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Chapter 17: Secrets Lead to Danger

The day was bright and sunny and though Mandy could feel the bite of the wind through her robes, it wasn't as bad as it could be. James headed for the locker rooms as Mandy headed for the stands. There she was watching the empty pitch as it began to fill up for the Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw game. Mandy suddenly felt two people sit down on either side of her. "Hey Remus, Lily," Mandy said.

"Morning," they both answered. Peter sat down on the other side of Remus then Parker, Shelly and Tiff sat down on the far side of Lily. Mandy felt someone behind her and hands on her shoulders. Knowing her boyfriend was in the locker room; Mandy jumped a bit then looked back. She relaxed as she saw her brother dressed in maroon robes. Gryffindor through and through.

"Hey," Mandy said.

"How you feeling?" Jason asked.

"I'm ok. Nervous, haven't been to a game since the last one I played in."

"It'll be ok. I know it feels weird but you'll be ok," Jason said.

"Thanks Jay," Mandy said.

As Mandy looked back over the field and stands to see who had turned out, Jason's eyes focused on Tiff and he smiled. She blushed and looked away. Then Jason noticed Lily looking at him. He pressed a finger to his lips and Lily nodded. She was happy for her friend Tiff but worried that Mandy wouldn't see it the same way. For now the secret would stay between them.

The commentator's voice blasted across the field and drew everyone's attention to the teams entering the field. Soon, brooms were up along with the bludgers, snitch and the quaffle. Mandy watched as the game progressed at a very rapid speed. Mandy was shocked at how different watching a game from the bleachers was. It almost left a wanting feeling in her stomach. Part of her really wanted to be out there, but placing a hand over her hidden stomach she smiled. Though she did miss playing, not playing was definitely sitting well with her.

Nearly halfway through the game, as Mandy was tracking the snitch, a shimmering blue spell popped up in front of her and suddenly Sirius was there. He whacked hard at the bludger she suddenly saw careening towards her, sending it in the direction of the Ravenclaw keeper as James headed that way with the quaffle. Sirius shot her a smile then chased the other bludger. Mandy's breath had quickened when the bludger came flying in her direction. Slowly, her breathing evened out as her brother rubbed her back. The shield dropped and Lily stowed her wand back in her pocket. She must have cast the shield spell to protect Mandy from the bludger.

"Thanks," Mandy breathed. The rest of the game blazed past and Mandy didn't come that close to the game again. When Timmy caught the snitch nearly two hours into the game, the Gryffindor section cheered. The game ended 250 to 100. Mandy was super proud of her friend for how well he did in her spot and she could tell James was really happy about it too. In fact, the man couldn't stop smiling.

In the following days, the entire Quidditch team, as well as some of their biggest supporters, were still walking on air. In those few days after the game and before the Hogsmeade visit, Mandy's happy spirit from the game influenced her attitude towards others. Sure she was typically nice to younger students in her own house, in those few days she did her best to help out all the younger students she came across. Even though typically Mandy kept far away from Slytherins, in those days she didn't go out of her way to avoid them. She was also nice to Regulus. He was a bit wary of her kindness but didn't do anything to stop her from being nice to him.

"Hey Hunter!" Regulus called, hurrying down the steps to the Entrance Hall. Her kindness to him left him feeling a bit like he owed her and then there was the growing familial connection. Even though Regulus knew there was a very slim chance that Sirius would ever accept him as a brother, or that he would ever meet the kid, Regulus still felt a bit of loyalty to the child and its mother by extension. That's why it was important Regulus caught Mandy before she left the castle for Hogsmeade that day. Something he had overheard in his Common Room made him worry. Normally he would have kept his mouth shut good about it, letting what may come come, but this time he really had to warn her.

The four Marauders, Mandy, and Lily stopped just before reaching the castle doors. All six turned to face the youngest Black and none of them looked happy to see him. Even Mandy, who had been nice to him when she had seen him in the halls, looked a bit angry, or at the very least irritated, by his presence. "What do you want, Black?" Mandy snapped. Regulus didn't know it, but this was all a show. Mandy had been nice to him all week but what he hadn't realized was that her kindness to him didn't extend to when she was in front of James and Sirius. Though she couldn't care less what they thought for the most part right now, she was entirely too tired to fight them.

"Can I have a word?" Regulus asked.

"Piss off," Sirius answered.

"Hunter, please."

Mandy looked at the Marauders but saw that only Sirius looked angry. Peter looked suspicious, Remus looked interested as though he knew Regulus wanted something important, and James looked like he didn't trust Regulus, but he was partly curious as to what the boy wanted.

"Okay," Mandy sighed. She walked with Regulus until she was out of the Marauders' and Lily's hearing range. "What is it?"

"I don't know how to say this," Regulus started.

"Remember they can't hear you but they can still see you."

"I overheard something in my Common Room but I didn't hear everything."

"What is it?" Mandy asked gently.

Regulus took a deep breath then reminded himself about the baby. "I don't think that you should go to Hogsmeade today," Regulus said nervously.

"Because you say so?" Mandy asked. "They aren't going to like that. Why shouldn't I go?"

"Like I said I heard something. Something about 'it happening in Hogsmeade'. I don't what "it" is but I know enough not to be anywhere near whatever's going to happen."

"Reg, this trip—"

"Hunter, I'm not all that concerned about your safety. Whatever comes your way you can take, but the you-know-what deserves protecting."

"I can't."

"Look, if you have to go, promise me you'll stick close to my brother," Regulus pleaded.

"You're certain something's going to happen?" Mandy asked worriedly.

"All I know is that when you're in Hogsmeade, you're less protected and your choice of friends does put you in more danger."

"I'll be careful, I promise." Mandy smiled then walked back to her friends. They walked to Hogsmeade and Mandy was glad they didn't ask about the conversation. As they walked around exploring the shops, it finally got to her. "I can't believe you're not even going to ask about what he wanted."

"Of course we want to know what he wanted," Sirius said loudly.

"Keep your voice down," James hissed.

Sirius took a deep breath and Mandy waited. "But," Sirius continued his previous sentence, much softer this time, "sometimes pushing you is a bad idea. If you're going to talk about it you will; if you don't want to, you won't no matter what I ask."

"You can be pretty persuasive when you want to be," Mandy argued.

"I suppose," Sirius agreed halfheartedly.

"But we all respect you too much to push you. You'd probably tell us it's none of our business and get mad at us. We don't want you getting angry and storming off. It's a bad idea," Remus answered.

"Why?" Mandy asked.

James leaned towards her and whispered in her ear, "Because you can't protect yourself."

Mandy pulled back angrily and turned to leave but Sirius grabbed her arm. "Whatever he just said to you, forget about it. We don't want you getting angry because today's about having fun. We don't get another visit until May," Sirius said gently trying to calm her down. Though he hoped it was her pregnancy hormones, he knew deep down James had offended her.

"Mandy," Lily said softly. The brunette was shocked to find she had forgotten the redhead was present. "Please don't go."

Mandy looked at her best girlfriend then closed her eyes and reigned in her temper and jumping thoughts. Lily may not have said everything she was thinking but having spent six and a half years as Lily's roommate and friend, Mandy could read the other girl well and she had a point. James was an idiot at times and he still said the wrong things, but he always meant well.

"Come on, we'll head back down to Zonkos, that always cheers you up," Lily said.

"But we were just there this morning," Peter complained.

"Why don't we go to Honeydukes? It has the same effect," Remus suggested.

Suddenly Sirius stood up like his alter ego on high alert. It reminded her of the times when Padfoot would hear a far off noise when they were exploring the grounds on full moon nights. His ears were perk up, his back would straighten out, and he'd raise his dog form to full height. "Actually Zonkos is a better idea," Sirius said worriedly, looking in the direction of Honeydukes. He definitely saw something. What he saw though, Mandy had no idea.

James looked at him then in the direction he was looking. "Sirius has a point," James said strictly. He looked at Lily and Mandy. Both girls looked in the direction of Honeydukes but didn't see what the boys apparently had. "Girls, Peter, head back towards Zonkos, take the passageway back to the castle," James handed over the map. "Take any student you find with you."

Mandy and Lily looked at him confused. He definitely knew something he wasn't saying. James pulled Lily aside as Sirius hugged Mandy. "I love you," Sirius whispered in Mandy's ear. "No matter what happens, I love you."

"What's going on?" Mandy asked. Suddenly her stomach fluttered against Sirius's.

"Just know I love you," Sirius answered. He kissed her then touched her stomach. "I love you both."

Mandy pulled away and smiled the best she could. "You'll be ok?"

"I'll be fine." Sirius said. James and Lily came back over and he nodded.

"Go, we'll be right behind you," James told them. The sense of urgency in his tone and the protectiveness in his eyes told Mandy everything.

Something big was going on. Something involving whatever Regulus had been worried about that morning. Something that involved Slytherins and possibly Death Eaters. They were reports of these Death Eaters in the Prophet from time to time but the paper made them out to be no big deal. Mandy knew better. She knew these Death Eaters were Voldemort's followers and they had to be treated with extreme suspicion and extreme care.

Lily, Mandy, and Peter fled in the direction of Zonkos. Not far from where they left the boys, Mandy stopped Lily and told Peter to go on. "Go open the passage; we'll be right behind you. I promise," Mandy said.

"Remus said—" Peter started

"Go, I promise," Mandy said. Lily nodded. Peter rushed off and Mandy turned to Lily. "What's going on?" Mandy said narrowing her eyes at Lily.

"There are Death Eaters in Hogsmeade."

"Lily!" Mandy nearly shouted.

"They can handle it. We have to get everyone out of here," Lily said. "The boys can handle it, it's more important that we protect everyone else. And you."

Suddenly it hit Mandy. She was pregnant and as much as she wanted to help the boys, she knew she had to protect the baby. This had to be what Regulus had been talking about that morning.

"What passageway are you talking about?" Lily asked. "This way can't lead back to the castle."

"There are a few secret passageways out of the castle. There is one that leads from behind Zonkos back to the castle. It's one of three in Hogsmeade," Mandy said. "Come on."

Mandy and Lily followed Peter's path gathering everyone who would follow them which included nearly two thirds of the students that had been in Hogsmeade that day. Mandy lead them through the passage and once out on the other end on the sixth floor Mandy pulled out the map as Lily ordered all students to return to their common rooms. She searched the map as Peter stood nervously to her left as Lily stood to her right. Mandy saw their three dots and then saw the nearest authority figure was Filch who was one floor down but she couldn't tell him anything. It wouldn't help. So she scoured the map finding that her brother was in his office on the second floor, McGonagall in hers on the first floor, Flitwick on the seventh floor, and Dumbledore in his office. Mandy looked at Lily who was staring in shock at the map.

"Dumbledore or Flitwick?" Mandy asked.

"What?" Lily asked, not looking away from the map.

"Lily, Dumbledore or Flitwick?" Mandy snapped.

"Dumbledore," Lily answered finally looking away from the map. "Is that a—"

"Ask me when we're not being threatened by Death Eaters," Mandy snapped. "Peter, go back to the Common Room and make sure everyone stays there. We're going to Dumbledore."

Peter nodded and headed off for the Common Room as Lily and Mandy raced for Dumbledore's office one floor up. They rushed up the stairs and Lily explained everything. Dumbledore's face clouded over and Mandy felt, for the first time, afraid of him. She could see the formidable wizard she had heard about previously.

"Return to your Common Room, Miss Hunter, Miss Evans do not speak of this to anyone," Dumbledore said. Mandy and Lily nodded and they left the office just as a silver cloud burst from Dumbledore's wand then soared out the window.

Mandy and Lily shared a look as they walked back to the Common Room but neither said anything about what Dumbledore had done. "So, was that really a map of Hogwarts?" Lily finally asked.

"Yes. Don't tell James I showed that to you. I wasn't supposed to. It's kind of a Marauders' secret. It shows everyone that is in the castle and on the grounds. Everyone, everywhere, what they're doing every day. And the map never lies. One of my more brilliant ideas. We wanted to be sure that the map wouldn't tell us someone who was in the castle but wasn't actually. Like if someone was using Polyjuice Potion or other means to disguise themselves. Please don't tell James."

"I won't, but that is kinda cool. Wait, did he use that to—" Lily started.

Knowing exactly where her mind was going Mandy cut her friend off. "It doesn't show the person's physical form but rather a dot with their name. It even shows animals like Filch's cat and Hagrid's dog and stuff like that." Mandy explained.

"That's how he always seemed to know where I was? That's stalker-ish," Lily complained.

"A little but we never meant to invade anyone's privacy. We just mainly use it to make sure there are no teachers around when we pull pranks." Lily nodded and Mandy smiled. The girls walked in silence back to the Common Room. Mandy knew Lily was thinking about everything that was going on but Mandy was deeply worried.

She may not have been able to say she loved Sirius but she was worried about him. Sirius was a competent dueler and could handle himself especially when it came to Death Eaters, but he was still just a student. As she sat in her big comfy chair in the Common Room her heart beat slightly faster than normal worrying about all three of the boys. She wondered if it was always going to be like this after Hogwarts. Her sitting and waiting for news as the boys fought evil and did their best to keep the world safe.

Then again Lily pacing in front of the fireplace didn't really help. Mandy looked around and saw Parker, Talon, and Peter studying nearby. The more people she saw the less she worried about an innocent kid getting caught in the crossfire. Then she noticed which one of her housemates was missing. "Parker!" Mandy called. The blonde looked at her boyfriend then stood and walked to Mandy.

"You called?" Parker asked.

"Tiffany, where is she?" Mandy asked.

"She said something about getting tutoring from Jason today. I think she's in his office," Parker answered. At least that cleared that up.

"What about Shelly?" Mandy asked. It had struck her that Shelly wasn't in the Common Room. She hoped the older girl was just upstairs in the dorm.

"We didn't pass her on the way back. Come to think of it I haven't seen her since right after lunch. She was heading for Honeydukes," Lily said.

"Wait, you don't think ..." Mandy trailed off.

"She's going to be fine. She's just as competent as the boys are," Lily reassured her friend.

"Competent? What's going on?" Parker asked.

Lily and Mandy looked at each other wondering what to tell the blonde.

Will they tell Parker what's going on? Will anything happen to the Marauders? Will everyone make it out okay? Tune in to find out. On an unrelated note, if you're reviewing as a guest please leave some kind of name. At the top of the reviewing box it offers a spot to leave a name so just type something in the box. Thanks.