Dumbledore looked at the group of solemn people in front of him.
Harry, Hermione, the Weasley's, Neville, most of the DA, they were all there, as well as the teachers.
He cleared his throat.
"Very serious things have happened. Trelawny kidnapped Sevvy and attempted to kill him. He is safe, thanks to Mr Longbottom and Crookshanks," he reassured the gasping witches and wizards.
"Trelawny turned out to be a Death Eater. She is being kept prisoner. Under Veritaserum, she has given away Voldemort's plans. As soon as she had killed Sevvy, she was supposed to contact him. He would then march to Godric's Hollow for what he intents to be the final battle."
Shouts erupted, fearful and excited at the same time.
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore's face became very grave.
"For years, a Death Eater lived among us without us even knowing. I cannot…cannot take such risks anymore, certainly not on the eve of battle. I must ask you all to bare your left arms and show them clearly."
The reactions were slow, but as most people saw the reason behind the request, they pulled up their sleeves to show their arms. Mad Eye Moody nodded happily as he pulled up his own sleeve to reveal his bare arm.
"Constant Vigilance, I'm glad you remember, Albus."
"Certainly, my old friend. How could I forget with you here to remind me?" Dumbledore chuckled.
When assured that no one bore the Dark Mark, the Headmaster directed them to the long tables.
"Sit down and have a drink while I explain our plan."
Harry took his place next to his new father at the head table.
"Voldemort is waiting for a message from Trelawny that Sevvy is dead. We will let her send that message soon. In the meantime, you will notice that Fred and George Weasley are not attending this meeting. This is because they are on a mission to prepare Godric's Hollow."
Molly paled and opened her mouth to shout at Dumbledore, but Arthur put an arm around her shoulders.
"They are adults, love. They're the best we have for this mission. They are clever, stealthy and have a whole barrelfull of gags to plant. I worry as much as you do, because they are our sons, but we have to let them fight their own battles now, Molly."
His wife turned to him with wide eyes, full of tears.
"I know," she whispered, "but they're my babies. I gave birth to them, I rocked them and sang to them…I can't…can't face losing them…I keep seeing Fabian and Gideon…"
"Mom," Bill carefully took her hand, "Mom, I know. I can't promise you we won't die, none of us can. But we love you very much, and we're very grateful for how much you've always loved us and cared for us. Now we are adults, and we can't sit around idle while that madman is on the loose. Allow us to make you and Dad proud of us, Mom?"
Molly hugged her firstborn tightly. "I already am proud of you," she said, "but it's so hard. I understand, but I don't have to like it!" she said, with a bit of her old spirit.
Her children chuckled.
"Molly, I can't make any promises either," Dumbledore said, "I can't make any promises to anyone. I, too, am terrified of losing my children." His hand rested on Harry's shoulder, "but this war involves us all. We have to let them do their part, however much it pains us…and how much we wish to keep them safe."
Molly nodded through her tears.
"When the Twins have booby-trapped Godric's Hollow," Harry took over from the headmaster, who, like Molly, was temporarily unable to speak, "Voldemort's army will be unable to flee the battlefield or call for reinforcements. We, however, can. Fred and George will also have prepared the place where my parent's house used to be. We think Voldemort plans to take me out there. Only he and I can enter."
"The rest of Godric's Hollow will have turned into a huge minefield. All of the traps are made by Fred and George; they all bear their magical signature. They have developed these…" Harry held up small pastils that seemed to consist of a greenish goo and looked incredibly unedible, "each of you will eat one before we Apparate. It will protect you from the effects of their gags. Hermione also created more coins like we used for the DA; these have a portkey function and activate with a password to prevent Death Eaters using them. Now, professor Moody will go over battle tactics with you, but before we do so, Albus has some questions."
Dumbledore stood up.
"Yes, I'd like to know if any of you is a Death Eater, or plans to betray us to Voldemort."
Stunned silence.
"I do," a voice suddenly sounded.
"Seamus?" Harry asked, his jaw dropping, "but you are a half-blood yourself! Why would you sympathise with Voldemort?"
"It's better to be a pureblood," Seamus responded, "and I hate you. I hate Snape. If I turn to Voldemort during battle, he will probably grant me a place in his forces and forgive me for having tainted blood."
He received angry glares from the Muggle-borns and half-bloods in the room.
"Alright, take him away," Harry sighed, "lock him up in the castle. Don't send him to Azkaban! After the battle, maybe we can reason with him."
Voldemort's Lair –
"Any news yet?"
"Not yet, Master, though we believe she is close; the brat hasn't been seen for over a day yet."
"Very well, we will await her report. Is the army ready?"
"Completely, Master. We haven't fed the werewolves for a few days; they are angry and bloodthirsty."
"Excellent, my dragon. Have the guards at Godric's Hollow reported anything?"
"Nothing, my Lord. All is quiet."
Hogwarts –
Very late that night, Fred and George Weasley got back, tired, but satisfied with their work. They immediately went up to the tower to report to Dumbledore.
"It's done. Everything you requested, and a few extra's," they smiled, "any news here?"
"Seamus was arrested," Harry said, "otherwise everyone is just preparing."
The twins raised an eyebrow. "Seamus?"
"We had the house-elves slip Veritaserum in the drinks when we had the meeting," Harry said, "when Albus asked if anyone sympathised with Voldemort, Seamus admitted to it."
"Veritaserum?"
Dumbledore nodded. "We made sure every arm was checked for the Mark, and everyone was dosed. I'm not taking any chances, not anymore."
The twins nodded. They shared a glance, and rolled up their sleeves to reveal unblemished skin.
"You didn't need…" Harry protested.
"Yes, we did," Fred said.
"we will not be exempt," George nodded,
"because you could have been mistaken in us as well."
"Besides, I bet…"
"that you had your arm checked as well, even though you are Voldemort's arch-enemies."
Harry smiled.
Sevvy sat up in bed, wide awake when they checked on him before turning in themselves.
"What is it, little one?" Dumbledore asked gently.
"You're going to battle," Sevvy sniffed, "I heard people. They say you could very well die!" He glared accusingly at Harry.
Dumbledore pulled him on his lap while Harry sat down next to them.
"You have to turn me back into an adult," Sevvy begged, "I want to help you!"
"Sevvy," Harry said gently, "Sevvy, you don't want to be an adult again. I won't have you do it for this. Besides, even if you were there, you couldn't help me. It is between me and Voldemort. Even Daddy won't be able to help me. But you know what?"
Sevvy looked up. "What?"
Harry smiled at him. "I will constantly think of how much you want me to come back, and how much I love you, and that will make me stronger. So you will help me, Sevvy. And will you do something else for us?"
The dark head nodded expectantly.
"Madam Pomfrey and Molly Weasley will stay here, and change the Hall into a huge infirmary. They are going to need lots of help."
Sevvy sighed. "I can go help them," he said. Then he flung his arms around them both.
"I want you to come back, I don't want you to go," he sobbed, "I'm scared."
Harry felt tears running down his own face, and when he looked at Dumbledore, he saw glistering drops in his beard as well.
"Shhhh, Sevvy," the old man soothed, rocking the boy, "I know. It's ok to be scared, Harry and I are scared too. But you understand why we have to go, don't you?"
Sevvy nodded, and rubbed his eyes with his fist. "To stop the bad snakeman from killing more people," he said, "I'll be brave, Daddy."
"And we'll be very careful," Dumbledore promised, "we'll do our best to come back to you."
Voldemort's Lair –
"My Lord, a message has arrived. The boy is dead."
The Dark Lord sat up straighter, his red eyes gleaming ominously.
"He is? How?"
"She threw him to the Whomping Willow, Master. He died at the entrance to the Shrieking Shack. Apparently there isn't…isn't too much left of his body. It will be a closed, private funeral for that reason."
Voldemort burst out laughing. It really wasn't a pleasant sound, but the Death Eater considered it a good sign. At least when he was laughing, the Dark Lord was less likely to curse him.
"She appreciates irony, I must grant her that," he chuckled, "This is a most welcome message. Go. Tell Draco and the others to gather our forces. We leave for Godric's Hollow."