From Wiltshire, With Love

Chapter 38

"Our spy deserves the Unbreakable Vow."

Kingsley, Minerva, Remus and Tonks stared back at Hermione across the table, but she held Kingsley's impassive gaze. They had discussed the morale of the Order after the vigil for the murdered prisoners and had delved into Kingsley's acquisition of funds from private donors in other countries. The meeting came to a close and Hermione didn't want to evade the topic any longer.

She had accepted Kingsley's reasoning for not performing the vow before, but now she suspected there were other factors at play that she didn't understand. Draco had endangered himself for the Order, pure and simple. Kingsley knew that. His reasoning didn't add up, so she decided to put him on the spot in front of everyone else.

Kingsley shifted in his seat without breaking eye contact. "He hasn't yet demonstrated trust–"

"That's not true," Hermione countered. "He knew about the Nott raid and said nothing."

"He himself made that point, no? It's likely he had multiple objectives in giving you the blood. He could demonstrate trust on a minor issue as well as take out someone that was a threat to him."

"Protect a friend," Hermione corrected emphatically.

Kingsley waved his hand dismissively. "Semantics."

Hermione disagreed, but let it pass.

"He also warned us about the raid," Hermione pressed. "I'd be dead or waiting for death in a dungeon if it weren't for him. As would Harry, Ron and everyone else at Paddington. Likely the spy was tortured for the failed raid. You-Know-Who punishes failure. That's not a demonstration of trust?"

Kingsley shook his head. "It's a beginning, and even then it will depend on his actions during the war."

Hermione had a sick, sinking feeling in her gut and she glanced at Tonks, who knew that Draco had come to her after he executed the prisoners, but the Auror was no help.

Murder.

Could Draco get a pardon for murder if it was done under duress? If there was no choice? If the prisoners would be killed anyway? Didn't those circumstances make a difference? Kingsley said he wouldn't pardon Lucius because his crimes were too extensive. What about Draco's?

She didn't know. She wasn't familiar with the legalities, but Kingsley would be.

"You have no idea what he'll do once he achieves an Unbreakable Vow and knows my identity," Kingsley continued. "If he decides one day that he'd rather secure his family's standing in You-Know-Who's army, he'll have the means to do it. Quite easily. We can't take that chance."

"But he knows where You-Know-Who is," Hermione retorted. "We could ambush him before that would become a concern."

She looked to Tonks for help. Why wasn't this the same as capturing the Inner Circle Death Eaters? Better even?

"And what will you do once you ambush him?" Tonks countered. "You know he can summon his army to his side instantly. We're not entirely sure how those Dark Marks work. Neither are the Death Eaters we've captured, and we don't know how to kill him. Ambushing You-Know-Who without knowing the answer to those questions isn't a good idea." Hermione opened her mouth but Tonks continued before she could speak, raising her finger. "At least, not right now. Even if we did somehow capture and contain him without suffering crippling losses on our side, his Death Eaters are still running the show. What then? How would we overthrow their rule with so few people?"

Hermione crossed her arms and looked to the side. The war depended on getting the Horcruxes. And they were stumped.

"You know what else, Hermione?" She glanced up to meet Tonks' gaze. "Let's say we do capture and contain him. I'm not even confident I'd be able to interrogate You-Know-Who at all. What then? I don't want to risk Kingsley like that."