Chapter 16

It was really quite annoying that none of us 'kids' were allowed anywhere near the Order meetings. It was especially infuriating that, even after I pointed out that Harry and I had faced more then any of them in our shorter lives, they decided we were far to young. I hate adults!

We had spent much of the previous few weeks cleaning the house. Apparently it had been Sirus' childhood home, though I didn't think it was very child friendly - Ron was nearly strangled by a pair of innocent looking dress robes the other day - he had inherited it after the death of his parents and had given it to Dumbledore to use as Headquarters.

Sirius and I still did not get on. I couldn't forgive him for showing such obvious favouritism towards Harry, just because I was a Slytherin. We argued on several occasions over most subjects: my parents, Harry, my school house, Harry, Montague, Harry…..you get the picture. You see, Sirius had got it into his thick skull that Harry liked him more than me. However, I had excepted that my twin liked us equally and hated being placed in the middle. Adults…..

The twins and I had spent most of the morning cleaning the library. We had all been given permission to use our wands, the house was unplotable so my underage magic wouldn't be detected, as this room was proving to be quite nasty - one of the books Fred had found had attempted to gorge his eyes out.

We all turned when we heard someone knocking at the door. Remaining silent, we watched curiously as it creaked open. Professor Dumbledore's sparkly blue eyes met my own.

"Hello," he greeted, "Having fun?"

"Absolutely Sir," responded Fred, "I'd forgotten how exciting library's could be."

"Yes," agreed George, "I completely love the dangers of studying in the library."

The professor's eyes continued to sparkle, "then perhaps, as you're having such a wonderful time, I could borrow Kirsty for a few minutes?"

O no….I knew what was coming now…..The ball had begun to roll and I was being brought along for the ride!

"Of course Sir," the twins told him in unison, "be our guest."

"Thank you," he told them, nodding, "Kirsty? If you please?"

"Of course Sir."

I followed him out of the room. My body was shaking slightly and my palms had begun to sweat. We settled ourselves in a spacious drawing room. It had recently been made habitable and permanent silencing charms surrounded it - the Order were hoping to use it as and alternative permanent meeting room.

The two of us sat in silence for a few moments. It felt awkward, like you were walking across thin ice in spring.

"So, you have agreed to cooperate," murmured Dumbledore sadly, "you have not told anyone of our whereabouts?"

"I've done what I've been told," I replied, "He thinks I'm in Romania. Though, I couldn't write it in a letter anyway. I guess that you have put a charm on the property that makes it secret?"

He nodded, almost impressed, "of course. We cannot risk our secret being discovered. Though now I must tell you what you are to do," I nodded, knowing there was know use in arguing, "Of course, I know that you refuse to end your relationship with Montague. I also know that you refuse to join Voldermort - even though Montague has taken his mark…"

"Don't judge him on that Professor!" I exclaimed, Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, "Just because he took it doesn't mean he's evil! I don't believe that, if his parents weren't on such good terms with Voldermort, he would have taken it! Especially before he's left school!"

The Headmaster's eyes widened, as if he'd just spotted something he hadn't expected hidden in the shadows, "are you saying that you believe Mr Grey could be brought over to our side?"

"I think he may certainty consider it Sir," I whispered, though I wasn't entirely sure. Neither myself, nor Montague, had been given any evidence that Voldermort wasn't trustworthy. In fact, I had a box, hidden under my bed, of letters from one Kevin Serpent. He really was a very good pen-pal and seemed to really value my opinions.

"Then, Kirsty, I have something to ask of you," even though it didn't sound like it would be a request - order more likely, "We need you to be a spy within the death eater ranks, feeding Voldermort false information and receiving his orders."

"I swore to him that I wouldn't tell him of any news from within the order," I stated boldly, "I'm not retracting that - he would become suspicious! I also refused to attend the meetings."

"Yet you attended the one were Montague took his mark?" Dumbledore's eyes had started to look dangerous, he wasn't pleased I was refusing to do as he asked.

"I didn't want to embarrass him by not showing! I refused to bow to Voldermort - isn't that enough?" I questioned, "use refuse to let me join the Order, and yet you ask me to put my life in danger anyway?"

"Which side are you on Kirsty?" he asked, "Theirs or ours? I will require an answer soon, otherwise I will be forced to keep you within these walls until the war needs you."

"To do what?"

However, without answering my query, he swept from the room. It looked like I'd made another enemy within the close fold of people - I really had to get out of here….

I waited a few minutes for Dumbledore's footsteps to disappear down the corridor. They were loud and heavy against the dusty wooden floorboards, the man was slightly pissed off. Gathering my courage, I stood from the worn armchair and slipped out into the passage. Then, after reaching the staircase and going to the floor below, I slipped into the bedroom that Hermione, Ginny and I were sharing. It was a large room with three single beds scattered around it. We each had our school trunk and a bag at the foot of our beds, these contained most of our worldly belongings - though I had a lot more in a vault at the wizards bank, Gringotts, that my parents had left for me and Harry.

When I reached my school trunk, I fell to my knees before it and opened the lid. Long shadows seemed to fill the space so I slipped my wand out of my pocket and whispered "Lumos," then it filled with light. Using my wand like a muggle torch, I fished around trying to find one of my many odd socks. It didn't take long to discover it and I quickly pulled out the little package that was within.

It was wrapped in sliver paper, inside was a small pendant that Montague had given to me as part of my birthday gift; it was silver snake with an emerald eye. I had not worn it until now as Montague had said it was a method of contacting him if things got bad. There was an aura of dark magic about it, though very weak, I had been scared that someone else would have felt it to. However, it was time to throw caution to the wind, Voldermort - though he was my parent's murderer - had never forced me to do anything that I didn't want to, if you cancelled out the graveyard last summer.

"Montague?" I whispered nervously, "Can you hear me?"

"Kirsty?" he responded, his small voice echoing around the room, "what's wrong?"

I looked around me, fearful that the walls had eyes and ears, "I need to get out of here! Dumbledore's forcing me to pick sides, I'm in no position to do that Montague. It's either I betray them or my heart, I won't choose Montague, you know that!"

He grunted nervously, "Do you need to get out of there?"

I paused, had things really got that desperate? "I can't, I've no way out."

He paused, then I heard the sounds of whispering, though I couldn't tell what they were saying, "My mum recommends telling Dumbledore you're on his side, though refuse to co operate with whatever his plans may be. Though this may mean you have to stop owling me this summer, it should keep you safe. Break all contact with anyone the Order doesn't deem to be trustworthy."

"Ok," I replied, knowing exactly what he meant. Contact with Voldermort had to be put on hold, even though most of the topics discussed were the latest book we had read, the latest broom and the finer points of reptilian conversations, "I understand. Can you tell your cousin, Kevin, for me though?"

"Of course," he replied, knowing who I meant, "though I do request you wear this continuously from now on. It is a sleeping portkey that I can activate from here. If the situation becomes dangerous, or worse, just call for me and say what you need me to do - then I'll get you out of there. I promise. Though I recommend that is all the use you have of this necklace. If not before, I shall see you at the Slytherin table, I'll explain to Draco what's happening. Sit with your brother on the train. I Love you Kirsty Potter and I shall keep you safe in any way I can."

Then the echoing stopped, he had gone.

A/N: As you can probably gues this is a kinda anti-Dumbledore story. But do you guys think he's in character?

TBC,…..