Why don't you show yourself?
You always hide your face
You never tell the truth

Why are you playing so cool?
No one ever can reach you
Everyone wants to know

Hidden truth
Hidden truth

Why do you believe in lies?
Playing the hero, you never let

Go. False reactions, a perfect show

Why don't you free yourself?
Shut the door-let nobody in
Close your book-let no one read

(Deathrow)

--

"So I watched her best I could," Tonks explained, pacing the room and thankfully not knocking anything over. "She's a paranoid one, I'll tell you that. She's got this… this smile, like she knows what you're up to. I barely saw her all day, but she went out that night. Just waltzed out the door and nobody batted an eye. It was as if they were under a spell or something!"

"So she can leave the grounds," Remus observed, stroking his chin. "She has to be strong if she'll go out with the werewolves. There was a full moon last night."

"Right! She was well armed," Tonks clarified. "I had to change my clothes and appearance all day just to get close enough to see. That chick's armed to the teeth!"

"Constant vigilance," grunted Moody, his arms crossed and his magical eye spinning around wildly.

"You'd like her," Tonks nodded to Mad-eye. "No matter what, every time I saw her she looked tense. But easy to track. Holding true to villain lore, she had on quite an outfit. It was black and frilly with bows and up-to the-elbow black gloves with another ribbon serving as a bracelet. Her hair was all done like she was going to a ball… course none of the kids dressed exactly the same. I swear it was a rainbow of color, all except her."

"Course, Voldemort can't have his daughter dressed commonly," Moody grunted spitefully.

"Are you returning to that?" Remus asked him while Sirius rolled his eyes. "We never found a trace of a daughter after his downfall."

"Yer righ' and after we foun' so much ah Peter," Moody retorted stiffly.

"If it is his daughter, then someone must be taking care of her," Sirius uncharacteristically interrupted the argument.

"Not a death eater," Snape droned thickly, lounging greasily back in his chair. "I don't know much about a daughter, except a girl there every once and a while that he said, in passing, was his."

"Well that'd be proof, don't ya think?" Sirius taunted vengefully from across the table. "Little girl walking around who says she is the boss's kid…. That'd strike me as his daughter."

"She did not talk," Severus growled, the tension so thick it was almost visible.

"So we have no idea who would be caring for her, and a long list of new possibilities," Remus sighed, placing his hands over his eyes in exhaustion.

"I think I may know who it is," Dumbledore announced, waking Kingsley up. "Not a Death Eater, but the name sounds familiar."

"Who is it?" Molly asked, though she felt lost.

"Irving," Dumbledore replied slowly.

"Irving!" Sirius and Remus demanded.

"He worked at Takai's base," Remus explained.

"Yeah, he took care of-" Sirius stopped dead. Not daring to go on.

"The ANGELs," Remus filled in. "The important ones, anyway."

"So how do we talk to her?" Molly questioned, wringing her hands together, her eyes shooting around the room like pinballs searching for any new creation the twins might have made.

"That's the hard part," Tonks sighed, dropping into an empty chair. "The school is being told to close, just like Hogwarts. The headmaster is off trying to assure the Ministry that he has no connections with the Death Eaters… seems they want the school closed even though they aren't willing to admit that Voldemort has come back."

"So she'll be leaving the school," Arthur confirmed, scratching his balding head. "We won't be able to find her."

"Unless we make her come here…" Remus proposed tentatively.

--

"What are they saying now?" Ron asked in little above a whisper.

"It's something about kidnapping," George grinned manically. "I think they're going to kidnap someone!"

Harry nodded and took the device out of his ear as Ginny ran up, looking out of breath. "He's coming," she announced tiredly. Hermione came behind her looking worse for the wear and soon collapsed.

The great knight, Sir Rusty- the baby sitter- came clanking up ranting of their victory and lecturing the rest of the lazy lot until he fell over, exhausted. The teenagers grinned prodded the sleeping figure, wondering if they could go back to snooping or not. Harry decided to chance it, though it seemed the meeting was over by the time the device made it all the way down to the floor where the meeting was being held. Disappointed, Harry removed the trick and handed it to Fred.

"So, they're kidnapping the girl," Fred recounted from his place in the corner. "Ah the villain of the year," he grinned.

"So, your girlfriend will be here," George taunted Harry, elbowing him in the ribs. "I'd get some chain mail if I were you."

"Shut. Up," Harry replied through clenched teeth as he pushed George away.

Fred, who was always in for a good ribbing, opened his mouth to add to the list, but foot steps echoed down the hallway. Someone was coming. They all leapt into extremely unconvincing looks of casualness, Ginny falling out of hers within seconds, and looked around the room as Sirius turned the corner. He raised an eyebrow and shook his head.

"You all have GOT to be able to do better than that," he stated disappointedly. "All that's left is nonchalant whistling and you've got yourself the guiltiest poses I have ever witnessed. Including the time your father lit the headmaster's knickers on fire."

"We should, we couldn't hear anything anyway," George lied, kicking out at nothing.

"See, that was more convincing," Sirius teased, grinning.

"My dad lit his headmaster's knickers on fire when he was at school?" Harry asked, slightly intrigued.

"I can see how you'd think that," reasoned Sirius. "But it happened about… a think about a year before you were born. His wand 'discharged' near the stove… Dumbledore was not amused."

The teens snickered at the thought, but dropped their guard too early.

"Oh that's not half as good as what happened in the meeting?" Sirius laughed. "Did you hear what I called Snape?"

Harry went dead silent, as well as Fred and George, but Ron, with a stupid grin, said. "We must have missed that. What'd you say?"

Sirius grinned while everyone else, even Ron as he realized what he had done, groaned. "Well, I guess there's no reason to fill you lot in on current events,' Sirius rolled his eyes, thinking about all the security measures they wasted to keep the kids out of the meetings.

"So since you know about the plan I trust you understand the decision to have you stay at Grimmauld place-"

"I need to study!" Hermione proclaimed.

"Quidditch practice!" Claimed Fred and George.

"Your mom scares me!" chirped Ginny.

"Your house scared me!" chimed Ron.

"Moody freaked out transferring me from the Dursley's to your house; can you imagine the procedure for going from here?" Harry groaned.

"I'm not going to argue-" Sirius began.

"Then you'd better leave because I plan to fight to the death," George explained. Sirius was both proud and annoyed, though he decided it best to let them win as if they went back to Grimmauld place he had to go with them and as Buckbeak was enjoying the ability to fly around in the fresh air, he decided to tell Albus that they all had logical explanations for why they had to stay, and then make up some other reason to go with it.

--

As the sun set, Tonks lead the group to the forest where the girl had gone the night before. The team included her, Sirius, Dubledore, and Remus. It was dark and Remus and Sirius stayed absolutely still under the invisibility cloaks they borrowed from Harry and Mad-eye. Tonks traveled up into the school under another guise, hoping to look for the girl though there was nothing to be done if she stayed inside the school. As Tonks reached the door, however, the girl brushed past her, her eyes glancing at her, then returning to the door as she opened it. Tonks kept walking, nervously, but only because she knew that if the girl poked her head back inside and saw her standing there then the plan was ruined.

The girl, dressed slightly simpler this time, descended the steps and paused. She took a breath and her eyes scanned the grounds. She took another step and seemed battle ready. Remus swept along behind her, watching for weapons. He could see a sworn in a hilt on her side, and her knee-high boots were light, allowing quick movements. Her wand was strapped to her thigh and her finger-less-gloved hands were held at her side, ready. She entered the forest and strolled down an invisible path until the same to a rather large, fallen tree.

She climbed easily up the tree and Remus followed. Her platinum hair troubled him. Voldemort's daughter had had lighter hair… not this light though. He shook the thought out of his head as the girl jumped down. Sirius did not hesitate a bit. He was standing behind her and lunged forward at the first chance he got, grabbing her around the waist. In an instant the girl snaked her legs around and tried to trip him. Remus fired out the same spell Severus had used on him. The ropes wrapped around the girl's legs and she pin-wheeled her arms, forcing Sirius to release her and giving him a nasty jab in appreciation.

In one fluid movement she grabbed her rapier, slashed the ropes, put the rapier back in its hidden spot and spun to kick Remus. Tonks, having ran to catch up. Fired more ropes from the top of the fallen tree. The girl tried to dodge, but Sirius fired as well and she had to give up her attack on Remus to try and dodge Tonks' attack so he was free to fire as well. The girl drew her sword to slash out at the ropes, her movements quick as she sent her body low to the ground. The adults, however, simply fired again, one aiming high, the other low, and one going for the sword.

The girl twirled the blade, but was out-numbered by the multiple ropes and it was pulled out of her hands. She brandished the rapier and tried to side step to an escaping point, but they had her surrounded in an instant.

"Acio, rapier!" Dumbledore called, joining the fray as Remus and Sirius removed their invisibility cloaks.

As her weapon was ripped from her hands, the girl faced Albus, her eyes burning vengefully.

"Hello again," greeted Dumbledore, his wand at his side. "Will you surrender now?"

"I choose to search for another option," the girl replied, her eyes flickering to Sirius, Remus and Tonks.

"You can choose to come peacefully," Tonks offered, though Sirius and Remus stayed battle ready. The girl eyed them and she lifted her hands, pressing them against each other right in front of her face. She bowed slightly, slowly and paused there with her eyes shut. Tonks lowered her wand and breathed a sigh of relief, but in an instant the girl's eyes shot open, her hands circled apart, clapping against her legs and out to the side as she yelled,

"Ashes to ashes!" and fire erupted around her. Remus and Sirius fired through the flames, but the girl was gone. Tonks ran for the exit, but Dumbledore knew the girl could not have gotten that far. He apparated up into the tree above and saw her. Se was staring at the ground below, watching Sirius and Remus search. Albus raised his wand and the girl spun around, though she could not dodge his attack and instead fell towards the ground. Before se hit, she stopped, her body levitating above the ground as she spun to right herself. Sirius fired out at her and caught her legs in a tight net of rope. The girl threw a small knife his way, pinning the sleeve of his cloak to a tree. Remus bound the girl's arms together and the battle was won.

She was barely conscious after Albus's attack and as Tonks returned and fired an Auror's best knock out spell, her eyes rolled back and her body stopped it' levitation and hit the ground with a dull thud.

"That was close," Sirius gaped, trying to yank the throwing knife out of the tree and free himself.

Albus returned to the ground and instructed Remus and Sirius not to release the bind until they were back at the castle. Remus nodded as Sirius freed himself and tightened the ropes as revenge with a flick of his wrist. Tonks picked up the sword and stared over it in appreciation. It was a beautiful piece with elaborate design and even a slight gloss that colored the blade. In front of the hilt, engraved into the blade, was what looked to be a charging wolf.

The handle was molded to fit the girl's hand as it felt awkward at Tonks held it. The hilt was curved toward the blade and sloped like a triangle, creating another deadly edge and the base was the strangest part. It was a circle, but the center was a different metal and it spun independently, and the circle pivoted. Even the rapier was a special deign, though it's silver color and amethyst gems matched the sword. She began pulling weapons off the girl and tossing them into a bag, which Dumbledore instructed her to hang in a tree; they would not need to take them with them. Then she came across a book.

In the largest pocket of the cloak there was a book with a lock. Its cover was elaborate and important looking with tribal markings embossed upon it. The lock held no key hole, nor was there any visible way to unlock it. That, they decided to take with them.

"Back to the castle, then?" she suggested.

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "Sirius, Remus, you can handle our guest?"

The two men nodded and the group headed for the brooms, the girl levitated and traveling behind them. No one dared to speak until they arrived at the castle and rushed down to put the girl somewhere secure. Sirius was glad to see that Harry had listened and him and his friends were nowhere in sight. Moody was waiting by the dungeon door, his magical eye scanning the cell for weapons.

"Have any trouble?" Arthur asked in a whisper as the group returned from the dungeon. His hair was ruffled

Sirius laughed wryly. "No, your average kidnapping," he rolled his eyes.

"Oh, do we have to call it that?" Molly asked, cringing as she approached the group, dressed in her night gown and robe.

"T's what it is," Moody grunted roughly, his eye rolling around distractingly as he turned and staggered off.

"Well then do we have to talk about it tonight?" Molly hissed after him. "I just barely got the children to sleep and this doesn't feel like a good example."

"Got the children to sleep?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. "You instructed the Fat Lady to lock them in."

Mrs. Weasley turned a glare onto him that made all the males take a step back. "Still," she growled. "Let's just get to bed and handle this in the morning."

"Good idea," Dumbledore smiled, leaning his back against the door. Sirius decided to go up and tell the kids, whom he figured were arguing with the Fat Lady, that the mission was a success. Arthur obediently followed his wife and Tonks trotted merrily after them. Remus hesitated though, but only slightly and he pushed forward forcefully and did not look back. Albus could not blame him. Sirius loved having his Godson and yet Remus had lost his Goddaughter in a crushing blow.

Dumbledore opened the dungeon door and traveled down to where the girl was. She had not moved though he was still weary as he made a chair appear and sat down to wait. He hoped Kira did not show up tonight for he could not run. It was going to be a long night of waiting, or so he thought. Not more than a half an hour later the girl's eyes opened and she sprung from the bed like it was about to erupt into flames.

"Ah, you're awake," Dumbledore smiled at her.

The girl took in the cell and quickly noticed that they had taken her weapons. "A dungeon?" she mused and gave a short laugh. "Should have known."

"I offered you a chance to surrender," Dumbledore reminded her pleasantly, as if discussing the news over breakfast.

The girl stared back at him with half-lidded eyes. "And if it had been me to offer the same choice to you?"

"Many have and I chose based on the situation," Dumbledore explained easily, leaning back in his chair. "I'm interested to hear your name," he stated.

The girl smirked and crossed her arms, pivoting her weight onto one leg. "Fascinating, but highly irrelevant," she replied.

"You are here for questioning," Dumbledore reminded her, linking his fingers, amused. "The questions I have to ask are who you are, what you want, how you came to be in this, why you are following Mr. Potter, what do you hope to achieve, and what do you know of the ANGEL program."

"Name: Nevina. Rank: Private Citizen. Serial Number: S-PQK," Nevina replied automatically, her eyes watching the Headmaster, studying and learning.

"Full name please," Dumbledore requested simply, never loosing his smile.

"Name: Nevina. Rank: Private Citizen. Serial Number: S-PQK," she repeated.

"Fascinating," Dumbledore replied, his eyes twinkling in mockery. "But highly irrelevant."

Nevina smirked, nodded and repeated. "Name: Nevina. Rank: Private Citizen. Serial Number: S-PQK."

"Ah so you know those answers don't help?" Albus mused lightly. "Wonderful, but I'm afraid I shall have to inconvenience you until you do give answers I can use."

"Good luck," she replied icily.

Albus met her stare with one of warmth and friendship. He raised his wand and noticed that her jaw tightened and her breathing changed, preparing for torture. He flicked the wand and two glasses appeared, filled with ButterBeer. He handed one to the girl, who accepted while looking thoroughly baffled. Albus took a drink and invited her to sit, which she did. "I love Butterbeer, don't you?" he asked her politely.

She stared at him as if this was all too much for her to comprehend, but he seemed not to notice and instead nodded and took another sip. "Now," he said, setting his glass to hover in the air. "To business." He asked her each question and she replied with her name rank and serial number. She was on edge and every jerk of his hands made her tense. Albus chatted as if having a delightful conversation and Nevina answered the same way over and over again. Until-

"Enough!" she snapped. "This is not going anywhere. I am not going to answer your questions no matter what you do and you know this! What do you want from me!"

Dumbledore stared at her, half amused, almost half glad, and a smidgen confused, though he tried to look mildly surprised yet pleasant. "Well dear, I though we were just having a conversation."

She let out a frustrated cry and clenched her fists, rising to her feet though she did not dare approach him.

"That's not very courteous, dear," Dumbledore advised her, fully amused. "Very well," he said. "Ms. Private Citizen, you answer questions like a soldier. If you wish to act like a POW then that is your decision."

"War?" Nevina slumped back onto the bed. "Oh, so if I am a prisoner of war then that means you want to know what side I'm on. Then again, if I am already a prisoner you know which side I am on."

"I am merely inconveniencing you for questioning and for attacking young Mr. Potter," Albus explained lightly. "For all I know you are a neutral party, but I'm having a horrible time deciding unless you'd like to tell me."

Nevina opened her mouth as if to snap, then stopped and a sneer crossed her lips. "Tricky, tricky," she sat up a little straighter. "But what if I were to simply answer 'not yours,' and leave it at that?"

"Then I suppose it would be up to me to decide what you meant," Dumbledore humored her, knowing she was buying time but not knowing what for. He assumed she figured he would get tired long before she would.

"Go ahead," the girl invited, trying to play Dumbledore's game. "You will decide and I will leave."

Dumbledore smiled at her, his eyes twinkling brightly. "That's only one question."

Nevina sighed. "Then I repeat. Name: Nevina. Rank: Private Citizen. Serial Number: S-PQK."

Dumbledore hid his disappointment. The ANGELs were highly trained and now he had to question one. He had been so sure she had been about to crack, but it looked like it was going to take some time. Taking his eyes from the girl, Albus took the book out of his pocket. Nevina's eyes locked onto it like search missiles and followed every move Albus made.

"That is mine," she growled threateningly.

Albus chuckled softly. "Yes, I know. Obviously it's rather important to you-"

"Give it back," she ordered, and rose to her feet- a predator on the prowl.

Albus tilted his head slightly and smiled at her again. "Obviously it is important to you so I think I'll read it."

"You can not unlock it," she spat.

Dumbledore smiled at the thought of not being able to dispel a spell a student had put upon a book, but considered that there was a special enchantment and he really couldn't. "Then I'll just hold onto it as you won't be needing-"

"Give it back!"

Dumbledore frowned and tapped his wand against the book. The girl froze and backed off so that she was sitting again though her eyes never left her book. Albus nodded and studied her. "What's in it?" he asked curiously.

"None of your-" he tapped the book again, sparks cascading out this time, and she seemed to be unable to speak.

"Might I remind you that you're here for questioning and thus this is my business," Dumbledore reminded her cheerfully. "More to drink?"

"F-fine destroy it, but I will not answer your questions," Nevina replied, though her tone was failing her for once.

"Destroy it?" Dumbledore smiled bewilderedly. "I merely asked if you wanted more to drink."

Nevina did not reply- it looked as though she was battling her thoughts and her insides were tying themselves into neatly organized knots. The book was obviously very dear to her and definitely worth keeping. Albus looked at it in consideration, every second he hesitated seemed to make the girl suffer and she would not even look at him.

"No, I think I shall keep it," he finally decided, though Nevina did not reply. "So, where were we?"

Nevina jumped to her feet. "Ashes to-!"

Dumbledore had his wand out in an instant and fired out a spell that knocked the wind from the girl. The fact that she was willing to attack proved she was reaching her limit, but also signaled that it was time for interrogations to stop as he did not want to fight her. "Calm yourself," he instructed her as she began trying to climb to her feet. "Get some sleep I shall see you again in a few hours." With that he tucked the book into his pocket and strode to the door, opening it with his wand and closing it again once he was out.

Nevina was at the door as it closed, wishing she had been only a few seconds faster as she listened to the echo of Dumbledore's footprints, memorizing their sound. She heard him lock the door at the top of the stairs and thought of calling out. It was dark and cold and she hated being locked up. Yet, as she opened her mouth she could not think of anything to say other than,

"You can not just leave me down here!"

Dumbledore simply unlocked the door and stepped back inside. "Legally, no," he smiled. "But let's not let rules stand in our way, shall we? After all it was you who attacked young Mr. Potter."

"You say young as if there is an old," Nevina retorted sharply.

She was trying to press a nerve, though he could not fathom as to why. "I suppose I do," Dumbledore replied merrily. "Goodnight." He turned and opened the door, closing it behind him and locking it again.

Testily, Nevina rattled the door to her cell and listened to the lock, it was a padlock.

She peered out the barred window and down at the lock. If she had something to stand on she might have been able to reach it, but the bed was simply a board resting in the crevice of the grey brick wall with a thin mattress nailed to it and two chains attached to the wall as the only thing holding it up.

She sat on the bed when suddenly she heard a noise and the dungeon door unlocked. Whoever it was hung the keys on a hook and proceeded down to the very last cell where Nevina was. He took off his cloak and became visible again. Nevina smirked.

"Why all the secrecy, afraid of your own side?" she mused, standing up to approach the door.

"I remember you," Harry replied, peering at her through the bars.

"What?" she questioned, taken aback.

"Last year I saw you in the park, sitting in one of the trees," Harry clarified, his green eyes locked onto her. "Why are you following me?"

Nevina froze for a few moments, staring at him before she looked away and said "Name: Nevina. Rank: Private Citizen. Serial Number: S-PQK."

"Name, rank and serial number?" Harry questioned, shaking his head. "That does not answer anything."

Nevina let out an annoyed sigh and sat with her back to the door so he couldn't see her. "Then stop asking questions."

"Are you working for Voldemort?" Harry demanded loudly, though all he got in return was silence. "Who are you? What is an angel?"

The silence was broken as the girl began to laugh. She laughed mockingly and did not stop even as Harry shoved the door in anger and demanded that she stop.

"You really are ignorant, do you know that?" she asked upon finally quieting down. "You think you know so much but you don't know anything."

"Then tell me," Harry ordered stiffly. His anger radiated loud and heavy.

"…No," Nevina drawled. "I think you should ask them for they are the ones keeping secrets from you."

"Why won't you answer?" Harry leaned close to the door and saw that she had moved from the door and was sitting on her heels, staring up as if she expected him to do that.

"For what questions do answers you seek, and what lies will you accept for them?"

Harry looked her up and down. "You don't look any older than me and no one I know talks like that. Why can't you just be real and answer? What secrets are you keeping that are so important?"

She stood and leaned close to the bars, both hands gripping a bar. "You have no idea," she whispered just loudly and hauntingly for him to hear her. "You may want to ask them about the ANGEL project though- might be shocked by what you hear."

"What are you talking about?"

Nevina laughed. "They never told you? They never told you about her? Never said a word about how they left her to die all alone?"

"What!"

"Ask them! For it is not my place to say."

"Tell me!"

"Name: Nevina. Rank: Private Citizen. Serial Number: S-PQK."

---

Two days had turned up nothing more as no one could make the girl answer. Moody recommended a shot of a potion that would make the girl's nervous system crackle and burn, but Dumbledore did not want to hurt her, though she was doing a lovely job of that herself. She would not eat nor sleep and seemed to enjoy irritating all who dared to try and talk to her. The teens had all seen her and heard about her, even tried their luck at questioning her through the door though there were times she just seemed to disappear even to Moody, and always she would attack with fire if anyone got too close.

"She's a psychological villain," Tonks stated quite cheerfully at breakfast. "She's trying to outwit us, loves mocking us, and she's got that amused smile like she is dealing with a four-year-old."

"Sure, but she hits too," Kingsley mumbled darkly, massaging his jaw.

"I still stand that we should try a truth serum," hissed Snape.

"Won't work on an ANGEL," Remus again reminded him. "The only weakness I know of for them is water."

"Let's flood 'er cell," proposed Mad-eye gruffly. "Jus' fer a few-"

"No!" Molly snapped, coming back from delivering a plate of toast to the girl. She doubted it would be eaten but needed to try something.

"Well we have to do something," sighed Arthur glumly.

The teenagers did not dare to speak, afraid the exhausted adults would remember that they did not want them hearing the meetings. Sirius also chose not to speak, though mostly because for once he was trying to think of a long-term solution.

"We will erase her memory," Albus explained lightly, entering to room and not looking at Harry. "Her abilities would be of grand use to whichever side has her, and if we erase her memory we may be able to re-write it with her on our side."

"The best way to fight an enemy is to use their knowledge against them," Sirius quoted a phrase James had said once.

"I can see no other way," Albus admitted, looking tired as he had not slept once since the first encounter with the girl. "It is the only way to find out Voldemort's plans as we can convince her she is a spy for us."

"Would that work?" Arthur asked tentatively.

"The mind is vulnerable in ever creature with eyes," Remus explained with a nod. "But it would take every grown man and woman here to do a spell of that strength without fatal damage."

"So long as it works," Kingsley shrugged. Harry glanced over at Ron, who looked back at him and tried to appear normal. He knew Harry wanted to know why the girl was following him and if they did this then she would forget.

"Still," Sirius interjected, seeing Harry's look. "I mean, messing with someone's memory. It sounds more like something Takai would do and let's say she joins us. If she is a spy then she is in danger of being caught and if she ever fought out for our cause I'm sure Voldemort would have proof that we had tricked her. Then what? She either re-joins him and spies on us, or has a breakdown as she realizes everything she thought was true is a lie."

"…I see your point," Remus nodded, as did Molly, Tonks, and Kingsley. "But do you have a different idea?"

"We all go down and try intimidation," Sirius offered. "Come on she is just one person and no matter what act she puts up I know she hates being locked up. If we threaten her she'll talk."

"Thought that's what we've been doing?" Kingsley admitted with a sigh.

"We have to make her answer the questions," Arthur recounted. "Then we can find out what to do with her… Now this Kira I've heard you lot mention," he added to Sirius, Remus and Albus. "She wouldn't be a little blond thing with purple eyes would she?"

Remus and Sirius stared at the table, but Albus looked to Fred and George and smiled. "What a wonderful job you lot have done sneaking into the meeting," he was smiling though they could see the disapproval and slid out of their seats and out of the room quite grudgingly.

Meanwhile.

Nevina balanced carefully on the plate and reached her arm out towards the lock, a pick already in her hand. She managed to unlock the cell door and yank out the padlock within minutes and left the cell, re-locking it in a mockery of courtesy. The door at the top would have been difficult, but Mrs. Weasley had not noticed that the sleeping girl had reprieved her of her keys while she had been setting down the plate and so the door to the dungeon was unlocked.

Nevina hung the keys on the hook, feeling Dumbledore would find the humor in them being there. That was when she heard laughter and hid. Twin boys and a girl passed her and she slipped out behind them, seeing two more boys and another girl and scowling at her inability to make a proper escape.

Hermione saw her first and froze, but Nevina dashed passed them, having to take the long way. Hermione ran down a shorter way to cut off Nevina, with Ron and Harry at her heels.

"You're not escaping that easily!" growled Hermione, blocking Nevina's path as they successfully cut the girl off.

Nevina stopped, a bit annoyed by this. "And why is it I am being kept here?" she asked indifferently.

"Well, we wouldn't have to keep you here if you'd be polite enough to stay on your own," Hermione answered, struggling to control her tone.

"Stop, stay there, take a nap, lock yourself up or something," laughed Nevina mockingly. "You are a society trained fool, do you know that?"

Hermione's face reddened and she clenched her fists. "We just want to ask you some questions, but you're being difficult!"

"Is that what you think?" Nevina asked innocently, one arm across her waist while her other hand rested beneath her chin

"Of course! That is what Professor Dumbledore told us," exclaimed Hermione, throwing her arms to the side.

"Society trained fool," Nevina shook her head as if diagnosing a virus. "And what if my answers are not to his agreement?" she questioned, leaning forward as if paying close attention to Hermione.

"Well. Then. I…he…because. You see. That would make you-"

"The villain?" Nevina offered as Hermione babbled.

"Well, yes, I suppose," Hermione looked weak and confused. Nevina seemed to be toying with her mind. Hermione had answered before she'd even thought about it, this seemed to dawn on her as- "That's not fair. You tricked me."

"But is that not what it would make me?" Nevina asked neutrally. "Logically," she added.

"Well, logically, yes, but-"

"You are a logical person, right?" Nevina questioned, furrowing her brow.

Hermione drew in a breath. "Yes!" She pronounced in frustration. "But I wasn't going to say that you were the villain."

"Really?" Nevina asked as if surprised. "But that is the commonsensical answer, the first to reach a rational person's mind. You are a logical person. So how come you held back that answer?"

"I..." Hermione started, but wasn't used to this type of battle. It had always been Harry dealing with the evil and Ron and her acting as back up. Not taking on the antagonist.

"Was trying to trick me," concluded Nevina, nodding her head.

Hermione's lips pursed. "No-"

"Oh, no," Nevina interrupted quickly. "I am not blaming you. I am just proving the point that you know in your gut that this is wrong, but you were told it was right, so…" she drawled out her voice like Draco Malfoy.

"Just exactly what are you accusing me of?" demanded Hermione.

"Only being a society trained fool," Nevina replied casually. "You can not see the truth between the lies."

"Look here now!" Hermione snapped demandingly. "Okay, maybe if your answers hadn't gone along with ours it would be bad. But I'm sure Professor Dumbledore just wants to sort everything out. Once you've heard what he has to say I'm sure he'll let you go."

"Wrong," stated Nevina crossing her arms. "You can do it, come on."

Hermione fixed her with a piercing glare and spoke through clenched teeth. "Well... he just wants to-"

"The simple statement of "just wants to" is also wrong," stated Nevina like a teacher giving hints on a test.

"He wants to talk to you-- get you to answer a few questions," huffed Hermione.

"Correct," Nevina nodded, looking pleased; that expression changed however as she shook her head mournfully and said, "But late and incomplete." She ducked out of view around the pillar.

Hermione ran to the side, followed by Harry and Ron. They cut off Nevina before she got past. Though the girl did not seem too bothered by this for she simply jumped back away from them and smiled her familiar I-am-slightly-amused, smile.

"And if your answers don't match-" Hermione started, hands out as if she was convinced she could draw the evil out of the girl.

"'Match?'" mocked Nevina.

"If your answers agree more with Voldemort, than the Order," Hermione clarified tentatively. "Then he'll ask you why you feel that way," she reasoned.

"Then what?" Nevina asked re-crossing her arms and making it clear she would stay while Hermione thought this out.

Hermione sounded like she thought she was convincing Nevina to give in. "Then he'll let you go." She seemed to be trying to will Nevina into talking sensibly. "Simple as that."

"Wrong," Nevina shook her head; standing above them gave her an ominous approach and added depth to her words. "To 'talk' requires two things. One: a listening partner. Two: a conversation. What you have done is taken a hostage in for questioning. Unless you have seen differently, I cannot remember a hostage ever being taken just for a simple… chat."

"Hostage?" Hermione questioned, trying Nevina's superior tone. "A hostage requires a war. What side are you saying that you are on?"

Nevina tilted her head and gave a slight bow, a small, pleased smile spreading across her lips. "Excellent response. Perhaps you are not as much a fool as I had thought. However, being held against your will is capture. You have yet to tell me what happens if my answers are against yours."

Hermione took a step towards Nevina, like they were old friends. Nevina was above them, giving an ill-omened approach to her words and the power in her control. Hermione didn't see it this way. "No one is going to hurt you," she took another step, her voice sweet and comforting, making it seem like Nevina was afraid of them. "I can see how you'd think that. However, all Professor Dumbledore and the other Order members want are a few answers. Even if your answers are against ours he'll jus- he will understand."

"Wrong again, but thanks for playing the game," Nevina smiled and disappeared from view again.

"If your answers don't agree with ours then you-" Hermione called after her, using the age old knowledge of villains against Nevina. They couldn't let the hero have the last laugh. Otherwise they were saying the hero is right. Nevina seemed more of Tonks' physiological villain; she lost ground if she let the hero gain the upper hand in an argument.

"Must be evil?" Nevina asked, appearing again. She was out of reach and if she ran now they'd loose her. However, Hermione had been right.

"Well, yeah!" Hermione yelled over to her. "We are the good guys!"

"Then you do not exist," Nevina's voice sounded somewhat hesitant, sad maybe. She stepped to the side and was leaning against a wall with her arms crossed and her head tilted down. She was not looking at them and they approached as quickly as they dared.

"... oh," Nevina murmured. "That is right! That is why I am the villain. For those that oppose the thoughts of the good, are then considered the evil," she addressed the floor. They couldn't tell if she was talking to herself or them, but continued their creeping way towards her. She turned to look at them as soon as she finished. "I hate to tell you this, kiddies, but if that is the way you want to play this out then it will never end. You see, the battle of good versus evil has been going on since the dawn of time!"

"Good is stronger then evil!" Hermione called over to her, moving forward slightly faster than Harry and Ron would have dared. "Good always wins!"

"Then why is there still evil?" Nevina asked, once again addressing the floor and seeming to be oblivious with how close Hermione was trying to get. "Why does the battle rage on?"

Hermione didn't have an answer for that. She opened her mouth and took a breath, a sound started in her throat. But, she didn't have an answer.

"Exactly," Nevina shook her head sympathetically at Hermione.

"Our parents are good," Ron prompted.

"That's right!" Hermione started again in a victorious cheer. "The battle is carried on by the children, but good ALWAYS wins!" She gave a congratulating look to Ron as if they'd just won.

"So, if you shall eventually beat me, why should I stay now?" Nevina asked as if scheduling her downfall on a day planner. "We are destined to fight someday, it seems. I have just started before you, so either catch up or wait till you grow up. Then we shall start this battle again on equal terms."

Ron shrugged to Hermione, he didn't have an answer. Neither did Harry or Hermione.

Nevina let out a sigh.

"Forget that question if you cannot answer it," she allowed. "There is no answer. Did you know that good battles good? And that evil battles evil? Is one side of those sides good or evil? Which one, and how can you tell? Answer me that, child." Nevina turned a piercing glare onto Hermione, her tone held a lot of bite and her gaze froze Hermione in mid-step and barely out of arm's reach.

Boldly, Hermione took a step forward so she was roughly a foot away from the girl. She took in a triumphant breath and looked back at Harry and Ron, announcing her victory. She had only to reach out and she could grab the girl. However, Nevina stared at her and slowly a smirk slid across her lips.

"Now what?" she mused. "You have snuck your way over here. Tell me, what is it you are going to do now?"

Hermione swallowed. She didn't exactly know what to do as grabbing the girl didn't seem like such a good idea now that she was so close and could see the excellent physical condition her opponent was in. "If I tell you my next move," she stuttered. "I loose my advantage. Right now my next move depends on you."

Nevina gave her a look that proved she wasn't buying it, but she shrugged. "Fine." In the blink of an eye Nevina had produced a rapier and grabbed Hermione, pressing the weapon to her throat.

Hermione let out a startled cry and Ron and Harry dashed forward, freezing the moment Nevina turned her harsh gaze onto them.

"Surprise, surprise, kiddies," Nevina called over to them in a cynical hiss. "Welcome to the real world. Your childish behavior does not work and villains will not spare you because you are young."

"Let her go," Harry demanded, wand out and aimed at Nevina. "You can't kill your hostage and expect us not to fire, and you can't drag her through the halls as you try to escape because Dumbledore will have undoubtedly heard by then. It's over, let her go and give up and no one will hurt you."

Nevina looked at him. "Valid point," she nodded. "But I have an option C." Nevina shoved Hermione forward, releasing her from her grasp. She waited only a few seconds as Ron and Harry caught Hermione, and then disappeared in one quick movement.

"Oh, no you don't!" Hermione bellowed and headed down the stairs. "Come on we'll cut her off before she reaches the exit!" she ordered Ron and Harry.

"...Did someone just out-smart Hermione?" Ron asked, staring in disbelief.

"Shhh!" replied Harry. They chased after Hermione, who stopped and told them to split up. Nevina had taken a different rout. Harry, however, knew the villain always looked for an escape, so he headed straight for the front door. When he arrived, Nevina was pulling it open. Harry slammed himself against one of the doors, forcing it shut. He fired out a spell and Nevina narrowly avoided it as the cost of retreating from the door. Harry fired out again and Nevina rolled out of the way.

"Move!" she demanded, glowering at him threateningly.

Harry pressed his back against the door and kept his wand raised, pointed at her heart. He shook his head. Nevina took a menacing step forward.

"Move!" she ordered, starting to look desperate as Hermione yelled out, "Forget searching. I'm going to get the Professors!" Harry fired out at her in an attempt to keep her as far away as possible. He wasn't stupid.

Nevina parried his attack and he found himself within arms reach of her. "Move or I will make you move!" Nevina growled at him, sweat visible on her forehead.

Harry didn't trust himself to open his mouth. He was afraid, and she was looking murderous, but he couldn't let her escape. They needed answers and something inside him just had to know who she was. He shook his head slowly, keeping his eyes locked on her. She fixed him with a stare, shaking with rage, then turned and sprinted down the hall, past the house point hourglasses. Harry fired out a spell, and hit her left arm with a painful spell as she dove around one of the hour glasses and escaped through a door.

Harry knew running after her would be pointless with the order members already searching the halls. Though he saw his shot had cut her, drops of blood were visible on stone floor. He followed them, catching up with Albus, who had noticed the blood already. They followed it quickly, but the trail ended at a window which looked too small for a person to fit through. Then again, Nevina was limber, the real problem Harry had was how far up the widow was. If someone had jumped from it they would have died on impact. Still, he spun to head for the exit.

"No," Dumbledore stopped him. "She's not heading there."

He took off towards where they had been holding the meeting and sure enough, there she was, the book clutched under her arm and one leg out the window. She saw them and leaned out the window. Harry leaned out it to see her running across one of the roofs, then she leapt and was gone.