Book II: Age of the Pheonix

Chapter XIII: Mary Mary Quite Contrary

Daydream Believer - The Monkees

TW: S-Assault. It was unclear exactly what happened between Mulciber and Mary in 1976 but we know he assaulted her either physically or with magic. If you think this will be triggering, you can skip the flashback (in italics) and start the chapter in 1980.

Hogwarts - June 1976...

Mary MacDonald chased Severus Snape out of the potions classroom as the last class of the day finished. Students made their way up to supper, quite carefree as the term drew to a close. Nobody could hear Mary shouting after the Slytherin boy as a springtime storm raged outside and sent the sounds of thunder through the castle. The dungeons under the Black Lake though remained still and quiet, so she knew Snape was ignoring her call. Mary impatiently stopped and aimed her wand ahead of him, "incendio." A spark of a flame hit the wall beside him before he was able to round the corner. "Now stop and talk to me!" she said.

"What, for Merlin's sake?" He hissed back at her.

"I know you're avoiding me because I caught you outside Gryffindor tower."

"So?"

"So you were there all last night and into this morning."

"I repeat... so?"

"So I don't think most Slytherins are keen on napping outside Gryffindor tower for the ambiance."

"Well most Hufflepuffs aren't usually keen on sticking their nose in other people's affairs, yet here you are."

"It's because of Lily, isn't it?" She asked as she neared him. Snape refused to answer. "The whole school has heard about it, Severus. We know what you called her. We know you only did it because that pathetic Avery was with you. I know you didn't mean it, otherwise you wouldn't have waited outside Gryffindor tower all night to apologize."

"So what concern is it to you? If Lily doesn't want to hear what I have to say, then why should you bother being her messenger?"

"I'm not. I just wanted to tell you that I let her know you waited for her. Even if you two don't get a chance to talk, she should know you're trying to apologize and be a better person."

"A better person?" He scoffed. "I see. You think I'm broken. You think I'm a puppy that needs saving from a puddle? I get so damn tired of you working your wiles on this school MacDonald."

"My what?"

"You and Alice Crouch strut around like you own the place. You manipulate people's emotions to get them to like you. You'd flirt with the whomping willow if you could. Now you're going to turn to me and treat me like a charity case? Well, maybe you should just do us all a favor, and mind your own damn business for once." He turned on his heel and stormed toward Slytherin common room, leaving her alone in the quiet hallway.

Mary sighed as he left. She stood there a while feeling defeated before she heard someone snicker behind her. Turning she saw the Mulciber boy towering over her. "Going to make some more racist cracks today, Mullciber?" He didn't say anything but just smiled at her in an eerie way. "Nothing? Fine. Let me pass."

"I heard you got top marks in Divination. That whacko teacher said you could be a Seer if you tried."

"If being the main word there. I don't have time to study more than I already am right now."

"Well you should consider it. I find lots of young ladies like you always regret it when they don't trust their intuition. Bad things happen. They live with regrets. I don't want you living with regrets, MacDonald."

"I'm doing fine thanks," she tried to shove past him but he grabbed her arm and yanked her back then pinned her against the stone wall.

"Go on, MacDonald. Try using your women's intuition. Tell me what's going to happen next."

"What's going to happen," she shuttered a breath, "Is you're going to let me pass."

"Nope. Try again," he laughed.

"What?" Mary asked, trying to remain calm as the cold stone wall pressed against her back. "You're going to hex me?"

"You're getting warmer, but that isn't the wand I was thinking of using on you..."

Mary's complexion turned to ash pale as she realized. In the moment of vulnerability she felt as if she could see right into his mind. She felt the images in his head and could feel the sick and sadistic emotions running through his soul. She elbowed him in the gut and tried to run, dropping her books on the floor.

"Oh no you don't," Mullciber shouted, "Come here, ya little slut." He wrapped his arms around her and laughed as Mary tried to fight back. "Think you can come manipulate Snape and get away with it? He was right about you, using your wiles on this school. Well, it's my turn to appreciate what you have to offer."

"Help! Snape! Someone!" She shouted but Mulciber covered her mouth with his strong hand as she flailed in his grasp and the thunder outside masked her cries.

"Think you can go around flirting with the entire school and it won't come back to bite you, MacDonald? Well don't worry. When I'm done with you, you'll know your damn place." He then pulled her into the empty potions classroom and slammed the door shut.

Knockturn Alley - January 1980...

The meeting in Borgin And Burkes came to a close as everyone gathered their assignments. Snape was to go investigate the Hogshead where Tonks and McKinnon had been spotted while the rest, to Bellatrix's frustration, attempted to catch and convert those selected by Voldemort to join their ranks. The options were simple - join or die. The main gossip of the room, however, focused on the return of Crabbe at the Malfoy's doorstep.

"Can we believe anything this idiot says," Padraig Mulciber spoke up regarding the news of Crabbe's discovery. "Isn't he the one who fucked up in the first place and let McKinnon Castle stand?"

"Victor Crabbe, as you notice, isn't here for a reason. He may have given us his shot at redemption but it will take more to prove himself worthy to join us again. First we see if there is any evidence of the Guardian being amongst Dumbledore's little gang. That's where you come in, MacDonald."

"Me?" Mary raised an eyebrow at Rudolphus.

"Crabbe's withholding the name of the Guardian because he knows that bit of information is the only ticket back into our ranks. See what you can find out about the Guardian at Dumbledore's next little gathering so we can avoid depending on the old man."

"Fine. Must I do everything?" She sighed and Mulciber, who sat at her side, wrapped his arm around her.

"She's got a point, ya know. She already admitted the Hogshead is where Dumbledore has his meetings. She helped us with the trap for Potter-"

"The failed trap," Bellatrix hissed.

"Perhaps she should lay low for a while," he turned and smirked at her, "At home, with me."

"No," Mary said standing, "No, I'll do it. After all, I did say 'yes' when Barty asked me to spy on the lot. Can't be picky, can I?" she moved away from him and moved towards the counter to pour herself some of the brandy Avery had brought. "What other pearls of knowledge did old Crabbe dish out for us?"

"He brought up your old friend, Prewitt," Lucious said as he kept an eye on her. "Said he and his brother have been spying on meetings. Whoever told him about the Guardian prophecy let that slip, so it would seem you're not the only spy in Dumbledore's midsts."

"The Prewitts aren't spying on our meetings," she said looking out the window. "If they were you could see their red hair for miles."

"Well there is only one way to find out is there," Snape suggested. "Next time we meet, we will have to set a bit of a trap just in case."

"In the meantime, we have our assignments," Rudolphus said.

"And Crabbe?" Max grunted. "Want me to force the name of the Guardian out of him?"

"Oh," Narcissa grumbled. "You're still here."

"And you're still pregnant. Aren't we so good at making obvious observations today?"

"Still sleeping around with werewolves?" She quipped. "Or are you two still just calling yourselves 'roommates'?"

"You're just bitter your little cousin had to leave because of his guilt for what he did."

"Don't worry about Regulus. I promised him you wouldn't be a concern of his again. I intend to keep that promise."

Max looked up at Bellatrix, "Can you control you sister?"

"Why?" She cackled, "I'm enjoying this."

"Enough!" The loud bark of Greyback came from the corner as he stood. "Max is in a bad mood. He lost something and it's taking us quite some time to replace it. If there's nothing else I need to hear though, I'll be leaving."

"This meeting hasn't ended, Fenrir. I dismiss you when I'm good and ready," Bellatrix snapped.

"Enjoy living in the delusion that you control me, ya batty witch. I've got some chores to attend to myself."

He stormed away and Bellatrix felt Narcissa gently take her wrist, "Let the beast wander in his own angst, Bella. We have work to do."

Bellatrix stroked her sister's cheek and smiled, "So we do."

Max followed Fenrir out while the meeting adjourned and stopped him. "Why do I get the feeling you aren't just coming out for a cigarette?"

"I couldn't sit in there with those fools anymore," Fenrir said, not caring if anyone inside still heard him. "You lot sit here thinking one step ahead and no further, half of you blinded by your own personal vendettas."

"Oi. You're one to talk."

"I won't be party to their self-destruction, Max. I'm a survivor. Since I was a kid with a bunch of gypsies, I learned to stay alive. The path this little cult is going down isn't even close to survival."

"Then what must we do, Fenrir? Tell me."

"Be more proactive. You don't like Regulus in your way? Then take him out. Delaney a mockery to your brother's memory? Then make her pay for it."

"Those aren't my methods. You know that." He put his hand on Fenrir's shoulder. "Your battlefield is bones and flesh. Mine is the mind. We can find a way to combine both of those methods for the cause-"

"Bloody cause," he mocked as he pulled away. "Let me be clear, Max. I don't give two shits about this cause. All I see is a means to an end. All I want is my kind rising to the top with no boundaries."

"And with our help, we can get you there." He leaned forward and whispered in his friends ear, "Think of it, Fen. Your kind, having no limits to what they can do. No monster hunters like Moody or McKinnon chasing you down. I'll get to be at Voldemort's right hand and you will be in charge of a whole new generations of werewolves."

"Is that a promise, Maxy?"

"Let me see what I can do," Max grinned and the two walked into the night together.

Inside, Mary was still clutching the brandy bottle as Snape approached her. "I have to admit, MacDonald, I never expected you to be so loyal to our cause."

"Oh here we go again," she sighed.

"I'm just saying you seemed rather sympathetic to Lily and Potter at the Ministry yesterday."

"It's called acting, Snape. Maybe if you crawled out of your hole in Spinners End every now and then and made a trip to West End, you'd realize people can put on quite a show when they wish it." She glanced up at his somber face and muttered, "What?"

"I don't trust you?"

"That's not true," she said. "You just can't quite read me the way you do everyone else and that scares you."

"And how would you know that?"

"Because... I'm the same way with people. Doesn't mean we can't be friends. Besides, who else here has the decency to wish you a happy birthday? Twentieth, right? Big year..." Snape didn't reply, mostly due to his surprise she'd remembered a date he never told her. His concentration broke as she nearly choked on her next sip of brandy when she felt Mulciber wrap his arm around her.

"Is Snape bothering you, Mary?"

"No, Padraig." She set down the glass, "But I should go. Need to go keep up appearances."

Padric grabbed her wrist as she passed and whispered, "How about a wee kiss before you go?"

Mary rolled her eyes, but peck him on the cheek quickly. It must have been too quickly for Mulciber's satisfaction because he grabbed her chin and forced her to plant a kiss on his lips before shoving her away and laughing. "Weak bitch. Good thing you have me around to protect you. Because I always will be... around, that is." Mary gave an embarrassed look to Snape before leaving Borgin and Burkes.

Later at the Room of Requirement...

"This is stupid," James grumbled as he sat, arms crossed, with his foot propped up on the bench. "I've never been benched a day in my life. I had two sprained ankles and a broken arm one Quidditch match and kept playing."

"Only because you didn't tell anyone you were injured until after the match was over. Made sense though," Peter said. "We all saw you crying."

"Did not!"

"Your glasses fogged up and everything. Don't worry mate. It's just practice, and you don't need any. You're the best dueler I know."

"Thanks, Wormtail. Say, I never got the chance to tell you thanks for keeping an eye out for Lily. With the Guardian out there somewhere, knowing I can trust my friends means a lot."

"Right..."

"I mean it. If Sirius hadn't pulled Moony away during the moon and if Remus hadn't rescued me from the Ministry, I don't know what I'd do."

"Right... that was all them," he said sourly as the doors opened.

"Well look who it is," James said angrily as Mary MacDonald entered and made her way over to the Prewitts. "Someone who can use all the fighting practice they can get."

"What did MacDonald do?"

"Nothing. That's the point. She just stood there looking like an idiot instead of helping Lily or myself."

"James," Peter whispered, "Maybe it was because Mulciber was there."

"So?"

"So... did Lily never tell you what happened in school?"

"Well I knew he hexed her. The whole school knew that."

"It's more than that, mate." He gazed at the girl who gently pat on Fabian's arm and pulled him away from the others.

"Mary," Fabian beamed at his old friend, "Fashionably late, I see."

"Fabian. I need to tell you something."

"I know. I heard about the Ministry attack yesterday. Are you sure you're safe working in Barty's office?"

"Well I can't rightfully quit can I? How would Dumbledore get information?

"I still don't like it Is there something you needed to tell me?"

"Yes. I don't think you and Gideon should keep spying on Knockturn. At least not for a while."

"Why not? You think your boss is onto us?"

"Not just Barty. Him and his friends. Last time you went you risked a lot by stealing that book from Max's home. He won't soon forget that when he realizes it was you who took it."

"Don't worry about me, MacDonald. I'll survive," even as he said it though, he recalled of the warning from Seer Trelawney.

"You don't seem so sure," Mary said as she watched his expression shift. "Fabian? Are you worried about your safety."

"N-no," He stuttered but smugly said, "Why would you say that?"

"Fabian," Mary clenched his hand, "You mustn't dismiss a seer's prophecy. If she warned you about something-"

"Woah," He pulled back stunned, "How the hell do you know about that?"

"Ok, everyone!" Theseus Scammander said, stopping the conversations, "Circle up. Lots of ground to cover today. Luckily for you Potter, we aren't going to be sparring today. This is a charm you can do sitting down."

"A charm, sir? Not a defensive spell?"

"The events of this week showed Albus and myself that the inability to communicate with one another is causing problems. Lily and Peter's surprise encounter at the Ministry, Fabian getting lost in London-"

"I wasn't lost!" The redhead defended.

"And," Scammander goes on, "We can't ignore that one of you abandoned your faction and hid," he shot a look towards Remus. "It seems very apparent that we invent a method to communicate to one another. Owls can be followed too easily. Floo networks can be hexed as traps. Even the wizard homes that have started installing muggle telephones have found that an easy eves-dropping charm can compromise their communication."

"What about smoke signaling?' Sirius asked. "I sent a message through the fireplace smoke to James' house one summer."

"It only works if two people are near a fire."

"Two way mirrors? Sirius and I have some," James offered.

"Almost every shop in town is sold out. Families are growing nervous and going into hiding, so most mirrors have been plucked up. Besides they can be compromised by Death Eaters or smashed. We need a method of communication that is specific to you. It has to be something that cannot be stolen from you or disguised as someone else."

"A patronus." Lily said.

Scammander beamed, "Always was the brightest in my class, Mrs. Potter. Yes. A patronus charm can't be manipulated by anyone but it's owner. It's true light magic, so it can't be tampered with by a hex. It takes a form that is specific to its owner and obeys the intensions of the one who cast it. Today, we are going to teach them to speak."

"Patronus charms can speak?"

"A little invention of Dumbledore's," he smiled. "But first I need to make sure everyone remember's their lessons from their last year of school. Mr. Longbottom. Will you demonstrate?"

"Of course, sir. I remember how it's done."

"You have your happy thought in mind?"

"Every day of my life is happy with Alice, sir," He winked at his wife.

"Gag me," Sirius grunted at the overly sappy comment.

"Maybe someone should," Marlene grumbled to herself despite being in earshot of Sirius himself. Sirius seemed a bit offput at the comment and glanced at Angus who averted his gaze. Sirius thought after Marlene's discovery of the diary that she'd start trusting him again, but now she seemed distant from everyone.

"Expecto Patronum," Frank cast. As the light left his wand, an Aardvark patronus emerged with his long snout and tall ears. It shuffled around the air, taking a few laps around Franks lead before vanishing.

"That's your Patronus?" James cackled, "An ant-eater?"

"Oi! It's an Aardvark!"

"Easy boys easy. Let's not get into a match on who's patronus is bigger."

"Because mine would win," James grumbled under his breath.

The room gathered closer as Frank cast his patronus again. Scammander showed him how to capture the attention of the patronus, like a pet, and deliver a message.

"Now then, Longbottom. Think of a message and send it over to Potter."

Frank smirked and leaned down. He whispered to the small form and it nodded before vanishing into the mist of light. It circled the room a moment then reappeared in it's form in front of James.

"Well?" James said. The Aardvark perched on his knee and a voice emerged saying, "Deer get ticks" James shot a look at Frank who just winked at him and rejoined the group as everyone clapped at the display.

Scammander reclaimed everyone's attention and said, "Who is next? Madeye?"

"No thank-ye..." The older Order member said from his seat in the corner.

"But you helped Dumbledore come up with the idea."

"I dont' need anyone knowing my business. In case you kiddies have forgotten your lesson, a patronus says a lot about your past, your character, your soul. I won't have you lot prying into my life."

"I'll go next," Fabian offered, "I never did master this in school, so I don't really know what my patronus is. Hopefully it works. Expecto patronum." As he cast the spell, his light flickered a bit, but eventually grew into a large beast. Everyone had to step back to make room. "Woohoo!" He screamed with glee. "It's massive! It's amazing! It's... what the hell is that?"

Theseus chuckled and said, "That is an Erumpet, lad. A very friendly creature and filled with happy thoughts themselves. You'd be wise not to turn your back on them during mating season though."

Everyone giggled and Mary stepped beside Fabian as he admired the large patronus, "Makes sense. You always were the positive one."

"Thanks, Mary. What's your patronus?"

"I never could get it to work. Not enough happy thoughts I guess."

"I can't believe that. Come on, I'll help you."

Everyone began to practice. Sirius' hound bounded around Lily's Doe while Gideon's lion chased after Alice's white swan. James sat on the sidelines, casting his Stag and having it walk around the room with sassy messages, personalized to everyone. Tabitha walked behind her fox as it approached Remus. She whispered in its ear then the fox asked him, "not going to play today, Remus?"

"Not in the mood," he sighed.

"Well, I don't blame you," she waved away the fox and it vanished into the air. "Probably a bad-night's sleep, right?"

He gave her an embarrased look but said nothing.

"Sleeping on that couch downstairs probably was hard for someone as tall as you."

"Tabitha... I just didn't want to."

"Be with me..."

"I didn't want to wake you up."

"Right," she crossed her arms and Remus wished to wrap her in a hug and say that none of this was her fault, but knew it wouldn't matter. "So," Tabitha said, "What's your patronus?"

"Non-Corpreal. Doesn't take the form of an animal."

"Why not?"

"When a person wants to hide their identity, their patronus won't take a form. You heard what Madeye said. The Animal displays someone's soul. I guess if your soul doesn't want to come out, then you'll never know what your spirit animal is. And you just stay tucked away, and hidden, and..."

"And you sleep on the couch," she whispered to herself.

"Tabs..."

"Do you realize you can't send messages this way?"

"I know."

"So if something happens to you, you can't send for help."

"I know."

"Is keeping your soul away from us worth it? Is it worth risking your life?"

"Madeye over there doesn't have a problem with it," he grumbled somewhat sourly. "Why should I?"

"Because Madeye has years of experience. He's seen it all."

"Yes. He has... more than we realized."

Tabitha wanted to press on, but knew with Remus' guard up he wouldn't continue. She just glanced at Peter who held his head low and said, "And what about you Pettigrew? What's your spirit animal?"

"Delaney," James spoke up quickly. "Could you tell my wife that this wound is starting to itch? She should have brought some medicine to help with that."

"Oh, sure." She looked back to Remus who shrugged away from her before going back to practice.

"Thanks, mate," Peter whispered to James with Tabitha was gone.

"Nobody has to know you still can't cast a patronus, Peter. I know how it embarrasses you."

"Add it to the list of things I can't do."

"Chin up mate. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."

The evening dragged on and Fabian had finally assisted Mary in casting her charm, an Occamy beast. Professor Thesues explained that this magical beast, though small in size, can grow or shrink to adapt to its environment, meaning its caster is someone who tends to change themselves to accommodate others.

"I guess it fits. A beast that craves attention and hides their true self in order to just fit in," Mary sighed.

"Well don't forget what else we learned about them," Fabian said. "Occamy's are rare and their eggshells are valuable. Their colors are magnificent. What they give to the world is beautiful and selfless."

"More like what they leave behind in the world..."

"Still. I told you we would get that patronus out of ya. What was your happy thought?"

She grinned at him and said, "Would you like to know."

The patronus practice had ended and now the dueling commenced. Marlene sat in a bad mood beside Marvin as she watched Sirius and Frank battle it out.

"Galleon for your thoughts?" Marvin said.

"They are worth a great deal more than that, brother."

"Marlene. Angus just wanted to protect you. That's what big brothers do."

"I'm not a little girl anymore."

"No, but that doesn't make us any less your big brothers."

"Oi, McKinnon!" Sirius called to Angus, "Having trouble with your patronus over there?"

"Leave him be, Black," Marvin called as he knew his brother's patronus, like Remus' was non-corporeal.

"Non-corporeal patronuses normally mean you're hiding something you know," He said. "So what have you been hiding?"

"What are you getting at Black?" Angus grumbled, knowing full-well what Sirius was suggesting.

"Read any good books lately?"

"Sirius," Frank warned. "Maybe you should just focus on our duel."

"No, Longbottom," Angus said and stepped forward. "Black wants to duel, then fine."

He took his stance across from Sirius and aimed, the battle that had been a long time coming finally in front of them.

"No." Marlene said as she shoot and stepped between the two. "My turn."

"Marley-"

"Stay out of this, Marvin."

Sirius smugly crossed his arms. "By all means, McKinnon. You're right. It's your turn. Show Angus what you've been holding back."

"Fine," she said. "I will." Marlene turned away from her brother though and instead aimed at Sirius who barely had time to react. She charged forward sending spells. James was tempted to stand and defend his friend as the petit blonde sent some impressive shots his way, but Sirius held his own.

Still he was surprised. "McKinnon, what the hell?!" Sirius said as he stood his ground, "I'm not the one who lied to you about the damn book!"

"This isn't about that stupid book!" She shouted. The fireplace on the edge of the room began to roar and Madeye jumped and hurried to the fight.

"Enough!" He grabbed Marlene around the waist, hoisting her backwards from the fight as Frank stepped in front of Sirius to calm him down. "We don't need the whole school set ablaze by your temper, McKinnon!"

"He lied to you, Marlene. Not me!" Sirius shouted over Frank's shoulder.

"Angus told me what happened! He told me everything! You don't know shit, Black!"

"Everything!? So he told you what he did to us?"

"What he did doesn't matter! You still had a choice and you chose yourself!"

"You don't know anything about me, kid!"

"What's Arista Therlow's patronus, Sirius? A bloody vulture?"

"Stop it!" Suddenly there was charging Erumpet through the room, distracting everyone from the fight and Fabian took a breath. "Everyone shut it."

"Does someone wish to tell me what this is about?" Theseus asked but nobody answered. "The lot of you have been on edge all evening. Half of you won't speak to the other half. There's no room in this Order for childish grudges. Whatever has happened between the lot of you, you settle it now and with your words. Understood?" The room nodded as Moody set down Marlene and Theseus just sighed, "I'm getting too bloody old for this. Everyone go home and get some sleep. We will resume this next time."

Everyone gathered their things and rejoined their factions, Sirius keeping his distance from Marlene who stayed as islated as she could. Mary was the first to depart which James didn't take kindly too, thinking he and Lily were still owed an apology for her lack of help at the Ministry. Still the Potters assembled their group and made their way home.

When everyone was gone, Theseus and Madeye sat alone in the room. The sound of Moody's flask uncorking was heard and he passed it to Theseus who took a swig. "That was a nightmare. What's gotten into the McKinnon girl? And then Remus, he barely spoke to anyone."

"I think they know," Moody said, "About Atticus."

"Ah," Theseus nodded. "That would explain it. Do you think they know about your involvement?"

"Lupin surely does. Didn't you see him starring daggers at me all night?"

"Alestor," Theseus warned, "They can't live in secrets from one another. It's time they knew the full truth."

"The boy turns twenty next month, Scammander. You know what your brother found in his studies on werewolves. There's no hope for him."

"We don't know that Remus will lose his soul. He's stronger than most."

"Do you think Potter tripped on a garden gnome and got himself in that state?" Moody snapped. He shook his head. "No... he's been attacked. I'm sure of it. We've got to tell Lupin what he's in for. It's the only."

"Do you think they'll ever mend things?" James asked that night as he sat in bed, sketching his patronus on his drawing pad.

James looked up after a moment of thought. "You know what's sad, is that I don't know who you mean. Marlene and Sirius? Sirius and Remus? Remus and Tabitha? Tabitha and Sirius? Sirius or Angus? Angus or-"

"Marlene and Sirius, I mean."

"I don't know, love. They both are so bloody stubborn."

Lily sighed from her seat at the vanity where she was just finishing brushing her hair and pulling it back for bed. "They are letting things fester too long. Both of them have so much pride."

"They refuse to allow themselves any feeling," he sighed.

"No. That's not true. They feel everything. Every somber stare. Every remark. Every smirk or scowl. They feel it. So does Remus. So does Tabitha. So does Angus. All of us feel something to some depth. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to conjure a patronus."

James pencil broke and Lily looked up in the mirror at him. He took off his glasses and mumbled, "Why'd you have to go and say that?"

"What is it?" When he didn't answer she said, "Oh, Peter."

"I always thought he just couldn't get the wand movement right, or maybe he didn't have a strong enough happy thought. But we gave him so many happy memories, didn't we? He says we did. If he can't cast a patronus, then did he even really feel happy in those moments?" James looked his wife in the eye, "Mary had trouble at first, right? And she got it."

"Mary went through something traumatic, just like Peter did. Only difference is that today, she enlisted the help of someone she could trust. With Fabian, she's always felt safe. On her own, she freezes up and shuts people out."

"But Peter is never on his own."

"Isn't he? Sometimes we mistake being alone with loneliness. They aren't always the same thing, James."

"Well the lads and I are better company than bloody Fabian. No offense to him, but it's not like he's that close to Mary. He's older than her and was in a different house." He caught Lily's gaze and softened his tone. "What?"

"I'm going to tell you about Mary, James. I only do this so you can stop being so bitter about her lack of help yesterday. It's because Mulciber was there."

"Peter suggested something to that affect. What actually happened between those two?"

Lily set down the brush and walked over to the bed, sitting next to him. "Once you hear it, you can't speak to Mary about it. I don't want her knowing you know. She never wants to be treated like a weak person who needs saving."

"Tell me Lils. I swear I won't share it."

"Ok," She took a breath. "You remember how Mulciber always chased the girls around and teased them with hexing?"

"Bloody maggot. I'm just grateful it was only hexing and nothing worse."

Lily sat silently and waited until James was focused on her again and she said, "Well... that's the thing..."

As she told her story, the January winds howled outside. Remus curled up on the sofa but stayed awake as he thought of Tabitha upstairs who, unknown to him, was tossing and turning with nightmares that plagued her. Sirius sat in the dark, listening to Peter's snores, but stayed up with his thoughts as he kept replaying the image of Marlene in his head. McKinnon castle was much the same, cold and damp on the winter evening but even colder in the wake of Angus' confessions. Only he was secretly in the warm embrace of his lover, Gideon, who managed to make all the bad moments fade away. The Longbottoms were safely tucked away at Benjy's, not knowing the plots that were brewing against them at the recent Death Eater meeting. The year had only just begun and the burdens were already weighing heavily on the young people who were destined to become part of history. The only question that remained, especially for Mary MacDonald as she lay curled up beside Padraig Mulciber that night, was what side of history they'd remain on and how they'd be remembered.

The Adventure Continues Next as we learn the secrets of Alestor Moody...

Author note: To anyone who has ever been a victim of S-assault. You did nothing wrong and you are not alone. The monsters on this earth are often hidden deep inside of people and too often they attack us when we least expect it. If you were ever harmed or assaulted and then gaslit into thinking it was your fault, know that isn't true. You're stronger than you know. - CC