Madam Pomfrey hadn't been at all pleased about being woken up in the middle of the night, especially by three first years who only wanted to fix a sprained wrist. Well, two of them did. Bryt was still loudly insisting that it was only a sprain and since exams were over, she didn't need it healed. Her hand would be fine in a few days, or maybe a week.

After Bryt refused for a third time to let Madam Pomfrey heal her hand, the school nurse told them to leave, despite their pleas to wait for Dumbledore to return with Harry. She insisted that, if Harry was fine, he would be sent back to the common room as well.

"You should have let her heal your hand," Ron grumbled as the three headed up a staircase towards the Gryffindor common room.

"She jus' would have chased us off afterwards anyway," Bryt shot back, looking down at the bandage wrappings around her wrist, which was the most she would let anyone do, "Besides, we can jus' wait fer Harry in the common room. He'll be there soon enough."

Once the three got to the common room, they sat in the chairs by the fire to wait for Harry. They say in silence and Bryt must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew, Hermione was shaking her side and the common room was filled with bright sunlight and the buzz of students coming down to head to breakfast.

"Why'd you let me fall asleep?" Bryt groaned, rubbing the back of her neck with her uninjured hand. She had fallen asleep in an armchair before, so she knew her back was going to be sore most all day.

"Because I feel asleep, too," Hermione replied.

"Me too," Ron said, "I don't think Harry showed up last night."

Bryt swallowed, trying to keep herself from thinking about the worst.

"D'you think he's still at the hospital wing?" she asked, actually praying that Harry had somehow been badly injured, telling herself it would be better than if Harry was actually dead.

"Maybe," Hermione said, "We can go see after breakfast."

Bryt nodded, standing up and stretching. She had wanted to go see Harry right away, but she also knew that she needed to eat. Besides, if Harry was at the hospital wing, he probably wasn't even awake yet.

When they got to the Great Hall, they were surprised to see Snape still sitting at the staff table. Even more surprising was that Quirrell was the one missing. Bryt, Hermione, and Ron exchanged shocked looks, then hurried over to the Gryffindor table and sat down.

"It was Professor Quirrell?" Bryt whispered, leaning closer to her friends, "He was the one after the Stone?"

"He could just be sick today," Hermione stated, but the tone of her voice showed she didn't believe it herself.

"No one else is missin'," Bryt replied as Dumbledore stood up and called for the students to be quiet.

"Due to an unfortunate, unseen event," Dumbledore began, "Professor Quirrell will be unable to join us as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher next year."

"That proves it," Ron said, "It was Quirrell. What happened down there?"

Ron wasn't the only one who wanted to know. Word had gotten out (most likely through Neville) that Harry, Ron, Bryt, and Hermione had sneaked out of the common room the night before. With Harry now in the hospital wing, most students put two-and-two together and were now asking Bryt, Hermione, and Ron what had happened. Hermione and Bryt were reluctant to share the story, but Ron was very eager, telling anyone who would listen about the Devil's Snare, flying keys, and giant chessboard.

The other students seemed to take it on themselves to create the story of Harry's encounter with Quirrell. Each story was far more unbelievable than the last, and there were so many, Bryt had lost count. No one could ask Harry, though, because he was unconscious in the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey was refusing to allow anyone in to visit.

There was one final Quidditch match of the school year and Bryt, Ron, and Hermione used it as a chance to preoccupy them for a few hours. Without Harry on the team, though, Gryffindor lost miserably to Ravenclaw.

The day before the end of year feast, the house points were totaled in with Slytherin the winner and Gryffindor in last place. Bryt hated it, but was glad she was no longer hated by other students. Besides, Bryt had something else to occupy her. Harry was finally awake and she, Ron, and Hermione had rushed to the hospital wing to visit. Madam Pomfrey was being strict, though, and wouldn't let them in.

The three were outside the door, hearing Madam Pomfrey and Harry inside, though they couldn't make out what was being said. After a short time, though, the nurse finally let the three in, though she didn't look happy about it. They rushed over to their friend and Bryt resisted the urge to hug Harry.

"Oh, Harry," Hermione said, "We were sure you were going to—Dumbledore was so worried—"

"The whole school's talking about it," Ron said.

"Yeah, so what really happened?" Bryt had sat down on the edge the bed.

"Well," Harry started, "When I got into the room, I found Quirrell standing at the Mirror of Erised. He was trying to get the Stone for Voldemort, but couldn't find where it was. Quirrell was behind everything. He had been jinxing my broom during the first match—Snape was using a countercurse. He had let the troll in during Halloween to try and distract everyone. Snape had been suspecting Quirrell and was trying to stop him all along."

"What about with Voldemort?" Bryt asked, ignoring Ron's wince at the name.

"I'm getting to it," Harry said, "Quirrell kept trying to find the Stone, he thought it was in the mirror and I thought if I looked in, wanting to find the Stone before Quirrell, the mirror would show me where it was. I was tied by the ropes, so it was hard to move, but I tried anyway and fell. Then Quirrell started asking for help and I heard someone tell him to use me, but the voice sounded like it was coming from Quirrell."

"That's creepy," Bryt whispered, her eyes wide. So far, Harry's account for what happened was far more interesting than what students had been saying.

"Quirrell released me from the ropes then," Harry continued, "And told me to look in the mirror and tell him what I saw. I decided right then I was going to lie as I went to the mirror. I expected to see where the Stone was hidden, but I just saw myself. Then my reflection suddenly smiled and pulled the Stone from its pocket, winked at me, and returned it. As it did, I felt something in my pocket. I had gotten the Stone."

"How?" Bryt asked. She seemed to be interrupting Harry a lot, while Hermione and Ron were just quiet, occasionally gasping.

"Dumbledore said only someone who wanted to find the Stone, but not use it, would be able to get it," Harry said, "Anyway, Quirrell was asking me what I saw, so I told him that I just saw myself winning us the house cup and shaking Dumbledore's hand. I tried to get away then, but that voice game back, saying I was lying. That it wanted to speak to me itself. Quirrell tried to protest, but suddenly he reached up and removed his turban and turned around. Instead of the back of his head, I was staring at Voldemort's face."

Bryt threw her hands over her mouth in a gasp while Hermione practically screamed. Bryt shivered, getting an image of a face on the back of someone's head. It wasn't something she'd want to see.

"That's how I felt," Harry said, "He knew I had the Stone in my pocket. I finally could get myself to move, but I only seemed to stumble back. Voldemort wanted me to give in, to join him. I wouldn't and he kept trying to get me to give him the Stone. He finally had Quirrell try and grab me, but whenever he did, Quirrell would get these blisters on his hands. He couldn't bare touching me, and when I realized that, I grabbed onto him, trying to keep hold as long as I could. My scar was pounding with so much pain, I couldn't see, but I was keeping my grip on Quirrell as much as I could. At one point, I felt myself yanked away from Quirrell, I was passing out, and I thought I was dead, but the next thing I knew, I was here in the hospital wing with Dumbledore. He told me he had been the one who pulled me from Quirrell and that he had talked with Flamel and decided to destroy the Stone."

Bryt, Hermione, and Ron were silent, staring at Harry. Bryt's mouth was now hanging open and she was staring at Harry with wide eyes. It was some time before any of them spoke, and it was Ron.

"So the Stone's gone?" he asked, "Flamel's just going to die?"

"That's what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that—what was it?—'to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure'."

"I always said he was off his rocker," Ron said with an impressed expression. Bryt laughed.

"What about you three?" Harry asked.

Bryt quickly told Harry of what had happened after he and Hermione left her and Ron. Bryt ended with them meeting Dumbledore in the Entrance Hall.

"D'you think he meant you to do it?" Ron asked, "Sending you your father's cloak and everything?"

"Well," Hermione said annoyed, "If he did—I mean to say—that's terrible—you could have been killed."

"No, it isn't," Harry said, "He's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could..."

"Our headmaster's loony," Bryt laughed, "Anyway, you missed the last Quidditch match, Ravenclaw creamed us without you. And the house points are in. We ended up in last place and Slytherin won, but the end-of-year feast is tomorrow—you gotta come."

"You've had nearly fifteen minutes!" Madam Pomfrey suddenly rushed over, "Now OUT!"

Bryt, Ron, and Hermione scrambled to their feet and left quickly to avoid the nurse's yelling. They decided to head back to the common room where they continued to talk for the rest of the day until they were all about to fall asleep in their chairs and they headed up to their beds.

The next day was warm and busy. Bryt had decided to get a head-start on her packing. She had kept her camera out, though, and got Lavender to take a picture of her and Hermione together.

Time for the feast came and Bryt headed on with Hermione and Ron, finding seats at the table, Hermione and Bryt sitting across from Ron. The room was filled with silver and green Slytherin banners and a banner with the Slytherin serpent went the length of the wall being the High Table.

Bryt had been in the middle of a conversation with Ron and Hermione when everyone around them suddenly went quiet. Looking around, Bryt noticed that Harry had come in. Suddenly, noise filled the Great Hall as everyone began talking at once. Harry made his way over and sat next to Ron as people began moving around to get a look at him.

Luckily, Dumbledore arrived then and the Great Hall fell silent again.

"Another year gone!" Dumbledore said happily, "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink out teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were...you have the whole summer to get them nice and empty before next year starts..."

Bryt let out a giggle and Ron and Harry gave her a strange look.

"Now, as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with two hundred and sixty two; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."

The Slytherins burst into cheers and stomps. Malfoy was banging his goblet to the table. Bryt groaned, hiding her face in her arms.

"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin," Dumbledore said, "However, recent events must be taken into account."

Everything fell silent and Bryt lifted her head, staring at their headmaster in shock.

"Ahem...I have a few last-minute points to dish out," Dumbledore began, "Yes...

"First—to Mr. Ronald Weasley..."

Ron's face went purple and Bryt couldn't help but giggle at the sight.

"...for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

The cheering was loud and Bryt beamed brightly at Ron. She heard Percy nearby bragging to the other prefects that it was his brother who beat McGonagall's giant chess set. It was some time before silence fell again.

"Second—to Miss Bryttanie Watkins...for knowing when a friend is in need and staying by him, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Bryt felt her face grow hot as the cheering rose again. Excitement was building up in Bryt now. Gryffindor was now up one hundred points. They had just passed Hufflepuff.

"Third—to Miss Hermione Granger...for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Hermione's face disappeared into her arms as Bryt laughed, hugging her friend, hearing her friend sob happily. Gryffindors all along the table were cheering.

"Fourth—to Mr. Harry Potter..." Dumbledore brought the room to a dead-silence, "...for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."

Cheering erupted louder than ever. Bryt's throat and hands were sore from screaming and clapping, and her sprained wrist was beginning to throb slightly, but Bryt didn't care. They had just tied with Slytherin for first place. If only they had gotten one more point...Dumbledore rose his hand and the room fell silent again.

"There are all kinds of courage," the headmaster smiled, "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."

Bryt was on her feet, jumping up and down as the Gryffindors exploded into a deafening cheer. People began burying Neville in hugs. The boy who had never won a point all year had just won Gryffindor the house cup. Bryt looked over and noticed Malfoy looked as horrified as he had in the Forbidden Forest when she had punched him.

"Which means," Dumbledore called over the cheering now that Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had joined in, "We need a little change in decoration."

With a clap of his hands, the green and silver banners became scarlet and gold, and the serpent became a Gryffindor lion. After that, the feast tasted better than anything Bryt had ever had in her life. It seemed the perfect end to her first year at Hogwarts—her first year as a witch. And she knew she was ready for next year, another normal year—normal for Hogwarts, anyway.

xxxxx

When exam results came, Bryt was overjoyed that she had passed everything, but by far her best grade was in Potions. It even rivaled Hermione's, who had the best grades of all the first years. Bryt grinned when she found Ron and Harry had passed all their classes as well.

Soon, it was time to leave and students were packed and given warnings that they could not use magic over the holidays. Conversations echoed all around as the students were taken to the Hogwarts Express and boarded for their journey home. Though Bryt was sad to leave Hogwarts, she was ready to be back with her parents and her brothers—and looking forward to the chance to visit Sofí and Julio over the summer.

As the sky became dark, the Hogwarts Express came to a stop at King's Cross Station. There were wizard guards at the barrier, only allowing groups of two or three students through at a time to avoid suspicion from Muggles.

"You must come and stay this summer," Ron grinned, "All three of you—I'll send you an owl."

"Thanks," Harry said, "I need something to look forward to."

"Then I'll write you all the time," Bryt grinned, "Except when I go to Charleston for a week for Sofí's birthday."

"Bye, Harry!" a student called nearby, then another called "See you, Potter!"

"Still famous," Ron grinned at Harry.

"Not where I'm going, I promise you."

Harry and Ron went through the barrier first, followed by Bryt and Hermione.

"There he is, Mom, there he is, look!"

Bryt looked over to see a short red-haired woman with a small red-haired girl. The blonde took a guess that they were Ron's mother and sister.

"Harry Potter!" the girl squealed, "Look, Mom! I can see—"

"Be quiet, Ginny, and it's rude to point."

Mrs. Weasley had grinned at the four.

"Busy year?" she asked.

"Very," Harry replied, "Thanks for the fudge and sweater, Mrs. Weasley."

"Oh, it was nothing, dear."

"Ready, are you?"

Bryt turned with the others to see an unpleasant-looking man who was staring furiously at Harry's owl, then to Bryt's, who had just hooted loudly. A woman and a fat boy were nearby, looking as if they were afraid of Harry. Bryt had no trouble guessing that these were the Dursleys and, just from their expressions, she could tell why Harry hated them.

"You must be Harry's family!" Mrs. Weasley said.

"In a matter of speaking," Mr. Dursley growled, "Hurry up, boy, we haven't got all day."

Harry turned to his friends as his uncle walked off.

"See you over the summer, then."

"Hope you have—er—a good holiday," Hermione said slowly, watching Harry's family.

"Oh I will," Harry suddenly grinned, "They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer..."

Bryt laughed and hugged Harry, then waved as he headed off.

"Bryt, there you are!"

Bryt turned just in time to have both her brothers tackle her in a hug at the same time. She laughed, hugging them back, then grinned at her mother.

"Have a good year?" she asked.

"It was great," Bryt grinned, "Oh, these are two of my friends—Hermione and Ron."

"Pleasure," Hermione grinned and Ron nodded.

"Same here," Mrs. Watkins grinned, then to Bryt, "We should head on, it's late."

Bryt nodded and turned to Hermione and Ron, hugging them again.

"See you over the summer," she said, then to Hermione, "I'll call often, okay?"

"Right," Hermione nodded.

With one last wave to her friends, Bryt headed off with her family, pulling an arm around each of her brothers while her mother took care of her trolley.

"What did you do all year, Bryt?" Mike asked excitedly.

"Did you do anything exciting?" Drew added.

"Of course!" Bryt laughed, "I fought a troll, smuggled a dragon out of the school, got to ride on a centaur, snuck past a cerberus, fought a giant plant, chased a flying key, and played live chess."

"Honestly, Bryt," Mrs. Watkins shook her head, "The imagination you have...I know yer a witch now, but there's no way things like that can happen at a school, magical or not."

Bryt giggled and winked at her brothers, pulling them a little closer.

"That's what she thinks," she whispered.

"If all that happened in jus' your first year," Drew whispered.

"I can' wait to hear next year's stories!" Mike finished.

Bryt laughed again as they reached the family van and she found herself agreeing with her brothers. Despite all the dangers from her first year at Hogwarts, she had, in some way, enjoyed the adventure and was actually hoping the next year would bring another. Then again, the Sorcerer's Stone was only at Hogwarts to hide it and now that it was gone, Bryt doubted her second year would be anything more than normal. Normal for a magical school, anyway.

A/N: Thus ends Year One. Hope you enjoyed it!