Bravery can be dangerous

Mary was a quiet girl. A shy girl. She learned it was easier that way. Her mummy was always busy, whether with cooking, cleaning or working, she never had time to play. And daddy was scary sometimes. He'd get angry when she was too loud, too insisting. And the kids in preschool looked at her weird or touched her curly black hair and pinched her dark cheeks without asking. She felt alien. Different from everyone and wanted by no one.

She felt less lonely as she watched her little sisters grow up. Oh, how she adored them, Annie and Marie were the sweetest little girls and she was delighted to have sisters, to have friends. Her parents too seemed more attentive now that the family has grown, learning from their past mistakes.

School sucked though, Mary decided. The teachers were mean and the kids even meaner. Some tugged on her hair others called her horrible words and the teachers didn't really do anything. She had friends, sure, but sometimes she felt it was just pity. She felt different, and not in a good way.
So when the letter from Hogwarts came, just a few days after her 11th birthday, she was delighted. She felt like there was a place she belonged to now, a place she would be welcomed into with open arms.

-

And now she's here — walking through the train, dragging her bags after her as she giddily peeks through the compartment windows. However with every compartment she passes she feels her excitement turn to nervousness. There seem to be several people in every single one of the compartments... Oh God, they already have friends and she'll be lonely and make no friends and die alone, thank you very much!
She finds an empty compartment and decides to sit alone. She stands up on her tiptoes and somehow manages to maneuver her bags up into the net above the seats before sitting down. She looks out of the window. Oh. Looks like mum and dad already left. Didn't wait for the train to leave. She's pulled out of her thoughts as the compartment door swings open.

"How rude they were! Don't listen to them Sev', they're just- just- gits! Yes, that's it! I'm sure everyone else will be just lovel- oh. Hello! Sorry, didn't see you there."

Mary manages to smile at the chubby little red-headed girl, who was just passionately ranting a few seconds ago, and the pale skinny boy who enters after her.

"Oh, it's okay. Um, you can sit if you want."

The girl with the cute freckles smiles brightly and sits down, her friend follows begrudgingly.

"Thank you!" She scrunches her nose. "We were just by this other compartment, there were such rude boys! Ugh, I was already afraid we wouldn't find a single sensible person here! I'm Lily, that's Severus. It's nice to meet you,..?"

Mary smiles. Lily seems very talkative and her way of speaking is funny, Mary decides.

"Mary. Nice to meet you two."

The two girls chat for the entire train ride. Mary decides she quite enjoys Lily's company. She seems smart and compassionate and is just as excited for Hogwarts as she is. She's also muggleborn and Mary feels less lost now. She glances at Severus from time to time who stares out of the window with a sour expression. He's odd. But Mary doesn't mind odd. She'll grow to like him too, she's sure.

-

Mary's eyes are huge as she enters the Great Hall along with the other first years.

"Wow." Is all she can say and Lily next to her nods in agreement, eyes just as big as they take in the sight of floating candles, long tables, bright colors and- are those ghosts?! She's not sure if she's fascinated or terrified as she watches the first shaking student, "Bones, Amelia!" had Professor McGonnagal called out, sit down on the chair, an old, kind of disgusting looking hat placed on their head. Mary flinches surprised as the hat suddenly announces "Hufflepuff!" in a loud voice.
She hardly listens as the sorting continues, only vaguely registering that Lily is sorted into Gryffindor.

“McDonald, Mary!” calls Professor McGonagall, her sharp voice cutting through the noise.
The Great Hall buzzes with anticipation as Mary McDonald stepps forward, her palms slick against her school robes. She can feel the weight of a hundred curious eyes boring into her back. Somewhere behind her, someone whispers something encouraging, but Mary can't focus. She stares at the ancient, frayed hat perched on the stool. It seems to breathe, its mouth gaping like it might swallow her whole.
Mary steps up to the stool, knees shaking, and lowers herself onto it. The hat descends over her ears, and suddenly the hall falls silent.
“Ah, a muggleborn,” a voice purrs in her mind, deep and knowing. “How fascinating. And quite the complicated one, aren’t you? Let’s have a look…”
Mary freezes. She’d known this was coming—Lily had told her all about the Sorting Hat on the train—but she hadn’t expected it to feel so… intimate.
“A bright mind,” the hat muses, sifting through her thoughts. “Quick, curious, eager to prove yourself. Yes, you’ve faced much already, haven’t you? A fighter, through and through.”

Mary doesn't reply. Could she reply? Did she even want to?

“Hmm… but where to put you? Hufflepuff, perhaps. You have a deep well of loyalty. Your heart aches to be part of something, to be valued. Yes, you would thrive there, among those who see the worth in everyone.”

Mary bites her bottom lip. Hufflepuff sounded… nice. Comfortable. But is that all she is? Nice? Comfortable? She wants to scream at the hat, to tell it that she is more than that, that she has a fire in her chest that wouldn’t let her settle for just being "nice."

The hat chuckles. “Ah, there it is. A spark, a longing for something greater. You don’t just want to belong—you want to stand out, don’t you? To prove the world wrong about you.”

Yes, she thinkd fiercely, leaning into the words.

“And bravery, too. You’ll need it, for the path ahead will not be kind to you. It never has been, has it?” The voice softened, as though it could feel the ache she hid behind her shy smile. “But bravery can be dangerous. Are you ready for what it might demand of you?”

Mary’s stomach twists. She isn't sure. But she wants to be ready.

The hat falls silent for a moment, deliberating. Mary’s hands grip the edges of the stool. Then, finally:

“Gryffindor!”

The hall erupts into applause. Mary blinks as the hat is whisked off her head. She catched a glimpse of Lily grinning up at her from the crowd of students and feels warmth spread through her chest.

“Go on, then,” McGonagall says briskly, gesturing toward the cheering Gryffindor table.

Mary slides off the stool, her legs trembling. As she makes her way to her new house, she can't shake the hat’s words from her mind. Bravery can be dangerous.

But as the Gryffindors welcome her with open arms, she decides she’d rather be brave—and dangerous—than anything else.

Severus is sorted into Slytherin. Lily seems a bit disappointed but then the food appears and the magic of the moment doesn't leave much space for anything besides giddy fascination.

The Gryffindor table buzzes with laughter and chatter as Mary and Lily get comfortable their seats, plates heaped with roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and steaming vegetables. Mary bites into a buttery roll, her eyes darting around the hall in wonder. The floating candles and enchanted ceiling still leave her breathless.

“This is amazing,” Mary says, her voice muffled through a mouthful of food.

Lily laughs, a bright sound that makes Mary smile. “I know, right? It’s like something out of a dream.” She spears a piece of broccoli with her fork and pops it into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. Then, her expression shifts into one of annoyance. “Well, except for them.”

Mary follows Lily’s gaze across the table to a group of boys laughing loudly. One of them, a dark skinned boy with messy black hair and glasses, is gesturing wildly as he recounts something, his hazel eyes glinting with mischief. Beside him, a long dark-haired boy with a devil-may-care smirk lounges in his seat, tossing a grape into the air and catching it in his mouth.

“Who?” Mary asks, curious.

“Them,” Lily says again, jabbing her fork in their direction. “The one with the glasses is James Potter, and his mate with the long hair is Sirius Black. Absolute gits, both of them. I ran into them on the train with Severus, and they were horrible.”

Mary raises an eyebrow. “Horrible how?”

“They kept making fun of Sev’. James called him... what was it? Oh, a ‘greasy little snake,’” Lily says, her green eyes flashing with anger. “And Sirius just laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world. They think they’re so clever, just because they’re loud and cocky.”

Mary looks at the boys again. James is now ruffling his already messy hair, clearly enjoying being the center of attention, while Sirius leans over to whisper something to a sandy-haired boy with a kind face. That boy, Mary notices, chuckles softly but seems less animated than the others.

“They seem... lively,” Mary says diplomatically, taking a sip of pumpkin juice.

“Lively isn’t the word I’d use,” Lily mutters. “Arrogant, more like.” She pauses, her gaze shifting to the quieter boy. “Though, I suppose the one with the scars—Remus, I think?—didn’t really join in. He seemed... decent, I guess. But the little one.” She points at a round-faced boy who’s currently stuffing a biscuit into his mouth. “Peter. He just sat there, laughing at everything they said. Ugh.”

Mary hums in response, studying the group with a mix of intrigue and caution. “They don’t seem that bad,” she says carefully. “I mean, look at them—they just seem silly.”

“They’re bullies,” Lily insists, stabbing her mashed potatoes with unnecessary force. “Mark my words, Mary, those two—James and Sirius—they’re trouble.”

Mary glances over again, and this time, James catches her eye. He grins and winks exaggeratedly, making Sirius burst into laughter.

Mary snorts, unable to help herself. “They’re definitely... something.”

“Annoying,” Lily says firmly. But the corners of her mouth twitch, betraying the hint of a smile. “Just wait. You’ll see.”

Mary shakes her head, turning back to her food. She’s not sure what to think about the boys yet, but one thing is clear: life at Hogwarts is going to be anything but boring.

-

Mary and Lily push open the heavy oak door to their dormitory, their arms still sore from lugging their trunks up the Gryffindor Tower stairs. The room is cozy, with four-poster beds draped in red and gold curtains and a warm fire crackling in the corner.

“Oh, this is lovely!” Lily says, dropping her bag at the foot of one of the beds and flopping down dramatically.

Mary chuckles, taking in the room. She feels a sense of belonging settle over her. “It’s perfect,” she murmurs, setting her trunk down beside the bed nearest the window.

The sound of a throat clearing draws their attention. A tall girl with golden-blonde hair stands by the bed closest to the fireplace, her hands shoved into the pockets of her robes. She has a bashful smile but an unmistakable glint of mischief in her hazel eyes.

“Hi,” the girl says, her voice warm. “I’m Marlene. We'll be rooming together?”

Lily sits up, smoothing her robes. “Mhm! I'm Lily, that's Mary. It’s so nice to meet you.”

Mary offers a shy smile, feeling a little nervous. “Hi, Marlene. You’ve already settled in?”

“Yeah,” Marlene says, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Got here a bit earlier—thought I’d grab the best bed, you know.” She winks, and Mary can’t help but laugh.

Lily grins. “Fair enough. How’s your day been? Did you know anyone here before?”

Marlene nods, her smile growing. “I did, actually. I grew up with James Potter and Peter Pettigrew. They’re like brothers to me—annoying, loud, and impossible to get rid of.” She smirks. “You’ve probably met them already, haven’t you? They're hard to miss.”

Lily groans. “Don’t remind me. James was awful to my friend Severus on the train. I’m not sure I can forgive him for that.”

Marlene shrugs, flopping down on her bed and propping herself up on her elbows. “Yeah, James can be a prat sometimes, but he’s got a good heart. You’ll see.”

Mary tilts her head, studying Marlene. “What about Peter? He seemed... quieter.”

“Peter’s sweet,” Marlene says, her voice softening. “Bit shy, but he’s loyal to the core. And he’s hilarious once he warms up to you.”

Lily raises an eyebrow. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

The three girls laugh, and the tension melts away. They start chatting about everything: their lives before Hogwarts, their families, and what they’re most excited for. Marlene talks about how her parents were proud but hesitant to send her off to school, and Mary shares a little about her sisters.

When the yawns begin to set in, Lily pulls back her covers and stretches. “Alright, I’m knackered. Big day tomorrow.”

“Same here,” Marlene agrees, tying back her hair before slipping under her duvet.

Mary lingers by the window for a moment, gazing out at the dark sky dotted with stars. She climbs into bed, pulling the thick blanket up to her chin, and lets her mind wander.

Her first day has been everything she dreamed of and more. The wonder of the Great Hall, the magic of the Sorting Hat, and the kindness of her new friends swirl through her thoughts. She can’t help the grin spreading across her face as she hugs her pillow.

Tomorrow, her new life truly begins.

With a giddy excitement bubbling in her chest, Mary closes her eyes, ready to embrace whatever Hogwarts has in store for her.

-

The Gryffindor first-years shuffle into the dimly-lit Potions classroom, their excitement and nerves palpable. The room smells faintly of herbs and something acrid, and the shelves lining the walls are stacked with strange jars filled with unidentifiable substances.

Mary sticks close to Lily, scanning the room nervously. On the opposite side, the Slytherins file in with smug expressions, already casting glances at their Gryffindor counterparts.

“Ah, welcome, welcome!” Professor Slughorn’s jovial voice fills the room as he strides to the front. He’s a rotund man with a shiny bald head and a smile that makes him look like someone's weird uncle. “Today, we’re going to pair up and get straight to work! Nothing like brewing to bond, eh?”

Mary exchanges a look with Lily, but Slughorn is already assigning seats.

“Evans, with Lupin! Let’s see if you two can keep up with my instructions,” Slughorn says with a wink.

Lily gives Mary an encouraging smile before heading to sit beside Remus, who looks a little pale but offers Lily a polite nod.

“McDonald, with Black!” Slughorn announces, and Mary feels her stomach flip. She knows who Sirius Black is—everyone does, after the Sorting Hat spent nearly five minutes debating his placement before declaring Gryffindor and all the rumors and drama that caused.

Sirius saunters over to the table next to hers, a crooked grin on his face. “Lucky me,” he says, dropping into the seat beside her.

Mary narrows her eyes. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not.”

He chuckles. “Take it however you want.”

Marlene gets paired with a tall, serious-looking Slytherin girl named Dorcas Meadowes. The two exchange guarded glances before settling in. Meanwhile, James Potter is next to Peter Pettigrew, who looks nervous but eager to please.

“Right!” Slughorn claps his hands. “Today, we’ll be starting with a simple Boil-Cure Potion. Follow the instructions on the board, and I’ll be wandering about to assist.”

Mary glances at Sirius, who is leaning back in his chair, looking like he owns the place. “Are you actually going to help, or should I do this on my own?”

Sirius raises an eyebrow. “I’ll have you know I’m quite good at Potions.”

Mary snorts. “We’ll see.”

As they work, Sirius proves he’s not entirely useless. He chops the ginger roots with surprising precision, and Mary stirs the potion with careful concentration. They exchange quips as they go, laughing when Sirius almost drops a jar of porcupine quills.

“You’re alright, McDonald,” Sirius says, grinning as their potion starts to turn the correct shade of blue.

“You’re not so bad yourself, Black,” Mary admits, though her tone is teasing. She lets her gaze wander to her friends.

At the next table, Lily and Remus are working in quiet harmony. Lily occasionally asks questions, and Remus answers with a quiet voice. Mary notices that Lily looks impressed.

Meanwhile, Marlene and Dorcas seem to have struck up an unexpected rapport. Dorcas smirks as Marlene jokes about the overly complicated instructions, and the two seem to work surprisingly well together.

James, however, is less focused, spending more time trying to catch Lily’s attention than actually helping Peter, who is frantically measuring ingredients.

By the time Slughorn calls for them to stop, Mary and Sirius are leaning back in their seats, their potion a perfect turquoise. She has to admit she probably would've only done an average job if it weren't for Sirius.

“Excellent work, Black, McDonald!” Slughorn beams as he inspects their cauldron.

Mary grins, feeling a spark of pride.

As they pack up their things, Sirius nudges her. “Not a bad start, eh?”

Mary rolls her eyes but smiles. “Not bad at all.”

She glances over at Lily, who’s deep in conversation with Remus, and Marlene, who’s laughing at something Dorcas said. For the first time, Mary feels like she might actually belong here.

-

The Gryffindor table buzzes with chatter as the first-years dig into their lunch. Mary sits between Lily and Marlene, a mischievous glint in her eye as she glances at James Potter a few seats down. He’s twirling his fork like a wand, clearly trying to impress a group of second-years, but his eyes keep darting toward Lily.

“So, Lily,” Mary begins, her tone deliberately casual, “any thoughts on James Potter’s incredible show of charm today?”

Lily groans, stabbing at her mashed potatoes with a little too much force. “If by charm you mean arrogance, then sure. He’s insufferable.”

Marlene grins, leaning in conspiratorially. “Come on, Lil, you’ve got to admit it was a bit funny. The way he kept asking if you needed help with your cauldron this morning—while nearly dumping his own ingredients all over Peter.”

Mary snickers. “And don’t forget the part where he tried to levitate your quills for you and accidentally sent one flying into Flitwick’s tea.”

Lily’s cheeks flush a deep pink, but she crosses her arms defiantly. “He’s a show-off, plain and simple. I’ve got no time for boys like that.”

Marlene raises an eyebrow. “Boys like that? What about boys who manage to sneak extra dessert from the kitchens without getting caught? Hypothetically speaking, of course.”

“Hypothetically,” Mary echoes with a laugh, nudging Marlene.

Lily rolls her eyes, but a reluctant smile tugs at her lips. “You two are impossible.”

“Maybe,” Mary says, grinning, “but we’re not the ones staring at you like a lost puppy.” She gestures subtly toward James, who immediately pretends to be engrossed in a conversation with Sirius.

Lily groans again, covering her face with her hands. “I hate you both.”

“No, you don’t,” Marlene says cheerfully. “You love us. Admit it.”

“Maybe,” Lily mutters, but her smile gives her away.

The conversation shifts as they start to talk about their first day of classes.

“I thought Potions was great,” Mary says, spearing a piece of roasted carrot. “Though Sirius is a bit of a handful to work with. He kept trying to ‘improve’ the recipe.”

Marlene snickers. “Sounds about right. I had Dorcas Meadowes from Slytherin. She’s not half bad, actually. A bit sharp-tongued, but I like her style.”

“Really?” Lily asks, surprised. “She seemed so serious. What did you two even talk about?”

“Oh, you know, the finer points of potion-brewing,” Marlene says with mock sincerity. “And maybe how much Slughorn’s mustache looks like a caterpillar.”

They all laugh, and even Lily can’t hide her amusement.

“What about you, Lily?” Mary asks. “How was sitting with Remus?”

Lily perks up a bit. “He’s really nice. Quiet, but smart. He explained a few things I didn’t quite get. Definitely more tolerable than Potter.”

“High praise,” Marlene teases, and Lily swats her arm lightly.

As they continue chatting, Mary feels a warmth in her chest. The nervousness she’d felt that morning has melted away, replaced by the comforting sense of belonging. These girls—her friends—are exactly what she’d hoped for when she boarded the train.

For the first time in a long while, Mary thinks, maybe things really are looking up.

-

The library is quiet as Mary strolls in, her bag slung over one shoulder. The scent of parchment and ink hangs in the air, and the faint sound of quills scratching fills the space. She spots Lily, Dorcas and Remus seated at a table near the back, surrounded by a fortress of books.

“Hey,” Mary greets, sliding into a seat beside Lily.

“You’re late,” Lily teases, though her tone is light. “Where’ve you been?”

“Peter, Marlene, and I were down by the lake,” Mary replies, pulling out her notebook. “We were trying to see if the Giant Squid really does wave back if you’re polite enough.”

Lily rolls her eyes. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Maybe,” Mary grins, “but it’s also hilarious.”

Remus smirks but keeps his eyes on the notes in front of him. Mary catches the twitch of his lips and narrows her eyes playfully. “Oh, don’t think I didn’t hear about your antics earlier today, Lupin.”

Remus groans softly, glancing at Lily, who’s already shaking her head disapprovingly.

“I still can’t believe you let them rope you into that, Remus,” Lily says, her voice a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

“Let me?” Remus mutters, clearly uncomfortable. “I was… encouraged.”

Mary snorts. “Encouraged? He means they dragged him along.”

“What did they even do?” Dorcas asks, leaning closer with a glint in her eye.

Remus sighs, clearly reluctant, but expectant look from the others wins out. “They charmed all of Professor Binns’s lecture notes to float around the classroom like ghosts. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Sirius hadn’t added sound effects.”

Dorcas bursts out laughing, the mental image too much to handle. “Oh, no! What kind of sound effects?”

“Wailing,” Remus admits, flushing slightly. “And… chains rattling. Very dramatic.”

Mary too starts laughing, drawing the attention of a few nearby students. Even Lily can’t help but smile, though she folds her arms in mock disapproval.

“Honestly, Mary, don’t encourage them,” Lily says. “They’re going to get themselves expelled one day.”

“Or immortalized as legends,” Mary counters, her eyes sparkling.

Remus groans again. “Please don’t call us that. It’ll only make James worse.”

Lily shakes her head, clearly unimpressed. “It’s juvenile. Binns didn’t even notice, did he?”

“Nope,” Mary says, barely containing another laugh. “I bet he just carried on, wailing and all.”

“Pretty much,” Remus admits, though he looks like he’s trying not to laugh himself.

Their laughter grows louder despite themselves, and the sharp ahem of Madam Pince’s voice makes them all freeze.

“Quiet!” the librarian hisses, glaring at them from over the counter.

“Sorry,” they mumble in unison, though Mary’s shoulders still shake with suppressed laughter.

As they settle down, Mary exchanges a conspiratorial grin with Dorcas while Remus looks like he wants to disappear into thin air. Lily rolls her eyes again but can’t fully hide the twitch of a smile.

“You lot are hopeless,” she mutters, burying her nose in her book.

Mary smirks, leaning back in her chair.

-

The house feels smaller than Mary remembers. Or maybe she’s just grown. She stands on the threshold, clutching her trunk as her mother pulls her into a stiff hug.

“You’ve gotten taller,” her mother remarks, her voice clipped but polite.

“Yeah,” Mary replies, stepping inside and glancing around the familiar, yet distant space. The living room looks the same—faded sofa, cluttered shelves—but it feels... off. She notices her little sisters, Annie and Marie, giggling together on the rug, playing with some new toy. They barely notice her at first.

“Mary!” Annie finally squeals, jumping up and running to hug her. “You’re back!”

Mary’s heart softens as she kneels to hug Annie and Marie, their tiny arms wrapping around her like a lifeline. For a moment, she feels warmth, a flicker of the joy she used to associate with home.

But it fades quickly.

Her father’s voice booms from the kitchen. “Dinner’s almost ready. Don’t leave your stuff lying around.”

Mary swallows at his tone, even though it’s not particularly harsh. She picks up her trunk and carries it to her old room. It feels foreign now, the bed too cold, the walls too bare. She sits on the edge of the mattress and runs her fingers over the threadbare quilt, trying to ignore the lump forming in her throat.

At dinner, her parents ask about school, but their interest seems shallow, like they’re going through the motions.

“So, they’re teaching you magic tricks?” her father asks with a hint of skepticism, cutting into his overcooked meat.

“Not... tricks,” Mary says quietly, staring at her plate. “It’s real magic. Potions, spells, all sorts of things.”

Her mother hums distractedly. “Well, just don’t go turning anyone into a toad.”

The table erupts into laughter, her father chuckling as if it’s the funniest thing he’s ever said. Mary forces a smile, but inside she feels small, diminished, like she's not in on a joke.

The rest of the evening is more of the same. Her parents scold Annie and Marie for small things, but they don’t yell, not like they used to. Mary watches them, unsure whether to feel relieved for her sisters or bitter about her own childhood.

When she finally retreats to her room, she closes the door and leans against it, exhaling deeply. The house is too quiet now, yet her mind buzzes with noise.

She pulls out a piece of parchment and her quill, intending to write to Lily or Marlene. She wants to tell them how strange it feels to be here, how Hogwarts feels more like home than this place ever has. But the words don’t come.

Instead, she crawls into bed, staring at the ceiling until her eyes grow heavy.

This Christmas will be particularly hard, she's sure of it.

-

“Mary!” Marlene calls from a sofa near the fire, waving her over with an exaggerated grin. Lily sits beside her, unwrapping a small package, while Peter lounges on the floor, munching on chocolate. Remus is perched in an armchair, flipping through a book but clearly not paying attention to it.

“Back already?” Sirius, who stayed at Hogwarts over the holidays, teases from the corner, tossing a cushion at her. “Thought you might have decided to stay home with your charming family.”

Mary catches the cushion and throws it back at him with a smirk. “Miss me already, Black?”

“Not even a little.” He winks, but the grin gives him away.

She drops into an empty spot on the sofa next to Lily, who immediately nudges her with a wrapped parcel.

“This is for you,” Lily says, her green eyes sparkling with excitement.

Mary takes the package, her hands trembling slightly with surprise. “You didn’t have to—”

“Oh, hush,” Lily interrupts. “Open it!”

Inside, Mary finds a delicate silver bracelet with tiny star charms dangling from it. Her breath catches.

“Lily, it’s beautiful,” she whispers.

Lily shrugs, trying to look nonchalant. “I saw it in a shop before Christmas and thought it suited you.”

Mary slips it onto her wrist, admiring how it glints in the firelight. “Thank you. I love it.”

“Alright, enough of the sentimentality!” Marlene says, tossing a wrapped box at Mary. “Here’s mine. Open it, quick!”

Mary rips the paper to reveal a set of colorful quills, each one enchanted to sparkle or glow as you write.

“Thought you could use something to make all that boring homework more tolerable,” Marlene says, grinning.

“Or more distracting,” Remus mutters, earning a playful nudge from Marlene.

Mary laughs. “These are perfect. Thanks, Marls.”

She passes out her own gifts—a soft scarf for Lily, a tin of sweets for Peter, a leather-bound notebook for Remus, and a small set of enchanted playing cards for Marlene.

By the time Sirius hands out his gifts (mischievous trinkets that promise chaos, much to Lily’s exasperation), and James joins in with an overly elaborate presentation of Quidditch gear, the group is in high spirits.

As the night wears on, they gather closer to the fire, sharing stories about their holidays. Mary feels a warmth in her chest that has nothing to do with the flames.

She glances down at the bracelet on her wrist, tracing the tiny stars with her fingertips. Here, surrounded by laughter and friendship, she knows she’s exactly where she belongs.

It’s good to be home.

-

The spring air is crisp and fragrant as Mary, Lily, Remus, and Peter stroll across the Hogwarts grounds. The lake sparkles in the sunlight, and the hum of distant chatter and laughter from other students fills the air. Mary adjusts her scarf against a gentle breeze and nudges Lily, who’s skipping a little ahead.

“Slow down, Lils! Where’s the fire?” Mary teases.

Lily glances over her shoulder, a playful grin on her face. “No fire, just—oh! There’s Sev!” She quickens her pace, waving to a figure standing under a tree near the edge of the grounds.

Mary watches Severus Snape look up from a book, his sallow face lighting up slightly at the sight of Lily. He gives her a small wave in return.

“Ugh, him again,” Peter mutters under his breath, kicking at a loose pebble on the path.

Remus sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Does she always have to talk to him?”

Mary frowns, glancing between the boys. “What’s your problem with Severus? He’s always seemed alright to me.”

Peter snorts. “You mean besides the fact that he’s a moody git who skulks around with a bunch of future Death Eaters?”

Mary narrows her eyes. “Maybe he’s just shy. Not everyone’s a social butterfly like you, Pettigrew.”

Remus interjects more calmly, his tone almost apologetic. “It’s not just that, Mary. He... associates with people who think your kind—our kind—don’t belong here. That’s not exactly reassuring.”

Mary crosses her arms, her gaze drifting to where Lily is chatting animatedly with Severus. “People can have bad friends without being bad themselves, you know.”

Peter rolls his eyes. “Sure, keep telling yourself that when Mulciber or Avery pulls their next stunt. He never stops them, does he?”

Remus shrugs but says nothing more. Mary scowls, wanting to argue, but her attention is drawn to Lily returning, her cheeks flushed.

“What’s all the whispering about?” Lily asks, smiling but slightly suspicious as she rejoins the group.

“Nothing,” Peter says quickly, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

“Just your charming best mate,” Mary says, her voice tinged with sarcasm.

Lily frowns. “Severus is complicated, okay? He’s not as bad as people make him out to be.”

“Sure,” Peter says under his breath.

Lily glares at him but doesn’t press further. Mary watches the exchange with a sigh, her mood dampened. She falls into step with Remus as they continue their walk, her thoughts swirling.

Severus is a puzzle, and one Mary isn’t sure she has all the pieces to yet. But if Lily trusts him, isn’t that enough?

-

The Hogwarts Express screeches to a halt at Platform 9¾, steam billowing into the warm summer air. Students bustle about, dragging their trunks and pet cages as they step off the train. Mary stands near the door of her compartment, clutching her luggage.

“Well,” she says, glancing at Lily and Marlene, “here we are.”

Lily adjusts the strap of her bag, her smile tight. “Feels strange, doesn’t it? No classes tomorrow, no rushing to breakfast.”

“I’m going to miss the noise,” Marlene admits, brushing a strand of blonde hair from her face. “Home is... quiet.” She tries to sound casual, but Mary catches the wistfulness in her tone.

“Not quiet for me,” Peter chimes in, huffing as he wrestles with his trunk. “Too many brothers. It’s chaos every day. I’ll be lucky if I can hear myself think.”

“That’s not the worst problem to have,” Remus says softly, standing a little to the side. He doesn’t look directly at anyone, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

Mary tilts her head, studying him.

“Come on, Moony,” Sirius says, appearing out of nowhere and slinging an arm around Remus. His carefree grin seems almost forced. “What’s better than the great outdoors, right? Trees, fields, a fresh breeze.”

“Your family estate doesn’t count as ‘the great outdoors,’ Sirius,” James adds, lugging his own trunk onto the platform.

Sirius’s grin falters. “Yeah, well. I’m not exactly thrilled to be back there, am I?” He glances at James, who nods in understanding.

Mary shifts uncomfortably, watching the unspoken exchange. She feels a pang of sadness for Sirius. Despite his bravado, it’s clear he’s not thrilled about where he’s headed.

“I’ll write you all,” Lily says, her voice breaking the silence. She looks pointedly at Marlene and Mary. “Promise.”

Marlene smirks. “You’d better. I’ll be writing, too, but don’t expect them to be normal letters.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Mary says, grinning. She turns to Lily. “Make sure you don’t let Petunia boss you around too much, yeah?”

Lily’s rolls her eyes fondly slightly, but she nods. “I’ll manage. You take care too, Mary.”

One by one, they exchange goodbyes, hugs, and promises to write. Mary watches as Lily is swept into her parents’ arms, and Peter bounds off toward a large, noisy family. Marlene waves over her shoulder before heading toward her own parents, who stand stiffly near the barrier.

Mary lingers on the platform for a moment, her suitcase feeling heavier than it did when she packed it. She scans the crowd, watching her friends scatter to their lives outside Hogwarts. Everyone’s so different, with their own worries, their own joys—and she wonders how they’ll all fit back into the world outside the castle walls.

Her mother’s sharp voice pulls her back to reality. “Mary! Come along!”

With a final glance over her shoulder, she picks up her trunk and heads toward her waiting family. Summer vacation has begun, but her heart is still halfway back at Hogwarts.