In the Shell Cottage, the home of Bill and Fleur, Bridget had finally convinced Hermione to let her look at her arm. Hermione had been worried that it would make her friend feel guiltier, but perhaps not letting her try to heal it would just make the guilt worse. They had just laid Dobby to rest and were in a room alone away from all the others. Bridget let out a sniffle as she tried to find something that would work to get rid of the MUDBLOOD scrawled across her friends arm. Hermione felt a tear hit her arm and placed her hand on Bridgets shoulder, "Bridget you don't have to do this."
"Hermione." Bridget looked shocked down at the girls arm. The last D had begun to disappear where the tear had landed.
Hermione gasped, "Bridget, Phoenix tears have the ability to heal."
Bridgets eyes grew wide as more tears began to form, "You mean I could have saved Dobby? Or healed Rons arm? How many people have suffered because I didn't know?"
She began to cry more and the tears fell on Hermiones arm completely getting rid of the word and her friend held her as she sobbed, "We didn't know Bridget, don't blame yourself."
"I'm sorry." She muttered, "For dragging you into this. She wouldn't have been so hard on you if it weren't for me. She was trying to get me to break too, about George and I couldn't as much as I wanted her to stop hurting you."
"I'm glad you didn't, I didn't want you to give anything up." Hermione tried to comfort her holding her friend tight, "And you didn't drag me into this, you're my best friend, I would go anywhere with you. So please don't blame yourself, please I couldn't handle it."
"Bloody brilliant you were with that lie about the sword. More brilliant than I could ever be." Bridget continued to cry. Hermione did as well and the girls held each other as they sobbed, the only way for them to process what they had just gone through. It took a while but eventually they got it all out and headed down stairs.
Fleur gave her another hug, "You've lost weight."
"Haven't exactly had Mrs. Weasley cooking for me." Bridget gave her a small smile then looked to Bill, "How is he? George? And the others? Fred? Your mum and dad too?"
"He's fine, he's safe with all of them. He misses you from what I hear. I haven't seen him since Christmas." Bill smiled at her, "I can go get him if you like."
Bridget face almost flashed a smile, her mouth almost saying yes but she stopped it, and contained her smile, "No I don't think that would be a good idea."
"Why not?" Fleur asked.
"Because if I saw him now then I'd never be able to leave him again." Bridget smiled, "If I wrote him a letter would you give it to him? After we leave of course?"
"Yeah." Bill smiled knowing she missed his brother a lot by how she fought herself with his offer, "Don't feel as if you have to sugar coat things for him. It hasn't been easy for any of us so if you tell him it's been nothing but sunny days he'll think it's really bad."
Bridget let out a small laugh, "Seems I'm not the only one that knows how smart he is."
George,
Happy Birthday. Or at least I'm assuming it's nearing your birthday. I believe spring has already started. We don't really have a good concept of time with how we've been travelling. I'm well. If you've been watching your bracelet I'm sure it's been very colorful these past few months. I've missed hearing your voice on the radio. We don't have it anymore. Fleur says I've lost weight, I don't believe her, I just think your mums rubbed off on her. Please if you ever catch me saying that to someone, stop me. You're safe for a while longer. Bellatrix let it slip that they think Harry is my bondmate. Yes, you read that right we had a run in with Bellatrix, and You-Know-Whos snake (have the bite wound to prove it), and some snatchers. There have been some tense moments but also some fun ones. The four of us, we're taking care of each other, figuring out what we're doing out here as best we can. Don't be mad at Bill about not telling you sooner that I was here. I told him not to. I wanted to see you but I knew it would hurt too much to see you only to have to leave again. But next time I see you I won't ever leave again. I'll stay with you always. Promise.
With all my love,
Bridget
George sat reading the letter a tear running down his cheek. I'm well. There was so much behind that little sentence that made him worry. He heard someone clear his throat behind him. He looked up to see John reading over his shoulder, "So you're more than her bondmate."
"Fiancé." George replied.
"Take good care of her. Like I tried to…But never did." John sat down in a chair next to him. His eyes were sad having read the letter over Georges shoulder. He looked up at his soon to be brother-in-law, "I tried to convince mom to hide her better. But she wanted Bridg to have a normal life, have friends, have birthday parties, things like that. And being here, with you guys, I get that. She wouldn't let me take her with me when I left either, to get her farther away, change her name to keep her safe. Mom said that her daughter wouldn't live her life fearing something that may never happen. So I left, hoping that they would follow the wrong Pheonix."
"Did they ever come after your mum? She was a Pheonix too." George asked.
"No." John shook his head, "Mum wasn't like Bridg and I. We're pure-blood Primals you see. Very rare because both of our parents were Primals. Neither of them knew the other was. At least not until Bridg was born. It's lucky she even survived growing up, let alone Priming."
"What's the difference between a half and pureblood Primal?" He wondered since there was no difference between half and pureblood witches and wizards other than status.
"The amount of energy. Since there's more than one animal bond, there's more energy that needs to be stored. Our father was a descendant of a pureblood which is why he had two bonds. Most Primals stopped having children that were pureblood a few centuries ago because it helped to insure the survival of Priming. Bridg and I however are two of the only known purebloods alive, possibly the only ones. That as well as being the last female Pheonix makes her the most powerful Primal in recent history."
"So if you two had been bondmates what would that do?"
John leaned back in his chair, "It would have amplified her abilities and made her very noticeable to others of what she was capable of."
"What is she capable of that's so great?" George asked because of course her powers were impressive but they were nothing he could tell that would make her special to Voldemort.
"Something that only a Phoenix can do." John sighed looking at his hands, "Something I haven't quite figured out yet. Something we might have figured out if I had stayed, if I had helped mom fight. After hearing everything from you all and Remus about what's happened since her arrival, I've wondered if I should never have left her. Then I think, would she be the strong and wonderful person she sounds like she is if I hadn't?"
"We'll never know." George spoke honestly, her brother had grown on him despite the fact that he was quiet and preferred conversations with Charlie about magical creatures. He looked at the man, "But you're here now which means something and her and I will always be together once this is over so you never have to worry about her being alone."
"I appreciate that." John smiled at him.
Bridget didn't like it but she and Harry were under the Cloak of Invisibility with Griphook and Ron and Hermione we disguised at Bellatrix and her husband inside of Gringotts. She stuck close to him as he walked around and used the Imperius curse on the Head Goblin. She tried not to be loud with her sigh of relief as they were led to the back and onto a cart, able to take the cloak off and sit freely. She didn't feel as sick this time when spinning and turning along the rails as she had before when coming here with the Weasleys, perhaps it's because now she did the same motions just while flying. As they continued down further they passed a waterfall of sorts. Harry began asking what it was but Griphook didn't answer, instead he began trying to stop the cart to no avail. They passed under the water and the cart slammed to a stop before a little red light came out and started blinking with an alarm. Bridget sighed, "Well that's just gre-"
They dropped from their seats and everyone went screaming down the pit, Bridget's instincts took over and her wings came ripping out of her back, her hand reaching for Harry arm and Hermiones hand. Hermione realized what she was trying to do and reached for Ron while Harry grabbed Griphook and Bogrod. They were nearing the ground when Bridget pulled up with all of her might, lifting them all into flight. She set them down one by one before landing herself and Harry smiled at her, "Well done."
Bridget gave him a relieved smiled before looking at Hermione, "Hermione…you look like you."
Griphook explained about the thieves' downfall as they watched the cart they were in head back to the entrance of the caves. Bogrod was uncursed then recursed and they heard a roar. Hermione looked to Bridget who was looking up at the noise, "Sounds like an old…friend."
When they reached the top of the stairs they were in fact greeted by a dragon, a Ukrainian Ironbelly, and her heart broke looking at the poor creature. It was too thin for a dragon, pale, had sores and open wounds where the chains were. She just wanted to reach out and pet it, give it love that it deserved but instead she was cringing as it cried from the clankers as they passed it, Hermione holding her hand tight. They let go of each other once the wails of the animal stopped and Griphook was opening the door to Bellatrix's vault. Hermione tried to summon the Horcrux but Griphook said that wouldn't work inside the vault. Bridget watched as Harry slowly walked forward saying that the cup in the top corner of the room was the horcrux. At the same moment Hermione knocked something off of a table and it dropped to the ground turning into multiple of itself. Ron then bumped into table causing the same reaction there. They watched despite the gemino curse as Harry tried to climb up the expanding dinnerware up to where the cup was and the growing tower engulfed him.
The next moment he was exploding out of it, the cup going flying out of his hands caught by Griphook. Harry traded the sword for the cup and Griphook betrayed them, taking the sword. The four of them were flooded out into the hallway with the rest of the dishes and as they made it to where the opening of the cavern was they were shot at by the guards. Hermione yells over the explosions, "We can't just stand here! Who's got an idea?"
"You're asking us? You're the brilliant one." Ron yelled back.
Hermione locked eyes with Bridget, "Can you do it?"
"He's weak. It shouldn't be that hard?" Bridget nodded unsure.
"In that case, I've got something. But it's mad." Hermione tells them before blowing up the railing. Bridget ran across first then Hermione followed. They both moved over to the other side of the dragon so that the boys could jump. They didn't and Hermione yelled, "Well come on then!"
Bridget didn't pay attention, only focusing her energy with the Dragons, her hands on it neck, trying to connect with it. After a moment she opened her eyes, two abused animals don't take long to relate, and turned to Hermione, "Now."
Hermione fired Relashio at the chains holding the dragon down and Bridget made sure the creature knew it's free now. It stopped spitting fire and started to sniff the air, beginning to climb up the tunnel. Ron yelled, "Why isn't it flying?!"
"It hasn't flown in years! The poor thing needs to have actual wind to help it take off at this point." Bridget explained, then spoke to the creature, "Once we're outside, you'll fly again."
The dragon seemed to pick up speed at this statement and Bridget worked on getting the chains around its neck off as best she could while it climbed. She congratulated it and cheered it on as it broke the rail way, the beast was getting it's payback for years of being chained up and tortured. She managed to get one of the chains from around its neck off just before it broke through the main floor of Gringotts. Bridget yelled, "Everyone hold on!"
They all did as she said as the dragon moved in such a tight space, spitting fire at the goblins before climbing up to the glass ceiling, shattering it. Once they were out she heard the dragon wheeze before taking in a deep breath. Air, fresh air, that it hadn't had in so long. She stroked the scales by his neck, "That's it, take a deep breath, that's freedom."
"Bridget we need to go!" Harry yelled.
"Alright, alright." She muttered before putting her hands on the dragon firmly. Fly. You've been longing too. Now you can. The dragon started to take off, it failing at first knocking over a few chimneys, one of which was Fred and Georges but she didn't care she helped pay for it after all. After another attempt they were in the air and everyone was smiling.
"That was brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Ron grinned.
They stayed on the creature for a while, Bridget managing to get the other chain off of it with some of her fire and once they were in a good spot they jumped off into a lake. Once they were out and healing their hands from the dragon scales Harry explained to them about what he saw while in the water, and how the next horcrux was at Hogwarts, dealing with Ravenclaw.
Arriving in Hogsmead an alarm began going off the second their feet touched the ground. They ran, hiding behind some clothed tables and when they heard someone in the same area they were at Harry looked to Bridget. She nodded, understanding and created a small flame in her hand, dim enough not to be seen, but enough to create a spark to blow the bastards back. She took a deep breath as one got very close but an alarm went off on the other side of Hogsmead drawing them away. They tried to make it to Honeydukes but the sections of the town were gated off. Someone opened a door calling to them and they went in, all of them noticing how the man looked just like their old headmaster.
Bridget looked around the home, a portrait of a girl the center piece of the room. Hermione noticed a mirror that Harry was in and Harry was holding up that sliver of glass he always kept with him. When the bearded man came back down the stairs Harry said that he was Aberforth, Dumbledores brother, the one who he had been seeing in the mirror, the one who sent them Dobby. Harry got upset when he found out Fletcher had been the one to give Aberforth the mirror. Aberforth looked at Harry, "Albus told me you'd likely be hacked off if you ever found out I had it. But ask yourself where you'd be if I didn't."
"Still in Malfoy Manor." Bridget grimaced at the thought, "Thanks for that."
"Welcome. Reckon your all hungry." He looked at them, "Let's get you fed then think of the best way to get you out of here."
When he sat down a tray in front of them and she, Hermione, and Ron immediately grabbed for what was on it. Bridget didn't realize that bread and butterbeer would be such a delicacy. They also hadn't eaten in over a day so anything would look good to her in that moment. She listened with sadness as the man said the Order was finished, she hoped that just meant they didn't stand a chance, not that everyone was already gone. Harry didn't care what he said and the two of them got heated, the other three just eating their bread awkwardly. She saw Aberforth retreat slightly when Harry said that he'd given up and then the man just looked at the portrait and said that she knew what to do.
Hermione asked if that was his sister Ariana. Hearing Aberforth speak about his sister and how Dumbledore was with her made her sad, it could have almost been a situation like her and her brother, except all John had done was give her time. Hermione and Bridget thanked the man and as Hermione explained why they should be thanking him Bridget noticed something in the painting, "Is that someone with her?"
"I think so." Ron said and they all leaned forward trying to see who it was until they got closer in which they all leaned back until the portrait opened.
"Neville!" They all said with a smile.
He explained his face to them and said Seamus was worse but nonetheless he began leading them back to the school. The passage way was new, all the others had been sealed off so this was the only way in or out of the castle. Neville told them about how the teachers wanted them to use the Cruciatus curse on first years and he refused. Bridget clasped him on the shoulder, "Good on you Neville, hope you weren't the only one."
"Oh I wasn't, me and the others were the majority." He smiled at her.
"Gives me hope for future generations that does." She smirked back.
"Let's have a bit of fun shall we?" Neville said as they made it to the other end of the tunnel. He opened up the portrait, "Hey, listen up you lot. I brought you a surprise."
"Not more of Aberforths cookin' I hope, be surprised if we can digest it." They heard Seamus' voice.
"I think we're a bit easier to swallow." Bridget spoke as she and Harry stepped forward, Hermione and Ron just at their sides.
Everyone stood up and started cheering for them as they climbed down the ladder, except Bridget who just jumped down, giving her friends she hadn't seen in almost a year hugs. Once everyone was greeted Neville looked at them, "Well what's the plan?"
"Okay," Harry started, "There's something we need to find. Something hidden here in the castle and it may help us defeat You-Know-Who."
"Right, what is it?" Neville asked.
"Don't know." Bridget answered.
"Where is it?" Dean asked.
"We don't know that either." Harry answered.
"We realize those are very helpful questions and that the answers would be great to have but we don't, so it's not much to go on." Bridget sort of mumbled.
"That's nothing to go on." Seamus looked at her.
"Well at least we think it's here." Bridget muttered back at him.
"Think?" Seamus repeated and she gave him a defensive look despite the smiles they both wore.
"We think it has something to do with Ravenclaw." Harry stopped their banter, "It'll be small, easily concealed. Anyone any ideas?"
"Well there's Rowena Ravenclaws lost diadem." Luna spoke up.
"Aw bloody hell here we go." Ron said perking up despite no one else seeming to know what she was talking about.
"Lost diadem of Ravenclaw? Hasn't anyone heard of it?" The girl looked around, "It's quite famous."
"Yes but Luna," Cho spoke up, "It's lost. For centuries now. There isn't a person alive who's seen it."
"Excuse me, can somebody tell me what a bloody diadem is?" Ron finally asked and Bridget looked to him mouthing Thank you and he nodded back.
"It's a kind of crown. You know, like a tiara." Cho explained.
The noise of the door to the Room of Requirement opening then closing distracted them as Ginny came into view. The fact that she was still there gave her hope about the safety of the other Weasleys. Bridget was torn from this thought by the conversation between Ron and Seamus about there only being one Harry and she held back a snort laugh from Rons response. Neville finally stopped the awkward staring, "What is it Ginny?"
"Snape knows." She said, "He knows that Harry was spotted in Hogsmead. You too Bridget."
Bridget stepped up next to Harry with a smirk, "It seems the Headmaster wants to see us Harry."
"Let's not disappoint." He looked back at her.