By the Fireplace
It was their last year at Hogwarts, their last year of childhood before they were thrown into the middle of war.
As the sun slowly set, the group settled by the fireplace, some falling into sleep from the comfort of those around and by the heat of the flames.
They drank mulled wine, ate chocolate and sweets, and listened to faint music on the record player.
Remus stared into the flames as the others started drifting off, when he caught the gaze of Mary.
She looked back at him, and whispered.
"This is the last one isn't it? We won't all be together next year."
Remus nodded, and looked to where Regulus was sleeping.
The boy wouldn't be leaving Hogwarts with them, instead he'd be stuck with only Pandora and the other slytherins to talk to. Remus knew he wouldn't run away like Sirius, and feared Regulus wouldn't be able to stand up against his family.
"Not just Regulus", Mary whispered, "I won't be there."
"What?" Dorcas said, having woken up.
Mary swore, hoping it would only be Remus knowing for now.
"What do you mean you won't be with us next year?" They repeated, waiting for an answer.
Mary looked between the two as Remus smiled and carefully got off the sofa, moving Sirius' arm from around his waist.
He moved to sit next to Mary, putting an arm on her shoulder.
"You're not fighting", he said, knowingly.
She nodded, as Dorcas moved off their own sofa they were sharing with Marlene.
"Why not?"
Mary shrugged in response, "I don't see why I should have to."
"Because they're killing our friends!" Dorcas shouted, waking up others.
"Cas!" Remus whisper-yelled, before turning back to Mary.
"If you don't want to fight, then it's your right not to. No one should be forced to fight." he said, briefly glancing at Peter.
He knew Peter was reluctant to fight, but felt forced to by the others. But Pete was a follower, and as long as the others did, ze would fight too.
"What's going on?" Lily mumbled, slowly waking.
She looked over to the three, sitting on the floor by the fire.
"I'm not moving in with you lot next year", Mary said, outright.
Lily started trying to get up, moving Regulus' arm of her shoulder and James' head in her lap.
She sat down next to the others, "I thought you wanted to, so it's easier for us all with the order missions."
"She's not going to be on Order missions", Dorcas mumbled.
"You're not joining the Order?" Lily asked, confused, in which Mary shook her head.
"I don't want to fight."
"You're meant to be a gryffindor, being brave and sticking up for others. How can you just leave us?" Dorcas started shouting again.
"I'm not a soldier! I'm a kid! We're all kids, I'm not ready to sacrifice my life like the rest of you!" Mary shouted back.
"We won't die", Marlene said, joining in after being woken by the noise.
Remus scoffed.
They all looked at him.
"I just think at least one of us is probably going to die… which is of course, very bad, but still likely."
Sirius laughed from where they were still lying on the sofa, "more than one of us, I'd say", earning a laugh from Remus.
"Stop joking about us dying", Lily said, rolling their eyes.
"They're right, though. Some of you are going to die and I don't want to. I wish none of us were fighting but I know I can't persuade you not to, just as you can't persuade me to fight", Mary said, staring into the flames.
Dorcas watched her for a moment, hugging her knees and staring at the fire, and they realised she truly was terrified. Of dying, of watching her friends die. War was a terrible place. And they were still children after all.
Dorcas moved to hug Mary, they understood, "You'll still come to visit us, right?"
Mary nodded her head, returning the hug.
"I'll visit every Queermas", she said.
Sirius sat up, "You're part of our family, you have to or we won't have reason to celebrate. We need the whole family together. It won't be the same without you."
And as the others started going back to sleep, Remus looked over his shoulder to Mary and caught her eye once more.
"Will you really?" He mouthed to her.
He wasn't sure of the answer, but when her eyes widened and quickly turned away from him; he knew she wouldn't be coming back for the holiday.
He couldn't blame her. Coming back would be returning to the war. And she needed to leave that, which meant turning her back on her friends, her family.
For good.