Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to JKR, anything you don't is mine.

A/N: Thanks Hannahzzz and Duskfire1954 for the reviews!

Oh my goodness, it's been so long! I'm really sorry about that, but with school and dance practice five times a week, I'm awful busy. I'll try to start regular, or semi-regular, weekly updates soon, but no promises. Updates might be slow for a while, but not too slow, I hope. Sorry again! On the bright side, I wrote all of this today.

By the way, nobody guessed who the third spy was. Any guesses? I would love to know who you think it is. It's somebody you will know, I promise, not some OC of mine or someone you've never heard of. Guess right, and, well, I can't really tell you because I don't want to ruin it. But still, you should guess anyway!

Chapter 7

"The first wishes to remain unnamed, at least for now. The other is, if they'll agree and will hear me out, you."

I stared blankly at Dumbledore. Was he being serious? I'd never heard him joke about something like this before. But – No, this couldn't be true. I started to laugh, thinking that he was joking but also, somehow, knowing that he wasn't.

"You've got to be joking," I laughed. When he shook his head slowly, I stopped laughing and instead continued to stare at him, sitting down in the chair behind me for the first time. "You've finally gone completely mad," I muttered, shaking my head and running my hand through my hair. "I always thought you were utterly bonkers, but now – now I know you are."

"Why are you so surprised?" he asked calmly.

"I don't get it," I said, not answering his question. "It's not going to work. The second Bellatrix sees me, I'm going to be dead. Dead. Or worse."

"Ah, but you have to hear me out and you'll understand," Dumbledore said. I ignored him and said,

"But wait – if you didn't want me to know what's going on, and now you want me to be a spy, how does that work?"

"Nicole, please hear me out," he said. I sighed angrily, but stopped talking to listen to him.

"Mr. Malfoy may not be the highest Death Eater, but he is pretty close to his aunt Bella, who is the highest Death Eater – at least right now. She lets these clues slip, or he overhears her plans, so he knows things that, if they knew that he knew, he would probably be dead."

"Is Draco even ready to be spy?" I interrupted. "I mean – "

"I will answer all questions when I am finished, alright?" Dumbledore said impatiently. I sighed grumpily again. "Anyway, he was asked to do something for her one night. It was something to do with you."

"Me?" I asked, not surprised. "What else is new?"

"Shh." I frowned, but did as he asked.

"Well, you know Evan Rosier, right?"

"Isn't he the really good potions maker? Like, better than Severus?"

"Yep. Well, Rosier also has a talent for creating potions. You know the potion, in your other time, that brought Voldemort back to life? Well, his father created that potion."

"So?" I asked, having no idea where he was going with this.

"Not only is he the one creating the potion to bring Voldemort back – at least, Draco believes he is, that's why Bellatrix took your hair with your blood on it in your dream, it's needed for that potion – but he's creating one that puts the drinker completely under the person who poisoned them's control. Like the Imperious Curse, only, apparently, you're fully aware of what's going on, but you can't fight it at all and it's a poison."

"So she was going to have Draco give me that poison," I realized. Shit, what if Draco hadn't become a spy? I would have been put completely under his control.

"Yep," Dumbledore said. "They were going to have you pretend to stay on our side – and if Draco told you not to, you wouldn't have been able to tell us what was going on – but really be on their side."

"Shit," I muttered. "What if they got somebody from our side to drink this potion? We would have no way to tell!" Dumbledore shook his head slowly – he didn't know how to keep that from happening. "I guess we could all take a page out of Mad-Eye's book – only drink from our own hip-flask."

"It's an idea," Dumbledore said. "Anyway, back to the point. To make sure he doesn't blow his cover, Draco is going to pretend to give you the potion. You two are going to be working in close proximity for a while, because everything that he's told to tell you to do, you have to do it."

"But – "

"No ifs, ands, or buts."

"No!" I screamed, moving to sit on the edge of my seat as close to him as possible. "What if he orders me to kill James? Or Lily? Or Harry? Or Regulus?…I can't – I won't!"

"We'll have to find a way to avoid that," Dumbledore said calmly, despite the fact that I had just yelled at him. I stared at him in disbelief. "We will find a way, trust me, alright?" After staring at him for a moment, I nodded slowly. But I couldn't help but think – what if we couldn't?

"Tell me more about this potion," I muttered.

"Basically, the person who gives it to you – Draco – has complete control over your actions. However, if he doesn't forbid you from saying something or doing something, you can. It only works for two weeks, so it has to be given to you every two weeks – which is simple enough, because he can just tell you to drink it and you will."

"So wait – if he didn't tell me not to tell you something, I could tell you?"

"That's correct. The only downside – he has to actually be with you and tell you what to do. However, for us, that's a plus."

"So," Dumbledore continued, "say that he gave it to you and told you to Apparate to wherever they are – "

"Does he know where they are, by the way?"

"Yep, they're using the good old Malfoy Manor. It's protected by the same spells as before – apparently, they haven't realized that you and Severus could get in because you have those Dark Marks. Anyway, if he told you not to use magic, only to Apparate there, then you could not. But, if he didn't tell you not to yell at them once you got there, you could."

"Sounds like something I would do," I muttered.

"I know," Dumbledore said.

"Wait, you never answered my question – if you didn't want me to know what's going on, and now you want me to be a spy, how does that work?" I repeated. Dumbledore sighed slowly.

"I wanted to keep it from you as long as possible. I didn't want you to have to worry. You should've been out with your friends, having fun in Hogsmeade today instead of worrying about watching everything you drink for poisons like that." I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Oh well. It seems that I was born for trouble with Death Eaters – I wasn't even born when this all started, actually." Dumbledore watched me for a moment before he said,

"Well, I haven't official asked – will you go undercover for us?"

"I have a few more questions first, if you don't mind,," I said.

"Fire away," Dumbledore said.

"When can I go back to work?"

"When Severus is better and can resume his position."

"Okay, so when do I have to go undercover?"

"So you agree, then?" I sighed – might as well. If it would end this second war that I could see coming once and for all, then I might as well.

"I guess," I mumbled. "Anyway, when do I have to go undercover?"

"I'll let you know."

"Alright. Who's the other spy?" Something told me he wouldn't tell me, but I might as well try.

"I've told you – I cannot tell you." Dammit – I should have known instantly he wouldn't change his answer from before. Why did I bother?

"What if I guess? Will you tell me if I'm right?"

"I'll just say no to everything, even if you're right."

"Damn." I paused. "Are you sure Draco can handle being a spy? Is he really ready?"

"Oh yes. I've been giving him lessons similar to the ones I gave you back in the 70s." I nodded – Dumbledore would help Draco a lot. I had only one more question before I was ready to go to bed – I hadn't realized until now just how tired I was.

"Will you stop telling people to keep me out of the dark, and have Filch let me leave? I'd like to know what's going on outside of this school, and you have people keeping me in the dark."

"Alright. I'll let them know right away."

And he did, for he sent several Patroni out the door at that time. "Thanks," I muttered, standing up, yawning, and heading for the door. But just before I left, when my hand was on the doorknob, I turned back for a moment.

"Can I tell anybody about this?" I asked.

"I would prefer if you didn't," Dumbledore replied. "Or, let me correct myself – only those in the Room of Requirement right now. And no children or students please – I'll tell Draco myself." I smiled slightly.

"Thanks."

I quickly left the room and headed for the Room of Requirement.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

"There you are!" Regulus exclaimed. "I was wondering where you were." I had just entered the Room of Requirement. Regulus was the only person still up. He was reading some piece of parchment in the Common Room area. I slumped onto the couch next to him. "What took you so long?"

"I was talking to Dumbledore," I said, leaning against him. He put his arm around my shoulders and put the parchment on the table.

"Is that what that Patronus was about?" I nodded.

"Yeah, we – we talked."

"About?"

I sighed before I started to tell him everything – starting with how Filch had denied my entrance to Hogsmeade, how I had gone to see Severus and then how I had come back to talk to Dumbledore and everything he had told me.

"No," Regulus said as soon as I was finished, shaking his head quickly. "No, no, no, NO! You are not going undercover again, I won't let you, I-I-I'll – !"

"Stutter at me?" I joked. Regulus glared at me and I shut up.

"I don't care if I have to kidnap you myself, you're not going undercover again," he said forcefully.

"Oh, come on, I can make my own decisions!" I exclaimed. "I am, basically, of age – "

"Actually, you're not."

"I will be in September," I pointed out. "That's close enough. Besides, they'll think they have complete control over me, they won't hurt me."

"Yes they will!" Regulus exclaimed, running his fingers through his hair stressfully. "You said that Dumbledore claims that you will be aware of everything – you know as well as I that they're going to torture you and then, when they're finished with you, kill you." I shook my head, trying desperately to deny it, though I knew what he said was true.

"No, they won't – what's the point? Besides, they'll probably think that making me work for them is torture enough for me, which it would be if I was really under the potion."

"What if Draco was ordered to order you to kill somebody you loved? Harry, Lily, James – me?"

I cast my eyes downward, looking at my hands, where I twiddled the ring on my finger in my lap as I said quietly,

"Dumbledore said we will find a way to avoid that situation."

"What if you can't?" Regulus said, his voice a lot more soothing now than before, for he knew that I felt bad. "What if you have to do something like that?" I had no response, and I continued to mess with the ring on my figure. Regulus reached over and put his hand firmly in mine, holding it tightly in his.

"Look, I understand that you think it's necessary to do this to end this second war that we all know is coming," he said quietly. "But I'm just worried about you. All of the Death Eaters are out to get you. You killed their leader. They don't, and won't, forget, you know that, right?"

"I know, I know," I replied. "But just think – if I don't do this, how many innocent lives are going to be lost because of my stupid decision to not be a spy? I don't care if it puts my safety at risk. I never have, and never will. I just care about those people who can't protect themselves, but that I can. I can't do that to them, Regulus, I can't let them die because of me."

Regulus stared at me, his eyes wide, looking as though he had never thought of that before.

"I'm just concerned for your safety. Like last time," he said after a moment of silent thought. "I don't know what I would do if you were hurt – or worse. I couldn't live with myself."

"That's not going to happen, Reg," I said quietly. "I promise." Regulus stared at me again before he pulled me into a tight hug. I closed my eyes and rested my head on his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist as well. "So who do you think this third spy is?" I asked after a moment. Regulus paused, thinking.

"Well – maybe it's Severus?" he suggested. I shook my head.

"No, Severus didn't know who any of them were, and he's not that good of an actor."

"Well, he managed to successfully lie to Voldemort himself for longer than you," Regulus pointed out.

"True. But still, I don't think it's him."

"Then who else could it be?" I furrowed my eyebrows thoughtfully.

"Maybe one of the old Order members. Like Remus, or Mad-Eye, or a Weasley or something. Hey," I said suddenly, "maybe it's Gideon or Fabian, or Fred or George."

"No," Regulus contradicted. "If it was one twin, it'd be the other, no matter which pair we're talking about. So there wouldn't be one other spy – there'd be two."

"Did we hear our names?"

Regulus and I looked up quickly to see both pairs of twins entering the Room of Requirement through the doors to outside.

"Yeah, but it's nothing important," I said quickly – I really didn't feel like telling any of them right now.

"Sure it is, if we heard our names," Fred said, sitting down across from us with George and Gideon. Fabian sat down on my other side, pushing me closer to Regulus to make more room for him. Regulus and I exchanged looks – apparently, we wouldn't be able to get out of this. Might as well tell them now.

"Well, it's kind of a long story – " Regulus started.

"We've got time," Gideon said. I sighed before I launched, again, into it.

"Wait, wait, wait," Fabian said quickly. "You're going undercover? Again?"

"Yep," I said.

"Well you can't," George exclaimed. "You'll get yourself killed!" I shrugged.

"I don't care."

"She won't listen to anything," Regulus said. "Don't bother. But if you have any idea of who could be the other spy, please enlighten us." They all shook their heads.

"No idea," Fabian said for them all. I sighed.

"Damn. I want to know who it is."

"Looks like you'll have to wait to find out. You will be one of the first people to know, anyway," Regulus pointed out. "Since you'll be undercover and all." I shrugged.

"Still. Who knows how long it'll be before that happens." Suddenly, I stood up, stretched, and yawned. "I think I'm going to head to bed. You coming?" I added to Regulus.

"I'll be along in a minute," he said.

"Alright. Night, guys!" I called to the four twins.

"Night, Nick!"

A/N: Like it? Love it? Hate it? Leave me a review to tell me your opinions! Constructive criticism is appreciated! You can even tell me what you'd like to see happen later in the story if you want. Don't forget to say who you think the third spy is!