With a soft pop, Kat appeared on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. Spring had finally made its appearance and everything was blooming. Ignoring the bright and happy colors surrounding her, Kat pulled her hood farther over her head and rushed over to the Shrieking Shack. It took her a few minutes, but she found the trap door that led into Hogwarts and she quietly made her way underneath Hogwarts grounds. She immobilized the Whomping Willow and slid through the shadows until she reached the front doors.

Isabelle's existence was a well-hidden secret. With a few glamour charms and convincing lies about Isabelle being a distant cousin, they managed to leave the manor occasionally. She pulled out her wand and thought of the last time that she took Isabelle to get ice cream. The look on her face when they appeared in Diagon Alley, the hustle and bustle a shock to her system. The joy when they went into Quidditch Quality Supplies and into Eeylops Owl Emporium. Her laugh when the boy on the street gave her a flower. Her smile when Fortescue gave her an extra cherry.

"Expecto Patronum"

A silver mist burst out of her wand and quickly took shape. The panther stood still as it listened to her message.

"McGonagall. I'm waiting for you outside the front doors. We need to talk."

Her patronus nodded its head at her before crouching low and leaping through the walls. Fifteen minutes later and the door creaked open.

"When I saw that you were the one standing here I almost didn't open the door."

"I assumed as much."

"Why are you here?"

"Can we talk inside?"

Kat glanced around the grounds nervously. McGonagall scrutinized the young girl in front of her closely before giving a sharp nod.

"Follow me."

Kat walked in and stood silent as McGonagall relocked the door. They had walked all the way to the Transfiguration office and had both sat down before someone spoke.

"What are you doing here Ms. Herondale?"

Kat licked her lips and McGonagall's curiosity peaked even more. She had never seen the girl in front of her so flustered and nervous. The normally calm and composed girl looked two seconds away from bolting from the room.

"I'm going to answer your question first, but it really does deserve and explanation. So after I answer your question I'm going to ask that you don't say anything until I finish talking."

When McGonagall motioned for her to continue, Kat took a deep breath.

"I want to defect."

Kat ignored the raised eyebrows and continued to speak.

"I'll confirm what I know you already have suspicions of."

She slid up the sleeve of her left arm and McGonagall gasped at the grotesque sight. The Dark Mark took up most of her forearm and the black skull seemed like a void against her pale skin.

"I was marked at the end of last summer. My father's perverse nature meshes well with the Dark Lord's and my marking was the reward that my father asked for after a particular job well done. I don't want this. At all. I'm a Slytherin. And a proud one at that. But just because I have no desire to mingle with muggles doesn't mean that I want them eradicated. When you come home from buying your school books to the Dark Lord in your sitting room, you don't exactly say no."

Kat conjured a glass of water and took a long sip before continuing.

"I would have ran. I have no shame in that, but I have. Had, a sister. Isabelle."

A ghost of a smile crossed her face and McGonagall was shocked at the change in demeanor.

"She just turned five in January. My mother died whilst giving birth to her. I was all she had. She was, sweet. Kind and loving. If she was going to be sorted into a house it would've been Hufflepuff. There's no question about it. So I stayed. Did exactly what was asked of me. No questions asked."

Kat looked down and saw that her hands were shaking and she quickly clasped them together.

"There was a raid last night, as I'm sure you know. When I arrived back at the manor this morning I found my father standing over my sister's dead body. I can only assume that he was upset that he wasn't on the raid and he needed someone to take it out on. Without me there, that task fell to my sister. I've always ensured that she never had to deal with that. He tortured her to death and I was just a few minutes too late. Without her here, I could run. My friends are old enough to be able to handle themselves. But I want revenge. I want my father dead. I want the man that he serves, the one who only served to fuel his insane desires, gone."

McGonagall stared at the woman in front of her in shock. A few things stood out at that particular moment. One was how little she seemed to know about her Slytherin students. She never would have guessed that Katherine Herondale not only hated her father, but she had been tortured by that man as well. The other thing that reached out to McGonagall was the passion in Katherine's eyes.

"I'm willing to sit under Veritaserum. I know that it's the only way that I can prove to you of my sincerity. I'm an Occulmens, and a damn good one, so don't try to have anyone prod into my brain."

"You're willing to undergo testing?"

When Katherine nodded, McGonagall looked at the clock.

"Let's go. There's a meeting tonight and we're going to go."

"Now?"

"Now. Is that a problem?"

Kat hesitated momentarily.

"I don't want Snape to know."

McGonagall stared at Kat momentarily before nodding.

"Done. He won't be there tonight. We'll make it known."

Kat stated firmly and without hesitation.

McGonagall grabbed her cloak and Kat followed her to the grounds. Once they had left Hogwarts grounds McGonagall held out her arm. Kat grabbed her arm and the two of them disappeared. They reappeared in a dark dingy hallway. There was light coming from the door at the end and as they got closer, voices could clearly be heard.

"She's late. She's never late. Maybe she's been kidnapped."

"Have some faith Ronald. Professor McGonagall is a brilliant witch."

"Thank you Miss Granger. I appreciate the compliment."

McGonagall said from behind the bushy haired brunette. The Gryffindor jumped and spun to face her teacher. However the moment she saw Kat, her smile dropped from her lips.

"Professor?"

She asked in a confused tone, looking to McGonagall for an explanation.

"Miss Herondale has decided to defect."

Weasley's face turned a mottled red and Kat quickly interrupted.

"Relax. Before you say that I can't be trusted, I've agreed to be tested under Veritaserum."

When a smirk raced across Weasley's face Kat glared.

"To which I'll only agree if McGonagall, Kingsley and Lupin are the only ones who ask me questions."

"Why us?"

A soft-spoken question came from the haggard looking Remus Lupin.

"Because while you may not like me because I'm a Slytherin, you won't use this as a means to exploit me. You're too honorable for that."

"Why should we trust you?"

Potter asked in a curious, but not angry, tone.

"Why should I trust you? You've never given me a reason to but here I am."

Kat replied simply.

"Why you can't just say..."

"Miss Herondale is correct Mr. Weasley."

McGonagall suddenly interrupted and everyone turned to stare at her in shock.

"We're all guilty of judging the Slytherins for no reason other than their house. I include myself in that statement. We've never given them a reason to trust us so we can't expect for them to."

"I figure if I give the same explanation I gave McGonagall earlier, then you can verify that by asking if everything I said was true. It'll save you time to ask other questions. Does that work?"

When everyone nodded, Kat quickly repeated her story. She ignored the pitying looks that she received when she was done talking.

"Here. Drink this."

She looked down at the vial that was being handed to her and looked up at Kingsley in confusion.

"It's Veritaserum."

Kat glanced back down at it and sniffed it cautiously.

"It's not poison."

She saw a ghost of a smile on Kingsley's face and she gave him a slight smile in return.

"You can never be too careful."

"Smart."

She glanced back up and was shocked to see approval written on Kingsley's face. She took a deep breath and downed the potion. A sluggishness raced through her body and she felt her entire body relax. Her Occulmency shields dropped and she suddenly felt extremely vulnerable.

"What is your name?"

"Katherine Alice Herondale."

Kat's voice was flat and emotionless and everybody was shocked at the tone. They had thought that she was usually calm and emotionless when she talked but the differences between now and her normal tone was night and day.

"Was everything you told us about why you want to defect and fight against Voldemort true?"

"Yes."

"Are you intentionally planning on betraying us?"

"No."

Hushed whispers broke out and then silence.

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

"Yes."

Gasps erupted through the room and Kat barely heard the follow-on question.

"Who?"

"A muggle-born named Wright. He was a gift from my father after I was marked."

"Do you regret it?"

"No."

"Why?"

Kingsley cocked his head as he asked.

"Because it was kill or be killed. If I hadn't killed him, my father would've killed me. Like it or not I value self-preservation pretty highly."

"Coward."

Weasley muttered under his breath loudly enough for the whole room to hear.

"Ronald!"

Granger exclaimed as she hit his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it Granger. I've been called worse, and if being called a coward keeps me alive, then so be it. Also, don't judge when you've never been in the situation Weasley."

"Anyone else?"

"Yes. Mulciber."

"A fellow Death Eater? Why?"

Arthur Weasley spoke for the first time.

"He had just met my sister and had mentioned how beautiful she was going to be. Then he mentioned that he liked them young as he leered at her as she left the room. She was 4. He didn't live through the night."

"Is there any reason that we shouldn't trust you?"

"No."

They fell into silence until Kat felt the haze lift from her mind.

"I'm back but ask me a question to confirm please."

"What's your name?"

"Daphne Greengrass."

She rolled her neck back and forth trying to relieve some of the tension that came from sitting awkwardly while under the truth serum.

"Satisfied?"

"As satisfied as we can be I think."

Kingsley answered as he glanced around the room for confirmation. When Kat saw nods of approval, although begrudgingly from some, she sighed in relief.

"I'd prefer if my participation as a spy wasn't mentioned to Snape. I know that he's a double agent."

"Supposedly."

Weasley scoffed under his breath and Kat had to stop herself from agreeing with him.

"But it's best that fewer people know who I am. He has to go before the Dark Lord. I'd prefer if he didn't have my true allegiances in his head."

Kat watched as a multitude of emotions rushed across the faces in the room but eventually everybody nodded.

"Why didn't you ask this to be amongst a smaller group of people then?"

Arthur Weasley broached cautiously. Kat let out a wry grin.

"Besides the fact that nearly half the Order seems to be a Weasley; and I wouldn't expect you all to keep this a secret between your family? Because like it or not, every single one of you would feel guilty for blabbing. You blab, I die and I know that none of you would want that on your conscience."

Most people looked like they didn't know whether to be insulted or complimented so Kat quickly changed the subject.

"There's another subject that I haven't mentioned. There are others, who feel the way that I do. They've all agreed to pass information along as well. I'll be the middle man between you and them."

"Who?"

Potter asked, curiosity shining through his eyes.

"I won't tell you their names. I'll agree to tell Kingsley, McGonagall and Lupin under an Unbreakable Vow. But you won't get to know."

"They too scared?"

Weasley taunted and Kat had to take a deep breath to calm herself.

"Weasley, I don't quite think you understand how dangerous this is for me. You can't possibly imagine what will happen to me if I get caught. It's much more logical to only have one of us be the one taking the risk of meeting with you all."

"We tested you but we can't test them unless we meet them."

Kingsley remarked.

"I know. I have a solution to that problem."

Kat grabbed her wand and sliced open her palm.

"I, Katherine Alice Herondale, do solemnly swear that the people whose names that I will reveal to Minerva McGonagall, Remus Lupin and Kingsley Shacklebolt are loyal and will not betray the Order of the Phoenix. I swear this on my blood. So mote it be."

A gust a wind blew through the room at her last statement and Kat watched as the entire room stared at her in a shocked silence.

"That was a blood oath."

"Good job Weasley. Maybe you aren't as stupid as you look."

"Hey, quit with the insults! If we're on the same side."

"Look Granger. Just because I may be helping you doesn't mean that we have to be friends. I personally find you and Weasley annoying. Just because I don't like you doesn't mean I'm going to betray you."

"And me? You didn't mention me."

Kat turned to face Potter and she shrugged her shoulders.

"I barely know you. You don't speak very much except to argue with Draco and I can't hold that against you. I argue with him all the time."

"Why did you do that? You do know what that entails right? You could die."

"Well I guess it's a good thing that I trust them implicitly isn't it. And I knew what I was doing; in fact, I probably know more about blood oaths than any of you. They were a part of my tutelage as a child."

"Die?"

Potter asked curiously.

"If one of the people betray me, then my blood will boil."

"Boil?"

Granger gasped, one hand flying to her mouth. Kat rolled her eyes and turned to face the adults in the room.

"Would you like for me to tell the names now?"

"She's going to try and convince them that that tosser Malfoy is one of the good guys."

"Weasley, we're not one of the good guys. But that doesn't make us one of the bad guys either. And if you don't trust the people won't betray me, kindly think back to the blood oath I just swore."

"Malfoy's a Death Eater, we all know it after last year."

"You don't know a damn thing about last year."

Kat hissed at Granger.

"Whether or not Draco has decided to defect is beside the point; you hated him before last year. What was your excuse? That he's a Slytherin? That's awfully judgmental. Yes, Draco can be a giant git; so can Weasley but you don't see me making the assumption that all Gryffindor's are gits because of it do you? You all judge Slytherins without knowing a damn thing about us. If you don't know us, you can't properly judge our motivations can you?"

"I'm sorry."

Kat spun and stared at Potter, her mouth gaping.

"Ex.. Excuse me?"

"You're right. I never would have guessed that the Katherine Herondale that I knew from school would have had the background you just told us today. Besides, someone once told me that the world isn't split into good guys and Death Eaters; I guess he was right."

He gave Kat a tentative smile and she cautiously returned it.

"Thank you. I'm not saying all Slytherins are nice, or even on your side. But I'm just asking you to not judge everyone because of their house."

"I think I can try."

Kat wasn't sure what else to say so she looked at the three adults she trusted to be fair. They nodded at her and they led her into a bedroom down the hall.

"First off I want to say thank you. I know that you don't have to do this. But we're all putting a lot on the line and I want to protect them as much as possible."

"If you don't mind me asking, why us? Why all three of us?"

Lupin asked in his usual quiet and unassuming manner.

"Despite any bias you might have, I know that you won't break confidence. I also know that you are too fair to go back on your word to give these people fair trials once this is over. None of us want any of what the Dark Lord wants. If we can prove that to you, maybe you will defend us all when this is over. As to the three; we all know that a fight is going to happen sooner or later. People are going to die; I'm trying to mitigate the chance that the only people who know will be one of those. They're all willing to undergo Veritaserum testing when this is all over; but they deserve people to know that they were helping before any trial."

"We'll have to take turns creating the vows; but I can promise you that I'll help as much as I can."

"Thank you."

Katherine nodded to Lupin. Kat was shocked when Kingsley stepped forward.

"You may not be one of the 'good guys' as you say; but none the less, I've been very impressed by you tonight. You've acted beyond your years."

He held out his arm and Kat grasped onto his forearm. When he nodded at her Kat spoke aloud.

"The people who wish to help provide information are: Draco Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass, Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott Jr, Blaise Zabini, Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy. Do you solemnly swear not to reveal these names to anyone outside of this room until the end of the war or they come to you themselves?"

"I swear."

"And do you swear to help protect them from the backlash that will occur from the rest of the world after this is all over?"

"I swear."

"And do you promise to take any of them in in the event that one of them comes to you, or I am caught?"

"I swear."

Kat watched as the magical bindings soaked into her skin. They quickly repeated the process with the other two people in the room and Kat sighed in relief.

"Thank you. You don't have any idea what this means to me. I also know that you might be confused about Daph, Pansy and Aunt Narcissa, but they do have connections to the wives and children of the Death Eaters. Trust me, you can learn a lot from the society parties."

"I know only too well how much information can be gleamed from them."

Kingsley replied with a grin.

"Let's return. Ron's probably pacing thinking that you've managed to knock us all out."

Kat shrugged carelessly.

"Weasley can think what he wants. I don't think that we'll ever get along."

Sure enough, the group found Weasley pacing when they stepped back into the meeting room.

"So?"

Kat rolled her eyes but Lupin just responded gently.

"We can't tell you Ron. You know that."

"Oh yeah."

"So we didn't actually get to the point of our meeting today."

Kingsley began and Kat flushed slightly.

"But it's okay. We now have more information. We'll meet again to discuss that and our original purpose for this meeting. You'll come along and pass information?"

He directed his question towards Kat who just nodded her head.

"Try and make it, but don't put yourself at risk in order to do so. Oh and before we forget. This place is Number 12 Grimmauld Place."

"The Black Estate? I thought that I recognized some of the portraits. Also, we need a way for me to communicate with you subtly. Meeting times and I can respond with whether or not I'll be there."

"I have an idea."

Granger spoke up.

"Do you have a couple of galleons?"

"How many?"

"4."

Kat pulled out small pouch and placed 4 galleons on the table. She watched intrigued as Granger muttered and pointed her wand at them. Watching Granger's wand movements she suddenly smiled.

"That's genius Granger. And impressive. Who knew that you could do a protean charm. I'm assuming I'll have one master and one receiving?"

Granger stared at Kat in shock.

"What? How? Um, yes. Wait, does this mean you know about the protean charm?"

"I taught it to myself. It was handy for communicating with my sister."

She grabbed two of the galleons off the table and placed a few charms on them before placing them back inside the pouch.

"Send me a message with the meeting time. I need to get going."

She nodded to the room before pulling up her hood and turning to leave.

"Wait!"

Kat spun around and watched warily as Potter walked up to her.

"Potter?"

"Thank you."

He held out his hand and Kat cautiously shook it. The Boy Who Lived grinned at her hesitation.

"And please, call me Harry."

"Maybe someday Potter. But don't push it."

"Alright Katherine. See you soon."

He said cheerily and the entire room stared at him in shock.

"What? I thought I was supposed to treat her normally. Acting as if she's some skittish animal isn't normal is it?"

"I appreciate the thought Potter."

She sent him a small smile before turning on the spot and disappearing.

Kat reappeared inside one of her family's houses. She quickly grabbed some floo powder and flooed back to the Malfoy's. She quietly stepped out of the floo room and nearly jumped when a house elf spoke from the shadows.

"Mistress is home."

"Merlin's beard Poppy. Are you trying to scare me to death?"

Poppy, technically a Malfoy house-elf but whom Lucius had given to Kat, looked like she was going to cry.

"No! Please don't cry Poppy. Don't forget I'm a Death Eater. You don't scare me."

"But Poppy thought that Mistress was going to defect."

She said in a wobbly voice.

"Poppy. Stop that. No crying."

Kat said firmly.

"Besides, what are you doing skulking around?"

"Poppy came to get you. Mistresses friends are in the sitting room."

"Still?"

But Poppy had already disappeared. With a sigh, Kat turned around and walked down to the sitting room.

"What are you all still doing up? It's nearly 3 in the morning."

"We wanted to see you!"

Daphne said as she jumped to her feet and ran over to throw her arms around Kat.

"It is still you right? Damn. Do we have to try and figure this out now?"

"No. Malfoy Manor has wards up. Kat's been blood keyed into the wards for years now. It's how she can come and go as she pleases in the middle of the night."

Draco stated from the couch. His tone showed no trace of emotion but when Kat made eye contact, his eyes showed his relief.

"Sit. Sit."

Daphne practically shoved Kat into the seat next to Blaise and returned to perch at the edge of her chair.

"Give her a moment to breathe Daph."

Blaise said in an amused voice.

"You're okay?"

Kat turned to look at Blaise who was rubbing light circles on her thigh.

"I'm fine Blaise."

"So are we in?"

Pansy asked, going straight to the point.

"We're in."

"I can't believe it. And they know all of our names?"

"They do."

She sighed in relief and shared a tender look with Draco. The look conveyed so much emotion that Kat felt the need to look away. She felt Blaise's eyes are her and she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye before flushing at the look he was giving her.

"It actually went well. Weasley was an absolute prat as usual and Granger was obnoxious, but brilliant."

"And Potter?"

Kat turned to face Daphne.

"That's what was so surprising. I snapped at them a few times for being judgmental and the like. Potter actually seemed to take it to heart. He apologized multiple times and was polite with me. He also shook my hand at the end and tried to get me to call him Harry. While that won't be happening anytime soon, it was good to see. If he tries to see us as more than just Slytherins, then others might try in order to appease him."

"Wait. Harry Potter? We are talking about the same boy?"

Theo asked askance. Kat shook her head.

"I know it sounds unbelievable. But it's true. He was nice to me. What I said seemed to hit home with McGonagall too. She seemed quite upset that she seemingly judged us all. And I apparently impressed Kingsley."

"Shacklebolt?"

When Kat nodded her head Draco whistled.

"Damn Kat. He's well respected everywhere. Within the Order, outside the Order. Even the Death Eaters respect him in their own 'he needs to die' kind of way."

"I know."

They fell silent before Blaise suddenly spoke.

"The blood oath. You still went through with it?"

"Of course. Kingsley was actually the one who brought up how to trust you. I responded that I had a solution and then I performed the blood oath. To say they were all shocked would be a massive understatement. I stunned the room into silence."

"How did they take it?"

"Well they had no choice; I had already performed it. It was already bound. But I think they were shocked that I trusted you all so much. But they couldn't complain either. We all know what happens when Blood Oaths are broken. Kingsley, McGonagall and Lupin all swore Unbreakable Vows with me. Their secrecy ends when the war is over or you need asylum, either because of my death or anything else. Asylum is yours should the case arise."

"They agreed to that?"

When Kat nodded her head, the entire room sat back in shock.

"You did it. I still can't believe it."

"It's not going to be easy. Salazar knows it's going to be stressful and risky but... I'm glad we're doing this."

"We actually have an unofficial Death Eater's significant other luncheon today. I'll be going and Daphne's going in order to represent Theo. We'll try and get something from there."

"Be careful please. I know that most of the wives are not exceptionally bright; but some aren't nearly as stupid as they look or portray themselves."

"We know. You should see Narcissa at these; she looks like the perfect society idiot wife, but we all know better. In fact, I'm going to go to bed. We have to be there in 8 hours or so and I need my beauty sleep."

Pansy smiled at everyone and, grabbing Draco's hand, dragged him out of the room. Daphne and Theo followed soon after. Kat sunk into the back of the couch and reveled in the silence of the room. Blaise was so silent that if not for the body heat that was radiating off of him, she wouldn't have known that he was there. She knew that she should go up and get some sleep, but she also knew that the moment that she was alone, she would break down. She had only given herself a few minutes to grieve earlier and, inwardly, her emotions were all over the place. To her horror, a choked sob escaped her and she jumped to her feet. However, before she could rush out of the room, a hand caught hers. Blaise pulled her back down to her seat before wrapping his arms around her. He ran one hand through her hair and used the other hand to caress her back.

"It's okay. Let it all out."

Kat sunk into his arms and sobbed into Blaise's chest.

Where am I? Was the first thought that came to Kat's head when she woke. A quick glance around the room informed the young woman that she was, in fact, in her own room. Trying to recall how she got there, she blushed as she remembered breaking down in Blaise's arms the night before. Shaking her head to rid it of the memory, she shed her clothing and walked over to her bathroom to get ready for the day.

Forty-five minutes later Kat was walking down the hallway towards the dining room. When she walked in she was surprised to find Blaise already there. Kat sighed in relief when she noticed that he was the only one there.

"Good Morning Katherine."

"Good Morning Blaise. Would you happen to know how I got to my room last night?"

Blaise nodded.

"I carried you of course."

He continued spreading jam over his toast, oblivious to Kat's gaping.

"Wh- Why would you do that?"

"Well you fell asleep on me and I didn't think that would be very comfortable for either of us. I didn't want to wake you, so the obvious answer was to carry you."

"Thank you. But you can't tell anyone... The house elves!"

"Don't wor..."

Blaise began to say but Kat had already called for Poppy.

"Mistress called for Poppy?"

"Poppy, you can't tell anyone about last night. Do any of the other house elves know?"

"No Mistress. Master Blaise told Poppy last night to keep it quiet."

"Oh."

Kat said rather lamely.

"Well then. That will be all Poppy."

"I did try to tell you."

Blaise remarked with a grin after Poppy had disappeared.

"Oh shut it Zabini."

"Last name again? You wound me Bella. After last night..."

He trailed off suggestively and Kat struggled to repress a grin. Eventually though she couldn't contain it and she broke out laughing. Blaise sat back, satisfied at having made the girl laugh. The rest of the household walked in and stared in shock at Blaise and Katherine seemingly getting along.

However, before anyone could say anything, Kat, along with all of the men in the room hissed in pain. Theo and Blaise also grasped their marks which, only being a few weeks old, were extremely sensitive.

"I guess the reprieve is over."

The atmosphere was somber as they all quickly summoned their robes and put them on. With one last head nod, all five of them disappeared with a pop.