It was after midnight that Fawkes' warning came.

They were sitting once again in Dumbledore's study, drinking from the endless supply of tea. Professor McGonagall's eyelids had been slowly fluttering closed for some time; despite her protests Dumbledore had transfigured her chair back into the red and gold couch and she was now dozing comfortably. Albus Dumbledore himself sat still in his chair, sipping the tea and enjoying the sight of Minerva curled up in his study, her face gentle in sleep. And waiting.

Then came the flash – and a single red and gold feather fluttered to the floor. "Minerva!"

She woke and looked at him. "It's time?"

"We shall have to contact the Wizengamot quickly; we can't be sure of how long he'll stay in the house."

Her lip curled. "If he's running true to form, we'll have some hours yet."

He chose not to answer that, but instead raised the crystal ball he had been holding on his lap above his head. The words he spoke were new to Minerva, but she knew they were a summons. The crystal began to emit a bright pulsing light; a few minutes later the images of faces began to form in the stream of light.

"Dumbledore? Professor McGonagall?" Minerva knew the speaker – Madam Bones. Her niece, Susan, had been in Hogwarts only a few years ago. "What in Merlin's name is going on?"

"We have found the missing Death-Eaters," Dumbledore informed them calmly. "They are hidden within the Black house in London. We need your help in recapturing them."

"Our help?"

"Why not call the Aurors? This is their sort of thing, isn't it?"

"At this hour of the morning?"

Dumbledore raised his hands to quell the babble and the crystal light shifted wildly. "Please, please!" He realised what he was doing to the light and steadied it. Several of the faces now looked slightly green. "I believe this to be the responsibility of the Wizengamot, not of the Aurors; and it is vital we act now. If you will focus yourself on Severus Snape and Apparate to him, I can assure you that you will soon understand everything."

Several of the images looked dubious. Madam Bones raised an inquiring eyebrow. 'Well, Dumbledore, you've never led us wrong before." She sighed. "I am going to get dressed first though. I'll see the rest of you there." With that her image flickered out.

There were some muttered grumbles, but the images quickly started to disappear. In a few seconds the room was empty of them.

Minerva McGonagall turned to Albus and raised her own eyebrow. "You didn't tell them it was Fudge."

"It would have meant too many questions," he admitted. 'Better, perhaps, that they see with their own eyes. Some will not come, but there should be enough of the Circle to convince those others." He looked around the room quizzically, and without speaking she handed him his wand. "Thank you." He noticed she had her own wand out and ready. "You insist upon coming, then?"

"You were going to try and talk me out of it?" She sounded surprised.

"Not with any hope of success. But Minerva, I do not know what we will have to face. There could be danger."

"I know." Her mouth quirked. "Which is why I'm not prepared to let you go alone, Albus Dumbledore. Now, are we going to Floo out, or walk to the edge of the Forest and apparate?"

"Neither." He opened the window to let Fawkes in. "Take hold of my hand."

Gripping her hand tightly he touched his hand to Fawkes' tail feathers, and with a flash of light they had gone.

An instant later they saw London around them; dark, grimy streets poorly lit by the occasional working streetlight. Grimmauld Place – the street where the Black house was hidden. Still holding Minerva's hand Dumbledore turned to the phoenix and said softly, "Thank you, my friend."

Fawkes inclined his gorgeous head as he flapped in the air before them, and flew briskly away. Minerva pointed with her free hand. "There's Severus. There's no one with him yet."

"They will be here soon, those that will come," he reassured her. They moved toward the lone figure in black. "Severus. Is he still in there?"

Snape did not turn around. "Yes," he said shortly. "He is alone with the Death Eaters. I don't think he has any accomplices." His eyes were intently scanning the house.

"Well, at least that's something of a relief," said Minerva. "Do you know where in the house they are located?"

Snape turned around in surprise at her voice; and his eyes widened with something more than surprise when he saw their hands entwined. Was that a glimmer of amusement Minerva saw lurking there? If it was, then he quickly recovered. "In the main bedroom, towards the front of the house. I've been watching all day, as best I can; the house is a demon for blocking see-spells. So far as I can tell they haven't moved."

"Several members of the Wizengamot are coming," Dumbledore informed him quietly. "I'll bind the house with an Anti-Disapparation Jinx when they arrive, and then we'll go in. Do you wish to come in with us, Severus?"

Snape's eyebrow rose in his classic intimidatory classroom manner. "Of course. You had any doubt?"

Dumbledore was saved from replying as around them figures shimmered into being. Minerva started to count them off - three… seven… eight… ten… Madam Bones had been the first to arrive. "Good evening, Professor Snape."

"Good evening, Madam Bones." Severus inclined his head formally.

"And Headmaster Dumbledore. Are you now prepared to tell us what is going on, or are you going to exercise your famous sense of whimsy and refuse to tell us until the last minute?"

"I think, in the end, it will be better if you see for yourself. But I should warn you to have your wands ready," he replied. He took out his own wand and rapidly cast the jinx. The house glowed for a moment. "We should go in now, before the jinx is noticed."

They moved to the doorway – fifteen of the Wizengamot's Circle, Dumbledore, Snape, and Minerva. It seemed a large task force to capture one lone man, but still Minerva felt uneasy. As Albus quickly disenchanted the door in order to let them in, she realised why. If what Phineas Nigellus had told Dumbledore was right, then they were trying to capture a madman. And so what they were about to face would be completely unpredictable.