Fearful Discussions

The Underground City
Tuesday 1 December 1998

"The bitch is pregnant!" Neville said angrily. Gasps were heard around the hall as many of the people clustered around the one rectangular table. Young adults and older members that were housed in the underground city held meetings twice a week in order to keep track of who was doing what. An emergency meeting was called after Nymphadora Tonks let it slip that her cousin was pregnant.

"Neville," Tonks glared at the younger man. "Don't talk like that. She didn't ask for this."

"You're only saying that," Neville paused, "Because she's your cousin."

"And you're only saying that because her parents tortured your parents," Tonks spat.

"Nymphadora!" Andromeda gasped from her spot at the table.

All the people at the table stayed quiet. They looked back and forth at each other, trying to decide whether it was a good time to even discuss this topic anymore. However, Neville broke the silence.

"As I was saying, Adhara Dolohov is pregnant. This is the moment we've been waiting for to attack. People will be preoccupied with her," Neville explained. After the war it seemed Neville Longbottom became the leader of Dumbledore's Army and the Order. This was something that shocked everyone – especially since they thought Ronald Weasley would be the one to lead.

"Well, then what should we do?" Angelina Johnson inquired.

Neville looked around the room before responding, "Hitting them where it hurts."

"You're talking about murdering a young mother and her baby!" Remus retaliated, something he rarely did. "You're mad, Neville."

Everyone started whispering amongst themselves. They were clearly not comfortable with the task.

"Why Hermione's sister?" Molly Weasley asked tentatively. "Why not some random Death Eater?"

"Yeah! From what you're saying Neville, we might as well just kill Hermione!" Ginny argued hotly.

"No! No, that's not what I'm saying." Neville countered. "Besides, Hermione's proved herself. She's been on our side since the beginning. Before any of us, in my opinion."

Remus scoffed and threw up his hands in exasperation.

"However, Adhara Lestrange takes after her mother. She'd curse us as soon as look at us," Neville said blatantly.

"Not true!" Tonks shouted as her hair grew two inches and turned the color of red wine.

Remus pulled on her sleeve to quiet her down.

"Just think about it, Tonks. She hasn't contacted you in a while," Neville started.

"She's busy!"

"Yes, she is! She's doing something dangerous. Anybody affiliated with Bellatrix Lestrange and Antonin Dolohov is dangerous." Neville looked pointedly at Molly, whose brothers had been murdered by Dolohov many years ago.

"Stop it, just stop, she's just a child, you cannot punish a child for its parents' actions or anyone else's actions." Arthur Weasley said, clearly frustrated with the way the meeting was going on.

"She takes after Narcissa," Andromeda said softly. Her frustration had ceased and made her drowsy. "That's a good thing. My younger sister did well raising her." She stood up slowly and then turned away. "Narcissa raised four children on her own; taught them the rules of life and how to survive. If anything, Arcturus is the one who mimics his biological parents." With that, Andromeda left the room and walked down the long passageway to her rooms.

The meeting hall went silent again.

"Who's Arcturus?" Katie Bell asked from her seat between Angelina and George.

"Their son; he's the spitting image of his father and almost twice as bad…" Arthur Weasley muttered under his breath.

"It's the eldest Lestrange sibling, the boy of the family," Ron clarified. "Hermione's told me loads about him," he chuckled darkly.

"Well, I can tell you even more with the information I was able to obtain," George said while waving a piece of parchment in the air.

"Are we going to kill her or not?" Neville asked with anger.

"Neville, you must understand this, we cannot kill her. That's Hermione's sister and she is still very close to her. It is not the girl's fault that she has been indoctrinated into the Dark Arts since a very early age." Remus explained as tenderly as he could.

"Not to mention it would be ridiculous," Arthur commented. "Not only would the Dark Lord come after us with full force, but her parents, siblings, the Malfoy family and her husband would come after us. We would lose Hermione as well."

"I believe you are clouded by hatred," Luna said smoothly. Her voice was very soft.

"I'm not clouded by anything!" Neville shouted before pushing back his chair roughly and storming from the room.

Everybody watched him leave. Shock was now becoming a normal emotion during this meeting. Without skipping a beat, Ginny spoke next, "What about our allies? Who do you think is willing to join our cause in the neighbouring nations?"

Tonks grimaced. "Not many, I'm afraid. The Death Eaters have really taken over most of Europe."

"Last I heard they're making their way into the Mediterranean countries soon," George commented.

Tonks nodded in confirmation. "But as far as people are concerned, I know we have Draco, Hermione, and my Aunt Narcissa on our side. And contrary to popular belief, I do believe Adhara will join us; especially if it's to protect her child."

"What about the newest Death Eaters?" Molly asked hesitantly.

George read off his parchment and then looked back up at the people at the table. "Malfoy's little friends are now officially Death Eaters. Theodore Nott's father is a Death Eater so this has been a longtime coming. Same goes for Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle."

"Their parents are Death Eaters too?" Luna questioned.

George nodded. "Blaise Zabini, Malfoy's supposed best friend, is just now joining the Death Eaters. He hasn't been given his task as yet; but I can tell it's going to be extravagant." George nodded.

"What about Parkinson?" Ginny asked.

"Pansy Parkinson as well as Millicent Bulstrode are not doing anything as of yet." He looked down at the paper to see what was written next to their names. "Actually, Bulstrode is being personally mentored by Alecto Carrow."

A bark of laughter fell from Ginny's lips. "Two cows grazing in the fields."

A few of the women giggled lightly. Luna however was not thrilled. "Is there anyone else?" Luna asked knowingly.

"The Greengrass sisters are not doing anything but cowering within their estate with their family." George answered.

"What about the Lestrange brother?" Luna asked.

"Arcturus?" George asked for clarification. Luna nodded. The living twin looked down at the parchment in his hands before looking up with a grimace on his face. "Arcturus Cygnus Lestrange has been dubbed the Inquisitor of the Dark Army and Regime. He is partial to the Cruciatus curse and preforms it exceptionally well on his victims when put to the question." George paused, biting his lower lip. "It seems that he takes after his parents."

Luna sat puzzled. "What about the other person? I heard a werewolf follows him around."

"Scabior Greyback?" Tonks and George asked.

"Scabior," Ron said as he gritted his teeth. "That's the prick that kidnapped Harry, Hermione, and I when we were looking for the Horcruxes."

"Ron! Stop that language," Molly gasped.

"Sorry, Mum," he said sheepishly. Then his dark glare returned. "He came on to Hermione."

"Came on to Hermione?" Remus repeated.

"Yes, as in groped her, touched her in inappropriate ways," Ron clarified.

"Scabior? As in…" Tonks searched for words.

"Fenrir Greyback's eldest son," Remus whispered to her.

"I know who that is," Tonks said. "I went to school with him. He was in Arcturus' year. Adhara had a crush on him during our years there."

"And he's apparently Arcturus' close accomplice. Arcturus' personal dog if you ask me," George said in slight disgust.

"Is he still snatching?" Luna asked.

"Unfortunately yes, but it's become very intense. They search everybody's house twice a month for muggle-borns. He's captain of that small unit. Yet he works hand-in-hand with Arcturus."

Everyone stayed silent once more. It was times like these where people missed the nativity of childhood.

"We should take back Ireland," Luna said simply. Everyone looked at the young girl. Her face was innocent and she looked to be in deep thought. "They shouldn't have everything. This will show them that we are still strong. That we can survive on our own, regardless of someone's heritage. It will show them that they cannot take over the muggle world. Because that's where they will hit next if we don't stop this now."

"I agree," Ron said quickly.

"We should raid Pureblood houses like they did to ours and set up more Light Outposts. We could expand the underground city, stretch it all the way across Ireland and then come up from the Earth and recapture what is ours," Ginny added.

More people started nodding.

"Okay, okay," Remus tried to calm down everyone. "How are we going to do this?"

Ron gulped, "I'll lead an assault."

Author's Notes: This chapter is based off of the episode entitled The Wolf and the Lion of Game of Thrones. I thought I'd show what the other side is doing. Also, Ron's last line is a vague reference to the Philosopher's Stone (Book 1) where he says he's the knight when they play live-action wizard's chess. This chapter is short, like the previous chapter. However, the next will be back to its usual length.

Please review. I would love feedback.

-Rosie