A/N Thanks to all those who stuck around to this point! I think I'll start the 'final plot arc' or whatever sometime soon.

Hermione watched Harry's thin form disappear down the hallway and sighed, releasing a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"Did everything go alright?"

She whipped around, saw the cloaked figure, and relaxed. "Yes. Yes. He didn't try any Legilimency, or anything of the sort. I don't think he suspects me."

"Good… good…. and what is this business I hear about a certain Arctic rune?"

Hermione took a shuddering breath. "I… I tried to assassinate him, it didn't work. If I tried anything funny, a Priori Incantatem would surely have me in Azkaban… the Rune was the only thing I could think of."

"It's defective, I take it?"

"Of course. We can't have them carrying out a working ice bomb, can we, now?"

A forced chuckle. "No, of course not, my dear. You may go."

Hermione turned to leave, with an infinite reluctance. The cloaked figure frowned. "What is it?"

"This is all to prevent death, right?"

"Yes, of course. This is all for the greater good."

~oOo~

"Reporting for detention."

Professor Snape looked up from the sloppily written essay he was grading and frowned.

"What do you want, Mr. Evans?" he drawled.

"I have detention."

"Really… for what, exactly?"

"I doodled in class."

Snape gave a visible start. Albus was penalizing this child for making intelligent observations?

"Ah… ah, yes, alright. Scrub those cauldrons over there. No magic."

Harry gave a curt nod and sped off down the dungeon staircase.

Snape couldn't help but shake his head. What was this all about? He resolved to find out.

Harry knelt before the cauldron, took out his utensils, and began cleaning. It was a horribly monotonous work; he soon found his mind wandering.

Flashback

4 years ago…

A long, drawn-out cry rang through the street of Ajate Terrace. The small figure in the dark cloak stepped swiftly over the threshold, his eyes keen and alert.

An even longer cry tore out of Number 2, Ajate Terrace, accompanied by a loud THWACK!

Harry frowned. With practiced caution, he inched towards the house, his eyes trained on the second story window. Harsh, loud words drifted through the panes.

"You no good piece of shit!"

Another thwack.

Another cry.

A terrible anger rose up from inside of him. He gripped the stone walls and climbed, reaching up to the window. He peeked inside.

A fat, red-faced man stood beside a small, bruised boy, his belt in hand. Harry frowned at the scene.

"Your mother died because of you, you know that?"

Yet another thwack. Harry winced.

The man raised his hand to unleash another beating. Harry concentrated, throwing massive bolts of energy through the air…

The man looked up, surprised, to find his hands glued to the wall. Ice, thickening ice, spread along his body; he shrieked and struggled, but the shards held firm. He swore, a loud, ugly, drawn-out word- up until the ice covered his mouth and his nostrils.

Purple began to fill his face. His eyes grew frantic; his hands, still free, writhed in their icy handcuffs. He struggled for air and threw his entire body weight upwards, managing to break the ice's hold for a split second. A massive gasp filled the air as oxygen rushed back into his lungs; then the ice closed over his face, thickening, multiplying into a death trap of massive proportions-

"PLEASE STOP!"

Harry froze, alarmed, at the child's outburst.

The ice thinned over the now unconscious man's face, allowing shallow breathing.

"why?"

"I… please don't kill my daddy…please… "

Tears shone on his pudgy face.

"Why?" Harry repeated. "What has he done for you?"

"I…"

"Here." he reached out a hand. The child, as if on some foreign impulse lunged out to grab it. "I'll take you somewhere where nobody can ever hurt you, ever again. Say, what's your name?"

"Neville. Neville Longbottom"

End Flashback

~oOo~

Room of Requirement. 4:00 A.M..

"There has been a minor setback; Dumbledore has gleaned information on our plan. I trust Hermione has informed you of this?"

The council members shook their hooded masks. Neville spoke up. "No… she hasn't."

Harry's eyebrows furrowed. "Alright then, you know now. There is a traitor in our midst."

A collective gasp rang through the assembled. Harry's eyes narrowed. "Use thorough Legilimency on your second in commands. Find out as much about their recent activities as you can. Our next meeting will be at 2:00 A.M. tomorrow. Dismissed."

The council members scattered.

Harry buried himself into the sofa and sighed, rubbing his eyebrows.

"Petrificus Totalus."

A sudden, icy palm caressed his body; he found himself quite unable to move.

"I- I'm sorry, Harry…"

No. Surely not.

The chubby face of Neville Longbottom peered over the sofa. "I… I can't let you take the stone."

Disbelief. Shock and disbelief filled his body. Neville Longbottom of all people?! His best friend was the traitor? Impossible. Impossible. He'd always been a mild, useful boy…

"Harry… what you want to do, what you want to achieve will return You-Know-Who to power, and I… I can't allow that. I'm sorry. Sectumsempra!"

Dark magic lashed out at the stunned boy; Harry resisted the urge to scream as his stomach was ruthlessly torn open.

Tingling. Gentle tingling, then fiercer and fiercer consumed his body; sparks of light stitched the wound together. He could feel his ruptured artery reforming, rebuilding itself…

Neville watched in horror as his victim miraculously healed.

"What… what are you?!"

Hatred. A sudden, burning hatred ripped through his mind, forcing the shock to one side. He could feel his icy bonds; with an infinite force of will, he crushed the chains.

"Avada Kedavra."

Harry leapt to one side as the emerald-green light struck the spot where he'd been, inscribing angry scorch marks onto the sofa. His wand leapt to his hands in an instant. EXPELLIARMUS!

He watched as Neville's wand soared through the air; he caught it with his left hand. "Treachery!" he breathed, his voice low. "Treachery!"

The disarmed boy's eyes grew wide with fright; he turned and ran, struggling to make it to the door.

He was struck down before he could take his first step.

"Neville."

He leaned over the small boy, his eyes filled with a horrible hatred. "I'd never have guessed YOU would be the one to betray me. Foolish boy!"

A small tear formed in the corner of his left eye; he brushed it away with the back of his hand.

"For this, you shall pay. I will have to make an example of you."

The leather boot lashed out, sending the immobilised boy sprawling.

"Obliviate."

~oOo~

Minutes before…

"Confundo."

Hermione watched as Neville's once-bright eyes dulled and slid from focus.

"You will betray Harry Evans."

"I… I will betray Harry Evans."

"Good. Now act normal. The meeting's about to begin."

She watched, bored, as Harry made passing remarks about nothing in particular. At the sound of 'dismissed!' she ran outside, cast a disillusionment charm on herself, and strolled back in.

She arrived just in time to witness the drama.

"... for this, you shall pay."

Hermione watched, slightly guilty, as Harry wiped the boy's memory. What a waste of talent… she shook her head. No. Don't think like that. It is all for the greater good.

A/N Ooh! Hermione covered her tracks 0_0. What will happen? :) And why does Harry have a natural regen ability?

Some people may have noticed the absence of Aiden and Ron in the recent chapters. They'll be back soon...

Thanks to all those wonderful people who reviewed! Free virtual cookies to everybody!

If you couldn't tell, I'm feeling unusually cheery :).