Snape's body lay on the floor of the Shrieking Shack, blood spilled out under him from where he had been bitten. It wasn't supposed to end this way. Snape was supposed to be here, to help Harry once he found out what he was, not leave her to help him on her own. Harry didn't know about himself yet, but he would know soon enough. Regardless of the importance that they make themselves scarce, Harry and Fabiana were glued beside Snape, letting their pant-knees soak with his blood. Hermione urged them on for a long time before Harry stood. Ana could not.
"Come on, she's right. We have to get out of here. And I need to find out what it is he's left me."
The whole way back up the secret passage, Ana was thinking. Harry wanted to open that vial and witness Snape's legacy to him. But should he? Voldemort had given them a time limit on his ultimatum. Did they have time for an emotional breakdown? Ana thought not. She also thought that it wasn't necessarily in Harry's best interest to know. For the first time, she was disagreeing with Dumbledore's plan of action where this boy was concerned. Well, boy, she said to herself. Really he's a man now…
This whole thing was precarious, dangerous. Horcrux or not, Harry meeting in the forest with Voldemort and his remaining cronies would be disastrous. He would be killed. According to Dumbledore, Harry should come out living, (should being the operative term. Dumbeledore described the whole thing in such a way as to make Ana think there was a significant chance he may not survive, despite the spare soul inside him) but then what? He would be alone. And Voldemort was not stupid, he could easily guess the reason the curse would not work. And he would cast it again. He would recast even if he did not immediately know the reason it hadn't worked, if only out of rage. After losing that small portion of Voldemort's soul, Harry would only have his own life to lose. And lose it he would if he kept his appointment with the Dark Lord. She suspected it didn't matter if Harry knew the truth now or not. This meeting was going to happen, and he would live despite his knowledge or lack thereof.
Ana barely registered they had reentered the castle. Barely noticed the direction they were heading. Before long everyone was standing before Dumbledore's office, the four of them. Harry turned to Hermione, Ron and Ana and gave a wan smile before entering the office. The remaining three tried to follow, but he stopped them. "No. This is something I have to do on my own. Go and help the others in the Great Hall. I'll find you. I promise."
Ron and Hermione did as they were told, but Ana certainly was not going to. She lurched forward and grasped his sleeve. 'I'm coming in.'
"No you're not. Go on. They need you more than I do."
'You do. Dumbledore asked me to help you when this moment came.'
Harry was confused, but seeing that Ron and Hermione were well out of sight by now and not trusting the halls and corridors to be safe, despite Voldemort's word, he ushered Ana inside ahead of him before quietly closing the door.