Chapter Six
A Spy?
September 3- They finally emerged!
Hermione has read the whole book I think. And has gained nothing new on Horcruxes…not that it was expected…
Now, finally, they have listened to me, and we are going to find Voldemort and perform the spell. This, obviously will take lots of planning…
"So Ron. Your the strategist…any ideas?" Hermione half teased, sitting on one of the four chairs surrounding a table in the living room.
Opposite her Ron answered. "No…not really. We have no idea where he is now…or how to reach him. Well," he shot a pained look at me, "other then Harry's mind. But I think that should be a last resort…"
I give a grunt in response. I don't really feel up to using my connection with Voldemort. Not even for this.
"What if we get a spy?" Ginny asked. Three sets of eyes turn towards her and she continues. "Well. Snape worked well…didn't he?" at our disbelieving glares she adds. "Well, he always gave Dumbledore the information he needed…even if he was bad…" Ginny trailed off
I shrug. Maybe. It might work. A spy would be useful…Despite the trust factor…and well…
"How the hell are we gunna find a damn spy?"
Hermione faced me, an odd twinkle in her eyes. "Who said anything about finding Harry?"
Find. If you don't find a spy then how do you get one? Well, I suppose we could make a spy...but who would we use? One of us four? We don't know anyone else who would or could be a spy. Besides, we are just kids.
I raised my eyebrows. "Ok Hermione. Do tell. How will we not find a spy?"
She let out an uncharacteristic chuckle. Ginny smiled. I guess she was catching on. Ron still looked clueless.
"You remember second year…"
"No Hermione…" Ginny said, "Do tell"
"Well of course you wouldn't…you weren't there…" Ron waved his sister off. Still as dense as I was.
"Well." Hermione responded tersely. "Remember, Ron…Harry" she waggled her eyebrows, "How we had to infiltrate" she added emphasis to that word, "the slytherin common room? How did we do it?"
Catching on I felt first confusion then shock, disbelief, horror then mirth. "Ya Hermione," I managed to get out through my laughter, "Some one is really going to polyjuice themselves and go into Voldemort's layer…Even I'm not that insane"
Ron's expression looked like how I think mine would look. Like he wanted to barf. Ginny just looked curious.
"You made a polyjuice potion in second year!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Yes. We did." Hermione answered
"But that's NEWT level!" Ginny looked shocked.
"So…err…Hermione…" Ron started, obviously nervous. "What did you mean we aren't going to find a spy…" he looked hopeful, like he was wishing she won't say what he thinks she will.
Hermione broke out in a Cheshire grin. "Remember Crabbe and Goyle?"
Ok. Hermione has went nutters. But we have no other choice. So. We will become the spies…yaa! Can you catch the sarcasm….Damn. But how will we do it? Do we find the dumbest Death Eaters so we don't have to act to hard...Or should we study the Death Eater we will impersonate and chose one closer to Voldemort?
And what about the polyjuice potion in general…I wonder if you can buy pre-brewed polyjuice potion…It would save us a month…
"So Hermione…are you saying we have to FIND and CAPTURE four Deather Eaters THEN polyjuice them…" Ron looked stunned…and scared.
"Yes." Came Hermione's terse reply.
Ginny looked resigned when she stated. "So. How are we going to find said Death Eaters? And what about Voldemort's famed leglimens skills? And you do know Hermione, that it takes a whole month to brew right?"
"To answer all your questions. We will deal with the Death Eaters later. Occlumency. And yes." Hermione looked pensive. "I wonder if you can buy pre-brewed polyjuice potion…we should look into it."
I just sat there. Frankly this is insane. "You all know that I can't get to close to Voldemort right? He will sense me..." I tap my forhead "the scar." they all nodded. "K…just checking. And, this polyjuice…err…Even if we had a month…the supplies. If you remember, we had to steal them from Snape's cabinet. That's not available. And we can't just go walking into Diagon Alley."
Hermione waved my protests off. "Oh Harry. Such the pessimist. Don't worry. That's why we're having this meeting."
Nice. How in the name of Merlin are we going to brew a polyjuice potion! We don't have the ingredients!
I REFUSE to think about capturing four Death eaters and what it involves…
I was decent at occlumency. Thanks to Snape. One of the only good things he did for me…But no one else had any experience with occlumency at all.
Please! Someone, I'm desperate...how is this going to work...?
"Ok. Let's call the polyjuice potion and all it in tales 'Operation: Become a Death Eater'. And the occlmency training 'Operation: Snape's Legacy' I feel It fits…" Hermione finished with a shrug.
I twitch. "Hermione…are you seriously trying to make a mockery of Dumbledore's death?"
If looks could kill, I'd be dead. "No Harry" she emphasized the word as if to say 'you're a dumbarse'. "I just think it would add insult to injury if he were ever to hear it. Think about it. The one thing Dumbledore made him teach you out of class, to save your life from him, we are now using against him and his friends. Oh the irony." She finished with that glint in her eye.
I sighed. I also had to admit she was right. It would so peeve him. "Fine…"
She squealed.
What did I do! I can't believe we have two operations….GAWD! And
here I thought by leaving the Order it would make things simpler…find
the Horcruxes, destroy them, kill Voldemort. Finito.
Never mind that I had no previous clue on how to do all that…
I was decent at occlumency. Thanks to Snape. One of the only good things he did for me…But no one else had any experience with occlumency at all.
Hermione sat down in her chair after returning from her bedroom.
"You do know" started Ron, "That you could have just accio'd that right?"
Giving him a glare she laid the book down and open it to a well worn page. At the confused looks from me, Ron and, Ginny she picked the book up, revealing the title. Occlumency for Dummies.
I snort. I guess I'm not the only one with any occlumency talent…or lack there of.
For 'Operation: Snape's Legacy' we shall-RON!" she added at Ron's bad imitation of Snape "Stop being rude!" she continued in a softer tone "Wait until after we're done this meeting?" she nodded "Thank you. Where was I…Oh yes…
"We shall study occlumency every night-yes every night Harry" She returned my glare "Oh honestly! If you really want to defeat Voldemort then you have to be serious!" She looked at every one of us and continued.
"Every night we shall study occlumency until we are all adept at it. Otherwise Voldemort will notice something's amiss and kill us. Understood?" We all nodded. "I mean it. This is very important. For us to destroy Voldemort we must perform 'Operation: Snape's Legacy' without any mistakes. It could mean our lives!"
I gulped. Finally understanding…I never thought I was that dense…
So. I'm not the only one who had studied occlumency. Figures Hermione would. Though I bet anything she's better.
Damn occlumency. Damn Snape. It always comes back to them doesn't it. And I doubt it will stop…
"Hermione…"Ron started tentatively, "Can I explain this one…?"
Hermione's face lit up. "I was just going to ask." she relaxed into her chair with the aura of someone who knew what was going to be said and fully agreed.
"Ok." Ron got into full strategist mode, " 'Operation: Become a Death Eater'. I think it would be best if two of us, Harry...Ginny, should be, as I would categorize 'dumb lackeys'. And another two, me and Hermione, should be in or as close as possible to his inner circle. Now," he added at my angry face, "you Harry have to be as far from Voldemort as possible. Your scar…"
He paused to let that sink in.
He was right. I can't get to close and there is no way in hell I'm being left behind. I nod.
"Good."
He didn't try to placate Ginny. She seemed perfectly happy where she was.
"Me and Hermione will have a harder job. Hope your up to Hermione."
She nodded and Ron continued.
"We will have to basically stalk a Death Eater, learn how they walk, talk, eat. Everything. Down to their accent and sentence phrasing. Don't worry!" we added quickly at Hermione's distress, "We have a month! So…the question is…who do you all want?"
I responded the only way I could. With a flat glare.
Yum. At least I'm good at acting stupid…I've only had my whole life to practice…
Seriously though, good luck Hermione and Ron. Your gunna need it!
I leaned back and rested my feet on the table in front. Hermione look thoughtful. Ginny had a disturbing smile on her face…I don't want to know what it could possibly mean. But Ron looks the strangest. He looks excited. Like this is some chess match, not a life and death spy mission.
"So Hermione. Who will you be?"
She sighed, "I don't know Harry. If we want to get into his inner circle we have several choices…McNair, Lucius, Bellatrix, Snape, Nott, Avery…Wormtail…" She muttered the last one.
I growl in response to hearing that traitors name but nothing else. He deserves nothing else.
"I think I would like to try for Bellatrix…as she's the only girl…I don't think I'm up to being a guy…"
Ron hurriedly shakes his head "No way Hermione! She's crazy! You won't be able to act like her! And besides, I think she's Voldemort's plaything…" Ron let the insinuation trail off. The meaning clear.
"Err…Maybe not then…" Hermione turned the colour off puce.
"I'm being Lucius…if I can find him, if not Avery…" His mouth formed a deadly smile, "or Wormtale." he let out a mirthless laugh, "paybacks a bitch, ain't it"
"Well Ron if you get Lucius, maybe I can be Narcissa…You know, husband and wife. It'll give us an excuse to be close to each other…"
Ron nods in response.
"I'll be Goyle!" Ginny adds
With a sigh, and a feeling like I'm about to walk to the gallows I say, "And I'll be Crabbe"
Why is fate so twisted? I seriously thought my days of impersonating Crabbe and Goyle were over…I guess not.
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. A little repetative and short, but I think it does its job. I just hope the changes from diary to life wasn't too confusing...Oh well. 'member review!
Next Chapter: Polyjuice Trouble: Hermione is back to her lists, and they meet some interesting people in Knockturn Alley.
