1Disclaimer: OK, you really should know by now that nothing but Bryn belongs to me.
Chapter 10 - Conference With the Headmaster: November passed without further incident, and soon it was December. That meant Bryn's 3 months were up, and her fate - as far as schooling went - would be decided. So, one day, at the end of Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall pulled Bryn aside. "You'll be meeting with the headmaster tonight, Sayre. Be in his office at 7:00. The password is Acid Pops." Bryn frowned. "How do I get there?" she asked. McGonagall gave her directions, and Bryn left, trying to ignore the nervousness she suddenly felt.
At dinner, she told Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny what was going on. "But he can't kick you out!" Hermione exclaimed. "You haven't broken any rules!" Bryn wasn't sure about that. Her meeting with Ailin and Sarai might have been against school rules, but surely Dumbledore couldn't know about that.
When 7:00 rolled around, Bryn was in front of the stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore's office. "Acid Pops," she said, her voice steady despite her uncertainty. The gargoyle sprang aside to reveal a rotating spiral staircase. Bryn stepped on and rode up several floors until she was let off in front of a large door. After a moment's hesitation, she knocked.
"Come in," said a voice. The door swung open and Bryn walked inside. Albus Dumbledore sat at a large desk, smiling at her. His hands were resting on the top of the desk and Bryn's eyes strayed almost of their own accord to Dumbledore's one hand, which was black and withered. The headmaster must have noticed, because he moved his hands out of sight. "Sit down, Miss Sayre, " he said cheerfully, inclining his head to a chair directly opposite his own seat. Bryn quickly complied.
"So," he said. "I've been reading the evaluations given to me by your teachers, and I see that you seem to be adapting extremely well. Tell me, do you like Hogwarts?" Bryn nodded. "Yes, sir," she said, vaguely noticing that not many people got an automatic sir or ma'am from her. McGonagall and Morta were two. It didn't surprise her that Dumbledore did too. "I've made some friends and my classes are good."
Dumbledore's smile widened. "And you also seem to have had time with your old friends during the Hogsmeade visit," he remarked. Bryn stiffened. "How did you know?" she asked. He chuckled. "I'm friendly with the local barmen, of course," he informed her.
"Oh," Bryn mumbled. "Was it against any rules?" Dumbledore shook his head. "Not here, though I trust that Misses Chen and Medina checked the rules at their own schools?" Bryn nodded, adding, "How'd you know their names?"
"By the reports from your own school, of course," he said lightly. "Now, I believe we are here to discuss whether or not you will stay here. I'm afraid that you will have to put up with this place until the end of next year, because you have passed this probation and are now as permanent a student as any other." Bryn grinned. "Thank you so much, Professor." Dumbledore nodded. "You're welcome, Miss Sayre. Now, I daresay you are eager to tell your friends this news, so you may leave." Bryn stood and left. Dumbledore watched her go, and when the door closed, he sighed. Ambryn Sayre seemed like a nice girl. It was sad that she knew so little about who she really was, but Albus hoped that one day she would know. It was ironic who she seemed to have become friends with, considering, he mused. Then he smiled. If she really was her father's daughter, as the reports from Salem suggested, then she had probably been holding back during her probation. If that were true, then Albus was sure that Hogwarts life was about to get more exciting.
Bryn almost flew back to Gryffindor Tower. She leapt through the portrait hole and, seeing her friends at a table, ran over. "I can stay!" she exclaimed.
A/N: For those of you who've read Tamora Pierce's First Test, yes, this last bit was based off Kel's reaction. Hey, it works, doesn't it? Anyway, I need to correct a mistake I made in Chapter Two that I only just realized. I said Bryn's wand was ebony and dragon heartstring, but this wasn't quite right. Her wand is ebony, but the core is a thestral hair. You see, Ollivander made 3 thestral wands, one of rosewood, one of yew, and one of ebony. The thestral core will only work for a necromancer, considering... well, we all know the interesting facts about thestrals. And yes, in case you're wondering, she can see them. She saw her mom die, but since she's a necromancer, she is connected to death and would see them anyway. OK, that's taken care of so... Please review, people!