Hermione kept low as she rounded the corner. She could see Madeline doing the same across from her. Lily was following close behind Hermione at their insistence. According to their mission plans that morning, the men should be just up ahead.
Cautiously, they crept forward. Suddenly, Madeline threw up a hand to stop them. Listening carefully, Hermione could just make out the sound of someone groaning. Worry filled her; oh how she hoped Peter was the one injured.
Speeding up, they kept as quiet as possible. Finally, they reached a spot where the Marauders could be seen. James and Sirius were strapped to a pole, blood all over Sirius' leg. Remus and Peter were each bound to a chair with swollen, bloody faces. Before them paced an angry-looking man, wand pointed at them.
"Give me the location Potter," the Death Eater growled.
"No," said James through gritted teeth.
A second man punched Remus hard in the stomach, making Hermione grimace with sympathy.
"Location," he demanded.
"Shove off," Sirius panted.
The man slammed his fist into Peter's jaw. Wormtail went slack with unconsciousness, his head hanging limply, chin on his chest.
Hermione set her jaw and nodded at Madeline. Together they and Lily moved closer, forming a loose circle around the men.
"This is the last chance I'm giving you before I stop being nice." The man fingered his wand, grinning evilly. "Tell me where Frank Longbottom is hiding."
"Go to hell," Remus croaked.
Still hanging as if knocked out, Peter whimpered and trembled, revealing that he was still awake and listening.
"Who wants the first Cruciatus?" the man asked, pointing at each of them in turn.
"Imperio Black and let him Crucio the little one," the other man suggested with a kick to Peter's foot.
"Oh, I don't know," Madeline called, barely revealing her face from behind a stack of boxes. "I think we should give the first one to you, Parkinson."
"Well well, if it isn't little Maddy. Come to play, did you?"
"You always did like to play rough, Cousin." She shot a jet of light at Parkinson, who barely dodged in time.
"True. And I've never cared much for fair play." He gestured for the other Death Eater to edge around as he fired an orange beam that exploded behind the woman.
"There you are, Pretty Girl," the angry man laughed.
"She is pretty, isn't she?" Hermione whispered from behind, sending ropes flying from her wand to bind the big man.
"Where'd you go little one? It's time to make your blood-traitor mummy cry."
"Or not," Lily said calmly, firing a jinx at the man and barely missing.
"No! Lily!" James shouted, echoed by Sirius and Remus.
Hermione lunged from concealment just as Lily ducked behind a wall, avoiding a blue light. She fired a stunner at Parkinson, but narrowly missed. Madeline sent a jet of teal light his way, but he twirled gracefully away from it, right into Lily's stunner. He went down with wide, surprised eyes.
"I'll send my regards to Uncle Darius," Madeline grinned, rolling him over with her foot. "Aunt Theodona will be so displeased."
"James, love, are you alright?" Lily cooed, running hands over his face and through his hair.
"I'll be fine, just get these ropes off and check on Sirius' leg."
Madeline freed Sirius and Peter while Lily severed James' bonds and Hermione released Remus.
"Remus," Hermione whispered, looking at his abused face.
"M'alright," he mumbled, rubbing at his wrists.
"The leg isn't pretty, but it'll heal up fine," Madeline said, still kneeling by Sirius.
"Oh Peter," Lily said softly. She brushed his hair out of his face. "Let's get you boys home."
"If you've got them, I can get these two over to Azkaban," Madeline told the girls.
"I'll take Lily and Pete. Remus are you good to get the other two?"
"…I don't know," Remus answered, holding his head.
"I can do it." Hermione spoke before James could respond.
"It's a bit tricky to take three people at once. And we don't want anyone getting splinched."
"I spent all last summer apparating Harry, Ron, and myself together."
"…Remus?" James asked.
"I trust her. If she says she can do it, she can do it," Remus answered softly.
"Sirius?"
"Whatever Remus thinks," Sirius said quietly. He was pale and sweating.
"You first," James instructed her.
Hermione nodded and grabbed hold of both men. Concentrating, she focused her attention on getting all of their bodies safely back to Headquarters. That's when she noticed Sirius holding his groin.
"Sirius, what are you doing?" she asked, watching Madeline disappear with the two captives.
"I just don't want anything left behind. Remember, we made up."
He looked so sincere, she couldn't bring herself to laugh at him. Instead, she smiled sinisterly.
"Well if one of them has to be left behind…I plan to make use of Remus'."
"What?" they both shouted as she laughed and took them home to Headquarters.
They were both still staring open-mouthed at her when they arrived in front of the door. Sirius did a quick body check and settled on glaring at her until James, Lily, and Peter arrived thirty seconds later.
Francois threw open the door, looking relieved. "Are you alright? What happened?"
"We were cornered," James said. "They were waiting for us. Wanted to find out about Frank. We need to send a message to Dumbledore, to warn them."
"I'm on it." Francois ducked out of the way and sent a patronus flying away.
"Pads, you look terrible man," James said, grabbing his friend to steady him.
"Honestly, Mate, I don't feel so spectacular either." Sirius released his hold on Hermione and leaned heavily on James.
"Get him inside," Hermione directed. "He needs a blood-replenishing potion."
"Yum yum," Sirius mumbled, hobbling along with his friend.
"Glad you came," Remus whispered, wrapping her in a tight hug.
"I'm glad you're alright," she whispered back, fisting the back of his shirt. "Don't know what I would've done."
"They knew! The knew exactly where we were and how many of us there were going to be."
"Why were they asking about…Frank Longbottom?"
"Frank's doing dangerous secret work. That they even knew to look for him is bad."
Hermione sighed, having a suspicion she knew exactly how they knew about Neville's dad.
"Whoever's passing information messed up though. Only Dumbledore and Frank himself know where he is and what he's up to."
She glanced at Peter, standing a few feet away and watching them.
"Or maybe they know what a liar the backstabbing little rat is and didn't believe him that none of you knew." She glared at Peter's mock-innocent face.
"Maybe," Remus conceded. "Let's get inside, my face hurts."
"Oh! I'm sorry," she apologized, following him in.
"Nothing to be sorry for. I'll accept your attention whenever you're willing to give it," he said softly, so that no one could overhear.
Hermione smiled at the pink in his cheeks. "Then we'll have to spend more time together." She knew she was blushing too, but didn't regret the suggestion when he smiled goofily at her. "Now, let's get you cleaned up."
A/N: Thanks to wonderful, beautiful CloverBay for the beta read!
And thanks to all of my lovely readers and the especially gorgeous reviewers. ;)