The Protector

Not A Way To Begin Summer

I knew something was wrong when she didn't come pick me up from King's across Station. We had sent letters back and forth a week before. She promised me she'd be there and she wasn't.

I rode with Harry and the Dursley's back. They don't necessarily like me, but they couldn't say no since I was a minor.

I jumped out of the car and ran across the street. The lights were on. She was home.

I opened the front door, "Mum?" I closed it behind me. The scent in the air was different. Someone else had been there. Someone familiar.

I set my bags at the door. "Mum?" I called out. No response. I stepped into the dining room. My stomach dropped immediately. No! No, no, no!

I ran into the living room. I had found my mom. She was breathing heavy. She was cut up all over. The window to the backyard was shattered.

"Mum?! What happened?" I grabbed a blanket to cover her up.

"B...B...Bridge," she was too weak to speak.

"Mum, I'm so sorry I couldn't come sooner. What...what happened?"

"I...I'm sorry...Bridget..."

"Mum, I need you to stay with me, okay," I tried to cover all her wounds with the blanket. "Mum, it'll be okay. Help!" I screamed. It didn't make sense why I would try to scream. I was the only one in the house. But I did it anyways, "Help!"

"Bridget," she took a deep breath. "I...I...love you, okay?"

"I love you too Mum," I grabbed my wand. Through the window, I whipped up a messenger spell and sent it to the Ministry.

"It...it was...Bella...trix..." my mother whispered to me.

"She did this to you? Just...just like my grandparents?"

"Yes," she nodded. "Be strong...sweetheart...I know...I know you...can be."

"I will, and you will be right by my side," I nodded. She had gotten paler than what she had been. Almost blue. "Mum?"

She gave a small smile, "I think...it's my time to go...I'll see you later...Bridget..."

Tears began to fall from my face onto the blood-soaked blanket. I held her close as I waited for help to arrive. It seemed like forever. I sobbed as I held my own mother. Then it hit me. All of my family, every single one, was gone. It was just me.

I was alone.

And I hated being alone.

I sobbed uncontrollably. So much, I didn't notice when the Ministry came into my house. I held onto my mother. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I flinched, nearly whipping out my wand.

"Bridget Meadows," Kingsley Shacklebolt, a worker from the Ministry, had his hand on my shoulder. "We need to leave. You need to leave your mother here for us to handle."

I shook my head, "I can't."

"Bridge," I heard running towards me. Harry came into view. He seemed shocked and saddened. "Bridge."

"I...I tried...to save her," I tried to explain in between weeps.

"We know," Kingsley nodded, "but we need you to leave the house."

"I can't," I sobbed.

Harry came over and grabbed my wrist. I tried to fight back to get to my mother, but Harry was stronger than me. I fought hard though. I couldn't leave my mother.

"Harry," I sobbed. "Let me go!"

"Bridge," he sighed. "She's gone. There's nothing you can do now."

He pulled me out of the house. I collapsed in the driveway. Everything was too much at one time. Ps many people we're getting hurt, dying. Had it been because of me? If I had just been there sooner.

Harry sat and held me. He didn't say anything. He just set his head on mine.

"If...if I had been sooner...I..."

"Bridget, stop," he took a breath. "You couldn't have done anything. You did what you could. It wasn't your fault."

While they checked around my house, I held onto Harry. I could only imagine how his shirt must feel. So many tears.

After a while, I stood up. I was able to stand up without falling back over. More questions came to my mind. Where am I going to stay? Will they send me to an orphanage? Will I still be able to go to Hogwarts? Oh god, my friends.

"Ms. Meadows," a voice broke my thoughts. "Can we speak to you, privately?"

I wiped my nose free from snot and nodded, "Yeah." I walked closer to the Ministry people.

"We searched for any remaining family members," they started.

"I don't have any," I nodded.

"Correct."

"So what are you going to do with me?" I crossed my arms.

"Depends on what you want," Shacklebolt gestured towards me. "You're underage, but with the whole," he got quiet, "you-know-who thing, we understand if you'd be more comfortable in a secure location."

"I would like to stay with Harry Potter and the Dursley's," I knew without a second thought.

They all looked to each other, then back to me, "We'll go discuss that matter with them, then return to tell you what they've decided. In the meantime, go inside and grab your personal items."

I nodded. Harry followed me into my house. The smell had changed from a familiar smell to the smell of alcohol and blood. I nearly gagged.

I rushed into my room. I grabbed what was necessary. I took a last glance at it. One thing remained that I had nearly forgotten about. Sitting on my dresser was a picture of my mom and me; we were eating some ice cream cones after going shopping. I walked over. I picked it up. I wish I got closer to her sooner.

"Bridge? You alright?" Harry asked.

I put the picture in my pocket. I turned, "Yeah. Just gotta grab Iris."

"Already did," he held up my wonderful cat. At least I still have her.

I smiled, "You're the best Harry."

"I know."

"Ms. Meadows," a male voice came from the front door.

Harry and I rushed there. I held tight onto my case, "Yes?"

"The Dursley's said that they'll keep you only for this summer. Then you'll have to find your own place."

I smiled, "Great. Thank you, by the way. For everything."

"It's not a problem darling," Shacklebolt nodded. "Oh also we told the muggle cops and fellow neighbors that she died by suicide. With all the cuts on her."

"Do you know what spell was used?" I asked.

"No. It's nothing like what we had seen before."

I nodded. I took one last look of the inside. I stared at the bloodied blanket and decided something. I will be strong, Mum. I will beat Bellatrix's ass if I ever get the chance.