Marigold, Sirius, Remus, Andromeda and Teddy stayed with the Potters throughout the entire month of August; later that month, they went to Diagon Alley altogether. In Flourish and Blotts, Marigold noticed the back of a head with a certain Gryffindor boy with sandy brown hair.

 “Andrew?”

 “Marigold?” he turned around, visibly pleased to see his best friend.

 “So you’re Marigold.” a woman, who was supposedly his mother, smiled at her. “Andrew has told me a lot about you.”

 “We’re really glad that he was lucky enough to be friends with you.” a man standing next to them, whom Marigold supposed was Andrew’s father, added.

 Sirius, Remus, Andromeda, Teddy and the Potters noticed Marigold talking to the Lairds, and went over to them.

 “You must be Marigold’s father?” Mr Laird asked Sirius. “My name is Grier Laird. I believe your daughter is best friends with our son?”

 “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr Laird,” Sirius smiled pleasantly, shaking his hand. “My name is Sirius.”

 “And my name is Remus Lupin. I’m also Marigold’s father.”

 “I’m Catriona Laird, Andrew’s mother.”

 “And I’m Andromeda. Andromeda Tonks.”

 “And you,” Mrs Laird noticed Harry. “You must be Harry Potter?”

 “Yes, I am,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

 “The pleasure’s all mine,” Mrs Laird said and turned to Ginny. “And what’s your name?”

 “Ginny Weasley. It’s nice to meet you.”

 As the adults exchanged introductions, Teddy helped Albus, who would be starting his first year at Hogwarts in a month, find his books; Lily joined them. Marigold, Andrew and James looked around the shop to get their books.

 “You would love Care of Magical Creatures,” Marigold told James. “That class is so fun. And Hagrid is so nice.”

 “I know,” he replied. “My dad told me a lot about him.”

 “Marigold, are you still gonna take both Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies this year?” Andrew asked. “You know they start preparing us for O.W.L.s in fourth year. Are you sure you can handle it all?”

 “I would hope so,” she replied. “I’m not dropping Care of Magical Creatures, and I need Muggle Studies. I also wish I could take Divination, it sounds rather interesting, but I don’t think I’ll have the time.”

 “I would take Divination over Muggle Studies if I were you.” someone scoffed from behind. “I don’t see why anyone would bother learning about Muggles.”

 Marigold immediately recognised the unpleasant, nasally voice, and turned around to see the tan brunette Slytherin she was dreading to see. Marigold resisted the urge to laugh at the way Parkinson’s eye makeup made her look like a mix between a banshee and a raccoon.

 “I don’t see why that’s your business, Parkinson.” she quipped.

 “Seriously, can you leave us alone?” Andrew added.

 “Yeah, go away, Parkinson,” James added.

 “I wasn’t talking to you, you little brat.” Parkinson snapped at him, then turned to Marigold. “Lupin-Black, I almost forgot, you still hang out with Potter and that son of a Muggle. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you decided to take Muggle Studies.”

 “At least Andrew and James aren’t children of Death Eaters, like you and your wretched cronies,” Marigold said, glaring at her. “I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, after all.”

 “I wouldn’t speak if I were you, Lupin-Black,” Parkinson smirked. “At least neither of my parents are blood-traitors or werewolves.”

 Just as Marigold reached into her robes to give Parkinson a nice Bat-Bogey Hex, a pug-faced woman, who was as ugly as Parkinson, walked up to them.

 “Play nice, Alyssa,” she told her daughter, then took a glance at James.

 “James Potter, aren’t you? Pansy Parkinson. We meet at last.”

 Pansy held her hand out with a scornful look on her face. James shook it, eyeing her with an unpleasant look on his face.

 “You look quite like your father. I attended Hogwarts with him, yes, with the famous Harry Potter.” Pansy smirked and pushed James’s hair back.

 “I see you don’t have the scar, pity. Your blessed father strutted around Hogwarts, thinking he was so great for that scar of his.”

 James clenched his fists.

“Harry Potter is a great man,” Marigold said through gritted teeth.

 Pansy gave a surprised look.

 “And who are you? Potter’s girlfriend?” she stared down at Marigold, who turned bright red.

 Mrs Laird and Sirius glanced over and noticed the tense atmosphere; they headed over to them, leaving Mr Laird, Remus, Andromeda and the Potters behind.

 “Children, should we go now?” Mrs Laird asked Marigold, Andrew and James.

 “Catriona.” Pansy said, scorning her.

 “Parkinson.” Mrs Laird said coldly.

 “Alyssa has told me all about your son,” Pansy said and glanced at Mr Laird. “His father’s a Muggle, isn’t he?”

 Mrs Laird and Andrew stared right into her eyes, shooting daggers.

 “I remember you from Hogwarts. You were close with Granger and Finch-Fletchley.” Pansy scorned. “And now you’re married to a Muggle. It seems like you haven’t ditched your old ways, bringing disgrace to the name of wizard.”

 “Wizards like Mrs Laird and myself I have a very different idea about what disgraces the name of wizard, Parkinson.” Sirius chimed in, glaring into Pansy’s eyes.

 “Clearly,” Pansy said derisively.

 Sirius cracked his knuckles, ready to deck her at any moment.

 “Sirius, the children.” Mrs Laird whispered, which made him back down.

 “I won’t be so proud if I were you. Delphini’s in the Ministry, to finish the Dark Lord’s work. She’ll make the wizarding world great again.”

 Pansy smirked, then turned to walk away with her daughter as six pairs of eyes glared at them from behind.