Chapter 38
Secrets and Spies
Author's Note: I know the Messenger Patronus Charm is usually used by the Order of the Phoenix, but I think every wizard would be able to do it, so it is going to be used in this chapter. This chapter will be in multiple PoVs, and some will be in PoVs I haven't used before now.
(Daphne's PoV)
Daphne Greengrass was having a bad day.
It had been almost twenty-four hours since she had ordered a group of her cohorts to go to the Surejan Dragon Reserve and steal a number of dragons. She had sent Blaise Zabini as the leader of the mission, and she hadn't heard anything from him. What had happened?
It was a simple task. She had picked this Reserve because of the news of the recent dragon escape. These particular dragons were a feisty bunch. They would be of great use to her plans. Daphne's plan of attack had been perfect. She had written a letter to the Surejan Dragon Reserve impersonating a member of the Romanian Ministry of Magic, telling them to expect a team of wizards. The trainers would have been too busy worrying about the consequences of the recent escape and they wouldn't have predicted a possible attack. They'd stand no chance against the surprise attack.
So why had Blaise not contacted her yet, as he had been ordered to do?
Throughout the day, Daphne remained in her room, trying to avoid contact from her parents. They knew nothing about Daphne's role as leader in a rogue group of wizards, but she knew they were getting suspicious about her action as of late, owing to the conversation they had the previous night during dinner...
Flashback begins...
It was a rare occasion for the Greengrass family to have a proper family dinner around the table as of late. Daphne was too busy with her own life, and most of the time she would just catch an occasional bite. But that evening was different. Alaric Greengrass, formerly an Unspeakable, had been promoted and no longer had to work in the gloomy shadows in the Department of Mysteries. Katrina Greengrass had been so pleased that she had called for a special occasion for the family, sans Astoria, of course, who was at Hogwarts.
"A toast!" Katrina said, lifting up her glass of firewhiskey, as Daphne and Alaric did the same, "To a grand promotion!"
"Congratulations, Daddy," Daphne said, feigning the sweet-mannered girly attitude she had gotten over months ago, but was still trying to hide under, whenever she was around her parents.
Alaric grinned at his daughter, and tapped her glass with his.
"It was a complete surprise, of course," he said, his usual pompous manner resonating through his voice, "There had been rumors that a promotion was in the works for somebody, but I hardly believed it would be me. I hoped, of course, but that was just about all I could do. Anyway, I no longer have to work in the cramped conditions of the Department of Mysteries. I am now, if I remember correctly, a 'Purveyor of Mysterious Magical Artifacts', which basically means I get to travel the world discovering artifacts instead of studying them."
"Well, it is about time, in my opinion," Katrina said, setting her glass down, "I was beginning to think you would never lose the pale complexion from the lack of sunlight."
"So, Daphne," Alaric said, as he begin to cut up his T-bone steak, "After my promotion, I was thinking of things. The Ministry is in dire need of more Unspeakables, and I could put in a good word for you if you wish to become one."
"Me? An Unspeakable?" Daphne asked, then laughed, "No, thank you, Daddy. I'm not good at keeping secrets."
"Rubbish," Alaric said, "You take after me quite well."
"I couldn't, Father," Daphne said, "Besides, do you see someone like me cooped up in a place like that down there?"
"She does have a point, Alaric," Katrina said, "Remember when you took her on a tour of the Department of Mysteries? Something was off about her for a week."
"Well, you have to do something, sweetheart," Alaric said, "You've been out of Hogwarts for, what, a year and a half now?"
"I have a few things lined up," Daphne said. "In fact, I'm in the middle of things right now."
"Does this have something to do with a boy?" Katrina asked, "I talk to Aretha Zabini, you know. She says Blaise gets a lot of visits from Sasha."
Sasha was Daphne's gray owl. Daphne blushed at the suggestion. She did fancy Blaise a bit, but she would never tell him. Besides, she was too focused on her mission to get mixed up with him like that.
"Mum!" Daphne said, pink color rising in her cheeks, "We're just friends!"
"Daphne, your mother and I are just worried about your future," Alaric said. "You are a bright young lady with a lot of talent. You can have a bright future if you put your mind to it. I just fear you are wasting that."
"I'll be fine, Daddy," Daphne said, "You don't have to worry about me."
Alaric smiled, but Daphne could see that her father was worried. She was worried too. Did her father find her actions as of late suspicious?
Flashback ends
Daphne sighed, as she looked at the small family portrait on her desk. Her father, mother and sister were all staring up at her from it. Daphne turned the portrait face down.
It would be unbearable if her parents ever found out what she was doing. She was one of the few members in her rogue group that still had both her parents. They never got mixed up in the Death Eaters, and she knew they would never support her idea, even though they were both purebloods and proud Slytherins.
Daphne took her wand from her pocket and pointed it toward the floor.
"Expecto Patronum!" she whispered.
A large silver chameleon appeared from the tip of her wand and crawled onto the ground.
"Send this message to everyone in the group," Daphne instructed the Patronus, "'Unplanned meeting, tomorrow evening at seven on the dot. Usual place. Attendance is required.' Go now. Make haste."
She watched as the silver chameleon leaped through the closed window and disappeared out of sight. She then fell back onto her bed and stared up at the ceiling. When she was younger, she used to stare at the ceiling all the time, thinking it would give her answers to all of her problems. Sooner or later, she would find the answers she was looking for. These days, however, it seemed the answers just wouldn't come.
Daphne emitted and annoyed sigh, and closed her eyes. Even though she wasn't tired, she wanted to drift off to sleep. There was nothing else she wanted to do with her life. At least at the moment.
Daphne Greengrass was having a very bad day.
======================
(Astoria's PoV)
Astoria Greengrass was also having a bad day.
Astoria was known by her peers as a rebel Slytherin. She was unlike the rest of the Slytherins in many ways, the main reason was that she was too cheerful most of the time.
But, as of late, she wasn't too cheerful at all. She had been bitten by what Muggles called "the love bug" and it had really affected her. In fact it had affected her so much, she had almost refused to come back to Hogwarts for her final year of school. Only two things had convinced her to come back: the threat that her parents would disown her if she dropped out, and the fact that Draco promised that he would write to her more often than not.
At the moment, being disowned by her parents didn't seem so bad. Especially if it meant that she'd be able to see Draco again. Draco had not stopped writing letters to her, but recently, he seemed so distracted and depressed. Astoria knew that Draco must have been missing her as much as she was missing him. She hated to see him like this. If it wasn't for Draco's repeated promises that he'd see her during her first Hogsmeade weekend (even though that was still over a month and a half way), she'd run away from Hogwarts and go to him this very minute.
Even though it caused her fellow Slytherins to give her odd looks, Astoria did her best to keep up her cheerful appearance. She was the odd one out, sure, but if she changed her ways, her peers would have known something was wrong. That was something she didn't need to deal with right now.
As it was, she was afraid her Professors had already seen a change in her. For the second time in a row, she had gotten a poor grade on her Transfiguration homework. It just so happened that Astoria was quite skilled in Transfiguration, which was usually a good thing. But now Professor McGonagall seemed to have noticed the dramatic change. On the most recent piece of homework she was given back, earlier that day, there was a note attached. It had read:
Miss Greengrass, I have recently seen some changes in your schoolwork as of late. I am worried, to be honest. Normally, I would request that you would have an appointment with Professor Slughorn, your Head of House, but I feel I need to take matters into my own hands. Please come to my office this evening at half-past-six. Password is Cat Tails.
As soon as she had left class, Astoria had set an Incendio spell on the small note. She knew that burning the note wouldn't make Professor McGonagall forget her request, or excuse her from going, but it made her feel better. She knew exactly what McGonagall was going to ask her, and Astoria didn't know how she was going to answer it.
Astoria checked her watch: it was a little past six... less than thirty minutes till her meeting. She wouldn't be able to have dinner until after the meeting, but she hardly cared. The way her stomach was acting from the stress, anything she would eat would probably have come back up.
She left the Slytherin Common Room and headed for the Headmistress' office. She gave the password to the gargoyle out front, who moved aside, letting her through and up the stairs that led to the office. When she arrived just outside the door, she heard voices.
"I understand you are about to speak to a student in my house, Minerva," a raspy, pompous voice said, "I expect you won't be too harsh on them, right?"
"I don't think I ever been particularly harsh to any one of the Slytherins, Phineas," McGonagall's voice rang out.
Astoria knocked on the door, which opened immediately. She walked into the office.
"Miss Greengrass!" Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait said, "Good evening!"
"Please sit down, Miss Greengrass," McGonagall said, pointing to the chair in front of her desk.
Astoria did so.
"I'm sure you have figured out why you are here tonight?" McGonagall asked.
"I did poor on a couple of pieces of homework," Astoria said.
"Yes," McGonagall said, "Most of the time, I don't have meetings personally with students when this happens. I usually let the Heads of Houses handle it. But I was curious this time. You are one of the brightest students of your year, especially in Transfiguration."
"Do you hear that?" Phineas said, "A Slytherin is one of the brightest students. Not a Ravenclaw. Do you hear that?"
"Yes, yes, we're very proud," the portrait of Severus Snape said, yawning, behind McGonagall, "Do be quiet please. Some of us are trying to sleep."
"Thank you, Severus, Phineas," McGonagall said, without taking her eyes off Astoria. "As I was saying, Miss Greengrass, before I was rudely interrupted, you are one of the brightest students of your year. I was quite shocked to see not one, but two, pieces of homework from you that were done poorly. Can you tell me why you did so poorly."
"I don't know," Astoria lied.
"Oh, I think you do," McGonagall said. "Can I give you my theories?"
Astoria hesitated, but nodded.
"I think there is a certain someone in your life, Astoria," McGonagall said, "And I think he is already out of Hogwarts, so you cannot see him everyday, and this affects you greatly."
"What did she say?" the man in a portrait, who was holding an ear-horn to the side of his head, asked.
"The young lady is in love, Basil," Everard's portrait said, causing Astoria to blush.
"The young lady is missing her glove?" Basil asked, "Well, that isn't something to worry about at all!"
"Love!" Everard said, "She's in love, you deaf dimbo!"
McGonagall cleared her throat. Basil and Everard went silent.
"Well, Mrs. Greengrass?" McGonagall asked, "What do you have to say?"
"I..." Daphe said, not knowing exactly what to say, then paused and looked at her hands resting in her lap.
"I can see by your loss of words that I'm probably correct," McGonagall said, grinning. "I will only tell you this. You are not the first student or the last in these hallowed halls who has fallen in love with someone who is no longer a student here."
"Minerva," Albus Dumbledore said, "Are you possibly saying that you –?"
McGonagall cleared her throat again, and Professor Dumbledore stopped immediately.
"You, Professor?" Astoria asked.
McGonagall narrowed her eyes in the direction of the portrait of Professor Dumbledore.
"Yes," she said, resignedly, "When I was a student in school, I had fallen in love with someone who was a year ahead of me. So, when the time came for me to enter my seventh year, he had already finished. But he gave me some good advice. He told me to focus on my schoolwork, and that he'd promise to be there when I finished up."
"My boyfriend sort of told me the same thing," Astoria said, "He told me to focus on my exams and schoolwork, and that he'd come to Hogsmeade the first weekend we get to go."
"You are more fortunate than I was," McGonagall said, "I didn't have the novelty of a Hogsmeade weekend back then. Our headmaster was too strict then."
McGonagall had narrowed her eyes in the direction of one of the portraits, but Astoria couldn't tell which she was looking at. McGonagall then looked back at Astoria.
"My only advice is to focus on your schoolwork, Miss Greengrass," McGonagall said. "If you need another 'oomph!' in the right direction... well, I usually have to forbid Hogsmeade passes to those who do poorly in their schoolwork."
She raised her eyebrows, and Astoria only smiled.
"I'll be sure to do that, Headmistress," she said.
"Very well," McGonagall said, "Off you go."
Astoria stood up and walked toward the door. She then turned around.
"Headmistress?" Astoria asked. "I'm curious. This love of yours. Whatever happened to him?"
"Oh, I don't know," McGonagall said, "We only lasted a couple of years after I left Hogwarts."
Astoria's eyes widened.
"I hope you and your boyfriend have more luck than I did, eh?" McGonagall said, giving a rare smile.
Astoria nodded. As she walked out, she heard Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait speak up.
"Now, Headmistress," he said, "I'm interested in hearing more about this boy -"
"Oh, do shut up, Phineas," McGonagall said.
Astoria sighed as she walked down the stairs. As she promised McGonagall, she would try to improve on her schoolwork, but at the same time she would be counting down the days to Hogsmeade weekend, and she hoped Draco was doing the same.
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(Draco's PoV)
Hogsmeade weekend, however, was the last thing on Draco's mind at the moment. He had just been visited by Daphne's silver Chameleon Patronus with information concerning the next meeting, which just so happened to be the next evening.
He was beyond thankful his parents weren't home at the moment, because Daphne's voice had resonated throughout the house, and his parents would have surely heard her voice and the announcement of the meeting. He was doing well enough keeping the information of what he had been doing the past few days silent, and this would have ruined that completely. Daphne was going to get a mouthful when he saw her. He'd make sure of it.
Time seemed to fly by for Draco. Before he knew it, he found himself on Mayhew Street once again, walking up to the house that the meeting was taking place at. Pansy met him at the door, when he knocked on it, and she welcomed him in with a smile. Obviously she had forgotten the end of their conversation the previous Saturday. Draco would have to do his best to avoid Pansy that night.
"Draco's here," Pansy said, as she and Draco arrived in the dining room.
Draco noticed that, unlike last Saturday, the house seemed rather empty. Only his former Slytherin classmates were in attendance tonight.
"So we're just missing Blaise," Daphne said.
"He's probably too embarrassed to show his face," Nott said, snickering.
"What's going on?" Draco asked, as he took a seat at the table.
"Well, I was going to wait until Blaise was here so he could give his side of the story," Daphne said, "But maybe he doesn't deserve to defend himself just yet."
"Excuse me?" a voice behind Draco asked.
Draco and the others turned. Blaise was standing in the doorway. Daphne stood up and walked over to Blaise.
"How about you tell us what happened on Tuesday, Blaise?" she asked him.
"What about Tuesday?" Draco asked.
"Start off from the beginning," Daphne said, "To let the others catch up."
Blaise didn't respond for half of a minute. He was too busy staring at Daphne and the others. What had happened? Finally he spoke up and Draco listened as Blaise started on his tale. He spoke of how Daphne had ordered him and a small portion of their group to go to the Surejan Dragon Reserve in Romania, in an attempt to capture some dragons. He explained that the dragon trainers were expecting the Romanian Ministry of Magic in a visit to talk about the recently escaped dragon. Draco had heard about the dragon escape, so he wasn't particularly surprised about that part.
"I led the group through the mountain range," Blaise continued, "And things immediately went wrong. A dragon roared in the reserve, and the sound was so loud it spooked a couple of guys. One guy accidentally let off a spell from his wand and it caused a large tree to set on fire. Before we could extinguish it, smoke had already billowed into the sky. The dragon trainers knew we were coming. When we got over the hill and had a view of the Dragon Reserve, a small resistance of dragon trainers were there, ready to stop us. Unfortunately for them, we had too many on our side. After a bit of a fight, they started to retreat."
"Wait," Daphne said, "They were retreating. It sounds as if you won. So why didn't you get any dragons?"
"I'm not finished," Blaise said, "Anyway, we charged after them, and were casting spells in every direction and the dragon trainers, at least the brave ones, were doing the same. Then just as we got close to the reservation, something happened we didn't predict: Harry Potter, and his friends Weasley and Granger were there."
Draco shook his head. Of course. Why wasn't he surprised?
"Wait," Daphne said, "Harry Potter was there?"
"Yeah," Blaise said, "And he wasn't part of our plan, Daphne, you know that. So basically we had to get out of there. We all just apparated. I'm sorry, Daphne. I really am -"
Daphne raised her hand, stopping Blaise.
"Potter," she muttered, "What in Merlin's hell was he doing there?"
"I have a theory on that," Theodore Nott said, "Well, actually more than a theory."
"You did a better job, than Blaise, I assume?" Daphne asked.
"Of course," Nott said.
"What am I missing here?" Pansy asked, "What's going on?"
"I gave Nott a mission," Daphne said. "I had him spy on Harry and his friends, just to see what they were up to. What did you find out, Theodore?"
"Quite a bit," Nott said, "Granger and Ron Weasley are living together, and have been doing so for a little while. Apparently they are engaged to be married."
"Pureblood mixing with mud," Pansy sneered, "Holy Merlin, what is our world coming to?"
"They aren't the only happy couple," Nott said, "Harry Potter himself is engaged to Ron's sister, Ginny."
"Get on with it," Daphne said, "I'm not interested in Potter's love life. I want to know why he was at the dragon reserve."
"I have an answer to that as well," Nott said. "On Monday, Granger started a new job with the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She's an assistant to a rookie lawyer."
"Let me guess," Daphne said, "This lawyer was assigned to the dragon escape case."
"Exactly," Nott said. "Apparently, the lawyer went out to the Reserve, and Granger tagged along. From there, it is probably easy to guess what happened. Thanks to the billowing stack of smoke, the Aurors must have had a fair warning."
"Like I said," Blaise said.
"It was reported that the Floo Network," Nott said, "was connected from our Ministry to one fireplace at the Dragon Reserve. Granger must have gotten hold of Potter and Weasley. Weasley's eldest brother is one of the main trainers at the Reserve, and his fiancee was there, so of course he wouldn't pass up going to help. Potter came along, and you know the rest."
"Like I said, Daphne," Blaise said, "Potter was no part of our plan. We couldn't capture him then, not out in the open. I was lucky they didn't recognize me. We were classmates together, remember? If he saw me, our whole group here would have been in jeopardy. We had to get out of there."
"I understand, Blaise," Daphne said.
"What is our next move?" Pansy asked.
"We stay put," Daphne said.
"Are you serious?" Goyle asked, "We're not doing anything?"
"We should be thankful we have Nott as a spy," Daphne said. "That is all we need right now. If we were to do anything too rash right now, the Ministry is sure to notice. We can't risk it. So we stick to information-gathering right now. Nott, you will continue your work. It is excellent. The rest of you... lay low. I don't want to hear anything happening with any of you. When I figure out the next move, I'll give you a Patronus message, like yesterday. Meeting's over. Nott, Pansy, and Draco, stay behind. I need to speak with you. The rest of you are free to go. I mean it guys. Lay low."
Blaise, Goyle and the other two boys which Draco couldn't remember stood up and left.
"How deep are you in, Theodore?" Draco asked.
"I have my secrets, Draco," Nott said, "Lets just say that I have ways to get all this information, and nobody would look at me any different."
"Impressive," Draco said.
"Draco and Pansy," Daphne said, "I need to the two of you to do something for me... together."
Draco stared at Daphne. Did he hear her right. She wanted him and Pansy to do something?
"What happened to that lay low rubbish?" Draco asked.
"I wasn't going to mention this around Blaise and Goyle, and the others," Daphne said, "Blaise has failed me once, I don't trust Goyle as far as I can throw him, and I don't know the others well enough to even remember their names. You and Pansy, however, I feel I can trust."
"What do you need us to do?" Pansy asked.
Draco grimaced. He didn't like Pansy's use of the term "us".
"Nott had informed me early on about Weasley and Granger living together," Daphne said, "We know where they live, but I'm not going to risk doing anything to them. However, I need a couple of long-term spies, emphasis on couple. You two are going to move in together to a house that opened up down the street from Weasley and Granger and keep an eye on them."
Draco caught a grin form across Pansy's face.
"I've had a batch of Polyjuice Potion prepared," Daphne said, "that will last a month, and I'll have more when that is through. You need to figure out someone to impersonate and transform into them whenever you leave the house. I do not want Granger and Weasley to recognize either of you. Got it?"
"Yes," Pansy said.
"And if I refuse?" Draco asked.
"Then we'll tell your parents," Daphne said. "And we'll tell my sister what you've been up to. I know that is the last thing you want."
"Fine," Draco grumbled, "Give me a couple days to talk to my parents about this. I need to figure out what to tell them without making it sound suspicious."
"Sounds good," Pansy said, "It'll give me a couple days to set everything up."
"Can I go then?" Draco asked, "Since It looks like I have a lot of things to think about."
"You're excused," Daphne said.
"See you in a couple days, Draco," Pansy said, with a grin.
Draco rolled his eyes and turned around and headed straight out the door. What had he gotten himself into?
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Dun, Dun, Dun! Wow... that whole part with Draco and Pansy came into my head just as I was writing it. That surprised even me. What is going to happen? How is Draco going to deal with this? Even I'm not sure!
But for the next few chapters, I'll be going back to the main four! Ginny's Quidditch Match versus Puddlemere United is next!
What do you think? Feedback would be amazing!