Harry Potter and the Betrayal of the Phoenix

by LeTimbo

My guess on what Harry's sixth year will be like. This started off as one of the first 6th year stories out there, but took a year or two break. Expect OWL results, advanced classes, Vodlemort, and more! Pretty much abandonded at this point.

12. Chapter 12 Discussions and Decisions

Harry Potter and Betrayal of the Phoenix

Chapter 12 - Discussion and Decisions

A/n: I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaack.  This is the most dialogue-heavy chapter I've ever written.  And I hate writing dialogue.  That's one reason why this chapter is so late.  The usual disclaimer (don't sue, I'm not making money, yadda yadda yaddah) applies.  I'm thinking about going back and redoing the previous chapters and fleshing some stuff out.  Enjoy!

"Harry, let me introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Zabini, Blaise's parents. I brought them here via Fawkes because this decision affects them as well. I know Blaise talked to you about the situation Harry, and Blaise just got done informing her parents of the situation. Its obvious something has to be done, but I think we should, what do the muggles call it, 'brainstorm,' a solution.  How I see it there are two basic outcomes, either Blaise spies on Harry and reports to Malfoy or Blaise refuses to spy on Harry."

"An outright refusal would put Mr. and Mrs. Zabini in even more danger, along with Blaise.  I wouldn't want anyone to be in more danger," responded Harry.

"Harry," spoke Mrs. Zabini, "we are already in more danger than you realize.  We were one of the few traditionally-Slytherin, pure blood families to refuse joining He-who-must-not-be-named the first time around.  When we did that we knew we put a target on ourselves."

"What did you during Voldemort's first rise?"

"Well, we tried to live our lives as we normally would have.  We were much more vigilant than normal, and we tried to remain as neutral as possible.  We had no desire to openly declare allegiance, and we decided to hold back and make our decision late in the War.  You-know-who was angry we opted to not join him, but he was not furious as we had not gone over to support Dumbledore…" replied Mr. Zabini, before interrupted by his wife.

"But, neither of us had been directly approached by either side after You-know-who's initial 'offer' and we were not expecting to have to make a decision again, but you-know-who made that impossible this time around.  The trouble is in, ideologically I can almost agree with what you-know-who believes, although my husband disagrees with me there, but I can never accept violence as an acceptable alternative."

"Mum, Dad, I don't think this time we can remain neutral this time...at least I can't.  They killed Cousin Frederix last night in front of me as a warning.  I want to support the light…it feels right," pondered Blaise.

"Well, you can support the light, but you don't have to broadcast it openly," replied Dumbledore, "there are options available."

"I don't want to live in fear, and I don't want Blaise to have to either.  At the same time, I couldn't imagine losing Blaise or my husband, or have them lose me.  I agree that we will never turn dark,

"As do I," interrupted Mr. Zabini

"But if we let others know, that would make us a very public target for You-Know-Who."

"It would, but this talk doesn't solve the problem before us.  Before I give my opinion, I want to clarify something that happened Blaise.  Didn't you say something like they knew you weren't telling the truth?" asked Harry.

"Well, yah, but I suspect that I was just really nervous about it and it showed."

"Well, it is possible they saw through your nervousness, or they could have someone among them skilled in Legilimency…" pondered Dumbledore.

"They seemed to know that I was lying about some pretty private details Harry…and I could tell that they *knew* already what I should have said."

"I wish I didn't even have to think about this, but that makes me think there's a spy Harry…another spy, and this one is close enough to you to know about your trunk."

Harry blanched.  "That narrows it down dramatically…"

"Harry, until we discover the spy you must be on constant guard, even among your friends.  At the moment, I don't know which students to trust anymore.  Be on your guard, and don't let any vital information slip," spoke a somber Dumbledore.

"Well, what should we do about our daughter?"

"Well, your daughter might have a say in it as well" muttered Blaise.

"Well, if our suspicions are correct, the there would be even more danger in becoming a spy, which is an alternative I considered, because they have an easy means of collaborating your story.  Any slip up would mean death.  I don't think I could even ask a child to spy on the most evil wizard alive with those kinds of consequences, it just wouldn't be right and it would go against what we stand for."

"But if I don't spy for them they will come after me, and my parents Prof. Dumbledore!  I can't let that happen!  Professor, would you mind if I spoke to my parents along for a minute?"

"Feel free, Harry, we have something to discuss anyway.  If you'll follow me please"

Harry followed Dumbledore outside his office.

"Harry, this is a grave time for everyone, but even more so for you.  It's obvious that someone fairly close to you is spying on you, although it will take time to discover who.  You must limit what you say and limit what you do in front of your peers…any semblance of something unusual Voldemort will surely know about soon enough.  But I don't want you to alter your life too much, in part because then Voldemort will know that we know he has a spy, but in larger part that although we both know what will happen, I still want you to have some semblance of a life before the time comes to face Voldemort."

"I'll trust you on this one Professor…but it is going to take several days for this to settle in.  It's been a wild couple of days."

"That is has Harry.  Ah, Miss Zabini.  Are you ready to come to a solution?"

"Yes Professor," replied Blaise as they walked back into Dumbledore's office.

"Albus, we are willing to declare an open allegiance to the light, if you can provide Blaise protection.  We are willing to work with you, not for you, to stop You-Know-Who this time around."

"Ok Mr. and Mrs. Zabini.  We will protect Blaise, and protect you to the best of our abilities.  You have a couple of options from here, you can be inducted into the Order of the Phoenix, move in to the Head Quarters, or…Harry, Blaise, why don't you two excuse us.  I believe it would be best for you two to discuss things a little more.  We will work your parent's situation out first and let you know on a need-to-know basis.  Blaise, for any questions you may have, feel free to ask both Harry and myself.  Blaise, Harry, I will send Fawkes with a note when you need to return to discuss what will happen at Hogwarts."

With that, Harry and Blaise left Dumbledore's office.

"Harry…"

"I know Blaise.  We need to go somewhere safe to talk."

"I just want to walk around a bit."

"Then I know the perfect place.  Let me show you the Room of Requirement."

"Uh, ok."

They walked silently until they got to the familiar, well, at least to Harry, area and Harry walked back and forth three times concentrating how he needs a private place where they can walk around, and somewhere calm and serene.  Harry heard Blaise's surprised gasp as the door appeared out of nowhere, and they entered.  Inside was what looked to be a park with a nice walking trail, a lake with a waterfall, at night with the starts shining above.

"Well, this is NOT what I was expecting, but it works.  Why is there a park inside Hogwarts?"

"We're in the Room of Requirement.  It is a room that conforms to the needs of the person inside.  For example, I'm pretty thirsty right now.  Could I get some water?" A glass appeared in Harry's hand.  "See?"

"Pretty interesting.  We'll have to come back here later.  Hey!  Why don't we do our homework from now on…I'd rather not stay in the library…"

Thinking of Ron's attack, Harry replied "Perfectly understandable.  I have no problems with that.  I'm sure the room would provide what we would need."

Both Harry and Blaise quieted off and began to walk slowly around the trail. The two went several minutes without saying anything, and just looked around at the scenery.

"Harry, how can you stand it?"

"Stand what?"

"Constantly being attacked from all sides?  Having to worry about where you'll get attacked next?"

"Well, you should know how it feels Blaise."

"Hunh?"

"Everyone is in danger in these times, and everyone should be afraid of being attacked from all sides, even those on the side of Voldemort.  I know what happens at those meetings, and he tortures and kills his own followers.  With a sociopath like Voldemort on the loose, everyone should be aware of the danger."

"But they aren't actively trying to destroy me like they are you Pigeon."

"Well, that's true.  But I have a question for you…how can YOU stand it all?"

"What on Earth do you mean?"

"How can you stand to be friends with someone who the most dangerous wizard alive wants dead?  You surely know the risks.  I can't help them wanting to go after me, but you could."

After a long pause, Blaise replied "I guess I have more to gain than being on your side then theirs.  You're right…they would just as soon kill me as anyone else."

Harry, unexpectedly, snorted back laugher at this.

"What was so funny about that?!?"

"Well, sometimes I wonder why you're a Slytherin.  Now, I realized.  A typical Gryffindor's response would have been 'It's the right thing to do.  I'm too brave to let them dictate who my friends are.'  You're response is just not what I was expecting."

"That's because you neglect your Slytherin side.  Everyone has one…"

"You have no idea," murmured Harry.

"What?  Why would I have no idea?"

"The sorting hat came within a stone's throw away of putting me in Slytherin."

"Get out!  You?  Mr. Gryffindor?"

"Mr. Gryffindor?  Where'd that come from?"

"Uhm," stammered Blaise as she blushed, "never mind about that.  Why did you not end up going into Slytherin?"

"Well, I asked not to be.  The only Slytherin I had met was Malfoy, and Weasley told me that all Slytherins were Dark…so I wasn't sure what to think.  I know that's not true now, and if I knew then what I know now I have no idea where I would have ended up."

"What do you know now that's different?"

"Well, I know that Dark wizards can come from all houses, and that Slytherin has some admirable traits."

"Admirable traits?  Like what?!?"

"I wish I was more cunning than I am.  It's a great trait to have in a battlefield.  Coming up with new uses for basic spells is something I have to put a lot of effort into learning.  There's nothing wrong with being ambitious either…as long its kept in check."

"I bet if you went and told that to your Gryffindor housemates their jaws would drop."

"Well, I bet the same in Slytherin.  Some of guys over there seem to take being a Slytherin as an excuse to be, well, evil."

"That's true, but that's not everyone in Slytherin.  There as some, like me, who I guess have a little Gryffindor in them that keeps them in check."

"Which is good.  I can see where the sorting hat comes from when it talks about how people from each house need to work together to defeat the Voldemort."

They walked around a bit more, before being interrupted by Fawkes, who was carrying a note requesting them to grab hold of Fawkes and he would transport them back to Dumbledore's office.

They arrived in Dumbledore's office with the anxious faces of Mr. and Mrs. Zabini looking in awe at their entrance.

"Hey, that was pretty cool.  Was that your first time Harry?"

"Nope, only done it once before Parakeet."

"Parakeet?  Why is he calling you parakeet Blaise?" asked a confused Mrs. Zabini.

"Well, I didn't want to tell you until I could transform, but I'm going to be an animagus soon.  My form is a Parakeet."

"Oh sweetie, I'm so proud!" exclaimed Mrs. Zabini as she hugged her daughter.  "First animagus in the family!"

"Way to go daughter.  Now, to explain what we are going to do.  We have agreed to become members of the Order of the Phoenix, which is group dedicated to beating the Death Eaters and helping out the one who can defeat him for good," Harry blushed, but Mr. Zabini didn't notice and kept on going, "and we will be moving into their headquarters, since our home is not safe for the time being.  You won't be able to talk to us very often, but you can still come and visit on holidays.  If I'm not mistaken, there are several students who have family members as part of the Order," Dumbledore nodded in agreement, "so you have some company in what you'll be going through.  We both know that its dangerous, and we could be injured in the line of fire, although we will mainly be training other members of the Order and taking more of a strategic planning role than a fighter, but you never know.  We both feel that doing what we can to rid Voldemort once and for all is worth the risk, and I hope you agree."

"I…I agree."

"Well, now to discuss what to do about the Malfoy situation.  Your parents and I have a suggestion, but in the end it is up for you to decide Blaise."

"Ok.  What's your suggestion?"

"Well, with us working for the Order, we don't think its possible to hide the fact that we chose to work against Voldemort.  We also don't think its right for you to act as a double agent…it would be putting you into too much risk," started Mr. Zabini.

"Its my place to say how much risk I am willing to take.  But I believe that it would be pointless for me to spy.  I am almost positive I would learn nothing from them, and only get myself into danger."

"We agree.  So, I think its best to let Malfoy know in the strongest terms possible you won't put up with it, and just go about your normal school work.  We entertained the idea about moving you out of Slytherin and into a new house, but that doesn't seem fair either."

"And I would not agree to that."

"Well, that too."

"So, basically, tell off Malfoy, watch my back, and act as nothing happened?"

"Pretty much."

"Well, that sounds ok to me."

"Now, if anything happens with Malfoy, let Harry or Dumbledore know and they will take care of it.  You have to promise me you'll strongly consider what they suggest."

"Ok mum.  I'm going to miss you two.  PLEASE be careful."

"We will hun.  Before you go Blaise, I am going to teach you a ward to put over your bed.  It will keep out unwelcome visitors and wake you when someone tries to enter.  Harry, thank you for being here, and thank you for your future help in this fight.  Please take good care of my daughter.  We're going to take Blaise out to Hogsmeade for a family dinner.  You're welcome to come if you'd like."

"No, that's ok.  Family thing.  Ill see you tomorrow Blaise, where we were earlier today, say, noon?"

"Ok," replied Blaise.

"Mr. Potter, I will see you tomorrow," spoke Dumbledore, dismissing Harry back to Gryffindor tower.

It was about midday, and Harry decided that he might as well do some training to relieve all the recent stress.  He climbed into his trunk and started in the library to look up some new spells.

Authors Extended Note:  I *almost* decided to do a resorting in this chapter, of Blaise, then I thought of doing one for Harry, then back to Blaise, then I thought I'll postpone that decision to see where the story takes it.  I was going to make it longer before I posted, but it seemed like a good ending point.