Bryn awoke in the middle of the night, covered in sweat and about to scream. She looked around the room. Everyone was asleep and fine. She shook her head. It was just a bad dream after all. She pushed some of her dark brown hair out of her face and pulled the curtain on her bed open just a little more. Slowly and quietly she crept out of bed, and walked to the door leading to the staircases. She took one look back over her shoulder to make sure everyone was asleep, and then headed down to the empty common room.

"Can't sleep either?" She heard a voice ask by the fire. She looked closely in the dark to find Harry sitting in the floor by the fire.

"You too?" she asked walking up and joining him.

"Yeah—"he answered. "Bad Dreams?" They asked in unison.

"Yup…" she answered first. "I was dreaming about….my mom, my dad, what type of people they might have been…you?"

"Basically the same." He said looking her in the eyes as she sat down beside him. "So, you were adopted?"

"Yeah…" she sighed. "Just after I was born, I was maybe a year or so old…My mom took me to my grandfather and he's raised me all my life. I …don't know much about my parents though."

"Neither do I." Harry responded not feeling so alone at that moment. "But I guess you know my story already."

"Yeah." She turned and smiled at him. "I know my father did something terrible…" she sighed and shook her head. "And that my mother chose to hide me from him, even though he was going to Azakaban. But, that's all I know. One name, one photo…nothing else."

"A photo? Of your mother I take it, right?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Yes, her name was Celeste Jorden." She gave a faint smile to him and pulled out the locket around her neck. "This is her." She showed the picture of an girl around her age, with the same brown hair and eyes. They looked almost like twins, except for Bryn's chin and mouth. Harry studied the two, and found something familiar in Brynden's looks, but he couldn't quite put a finger on it.

"You both look a lot alike, and you don't know who your father was?" He asked.

"No idea." She sighed. "My grandfather told me long ago not to worry about it." She looked up and into Harry's eyes. "He said, the past is just what it is, the past. And to keep my eyes on shaping who I am, not who my parents were…" she yawned.

"Who…who is your grandfather?" Harry asked daringly. "If…you don't mind telling me."

"Uhmm.." she looked away. "You have to promise not to tell a soul…" she was sure she was going to regret telling him, but he seemed trustworthy enough.

"Alright." Harry nodded in agreement.

"A….Albus….Du…Dumbledore." she forced herself to say it.

"REALLY?" he looked at her in shock. "But…I…You?..You really are?" he asked.

"Yes…" she nodded. "Adoptive, remember that. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone. I mean, it's not something I'd like to get around the school you know…" she thought about what she had just said, it was true, she had enough time coping in the muggle world when people found out she was the girl that lived at the top of the hill in the woods with that old creepy rich man.

"Bryn," he put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm here…" he stood up. "If you ever need to talk…you know, about family things…" Bryn nodded t him and smiled, standing with him.

"Same to you…" she smiled softly. "We better get back to our beds, it'll be time for breakfast soon…"

"You're right, let's go.."

The morning came with subtle notice. Bryn had been awake since her dream that night, and walked downstairs to the great hall with a zombie stare. She sat at her normal spot by herself at the table, nibbling on a piece of toast. A book on the dark arts was propped up before her, and she seemed to be reading it off and on. Suddenly an owl popped in handing her a note.

"Huh?" she took the note, gave the strange owl a bit of toast and sent it on its way. She wasn't expecting any mail, seeing how she had never made friends at St. Broxton's and she knew few people in the wizarding world that weren't already at Hogwarts. Slowly and cautiously she opened the letter and read:

Brynden…I know this is unexpected, but I was wondering if you and I could talk about what happened the other day … it's very important that we do. Tonight, the same place we were before, about ten o'clock. Don't tell anyone, or you will regret it.

D.

She knew who "D" was and sighed. He'd probably decided to change his mind about being friends…she had a feeling that would happen.  She stood up, finished with her light breakfast and gathered her things. It was time for Transfiguration, and she didn't want to be late.

….

Professor McGonagall taught a very interesting class that day, but it meant nothing to Bryn. She sat behind Harry and fought to keep her eyes open. At the end of class, she was lagging behind again, but this time she was not alone.

"Still tired from last night?" Harry asked helping her pack her books. "Didn't you get any sleep after we went back upstairs?"

"Not really…" she sighed. "I just want to go home right now." She slid her bag on her shoulders and started walking with him to door.

"Why? Don't you like Hogwarts?"

"Not…not really." She sighed and looked down. "I mean, I'm sure the wizarding world has a lot to offer me, but … all the magic in this school didn't keep my parents together…didn't keep me with them." She swallowed fighting back her strong emotions.

"Bryn." Harry stopped. "You know it wasn't your fault. You said it yourself, your father did something…wait." He just had an idea. "You're mother…she was about my mum's age right?"

"I guess so…" she shrugged.

"I can…well…ask someone for you!" he smiled. "Come on…I know exactly where he would be right now!" He grabbed her hand leading her to the dead end of the hallway.

"This is great and all Harry…but we'll be missing Care of magical creatures. Hagrid will kill us!" she protested.

"Never…" he smiled. "Just come on." He led her down through the secret passage ways leading into Hogsmead.

"Harry, if we get caught!" she whispered, holding onto his arm.

"We won't…" he said pulling something out of his bag. "Here…let's put this cloak on, no one will see us, we just have to be quiet." He ordered as they headed out to the cave Harry normally met with Sirius in.

"Sirius…" he called out as they got into the cave, pulling off the cloak.

"Harry?" Sirius Black stood up from his brunch of leftovers to greet him. "Who's this?" he looked Bryn over carefully, noting that she looked a lot like someone he used to know…

"Brynden Jorden, she's a friend of mine. She's new at Hogwarts this year, but…" he motioned for Bryn to come closer. "Show him the locket…" Harry told her. Nodding lightly she came forward, and opened the locket for Sirius Black to see. At first sight he knew who it was.

"Celeste Jorden…" he said looking down from the picture to Bryn. "What's this all about Harry?"

"Celeste was my mother." Bryn said, courage finally finding its way back to her. "Do…Did you know her?" she inquired.

"Yes." Sirius said sitting down. "I knew her. We went to Hogwarts together; she was best friends with your mother Harry. We were all friends. Cele was one of the nicest people I knew." He took a sip of water. "She was even nice to old snag nose Snape."

"Really?" Bryn took a seat across from him with Harry. "So, do you know anyone she was involved with at Hogwarts…maybe like a boyfriend or something?"

"Well, there were a few guys Cele talked about. James was one, and Remus…" he started.

"Were you one?" Harry asked.

"Cele?" Sirius laughed. "And me?" he shook his head. "Not really, after we all left Hogwarts we never really talked…she'd occasionally stop by to see your parents…or me, but I never saw her after the Peter incident." He spoke quietly, with a bit of regret in his voice.

"So…you wouldn't know who my father was…" she sighed.

"Cele told me a lot of things…" Sirius put his hand on her shoulder. "But she never mentioned a husband, or a child."

Bryn sighed and nodded. "Well…Thanks…" She rubbed the back of her neck and looked down. Harry looked at Sirius. "Thanks…anyway." He said quietly.

"You two better get back to the school…you're in enough trouble for skipping I'm sure." Sirius said in a father like voice. The two of them nodded and left the cave in the cloak, as Sirius watched them he couldn't help but think about how fate had brought them to him. Pain struck his heart as he watched his daughter and Godson walk away. He couldn't tell them yet, but the lie was enough to make him want to die. He had hope now; he had found at last what he didn't know he had. He wished deep down that he had told Cele everything, but it was too late now. Deeds were done, and times had passed. He was a father now, and nothing could change that for him.