A/N SO. I finally managed to finish another chapter and I have another one in the works. Here is another for you! Forgive my absence, leave me a comment!

Chapter 26

His left index finger worried at a worn chip in the countertop as George stared off into nothingness, his thoughts running rampant. That afternoon, Remus Lupin had seen them in London. It wouldn't have been terribly interesting had he not also seen their spy.

The wind had picked up a few steps down the street and a vaguely familiar, anger-tinged scent cut through the crowd. As soon as their eyes met, George knew Remus would be a problem. He'd frowned at him, confused, his eyes flicking over Gideon and Fabian, glanced down the street in the opposite direction at Snape, before turning back to glare at him.

George had tugged Hermione around and began cutting through the crowd towards the werewolf but he'd immediately ducked into an alley and disapperated. They had tried to follow but couldn't, Fabian suggesting he'd likely apparated straight to some safehouse.

Damn. He wished they'd caught him. Who knew what he might have assumed. There was hardly any doubt and that he'd run straight to Dumbledore and that would surely—

The kettle erupted, screeching and startling him from his thoughts.

"Shite!"

Flicking his wand to turn off the heat, he gathered up and prepared the tea things, setting out an extra mug for their expected guest. With another moment's thought, he grabbed a pack of digestives and threw them on the tray as well. Prepared for the worst, George headed for the sitting room.

Fabian had sent a patronus to Kingsley as soon as they'd returned from the city. Thankfully he'd been able to come right away. They needed to talk to him before Dumbledore had a chance to spin whatever Remus would tell him. The idea of dodging zealous Order members as well as Death Eaters every time they went out did not appeal.

With an exhausted sigh, he shouldered open the door to the sitting room. Kingsley looked to have only just arrived, banishing soot from his purple robes and exchanging greetings with his uncles.

"I was surprised to get your message. What's happened?" He saw the tea and biscuits George offered and sighed in pleased relief. "Ah, thank you. Just a dash of sugar if you don't mind—thank you, it's been a bloody long day." Taking the mug, he smiled, grabbing two biscuits as well. "Dealing with your Death Eaters turned into something of a circus… actually…" He looked around the room. "Is that why I'm here? Had another run in since I've seen you?"

Gideon, adding what George considered far too much sugar to his tea, shook his head. "No, Kings. Reckon the next time we do it won't be nearly so easy. This—and please Kings, don't interrupt until we finish—is a bit more complicated."

Kingsley frowned but, already having decided to trust them, he nodded for them to get on with it. Hermione perched herself on the arm of the velvet sofa George had claimed and launched into it.

"We have a spy, a Death Eater." When Kingsley naturally tried to interject despite Gideon's warning, Hermione rushed on. "We trust him completely. No, I can't tell you why, and I hate keeping things from you. It feels like something Dumbledore would do, but that explanation is extremely sensitive." She tipped her head to the side and watched him pensively for a moment before deciding. "One might even say, time sensitive."

A brief flare of panic shot through George at her almost-admission that he tried to hide, first frowning at Hermione, then watching Kingsley for any sign of understanding. The other man's frown was deep and confused, her addition seeming to make no sense. But before she had time to go on, his confusion turned thoughtful. His gaze swept over both of them as though seeing them for the first time.

They had carefully planned what they would tell anyone should they need to explain Snape weeks ago. Sharing that they were from the future was not part of that plan. Too many people knew as it was, and they had been safely hidden out of the country. There was no chance they could secret the Auror away abroad if he made the correct assumption.

But they did need Kingsley to trust them. It was a fine line to be sure. Hermione must have seen something in him George had missed and decided to drop the hint. There was no doubt in George's mind that Kingsley was intelligent enough to eventually figure it out. Any private conclusions were much less dangerous—and easily waved away given their absurdity—should they be discovered than a memory of an outright confession.

Ultimately, George trusted Hermione's judgment. He only hoped they'd all made the right decision in trusting Kingsley.

"And Dumbledore is right. So far as we know, his prophecy is likely about us. He only shared a few lines, but from what we could tell, it relates directly to what we have Severus working on."

This time when she fell silent, she nodded when Kingsley indicated he had questions.

"I'm guessing you're not going to tell me what exactly that is?"

Hermione bit her lip and glanced at George. The decision whether or not to tell Kingsley about the horcruxes hadn't been unanimous. His uncles had argued it was a liability. George had agreed with Hermione that Dumbledore's insistence on hoarding knowledge had ultimately made little difference and cost much. "How strong are your occlumency shields?"

He shrugged. "I'm an Auror. I have my eyes on heading the department someday. Occlumency is a necessity for this job."

"What about around Dumbledore?"

Just like his uncles, Kingsley looked dubious. "I never imagined I'd have to be in guard around him before. But…" His face darkened, likely remembering the events that had led him to their sitting room. "Now that you mention it I suppose that's changed. I have no doubt he could break in if he wanted, but that would require a direct assault. Any attempts at a casual glimpse could be deflected easily enough."

Nodding, Hermione uncrossed her arms, folded her hands and studiously avoided looking at either Gideon or Fabian. "The Dark Lord has made horcruxes. Five of them." Kingsley gasped. "We know all of their locations but without access to the homes of Death Eaters or in fact the Dark Lord himself, they are beyond our reach. Hence the spy."

For several seconds Kingsley said nothing. He picked his jaw up from off the floor, finished his tea in a single gulp, and stared up at the ceiling while he ordered his thoughts. George caught Hermione's eye with a question in his own. She shrugged. All they could do was wait for him to say something and hope they'd made the right decision.

"Bloody hell. Five? Without knowing that, this war might never end. He's unkillable." He ran a hand across his bald head. "I've met Severus Snape once. He's a kid, younger than the pair of you. Are you sure he's up to this? You're worried Dumbledore might get something from me but what about him? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is as skilled a legilimens as Dumbledore. If he were to discover your plans, what you know…"

"Like Helen said," George sat up straighter and placed a hand on the small of Hermione's back. "We can't tell you why or how, but we trust him and know he's more than capable. Besides, it's not as though Dumbledore is above using practical children himself."

The frustrated scowl that darkened Kingsley's face told them that the last point was evidently a sore one. "Does he know about this?"

"Not as far as we know. And we're not keen on telling him." Gideon glared at his biscuit as though it was personally responsible for the disaster that had almost befallen his family.

"You can't think he'd stop you destroying them?"

"Not outright." Hermione answered. "But I don't imagine he'd appreciate not being the one in control. This isn't his plan, Severus isn't his spy, we don't work for him. We might have the same ultimate goal, our priorities and how we'd like to get there are very different."

Kingsley sighed. "Right. I almost wish I were still naïve enough to think you mad for that. Simpler." Seeming to realize something, he frowned. "Why are you telling me all of this? It can't have just been suddenly decided upon. Has something happened that I needed to know right now?"

With perhaps a little more irritation than necessary, George relayed the afternoon's happenings. When he'd finished, Kingsley looked to have aged.

"You're right about young mister Lupin. He and his whole group of friends are too eager for this fight and completely under Dumbledore's thumb. This could definitely be a problem, especially with what you've told me of their hatred for Snape." He snatched a last digestive and turned for the floo. "I should go, I imagine there will be a summons before the day is through."

Green flames blaring, Hermione leapt to her feet just before Kingsley stepped through. "Oh, wait! One more thing. If Remus's whole group is there, be wary of Pettigrew."

He looked at her over his shoulder, confused and then resigned. "Another thing you can't fully explain?"

When Hermione nodded, Kingsley shook his head with a dry laugh and was gone.

GH

Dumbledore smirked as he listened to the rumblings from down the hall in headquarters, amplified by a listening spell. His faithful soldiers had all answered his summons—all but the Prewetts. It was the middle of the week and well past supper time. Most had early mornings and long days and yet they had come when he'd called. This was more important than any job or sleep. He was more important.

The absence of the twins was obvious and not going unnoticed. Gideon and Fabian had been important members, their participation key to the success of not a few missions that had ended in drawn wands. Several people were likely looking around the room with furrowed brows, their whispers to their neighbors confused.

Dumbledore did not want to explain why his former lieutenants were missing. That would involve divulging some of his less savory plotting to the entire Order and few had the mental capacity to not react emotionally. Thankfully, Kingsley had only invited a handful to his little interrogation session and thus far, those few had kept what they'd learned to themselves.

He knew that couldn't last forever and had been hoping for some kind of catastrophe or big news to distract them with at their next meeting. Thank Merlin young Remus had dropped just such a thing in his lap earlier that day.

Allowing them just enough time to grow restless after his urgent summons, he donned his usual grandfatherly affect and strode down the hall and into the room. Their conversations cut off as soon as they noticed him, their eyes tracking him as he made his way around to the head of the long table. Remus sat halfway down between his friends, looking gloomy and tense—not an altogether unusual state for the young man.

"Thank you all for coming. I know it is quite late and last minute." He nodded and tried to look apologetic. Before he could continue, Mundungus sighed loudly and invaded his rapt attention.

"Alright Albus, niceties out o' the way. But uh…" he looked around the room, "where's our boys, eh? Gideon and Fabian? I ain't seen 'em in a while. Usually come round with news or orders or what not."

Keeping the irritation from his face, Dumbledore shook his head sorrowfully. "I am afraid, Mundungus, that Gideon and Fabian are in fact the reason I called this meeting."

Immediately, concerned whispers swept the room, growing to worried demands. "Are the boys alive, Albus?" "What's happened?" "Don't hold back now, are they dead?" "Was it Dolohov again? I knew he'd be out for them after their last skirmish."

With practiced gravitas, he held up a hand for silence. "They are alive. Though, perhaps when you hear what I have to say you will wish they had only been killed. In fact, it is my belief that the Prewett twins—along with their newly discovered cousin and his fiancé—have betrayed us."

More murmurs and whispers, this time outraged, filled the room. He allowed them more time to parse his revelation, taking the opportunity to observe their reactions. Most were as expected: shock and disbelief the predominant theme. Remus, and his band of friends, already privy to the story, sat quietly together. Sirius looked the most upset of the three, having always idolized the older men. Where was Pettigrew tonight? With his sick mother again?

Kingsley and Moody were the most interesting. They knew why Gideon and Fabian had left the Order. Both men had spent the better part of a week trying to get the prophecy out of him. Now, they stood at opposite ends of the room eyeing the group with varying degrees of thoughtful dread. Kingsley looked more annoyed than anything however.

Interesting.

"It has come to my attention that they have been seen consorting with Death Eaters!" Louder outrage erupted but he raised his voice to compensate. "Our own Remus Lupin saw them in London himself, exiting a muggle pub just ahead of young mister Severus Snape—someone we highly suspect of being a marked Death Eater."

Most everyone looked properly betrayed, though a few seemed to have noticed his word choice. Kingsley still looked vaguely annoyed. Realizing he was about to speak, Dumbledore cut him off, interjecting with his theory and resulting plans.

"While I am unsure why they would have chosen such a junior member of Voldemort's circle as their liaison, I am convinced this is evidence of their betrayal. With that said—"

"Now Albus, you can't possibly be serious—"

A deep loathing for Kingsley filled his breast at the disrespectful interruption that was difficult to keep from his face.

"I've met Snape once before, he's just out of Hogwarts for Merlin's sake. While I have no reason to doubt your assessment of his allegiance, I find it impossible to believe the Prewett twins of all people have not only joined He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but that they'd go to a green kid of all people to do so." He thought for a moment. "They were at Hogwarts with more than one high ranking Death Eater. Why not reach out to one of them if they were so inclined? I'm sure there's another explanation."

More than one fellow Order member looked inclined to agree. Dumbledore needed to put an end to that at once. If things got too out of hand, either of those that knew about his plan to use the Weasleys might decide it was pertinent information.

"Maybe Snivellus, I mean Snape, maybe he thinks he can use them to raise himself in Ole Voldy-short's ranks."

Merlin bless James Potter and idiotic school-boy rivalries.

"He is a half-blood after all." Sirius still looked miserable, but complaining about his favorite nemesis always cheered him up. "Can't imagine the likes of his Dark Lord being too impressed with that. I bet he thinks he'll get all kinds of praise bringing over the famous Prewett twins."

Kingsley huffed and crossed his arms, clearly not convinced, but around the table there were grudging looks of acceptance. Sensing his opening, Dumbledore continued.

"My thinking precisely, Mister Black. Now of course, this has the potential to be disastrous for us. Gideon and Fabian have been members since the Order's inception. They know our safe houses and our plans, they know who we are and how we operate. We must all be on guard." He looked at his old friend. "Constant vigilance, eh Moody?"

The other man shifted uncomfortably but nodded.

"I want them tailed. All four of them and constantly. Whenever they leave their home, wherever they go. We need to be alerted at once should it appear they are plotting something with Voldemort or his minions. Sirius," the young man snapped to attention, his friends with him. "the three of you are already familiar with Snape. I want two of you to follow him, but do not engage. The rest of you are assigned to the Prewetts and Miss Wilson. You may fill young mister Pettigrew in when next you see him."

He hardly had a chance to look away from the three youngsters before the expected protestations burst from Kingsley.

"How can you assign four boys fresh out of school to such dangerous targets! Surely you're aware how badly He Who Must Not Be Named wants them. They've got some of his best watching them constantly as well. If you send them out there too they're sure to get captured or worse."

Sirius, clearly still upset, stood forcefully from the table and shouted at the senior Auror. "Come off it, Kingsley! We're not in nappies anymore! We've had more fighting experience than wizards three times our age. Personally, I'd love a shot at some of my cousins. Prune the old family tree."

Nodding approvingly, Dumbledore reminded Kingsley and anyone else that might disapprove that he'd expressly warned them this was reconnocence only. Not convinced and angry at what he believed was unnecessary risk, Kingsley made his excuses and left. There was minimal conversation after that. A handful of people coming up to either himself or Remus wanting more information, unable to accept such a monumental betrayal.

After extolling his usual platitudes and reassurances, the meeting came to an end. Dejected, few lingered to chat as they usually might and neither did Dumbledore. Once returned to his office at Hogwarts, he sank into the plush chintz chair behind his desk.

Kingsley's behavior had been troubling. He had never approved of Dumbledore admitting fresh graduates of Hogwarts into the Order. It was dangerous and wasteful, he argued. Especially considering how dismally they were educated in Defense.

Surely that was all it was. Kingsley may have disagreed with what Dumbledore had done to the Weasleys, but the auror was committed to this fight. He was committed to the Order and to the Light, to Dumbledore. Kingsley rejected the blood purists' ideology and Lord Voldemort. There weren't more than two sides. There was Dumbledore, and there was Lord Voldemort.

No one as smart as Kingsley would dare turn his back on Albus Dumbledore. Not when his only other choice was death.

Confident, Dumbledore stood, gave single word answers to nagging portraits and headed for bed.