Bryt sat in the Gryffindor common room, her quill gripped in her hand as she stared at what she had so far on the letter she had been trying to write for the past half hour:

Mom and Dad,

Bryt continued to stare at the only three words she had written so far. It had been a miracle that Diggory's death hadn't been reported in the Daily Prophet the past two days, but Bryt knew it was only a matter of time. Not to mention her father was very good friends with Mr. Weasley. Her parents were going to find out what happened sooner or later, no matter how badly Bryt wished otherwise, and Bryt knew that it would be better if the news came from her.

She just didn't know how to handle it. How in the world was she supposed to tell her parents that a student had been killed the night before? And that a man who caused such horror and chaos was trying to rise to power once again?

"Maybe you should put that off a bit."

Bryt looked up at the whisper and met Ron's gaze from where he was looking up from his chess game with Harry. Bryt just shook her head, not saying anything. After Harry had gotten back from the hospital wing the hour before, the four had come to an unspoken understanding not to talk about what happened. Harry obviously wasn't ready to tell them, and they knew it wouldn't help to bring up any reminder. They had only touched on it briefly when Harry first came back, when Ron told them that his mother wanted Harry to come straight to the Burrow for the summer, but Dumbledore wanted Harry to return to the Dursleys first, at least temporarily.

Dumbledore had told the school at breakfast the morning before to leave Harry alone, and the school seemed to be taking that to heart. Even Gryffindors were giving them a wide berth at the moment, where only Mike and Natalie staying close by. Bryt was glad to see they were both doing better, but were still much quieter than usual. They were sitting at the end of the table, playing a game of Exploding Snap, even though they didn't seem to be that into the game.

Bryt looked over at Hermione, who was curled up in an armchair with the two-way diary she shared with Julio perched in her lap. Hermione had explained to Julio the day before what had happened, and the two were spending every moment they could now writing to each other through the diary.

Bryt sighed and looked back down at her letter. She dipped her quill into ink again and her hand hovered over the parchment for several moments before she finally lowered the quill and started writing.

Something's happened here at Hogwarts. It's something bad. Don't worry, Mike, Drew, and I are fine.

Bryt crossed out the last sentence. In no way were they fine.

Don't worry, Mike, Drew, and I haven't been hurt.

'Physically,' Bryt mentally added. How she worded it now would have to do, however. She sighed, running a hand through her hair before she put her quill to parchment again and hesitated for another minute before continuing.

This will be difficult to explain. I would rather tell you this in person, but something like this will most likely end up in the Daily Prophet soon enough, and I would rather this come from me.

A student was killed. Cedric Diggory. You've probably heard a lot about him from Drew, since he was in Hufflepuff. Drew's dealing with everything okay. Besides me and Mike, Drew has his friends and the entire Hufflepuff house to rely on.

Bryt stopped to dip her quill into the ink again, and also trying to figure out how to word the next part. This was definitely something that Bryt never wanted her parents to know about, but it would be inevitable with Mr. Watkins' interest in reading the Daily Prophet and his friendship with Mr. Weasley.

It's better coming from me exactly who killed Diggory as well. I know both of you know the stories of Voldemort, and how he's supposed to be dead, but that's not true. He's back, he's the reason Diggory is dead.

Bryt paused in her writing again, trying to imagine how her parents would react when they read that. Her father was so easy-going, not much bothered him, but Bryt still remembered the horrified look he had when he first heard the stories of Voldemort when he wanted to read one of the books Bryt used for History of Magic. Mrs. Watkins was extremely overprotective, and Bryt could easily picture her mother insisting that Bryt, Mike, and Drew all be withdrawn from enrollment at Hogwarts. Bryt knew that would be the worst thing that would happen. She dipped her quill into ink again and went back to her letter.

I know what you're thinking, Mom, and taking of out of Hogwarts will not change the fact that Voldemort is back. In fact, Mike, Drew, and I are safest when we are here. We have Professor Dumbledore, and he's widely known as the only person Voldemort ever feared. As long as Dumbledore is in charge of Hogwarts, we're safe here.

Everything will be fine, Mom, Dad. Dumbledore is already working to stop Voldemort before he rises to the type of power he had before, and I'm sure he can do it.

At least, Bryt hoped that he would be able to. She wasn't about to admit her doubts to her parents, though. She was worrying them enough as it was.

Mike, Drew, and I will be okay. Hogwarts will always remain the safest place for us to be. And you two will be protected, I'm sure. I bet Mr. Weasley will help make sure of that. Trust me when I say everything will be fine.

Bryt

Bryt put down her quill with a sigh. She felt she could probably word the letter a lot better than she had, that she could have done something better to make the news easier to take, but she had no idea how. Bryt sat back, letting the ink on her letter dry as she watched Harry and Ron play chess.

Bryt sent off her letter that night, but didn't receive a response until the following Thursday. Bryt had to let Joey in through the common room window, as she, Ron, Hermione, and Harry were avoiding going to the Great Hall while it was crowded.

As Bryt opened the letter, she noticed instantly that it was her father who wrote it, and the reason why became apparent as she read it:

Bryt,

I trust your judgment on your and your brothers' safety, and that of me and Amelia. You know far more of the magical world than your mother and I ever could, no matter how much I try to learn. Your mother is having a harder time taking this in, however. After we first read your letter, she wanted to bring you three home, despite your reassurance that Hogwarts is safe. From stories you've told me, as well as things I've learned from Arthur, I think you're right. I will try and talk Amelia down, but it's hard at the moment. She gets tense and refuses to talk any time I mention it. But she'll come around in time.

Take care of your brothers, Bryt. If what you told is really is true, they'll need you to watch over them.

Love, Dad

Bryt sighed. She hoped her father was right about getting her mother to come around on her opinion on what had happened. She was afraid that, if Mrs. Watkins couldn't be persuaded, she might become like Sofí and Julio's mother—uncomfortable, maybe even fearful, of the wizarding world. Bryt didn't want that to happen. She didn't want her mother to resent the world her children were a part of.

Bryt put away her letter, not mentioning anything to Harry, Ron, or Hermione—though she noticed Hermione was giving her a worried look. Bryt just nodded slightly to Harry, glad he was absorbed in his chess match with Ron to notice them. They were still in their unspoken rule to not bring up anything that would remind Harry of what happened, and Bryt's letter from home definitely fell under the category of reminding him. Not that any of them thought that Harry didn't think about it enough as it was. Bryt was sure he was thinking about it constantly. She had first-hand knowledge of both watching someone die, and how guilt could always be on one's mind. And what tore Bryt up the most was she couldn't talk to Harry about the second part without admitting her mistake the year before. Bryt's own fear of how Harry would react kept her keeping it to herself.

At least they were able to talk about it some with Hagrid. With the Defense Against the Dark Arts class canceled, the four took the time to go down the Hagrid's hut to talk with him for the first time since the day of the final task. Hagrid seemed thrilled to see them, pulling Harry into a hug before leading them inside. Bryt noticed two of Hagrid's over-sized mugs were on the table already.

"Bin havin' a cuppa with Olympe," Hagrid said, seeing the group looking towards the table, "She's jus' left."

"Who?" Bryt and Ron asked together.

"Madam Maxime, o' course!"

Bryt grinned, glad it seemed that Hagrid and Madam Maxime were getting along well again. When Ron asked about it, though, Hagrid feigned innocence and changed the subject by offering them tea and very doughy cookies, which was fine with Bryt as she liked eating raw cookie dough.

As the group settled into their seats, Bryt noticed Hagrid watching Harry closely.

"You all righ'?" Hagrid asked.

"Yeah," Harry answered instantly.

"No, yeh're not. 'Course yeh're not. But yeh will be."

Harry stayed quiet.

"He's right," Bryt said, "It took a long time for me after my grandparents died, but I eventually got okay again. I know it's not the same nearly the same, but I think I can understand at least a small bit of what you're goin' through."

Again, Harry didn't say anything. Bryt ran a hand through her hair, not knowing what else she could say without admitting to her mistake with Wormtail. Even if Bryt wasn't so terrified of the thought of Harry and Ron both hating her for it, Bryt knew that Harry didn't need that news added to everything else he was going through at the moment.

"Knew he was goin' ter come back," Hagrid said and Bryt, Ron, Harry, and Hermione all stared at Hagrid in surprise, "Known it fer years, Harry. Knew he was out there, bidin' his time. It had ter happen. Well, now it has, an' we'll jus' have ter get on with it. We'll fight. Migh' be able ter stop him before he gets a good hold. That's Dumbledore's plan, anyway. Great man, Dumbledore. 'S long as we've got him, I'm not worried."

With Hagrid saying it out loud, Bryt felt a lot more comfortable about writing it to her parents days before. It wasn't that she didn't believe Dumbledore would be able to stop Voldemort, it was just a relief to hear an adult say it as well.

"No good sittin' worryin' abou' it," Hagrid went on, "What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does. Dumbledore told me wha' you did, Harry. Yeh did as much as yer father would've done, an' I can' give yeh no higher praise than that."

Harry smiled, which was a relief for Bryt. It was the first time she'd seen Harry smile in over a week.

"What's Dumbledore asked you to do, Hagrid?" Harry asked, "He sent Professor McGonagall to ask you and Madam Maxime to meet him—that night."

"Got a little job fer me over the summer. Secret, though. I'm not s'pposed ter talk abou' it, no, not even ter you lot. Olympe—Madam Maxime ter you—might be comin' with me. I think she will. Think I got her persuaded."

"Is it to do with Voldemort?" Harry asked, and Hagrid and Ron flinched at the name.

"Migh' be," Hagrid said, then quickly changed the subject again.

xxxxx

Bryt looked around the dormitory to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. All that was left was one of her scrapbooks that had been nearly kicked under her bed. Bryt picked the book up and sat down, deciding to look through it to make sure none of the pictures had been dislodged—even though they shouldn't have with the charm Hermione had taught her to hold the pictures in place.

The first was of Bryt and her friends at the Quidditch World Cup—before the match took place. Hermione was leaning against Julio, with his arms around her waist and her hands over his, Harry had an embarrassed look on his face and rubbing the back of his neck—after all, he was never that comfortable getting his picture taken—and Ron was looking annoyed and gripping his hands tightly to that ugly shamrock hat while Bryt had kept trying to reach up and pull the thing off his head.

Bryt grinned at the memory, at how she kept complaining about that hat and thought it looked horrible on Ron. It felt like a lifetime ago instead of only a year. Bryt found herself wishing they could just go back in time to that moment. Go back to before the Triwizard Tournament, before the chaos that happened at the World Cup. She wanted to forget about all the bad things that had happened that year, to go back to before all of that happened.

Bryt turned the page to a picture of her brothers in their Hogwarts robes, both smiling brightly where they were sitting on the train at the beginning of the year.

'The year hasn't been all bad,' Bryt reminded herself, turning a few more pages and finding one of Bryt and her friends at the Yule Ball. Her brothers joined Hogwarts, and Bryt had realized her feelings for Ron—and even was able to begin a relationship with him. Despite the bad, there had been plenty of good in the year, too.

"Bryt?"

Bryt looked up to see Hermione in the doorway, Crookshanks in her arms.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, fine," Bryt said, closing her scrapbook and putting it in her trunk before closing it, "Just finishin' up my pakin'."

"It's like Hagrid said," Hermione said slowly, "Things will be okay again in time."

"I know," Bryt said, sighing and sitting on her bed again, "It's not really what happened that's botherin' me so much—not that it's not botherin' me at all. I can't get what happened out of my head. It's just..." Bryt sighed again, running a hand through her hair, accidentally pulling her headband off in the process. She gripped it in her hand and started playing with the knot. "I feel trapped. I know exactly how Harry feels, with his guilt over not bein' able to save Diggory..."

Bryt trailed off, keeping her gaze down at the knot of her headband scarf as she slowly tried to undo it.

"Because of Sirius?" Hermione asked quietly, "I've told you, Bryt, that wasn't your fault. Even if you caught Wormtail, things probably wouldn't have changed."

"I know that," Bryt whispered, "But it doesn't change anythin'. I still feel guilty. And I feel horrible now 'cause I can't talk to Harry about it. I know exactly how he's feelin', but I can't tell him. I can't help him. He'll hate me for what I did. He and Ron both. And I can't take that."

Hermione came over, sitting next to Bryt on the bed, holding Crookshanks in her lap.

"They won't hate you, Bryt," she said, "Harry and Ron are our friends, and Ron obviously loves you. They'll understand. This wasn't your fault."

"Yes, it was," Bryt said, "I could have stopped Wormtail from escapin', but all I saw was that damn rat I'd been terrified of for years. I couldn't get over a stupid fear for three seconds."

"They'll understand, Bryt," Hermione said again, "You should just talk to them."

"It's not that simple. I can't," Bryt said quietly, standing up and tying her scarf back around her head again, "I'm goin' down to breakfast."

Bryt left before Hermione could say anything else. In the back of her mind, she knew Hermione was right. She should tell Harry and Ron what happened. But she was terrified of both of them hating her for it. She couldn't lose her friendship with them.

'I just can't tell them,' Bryt told herself. No matter how much it tore her up that she couldn't tell Harry about knowing what he was going through with his guilt, she was more terrified of him hating her for allowing Wormtail to escape, and at not at least giving Sirius a chance at freedom. This was just something she would have to deal with on her own.

A/N: This was originally going to be the final chapter on this story, continuing on through the trip back home on the Hogwarts Express, but the more I wrote on this, the more I realized this part would be much better as a stand-alone chapter. So there's still one more chapter to go before Bryt's fourth year comes to an end.