Spying
Hedwig was perched on Harry's bedpost. There was a single letter on his bed. He recognized Eva's handwriting on the outside, and after giving Hedwig a pet of gratitude, he ripped the envelope open eagerly. She wrote him daily, usually after she got home from the Ministry, which Harry had found out with help from the Moon Guide.
More than anything, he wished that he could have been with her after her transformation. She must have been so frightened and felt so alone when the full moon finally did set. He wished could have been there. Every day he was tempted to sneak into the Restricted Section of the library and get as much information about studying to be an Animagus as he could. After all, if Peter Pettigrew could learn to do it, Harry should be able to do it too.
The problem was that he didn't have time. His studies were getting more and more complex. He spent most of his time doing his homework or working on his Legilimency. There was little time for fun or writing to Eva. He was looking forward to when Quidditch started back up again. Dumbledore promised to give him time off of Legilimency for practices.
Harry sighed and got into his bed, not bothering to undress. All he wanted to do was read Eva's letter, check up on her using the Moon Guide, and fall asleep knowing she was safe. He closed the canopy around his bed so that he could have his privacy. He took his wand out of his pocket, whispered "Lumos," and began to read.
Harry,
Things are really coming together at work. Today was a long day, but I'm making some progress. In a few weeks, I'll have my first true evaluation. I can't write about it, but the next time I see you, I promise I'll tell you everything. In fact, I need your help!
Speaking of next time, I'm not sure if you realized it or not, but the day before the full moon is Valentine's Day. I was thinking that maybe we could do something special—like sneak away to Hogsmeade—as long as I'm up to it. Maybe we could go back to my old room in the Hog's Head and celebrate—unless you're one of those people who hates Valentine's Day and the commercialism of it all. If that's the case, I'm fine with spending the night in your bed again. I don't need a holiday for a reason to be close to you.
He was fairly certain that his heart had melted at that point. However, even though he did want to celebrate Valentine's Day with Eva, preferably somewhere more private than the boys' dormitory, he didn't think that Eva would really be up for the long trek to Hogsmeade. Perhaps she could make it there at night when her strength was still fair, but in the morning it would be daylight and they would be easier to spot, especially if Eva was too weak to move swiftly.
I can tell how fast the full moon is approaching without even glancing at the Moon Guide. My body knows it. I can sense it. I don't know how to explain it. I feel like there's a calendar inside of my body that is in sync with nature. Even though the transformation is terrible and grotesque, I can't help but feel that it is also beautiful. Though we are unnatural creatures in daylight, during the full moon we are a part of nature. It sends shivers down my spine to think of it.
I hate to end this letter, but I need to get some sleep. If Fudge notices I'm under the weather around the full moon he'll be suspicious. It's bad enough that I have to make excuses for why I'm not at work. Luckily, telling him it's because of "female problems" is usually enough to make him stop asking questions about my whereabouts.
I can't wait to see you, even if it means that I've got to go through everything all over again. Write back soon.
All my love,
Eva
Harry sighed. Night was the worst. He thought of the last night before the full moon and longed to be close to her again. He never thought he could feel such physical pain for a girl.
He glanced at his watch. Eva should be back at the Burrow by now. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the Moon Guide. It was growing darker by the day. After hesitating a moment—because sometimes he felt like a sinister spy—Harry whispered the incantation.
"I solemnly swear I only want to watch." He lifted the small orb to his eye and peered inside. Slowly, the darkness grew brighter and brighter until Harry could make out a fuzzy picture, as though watching an old television. The orb vibrated with power as the scene became clearer.
Eva was in Ginny's bedroom, where she spent each night, staring out the window, as she had done at her room in the Hog's Head. He liked the way the moonlight reflected on her pale skin and made her eyes shimmer in the darkness. She was already dressed for bed in an old tank top and sweatpants. Harry found himself wishing he had been watching earlier.
There was a soft knock at the door that made both Harry and Eva jump. Harry almost dropped the Moon Guide before he realized that it was coming from the Burrow. Eva quickly grabbed a crumpled t-shirt from a pile of clothes on the floor and put it on, disguising the scar on her chest. "Who is it?"
Mr. Weasley poked his head inside the room. "Eva, may I have a word?"
"Certainly," Eva replied. She gestured for him to enter.
He took careful steps into the room, studying the floor. His hands were shoved into his pockets. Harry couldn't help thinking that he looked guilty about something. "I thought we might have a little chat about the… er, confrontation you're planning."
Alarmed, Eva quickly went over to the other side of the room and closed the bedroom door. "You promised that what's happening at the Ministry stays at the Ministry. We can't discuss this now."
"The Ministry isn't safe, Eva. This is the only place I can speak to you and know that whoever may overhear our conversation will not sabotage your plan."
Eva crossed her arms over her chest. "If I didn't know any better I'd say that was exactly your plan, Arthur. Do you know how much paperwork I've had to fill out to meet your regulations? Do you know how much convincing it took to ensure Fudge that I would not need an Obliviator with me?"
"Those are necessary precautions. I'm only preparing you for the chaos that will follow if all goes according to plan," he interrupted. "Eva, if anyone is on your side, it's me. I admire your spunk. I believe in your ideals. However, I am one of few people who do."
"What are you saying?"
Mr. Weasley sighed. "I know you believe what you're doing is right, but others will not think so. In fact, there are many who will try to stand in your way once the ball starts rolling—if it even does. I just don't want you to be in for a rude awakening."
"A little late for that," Eva muttered quietly. "I can assure you that I know what—and who—I'm up against."
"Do you really?" Mr. Weasley remarked. "If your project succeeds, there are many who will do anything to stop you from continuing. Anything."
"Whether it succeeds or not, no one is going to find out. It's still confidential. The only people who know are you, me, and Fudge."
"Fudge is not your supporter. He could turn his back on you in an instant, especially if he found out about your condition. I've seen it happen."
"Aye, well, I did receive that impression when he said that if I didn't succeed next week he'd sack me." She chewed her bottom lip as Harry noticed she always did when she was nervous. "I can't even think about what will happen if I succeed. I can only think about what will happen if I don't."
The room was silent for a few moments. Arthur took a step towards her and put his hands on her shoulders in a purely father-like gesture. "You could still back down, you know. You don't have to go through with it. You could go back to research."
"And study Muggle life forever?" Eva questioned. "No. He has to know the truth. He deserves the truth," she said defiantly.
He? Harry wondered. Who was she talking about?
Arthur sighed. "But you're risking everything on one person."
"It's a risk I'm willing to take." Eva shrugged Mr. Weasley's hands off her shoulders. "And it's not going to be just one person. It's only the first step. One person will lead to more."
Mr. Weasley grinned. "I can see there is no changing your mind."
"No sir."
He gave a short nod. "Well, goodnight then."
"Goodnight," Eva replied.
Arthur lingered in the doorway for a moment, then in one swift stride he was by Eva's side again. He quickly gave her a kiss on the forehead. Harry was glad Mr. Weasley was there to do it because he couldn't do it himself. "Don't stay up too late. And don't stand by that window for too long—there's a draft. You could catch something nasty."
Eva laughed. "Yes sir."
However, when Mr. Weasley disappeared from the room, Eva dimmed the light and returned to the window, her face filled with worry.
Harry watched her for a bit longer, then took the Moon Guide away from his eye because he couldn't stand to watch her misery and not be able to do anything about it. "I have seen all there is to be seen."
He slipped the guide back into his pocket. His curiosity was overwhelming. What was Eva's big project? Was Fudge really going to sack her if she didn't succeed? Succeed at what? And why would everyone be against her?
But the question that bothered him the most was who was she risking it all for? Was it him?
Filled with questions, Harry got out of bed and changed into his bedclothes. While he had been spying on Eva, curfew had passed, and everyone was in bed and asleep. He climbed back into bed, wide awake and waiting for sleep to overcome his questions.
The night crept by at a snail's pace. Eventually Harry did fall asleep, but morning came too soon. He woke up a few minutes early to write a letter back to Eva. He liked to write in the mornings because he felt fresh, and he was usually in much better spirits than in the evening. Harry pictured Eva receiving his letter during her breakfast at the Burrow, chatting with Mrs. Weasley over a cup of tea.
At breakfast, it was clear that Ron and Hermione both thought he was still keeping something from them—which he was. He wished there was someway he could assure them that if it was up to him, he would tell them everything. But he couldn't even admit that something was going on.
He hated keeping secrets from those closest to him. He imagined Eva did too.
Harry found that he left his detentions with Malfoy feeling utterly confused. The more time he spent with Draco, the easier it was to "pick" his brain. However, Harry had no idea when the images he received took place. He didn't know how to arrange them in chronological order. The day before, he had seen images of Kreacher, hobbling about in the darkness, calling Draco "young master," which he assumed were from the summer. Harry had also seen different images of Malfoy fighting with his father. Some were from when he was a boy, but most appeared to be more recent.
However, there was one particular image that Harry could put a date on. It had been earlier in the year, during their Quidditch match, when Malfoy had caught the snitch. It appeared that somehow— Harry wasn't quite sure—he had managed to use a switching spell. He was in Draco's mind, he was on his broomstick. He spotted the snitch near Harry, but had no way of reaching it. Then, literally by magic, the Snitch was in front of Malfoy's face, and the Snitch that had been near Harry was replaced by the moth that had distracted him, the moth that he thought had cost him the match. However, due to the pace of the game, no one seemed to notice the switch. In fact, Harry hadn't even noticed when it happened right in front of him. At least Harry could take satisfaction knowing that he hadn't lost his touch and that Malfoy did cheat. Too bad he couldn't tell anyone.
Quidditch didn't seem to matter much these days, anyway.
"Growing tired of my leg-locker curse, Potter?" Malfoy snapped at Harry, interrupting his thoughts.
Harry glared at him. "Never."
"Play nice, boys," Tonks said, her voice filled with warning.
Harry smirked. He didn't want to let Malfoy spend one more second thinking he was beating Harry at the duel. Harry cursed Malfoy using the Incarcerous incantation. This worked especially well for Harry to use Legilimency on him. He couldn't move or speak, if Harry hit him correctly. It also seemed to piss Malfoy off because he couldn't stand meeting Harry's eyes for too long.
Harry began his search and was flooded with images to slice through. Draco on the Quidditch field. Beating on some first year with Crabbe and Goyle. Receiving a package in the Olwery, only to find the charred remains of a barn owl.
Hold on.
When Harry had seen Malfoy, Crabbe, and Boyle in the empty Owlery in the fall, it had struck him as a little odd. But now when Harry thought of it, it didn't make any sense. Draco had his own owl. Why would he ever want to use one of the school owls to deliver something? And why would it deliver a package to Draco in the Olwery?
The single image was associated with so many more. It was a though Harry could see an invisible string connecting Malfoy's memories. It was the closest he'd ever come to understanding the order of anyone's memories.
Michael Corner's worried expression crept inside of Harry's mind. "It didn't work!" he—or rather, Malfoy—spat. "I thought you said it would keep the owls away." Michael looked positively scared out of his wits.
"I'm sorry, I forgot. Hagrid said you had to add a bit of Dried Scaag to the Ubreadit to keep the regular barn owls away."
"Stupid git. Do you realize what could have happened if all the barn owls had been there?"
"I'm… I'm sorry, Draco."
Harry suddenly felt pain spread from his knees to his ankles as the curse worked its magic. "Calm down, Mr. Malfoy," Tonks said. She got up from her desk and quickly relieved Harry from his painful position. Harry grimaced and got to his feet.
"I think that's enough for tonight, boys. Mr. Malfoy, you are dismissed. Mr. Potter, may I have a word with you?"
Malfoy gave Harry one last look of pure, cold-blooded hatred, then stormed out of the classroom. Harry knew that he couldn't' wait for these detentions to be over so that he could go back to his lessons with Snape. However, this was the first time Draco had ever left a duel against Harry feeling like he'd one. Harry felt utterly defeated.
Tonks went over to the classroom door and shut it. "Come into my office, please."
Harry followed her into the room, which was as messy as ever. Tonks used her wand and moved a stack of books off a chair for Harry to sit down in. He couldn't help noticing that all of the portraits in her classroom were gone. No one was going to overhear their conversation.
Tonks settled into her chair behind her desk and studied Harry closely. "Find anything interesting?"
Harry nodded solemnly. "Loads."
"Good." She took a deep breath. "Harry, we are quite certain that Draco is behind the empty Owlery incident. At first, we believed that he was merely trying to intercept all the correspondence between you and anyone in the order, thinking that you wouldn't use your own owl for Order business. We thought he was working for his father."
"Why would Lucius want to read my letters?" Harry asked. It seemed like a trivial thing to him.
"It appears that You-Know-Who assigned the task of baby-sitting you to Lucius, who in turn delegated it to Draco." Harry assumed that this information had been gathered by Snape. Perhaps it was this information that held him back from his tasks on Christmas Eve. Perhaps this tiny bit of information cost Eva a normal life. "But now, due to your insight," Tonks continued, "the Order believes that the Owlery mishap, including the death of a harmless barn owl, has nothing to do with intercepting your letters. The young Mr. Malfoy is planning something. We don't know what or when or why. That is why the Order has decided to give you your second assignment."
Immediately, Harry perked up. "Another assignment?"
Tonks nodded, her eyes glowing. "Straight from headquarters. We need you to find out what Malfoy is up to in the Owlery and we need to know as soon as possible."
"Why is the Order interested in what Draco is doing?"
"I can't tell you that, Harry. But I assure you that it's very important. You are the only one who has access to this kind of information. I fit weren't for your Legilimency training, we may have never even made the connection. I wish I could tell you more, but the truth is we don't know much."
"I understand," Harry replied. In fact, he'd like to find out what Malfoy was up to for his own reasons. "I'll get to the bottom of it."
"Good. And as soon as you do, report it to Dumbledore."
Harry nodded and got up from his seat, thinking that the meeting was over.
"Full moon's on Saturday, eh Harry?" Tonks said, a small smile breaking out on her lips. "The day after Valentine's Day, if I'm not mistaken?"
Harry froze on his way to the door. Did Tonks know about Eva coming to Hogwarts? She must—Remus probably told her. But did she know Eva spent her time with him?
"Perhaps you ought to plan something special. It's been a rough month."
He studied Tonks' expression, hoping to find a clue about what she meant. Was it a rough month because of Eva's condition or her job? But when Harry opened his mouth to ask her, Tonks raised a hand to dismiss him.
"Goodnight, Harry."