"ENOUGH!" Harry's shout broke Dumbledore's focus and Mary could escape the curse.

Students and teachers were all too stunned by what they witnessed to be angry or disgusted by the Headmaster's action.

The maraudeurs were all troubled and lost in their own thoughts, trying to digest the memory that had been released.

Harry, under Nott's watchful eyes, was checking on Mary. Making sure she felt fine, aside from the common dizziness, those kinds of spells left an aftermath.

"I do apologize. I wanted to see if what you were implying concerning the dark lord and yourself was true. Miss Winter, I am sorry, it seems my actions were rushed." Harry knew the Headmaster and his game too well to give his words credits. He did not care about Mary's well-being. His only problem was not taking his previous spell into account, he wanted to gather information but for himself only to play his game as he wished it. In the future, Harry was not Dumbledore's pawn and he would let Mary be one in the past.

"I am afraid it is rather late, dinner being longer than expected. If it suits you" Dumbledore paused watching Harry then Nott "I will let the Headboy of your houses and we will take care tomorrow of your time-turner troubles."

"Yes, it does suit us." Nott's reply was short and well-spoken as always. After a few encouragements from the Headmaster, students started to leave the hall. James excused himself and asked Lily if she could take care of the newcomers. Unseen by his friends, he went after the dark-haired Slytherin.

Mary saw Harry, Hermione and Ron follow Lily and the Maraudeurs. She turned her head and saw the Slytherins do the same thing. She chewed her bottom lip, she wanted to follow the Gryffindors. She did not want to be alone, and even less without Harry. During her second year, Harry and her had started to become friend and then like brother and sister. She was to use to late night with him; even falling asleep together, one under the cover and the other above. No, Dumbledore's proposition did not suit her well.

She felt a hand on her arm and met a Ravenclaw's compassionate eyes. They followed the fifth years to the dorm and were left alone. She was not sure her friends were going to be. The girls felt asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. Mary spent hours looking at the ceiling, the locket still clutched in her hand.

... / ...

In the Gryffindor's boys dorm the atmosphere was the opposite. Harry, Fred and Georges were being watched Peter, Sirius and Remus; James hadn't come back yet.

In the seventh years' dorm, two additional bed had been placed near the entrance for the twins. Harry had followed the twins to spend time with the maraudeurs and mostly Sirius. Despite his reckless personality, he was the only paternal figure he ever had, and Harry deeply missed him.

Ron went to the fifth years' dorm, probably trying to avoid any students that might ask for answers.

Harry tired of Sirius's stare at him, raised his eyes, silently letting Sirius know he could ask him questions.

"Am I dead ?" Harry rolled his eyes even though his whole body went stiff, his hands gripped tight to the mattress.

"Yes" came the soft strangled reply.

Remus, seeing Sirius needed time to process his future self's death, took the opportunity to speak. He had recognized himself in the memory, and they saw Sirius, but James and Peter had been absent. Remus was troubled by James absence, there was no doubt in his mind that James would come to rescue his son from any situation. "Is James also dead ?"

Hermione and Mary had insisted on many occasions that playing with time was dangerous; but Dumbledore had ensured their presence remained a secret. Besides, Harry wanted to try to start from the beginning, being in the past was an opportunity to rewrite the story, his story. He would probably need help, and in case of failure, he would console himself by cheering on the memories with his parents and uncles.

"I never knew James." Was his response, if he wanted to close to them he knew he would have to start with honesty.

He was met with three shocked set of eyes.

"What happened to James ?" and "What about your mother Lily ?" Next were Sirius and Remus questions.

Harry gripped his hair. "Listen, I don't know what I can tell you and what I can't. I think we should wait till tomorrow and I could ask the others... even Dumbledore." Their faces were puzzled, his uncles were clearly ready to ask more questions.

"Can you tell the twins I will see them tomorrow and that, I will be fine tonight." This was the safest option thought Harry. He slowly and regretfully rose from the bed and left the room before the twins were out of the bathroom.

During his traumatizing experience in fourth year, Harry had started to sleep with Mary, or the twins when she was unavailable. For the first time, a year and a half later, Harry spent the night alone looking at the ceiling in the fifth year's dormitory.

... / ...

Unable to close her eyes during the night, Mary decided to be up early. She put on the ravenclaw's robes, which had been left, neatly fold, on her nightstand. She went to the bathroom and decided to part her hair in two French braids today; if they had permission for Quidditch's exercise this hairstyle would be the easiest against the wind.

Mary slowly made her made toward the Great hall, hoping none or only a few would already be up. She knew Theodore would be, the Nott's heir was an early bird, maybe she could talk to him.

Her eyes caught Theodore's figure as soon as she stepped into the Great hall. She had recognized his brown curls with side parts anywhere. Unfortunately, he was with others Slytherins and not the ones from their timeline.

Theodore always observant and alert turned toward the entrance when his eyes registered movement. Mary's body was already facing him but she was hesitant to joined him. Would it matter in the 1970 if a Ravenclaw was sitting with a Slytherin ? She was not a Gryffindor, there was no house rivalry but her friends (expect Luna) were all Gryffindors ; sometimes students and teachers even forgot she was not a Gryffindor herself. Would it be the same here? She wanted, or needed, to talk to Theodore, Harry and the twins. Perhaps she could talk to him later, in the library, the hallways or the Come-and-go-room.

Theodore's head moved and looking in his light blue eyes she understood she could walk forward.

Once she reached him, she seated at his right. Theodore turned to face her, his body movement making his woody scent even more present. The raising sun on his beige skin was making his freckles shine.

"Good morning Mary. This is Narcissa Black." Theodore showed the girl on his left. Mary had never seen Narcissa and she could not deny that the girl was really beautiful. However, her eyes were cold; Mary didn't try to utter a word.

Theodore's hand made a motion to the person seated in front of Narcissa. "This is Bartemius Crouch junior, next you have Evan Rosier and Regulus Black. They are sixth-years students." Theodore already had sought out the less willingly death eaters.

"You pushed me, why ?" She heard herself ask Evan Rosier. This was probably not the best way to start a conversation, she thought when Evan's angry glare focused on her.

"I did not push you, I never saw you before yesterday. If I were to guess why my future self pushed you, I would say it has probably something to do with the quality of your blood." His voice was sharp like a razor blade, obviously, this was the wrong subject to start a conversation with. However, Mary didn't back away and click her tongue.

"That wasn't really what I was asking. If you have to guess, why would your future self push me and not hex me like a good vengeful death eater ?"

She felt Theodore's foot slightly crush her left toes. She understood the warning; if she didn't get a satisfying reply she should drop it, and not mess up the small trust that had been built by Theodore.

She turned her head and looked at Theodore's plate : fruits, yogurt, and something else. "What is this ?" She said, mentioning something similar to bread.

"This is pain perdu with brioche. The plate is next to Regulus if you want some." She glanced at the plate and then the one called Regulus. He was pretty handsome, she thought, his dark wavy hair framed his face perfectly. His face was marred by a scorn and a non-friendly glare. "There also is porridge." Continued Theodore.

"Yuk, porridge is for summer only. I cannot eat, it's not time yet. And I think I should eat with the Gryffindors or the Ravenclaws to avoid Ronald's shouting." Mary indeed had a rule, she had eaten enough porridge in her life and she would not put a spoon of porridge in her mouth while at Hogwarts.

Seeing students arrived in the Great hall, she turned toward Nott and became more serious. "Theodore, do you know what we can say ? Do you think Dumbie is going to be in my head again ?"

Bartemius, Evan and Regulus were listening without hiding it.

"I would" came a malicious voice. Bartemius brown eyes were fixated on them. "I would pry into those of you who cannot block me out." Mary couldn't decide if she liked his honesty or not.

"Dumbledore will surely ask us before doing it. The headmaster likes his chest board too much to let such an opportunity slip. We don't really have a choice if we want the professors' help." How Theodore was so unbothered by the situation was a mystery. Pureblood education probably. She scrunched her forehead, wanting to reply when laughter she knew reached her.

Two identical red-haired men were passing the doors, happily chatting with the maraudeurs. Fred winked at Mary when he noticed her. She turned once more towards Theodore's perfect turquoise-colored eyes. "The twins are there, Harry will soon be too. I will see you later." She said lightly and with a smile. She rose and paused looking at the fourth fifth-year Slytherin, puzzled; what was the right behavior, saying good day or ignoring them? After only a few seconds, she decided on the latest. Evan and Bartemius weren't really nice, Narcissa and Regulus had ignored her so she would ignore them. She made her way to the Gryffindor's on this last thought.

She wasn't even seated on the bench when George decided to pry. "Do I have to buy flowers and new robes ?" Fred started to make dancing moves. She saw the maraudeurs exchange looks lost on the meaning of the teasing.

"I'm ignoring you both." Mary pouted. "Good morning professor Lupin, Sirius.Eh... nice to meet you James and Peter?" She continued, with a questioning tone. She was rewarded with bright smiles from Sirius and James, a surprise one from Remus. Peter didn't even raise his head from his plate. She recognized Harry as soon as he stepped into the free spot next to her.

"Awful night. Did you get any sleep ?" Harry whined while helping himself to eggs and sausages. "It's 7:30 am." He added. Mary started pulling herself some food and some of this pain perdu.

"What can you tell us about the future ?" Hushed an excited Sirius. "Mini James wanted to wait for you and the other girl." Mary raised an eyebrow at Harry who shrugged. He was trying to avoid his father, who did not seem pleased with the news of his existence, and the Pettigrew's situation. And she was the one who had to deal with the questions.

"The map is a piece of art." Cut in George with a grin. Fred raised his cup of coffee in toward Sirius. "50% of our success." Sirius and James eyes gleamed with mischievousness.

"I do not know if it is worth selecting and explaining some of the future when we know Dumbledore is going to force us to share our memories." She felt Harry's tension and anger rose at the thought. Mary let her head fall to the side connecting with Harry.

"Are you together ?" Blurred James, interested for the time in his son.

"No" were the simple simultaneous replies.

Mary and Harry were glad, despise their houses, they had managed to find each other. Their energy matched and it felt as if they belonged together but not romantically.

Ron and Hermione were amongst the latest students. Harry having taken the only free seat next to them, they had to form a second group at the front of the table, near the entrance.

Dumbledore tried to get everybody's attention, and Harry freezed instantly, his muscles locking up.