Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

By: Fred and George Weasley are MY Kings

Chapter 3: The Spy and the Kiro

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Chapter 3: The Spy and the Kiro

Harry strode swiftly down the long corridor coming up to the long marble staircase. His stomach was growling, and he suddenly realized he hadn't eaten anything since the previous day. Even at breakfast, he had been too preoccupied with the appearance of the Dark Mark. Then as he slowly made his way down the slippery stairs, he felt another emotion completely different from his hunger. He missed Sirius. Like a wave, he felt loneliness crash over him. Sirius should be here now, Harry thought bitterly. His godfather certainly deserved to be here with Harry and helping the order. Harry cursed himself as he reached the foot of his staircase . It had been his fault no matter what they all said. He vowed never to let it happen again.

He pushed open the door and entered the dimly lit kitchen. He was startled to see a blonde women, whom he had never seen, sitting helping herself to what appeared to be chicken. At seeing him, she jumped and nearly spilled her pumpkin juice.

"Well I'll be!" She said, as she seemed to take a closer look at Harry. "You look exactly like your dad… I don't even have to ask who you are. Are you hungry? I just whipped up some kiro, really excellent it is. I am quite the chef." She said portraying a huge grin, which flashed perfectly straight teeth.

Harry sat stunned for a moment. The woman had spoken so fast, he had hardly understood it. The woman laughed lightly and then explained, "Don't look so confused. My name is Gretchen Meadowes and I am, obviously, part of the order. I also went to school with your mum and dad… Knew your dad pretty well, actually… Look err… are you… Do you want some of this? I'd like to know so I know how much I can eat." The woman appeared to be somewhat nervous.

"What did you say it was?" Harry said coming closer and peering at the odd substance.

"It's kiro… a very expensive Egyptian wizard dish. Charlie Weasley brought loads of them when he visited about a month ago. It's really good… especially with the spices I used."

"I thought it was chicken," Harry shrugged as he grabbed a plate and fork.

"Well, it certainly is just as good as chicken." She said cutting it in half and sharing her piece. "There you are."

Harry took a seat across from her and timidly took a bite: it actually was very tasty. "Do you like it?" She asked not lifting her eyes from her plate.

"Yeah, I do actually." Harry said, and in spirit of his great curiosity, he added, "So you err… knew my dad?"

"Yes, I did. I was a Gryffindor also, but I was two years below. Nonetheless, I got to know him and Sirius Black very well when they were on the quidditch team." Just the mention of Sirius's name brought adark cloud over Harry's face."Your mum and I also knew each other. Both really good people… well James could be a prat, but that was a maturity issue and it disappeared completely when he fell for your mum. You can definitely tell they are your parents though, let me tell you that."

Harry just nodded, since there was nothing he could really say. He thought about Snape's pensive, and he had to agree his dad could be a prat. His thoughts were interrupted by Gretchen's laughing. "Sorry," she said as she noticed his gaze, "I just remembered one time when your dad wanted to really surprise your mum for valentines day, so he came to me. Seeing that I was a female, he thought I had all the answers. I told him to whisk her away on a romantic date. James took her to a quitdditch game. Needless to say, it err... it didn't sweep her off her feet. James wouldn't speak to me for two weeks after that." She wore a sad smile as she finished the last bite of her kiro. Harry couldn't help but smile, even though his dead parents weren't his favorite topic of discussion, and even though the woman appeared to be growing more nervous as each minute passed.Harry couldn't help but wonder what was making her so nervous and was a bit agitated.Ashe finished his own kiro, Ron and Hermione came bursting through the kitchen door.

"We were wondering where you were, we thought you had…" Ron stopped short as he saw Gretchen.

"Well, hello. You must be the other Weasley, and you must be Miss Granger. I am Gretchen Meadowes." She said pleasantly enoughwith a smile talking in her quick paced, nervouschatter.

Molly Weasley then poked her head through the door, "Gretchen we're having a meeting, now that Aberforth and Alastor have returned." Molly then stopped at seeing Harry, Hermione and Ron all standing. "You all need to go to sleep. Look at the time! Good heavens! Ronald I expect more cooperation out of you. All of you, to bed!" her face had turned a shade of angry red.

"Oh, Molly…" Gretchen started, looking releaved,"it's my fault really. I offered them kiro… no one can resist kiro. Except Ron, of course. In fact, he was just suggesting that they all go to bed"

"Very well, but it is time for bed… now." Molly said now more calm.

Gretchen gave them all a quick, weak smile, as she followed behind Mrs. Weasley.

"So shall we go "attend" the meeting?" Ron asked with a smirk.

"Ohh, they'd kill us. We already know everything that they know anyway…" Hermione said shaking her head.

"No we don't know everything, especially now that Moody and Aberforth have returned." Harry stated.

"Well how do you expect to "attend" this meeting?" Hermione said, her eyes flashing.

"What about the extendable ears?" Harry asked.

"Nice try mate, but Fred and George took them all away and won't sell us anymore. They said what the order discusses is not fit for children's ears," Ron said rolling his eyes, "then I told them that in that case, they definitely should not hear what the order discusses."

"So there's no way?"

"None. Ron and I have looked, and looked. There's no way."

"My mum doesn't help either," Ron said disgusted, "she doesn't trust us, at all. It's gotten worse than last year," Harry stomach rumbled loudly as he thought about his present situation.

"Harry, didn't you just eat? Are you that hungry?" Hermione asked, referring to the unnatural sound that had just erupted from his gut.

"Yes, I had some kiro," Harry said, "I don't feel hungry anymore."

"Oh, is there any more left?" Ron asked, "I love cake!"

"Ron, I said kiro, not cake… honestly." Harry said smiling.

"Harry, kiro is cake," Hermione said, somewhat concerned, "What did you have?"

"It lookedlike to chicken. I dunno. It was good, whatever it was." Harry said wonderingly.

"What color was it? Did you notice anything funny about it's taste?" Hermione questioned.

"Hermione, it was food. I didn't take down observations or anything, I just ate it. She's part of the order. I didn't think she would poison me or anything." Harry snapped.

"She very well could have, you know. I have never seen her until tonight. And just because she's part of the Order doesn't mean we can trust her... or any of the members for that matter. I am really beginning to think that there's a spy among the Order. It's the only thing that logically explains how Voldemort always seems to be one-step ahead of all of us.""

"Well…I don't think she would poison me now, right in the very headquarters of the order." Harry said, "If there is a spy, though,why hasn't Voldemort attacked the headquarters."

"Well, then why would she lie about it being kiro? As far as attacking the headquarters, Harry, that would be too obvious! Voldemort's not stupid. He wants to use the spy to his full advantage. The attack would make all of the order suspicious of a spy, and instantly truth potions would be administered."

"Would you guys stop saying his name?" Ron demanded, apparently irritated. Harry and Hermione had not realized that each time they had spoken the Dark Lord's name, Ron had taken a sharp intake of breath.

"Oh, Ron. You need to stop that nonsense..." Hermione said, shaking her head. "Fear of a name only increases-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know... fear of the thing itself," Ron grumbled.

"Then why do you insist on cowering like that when we say it? Merlin's beard. You're going to have to get used to it." Hermione said flatly while Ron still bore an irrtated expression, yet remained silent. It was then that Ginny came in through the kitchen door.

Harry hadn't seen much of her sense he first came to Grimmauld place and noticed that Ginny had grown since he had last seen her. She now stood taller then Hermione herself. "Mum said we've all got to go to bed straight away. She's in a foul mood, so if I were you three, I'd listen."

With that the trio, along with Ginny,trampled up the stairs, all feeling in rather crabby moods,in silence, and fell into a restless sleep.

A/N: Okay Chapter 3 is done… I know it was slightly boring, but yeah I needed something to slow the plot down a bit after Chapter 2. Chapter 4 will be up soon