Guilt and Innocence

The clock on the wall struck seven and Remus looked around the room it was so quiet that a mouse among them would be heard. A knock resounded through the door causing the old man to jump slightly but he called entrance.

He watched as the Headmistress of the school smiled at him taking her seat at the front of the room. It was a strange sensation she had voted no against Potter but something in him knew she couldn't be the traitor she had fought too hard in two wars and had been too close to Dumbledore.

It was a few minutes before Luna arrived with Ginny, the pair seemed withdrawn and Remus knew that Luna was worried that while she was here the traitor would sneak up and do something to Hermione. But he also knew she was worried about the fact they were allowing the prisoner to wonder the school and sit with Hermione during the meeting.

Moments later and there were more people entering Remus watched as George shook his head in an 'I'm a clown' way as Lee pushed him through the door with Charlie just behind him. He couldn't help but wonder how George could be so carefree still after Fred's death and now with the possibility that his best friend was a traitor.

Tonks and Kingsley entered the room next he noted the tiredness in their eyes and he almost pitied them. They had spent the afternoon trying to work out who else they could trust to pull into the final battle but it didn't look like they were having much success.

Behind them came Dean with Hannah they were deep in conversation and seemed unaware of what was happening but they sat down and everyone looked up at him. He again looked at the clock and was about to shrug when Ron ran in looking embarrassed.

"Sorry I know I'm always late."

He dropped onto the desk next to Charlie and they all looked up at him, he noticed that some of the more observant were counting heads quickly and it was McGonagall that seemed to notice first.

"We're all here."

"Yes so now I can start the meeting."

"No, I mean we're all here there's no one guarding the prisoner!"

Remus looked towards the Aurors and Kingsley cleared his throat to get her attention.

"Remus informed us that this was a very important meeting and asked if we could bring somebody back to guard the Prisoner so Chambers is outside his cell keeping watch, everything is taken care of not to worry."

This seemed to relax those that had not been in on the earlier meeting. Looking around Remus tried to work out which one could be the traitor but it was impossible, he couldn't believe that it was McGonagall, or Charlie. Then there was Lee, Ginny, and Hannah and again he couldn't see one of them as the traitor.

"Okay this meeting has been called because Ron managed to get some important information from the Prisoner this morning, Ron."

All eyes moved from him to Ron and he watched as the red head looked straight ahead not meeting anybody's eyes. He had changed greatly from the young boy that had first entered this very school twelve years earlier. He had lost so much most of his family and his best friend and Remus was aware of how much he was pained by Hermione being in the hospital wing.

"The Prisoners scar still connects him to Voldemort; he heard part of a conversation a few nights ago. The final battle is to take place tomorrow here at Hogwarts."

Everybody around him gasped and Remus wasn't at all surprised that George's reaction seemed the most realistic out of everyone that knew. He looked down quickly at his desk so that he wouldn't laugh it was a funny sight.

"What are we going to do?"

There was an edge of panic in Hannah's voice and as Remus looked up he caught the arm that Dean had wrapped around her. Kingsley though was now on his feet looking around.

"We expected an attack and one soon for that matter. I can have all our Aurors here first thing in the morning."

"Thank you Kingsley we will need them. But that isn't why this meeting has been called we need to discuss our roles in this battle."

Everyone looked at him and he knew this was it, he was going to have to be careful about handing out these jobs he didn't want to tip off the traitor that they knew anything more than the fact the battle was coming.

"Minerva I'm putting you in charge of the students. I want the seventh years with us and anybody else who is willing to fight; you are to make sure they are well prepared."

"Remus we can't have them fight they are only children."

"I was only a child when I started fighting, so was Hermione, Luna, Ginny, Neville and the Prisoner. We were younger than they are and we need them. Plus if we fail they'll be dead anyway they'll have to fight then."

Remus saw the sadness in the woman's eyes it was one of those things that she had always hated watching the Prisoner fighting for survival from such a young age but Ron did have a point if they failed that was it.

"Okay Kingsley I need to have you in charge of the Aurors, with the exception of Tonks and Dean of course. You will have to make sure they know what is happening and that they don't go after the Prisoner."

The man nodded and Remus turned his attention to the two healers.

"Luna, Ginny I'm going to need you to fight but at the same time if someone is injured and needs help –"

"Remus don't worry we'll take care of any injured but we'll need cover while that is happening."

He nodded at Luna's simple statement and looked around at those sitting there; he needed somebody that they could trust to do that. He looked down at the list and then his eyes went to Dean.

"Dean will you take care of the cover?"

"Sure, I'll probably need help with it though, maybe Tonks could offer additional support if it is needed."

"Yes Tonks you shall be involved in the cover as well."

"Yes Sir."

He watched as she went to salute him and fell off the desk she had sat on. He just raised his eyebrows as he looked at those left.

"Charlie, Lee and you too George I want you to organise some traps that we can use to scare the Death Eaters. I'm sure with your love of pranks you can come up with something."

"You want me to help come up with pranks?"

"No Charlie you're the voice of reason, you're there to make sure that George and Lee don't go too over the top."

The man nodded and gave his brother a quizzical look but he just grinned.

"Hannah I want you to keep one eye on the students at all times. Judging by the lot we have here in this school its going to take more than Minerva to keep them safe."

She nodded and then he stood up.

"Okay then well since that is sorted I want you to go have a good nights sleep and to be here first thing in the morning."

"What about Ron and you?"

Remus looked at Lee and nodded at Ron.

"We're in charge of the Prisoner and making sure he can't get at any of us."

They nodded and as the group began to depart Remus wondered if the traitor knew what was going on. If the traitor knew that Ron was going to be making sure that the Prisoner wasn't taken down by Death Eaters and that he himself was going to be keeping an eye out for traitors.

As everyone left he turned and headed for his own chambers it was going to be a long night but tomorrow would be even longer.