July 3rd, 1995

Mary watched the trail of smoke drift lazily into the sky as the Hogwarts Express chugged down the tracks from Hogsmeade Station. It left her with an aching empty feeling, being the only student left in the castle. Another year gone by with no sense of normalcy. And when the train was too far out of view, she could only sit in the window sill of Gryffindor Tower and admire the grounds. Her first true home.

The dull ache in her scar was a steady reminder of what was to come, and just how unprepared she was to face it. She held her hand in front of her, watching the tremors shake her entire arm and let out a sigh.

Going to her trunk, she pulled out the charmed box and laid the seven journals on her bed, staring at them in contemplation. If she was to be killed in battle, or with her luck, a freak accident, no one would know. Dumbledore would try and fail to track down the Horcruxes. The war would rage on and people would die. Dead or not, it would be her fault. It wasn't an easy thing to trust. And that seemed to be her biggest problem. Maybe Snape was right and it was all ego. Maybe Hermione was right and it was her saving people- thing.

No matter the reason. She couldn't do this alone. But finding out the right person to trust wouldn't be easy.

Sirius would scoff and tell her there was no way she would walk to her death. Remus would at least listen, but he'd try to stop her in the end. They'd lock her away in a tower like some scarred damsel in distress and never let her leave. They would sacrifice the world to keep her alive. And if they failed, and she escaped, they would blame themselves. She couldn't do that to them.

Dumbledore had the power to help her. The ability to keep Tom at bay until she fulfilled her destiny. But she didn't trust him. Not a bit. There was the possibility of him doing something drastic in order to keep her in line and on the path he chose. It would not shock her if the first thing he did would be to wipe her mind of Harry's memories completely. One swift Obliviate and she would be back under his control, a willing puppet and sacrificial lamb.

And without Dumbledore, she couldn't bring in anyone overtly loyal to him. Even with secrecy spells, they would find a way to tell the Headmaster about what she was up to. So that meant that Moody, Kingsley, and the elder Weasleys weren't an option.

Whoever she chose would have to be adept and skilled enough to fight, but they'd also have to know when to let Mary take the lead and fulfill her destiny. That meant her friends couldn't know the full story. They were too young and inexperienced. Unlike Harry, she wasn't willing to drag them along with her on this path to death.

Bill, Viktor, and Fleur likely wouldn't believe her. All she would accomplish there was lose them and their friendship forever.

Aunt Andy would be just as bad as Sirius and Remus. Mary doubted she'd take it well that Mary handed her a book that predicted the death of her husband and daughter.

That left Snape and Madam Pomfrey.

Snape was too close to both Voldemort and Dumbledore. Two of the world's most powerful legilimens. All would be lost if either of them found out. There was no way she would burden him with this as well. She wasn't Dumbledore.

Madam Pomfrey could help to an extent, but she was a healer, not a tactician.

"There you are, Potter," Professor McGonagall stepped into the girls' dorm. "Andy should have the next batch of nerve potion ready shortly."

Professor McGonagall had been there for Mary since her first year at Hogwarts. While caring and compassionate, her hands off approach was what Mary really needed. McGonagall would be able to give Mary an adult's perspective without getting overly protective.

"Professor?" Mary hesitated, slowly moving to her bed. "Can I talk to you about something important?"

"Spit it out, Potter." McGonagall pursed her lips. "Anything you need to say, I'm here to listen."

"Can you cast a few privacy spells?"

McGonagall nodded and cast the necessary spells. "Is that adequate?"

"That's fine, professor," Mary said, taking in a deep breath. "You might end up regretting this."

"There are many things in this life I regret. Not being a part of your life from the start, is the biggest one to date. After Sirius was sent to Azkaban, it should have been Remus and I taking custody of you. That I will always regret. Now what is it that you want to say?"

"I'm a Secret Keeper." Mary blurted out, watching as McGonagall's brows furrowed. "And I need to share that secret with you. Do you understand?"

"Who are you Secret Keeper for?" McGonagall asked. "Potter, what kind of trouble are you in this time?"

"I can explain all of that, but first; do you accept?"

"As you said, I'll likely end up regretting this, but yes. I accept."

"No, professor." Mary resisted the urge to scream. "This is life and death. Everything you're about to learn is monumentally important for all of our futures. You are the only person I trust with this information. I don't want to burden you. Hell, I don't even want to tell you, but my most recent brush with death has made me realize I can't do this alone. So I not only need you to understand the severity of this, but I have to know that you're willing to accept this burden."

McGonagall was silent for a moment, simply staring at Mary as though seeing her in a new light. "I accept."

Mary let out the breath she was holding, then reached forward and grabbed the first journal from the stack. "The Philosopher's Stone."

McGonagall looked mildly surprised when the book appeared, but accepted it and began flipping through the pages. "I don't understand."

Mary grabbed the second and handed it over. "The Chamber of Secrets."

On and on it went. Prisoner of Azkaban. Goblet of Fire. Order of the Phoenix. Half-Blood Prince. Deathly Hallows.

"What are they?"

"The future of the Wizarding World. Of Hogwarts." Mary answered. "You don't have to read them all now, but if something were to happen to me, I need someone who knows what's to come and how to stop it."

McGonagall held Deathly Hallows in one hand and waved her wand over the last page. "You wrote these almost two years ago."

"It's been a long two years." Mary let out a rueful laugh. "Almost feel like I've lived it twice."

"These journals, are they of your time here at the school?" McGonagall asked.

"Not mine." Mary shook her head. "That day in the Chamber. It wasn't the mixed magics that caused the backlash. Hell, I don't know how to explain it without sounding stupid. The only way I can wrap my head around it is that I almost died down there, and in some odd state between life and death, I traveled to another dimension. One where there was no Mary Potter, but in my place was a boy. Harry Potter. The Boy who lived. A boy that did his duty to Hogwarts. Who fought. And who died at the hands of Voldemort at the end of what should have been his final year at Hogwarts."

"Potter that's absurd." McGonagall gave her a sympathetic look.

"You're always wondering why I'm rushing headfirst into danger. Why I'm always ending up badly injured. It's because I'm trying to prevent Harry's past from becoming my future." Mary pulled the fourth book from the stack, flipping open to a specific page. "I wrote this two years ago. As you said. How did I know two years ago that Voldemort would use the Triwizard cup as a portkey?"

McGonagall pulled the book from her hand and scanned the page, flipping to the next. "Oh Cedric!"

Mary pulled the third book from the stack and opened it to a specific page. "Harry's entire third year was spent with him thinking that Sirius Black was a mass murderer who not only sold his parents to Voldemort, but that he was Harry's godfather. Harry spent the year wanting to kill him. At the end of the year, he found out Sirius was innocent and Pettigrew was the traitor. Only it was too late. Pettigrew escaped and Sirius was on the run from the Ministry."

Mary paused, watching McGonagall read the proffered pages. "Didn't you think it was odd that I would just trust Sirius right off the bat?"

"I thought that you had a rough time with the Muggles and would have jumped at the chance of having a guardian, no matter who they were." McGonagall said, tears on her face.

"No," Mary shook her head. "I spent that entire summer after the Chamber trying to figure out if I was going barmy or if that vision was real. It was real. Everything played out exactly the same. Except I couldn't let that continue. I made sure I turned Pettigrew over to the Ministry at the first chance I had. I made sure Sirius was freed. Everything has kind of snowballed from there. Some things have stayed the same. But other things, like Barty Crouch Jr. instead of Pettigrew. Or Dumbledore and the Suppression Cuff. Those things were never part of Harry's history."

"Two years, Potter," McGonagall stood up, fury radiating from her. "You've dealt with this for two years and it takes a near death experience for you to finally trust me? Have I failed you that badly?"

"You never failed me," Mary said. "It was- Hell, I don't know. I just don't know how to fix things without help. I'm a right fucking mess these days and some of the stuff I have to prevent from happening are a little outside of my wheelhouse."

"You should talk to the Headmaster." McGonagall reached out, but pulled her hand away.

"Say that again after you've finished the journals." Mary bit out. "That's all I ask. If you want to rail and scream at me for being an idiot and fucking everything up, that's well within your rights. But please finish them. If I were to die, someone has to know how to defeat Voldemort. And there's no one I trust more than you to make sure it's done right."

McGonagall nodded and took a deep breath, placing the books in a neat stack and picking them up. "Thank you for trusting me with this, Mary. I'll start them as soon as I can."

Mary stared down at her feet. "I guess I'll go see Aunt Andy now."

"I'll walk you down," McGonagall said in a clipped voice. "Even though we are in the castle walls, outside of term you can call me Minerva, or Aunt Minerva."

"Thanks, Aunt Minnie." Mary grinned, dodging the woman's hand.


"Take the green one first and let's see how it goes." Madam Pomfrey held out a vial that Mary accepted with a shaking hand.

She downed the contents, hating the way the potion coated her tongue in what tasted like battery acid. "Yuck."

"Hands out." Aunt Andy ordered.

"I hate this part." Mary whined.

"I hate it for you." Aunt Andy frowned.

Mary held her arms and hands out in front of her stiff as a board willing them not to shake. Still the tremors took hold, leaving her arms almost vibrating with the intensity.

Aunt Andy gave her hands a shrewd glance. "It will be at least a month before you're ready to begin therapy. Still too much damage. Keep holding them there, I'll time it again."

Mary let out a sigh, disappointed that it wasn't something that could be easily fixed. After twenty minutes, her hands finally began to steady, the shakes ebbing away until they were barely noticeable.

"Good," Madam Pomfrey said with a smile. "Now a walk around the room. With the cane, of course."

Mary grabbed the cane, placing both feet on the floor, and stood. Her limbs felt like jelly, weak and barely able to hold her weight. It took ages to walk around the room. What was usually a mundane act that she gave no thought to now required all of her concentration and strength.

"How's the pain, sweetie?" Aunt Andy asked again.

"It's nothing I can't handle," Mary clenched her teeth together, trying to take another step.

"That wasn't the question Healer Tonks asked, Potter." Snape bit out. "How. Is. The. Pain?"

"Rough," Mary sighed. "But I've had worse."

"You've been tortured before?" Snape cocked an eyebrow at her. "Held under an Unforgivable for a quarter of an hour?"

"Have you ever gone an entire summer without food after getting hit in the head with a frying pan? That's true pain. Not knowing how you're going to die. Will it be the splitting headache or your stomach cramping to the point that it can't stand water. This is nothing. Not compared to that."

"Ostende dolore," Madam Pomfrey said the spell, tapping Mary's arm with her wand. "Severus, really. You know better than to ask."

"What's that spell do?" Mary asked.

"It shows the caster where you are feeling pain and the intensity of it. It's intended for infants and those unable to communicate. Severus, will that do for your research purposes?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"Quite well, Poppy." Snape nodded, sending her a smirk as he repeated the spell, tapping her harshly between the eyes. "If this is what you consider as 'fine', I seriously question your judgment, Potter."

Mary got thwacked on the ankle with the spell and looked around Snape's skinny form to see Remus analyzing the results with a furrowed brow. Sirius copied the action and let out a gasp.

"This is a major invasion of privacy," Mary said, pulling her blanket over her head. "What happened to Healer/patient confidentiality?"

"It's nullified when dealing with patients that are minors and refuse to be honest," Madam Pomfrey replied heatedly. "Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin, I know quite a few monitoring and alarm spells that you would do well to learn over the summer."

"Please do, Poppy." Sirius smirked. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?"

"Traitors," Mary hissed, pulling Bacon out of her pocket. "Can you bite them, little guy? Small nibbles until they see sense?"

"Is that my missing guinea pig?" Professor McGonagall stepped around the curtain, pursing her lips.

"No," Mary said, tucking Bacon under her cloak. "What guinea pig?"


"Ready to go?" Remus asked later that afternoon. "I hear Dobby and Kreacher are working on a special meal."

Mary looked down at her trunk and backpack and nodded. "I can't wait to go home."

"I'm glad," Sirius said, walking into the room. "Moony, you take Mary on through. I'll shrink the trunks and be right there."

"Think I'll escape in the Floo Network?" Mary asked with a raised brow.

"Given the state of your magic, we'd rather not test it," Remus said. "Is it okay if I put my arm around you, Mary Jane?"

Mary grimaced. "Yeah. Sorry. I'll get over this eventually."

"It's understandable," Remus smiled sadly, holding out his arm and stepping into the fireplace.

Mary clenched her teeth together and stepped into his embrace, hearing him call out the address before they landed in the bright and airy living room of Grimmauld place. Remus helped her gain her balance and then let go of her, leaving Mary's stomach in a knot.

Kreacher popped into the room. "Mistress is home!" He cried out, a pained look on his face. "May Kreacher get Mistress anything?"

"Can you take me up to my room?" Mary asked.

Kreacher nodded, gently grabbing her hand. Seconds later they were in her bedroom. The room smelled fresh and clean as though everything had been recently dusted and washed.

Hedwig landed on her shoulder, nipping playfully at her hair, and Mary rubbed her soft feathers. "I missed you too, old girl."

"May Kreacher get Mistress anything else?" Kreacher asked with wide eyes.

Mary furrowed her brow. "Tea, with three tea cups, cream, lots of sugar. Biscuits if you have them, and Dobby. Have him come up with you. I think that should do it."

Kreacher was gone with a pop and a few minutes later, he returned with her requests. Dobby beamed, carrying a tea tray of finger sandwiches and biscuits.

"Well, come on then." Mary patted the bed and leaned back against the pillows. "Have a sit and tell me what you've been up to. Have you pranked them?"

Dobby hopped onto the bed and sat down with his legs crossed. Kreacher reluctantly climbed up, letting his spindly legs dangle over the edge. Mary handed them each a teacup and pushed the tray to the center.

"Dobby has charmed Snuggly's underpants to change colors when in the presence of females. It has caused some interesting reactions." Dobby grinned. "He is not knowing there is itching powder in them until hours later. One witch is accusing him of having lobsters!"

"Oh gods," Mary giggled into her hand.

"Kreacher snuck a catfish into the bath with bad master's pet." Kreacher put his shoulders back. "Bad master's pet was quite surprised."

Mary put her head back and laughed. "I like the way you both think. This summer we're going to have to do something extra special. It will take a great deal of planning, so I want you to think up your best ideas."

"We will, Mistress," Kreacher said solemnly, pointing his nose in the air.

"Dobby will be thinking of the most wickedest pranks, Mary Potter." Dobby nodded quickly.

"I love you both." Mary smiled at them. "Come on now. You both know I'm on a restricted diet. I can't eat all of this."

They chatted for a little longer before Sirius knocked on her door. "Can I come in?"

"Sure, Siri," Mary called back, sipping her tea with a death grip on the cup.

Sirius walked in, looked at the elves and Hedwig, then to Mary. "You seem to be settling in nicely."

"It's all about having the right company." Mary smiled, her hand shaking as she set the teacup down. "How about you and Moony? Glad to be home?"

"It's a nice change of pace," Sirius, dug his thumbs into the pockets of his waistcoat. "How are you feeling?"

Mary looked down at her hands. "On edge, but getting better. Overall though, scared, worried, wondering what he's going to do next. Questioning myself on what I could have done differently."

Sirius let out a sigh. "Kreacher, Dobby, give us a minute."

"Dobby doesn't know how to give time," Dobby answered with a wide grin.

Mary shook her head as the two elves popped away. "I've trained them well."

Sirius sat on the bed next to her, careful not to get too close, and reached out to pet Hedwig's feathers. "I know a lot has happened, and it's a difficult thing you're going through. But, you've got Remus and I here at any time you need us. If you want to talk, or dance, or watch a Muggle film. We're here. For whatever you need."

Mary's eyes watered. "Voldemort's back. You heard me in the hospital wing. I know you did. You heard me say that I willingly gave up my blood. Blood that made him stronger. How can you even look at me?"

"Because you did it for the right reasons, Mary." Sirius reached out to touch her, letting his hand hover between them.

Mary launched herself into his arms, not caring how much it hurt. "They'll hate me, Sirius! Mum and Dad are going to hate me for what I've done. I killed those men and I only feel bad because I don't feel bad. I should feel something. Guilt, remorse, anything other than just being glad they're dead, but I can't. I'm a horrible person."

Sirius held her even tighter, rubbing her back, sending spasms of pain shooting through her, but she held even tighter, because it made it all the more real. "You're not a bad person, Mary. And there's no way your mum and dad could ever hate you. As for feeling bad, I killed my share of Death Eaters in the first war. So did your parents. Killing is always a bad thing, no matter what side you're on. It's a terrible act that leaves lasting scars on all involved, but it goes hand and hand with war."

"It wasn't war though," Mary whispered, leaning back and putting some distance between them. "They were scared. Sure, Macnair was a sadistic bastard, can't say I'm shedding a tear for him. But Mr. Nott, his son is in my year. He's a quiet boy, decent sense of humor. I watched him laughing with his friends today before they got on the carriages. I don't know if he has a family to go home to, or if I've made him an orphan. How do I look him in the eye and go to class with him next year, knowing I killed his father?"

Sirius opened his mouth and shut it again, clasping his hands in his lap. "I don't know, kiddo. That's the hardest part of all of this, for Remus and I. We were well out of school when we started fighting for the Old Crowd. We knew what we were getting into. The lines were clearly drawn. You were either on Voldemort's side or Dumbledore's side. Those that remained neutral didn't have much bearing in the war at all. For you, it's different, you've been fighting him since you were eleven."

"Fourteen with three kills under my belt," Mary said, fiddling with the blanket. "Doesn't that make you a proud parent."

"It pains me to know that you were put in that position at all." Sirius answered. "And it makes me strive even more to make sure you never have to face that again."

"I'm his target and current obsession." Mary met Sirius' grey eyes. "You made sure I heard the prophecies. You know what I have to do. I can't sit on the sidelines for this."

"It's not going to come to that," Sirius said, his jaw twitching. "I promise you that I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

"No." Mary shook her head. "That's not going to help me. As soon as I'm able, I need you and Remus to train me. Anything you know that can help. That and I want to spend the summer with the two of you. Not like last summer. I don't want to be left alone for days on end with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company. They're dark enough as it is."

Sirius took in a shaky breath. "That's just what we'll do then. I've already planned a few trips for us. It will be good to get out and have some fun. And as soon as Andy clears you, we'll start back on training."

Mary wiped at her face, embarrassed by her outburst. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cry all over you."

Sirius let out a bark of a laugh. "Merlin's beard, Mary, we all need to cry at some time. It's healthy. Or that's what my shrink told me."

"You don't have a shrink," Mary stated.

"I did after Azkaban." Sirius shot back.

"That was for two days." Mary reminded him.

"I learned a lot in those two days."

"Wasn't there a lady named Nelly that showed up at our flat asking if you were going to propose?"

"Nelly," Sirius said, staring at the ceiling and tapping his chin.

"Blonde hair and a big bosom." Mary clarified. "Worked at St. Mungos."

Sirius snapped his fingers. "That Nelly! I didn't know if you meant her or the lady from the diner uptown."

"The lady from the diner uptown is a brunette and her name is Lana." Mary rubbed at her nose.

"They told me you were observant." Sirius grumbled. "So what's this I hear that you've been invited to Bulgaria, France, and Dorset over the holiday? Should I have a talk with any of these boys?"

Mary held up her index finger. "First off, Fleur is a girl, and I invited her here. She got a job with Gringotts. Viktor is proposing to Elena and wants me to be there for the wedding -possibly- this winter. And Mr. Scamander is married and close to a hundred years old."

"What about the boys they mentioned in the Prophet?" Sirius asked with a look.

"Myron is old enough to be you, Cedric was under the Imperious, the Weasleys are family, Malfoy is someone I wouldn't drag through dung, I killed Theo's dad, Zabini's mother is scary as fuck and I think he might be gay. And Fleur is Fleur." Mary answered honestly. "I have no control over my own life, so I definitely have no desire to be in a relationship."

Sirius let out a sigh of relief. "Let's get down to dinner. I'm sure Dobby and Kreacher are chomping at the bit to feed you. Remus is likely worried too."

"I have another round of potions tonight," Mary said. "I don't want to eat too much."

"Just however much you can handle, kiddo." Sirius stood up. "Shall I escort you down, or would you rather one of the house elve-"

Dobby popped in. "Dobby will take Mary Potter to dinner!"

"Kreacher will take Mistress to dinner." Kreacher croaked.

Sirius grinned. "This is interesting."

"I would like you both to escort me to dinner." Mary held out her hands.

Seconds later she was in the dining room, both elves placing platters of food in front of her and filling the three glasses with different drinks.

"Muggle cola, red wine, white wine, champagne, and water." Dobby nodded proudly.

"Mary can't have alcohol," Remus said gently, folding the paper and setting it beside him.

The three middle glasses disappeared.

Mary sat down. "Really, Moomy? I could go for a margarita right now."

"And when you're both well and of age, you can enjoy one or two, but for now, stick to something lighter." Remus grinned. "How are you feeling?"

"Achy." Mary took a breath. "I think I'll need something after dinner, but I'd really just like to enjoy one meal without seeing it make a return."

"Andy has supplied us with Muggle remedies so that the pain will lessen and ones for you to sleep," Remus said, summoning the Muggle chemist bag. "It'd be best if you take it now so that it has a chance to activate."

Mary nodded and accepted the two white tablets, popping them in her mouth and swallowing it down with soda. "One for pain and the other for sleep?"

"That's the right of it." Remus clasped his hands together. "Do you have any plans for the summer?"

"I'd like to do something about the rooftop garden." Mary admitted. "No offence to Mrs. Woodcroft, but some of the best plants used in potions should be freshly harvested and not dried. The greenhouse is in a right state, but a little time and effort should have it producing something of use."

"It's a small greenhouse." Remus shot her a knowing look.

"I'd like to have a place to sit and watch the stars and the planes. Somewhere I can get fresh air."

"A place of your own." Remus added, looking to the staircase. "I understand, Mary Jane. I truly do."

Sirius stepped into the room, not worried with being caught eavesdropping. "The elves will take care of the rooftop. They're skilled enough to handle any remnants of what my dear mother may have been left behind."

Mary wanted to object, but given her most recent injuries, she needed the help. "Can I get some chairs to go up there? Maybe a fireplace for the winter?"

Sirius grinned. "There's a Muggle furniture store in the city, one that deals with outdoor type stuff. We'll go first thing in the morning and you can pick whatever you like."

"I'll pay for it." Mary shook her head. "It was my idea after all."

"Nonsense. The thought of my mother spinning in her grave having her prized garden covered in Muggle things only makes me want to spend more on it."

Mary rolled her eyes and took another sip of her drink. "Maybe I can ask Neville to help with the greenhouse. And Snape to see what plants would be most beneficial."

Remus and Sirius exchanged a look.

"What aren't you telling me?" Mary crossed her arms.

"Any correspondence with Severus has to be taken in person," Remus said. "Severus has informed Voldemort that you and the Headmaster are at odds. Just as such, seeing Severus obtain mail often goes against his reputation. It would be a danger to his position as a spy."

"Okay then," Mary said, accepting the plate that Kreacher placed in front of her. "I'll see if Aunt Minnie will deliver the letters then."

"Dumbledore's asked if we can use this place for any upcoming Order meetings and I've agreed," Sirius said casually, cutting into his roast chicken. "We have the space and this house has enough protections on it to keep us safe enough."

Mary stared down at her food. "We should put it under Fidelius as well. No point in not practicing constant vigilance."

"That's a good idea, Mary Jane." Remus said.

"We'll probably have a houseful of people during Order meetings, so I'll ask now that you keep your friends entertained and sway them from trying to eavesdrop." Sirius shot her a look. "What the Order discusses in these meetings is of the utmost importance and we don't need school age children spouting off the information when it could put them and us in grave danger."

"Yeah," Mary said with a grumble of annoyance. "I'll make sure they don't snoop."

Sirius put his elbows on the table. "That store in Diagon Alley that you were talking about went up for sale last week. I've put in an offer with Gringotts. If they accept, the Twins can start work on their joke shop in May or June."

"You're buying the store?" Mary furrowed her brow.

Sirius drained his glass of wine. "Well, I figured it'd be a decent investment and I won't charge them interest on the loan. So it's a win for all involved. Speaking of stores, you and I have some paperwork to look over."

"Paperwork is always fun," Mary remarked, eying her godfather with suspicion.

Sirius frowned. "Mr. Potts, the owner of our flat, passed away last week. It was in his will that we get the deed to the junk shop and the flat."

Mary blinked. "What happened to him?"

"Old age," Sirius said. "He was well over two hundred."

"He was such a sweet old man. Didn't he have any family?"

"None that we know of." Sirius shook his head. "I originally planned on handing over the deed to the Twins, but considering everything going on, I'd rather have the whole building warded and cleaned out, maybe lease it later on as an investment property if you agree to it. You'll get half of the profits of course."

"I don't care about that," Mary said. "Did he have a funeral at least? Did his friends and family attend?"

"I know he was buried next to his wife, but I don't know if he had a service." Sirius said.

"I knew his wife loved bluebells," Mary said. "I'll contact Mrs. Woodcroft about getting a live plant that we can put at their graves."

"I think he'd like that very much, kiddo." Sirius said with a proud smile. "Come on now, let's finish dinner and go watch a movie."


"He's at peace with his lovely Sarah now," Remus said, stepping away from the fresh grave and looking at the newly planted bluebells.

Sirius rubbed at his eyes. "We should all hope to be as lucky as he was."

"See you on the other side, Mr. Potts." Mary let out a breath and wiped at her shaking dirty hands with a cloth. "The potions wore off again, Siri."

"Hold tight to me, kiddo." Sirius ignored the way Mary flinched violently and wrapped his arms around her, apparating them back to Grimmauld Place.

Mary darted straight for the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Remus popped into the living room seconds later.

"It lasted a full hour this time." Sirius turned to his friend. "Andy will be pleased."

Remus shot him a dark look. "That was four times the normal strength, Sirius. If this pattern keeps up, we'll be lucky if her organs don't shut down. If that happens, we won't have potions or spells to fix her."

"She was so excited about shopping today," Sirius said, holding his head in his hands. "And we just spent the best hour of it at a graveside."

"We'll just have to work around that," Remus said, putting a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "See if you can find someone to stay for a few hours while we go to the store. We'll pick out a few furniture sets and she can choose what she likes without us having to worry about Voldemort's lackeys spotting her."

"Yeah." Sirius rolled his eyes. "I know the Death Eaters spend their days in Muggle home improvement stores."

Remus slapped his arm. "You know what I mean."

"You're right, Moony. I'll see if Andy can pop over."

"I'll talk to Severus," Remus said, going into the next room to use the Floo.


Mary was kneeling on the concrete roof with a brush, scrubbing away at the years of mold and mildew when Snape walked up, flicking his wand at her radio to turn the volume down.

"Playing the house elf, Potter?" Snape said, conjuring a chair and sitting in the only clean corner of the greenhouse. "I was informed by Andromeda that you were supposed to be resting."

"Yeah, well it's not like I can pop over and tell Tom to calm the fuck down because my healer says I need sleep, sir." Mary groused, scrubbing harder. "Maybe I should owl him about it. Request business hours or something. Like I'm okay if he's pissed off for an hour or two every other Wednesday. Think he'd buy it?"

"No." Snape stared at her as though she were a flobberworm.

"Dobby cannot take them, they are for Mistress!" Kreacher croaked loudly.

"Dobby will be vanishing them. Mary Potter is wanting everything gone."

"Kreacher, Dobby!" Mary called out, watching as the two elves dragged a massive trunk each into view. "What's that?"

"They are Mistress Walburga's," Kreacher said proudly. "Nasty Mudbloods were using the Black family name for their cheap liquor and Mistress Walburga was very angry. She won the lawsuit and was awarded their entire stock of that year."

Mary shakily stood. "Are the trunks hexed or cursed in any way?"

"No, Mistress," Kreacher replied. "They are charmed to be sterile and temperature controlled."

"Allow me, Potter," Snape said, waving his wand over each trunk twice. "Simple revealing spells. I'll cast a few more in depth ones just to be sure."

"Yeah, knowing my luck it'd be full of inferi," Mary muttered, rubbing at her arms to ease the ache.

"As soon as we're finished with this- discovery, I will supply you with a pain relieving paste," Snape offered, casting a spell to open the first trunk. "Wait here."

"Hell no, sir," Mary hesitantly reached for his hand, unable to stand on her own. "We do this together."

Snape looked down at the appendage with an odd look on his face before gently pulling to her feet. He didn't speak or let go of her as they traversed the dark narrow staircase. A flick of his wand and fairy lights floated into the expanded space of the trunk, showing rows and rows of bottles in racks.

"It's a wine cellar," Mary gasped, feeling the chill crisp air wash over her. "Holy shit!"

Snape pulled a bottle down and gawked at the label. "Quintin Black Scottish reserve. Year 1850. Potter, one of these bottles is easily worth 500 galleons."

"A rum aficionado, sir?" Mary asked with a grin, popping the cork on a bottle and smelling the harsh alcohol. "Oof."

Snape conjured two glasses, pulled the bottle from her hands and poured a small portion into the first glass. "I tried this once at Narcissa's 30th birthday. Very smooth. Though her bottle was a 1910. I daresay she would fall over backwards to have a bottle of this."

"Malfoy's mum?" Mary shot him a curious look.

Snape sniffed the dark liquid, dipping his pinky into it and tasting. "It doesn't seem to be compromised."

Mary poured herself a bit and downed it. "Damn, that is smooth."

Snape swatted the back of her head lightly. "Are you trying to kill yourself?"

"Ugh, the aftertaste is worse than firewhisky." Mary grimaced and hiccoughed.

Snape glared at her, taking a sip from his glass. "I daresay your elves have dropped a small fortune at your feet. This is quite good."

Mary looked at the rows of bottles, thought of the thousands that had to be there with both trunks combined, and shook her head. "Let's get out of here. You can bring that bottle with you."

"Are you okay, Potter?" Snape asked, holding her arm as she slowly went up the stairs. "Is it your scar?"

"Just some chest pains." When they were back on the roof, Mary turned to him. "Can you shrink the trunks without damaging the- stuff?"

"It's wizardspace. Fully capable of the outer container to be shrunk without damaging the contents. Has Black taught you nothing?" Snape leaned against the side of the greenhouse.

"I like to enjoy the surprises the wizarding world has to offer as it happens. If I was told everything beforehand, life wouldn't be much fun." Mary waved her hand, pulling it back when a tremor ran through her. "Speaking of fun, please shrink both trunks and put them in your pocket. I barely have the energy to take care of myself these days and if Sirius finds out we have a stockpile of high octane liquor on hand, I'm going to be stuck taking care of him and brewing shoddy sobering draughts for the rest of the summer."

Snape's eyes narrowed. "You'd trust me to safekeep the trunks?"

"No, I'm asking you to take the damned things." Mary shuddered, flexing her fingers. "Drink it, sell it, poison it and hand it out at the next Dark Tea Party or whatever his darkness does in his free time. I just don't want it here."

"Potter, there are millions of galleons sitting here. I can't take it." Snape crossed his arms.

"Just take one then." Mary shrugged. "I'll give the other to Remus or Aunt Andy. No, Remus would share it with Sirius and Aunt Andy wouldn't want anything Walburga gazed upon. I'll figure something out. Pour us another, sir. It's been awhile since I've been properly sloshed."

"You're an imbecile." Snape refilled his glass and poured a tiny amount into hers before shrinking both trunks and placing one in his pocket.

"Thank you, sir," Mary sighed. "So what is his darkness up to these days? Still missing the old wand?"

"He is keeping up the facade of power, but I have yet to see him cast a spell." Snape took a long drink. "If his magic is affected as badly as yours, I do believe he is very worried."

Mary pulled the yew wand from her sleeve, ignoring the itch to use it. "Will this earn you any points with him?"

"It would certainly get me killed." Snape shot her a look. "The Dark Lord assumes his wand is in the custody of the Ministry. Should I walk in with it, he would assume that I was a spy at once."

Mary glared down at the offending object. "I've been wanting to snap this damned thing since I first summoned it from his hand. When I hold it, it's like feeling the echoes of the people he killed and tortured with it."

Snape twitched, barely perceptible for someone that wasn't paying attention. "I can understand the sentiment, but it in itself, is only a wand."

Mary downed her shot of rum and held her glass out. "Give me a refill and we'll burn this thing to ashes.'

Snape poured a tiny more into her glass. "I think you should hold onto it. It could be an advantageous gambling piece at some point in the future."

Mary grinned. "I can see the owl invitation now. 'The Dark Lord requests your presence for a game of poker, bring the wand and a bottle of rum.'"

Snape lifted a brow. "You really are an idiot, Potter."

Mary's eyes widened. "Oh shit, I can imagine him sitting back with one of those frilly tea hats, holding his teacup with his pinky pointing out."

"And you're drunk," Snape said, plucking the empty glass from her hand.

"Yep," Mary grimaced, sliding down the wall and closing her eyes. "Best I've felt in months, sir."

"Let's get you to your room, Potter. I think you've overworked yourself." Snape reached for her arm.

"I think my magic wants to vomit now, sir. Best if you take a step back." Mary placed her palms flat on the concrete, clenching her eyes shut.

The air crackled and her ears rang, feeling the pressure in her chest build up until she thought she would pass out. Not wanting to hurt Snape, Kreacher, or Dobby, Mary focused on letting the magic flow into the house itself, hoping it wouldn't blow it to pieces. Just let it go, Mary thought to herself. Let it out. Her hands burned cold and her ears popped, but she couldn't seem to stop until thin hands wrapped around her arm.

"Occlude, Potter." Snape's voice filtered through.

With the sunlight on her face, and the warm breeze blowing over the rooftop, it wasn't difficult to convince her mind that she was flying. A sense of calm flowed through her and she felt her body relax, the ache subsiding until it was nothing but a faint memory that tingled through her bones.

"Potter, Potter! Wake up!"

Mary cracked her eyes open and winced, clenching her eyes at the bright onslaught that burned into her retinas. Slapping her hands to her face, she shielded her eyes and turned toward the wall.

"Are you going to be sick, Potter?" Snape asked.

"I'm going to be blind," Mary replied, breathing heavily. "Why is it so bright?"

"Your magic ran amok and decided to clean the roof for you," Snape drawled. "It may be your body's way of saying that you need to rest and not be up here scrubbing the concrete like a complete moron."

"Help me back inside?" Mary pleaded, keeping a hand over her eyes.

Snape grabbed her arm and Mary barely twitched, still somewhat tipsy. "Watch the steps, Potter."

"Sorry, sir," Mary said, taking each step as fast as she could. "So what'd you do to get stuck with me on such a lovely day?"

"Andromeda is on call at St. Mungos and won't be available for the next few days. Madam Pomfrey is on Holiday with her daughter, and as the three of us are the only ones that understand your current condition, it seemed reasonable that we take turns supervising you when your mutts aren't capable," Snape said, guiding her to the edge of her bed.

"They were supposed to be here all week," Mary said, staring down at her hands. "They promised we'd spend the start of the summer together."

"Life is full of disappointments, Potter. Might as well get used to it." Snape scoffed, taking a seat at her desk and examining the bottle in his hand.

"Well, I appreciate you taking time from your plans to be here, Professor." Mary rubbed at her arms, feeling drained and overwrought.

Snape held the bottle up to the light. "I must say I expected to find you surrounded by your fan club. I find myself despondent that they aren't here to entertain me with their charm and wit."

Mary almost laughed at the amount of snark the man put into his statement. "Apparently I lack the fortitude to cope with my most recent trauma and it would do me well to take the time to heal both physically and mentally before I'm put into the position of entertaining young and impressionable minds."

Snape cut his eyes toward her. "The Headmaster is worried about you, Potter. Your rather brash admittance of the Dark Lord's plans has left him, as well as those assigned to your care, fearful for your current state of mind."

"And you, sir?" Mary looked away. "Do you think I've gone barmy?"

"I fail to see how my opinion would be of any merit." Snape bit out. "And I doubt you expect me to sing your praises and inflate your overinflated ego."

"I'm not fishing for compliments!" Mary shivered. "You're the only adult I can trust to tell me the truth. The others act like I'm some kind of invalid that needs to be coddled."

"Well then, since you've asked for my opinion, you shall have it." Snape drawled. "You are not coping because you won't allow yourself to accept all that has happened. When confronted, you direct the conversation to a path that often leaves the questioner uncomfortable and unwilling to push you farther. It's a very Slytherin tactic."

"At least it works." Mary shrugged.

"You're not going to deny it?" Snape lifted a dark brow.

"I know what I've faced and what I'll have to do in the future. That's always at the forefront of my mind. If I let myself fall apart each time something bad happened, I'd be like Humpty Dumpty after the fall. Denial is about the only way I can make it through the day. And sometimes, with a little luck, I can fake feeling okay until I convince myself of it."

"That's hardly a healthy outlook, Potter."

"Everybody has their coping mechanisms, sir." Mary leaned back and stared at the ceiling.


"Don't fall asleep, I will return shortly with the numbing paste." Severus said, standing and going to the staircase.

Potter merely nodded, her eyes falling shut. The blasted girl was going to go against his orders before he even left the room. Not that he'd be surprised with the massive amount of magic she unleashed on the rooftop. The chaos had been controlled and focused solely on cleansing the area of all debris and filth. That in itself was a remarkable feat. The true surprise was that it affected both Potter and himself. Weeks of brewing nonstop had left his hands stained by volatile ingredients, but his skin and nails were unblemished. Potter's clothes were covered in grime when he arrived and now looked brand new.

Of all the students to be saddled with over the summer, it had to be her. The idiotic Gryffindor with the unflappable stoicism and those damnable green eyes. Longbottom would have been preferable. At least he could insult the boy into a puddle and walk away with a smile on his face, feeling no remorse at all. Granger would balk and debate his methods, but would comply because she didn't know how to flout authority. Weasley would argue and complain until Severus hexed him within an inch of his life. But Potter, she took his acerbic comments and returned them with wit and respect. She trusted him and that felt like the most dangerous thing he'd ever experienced. Because as time went on, he saw less of her father and his former best friend. Instead he saw a young girl who was struggling against the current of fate and never once gave up.

It's what made the morning's events all the more odd. As usual, they had their end of term breakfast in the Headmaster's office, but instead of being her usual stern self, Minerva seemed wholly distracted, staying silent through most of the meal and alternating between shooting him sympathetic looks and glaring at the Headmaster. Albus himself appeared concerned with Minerva's unusual behavior, but thought better of mentioning it when she refused to even accept tea from him.

Shaking his head, Severus grabbed the morphine based bruise balm he'd left in Black's potions lab early that day and went back up to Potter's room. With a quick spell, his steps were silent. Despite his request that she stay awake, he wouldn't begrudge the girl sleep when she so clearly needed the respite. All of his precautions hadn't been necessary. Potter lay on her bed, her back to him and her shoulders shaking when he walked back into her room. He had half a mind to call Molly or Minerva to deal with her. He wasn't trained or prepared to handle the emotions of a teenage girl. Even as a Head of House, it was a duty he delegated to his older students.

As though she sensed his presence, Potter wiped at her eyes and sat back up, holding a brown and white guinea pig in a shaking hand.

"Is this the stolen creature Minerva was raving about?" He asked, trying to gauge her reaction.

"I traumatised him in Transfiguration class." Potter grimaced. "It seemed almost cruel to leave him there."

"If you can't handle transfiguring a guinea pig, I daresay you will have trouble in NEWT level potions class as you're regularly required to collect ingredients from living creatures." Severus smirked.

Potter flinched violently, setting the guinea pig on the bed. " Good news for you, sir. I won't be taking NEWT level potions."

Severus regretted his choice of words, knowing what the girl had faced in the graveyard. "Any career of note will require at least a NEWT in potions."

"I don't intend to have a career either, sir." Potter sighed.

"Your parents were wealthy, but I doubt you'd be able to live as lavishly as Black and raise a family without some form of regular income." Severus said to change the subject.

"I have no plans for that either." Potter rubbed at her forehead.

"So you plan to wander aimlessly through life with no forethought to the future?"

"I have no future other than fulfilling the prophecy or die trying, sir," Potter said in a mere whisper.

Severus scoffed. "Melodramatic even for a Gryffindor."

Potter smirked, the action set his teeth on edge. "You're right. See, my true goal is to never graduate. I'll just remain a student at Hogwarts forever."

"Don't threaten me like that, Potter." Severus hissed. "Three years and you graduate. I don't care if I have to forge the grades myself."

Potter put a hand to her heart. "That hurts, sir. Just when I thought you were starting to tolerate me."

"Put the paste on both arms and anywhere else that aches." Severus tossed the jar onto the bed. "I'll be in the potions lab if you need assistance."

"Thank you!" Potter called back.


"Dinner is ready, Mistress." Kreacher whispered, gently shaking Mary's shoulder.

"Thank you, Kreacher." Mary accepted the hand he held out to help her up. "Tell Siri and Remus that I'll be down as soon as I can make it."

"Kreacher can take Mistress." The old elf offered.

"I need to do this myself, but thanks," Mary said, knowing that she'd be as weak as a kitten if she didn't push herself to move around more.

Kreacher popped away, leaving Mary limping down the steps that led into the lower floors of Grimmauld Place.

What felt like hours later, she finally made it into the bright and cheery dining room.

"There you are." Sirius said from the long oak table. "Have a seat, Remus is finishing up the steaks."

Mary's mouth watered at the smells that wafted in from the kitchen and took her seat, watching as Remus manned the flat top grill with ease.

"How was your day out?" Mary asked, pulling the pitcher forward and pouring a glass of oddly cloudy liquid into her glass.

"Not too bad considering." Sirius shrugged.

"Don't drink that, Mary Jane!" Remus shot over his shoulder. "Sirius, don't get her into drinking margaritas with dinner."

"Muggle cola?" Sirius swapped glasses with her.

Mary sniffed the drink, the bubbles almost making her sneeze. "I know I'm due for pranking, but remember what Aunt Andy said?"

"No pranking until you've finished with your potions." Sirius intoned drolly. "I'm aware. It's just Coke."

Mary carefully took a sip, breathing a sigh of relief when she didn't sprout feathers or grow horns. "I've got the weeds pulled and the old greenhouse cleaned up."

Sirius gave her an odd glance. "We noticed."

"You went up there?" Mary lifted a brow at him.

"Severus told us what happened." Remus called over his shoulder. "The whole house is clean. Inside and out."

"Well, at least I could be of some use." Mary muttered. "Where'd you two go today?"

Sirius pulled a shrunken trunk from his pocket. "A muggle store. Just like we planned. Considering you weren't feeling well, we got one of everything. The sales lady said we could return what you didn't want."

Mary gawked at him. "One of everything!? Have you lost your effing mind? I just wanted some chairs and a fireplace!"

"Well, now you have options." Sirius shrugged, pushing the small trunk toward her. "We got plants and flowers too. Nothing magical, but I figured it couldn't hurt to brighten the place up a bit."

"Sirius would like you to think that it's all for you, but a few of his purchases were purely because he liked the sales woman." Remus said with a small smile.

"That's alright then." Mary said. "Any word from Madam Bones?"

Sirius drained his glass and poured another. "They have Barty Jr. on the Most Wanted list for both the magical and Muggle worlds, but there's been no sign of him. No activity from Voldemort or his Death Eaters, so while that's a good thing, it also means that we're no closer to proving he is actually out there."

"They searched Little Hangleton though, didn't they?"

"Nothing was found other than some disturbed earth and dark spell residue in the graveyard." Sirius scrubbed at his stubbly chin. "The house was empty."

"Her, er, Bertha's body. Did they find it?"

"Nothing."

Mary rubbed her forehead. "This is driving me crazy. Hell, everyone probably thinks I'm crazy."

"Outside the Order and a few select Ministry employees, no one knows. That's the way we want it to stay. No sense in creating a panic for no reason."

Mary rubbed at her forehead. "He's up to something. I can feel it."

Sirius leaned forward. "Clear your mind. Try not to think about it. No matter what happens, it's not your job or responsibility to fix it."

"The prophecy-"

"Bugger the prophecy!" Sirius slammed his fist on the table. "It doesn't mean a effing thing other than some bug eyed bitty high on incense can't keep her damned mouth shut. The only record has been destroyed. There's no way he'll ever learn it's contents."

"That's the problem though!" Mary exclaimed. "He knows about the prophecy! He's out for blood and he doesn't care one whit who he takes it from! No one is ready or prepared, they're all sitting around like it's a normal day when one of the darkest wizards ever is walking around making plans on exterminating them! What do I have to do to make them see the truth?"

"You're going to do nothing." Remus placed a plateful of steak, mashed potatoes and broccoli in front of her. "You're going to eat your dinner, go back upstairs and rest."


July 6th,1995

"You knew!" Aunt Minnie burst into Mary's room the following day. "You knew exactly what you were doing when you made me accept before I knew what those …. pertained to! Agh!"

Aunt Minnie's furious shout surprised Sirius and Aunt Andy, who were watching Mary's therapy session before the rather wild interruption.

"Minnie?" Sirius leaned away from her glare. "You okay?"

"I need a word with Potter." Aunt Minnie pinned Mary with a stare. "Alone."

"Keep squeezing," Aunt Andy ordered her, tossing two stress balls onto the bed that were in the shape of Snitches. "Both hands. Ten minutes."

"What'd you do, kiddo?" Sirius looked worriedly from her to Aunt Minnie.

"Out, Black. Now!"

Sirius backed out of the room and shut the door. Mary leaned against the pillows and started squeezing the Snitches. "Have a seat, Aunt Minnie."

"I have half a mind to strangle you, Potter." Aunt Minnie stood stiffly at the end of her bed.

"Which book, professor?"

"The last one." Aunt Minnie hissed.

"Oh."

"Do you know how much of this could have been prevented had you only told Professor Dumbledore or myself as soon as you had these...visions? We could have been prepared! Lives could have been saved! Do you understand that?"

"Would you have believed me?" Mary stared back, unfazed. "Like you believed me when I told you that Quirrel hand the Stone?"

"I would have tried!"

"You would have thought I was crazy! I thought I was crazy! I spent most of third year trying to come to terms with it all. Each time I saw a face in the halls, I saw the way that person died. Or the way they were fighting either for or against us. All of these memories are stuck with me at every moment. Everything I've done has been to save people!"

Aunt Minnie pursed her lips in frustration and sat down heavily. Mary stood and went to her desk, unlocking it and grabbing the box out of the drawer, then dumped the contents onto the bed.

Aunt Minnie gasped, jumping up to inspect each one. "They're destroyed."

Mary nodded. "Dumbledore has Riddle's diary. Hufflepuff's Cup is still in Gringotts. I'm planning to talk to Griphook about it later this summer. Hopefully that will work itself out. Nagini is still with Voldemort. And well, I'm still alive and kicking, so only three more before he can be killed for good."

Aunt Minnie moved around the bed and pulled Mary into a hug. "We'll find a way. It doesn't have to come to that."

"That's the least of my worries right now." Mary pulled away, stuffing the Horcruxes back into the box and relocking them in the drawer. "He's back and the war is going to start again."

"Why did you tell me?" Aunt Minnie asked, no accusation in her tone, only curiosity. "Why not Albus or your godfathers?"

"Think back on what the Headmaster did for Harry. He waited until the last minute to tell him that he wouldn't survive. He didn't trust that Harry would still have the will to fight otherwise. Professor Dumbledore is a good man and he's a wise tactician, but he keeps too many things a secret. If I were to tell him, he would have a whole nother set of plans lined up. He wouldn't tell me about them, so I'd run head first into danger and end up getting someone else killed because of it."

"What can I do, Mary?" Aunt Minnie pleaded. "I'm overwhelmed and I don't know where to start."

Mary pulled out another book, this one with her plans. "Mary the Magical Moron."

Just like the other seven, the book was visible to Aunt Minnie after hearing the Secret. "Seriously?"

"Sirius is my godfather." Mary joked. "Those are my plans to stop this mess. I need your help and advice, professor."

"Is there anyone I can bring in on this? It's a task too large for two people."

"Who would you trust?"

"Severus," Aunt Minnie said at once.

"He's too close to Voldemort." Mary shook her head. "He's on our side for sure, but I'd rather not burden him more than he already is."

"If there comes a time when he is no longer a spy?"

"If that happens before Voldemort is dead, then by all means. We could use his insight. For the time being, it's just you, Kreacher, and myself."

"Kreacher?"

"He's pretty good about getting out of bad situations."

"So I've read." Aunt Minnie said. "And Dumbledore can never know?"

"Not all of it." Mary looked down at her hands. "At least not until the cup is destroyed. Anytime before that and things will get too muddled. I want to trust him, I really do. But I can't."

"I understand," Auntie Minnie said and moved towards the door. "Keep up with your therapy. I'll owl you if I think of anything or anyone that might help us."

"Thank you, professor." Mary replied. "Are we still going shopping on the 31st?"

"Nothing will get you out of it, Mary."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Mary walked Aunt Minnie to the door, hugging her before she left. Sirius and Remus both stood next to the white couch, proud smiles on their faces.

"So what'd you do?" Sirius rubbed his hands together. "I've never seen Minnie that livid."

"Got her a subscription to some really dirty books." Mary said, a smirk on her face.

"You pranked Minerva and she didn't kill you?" Remus shook his head.

"She threatened strangulation." Mary shrugged.

"How dirty are we talking?" Sirius asked.

"They're the worst." Mary answered honestly. "Beyond filthy."

Sirius' smile dropped. "Wait. What are you doing with dirty books in the first place, young lady?"

"Me?" Mary held a hand over her heart, leaning heavily on her cane. "I'm totally innocent. A seventh year left the subscription form behind in the common room. And, well, I had a fit of inspiration."

"Fit of insanity is more like it." Remus put his arm around her. "No more dirty books, Mary Jane. Not if you still want to spend a week with the Weasleys."

"Mrs. Weasley said yes?" Mary gasped. "She'll let me come over?"

"She was the one that called us to ask for permission." Sirius grinned. "Now I know she's a good cook, kiddo, but you're ours. She can't have you for the whole summer."

Mary wrapped her arms around Sirius, barely a twitch running through her. "Well, it's going to take more than food to get rid of me. I love you both too much."

Remus hesitantly pulled her into a hug. "We love you too, Mary Jane."

"Put on some of that Muggle music, kid." Sirius turned to wipe at his eyes. "We'll have a good dinner together. I think Moony's got big plans for tonight. So the traitor will be leaving us."

Mary rolled her eyes, knowing Tonks was off work the rest of the week. "Don't hog her all week, Remus. She promised to take me to a concert."

Remus blushed profusely. "It's not like that."

"Sure it's not," Mary and Sirius said at the same time.

All three of them burst out laughing.

Mary could only hope that their happiness lasted and that when it was all said and done, they would find peace and joy.


A/N:

This completes the first arc of this story. I decided to split it up into three parts because of the drastic tone change now that Voldemort is back. It will still have humor and fun moments, but it's going to take a serious turn. I hope you all stick with it and have fun. First chapter of part two will be posted on the evening of January 12th, 2021.

Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, followed, favorited and overall supported me. You're the best!