"Almost Neville!"

Ana felt there was little left to say as she watched Neville get hit by the fifth body binding curse in a row after, once again, failing to properly deflect said curse. She felt that he was getting better…however unfortunately Neville's version of better was other people's starting point.

Ana had been unsure about restarting the Duelling Club. She felt her footing with her father was on a very steep slope to say the least; and that instability made her want to keep her distance as much as possible. What was more; she was sure Snape suspected their connection. If not her parentage he at least suspected she was attached to him in some fundamental way in her own time. It was only a matter of time before he pulled all the pieces of the puzzle together and, even knowing him as she did, she could not say what his reaction would be on the day he did realise the truth.

Sirius wrote often but she missed him. More than she told anyone, more than she would ever admit. Winter had given way to spring and now they were on the cusp of summer. Since the incident in the boy's bathroom (Draco Malfoy was still bedridden and recovering slowly but surely from his attack) little of note had happened within the castle; Filch had continued to be bamboozled by students, McGonagall had continued to be her usual stern self, Snape had swept around in his customary air of doom and gloom and Dumbledore…well he had been spending time away from the castle. Why she could not tell; and tentative enquiries within the Order told her they were as ignorant of his actions as she, but no one could keep a secret long from Ana Harte. She was too good at seeing through people for that.

Harry was back to himself. After spending a short amount of time severely shaken after almost killing Malfoy he had bounced back; between her support and Sirius' encouragement he had found his guilt, though not entirely lifted, lessened. His suspicions about Malfoy had not been mentioned again – yet Ana was sure that was more because he knew no one believed him as opposed to because of said suspicions going away.

As she watched Harry throw a perfect Stunning Spell which sent Ron flat out and into a magic induced state of unconsciousness she wondered when he had become a man…for she knew that at some point in the last year that had happened. He seemed stronger, more independent, and that both comforted and worried her. For although he would need a strong sense of maturity for what they would all be facing in the coming days she was loathe to think of that independence meaning he withdrew into himself. He needed people around him; whether he wanted to admit it or not.

"Mr Finnegan; perhaps a little more finesse and a little less chatter would cure you of your incompetence? Something to contemplate – if you find your mind spacious enough for such an act."

The smooth voice of Snape over at the other side of the Hall broke through her thoughts. No matter how far apart they were if Snape was in earshot she could always hear him. She was sure his put downs were only improving as the year went on.

The chiming of the grandfather clock at the far end of the room, brought in especially for the Duelling Club and warded against any accidental spell damage by Snape himself, told her it was the end of another session. The progress in many of the students was visible; she thought that even the high and mighty Slytherins had begun to enjoy Duelling Club. Though proximity had not, she feared, made any one of the students less fearful of Snape's barbed tongue.

"Miss Harte?"

Ana looked down to see a tiny first year standing very close, looking up with large brown eyes and a slightly awed expression.

"Yes?" she asked; at a loss for what else to ask. All the Duelling Club members, sixth year that evening, were filing out of the Hall as Snape watched on with a curled lip, and so she had to bend down slightly to hear the quiet, high-pitched tone of the very, very small girl.

"Professor Hagrid sent me to fetch you."

Was she ever that small? She couldn't have been. No one could possibly be that…

"Hagrid?" she asked dumbly, "Why, what is it, has something…?"

"I don't know Miss," the girl interrupted with a slight blush, "He just said to ask you to come quick…"

Ana nodded and immediately turned to leave; her mind running through a thousand reasons for why Hagrid would want her back at the cabin when he knew she was due back from Duelling Club any time now. However at the last moment she turned; took in the tie colour of the doll like creature – Hufflepuff – and threw back lightly,

"Thank you; ten points to Hufflepuff."

The girl looked as though she were about to explode with pride.

Ana swept past Snape with a tight smile, which he of course did not return, and raced through the front doors and across the grounds at a sprinting pace. If something had happened to Hagrid and she didn't get there in time she would never forgive herself.


"He were a good 'un – he were, a friend, fer all he were a spider…"

Ana gave him what she hoped was a compassionate look as she peered down with him at the body of the giant Acromantula. He had a tablecloth in hand; a makeshift handkerchief she had hastily pulled from a table in the cabin when Hagrid had, once again, begun to weep.

"Thanks fer comin' so quick- I know yer had yer club an' all…"

"We had just finished when I got your message," Ana offered, "I'm so sorry Hagrid."

"Aye well; all things mus' come t' their end."

She nodded in agreement.

Voices coming from somewhere off behind them caused Ana to turn…only to see Harry marching towards them with a very unsettling grin on his face – followed some paces behind by an out of breath Horace Slughorn.

"Horace," Hagrid greeted the Professor like his appearance was completely within the realms of normalcy, "Harry."

Ana tilted her head to Harry, asking silently for an explanation, but he merely widened his grin and turned his attention to the Acromantula.

"Merlin's beard…" Slughorn breathed, "Is that an actual Acromantula?"

"A dead one I think Sir," Harry added in what he probably thought was a highly useful manner. Ana sidled closer to the boy and turned him to face her. Overly bright eyes, flushed complexion, giant grin, nervous energy, endless optimism…she sighed.

"What the bloody hell have you been up to now?" she whispered as Slughorn questioned Hagrid about the spider.

"I've got a plan," he confided in a mock whisper, "Felix knows what to do…"

"I thought so; but why on Earth are you high on Felix Felicis?" she asked in a hushed tone.

"Mission from Dumbledore," he murmured, still grinning, "Need to get something."

Ana rolled her eyes. Of course Dumbledore was behind it. She shrugged.

"Alright; what are you after…?"

Harry shook his head.

"It's a secret!" he exclaimed, before quietening his tone when Fang whined at his sudden loudness, "I can't tell anyone but I know I'll get it before the end of the night."

Ana did the only thing she could do. She nodded as though she understood what he was going on about and resolved to leave him to it – unless it looked as though he were about to get himself into some form of mortal danger; in which case she would have to step in.

"…would you mind if I extract a vile of two? Purely for academic purposes you understand!"

Ana suppressed a laugh. Only Slughorn could turn a dead, giant spider to his own advantage.

"Well I don't suppose it's going to do him much good now is it?" asked Hagrid, his voice shaking as another swell of tears threatened to render him speechless. Ana patted the half giant on the elbow and lifted up the tablecloth, which was hanging limply from his hand, so he could wipe away the tears.

"I wish yer could've seen 'im in 'is prime," Hagrid announced as he swiped away tears, "Magnificent he was – jus' magnificent!"

"Would you like me to say a few words?" asked Slughorn once he had clamoured back up the bank and was standing with them once again; phials of Acromantula venom safely stored in his cloak pocket.

"Yes…" whimpered Hagrid. She took his arm and rested her had against it as a show of support. His other arm reached across so a large hand could pat her own; which were resting in the crook of his elbow.

"He had a family I trust?" Slughorn asked.

"Oh yeah…" Harry said; sounding very spaced out. She wondered what Sirius would say if he saw his Godson now. He'd probably ask for some Felicis himself.

"Farewell…" Slughorn began.

"…Aragog…" Hagrid interjected with a barely suppressed sob.

"Farewell – Aragog," Slughorn began again, "King of the Arachnids," Hagrid let out a wail and Ana once again provided the tablecloth as she murmured sounds of comfort. Slughorn continued, "Your body will decay but your spirit lingers on…"

Fang let out a long, low whine as Ana marvelled that Hagrid could ever have loved something so hideous as Aragog. Then again she was prejudiced; an Acromantula had tried to bite her head off once. She had, of course, returned the favour in the form of a severing charm; with far more success. Probably best not to tell Hagrid that though.


Somewhere between the fifth rendition of Odo the Hero and the umpteenth glass of whatever they were drinking Ana realised Harry was performing an endless refilling charm on the alcohol. She also realised, around the same time, that the significant looks he had been giving her for quite some time were in actual fact signals as opposed to side effects to the Felix Felicis. He wanted her to leave.

"I think I'll turn in," she announced, laying down her cup, which had been filled with tea instead of anything intoxicating, and turned to Harry, "You'll be alright getting back to the castle? If not just stay here – Hagrid will be alright with that won't you…?"

She looked over to see that Hagrid had fallen asleep sitting up.

"Well I'm alright with that. You can keep Horace company."

She patted Harry's hand, receiving another wide grin in response, and headed over to the door which led through to her half of the cabin.

"Goodnight Horace!" she called back as she went through into her own quarters.

"Goodnight my dear! Happy dreams and pleasant…oh no, that's not right…"

She left him to his muttering.

She loosened her hair from the bun which had settled at the nape of neck and stripped away her dress, unpinning the bodice and letting it fall as she breathed in and out deeply. Her tattoos were visible in the half light of the lamps, dark markings traced across her skin. She quickly pulled a nightshirt over her form, hiding it from her own eyes, as she sat down on her bed and looked towards the door leading to Hagrid's half of the cabin. She knew that Harry had orders from Dumbledore and that to interfere would help no one. She knew he was not a child anymore; that he knew what he was doing. Yet she still crept over to the doorway and laid her head against the wood; listening to the quiet bur of voices on the other side.

"…because she sacrificed herself," she heard Harry say faintly in a voice which sounded considerably more grounded than he had been all night, "Because she refused to step aside…"

It was obvious they were talking about Lily Potter. Ana closed her eyes as she heard Lily's son continue,

"…because her love was more powerful than Voldemort…"

"Don't say his name!" Slughorn exclaimed.

"I'm not afraid of the name Professor!" Harry interjected, "I'm going to tell you something. Something others have only guessed at. It's true; I am the Chosen One. Only I can destroy him…but in order to do so I need to know what Tom Riddle asked you all those years ago in your office and I need to know what you told him!"

Ana held herself back. She knew that if it were knowledge Harry needed she could go in there now and rip it out of Slughorn's mind without him being any the wiser. She could have the thing he needed, the thing Dumbledore needed, in a moment. But she also knew that Dumbledore was aware of that. There had to be a reason he had asked Harry to get the information. Ana was many things but she was no fool; she trusted Dumbledore.

"Be brave Professor!" Harry urged, "Be brave like my mother. Otherwise…you disgrace her. Otherwise she died for nothing. Otherwise the bowl will remain empty…forever."

There was a long silence and Ana held her breath as she waited for Slughorn's response. Finally it came; not in the pompous tones she was used to from Slughorn but in the voice of an old man – weak and shaking.

"Please don't think badly of me when you see it," he murmured, "You have no idea what he was like – even then."

Another pause before she heard Harry murmur; so quietly she could barely hear his words,

"Thank you, Professor."

Ana moved away from the door and over to her bed where she once again sat down; thinking over what she had heard. Whatever Dumbledore needed it had to be important; something to do with defeating Voldemort. Though what it was she could not say; in her world there had been no talk of defeating Voldemort – there had just been talk of surviving.

"Sirius," she whispered, "You would have been so proud of him tonight."

She wasn't sure whether she was talking to the former Sirius, lost to her, or the one she now knew. Either, she was sure, would agree with her sentiment. For the first time since she had come to the new land she now lived in Ana truly saw why Harry Potter was so important. She was proud to have given up her reality for him.


It was a week later, exactly a week, that Dumbledore came to the cabin.

She knew it was to see her; Dumbledore had to be aware that Hagrid was away that weekend; gone to see Madame Maxime, the grounds-keeper had confided, a woman in his eyes without comparison.

"Headmaster," she stepped aside to let him in and, without asking, fetched him a glass of the malt whiskey which was kept in a dusty cupboard for just such an occasion. Hagrid didn't drink the stuff, preferring mead, and she herself wouldn't touch it – but Hagrid kept a bottle in just in case Dumbledore were to call by.

"Thank you, Ana," he smiled as she handed him the glass, taking a small sip before sitting in the fireside seat she indicated was for him. For long moment he said nothing as she seated herself opposite him and waited. The crackling of the fire was the only sound, penetrating the peaceful quiet, as she surveyed him steadily; and he her.

"It is time we talked, I think," he finally said in his slightly lilting voice, "Of things which should no doubt have been said long ago."

She said nothing.

"You have been a gift, Ana, though at first I could not quite see it."

"I take it you are not talking about my skills in grounds-keeping?" she asked wryly.

"No indeed; although they are impressive," he answered drolly, "No I speak of the way you have helped a great many people. Sirius for one would not be who he is today without you. Remus would perhaps be dead; Harry less sure of himself and Draco Malfoy more so…which believe me is not something I would hope for…"

She tilted her head as she listened. Somehow she was sure there was more to this meeting than his telling her about how wonderful she was.

"…and finally Professor Snape – oh yes; I have noticed," he added as she started, despite herself. "You have forged a form of relationship with him, despite his…unwillingness shall we say, to associate with any living being outside of that which is necessary."

Ana couldn't help but smile at that.

"But what I should like to know, at this moment more than anything in fact, is why you have not yet told him that he is your father?"

Ana didn't react, not this time. From his first mention of Snape she had known, instinctually known, that Dumbledore was aware of their connection. The only question was whether or not he would bring it up between them. Of course, she thought fleetingly, he would have to. Dumbledore wasn't one for leaving things where they lay.

"There's no point in the act," she replied, not trying to deny his claim concerning her parentage, "He doesn't need to know and I don't need him to have any knowledge of our connection. It will do nothing but harm, I think."

"Indeed," Dumbledore agreed, nodding sagely and taking another sip of his drink, "In that I think you very wise. Best not add any more difficulties to an already difficult situation?"

She nodded, meeting those piercing blue eyes, before he added,

"These are difficult times. I know of your prowess; both in Duelling and in other areas…your support has been invaluable to the Order. I should hope for that to continue – no matter what might happen in the coming days and weeks."

Ana frowned before replying slowly.

"Albus…if I didn't know better I would say you were briefing me. Are you planning on going somewhere? Somewhere for longer than you already have been I mean."

He laughed.

"I should have guessed you would have noticed!" he exclaimed with something close to glee at her discovery, "Very good – yes I am, as a matter of fact, Ana, leaving. I should be gone quite some time. Indefinitely, I should think, if you understand my meaning?"

She nodded, albeit with confusion and disbelief in her expression, and asked,

"But…how? Why?"

"Ah my dear…not all things can be known and seen. For example my hand; you have not noticed this whole year – I wonder why that would be..."

He raised his right hand which, she noticed with shock for the first time, seemed to be burned and blackened to an almost skeletal thing.

"What on Earth…how did that happen? When did that happen?"

"Over the summer, Ana, after the Department of Mysteries…"

She shook her head.

"I would have noticed…"

"Not if I didn't want you to; I'm sorry, Ana, but you above all people could not have known until now that I was the subject of this curse. It was not easy, shielding the damage from you – such a curse is not made to be shielded, but it was necessary. Not least because you know the effects…"

Her mind strayed to a cursed ring, her mother's body…

"It's fatal…" she whispered, "So how…?"

"Severus contained the curse in one hand but it will not hold. Which is why, Ana, I say my goodbyes now. Because soon my time will be done and I shall not then have the chance to speak them."

His riddles always annoyed her but now more than ever.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said evenly, "But there are ways Albus, ways to extend your life, ways to stop…"

"Dear child I have lived a long life already. I have been given more years than I care to think of. It is my time, I think, though I am not perhaps ready. Yet I am willing. You must, though I think I do not need to say it, say nothing of this to anyone else. It is a secret which must be kept at all costs. You understand Ana? Only you and Severus know now and it must remain that way."

The intensity in his voice belied his concern for her silence. She knew, as well as any, that if Voldemort or any of his followers were to know Albus Dumbledore was close to death then the Order would be weakened – perhaps beyond repair.

"I understand," she answered obediently.

"Excellent," he placed his drained glass on the table top and made to stand.

"Albus – why are you telling me all of this? Why me and not Remus or Sirius or…"

He reached over and took one of her hands with his good one.

"Because you have known what is to come," he said, his voice serious, "You know what they will be facing and I need you, above all other, to be there when it all begins. They knew the first war but this one…I fear this will eclipse even that. When I am gone there will be unsurety – you must give them assurance. Above all things help Harry, protect Harry. And it would not hurt to give Mr Malfoy some of your attentions. I fear his friends have not proved as loyal as he would have liked during his prolonged period of convalescence…"

"Albus…" she whispered, tears coming to her eyes unbidden.

"Now; no tears. Death is but a well-earned rest for one who has lived as long as I. You will do as I ask, Ana? You will protect them? I promise to you everything will soon be clear but for now my word will have to suffice. I hope I can depend on you to follow my final instructions to you?"

She nodded and squeezed his hand, feeling the pressure returned.

"I must be going; to be seen wondering around the grounds in the dark will fuel the rumours of my marbles being well and truly lost."

She smiled tremulously as he moved towards the door.

"Trust yourself, Ana – that would be my advice. Trust yourself."

Then he was gone; lost to the inky night, and she was alone in the cabin with her thoughts. The idea that Albus could die was almost unthinkable; except that it was going to happen. That shook her more than anything she had seen or done – the idea of a world without Albus Dumbledore was one she could hardly comprehend. Yet he had trusted her with a secret so large…unconsciously she set her shoulders as she shut the cabin door and walked back over to her seat by the fire.

It had been a long time since she had been given a mission. The whys and wherefores of what was to come were uncertain; Albus had, she was sure, given her only a small part of the story. However now she was positive that nothing on Earth would prevent her from carrying out Dumbledore's final wish of her. She would protect them, all of them, with her life…and if that was the price to be paid for their survival?

"So be it." she whispered to the flames.


A/N: Sorry for the delay - real life has been demanding of late. Not long until book six climax - expect it within the next week! All things come to a close...