"We're talking incredible magic here, Dumbledore. Are you sure it would work?"

The voices of the Order talking sounded through the extendable ear to those not old enough to be involved in the meeting.

"Sounds like you're doubting my abilities, Remus," Dumbledore's voice sound both amused and offended. There was a long pause following this statement. Harry, Hermione and Ron looked at each other briefly before giving there attention back to the rubber ear.

"It's not that I doubt you, as such, Professor. You know I believe in you, I just don't know how much faith I can have in this plan. So much can go wrong. This can mess them up really bad."

Dumbledore sighed. "I understand why you're concerned Remus. But you must understand, there is nothing that can go wrong that is outside my ability to repair."

The Weasley twins scoffed and the trio looked at them. "What, he thinks people can't hear the doubt in his own voice?" said Fred.

"Exactly," replied George. "By the sounds of it you'd have to be a complete nutter to take part in whatever this plan is."

A door slammed behind them and they all jumped, dropping the ear. When they saw it was only Ginny, they all through her an annoyed glare.

"Gee, sorry. I had no idea the meeting had started. Maybe if someone had come and told me I could have been listening too and this would not have happened," she said, just a little put out.

Ginny walked over to the banister where the slightly older teens were leaning over. Hermione threw her an apologetic glance and Ginny smiled back, subtly placing her hand on the small of Hermione's back. She dropped it quickly and sighed impatiently as George turned to pick up the new extendable ear that he dropped. He began to lower it over the edge but quickly pulled it back when they heard Mrs Weasley call them to the kitchen. Being called to the kitchen meant one of two things, either dinner was ready, or they were being allowed in on the end of the meeting. Either way, it worked out good for them and the boys ran off, pushing each other on the way down the stairs.

Hermione turned to Ginny and noticed her glaring after them. "Come on, Ginny. You know that no one's actually annoyed at you over that, right?"

"Yeah I know that. As if I'd care if they were pissed at me anyway. It's just…" Ginny hesitated and Hermione knew what was coming. She'd seen that sad look in her girlfriend's eyes too often. She put her arm around her shoulders to give her a reassuring squeeze.

"We'll be able to tell them one day, and then we won't have to worry about all this sneaking around crap. But for now I think its best if we just keep it between us. You know the boys won't understand, especially Ron." She saw Ginny nod her head out the corner of her eye and smirked. "Besides, I always thought that whole fear of getting caught thing really did it for you…"

Ginny laughed before turning and gently shoving Hermione into the wall. Leaning right up in to her ear she whispered "oh Hermione, you have no idea" then went to kiss her but pulled away just at the last second and began to descend the stairs. Hermione regained her composure and chased after her.

They were both laughing and breathless when they reached the kitchen, teasing each other and playfully pushing one another. One look at the peoples' faces around the kitchen table and their moods were immediately dampened. Apparently dinner wasn't ready, they were being allowed to sit in on the meeting. Apparently, though, it didn't appear to be for a good reason.

"Glad you decided to join us, girls." Dumbledore gave them a smile that suggested he, as always, knew everything, causing the girls to blush as they took their respective seats at the table. "Not to worry though, you aren't the last to arrive. Once Professor Snape gets here we can commence the meeting properly."

At the mention of the potion master's name, both Harry and Ron groaned. Hermione smiled to herself. She was right, those boys would never grow up. Moments later Snape busted through the kitchen door.

"Can we make this quick, Professor? I have another meeting that would not do well to miss later tonight."

"I'm sorry Severus, but I don't think this meeting will be one to end shortly this evening. You might as well have a seat and make yourself comfortable. Would you like some tea? Molly just made a fresh pot and I must say it is absolutely beautiful," Dumbledore tried to hide a smile as he said this. He knew just as well as anyone how much Snape hated being treated nicely, but at the same time he knew he was the only person who could ever get away with it. "We've finally worked out the last of the kinks in the plan, and with your assistance I'm sure it will be a success. It all begins tonight."

Groaning to himself, Snape went to take his usual seat for meetings. Startled and annoyed when he found Ron sitting in it, he turned to Dumbledore. "And to what purpose are the children allowed in on the meeting? The way you talk of this plan, it seems as though it is of high importance."

"I think you will find that they don't quite class as children anymore, Severus, and they are here because they are the plan. So for the time being, it looks like you'll just have to grin and bear it. Ahh look, there's a spare seat next to Harry."

Both Harry and Snape shot each other a glare as Snape took his seat, then proceeded to ignore each other.

"OK, down to business now," said Dumbledore as he stood up to speak to everyone. "It has come to our attention that Lord Voldermort relies a lot heavier on his Death Eaters than we initially thought. Though he would never admit it to anyone, without his faithful followers, he would be nothing. We have learnt form a reliable source," at this statement everyone in the room glanced towards Snape, "that pretty much everything is put together and planned by Voldermort's closest Death Eaters. That's everything from how to carry out plans, who to attack next and even where Voldermort goes when he is in hiding-"

"But Professor," Harry interjected, "I always thought that Voldermort was really smart. Or at least that's what I gathered from all the stories about him from his school days."

"You are quite right, Harry. But Voldermort is mostly academic smart. He was extremely gifted at practical magic but when it comes to most other things, he is not so lucky. Besides, he has spent a lot of time locked away from the wizarding world and the people in it. So when it comes down to it, he doesn't have all the inside knowledge. One could say he knows where he wants to go, but has no means of getting there. That's where the Death Eaters come in.

I know that most of you may find this hard to believe but not all the Death Eaters are brainless sheep who are just in it for glory and the killing of muggles. There are a few who are some of the smartest students I ever taught and these are the one's that Voldermort entrusts everything. Without them, we could have one this war a long time ago."

"Just, out of curiosity, Professor, but which one's do you say are that smart one's? Tell me it wasn't Lucius Malfoy," Hermione said, involuntarily shuddering as the name came out her mouth.

"Ahh, I knew if anyone would ask it would be you, Miss Granger. Not to worry, not many of them are at your level though." She blushed at the compliment. Dumbledore had never been one to ever really acknowledge her existence let alone her academic achievements. "And no, I wasn't referring to Lucius. As cunning and cruel as he was and still is, his brains were never in the right place." The mood lightened for a moment as everyone softly chuckled. "No, Miss Granger, I was thinking more along the lines of the Lestrange boys, Regulus Black and a few others' who have, fortunately for us, been taken out of the picture."

"You seem to have forgotten one, Headmaster…" Snape's icy voice cut through the chatter that followed Dumbledore's talk. All attention turned to him as he smirked and continued. "One with talent and brains that

could easily surpass even Miss Granger's. Oh yes, never struggled with anything, this one. Invented many spells and potions that are popular with the Dark Lord now. Scared a lot of students and teachers. Held an ability that came with an obscene amount of self confidence and a power that was as dark and ruthless- "

"Severus!" Dumbledore stared blankly ahead as he cut Snape off mid-sentence. "I was actually hoping to leave that particular one of that this conversation."

"And why is that, Professor?" Harry asked curiously, a little disturbed that there was someone out there who Snape spoke of in such a manner.

"Because this person happens to be our main target in the plan, Harry. Knowing such things about this person is enough to scare people out of wanting to participate."

"Like what?" Sneered Snape. "You always said that if it hadn't been for the Dark Lord coming out first, the Death Eaters would be calling her Master."

"Her? A woman? You don't mean…" Hermione stopped breathing.

"Bellatrix Lestrange," Harry finished for her, venom dripping from his voice as her name exited his body.

Hermione involuntarily shuddered again, though this time it wasn't out of fear or disgust or even pure hatred. It was something else. Something she couldn't put her finger on either cause she didn't know what it was or she didn't want to. Ginny noticed the change in her demeanor immediately and threw her a questioning look. Hermione just shook her head in reply and grabbed Ginny's hand under the table.

Deep down Ginny thought she knew what was wrong. There was something in Hermione, a side to her that not many people knew existed and wouldn't believe it anyway. She didn't even think that Hermione herself really knew of it. But Ginny did. From the first time that she felt Hermione's hand around her throat during sex, felt her nails tear through the skin on her back, felt her bite through her lip and pretend she wasn't enjoying the new taste it made in their mouths, she knew. She wouldn't go as far as calling her girlfriend a sadist, but she could sense the darkness in her, even if it was only a sexual thing. And Ginny didn't like admitting it, but she liked it. A lot.

Ginny tuned back in to the meeting midway through Hermione's sentence. "… does that vile woman have to do with the plan?" Ginny had to smile, bittersweet it may have been, at the choice of description. She knew perfectly well how Hermione felt about the Lestrange woman and it made her cringe inside.

"What does Bellatrix Lestrange have to do with our plans?" Asked Dumbledore. "Absolutely everything."