10

The rest of the students were rounded up in quick order. Hogmseade village was suddenly filled with Aurors, Ministry members and Hogwarts Professors. James was somewhat irritated by the fact that Engelland maintained a firm grip on his shoulder at all times. Remus and Peter stayed by James' side, while Marlene had run off to join Lily, Alice and Mary McDonald.

'There's your Dad,' Engelland said gruffly as Mr. Potter made his way through the crowd of students over to them.

'James, thank heavens,' Mr. Potter murmured as he embraced his son. 'What's happened exactly? Moody only told me a boy had been kidnapped…' he surveyed the group of students waiting to be escorted back to the school.

'Dad, it's Sirius,' James said. 'Rochefort got him.'

Mr. Potter went slightly pale and looked at Engelland who nodded grimly. 'Oh dear,' Mr. Potter muttered simply. 'I thought given the Black family's sympathy to Voldemort that he might have been safe.'

'Evidently not,' Engelland said with a sigh. 'I'll go join the groups canvassing witnesses.'

'Are there any?' Mr. Potter frowned.

'Not that we've found, yet,' Engelland said gruffly as he marched off.

Mr. Potter looked at James, Remus and Peter shrewdly. 'Are you three alright?' he asked.

'No,' James said hotly. 'He wouldn't let me go after Sirius!'

Mr. Potter sighed. 'If he apparated he could be almost anywhere on the planet by now,' he said grimly. 'The question is why…why would Rochefort suddenly have an interest in Sirius Black? Is there anything you can think of, James?'

'We've always said we're against Rochefort, and Voldemort and all those people,' James said.

'True,' Mr. Potter said. 'But I still can't see why they'd move suddenly against him…' he seemed lost in thought.

Remus cleared his throat. 'What if it isn't about Sirius?' he asked.

'What do you mean?' Peter asked sharply.

Remus looked uncomfortable for a moment but then soldiered on. 'You said yourself, Mr. Potter—Sirius' family, whether he likes them or not, should have afforded him some protection. So what if this isn't about Sirius? What if this is about someone else?'

'Like a ransom?' James asked.

'Or giving Voldemort something he wants,' Remus said with a meaningful look. 'He's been trying to get you and Lily to speak to him for a year.'

James felt the blood drain out of his face. 'Dad?' he croaked. 'Is this because of me?'

Mr. Potter looked uncomfortable being put on the spot. 'We shouldn't jump to any conclusions,' he said carefully. 'Although it's a sound theory, Mr. Lupin,' he said kindly. 'But right now we should be focusing on getting you back up to the school and indoors.'

'Are you coming?' James asked.

Mr. Potter nodded. 'Your mother is going to meet us there. She offered to go and tell the Blacks in person what's happened.'

'You let her go do that alone?' James said. 'But Dad, Sirius says—'

'I know,' Mr. Potter said firmly. 'And no, she is not alone. The Minister for Magic is with her. I think, between the two of them, they can handle the Blacks.'

'What about Regulus?' James asked, peering around the student body for Sirius' younger brother. Although James couldn't imagine Regulus being bothered in the least, he was curious to see his reaction.

'Dumbledore is already with him,' Mr. Potter replied. 'Come on, it looks like we're moving out now.'

The walk back to the school seemed to take an eternity. James kept peering into the trees, hoping to see some glimpse of that mechanical eye staring back at him. They were escorted by a guard of teachers and Aurors, among them was Alastor Moody. Every time James saw him he seemed to be more scarred and disgruntled.

'Alright, Potter?' Moody growled as he fell into step alongside them. James nodded. 'I understand you saw Rochefort,' he said. 'Did he say anything?'

'No, I already told Engelland that,' James said. 'What do you think this is about?'

Moody shrugged. 'Rochefort's a sadist,' he said. 'He and his gang have been torturing muggles—at least that's what we suspect. It wouldn't surprise me if they decided to upgrade to wizards—'

'That's enough, Alastor,' Mr. Potter said firmly.

Moody shrugged and walked on. James stared at his feet miserably. 'They're going to hurt him.' It wasn't a question, but a statement.

Mr. Potter grabbed James' shoulder. 'James,' he said in a firm tone. 'I know what you're thinking. But I am telling you—do not do anything foolish.'

'Foolish like what?' James asked.

'Like going and looking for him,' Mr. Potter said. 'That's the Aurors' job.'

James shook his arm out of his father's grasp. 'Don't tell me what to do, Dad,' he said angrily. 'He's my best friend.'

'We'll talk about this later,' Mr. Potter said in a resigned tone as they approached the gates to the castle.

Professor McGonagall stood on a small stool to address the students. 'All students will please follow their Prefects back to their common rooms. You will remain there until your respective Heads of House come to give you an update. Do not delay, head straight back to your dormitories.'

'I'll see you shortly,' Mr. Potter said.

As James, Remus and Peter followed the group up the stairs, James glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. 'So you think this is about me and Lily?'

'James, I don't want to make your Dad angry—' Remus began.

'Come off it, Moony. This is Sirius we're talking about,' James said sharply.

Remus sighed. 'We've seen the lengths they'll go to in order to get people they want. Snatching Professor Mondego right off the train was unbelievably risky, but they did it. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they grabbed Sirius just to get to you.'

James sighed. 'Well then why not just grab me?' he hissed.

'You never went anywhere alone,' Remus said. 'And you had Engelland following you around. For all his faults, Rochefort isn't a stupid man.'

They began filing back into their common room, but James' frustration was only getting worse. 'Well then why not communicate with me? Why not tell me to come talk, or else?'

'Would that have worked?' Remus replied. 'We all thought we were safe with the teachers and the Aurors around, but look how that turned out.'

Peter wrung his hands uneasily. 'I think your Dad is right, James,' he said quietly. 'We need to let the Aurors find him.'

'Oh stuff it, Pettigrew,' James said grumpily as he sat down by the fire. Remus and Peter traded glances.

'We'll give you some space,' Remus said. He and Peter disappeared up the stairs to their dormitory. There was no dinner bell that evening, and eventually—with no sign of McGonagall—students began to head up to bed.

It wasn't until nearly 11:30 that the portrait hole opened and Mr. Potter came through. There were only a handful of students left and none of them paid him much mind as he came over and sat across from James by the fire. 'You're angry with me?' Mr. Potter asked quietly. James snorted. 'You get that from your mother, you know,' he said.

'What? Being angry with you for being stupid?' James snapped.

Mr. Potter smiled faintly. 'No; your stubborn nature and your willingness to do anything for a friend. They're good qualities, James…they're what make you such an amazing young man. But I just worry that they may also be your undoing.'

'I don't care if it is,' James said. 'If Sirius is in danger, I have to help.'

'And how would you do that?' Mr. Potter said quietly.

James threw his arms up, trying not to yell so as to put off the other students in the common room. 'I don't know—in any way I can! Dad, this is all my fault,' he said, looking angrily back at the fire. He could feel a hot sting behind his eyes as tears threatened to start coming.

'None of this is your fault,' Mr. Potter pressed. 'James, look at me.' James met his father's gaze. 'James, I've seen many Dark Wizards in my time. I've seen people do terrible things to one another. It is not your fault, it is not Sirius' fault—the villains here, the Rocheforts and the Voldemorts…they are at fault.'

'They're cowards,' James said viciously.

Mr. Potter nodded. 'They are,' he said. 'In a great many ways, they are tremendous cowards. Kidnapping a boy like Sirius just lends credence to that. But we also can't allow ourselves to fall prey to their plans, James.'

'So you DO think this is about me?' James said quietly.

Mr. Potter looked at him for a moment, and then nodded. 'I do. I think it's about you and Lily Evans,' he said at last, looking over his shoulder as he said Lily's name. James spotted her talking to Alice at the foot of the staircase leading to the girls' dormitory.

'What does he want with me?' James asked.

Mr. Potter scrutinized his son. 'Voldemort is looking for useful people. Take Cristobal Mondego as an example—the most accomplished Occlumens of all time was obviously something he coveted, and he took him. You and Ms. Evans, if I understand correctly, are the most gifted students in your year.'

'We're still just students,' James said, ignoring the fact that his father had called him the most gifted student in his year. 'We're just kids.'

'And some day you will be adults,' Mr. Potter said. 'This—and don't mistake my words here—might be the one distinct advantage that Voldemort has over the ministry. He has absolutely no qualms about who he recruits to join his army, whereas the Ministry can only take wizards who are of age. It gives Voldemort a distinct numbers advantage.'

James took that in as he stared at the fire. 'But why does he want us so badly if we're just numbers to him?'

'Because you aren't just numbers,' Mr. Potter said. 'You and your friends have fought off Rochefort—his top lieutenant—not just once, but several times,' he continued. 'Do you know how many incredibly talented wizards have been murdered by that one-eyed menace? More than I care to name. The fact that you, Ms. Evans and your friends have consistently evaded him is incredibly rare, especially given your age.'

James looked at his father evenly. 'Well Rochefort should be careful what he wishes for then. Because one of these days we're going to fight again. And when we do…I'm going to kill him.'

Mr. Potter pursed his lips. 'I think it's time for bed,' he said at last. 'You should get some rest.'

James shook his head. 'I'm not tired,' he said.

'Well, I'll go and check on your Mother. We're staying in the hospital wing; if you feel like joining us, just tell one of the portraits to come fetch me.'

James nodded numbly as his father stood and left. More students had filtered out now, but James was not quite yet alone. Lily Evans came over and sat down across the fire from him. 'Are you alright?' she asked.

'Fine,' James replied.

Lily looked concerned. 'I'm sorry about Sirius,' she said quietly.

'Nothing's happened to him yet,' James said.

'Do you know why they took him?' Lily asked.

James looked at her evenly. 'Dad thinks it's because Voldemort wants to have a little chat with me. Probably with you, too.'

Lily looked aghast. 'But why?'

James shrugged. 'Apparently giving Rochefort the slip a few times is reason enough for the Lord of all Evil to want to have tea together,' he grumbled.

Lily smiled faintly. 'Well, we don't know that for sure, do we?'

'Yes, we do,' came a tired voice from the fire. James nearly jumped out of his skin as he looked and saw Sirius Black's face sticking out of the flames.

'Sirius!' James hissed. 'Where are you?'

Sirius shook his head and James could see one of his eyes was swollen shut and his face was bruised. 'They want me to deliver a message, but they can sit and—' he never got a chance to finish as a fist came into view in the flames, striking Sirius in the face.

'Who's there!' James hissed. 'Show me your face!'

The grinning face of Gilles Rochefort appeared in the fire. 'How predictable you little children are,' he said. 'Little Mr. Black was absolutely right; here you two are, sitting in front of the fire. I hope I'm not interrupting a tender moment?'

'You're dead,' James snarled. 'You hear me? I'm going to kill you.'

Rochefort laughed. 'Well, you're certainly welcome to come and try. In fact, I'll invite you over to my house—does that sound pleasant?'

'Don't, James!' Sirius' voice came from somewhere in the background followed by a muted cry of agony.

Rochefort's gaze turned to Lily. 'So let's try this dance again,' he said silkily. 'The Dark Lord is requesting an audience with the two of you. Your attendance is mandatory. Fail to show up, and your friend here will meet a very sticky end indeed.'

Sirius cried out in agony again.

'When and where?' James asked.

Rochefort laughed. 'I'll give you one day to decide that,' he said. 'One day to enjoy this mental image in your head.'

Sirius' face appeared again, a large hand wrapped around his neck as he choked for breath. 'Stop it!' Lily squealed. 'You'll kill him!'

Rochefort's face appeared again. 'Oh, not yet. We have plenty of fun in store for the next day. Now, I should add—you are to tell no one. No parents, no teachers, no Aurors…we don't want any funny business. It is to be just the two of you. We have contacts all throughout the Ministry…so if you tell anyone, we will know.'

'How do we contact you?' Lily asked in a whisper.

Rochefort smiled. 'Good girl,' he said. 'Same place, same time, tomorrow. Alert no one and do not raise suspicion.'

'How will we get to you?' James asked.

Rochefort chuckled. 'You are two creative young wizards,' he said in a sarcastic tone. 'Use your imaginations. I trust that I don't need to provide additional incentive for you to exercise some discretion?'

'No,' James said. 'Don't lay another finger on him.'

Rochefort grinned. 'See you tomorrow.'

And with that, his face vanished from the fire. James and Lily looked at each other, mirrored looks of shock painted on their faces. 'What in the world are we going to do?' Lily asked.

James stood up. 'We're going to get Sirius back,' he said.

'How?' Lily asked.

James smiled grimly. 'Feel like becoming an honorary member of the Marauders?' he asked.

'But Rochefort said not to tell—' Lily began.

'—any teachers, parents or Ministry members,' James finished. 'I'm not suggesting we tell any of them.'

'But we can't bring them to talk with Voldemort, they could be killed,' Lily said.

'I have no intention of talking with Voldemort,' James replied. 'I intend to kill him.'