Unlikely Alliances
Chapter 1
As twilight settled upon the streets of London, there was still evidence of the bustle and energy that characterized the earlier part of the day. The last of the street vendors packed up their stands; weary and exhausted, they were anxious to return home and put their feet up. Several newspaper scraps alerted the passerby to a bonnet sale currently in progress at a fashionable ladies boutique, while another shouted that Milda Collingsworth would be signing autographs in the Peabody Bookstore this evening to launch her new book: A Woman's Reference to Understanding Her Bloke.
However, these missives went unnoticed by one young woman in her early twenties. She strode purposefully down the street and paused between two adjacent buildings. She glanced left, then right, and then took a deep breath. The air in front of her became hazy and the faintest outlines of a door could be seen. Had the street held any acute observers, the lady's disappearance would have caused them some alarm, but the remaining people that were on the street that day paid her little mind, and so the young woman went about her business unnoticed.
Ginny Weasley closed the door behind her and made her way to the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place, her stomach faintly rumbling. She walked in and Molly Weasley, who had been attending to a large cauldron immediately, noticed her entrance.
"Ginny, dear, you're early. The others haven't arrived yet. Be a dear and put out the plates. There's a good girl."
"How's dad?" Ginny asked as she motioned with her wand. Several plates flew out of the cupboard and arranged themselves on the table as she took a seat.
Molly sighed, "He's been feeling a bit out of sorts lately. He's been spending so much more time at the Ministry since his promotion."
"That's a shame. Maybe the two of you should take a bit of a holiday. You've always wanted to go Spain. Why don't you just go? It will give you a chance to rest," Ginny assured her mother.
"That would be lovely," Molly replied dreamily but then abruptly frowned, "but with the state of things in the Order, it's not likely -". The rest of her statement was cut off by the sound of the door opening and several male voices drifted through the hall. Remus Lupin entered first, followed by Bill Weasley, who each took a turn kissing Molly and Ginny hello. The door opened several more times to reveal the twins, Fred and George, Nymphadora Tonks, Mad-eye Moody and finally Ron and Hermione.
The last pair walked in chattering excitedly. The last few years had been good to them. Ron had finally stopped growing and stood very tall at 6'4. Both Auror training and the love of his dear wife Hermione had filled him out, leaving him solidly built and towering over his "little 'mione". Hermione had similarly matured with time. Though she had never been a beautiful woman, there was a delicate prettiness to her which was only enhanced by the sharpness of her eyes. Eyes which were able to both observe much and quell her occasionally thoughtless husband with a single look.
They had gotten married just two years out of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It seemed that many young couples had chosen to wed at about the same time. These were dark times and it was only right to spend this limited time with the ones you loved. While Ron and Hermione lived with the fear of ever increasing dark raids, they had found peace with each other and many soon followed their example. Their four year anniversary was rapidly approaching.
"Hermione, Ron, what's going on? You're positively beaming," Ginny asked as she took in the happy pair.
Hermione walked over and hugged Ginny. "We have some news, but we want to wait until everyone arrives before we say what it is."
Ron looked affectionately at his wife and turned to his sister, "I heard your team has a mission tomorrow Gin. Right bit of work it is too. I reckon you got more than you asked for when you joined the Green Cloaks."
"You had your chance at it Ron, but you chose to spend more time with Hermione here," Ginny replied winking at him.
He laughed and walked over to his mother and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Hello mum, that stew smells delicious."
Dinner passed quickly but excitement filled the room as the large gathering laughed and chatted after a long absence from the Black house. Albus Dumbledore, the head of the Order of the Phoenix had stated earlier that he had a matter of some importance to discuss, one that could change the current and stagnant situation of the Order.
As the hall clock chimed Nine, the members gathered in the main drawing room as several new members began coming in from the hall.
Ginny chose a seat on the chaise next to Hermione and looked up as Albus Dumbledore walked in.
"Good evening, I am sorry if I have kept you waiting. Harry should be with us soon, with the subject of tonight's meeting…ah here he is. Come in Harry."
A young man, twenty two years of age, with a face known all throughout the wizarding world, walked in briskly However, the attention of the room's occupants was currently held by that of a similarly aged young man, dressed in expensive robes, who had followed Harry in, his face still concealed by the hood of his cloak. The pair seated themselves, and the Order members looked on with interest as Harry murmured a few words into Dumbledore's ear.
"You may remove your hood now, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said softly.
At this, a collective gasp was heard, as well as several shouts of outrage.
Moody was the one who spoke first. "Wot's the meaning of this Albus?! Why is there Death Eater at the headquarters of the Order?"
"Yeah and why did you bring him in, Harry?" chimed in a purple-faced Ron.
"You realize this greatly compromises us?" added Hermione quietly. "He has seen several members of the Order. I hope there is a real need for this Professor Dumbledore, otherwise several people are now in danger."
Dumbledore raised his hand for silence. "I will allow Harry to explain."
Harry cleared his throat and began, "Everyone, please. First, rest easy that Professor Dumbledore and I would not have brought Malfoy here unless we believed the need to be great. He poses no threat to the Order nor does he pose a threat to any members of the Order. In recent months, there has been an increase in Death Eater activity, yet we have been unable to either anticipate or prevent it. Malfoy brings news which will be vital to the activities of the Order. I will quickly update you all on the events that led to this meeting. Several days ago, I had received an owl from Professor Dumbledore, asking me to come to Hogwarts. It was at that meeting that he told me that he had been speaking with Malfoy for many months along with Professor Snape. Malfoy has access to heavily guarded information about Death Eater activities. We need his help and Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, and I had made the decision to bring him to this meeting tonight. He will be gathering information and reporting back."
Throughout Harry's short speech, Ginny had been watching Malfoy with interest. He was still pale with pointed features, but had filled out considerably and grown much taller. This, however, did not interest Ginny so much as the look in his pale gray eyes did.
She was accustomed to seeing those eyes glint with arrogance, conceit, and barely veiled contempt. She had seen them hold all those things when they had attended Hogwarts together. He had strutted through the corridors with his band of bullies and would sneer at anyone who would dare get in the path of the Slytherin Prince. Those unfortunate enough to have his wrath focused on them, would all agree that there was a coldness to him that seemed unnatural for a boy his age. Then, they had all left Hogwarts and she had heard that he had become a Death Eater just as his father had before him. He had risen through the ranks swiftly and all his talents as a bully had been polished and enhanced until he had become one of Voldemort's chief advisors.
As she looked at him again now, Ginny was not prepared to see those same eyes hold nothing. They were still cold, and she shivered when she felt his gaze flick over her quickly, but they seemed to hold little emotion beyond that. There was nothing in them to suggest his feelings about being in a room with people he would have loathed being near in school. Right now, they were simply empty.
A newer member to the Order, a man by the name of Augustus Winter, spoke and pulled Ginny out of her thoughts. "We are about to start the next set of operations to investigate all the areas in Europe which have associations with the Dark Lord. It seems that while the key to defeating him still lies with Mr. Potter, there is much dark magic that we have yet to uncover. There are sects in Romania, Bulgaria, and Germany that are all showing suspicious activity. We will begin our work in a town in Germany where we will collaborate with their Ministry officials."
"Miss Weasley, I understand that your group from the Ministry will be the first aurors on the scene," Dumbledore confirmed.
She cleared her throat. "Yes, we will be starting in a small town which skirts an area known to have been one of the earliest sightings of Voldemort after his defeat at Godric's Hollow. We will be then following our other intelligence to learn as much as we can about how strong his support is in those areas as well as what dark magic still lurks there."
"Why has the Ministry set up this investigation, and why now?" Molly asked.
Ginny smiled darkly. "Well, at first the Ministry had thought that all forms of dark magic had been documented. Our esteemed Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, has only recently come to the conclusion that there may be other magic that is extremely well hidden; but he only came to this conclusion after the last few muggle born wizards were killed. Both St. Mungo's as well as all of the Ministry's top inspectors have not been able to determine the cause of death." She turned to face her mother. "The more we can learn about the extent of Voldemort's knowledge of Dark Arts, and what methods he is using, the easier it will be to find his weaknesses. However, it seems that not only does he have a greater knowledge of dark magic than the rest of us, but in the past few years, he has shown a keener sense of strategy and precision in his latest attacks." As she finished, she shifted her gaze to Malfoy and stared at his speculatively. He held her gaze, his face betraying nothing.
"Thank you, Miss Weasley. Now, I would like to turn to Mr. Malfoy and ask him to give his thoughts about Voldemort's current focus," said Dumbledore.
Malfoy stood, his wintry eyes moving over each occupant of the room. "As Potter has said, there is some information that I believe is relevant to your cause. The Dark Lord has deemed it time to heighten his campaign. He has plans set in motion that will lead to the systematic removal of every muggle born witch and wizard. While his goal still remains the destruction of Potter, as well as certain other individuals, he grows tired of delaying his campaign against the wizarding world. The Dark Lord has been consorting with another dark wizard who has shown a particular fondness for developing new methods of torture; a hybrid of magical and muggle techniques. The Dark Lord has fully restored his previous power but has lately been working with a wizard by the name of Dumitri Nedelcu to enhance it further using several little known rituals. As of now, their attempts have been unsuccessful." With that he sat down and said no more.
Quiet descended the room as everyone slowly digested this new piece of information. Ron spoke first, breaking the silence.
"Why should we believe you, Malfoy? How do we know you're not setting us up?"
Draco Malfoy turned his attention to Ron, looked him over briefly, and then responded coldly, "I really couldn't care less whether or not you believe me, Weasley. I have given you information. Whether or not you chose to use it is up to you."
"Why are you helping us, Malfoy?" asked Hermione.
A flicker of irritation passed over Draco's face. "My reasons are my own, Mudblood," he sneered. His words were met with outrage.
"See here Dumbledore, he's not to speak like that," shouted Moody.
Dumbledore sighed. "I beseech you all to listen with an open mind. Mr. Malfoy, language of that kind is not acceptable here. I understand that this unlikely alliance will take time. However, it is in these dark times that we must look in unusual places for help. Over the next several weeks, Mr. Malfoy will be bringing more information. In the meantime, the Ministry's Aurors will continue with their investigations," he paused, "If there is no other business to discuss, I hereby adjourn this meeting of the Order of the Phoenix."