Marked

She was doing it again. Minerva McGonagall was pacing back and forth in front of her desk, using language that would've made her mother's ears burn if she was around to hear. Albus had lost whatever sense--and scruples--she'd thought he possessed and it was only a matter of time before the whole plan blew up in their faces. Harry and Neville would suffer for his arrogance. His arrogance and her neglect--the acts she'd wanted to pretend were faith in Albus's grand plans and not her own fear that stopping him would lead to some unknown disaster neither of them could understand. This plan was a known evil. One with a definite, understood method of execution and ending. One, she felt sure, could end with several of her students--and possibly many others--dead.

Who, then, would be to blame? Certainly not the "fates" Albus had assured her had already determined the future. No. She believed that as much as she believed Harry would embrace the full measure of this plan once he learned of it, which she would insist on as soon as possible. He would run for his life, and he had every right. Especially if she, after swearing to protect him, left him at the mercy of the unfulfilled prophecy that might be his undoing. That, she knew, was her true crime. Letting Albus talk her into briefly trusting in the words of an uncertain prediction. It was madness.

She stopped moving as she heard someone step into her office from the Floo. Minerva held herself in place, attempting to gain control of the emotions that always seemed on the verge of running rampant when she spoke to the Minister these days. When she'd sufficiently calmed herself, she turned and frowned at the man in the armchair.

"I don't need to ask what that look is about," he said. He motioned to the tea he'd already prepared for her sitting on her desk. "I'm not comfortable telling Harry everything yet."

"Would you be comfortable with him attempting to kill you the next time he sets eyes on you?" Professor McGonagall asked. She sat across from Dumbledore and levitated the tea cup to her hand. "It may come to that, you know. Once he knows more. If, no when more people die. He will blame you and--"
"And you think I should be scared of a temperamental child?" Albus asked coolly. He lifted his tumbler of firewhiskey and took a slow sip. "The plan is working and once it comes to fruition--"

"Harry and Neville will die and you'll award them for their noble sacrifice after the fact," Minerva supplied. "Isn't that the way of it?"

"We've been over this," Dumbledore said softly. He chose his words slowly, as if speaking to a child. "Their chances of death are so small as to be insignificant."

"They are children, not a math problem," McGonagall said. "And yes, I do believe you should fear him. He is not like other children his age. Or adults, for that matter. Remus tells me Harry's training with Neville has been remarkable, to the point where he wonders why he even bothers showing up. With the things he's faced in his life, if Remus doesn't believe he can train Harry to do anything, shouldn't that give you a reason to not want Harry as an enemy?"

"I will never think of the boy that way," Dumbledore said. "But your story does prove my point. He doesn't need either of us to coddle him. As he has pointed out to me, and you just said yourself, he is hardly an ordinary child. That will improve his chances against Voldemort in ways you and I cannot predict."

"Exactly." Minerva took a deep breath and tried to steady her hand as Dumbledore refilled her tea. "We cannot predict what will happen and toying with these children's lives is irresponsible and reckless. I don't want to be the one to tell Lily we've let her son die. Not after..." She shook her head. "She'll see it in my eyes. That I helped you lead him to this point. I refuse to encourage the kind of actions that will make it hard for me to look someone in the eye."

"Your participation is not a necessity," Albus reminded her.

"Someone must keep an eye on you."

"A fine job you're doing of it," he said.

She immediately wanted to slap the smug grin from his lips. She only had so much restraint and his attitude was testing the very limits of it. Minerva couldn't be sure, but she suspected he got a rise out of toying with her. It would be perfectly fitting with his character, she considered.

"Draco is doing better at his job than I'd believed was possible. I thought sure he would turn on us--"

"That's what happens when you coerce someone by threatening," Minerva pointed out. "Though you were willing to take that chance."

"I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt," Albus corrected. "More so than you are giving me." A glare from her was his only response. "As I was saying, he passed on our latest information to his aunt and Bella is...I suppose the best way to say it is that she is displeased with the results. An altered formula was a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself." Dumbledore took another sip from his drink and smiled slowly. "Voldemort is human again, but too weak to stay awake for long. If he even attempts a spell, he immediately weakens to the point of passing out."

"How long should we expect that to last? Surely, his natural strength will return one day."

"Harry and Neville will have to kill him before that time," Dumbledore stated. "I don't think it would take much for Bella to be inspired to bring the boys to him, if she feels it's to their advantage."

"That's the outcome of your big plan?" Minerva stared at him over the top of her glasses, suddenly wishing they could trade drinks. "You wish to lure the boys into Bella's lap and see what happens if they try to take away her reason for being? You are off your nut."

Dumbledore blinked hard at her uncharacteristically ribald words. "That is not the extent of the plan," he said. "Harry and Neville have a strength together that Voldemort cannot comprehend."

"Oh, yes," she said. "The power of love." She rolled her eyes. "What kind of self-serving rubbish is that? Be sensible. These boys are going to die and neither of the sacrifices that saved their lives are going to be able to do it again."

"Did you ever look at Harry's memory of seeing Voldemort return to a human form? From his fourth year?" When she indicated she hadn't, Albus continued. "He wanted the blood of his victim, his enemy, to strengthen him. He didn't know why it felt necessary, but I expect it is because they are connected so deeply, Voldemort cannot resume a normal existence without his victim. The strength that protected those boys does not protect his mortal body now. They may not be able to kill him at full strength, but they cannot fail to do so now. I expect he will remain weak for several more months, possibly until next spring."

"Then what? Plan B?" Minerva Summoned the bottle of firewhiskey on the edge of her desk and splashed some liberally into her tea cup.

"It will not come to that. It will not be necessary."

"Right," she said. "Just like it wasn't necessary for Auror Tonks to have as many reinforcements as she could before attempting to arrest someone dangerous. They really could have arrested Severus and Bellatrix together. Or, if we'd just waited a few more days, until the rest of the department was available--"

"You thought she was capable then," Dumbledore reminded her. "Don't tell me you think she should've had more help because she's a woman?"

"Because she's young," Minerva said, her voice soft. "As are Harry and Neville. We know better and should be guiding them instead of letting them live with our mistakes, openly leading them into facing danger. Neither of us knows what will happen, but we're letting it continue."

"Neither of us knows the details of what will happen, but we are in control of what is happening now."

"Are you?" she asked. She emptied her cup in one gulp. "I'm not in control of anything. I don't believe I've ever been less in control." She closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath. "I will not help you any longer if we don't tell him. Both of them. Everything. I know you don't agree with me, but I've lost the ability to care." Minerva's eyes met his and she braced herself against the resistance she saw.

"You may not be worried about having Harry as your enemy, but you should concern yourself with making one of me. And Lily. And Augusta Longbottom And Sirius and Remus and everyone else who wants to see Harry and Neville live. Have me arrested if you wish, but know this: I will not see those children led to their death. You've taken your plan this far. Give them the truth so they may decide what they wish to do next. Let everyone who actually cares about them ensure they will live through this time."

Dumbledore tilted his head to the side as he studied her. "Have I given you the impression that I don't care for them?"

"Don't try to convince me you believe you've done otherwise," she remarked. "The time for games is long past. Will you be sitting down with them tonight or shall I have to forcibly block your access to Hogwarts?"

There was a long moment before he spoke again. A moment in which images flashed before her of the bodies of her students, laid out side-by-side, powerless to fight against the man who'd come back from an uncertain existence to hunt and destroy them. A moment during which she felt a little of her soul go out to them, a fraction of the guilt that would consume her if this vision became their reality. A moment suspended in time before Dumbledore said, "Yes."

When Harry walked into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, two surprises greeted him. The first, Lavender and Neville sitting in the corner, having obviously spent the afternoon making up. They hadn't been seen at dinner and Ron was half-convinced Neville had spent the time trying to figure out what his alibi would be when she went missing. Hermione had known they were going to make up, and if her giggle from behind him was any indication, she was happy they had done so.

The second surprise, and by far the more interesting, was that Tonks was leaning against Professor Lupin's desk with him and they appeared to be holding hands as they talked in low voices. Harry shook his head slowly in disbelief. Couldn't be. They barely knew each other. He had to think about getting stronger glasses.

"Tonks!" She jumped at the sound of her name and turned to Harry with a wide smile.

"Wotcher Harry!" Her pink hair seemed to brighten for a few seconds as she waved him and Hermione over.

"I didn't realize you'd be here today," Harry said as he neared the desk. "Didn't you say something about a security assignment in London?"

"I got someone else to take care of it," she said, grinning at him. "I had to when Remus told me you were doing story hour tonight. I'm dying to learn the big mystery behind the Minister turning you into his favorite pet project."

When Harry sighed and closed his eyes, Hermione said, "Probably not the best name to bring up these days. Harry and I are not too happy with him."

"Why not?" Lupin asked.

"He's not giving Harry enough information about what's going on with, well, everything," Hermione said.

"Maybe he doesn't want you to worry until we know for sure where things stand," Lupin said.

"Oh, no. That's not it. He wants to keep me under his control by not telling me everything," Harry said. "You'll find out exactly why later, but a few comments about what Voldemort's followers are up to aren't likely to worry me. What worries me is that he might be setting us up to fail."

"You don't really believe that?" Tonks asked. "I've only spoken to the Minister a few times, but I haven't gotten that impression."

Harry sighed again. "I'd rather not talk about it." He smiled at Tonks and she gave an answering one. "So, how have you been? You look better than the last time I'd seen you."

"That was two days ago, Harry," she responded. "Did I really look that bad teaching your classes? I thought I did a fair job."

Harry shrugged. "You were fine. I'm just wondering if you're sleeping better. I know you've had a hard time of it since...the other week." He stopped short of saying what they were both thinking. He'd spent the first twenty minutes they'd had alone earlier in the week apologizing for the way Snape and Voldemort had tortured her in his place, only to have her remind him in stark terms that he would've died from half the assault they'd committed. Aside from the occasional nightmare, she'd claimed she was fine. At least, so far. That assurance wouldn't stop Harry from worrying about her. After the dream he'd had of what had happened to Tonks, he had a feeling he'd be asking about her for the rest of their lives.

"I'm sleeping a little better these days, yes," she said. She glanced at Remus briefly and Harry thought he detected a faint blush before her skin returned to it's normal pale pallor. "I've found that spending time with friends helps relax me and makes it easier to block out the nightmares."

"That helped me too, but only if I do it just before bed," Harry remarked. "I can't imagine you having a friend at your place until right before you go to sleep."

At this comment, both Tonks and Lupin blushed and his professor seemed to lean away from the Auror sitting next to him. "I make do with whatever time I can get," Tonks said, smiling widely again.

Harry coughed hard and gasped for air briefly when he realized what was probably going on. So much for barely knowing each other. There was some information he was better off not knowing for sure. His girlfriend obviously didn't feel the same way.

"Does this mean we'll be seeing more of you around the school?"

Harry gasped, turning. "Hermione!"

She shrugged. "Sorry. I was just curious."

Professor Lupin turned away from his students in embarrassment. Tonks merely continued smiling. "You may see more of me during the day if the Headmistress thinks the school needs more security. And on days when I'm needed as a substitute teacher. Other than that, no. I don't believe you'll see me at all."

"Well, I'm happy for you."

Harry turned again. "Hermione."

She giggled. "What? I'm happy for anyone who can find someone these days," she said, leaning onto his arm. "Can you blame me?"

"No, but it's not really our business if...well, you know," he said, trying not to say what he was thinking out loud.

Lupin cleared his throat and Harry looked at him, grateful that his attention was being drawn from his girlfriend's newfound interest in everyone else's personal life.

"Ron and Parvati are here," he said. "Are we ready to start?"

Harry nodded and they broke into pairs again, Neville and Harry together as usual, Lavender against Ron and Hermione dueling Parvati. Both Tonks and Professor Lupin shouted out instructions and advice to the dueling groups, traveling around to show them how to improve their fighting. More than an hour had gone by before two of the couples stopped, settling around the room to watch as Harry and Neville continued to duel aggressively. After another twenty minutes, Harry held up his hand as a signal for Neville to stop.

"Ready to admit defeat?" Neville asked.

"No," he said. The panting hampering that one word may have spoken a different story, but Harry wanted to push forward anyway. "I think it's time to get to the next level of your training. I think we should work on the Unforgivable Curses," Harry said. He ignored Lavender's noise of protest. "Let's try it with me first." He nodded at Neville. "The Imperius Curse."

"You've got to be kidding," Neville said. "You want me to use it on you?" He turned to look at Professor Lupin. "You're going to let him do this?"

"It's all right, Neville. Listen." Harry waited until the other boy was facing him again. "This is probably the easiest of the three. You can ask Tonks," he said, pointing. "Aurors practice throwing them off and I think we should too. When you're under the Imperius Curse," he explained, "it feels like...kind of like you're floating. Worry free, relaxed. You'll feel very calm and whatever suggestions the person gives you will sound like the best idea in the world. This is the feeling you have to fight against. It's more of a mental fight than the other two curses."

"How would you know what it's like to fight off the Imperius Curse?" Lavender asked.

Harry sucked in air through his teeth quickly and turned to her, preparing to make a sarcastic remark. Something in her expression made him change his mind. If she wasn't willing to support Neville, she wouldn't be at his training. He had to try to respect that. "I've had someone use it on me," Harry said in a flat voice. "The Cruciatus Curse as well. At least Neville will get to practice fighting off two Unforgivables without wondering if he'll die as soon as the caster is finished using them."

He turned back to Neville and nodded again. "This is the wand movement." Harry demonstrated. "The incantation is Imperio." He demonstrated the wand movement along with the incantation. "Whenever you're ready, Neville. When you've watched me fight it a few times, if you're comfortable, you can practice fighting it off next."

Neville nodded and lifted his wand; his lips trembled as he prepared to cast his first Unforgivable Curse. It didn't take long for Harry to prove that he could easily throw off the spell his friend cast, forcing him to urge Neville to put all of his strength behind it, making it a real fight.

As she watched them in mock battle, Lavender was reminded of the day they'd done defensive spells in class, and how Harry had easily beat out everyone to face off against Professor Snape. She'd been impressed then, but had thought his stepfather had just made a show of keeping the fight on a fairly even keel. Now she understood better and the knowledge was intriguing. If Harry really had done everything Neville had told her about, maybe there was a chance for both of them.

Harry was so absorbed in fighting off the spell, he didn't notice someone else had entered the room until Neville dropped his wand slightly before raising it and pointing across the room. Harry turned in time to see Draco pulling the door shut and crossing the floor.

"I hope I'm still welcome," he said. "If you don't mind," he nodded in Neville's direction.

Today is the day for surprises, Harry thought as Draco stepped closer. The Slytherin held out his hand to Harry, waiting patiently until Harry took it to shake.

"I think we can make this work," Draco said. He seemed serious, but Harry couldn't help wondering what else was behind that cold gray gaze. There had to be more to it. In a heartbeat, Harry decided to let his friends protect him from whatever the blonde had coming. Knowing Hermione and Lavender's paranoia, they'd see it before anyone else.

"I hope you don't make me regret trusting you," Harry responded before letting go of his hand. He turned back to Neville and made a show of going back to their training session as if nothing significant had happened.

Draco walked to the back of the room and took up a spot next to Tonks as Harry cast the Imperius Curse on Neville. Feeling the Auror's eyes on him, Draco turned and gave his cousin a slow up and down perusal.

"So you're Narcissa's boy?" Tonks asked.

"Boy?" Draco asked. His lips pressed into a thin line then turned down at the corners into a small frown. "You're the Auror helping Potter and his friends hunt down Aunt Bella?"

Tonks looked at him thoughtfully, her bright pink hair dulling a bit as she studied his expression. "You should be careful, Malfoy. Your mask is slipping." Looking back at Harry, she called out, "Stop, Harry!" When he turned, she pushed away from the desk and walked to the halfway point between he and Neville. Both boys seemed grateful for the chance to take a break. "I think you should try it with me next."

"Sure," Harry said. He moved to walk to the side of the room.

She called to him before he could get too far. "No, not Neville. You." Tonks grinned. "You're holding back with him and I know why. He's not enough of a challenge for you." She turned to address the room. "If you want to see what a real life or death battle is like, Harry and I are going to give you a better demonstration."

"What?" The thought of raising his wand to her in anything but defense caused the word 'no' to immediately course through his mind. There was no way Harry could duel her. "I don't think we should. I mean, you're still--"

"I'm still what?" Tonks smiled again and Harry saw something in her smile that gave him pause. A pause that allowed her to raise her wand and send him flat on his back in seconds. When the pain at the back of his head receded a bit and the spots in front of his eyes disappeared, Harry sat up to gaze at the smirking Auror. "Does that feel like I'm too delicate?" she asked. Laughter could be heard on the side of the room, but Harry refused to turn and see who it was. It sounded suspiciously like Hermione and maybe Ron.

"Stop the sniveling I know you want to do and dust yourself off, Potter. It's time you got to the next level of your training. That is, unless you want me to really embarrass you."

Faced with another teasing smile, Harry stood from the floor and reached into his pocket. If he was going to fight with her--a real fight instead of working with Neville on techniques--he wanted his own wand. He tossed Professor Lupin's wand back to him and turned back to face Tonks, hoping he wouldn't be forced to hurt her if he got too excited.

In the end, it mattered very little which wand he used. She quickly reminded him what it was like to really be in a fight. Harry hated to compare it to the first time he'd faced Voldemort, but dueling with Tonks was the closest he'd come to feeling overwhelmed in that way since he'd time traveled. She made good on her promise to keep him on his toes and Harry discovered a newfound respect for the Auror. However she might have been affected by the torture she suffered, she was still very much up to her job.

With a groan, Harry fell on his back for the third time; he held up one hand so Tonks knew he was surrendering, finally. Smiling broadly, she winked at him as she helped him to his feet. "I'll help you learn silent spell casting so you can handle me a little better next time. You'll be that much faster once you learn it."

"I think I can work that into lessons on Monday," Lupin said. "They're not really due to learn it until sixth year, but I don't think Minerva would mind if I started teaching all of my older classes the technique."

"Is that all for tonight?" Lavender asked.

Neville glanced at this watch. "It's not even nine. Are you tired already?"

She smiled. "No, but I was hoping we could have some time to...talk." Neville blushed but said nothing as Lupin and Tonks began moving the desks back into place.

Draco stood. "I think it's time for me to go. I've got some things to do." He flashed a brief smile at Harry. "Anything specific you want me to say?"

What did he want Draco to write to his aunt? Harry grinned as a thought occurred to him. "Tell her we're studying Lockhart's book Wondrous Ways To Win In Battle religiously. It's the mainstay of our training program." Hermione laughed at this, recalling his description of the ridiculous defense book--and the man who'd written it. "If you want to quote some passages for her, let me know and I'll bring you my copy Monday."

Draco nodded and left quickly. Everyone in the room relaxed noticeably when the door closed behind him.

"Okay, out with it," Parvati said.

Harry turned to her in surprise. She'd hardly said three words to him the entire week and now she was ordering him around? "I'm sorry?"

"I heard you were finally telling the entire story tonight," she said. "I don't want to hear it second-hand from anyone else. What has been going on with you the past few weeks?"

Harry looked around the room, realizing the talk he'd been planning to have with Lupin and now Tonks was going to turn into a round discussion with everyone. They'd all gotten comfortable seated in the chairs near the front of the room and were waiting for a response from him.

"I hadn't really planned on talking like--"

"Harry, please," Ron said. "Parvati's right. Neville told me as much as he could, but I think we'd all understand better if you told us the story yourself. We're here to support you. That'll be easier once we know the full truth."

He turned to Hermione who nodded her encouragement. If there was any time he should give people a reason to support him, it was then. With Dumbledore doing who knew what and McGonagall seemingly changing her allegiance, Harry needed all of the reinforcements he could get.

"Fine," he said. He motioned one hand towards the door. "But first we need to--" He stopped as both Tonks and Lupin pointed their wands towards the door, protecting it with a series of spells. Harry nodded at Professor Lupin. "You remember what I said to you the other day?"

Grinning, Lupin reached into the first drawer of his desk and pulled out a bottle of firewhiskey. "Tonks brought something to stabilize us during what promises to be an interesting story," he said, settling next to her on top of the desk. She conjured two glass tumblers and he poured them both drinks. Lupin raised his glass in a brief salute. "We're ready whenever you are, Harry."

Out of nowhere, Harry could feel nerves assailing him. It had been one thing to convince Hermione and Neville his words were real, but every adult he'd spoken to had greeted his story with a healthy amount of skepticism. It was possible, after everything that had happened, this time would be different. After all, they had all seen things in the paper and around school that couldn't be easily explained. Still, he didn't know how he would face it if two adults he respected refused to believe a word of it, or worse, if they were convinced he was crazy--and Dumbledore and everyone else for believing him. All told, a fantastic way to spend a Saturday night.

"Come on, Harry," Hermione said. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the front of the classroom. She pulled out two chairs and placed them in front of their professor's desk, facing the others in a circle. Harry sat obediently and began mentally running over his life story in his head, briefly wondering why he didn't write it down so he could just pass it from person to person without having to explain again. After a moment, he looked around at the curious faces, extracted a promise of secrecy from everyone in the room and began his story.

The first interruption came from Professor Lupin. "Wait, Pettigrew turned on James and Lily? We were told the secret had been tortured out of him." The anger in his rising voice caused Tonks to lean away from him a bit. "You know I saw that rat bastard a few weeks ago and he told me he kept in touch with your mother and Snape." Lupin frowned. "Now I know why. Neither of those little--" He stopped and seemed to remember where he was. He took a gulp of his drink. "I'm sorry, Harry. Continue with your story."

Harry continued, but hadn't gotten too far when the second interruption came. This one was from Parvati. "So that's why you never use your own wand to duel Neville." Her expression became thoughtful. "Then, how are you...? Oh, never mind. Go ahead."

Twenty minutes later, he was interrupted by Tonks. "I don't believe it. That miserable witch was pretending to teach at this school? And hurting students and no one--" She took a deep breath and let loose a string of curse words that made Harry raise both eyebrows in surprise. Professor Lupin put his arm around her in comfort.

When she was done, Harry continued, telling the rest of his story to the group. He found it impossible to meet the Auror's eyes when he described the dream he'd had about her torture in detail, particularly when Tonks became emotional as he spoke. Remembering to gloss over the details of exactly how Snape had died when he described his next dream, Harry finished the rest of the story in a rush, stopping with the last meeting he and Hermione had taken with Dumbledore and McGonagall the previous Saturday. He looked around the room after he completed his story, at the worried, confused and shocked faces of his friends. Parvati was the first to break the silence.

"This is insane," she said. "It's a death mission. Neville, you--" Parvati looked back and forth between him and Harry. "I'm sorry the two of you have to go through this. I can't imagine being able to face it myself."

"That's why we need the help of everyone in this room," Harry said. "I've never been able to tell my story to anyone like this before. Even when I gave that interview about Cedric, it was because I had to make people believe me so they could protect themselves. Now, it's because I don't know if we can trust Dumbledore to protect us. Or Professor McGonagall."

"Harry, I still think she's on our side," Hermione said.

"But not the Minister?" Lupin asked.

"I just told you how he's been acting," Harry said. "What else am I to think except that he wants us to fulfill this prophecy as quickly as possible, damn the consequences?"

"You don't have to worry about protection, Harry," Tonks said. Her face had taken on a rare serious expression. "He may run the government, but no one in Magical Law Enforcement will knowingly let either of you come to harm, regardless of his orders. I think I can speak for everyone in saying even if we have to defy him directly, we'll make sure you--" A knock at the door interrupted his words.

"How many protections did you put on the door?" Harry asked.

"Enough that even a very powerful wizard would have to knock," Tonks responded, lifting her wand. When the door was unlocked, Dumbledore and the Headmistress stepped inside the classroom; they were met with a roomful of unfriendly stares. Tonks secured the door behind them.

McGonagall walked to the front of the classroom and turned to face Dumbledore as he walked further in the room, her expression changing to match the others.

He nodded in her direction. "It seems you were right. The time has come."

"The time has come for what?" Harry asked.

"Harry, Neville, I'd like to speak with the two of you alone."

"No." Harry knew for sure that response had come from Hermione, Lupin and Tonks, but he couldn't be positive everyone else hadn't said it at the same time. He fought down a smile. This was far better than his friends' response to Dumbledore's orders to isolate him the summer before fifth year. Now, Harry knew he had their loyalty. So did the Minister. And he didn't look at all happy about it. Harry knew what Dumbledore was seeing when he looked over the people in the room, Harry in the capacity of the leader Hermione had told him he could become when they began Dumbledore's Army. He only wished it hadn't taken everything he'd been through in the past year for him to prove it to himself.

"Very well," Dumbledore said. "I'm not sure if this is something that would lend itself very well to a group discussion, but--"

"Funny," Lavender said. She crossed her arms over her chest. "After all I've seen and heard, I think a discussion about Horcruxes and battling to the death is exactly the kind of thing that needs to be talked about out in the open, among friends."

At her words, Dumbledore's eyes shot over to Hermione as he realized she'd discussed their talks. Frowning, he transfigured one of the classroom chairs for himself and positioned it between Harry and Neville.

"It seems you've done well to get people to understand your side of the story," Dumbledore said.

"I thought it was our side," Harry responded. "Unless that's what you've come to tell me and Neville. If we're no longer on the same side, Minister, I think it's best you tell us now."

"No, Mr. Potter, I am not going to do that," Dumbledore responded. "The opposite, in fact." He motioned to the Headmistress standing next to Lupin's desk. "Professor McGonagall indicated it was long past time I tell you what Mr. Malfoy has been doing on your behalf and, after a time, I came to agree with her." He looked around the room as he continued. "First, you must understand that I have done nothing I believe would ever cause either of you harm." His cool gaze settled on Harry. "In fact, I hope my actions of the past few weeks will put an end to this unfortunate situation as quickly and painlessly as possible for all involved."

Harry doubted that very much, but he and the others sat back and listened as the Minister of Magic told a story of altered reanimation spells, a weakened Dark Lord and the slow recapturing of some of his escaped followers.