Authors Note: Sorry for the length of the wait between these. Things suddenly went hectic. This chapter is quite short and lots of dialogue. I am wanting to set everything in motion so you can understand exactly what will be happening. There will be action next chapter. I promise. Have a good day.

Chapter 7:

"I must say, I'm impressed Potter." Severus Snape's voice was just as smooth as Harry's memories told him it was. Trowa turned, a slight smile pulling at his lips as he eyed the man before him. There was a fondness settling in Trowa's heart for this man. This man had made it possible for him, for Trowa to live. If he had not helped Harry escape from his vessel then his soul would not have found Trowa broken and dying. It would not have allowed him to come back, to get stronger and become more powerful than he had ever hoped to be when he had been nothing but a no-named orphan.

Expendable.

"I knew it wouldn't take you long to figure it out." Trowa spoke calmly, his voice low as his eyes shifted to the rebuilt house. It had not taken long.

Many of the wizards had stood outside waved their wands at the destroyed wall and within half an hour it had seemed as if nothing had happened. Yet the grief pouring from the Weasley's made it quite obvious that something terrible had. Their son, one half of the twins, was dead. It would not have been so bad if the death had been someone who you wouldn't miss. Yet Fred had been a constant presence, loud and vivacious and with his twin left behind there was a constant reminder of their loss. For a brief moment Trowa also felt their grief, the memories of Harry skimming among the surface reminding him of the fun these boys had given him. The moment was gone quickly. People died in war. The best and the quickest were the ones who survived. It was the way of war they should be prepared.

"It is obvious to any who look closely. However, they are all emotional fools prone to believe what they wish so I can see how they believe that the blonde sweetheart ," Severus sneered at this term, "could fool them into believing that he is you. I am not so easily fooled Potter. Also, I was the one who incanted the spell, my magic can feel its own presence and as such my wand reacted," Severus stepped further into the shadows as Remus Lupin stepped outside seemingly looking for something or someone.

"Your wand reacted?" Trowa threw a devilish smirk at Severus who rolled his eyes and sighed deeply.

"Still a child with his brain in his pants I see. That was the only part of the spell you would find amusing." Severus looked stern but Trowa was no longer the child he had once been and he could see by the way the man in front of him slightly flicked his finger and shifted from one foot to the other that he was hiding his own amusement. Severus and Heero were quite similar. However, Trowa knew that even Severus would recoil at some of the things Heero was willing to do to secure victory.

"Ah, but we both know that I am not the same child."

"That is true. I must say I was impressed that you were able to find me so…discreetly."

"You wizards are often so ignorant in the ways of muggles. You believe that a ward is all you need to be protected but that is not the case. If you know the right people, if you know what to look out for then you can follow a wizard to their very home and kill them where they feel safest without the wards letting anyone know anything has happened," Trowa shrugged as he looked once more at the house. Mrs Weasley was sat inside, her head bowed and hands clutching at a jumper. She had not moved since she had clutched the body of her dead son to her bosom and screamed for some deity to bring him back. George was sat in his room staring into space and talking to Fred as if he was there. He had not eaten, not spoken to anyone else other then the imaginary figment of his deceased brother. George was no longer any use to the fight. It proved Trowa's theory.

Emotions were useless. Emotions were not rational.

"You are most definitely not Potter." It was not a question.

"No my name is Trowa Barton and the spell worked."

"Obviously." Severus shifted folding his arms across his chest and raising his chin a sneer on his lips. "What is it that you want then Barton? Your note, whilst discreet, was not the most informative." Severus stepped forward and Trowa smiled slightly in response.

The note had arrived through the letterbox at Spinner's end. The writing was unfamiliar but the tone and the words used made Severus well aware that it was from the Potter boy. Trowa had written it as such because he knew that Severus was a man who was not easily believe that it was him. He needed Severus to believe him, to get him onto side but it was hard to get the man to do anything one wanted without using the proper code, the proper talk. Severus Snape was mistrustful and highly intelligent, a reason why he had survived so long. The letter had been simple.

Severus.

Sherbet lemons are becoming sour and needs to be changed. The storm is coming and lightening has struck but a lie needs to be told for grandfather and his birds to believe it.

The vibration shall lead you to the right place.

There had been no sender, no name, but the code was easy to crack as Severus had often called the order birds that flocked around Dumbledore like they used to flock around his grandfather. There had been no doubt in his mind that the letter had been from Potter and Trowa knew that.

"Dumbledore will ask you a question. All you need to do is say that it is true."

"And what is the question that I will be asked?"

"If Voldemort is utilising the skills of muggles. You see these poor people were targeted by muggles under Voldemort's control. They set off an explosion and many were injured, some killed. It's very clever of Voldemort to use the people that Dumbledore and his order are trying so fervently to proclaim the goodness of, isn't it?" Trowa's voice was low, his eyes piercing as he stared at Severus.

"The old man truly is becoming senile if he believes that."

"I am a good liar. Part of it was true; one of the people who set the bomb was a muggle."

"The best way to lie is often to exaggerate the truth. Why did the bomb get detonated," Severus stepped closer to Trowa who allowed no emotion to show. His hand reached up and swatted at the nuisance insect flying around his face, his eyes noticing Remus once more come out of the house. He was certain that the werewolf knew they were here, that man was more dangerous than Trowa had considered him to be.

"To see if this truly was the best side to be fighting on. They are useless, emotional and weak. No wonder Voldemort has won the battle." Trowa showed no emotion and Severus nodded in response.

"You are correct Barton but do not underestimate them. They have some brilliant minds that are far sneakier then we give them credit for. They can easily find the snake within their company and will willingly destroy it spouting words of it being for the greater good," Severus spoke from experience a bitter tone clear in his voice.

"No because they are blinded by their emotions. Emotions are useless in war as they can be used against you and whilst some of them are sharper than others they are still emotional fools who will die by either their own hand, Voldemort's or mine if they get in my way."

There was silence. The air was suffocating. Small insects flew around his face, into his hair and landing on his skin making him want to scratch every part of his body. He didn't. The sky was grey, and it was obvious that it would storm. The air needed to be cleared. He could see Severus calculating, could see his eyes wander up and down Trowa's body taking note of how he stood, how he looked and whether he was capable of murder. Trowa let him.

"Emotions can be useful Barton." Trowa almost smiled Severus and Heero truly were alike.

"No they can't. For some yes but for me they are a hindrance. You lose focus, you lose strength and you can become manipulated. Isn't that why you are in the position that you are in," it was not a question and Trowa did not say it to hurt the other but to make a point which Severus bowed his head to in agreement.

"Yes but I was young and foolish. I have lived much longer than you, faced unimaginable things…"

"You may think you have but you have not. I am willing to kill myself if it means victory. Are you capable of doing the same?" Trowa cut off Severus who stopped and stared at him incredulously.

"Of course not. That it moronic."

"No it is fact. That is why Voldemort will always win. He has no cares, he will sacrifice whoever and whatever to win. He would rather die than lose. That is what has made him victorious. I am the same. We got our wish Severus. I am a much darker soul then I was which leads me to my second favour." Trowa's voice never rose from the low octave he had continously spoke in which sent slight chills down Severus' spine.

It took a lot to unnerve Severus and yet Trowa was doing it easily. He spoke how The Dark Lord had spoken when he first risen to power. He spoke in the same way that had caused the proud Severus to fall to his knees and pledge undying loyalty. It was dangerous yet Severus was secretly pleased. This was no longer Harry Potter. They had a chance to win. Severus had a chance to survive and to laugh at all those who doubted him. It had been him. The greasy git, which he knew they call him, that had caused the turn in the war, had caused Potter to go dark. He wanted to pat himself on the back. He didn't instead he gave Potter another appraising look. Potter, no Barton, was powerful he screamed danger and was tense as if ready to fight at a seconds notice. Severus could feel the power and wanted to bathe in it. He saw Barton raise an eyebrow. It seemed he had taken too long to answer. Foolish.

"Another one Barton? I am not your personal butler, nor am I your friend like you had seemed to want to believe."

"No you are not but like me you want to survive and we both know the only way that is going to happen is if I kill Voldemort. So will you teach me the dark arts?"

"Why not ask one of your little order friends?" Severus turned his nose up and sneered, slightly disappointed that Barton did not dispute the fact that they were not friends. Stupid and pathetic, Severus was ashamed of himself.

"There is no need to be childish. We both understand the importance of them not knowing that I was Harry Potter. They can't know that Harry Potter is able to do magic. There is a rat within the order and I still can't find out who it is."

"The muggles say that you are never further than 6 feet from a rat at any one time." Severus nodded slightly his eyes going to the house.

"I shall assist you but only because I am the best at the dark arts. I warn you Barton do not waste my time, if you want to mess around and play then go to Dumbledore with your request." Severus turned to walk towards the house. Trowa just rolled his eyes in response.

"Oh and do tell your friend that he really should get better at hiding in the shadows. It was quite obvious." He was then gone.

"Can we trust him?" Heero walked towards Trowa, his gun hanging loosely from his hand. He had been ready to shoot if it seemed Severus would turn on him, would tell Dumbledore. Trowa would kill to keep his secret. Trowa stood there smiling the slightest bit.

"Of course not. That man is a double edged sword. No matter which way you turn him he shall cut you but he has his uses." Trowa stretched, his back aching turning to face the other young man who was looking towards the house. Heero had been quite impressed with how quick the house had been rebuilt but at the same time concerned. It seemed as if nothing had happened and as such the wizards had tried to neatly forget how close they had come to being completely destroyed. If it was not for the death of a member of the red haired family than it would have been quietly brushed under the carpet. Heero looked at the grieving mother with a tiny sense of guilt.

"Heero, don't." Trowa's voice was soft, his hand resting on his shoulder.

"He should not have died." Heero never liked killing innocents and weaklings as they were nothing to him, they didn't deserve the explosives used or the guilt of murder that he suffered.

"No but that is war. He was unprepared as they all were. The fault lies with them. Do not allow your emotions and your foolish morality cause you to once more hand them a gun to kill you in revenge. It is a waste of time and besides they would not know how to use it, probably throw it at you," Trowa smiled slightly and Heero nodded. Sometimes Trowa's callousness was off putting.

"So stage one has been completed."

"Yes now it is time for stage two. Duo's street kids have found the Malfoys and I plan on paying them a visit." Trowa stretched heavenward once more, his t-shirt rising upwards just slightly. The bullet wound when Wufei had shot him was clear on his skin.

"Do we need them?"

"Although no one would like to admit it the Malfoys are very important. Malfoy controls the ministry more so then Voldemort. Voldemort has not been seen in the ministry so many are thinking that it is Malfoy in charge."

"How do you know this?"

"I have my own spies."

"Trowa which side are we fighting for?"

"Does it matter Heero as long as we are victorious?"

"If the public's freedom is compromised then yes."

"Would you kill me?" Trowa did not look at Heero though a sad smile pulled at his lips, it did not reach his eyes and they both knew what Heero's answer would be.

So he said nothing.

Heero placed his hand on Trowa's shoulder squeezed it hard, turned and walked to the house. Trowa turned the opposite way and picked up the duffle bag he had hidden behind a tree. Stage two was in motion. They all knew their roles and it was time for Trowa to begin his own. As he reached the end of the wards he pulled out his wand, and smiled a true smile as he felt the power vibrate through his hand. Although he had used his wand in the colonies there was not the connection to nature as one had here. He could feel his power, he could feel it sing through his veins and for that moment he felt invincible.

The wind blew through the forest, the storm arriving as thunder rumbled across the empty grounds and electricity crackled in the air. The rain fell heavily making it impossible to see even a few centimetres in front. It did not matter.

Trowa Barton had gone.