Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling

A/N Okay so...warning up ahead that this chapter is going to be pretty shocking. It also involves the death of two major characters from the series. Please know in advance that this wasn't done for the sake of shock value. Remember, I said in the beginning that good would become evil, and evil will become good. There is a lot of that in this chapter. So, I won't say enjoy. This is a highly pivotal chapter, setting up some seriously major action that will take place very soon. So...away we go.

Prologue

There were times when she regretted the sharpening of her inner eye. It had been much easier, back in the days when she had been pretending, hiding behind her theatrics, predicting a death a year. How ironic it was that her favorite target for three years had been Harry Potter, when she had been the one to make the fateful prophecy that lead to his parents death…that had lead them to where they were now.

And now, a new prophecy had come. One that few others knew, a list that didn't include the Dark Lord. If he knew it all, he would have no need of her anymore, she would surely die. Particularly now that it was coming true.

Over time, his visits had become more steady, his calmness chipping away more and more with each one. He was becoming afraid, and he should be afraid-he had sealed his doom when he tried to kill Draco Malfoy. It had deepened their bond, created another he could not kill of one whose hatred he had earned.

Such an unlikely pair, the Gryffindor and the Slytherin, destined to be allies from birth, yet enemies the moment they first lay eyes on each other. If Voldemort had known the full prophecy, the power their bond would one day hold, perhaps it would have been the Malfoy boy he would have killed when he was only a year old. Perhaps he would have left the Potter boy to grow, and then taken his life when he was older and unprotected by his mothers love.

Yes, his end was near. The prophecy had come moments after she had been dragged into the dark room, before she had even been taken before the Dark Lord. Fortunately, she had been taken in by friendly ears, the father of a boy now dead-a man who longed to see the senseless death come to an end.

His victory will be terrible but brief. When the middle brothers of seven siblings are reunited, the end will not be far away, the only sister shall bring them together. Within a single moon, those whose bond is stronger than he shall be freed, but be warned-before this can happen, a beloved one shall fall and they will be betrayed. Their freedom will herald his final days for the ghosts of those who died at his hand shall haunt his compassionless heart.

She longed for her freedom. She, who had once shunned her fellows who walked the earth, now longed to be among them, to embrace them with love and laughter. What a celebration it would be! Yet it would be a celebration marred with mourning.

She had already heard the whispers, one of the rebellion had died. The next part of the prophecy had been set into motion.

A single moon had passed…It had been a month to the day since George Weasley and Luna Lovegood had left Knockturn Alley.

Today, she knew, would be the day…the day of the betrayal.

Rise of the Phoenix

Chapter Ten

Betrayal

There had been no talking her out of it, Luna was determined that she would be the one to go to Knockturn Alley in search of Seamus Finnegan. Ron had been right as well, George wasn't happy about it in the least. They had argued late into the night, he had used every tactic known to man. He begged, pleaded, cajoled, and reasoned…he had even tried to forbid. That earned him nothing but a locked door in his face and Luna sleeping in the bedroom that she had originally abandoned.

By the next morning he changed tactics, she would go to Knockturn Alley, but he and Ron would go with her. He would contact Seamus, and she and Ron would back him up. She wasn't particularly crazy about the idea of his going there, Bannister was sure to be furious because of his escape, but in the end she had to agree-likely it was just as risky for her to be caught there as it was for him.

Hermione filled flasks of Polyjuice potion, slightly huffy herself because she had been bumped from her turn once again. Yet she couldn't argue with their point. She was the only one who was familiar with Ginny's potions, if by some chance something happened to them, she would need to see to it Ginny was taken care of properly. It wasn't an argument she was happy with, no matter how valid it was.

The three left together, hidden well under one of the blankets of invisibility. They walked six blocks to one of the abandoned buildings that were farthest away from the house, then stashed the blanket in an old wooden box and swallowed the polyjuice potion.

Luna was transformed into an old woman; using the same hairs that Neville had used the day he had failed in his attempt to steal some hair from George's brush. Ron was an old man, finding great humor in the fact that this made George slightly jealous as he was pretending to be her husband. George on the other hand transformed into a buxom young lady around the age of twenty-five, something that made Ron laugh even more, but would be less suspicious when he walked up to Seamus for conversation.

"Ready then?" George asked, nervous because he was about to apparate a fair distance for the first time in three years. He gave the tight, flesh colored glove that Hermione had made to hide the D on this hand a tug, sealing it tighter over his wrist. It was passable at a distance, but he worried that up close it might be noticeable.

"Stop fussing with it." Luna pulled his hand back, resisting the urge to give her own a tug. "You'll stretch it out."

"Right," He took a deep breath, and then looked deeply into her eyes. "Please be careful, stick close to Ron."

"Don't worry George," Ron gave him a wicked wink "I'll keep the little woman safe."

"Stop it Ron, this is hard enough." Luna took a deep breath, then lept forward into George's arms. Ron had to stifle a laugh while she and George kissed passionately, the site of two women, old and young, kissing in such a way was more than he could stand. George pulled back and cuffed him on the back of the head.

"Let's go." He gave Luna meaningful look, and then nodded at Ron "I'll see you at the meeting place. Don't think of moving until we meet up."

They nodded, and then watched while George vanished. Luna took a deep breath, she felt suddenly dizzy, knowing that George had just landed in Knockturn Alley.

"Are you okay?" Ron asked, his hand on her elbow

"I'm fine, let's go."

Ron nodded, and then twisted them away.

They landed in the alley behind the Leaky Cauldron. Luna couldn't resist a glance at the rubbish bins, a faint thought of relief washed over her that she had left that life behind-even though this new life was so dangerous, even though by the end of the day she could be dead. Deep down, she knew even if she died, her father would be much more proud of seeing her like this.

She shifted her glance to the shops, and then found George right away; leaning against a lamppost in front of one of the many pubs that had sprung up once Voldemort had taken over. He glanced at them, and then gave the signal-two blinks in rapid succession, before turning away. Ron lead her to one of the cart vendors and bought two strawberry ice creams, then they sat on a bench-Luna trying to force it down while her stomach churned.

George, seeing that they were in place, scanned the street. It was a crowded day, busy with shoppers. It was close enough to September now that parents were starting to come to Knockturn Alley, hoping to beat the heavier crowds that would come later in August. Knockturn alley was much more dangerous when it was crowded. His eyes darted from face to face, watching for the face that he needed to see.

An hour passed, then another, and another, late into the afternoon. Careful to keep an eye on their watches so they could take sips of Polyjuice potion, Ron and Luna had gone into several shops and made a few small purchases-careful not to look conspicuous and replenishing Hermione's potion supplies at the same time. Then, just as George had given the signal to head back to the Leaky Cauldron to leave, Seamus appeared.

George followed him for awhile, Ron and Luna keeping a block between them. He was hit by a wave of nerves, unsure of how to approach. It would have been much easier if they hadn't Obliviated him, there would have been no need for explanations that way. He knew he had to make a move soon, they were quickly running low on Polyjuice potion, only an hour or so left and so he waited until they had reached a quieter part of the block, then he sauntered up to him.

"Hello handsome." He winked

"Hello Miss," Seamus tipped his hat, but seemed otherwise uninterested. George groaned, this wasn't going to be as easy as he'd hoped. He hadn't considered that flirting as woman would be different than flirting as man.

"How are you?"

"Do I know you?" Seamus looked at him critically.

"Would you like to know me?" He winked and tried to toss back his hair like the girls at school had, but it caught in his earrings and tugged painfully. Seamus looked at him like he was out of his mind-perhaps he wasn't that far off. He turned around, and then started back down the street. George hastened after him, and then nearly broke his neck when he teetered dangerously on his high heels.

"Shit!" He burst out, and then looked up at Seamus; he'd forgotten to disguise his voice. Seamus grabbed him by the arm, and then pulled him into the nearest alley. Before he stopped however, George had his wand out. Seamus raised his hands in the air and backed against the wall.

"Whatever I did, I'm sorry."

"Damn it Finnegan." George teetered on the heels again, leaning against the wall for support.

"George?" Seamus looked at him, a grin on his face. Before George could say anything, Ron and Luna appeared at the end of the Alley.

"Shit," Ron looked back and forth between George and Seamus. "Oh bloody hell."

"Friends of yours?" Seamus kept his hands in the air, far away from his wand. George waved the others to the end, then erected a barrier over them so they couldn't be seen, and cast the "Muffliato" charm so they couldn't be heard.

"I'm guessing one of you is Luna," Seamus looked between them "I don't suppose you'll tell me who the other is?"

"Not bloody likely." Ron glared at him, his eyes taking in Seamus' Snatcher robes. "You look like a traitor to me."

"I don't blame you for thinking that. I was a traitor, for a long time."

"Well, here's your chance to prove you're not." George put his wand away and Seamus slowly lowered his arms. "Take us to the rebellion."

"You want to join up?"

"No, we want to sell them Cauldron cakes." Ron spat sarcastically.

"Stop it," Luna put her hand on Ron's arm "That isn't helping."

"It's okay, I deserve it." Seamus shrugged, "I've done a lot of things that I'm not proud of. But the truth is, I can't take you to the rebellion."

"You said you were part of it," George looked at Seamus accusingly "Was that just lies?"

"George, think about it. We have to work in absolute secrecy, if the camp was discovered, that would be it…the whole rebellion be wiped out in a single attack."

"But you said you are a spy," Luna's arms crossed over her chest, she was angry, but she was more afraid. Afraid that any moment Bannister was going to come crashing in on them, that George would be taken away from her. "Surely you must check in."

"I do, I have someone I check in with, who takes information back to the camp."

"Who?"

"I can't tell you that."

"This is a load of waffle," Ron began to turn away "We're wasting our time here. Let's Obliviate him and go."

"I said I can't tell you, but I can take you to him."

"Why can't you just tell us?" George looked at him sharply, his hand on his wand. He was ready to Obliviate, he didn't like this in the slightest, particularly not with Ron with him, it sounded like a trap.

"I told you, we operate in total secrecy. It's a spell, I can't say his name. But I can tell you this; it is someone I know you will trust implicitly, someone you would trust with your life. I know you will want to see him, he wants to see you. "

George hesitated, that could be so many people, he and Fred had many friends, but how many had he trusted that deeply? He and Fred had kept their secrets of mayhem close to the vest; there were only a few people they had trusted, a handful at most.

"Where is he?"

"I'll have to take you. The place is well protected."

"When?"

"Bannister didn't show up for work today, I can take you right now."

George, Ron and Luna looked around at one another…this was what they had been waiting for, their link to the rebellion. They had to take it, yet a sense of dread twisted Luna's stomach. Maybe it was her deep seated fear of anyone connected with Voldemort, or the memory of Seamus standing by while Bannister searched her. She was scared. But despite her fear, when George and Ron looked at her for her answer, she nodded.

She was tired of being a coward.

"Alright," Seamus reached into his pocket and then came out with a small scroll of parchment. "I'll take us by portkey. It's common for us to take prisoners that way; it won't seem out of the ordinary."

He pointed his wand at the scroll. "Portus."

George looked at the others nervously, and then put out his hand.

They were enveloped by wind and swept away.

By the time they landed in the quiet countryside, the polyjuice potion had completely worn off. Seamus grinned at Ron. He looked as if he longed to hug him, but knew he didn't dare. If he had tried, they probably would have killed him on the spot.

"Ron," Seamus grinned "I thought that was your voice. I should have known."

Ron wasn't in the mood for a happy reunion. They quickly changed out of their disguises, then Ron turned to Seamus again. "Where to?"

"It's two miles, this way." He nodded, and then led them down a deserted road that lead into a grove of trees. They followed a path for a quarter of a mile in, then it broke off and they scrambled over fallen trees and brush and all manner of rocks and bushes.

"Sorry," Seamus looked at them apologetically "We have to keep it well hidden. There is a wizard family near here, you know-so he can use magic without being traced, but he has to stay hidden."

"I understand the secrecy," George admitted reluctantly, "But doesn't it get confusing, trying to keep it all together?"

"It's not up to us to keep it together; we have a leader for that."

"A leader?"

"Yes, a wizard who goes only by the name F."

"I don't understand," Luna's hand tightened in George's. This was getting more confusing by the minute. "Who is this F?"

"Nobody really knows. He just appeared one day; he brought the first of the rebels together."

Ron stopped, digging in stubbornly. "So for all you know, he could be working for You-know-who?"

"No," Seamus shook his head, a strange smile on his face. "He brought a message, a message from Dumbledore himself."

"It could be fake…"

Seamus shook his head "It was a memory, in a Pensieve; he said that F. would lead us until our true leader could take his place once again."

"Our true leader…" Luna's voice was misty and far away, the dreamiest Ron and George had heard it since the days before the battle of Hogwarts.

"Harry," Ron finished and Seamus nodded, and then pulled up his shirt.

"When Harry rises from the ashes, you-know-who will fall forever."

Seamus was silent as he let his shirt fall back into place, then turned to lead them the rest of the way through the forest. At last they came to a tiny clearing; in the middle was a shack that was barely standing. Wires ran around the outside, leading up to a tall pole that stretched above the trees. George grinned as he realized who likely waited inside.

"Lee," He whispered, his heart pounding hard. He hadn't seen Lee Jordan since everything had gone crazy, just after Neville had tried to kill the snake. Seamus cuffed him on the arm, then nodded to the small porch and let out a low whistle. A face-a face almost as welcome as Ron's had been-appeared in the window of the door. Lee grinned at him and waved his wand, the shack flickered red for a moment, then he waved them inside.

"Holy hell!" George grabbed Lee by the arms, hugging him furiously, his eyes misty. "Oh mate, I've missed you."

"I've missed you too." Lee exclaimed, his arms wrapped tight around George for a moment before he pulled back to take in his face. "You're ok?"

"Yeah…God, you too?"

"Yeah, you know…" He grinned and pulled away "As well as the current regime allows." He turned and hugged Ron and Luna, then moved behind a series of wooden panels.

"You're part of the rebellion," George grinned and followed him, "That shouldn't surprise me I guess."

"Just like old times." Lee winked. "Trying to get Potterwatch back up, so we can all be on the same page again, getting people to join the rebellion."

"Which is why we're here." Seamus grinned, brushing his hand over a panel of buttons. "They've come to join up."

His hand hit a wire, pulling it lose from a heavy cable outside the window.

"Crap," Seamus looked embarrassed, he turned towards the door. "I'll go fix it."

"Hermione and Neville too," Ron said once he was sure Seamus was out of hearing range "We've been hiding out in London, it's time to make a move."

"Really," Lee grinned, "You're all together, that's good to know. I've been worried you were all pulled apart."

"We were, for awhile." Luna took George's hand in hers, "We just came together not long ago."

"You two eh?" Lee nodded at George while he worked on a set of cables. "Wouldn't have seen that one coming."

"Yeah," George put his arm around Luna's waist. "Us either, but…it's all good."

Ron was anxious to get down to it, he looked around, wanting to make sure that Seamus was still occupied outside, and then he turned back to Lee. "So, the rebellion?"

"Yeah, I can put you in touch." Lee's eyes shifted out the window; obviously he too had concerns. "You know the rumors right, about Harry?"

"What do you know?" Luna asked, desperate for some kind of word, something that hadn't come from three year old memories, rumor and conjecture.

"I've been following people," Lee twisted a couple more knobs, and then looked back up at them. "I've narrowed it down to four places. Malfoy manor, the Riddle mansion, the old caretakers place there, and the cellar of the Potter's house- in Godrics Hallow."

"But nothing definite?"

Lee shook his head as Seamus came back in from inside and the three asked no more questions, obviously, Lee didn't like talking too much in front of Seamus.

"I'll finish this," he said "Won't take more than an hour or two, and then I'll take you to the camp."

He put on a pair of headphones, then screwed up his face and shook his head. "Did you put the red and blue wires together?"

"No, I put red to red and blue to blue."

"If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." Lee grinned and rolled his eyes. "Be right back."

He pushed past George and Luna, and then vanished out the door. The sun was beginning to set, their walk through the forest had taken much longer than they had thought, slowed down by the foliage and blockage. Fresh dusk shifted the landscape, suddenly, the forest and the shack seemed a rather scary place- Luna felt a sudden and fierce fear in her gut, fear that nearly dropped her to her knees.

"George," She said "Something doesn't feel right."

"What do you mean?" He looked around, a vague feeling building in his own stomach as he looked around. His eyes fell on Ron, but Ron had a dazed look on his face-he was remembering, remembering the day Xenophilius Lovegood had gone into another room-and alerted the Death Eaters to his presence.

"We have to get out of here-now." Ron looked up, his eyes wide and afraid. He went for the door, but it was blocked, they tried the other door, the windows, but they were held in place by the red light... They were trapped.

"Bloody fucking hell!" Ron yelled out, then pounced on Seamus "You fucking shit-sucking traitor!"

"I didn't!" He yelled, trying to protect his face "I swear!"

"Ron," Luna's eyes were locked on George; he stared out the window, his eyes fixed in shocked dismay on Lee Jordan. Lee's wand was pointed at the shack, holding the barrier in place.

"Ron, it wasn't him." She tugged on his arm, and Ron looked up, seeing the look on George's face. He slid off Seamus, and the two rose from the floor.

"They both…"

"No," Seamus shook his head from side to side, "I swear, I swear to God…I didn't..."

"We have to find someway out," Luna stammered, tugging on George's arm "There has to be a counter spell, something…"

But George moved towards the window, his eyes still locked on the man who had been the boy who once his best friend.

"Bastard," His voice shook with the betrayal, it ran deep, deep within his veins to his heart, as if it were sending shards of glass to his soul. "How could you?"

"They gave me no other choice." Lee looked back at him and George was angered by the fact that he had the nerve to look him in the eyes.

A flash of black swirled around the shack, then another, and another-so much black that they could no longer see anything but. The door flew open and six death eaters entered.

"Finnegan," The leader looked him up and down "I knew you were a traitor. Tie him up."

He entered, followed by the other five. A death eater pointed his wand at Seamus and ropes shot out the end of his wand, binding him from shoulder to hips. Then, they circled Ron, George and Luna, the leader laughing.

"A good night's work I'd say. Well done Jordan."

George looked towards the door, his eyes burning with hatred. Lee stood there, his face filled with shame, unable now to look at the three.

"I did what I was told; now give me back my wife."

"We would but…" A female voice laughed "She's dead. You didn't actually think the Dark Lord would let her live did you? After she killed Bannister?"

"You son of a bitch!"Lee ran forward, his wand drawn. "Avada Kedavra!"

The death eater fell to the floor, dead. Another ducked when Lee pointed his wand at him. George pulled Luna behind him, pulling his own wand, hoping they could take advantage of the chaos and escape. Ron flicked his wand towards Seamus, freeing him from his bonds and Seamus pulled his wand free while Luna pulled out her own.

The leader of the death eaters pointed his wand at George's back and Luna raised her wand-but the spell froze in her throat. She couldn't think, couldn't move, couldn't even breathe. Tears ran down her face as she waited for the moment of her death. She closed her eyes…

"Avada Kadavra…"

A thud hit the ground in front of her and she opened her eyes to see Lee Jordan, dead on the floor in front of her. He had just saved her life. George turned, shoving her back behind the panels to safety, then sending the leader across the room with a stupefy. He turned again, Seamus was unconscious on the floor and Ron was backed into a corner, two death eaters swiftly closing in-when the other two death eaters broke free from the others and raised their wands at their backs.

"Avada Kedavra!" The death eaters fell to the floor and their leader-realizing he had just been betrayed by his comrades, and that he was now desperately outnumbered-apparated away.

George, Luna, Ron and Seamus stared at the two remaining death eaters, they stared back.

"We need to get out of here." A male voice, distorted from the mask, spoke. "He may come back with re-enforcements, this isn't safe."

"You're not going anywhere with us," Ron yelled "You're fucking death eaters."

"Death eaters who just saved your life." The other pointed out, a soft voice, the voice of a woman. "Besides, we are the only ones who can apparate you out of here, they've put a barrier over the shack, remember?"

George looked at them and nodded, it was the only chance they had. Besides, they out numbered them.

They landed in a clearing in the Forest of Dean, immediately the four held out their wands, pointing them at the two death eaters. The surrendered their wands without a fight and George bound them with ropes. After trusting Lee, he was taking no chances.

"Luna, take Seamus to the safe house." Ron motioned them over, Luna was badly shaken from her close call, she needed something to distract her. "You need to go to Hermione, get her and the others out of there. Lee could have told them about the safe house. Take them to the first practice field we used and then come back, bring Veritaserum. Seamus, stay and help them set things up."

Luna nodded, then looked over at George. He didn't look well, the muscles worked in his jaw and he looked as if he would be just as happy to kill the two where they sat. If not for the fact that they had just saved his brothers life, he might have. She pulled out her wand, looped her arm through Seamus' and then the two vanished.

"Okay," George paced in front of them, his lips curled back in anger. "Let's find out who the hell you are."

He nodded at Ron and Ron reached out, pulling the masks from their heads. Ron jerked back as if he had been struck across the head.

"What the bloody hell?"

"I know what you must be thinking." The woman blinked up at him, her eyes adjusting to the difference in light now that the mask had been removed.

"That this is another set up?" Ron glared at them, ready to kick the man in the face, maybe even use his first Avada Kedavra. If anyone deserved it, he did.

Luna returned, reassuring them that Hermione, Ginny and Neville were safe. She looked at Pansy Parkinson and Gregory Goyle in shock; they looked back at her, trying desperately to figure out a way to get them to at least listen.

"You have no reason to trust us," Goyle blinked up at him, his eyes pleading for understanding. "But please, give us a chance. Give us the Veritaserum, you'll see."

Ron nodded, and then took the bottle from Luna, giving them each a healthy portion. They waited for the potion to take effect, treating their various wounds in the meantime. George sent Luna back to Hermione, then turned back to the pair on the ground.

"Okay then, who was Lee talking about?" George's stomach twisted in anger, first and foremost was Lee's betrayal. He wanted to know why; he wanted to know who he had betrayed them for. "Who was his wife, who did they kill?"

Pansy looked away, her eyes closed and a look of intense pain crossing over her face. "Angelina Johnson." She stopped and took a deep breath, then let it out an a shuddering sigh. As odd as it seemed, she and Angelina had become friends in the year since Lee and Angelina had joined the rebellion.

"They stopped Lee just outside of Knockturn alley, he was taking information back to the camp, we tried to stop that too, but we were too late."

"They killed Angelina?" George sank to the ground, his head sagging over his knees. Lee had been in love with Angelina since their second year, the only thing that had stopped him was Fred…and now, all three were gone.

"Last night." Goyle nodded "She was trying to get information out of Bannister, but you-know-who, he went to Bannister's flat at the Leaky Cauldron, he was after Bannister for letting you and Luna Lovegood out of Knockturn Alley."

"Why does he care about us getting out of Knockturn alley?"

"The prophecy."

"What prophecy?" Ron asked, looking them over carefully. The only prophecy he was aware of was the one involving Harry that was made before he was born.

"Professor Trelawney's prophecy."

"Trelawney?" Ron scoffed. "That old fraud?"

"She's not a fraud, not anymore. She's made a prophecy, one that has you-know-who in a dither, and you three being reunited is the first sign of his downfall." Pansy stretched out against the ropes, her hands were losing circulation. "You-know-who has Trelawney, she's being held in the same place as Draco and Harry."

"You know for a fact that Harry is alive?"

"Yes," Goyle nodded, his eyes misting over "There are people inside, we don't know who, F insists on total secrecy, particularly for the people working from inside the inner circle. But we know that Harry and Draco are alive, they are being held in the same room, and we think we might know where."

It was getting late, George longed for nothing more than to be back with the others, they needed to regroup, to set up a new safe place now that their safe house had been exposed. He wanted to be with Luna, he was worried about her reactions today, that she had frozen up when they were attacked.

There were three things he wanted to know, only three more things.

"Are you two really part of the rebellion?"

"Yes," They answered

"Will you do whatever it takes to take Voldemort down?"

"Yes," pansy answered, her face tear streaked.

"Fucking right I will."

"Why?" He looked at them, the final question ringing in the night air. He didn't know why it was so important, only that he needed to know that they had a common bond…a reason for their desires.

"He has Draco." Pansy answered for both of them. "We will do whatever it takes to free him, to see You-know-who pay for what he's done to him."

Goyle looked up at him, his face fierce.

"Even die."

George looked at Ron and he nodded silently.

Their numbers had just increased by three.

Chapter Eleven Preview

George and Luna deal with intense feelings in the aftermath of Lee's betrayal. Ron, Hermione and Neville struggle to adjust to the new members of their group

A/N For those who may have only seen the movies and never read the books-In the book, Crabbe died and not Goyle. This was altered in the movie due to Jamie Waylett's drug arrest. Stupid move-they should have recast IMO. :)