"There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends."

Saint Jean

The months passed and the school year was already coming to an end. The vast majority of the fifth and seventh graders closed the library and stayed late into the night working in their common room. June was a beautiful month, even in Scotland, and the other students were having a great time. Few of them stayed in the castle, preferring to go outside and swim in the lake, without really worrying about the giant squid. The exams were just finishing, and everyone rushed out of the castle, happy to have finished, but nostalgic for the seventh year. This was their last exam at Hogwarts. Only a few more days and for most of them, they would never return.

Two students stood at the edge of the forbidden forest, away from the noise. These two previously solitary beings had become friends, much to the surprise of those around them.

"The year is coming to an end, Sev" Hermione said suddenly.

"I hadn't guessed" the young man replied sarcastically.

"If you'd let me finish... You're not too disappointed that you didn't find out my secret?"

The wizard frowned and gave her a dark look before answering.

"The year's not over, and I never said I had to find out your secrets before it is."

"How will you do it then? We're going our separate ways."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because I am. We're not going to fight on the same side. You're going to take the Dark Mark, aren't you?"

It sounded more like a statement than a question, but Hermione waited for an answer. Severus had turned slightly white, and his eyes were no longer expressionless. Only silence answered him, and a flash of understanding came through Hermione's eyes.

"Or maybe you already have it?"

For answer Snape slowly pulled up his sleeve and the mark appeared. It stood out brightly and contrasted with his white skin. Hermione didn't say anything, she had never known when he had been marked, but she hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

"You didn't flinch."

"Well done Sherlock!"

At her friend's look of incomprehension, she continued:

"Muggle reference."

"You're not surprised by that mark, everyone recoils in disgust when they see it, but not you."

"I've seen it before. When did you get the mark?"

"This summer."

"So soon" she murmured in a sorry voice.

"A friend introduced me."

"That Malfoy dog!" she muttered.

"Do you know him?"

Hermione realised she had said too much and replied vaguely, but Severus raised an eyebrow, not believing a word she said.

"We're going our separate ways, we're not on the same side any more. Were we ever?"

The witch did not doubt the answer. She had never been on the same side as Severus, on Professor Snape's side, yes, but never on Sev's.

"Helena, wait!"

"I'm sorry, Sev', maybe we could have been friends without the war, but we can't be."

"War? We're not at war."

"We will be soon. We will be opponents on the battlefield, and know that I will not hesitate to kill any Death Eaters."

That sentence rang in Severus' ears like a warning. If he got in her way, she would not hesitate to kill him, regardless of their past friendship.

"What did they do to make you hate them so much?"

"These people are inhuman. They torture, rape, kill, without hesitation. These people have destroyed the lives of thousands of people. They destroyed me. I'm sorry Sev', I liked you very much, but I can't. We will meet on the battlefield. "

"You're wrong about one thing, I've discovered one of your secrets. You're a werewolf."

"It's true."

Severus watched Hermione walk slowly away, her hair blowing in the wind. She had been his only friend since Lily, -he couldn't really consider his roommates trusted friends- and once again, that friendship was over. His human relationships had always been disastrous, but Helena had come into his life suddenly and he wasn't ready to let her out. They had built this friendship, knowing that the other had secrets that could be dangerous, so why break it over a simple mark? Severus knew the answer, it was the same as it was for Lily: her company, her views on wizarding blood. The insults he hurled at Muggleborns. The side he'd chosen.

Severus, once again, watched a friend walk away, not looking back, leaving him alone to his fate. He then did what he did best, he put on his mask of coldness and became even more bitter than was possible, much to the chagrin of the first year Slytherin who had the misfortune to stand in his way.

The two friends didn't know it yet, but they'd find themselves pitted against each other, much sooner than expected.

Remus was correcting the first year students' exam papers when Hermione stormed into his office. She was upset, that much was clear. She was pacing up and down the room.

"I'll finish my copy and be right with you, but by Merlin, can you stop moving around like that?"

Hermione obeyed and sat down on the nearest chair and started tapping her fingers on the table. She bit her lips, as she did when she was stressed, and moved her head from side to side, mumbling. Luckily for Remus, the copy was almost done, he was unable to concentrate when Hermione was like this, it was unbearable.

"What's the matter?"

"I told Sev' that I didn't want to see him anymore" she admitted immediately.

"But why?"

"He has the Mark and I made it clear that we can't be friends and have such different ideals, he's going to be a Death Eater and I'm going to be a member of the order. It's the logical consequence."

"I don't really understand your attachment to Snape, but he's switched sides, so why shouldn't he?"

"Because Lily's not going to die, I'll stop it."

"We'll stop it. You were really attached to him, weren't you?"

Hermione nodded, after a moment's hesitation. She sighed and lifted her head.

"It felt good to have someone who didn't know anything about your life, but still liked you, he didn't have that pitying look on his face..."

"I don't have pity for you!

"I know Rem', and you're the most precious friend I have, but the mission is costing us a lot and every time I see you, I see everything we lost, everything we failed to do with the order."

After a few seconds of pause, Hermione realised what she had said.

"It's really cruel, I didn't mean to say it like that, but we're the last two survivors of our world and it feels good to take the weight off my shoulders for a few hours a week. But the year is coming to an end and we're going to focus on the mission, we need to think about which horcrux we're going to destroy."

"I've mastered the fiendfyre, I've done several tests in the Forbidden Forest and I think I could destroy the next horcrux. Did you go to all the tests for the NEWTs?" he asked, anxious to change the subject

"Yes, and I hope you'll be happy, it's only to please you."

"But I am, I spoke with my colleagues and most of them were appalled that you would show up for the exam without having been to any of their classes."

"I'd like to be there when they see that I've oustanding at all my NEWTs" she says with a smile.

"Maybe there will be a graduation ceremony. That's what we had when I taught, I don't remember if we had one."

Remus suddenly seemed to remember something and began, like Hermione a few minutes earlier, to pace around the room. He seemed to be thinking and trying to remember at the same time.

"Rem'! What's the matter?"

"Hogsmeade outings are over, aren't they?"

"No, there's one tomorrow, for the end of the year, but you don't need one to go to the village, you're a teacher. "

"There's going to be an attack."

"What?"

"Tomorrow, I have to go see Minerva."

"Rem', wait!"

It was too late for Hermione, Remus had already run out of the room. The young woman who had stood up dropped limply back into her chair, she remained pensive for a long moment, and thought about what Remus had said to her that she had not picked up on. He had mastered the fiendfyre. Which was a great advance in the mission. She was no longer the only one capable of destroying Voldy's soul bits, and this brought her intense relief. She waited for Remus, but sleep overcame her long before he returned.

She woke up two hours later, because of a nightmare, which had been reality. That night was Ron's death and the many tortures that followed. She saw that there was still no light in Remus's chambers and decided to go for a walk around the castle, she couldn't go back to sleep after seeing Ron's dead body. She naturally headed for the astronomy tower. She wasn't paying attention to where she was stepping and tripped over something, or rather someone, and made a faint movement in front of her. It was most certainly the marauders, taking advantage of one of their last nights at Hogwarts to get the marauder map.

"Bloody cloak!"

She continued on her way, not paying any more attention to the marauders than necessary. They had stayed in the same place, stunned. They weren't sure if they had heard correctly, but the looks they were giving each other spoke for themselves. They had all heard the same thing.

"Do you think she said that by chance?"

"She didn't have a cloak on and anyone would have been looking to see what he'd bumped into. Her reaction is not normal."

"But Moony, this girl is not normal."

"Peter's right, Rem."

"She already did that to us when she gave Remus the potion."

"I know that, but how could she have known? We didn't tell anyone. Even James didn't tell Lily."

"And she doesn't talk to girls, so even if they knew, they wouldn't tell her."

"What does that even mean? James! You told them! You told them!"

"I told Lily I had an invisibility cloak, but I told her it was staying at my house. I never told her about the map or the animagi!"

"It's okay James, we have other problems to deal with. We have to hurry if we want to get the map back."

The next day, Hermione headed early to Remus' chambers, who had finally returned. She questioned him, but was still vague. He had spoken with Minerva and most of the teachers would be out and about protecting the students. They couldn't cancel the outing, or they would look suspicious to Dumbledore, the person who should know nothing about their identity. The three friends would wander around the village, wand in hand, ready to attack in case of an attack. It was with apprehension that Hermione accompanied the students. Remus had said a few words to her that she didn't understand. 'Protect them, especially Mary.' She didn't understand who 'them' was, was it the marauders, the girls, the Gryffindors, all the students? She had no idea. And why Mary in particular? What was going to happen? What did Remus know that she didn't? All these questions remained unanswered, much to the dismay of the time traveller.

Her friendship with Mary was precious to her, there was someone other than Remus and Minerva who could, not understand her as the young woman was far from having experienced the atrocities her friend had, but she could speak freely about Ron and Harry, about her difficulties in adjusting to this time, without feeling judged. Mary was a good person and was that why Remus had told her to protect her? She had never thought she could make a friendship with her when she walked through the doors of the Great Hall in September. She didn't know her and had never even heard of her, unlike the rest of her group of friends.

A flash of understanding crossed Hermione's eyes. She had never heard of Mary before she started school in 1977. She had studied the Order's archives and her name was nowhere to be found, not even in the photographs of the Order's members. Could it be that... No, it couldn't be. Hermione quickly pushed these dark thoughts from her mind and concentrated on the upcoming attack.

Remus gave Hermione a knowing look, pointing to a group of people, dressed in long black capes, who seemed to be standing off to the side. The wizard had spotted them a few minutes earlier and found them suspicious. It was June and the month was quite warm this year. It was simply incomprehensible to go out in such clothes in this season. Minerva had also seen a suspicious group, north of the village. After checking, Hogsmeade was surrounded by the Death Eaters. The only way out was to fight.

Hermione entered the Three Broomsticks and walked towards the marauders with hesitant steps

"There are Death Eaters everywhere. Warn the others, protect the younger ones, get out your wands, spread the word but don't attack, they'll do it soon enough."

No sooner had Hermione finished her sentence than an explosion sounded, she gave them a meaningful look and stormed out of the room. She ran to the scene of the attack and surveyed the scene. There were two fourth years and a third year who had been taken by the Death Eaters, most likely as hostages, but the reason for the attack was still a mystery, Voldemort had probably ordered it to warn Dumbledore. Hermione, noticing the students' cries of terror did not hesitate and attacked.

Spells were flying everywhere. Despite the help of the villagers, the army fighting the Death Eaters was far inferior to that of the Death Eaters. Hermione was determined to take down as many Death Eaters as possible. She wanted to go after the most powerful Death Eaters now. The sooner they bit the dust, the less damage they would do later on. The witch had no qualms about casting dark magic spells and unforgivables, especially avada kedavra. Some of the students had looked at her, disconcerted to see their classmate casting such spells, but had quickly shrugged it off, they had more important things to do.

"Grace, behind you!" James shouted.

Hermione turned around abruptly and was hit with a full-blown cruciatus. She collapsed to the ground and saw that her best friend's father had rushed towards her.

"Potter, go fight, I'll take care of myself" she muttered through her teeth.

Though hesitant, he went to check on Lily and the marauders. Hermione held back a groan, she didn't want to give the unknown Death Eater the pleasure of hearing her scream in pain.

"I've heard about you mudblood. You have given my companions a hard time, your death will only be the beginning of the Dark Lord's rise" said a familiar voice.

"I too have heard of you, Malfoy. And I am not afraid of your master. You can tell Tom, he has a lot to worry about."

Lucius Malfoy flinched for a moment and Hermione stood up, before throwing a sectusempra at him. Too bad, she thought, he probably didn't know that Voldemort was actually called Tom, he wouldn't have been able to get the message across. She took a deep breath, being under the pain was never pleasant, but she was used to it by now and Malfoy hadn't put all his power into it. She walked over to a group of Death Eaters, who appeared to be quite young and began, with the help of Mary and Lily, to confront them. Despite the masks they wore, Hermione recognized them without difficulty. There was Mulciber, Avery and Regulus. She took on the latter and punched him hard, then combined magical and Muggle combat to finish him off. Her fellow fighters were doing well and the Muggleborns were both stupefied.

"Helena, are you all right? James said you took a cruciatus."

"I'm fine, I've had worse. Let's focus on the fight. Take care of yourselves."

Hermione took time to analyse the battle. The entire teaching staff was fighting alongside their students, but they were much better trained. The sixth years were mostly injured and the older ones were starting to weaken. She saw Remus fighting four Death Eaters and decided to go and help him.

"Just like the old days! Guardian fight?" he offered.

Hermione nodded and they charged. Guardian fight was the name they had given to the techniques Pluto had taught Hermione, before they had the second Jewel of Time. In no time at all, they finished off the Death Eaters and looked at each other with a smile.

"We're not too rusty after all, I thought I'd have more trouble than this."

"What can I say, he taught me well and we trained well."

They then noticed that some of the students were looking at them in awe. It was true that they didn't fight like most wizards, but there was no need to make a big deal of it. The Death Eaters had not stopped and were still fighting with a vengeance

"Black! Behind you."

Like Hermione before him, Sirius turned too late and was hit in the chest by the spell. He fell heavily to the ground. Blood began to pour out of his body and Hermione saw that he had received a sectusempra. She then saw a person walking away from the scene and recognised her. She shook her head, she had to save Sirius first before she could think of anything else.

"Sirius, you can't leave me... We still have so much to do together!"

"Potter push off, Potter! Let me examine him. If it's the spell I'm thinking of, I know the counter spell."

"James, dear. Let her through."

"Lily, the battle isn't over. Keep attacking the Death Eaters. Make sure they don't get to Sirius. The rest of you, help her. Potter, you can stay and help me."

James nodded and shifted to make room for Hermione. She knelt down and inspected the wounds.

"Lupin, I'll take care of him. Remus. You'll be more useful protecting him and fighting the people who did this to him."

The marauder seemed to snap out of his slumber and nodded. Hermione concentrated and reached deep inside herself to whisper the spell, before Sirius interrupted her.

"Jamesie, you've been the best friend I've ever had and-"

"Black, shut up. You're not going to die. You don't have the right. "

"She's right, you mutt, you can declare your love to me later" James replied, a smile between his tears.

"Vulnera sanentur, vulnera sanentur."

Hermione repeated the spell many times until Sirius' wounds had closed and the blood had returned to his body.

"Potter, carry him away from here. I think there's an infirmary at the Three Broomsticks."

Hermione stood up and before she could gasp she saw a dark spell coming towards her. She braced herself to receive it, but the impact never came. Someone had thrown themselves in front of her. Hermione struggled to hold back her tears as she saw her friend lying at her feet.

"Mary" she whispered, her voice trembling.

All the fighting had stopped and the Death Eaters received a sign, they all transited together. All the fighters, at least the uninjured ones, gathered around the two young women. Lily, Alice and Dorcas had approached but dared not come any closer.

"Hermione" whispered the witch in a voice so low that only the girl concerned could hear.

"Mary, why?" she asked, crying.

"You are more important than me, we both know that. I'm proud to have been your friend. You're going to make it, you're going to save the wizarding world. Only you can do it."

"Grace, find a spell, you saved Sirius!"

"There's no fucking counter spell!"

"Don't worry, I died in battle. I helped make peace in the world. You were the best friends we ever had. Helena, think about what I said. Harry and Ron would be proud of you."

The young woman's grey eyes went blank. Mary McDonald was no more.

"MARY!" cried Hermione with a heart-rending wail. "MARY"

She fell on her chest crying, as did the rest of the students. James tried to comfort Lily as best he could, but his own tears were not helping. Alice and Dorcas were in each other's arms, Remus was still supporting Sirius. No one could believe it. Dumbledore approached his dead student's body, but he felt a strong burning sensation when he came within two metres of her.

"Albus, don't come any closer. Miss Grace has placed a protective dome. No one can get near them," warned Minerva, her eyes glistening."

"MARY" Hermione screamed with a final sob before she suddenly rose into the air.

Remus closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. Hermione needed him, he was crying later, her outburst wasn't going to be easy and he just hoped she didn't inadvertently hurt anyone.

Just like in November, Hermione exploded and her dark magic was released and pushed everyone present back several feet. However, unlike last time, she was not silent, but screamed at the top of her lungs. Her scream was heartbreaking, everyone felt her pain. When her voice was gone, she fell sharply to the ground.

"Don't come any closer, she can still kill you."

"She is unconscious, Professor."

"All the more reason."

He took off his cloak and wrapped Hermione in it, taking care not to touch the young woman. He took one last look at Mary's corpse, swallowed his tears and slowly made his way back to Hogwarts, Hermione in his arms.

The students watched them go, as if everything they had experienced was a dream, but Mary's body in a pool of blood quickly brought them back to reality. The witch had a smile on her face, but her face was distorted by a grimace of pain.

"Dear students, I ask you to return to the castle and for those who are injured to go to the infirmary where Madam Pomfresh will treat you. Do not stay here."

At the stern look on their headmaster's face, the students obeyed and at the same time told the younger ones what had just happened. The Gryffindor seventh years stood there, staring at their friend's dead body. Lily broke away from James' embrace and knelt down beside her dead friend, followed by Alice and Dorcas. They wept together, arms around each other. The marauders, too, standing slightly back.

Mary McDonald had given her life to protect a secret of the utmost importance, the meaning of which only she knew. The loss hurt. It was the first of many, which would never seem to end.

Mary had given her life for the cause she deeply believed in, but this was unfair. She deserved to live, more than anyone else. Mary had sacrificed herself, so that thousands of people could live.

Hel Hogwarts, from the highest tower of the castle, looked on in desolation. Once again she had lost one of her children. But this time it hurt, very much. Mary was courage incarnate, a worthy member of Gryffindor House, but she was also wisdom itself, Ravenclaw would have welcomed her, she had a heart of gold, her loyalty never failed, Hufflepuff would have been proud to count her among its own, her ambition and cunning would have made her a perfect Slytherin. Yes, the loss of Mary McDonald was terrible. Hogwarts was losing its child and in another time she would have made a perfect Chosen One. Of Hogwarts and Time.