Harry Potter And Bellatrix Lestrange

"And here I thought I was just that unpopular," Harry snorted dryly.

"It's a step forward, but it's kind of frightening how far Voldemort's influence reaches, if he can put that many people in high-ranking Ministry positions under his control." Remus looked thoughtful. "But now that they've been checked, we've deprived Voldemort of his main instrument of controlling the government's actions, which means you should have a much easier time getting people to cooperate."

"Did anyone check the Order members?" Harry asked.

"Yes, we did. There were no involuntary spies for Voldemort there," Snape told him, though Harry could tell something was wrong. Upon a pointed glance from the youth, Snape shrugged and told him. "A few of the Order's reactivated members from the first war turned out to be voluntary spies for the dark lord. They weren't in any important positions, and were not privy to any vital information, but it's shaken up a few people on just whom Voldemort has managed to convert."

"Wait…" Harry began. "You said you checked for mind-controlling spells and potions… what about mind-altering ones?"

"Mind altering potions?" Snape arched an eyebrow. "Such a thing wouldn't benefit the dark lord in any manner he would find useful."

Harry crossed his arms over his chest and looked thoughtful. "Even if it meant getting his worst enemy thrown into Azkaban?"

"What're you saying, Harry?" Remus asked, alarmed.

"I think what Potter is saying is that he suspects a few people who've been rather vocal in disowning him publicly may be under the effects of certain spells or potions," Moody growled, irritated that he hadn't thought of that before. "It's an ingenious plan, and no one would even think to check for a whole number of potions that would have just that effect, because, like Snape said, there's no reason he'd be using them."

"You think Molly and Arthur and the others are under some kind of spell or potion that made them turn against Harry?" Remus looked skeptical. "I don't think so. I mean, Hermione realized she was wrong about Harry on her own, and if there was a potion or some other mind-affecting spell, I don't think she'd have admitted she was wrong."

"You forget the youngest Weasley, too," Snape added.

"She gave Molly a right talking to the other day," Moody grinned toothily. "It was brilliant."

Harry managed a weak smile, though he really didn't want to think about it. Despite all the talking to by Bella, the betrayal of his friends still hurt. It was getting better - he was now able to look at Hermione without cringing, after all, and he was sure that he was beginning to heal, but he wasn't quite ready for all of them to come running to him begging for forgiveness yet. And, he thought with a dark frown that vanished almost instantly, he wasn't sure he even wanted to forgive some people. It wasn't the Gryffindor thing to do, holding grudges, but he'd been trying to be the perfect Gryffindor most of his wizard life, and look where that got him.

In the meantime, he had found that he was better off just not thinking about what to do about his former friends for now. After all, he had a war to plan, and there would be ample time to contemplate their fates after the battles were won. For the moment, it was best to let thoughts of the future rest, until they were sure they had a future. The four of them talked things through a while longer, until the adults were satisfied they had a firm grasp on Harry's strategy for the battles to come, because they knew that coordinating efforts on their end with his actions would be vital to defeating Voldemort. Finally, they left, stating that Dumbledore had called another Order meeting to discuss the Order's plans for engaging Voldemort's forces. Harry saw them off, only to turn around and find Bella standing in the doorway behind him, an uneasy expression on her face and a flask with an odd purple liquid in her hands.

"It's complete," she told him quietly.

Harry nodded in understanding, knowing what she meant. The potion and spell she had been researching to cure the Longbottoms was done. Now all that was left was to give it to them.

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