Harry sighed and leaned his head against headboard. A knock sounded on the door. Harry straitened, "Come in," he called. His stomach lurched as Ginny came in.
She shut the door behind her and crossed the room, "Can I sit?" she asked stopping at the foot of the bed.
Harry nodded; they sat lost in their silence and embarrassment.
"Do you know what you're going to do?" Ginny finally asked softly.
Harry shook his head, "I want Snape, but Lily is clearly important and we probably won't get a hold of her again. But Snape," Harry paused, "we could always get him another time, we don't necessarily need him handed to us." He looked away from Ginny. "And then there's Lily herself, I don't think she wants to go back and I don't know if that should be important or not."
Ginny shifted on the bed to sit next to him, "Can I make a suggestion?"
"Sure," Harry looked back at her.
"Set up a switch and negotiate the terms so that we can keep Lily and grab Snape."
Harry thought on that for a moment, "That's not a bad idea," he smiled at her, "you know that's exactly what we should do," he kissed her on the cheek and hurried out of the room. When he was just at the door Ginny called him back, "Harry."
"Hmm," he said looking back.
She smiled and Harry couldn't figure out why, "Nothing."
"Okay," he said slightly confused then went down stairs to find someone to run Ginny's idea by.
Lily was sleeping in Draco's arms; he still couldn't believe the changes that had occurred in her. Before she had been so aloof, cold and condescending but now she was, well, human. Smiling at the thought he brushed a few stray coppery hairs from her face.
Someone pounded on the door. Lily jerked up brushing the sleep from her eyes she looked around when her eyes fell on Draco she smiled. The door opened and to Draco's disappointment her eyes flew to Harry instead.
"Have you made up you're mind?" he asked her softy.
Sighing she got to her feet, "I don't really want to go back," she said walking over to the window, "But I know you want Severus," she spoke softly to the skyline.
"I do."
"Have you responded to Nonthal yet?"
"No," Harry sighed and walked over to Lily, "I wanted to run something by you first."
Draco got to his feet not liking how close Harry was to Lily, God, when did I get so protective…
"Oh?' she asked softly inclining her head toward him.
"We set up the switch and grab you again once we have Snape. Do you think it will work?"
Lily pondered the skyline, "It could," she said slowly after a bit, "It would depend upon the circumstances and he might be expecting you to try that. He might even take Severus and me, or give you another Death Eater polyjuiced to be Severus."
"So, do we do it or not?"
Draco had had enough of being ignored, "No, it's stupid and suicide! He just wants to know where she is so he can grab her himself. Decline the switch!"
Harry frowned at him and Draco could clearly see the dilemma he was in, whether to believe him or not. Lily didn't look around, he wished she would but she didn't.
"I think Draco is right." She said still staring pout the window, "It's a bad idea Harry."
Harry looked between them, "Would you explain yourselves to the Order?"
Draco kept his eyes trained on Lily's back, she glanced over her shoulder at him, "Your call," he said calmly.
Lily tuned to face both Harry and Draco, her eyes flicking back and forth between them, "Yes."
Harry looked at Draco, "And you?"
Draco shrugged, "If Lily says we do then I'll do it." His words were met with a smile from Lily and a brief nod from Harry.
"I'll be back in a few moments to get you," and he left the room.
Lupin drummed his fingers on the table. He wasn't the only impatient one; every face around the table was tense. They had decided the switch should happen but to take both Snape and Potter. Harry had insisted on going and checking with Potter. Why Harry was checking with her Lupin had no idea. And sure enough Harry had come back to say that neither of them agreed. No surprise there and they were coming down to explain. This was outrageous. The thought was cut off abruptly as Harry came back with Lily and Draco in tow.
Harry sat back down and gestured toward Lily and Draco, "They want to explain why they don't agree with us. When ever you're ready." He said to Lily and Draco.
Lily was looking in each face then stepped up to the edge of the table, Draco stayed behind her looking like a guard, "Harry told us you think you can come away with everything. I would be surprised if that happens."
Lupin stopped drumming his fingers; there was just something about her that demanded your attention.
"Voldemort will be anticipating a move like that form you," she didn't even register the collective flinches and gasps from the Order, "So he will be prepared. There could be back-up Death Eaters. It could be that he pulls a no show. It could be that he gives you a decoy. He could be waiting in person," she paused and looked around the table again, "I would advise against it, but do what you want of course."
"Ha, told you it was a bad idea," someone whispered, which urged Lupin to speak.
"Why are we even listening to her? We've made a decision, we need to stick with it," he said leaning forward glaring at Lily, who surveyed him calmly, Draco on the other hand was glaring at him, "This is what we need to do now that we have something Voldemort wants."
"So we just relinquish it?" Hermione said frowning, "We hand over what he wants the first time he asks? We should keep her and use her for bartering later." She looked coolly up and down the table, "after all we are a bit short of any sort of upper hand at the moment."
Why did everyone have to keep bringing that up! Lupin though angrily, "Just because we don't have a spy doesn't mean we don't have any upper hand! We need to set up this trade."
Lupin glared at Lily, who shrugged, "It's not my decision of course, but I'd advise against it." She turned to Harry, "I think that's all I have to say. My opinion isn't going to change. We're now just making this awkward."
Harry nodded, before he could say anything Arthur Weasley stood up, "I think they should stay and have a say. They are both deeply involved in this after all and will be more affected by this decision than anyone else."
Lupin glared at him and saw Lily and Draco lock eyes for a moment. Lily shrugged, Draco merely frowned.
"All in favor of the trade off raise your hand," Arthur said authoritatively.
Lupin put his hand in the air and glanced around the table, he was in the minority, only five other people still agreed with him.
"All in favor of not accepting the trade raise your hand," he said already knowing how the vote was going.
Lupin scowled as more than twenty hands flew in to the air.
"We will not trade," Arthur said finally, he looked at Lily, "How do we let them know?"
"Just don't reply. Ignore the owl. If you write you refuse he'll just keep insisting," Lily said mildly, "But not my call."
Arthur nodded, "That's the end of the meeting then."
Lupin didn't move as people got up to leave. He scowled as Harry and Hermione went over to engage Lily and Draco in conversation.
