"Are you saying that Harry Ashworth has more wisdom than I do?" Rose demanded, beginning to sound quite angry.
Leo held up his hands in a defensive gesture. "I am merely saying that we should not be so quick to discount the wisdom behind Harry's decisions. If you haven't noticed, the Death Eaters have been running scared these past months. And don't forget that he and Bellatrix whisked your mother out from under Voldemort's nose almost effortlessly. What he does may very well end this war once and for all."
"I suppose you're right," Rose said, still sounding rather unhappy. "I guess I just wish that I could play a more pivotal role in all this as well."
"Let's satisfy ourselves with researching Voldemort," Leo encouraged. "If we're in Harry's good graces come summer holidays, we may get a chance to help terrorize Death Eaters."
"Yeah, and how are we going to do that while we're under the watchful eyes of our parents?" Rose asked.
"I think you underestimate his abilities," Leo said, a slightly mocking smile on his face.
.....
Harry released the image projection spell and found himself back in his body, looking at the trees in the Forbidden Forest. The sun was sinking toward the horizon, signaling to Harry that he had little time if he was to make it to his next stop in time. Glancing around to ensure that he was alone, Harry withdrew a flask from his robes. He uncapped it, and, wrinkling his nose at the awful smell of Polyjuice, downed a few gulps.
The transformation was as unpleasant as he remembered, but the effect was perfect. Looking into a mirror that he had just conjured, Harry determined that he looked precisely like his wife, Bellatrix. Harry then grabbed the small satchel he had brought along and changed into the set of clothes Bellatrix had provided him. Grimacing as he pulled on a pair of her boots and tried to balance on the heels, Harry wondered if she had designed this all to torment him.
Once he was dressed, he used one of his Wandel wands to place an illusion spell on his phoenix feather wand so that it would resemble Bellatrix's own wand. Harry then determined that he was officially ready to impersonate Bellatrix. Hoping that Bellatrix had correctly modified the wards around the Burrow, Harry disapparated.
He appeared just down the drive from the Burrow's main entrance. Still trying to master the use of Bellatrix's boots, Harry picked his way up the drive as he mentally attempted to condition himself to act like Bellatrix. Snide remarks, Harry told himself silently, snide remarks. He reached the front door of the Burrow and let himself in. At least one person in the room is a dimwit.
"Bellatrix!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "We were so worried when you didn't arrive after your normal time."
Harry's instinct was to apologize, but he well knew that Bellatrix would not be likely to do so, at least, not to Mrs. Weasley. He tried to think of a snide remark, but had to settle for something in between. "I guess you have a new normal time," Harry said glibly, turning toward the stairs. He hoped that he would be able to shut himself up in Ginny's room and depart before breakfast without any further interaction with the Weasley family. It would not do to make a mistake and be identified.
"Normally, we wouldn't take note of the time of your arrival," Mrs. Weasley admitted hurriedly, seemingly nervous that she might have offended Bellatrix. "It's just that the Order is holding a meeting in a few minutes, and Professor Dumbledore hoped that you might accept an invitation to attend."
Harry froze near the staircase as he considered whether he wanted to get Bellatrix inducted into the Order. She would not like it, but it would be a good way to get information. Once again, Harry made a compromise. "I wouldn't mind coming tonight," he said slowly, "but I don't want to make you feel like I will come all the time."
"That's fine," Mrs. Weasley said, rushing to reassure the person she thought was Bellatrix. "As soon as Arthur gets down here, we can leave, unless you need a couple of minutes."
"No, no, I can leave when you're ready," Harry said.
.....
Suspiciously, Lily eyed Bellatrix as the younger woman, who still claimed to be older than Lily, took a swig from a flask. Bellatrix had surprised everyone by assenting to attend the Order meeting and had been astoundingly cooperative since arriving… even after Professor Dumbledore had carved time out of the meeting to solicit a monetary donation from Bellatrix's coffers to help aid the Order's efforts to rehabilitate and care for the Death Eater's victims.
Putting away her flask, Bellatrix answered a query posed by Professor Dumbledore. "I think fifteen thousand galleons should be more than sufficient for the time being. I am willing to be liberal with my money. But, I also want to be prudent."
"I assure you, Mrs. Black," Dumbledore said, "we are beyond grateful for the generosity you are already offering us. Let me point out, though, that we do have immediate needs and outstanding debts. It is not as if we would stockpile your money. We have actual victims in need and many people who would be willing to work with these victims if we could but cover costs they have already incurred. Couldn't you find it in your heart to give us a bit more up front?"