Andromeda comes to rescue

Snape woke around eight o'clock. He was feeling much better. His side wasn't hurting anymore – and he felt well rested. Idly he thought of the talk yesterday. He had agreed to possibly forgive the Marauders … but why? He still didn't like or trust them, and he surely didn't want to spend more time than necessary in their company. But he had felt so dammed vulnerable …

When he walked down the staircase, he heard voices from the hall – the rescue team. Good, the sooner they would escape from here the better. About seven people in auror robes were standing in the middle of the hall and Severus knew all of them. The Longbottoms, Andromeda Tonks, Melina, Mirenda and Melinda Johnson, Tom Abbot, and, of course – Alastor Moody. Moody! Maybe being chased by deatheaters was not so bad, after all. He shuddered thinking of his last interrogation with this auror.

Moody spotted him coming down the stairs. "What is he doing here?" he thundered. "I'm almost sure that he is a deatheater."

"Oh, he is, but he was the one who warned us. We wouldn't have survived without his help," James stepped between them, and then there were also Remus and Sirius – somehow very protective – and Severus had to admit, that it felt rather comforting. Maybe the truce wasn't that bad after all. Remus and James stayed at his side, while Sirius welcomed the aurors.

"What are you doing here?" he changed the subject in addressing his cousin. "I thought you had given up your job as auror for your husband?"

"I had a divorce," answered Andromeda curtly. "This idiot got Nymphadora involved in a de-aging charm."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope she is not hurt." Andromeda turned around, surprised, to face her sister who smiled a bit insecurely at her. "Long time, no see."

"Narcissa, what are you doing here?" Andromeda asked, perplex.

"That's a rather long story," Lucius stepped to the side of his wife.

"They just decided to come along," James grinned, "but the important thing is now, how do

we get out of this mess?"

"With brooms and a shields - that should keep us invisible," explained Moody. "How many are we now?"

"With Harry and Draco nine," James counted.

"Eleven," interrupted Sirius, "we can't leave my parents behind."

"Yes, you are right. He would make them pay and even the wards of this house can't withstand forever," Lucius agreed.

"We will take them with us," said Moody, "but are they ready to go?"

"Leave that to me," Sirius turned on his heel and hurried to the breakfast room where he found his parents eating as if it were a normal morning.

Narcissa and her sister settled down on a sofa.

"What happened exactly?" Narcissa eyed her sister worriedly. "I don't want to be curious, but you risked so much to marry this Muggle. So, why do you give him up now?"

"I loved him and maybe I still do, but things are not like I imagined they would be. For years I could link our two worlds without problems. But then, the war came. Ted is just not able to understand all these dangers. If it had been just about me – I could have coped. But there's my little daughter. How shall I protect her from danger when this stupid Muggle can't tell the difference between a charm and a curse? Oh, my poor Nymphadora!"

"Is the curse really irreversible?"

"Oh, yes, I tried everything. But they told me at St. Mungos that she is really one year again. She will have to relearn everything."

"At least, she is not hurt."

"Yes, that is true," Andromeda smiled suddenly. "I can't remember when we talked like this the last time."

"I know. I've missed you, Meda."

"I've missed you, too, you and Bella," whispered Andromeda and hugged her.

"Yes, damned be that war," murmured Narcissa. "It seemed never right to me that we had to be on different sides."

"But now you're back. I'm glad, but why? Why are you so suddenly changing sides?"

"I'm Lucius' wife. I'm where he is," Narcissa said simply.

"Yes, I know," Andromeda turned to face Lucius. "And you changed sides?"

"Yes, I don't think anymore that the dark lord is the way to solve our problems. Beside that, I couldn't hurt Severus. And I wouldn't have liked to hurt our cousin."

Andromeda nodded, understanding. "The dark lord doesn't understand the traditions of the old families, does he?"

"No, he understands nothing beside his own hatred and greed for more power. I have been a fool to follow him for so long," he admitted with a sad smile.

"Anyway, it's good to be together again," Narcissa sighed. "There's only one still missing."

Andromeda nodded and both thought about their third sister Bellatrix.

Lucius laid his arm around his wife and his sister-in-law. "Don't worry. I'm sure things will get better one day."

"Have your friends arrived, dear?" Persephone Black raised her brow as her son burst into the living room. "You are coming to say goodbye, I presume."

"No, I'm coming to ask you to come with us."

"Why?"

"Because Voldemort will take his revenge on you otherwise. You are no longer safe here. Come with us. Please."

"You are really interested in our safety?"

"Of course, Mum. I just lost my brother. I don't want to loose my parents, as well. Please come with us. Mother! Father!"

"Sirius," his mother raised her voice.

"Please, listen to me," Sirius embraced her tightly. "You must go."

"Maybe, you are right," her voice was strangely moved, "come on, Herne, we have to get some things."

"Where are we going?" asked her husband with raised voice.

"We are going with those people," she told him. "We are meeting in the hall."

With these words she freed herself from the hug.

Half an hour later, all were united in the hall. Draco and Harry were ready for travelling, bundled up in the arms of their mothers. Severus sat in an armchair still a bit exhausted, and allowed Lupin to wrap something around his aching arm.

James, Sirius and Lucius debated with Moody the safest way to Hogwarts. Then the Blacks arrived and Sirius groaned. His father carried two big trunks and his mother the blasted house-elf in her hands.

"You really want to take that all with you?" he asked, horrified.

Persephone nodded glaring.

"Good, we better get started, if we want to reach Hogwarts today," Moody told the fugitives which broom to take and they started. But they didn't come far. Ten minutes later a strange noise was heard.

"An attack," murmured Moody. "We are too many to slip through their lines. Shall we fight?"

"Better not," James beside him answered. "They are too many. And we have children and ill people with us. No, we better try to escape."

Moody nodded and led them into sink flight – right into a forest. The entire rescue team consisted of excellent flyers, even with a second person on their brooms. They slalomed through the trees with a dizzying speed and nearly the half of their foes hit branches or crushed into trees.

When they left the wood their chasers were reduced to the half.

"Faster," barked Moody.

They sped up – out of reach of some hexes.

"Attention, there are coming more," Alice Longbottom pointed to the left.

"Merde," Moody swore. "We have to fly in the direction of London – they try to chase us southwards, were they can trap us. And anywhere else we will be spotted by Muggles. Follow me."

They went higher. But three miles later they were spotted by another group of deatheaters. Some hexes were hurled at them, and suddenly the air was filled with green smoke.

"Our shield is damaged," Andromeda observed. "We have to seek a shelter to repair it."

"We have no safe house around," Alice scowled.

"No, but my relatives live here," answered Lily.

"Muggles?"

"Yes, but what other possibility do we have?"

"None. Let's try it."