Author's Note: Hell all and Happy New Year/Happy Whatever-Holiday-You-Celebrate! I hope you all are doing well and remaining as patient as ever. It's nice to see that I still have a couple dedicated readers keeping up with my story. This one may be a little slower but it will pick up, I promise! Anyways, I hope ya'll get some enjoyment out of this chapter =)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the Harry Potter universe, just the sequel/OC I came up with.

Chapter 2

Where was I? What happened? Did I black out? Oh no, I can't breathe! Wake up! Move! Do something! I was fighting with myself and then realized something: I was floating. 'Open your eyes' I said to myself. It took a moment, but they shot open. I looked around and saw only darkness, but not quite. Light I assumed was the moon shone in front of me casting a glow and I was able to figure out that I was underwater. Feeling panicky, I forced myself to shoot upward.

Hitting the top, I gasped the fresh air. It was a weird feeling. I knew I was happy to be breathing but I felt as if I didn't need it as badly. Looking around again, it seemed like I had landed in some sort of lake or pond. It wasn't that deep nor was it a home to any water creatures.

In my weaken state, it took a few extra minutes for me to swim to the edge. I plopped in the grass, fully content with staying in that spot to recover. But realization hit me hard, so hard that I began to cry. Mad-Eye Moody was dead. He sacrificed himself for me. I couldn't protect him. I wanted to scream for the fallen wizard, but it wasn't safe. I didn't even know where I had landed.

I had to move. I needed shelter. Even though my body protested every step I took, I forced myself to walk. I felt around my pants for my wand and upon finding it, I noticed the clothes hung loosely against my waist. The Polyjuice potion had worn off and I was Emma Pendragon again. I sighed and continued my trek.

I walked along a trail in a wooded area for a bit until a field stretched before me and it wasn't until I noticed a few familiar lawn gnomes, I realized that I had landed on the outskirts of the Burrow. I was so ecstatic; I quicken my pace to the home that was currently lit bright. Various shadows and silhouettes danced in the windows and off the property. A sharp pain in my side caused me to stop for a moment and fall to my knees; I was a mere hundred feet away.

"What could've happened to her?!" I heard a voice shout in the distance.

"I'm sure she made it ok mate. She's very strong and very powerful-" Another added but was interrupted by the first voice.

"No Ron! She was with Mad-Eye! And Voldemort was on her after he fell!" The first voice shouted who I realized was Harry's voice. He's alive! He made it. I began to grab pieces of grass just to pull myself along until I felt a stump. I was then able to hoist myself up, causing me to groan a bit.

Both Ron and Harry snapped their heads in my direction. Hermione was present too, but remained quiet during the exchange. Turning towards me and seeing who I was, she rushed for me. Quicker in reflex, Ron grabbed her waist to stop her while Harry moved forward, wand outstretched, and aimed for me.

"Harry! What are you doing?! That's Emma right there!" Hermione pleaded as she tried to wriggle out of Ron's hold.

"How do we know that Hermione?" Harry asked darkly. "For all we know, that could be a Malfoy or Voldemort himself wearing her face! He could have killed my love and taken her place to get to me," Harry stated, moving closer to me until he was a few feet away. Even though I know that I am me, Harry did raise a valid point; that didn't stop me from wanting to break down in front of him.

"Harry," I called, not recognizing the raspy tone in my voice. "It's me, truly." I began to beg. I attempted to conjure something in my power so he would know, but I was too weak and I could feel my blood oozing from my side now.

"Prove it!" He replied. "Use your powers," he stated, holding his wand higher like he was ready to blast me.

"I can't!" I cried. I pulled my hand away from my side to show him the bloody mess. "I am wounded!"

"Harry!" Hermione cried. I sent them a glance and Ron looked like he was ready to give in.

"No! I won't believe it!" Harry yelled. He flinched at the torn clothing and blood leakage. "I can't believe, not yet; I have to know for sure," Harry mumbled. He moved forward again and was now standing my front of me. I yearned to just touch him, but he was stubborn and I had to be true to that first.

"Anything," I breathed. I was feeling dizzy now.

"On your birthday, what was the inscription on the lid of what I gave to you?" As if on impulse, I raised my non-bloodied hand to my neck to feel the snowflake pendant he gave to me months ago. I've never taken it off since that day.

"Snowflakes in nature are fragile and delicate; but each one is unique and one of a kind," I recited. My body swayed a bit and I felt myself falling. Harry moved to grab me and the last thing I remember was his strong hold on my body then soft whispering.

"I'm sorry my love."

"Tell me where Harry Potter is!" A voice hissed in the darkness.

"Never," I answered defiantly.

"I will break you girl," the same voice hissed. With a flick of his wand, pain coursed through me, but I won't scream. I won't give him the satisfaction of seeing me weak. "I will find the boy Pendragon, and I will kill you in front of him, bringing him to his knees."

"No! Don't. Touch. Harry!" My voice gurgled in response.

"Or I can kill you now; I can use that power of yours," the voice hissed once more, torturing me further. Where I was chained up, I heard a switch being pulled, and electricity was shot through my body.

"No! Harry!" I screamed.

"Emma! I'm here! WAKE UP!" A voice called out. My eyes shot open at the sound. I was on a bed in a dimly lit room. On the horizon, the sun was barely rising in the distance. Hovering above me was a worried Harry, eyes searching. A strong sense of déjà vu took over at that moment.

"Harry, it was Voldemort," I whispered.

"I know love, I know," Harry replied as he pulled into his chest.

"He wanted me to reveal where you ran off to…he was aware of your plan and-"

"Shhhh," Harry cooed. "You had a long night, we all did." He paused. "You lost a lot of blood and you kept drifting. My God Emma, I'm so sorry for not believing you."

"It's ok, I would've done the same," I replied. "He saved me Harry and I did nothing." I stated suddenly, guilt rushing over me, thinking of Mad-Eye's sacrifice.

"There wasn't anything you could do love; he went down fighting, like he always did, and I heard what you did to those Deatheaters. You did Mad-Eye proud," Harry replied, pulling me closer.

"I wish I could believe you but…not yet I guess…" I mumbled. "How long has it been?"

"Not long, a few hours maybe," he replied. "But I suggest you rest up now, we have to be up early." Harry said as he settled in back into the bed.

"Why?" I questioned.

"The minister is coming later today to read Dumbledore's will."

A few hours later, I awoke to Harry shaking me and whispering my name. My head was pounding and I was feeling extremely groggy. As my eyes adjusted, I noticed that we were currently in Ron's room. After looking around more, once realizing it was only the two of us, I glanced at the nightstand which had a glass of a thick blue-ish potion. Noticing me staring at it, Harry rose from the bed and handed me the glass.

"It's for any pain you may have," Harry replied, throwing a shirt over his naked torso. "Ron and Hermione are already downstairs waiting with the Minister. I didn't want to wake you until absolutely necessary." Harry finished as he turned away towards the door.

"Harry, wait." I called just as he was about to exit. "Are you mad at me?" I asked. Harry was closing himself off to me, I could tell. Harry sighed and turned around, taking a few steps toward me and knelling in front of me.

"No love, I'm only mad at myself. You were hurt and I can only feel guilty about it," Harry replied sadly. I opened my mouth to retort, but only to get interrupted. "I'm a stubborn git Emma, just let it be." Harry said as he kissed my forehead and left the room. I sighed and quickly changed before running downstairs.

Lucky for me, I was able to avoid the mother hen that is Mrs. Weasley. She was currently holed up in the kitchen preparing for Bill and Fleur's wedding. So instead of having a warm, filling, homemade breakfast, I snatched up an apple from the table and began to munch as I entered the living quarters. Hermione and Ron were already situated on one side of the couch while Harry was on the other.

Each of their heads snapped to my direction as I headed over. Hermione leaped up to give me a quick hug before sitting back down. I sat next to Harry on the couch and immediately, he brought an arm to wrap around my waist.

"Ah, Miss Pendragon, always a pleasure," Rufus Scrimgeour greeted with a sneer. I only nodded, not even bothering to send a greeting in return. "Now, let's begin." The minister stated as he pulled out a small bundle from his bag as well as a folded up sheet of paper which unfolded itself and hovered in the air beside him.

"Herein is set forth the last will and testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." He began.

"First, to Ronald Bilius Weasley," the minister started again. "I leave my Deluminator, a device of my own making, in the hope that when things seem most dark, it will show him the light," he said as he unfolded the bundle partially and pulled out what looked like a lighter.

"Dumbledore left this for me?" Ron asked as he stared down at it in awe earning a nod from the minister. That item in particular was very handy and I don't think Ron truly realizes how valuable the Deluminator is. "Brilliant! What is it?" Part of me wanted to scoff at his question.

Before I could speak, Ron then clicked it, and two of the lights in the room blinked out as the light itself zoomed into the gizmo. The opposite happened when Ron clicked it again, the light zooming back to the lamps. I smiled at Ron and silently applauded him for figuring it out so quickly.

"Wicked." Ron smiled. The minister then cleared his throat, causing us to turn our attention to him.

"To Hermione Jean Granger," the minister continued, making Hermione sit up a bit straighter. "I leave my copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard in the hope that she finds it entertaining and instructive." The minister pulled out a small, worn copy of a book and handed to her, causing me to frown slightly.

"My mum used to read me those," Ron spoke up. "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, Babbitty Rabbitty, and the Cackling Stump." Ron chuckled, and I did the same, thinking back to when Albus used to read me such stories. Both Harry and Hermione looked at him with confused expressions. I didn't get the chance to respond as the minister began to speak again.

"To Harry James Potter, I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill," the minister said, picking up the Snitch through a handkerchief, holding it out to Harry. We each watched as Harry leaned forward and took the Snitch. However, nothing happened making the minister huff in frustration.

"Anyway," he paused before continuing. "And to Emma Vivian Pendragon, my dearest goddaughter, I leave to you my phoenix, Fawkes; may he be your companion and aid as he has been to me for many years." He finished. I looked around expecting him to pop out somewhere.

"And where may he be?" I questioned.

"Unfortunately, we weren't able to recover the phoenix in question; phoenixes are such rare and complex creatures, they come and go as they please," he said with a smug expression. "Funny, I figured the old man would leave more for someone he claimed to be his 'dearest goddaughter'."

"Why you rude son of a-" I began, but was only cut off by Hermione's hand covering my mouth. If he wasn't the minister, I would make sure he was buried and never found! Albus loved me and left me plenty! He made sure to wire and make note of his effects as well as the ones belonging to my family years ago! I even have both keys in the damn box he left me at his funeral!

"Is that it, then?" Harry asked, looking just as pissed as I was.

"Not quite," he replied. "Dumbledore left you a second bequest: The sword of Godric Gryffindor. Unfortunately, the sword of Gryffindor was not Dumbledore's to give away. As an important historical artifact it belongs-"

"To Harry!" Hermione interrupted, having already removed her hand from my mouth. "It belongs to Harry; it came to him when he most needed it in the Chamber of Secrets five years ago!"

"The sword presents itself to any worthy Gryffindor, Miss Granger. That does not make it that wizard's property," the minister snapped back. "And, in any event, the current whereabouts of the sword are unknown."

"You lost the sword?" I asked bitterly.

"The sword is missing." The minster rephrased. I rolled my eyes, pondering over the current state of the Ministry with this creepy bastard as its head.

"You 'misplaced' it then?" I asked again. "That's convenient." I mumbled and he sighed, getting up, obviously finished with the reading. He made way for the door, pausing in the doorway to shake hands with the three of us. Once he got to me however, his hand hung in mid-air.

"Despite how you may think of me Miss Pendragon, I think only the highest of you and your late godfather."

"And I'm sure the old man thought a hell of a lot differently about you." I replied as I slammed the door in his face.