A/N: Eeep! Sorry for the long wait! Research paper and final exams coming up. =) Anyway, I do realize this is taking a bit to develop, but as this is going to be a terribly long series anyway, I figured I may as well take my time with it. =) I hope you like it! Please let me know what you think, suggestions or questions: if you think a character is getting too much or too little attention, someone reacted differently than you thought they would, or if you think there is anything else. =) Thank you so much!

Again, the room broke into conversation. James turned to Lily, who was rocking Harry by his side. "I'm sorry, Lils. I'm sure. . . You know I would protect you with my life. I don't understand how. . ." He cleared his throat, and Lily interrupted him. "Harry lived, James. It'll be alright." They sat in silence for a while, until Lily hesitantly asked. "How did he find us?" James was quiet for a bit. "I'm sure he tortured Peter. I doubt he made it either. I don't blame him for breaking. I'm sure I would, too."

Snape sat against a wall, a rumpled mess. Dumbledore came and sat next to him and Snape gave a low moan. "He killed her. He told me he would spare her. I don't know why I expected him to. She's gone. Gone! I'm going to lose her." His face was contorted with grief. "I wish I were dead. I hope I killed myself in those wretched books. The only reason I haven't now is because I can still see her. She hasn't changed much, you know. She's still beautiful." He looked wistfully across the room at Lily, who was sitting next to James and holding James' son. Dumbledore thought for a moment and said, "The reason someone gave us these books is so that we may change the future. Surely you know that. There is hope." Snape's eyes searched Dumbledore's face. "She must survive. She must," he croaked.

Peter Pettigrew sat quietly, near invisible to the others. He observed the room and struggled to keep his nerves under control. They can't know. And I'll make sure they won't. Peter knew the risks when he had found the Dark Lord and accepted the Dark Mark. He knew that Sirius would be after him they second they got wind of the Potter's deaths, and Remus as well when he found out that Peter was now the secret keeper. Peter was ready to run, and yet here he was, trapped in a room with no escape. With seven books, he felt sure that his betrayal would come to light, and he felt even more sure that he would be killed the day it was found out.

Peter also remembered his Marauder's days at Hogwarts, and seeing Snape looking like a rag doll in the corner confirmed his deepest suspicions. Snape loved Lily. He'll kill me as soon as Sirius or Remus. Now, what should I do? He closed his eyes. He could either wait until they found out and try to escape or come clean now and pray they forgive him. He almost snorted. Either way I die. Peter saw Sirius, James, and Lily shooting him strange glances when they thought he wasn't looking. After a few minutes of quiet reflection, Peter realized, They must think the Dark Lord tortured me for the information. The thought was more ironic than anything else that had happened so far tonight. If it was found that Peter Pettigrew, one of the four Marauder's, had willingly given the Potter's to Voldemort, he would die and he knew it.

"Frank, I need to talk to you." Frank Longbottom turned from his conversation and looked at his wife. "Now, darling?"

"Absolutely."

"I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me for a moment. Amos. Professor McGonagall." And with a courteous nod to each, he followed his wife. "Are you alright, Alice?" Alice shifted Neville to her other shoulder and began, "Frank, it's late. It's probably 1:30 and I'm tired. How are we going to sleep tonight with Death Eaters nearby?" Frank's eyebrows furrowed. "I'll conjure us a mattress so you can sleep with Neville. We can put enchantments and protections on it, and I'll talk with Dumbledore. I'm sure he's been thinking on it. We'll probably do watches or whatnot."

Alice gave a sigh. "I know there's only so much we can do, but I just don't like it." Frank gave a wry smile. "Amazingly enough, neither do I." He looked around for a spot for his wife and child to sleep. There was none. Then his eyes fell on the kitchen, untouched since the tea. "I wish for more room." The wall to his left suddenly moved back about ten feet, sliding a surprised Peter Pettigrew onto the floor. Frank gave a broad smile and waved his wand. Nothing happened. Slightly bemused, he swished his wand again, more firmly. Still nothing changed. Alice watched, looking bewildered.

Frank waved his wand once more, and clearly said "Dormites!" Nothing happened, and Remus, who had been watching, walked over. Frank examined his wand, and spotting Remus, asked him, "Remus? Did you just see that?" Remus kindly gestured for the wand, and Frank let him hold it. "Dormites!" Remus said firmly. Absolutely nothing changed, and more people were starting to notice. Frank was turning crimson. "I've never had trouble with a spell before!"

Remus looked perplexed. "Perhaps it's the spell? Try another one." Frank took back his wand warily and cried "Aguamenti!" He glanced down at his wand in shock. No water sprouted forth. Holding his wand, Frank realized he couldn't feel any magic in it. There was no warmth, no response, no sign that the wand recognized him as master, or that there was even a drop of magic in the wand at all. It felt simply like an ordinary stick of wood, and panic began to rise. "Remus, you try something." Remus calmly took out his wand. At this point, everyone in the room was watching intently.

Remus pointed his wand towards a note that lay forgotten on the floor. "Accio," he stated. The note lay as still as ever. "Accio note!" he cried. The parchment didn't even twitch. James slowly pulled out his wand. "Expelliarmus!" he said, pointing at Remus. Despite the stares of the entire room, Remus' wand didn't move in the least. "What's going on?" asked Arthur, quickly pulling his wand out as well.

People began shouting incantations all the room. Despite all the ruckus, there was absolutely no change whatsoever. Wizards and witches were frantically waving their wands around, desperately trying every spell they knew, until a loud pop resounded and a note fluttered down right near Petunia Dursley. Petunia glared at the note near her feet. Sirius, getting angrier at the haughty look of Vernon next to her, snapped, "Well, are you going to read it or not?" Petunia glared at him instead, and reached for the note.

As you have found, we have decided to disable magic in this room. No spells, charms, jinxes, hexes, curses or other enchantments can now be cast. After seeing the results of the recent duel, we thought this was for the best. Understandably, tempers are running high, and there's too much chance someone will get hurt. As several of you have found out, the room will provide anything and everything you need if you simply wish for it: food, water, more room, bedding, clothes, etc. We hope that this will encourage you to all get along and hopefully prevent anymore skirmishes from breaking out. Please try to remember that you are not alone in this, and once again, not everything is as it seems.

A stunned silence remained after Petunia finished reading. "Oh, dear," Vernon said in a mocking voice. "No magic now, eh? Well, serves you crazies right!" Petunia looked aghast. "Vernon!" she shrieked. Sirius instinctively pointed his wand at Vernon, and cursed when he realized he couldn't do anything. He looked at Vernon menacingly. "Even without magic, I'd stop right now if I were you."

Lily rose. "Sirius, stop! That's my brother-in-law, whether you like it or not!" Sirius reluctantly sat down, as Narcissa gave a haughty scoff. "He's a muggle! What does he know about magic?"

"Everyone, please!" said Dumbledore wearily. "I understand as much as anyone the value of having a working wand, but I do think it is a good idea. We'll simply make do. It's late, and I highly suggest we all get some sleep. We can begin reading tomorrow."

This was met with much arguing, most from Sirius. "Absolutely not! I'm not going to sleep here without any magic with a bunch of Death Eaters! I'm writing back! Give me some parchment!" He flicked his wand. "Parchia!" Nothing happened, and with a foul look, Sirius shouted. "I wish from some parchment!" A roll of parchment fell at his feet. He sat down next to it, and demanded, "And a quill. I wish for a quill and some ink!" Some appeared and he began writing.

"Are you serious?" asked Tonks in amusement. "What are you going to say?" Sirius didn't respond until he finished writing a decent length response. "I'm going to ask 'them' why on earth they think I'm going to sleep, with no magic, in the same room with a bunch of Death Eaters. I'm going to ask them who they think they are bringing us here and ask them what they're doing. And, most of all, I'm going to tell them exactly what I'm going to do with them when I find out who they are and I get my magic back."

Scowling, Sirius reached for a previous note. "What was that spell again? Por-something?" He scanned the note. "Portaria? That's a spell! How am I supposed to-" He didn't finish his sentence as the note disappeared with a pop. Sirius stared at the spot it vanished. "Okay . . . " he said slowly. "I suppose we wait." Tonks giggled nervously.

Five minutes later and with a pop, a note drifted down into Sirius' lap. Triumphant, he grabbed it, and Tonks called out, "Read it aloud, Sirius!" Sirius smiled and agreed.

Dear Sirius,

Thank you for those kind, considerate and cultured words. We understand that you are upset we took away your wands' magic, but we think this is the best decision. There is too much risk that a fight will break out, and with three young children, we are not willing to take that chance. To answer your other question, we have zero intent to harm you. We have written these books based on future events so that you may all come up with the best outcome possible. We have absolutely no wish to hurt you in any way. Also, we do not think it wise in the moment to tell you who we are, but will in due time. We are watching the room very closely, and will be able to tell precisely if someone intends to harm someone else during the night and be able to quickly put a stop to it, so if you can believe it, both sides can sleep in peace. Meanwhile, please try to keep your temper, and don't let the children hear such language.

Tonks burst out laughing. Dumbledore smiled and spoke. "Well, I'll suppose that's that. We'll simply have to make do." Sirius started up again, "I told you, I'm not sleeping in a room with Death-"

"So we've heard, Black," drawled Snape. "It's not like we're an overwhelming majority here, if you can count. If the three of us kill the thirteen of you in your sleep, which I'll admit is tempting, I doubt we'd have much chance of getting out of here, which I'll also admit, I want as much as you."

Sirius shot Snape a look of deepest loathing, which Snape returned in full. Arthur held up his hand. "We will sleep tonight. Everyone wish for their own space. We can assign watches and Frank has mentioned. Other than that, I simply think we'll have to get through the night."

Narcissa looked at Lucius. "I have an idea." She whispered her idea to Lucius, who thought for a moment, and gave her a nod. "Do you want me to suggest it?" She shook her head and stood up. More than a few wizards tightened their grip on their useless wands and more than a few wizards shot glares full of hate at the witch. Yet, Narcissa stood her ground and announced, "I have an idea." Sirius scoffed and Narcissa scowled at him. "I may support the Dark Lord," she said frostily, "but I am capable of love. I have Draco to think for. I don't trust any of you in the least. I have an idea. What if we ask the room for an alarm? If someone has an intention to harm anyone tonight in their sleep, the room can let us know. Not that I'll be getting any sleep, it'll at least come in handy."

Narcissa's idea was met with begruding satisfaction. Molly pointedly ignored Narcissa and turned to Dumbledore. "We could ask the room to tell us who it is, and what they plan to do. That way we'll know and can stop them in time." Nods went around the room.

"What precisely are we going to say?" asked Remus. "And who is going to do it?"

"I will," said Petunia. Several pairs of wide eyes turned to her. "I want to do it. From what I've gathered, I'm in more danger from them," she motioned to the Malfoy's and Snape quite separate from everyone else, "then anyone else. And I doubt either of you would trust the other side no matter who did it."

Everyone was slightly stunned, more than anyone the Marauder's and Lily, but no one offered an argument and Petunia closed her eyes.

"I wish that this room would let the entire company know if someone has any intention to harm another member of this room in any way. I wish that this room, upon detecting said intention, would loudly and clearly state the name of the person wishing to do harm, what they plan to do, to whom, and freeze them at that point."

Petunia Dursley opened her eyes and looked around. "Anyone have anything to add to that?" she asked defensively. No one said a thing except Peter. "Let's try it," he challenged, avoiding the uneasy glances of Lily, James, and Sirius. "You're a muggle. It might not have worked. Someone try something."

Sirius scoffed. "All too easy," he said, starting towards Lucius. Lucius raised his wand at Sirius and was about to say something, when a deep voice bellowed, "Sirius Black wishes to strangle Lucius Malfoy." Sirius froze on the spot, eyes widened in surprise. Lucius smirked.

"I wish to unfreeze Mr. Black," asserted Remus. Sirius stumbled forward, with an expression of half-disappointment, half-anger on his face.

"Well, I suppose that settles that," said Amos in a would-be-cheerful voice. "No one can do anything now. Let's get started shall we? I wish for enough room for us each to sleep in!"

The white walls nearly tripled in size. Amos nodded in satisfaction. "I wish for a cozy bed I can sleep in tonight!" he added. A four poster with yellow and black hangings appeared in a corner, and with a cry of delight, Amos grinned and walked over. Taking the hint, James added. "I wish for a bed as well, for Lily, Harry, and I."

A slightly wider four-poster appeared with gold and red hangings. James grinned, and others began wishing as well. Soon, there were eight Gryffindor four-posters for the Potter's, the Weasley's, Sirius, Remus, Peter, the Longbottom's, Dumbledore and McGonagall. The parade of scarlet and gold was interrupted by two Slytherin beds and two Hufflepuff beds, and of course, the Dursley's bed.

"I wish for a bed for Petunia and I," Vernon stated. He looked more than slightly uncomfortable asking a room for something. "Nothing like all that," he demanded, gesturing towards the four-posters. "Something normal, if you please." To his relief and surprise, a bed appeared very similar to the one the Dursley's had at home. Vernon still appeared in shock over the fact that a bed had magically appeared upon his requesting for it. "This is too strange, Petunia. Too strange, I say!"

Everyone lumbered into bed, wishes for pajamas sprouting about here and there. And, slowly, slowly, they began drifting off to sleep. Most of the men stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, watching over their wives. But it had been a long day, and tiredly, most reluctantly, the entire room succumbed to their dreams.