The next couple of days passed as if in slow motion for Bryt, as if she were moving through a thick fog. In the past, when something came up, when they threw themselves into some life-threating task, they had no heads up. They just decided and immediately ran headlong into it. Or things escalated quickly and they didn't have time to think, if they decided to head into something, if they knew trouble was coming, they always headed into it within hours.
But now, Bryt knew it was coming days in advance. It was one thing thinking about how she would be leaving with Harry to hunt the Horcruxes, because they didn't know exactly when they would leave. They didn't know exactly what they would be doing. It wasn't much different than when they were preparing in the DA, or spending the last year in school. They knew that danger was there, but they didn't know what to expect.
What was upcoming, she knew what to expect. There was the chance that things would go smoothly, but she knew from experience things rarely did. And this time they knew what to expect if and when things went to hell. That impending danger, knowing what was coming, was a whole new experience for Bryt. She found herself going through everything that could happen. Everything that could go wrong.
The fact that she could freeze up at any second. That at any moment, fear would get the best of her. And she'd risk not only her life, but others as well.
These thoughts going through her head kept her on edge for the next two days, and kept her from being able to get to sleep easily. But at least she had distractions to try and help. True to what Ron had told them, Mrs. Weasley had them cleaning every day. She also seemed determined to make sure whatever they were cleaning, Ron, Hermione, and Bryt were never in the same room together. Bryt wouldn't have thought much of it on the first day, but when she kept it up through the second, Bryt started to wonder if Mrs. Weasley had some idea that if Bryt, Hermione, and Ron couldn't plan anything, they wouldn't be able to leave when Harry arrived.
Something that seemed to be confirmed on the second afternoon as Bryt was cleaning the kitchen after dinner with Mrs. Weasley, putting up the dishes as Mrs. Weasley washed them. She found it a bit odd that she could reach cabinets pretty easily, until she remembered she wasn't all that much shorter than Mrs. Weasley was, and it dawned on her the kitchen had probably been set up for her to get easy access to everything.
"I've heard that you're not going back to Hogwarts for your final year," Mrs. Weasley said as she handed Bryt a plate to dry. Bryt nearly dropped the plate, but managed to keep a hold of it as she kept her attention on it instead of looking at Mrs. Weasley.
"Yes ma'am," Bryt said, unsure of what else to say.
"And why aren't you?" Mrs. Weasley asked, it obvious that she was trying a bit too hard to keep her tone casual, "After all, your education is very important. Especially if you want to get into MCRS."
Bryt put the plate on the stack with the others, taking the next one that Mrs. Weasley handed to her. She was quiet for a moment, trying to carefully word what she was going to say. She didn't want to get Mrs. Weasley upset with her. Of course Bryt had wanted to join the Magical Creature Removal Squad, but that was before all of this. It just seemed a bit petty trying to act like life was normal right now.
"This is something important," she finally said, "I can't talk about it, but it's important."
"Well, I think I should have a right to know what my son is doing, and I'm sure your parents feel the same about you."
Bryt frowned, drying off the last of the plates, putting it on the stack. Why did she have to play the concerned parent card? Bryt was already feeling guilty enough about doing this, about leaving her family. She needed need more reminders.
"I've already talked to my parents about this," she said, "They understand."
"But heaven knows they still have to be worried."
'Of course they are,' Bryt thought, but didn't say so out loud as she put away the last of the plates. She dried off her hands more and looked at Mrs. Weasley, eager to get away from this conversation.
"I'm tired, I think I'm going to head to bed early, if that's okay?"
"What?" Mrs. Weasley asked, looking caught off-guard, "Oh, yes, that's fine. Good night, Bryt."
"Good night, Mrs. Weasley," Bryt said, heading from the kitchen, wanting to get away from the conversation.
Bryt sighed, heading into Ginny's bedroom, relieved to see Hermione was there, and alone. She came over and sat at the edge of Hermione's cot, running a hand through her short blond hair.
"I just got cornered by Mrs. Weasley about why we're not going back to Hogwarts," she said.
"She cornered me this morning when we were cleaning the sitting room," Hermione said with a sigh, "She doesn't seem to want to let this drop about what we're doing."
"Lupin and Kingsley did," Bryt said, remembering the night before, when they dropped the subject completely as soon as Ron said they were acting on Dumbledore's orders to keep this quiet, "Why can't she?"
"I think she's just worried," Hermione said slowly, "I mean, we're all going off to do who-knows-what and then there's the war..."
Bryt sighed.
"I just wish she'd accept that we have to do this," she said.
"It's probably hard for her when all she has is our word that Dumbledore wanted us to do this," Hermione said, "And I guess it has to be hard to believe that a group of teenagers are the only ones that can find a way to defeat Voldemort."
Bryt nodded. The idea was insane. That four teenagers with no clue what to do or where they were going could be able to find Horcruxes when they had no idea where to start looking, nor did they have any idea how to destroy one when they did find one...
"I wish Dumbledore had given us a bit more information about what we're supposed to do," Bryt said.
"He probably thought he had more time," Hermione said bitterly. Bryt nodded, looking out the window. Dumbledore probably expected to have more time to explain everything to Harry. Hadn't expected to be murdered by a man he trusted...
"Have you found anything to help?" Bryt asked, casting a careful glance at the door. She felt a bit guilty, her and Hermione having this conversation without Ron, but there was no way she could find him to get him without someone noticing. Especially the way Mrs. Weasley had been on them constantly. So she was just going to take the time she could now with Hermione and hopefully fill Ron in later. But still, she and Hermione had to be careful what they said. Just in case someone happened to be walking by, or whenever Ginny would be coming in.
"No, not yet," Hermione said with a sigh, "And I've been looking, whenever I have the chance."
Bryt nodded, readjusting herself on the bed a bit and watching Hermione, who was fiddling with the locket around her neck. A simple piece of jewelry, with a locket in the shape of a book, that Julio had given Hermione for Christmas a few years ago. Bryt found her own hand going up to the pocket watch hanging around her own neck, a gift from Ron on her last birthday, in tradition that witches and wizards received pocket watches when they came of age.
"How's Julio handling this?" Bryt asked. Julio hadn't been over today, as he had to work, but he had been over the day before and spent most of the day with Hermione.
"He's asked twice to come with us," Hermione said quietly, gripping to her locket tighter as she stared out the window, "I finally convinced him that he couldn't, but I hated having to. I'm worried. About if I'll ever see him again..."
"We'll get through this," Bryt said, "Besides, you two have those two-way diaries. We'll be able to keep up with what's going on."
"Actually, no, we won't," Hermione said with a sigh, "We can't risk if something happens, if someone gets ahold of one of those books. So I'm leaving mine behind."
Bryt knew how much that had to upset Hermione. She was giving up that one connection to Julio. That one way she could keep up with knowing if he was okay, how everyone would be doing. But she could also see how it could be dangerous holding into a book with a magical link to someone else. Especially if it ended up in the wrong hands.
Bryt heard footsteps coming up the stairs and she got up, heading over to her own cot and going through her bag for pajamas in case it was Mrs. Weasley coming to check on them. Though when the door opened, it was Ginny coming in, looking exhausted from a day of cleaning. Bryt and Hermione shared a glance, a look that said they both knew their conversation was over, and all three girls got ready for bed.
Like the last two nights, Bryt just lay awake in her cot, staring at the ceiling, unable to get to sleep. After an hour, she sighed and rolled over in her cot, glancing between the other two girls, aware they were both asleep by now, and she picked up her pocket watch from the shelf next to her, running her fingers along the dragon design carved into it.
She was starting to feel a bit guilty. When they left, when they went off to hunt Horcruxes, Harry would be cutting off all contact with Ginny. Hermione would be losing that contact with Julio. But Bryt would still have Ron. He'd still be there with them. Though she was happy that he'd be there, she couldn't help but feel guilty over it. That she'd have someone she cared for so deeply so close, while they would have to always wonder how Ginny or Julio were doing...
It was true they were all leaving people behind. Leaving behind family and friends...But Harry and Hermione were also leaving behind people so close to them, while Bryt would still have her boyfriend with her. She wouldn't have to worry constantly about if something happened to him...Wouldn't have him back here, worrying about what she was doing, having no clue why she had to leave...Ron would be with her.
Bryt closed her hand over the pocket watch. It wasn't fair. To Harry, to Hermione, to Ginny, or to Julio.
Of course, this was a war. Things were never fair when it came to wars. Bryt just had to look at the past few years, at how many people had already died for this. Sirius and Dumbledore. The countless names she saw in the Daily Prophet each week...And she knew there were going to be more before this war ended...
Bryt sighed as she rolled onto her back again, holding the pocket watch against her chest as she stared at the ceiling. She should be happy that Ron would be by her side. But she wasn't happy about any of this. About sending her family into hiding. About knowing that Sofí and Julio would be doing the same thing if things got bad. Hermione sending her parents out of the country with new memories...No, Bryt wasn't happy about any of this.
But right now she needed to get sleep. They had a long day ahead of them tomorrow, a long night ahead of them. They were going to be bringing Harry to the Burrow. And if things went to hell, they all needed to be well-rested.
So Bryt rolled over onto her side, still gripping her pocket watch in her hand, the chain tangled around her fingers a bit, as she pulled a pillow over her head and tried to get to sleep.