The four walked back to the castle, looking at the piles of stones in the main entrance. They make their way to the Great Hall and Ron pushed the doors open revealing injured students and bodies on the floor. Bridget's eyes scanned the floor and her heart stopped upon seeing that brown jacket and long mangy hair, "Remus?"
She couldn't stop her feet and she fell to her knees, shaking his body, saying his name again as tears stream down her face. Next to him she saw Tonks and cried again, "Tonks no."
Her shoulders gave out and her head fell onto Remus' chest, sobbing. Feeling a hand on her shoulder she looked up to see John. He put his arm around her shoulder, "I'm sorry, I couldn't tell them apart. I tried to protect both."
Bridget's eyes follow where he was pointing, where more sobs were coming from and she saw him. Her heart seized in her chest as she stood up, moving slowly with the support of her brother. Fred. She couldn't believe it. Her hand covered her mouth as tears poured from her face. Through the blurry vision she found George and he wrapped his arms around her tightly, sobbing into her neck. She managed to hold up his weak body as they both sobbed, "I'm sorry. George I'm so sorry. I should never have left."
He just sobbed more into her shoulder and shook his head managing to get out, "It's not your fault."
This made her cry even harder. A solemn voice cut through their cries, "Faltey, I need you to come with me."
Bridget looked up and saw Tevos standing there, her hair a mess, dust and ash on her face. Her voice was weak as she spoke, "Can't it wait?"
"I'm afraid not." Tevos nodded, "Only you are needed for this, Mr. Weasley can stay."
Bridget looked to George and stroked the side of his head, sniffling, "I'll be right back."
He nodded and watched as she walked away, her brother going with her. Bridget entered the back room to the Great Hall and saw the Primal bodies laid out in a circle, there were twelve of them. She let out another sob seeing MacRose there on the ground, a soft smile on her face. Tevos put a hand on her shoulder, "Bridget, there's something you need to know…about why Voldemort wants you."
"You know?" Bridget looked up at her.
"It took me a while but your brother gave me the last piece I needed." Tevos looked at her, "Your mother came to me shortly before your departure to America, she claimed that Voldemort wanted you because you were part Phoenix, that you would have powers and abilities we hadn't seen in generations. She asked that if it came to it that we train you, make sure that you are able to protect yourself from him. I, unfortunately didn't believe her, since he was gone. But when you came to us at fourteen I saw that perhaps she was right about your abilities. I treated you the way I did so that you would work harder at obtaining your strength and therefore gain your powers like your mother wanted. I sent MacRose to train you after the rumors of Voldemort's return came about, she always had more of a gentle touch than I did. It wasn't until she told me that you'd killed a bush and brought it back to life that I realized all of what your mother said may be true. Primals can take energy from the Earth but not all of it, as animals are meant to benefit from it not completely end it. Only a powerful Phoenix would have the ability to do that."
"Then when I told her that our father was also a Primal she realized that we're pure-blood." John spoke up.
"Yes, before I thought all three were from your mother, you see she primed before I was on the council, an amalgamation of prior pure-blood mixtures. I did not know what all she was bonded with when she came to speak with me. I just knew what was inside you when we first met and assumed it was all from her." Tevos explained, "Upon realizing that you were a Pure-Primal and that your father had been working for Voldemort before marrying your mother, I realized Voldemort must have figured out that as a Phoenix, one that is pure, you have the ability to give him renewable life forever, you can transfer your energy and that of your bondmate to him, allowing him to never truly die."
"Then how do I stop him? The prophecy said I can?" Bridget asked growing scared, worried, and very overwhelmed.
Tevos placed a hand on her shoulder, "Take the residual energy from our fallen members, take all that you can from your bondmate,-"
"From me." John interrupted.
"Yes," Tevos looked to him then back to Bridget, "Take all of that and hold it within you until the moment Voldemort is at his most vulnerable, at his weakest, and bring all of his energy into you. Once he is inside of you your animal will burn him up and he will be gone forever. It will take everything you have to end him, as the animal's energy will burn you too, but you can end him. And I know you will."
Bridget looked to MacRose on the ground, "I can. And by ending him everyone will see who we are, not what we are."
"Child." Tevos smiled at her, "How they see us does not matter. It's how we see ourselves. For being of such a young age you have dealt with this curse tremendously. It takes most Primals a lifetime to see it as a gift, if they ever do. It didn't take you that long at all."
"It took longer than it should have." Bridget looked sad, remembering how she used to hate what she was, "The only reason I did was because I had people who supported me for who I was and helped me accept myself."
"Yes, and you will help the next generation of not only Primals, but witches and wizards see that those actions are the ones we all need." The woman gripped her shoulders tight, "Because we can help our own kind yes, but when all kinds help each other we excel even further. You showed me that. Because I would be a simple witch without my gift, having to choose a side, and I may have chosen the wrong one if not for it or for you. Now, the hour is almost up. Will you go to him?"
"Not with George." Bridget looked down at her feet, "I won't do that to him, not now. I need to talk with Harry, see what he's learned, then go from there. We still need to kill Voldemorts snake before he can be dealt with."
"Alright. Take the energy from our friends and prepare." Tevos looked to the room full of bodies then turned to leave.
Johnathon took a step towards Bridget as Tevos left them alone. Bridget looked to him, "I get it now. Why you left. You knew didn't you? You were older when it all happened, you probably overheard things. You left so that you wouldn't be my bondmate, so that I wouldn't be stronger right from the start. So they would have a harder time finding me, couldn't use you against me, and without you around I would have no idea what it is they wanted me to do for him or even how to do it."
"Yeah." He responded, "I didn't want to leave you. I wanted to take you with me. Take you to China or Japan, Australia, somewhere so far away they couldn't find you. But mom was worried that if Voldemort did return that we wouldn't be there to help finish him. That's why I left like I did because I was angry at her for not wanting to protect you above all else. So since she wouldn't do anything, I tried to confuse them. We were being followed, they were trying to make sure it was us. You'd made friends and mom was in denial saying they couldn't have found us. I don't blame her for not wanting to believe it after what happened with Da. I left to throw them off, I guess it worked for a year or so but they figured it out. They lost my trail and instead you ended up right in their clutches but you hadn't Primed yet or had me around so they couldn't do anything with you. Bridg I'm so sorry. I should have-"
"Don't." She looked up at him, "You didn't know. You didn't even know I had Primed until after you came back. It was brave what you did. I told mum and da every year that I was still waiting for you to come back. Now I can tell them you did, and you'll be right next to me."
John smiled at her and she stepped away from him, sadness growing on her face but not letting him see. She knelt down to MacRose and whispered, "Thank you for everything, Siobhan."
Walking up to the Weasleys she noticed Ron and Hermione missing but still knelt down next to George who was sitting next to Fred and his mother. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned her head on his neck. Bridget needed this moment, his warmth, more than the energy she was drawing from him without him knowing. He returned her hug having stopped crying, no longer having the ability too. Reaching over him while still holding him she placed a hand on Mrs. Wealseys shoulder and the woman put her hand over it, giving her a sad smile before nodding in a gesture that it would be all right, but not anytime soon. Bridget pressed a kiss to Georges temple, "I have to go."
"Not to the forest?" He locked his arms around her.
"No." She whispered, "Just to find Harry. I want to finish this. For Remus, Tonks, MacRose, …Fred. For everyone, I want this done."
He looked up at her, her eyes were soft and sad, but behind that there were hints of strength and courage. George gave her a kiss, "Alright, but come back."
"I will as soon as I know what's going on." She smiled, "I love you, take care of your mum."
"I think it's her taking care of me." He looked back to his twin laying on the ground.
"That's alright too." Bridget kissed him on the head one last time before standing.
Leaving the Great Hall she began heading to Dumbledores office, where she knew Harry should be with the pensieve. She heard the voices of her three friends and listened as she made her way to them. Rons voice was the first one she could hear properly, "You can't give yourself up to him."
"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked, "What is it you know?"
"There's a reason I can hear them…The horcruxes. I think I've known for a while…and I think you have too." Harry responded and Bridgets heart sank as she continued down the hall, Harry was in a worse position than she was.
"I'll go with you." Hermiones voice shook.
"No. Kill the snake." Harry instructed, his voice gaining strength, "Kill the snake and then it's just him, then-"
"Then it's my turn." Bridget spoke having finally reached them.
Harry looked to her, "So you know? You know what it is you have to do now?"
"Yeah." She looked at him, "I would come with you but until the last horcrux is dealt with I can't do anything."
"And it's better if you stay away until then." Harry said.
Hermione came up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck and looked to Bridget, her voice cracking, "What is it you have to do?"
"Finish him." Bridget gave her a sad smile. Hermione let go of Harry and he began to turn away but Bridget came up next to him, "I can't go with you, but I can at least walk you out."
He looked at her and gave her a smile before taking her hand in his, "Together?"
"For some reason." She managed a smirk.
Hermione and Ron watched as they walked down the stairs together in silence. The two of them stayed this way until they made it to the main entrance outside. Harry looked at her, "Will what you do…will it…?"
"I don't know." She looked at him, "The way Tevos spoke about it probably."
He nodded, "Does George know?"
"No. He's got a lot on him already." She sniffled, "Ginny?"
"No." He shook his head, "Don't tell her."
"I won't. I'll keep an eye on her though, until it's my turn." Bridget smiled at him. Harry went to grab her father's ring from his finger but she stopped him, "Keep it. So you won't be completely alone. So I'll still be there with you."
"Like you always have been." Harry couldn't help but smile at her.
"Like I always will be." Bridget wrapped her arms around him and he returned the hug. They held each other tight, "I love you Harry."
"I love you too." He whispered.
"Stay strong, yeah?" She said, her voice shaky and he nodded, "See you soon?"
"Hopefully not." He let out a slight laugh and she did too.
"But just in case, let's meet in that version of The Three Broomsticks." She pulled away from him but still kept her hands on his shoulders.
He nodded at her with a sad smile and she let him go, watching as he walked away. She watched her best friend leave to die, a single tear running down her cheek, and when she couldn't see him anymore she turned to go back inside.
She sat next to George, her hand in his, both sitting on a bench, her head on his shoulder as they waited. The sun had come up and there had been nothing. Bridget wasn't sure if it was a good thing the amount of time she was given to prepare. Hearing a thud from outside they all looked to the entrance and as a group, exited the great hall. In the main entrance of the school across from them stood the army of Death Eaters, Voldemort, the snake, and Hagrid…holding Harry.
Hearing Ginny's voice asking who Hagrid was carrying she slipped her hand out of Georges, making her way to Ginny and Mr. Weasley. The words Voldemort spoke stung her ears and her heart as he yelled that Harry was dead, but Ginnys cries and her lunging forwards towards Harry kept her from sinking inwards on herself as she grabbed for the girl along with her father, both of them pulling her back, away from the evil bastards. Voldemort shot a spell into the sky, "Stupid girl, Harry Potter is dead. From this day forth. You put your faith in me. Harry Potter is dead!"
The Death Eaters laughed and cheered as he repeated it the statement but he put a hand up to them, before turning to Bridget, reaching his hand out to her, "Now then Bridget, I've come to collect you."
"Like hell you will." She her tone soaked with venom, her hands in fists, shaking in anger, no longer capable of feeling sad.
"How dare you speak to him that way you filthy Half-Breed!" Bellatrix yelled at her but Bridget didn't falter, instead all of the Primals there hissed at her and at the word, the sound low and threatening causing the woman to stiffen.
"It's alright, if the death of your friend will not convince you perhaps the death of everyone else here will." Voldemort smiled, "But first, to show you how gracious I am, I will give them a chance. Now is the time to declare yourself! Come forward and join us. Or die."
Nobody moved until Lucius called to Draco, who didn't move until his mother called for him. Everyone watched silently as Draco walked to them, Voldemort hugging him awkwardly. As Neville began limping forward, breath left everyone who knew him. Voldemort made fun of him but the boy cut in the second he was done talking, "I'd like to say somethin'."
The Dark Lord was clearly irritated but spoke, "Well Neville, I'm sure we'd all be fascinated to hear what you have to say."
"It doesn't matter that Harry's gone." Neville spoke with passion, "People die every day. Friends. Family. Yes, we lost Harry tonight. But he's still with us, here." He tapped his heart and Bridget couldn't help but smile, this actually making it easier. He continued, "And so is Fred and Remus and Tonks and... all of them. They didn't die in vain. But you will. Because you're wrong. Harry's heart did beat for us. All of us..."
At the end of his speech Neville pulled the sword of Gryffindor from the sorting hat and Harry rolled out of Hagrids arms. Bridget seeing this couldn't help but laugh, he was alive, she didn't know how he'd done it but he had. Death Eaters began disapparating at seeing Harry and Voldemort began slinging curses at him as Harry tried to kill Nagini. When Voldemort sent fire curses at Harry, Bridget and Tevos put their hands up and together in a pulling motion moved the flames for Harry to get through.
Harry ran across the rubble at them and he turned her with him as he ran, telling all of them near, "I'll lure him around the castle. You all kill the snake. And Bridget. Be ready. I'll let you know where we are with this."
He pointed to her fathers wedding band and she nodded, before seeing Neville get thrown back after deflecting a curse from Voldemort.
Tevos was next to her as they fought the remaining loyal Death Eaters and John stayed with George, still not wanting to give anything away. Bridget turned, seeing Ginny deflect a curse from Bellatrix and watched as Mrs. Weasley moved in front of her, "Not my daughter you bitch."
Bridgets mouth hung open at this and then couldn't take her eyes off the duel and when she saw Mrs. Weasley curse the woman into a petrified statue then blow her up Bridget couldn't stop the words coming out of her mouth, "Holy shit Mrs. Weasley!"
Molly turned to look at her, "I can do more than cook and clean."
"Obviously." Bridget was still shocked but saw the Death Eaters curse coming at her and blocked it before sending one back at him, knocking him into a wall. She looked in that direction and saw Neville standing up with the sword before starting to run somewhere. Her eyes opened wide as she saw him run into the hallway, sword slicing through the snake.
The snakes gone, where are you?
Courtyard entrance.
Bridget released her wings and without hesitation flew out of the Great Hall and to Harry. John watched as she went and realized that it was time.
She got to the courtyard and saw Harrys spell pushing against Voldemorts. She yelled his name and he pulled back, the duel stopping as she slammed into the Dark Lord, pushing him to the ground she put her hands on his chest over his heart and pulled his energy into her. It stung and it burned all the hatred and venom within him but she didn't stop as he started to char from his limbs to his torso. Tears poured from her eyes and she bit back screams of pain as the darkness poisoned her from within. Soon it was just her, hands on the ground where the mans heart had been.
John ran out of the castle seeing his sister on the ground, fingers gripping the stone, and Harry standing there unsure of what to do. He ran to Bridget, putting his hand on her back, trying to give her energy but she just cried out as he did. She tried taking in air but it stung and her chest clenched in pain, her lungs felt like ash. This was it. Voldemorts energy was too much for her. Too dark for her. A series of images flew through her mind. Her mother and father. Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Remus. Tonks. MacRose. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Ginny. Fred. George. She smiled through the pain at this last one. Holding onto the image of red hair on a pillow, face relaxed while sleeping, a faint smile across it. A tear streamed down her cheek as her heart stopped. With her last breath she spoke, "I'm sorry. I love you."
Bridgets body collapsed to the ground.