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I sat very still as the words let Dumbledore's mouth. It had been one thing at the time when I found out that now the only way to save Harry and kill Voldemort would be to kill my mother. It seemed like a burden that would be placed entirely on me without any real concern for my mother or anything. In fact perhaps once I could make my mother realize what had happened and what these actions meant, they could work together to find a way around it. Perhaps it had been silly that I had been maintaining such a hope when clearly there was no room for it. By now that I knew my mother was coming after me for the sole purpose to kill me, the miniscule glimmer of hope that I had been clinging to with my dear life was gone. I didn't know how to express this words to Dumbledore, but I knew he could tell for for the first time in my life he had reached out his hand and had tightly secured my own in it.

"I wish Abby that there was something that I could do to change these matters. To somehow make these things better for you or somehow reverse the true evil that Voldemort has inflicted upon your family, but unfortunately that is not within my power. I can only hope that my complete and utter care for you will be something to at least mildly help you mend with this information," Dumbledore whispered softly to me.

"I concur on that statement," chimed in Professor McGonagall and just as softly.

"Thank you," was all I managed to get out between my lips with much effort. It seemed like forever that the three of us sat there with nothing being passed between us other than the grim future rushing towards us faster than we had time to emotionally and mentally prepare for. I did not know how a daughter was able to find the strength to take away the mother that brought her into the world, but I could also not understand how a woman could be so blinded by something that would allow her to take the only daughter she ever had away from it.

"What will I do now?" I finally asked, realizing that thinking along these lines was not something that I could afford to do. I had allowed myself those moments of feeling the situation, but now it was time to shut them off completely. It was the only way that I was going to be able to make it through this whole event without losing my mind or my sanity.

"You will stay here for the moment. I have a feeling that our friends are not going to want to leave without you, and it is going to take a bit of work to make them see that this is not an option," said Dumbledore with a grim smile.

"Are you going to kill them sir?" I asked.

"I would rather not, but I do not believe that anyone would miss them other than the very death eaters that sent them here," replied Dumbledore even more gravely.

"Can you obliviate them?" I asked.

"It is going to my first attempt but unfortunately I am sure that they are not going to...what is the expression...go quietly?"

"Let me at least help you," I pleaded. "I don't want you to have to do this on account of me."

"No, no, Miss Carson, you are far too important to lose to such block heads as those," Dumbledore said, attempting a smile as he spoke.

I attempted to give him one back, and though it was perhaps even more feeble than his I could tell that he appreciated the effort. "I ask that you stay here until I come back for you, and when I do we will determine further plans of action. For now however, this is the safest place in the world for you."

I gave a nod, realizing it was pointless to argue further, and with the Dumbledore gave my hand one more squeeze before they both withdrew, the stone wall moving and closing the open space behind them. I sat there staring at the wall that they had just walked out of for a couple of moments, the tears that had so far been down in my chest threatening to rise but I would not allow them.

I did not sleep and I did not eat despite the bits of food that magically appeared at the table behind me for what was at least two days. I sat staring at the fire in front of me that magically never seemed to lose its flame, my body as rigid as the stone walls that surrounded me. I hadn't realized that through the course of my attempting to eliminate all feeling towards my mother that I had made the room significantly cooler, the couch around me sporting a thin layer of ice across it. It was in this position that the stone wall finally began to creep open. Instinctively, as if the sound were a signal that I needed to fear for my life, I was up and off of the couch, my wand pointing firmly at the open space.

To my relief it was only Dumbledore who definitely had a more pleasant look about him than he had had when he first brought me here. I lowered my wand, telling by the look on his face that I had not faired to look so well. His eyes drifted to the condition of the couch, noticing it but choosing not to comment.

"You may come back Abby," Dumbledore said with a small smile.

"What happened?" I asked.

"It seems upon speaking to Professor Snape that the men changed their mind about needing to acquire you. For you see Professor Snape did not want to pursue any action, and seeing as there is a bit of leniency in the law about phoenix animagi learning to control their abilities, they were willing to let the matter slide."

I stared at Dumbledore understanding that this was what they had convinced the men to believe with what I was sure was to be quite a powerful obliviate charm plus something to make them believe this new story. With a small nod I walked towards him, stepping into the open gap before following him along the walkway that would lead back to Dumbledore's office. We were silent for the whole walk and when I caught sight of the door Dumbledore shortly grabbed a hold of my arm.

"I will be frank with you Abby because I feel that this is a matter that I must be frank about. I know that it is perhaps difficult for you to comprehend how you are going to manage the possibility of killing your own mother. I cannot imagine how you are also going to handle the knowledge that this same woman wants to end your life. But you know my feelings as I said before when I gave you the news. I would just like to say Abby that no matter what happens Voldemort will believe that you have already made the bind to Harry and I am afraid that nothing you or I will say or do will convince him otherwise. That being said, I leave the choice to you whether you want to carry out that process. I will not stop you if you choose it and I will not look down on you if you choose not to. It must be entirely your choice. However, I will tell you that with this series of events I would not doubt it that you will now be number one on Voldemort's list to kill because he will believe that you are in his way. I do ask that you keep that in mind as time goes on, and prepare yourself for what exactly that means."

I stared at Dumbledore for a couple of moments, the feelings of sorrow, regret, and grief consuming the small amount of space around us as we stood there, his grip on my arm tightening slightly.

"It is the saddest thing to me when I see people ripped so forcefully from their childhood before their proper time. You have been forced to grow up too fast Abby, as have your friends, and I am afraid that you may never get the chance to be young again."

"It's alright Professor Dumbledore," I replied after a couple minutes of silence. "Choice is the only thing that he can't take from us. Choice is the one thing that no matter young or old, you will always get to keep."

Dumbledore gave me the warmest smile he could before he released my arm and we continued through the pathway. He pushed open the door, moving through first before moving aside so that I could see Harry, Ron, and Hermione standing in his office waiting for me. Harry stepped forward, all the emotions I was feeling coursing through his own veins, and with two swift steps I was in his arms, the place that I would always choose to be.