Marina sprinted towards the staircase as the female voice kept calling her name. Kreacher took the diary that had belonged to her father, and shut the door to his room.

"You can't hide, Marina!"

"Stop it, you're making it sound as if you're chasing her," a male voice said before letting out a short laugh.

"Blimey!"

Marina reached the end of the stairs just as the woman tripped over the deceased troll leg next to the door. She had bubble-gum-pink hair, a pale, heart-shaped face, and dark, twinkling eyes. A purple leather jacket was wrapped around her, holes in her black jeans. The man next to her reached to get a grip around her waist to avoid her from falling to the floor, light brown hair with gray undertones falling in front of his eyes. Pink scars on his face, bags under his eyes - was it near the full moon?

"Remus!" Marina squealed, running to throw her arms around the man.

The woman beside them got to her feet, blowing a stray of her colorful hair out of her face. Marina let go of Remus to get a better look of her. Soon, she realized that it was the woman who had fought by Sirius' and Kingsley's side during the battle at the Ministry.

"Hi," she smiled, blushing, obviously trying to pretend that she had not been on the floor just a second ago.

"This is Nymphadora Tonks," explained Remus, still resting an arm on Marina's shoulder. The name clung in her ears. It was the name from the family three - Andromeda's daughter.

"Don't call me Nymphadora, Remus. It's Tonks." She reached out a hand for Marina to shake before winking playfully. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Good things, I hope..."

Tonks went running up the stairs, toward the kitchen, according to her steps. Remus let his hands fall to his side and bowed to pick up the deceased troll leg Tonks had kicked over.

"I should've introduced you earlier," he smiled, his eyes twinkling.

"Can I ask you why you have come here in the middle of the night?" Marina's eyebrows shot toward the ceiling. The last thing she wanted was for them to wake up Harry, as he was sleeping peacefully for the first time in days...

POP

Mrs. Weasley had Apparated into the hallway, her hair bushier than Marina had ever seen it.

"Meeting," Remus said simply, putting his hands in the pockets of his pants. "The Death Eaters attacked London. They got parts of Diagon Alley and the Millennium Bridge."

Horror spread in Marina's body. Had they been looking for her? Had they hurt anybody? She quickly turned to Mrs. Weasley. "Are Fred and George okay?" she asked. The twins' store was located in Diagon Alley. She had promised to visit them over the summer.

"They're fine, dear," the mother smiled a weak smile. "Both of them. You can't say the same about Ollivander, though... and poor Fortescue... got both of them..."

She turned toward the staircase, heading toward the kitchen.

"Are you holding up?" Remus asked Marina after a moment of silence.

"Yeah. I'm just going to sleep." Marina smiled gently. It was as if a light had hit her; suddenly, she got an idea. Of course, she was not going to sleep, knowing that the Order of the Phoenix had come to discuss the Dark Lord's work...

Remus patted Marina gently on the back. Then, they both walked up the staircase. But when they got to the second floor, he turned toward the kitchen, and she turned toward Harry's bedroom.

Harry was still sleeping, drooling over his pillow. She did her best not to wake him up as she stepped inside, her eyes flickering around the room in search for his school bag. It lay under a pile of clothes. She ripped it open, her smile only growing, her eyes glimmering. Some girls borrow their boyfriend's jumpers, but she and Harry shared something much more special...

She pulled out Harry's Invisibility Cloak, quickly wrapping it around her body. If they didn't want to invite her to the meeting, she would just have to invite herself.

Luckily, they had left the kitchen door open. They were in the middle of a conversation as she stepped inside, on her tip-toes, not trying to make any noise. Remus sat at the end of the table, holding hands with Tonks. Mrs. Weasley sat in the other end, Mr. Weasley right next to her. Kingsley and Moody were there, too, and three other people she could not recognize.

Marina found a hiding spot in the corner of the room before turning her focus to the conversation. To her surprise, they were talking about her, not the attack of Diagon Alley.

"Can we even trust her?" Moody asked, his magical eye spinning. "If Voldemort raised her..."

Remus adjusted in his seat and smiled the sweet smile only he could smile. "I am most definitely sure we can. She fought on our side at the Ministry, and one cannot deny that she would do anything to protect Harry."

"What if it's an act? She could be a spy!"

Chatter broke out in the room. Several people got out of their seats, arguing loudly with each other, though not listening to a word the other had to say. Marina felt anger rise in her. Couldn't they see what she had done for them, for Harry, and the rest of Dumbledore's Army? She had left her own home and stood up against the most dangerous wizard of their time; she had lost her best friends and her title as the Dark Lady, thereby losing followers who had been ready to give up their life for hers at any given time. Didn't they see? The snake had slept among lions without fear.

Mrs. Weasley grabbed a pan from the kitchen sink and smashed it into the table with immense force. Marina was sure her heart skipped a beat as she did so. If Harry had not awoken yet, he was sure about to.

"You need to listen to me," the woman said once everyone had turned silent. She pointed the pan at random people in the room. "The girl needs protection. She is on the run from Voldemort himself, just like Harry, and you sit here like a bunch of fools, wondering whether or not to trust a child!"

"Calm down, Molly," Kingsley Shacklebolt said, putting his hand over his heart. "We understand your point, but she could be dangerous."

"She's just a girl!" Mrs. Weasley cried.

"A talented one, that is," Remus said, getting up from his seat. He began pacing around the room. Marina was scared that he was going to walk right into her, but luckily, he stopped several feet away from her. "I've seen her spells and jinxes - she sure knows how to protect herself. And we must not forget that she is extremely skilled at wandless magic..."

"Ron said so, too," Mr. Weasley put out. He was trying to snatch the pan from his angry wife's hand, but was failing horribly. "Apparently, she isn't afraid to challenge teachers, either..."

"Kinda funny," Tonks snorted, "the mermaid is the one playing with fire."

"The mermaid - that's right... We're all forgetting that Marina is not only a Black, but also a Swan," Mad-Eye said, voice low and growling. He cracked his knuckles while continuing, "we need to get in touch with the Swans. They will protect her."

"You out of all people should know that there are no Swans left - not since Regulus' death," Kingsley answered, accent heavy. "Darya was reported missing the day of his death, and by the time the Ministry got to the Swan Manor, the Death Eaters had gotten all of them."

Tension was created. No one dared to look each other in their eyes anymore.

"Marina will stay with Harry," Remus finished the argument. "And we are protecting both. They are only children, after all."

"Fine." Moody gritted his teeth together. The rest of the Order either nodded or hummed in response. "But they are not staying here."

"Oh, that's fine," hummed Mr. Weasley. "We got plenty of room for them at home."

Marina had many scars on her body. Umbridge had created one on her left hand. On her leg, you could spot the scar from the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, when the dragon she had fought breathed fire her way. On her stomach, there were small, almost round scars from the third task, when the gigantic spider had attacked her. If you came close enough, you could find a scar on her hip from training with Death Eaters. Finally, she had scars all over her back and arms, but she couldn't remember how she had gotten them. They must had been made in the time when she could not act for herself.

On the eighth day of July, she woke up to find Harry tracing his fingers over them, silently, his brows furrowed.

Upon returning the Invisibility Cloak after sneaking into the Order's meeting, Marina had fallen asleep in Harry's bed. She found it comforting, feeling him close to her, knowing that she was not alone anymore. And so, she had made it a habit. The pair shared beds like little kids, some nights staying up talking about everything and anything, some nights just holding hands, imagining a world where they were not in danger, but surrounded by loved ones, happier than ever.

"We could just stay here forever," whispered Harry, his eyes still plastered on her scars. Marina wondered how he knew she had awoken, as she had not moved or said anything yet.

"I'd like that," she whispered back, her voice soft. "With our own house, playing family."

At that moment, Marina came to the realization that home did not mean Malfoy Manor anymore. No, home was wherever she was with Harry.

The boy traced his fingers down her body, slowly, making goosebumps rise. She swore, it was like magic when he touched her. His touch was the most powerful thing she knew of. A smile was forming on his lips, watching her tremble over his touch. He stopped at her hip, and let his thumb rest on her pink scar.

"When did you get this?"

"Last summer. They were training me to fight you," Marina answered, knowing that he knew exactly who she meant when she said they. "He was tall and strong, but stupid. He threw curses my way like it was nothing. When he realized that he had torn my skin open, he panicked, knowing that Voldemort was in the other room. He tried a healing spell - but it didn't work well."

Harry gulped. "I hope you made him pay."

"Oh, he definitely paid," she said, moving closer to him. She brought a hand up to his face, carefully brushing his messy hair away from his forehead, and traced his scar. "Just like the rest of them are going to pay."

Harry looked up at her, meeting her eyes. Her stomach did a flip. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and the way his eyes glistened, and the way his nose crinkled when he spoke made her mad. He was perfect in every way, and Marina couldn't help it: she loved Harry, every part of him. Her soul ached for him.

She connected their lips, kissing him roughly, hand tangled in his hair. He kissed back in an instant, the rest of the world standing still. She's not quite sure how it happened, but somehow, she ended up on top of him. Everything was beyond perfect until the door shot up.

"Lup-in!" Marina said and turned toward the door, pushing Harry down against the bed with her right hand. Remus looked around the room, eyes wide now, unable to speak. He coughed uncomfortably before exiting the room, closing the door behind him. "Lup-out!"

Harry began laughing a genuine laugh, his whole body bouncing. Marina turned back around, finding him covering his face with both of his hands, trying to hide his red cheeks.

"We're leaving now," Lupin shouted from the hallway, knocking twice on the door. "Molly is coming to check in on you later. Take care!"

"Good-bye, Remus!" Marina giggled, jumping off Harry and sliding out of the bed, watching him turn redder by the minute.

"Do you want to go outside today?" he asked, sitting up.

"Do you want to?" She smiled gently when he nodded. He hadn't stepped outside of the bedroom since they had arrived at Grimmauld Place. He would finally breathe fresh air again, and feel the sun on his skin. Harry was trying to push through the hurt.

It took her less than five minutes to get ready for the day. Just in case they were going somewhere special and not coming back, she packed her bag, which was under the Extension Charm. She packed her clothes, her father's diary, the photo of her and Harry, and her wand, putting the bag beside the kitchen table as she looked around the kitchen.

Marina assumed that it was Lupin who had prepared breakfast for them. On the table stood plates with food ready. Kreacher was looking rather stressed at the sight of it. She shook her head and assured him that he wouldn't have to clean up after them after they had eaten. He nearly collided with Harry on his way out of the kitchen.

"Marina?" Harry said. "Have you seen my Invisibility Cloak?"

"Er- I might have borrowed it," she said very quietly, not looking at him.

"What?"

"The Order was having a meeting while you slept and I really wanted to listen to what they were going to say so I borrowed it and snuck into the meeting and—"

Once again, Harry's laughter echoed around the house. He stepped forward so he stood in front of her, held her face in his hands, and kissed her to shut her up.

"The Order, you say? I hope you know that one of them could see you through the Invisibility Cloak."

"Who?" she asked, feeling panic trying to attack her body.

"Moody," he laughed, bringing a hand up to his face; he used a finger to make circles by his eyes, imitating Moody and his glass eye spinning. "That eye can see through the Cloak. I learned that the hard way."

She cursed softly. "Couldn't Lupin sense me, too, with his Werewolf senses? Merlin, I'm so stupid..."

"They didn't say anything?"

"No! Nothing!"

He looked down at the floor. She could tell he was holding back more laughter. Leaning against his chest, she had to let out some chuckles herself.

They carried the plates with food down the stairs, ignoring Walburga's screams as they passed her, and walked out the door. Outside, where the sun was shining, they sat down on the grass and ate breakfast.

She had never loved summer. It had always been the time of the year when she had to train with the Death Eaters, preparing herself to tackle pain and attack flawlessly. Summer had never been sunshine, butterflies, flowers, and happiness, but it was with Harry. Sitting there with him on the grass, she felt at peace. Watching him, she understood that he had changed her life.

"Sometimes, I wonder how different my life would have been if I hadn't fallen for you," Marina confessed. "If I hadn't been sent to you. But I don't like to think of that, for I know that I would have been lost without you."

He brought his knees up to his chest, looking at her. "I've been in love with you for the longest time. I knew well I shouldn't have fallen in love with you. I knew who you were. I knew you were probably going to hurt me. But I couldn't help it. I knew I was going to fall for you when we were both chosen for the tournament."

She gave him a confused look. "You liked me before Dumbledore's Army?"

"I've liked you since the first time you approached me," he admitted. "I wanted to ask you to the Yule Ball, but I couldn't because  I already knew who you were. You have no idea how jealous I was of Isak when I saw you dance with him..."

"The whole time, I was just thinking of you," she uttered. "I was so jealous of Cho."

Harry blushed. With the push from a gentle summer breeze, he put his forehead to hers. "I couldn't take my eyes off you that day."

Right then and there, she was certain that she was the luckiest girl in the world. She picked a flower from the grass beside them, and placed it in his messy hair, its yellow color shining against his black hair. She wanted this summer day to last forever.

Once they had finished eating, and the wind had quit shaking the trees, they agreed to visit the Weasleys before the sun went down. Mrs. Weasley was probably planning her trip to Grimmauld Place to babysit them as if they needed an adult to watch over them. They could go to her, instead, and meet everyone else, as well. They hadn't seen them since the train home.

Marina threw her bag over her shoulder when they entered the kitchen again, placing empty plates on the long table. She couldn't wait to hear how the twins were doing - and, Merlin, how much she missed Hermione, Ron, and Ginny.

"How are we planning on getting there?" she asked him, looking his way. "Neither of us know how to Apparate."

He rose a brow. "Have you ever ridden a broom before?"

His broomstick was waiting for them by the stairs. He threw it from one hand to another while staring at her. The only time she had ridden a broom was in her first year. After nearly crashing into a wall, she had promised herself to never sit on a broom again.

"Are you mad?" she asked him, "I'm gonna slip off and fall to my death!"

"Hold tight around me, then."

And she did; when they got outside on the grass again, he put the broomstick between his legs, and she followed with an arm around him. After looking at Grimmauld Place one last time, the broom lifted them off the ground. She moved as close to him as she could.

He set off toward the sky. "I don't mean to stress you, but we'll have to fly pretty far up for no one to see us."

When gravity became just a word, she clasped both her arms around him, feeling adrenaline rush through her. She looked down toward the ground to watch the houses below them turn smaller and smaller.

"Darling?" Harry said carefully. "Are you alright? You haven't said anything."

Then, she let out something close to a howl, daring to release her arms from him and feel the wind carry her. It somehow felt like freedom. He slowed down their speed when he turned around to kiss her, making her heart beat even faster.

It took the pair approximately two hours to get to the Burrow. They now stood in the Weasleys' entrance, her hands shaking from all the adrenaline. Harry smiled widely and took her hand when the Weasleys came to greet them.

"Well, well, well," Fred smirked, standing across the room, wearing a new, red blazer, a W sewed into the pocket over his heart.

"Isn't it the little one?" George said, putting a hand on his hip. He was wearing the exact same blazer as his twin brother.

Ron came running down the stairs, collapsing in Harry's arms. They began mumbling to each other, and Marina turned to the twins again. "New suits, huh?"

"That is correct," George smiled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. They stared at each other in silence for a split second, before he pulled her close.

"Business is booming," added Fred once the two had pulled apart.

Something was special about the twins. First, she had hated them and their stupid pranks, but now, she looked at them as if they were her big brothers. She felt safe around them.

Hermione came running out of the kitchen, a smile on her face, hair falling in front of her eyes. Marina greeted her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, silently wondering what she and Ron had been up