With no threat of mass murderers on their heads the kids really put a hell of a lot of effort into trying to save the hippogriff. Eventually Hermione put together that Percy and I had already done a good bit of research into magical law and mentioned it to everyone. Ron went crawling to Percy once he realized that it would cost a little bit of pride, but save him hours in the library. The brothers spent a lot more time together while they were trying to save Buckbeak, and their relationship benefited greatly from it. The Twins also stopped teasing Percy as much, partly because the snobbish behaviour of before was mostly gone, and partly because they were the slightest bit impressed with how he ended up contradicting the ministry and helping catch Pettigrew. I was having tea with Minerva whenever Hermione came in, quitting divination in a huff. She just had to drop my class and muggle studies and she'd be able to give up her time turner and hold a more normal schedule. But she made no move to do any of that. I made sure to note that she still had a time turner stashed away, that could be useful.

At the end of the year it was spread around that Remus would not be back to teach. Apparently word had got out that he was a Werewolf. I burst into his office once I found out, only to be faced with Harry and Sirius. I paused, mouth still open to speak before snapping it closed.

"Um, should I come back later?"
Remus waved at me from where he was packing,

"It's fine Marissa, I can guess why you're here."

"I bet you can't."

"Many have already been through here."
"I'm willing to bet mass quantities they haven't offered you a position in their coup d'etat."

Sirius collapsed onto the couch in the room laughing, most likely at Remus' stunned expression. Harry was looking at the three of us in confusion and I just raised an eyebrow at the Werewolf.

"Well, come on. I have people in mind for the heads of Departments, but most of that is a long term plan. I already have a Minister-in-training, and honestly, you're perfect for plenty of positions if you'd like them."

He blinked,

"You can't be serious."

I didn't dare miss the opportunity. I put a confused expression in place, pointing to the man struggling to breathe on the couch.

"No, he's Sirius. Are you feeling alright?"
That set Sirius off again, and Harry started looking bemused. Sirius chimed in breathily,

"She means it. She's chosen Percy Weasley for her figurehead."

I scowled,

"He's not a figurehead. He'd be in charge. I'm just putting forth the effort of getting him there."

Remus gave me a half-smile,

"So, not to protest about the...lying to you thing?"
I gave him a strange look.

"You've never lied to me."
He shuffled uncomfortably, but I continued,

"Technically I never asked if you were a werewolf, therefor you never lied to me about it. Besides, I knew the whole time."

That stopped him short,

"You what?"

"I knew."
"Did Albus tell you?"
"Nope. But Hermione Granger figured it out. As did Penelope Clearwater. And Draco Malfoy if you'd believe it. Didn't say a word to his father. I'm proud of him, I think I'm slowly beating into his skull that he isn't his father, therefore he doesn't need to cling to his father's ideas so hard."
He spluttered for a second and I knew he couldn't decide which bit of that babble to address first. So I turned to Harry instead,

"So, congrats on the cup."

He grinned, his entire being lighting up with the force of it.

"Its really thanks to you. If we had lost to Hufflepuff because of those dementors we never would have made it up, Oliver did the math. He wanted to find you and hug you, but the twins told him it wasn't advisable. They wouldn't tell us why."

I snorted,

"Because for some mysterious reason when they attempted it their hair turned a noxious shade of green."

His eyes lit up,

"We thought Lee had finally managed to pull one over on them!"

I shrugged,

"Maybe, there's rules or something about teachers pranking students, so I wouldn't know…"

Sirius rolled back to his feet, clapping his hands together.

"Well, the four of us are going to miss the train if we don't get going!"
Remus shook his head,

"I'm apparating from Hogsmeade, I have a lead to follow about a tutoring position."

I fidgeted a bit,

"I live at Hogwarts."
Harry's curiosity visibly got the best of him.

"We all figured you were going back to America for the summer."

I hesitated before I closed the door all the way, leaning back against it. If I wanted this group to trust me then I needed to be 'honest' and forthcoming with information.

"No. The Ministry won't let me leave the country or contact anyone in America."

Now he looked offended,

"Why!?"
I shrugged,

"They fu-um, screwed up and messed with my head. No memory of magic whatsoever. Fudge suggested they wipe me the rest of the way and abandon me for muggles to find. I'm still keeping that be used as blackmail with the press at some point. I thought I was going to have to use it to keep canine here from ending up back in prison, but instead I get to save it for later."

All three were staring at me now and I wrinkled my nose, glancing at Remus,

"I thought you would have known, didn't the Headmaster tell you something?"
"No, he didn't."

Harry looked thoughtful,

"What if you used someone else's owl to contact your friends or family, surely they could rescue you?"

"Nah, I don't have any left anyway. Besides, I'm not in need of rescue. I could leave if I tried hard enough, but remember? I have plans for this place. Your laws are so twisted and convoluted that they have more holes than swiss cheese."

Harry snorted,

"So your first instinct is to re-do it all?"
I shrugged,

"I have vague memories of doing it before."

"...That's worrying, Professor."

I shrugged,

"Most of my memories are."

"So are you just going to sit here all summer and grade schoolwork?"
He sounded so offended I snorted,

"Noooo, I'm going to plot a little bit too."

"The twins would be disappointed to hear that, they think you're going to do something amazing and dangerous. You seemed exciting to them, I think."
I rolled my eyes,

"I don't travel anymore without my traveling companion."
"The Doctor mentioned that you two traveled, along with someone else that he referred to as 'sexy'."

I sighed,

"Yeah. I miss her."

Sirius and Remus were looking confused, the latter slightly alarmed, so I decided it was my cue to leave. I clapped my hands together,

"Well then, I've offered the place in my plot, so I believe I'm finished here. Harry, don't hesitate to owl me if you have any questions with the homework, or anything like that."

I waved, sliding out the door before anyone could say anything. Marching back to my quarters where I could sink into a chair with a tired sigh.

So much to do, so little time.

There have been concerns about Harry not living with the Dursleys, breaking the protection, and facing Voldemort too soon, hold your horses please ^.^ I do know where I'm going with all of this. Maybe some of the bad shit is supposed to happen to Harry to teach Mara a lesson about fudging with things. Or maybe she has a plan ;)

~TimeLordOfPie