A Hero's Defeat

A Hero's Defeat

Chapter Five

"Hello, Ginny," Harry said off-handedly, placing his mental shield back in place.

"Harry, I need to know some things," she began standing up. He waved her off and walked to the desk. He knew that she wouldn't give up and he knew what she wanted to know.

He couldn't tell her how he had known that Voldemort had captured Ron. He just knew, like he knew that Sirius couldn't be dead but he would be if he wasn't found soon.

For that reason alone, he was glad that he'd be meeting his one friend in all of this. The one person who had given up everything to make sure that he survived long enough to kill Voldemort even though he's often wanted to kill Harry himself.

"What?" Harry asked.

"How did you know about Ron?"

"The same way I know everything Voldemort has planned."

"But you weren't asleep. How did you get into Voldemort's mind?"

"I just can, Ginny. Now go. I have things to do."

"I don't know what they could be," she said coldly. "It makes me wonder, Harry. No one escapes the Dark Lord, no one ever has without help. You did."

"I've done it before."

"That's my point. How do you do it?"

Harry sighed. He should've kept his mouth shut. "You think that I'm one of Voldemort's followers, don't you?"

"Honestly, Harry, yes, I do. I think that he done something to you in Azkaban. You're not the same person that you used to be. Now you're like this. You're acting evil. You keep leaving with no explanation." She had tears in her eyes. Harry could understand why. She thought that he was a Death Eater. Oh well. One broken heart is much better than the destruction of the wizarding world.

Maybe he should make the Order believe that he was a Death Eater. Perhaps that could make things move a little faster. He'd have to disappear, but he'd be able to get to Grimmauld Place without the Order finding out.

Perhaps.

"Do you believe that I'd become a Death Eater?" he asked her, his eyes blank.

"I don't know, Harry."

"Do you want to know how I knew Voldemort had Ron?"

She nodded silently. Harry sighed.

"While I was in Azkaban, I began to understand how Voldemort thinks. When you told me that Draco was dead and that Ron had left to tell George, I knew why Voldemort had the body appear here. He wanted Ron away from the protection of the castle. He knew that he'd have to Apparate to Hogsmeade and that he'd most likely be alone, if not, than whoever he was with would be easy enough to handle."

Ginny stared at him and silently nodded. She understood.

"Now go, Ginny. I have things to do."

~~~

Ginny walked back to her rooms, thinking about Harry's explanation of Ron's disappearance. It made sense but something was nagging her. She didn't know what it could be. Harry sounded fine, like he always had...before.

Harry didn't sound insane while he was explaining it. He sounded logical, calculating. She remembered the conversation earlier that day when she had told him about Draco. He had sounded insane then. How could things have changed so fast unless he wasn't really insane.

Unless he was faking it all. But why? What would be the point of making everyone believe that he was insane? It wasn't making sense. She couldn't see any point in Harry pretending to be insane unless he was a spy.

And he had avoided her hints about him being a Death Eater. That could only mean one thing.

Harry Potter was a Death Eater. That was the only explanation and the thought made her want to cry. After everything that they had been through and after everything that Voldemort had done to him...He became a Death Eater.

~~~

Charlie Weasley sighed and ran his hand through his hair. Since he had taken over the leadership of the Order of the Phoenix, his time had consisted of sleepless nights and endless hours of plotting and planning.

Now, he had to find a new place to serve as headquarters for the Order. It was proving to be quite a difficult task. There wasn't a safe place to hide anymore except Hogwarts and Charlie refused to put any more of the Order's wizards and witches near Harry Potter.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Harry; it was that he'd spent so much time with Voldemort when Voldemort had wanted him dead. Why wouldn't Voldemort kill him when he had the chance? It just didn't make any sense.

When Charlie had been told of Draco's death, he'd immediately suspected, though guiltily, that Harry had had something to do with it. That feeling had intensified when Ginny told him that Harry had said that Ron had been captured by Voldemort. How could he have known if he wasn't a Death Eater?

But then the logical part of his mind kicked in. Harry hated Voldemort. Even though he was almost catatonic at times , the hatred was still there.

"What is going on?" he mused aloud.

"You're talking to yourself," a woman's voice playfully said.

"Is there a reason you're here, Tonks?" he asked as the woman sat beside him. She took his hand in her and brought it to her lips and kissed it gently.

"I just saw Draco's body," she whispered." He..." she stopped. He nodded.

"He knew the risks, Tonks."

"I know, but he was the only family I had left on this side of the war. Sirius is gone...I don't know what we're doing anymore."

"Neither do I, Tonks." He sighed. "We need to go to Hogwarts for the meeting. Are you ready?" She nodded and smiled sadly.

Could it be that this is all for nothing?

~~~

Harry made sure that everyone in the castle was at the meeting before he left his room. He knew that Charlie and Tonks had put a spell on the door, but it was basic and they didn't know that he still had his wand. They didn't trust him, that was obvious, but he didn't care. He really didn't need their help to kill Voldemort.

He slipped through the corridors silently and left the castle. He changed into the griffin and flew to the Whomping Willow where he changed back and pressed the knob that stopped the swinging branches long enough for him to slip into the passage.

He followed the tunnel until he came to the opening inside the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade.

"You made it," the silky voice said when he entered the room.

"Hello to you too. I had to wait for the Order to begin their meeting," Harry replied. The room was dark, he couldn't even see his companion, though that did not surprise him. "What has happened?"

"I'm sure that you heard Draco Malfoy was killed."

"Yes."

"By his father."

"Interesting, though it doesn't surprise me much. Lucius has never been forgiving."

"Perhaps. Draco came to me this morning. Don't look so shocked, Harry. It was I who told him how to get the Weasleys away from Voldemort."

"So, does that mean..." Harry trailed off.

"Yes. He is recovering at the manor."

"I see."

"I'm sure you do. I heard that Weasley was captured."

"Yes, earlier today after we heard about Draco."

"You almost blew your cover."

"I know," Harry said irritably. "But I had to tell her something."

"Very well. Is there anything you need?"

"Actually, I was looking at glamorie spells today," Harry said, leaning against the wall. "One caught my eye; Animadverto Alienus Inimicus."

The older man thought for a minute. "Voldemort has used it, but it wasn't successful."

"What is it?"

"You might want to sit down, Harry. It's complicated."

Harry conjured up two chairs and sat down in one. His friend gave him a cold look before doing the same. Harry only grinned.

"I'll start with a rough translation of the spell. Animadverto means to perceive; Alienus is someone else; and Inimicus means enemy."

"To perceive someone else as an enemy?" Harry questioned.

"Yes. It is a very complex spell and can only work on those whom are very weak, easily placed under Imperious, or want to believe they're seeing who they think they're seeing."

"I'm not sure I understand."

The older man was silent. "Let's say that Voldemort wanted to trick you into hurting someone you cared about. Weasley, for the sake of argument. He could place the spell on you and you would see your closest friend as whomever Voldemort wanted you to see him as, whoever you would hurt the most."

Harry nodded in grim understanding.

"There is a flaw though."

"What is that?"

"There must be some level of hate present. For you to believe Weasley was your enemy, you would have to hate the person you thought you were seeing. If there isn't a level of hate, the spell won't work."

"I think I understand it now," Harry said.

"Is there anything else?"

"Perhaps. Ginny believes that I'm a Death Eater and I'm sure that others in the Order suspect it too."

"Just as well," he muttered. "You may have to confirm their suspicions."

Harry nodded. "Maybe. When should I?"

"When they confront you, perhaps before. When you can risk leaving and are sure that you can leave without showing your Animagus form."

Harry nodded. "How long are you going to be here?"

"I should return soon. Draco will be ready to start working tomorrow though it will take some time for him to fully heal."

Harry nodded and checked his watch. "I need to get back, the meeting should be ending soon."

"Yes. Be careful, Harry. Voldemort is planning something, I'm sure."

"I'm always careful."

"Cockiness will get you killed, Potter."

"I'm not being cocky, Snape, I'm being truthful." With that, the young man left the room and did not see the ghost of a smile cross the Potion Master's face.