Author's Note: I'm feeling so lazy… not good.

"You promised me the sky, then tossed me like a stone. You wrap me in your arms, and chill me to the bone. There's truth in your lies, doubt in your faith. All I've got's what you didn't take…"

I haven't heard those lyrics in such a long time.

Chapter 72

When we enter McGonagall's office, she looks up at us, surprised.

"What was urgent enough to bring all of you here?" she asks.

"We know who betrayed us," Harry says.

"Who?"

Harry sighs. "It was Neville."

Ginny looks shocked, and McGonagall's face shows more surprise than I've seen on it before.

"We should let him explain himself," I say—I don't think it'd be fair for us to attempt to explain his motives. "Harry, could you find him with the Marauder's Map?"

Harry pulls out the map, and we locate Neville in Gryffindor Tower.

"I can get him," Ginny volunteers.

"Don't tell him what this is about," McGonagall warns.

"I won't tell him anything," Ginny says before leaving the room.

"How did you know?" McGonagall asks us.

"Draco told us," Blaise says.

"Did he have any evidence?"

"He wouldn't let us see it," Ron says.

McGonagall narrows her eyes. "But why do you trust him enough to think he's telling the truth?"

"He hasn't failed us yet," Blaise replies.

"I suppose it'd be prudent to speak with Mr. Longbottom anyway, to eliminate suspicion. Where is Mr. Malfoy, now?"

"Resting at home—he's injured," Harry says. "He said that Neville—or the traitor, if it isn't Neville—gave him away."

McGonagall frowns. "Is he all right, then?"

Blaise nods. "He'll be fine."

After a brief silence, Harry asks, "How is Lupin?"

"Poppy still doesn't want us to speak to him, but Tonks has been with him," McGonagall says. "He is feeling much better but still has lapses in full lucidity."

Harry's face falls. "I'd like to see him."

"Perhaps after we speak with Mr. Longbottom, you can check with Poppy."

Blaise nods. "Draco said that Lupin may have been released by Longbottom's request, in exchange for Draco's identity."

McGonagall purses her lips. "That's a hard decision to make. I doubt that he only asked for Remus's release, however. I'm quite certain that if the traitor really is Mr. Longbottom, he would demand the release of Mr. Jordan and Miss Spinnet as well."

"I doubt the Death Eaters would have given him much room for negotiation, though," I say.

"True," Harry agrees.

Soon, Neville and Ginny enter. Neville looks around at us, surprised.

"Why are you all back?" he asks. "Did you come to see Lupin?"

"I think you know why we're here, Longbottom," Blaise says.

Neville looks between our faces and seems to understand. For a moment, it looks like he'll attempt to defend himself, but then the fight drains from his face, and gloom settles over his features. I realize that this expression is the same one that he'd had on when he approached me to ask about his grandmother.

"So it's true," McGonagall says, disappointed.

"Yes," Neville says heavily. "I guessed that Malfoy would say something, but how did you know it was me?"

I can't believe it's true. I trusted Draco when he said it, but it's still different to hear Neville actually admit that he really is the traitor.

"He knew it was you," Harry says. "He also knew why you did it."

"I'd like to hear it from Mr. Longbottom himself," McGonagall says.

He sighs. "Where should I start?"

"Start with the beginning."

After a brief pause during which Neville gathers his thoughts, he begins to speak.

"It happened when I was out looking for Seamus."

All of us shift a little uncomfortably at the mention of Seamus. It had been painful for me to confirm to everyone that he'd really died. I remember Neville had still been out searching when I returned with the news…

"I ran into a Death Eater in Hellifield. We dueled, and after maybe a minute, I realized that he wasn't trying as hard as he could have, so he'd probably found me on purpose. I wanted to find out why, so I kept fighting. But then he said he wanted to talk."

"Who was it?" Ron asks.

"Mulciber," Neville says. "I didn't believe him at first. Then he… he said that he had my father with him."

McGonagall glances over at us, but we show no signs that Neville's lying—this sounds consistent with what Draco told us.

Neville continues, "He said that Voldemort could restore sanity—that my parents could get their lives back."

"Impossible…" McGonagall says.

"My father… I spoke to him that night," Neville says.

We all stare at him.

"Are you certain that he was your real—" Blaise begins to ask.

"He knew something that no one else would know—not my mum or Gran either," Neville replies.

"It worries me, the way that Voldemort seems to become more and more powerful. I can't imagine what type of Dark magic he worked to do something so unnatural," McGonagall says.

A somber silence follows her words.

Has Voldemort really run out of ways to cause pain and decided to start expanding into healing powers? I find that hard to believe.

Then McGonagall asks, "What did Mulciber ask of you?"

"He wanted me to give up Grimmauld Place."

I glance at Blaise and notice that he's looking between Ron and Neville.

"I said I wouldn't do it," Neville continues. "Then he said that I could choose whether to let Dung go or reveal Order headquarters myself. I didn't want to do it, but he threatened to torture my dad right back to insanity. So I… I…"

"You let him go?" Harry asks, fixing a hard stare on Neville.

"I'm so sorry," Neville says. "I Confunded Ron and helped Dung escape."

Ron looks furious. "Neville, do you have any idea what my mum did when she thought it was my fault he escaped?"

McGonagall is angry as well, eyes narrowed dangerously. But when she speaks, her voice is quiet. "Keep calm, Mr. Weasley."

"So that's why you were upset after the meeting," Blaise says. "It wasn't really about the twelve people who died. It was about your betrayal."

Neville says nothing to contradict this. I remember the way he'd seemed so depressed, remember thinking that it was because the war was finally taking a toll on him. I never suspected that he could have been feeling guilty because it was really his fault that those twelve people had died…

"When did you see him next?" McGonagall prompts.

"Two nights ago, when I had the three o'clock night patrol. He was standing just outside the boundary. He wanted me to help them take back Hogwarts, but I told him that I couldn't do it. I'm only one person, and no one person controls all of our defenses. Plus, I can't open the barrier."

"Thank fucking Merlin you can't," Ron says. "Otherwise, this place would be crawling with Death Eaters, wouldn't it?"

"Stop it, Ron," Harry says. "We didn't give you a particularly hard time when we suspected you, did we?"

"But this is different. Neville's already admitted—"

"I don't know what kind of upbringing you had, but as a pure-blood, you should understand what Longbottom did," Blaise says. "He did what a son should do. What would you have done if you were given a choice between betraying the Order or condemning your parents to insanity by torture?"

"That's—it's—that's different."

"Can we just move on?" Harry says. "You gave up Malfoy. How did that happen?"

"Mulciber said that Voldemort could bring back my mum as well," Neville says. "But I said that the spy was worth a lot more than that. I wanted Lupin, Lee and Alicia back."

"Why did you decide to negotiate?" I ask.

"I guess I felt safer because he couldn't cross the boundary," he replies. "He said that he'd give me Lupin, but not Lee or Alicia."

"Have you seen your mother?" Harry asks.

Neville shakes his head. "No."

"When did you tell Mulciber about Mr. Malfoy?" McGonagall asks.

"After Lupin got here—that was the agreement."

"The timing is about right," Blaise notes.

I nod. "Malfoy got back to the cottage not too long after I did."

"Do you think Mr. Malfoy gave away anything about the Order that could have convinced the Death Eaters to release him?" McGonagall asks us. "I doubt he could have gotten away if he was suspected to be a traitor."

Blaise shakes his head. "He got away."

Harry turns to face Blaise. "How can you be so sure? It does sound very unlikely that he'd be able to fight his way out."

"Let's just say that I know Draco better than any of you. I know what side he's really on, even if none of you believe it."

Blaise seems to be particularly protective of Draco today. Why is that? Does he know something that we don't know?

"We'll come back to that, Mr. Zabini," McGonagall says. "Mr. Longbottom, when will you see your parents again? Was that part of the arrangement?"

"He said that he'd bring me my mum tonight," Neville replies.

"We should try to trap him, then," Harry says. "Where is he meeting you?"

Neville shakes his head. "I don't know. He hasn't ever told me precisely when or where he'll show up."

"I get the feeling that he won't bring your mother," Blaise says.

"Why not?"

"Because Draco got away. Mulciber's going to need something to show Voldemort. I'm willing to bet that his next step will be to coerce you into giving up—or discovering and then giving up—Draco's location."

"I suppose it's not an option to just give him up," Neville says glumly.

"I wouldn't mind," Ron says.

Harry shoots him a warning glance, but his words are directed toward Neville. "If you see Mulciber again, pretend this never happened."

"Yes," McGonagall agrees. "Tell me what he asks for, and we will all work together to capture him. I cannot say that you made the correct choice in releasing Mundungus, but Frank and Alice were very dear to me. If they can be rescued, I want to help. I will be keeping a very close eye on you, Mr. Longbottom."

Neville shuffles his feet and looks down at the ground.

"In fact," McGonagall continues, "I'd like it very much if you were never left alone."

Neville looks up. "I'll have to be alone on patrols, if you want me to speak to Mulciber again."

McGonagall nods. "Yes, I suppose so. Very well, then. You may continue the same nighttime patrol, but I want you to be accompanied at all other hours of the day."

She looks at the boys pointedly.

"We can stay," Harry says. "Ron and I—"

"Draco shouldn't be left alone," Blaise says, interrupting Harry. "Hermione is best at healing, so she should probably go back to keep an eye on him."

I glance at Ron and note that his face is reddening slightly with anger.

"What do you think, Miss Granger?" McGonagall asks.

"I can do it," I say.

"As for watching Longbottom, I'll stay behind with Harry. Weasley can go with Hermione, if he wants," Blaise says.

Ron looks at Blaise suspiciously.

"Wouldn't it be easier if you went back with Hermione?" Harry asks Blaise.

I second that opinion—I know that Ron won't like looking after Draco at all.

"I'm more careful than Weasley. It'd be safer if I stayed to take turns with you. Longbottom Confunded Weasley easily enough last time—wouldn't want that happening again, would we?"

Neville shifts his weight uncomfortably at Blaise's words.

"Very well," McGonagall says. "If none of you have objections to this arrangement—"

"Can I actually do something to help, this time?" Ginny says.

She'd remained so silent throughout the conversation that I'd almost forgotten she was in the room. I look over and see that she's looking at Harry expectantly.

"Continue your scheduled patrols, Miss Weasley," McGonagall says. "If you want to be more involved, speak to your mother."

Ginny lets out a frustrated sigh.

"If that's all, you can leave now," McGonagall says. "Mr. Longbottom, kindly stay behind—I'd like to speak to you alone."

Neville nods and stands his ground, and the rest of us file past him and through the exit. When we reach the bottom of the stone gargoyle, Harry turns around to face us.

"Blaise, could you wait for Neville? I have to see Lupin," he says.

Blaise nods. "No problem. Do what you have to. I'll find you there if you're not back by the time Longbottom comes down."

"Thanks."

Harry walks down the hall toward the hospital wing, and Ginny hurries after him.

Blaise looks over at Ron and me. "You two should probably get going, then."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I say. "Malfoy did say that he didn't want us—"

"Trust me, it'll be fine," Blaise says. "Just go."

"Why would you volunteer to stay behind, Zabini?" Ron asks from beside me.

"For the exact reason that I gave upstairs. I don't want Longbottom to get the best of you again because that probably won't turn out well for any of us," Blaise replies nonchalantly.

"Everyone slips up occasionally," I say. "Drop it, Blaise."

He fixes dark eyes on me, and I meet his stare without flinching.

"Let's just go," Ron says, pulling me down the hallway.

I turn away to leave, but I can feel his eyes burning into my back until we reach the end of the hall and turn the corner. I'm worried about what he's thinking. Is he planning something? Why was he intent on sending Ron and me back to Draco's home?

A few minutes later, we Apparate into Draco's living room.

I immediately move toward the bedroom and pull the door open. Draco's bed is vacant, but Naree is lying on the spare bed.

"Where's Malfoy?" Ron wonders aloud.

"I'm not sure," I say, moving into the bedroom to check on Naree.

"I'll take a look in the kitchen," Ron offers. "Take care of the house-elf."

I walk toward the bed and sit on the edge.

"I'll see you in a few minutes, then."

Author's Note: Indeed, where is Draco? You'll find out in the next chapter (: