The library was quiet that Sunday afternoon, the faint rustle of pages and the scratch of quills the only sounds breaking the stillness. Sunlight filtered through the tall, arched windows, casting warm pools of light on the worn wooden tables. Marley Potter sat in the farthest corner, a secluded spot surrounded by towering shelves of dusty tomes.

She tapped her fingers nervously on the table, her thoughts swirling as she waited for Harry to arrive. Her brother's note had been brief, but the urgency in his handwriting had been unmistakable.

Finally, the sound of hurried footsteps caught her attention. Harry appeared, his bag slung over one shoulder and his hair as unruly as ever. He glanced around before sliding into the seat across from her.

"Hi," Marley said, her voice low.

"Hi," Harry replied, looking slightly out of breath. "Sorry I'm late. Ron wanted to come too, but I managed to slip away."

Marley nodded, leaning in. "So, what's going on? Your note sounded serious."

Harry glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was within earshot. "It's about the troll. And the dog."

Marley's brow furrowed. "What about them?"

Taking a deep breath, Harry launched into his story. "Last night, Ron and I were heading to the Great Hall after being sent back to the common rooms. Hermione wasn't there, and we realized she didn't know about the troll. She was in the girl's bathroom."

Marley gasped. "She didn't know? What did you do?"

"We went to warn her," Harry said, his voice firm. "The troll was already in the bathroom when we got there. It was terrifying—huge, ugly, and it smelled awful. But somehow, we managed to distract it long enough to save Hermione."

"You fought a troll?" Marley asked incredulously.

Harry shrugged, his expression modest. "Well, not exactly. Ron managed to knock it out with a spell. We were lucky."

"Lucky?" Marley repeated, staring at him in disbelief. "You could've been killed!"

"I know," Harry admitted. "But Hermione was in danger. We couldn't just leave her."

Marley sighed, leaning back in her chair. "You've had an eventful week, haven't you?"

"That's not even the half of it," Harry said, leaning closer. "Afterwards, Ron, Hermione and I stayed up late talking about the third-floor corridor."

Marley stiffened, her eyes narrowing. "The trapdoor?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah. And we think someone let the troll in as a distraction. Someone wanted to get past the dog."

Marley's stomach twisted. The idea that someone at Hogwarts could be plotting something so dangerous was almost too much to process. "Who do you think it was?"

"We don't know," Harry admitted, his voice low. "But it has to be someone in the castle. Ron thinks it might be Snape."

"Snape?" Marley repeated, her eyebrows shooting up. "Why?"

Harry hesitated. "It's just a feeling. He was acting really suspicious during the feast. And he's... well, he's not exactly friendly."

Marley nodded slowly. "I've noticed that too."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of the conversation pressing down on them. Then Harry broke the quiet.

"Marley, I think I want to tell Ron and Hermione about you."

Marley's heart skipped a beat. "What? Why?"

"Because they're my friends," Harry said simply. "And I trust them. If we're going to figure out what's going on, they should know the truth. It might help."

Marley hesitated, her thoughts racing. She thought of her foster parents' warnings, of the danger that could come from revealing her connection to Harry. But at the same time, she couldn't deny the comfort of having more people to share the burden of secrecy.

"I don't know, Harry," she said finally. "What if they tell someone? What if it puts us both in danger?"

"They wouldn't," Harry said firmly. "They're not like that. And besides, they're already involved in this. They know about the dog and the trapdoor. They've already fought a troll. This is bigger than just us."

Marley bit her lip, her mind torn. "I'll think about it," she said at last. "But Harry, you have to promise me that you won't say anything until we both agree. Okay?"

"Okay," Harry said, his green eyes sincere. "I promise."

They sat in silence for a moment longer, the weight of their conversation settling between them. Finally, Harry stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"Thanks for meeting me," he said.

"Anytime," Marley replied. "Just... be careful, Harry. Please."

"You too," Harry said with a small smile.

As Marley watched him leave, her thoughts swirled with questions and doubts. She had always wanted to get to know her brother, to share a connection with him. But now that they were here, together at Hogwarts, the reality of their situation was more complicated than she had ever imagined.

With a heavy sigh, she gathered her things and headed back to the Hufflepuff common room, her mind still buzzing with unanswered questions.

✦✦✦

The day of the Quidditch match arrived, and the air in the castle buzzed with excitement. The rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin was legendary, and this match had been talked about for weeks. Marley couldn't help but feel the thrill in the air, though she kept her enthusiasm carefully contained. Her housemates, Susan and Hannah, were both eager for the game, and Marley tried her best to match their excitement. Still, her thoughts kept drifting toward one particular player on the Gryffindor team.

As they made their way to the Quidditch pitch, the crowd's energy only intensified, and Marley found herself swept into the tide of students streaming toward the stands. The sun was out, casting a warm golden light over the grounds, though there was a brisk chill in the air that hinted at the coming winter. Marley took her seat beside Susan and Hannah, who were already animatedly discussing the match.

"Gryffindor's got this one," Hannah said with a grin, bouncing in her seat. "I just know it."

"I'm not so sure," Susan replied, her brow furrowing. "Slytherin's been training hard."

"I'm not worried about Slytherin," Marley said quickly, glancing toward the Gryffindor team, where Harry was warming up on his broom. Her stomach fluttered slightly at the sight, but she fought to keep her expression neutral. Just any other Quidditch match, she told herself. Nothing more.

As the teams took their positions, the excitement reached a fever pitch. The air smelled of fresh grass and the faint scent of magic as the players mounted their brooms. Lee Jordan, a friend of the Weasley twins', voice rang out over the crowd, and the game began with a burst of speed, the players soaring into the air like streaks of color against the blue sky.

Marley cheered with the rest of the Hufflepuffs, her eyes scanning the Gryffindor team for Harry. She couldn't help herself—he was the Seeker, after all, the one who would determine the game's outcome. But she kept her cheers subdued, not wanting to draw too much attention to the fact that she might be watching him more closely than the others.

As the game wore on, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy, the Chasers weaving through the air, the Beaters smacking bludgers with impressive force. Marley's eyes occasionally darted back to Harry, but she forced herself to focus on the game as a whole. She was cheering for Gryffindor, but there was a part of her that couldn't help but feel a surge of pride each time she saw Harry skillfully weaving through the air, chasing the elusive Golden Snitch.

Then, it happened.

Marley's heart skipped a beat as she saw Harry's broom jerk violently beneath him. He seemed to lose control, his hands gripping the broom tightly, but his body swaying uncontrollably as it bucked and twisted beneath him. Gasps rose from the crowd, and Marley's stomach clenched in fear.

"Is he okay?" Hannah gasped, her hand gripping Marley's arm tightly.

"I—" Marley couldn't finish the sentence. Her throat tightened as she watched Harry struggle to regain control of the broom.

"I told you," Susan said in a low voice. "Something's wrong with that broom. It's almost like—"

"—It's being cursed," Marley finished, her heart racing. She could barely take her eyes off Harry, who was still trying to stay on his broom, the wild movements growing more frantic.

"Do you think he'll be alright?" Hannah asked, her voice high with worry.

"I don't know," Marley murmured, her eyes locked on Harry. Her pulse hammered in her ears as she watched him fight to stay on. The crowd was growing louder, a mix of worry and excitement rippling through the stands.

Suddenly, the broom jerked again, higher this time, and Harry was nearly flung off. Marley gasped, her hand instinctively gripping the edge of the seat. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She had no idea what was happening, but it was clear that Harry wasn't controlling the broom. It was as if the broom had a mind of its own.

"Come on, Harry," Marley whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd. She could feel a knot in her stomach, a mixture of worry and fear for him.

Just when Marley thought things couldn't get worse, Harry's broom made a sharp, erratic movement, and for a terrifying second, it looked like he was about to fall. She clutched the edge of her seat, her breath held tight in her chest.

Then, in a miraculous twist, Harry regained control. His broom stilled under him, and with a sudden surge of speed, he shot through the air toward the Golden Snitch, his eyes fixed on the fluttering, elusive ball. The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices blending into a unified roar.

"Look!" Hannah shouted, pointing excitedly. "He's got it!"

Marley's heart soared as she watched Harry stretch out his hand, fingers brushing the Snitch's wings. In a split second, the ball was firmly gripped in his hand, and the Gryffindor team erupted in victory.

The Hufflepuff stands shook with applause, and Marley's throat felt tight with pride as she cheered along with everyone else. But she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her, as Harry landed safely on the ground, his face flushed with exhaustion and exhilaration.

"He did it," Marley whispered to herself, smiling in spite of the earlier tension. She looked over at Susan and Hannah, who were both grinning widely.

"Gryffindor's Seeker," Susan said, her voice full of admiration. "That was amazing!"

"It was incredible," Marley agreed, her chest swelling with pride for Harry, even if she kept her cheers a little more subdued than she would've liked. She glanced at Harry, who was now surrounded by his teammates, all slapping him on the back and congratulating him.

The game had been won, the crowd was cheering, and for the first time, she realized that maybe, just maybe, things were starting to feel a little more normal. At least in some ways.

✦✦✦

The stands were beginning to clear as the Quidditch match came to an end. The Gryffindor team had won, and the air was thick with excited chatter. Marley felt a rush of adrenaline as she followed Susan and Hannah back toward the castle, trying to mask the pounding of her heart. Harry had done it—he'd caught the Snitch—and she couldn't have been more relieved, especially after what happened with his broom. But she had to keep her cool. No one could know how much she was cheering for him.

"I can't believe it!" Hannah said excitedly, practically bouncing on her heels as they entered the castle. "Gryffindor's Seeker—he's amazing!"

"Yeah, it was incredible," Marley said, her smile barely hidden as she tried to play it off. But she could barely contain her pride for Harry. "I'm glad he's okay."

"I'm just glad Gryffindor won!" Hannah said. "Anyway, I'm going to grab a snack, but I'll meet you both later?"

"Sure," Marley replied, eager to escape before Susan or Hannah could notice how distracted she was.

She waved them off, then turned toward the castle's entrance. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione exiting the castle, Harry still in his Quidditch gear. They were laughing, their voices blending with the sound of the cheering crowd still echoing in the distance.

Marley hesitated for a moment, glancing at the floor as she adjusted her cloak. She had to make an excuse—she couldn't be seen hanging around with them too much, not now. Not when things were getting more complicated. But before she could decide how to slip away, Harry's voice rang out.

"Marley! Hey, wait up!"

Marley froze, her heart giving another unexpected leap. She turned to face him, forcing a casual smile. Harry and his friends approached her, grinning.

"You alright?" Harry asked, his smile a little crooked. "We're heading to Hagrid's for some celebratory drinks. Fancy joining us?"

Marley bit her lip, debating. "Uh, sure," she said after a moment, forcing herself to sound casual.

"Ron, Hermione... this is Marley. She's, well... she's a friend," Harry said, his voice a little awkward as he hesitated.

"A friend?" Ron repeated, clearly puzzled. "But why didn't you—"

"Uh, I just... didn't want to make a big deal out of it," Harry said quickly, glancing at Marley. "She's a friend, alright? A friend."

Ron and Hermione exchanged a look, both clearly still confused. "But why would you, er, call her over if she's just a friend?" Hermione asked, her brow furrowing. "We didn't know you knew her."

"Yeah, she's helped me with Transfiguration homework here and there," Harry said. After giving them a pointed look, which Marley wished he didn't have to, Ron and Hermione agreed to her presence. In fact, Hermione, though she looked puzzled, also looked pleased by the idea of Marley joining them.

"Good," Harry said with a grin, now that his two friends were on board. "Come on, let's go."

They walked together in silence for a while, the crisp evening air blowing against them as they made their way across the grounds. The castle loomed behind them, the dark silhouette standing tall against the twilight sky. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable—just filled with unspoken words and the quiet hum of a secret they all shared.

When they arrived at Hagrid's hut, the door swung open almost immediately. Hagrid stood there, a wide grin spreading across his face when he saw Marley.

"Marley!" he boomed, his voice full of warmth and excitement. "I knew you'd be comin' to Hogwarts one day, but I didn't think it'd be this soon!" His large arms stretched wide as he enveloped Marley in a huge hug, lifting her off her feet.

Marley froze for a second, taken aback by the sudden, overwhelming display of affection. She didn't know how to respond, but Hagrid set her down gently, his eyes bright with emotion.

"I—Hagrid, I didn't expect—"

"Ah, don't worry!" he said, beaming. "I've known you'd be here since the day your parents—" His voice caught for a second, and he cleared his throat, his eyes slightly misty. "I was there after your parents died, Marley. I saw you as a baby, and I knew you had to be protected. I've been watchin' over you ever since, just like I've watched over Harry."

Marley's heart twisted. She had never known Hagrid was there. The raw emotion in his voice left her speechless. She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I... I had no idea."

"Well, now you do," Hagrid said softly. He gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder before stepping back. "You've grown up to be a fine witch, Marley. Your parents would be proud."

Marley blinked, feeling her eyes sting. "Thank you, Hagrid. That means a lot."

Harry shifted beside them, glancing awkwardly between the group. "Er, Hagrid, I should probably—well, I should introduce Marley properly."

Hagrid raised an eyebrow but nodded, stepping aside to allow the conversation to continue. Harry cleared his throat and turned to Ron and Hermione, both of whom were watching Marley with confused expressions.

"What's going on?" Ron asked. "Why's Hagrid acting like that?"

Harry shot him a look, clearly a little uncomfortable. "We... uh... kind of have a secret to tell you."

Marley nodded, feeling a weight settle over her. It was time to come clean—at least a little. She glanced at Harry and nodded slightly, so he began explaining.

Harry rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. "Well, um, I guess I should have said something sooner. She's... my sister."

"Sister?" Hermione and Ron said at the same time, their eyes widening with surprise.

Marley gave a small, nervous laugh, her hands folded tightly in her lap. She glanced at Harry, who nodded at her, signaling that it was her turn to explain.

"It's true," Marley said, her voice soft but firm. "I'm Harry's sister. We were separated when we were little. I grew up with Ted and Andromeda Tonks. But we didn't know each other until recently."

Ron blinked in shock. "Wait—how? How did you two not know about each other?"

Harry shifted uncomfortably but spoke up. "It's a long story. After our parents died, we were separated. Marley went to live with Ted and Andromeda, and I was taken in by the Dursleys. Neither of us knew the other existed, or that we were both at Hogwarts. But now that we've met, we decided it's best to keep it between just us for now."

Hermione's mouth hung open for a moment, as though trying to process what Harry had just said. "You two... you're siblings?" she asked slowly.

Ron blinked several times, his mouth hanging slightly open. "You're his sister? But—why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I'm still figuring everything out," Marley said quietly, her hands folded in front of her. "I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, especially since people would start asking questions. And I don't think it's the right time to tell everyone."

"We think it's safer that way," Harry said, his voice steady but firm. "People might figure it out, and then it could put both of us at risk. We don't want anyone using that against us."

Hagrid nodded thoughtfully. "It's a hard thing, keepin' a secret like that. But you're right, Harry, better to keep it between you for now. There's a lot of danger an' dark wizards still lurkin' around this school, and you don't want to give anyone any reason to target you both."

"Wow," Hermione said, still looking at Marley with a mixture of awe and confusion. "This is... this is huge. But—" She stopped herself. "I get it. Secrets are important."

"Yeah..." Ron said, trailing off, but Hermione nudged him in the ribs. He shot her a glare and swallowed quickly. "We'll keep it quiet."

After a moment of silence, Hagrid clapped his hands together and grinned. "Well, now that that's settled, let's have a drink! It's not often I get to celebrate the arrival of a sister to my favorite Hogwarts student."

Everyone laughed, though the mood remained somewhat somber. Hagrid quickly brought out some mugs and poured what Marley could only assume was a very strong drink into them, much to the dismay of Ron, who eyed it warily.

"So," Harry began, after they'd all taken a drink. "We've been thinking more about what happened with the troll. What do you think, Hagrid? Do you think Snape might have had something to do with the broom jinx?"

"It was Snape!" Ron insisted. "Hermione and I saw him. He was cursing your broomstick, muttering, he wouldn't take his eyes off you."

Hagrid scowled at his cup. "Rubbish! Why would Snape do somethin' like that?"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione all exchanged glances, and a sudden feeling came across Marley that they all knew something she didn't.

"What?" she asked, looking at her brother in confusion.

"I found out something about him," Harry said, looking between Marley and Hagrid. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding."

The teapot in Hagrid's hands slipped and hit the floor with a clank.

"How do you know about Fluffy?" he said gruffly.

All four first years' eyes widened and they exclaimed, "Fluffy?"

Hagrid nodded. "Yeah – he's mine – bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year – I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the –"

"Yes? Harry asked, eyes glistening with intrigue.

The half-giant narrowed his eyes at the young boy. "Now, don't ask me anymore," he said thickly. "That's top secret, that is."

"But Snape's trying to steal it," Harry insisted.

Hagrid scoffed and muttered, "Rubbish", again. "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort."

"So why did he just try and kill Harry?" Hermione shouted, and Marley's eyes widened.

"I'm sorry, what?"

Ron leaned in to Marley and whispered, "We think Snape jinxed Harry's broom."

"Obviously, Ron."

Hermione was continuing on. "I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid, I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I saw him!"

"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" Hagrid exclaimed. "I don' know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all three of yeh – yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardian', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicholas Flamel–"

Ron, Hermione, Marley, and Harry's eyes all widened and Harry exclaimed excitedly.

"So there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?"

Marley swallowed. The secret, the mystery—it was growing bigger with each passing day. She exchanged a glance with Harry, who gave her a small, knowing look. They were in this together now, and there was no turning back.

. . . . . . . . . . 𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙨 . . . . . . . . . .

So, Hermione and Ron officially know about Marley and Harry! They may seem skeptical, but don't worry, they'll easily become good friends.

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do. Vote, comment your thoughts, and share with your friends!