A Hero's Defeat

Hero's Defeat

Chapter Six

Charlie and Tonks were of the last to arrive at the meeting. Charlie took his place at the head of the table and Tonks sat to his right. Ginny was beside her and George was to his left. Around the room, Charlie saw the faces of the few Order members left.

Kingsley Shacklebolt, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher, Neville Longbottom, Pavarti Patil, Angelina Johnson, Dennis Creevey, Vincent Crabbe, Greg Goyle, Marcus Flint, Terry Boot, and Luna Lovegood.

They were all that were left. Everyone else was dead or in Azkaban.

Or had switched sides.

Charlie felt a pang of regret and anger. He had sworn that he would protect them and he hadn't. Too many people, good people, had died for the slight chance that he war could still be won. Charlie knew it was hopeless.

"I called this meeting," he began, once everyone had arrived, "to share with you all the news that we received today. Draco Malfoy is dead.

"As far as we know, Voldemort found out his position as a spy and had him killed. His body arrived on the front steps of the castle this afternoon. Mere hours later, Ron was captured by Death Eaters in Hogsmeade."

"It was confirmed," Ginny said, "by Harry Potter. He approached me said that Voldemort had taken Ron."

"This," Charlie continued, "along with other things that have been occurring, give up ample evidence that Harry is serving Voldemort in some capacity."

"That's insane," Neville said. "Harry wouldn't do that."

"Neville's right," Goyle said. "Potter may be an idiot at times, but he'd never work with Voldemort for any reason."

"He might," Charlie said, "to save the people he cares about."

Everyone was silent for a few moments.

"What haven't you told us, Charlie?" Arabella demanded.

"Two years ago, I reported to you that Hermione Granger was dead. I asked that no one else be told about her death." Charlie took a deep breath. "Hermione Granger worked with Voldemort for a time."

"She wouldn't!"

"She did," Tonks said. "I was there. She was at his side."

"Then there was a glamorie spell in place," Luna argued. "Hermione loved Harry; she'd never work with Voldemort."

"She was and she is," Charlie said. Draco confirmed this for us last week. Hermione is stationed in Azkaban."

"But she's Muggle-born," Pavarti said. "Voldemort hates Muggle-borns."

Charlie sighed. "This is getting us no where. The fact is Hermione Granger is a Death Eater."

"I just can't believe that," Luna said. "Not until I see it."

Charlie waved her off. She was, however, one of the best duelers in the Order and was not a person to be messed with. He knew this, but she was emotional. Her husband had just been murdered. He knew she would want revenge.

"So what does this have to do with Harry?" Neville asked.

"Harry has been studying Dark Arts for some time even before his capture. Even now, he knows things that Voldemort is doing while he is doing them," Ginny said. "I asked him about it today and his answer was clear, logical, and sane. He's been nearly catatonic for days, weeks. There is no possible way that he could now these things and not be practicing Dark Magic."

"Just because he practicing Dark Arts," Crabbe said, "doesn't mean that he's the next Voldemort. We went through that second year."

Ginny paled.

"Nevertheless," Charlie said, "Harry is not to be trusted. We are looking for a place to serve as headquarters because I don't think it wise to have so many of us near him."

"And people say I'm crazy," Luna said.

"Luna's right," Kingsley said. "This is insane. You're talking about Harry Potter, Charlie. I can't believe that he or Hermione would ever work with Voldemort."

"Why else would Voldemort allow a Muggle-born to serve him?" Tonks asked.

"Intelligence. If you remember, Hermione was Head Girl," Crabbe said. "She was the best of our entire class besides Potter."

"And what, pray tell," George asked, "was his best subject?"

Everyone fell silent once more.

"That doesn't mean anything," Luna said.

"You have to know Dark Arts to defend against them," Ginny said.

"So does that mean that you're a Dark Witch?" Luna demanded. "That is what you just said. You know how to defend against Dark Arts..."

"QUIET!" Charlie yelled. "No one here had accused Harry of being the next Voldemort. We just suspect that it is a possibility."

"A possibility?" Luna asked, incredulous. "That is not what you've been saying."

"Luna," George said, exasperated. "Shut up."

Luna stood up. "I will not sit here and listen to all of you accuse our...my friend of something I know he is innocent of. You're accusing the savior of our world of serving Darkness. I have one question for you all than. How do any of you plan on defeating Voldemort? How do any of you know that Dark Magic isn't the only way to rid this country of the darkest wizard of all time?"

She glared at all of them before storming out of the room. Goyle stood too and looked sharply at Charlie.

"I'm warning you Weasley, if you ever bring another groundless accusation about Harry Potter to this table, I will remove you from your post." He glared at each of the Weasleys in turn before following Luna out of the room.

Charlie sat there, utterly confused. He could believe that Harry was a Death Eater. Why couldn't anyone else? Potter was no longer the savior of the wizarding world. He was a traitor.

Ginny believed that, as did Tonks and George. What was so hard to believe that Harry Potter could work with Voldemort?

"Now, as I was saying," he began again, his voice dripping with malice, "we need to find a place to use as headquarters."

"Do what you want," Kingsley said. "You're going to anyway." He too, stood up and left.

Charlie sighed.

~~~

Ron Weasley groaned as he woke up. His head felt like it was about to explode. The only thing he remembered was Harry coming into his cell and spitting out curses.

Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived, was a Death Eater.

Ron would've screamed at the irony if he could have. It just didn't seem possible, but it had always been likely. Harry was always exceptionally good at anything dealing with Dark Arts, but Ron had never seen him actually practice it.

And now, he served Voldemort.

Harry was going to be the next Voldemort. Ron wouldn't be surprised if Harry killed Voldemort just to take his place. It was likely, so terribly likely and no one knew about it.

Ron slipped out of consciousness.

~~~

Harry wandered the castle after his meeting at the Shrieking Shack. The Inimicus spell was interesting. He'd have to do some more research on it. He knew it could be used and he had to know how to break it if Voldemort was or planned on using it against him.

He turned down a corridor when he saw Luna Lovegood running down the hall. Greg Goyle stopped her and spun her to face him. Harry slipped into the shadows and listened.

"Luna," Goyle said. "Don't listen to Weasley."

"Just leave me alone, Greg," Luna pleaded, trying to pull away from him. "I've lost Draco and now they're trying to take one of my few friends from me too."

"Luna, I know Harry isn't a Death Eater, but running out of the room won't help us prove that Weasley's wrong."

"What's happening to us, Greg? Dumbledore founded the Order to be an object away from the Ministry but now it seems clouded with their politics."

"I know." Goyle sighed. "Something isn't right, Luna. We need to know what."

She nodded. "I need to go, get back to Katherine."

"I'll come with you." He smiled. "I'll take care of you and Katherine, Luna. I promised Draco I would."

The two walked away from Harry still talking, Luna leaning into her husband's best friend. He would certainly have to have a talk with Draco about this when he got back to Snape's manor.

Harry pondered the information he had gathered from the brief exchange though. So the Order believed him to be a Death Eater.

Perhaps now was the time to leave.

~~~

"Ennervate."

Ron jerked awake, finding himself looking at Voldemort.

"Good evening, Mr. Weasley. I trust you've had a pleasant day."

Ron glared at him as best as he could. "It's been splendid," he said sarcastically.

Voldemort kept his anger in check. "I'm sure. Wormtail, retrieve our other guest. I think Weasley here needs a reminder of who is in charge before he leaves."

Ron forced himself to remain conscious. He wanted to know who the other person was. Only a small part of him believed that it was Harry.

And when Wormtail entered with the other guest, Ron felt his fury threaten to unleash. He had trusted Harry with everything and he'd been working with Voldemort the entire time.

Bastard.

Voldemort laughed.

"Crucio." Ron could do nothing but scream.

~~~

Harry returned to the dungeons. He had a bad feeling suddenly about the Inimicus spell. He needed to find if there was a way to counter it because he was sure that something that powerful wouldn't be stopped by Finite Incantatum. He hoped Snape had more information about it because Harry knew he wouldn't be able to take any of the books with him when he left.

Harry heard something behind him and whirled around to see Charlie, Tonks, Ginny, and George.

"Hello, Harry," Charlie said.

"Hiya, Charlie," Harry returned with a senseless grin.

"I have a question for you Harry," George said. "Do you perform Light or Dark Magic?"

"Well...What's your definition of Light and Dark?" Harry asked. He leaned against a suit of armor and smirked at them.

"Harry, be serious," Ginny said.

"I am."

George glared at him. "Light Magic helps us. It's good. Dark Magic is evil."

"Okay," Harry grinned. "Now what's your definition of good and evil?" Harry was having trouble to contain his mirth. If the situation wasn't so dire for his cover, he'd be laughing.

"Harry!" Ginny cried. "Stop this. You're not insane. You can't be."

"Such a big assumption for such a little girl," Harry replied icily. "None of you really know anything. There are no such things as good or evil anymore."

"Harry..." Ginny began. But Harry continued in a slow, dead voice.

"Depends on the time of the day," Harry said. "When the sun is out, it's light magic and when the moon is out, it's dark magic." He shrugged. "So, you could say I practice both."

George sighed.

"Harry, we want to help you," Tonks began.

Harry smiled again. "No one can help me, Tonks. No one has been able to help me for a long time." He turned away from them and continued down the hall.

"What about Hermione?" Charlie called out.

Harry stopped and spun to face his former friends. "She's gone," he said coldly. "And if any of you ever mention her again, I will not be responsible for my actions."