Disclaimer: JK Rowling and a few other people own everything, I don't.
Of Loyalty and Traitors
Chapter 4
Of Weasleys and Such
"Hey, you...move it..."
Ronald Weasley prodded white queen with his index finger.
The chess piece advanced maliciously towards Harry's black king and his remainly pawn. Harry groaned as the pawn fell victim to the queen's wrath, leaving him no choice but to order his king to retreat backwards pathetically.
On Ron's command, the queen started towards him once more. As Harry surveyed the chess board, he was hit by a feeling of deja vu...
"Check mate," Ron stated triumphantly. "Again."
Harry rolled his eyes, bored with playing wizard chess. A wave of frustration came over him.
"While Voldemort's out there gaining supporters and doing who knows what else, we're hiding away at Grimmauld Place playing chess." He stated bitterly.
"Yeah, well," the redhead muttered uneasily, "There isn't really that much that we could do to help, is there? I mean, they don't tell us much, do they? If we were told more, then maybe we'd think of something we could do to help..."
The dark haired boy look away, feeling guilty. No, Ron didn't really know that much at all about the situation, but the same did not no apply to himself. Vague shapes of possible horcruxes flittered across Harry's mind, each with no visible location. That was Harry's main concern; where to begin his search? They could be anywhere...
He turned back towards Ron. He was beginning to realise he would require a great amount of help, if he was to destroy the horcruxes, yet he was wary about endangering his friends too much. He was sure that they would rush to his aid...
And possibly wind up the next victims of Voldemort.
"And anyway, chess, you know...it helped us stopping Quirrel from getting that stone...never know when it might come in handy do you?" Ron went on, justifying their actions, " It can teach you strategy, planning, I mean, that's what the game is all about, aye? Maybe we will find ourselves in a battle against the Death Eaters some day - well, really, we've seen the chances of that happening - and who knows how valuable it could be. Imagine You-Know-Who as opposition's king. Actually, he'd be the queen, the king can't do much..."
Ron stopped, and Harry could imagine by the smirk spreading over the other boys face that he was picturing Voldemort dressed up similar to a queen.
He was pleased that his best friend hadn't lost his sense of humour, regardless of all the Weasley family had been through. They would no doubt have high standings on Voldemort's "People I Would Like To See Dead and Now" list, through their continued efforts to hinder his plans.
And, of course, through their widely known association with the Boy Who Lived. Harry felt, deep down, that anything bad that may happen to them was surely his fault.
Now they would all be confined to Grimmauld Place, the only house still deemed safe... he had overheard Arthur being told that returning to the Burrow would be suicide. Harry knew that they would have preferred to have Bill and Fleur's wedding outside the home that had been in their family years. Now the wedding was to be held in less than a week, in a location that Harry and even Ron had not yet been told of.
They had been told, however, that a large number of Aurors would be attending the ceremony, in hopes of preventing any unwelcome visitors turning up. Harry couldn't help but wonder whether the Aurors may in fact make it a more worthwhile target...
"Hey Harry, is something wrong?" Ron asked hesitantly. "You look kind of dazed..."
Harry almost jumped, having been so lost in his thoughts that he had practically forgotten his friend was in the room.
"Oh Merlin, I'm sorry, of course you wouldn't be alright, what a dumb question, with what happened with Dumbledore and Snape an-"
"Ron, it's alright. Seriously. I wasn't thinking about that, I was just, y'know..." Harry reassured him.
"Yeah, well..." Ron didn't appear entirely convinced, but didn't push for any further information.
A possible uncomfortable silence was avoided as the dying flames in the fireplace suddenly came to life, changing colour as they did so.
"Good Evening Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley." Professor McGonagall emerged from the fireplace, nodding at each of the boys in turn.
"Evening, Professor." They replied, almost in usion.
The guest didn't come as a surprise to them, she had come and gone often since the holidays had began. Many people had - various aurors, professors, member of the Order of the Pheonix, even Neville Longbottom's grandmother had shown up once, wearing her renowned vulture hat. A meeting of the Order was due be taking place - visitors increased at these such times.
McGonagall paused as she walked towards the next room, glancing back at her Gryffindors.
"Actually, I would like to speak to you after the meeting, Potter...maybe you also, Weasley..."
With that, she turned and strode out of the room.
"Wonder what she's gonna tell us?" Ron mused.
---
"Master Malfoy," a small house-elf whispered, cautiously approaching the wizard.
It was well known among the house-elves of the Malfoy estate that Draco Malfoy, while he possessed a cruel tongue, wasn't violent towards them as Lucius had been, but the boy did seem to be in quite a temper.
At this moment, he was slashing a glimmering sword through the air, battling against a sword he had enchanted to act as his opponant. He was striking the sword with much more force than was required.
The house elf knew from experience that a sharp weapon and a bad tempered Malfoy was never a good combination and was therefore reluctant to approach the angry boy.
"Master Malfoy" he repeated, louder this time.
Draco turned to look at the elf, still clashing his sword against the enchanted one.
"What?" he asked impatiently.
"Masters' Crabbe and Goyle are waiting for you to join them in the sitting room. Th-they have been there for a while, Sir"
"I've been busy."
The remained, unsure of whether he dared push the issue further.
Draco sighed, muttering "I'll be down in a minute".
"Yes, Master Malfoy, I'll tell them that. Thank-you Master Malfoy." He said, relief evident on his face.
The house-elf, whose name Draco couldn't remember, disappeared, presumably down to the sitting room. Draco retrieved his wand from the pocket in his robes and pointed it at the enchanted sword, murmering. The sword fell to the floor, lifeless, and the young Malfoy placed them both back into a cabinet.
He didn't rush to get down to the sitting room, instead taking considerable time to change his robes, have a shower and walk downstairs at a leisurely pace. He wasn't very eager to see the pair, whom he still, after six years, addressed by their last names. Which really said a good deal about their friendship.
He supposed to couldn't really call Crabbe and Goyle friends of his. He found their stupidity rather tiresome at times, though he could admit there was the occasional moment where it was quite amusing. Basically, they just did whatever he ask of them, and in return he did all of the thinking, Draco did find people like them useful; they didn't ask questions and their physical strength was no doubt an asset for him.
Yet they would be expecting him to tell them his next plans, expect him to give them instructions which he had at this stage thought of.
Oh well, he could always improvise. Keep things vague, which he normally did anyway with Crabbe and Goyle. Too much information would just send them into a further state of confusion.
He entered the sitting room and took a seat on the satin couch.
"Goyle. Crabbe."
"Malfoy."
"Yeah." Crabbe answered, already looking a wee bit overwhelmed.
The two sat staring at Draco, waiting to hear the words of wisdom.
"So...ummm..." Damn, he'd have to come up with something better than that. He started again.
"The Dark Lord wants us to do away with a few more people." Draco stated.
Ha, Draco thought proudly, as his two guests looked at him with a mixture of shock and awe. He was going fine. If only it was this easy to bluff through everything with the Dark Lord himself. He had been reading about leglimens earlier that day, taking note that he should try learning it sometime. Occlumency sounding worth looking into as well.
"Who?" Goyle grunted.
"How?" Crabbe added.
Hmmm...good questions...
"Potter's friends. I guess we could try stunning them and then seeing if the Dark Lord want to use them as bait again." Draco could handle stunning a couple of people, and although the idea of a hostage had been used before, he was sure it was worth another try. It would work until he could come up with something better.
There was a long pause.
"Granger and Weasley." Crabbe said proudly, with what only could be called a smile.
"Yes, I suppose, thought there might be a few easier targets."
"Easier to kill them."
Draco stared at Goyle, surprised. Now really wasn't a great time for him to find a few lost brain cells. Still, if Goyle and Crabbe pulled off the murders and he took credit for the plan, he wouldn't have to face what he thought of as his killing phobia for a little longer...and he would still be the one rewarded...
"It will depend on the circumstances in which we find them."
This statement conveniently sent Goyle back to looking lost and Draco smirked.
"But if the circumstances fit, then I suppose I might let you." He added.
As he ushered them out of his house, he decided it was time to form his vague ideas into an actual plan. With the price of failure being...he shuddered as he remembered his last experience with the cruciatus curse.
Still, he couldn't help but wonder that if he succeeded at this, the next thing he was assigned would be a great step up from stringing together a few plans.
----
The Order meeting went on for far longer than the last few had, so by the time that Minerva McGonagall came out to talk to Harry and Ron, the boys were stuggling to keep their eyes open.
Regardless, she informed the two that Hogwarts would, at this stage, not be opened for the following year.
Harry groaned.
"Oh well, look on the bright side, no school work!" Ron said, though he didn't appear as cheerful as he sounded.
"Hermione's gonna be devastated." Harry said. He hoped that Hermione's parents would soon agree to let her come and stay with them. The Grangers had somehow caught wind of the news of danger and although Hermione insisted they weren't to worked up about it, they wanted to spend a bit of time with their only child before allowing her to stay at Grimmauld Place. Harry wasn't angry at them; he could see the reason for their concern, but Ron's complaints about it were slowly beginning to drive him mad.
"You will, however, continue to receive lessons for what we consider to be most critical. Professor Lupin and Professor Flitwick will be tutoring you two and Mr. Longbottom. I will be checking in on these lessons when I see it appropriate."
"Neville is joining us? Well, at least we will get to see some of our other friends. When Hermione gets here, it will be a bit like classes at Hogwarts, I guess." Ron said, looking a bit more optimistic.
"Yes, I suppose so, Mr. Weasley. Now, would you be so good as to allow me to speak to Harry alone for a few minutes?" Their former transfiguration teacher requested."Don't worry, I wont keep him long."
"Alright..." Ron replied, clearly disappionted at being kept in the dark once more.
As Ron left the room, McGonagall watched Harry with a serious expression.
"Now, Harry, is there anything I can help you with? Anything that Professor Dumbledore may have been trying to help you acheive? I may be able to give you further guidance. I know of the prophecy, though I admit I am not clear on what Professor Dumbledore may have planned to enable you to defeat him when the time comes. I will of course keep anything between just you and me if that is what you want."
Harry thought this over for a moment, remembering Dumbledore's instructions to him,
He didn't see there being too much harm in confiding in her what Dumbledore had told him of the horcruxes and Voldemort and he could certainly use some extra help in figuring out their locations...
But it didn't feel right for him to go against his mentor's orders at this stage. If, further on, they hadn't made much progress, then he might be willing to, but for now - he smiled slightly - he was still 'Dumbledore's man through and through.'
"Thank-you Professor McGonagall, for your concern..." Harry began, noting his teacher expression was more of frustration than of the concern he had mentioned, "but I'd prefer not to tell too many people at this point. If I need help in the future, I'll be sure to come to you, Professor."
"If you're sure, Mr. Potter." She replied, rubbing her temples as she left the room.
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A/N- A bit longer than the last few chapters, hopefully. Next chapter should be out on Monday.
Please take the time to reveiw if you like it!
Thank you!
