"Come back, Mariana. Your expulsion from Hogwarts has been lifted," said Dumbledore as he laces his hands together, a persuasive look in his glimmering blue eyes. I frown, taking a step away from him as we stood in a place that looked similar to the Hogwarts Library.

"There are things that have yet to happen, things that we need you for. You would be much better off coming back home and attending school again."

"Why?" I sneer. "So you can use me as your cover up?"

Dumbledore's eyes harden, and soon, several spheres of white mist come hurling towards me. My hand reaches for my wand, but it isn't there. Suddenly, I realise that this is simply all in my head.

However, when the spheres reach me, so do the words.

"Mariana Potter, our new... celebrity." Snape's voice from my first potions class bombards me. "I do hope, that you'll have your Mother's keen spirit for learning."

"Books and Cleverness? There are more important things, friendship and bravery and..." Hermione.

"Mariana, Muma loves you. Dada loves you. Be brave, Mari. Be strong."

"Keep your friends close, Mari!" Sirius' choked voice from last year echoes and I scrunch my eyes shut, attempting to defend myself from the voices by covering my ears.

"Leave me alone!" The heartbreak begins to creep back into the void that had steadily began healing with the presence of Theo and the fact that I had found my real father.

I cry out as my hands suddenly find themselves forced towards my sides, my ears vulnerable once again. Dumbledore begins walking towards me, getting closer by the second. I can see the malice hidden beneath his mask.

"Mariana, my dear girl. Surely, you can't trust a Slytherin over your own friends? Over Sirius and Remus? Over the Weasleys? The Nott boy might be your soulmate, but that doesn't mean he won't betray you or break your heart. Everyone has their own agenda, Mari. Slytherins more than anyone."

I grit my teeth as he continues. "And James would be so sad that you're replacing him with that muggle. He might as well died for nothing."

"SHUT UP!" I scream at him, only for Dumbledore to chuckle.

"You'll see sense soon enough, my dear girl. I still need you, as does your family. We'll be in touch again soon, Mariana."

Before I could tell him to get out of my head, he suddenly vanishes and I am left in the darkness of my own heart.

I can't help but sit down and cry.

Truthfully, the old man had won this battle because his words did effect me. I missed the man I used to know as my godfather, I missed my friends. But most of all, I was fearful of what he had said about Theo. I was guilty about hoping I could finally have a family, when my mother and James had died for me.

Why did everything have to be so messed up?

I begin to gasp for air, sitting on the ground and hugging myself until finally, I couldn't breathe nor hear.

Everything grows black as quickly as it becomes bright.


I shoot up from my position, sobbing and strangling for air. I barely noticed that I was in an infirmary, sitting on a bed much like you'd find in the Hospital Wing, except without the magic.

"Get him out," I sob as I feel something rip out from my hand, probably an IV. "Get him out!"

"Kid, I think it's time for you to leave." I hear Tony say, followed by yell of protest.

"Why are you so certain that she is referring to me? You know nothing of our world or our bond! I would never hurt her nor leave her in this state." Theo growls and I practically crawl towards him on the bed, the sheets crumpling as I grip my head.

"Tony, leave the boy alone and get her some water, quickly!" An unfamiliar man orders before coming close to me on an office chair.

"Mariana, you need to breathe. Take deep breaths."

Tony stares at us before leaving the room to follow orders, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears.

An agonizing, heartbreaking scream falls out of my mouth as the lights begin to flicker. Theo looks at me with fear in his own eyes before they harden towards the other man.

"With all respect sir, I'll suggest you let me handle this and get out." He says coldly and the man turns green for a moment before silently nodding and leaving the room, whispering something to Theo on the way out, who shoots him a glare in return.

The door closes with a gentle shut and we are left alone as I continue to gasp for air.

"Mari, you need to calm down. You're going to hurt myself."

"H-how can I hurt myself, when I'm already so broken!?" I choke out and Theo inches closer towards the bed before slowly getting on it himself. He wraps his arms around me and I can feel his hands stroke the top of my hair.

"I know he did something to you whilst you were passed out, I know it's the enchantments and I swear to you, you will be free of them." He promises me and I simply nod, my breaths coming out shaky but better.

"I'm scared. I'm scared what he told me is true."

Theo shushes me. "Whatever he said is a lie. You know this. You're the strongest person I know, you will get through this."

I can't help but sob, clutching at my chest.

"Follow my breathing," he whispers comfortingly as I feel his chest move behind my back as he inhales deeply. I shakily follow his example, exhaling when he does so. We do this several times until I am calm enough that I can breathe again.

"Water," I croak out. "I need water." Theo looks hesitant to leave me, however before he could even take a hand off of me, the door opens again to reveal Tony.

I feel guilt slam into me, but I also know I'm being stupid. Whilst I was forever grateful towards the man who had died towards me, I would feel equally as bad to turn away the one thing I wanted more than anything. A family who actually care about my well-being.

Tony stops in front of the bed and gently holds the glass out towards me. I could practically feel Theodore's eyes burn into Tony's body behind me but the man didn't seem to care. He only stared at me with concern.

I slowly retrieve the water from his grasp and practically down the whole thing. All that crying did nothing to help how I was physically feeling.

I still felt awful, even more so knowing that Dumbledore could get into my head and probably has this whole time.

"Mari, slow down. I don't need you choking again," Theo scolds lightly but I ignored him. I needed more.

"Should I bring Doctor Banner back in? Then we can figure out what happened." Tony asks and I nod, even though Theo and I already know a majority as to why.

Tony sighs, perhaps in relief, as he goes to retrieve this so-called doctor. I lean back into Theo and he wraps his arms around my stomach, placing his chin onto my head. I felt my cheeks warm at the gesture.

Even though we were soulmates, I hardly knew the Slytherin... and yet, he acted as if he would burn the whole world for me. It was... sweet.

"I see you're feeling better now, Mariana." Said the stranger who had left earlier, Doctor Banner. "Do you mind if I reveal a couple of things to you, before you go on explaining what had happened?"

I swallow, wishing for another drink of water as I nod in response. I absentmindedly take note as Theo retrieves the glass from me and holds it out to Tony, sending him a look. He quickly disappears with the glass, leaving the pair of us alone with the doctor.

"Well, for starters, you're extremely dehydrated. Your multivitamin count doesn't look good either..." Doctor Banner trails off as he observes me. He opens his mouth to say something else, but I beat him to it.

"Before you go there, I eat as much as I'm allowed when I'm at home, so you could say the result of my weight and height isn't entirely my fault." I could feel Theo squeeze me tightly although, whether in attempt to comfort me or anger towards my muggle relatives, I wasn't sure.

I decided not to dwell on it and instead cuddled closer towards him, it was nice... to feel protected.

Doctor Banner sighs as Tony returns.

"I see... well, I'll be keeping an eye on it all for you and you'll be given supplements to help you gain back what you've lost, as well as a water tracking chart. I expect you to consume at least eight glasses a day, which I'm sure won't be a problem for you..." Banner trails off, seeing as I had practically snatched the water from Tony this time but drank it slightly slower than last time to avoid being scolded again.

"If you're done working out the usual problems, what the heck happened whilst I was word battling Capsicle?"

"I fainted," I deadpanned and Tony rolls his eyes, turning to Theo for a more suitable answer this time.

"It's complicated," he said.

"Both awful answers, try again."

I sigh.

"It's a... very long story. Perhaps we could go somewhere a bit comfier? I hate health settings to be truthful... no offence, Doctor."

"None taken." Doctor Banner chuckles.

Tony nods, "we can go to one of the meeting rooms, just the four of us as Brucey here no doubt would like to know as well. He is our sole doctor here and has a fascination with all things different." I scrunch my face up at my father's poor wording but nod none the less. His eyes lit up in response as he cheers, "Great. Kid, you mind helping her?"

Theo doesn't answer him, instead pulling away from me and getting off of the bed, offering a hand to me. I briefly hear Tony ask 'Brucey' if we have any wheelchairs as I slowly make my way out of bed and wobble towards Theo. He holds his hands out to steady me and soon we are attached at the hip again whilst Bruce runs over to another closed door in the deathly pale room. He opens it to reveal an airing cupboard and pulls a wheelchair from it.

Soon enough, I'm being escorted towards the room we agreed on and oh boy, did we have a lot to explain...


A/N: I did say the next chapter would be up soon ;) I hope you guys are enjoying the crossover and the relationship between our two wizarding kids so far. Until next time! - Seraphic :)