(Disclaimer: I own or claim none of J.K. Rowling's work or characters, the only character that I claim is Marie.)
Wishes
Chapter14
There were many things that Marie had anticipated and prepared for when she was flung back to the nineties. However the chaos that she was greeted with when they arrived at Hogwarts was nothing she had thought that she would ever see. Wands were drawn and there was a stand-off. Marie was appalled to see that it was essentially an 'us versus them' mentality that pitted the vast majority of the school against the Slytherins present.
When she stepped into the Great Hall to find Gideon and Fabian standing protectively in front of Rabastan she wasn't sure what to do. Another group held a bloodied Severus Snape at wand point. Lucius Malfoy was facing off against the Weasleys. It was absolute bedlam Marie concluded.
Marie stalked forward livid. With a flick over her wrist the whole hall was immobilized, disarmed, and silenced. Sparks danced along her skin in her fury. She stalked forward and went first to Severus to heal him. Releasing her hold on the man she healed what she could on her own.
"You and I are going to have to have a serious chat Severus," she told the man mildly.
He sneered at her, but dropped the look from his face when she smacked him on his shoulder. "Of course Marie," he murmured tiredly.
She could see the pain in his eyes. Looking around the room she saw the furious looks in the eyes of the people there. Glancing over her shoulder at Harry he had a look of betrayal on his face.
"You're going to have to trust me on this Harry," she told him softly. "Not everything is what it appears to be. You need to hear him out. I know the truth of what happened, the Castle showed me. There is far more to the story than what you saw up in that tower that night."
Turning back to the fatigued Potions Master she checked him over for other wounds. "Are you well enough to sit on your own?" she asked.
"Aye," he replied softly.
Marie helped him to a seat and let Rabastan and the Prewetts from the spell. She turned to face the teenager and his friends that were confronting them. Peering at the boy she recognized Frank and Alice in the boy's face. Sadly she shook her head at him.
"I know that you're angry and you want revenge," she told him. "This is not the answer. You don't know the whole story or the truth. The Rabastan you see before you has been in a magical sleep under the watchful eye of my elves for fifteen years. The one that attacked your family is a doppelganger or an imposter that his brother created to protect himself and his brother. The man before you is innocent of the crimes against your family. I promise you that I will do all I can to help your parents, but this is not the way."
One by one Marie freed the members of the Gray Coven and her allies. She freed the Slytherins first and had them go to the far side of the hall where their table was. She and the Coven stood between them and the rest of the residents of the Castle. With a reluctant sigh she released the others and drowned out the indignant cries and shouts. Their voices raised and their anger built.
Marie just faced them with a stony expression and stared them down. Arthur took a step forward, to which Marie took a step towards him, drawing his attention back to her. The look she was giving him made him pause and fall quiet. She felt Harry trembling beside her and knew that he was conflicted.
"You all want answers and you shall have them," Marie's voice carried over the others silencing the Hall. "Not everything is what it seems. You should know this by now having already seen my past."
Looking at the balding man in front of her she gave him a look of contempt. "Tell me Mr. Weasley, as a Department Head in the Ministry and someone privy to the truth of things, surely you know about a certain drop box," she said causing the man to nod slowly in response. "Good so given that you knew about it. Is it so far fetched that someone from the inside, say Lucius, got his hands on a certain Dark magical object and needed to get it to those to take care of it. An enchanted Muggle object that was tainted, so who better to try to get it to than the Department Head of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts? Following my train of thought?"
Arthur looked conflicted, but reluctantly nodded his head. He looked at the man who he had been at odds with for over twenty years. Lucius Malfoy had made his life Hell. He mocked him at every turn and never let him forget about the foolish mistake he and Molly had made all those years ago.
"Then tell me Arthur, why you as a Department Head didn't get the information regarding said artifact," Marie demanded.
"Marie," he said slowly, "There hasn't been information passed along since Blishwick was voted out of office. None of us have received information. If I had known about the Diary I would've done something."
"No information passed," she whispered hoarsely in horrified realization. "None of you have gotten the information that they've been passing along for decades? None of you thought to check?"
Marie's legs gave out and she sank to her knees. All of the careful planning all seemed to be a waste. The risk her friends had been taking and it was all for naught it would seem. The Ministry idiots had bungled this up beyond anything Marie knew how to fix. Her breaths were coming in labored gasps as she fought the hysterical breakdown that was bubbling within.
"How many lives are you Ministry idiots responsible for?" she asked hoarsely. "How many attacks could have been prevented? How many innocent people could have been saved?"
Marie's body trembled as the tears began pouring down her face. It was all too much. Marcus knelt next to her as did the rest of the Coven. They could feel her pain through the bonds that were forming. Her grief was so stark and sharp that it caught in their throat.
"We have been passing information in the drop box for decades," Lucius whispered harshly. "You fools have done nothing with the information given. We have been risking our lives all this time and for what?"
Marie shakily climbed to her feet and sneered coldly at the people in front of her. "I ought to take those that are mine and leave the mindless masses to their own devices. Everything that was planned for and laid out was wasted on you fools," she stated coldly. "Your precious so called Leader of the Light forced Severus to take an Unbreakable Vow to kill him. He was already dying from a poison he encountered last summer. That is the truth of what happened. Lucius has worked on the inside for over twenty years. He tried to pass off the Diary that caused the incident in ninety two to the right people. Tell me Arthur, how is it your daughter didn't know better?"
The man looked away in shame. Ginny knew not to interact with enchanted or cursed objects. She should have given it over to her parents right away. He was beginning to feel shame and guilt on a level he'd never experienced before. How many more people? How many other objects? What information had they all missed or ignored?
The stunned silence of the Hall was deafening. Marie still stood before the Slytherins, shielding them from the rest of the Hall. Many of them watched the girl curiously. No one ever stood up for them, certainly someone that wasn't one of their own.
"Everyone knows that Slytherins are evil," spouted off a certain hot headed red head. "They're a bunch of slimy gits and Death Eaters. Harry, mate, how can you stand to be near them?"
Marie snorted in disgust. "Some things never change I see," she said coldly. "How can you all be so small minded? You really don't see that you're judging one House because of the extreme views of a few of its former members. You leave them no choice, but to stick together!"
"How can you even defend them?" shouted Ron. "You're no better than they are. This is all a load of crock and an evil plot to get us to trust them."
Marie rolled her eyes. "You're an ignorant idiot," she said in exasperation. "Really? That's the best conspiracy theory you can come up with? You label eleven year old children as Dark or Evil because of traits and characteristics they show as children. Can't you see how ridiculous that is? All for the color of their freaking tie?"
There was speculative murmuring in the masses now. Marie knew that they weren't really bad or stupid for that matter. They just didn't often take the time to think for themselves and really take a look at things. Looking around the let them stew on that thought for a few moments before continuing.
"You, little boy," Marie said in disdain, "Are nothing more than an ignorant bigot. By your logic Slytherins are Evil, Ravenclaws are stuck up book worms, Gryffindors are the bravest and best, and Hufflepuffs are the left overs. Again, it's all a completely ridiculous deduction. We all have characteristics from each of the Houses. Certain traits and characteristics change over time. I could have been sorted into any of the Houses and the only reason I wasn't put into Slytherin myself was that it wouldn't be safe for me due to the politics."
"See, you admit it," Ron went on. "You're a snake in disguise!"
Marie looked at him and shook her head. "You're an idiot," she said flatly. "How your parents can produce at least five intelligent progeny and then end up with you and your sister, is beyond me. I know that they had to have taught you something of right and wrong."
Hermione and Harry stepped up to stand next to Marie. The two Gryffindors stood with the slightly older young woman and faced their House mates. While they certainly didn't agree with some of the things that had happened in the past, it didn't mean that they would stand for someone calling people evil because of their House affiliations.
"Mate you need to sort out your priorities," Ron said to Harry. "Where's your House loyalty?"
"My House loyalty? You dare ask me about my loyalty?" Harry said coldly. "Need I remind you and the rest of the school of how loyal they were to me during the Tournament? Or perhaps when the Chamber of Secrets was opened and I had to face a Basilisk alone to save the school and your sister? Or the numerous times that the House turned against me over points lost? Don't speak to me of loyalty. You clearly don't know the meaning of the word. Otherwise you wouldn't have said half of the things you did the other day in the infirmary. You are no friend of mine. Go back to your table."
"I had to beg the hat to put me in Gryffindor," Hermione admitted. "It said I could really go anywhere but really wanted to put me in Ravenclaw or Slytherin. I couldn't be sorted into the later for obvious reasons."
Harry glared at his former friend and smirked. "The hat wanted to put me in Slytherin," he said causing many gasps to ring out around the Hall. "It was the opinion of others and the fact that I didn't want to be in the same House as the man responsible for my parents' deaths that I begged the hat to put me anywhere else."
"Harry," Ron whispered in horror. "Mate I don't even know you anymore. Do you hear yourself?"
Hermione looked at him in disbelief. She and Harry shared a glance and nodded subtly. Their friendship with Ron was officially done and over. The two looked back at Marie and found her smiling encouragingly at the pair. Looking over their shoulders they noticed that there were quite a few Slytherins hiding their amusement that the Gryffindor poster students would have and could have been in their house.
Marcus grinned down at the little witch beside him with his amusement clearly visible in his eyes. Beside him Adrian snorted and winked at the three of them. Draco, once he got past his disbelief tried to smother his amusement, but ended up laughing. It was infectious and soon most of the Slytherins were laughing at the irony of it all.
Ron stormed off towards the Gryffindor table muttering to himself. The rest of Gryffindor looked a bit confused and somewhat betrayed. Fred and George broke off from the rest and walked over to Marie and the others.
"Well you see," one began.
"The hat," the other broke in.
"Would have put us," the first one stated.
"In Slytherin as well," the conversation bounce back.
"But we had to uphold family tradition and begged for Gryffindor," they said in stereo.
Older brothers Bill and Charlie joined the group and admitted that they had been considered for other Houses as well. Soon across the Hall people were admitting that they could have been in other Houses. There were those that were hold outs and held onto their grudges, but the vast majority was starting to rethink things a bit.
Marie turned towards Professor McGonagall who looked like she had swallowed a lemon. The poor woman realized that some of her star students and favorites would have been in other Houses, more specifically Slytherin. It was a rather eye opening experience for the professors that were present.
"If it's alright with you Professor, I think I'll be taking a set of those rooms if they're available down in the dungeons," Marie said to the older witch.
"If you're sure Marie," McGonagall said. "You're always welcome to rooms closer to the Gryffindor Common room if you'd be more comfortable there."
Marie snorted and then grinned. "Thank you for the offer, but I think with the current political climes I'll take my chances with the Snake Pitt," she stated with a teasing quality to her voice.
"Kitten, you're more than welcome in the Snake Pitt," Regulus said with a smirk.
"Uncle did say you should have been in his House," Sirius said speculatively. "I suppose a change of scenery wouldn't be so bad, so long as Harry is able to stay with us."
"I'm not so sure," Harry paused looking at Marie and then Hermione. "I'll stay with you Sirius as long as Hermione can as well."
"Pup that's not my choice," Sirius stated a bit awkwardly.
"Maybe not yours, but it is ours," a deep timbered voice joined the conversation.
"Dad!" Hermione cried before launching herself at the bigger man.
The taller man embraced his daughter and carefully regarded the group that she was standing with. Dan Granger had been part of Her Majesty's Special Forces and knew a soldier when he saw one. The petite young woman standing near his daughter and her best friend clearly had seen and done things. She had that same haunted look in her eyes that many of his buddies had.
"You'd be Lady Stone?" he asked Marie respectfully.
Marie nodded and smiled at the man. "Please, call me Marie," she said. "We're glad that you could make it Mr. Granger."
"It's a relief that your lot seem to be getting their butts in gear for the most part," he said while looking coldly towards the gangly red headed teen. "I've spoken with your teams about what we can do to set up additional perimeters and defenses here and at any other strongholds that you've got."
Marie nodded at him tiredly. "There's a group of us trying the best we can," she told him. "There are only so many of us, so any help that we can get from the non-magical family members of those here would be most welcome."
"Who trained you?" he asked startling her.
"I'm not sure I understand the question sir," Marie said cautiously.
Brett and Miles stepped forward to Marie's side and Dan paused. He looked from Marie to the two men and grinned. The three men shared a look and began chuckling.
"Well I'll be damned," Dan said with a laugh. "This will be much easier than I thought if you've been trained by these two hooligans. I thought you boys were on special assignment overseas."
"Dan," Miles greeted with a smile. "We are on special assignment. This is where we've been off and on over the years. If you thought we were under deep in some of our escapades, this will blow your mind."
Marie looked back and forth between the group of men. "I'm guessing that you know each other?" she asked the obvious question. "Well then, I think that they three of you can talk shop and figure things out then."
"Not so fast girlie," Dan said with a devious smile. "I've heard nothing but good things from these two about their little protégé. If there's time I'd like to see what you've got."
Marie flushed and glanced around out of the corner of her eye. "Where would we spar?" she asked Brett and Miles, drawing the curious attention of the others nearby.
"Let's put on a show for the Commoners love," Brett said with a grin. "Might as well show these poncy boys what they're up against."
Marie laughed, "You're on boyo. Just don't come crying to me when you get your arse handed to you."
"Marie," Marcus said gaining her attention. "Remember what the Healers said. You've still got a few days before you're cleared. Your ribs are still a mess."
"Right," she said with a shrug, "so we plan a bit of sparring for three, maybe four days from now. That'll give us time to set up additional defenses, start training the masses, and to set up evacuation plans should things go badly."
Looking around she called over a few others from her tactical teams and Micah. Brett and Miles turned more fully to give her their attention. Professor McGonagall came over with some of the other professors as well and gave her input. It was becoming clear to the people in the hall just who was really behind a lot of the decisions that had been made recently. Dan Granger listened to her and came to the conclusion that this little slip of a woman was running the show.
"Over the course of the next week we need to get everyone settled here or at the Gaol. We also need to plan for more people seeking either location for sanctuary or assistance," she told them all. "For now I'll be going back and forth between the two locations. I need a team put together to go over the intel starting the day I left going all the way up until now. From that list we can see how much was missed and form a plan. We'll need a group training people every day. If they want to stay here that's fine, put them to work. We'll need another group starting to cultivate what we can of the surrounding land and area. With this many people we're going to need more supplies. We'll have to try to make this place as self-sufficient as possible."
"Bloody Hell" someone murmured listening to the group.
"Micah, love, I'll need you to put word out to the packs," Marie told him. "Let them know that trouble's coming and if they need refuge they can go to any of the properties I set aside. Have them spread the word to the other sentient beings."
"Mate," Adrian said in a staged whisper, "your bird is the bossy sort."
Marie, having heard this, turned around and looked at him. "Do I look like I've got feathers to you?" she asked snootily. "I didn't think so. As for belonging to someone, I don't see a ring or bonding mark anywhere do you? I'm very much my own person thank you very much."
"Don't belong," Adrian tried to get the words out while laughing.
Marcus scowled a bit at Marie, looking much more like the boy many in the Great Hall remembered. "Love if you want a ring we'll get one," he said. "You just have to tell me how you want this to go."
Marie looked at him wide eyed. "Slow down there boyo," she said a bit breathlessly. "There won't be talk of rings or anything permanent for a while. We hardly know each other at this point."
Taking a step closer he looked down at her, "But there will be a ring?" he asked.
Marie looked up at him and felt their magic swirl out around them dancing along each other's skin. She swallowed thickly and regarded the one that magic deemed her match. Oh yes, there would eventually be rings and bonding marks, but now was not the time for distractions. Schooling her features, she quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Perhaps someday I'll have rings or bonding marks, but we're in the middle of a war and I don't have time to worry about my personal life at the moment," she told him quietly.
Glancing around the room, Marie searched for more familiar faces. Remus was missing as were a few others that she had been relatively close to before she left. Sighing she nodded to everyone in her group to head down to the rooms set aside in the dungeons. All of the unused and available spaces had been converted to housing for the masses streaming into Hogwarts daily.
Turning she led the group out of the doors of the Great Hall. Hermione's family and many of the other Muggleborn families followed. Marie called out for Noddy to show people their accommodations for their stay. It was quickly becoming clear to Marie that she would have to limit her time at Hogwarts and make sure that she and the necessary people stayed at Dorcha Gaol to free up the rooms.
Regulus led Marie and the other Gryffindors to the Slytherin Common Room once the Muggles and Muggleborns were settled. Harry and Hermione shared a smirk that wasn't missed by the others, but they held their questions until they were safely behind the walls of Slytherin.
"Welcome back to the Snake Pit, love," Regulus said with a wink.
"Back?" Marcus asked with his brow furrowed.
"They brought me down here a few times back when we were in school," she replied. "Though I want to know how Harry and Hermione know where the Slytherin Common Room is."
Draco and the other Slytherins that were their classmates turned to face the Gryffindors with their eyebrows nearly in their hairlines. Hermione flushed and looked down, mumbling under her breath, causing Harry to laugh. He turned to the group with his eyes sparkling with mischief and simply said "polyjuice."
"Wait," Draco said. "You mean to tell me there were Gryffindors in our Common Room and we didn't know?"
Harry nodded and winked at Hermione. "Yes, in second year," he stated.
"Bloody Hell!" Adrian Pucey said while chuckling. "It sounds like a story you've got to let us all in on."
Marcus snorted and looked at the younger teens. Glancing back at Marie he noticed how fatigued and sad she looked as she glanced around the crowded Common Room. Something was bothering her but he wasn't sure how to ask her. Other members of the Coven picked up on the change in her demeanor and watch her carefully. There was a haunted look in her eyes as she was led to one of the couches near the fireplace.
The Slytherins past and present sat and watched the petite little witch that stood up for them. Though the vast majority didn't want to follow the Dark Lord there were still some that believed that Purebloods were better, however they wisely kept quiet. The current tension settling over the castle had them all sticking together, much as they had when school was in session. That some of their more prominent Alumni were protective of this young woman, regardless of her blood, had them watching and waiting.
Marie's thoughts strayed to her family. The ache that she had been trying to suppress and stamp down had swelled enough that she let herself feel it for the first time in years. It had only been days ago, just days, that her entire world and existence had been turned upside down. Tears gathered in her eyes and spilled over down her pale cheeks as she silently cried. She was lost in her thoughts, in her memories of the screams and terror that had started it all. She shivered against the fear the coursed up her spine and shook her head attempting to push away her thoughts.
Warm calloused hands brushed the tears from her cheeks and turned her face towards the man they belonged to. Marcus was crouched in front of her looking at her with such concern that she nearly lost control of her grief. It was a silent battle that she struggled to compose herself and looked towards her friends emotionally.
"What of my family?" she asked hoarsely. "There were none left alive?"
"The teams were delayed by the U.S. government and we were told that they didn't get there in time," Brett answered her quietly.
Brett and Miles shared a look before they called a few of their team members to give them orders. The three men were joined by one of Micah's pack members to journey to the states to check on her family. After the initial report, the team that had been sent hadn't reported back yet in a few days. Remus had been part of that team and it was concerning for those that knew him that he hadn't been back yet, even though they had sent word to him of Marie's return.
Marie nodded in thanks that they would send someone to check on things immediately. Before they left she asked for them to wait and bring a missive to Gringott's for her and to wait for their reply. Conjuring a pen and paper she quickly wrote a note to her financial advisor and account manager seeking his aid in settling the estates of her family and friends that had died in the attack at her family reunion. She signed the note and sealed it with her magic so only the intended reader could open and reply to it.
Once she was finished she passed the note off to one of the men and noticed the smirks of her friends and shocked looks of those that didn't know her. It was clear to them that they weren't used to seeing a young woman run things. She was especially puzzling to the Slytherins, who were quickly coming to respect her. Her Blood may be unacceptable to some of their families and the fact that she was a female running things grated against those with my patriarchal views. However, they could clearly see that she was the power behind much of what was happening.
Marcus dried her eyes and eased away from her. He had a lump in his throat when he thought about her family. If there were any survivors he would do anything and everything in his power to make sure that they were taken care of. As for those responsible, he thought with a darkened scowl, they would be hunted.
Viktor and his teammates had shown up and were let into the Slytherin Common room a short while later. They had stopped to speak with others along the way. Viktor seeing his cousin's dark look went to his side to find out what was happening. Surprisingly they spoke in Bulgarian in low tones. Viktor glanced at Marie and nodded back at Marcus with a mirrored dark look. It was clear to those present that whoever the look was regarding was going to be on the receiving end of some serious wrath in the near future.
Hermione watched Viktor quietly from her perch across the Common Room. She observed his interaction with Marcus, who she learned was his cousin, in fascination. Both of them carried themselves in a similar manner and clearly had a protective streak in them. Glancing around the Slytherin Common Room she saw similar looks on the faces of many of the men and boys present. With a sad heart she realized that though there were quite a few familiar faces present, that many of her year and classmates were not present. Bulstrode, Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson were just a few of them that had apparently made their decision.
Marie sat on the cool leather couch and glanced around the Common Room that had changed little since her time in school. The eerie glow of the water of the Black Lake reflected off of the walls. Dark silhouettes swam past the windows as the light of the fireplace danced on the windows and seemed to act as a beacon to the many species and creatures that called the lake their home.
Shivering against the memories and fear she felt so long ago, Marie tried to let herself relax. Around her there were quiet conversations taking place. She watched as the members of her Coven seemed to pair off and talk among themselves. With a soft smile she watched as Sirius chatted with Harry nearby. Her heart ached for all that they had lost. Regulus sat on the arm of the chair his brother was sitting in and observed his brother interacting with his godson. Rabastan stood near him and glanced around the room feeling slightly out of place.
Marie smiled to herself as she watched young Luna Lovegood and Hannah Abbott throwing surreptitious glances towards Regulus and Rabastan. She knew that of the members of the Coven these two future couples would have the longest road ahead of them. But if there was anything she learned from her observations of the two young women, it was that they were kind, caring, and understanding young women.
Across the Common Room Draco was observing the Gryffindors in their midst and was contemplative. Thinking back over the years of their interactions he knew that he played a significant part in their confrontations, however it was mainly Weasley that was responsible. The gangly nagging red head more often than not would antagonize and Draco responded in kind. Draco had known all along what had happened to Lady Stone and the Weasleys part in it all. While he could tolerate most of the elder siblings, the Weasel was everything that he despised about that family personified.
He toed the line and played the role he had been instructed to like many of his peers. Like many of his Slytherin classmates, he had been taught from a very young age what was at stake and what he needed to do. He loathed his spiteful and snobbish persona that he had to project to the rest of the world, but he knew that it was the only way to keep his family safe. It was a relief to finally be able to be himself. Sure he was the "Pureblood Prince," but that didn't make him evil.
Adrian Pucey was watching his best friend hover and dote on the little lady that was front and center in everything. Marcus had never acted in such a way around any females that he was aware of and it was a bit baffling. His burly Quidditch playing friend had explain to him about the bond that was already forming between himself and the recovering witch. He shook his head and snorted seeing the besotted look on his friend's face.
Regulus looked around the room that had been his home while a student. It was bittersweet to be back. Glancing at Rabastan, he realized that they had similar thoughts and feeling regarding their return. Lucius and Antonio were in the corner talking quietly with Severus.
The group was startled from their thoughts when a House Elf popped into the room and urgently beckoning "Lady Stone" to come to the Hospital Wing. Marie stood and looked around noticing the group was now on high alert. She urged everyone to stay and relax and that she would be back shortly. Most of the people present protested, but she reminded them that everyone needed to settle in before many of them would be moving to Dorcha Gaol.
Marie told Marcus to stay and talk with the others, but he insisted that he go with her. Sighing she nodded tiredly and her boys, though now much older, followed her to the door. Antonio and Lucius flanked her with Rabastan and Regulus trailing behind. Sirius had stayed behind with Harry, Hermione, and the rest of the members of the Gray Coven. Brett, Miles and Micah as well as a number of their team and pack members followed and walked with them to the Main Entrance Hall, before they left to continue the preparations.
Marie quickened her pace and rushed to the Infirmary where she found Madam Pomfrey treating a number of dark clad figures on a number of beds. Marie instantly recognized many of her friends that had stayed behind enemy lines in order to protect the rest of the world. Teddy Knott was in the bed closest to her, twitching violently from obvious exposure to the torture curse.
Marcus froze at her side before he turned and ran back through the doors to get the children of those now within the castle walls. Marie and the others quickly set about assisting Madam Pomfrey. Marie stayed at Knott Sr.'s side and tried to soothe his frayed nerves. She poured potion after potion down his throat and cleaned his wounds as best she could. When he seemed more lucid he grabbed her arm and pulled her closer.
"My family," he rasped. "Marie you've got to get Ida and little Cora and Helen out of there before he gets to them."
A gasp from behind her signaled that they now had company. Thoe Knott regarded his father with wide eyes and his face was full of worry and fear. He looked to Marie with such a look of heartbreaking hope that she could only nod and call out orders to Miles and Brett who had come when they heard the disturbance. The others in the room called out similar pleas from around the room. With a clenched jaw and gritted teeth Marie nodded. It was time for her to return the favor to them.
Waving off the protests of those present she nodded to Teddy and Theo before taking her leave. Marcus watched her head towards the office of the nurse with her "team members" as well as her friends from the past following behind her. He turned to see the others around the room greeting their injured family members and realized that his own father was sitting on one of the beds towards the back. Looking back over his shoulder he realized with a cold wash of dread that Marie and the others had in fact left through the floo to Dorcha Gaol to make plan to get the families of those present to safety. Cursing he raced toward the office and realized that they had already gone.
Running back to his father's side, Marcus checked him over and saw that he was not nearly as hurt as others. Caius regarded his son tiredly and looked around the infirmary at the reunions of the many families. Gritting his teeth he sat up and grasped Marcus's shoulder to stand.
"Come," Caius said gruffly. In a louder voice he called out, "Anyone not too badly injured we need to get to Dorcha Gaol and tag along to assist them get the rest of the families out safely."
"Dad," Marcus said urgently, "Marie is still recovering. The healers told her that she shouldn't over exert herself for at least another three days!"
"Damn it," Caius swore and strode swiftly toward the floo. "We need to floo to one of the more remote public floo addresses and I'll portkey us to the Gaol."
A large group quickly floo'd to a central market in a small village outside of Wick. Caius and Marcus kept watch while the rest of those coming came through the floo. Once everyone was present Caius pulled off the long chain from around his neck and stretched it out so that the fifteen men, young and old, could touch it when it activated.
Whispering the pass phrase, the group was jostled and whisked away to the island that held Dorcha Gaol. Shouts rang out in greeting and they followed Caius into the Gaol and into the main briefing room where Marie was already present and pouring over maps and charts. Marie looked up from the table and nodded grimly to the group. She was already dressed in combat gear and looked ready to do battle.
"Brett," she called out. "Can you have someone get them suited up and ready to leave in fifteen minutes?"
"Aye lass," he replied. "We'll have them ready. Go check in with the healers girlie and get yourself ready."
Marie left the room to stock up on potions and chug a Pepper-Up potion before leaving. Brett watched her leave and turned to those that had come after them with a grim look on his face. He nodded to the men that he knew and eyed the ones that he didn't speculatively.
"Right, listen up," he called out. "If you don't have the appropriate garb follow through that door and get changed and quick. But before you go, listen and heed my words. This is no game. If given an order you follow, understood? Good now quickly get ready and meet back here. As she said we leave in fifteen."
Marcus walked through the doorway into a large room where there were a number of people grabbing gear and combat outfits. Beside him a number of his Slytherin peers were present. Adrian Pucey stood to his left while Terrence Higgs was at his right. He had insisted that Theo Knott stay behind with his father, who had been injured gravely in his escape from the Dark Lord's lair.
Draco and Blaise had stayed behind with many of the others to stand guard over the younger Slytherins present. Harry and Hermione waited with the rest of the Gray Coven and Sirius for them to return.
Marie downed the potion vials that were shoved into her hands as the infirmary became a flurry of activity. Some of the injured defecting Death Eaters had come here instead of Hogwarts. Refugees and families were being brought in by the dozen behind the fortified protective wards of the island.
Looking around Marie caught the eye of one of the many healers and nodded grimly to the woman. They would be preparing for a significant influx of patients and a possible bloodbath in the attempt to get as many people behind the wards as they would. The healer bustled to her side and handed her another two vials of potions with strict instructions. Her ribs still weren't fully healed and though she was wearing protective gear, she was still at risk of severely harming her body in her participation.
Nodding to the healer, Marie exited the room and made her way back to the briefing room where the groups were assembling under the careful eye of Brett and Miles. Micah and members of his pack came in the room looking ready for a fight. Everyone was divided up into six teams. Marie would be leading the team heading to the Knott ancestral home.
Marcus wanted to insist that he go with Marie, but he knew that he would go wherever he was needed most. He and his friends were split up and paired up with a more seasoned fighter on other teams. Just before the portkeys were about to activate he caught Marie's eye and tried to relay his thoughts and feelings in that one brief glance. He swallowed thickly as the countdown began. It was against his every nature to not stay with Marie, his magic was calling to hers even as they were whisked away to separate locations.
Marie's group touched down behind the wards of Knott Hall. There were sounds of thunderous cracking and the ground seemed to shake with the pounding on the wards. Marie raced up the steps towards the home calling out for Ida. The front doors of the Knott Ancestral home were thrown open and a tall woman stood protectively in front of the two crying younger girls behind her.
"Ida Knott!" Marie called out over the pounding on the wards. "Teddy sent me to go you and the girls out of here safely!"
"Prove yourself!" the woman replied shakily.
Marie took the steps two at a time to stand in front of the older woman. "Lady Knott we don't have time for this, if I don't get you and anyone else out of here in the next five minute we're going to have one Hell of a fight on our hands. Teddy is at Hogwarts. I can get you to Dorcha Gaol and then transfer you to Hogwarts, but we need to move now!"
"Who are you?" Ida asked.
Marie grinned, "Lady Marie Stone at your service."
"You're back," Ida whispered hoarsely. "Girls, grab your bags and cloaks. Tibby, gather the elves pop our remaining things into the trunks immediately."
Marie watched as the house was rapidly stripped bare. The elves shrunk and stored everything in trunks. Ida shrunk the trunks down and placed them into her pockets. Marie ushered her and the girls down the steps to where the group was waiting. There was a crack and Ida gasped as the wards started failing.
Swear viciously, Marie pushed her and the girls forward and pulled a rope from her pocket. She handed it to Ida and the girls and whispered the pass phrase and watched them disappear from sight as the Death Eaters broke through the final layer of the wards. Her team rushed to the evacuation point and grasped the chain and whirled away as a barrage of colors flew past them.
Some of the spells connected, but they all made it out before the Death Eaters reached their sides. Landing roughly on the stone covered courtyard, Marie's knees buckled as one of her team members fell into her. He had taken a nasty curse as they portkeyed out. She called out for a healer who rushed to their side and brought the injured into the Gaol.
Her team cleared the landing space just as the next portkeyed in. So far everyone had returned with their targets, though they had sustained significant injuries. She rushed into the briefing room to look at the next group of families and grabbed the next packet. Brett and Miles followed and grabbed their next assignments as well. Those that were still standing reassembled for the next extraction. This time Micah's pack members would be supplementing the injured team members.
Choking down the first and then the second vials of potions, Marie raced back to the portkey point and grasped the chain. She knew it was risky, but there was too much at stake to leave their own out there unprotected. The countdown began and she whirled away to the next location. She fought the nausea that rose up in her throat as she landed with a thud.
Much like the Knotts' home, this one was experiencing an attack on the wards. The family members within had their things and called for their elves to take the rest away quickly. Marie's team got them out in time, but unfortunately the Death Eaters had broken through the wards much more quickly this time.
Marie and her team had just enough time to take cover before they came under heavy spell fire from the Death Eaters storming the estate. She grabbed her medallion and sent the signal for reinforcements at the same time that one of her team members shot off Patronus messages doing the same. They would need to hold their positions until aid came.
Miles, Brett, and Micah had just returned to the Dorcha Gaol when they felt their watches flare. An eerie white figure raced across the sea to the Gaol and the disembodied voice of Ian, a member of Marie's team, rang the alarm. Marcus had just returned with another team when the message came through. He was holding up one of his group and helped him to the infirmary.
He waved off being treated himself and took the potion that the mediwitch provided. After quickly cleaning and dressing his own wound he raced back to the portkey point. A fairly large group was mustering to help secure Marie's location. He just hoped that it would be enough.
Meanwhile, Marie was leaning against the side of the front stairs of the house. Three of her team were severely hurt and most of the remaining had sustained some sort of injury. Volley after volley of spell fire rained down on their location.
A sizzle and a crack above her head indicated that a spell had come dangerously close to her. Her ribs burned and her lungs screamed for oxygen. One particularly nasty hex hit her injured side and nearly caused her to pass out. Clenching her jaw and drawing on the ambient magic around her, Marie began to chant quietly. Sinking her hands into the soil she pushed out with her Elemental Magic, hoping to buy time.
The ground bucked and startled cries rang out on the other side of the darkening estate. Even as she pulled back, Marie knew that they were in trouble. She felt the change in the air even before she heard the cackle of Bellatrix and the hissing voice of the dark tosser himself.
Drawing a ragged breath, Marie turned to her team members and told them to hold their position and to give her cover. They urged her to stay behind cover, even as she rolled out past the walkway behind a tree. Her movement drew heavy fire and the attention of the enemy.
Marie's lungs burned with the strain and her ribs throbbed at the movement. Reaching into her pocket she drew the last few vials of potions and knocked them back in rapid succession as her team gave her cover fire. She let the fury build within her as she listened to Bellatrix taunt them. She vividly remembered the treatment that she had received at the hands of Bellatrix. In the distance, the Dark Lord hissed his orders and Marie felt the hair on the back of her neck stand.
Standing carefully, she made sure that she was behind the large tree and completely covered. Feeling out with her magic she honed in on the general locations of the enemy before she unleashed a chain of Lightning strikes that rained down from the heavens. The screams in the night and shrieks of fury in response let her know that she had hit many of her targets.
It was enough of a distraction that reinforcements were able to portkey in and take cover. Marie stood with trembling limbs behind the large tree drawing once more on the magic around her. She heard shouts from her friends and allies as they flanked her and moved in position to extract them all from the location.
It was brutal fight with casualties sustained on both sides. Brett and Miles reached Marie's side first and kept her protectively between them as they moved from behind the tree to the side of the house as groups started portkeying out.
The Dark Lord bellowed in fury seeing them retreating and called for his Death Eaters to move in on them. Marie turned back and threw her hands out sending them flying back. Bellatrix screeched in anger and advanced. She stopped short seeing Marie and paled seeing the dark look on the younger girl's face.
"Hi Trixie," Marie drawled. "Long time no see. I've got to say that you haven't aged well at all my dear. So much for your supposed superior blood line."
Bellatrix snarled and unleashed a chain of increasingly dark spells. Marie batted them away and smirked at the woman who had begun to froth at the mouth. With a flick of her wrist Marie sent Bellatrix reeling back, knocking the Dark Lord over like a bowling pin.
"Oh look, I've gotten a strike," Marie taunted. "I'd love to stay around and catch up, but you see we're on a tight schedule. Toodles," Marie waved her fingers at them with a vicious smile on her face.
With another flick of her wrist Lightning arced down from the sky and slammed into Bellatrix and the Dark Lord. The sizzle of the energy and the smell from the impact was enough to make Marie gag. She allowed her team members to pull her along as they fall back and grasped the last portkey out.
Marie landed and fell to her knees. Brett and Miles called out orders, but their voices seemed so far away. Her side hurt a great deal, as did the number of new injuries that she had sustained. She was border-line magically exhausted and rapidly losing consciousness. As she drifted off she felt herself being lifted by strong arms and broad shoulders.
Brett carried Marie as he ran through the halls of the Gaol. The infirmary was overflowing with the injured from the extraction teams. Many of the people that had gone had come back with some sort of injury that had been sustained on their missions. Some of the family members that they were sent to rescue had also been injured in the process. It had been a successful, but bloody night.
Brett called out and one of the available healers rushed over and indicate to the nearest available bed for Marie to be placed on. The mediwitch conjured a privacy screen and called out for more aid from the any trained healer available. There was a flurry of activity as a team of healers made their way to Marie's side.
Brett and the others stepped back out of the way and began tending their own wounds and those of their team members that they could. Once they were patched up enough they assisted the healers in tending to the other wounded as much as possible.
Marcus stood off to the side with his father and watched as healers bustled to and fro in the infirmary. They had gotten lucky this time. It was the first time that Marcus had seen action like this and though he was inexperienced he was able to hold his own. Others weren't as lucky as they were heavily outnumbered.
In the corner of the room they saw Ida Knott and her girls tending to the wounded as best they could. Little Helen was just eight, but she put on a brave face and helped those that had helped her. Cora was ten and should be starting school next year. The young girls were extremely pale, but kept their composure as they helped their mother.
Marcus nodded to his father and the two men made their way to the other side of the room. Taking Ida and the girls aside they told them that Knott Sr. and Jr. were at Hogwarts waiting for them. Marcus and Caius offered to escort them there. Ida looked relieved and nodding gratefully to them.
The two men gathered a group of those rescued that evening and led them out to the courtyard. Micah followed behind them with a seven foot stretch of rope that would act as their portkey. He stepped up next to Ida and her girls and grasped the rope and said the keyed in phrase. With a jerk pulling their navel, they were off.
Micah helped to steady the young girls at his side on impact and wrapped the rope up before tucking it the pocket of his robes. The group made their way into the Great Hall where there was a fairly large number of people gathered.
"Papa!" Helen called out and raced across the room.
Teddy Knott held his arms out for his girls and held tightly when they embraced him. Theo stepped up and was pulled into the family hug. He didn't care about personas or roles, his mother and sisters were safe. His father had survived and for the time being they were alright.
Similar reunions were taking place around the Hall. Professor McGonagal swallowed thickly seeing the families reuniting. She glanced at Micah and the Flints. She watched as Matilda Flint glided across the Hall to her husband and son's side. She had shown up shortly after the entourage had left looking ruffled, but otherwise whole and healthy.
"How bad?" Minerva asked Micah who had come to her side.
"We were able to get to all of the families we had on our lists tonight, but we sustained heavy casualties," he told her in his deep timber.
"Why have none of the others returned?" she asked in a thickening brogue. "Where is Marie?"
Her question and raising voice had drawn the attention of those in the room. Everyone was now looking towards Micah and the Flints looking for answers. Micah's mouth set and his jaw clenched.
"Lady Stone was severely injured in the last extraction," he answered. "Her team was able to get their targets out safely but the wards fell too quickly for them to leave. They were quickly outnumbered and surrounded. The Dark Lord and Bellatrix showed up. She put them down and knocked them back allowing us to get her and her team out of there."
Sirius had come to their side looking pale and worried. "How badly was she hurt Micah?" he asked.
"She slipped unconscious right after we arrived back at Dorcha Gaol," he replied. "Sirius, she took down both Bellatrix and the Dark Lord and struck them with Lightning before we were able to portkey to safety. She's magically exhausted and reinjured her ribs."
The Grangers and Harry stood beside Sirius and listened to the conversation. Harry hadn't felt any of this, but he figured it was because the Horcrux had been removed from his scar. Dan Granger listened to what the slip of a young woman had done and goggled a bit. Regular combat terms he could understand however, talk of throwing bolts of lightning at people like Zeus was completely beyond him.
"Can we go back with you to the Gaol and help?" Hermione asked.
Micah smiled tiredly, "Aye, any help would be welcome," he replied. "We can't however have everyone come. There needs to be a significant force left here to prepare. We cannot leave the castle undefended."
The members of the Gray Coven rallied and followed Micah and the Flints back to the portkey check point. The Grangers told Hermione to go, that they would see her later. When she went to protest, they pointed out that she would be with Sirius and others that they trusted. Hermione nodded and hugged them good bye.
The group stood in the tight circle and grasped the seven foot length of rope that Micah pulled from his pocket. It activated and they were tugged and reappeared at Dorcha Gaol. Micah tossed the rope to one of the men standing guard and led the group into the Gaol.
It appeared that many of the people from the surrounding village had come to help and it was all hands on deck. The group entered the briefing room and found that Brett and Miles were present along with the other team leaders. Their discussions fell silent as the new comers came in for a briefing.
"Any word?" Micah asked.
"Marie is magically exhausted, but she'll live," Miles replied. "Her ribs had to be regrown again though and they want to keep her in bed for a week."
"It was like she never left," Brett whispered. "The girl was literally swatting them and their spells away. She sent Bellatrix flying ass over tea kettle and knocked the dark tosser on his ass. Then she slammed them with a lightning bolt."
Harry gawked at the men listening to what his pseudo aunt had done. Marie wasn't much older than him and had done more for their side than the Order of Phoenix had in one night. Hermione was having similar thoughts, though hers weren't as pleasant. For all his "Greater Good" and talk, the Headmaster hadn't done nearly enough to make their efforts effective.
"What can we do to help?" Harry asked.
Brett sized up 'the boy-who-lived' and regarded the group before him. These were the members of Marie's Coven. They would need to be kept in the loop and trained, extensively. Looking to one of the other team leaders he nodded.
"Get them suited up and bring them down to the training room," Brett told them. "Test their skill levels and report back to me later."
The Gray Coven left with the man and his team as the rest went over what went right and what went wrong. Their inside man at the Ministry reported that things were turning darker at a much more accelerated rate. They were trying to pass reforms that would require Muggleborns to register, much like the Nazis did with the Jews back in the thirties and forties. Their teams would need to act quickly to get them all out or behind the protective wards before it was too late.
The Director of Gringott's and the Director of the Department of Mysteries had both given duplicates of the Book of Magics to the Gaol. The book listed each and every existing and new magical being that lived. From this book the Muggleborns were able to track down their own and forewarn them before trouble came, but they weren't always in time. Just last week an entire family was wiped out.
Marie would be livid when she woke up and heard the news. They would need to do all that they could to get a handle on the issue themselves first. Watching her in action left them a bit breathless. For the first time in years they had hope again.
Meanwhile back at Hogwarts a certain red-headed family was feeling the brunt of their shunning. While the elder sons of the Weasleys were innocent, the youngest two children had proven themselves to be petty, jealous, immature and bitter teens. The parents felt the weight of their shame and guilt hanging over them. Perhaps it was time to sit down and reevaluate a few things.
Hundreds of miles away in a remote crumbling manor in Little Hangleton, the Dark Lord and Bellatrix were carried into their respective rooms. Their clothing was still smoking from where the Lightning bolt had struck them. They were alive, but badly injured and burned.
Rodolphus had recognized the young woman instantly and knew that they would pay the price for their attack on her all those years ago. He had made his decision and sworn his Oath to his Lord a long time ago. There was no going back now.
He idly spun his Head of House ring on his forefinger and knew that he needed to have it passed along to his brother. His breath had left him when he saw Rabastan young and healthy. He had protected him as best he could, but knew that it would never be enough. At their parents' insistence the both took the mark. Rabastan hadn't wanted to, but did as he was commanded by their father.
Making up his mind, he twisted off the ring and called for his personal House Elf. He gave the battered little elf specific instructions. Take the ring to Gringott's and have it left for his brother. Years ago he had name Rabastan his heir without Bellatrix ever knowing. Now it was time to leave it all to his brother and face the consequences of his actions. He would fight to the very end, but he knew now how wrong he had been in his youth. There was no use thinking of what might have been, he had little time and needed to finalize his arrangements before Bella was back up and moving.
Marie drifted in and out of consciousness for hours. Though she had been healed it would take time to have her completely healed. She had pushed her body to the very brink in order to buy them enough time to get out safely. Even now in her delirious state, she could feel Skelo-grow coursing through her veins and her bones shifting and growing back in place.
Below, the members of the Gray Coven were hunched over in varying states of exhaustion. Adrian Pucey had gone to find his friend Marcus and walked into the training room to find the Gray Coven being put through the ringer. Many of them had no previous combat training. They had been trained by their Elemental mentors, but they clearly needed a lot more work. Marcus was holding his own fairly well, but he too would need to work harder.
Brett and Miles had come to watch and spoke quietly back and forth. The group had great potential, but would need work. They wrote down the strengths and weaknesses of the group and wrote down the name of one of the tactical team members to pair them up with. They would train in a buddy system to get everyone up to snuff for the end game.
Marcus was leaning back against the wall sitting on the cold stone floor breathing heavily with sweat pouring from his body. As an athlete he considered himself to be in good shape, however this training had him realizing that he had a lot of work to do. His mouth set in a grim line as he thought of Marie lying in the infirmary. He would need to be better to protect her.
A towel appeared in front of his face and he glanced up to see the concerned look on Adrian's face. His muscles screamed as he reached for the towel. Gingerly wiping his face off, he winced as he rubbed a particularly tender area on his jaw from sparring. The instructors hadn't held back and everyone was looking worse for the wear.
"Are you alright?" Adrian asked.
"Yeah," Marcus replied. "Sore, but I'll live. They didn't hold back. I've been an athlete most of my life, but it's clear that I need to be better."
Adrian regarded his friend carefully. Marcus took training very seriously and always had. He knew that his friend was concerned about the little firecracker of a witch laid up in the infirmary. Heck, even he was concerned about her. When they had arrived at the Ackers he was floored to see the obviously injured witch face off not just against Bellatrix LeStrange, but also the Dark Lord himself.
Watching her put them down had frightened him a bit. He was grateful and thankful that they were on the same side. The Flints had brought him into their fold when he was a child. His mother passed away when he was much younger and his father was never around much. Matilda Flint had brought him up and instilled many of the same lessons and morals into him like she had her own son.
Reaching down, Adrian offered his hand to Marcus and helped him up. Micah came over and told them that their rooms were near Marie's. Adrian and Marcus would be sharing with Terrence Higgs. Though there was plenty of room for everyone, it had been decided that everyone would be sharing in groups of two or three in order to be able to accommodate the refugees that they expected to be coming in daily.
The members of the coven were helped up and to the rooms that were in the adjoining wing to Marie's. Her wing was reserved for family and her Guardians. Though some of the rooms would now be used by the Malfoys, Blacks, Rabastan, and the Prewetts. Harry also had the option of staying in the suite of rooms set aside for the Potters. He insisted that he would share the rooms with the Grangers.
The tired and battered group showered and changed. They stumbled to the dining hall and sat talking quietly among themselves. Marcus looked around and realized that the hall though busy could easily hold several hundred more people before being at capacity. A flash of blond hair drew his attention to the Malfoys who had just arrived. Lucius was tired and looked like he had seen better days, but seemed more at ease than he had ever been to Marcus's memory.
"I trust you're all settling in fine?" Narcissa asked as they drew near. "The healers tell us that Marie will be out of it for another day or two. If you need anything in the meantime please let us know."
Draco watched the mixed reactions and emotions flit across the faces of those seated at the table. He knew that he and his family had a reputation. It was a reputation that they careful built over the years out of necessity. They played their roles so well in public that it was rare that any outside of their immediate family ever saw the side of them that his mother was showing.
"You've been to Dorcha Gaol before Lady Malfoy?" Daphne Greengrass asked politely.
Narcissa smile at the young woman. "Yes we've been here before. Marie brought us in while we were still at Hogwarts," she explained taking a seat on the bench next to the teen. "When Marie arrived she caused a bit of a stir. She's descended from two long and ancient lines of Squibs. Her family was well off and part of the upper levels of society even though they were Muggles, or Squibs. Thus she was raised and taught to behave a certain way. She was able to bridge the gap and blend in with our world."
"I'm not sure that I understand," Hermione said quietly.
"Marie is Lady Stone, Head of two Ancient and Noble Houses," Narcissa explained. "Her social upbringing was similar to how Pureblood children are reared. She was able to blend in to our society. She respected our way of life whether she agreed with it or not. As she pointed out to a number of Muggleborns back in the seventies, Muggleborns join our world, but think that things should be according to their upbringing."
Hermione sat with a slightly furrowed brow. She knew that there were drastic differences between Muggleborns and Purebloods. They dressed differently, behaved differently and believed differently. She had tried to prove that she belonged to this world, but it would appear that she didn't quite go about it the right way.
"Child," Narcissa began kindly, "we know and understand coming to a different world is difficult. Things aren't the way that they should be. Like Madam Raglan has tutored and mentored many of you, a Pureblood family also should have mentored the Muggleborns and helped them to adjust."
"Come now my dear," Lucius drawled, "no more politics at the dinner table. They appear to be ready to fall asleep in their plates. We can adjourn this discussion for now and come back to it when everyone is fully alert and healed."
Draco and his father took up seats on the bench as the others made room for them. He knew that he would have to apologize to the two Gryffindors present for his past actions. Some of the things that he had said and done were inexcusable.
"Potter, Granger," he began quietly, "I owe you both an apology for my words and actions leading up to this. Things got out of hand more than a few times and I shouldn't have let them."
Hermione regarded the blonde teen across the table with guarded eyes. Harry outright scowled at the other boy. If his actions were against him alone he could forgive them, but the things he had said to Mione were not. The green eyed teen shook with rage.
"That's it? I'm sorry and it's all supposed to be alright?" Harry asked him in a cold voice. "Every time you called her a Mudblood is just supposed to go away. Or perhaps it was the time you said you wished she was next with the basilisk attacks. Or perhaps when you were part of the merry band of tormenters while Umbridge was at school?"
Draco paled with each word. He heard his mother gasp and turn to glare at him. His father pinned him with a look that spoke volumes. They would be sitting down to have a nice chat later. Draco dropped his eyes to his lap, unsure of what to say.
"Harry!" Hermione chided him gently. "I'm not saying that we should forget everything that has happened, but we need to work together. The Malfoys have already explained why things had to be the way that they were."
"But Mione-"
"But nothing, Harry," she said sternly. "There is far too much at stake to hold onto petty grudges. Look around you. There are representatives from every House here and every background. We're on the same side now."
Harry grumbled darkly under his breath and Hermione cuffed him on the back of his head. Sirius snickered but his jaw snapped shut with a click when Hermione turned her glinting cinnamon eyes on him. Regulus snickered next to him and the table broke out into loud guffaws.
"I don't think anyone since perhaps Marie or Lily Evans has been able to shut you up like that Sirius," Regulus chuckled.
Sirius pulled a face and then sobered thinking of Lily and James. He nodded sagely. It had indeed been a long time since anyone had effectively kept him in line.
The group finished their meal quietly before making their way back either to their rooms to retire or the infirmary to see what they could do to assist. Soon everyone had retired for the night as it had been a very long and trying day. All the while Marie slept on in a magically induced healing sleep. Little did she know that when she awoke it would be a drastically different atmosphere in the Gaol and the world around her.