Disclaimer: OK, you really should know by now that nothing but Bryn belongs to me.
Chapter 26 - Preparations: On the train, Bryn decided to spill. Everything. "Guys? I need to tell you some stuff." Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at her.
"What?" asked Harry. Bryn sighed.
"Well..." And she went on from there. She told them all about being a necromancer, and about her parents. The only thing she didn't mention was the dreams; she still wasn't sure if she could get her father out.
Harry had gone oddly pale. "So that's why I felt like I knew you," he muttered. "Damn. You're practically my sister." Bryn laughed.
"That's what I said."
"But Bryn," Hermione began hesitantly, "you're an orphan now. Are you..."
"I'm fine. I'm good at adjusting. And... I don't know. It's easier in some ways that it's like this, not to be callous or anything. But... I just can't explain it."
"I wonder why Lupin didn't want to tell you. He should have," Ron said.
"I can't believe he didn't. I never would have pegged him that way," Harry added.
Hermione shook her head. "The memories were probably too much," she said. "They would be for me." There really wasn't much else to say, and their conversation went back to their plans as far as Horcrux-hunting went.
A few days after returning to her London flat, Bryn Apparated to a small coffeehouse on Sorcery Lane in New York City. She was meeting Ailin and Sarai. The coffeehouse was called Charlie's, and Bryn waved at Charlie herself (Charlie was short for Charlene), who was manning the counter.
"Bryn!" Charlie said, her Southern drawl obvious even after a decade in New York. "Didn't you say you were going to England or something like that?" Bryn chuckled.
"I did, but I'm back in town for a visit," she explained as the bell on the door jingled and Ailin and Sarai came in. They called greetings to Charlie as well before taking their usual table at the back.
"So, what's going on now?" said Ailin without preamble. Bryn shrugged and explained about the attack on Hogwarts, her familial discoveries, and her plans to help Harry (though she didn't bring up Horcruxes). She even told them that she planned to get her father out of the Abyss. When she was done, Sarai was gaping at her and Ailin looked furious.
"I knew it! I just knew you were going to get caught up in this war. God, Bryn, I know you have your reasons, but you promised to stay out of it!" Bryn was surprised. It was usually Sarai who flipped out, not Ailin. But then, she and Ailin went back even further than they did with Sarai. Bryn had met Ailin when the Chinese girl was fresh from China; five years old and speaking very little English. They'd bonded over the years before starting Salem, and Bryn had come to live with Ailin and Xiao after her mother's death, so she understood her friend's reaction.
"Lin, I'm sorry, but I can't just sit back and let my friends get killed. If you or Sarai were in my place, I know you'd do the same." Ailin looked at her sadly.
"You're right, damn you. Well, just don't get yourself killed, OK?"
"I don't plan on it."
Sarai jumped in. "If you do, we will never forgive you." Bryn smiled.
Bryn went back to London, feeling a bit better. Her friends' reactions hadn't been as bad as she'd feared. And now it was time to focus. Hermione was taking care of the potion brewing, and Harry and Ron were going through Harry's set of Defense books - they'd each taken half of the set - to search for useful spells that they'd write down. Bryn was in charge of getting other supplies. She'd already ordered three Unnoticeable Pendants - even one for Harry; cloaks could fall off or slip too easily. She had her copy of the Coven Grimoire, a compilation of spells she, Ailin, and Sarai had come across or invented over the years (Ailin had done most of the inventing). Bryn also had a few more things to do.
She went to Flourish and Blotts first. She was looking for two types of books; any that could teach Occlumency/Legilimency, and any that were about managing the Animagus transformation. They weren't hard to find, actually. She bought one book on Occlumency, one on Legilimency, and one on Animagi after searching the sections for the best ones.
She went to the Apothecary next, for the ingredients to the potion for the delayed-reaction Calling Spell. She got a few odd looks, but again had no real problem.
Then came the hard part, and the thing Bryn had been dreading. They needed to know more about Horcruxes, how they were made and how to destroy them. There was only one problem; the only place to find a book with that kind of information was Knockturn Alley.
Bryn felt decidedly uncomfortable as she slipped into the narrow, gloomy street. She appeared calm, even arrogant, though. There were two reasons Bryn was the one doing this; she was the least conspicuous, and she was also a very good actress. She walked down the street, briskly but not too quickly. Knockturn Alley was nearly deserted, but she didn't take any chances.
She found the book she was looking for in a dingy shop called Tolen's. The book was called Darkest Arts, and it was dirt-cheap. She paid a Sickle for it. Pocketing the book, she left the store, not aware that she was being watched from the shadows.
The man watched the girl leave. He knew who she was, and he wondered what someone of her background was doing here in Knockturn Alley. Many would say it wasn't his business, but he knew better. There was a reason he was curious about this girl, and a reason he wanted to keep an eye on her. It was his responsibility in a way, though he had hardly ever taken that kind of obligation seriously. The one time he had, it had backfired on him, and sent him into hiding. But he was determined to watch out for Ambryn Black, though it meant coming back from... well, most people would think it was the dead.
A/N: Well, that was fun to write. Didn't end the way I planned, but I like this. Of course, I've just given you a new mystery to gnaw on. Who is the mysterious observer? You'll find out... eventually. Tell me your theories; I look forward to hearing them!