Muggle Disclaimer: I created Lynn and her situations, but the rest of this is J.K. Rowling's, I'm just borrowing it for a bit.

Witch Disclaimer: Again, this is Lynn's story that I am telling to you. It is an important story; else I would not have chosen it. If there are any flaws within my writing, it is solely my fault and I will correct it as soon as possible.

Part One, Chapter Two: A Dear Friend

Lynn was nervous, but she sat perfectly still. It had been a week since she had received Dumbledore's letter, and all she could do was hope for the best.

Dumbledore had said to be prepared, and though she had taken care of everything, she had never known a time when she felt less so. In the week since the owl, Lynn figured she would probably not be staying much longer in her house, and had made necessary preparations.

Everything was ready; all she had to do was wait.

And that was the hardest part. Waiting left Lynn to her own devices, her own thoughts. So, she sat, enjoying the last bit of the life she had created for herself. It had been a good life, though part of her always knew it wouldn't last forever.

Nothing ever did.

Ten thirty... Eleven... Eleven thirty... Eleven forty-five... Eleven fifty-nine...

The small clock on the mantle above her fireplace let out a small bong , letting her know that it was midnight. She had no idea how Dumbledore was planning to talk to her... yes, she knew there were many ways, but it had been many, many years since she had thought about magical communication.

She sat there, staring into the fire that crackled softly in the hearth, just wondering, when suddenly the fire changed from small and orange, to large and green.

Lynn barely blinked at the sight, though it had startled her. He must have had her fireplace hooked up to the Floo network...

Her fireplace also had to rearrange itself, for it was far too small for anyone to fit through, and so Lynn watched as the bricks and pictures all moved out of the way. It stretched up and out, and then stopped at about what was seven feet? Yes, that was about seven feet, maybe more. At last the green flames gave way, and out from her embers stepped a tall, silver-bearded man, wearing deep-blue robes and a matching cloak. Lynn smiled.

"Hello, Dumbledore," she said as she stood to greet her visitor.

"Ah," Dumbledore replied, holding out his arms. "Bethalyn Blakefield, it has been far too long since I last laid eyes on you."

Lynn couldn't help but smile as she embraced the tall wizard. "Well, it's just Lynn Blakes now, but yes, it has been a while."

He nodded silently, and Lynn invited him to sit in her best armchair. As he sat, he smiled from behind his half-mooned spectacles, "Lynn Blakes? Seems to be barely a murmur of who I once knew."

Lynn shrugged, "Just about correct on that," she took a seat on the corner of the couch closest to the armchair. "I am barely a murmur of who I was..."

Dumbledore smiled at her, but then shifted in his seat to look at her living room. Lynn looked too, and had to smile; he looked very much out of place, and Lynn noticed just how very muggle her home looked.

"It seems that you have done well," he said in his gentle way as he looked about. "I hope that I haven't caused any alarm, coming here in such a way,"

"Oh, no, " Lynn said quickly, "I drew all the curtains, and really, everyone thinks that I'm enjoying a nice quiet evening to myself, here on my ... on my last night."

A thin smile appeared on his face, "I also see that you abandoned you former hair and eye-color; your accent, too, unless I have been too long in visiting Bristol."

She let herself al little laugh, remembering the city where she was born, "Yes, well, I didn't want to attract attention to myself. I couldn't bear to answer any questions."

He nodded thoughtfully, and then said, "You know, I must say, I have heard of the fascination."

"Pardon?"

"I have heard," he repeated with a knowing smile, "That there is a wondrous storyteller that tells amazing stories at the library ... I hear she's quite good, in fact."

Lynn blushed, but didn't know what to say, though Dumbledore went on. "From what all I have heard, her stories simply enchant the children who come to listen to them... stories of magic and wizards..." he trailed off, leaving Lynn feeling silly.

"Oh, I didn't mean to - I had to do something to keep the children occupied once, at a city function of some kind... then they wanted more... I am sorry-"

He waved a hand to interrupt her, "Don't be. The Ministry may not like it, but who is to say that, if the time were to ever come, these children may not fear our world, as others do? I see no harm in that.

"But," he said, his face sobering greatly, "I seem to be avoiding the subject at hand. I am afraid, dear Lynn, that I bring grave news."

Lynn, who had been staring aimlessly into the smoldering embers of the fire, took a sharp breath inward and felt her hands tighten.

"I was afraid of that," she said in a small voice, barely audible, "Tell me."

For what seemed to be an eternity, Albus Dumbledore sat and told a very lightheaded Lynn about the recent turn of events, actually starting four years ago. He told her a selected history of events - she had the nagging feeling that he wasn't telling her something important - and ended with the dreaded return of Lord Voldemort.

All was silent for a long while, leaving Lynn shivering, when at last she whispered, "So, he's back... figures."

And then...

"Lynn," he started, "There is another reason as to why I came; something that I must tell you, that you won't like to hear, but that you must."

She felt like she couldn't speak, but managed a weak nod.

"Two years ago, the very same year that I invited Remus Lupin to teach at Hogwarts, Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban."

Lynn blanched, and it was awhile before she remembered that she had to breathe. After that, all she could do was blink.

Noting her shock, Dumbledore pressed on, "Everyone, especially the Ministry, was in fear... some still are. But it so happens that before he escaped..." he explained how it seemed that Sirius was out to get... a particular student at Hogwarts. Not even Lynn noticed the tears sliding down her face.

"Yet, Lynn, as it turns out, Sirius was out to find a rat that a student was keeping as a pet..."

Rat rang in her ears like a gunshot... she knew when he said rat, he meant Wormtail, and this she could not bear to hear. It couldn't be, it just couldn't...

"Peter?" she whispered, and then as Dumbledore nodded, her hands flew up to her face, clamping her eyes shut, "No! No, Peter's dead!"

"Lynn-"

"NO!" she shot up on her feet and began marching back and forth across the face of the hearth, but she didn't really notice. "No, no! I knew, I knew! I tried to tell Sirius - he was gonna be the secret-keeper - but Peter knew! I don't know how he knew, but he did! I didn't even know! And then Peter sent him straight to Lily and James and... then I saw, I knew... then Sirius went after Peter and killed him! Oh! I-I-"

Her knees began to buckle, but before she could fall, she became dimly aware of the hands that quickly guided her to her seat on the couch. Dumbledore was beside her now, gently patting her hands.

"You never did tell me what you knew of that night," he said gently, "But maybe it is time you did. Holding on to such things can be painful, and I think you have suffered far too long." He sighed, "And, aside from that, I may need to know something you can tell me. I know this is a terrible thing to ask, but please, tell me everything that you can rember of the events you witnessed... the events that compelled you to leave us."

She knew what he was asking of her. Everything was a large thing to tell, and she had been holding it all back for so long... over the years she had built a wall in her mind, a veritable dam that was near overflowing...

"I'll try..."

To be continued in the following Chapter, which should be up soon. And, as always, reviews on this are greatly appreciated, both by Lynn and myself.