Things were tense still between Ron and Hermione but when he accidentally took a love potion made for Harry and then was accidentally poisoned by a bottle of mead meant for Dumbledore they made up while he was unconscious in the hospital. She and Harry had just given her a smirk.

Bridget walked through the halls reading a book on astronomy and when she turned the corner she slammed into someone. They were both knocked back and she reached down to pick up her dropped book and hear his voice, "Gah, watch where you're going!"

Looking up she saw Draco and his eyes widened seeing her, immediately regretting what he said. She noticed his eyes were red and puffy. Leaning down he picked up her fallen book and handed it to her and she took it from him, her voice soft despite saying, "Sorry, I shouldn't have had my half-breed nose in a stupid book."

"I didn't mean what I said." He looked away from her.

"Yes you did." She smiled at him, "At least in the moment. It's nothing your father hasn't called me before. He called me it before I even knew why. To be honest I'm surprised he even put up with my uncle considering he's one too." She sighed feeling obligated to say this, "I'm sorry…for whatever had you upset." He looked at her confused and she pointed to his eyes, "You've been crying."

"Have not." He tried to sneer at her but it failed.

"Draco whatever it is you're doing, you don't have to do it." She almost pleaded with him, "I know you aren't bad. You aren't the sum of your family ties. You don't have to be…what you feel like you have to be."

"Since when do you care?" He looked away from her, "You stood by when Granger punched me."

"You'd been being a rightful ass. You kind of deserved it." She shrugged.

"And when I was tortured by that one-eyed professor and turned into a ferret?" He looked back down at her.

"Did you see me laughing? I've never liked your father, but I've never projected that dislike onto you except for in moments you truly deserved it. I'm sure there were some when I deserved it from you." She said and he remembered the embarrassing moment and she hadn't been laughing…or smiling, just watching. Bridget looked up at him, "We may have different views on things but it's because of how we were raised. Growing up after I came back to England I was the girl in a cage begging and pleading to be released and you were free and highest in society. Now you're the one held hostage and I'm free. I'm not the highest in society though just like you aren't begging and pleading."

"Because I'm not in a cage." He spoke, his voice cracking.

"No you're not." She gave him a sad smile, "Your backs against a wall, but you aren't even looking to see if there's a window near you. Whatever this is your doing, whatever it is that's eating you up inside, that has you so afraid, you don't have to do it."

"Yes…I do." He looked down at her trying to remain strong, as if fear wasn't the reason he was saying it.

"Alright then." She smiled at him again and he realized it was a fake smile, when really she wanted to frown at him. Perhaps all this time she had actually wanted to help him, had always believed he was a good person. He watched as she opened her book back up and walked away, the pit of his stomach falling as he felt like he wanted to sob and beg her to help him despite the fact he had no idea how she would.

Bridget,

You sure do know how to help increase revenue, that delivery idea has helped us out a lot. The Ministry has also bought 500 hundred shield hats since most of them can't manage a decent shield charm to save their life. Also you'll never guess who Bill is getting married to, Fleur Delacour! Mental how small of a world it is. Would you want to accompany me to the wedding? That is if someone hasn't already asked you of course. Summer can't come soon enough, I miss you.

Love,

George

P.S. That love potion Ron had, that wasn't from our store was it?

Ron had been released from the hospital and they were in the Great Hall eating when Katie Bell walked by. Harry went after her and Bridget continued reading her book. When Harry rushed past them she looked up at the others, "What the hell was he going after?"

Hermione looked worried, "Draco."

"What?" Bridget looked back then got up from the table, attempting to get to Harry. Making her way through the hallways, Harry always turning a corner as she did she had to move a little faster to try and keep up without using her ability to fly right up to him to stop him. She turned a corner and had lost him but then the sound of shattering glass and running water hit her ears and she began to run towards it. Turning into the bathroom she watched as Draco was flung to the floor by a spell and began to bleed all over his chest, "Draco!"

Snape heard her yell from down the hallway and began making his way there. She had ran to his side, holding his head as he cried and whimpered. She tried figuring out a way to save him but she didn't know the healing magic needed for this. Draco reached up, trying to grab her arm to ask for her help but he was in too much pain to make the words come out, instead he just cried. Bridget looked up to Harry, "What did you do?!"

Harry began to back up as Snape came into the bathroom and Harry left. Snape knelt down beside Draco and looked at her, "Go get Madam Pomfrey."

"Yes." She said leaving the bathroom running for the infirmary. When she brought the woman back to the bathroom Snape had almost completely healed Draco but he still needed some treatments. Snape and Madam Pomfrey helped get Draco up and to the infirmary. As they walked out Draco avoided Bridgets eyes, ashamed.

When she returned to the common room Harry and the others were sitting there staring at the book. Harry stood, "Is he alright?"

"He will be, yes." She walked over seeing the Advanced Potions book on the table. She picked it up and held it out to him, "Get rid of it, now. Burn it if you have to, no one else should have it."

He nodded and Ginny walked over to him, taking the book from her, "I know what to do with it. Come on Harry."

George,

No, it was one that was brewed up so no need to feel guilty or proud of it. Also I just found out about the wedding, so no one else has asked me except for you. I was going to wait and see if someone more interesting would ask but I guess I'll have to settle for you since no one has. Kidding, you didn't even have to ask, you have no other choice but to go with me. I can't wait for this school year to be over, it's been stressful and calm at the same time and I don't like it. Hope to hear from you soon.

Love,

Bridget

She had been summoned to Dumbledores office and was waiting for him since he wasn't there. She smiled seeing Fawkes, walking up to the bird. Reaching her hand up to the bird he rubbed his head against it, making a quiet sound of enjoyment at her presences. She didn't hear Dumbledore enter the room until he spoke, "Both of you are rare creatures in this building."

"Yes, I suppose we are." Bridget smiled at him still stroking the birds head.

"Two Phoenixes, both the only one of their kind. I imagine it must be lonely." The Headmaster looked down at her and she knew what he meant.

"It's not so bad, I have the others who know what I am so even if they aren't like me I'm not alone. Plus knowing this guys here is nice."

"That is good, how are you doing without having your bondmate around?" He sat down motioning for her to do the same, "I've been wanting to check in with you sooner but alas, being the Headmaster keeps you busy so Professor McGonagall has to do it for me."

"I expect it would." She smiled, "And I'm doing well without George, our bond is very strong despite not being related so it feels the same as when he was here. I do miss having someone to go on runs with though."

"Good. Good." Dumbledore smiled, "There is something else, Phoenixes have the ability to carry very heavy loads. How are you dealing with yours?"

She hesitantly scratched her arm looking away from him for a moment, "I guess it's alright? I'm learning to deal with…everything. I'll be ready when the time comes to find out why Voldemort wants me and I'll help Harry and you to get rid of him for good."

"So much like your parents." Dumbledore smiled at her, "You've grown up so much these past few years. I remember you in your first year, always at Ms. Grangers or the Weasley twins side not wanting to be alone, always quiet, after having lived with what you went through. Now look at you, fine on your own, speaking your mind, learning to be who you want to be. I know Minerva is quite proud of you, I am as well."

"Thank you sir, it's an honor to have been invited to come to Hogwarts let alone be able to have come here for as long as I have." She gave him a shy smile, "I thought last year was going to be the end of my time here but I'm glad it wasn't."

"The ministry has no business telling you what you can and cannot do." He peered down at her, "Remember that it doesn't matter who or what you are you have the same rights as everyone else."

"I will sir, thank you." She smiled at him.

"I just wanted to check in on you, now back to your studies. Perhaps you and Fawkes should share a flight sometime." He smiled back as she nodded before leaving the office.

Harry had used Felix Felcisis to talk to Slughorn so while he was doing that she went down to the Infirmary. Draco woke up to see a figure next to him reading a book and groaned, "Can't you just leave me alone?"

"If I had you might be dead." She peered over her book at him, "Professor Snape heard me yell and came to help you."

"In that case thank you, but you don't need to be here." He turned away from her.

"Alright, I just know how lonely this place can get." She sighed putting her book back in her bag.

He wanted her help but he didn't know how he could get it, just being near him was dangerous for her, She could be is next mission from the Dark Lord. He muttered, hoping she would leave him be, "Of course a half-breed like you would know."

"Half-breed." She stood up, "Funny when I have a longer family lineage of magic than most pure-blood witches and wizards."

Draco heard her walk away and sighed thankful she was gone, if she had offered him help one more time he might have accepted it, might have broken down and told her everything. He wished they had been friends before everything, maybe then he could tell her all the things that were happening to him, all the things that he never wanted even though he thought at one point he did.

What he didn't know is that she was still there, blended into another hospital bed, watching him sob. She came back almost every day or night, wanting to keep an eye on him, wanting to know what thing he was being forced to do.

She was there when he got out of his bed and headed out of the infirmary. Bridget followed him all the way to the Room of Requirement without anyone seeing her and she waited until he exited, following him seeing the pure fear and anguish on his face. When she heard the wicked laugh behind him she recognized it as Bellatix Lestrange and knew she had no choice but to stay hidden now as she followed Draco up the stairs to the Astronomy tower.

He continued all the way to the top but she saw Harry move behind something below where Draco now was and went over to him taking his hand. He flinched towards her and she revealed herself and he relaxed putting a finger to his mouth, drawing his wand aiming it up. She looked up as well at what was happening but didn't pull her wand out. They listened as Draco and Dumbledore spoke and her heart sank as she heard Draco say, "I have to kill you, or he's gunna kill me."

That's why he had refused, he didn't think she could help save his life, not when she hadn't even been able to save herself. She listened as the other Death Eaters arrived and taunted the boy to kill Dumbledore and it made her mad, it's one thing to do it of your own volition but it's another to force someone else to do it. She slowly pulled her wand out to match with Harry but they both turned to see Snape pointing his wand at them with a finger to his lips, telling them to stay silent.

Time stopped as Snape said that spell, as a flash of green hit Dumbledore, as he fell from the top of the tower, she watched from below in shock as nothing made sense anymore. Remus had told her to trust Snape, that he was on their side, but he'd just killed Dumbledore and he'd done it on Voldemorts orders. How could both Remus and Dumbledore been so wrong? She hadn't even felt Harry leave her side and when she finally realized that it had happened, that no one was above them anymore she was alone on the tower.

By the time she made it down to the ground level students and faculty were already beginning to come and see Dumbledore laying there lifeless. Bridget moved through the crowd making her way to the front where McGonagall was near Hermione, Ginny, and Ron. The woman felt movement next to her and tore her eyes away from her dead headmaster for a moment to see that it was her niece next to her, and the girl wore shock and pain on her face as she looked down at the body. Minerva put an arm around her shoulders, she hoped that Bridget hadn't seen it happen but she could tell by the look on her face that she most likely had. Eventually Harry showed up and they all watched with sadness as he knelt down by the man.

Minerva was the first one to pull her wand out and a soft glow of light appeared at the top of it. Bridget and the others outside soon followed.

George laid in bed and looked at his bracelet. It was the saddest shade of blue he had ever seen, it made him worried about what had just happened to Bridget, what it was that had upset her so much.