Step One: Get the Diary

A/N: Aww, I had hoped this one would be as popular as FFNMW. Ah well, the true fans stick by this one, right? . I'm a little stuck on how to progress the story towards the other Horcruxes... any ideas? Let me know, I need 'em!

The three man strode out purposefully and Apparated just outside of the Ministry. Through the elevator ride, Lucius wrung his hands inconsolably as Severus and Albus stared forward stoically. Together, they stepped out into a gloomy-looking dungeon lined with prison cells and burly guards. Severus shuddered slightly, remembering the horrid incident with Voldemort only a few days prior, but forced himself to move forward with the others.

"Lucius!" they heard a desperate voice cry out. Lucius turned quickly and ran to the cell on his right, clinging to the bars as though he could make them disappear.

"Narcissa!" he groaned. The couple grasped hands tightly through the bars, tears in their eyes. "Where's Draco?" he asked, searching the cell for a sign of his beloved sign. Narcissa sat back on her heels and her lip trembled.

"They took him from me… I think the witch's name was Umbridge. Nasty, horrid woman… she said I couldn't care for my own son!" She looked up and saw Severus, whose face betrayed his anger for a fleeting second.

How dare that woman imply my godson is not being taken care of…

"Hey! You! Back away from the prisoners! Who said you could come down here?" they heard. Turning, the three men found themselves facing Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. He quailed slightly at the sight of Dumbledore's grave face.

"I said we could be here, Fudge, and you'd do good to tell me why a young child was separated from his mother. Better yet, tell me why you decided it wise to throw your monetary supporters in jail. Growing a backbone, are you?" Severus snarled. Dumbledore put up a hand, giving Severus a significant let-me-handle-this look.

Fudge colored at the insinuation of his pockets being lined with Malfoy money. "I was merely acting on a tip that the Malfoys were ardent You-Know-Who supporters."

Severus scoffed. "Oh really? I'm sure that's not the first time you received this tip, Fudge. Who paid you off? The Longbottoms? I know the Weasleys sure can't afford to," he replied scathingly.

"Severus!" Dumbledore admonished. Turning back to Fudge, he said, "You know, I am actually curious… Who gave you the tip? And be reminded you are speaking to the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot; I won't tolerate a lie."

"Black." Fudge said simply, coloring from rage.

Severus' eyes narrowed to slits. Looks like Black and I are going to have a little talk.

Leaving Dumbledore and Lucius to haggle over the terms with which the Malfoys became suspects, Severus rode the elevator back up to the ground floor and made his way over to an Apparition point, landing a moment later in front of Sirius' new place in Ottery St. Catchpole, next door to the Lovegoods.

Sirius opened the door upon hearing the telltale crack of Apparition, lowering his wand as he saw Severus striding up the walkway and allowing him in. "Harry! Uncle Snape is here!" Sirius called out as Severus walked in and sat down on a leather couch(bachelors, Severus thought).

Harry tottered in from the other room with a gray tabby grasped firmly in his pudgy arms and a giant smile on his face. The tabby, however, looked highly displeased- Harry apparently had gotten some Muggle product called Play-Doh into the tabby's hair. Harry put the cat down and ran over to Severus, crawling into his lap without a second thought. Severus, who had finally gotten used to having a rambunctious child crawl all over him, ruffled Harry's messy mop and felt his lips twitch into a small smile.

"You paid Fudge to arrest the Malfoys." Severus said to Sirius without preamble. Sirius pinked slightly.

"Yeah, and it's about time," he said, looking at Severus curiously and defiantly at the same time.

Severus raised an eyebrow, saying, "While that may be true, I must ask that you do not stir any trouble for the Malfoys any longer. I finally have hope of destroying Voldemort, and curiously enough Lucius had the information all along… unknowingly, of course. I doubt even Lucius was trusted enough to be told what that diary contained." He looked up and raised an eyebrow again at Sirius' eyes, which were as wide as saucers.

"You're fuckin' kidding me." Sirius said, lapsing into Muggle lingo.

Severus put a finger to his lips, pointing to Harry in his lap. "Language, Black; Potter will end up cursing at such a young age."

"I'm not a baby!" Harry said defiantly, his green eyes narrowed through the round glasses he'd just been prescribed. He scrambled off of Severus' lap, still clutching the tabby, and ran off into another room.

Sirius shrugged. "He's definitely got Lily's temper," he said weakly to Severus' slightly confused countenance. Severus stood, feeling Dumbledore would have the situation in hand by now.

"Remember, Black, no more troubles for the Malfoys please. They are, after all, lending us a helping hand." Severus reminded Sirius, giving him a short nod before leaving.

Back at the Ministry, the Malfoy family was happily reunited thanks to Dumbledore's ability to cast an Obliviation charm on Fudge and Umbridge. Thankful no one else had been directly involved (and thanks to the overactive rumor mill at the Ministry, everyone would believe the arrest was just a rumor), the group Apparated to Malfoy Manor with Draco fast asleep in Narcissa's protective arms.

"Sorry about the mess, Severus; Bella's will demanded all of her possessions go to Narcissa instead of Rodolphus, and we've only just started sorting through everything… blasted house elves don't the real value of these possessions, after all," Lucius said as the two descended into a room under the drawing room floor.

Casting a quick light spell, Severus marveled at the dusty tomes and Dark objects hidden, many of them encased in glass because of the curses upon them. The sheer vastness of old and rare Potions volumes made Severus' fingers itch with the urge to pick them up and read them.

"Ah, here we are," Lucius called out from the far end of the room. Dusting himself off, Lucius picked his way back over, nearly stepping on several pieces of jewelry and silver goblets of varying sizes. He handed Severus a plain, ratty red diary. "There's nothing written in it, but the Dark Lord said it would make the Chamber of Secrets open once again." His grey eyes searched Severus' coal black ones intensely. "Be careful with it, Severus; I don't want another death on my conscience." Lucius said sternly as they went back up onto the first floor, where Narcissa and Dumbledore were keeping Draco entertained.

Severus gave Lucius a sidelong look. "That's not something I ever thought I'd hear you say," Severus said lightly. Lucius' eyes fell on Draco and a smile slowly crept onto his face.

"Things change when you have a child," Lucius said, clapping Severus on the back.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Severus bade them farewell and Apparated to Spinner's End, intent on unlocking the diary's secrets.