"We need to get back in there," Harry said again, his temper flaring as his patience wore down.
"That isn't an option right now, Potter," Moody growled, watching him from the other side of the table. They were all gathered in Sirius's old kitchen. Lupin, Moody, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as well as Charlie, Fred, George, Hermione, Ron and Harry. The others had been asked to go to the Ministry.
"What do you mean it isn't an option? Why can't we get into Hogwarts?" Harry demanded.
"Because it's not safe," Mr. Weasley cut in. "There's too much at risk with Malfoy in there. He knows he's got the upper hand and he isn't stupid enough to let his guard down now. We go barging in there, we'll kill all of them."
Hermione frowned, holding up her hand. "Isn't there any other way to get into Hogwarts besides the fireplaces and that bridge?"
Before Moody could answer, Bill came into the kitchen, holding up a newspaper.
"Look at this," he told them, placing the paper on the table.
They all read the title and then looked up at Bill as if he'd lost his mind.
"It's a Muggle newspaper, Bill," Ron pointed out with a smirk.
Bill rolled his eyes and pointed at the largest article on the front page. "Read that," he told them.
"'Newest Candidate is a Huge Success,'" Tonks read before looking up at Bill. "So?"
Bill gave a heavy sigh and grabbed the article and began to read it. "'In the upcoming elections for new Prime Minister, England's masses seem to agree that Timothy Roland is the People's Choice. This family man devotes his time not only to the political spectrum of life but to his family and friends who support him fully,'" Bill read. He read a bit more about the man then looked up.
Mr. Weasley frowned. "Timothy Roland… I've heard of him before… where have I heard of him?"
Bill looked around to see if it rang a bell then let out an all suffering sigh. "He's the git who ran for office after they sacked Fudge. He's running again," he explained.
"In a Muggle election?" Hermione asked, her attention gained. "Why would a wizard run for a Muggle position?"
Bill shrugged. "I thought you all should know. They haven't run an article on it in the Daily Prophet, but then again, those idiots don't know what to write these days," he muttered.
Moody snatched the newspaper from Bill and read it over silently before looking around. "Death Eaters," was all he said.
Bill nodded but others didn't understand yet.
"What do you mean, Death Eaters?" Percy asked.
Moody pointed to the newspaper. "Timothy Roland was a suspected Death Eater back in the days of Voldemort. After the war, he was cleared of all charges against him and the Ministry hasn't had a problem with him. This must be Malfoy's work."
Suddenly it hit everyone what Moody meant.
"Oh my God," Mr. Weasley whispered. "They're going to use the Muggle elections as a way to get to Muggles."
"They've taken the battlefield to a whole new level," Ron muttered.
Hermione reached out and grabbed the newspaper, flipping through it while everyone watched. "If they're having elections, then the candidates will have to make speeches on why they should go into office. These speeches are normally in some sort of arena or something like that where lots of people can go and see."
"So?" Fred and George asked.
Hermione glanced up at them before going back to skimming the pages. "So, it means that Malfoy might not wait until Roland gets office. And since he's not going to wait…"
"He's going to use the Unforgivable Curse to control the Muggles at those meetings," Harry finished, catching Hermione's gaze before she nodded and looked back down.
"Not everyone meeting mind you. Muggle technology may be flawed, but they're not completely stupid and neither is Draco Malfoy. He knows that if the media is covering the meetings he won't be able to use the curse because thousands of other people are going to be watching and see that Roland is using something to get votes and he'll be forced to pull out of the race," she explained. Her eyes got all bright and she looked up.
"Found the dates and places," she said, taking out her wand and tapping it on the area where the schedule was. It was instantly outlined in red and Hermione pocketed her wand with satisfaction. She handed the newspaper to Moody who took it and instantly left the kitchen with Mr. Weasley and Lupin.
Mrs. Weasley stood up and pointed to the remaining.
"Come on, it's time for you to go back to the Burrow," she told them, motioning for them to march to the fireplace.
As they went, Ron leaned towards Hermione and whispered into her ear, "Great job."
Feeling goosebumps rise on her skin, Hermione blushed and smiled before stepping into the fire and disappearing in green flames.
Bellatrix sat down with Folen, Goyle, Bulstrode, Flint, Crabbe and surprisingly, Fenir Greyback. The werewolf was in the corner of Bellatrix's private room, which she used very little, glancing over at them occasionally as Bellatrix explained her plan.
"It won't be hard. As long as you keep your men quiet and make sure that they keep their cloaks on, you will get in undetected," she told them.
Folen folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. "Won't they see our footprints?"
Bulstrode rolled his eyes. "It's the Burrow. There must be footprints all over the place," he sneered.
"It was just a question," Folen growled.
Bellatrix sighed. "I don't care how long it takes you, can you do it?"
"That place is protected by tons of charms from Dumbledore. Do you know how hard it's going to be just to get on the property?" Flint asked incredulously.
"That is if we can find it," Goyle added glumly, his eyes going over the blueprint Bellatrix had given them.
"If we can get into the ultimate safeguard, then I don't see how a silly little dump of a house should be harder?" Bellatrix snapped. "I just want to know if you can do it."
"What exactly are we looking for anyway? Assuming those idiots aren't in the house."
Bellatrix's dark eyes traveled over to where Greyback stood. "Greyback knows what I need. That should be enough," she told them, her voice filled with a dangerous finality that told them that the meeting was over. They all got up and Folen collected the blueprint before they all left, except Greyback. Bellatrix got up and went over to her fireplace, watching it as the wood crackled and burned.
"Malfoy doesn't know about this does he?"
Bellatrix smiled. "I pride myself on secrecy, Greyback. You of all people should know that."
"You shag the child and all of a sudden you make the calls," he growled deeply, moving away from the wall and going over to her with deliberate calculation. She turned to him.
"He's not a child anymore, Greyback," she whispered.
"Yet you do things behind his back and protect him like he was one," Greyback hissed, moving around so that he was behind her.
"When you get me what I need, I will tell him," she told him.
Greyback turned her around so that she was pressed up against him. "I will not take orders from a runt," he growled into her ear.
Bellatrix looked into the eyes of evil and smiled. "That isn't your decision," she murmured calmly. "Do what I ask and I promise, you will not have to take orders from him any longer," she whispered before motioning for him to leave.
Greyback's lip curled back to expose dripping white fangs stained with the blood of innocent people.
"I'll be seeing you," he growled before slinking out of the room. As the door closed behind Greyback, someone else slipped out undetected, her mind racing as she raced around, looking for Draco Malfoy.
"What exactly were you planning?"
Bellatrix smiled and turned to look in the stormy eyes of Draco Malfoy. She went over to him and waited until his arms were around her waist before answering.
"You are in charge of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, but when your other plan goes into play, someone will need to take over the Ministry," she whispered into his ear as he kissed her neck.
"Greyback?"
"I will not explain my reasoning with you, Draco," she whispered.
"Pansy was here," Draco said, changing the subject instantly.
Bellatrix nodded, pointing to the area behind the couch. "She was over there, listening. She'll be looking for you now. Give me a chance to change then I'll deal with her," she told him, giving him a long kiss before pulling away and going over to her bathroom. "I will not stand her little bid for my place any longer."
"She's a Slytherin," Draco murmured, following her into the bathroom where she was undressing. She looked up at him.
"Then she will die like one."
"Greyback!"
The man turned around, watching a young man, no older than sixteen, run down the hill from the massive doors of Hogwarts to where Greyback waited patiently.
"What?"
The boy handed him a note and then backed away, careful not to kick up any snow on the menacing figure. Greyback looked down at the note and smiled.
"Bellatrix, you devil," he murmured before he changed his direction towards the woods.
A/N: I love this story.