read that book Madam Pomfrey keeps hiding away in her office." Mary mused.

The door opened and the three older girl's peeked around the corner. Parvati nearly fell out of her chair. Lavender let out a squeak. Ginny's cheeks flushed. Gabrielle beamed like a light bulb.

"Miss Potter?" Newt Scamander stepped around the corner. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, sir." Mary answered. "How are my new friends?"

Newt smiled. "Safely in their containers and ready to be transferred back to their homes."

"I'm glad." Mary smiled, clasping her hands in her lap.

"We just wanted to say thank you for your kindness," Newt said. "It would have been all too easy for you to leave the creatures behind and continue on your path, but you made sure that they were able to escape the fire. For that, you have my sincerest gratitude."

"It was the right thing to do," Mary replied.

"Where is that boy?" Newt looked around. "Over here, Rolf."

Rolf stepped around the corner, a sad frown on his face. "Okay there, Mary?"

"I'm fine." Mary grinned. "You ready to get away from this craziness?"

"Actually, I was thinking about returning home for the summer." Rolf admitted, reaching into his pocket. "This little guy has been looking for you."

"Bacon!" Mary gasped, her hands trembling as she reached for him. "Thank you for keeping him safe. Lord knows there are too many owls around here for his own good."

"That there are." Rolf laughed. "Well, if you're not busy over the summer, maybe you can stop by grandfather's house. I'll show you some of my other pets."

"I'd love that." Mary replied.

"Well, we'll let you get back to your friends." Newt put a hand on his grandson's shoulder. "Get well, Miss Potter."

"Thank you, sir." Mary replied.

"Write to me, Mary." Rolf called back.

"I will!" Mary yelled, lowering Bacon to her bed. "How is my best boy doing? Did Rolf feed you well enough?"

"Eep!" Lavender fell to the floor in a puddle.

"He's so dreamy!" Parvati sighed.

"Lickable." Ginny smirked, biting her lip. "Biteable."

"Magnifique!" Gabriella blushed.

"Are you going to write to him?" Lavender knelt beside the bed, hands together as though she was praying. "Please tell me you're going to write to him."

"She bloody well better," Ginny hissed, turning to Mary. "If you don't, I'll forge a letter from you. An embarrassing one."

"Why?" Mary lifted a bruised eyebrow.

"Cause he's effing hot, that's why!" Ginny shot back. "And he likes you. Like really likes you."

Mary shook her head. "He's old enough to be my-"

"Boyfriend." Parvati crossed her arms.

"Husband." Lavender sighed.

"L'amoureux." Gabriella breathed.

"I don't know what that last one meant, but no. Hell no." Mary shook her head.

Luckily she was spared their commentary when Madam Pomfrey returned with Ron and Hermione on her heels.

"There you lot are," Ron said, glaring at his sister. "You were supposed to get us when she was ready!"

"We got distracted." Ginny stared at the door where Rolf disappeared.

"You've got your cane, Miss Potter?" Madam Pomfrey moved forward with a syringe in hand. "And your cloak? It's summer but far too drafty in this old castle. The last thing we need is for you to catch a chill."

"All done," Parvati put the altered cloak on the bed.

"Thanks," Mary said, wincing when Madam Pomfrey gave her the injection. "Leaving Feast, yay!"

"You could sound more enthusiastic." Hermione shot her a look.

"I could, but I don't much feel like it." Mary shrugged, pulling her cloak on, hopping on one foot. "Hand me the cane, Ron?"

"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer a wheelchair, dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"I've attended every other feast on my own two feet," Mary argued. "Except second year. Couldn't help that one."

"Three out of four isn't an impressive track record." Madam Pomfrey grumbled. "Well, if you're sure. I expect you back later tonight for your potions. Now off you trot before we're all late."

"You lot can go on ahead," Mary told the others halfway to the Great Hall. "This is going to take me forever."

Parvati, Lavender, Ginny, and Gabriella took off together, giggling loudly as they ran through the empty hall.

"You can go too," Mary said to Ron and Hermione.

"We do this together." Ron said from her right.

"We're not leaving you behind." Hermione added from her left. "Never."

The castle was eerily silent until they made it to the entrance hall. Past that they could hear the roar of hundreds of students talking loudly. Mary paused, swallowing hard, feeling her skin crawl.

"You can do this, Mary," Ron said. "Just one step at a time."

Mary nodded, straightening her shoulders. "Here we go."

She stepped into the room and let out a breath of relief.

"There's Potter!"

"Mary's back."

"She looks like dung."

"Ten sickles, Draco. I told you she'd survive."

"Miss Potter!" Ludo Bagman called from the head table. "Mr. Krum, Miss Delacour! Please come to the front of the hall for the final announcement of the Triwizard Tournament!"

Hermione shot her an encouraging smile and sat down at the end of the fourth year table, twining her arm with Ron's.

Mary let everything else fall away and stepped onto the stand next to Viktor. The Great Hall went quiet, everyone leaning forward.

"The time has come!" Ludo shouted, holding his wand to his throat. "After heavily reviewing the Third Task, we have found our champion! For the fame, the glory, and the prize of a thousand galleons!"

Mary yawned widely, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Hurry before Potter falls asleep!" Someone called out.

"Yes, right," Ludo chuckled. "The Confederation of Wizards have decided that this contest could only end one way and that is with a three-way tie! So I present to you our three victorious champions!"

Three small Triwizard cups filled with gold floated down in front of each of them.

"No offence, but I'm not touching that thing," Mary said quietly.

"I do not vant this gold." Viktor shook his head.

"Non," Fleur said with a huff.

"Come now, children," Ludo whispered. "No need to make a scene. I'll just put them on your table and you can decide what to do with your winnings later. Just smile for the photos."

The cameras flashed and the crowd cheered, but Mary didn't smile. It felt wrong to celebrate. She looked into the sea of faces and saw everyone who was now in danger. People who Voldemort wouldn't hesitate to kill. People she was supposed to protect.

"Let us go eat, no?" Fleur moved to her side.

The three of them went to the table reserved for the champions and dug into their meal. Mary stuck with the soup and juice, unable to handle anything else.

"The gold is yours, Mary." Viktor pushed the goblet toward her.

"Mine as well." Fleur did the same.

Mary shook her head. "I can't do that. Viktor, you take that and buy Elena something pretty. Fleur, keep your gold on hand. You're going to need it when I visit."

"Vhat are you going to do with your vinnings?" Viktor asked.

"I'm sure I can think of something," Mary said with a grin, looking over at Fred and George. "Maybe make a few investments."


"Are you excited about going home?" Mary asked Viktor and Fleur the next morning.

"I'm going to ask Elena to marry me. If she accepts, I vill need you there." Viktor said, his face pale.

"Oh hell!" Mary laughed. "She's going to say yes, I know it. So go ahead and put me on the guest list."

"I look forward to spending time with maman and papa, but I will be back in England in ze fall. Gringotts has accepted my application!" Fleur clapped her hands enthusiastically.

"Congratulations!" Mary beamed. "You're welcome to stay with us if you like."

"Viktor, come!" A surly guy ran up to them. "They are waiting!"

"Goodbye, Mary. I v-will write," Viktor said carefully.

Mary flinched, but hugged him quickly. "Let me know what Elena says! I want details!"

Viktor laughed, following his classmate.

"Bye, Fleur." Mary wrapped her arms around the girl. "Owl me and I'll get you a room ready."

"Take care, Mary." Fleur kissed her cheeks. "And send Bill my regards."

Mary giggled. "I will!"

Mary's hands shook and she quickly shoved them into her pockets as she walked back to where Ron and Hermione were waiting for her. Together they watched the Durmstrang ship sail away and the Beauxbatons carriage pull high into the air.

"I'm gonna miss those two." Ron put his arm around Hermione.

"Me too." Hermione added, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Mary smiled at the sight of them. "I'm sure you'll find a way to distract yourselves."

The tips of Ron's ears reddened and Hermione's cheek's flushed, but they didn't move away from each other.

"There you three are," Sirius said, walking onto the small wooden bridge with her Firebolt hovering beside him. "Poppy is about to have kittens, Mary. You're not supposed to be putting much weight on that leg."

"I've got my cane," Mary said, holding up the offending object.

"On the broom now, Mary." Sirius pointed to the Firebolt.

"Fine." Mary crossed her arms and groused, sitting on the broom with a smirk tugging at her cheeks. "Race you there!" She pulled the broom high into the air and took in a deep breath.

"Mary Jane Potter!?" Sirius shouted from far below. "You are grounded, young lady! Get down here this instant!"

Mary stopped the broom and angled it toward the ground. "You asked for it, Siri."


A/N:

Okay, one more chapter before we're officially finished with 4th year.

Next Chapter: The Seven Journals - In which Mary finally decides to break her silence on Harry's memories and finds the perfect person to help her fulfill her destiny.

Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this story, read, reviewed, followed, favorited, subscribed. It all means the world to me.

As some of you have asked, yes, I do have this story crossposted on AO3 under the name BexSilverthorne. Thank you for your concern. If you see this story posted on any other site, please let me know, as it's not my doing.

Any guesses as to who Mary will trust with her secret?

Was Mary too harsh with Dumbledore when she confronted him about the Suppression Cuff? Or did she let him off too easily?