A/N: Okay so I think there's a few things that need to be said before you read this chapter. I wrote this pre-Half Blood Prince and nothing has changed plot wise, those that I planned to be dead in this story are and those that I wanted involved are still here.
There is however one thing that has been altered and that's the way in which the person who died in HBP was killed. Originally I had that person die two years before this story was set but now I've made it so that the person died in Harry's sixth year. Also the person who did the killing was going to have a large part in this fic but has now been removed.
There is only one more thing to say this chapter carries the ONLY spoiler to HBP and if you haven't read ALL of the book yet I suggest you skip the little bit that is between the two lines as that contains the name of the person who died and how they died. That is the ONLY spoiler in this story. Now I hope you enjoy
Guilt and Innocence
The tide was turning and the war was nearly over, they all knew it. Things had taken a turn for the worse and there was only a small number left in the resistance. Hermione Granger moved from her seat to the front of the classroom in the Hogwarts castle.
"I know nobody wants to hear this but we need his help."
"We don't need Prisoner X."
"Ron, we're losing look around we were once a force that could stop Voldemort but its been five years since he was sent to Azkaban and now there's only a handful of us left."
That wasn't a lie the war had been bitter since he had been sent down for murder. For five long years they had tried to go on without him fighting the battles that were put before them and one by one their numbers fell.
Looking around the classroom you would never have guessed that at one point they had had over a hundred in their ranks for now they were only left with the lucky, the ones that had fought and somehow had cheated death for one more day.
In charge of the last defence as they had now been dubbed was Remus Lupin. He had been left in charge when seven years earlier Dumbledore had fallen at the wand of Snape.
There was only one other original Order member from the seventies left in their numbers Minerva McGonagall. McGonagall now found herself as Head of Hogwarts, although there wasn't much of a Hogwarts now that the war had come full force.
The rest of the defenders were younger although some more so than others. There were only four Aurors left among their numbers, two senior ones Kingsley and Tonks and then there was also Dean Thomas and Ron Weasley.
The Weasleys themselves had once made up a large part of the secret order but now there were only another three Weasleys among the numbers. The first was now the eldest of the brothers Charlie who had returned to England once the war became public. Then there was the remaining of the twins George who was doing all he could to avenge his brothers death. The last was the only female Weasley Ginny, who was joined in the order by one other Healer Luna Lovegood.
Then there was the book smart witch Hermione Granger, once known as the smartest witch around she was now a professor in Hogwarts teaching both Charms and History of Magic, with such a small number of students it was easy to teach more than one subject.
There were only two remaining members to this organisation the first being the spokesman for the Wizarding Wireless Lee Jordon and the last being an Unspeakable Hannah Abbot. All the other members had found their way to the eternal rest that awaited all when their candle went out.
The wizarding world was now at a loss. There were not many safe spots left in the country. Hogwarts remained one along with the small village of Hogsmeade that sat on the edges of the establishment. Then there was Azkaban prison which was now the Head Quarters for the Aurors department and the new Head Quarters for the Ministry of Magic located in the mountains south of Hogwarts.
"Hermione there might not be many of us but Prisoner X isn't one of us, he's on Voldemorts side we can't use him even if we want to."
"But Ron what about the prophecy, you remember the words of it as well as the rest of us, he's the only one that can save us."
The pair fell silent and looked around the room, they had been arguing about bringing the prisoner to their aid for over a week. Everyone's attention turned to look to their leader and he slowly declined his head looking at the table.
"This isn't working, we need to do something and Voldemort won't expect him to be with us, even if he doesn't fight for us that might be enough to scare Voldemort and buy us more time."
"Remus you can't believe that. You worked with him once you know as well as the rest of us that even if that happens we can't win without him."
"Well what do you suggest then Minerva."
The woman looked around the room and her eyes landed on Hermione before spinning to look at Ron.
"I think that we have to put aside any feelings we have towards the prisoner and do what is best for the wizarding world. We need him but we can't trust him at all."
"We should take a vote."
They all looked at Luna who shrugged her shoulders before continuing.
"Look I think that it's the only way. We all have strong feelings when it comes to this prisoner and it's because we all know him, or at least we knew him at one time. There's no way that we're all going to agree on it and we should take a vote on it and whatever the out come we stick with that."
Remus looked around the room at those sitting, the girl was right they were all judging this on their memories of the prisoner they couldn't trust them. The prisoner wasn't the person that they had once known he was something else entirely.
"Alright so we'll take a vote. We'll go around everyone. The question is should we release Prisoner X to help us. Yes and no answers only, Hermione you've got a quill with you I presume keep score."
She nodded and pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill. She wrote yes on the top of the piece and a few inches below wrote no. Then with a nod Remus started the votes.
"I'm voting yes. Hermione?"
"Yes. Ron?"
"No. Ginny?"
"No. Luna?"
"Yes. Minerva?"
"No. George?"
"Yes. Charlie?"
"No. Tonks?"
"Yes. Kingsley?"
"Yes. Lee?"
"No. Hannah?"
"No. Dean?"
"Yes."
Hermione looked down at the parchment and then back up at everyone sitting there waiting for her to answer.
"Okay under yes we have Remus, myself, Luna, George, Tonks, Kingsley and Dean. Then for no we have Ron, Ginny, Minerva, Charlie, Lee and Hannah. So that means we're having him to help us."
The room fell into silence and then Charlie spoke up.
"How are we going to convince him to help us then?"
"I think it has to be somebody he trusts."
"George he doesn't trust anybody. We were all against him when he killed Neville, Ron and I even acted as witnesses in court, he won't want to see any of us."
Remus looked up at them all.
"We have to bring him to Hogwarts. Kingsley can you get release papers for him?"
"Sure but who's going to bring him here?"
Dean shifted in his chair a bit.
"It has to be somebody who was close to him understands his hatred for everyone but will be able to control him. I say it has to be Ron or Hermione."
"I'm not letting Hermione go."
She turned to look at Ron sitting there his arms crossed against his chest as stubborn as the day she met him.
"We'll both go. We can get the papers by tomorrow and he'll be here by the end of the day."
It was agreed and with that the meeting ended and everybody went back to try and make it through another night.