AN: Sorry for the delay

AN: Sorry for the delay. Fanfiction.net has been experiencing some technical difficulties, and it finally seems to be working today. So what did you all think about Ron being able to cook? I come from a pretty big family where everyone knew how to bake by the time they were seven, so I figured Ron's family probably operated similarly. This chapter: Marie has some old memories, and starts wondering about things.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its affiliated characters. (But I'd love to take them off your hands J.K.!) I do own Taffy, John, Marie and Anne ?. I'm not giving out their last name until the time is right.

Marie couldn't help, but marvel at the inside of the carriage. It was lined with a blue silky material, and contained two plush benches both of which seemed much too long to fit inside the small couch that had pulled up in front of her house only moments before. There had been no driver in the seat, but Marie had been too upset to think of that. She was leaving her aunt and uncle. Her actual mother was dead. She had no idea who or where her father might be, and she was now traveling to Hogwarts with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. It was all too much for her to understand.

She looked over at Harry who was sitting on the other side of the carriage. He was smiling slightly making stars fly out of is wand in an attempt to amuse her. Suddenly, Marie felt the door slam, and the carriage shoot off throwing her back against the seat and something else. She felt something holding her head into place so that it didn't hit the wall. The seats were much to short for that and she suddenly realized that it felt an awful lot like a hand. She turned to her left and saw that Ron had stuck his hand out to catch her head right before they had taken off. He smiled at her, and quickly moved his hand now that the force of the movement had lessened.

So," Ron said looking a little nervous, "when do you think we'll get to the school Harry?" His glance moved from Marie to Harry. He must be worried that we'll be attacked, Marie thought. She turned to look out the window, but stopped when she realized that the curtains had been drawn around them from outside.

"We'll probably have to travel all night." Harry announced sounding a little despaired. Marie pulled out her the textbook that she had put in her duffle bag earlier, and started reading. As she read she suddenly began to remember every aspect of transfiguration that she had every learned. She was so excited that she nearly jumped out of her seat.

"Professor Minerva McGonagall!" she shouted surprised by the intensity of her own voice. Harry who had been dozing in his seat looked up at her in confusion and surprise.

"Yeah," he said, "what about her?" His face seemed to give her a look like she was insane before settling back into his original tired gaze.

"I remember!" Marie shouted. "She taught Transfiguration, and she was head of our house! She was deputy headmistress! I remember! I remember everything!" At this point Marie was jumping around in circles filled with noting but joy and excitement. She grabbed her bag and pulled out her wand. Then she took one of her pens, and proceeded to turn it into a stick. She stared at it for a moment before returning it to its original shape. Quickly, she went back to reading her book. By the time she had finished she remembered everything about Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall, and the Gryffindor house. She remembered the last password they had had, and the way there was always a fire going in the common room at night. She even seemed to remember a few personal things. Her and the others, sneaking out under the invisibility cloak, crying with Ginny and Hermione after Cedric Diggory died, and even something about playing wizard chess. Suddenly, she decided to open her photo album. She grabbed her bag and pulled it up onto the bench next to her hitting Ron in the leg.

"Ow!" he said watching to see what she was doing. Frantically, Marie pulled everything out of her bag until she found the album, which had settled to the bottom underneath her notebooks. As she pulled it out she glanced at her digital watch. It read 10:30. Jesus, she thought, it's getting awful late.

"You know that's not going to work once we get close to Hogwarts." Harry said in a matter of fact tone.

"Actually," Marie said resisting the urge to do something childish, "I do happen to remember something about that in the book Hogwarts: A History. Anyway it's already 10:30. We should probably think about sleeping, but first I want you guys to look at this with me." As she said this she held up the album to show them. Since there wasn't enough room on either of the benches they all sat in a circle on the floor. Marie held the book so that the boys could see it. She traced her finger along the cover, which bore a giant H on it.

"It was supposed to show that these were all taken at Hogwarts." Harry explained as if he could read her mind. Slowly, she opened the cover. The first picture was a group shot. It showed five people, all very obvious Gryffindors, laughing. Three of them Marie recognized instantly. Harry and Ron were standing in the back. Harry, standing in between Ron and another girl, was making a ridicules attempt to wrap his hand around Ron's shoulder. Ron seemed to be trying to keep his balance while allowing Harry to obtain a grip on his shoulder. The girl standing next to Harry was quit obviously Hermione. She was very pretty, but not a direct beauty. It was one that had developed with time, knowledge, and even a little pain. Sitting on the grass in front of the trio were two girls. A person might even think they were sisters except that the older, Marie, had green eyes and her hair was a deeper shade of red than the younger girl who sat next to her with her arms wrapped around the elder's waist. Both were smiling, and Marie knew immediately who the younger girl was.

"Ginny." Marie said her name like a prayer, and a sudden feeling of lose filled her. "I treated her like she was my little sister. I didn't have any siblings did I? You don't need to answer that I was being rhetorical. Oh, we do look like we might be related don't we. How is she?" Marie looked to Ron for the answer to this question. He looked back at her as if there was something he wanted to say, but thought better of it.

"Ginny's great! She misses you like hell though. I think of all of us she probably had the hardest time letting go of you. She cried for weeks after you left. You and Hermione always treated her like the sisters she never had. You know it always was hard for her growing up with all those boys, and no girls. When you left it was like she lost her best friend. In truth I think she was closer to you then she was to Hermione."

For a moment Marie sat there wondering what to say. Memories of Ginny were coming back to her. She had been closer to Ginny before she left that she remembered. Ginny had told her everything. All her dreams, secrets, and even once she was sworn to secrecy she told Marie about her crushes. Inwardly Marie laughed. She wondered how Harry would feel if he found out that Ginny Weasley didn't only develop crushes on certain overly heroic boys, but boys who simply would never think of passing up a chance to date her.

"Will I get to see her anytime soon?" Marie asked cautiously. She didn't want to upset Ron.

"Probably, but we've all gone through some changes since you left. Listen Marie; I don't know what you remember about any of the other Hogwarts students, but Gin… Gin's dating someone. And I'm not sure whether or not you're going to like who it is."

"It's Draco Malfoy isn't it? Ron I'm not surprised. I remember that Harry had just started dating Hermione before I left, and I remember how upset Ginny had been. I remember her telling me she liked Draco, and remember catching him looking at her a few times. I told her that no matter what she did I would always love her and be there for her. Yes, I guess Draco's the only logical choice. I'm not even sure if I want to know how your family took it."

"They took it all pretty well actually. I wasn't really surprised that they did considering that there were far worse people she could have dated, but I don't want to say to much because for some reason I don't think that you remember that much about Malfoy, and I don't wan to mess you up or anything."

"Well Ronald," Marie replied in an almost mocking tone, "thanks for not 'messing me up' because the truth is that I don't really remember anything about Draco. Nothing personal anyway, but I get the feeling that he and I weren't exactly friends when I left." Marie took one last look at the picture of the five Gryffindors all of whom seemed to have not a care in the world before turning the page. The next few pages were filled with Pictures of Marie, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and a whole collection of other Hogwarts students. There was one of Fred, George, and a boy who Marie remember as being Lee Jordan trying to set off a firecracker underneath the desk of a particularly annoyed looking professor McGonagall. Another one was of a small ferret flying around one of the hallways in the castle. All three of them started rolling on the floor with laughter after seeing this picture, and Marie had known instantly that under that rodent exterior resided a very scared and very pissed Draco Malfoy. There were pictures from Quidditch practices, school assemblies, and even a few particularly amusing ones from classes. There was one in which Professor Flintwick was scolding Neville Longbottom while his pet toad, Trevor, keep jumping higher and higher out of the edge of the picture. In another Ron seemed to have been able to melt his cauldron, but half the picture was blacked out.

"Dammit!" said Harry. "That was a good picture to. I think Collin Creevey took it because most of the rest in her you took, but if you could see the entire picture you could she that you were Ron's lab partner."

"Well, well," Marie didn't understand what could have happen to the photo, "well why can't I see the rest of the photo?"

"Part of the spell. All of the pictures in your photo album were enchanted so that you could only see the ones of people you already remembered or who didn't really have a close relationship to. If you had looked in here a few days ago it would have appeared to be just a blank photo album. I guess this picture had a picture of someone important in it" Harry tried to answer as best he could.

"That's an understatement," mumbled Ron.

"What do you mean?" Marie said as she looked over to Ron. "Harry what is he talking about?"

"Sorry Marie. We can't tell you anything more, but don't worry in a few days you'll remember everything." Marie tried to content herself with that answer, but began to become very annoyed when practically half of the album seemed to be blank. Frustrated, she slammed the book shut, and threw it violently into her bag.

"Don't worry." Harry reassured. "It's like I said in a few days you'll be able to see all of your pictures. I'm sure of it, but for now I think we should get some sleep." Harry pulled himself back onto the bench he had been sitting on earlier. It was nearly midnight, and Marie was feeling exhausted. She had to let Ron pull her up onto the bench that they had been sitting on before. She looked at Ron for a minute.

"So," she said turning her gaze away from him feeling embarrassed for staring, "how are we going to work out the whole sleeping arrangement thing. I mean two of us will have to share a bench I guess."

"No need." said Ron throwing her a blanket and pillow from bellow their bench. "I'll sleep on the floor. It's enchanted to be soft if someone needs to use it as a bed. So don't worry." He pulled out a blanket and a pillow for himself, and threw another to Harry. As Marie lied down she thought she felt almost sad that Ron had not shared her bench with her. She had only a moment to wonder at the strange feeling stirring in her stomach before she fell into a deep sleep.

Voices. So many voices. Her mum's voice screaming at her to run. "He's here! He's coming!"

Voldemort's own cackling laughter. "That's it little girl run! Run just like your father did! Abandon your friends to save your own life! It really doesn't matter I'll find you and I'll kill you! Then I'll kill Potter, and that little mudblood of his! I think the Weasley family should come next! I'll probably start with the youngest boy or maybe the little girl! Yes, that's it I'll kill little Ginny!" Then, Marie's own voice broke through the darkness.

"You leave them alone you insane son of a –"

"Now, now, now it's not polite for little girls to curse. What would your father say? You could ask him if he were still alive." Then Voldemort's menacing laughter filled the air again.

"Ignore him Marie. He has no idea where your father is. Just run! I'll stall him, and I'll never tell him where you've gone."

"But mom what if something happens to you?"

"I don't care no matter what you hear keep running, and don't stop until you've reached your hiding place." With that Marie was off. She ran for what felt like hours, but she didn't seem to be moving anywhere at all. Finally, she found it. She found her hiding place. She ducked inside, closed her eyes, and put her hands over her ears. She didn't want to see it. She knew that no matter how far away she ran no matter where she hid when it happened she would feel it and hear it and see it as if she were really there. It was in her heart, in her mind, and even in her blood. Then, suddenly, she heard it. She heard the scream she had been dreading, but knowing would come. She heard it and her brain stopped thinking, her lungs stopped breathing, and finally heart stopped beating. She sat there for a minute dead to the world.

Two arms wrapped around her. Someone's warm breath touched her cold face, and slowly she began to drift back into life. It hurt. It hurt worse than any pain Marie had ever felt in her life, but she came back. She came back because her mother wanted her to and her father needed her to. She came back because someone had to defeat Voldemort. She came back because someone had to make right what he had made wrong. In the end none of these things mattered to her. In the end the real reason she came back was for him. He would have died if she had gone. He would have rather been eaten by a giant spider than live without her. How did she know? He had told her so only that morning. That morning when he had given her something. Something important.

"Come back, Marie. I need you to come back. It's all over I won't let anything happen to you. I won't let him hurt you. Marie. You have to come back. You have to come back because… because… because I love you. I love you, Marie." That was his voice soothing her. Those were his arms wrapped around her. That was his heart beating in her ears. Finally, Marie came back, and she cried. She cried and cried until his shirt was soaked through. She cried until she fell asleep. When she did his arms were still wrapped around her, and she felt safe, but she knew the truth. The awful truth. The truth that had haunted her since Voldemort fist entered her life. Her mother was gone, dead, murdered by a man she had never been taught to fear, but had been taught to hate, and at that moment she hated him more than anyone else she had ever known.

When Marie awoke to find she lying on the seat inside the invisible couch she could feel that she was drenched in sweet. It was still night and the cold air from outside chilled her deep inside her bones. She looked down at the sleeping form of Ron, and looked over thinking that she would find Harry in the same state. Instead she was surprised to see that he was already awake, and that he had opened a window to let the cool night air into their stuffy cabin.

"Harry?" Marie inquired softly not wanting to alarm him. She watched slowly as Harry turned to face her.

"I didn't wake you did I?" he inquired in a whisper. "I'm use to sharing a room with Ron, and he can sleep through almost anything." Just then Harry's words were interrupted by the sleeping Ron who started mumbling incoherent phrases.

"Of course I'll help. Anything for you, angel." He mumbled before he stopped talking all together, and curled back facing Marie a small smile consuming the features of his face. Marie had to struggle to suppress a giggle.

"Does he always talk like that when he sleeps?" she asked trying to start a conversation with Harry. She felt a bit lonely, and the dream she had just had did nothing to settle her nerves or her fears about being some sort of super power against defeating one of the most powerful wizards ever born.

"Only when he's having good dreams." Harry replied a smile forming on his usually serious face. For a minute they were both silent. "I suppose you're wondering why I'm awake?" Harry asked. In truth Marie had been wondering this, and was hoping that she hadn't woken him up by talking in her sleep. When she didn't answer Harry continued to speak.

"I just received an owl from one of the professors. When we arrive at the school Hermione and Minerva will be waiting for us. Ron and I will take your trunk up to the Gryffindor common room. That's where you'll be staying for the next few days if you don't mind." Marie shook her head to show that she didn't. "Good," Harry continued, "we're all going to spend a few hours getting situated. You know cleaning up, getting some kind of meal, and there might even be sometime for wondering about the castle if you like. Then at about two o'clock there's going to be a special meeting. Some of the school's teachers will be there, and we're going to discuss what should become of you. Any questions you have that they can answer will probably be answered then." As Harry finished talking, Marie could feel confusion rising around her in the form of a headache. She would have gladly sunk into the pain, but she had to stay focused for now, so she reached out her bag and pulled out a bottle of some kind of muggle painkiller. To her own surprise she found herself wishing that she could get her hands on a vial of pain be gone potion, but since she couldn't, she simply put the pills into her mouth and conjured herself a glass of water.

"Hmm." she said with mild shock. "I didn't know I could do that." She looked back at Harry who was now smiling fully at her.

"You have a lot of surprises in store for you Marie, and slowly all of your old powers will return to you." He looked out the window. "Well, I think it's time we woke Ron up. I can see the school from here." Before Harry could say another word Marie leaned down over Ron.

"Oh Ronald," she said stiffening a giggle, "it's time to get up."

"All right, dear." Ron replied smiling. "Wait a minute!" He nearly jumped through the roof of the carriage, but instead just hit his head on the ceiling. "Oh boy, Marie, I'm really sorry. I was dreaming, and I... um… well I…. Um didn't realize I was talking to you." Ron looked as embarrassed as he had ever looked in his life, but apparently both Marie and Harry weren't really worried about what he had said. They were both clutching their stomachs laughing, and to Ron's surprise he found in a few minutes that he was laughing right along with them.

AN: Hmm, wonder who the boy in her dream could have been. Who is Marie's father? Hwy the heck does Voldemort want to destroy her? That all comes later. TTFN. Ta-Ta for now! Make sure you read the accompanying story They Took Her From ME. It has Ron's point of view for a few things as well as what really happened on the night Marie dreamed about.

Roll Call:

Everyone who read it: Yeah! Now please all of you be wonderful people go and read Wolf Child. The lack of response is starting to depress me.

Singer: You all know you love her! She's just so hyper! I'm out of rehearsals! Yeah! It was fun, but my friends were starting to get on my nerves. Oh by the way, if it's English related I do it. Writing, acting, directing…I'm there.