Event Horizon

The next day, Pansy was once again been led to the Burrow's dining room- this time by an Order member she was not familiar with- a young black haired woman who treated her… with caution.

She learned the woman's name from Molly Weasley, who greeted her as 'Hestia'. The Weasley Matriarch seemed to go out of her way to pull Pansy into the conversation, asking about her home and family, what she liked to eat, and so on. On the one hand, this was preferable to being a complete outcast, but she knew there was probably some ulterior motive. The woman was probably just trying to figure out if she was being truthful, and didn't actually care. Pansy hid her disappointment with accommodations- the food, the clothes, and whatnot- she wanted to get on these people's good side after all. "So, what's on the agenda today?" She asked instead.

"Well-" Whatever Molly was going to say was interrupted by the door.

It was him. This was her chance!

Gone were the ratty mugle clothes, or the bland school uniform. Pansy didn't even know Harry had proper clothes befitting a pureblood man, but his dark purple dress robes looked like they were made for him and complimented his eyes. The white button-down shirt, tie, and sleek pants accentuated the look. He looked like a proper pureblood scion.

"Pansy." He nodded, smiling tentatively.

"Harry." Pansy breathed. Taken as she was, she didn't even notice that he'd been accompanied by Susan Bones, let alone that Susan had to suppress a smug smile.

"I'm sure you know Susan." He inclined his head towards Susan, who was dressed in understated black professional robes- clothes that might have been designed to help her fade into the background.

"…yes, I do." Pansy said, jerking back to full awareness. Her eyes darted to each of the room's occupants. From Susan, who was now wearing a neutral expression, to Molly, who was puttering about the kitchen but no doubt listening in, to Hestia Jones who… was almost as taken as Pansy was, her cheeks flushing slightly as her eyes lingered on Harry.

Right. Time to turn on the charm. "Thank you for coming for me, Harry." She said gratefully "I've never… this has been scary."

Harry nodded sympathetically "Do you want to talk about it?"

The beauty of her cover story was that it actually was quite close to the truth. She had been kidnapped by Death Eaters in the dark of the night. Bellatrix Lestrange had ordered her to kill Draco. This was where it deviated. In her story, she refused to kill Draco or join the Death Eaters, and had been thrown in the dungeon and tortured as punishment.

"I'm sorry. That was very brave of you, standing up for someone you love. It must be difficult, knowing he's still in danger."

Pansy faltered, not sure how she should respond to that. Her story played up the fact that she had sacrificed a lot for Draco, but now she needed to somehow justify seducing Harry. Shite! "Its okay, I'm sorry I brought that up." Harry hurried to add, apparently interpreting her indecision as emotional angst. "Is there anything you can tell us about the Death Eaters or their plans?"

Pansy shook her head "I'm sorry Harry, I wish I had something for you. They never said anything in front of me."

-----

"What a lying… bitch!" Susan spat as soon as they'd returned to her property, having been escorted to the Burrow's apparition boundary by Hestia Jones.

"What makes you say that?" Harry asked. Not that he disagreed with her, but he couldn't put a finger on what exactly was offputting about Pansy Parkinson.

"Tell me, was the person you spoke to today in any way similar to the person we've known for the past six years?"

That question only required a moment's thought "No."

"She was way too polite. Pansy Parkinson normally has quite the gab. Complains about or mocks anything she disagrees with. Wants things her way. If she really were innocent, you know what we'd see?" She didn't wait for his response "She'd be raising holy hell. Threatening to call the aurors on us for illegally detaining her- which we are, by the way. At the very least, she'd be complaining about the Weasley's clothes, the room she's in, and how confined she is."

Harry nodded in agreement "So she's playing a part."

"Exactly. And then there's Malfoy. The reason I told you to try to bring him up was… well…"

"She's flirting with me." Harry said flatly.

"You're catching on." Susan said, impressed, as she and Harry entered her home. All the other residents of the house were waiting for them- including Gabrielle, who seemed to be sticking to her sister's side like glue.

"No, I had to point it out to him." Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Well, I can be forgiven for not looking out for flirting from someone who has a boyfriend she supposedly put her life on the line for."

"To be fair, Harry does look ravishing in those robes, does he not?" Fleur offered. Harry blushed as the girls voiced their agreement, including a wolf-whistle from Katie. "Compliments to Susan of course." Fleur added.

"Are you suggesting that I wouldn't have been able to dress myself properly?" Harry challenged jokingly.

"Yes." Fleur deadpanned, to a chorus of "Oooooohs."

"Face it Harry. Without me, you'd probably have worn your cousin's awful hand-me-downs to that meeting." Susan added "We really should just burn those clothes."

"I'll get right on that." Fleur said with a feral grin. Harry wasn't sure if she was joking or serious.

"So, I guess the question is- what do we do about her." Harry steered the conversation back on topic.

A few glances were cast towards Gabrielle, who tensed at the scrutiny. "Gabby, could you give us a moment?" Fleur asked.

"Why can't I stay?"

"You're not old enough for this Gabby."

"When Harry was my age he fought a basilisk." Gabby argued "I'm not going to give anything away. I want to help!"

"Its not that I don't trust you, Gabby. I do." Fleur said, more calmly "I just… I don't want you dragged into this war."

"Then why did you bring me to England?"

Harry caught Fleur's eye and stepped in to intervene. "Gabby, the fact that I was forced to do a lot of dangerous things when I was younger doesn't mean everyone else should too. I understand that you don't want to feel left out, and I promise" He glanced meaningfully towards Fleur "That we'll work something out, so that you can help us while staying as safe as possible." "Can you let us discuss this in private?"

Gabby held Harry's gaze for a moment, before she looked away, blushing, and nodded. "Of course, Harry." She left without complaint.

"I've never gotten her to agree to something so easily." Fleur commented.

Harry shrugged "I really just put off the tougher conversation. We do need to figure out what to do with Gabby for the summer. I was thinking that we could teach her- you know, self defense. I just worry that this isn't what's best for her."

"What do you mean?" Fleur asked.

"Well, she has a crush on me. I know that the last thing you want to see when you're crushing on someone is them with someone else. I mean, we can use privacy charms for the sex… but even kissing… it just doesn't seem fair to her."

"You're sweet." Fleur smiled warmly "I was honestly hoping seeing you with the others would help her. Maybe seeing that you were happily with other girls would help her accept it and move on. Maybe it hurts her, but it would be worse if she pines after you for years."

Harry sighed noncommittally "Maybe. Er, so about Pansy- what do we do?"

Demelza leapt in to say "Kick her out onto the street. I'm sure Voldemort's punishment for failure is far worse than anything we could come up with."

"As satisfying as that may be." Susan rebutted "We have a huge opportunity right now, and we really can't afford to waste it."

Harry had figured as much, though Demelza didn't seem happy. Harry gestured for her to continue. "She's probably reporting back to Voldemort somehow. Why not use that against them? Feed them some disinformation."

Harry nodded thoughtfully; he liked the idea of turning the tables like that, it wasn't often that they got the chance to take the initiative against Voldemort.

"What sort of disinformation?"

-----

"Tonks? Where's Remus?" Ron wasn't at all certain about the situation he'd gotten himself in. Something about Remus and Tonks made him suspect something, an ulterior motive, though he had no clue what it could be. They said they were just trying to help him, but he couldn't help but feel there was more going on.

Those suspicions were confirmed when he entered their shared flat, and found that the man who had invited him there was conspicuously absent. What proceeded was one of the most bizarre moments of his life, as Tonks seductively walked towards him, swaying her hips seductively and closing the door behind him. "Wotcher." She said, but something in her tone sent tingles down his spine. What. What? What!?

"Err…" Ron said dumbly as Tonks took his arm, led him to a sofa, and perched on the arm beside him. "What's… going on?" He said weakly.

"We're here to solve your… problem, aren't we?" Tonks glanced down at his obvious erection as she said this. Ron blushed, unable to deny how desperately hard he was right now.

"Yeah, but, but what about Remus?"

"What about him?" Tonks said flippantly.

"But-" Tonks silence him with a finger to his lips.

"Don't worry about him. No one has to know about this."

He knew that this was wrong. It felt wrong, but something ravenous and vicious in him, running red hot in his veins, wanted to take this opportunity for himself anyway. Her presence so close to him, her mischievous smile… fuck.

He had to get out of here- before he did something he regretted. Again.

Ron bolted, stumbling to the door, but just as he was at the threshold… "Petrificus Totalis." Tonks froze him at the doorway "Alright Remus, looks like you were right about him."

Ron heard a door open behind him and he was released from the spell. Ron turned to see Remus and Tonks standing together. "No offense." Tonks sidled up to Remus, "But I prefer older men."

"This was a test?" Ron felt somewhat offended, but on the other hand, he knew it was probably justified.

"Sorry." Tonks shrugged, not sounding particularly sorry "We needed to see how far gone you were."

"Is that what you wanted me here for, just to test me?" Ron felt his annoyance grow, were they just wasting his time? Why shouldn't he just leave now?

"Wait. Ron." Remus interceded "We aren't just pulling your chain here. There's a reason why we wanted to talk to you, and why we needed to make sure you were on the level. We'd heard about some of your… escapades, and not everyone handles what you're going through well. We just needed to be sure."

Ron let out a breath, trying to release some of the tension in his body "How are you supposed to be able to help me?"

"Believe it or not, you aren't the only person going through this." Remus sat down at the kitchen table and gestured for Ron to sit as well. "Not long after the school year ended, I received a letter from a former student of mine." Remus explained "Her family had been attacked by Death Eaters, and she'd been turned."

"You mean…"

"Yes. I set up a safe house for her, and Snape had promised to provide her with Wolfsbane potion, before…" Remus trailed off.

"Before everything went to shite." Tonks continued "We still don't know what we're going to do about the wolfsbane potion."

"I may just have to go back to secluding myself."

"Not if I have anything to say about it." Tonks scowled.

Remus held out his hand to forestall the argument. "The point is, she's been having some of the same problems you've been having."

"Oh." Ron uttered, trying to put the pieces together "Wait, former student, do I know her?"

"Well, she is in your year."

-----

Number 12 Grimmauld Place had never been a welcoming home, but being forced to live there just made it all the more intolerable.

To be fair, Bill wasn't literally forced to be here. He had purchased a comfy seaside cottage for him and Fleur, but he couldn't bear to be there. That was supposed to be the place where he settled down with Fleur, it felt like a mockery now.

No, Grimmauld was the safest place for him, especially considering the alarming number of Order members who had just gone dark on them. Remus, Tonks, his entire family… Bill couldn't understand it. How couldn't they see how toxic Potter was? He was going to get them all killed!

He was certain some of the people who'd stuck with them had their doubts. Hell, some were probably spying on them for Potter. Maybe Snape could root the traitors out with veratiserum, he thought spitefully. He'd always hated the greasy git, but apparently, he'd been right all along about Potter.

There were a few upsides to living in the ancestral Black home. He had easy access to the library, which provided him with a wealth of information that he'd normally never have access to.

It was also easier to stay in touch with Dumbledore. In a way, the headmaster had put a terrible burden on him. He was the only other person who really understood what was going on, it would have been so much easier to live in blissful ignorance. Dumbledore was the only one Bill thought he could speak freely with. Around the other Order members, the talk was about 'bringing Harry back into the fold' and 'saving him from Voldemort's influence.' Around the others, he had to tiptoe around what he actually meant, not so with Dumbledore.

"I've received word." Dumbledore began "That Harry was lured into another trap by Voldemort."

"Of course he was. Who'd he get killed this time." Bill scoffed. It'd better not been any of his family.

"Your family is safe, Bill. Don't worry." Dumbledore hastened to add "But this shows just how dangerous he is. Once again, he's allowing Voldemort to influence him."

"We need to do something. My entire family's around him. I won't stand for it!"

"I've been very troubled by this." Dumbledore admitted "I've tried… very hard to be reasonable with him. To give him the chance to make the right decision for himself. I've tried to subdue him with as little harm to his person as possible. I've exhausted every option. Except one."

"Are you saying… what I think you're saying?"

Dumbledore chuckled weakly "That depend entirely on what you think I'm saying. However, I can guess that you are correct. Harry needs to die."

"How do we… how do we make this happen?"

"We cannot do it. The prophecy is quite clear- it must be Voldemort who does the deed. That does not mean, however, that we cannot… help him along."

For a moment, Bill felt a flicker of doubt. Setting Harry up to be killed… it might put his family in danger. "Bill." Dumbledore pressed, touching his arm "You know that has to be done."

Bill felt a sense of clarity rush over him. Yes, they needed to do this. If his family was hurt… well, that was the price they paid for associating with Potter. This was for the greater good.

"Alright, what's your plan?"

Dumbledore nodded, satisfied. "While Harry certainly doesn't trust us, he probably does trust other members of the Order."

"We get them to deliver the information to him. Information that will lead him into a trap."

"Yes. I think Minerva would be the best candidate. She'll think she'll be helping us reconcile. Though I may have to put some mental compulsions on her to make sure Potter doesn't influence her as well."

"The Dark Lord… he'd also need to know that about the trap. Wouldn't be much of a trap otherwise."

Dumbledore just shook his head "Don't concern yourself. He will know."

-----

Voldemort couldn't help but scoff, a bit amused by the slogan carved above the entrance to the prison.

'For the Greater Good.'

As if there was such a thing as good or evil. There was only the struggle for survival that dominated every living creature, the fight to stave off death, if even for a moment. Granted, such concepts were quite useful in motivating said creatures. He should not judge the previous dark lord so harshly for his public relations.

But he was not here for a meeting of minds. No, he was here for one thing and one thing only. The wand. The wand that could counter whatever connection existed between his and Potters' magic. The wand that Olivander had confessed to him existed. The wand that he'd been scouring Europe for ever since his confrontation with Potter.

It had all led him here, to Gellert Grindewald. A wizard who, despite the delusions his horcrux had implanted into Dumbledore, was very much alive.

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