Disclaimer: OK, you really should know by now that nothing but Bryn belongs to me.
Chapter 23 - Long, Dark Night: The next week was pretty peaceful. Bryn spent most of her time with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, except when she felt too much like a third wheel. Then she slipped off to see Blaise. She had a feeling Harry suspected something, but he never brought it up.
Then, one night, Harry went off for one of his sessions with Dumbledore, and came back in a rush. "Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione wanted to know.
Harry quickly told them that Dumbledore had found a Horcrux and that he was going to help destroy it. He also told them that he was sure that Malfoy was going to try something that night, and that Snape was going to help. He wanted the three of them, Ginny, and anyone they could get from the group called the D.A. to watch Snape and Malfoy. He gave them the Felix Felicis he'd won in a D.A.D.A competition, and took off. Hermione used some magicked coin to contact D.A. members while Bryn went for Ginny. Ron was put to watching Harry's Marauder's Map. Bryn vowed to get a closer look at that thing later; she wanted one.
When she found Ginny, they met up with Ron, Hermione, and Neville Longbottom outside the portrait of the Fat Lady. As they ran downstairs, they were joined by a fifth year Ravenclaw called Luna Lovegood. When they reached the seventh floor, Ron, Neville, and Ginny headed for the Room of Requirement because Malfoy was supposedly there. Hermione, Luna, and Bryn kept going, until they reached Snape's office in the dungeons. They posted themselves outside.
They'd been there for about a half hour when Professor Flitwick came running. He didn't even seem to notice the girls; he just ran straight into Snape's office. There was a thump and Snape came out, saying that Flitwick had passed out and that they should get help. They hurried in and saw Flitwick passed out cold on the floor.
"I thought I heard him say something about Death Eaters," Luna whispered, her usual dreamy quality replaced by a wary attitude. Bryn glanced around.
"Guys, let's not stay here. I think we should see what's going on."
"Oh, but -" began Hermione.
"Ginny, Ron, and Neville could be up there! Not to mention Harry and Dumbledore if they're back. Now come on!" Bryn snapped, whirling on the brunette. Then she strode out, and the other two followed, obviously realizing that she was right.
They weren't sure where to go until they heard the sounds of fighting coming down a stairwell. They ran up, wands drawn, and were instantly grateful for the Felix Felicis; Death Eaters were fighting teachers and Order members at the base of the Astronomy Tower. Ron, Ginny, and Neville were there too. The three girls jumped into the fray; there was nothing else they could do.
A few minutes later, there was a loud explosion, and Snape came running down from the top of the tower, with Malfoy and several Death Eaters close behind. "It's over, time to go!" Snape shouted, and the rest of the Death Eaters whirled to follow Snape. Not a minute later, Harry came flying down the steps, shooting spells right and left. He didn't stop to acknowledge anyone, just chased after Snape for all he was worth.
Those left on the tower headed for the hospital wing, levitating those who were unable to walk. Bill Weasley was the worst; the werewolf Fenrir Greyback had gotten to him. They sat there, silent. No one seemed to know what was going on. Eventually, Ginny left, but no one asked where she was going. She came back with Harry. They were holding hands. When Ron asked about Dumbledore, wanting the headmaster to help his brother, Harry dropped a bombshell. Snape had killed Dumbledore.
Shock waves ran through the entire group. Lupin actually broke down, hiding his face in his hands. For the first time in ages, Bryn truly felt like an outsider. She knew Dumbledore was regarded in almost a mythical way by most wizards here in Britain, but it wasn't like that in America, much like how American wizards weren't too worried about Voldemort, as long as he stayed on the other side of the Atlantic. She listened as explanations of what had happened came from various people. Ron and Ginny - Neville was unconscious - told them about how Malfoy got the Death Eaters in, some of the adults described the battle, and Hermione told them all what had happened in Snape's office.
They were interrupted when Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came running into the ward, with Fleur close behind. They wanted to know what would happen to Bill, since Greyback was a werewolf but not transformed at the time. Lupin said that Bill wouldn't be a full werewolf, though the wounds were contaminated and he'd probably have some wolfish characteristics. When Mrs. Weasley sobbed about how he had been such a handsome little boy and was going to be married, Fleur exploded. She said that she didn't care about Bill's looks, that they'd still love each other, and snatched the ointment Mrs. Weasley had been using on Bill's wounds to take care of her fiancé herself. A moment later, both women were hugging each other and sobbing. The teens exchanged astonished looks, and were only more shocked when Tonks snapped as well. She was suddenly yelling at Lupin.
"You see, she still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!" Lupin tried to defend himself by saying that the cases were different. Bill was not going to be a full werewolf.
"But I don't care either! I've told you a thousand times -" By now she had run over to him and grabbed him.
"And I've told you a thousand times, I am too poor, too old, too dangerous -" Mr. and Mrs. Weasley jumped in on Tonks' side, but Lupin sidestepped, insisting that now wasn't the time to discuss it. Bryn almost laughed. It was obvious he liked Tonks, but he was just too honorable. It was funny, or would have been, if the rest of the situation hadn't been so grim.
Hagrid came in, telling McGonagall that he'd moved Dumbledore. He was in tears. McGonagall took Hagrid and Harry to her office. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny headed back to Gryffindor Tower. Bryn slipped away from them. She needed to go somewhere else, somewhere she could think. She headed for the Room of Requirement.
When she got to the stretch of blank wall, she simply pictured the room she and Blaise used. A door appeared, and she went inside, sinking bonelessly onto the couch. She lay down, staring at the ceiling.
I should have been ready for this, she thought ruefully. When I was told I had to transfer, they gave me choices. I could have gone to Avalon Institute in Canada, or the Oceania Academy of Magic down in Australia. But no, I wanted to investigate my past, so I had to come to Hogwarts. Britain, in the middle of a war! Ailin's right, I am crazy. And yet... I don't regret it. I'm glad I came. I like my friends here, it's just... I never planned on getting involved in this war. But I am involved, like it or not, and I can't just walk away. Whatever Harry's going to do, I'm going to help. I know the others will, and I know Ailin and Sarai will kill me, but I have to.
She sat up, running a hand through her hair. "Oh Mom, did you have a choice like this once?" she whispered. "Why did you lie to me?" She lifted up her mother's necklace as she spoke, staring at it. And suddenly it hit her. The small chest without a key that her mother had left her didn't even have a keyhole. It had a small slit instead, and she now saw that the slit was the exact size of the Celtic knot. She stood up suddenly, filled with a rush of adrenaline. Quickly pulling her Unnoticeable pendant out of her pocket and putting it on, she ran back up to Gryffindor Tower, grabbed her chest, and returned to the Room of Requirement. She needed to do this privately. Her heart pounding, she pulled off her mother's necklace and slid the pendant into its slot. There was a click, and the lid slowly rose.
A/N: OK, I have a feeling everyone is going to kill me. If not for killing Dumbledore, then for ending on yet another cliffie. Don't worry, I'll be updating soon.
P.S.: To explain the Australian school's name, Oceania is a term used on maps to refer to the area in which Australia, New Zealand, and the neighboring countries lie.