"Hermione."

Hermione swatted at the hand that was gently stroking her cheek, she was determined to fall into a deeper sleep. She felt the hand slowly slide down and then pinch her breast, making her gasp. Hermione peeked her eyes open when she heard Severus' chuckle and glared at him.

"Jerk," Hermione mumbled. She opened her eyes all the way and took in the scenery. Apparently, she had fallen asleep on the couch in Severus' office. He was sitting on the floor in front of her, grinning.

"You have to wake up, love. We have that meeting with Kingsley and everyone in about ten minutes."

Hermione reached over and started running her hands through Severus' short hair, "I still haven't gotten used to this."

Severus smiled and kissed Hermione's hands, "I thought you liked my short hair."

"Oh, trust me, I do. I'm just not used to it since I've only ever known you with long hair." Hermione sat up on the couch and Severus moved to sit beside her. "How long have I been sleeping? The last thing I remember was Ethan sitting in my lap and starting to fall asleep. I thought he might be getting sick. By the way, where are the children?"

Severus pulled Hermione closer and started twirling her hair, "You closed your eyes and fell asleep right after Ethan did. You've only been asleep for about three hours, you looked exhausted. Ethan didn't feel warm, so I don't believe he was sick, but he's up with my mum in the Headmasters chambers. The twins are in Gryffindor Tower."

"These late nights and early mornings are starting to take their toll on me, and I think everyone else too."

"Not to mention you jump me every time we're alone."

Hermione grinned, "Usually men complain that their wives don't have enough sex with them and you're complaining we're having too much."

Severus snorted, "I would never complain about too much sex with you. I rather like it when you're all over me." Hermione let out a giggle when Severus ran a hand down her side and then let out a muffled moan when he started snogging her deeply. The sound of the Floo activating caused them to pull their mouths apart, but Hermione was still leaning into Severus.

Abby walked through the floo, she was mumbling and swatting at her ears, she looked pissed off and slightly out of it. Kingsley and Jordan walked out of the floo behind her. They were both watching Abby, but also looking around the room.

"Where's Matty?" Jordan asked quietly, looking at Hermione and Severus.

"Not back from practice yet," Severus replied. "Why, what's going on?" He hadn't moved from his spot on the couch, but he was watching Abby. She was pacing the area in front of his desk, mumbling and continuously swatting at her ears. The more she swatted the more annoyed she seemed to get.

"Abby came back from an assignment like this. I don't believe she's been hurt, I just think something has made her angry. I also think the buzzing in her ears has gotten worse again," Kingsley's deep voice responded. "I tried to ask her if she had any potion left but she hasn't acknowledged anything I said. Luckily, she got into the floo and came here."

Severus looked at the clock on the wall, "We have about five minutes before everyone starts arriving for the meeting. We better get her calmed down, or she's probably going to end up hexing someone."

The floo lit up again and Matty stepped out. He was still dressed in his practice clothes; he had a bag and his broom in hand. Matty looked over at Abby and then at everyone else in the room.

Glancing over to Severus, Matty raised an eyebrow, "Piss her off again?" Hermione giggled at that.

Severus smirked, "It wasn't me this time." Kingsley quickly told Matty what he had told Hermione and Severus. Severus started to stand up, "Maybe if I just touch her, it will grab her attention and she will start to calm."

Matty made a face and shook his head, "That's a bad idea. Abby came home from the Ministry one day last week like this, in the middle of the night. I grabbed her arm as she was pacing our bedroom and she literally threw me on the floor. Luckily the commotion woke Matthew and he started to cry, snapping her out of it."

Severus looked thoughtful for a moment, "I have an idea." He stuck his hand out and a corked vial flew into his hand.

"What's that?" Jordan asked.

"The potion to stop the buzzing in Abby's ears."

Jordan looked bewildered, "And you're going to give that to her?"

"Yes, well, sort of." Severus was now standing and he looked down at Hermione, "Place a shield around everyone, just in case." Hermione nodded and raised her wand; Severus could feel the shield go into place. He looked over at Abby and she was still pacing. "Matty, keep your wand on Abby, just in case you have to bind her."

Matty grinned, "I can do that."

"Abigail!" Severus yelled forcefully, and then threw the potion vial at her. Abby's head snapped up and her hand flew out, catching the potion. She looked in Severus' direction. "It's the potion for the buzzing in your ears."

Abby looked around at everyone in the room, back to Severus, and then down at the potion in her hand. She uncorked the vial, sniffed, and then closed her eyes and downed it. You could see the immediate relief on her face, but she still looked agitated. Everyone watched as Matty slowly walked over to Abby. Abby opened her eyes when he was about three feet away from her; she was now leaning on Severus' desk. When Matty was about a foot away from Abby he placed his hands on the desk on both sides of her, he leaned in and Abby started to lean away but then she stopped moving. They could hear Matty whispering something and Abby's breath hitch.

There was a knock on the door and the floo also started to activate.

"Matty is she good? People are starting to arrive for the meeting and I don't want her killing anyone."

"Yes, she's fine. Aren't you?" Matty said and directed his question to Abby. There was almost a hint of authority in Matty's voice.

"Yes," Abby breathed.

Hermione giggled, "She might not kill anyone, but I'm not so sure she's not going to jump Matty."

Severus scowled at Hermione, making her giggle even harder. Severus flicked his wand, opening his office door.

A good number of people sat in Severus' office; Severus, Hermione, Abby, Matty, Kingsley, Jordan, Harry, Lucius, Albus, Ron, and Draco. The meeting was to discuss how to save the Avery children. The conversation that Severus over heard between the Avery children's father and Nott was enough to convince Severus that this should be high on their priority list. Kingsley and everyone else agreed.

"Term ends in less than a month, so we have a few weeks to plan," Draco commented.

"Avery has always been hotheaded. He could change his mind at any minute and decide he wants to off his children today," Severus countered. "If he comes to Hogwarts for Katelyn, legally there's nothing I can do about it."

"Since we're trying to do this legally, we have to go about it a certain way," Kingsley add. "Severus over hearing Avery and Nott's conversation isn't enough for me to go in and take his children away."

Lucius nodded, "And knowing Avery I'm sure if he finds out that any of us were in that strip club that night he will kill that baby right away."

"So, where does that leave us," Harry asked.

Everyone seemed to be lost for words. Something about killing children made everyone think longer and harder.

"I don't think we are going to be able to go about this legally," Abby suggested. "I think we have to make it seem like it's legal, but that's going to be as legal as it gets. We don't have concrete information, unless we use what we heard while we were in the strip club. I'm sure the Death Eaters know we are on to them to an extent, but I don't think they realize we already have inside information."

"What do you suggest?" Kingsley asked Abby.

"I think we need to make up information. Something like you have had reports of dark magic, or something like that, coming from Avery's house, and maybe you could make it look like it came from McGreggor and Collins. You could arrest those two and then raid Avery's house. We can get the baby then."

"What are we doing with the children once we have them safely at Hogwarts?" Lucius asked.

Albus answered, "I think we can figure that out once we get the baby back here. Ms Avery and her baby brother will be safe here at Hogwarts."

The meeting lasted for another hour. It was discussed who would help raid Avery's house, how it would be done, and when it would be done. Abby and Jordan were definitely going to be a part of the raid, seeing as they were a part of the Auror department. Kingsley decided that Severus, Hermione, Harry, and Ron would be polyjuiced and sent in. Abby suggested having Kingsley recruit fifteen of his best Auror's so just incase anything went wrong there would be plenty of people there to help. Severus was not happy that Hermione was to be in on the raid, but Kingsley said he wanted her there so that once they got into Avery's home she could search for the baby. The meeting ended with exhausted faces. Kingsley told everyone to take the night off from any training and to get some rest. The raid would probably happen in the next week or so.

At midnight Severus was walking the halls in the dungeons. Him and Hermione had actually gone to bed at ten o'clock and had fallen asleep, but Ethan had come into their room crying around eleven thirty. Ethan wouldn't tell Hermione or Severus what was wrong; he just buried his head in Hermione's neck and clung to her. Ethan and Hermione fell back to sleep twenty minutes later, but now Severus was wide awake.

Severus knew that most of the student's wouldn't step foot into the dungeons, because they were afraid of getting caught by the Headmaster. Except his children, the Potters, and a few others would play down there occasionally. Severus hoped he could walk off some of his energy and besides, he had gotten hot in his chambers so the dungeon was the perfect place for a midnight stroll.

"Fuck!" A voice bellowed. Severus whipped his wand out and cast a spell, spilling light out in front of him. A person was leaning on the wall with their cloak over their face.

"Who's there," Severus demanded.

"Bloody hell, dad! Put that light out, my eyes haven't adjusted yet. I can't see anything."

"Abby? What in the hell are you doing and what do you mean your eyes haven't adjusted yet?" Severus ended the spell and put his wand in his pocket.

Abby sighed, "Can you just help me to my classroom."

Severus walked over to her and helped her off the wall; she was leaning onto him for support. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I just need to get to my classroom."

Severus stayed quiet and helped Abby to the potions classroom. When they got there Abby grabbed onto the first student table and leaned on it, clearly catching her breath. Severus switched the light on and gasped.

"Shit Abby! What the hell happened to you?!" Abby had dried blood all over her forehead and fresh blood coming from a wound near her temple. Her eye was black and it appeared she had a few broken ribs from the way she was breathing. Something was familiar about this; Severus just couldn't place his finger on it. But, he was starting to feel nauseous.

"Bone mending….Pain….and…blood…replenishing…potion," Abby gasped out.

Severus scowled and stuck his arm out, retrieving all the potions. He also flung his hand, sending a note into the floo and summoning a basin of water and a cloth. He started giving Abby the pain and blood replenishing potion when the floo lit up and Healer Bronson stepped out.

Abby scowled, "I didn't tell you to floo anyone, I'm fine!"She winced at the pain in her side.

"Abby you're bleeding all over the place and can barely breathe!" Severus argued as Healer Bronson rushed over. "Just let Derick heal you!"

Abby glared but remained silent as Derick ran his wand over her and gave her the rest of the potions. Severus sat beside Abby on the table and silently watched.

"You will be alright," Derick said to Abby, when he was finished checking her out. "But I suggest resting at least tomorrow morning. You're going to be sore for a few hours and will probably have a hard time sleeping. Is Matty awake?"

Abby shook her head, "No, he was asleep when I left."

"Where were you and what were you doing?" Severus asked curiously.

"Ministry work, I can't tell you."

Severus raised an eyebrow, "I'm pretty sure we are all read in on everything you're doing."

Abby shook her head, "Dad, I'm tired."

Severus went to argue, but he stopped. He knew fighting with Abby wouldn't solve anything and would just piss her off even more. Deciding to wake Matty and tell him, and then question Kingsley tomorrow, Severus changed the subject.

"I'll walk you back to your chambers." Severus stood up and helped Abby stand, leading her to the door. They were followed by Derick. "Take tomorrow off from teaching, and sleep. I've been wanting to teach some potions classes anyway. I'm going to wake Matty when we get to your chambers, so he knows you are to rest tomorrow."

Severus had a hard time sleeping the rest of the night. He was having flash backs to Death Eater meetings he used to attend and the state he would come back in. Severus would come back looking exactly like Abby; beaten and bruised. He had an unsettling feeling about the whole situation; he just wasn't sure what was going on. But, Severus was sure that Kingsley wasn't keeping anything from him, so Abby's response confused him.

"Severus?" Hermione grumbled.

"Hmmm."

"You're thinking too loud."

Severus snorted, and Ethan started to stir. Rolling from his back to his side, Severus started rubbing Ethan's back coaxing him back to sleep. Hermione watched and raised her eyebrows at Severus when he looked up at her.

Severus grinned, "Sorry, it's been a long night." The look of confusion on Hermione's face caused Severus to launch into him finding Abby in the hallway and everything that had happened.

"Abby was doing ministry work? I thought Kingsley told everyone to rest," Hermione said, thoughtfully.

Severus nodded, "Yes and Kingsley hasn't been keeping anything from me since he informed all of us what's been going on. So, I don't know why Abby wouldn't tell me."

"Maybe something last minute came up and Kingsley contacted Abby. Abby could be waiting until Kingsley gives her the okay to tell us whatever she was doing last night."

Severus nodded, "Could be. I just couldn't shake that feeling I got when I found her. She looked exactly like I used to when I came back from Death Eater meetings."

"It is possible she had a run in with Death Eaters. That would explain her being beaten up." Ethan started to stir again. He opened his eyes and looked at Severus. Severus rubbed his face; Ethan gave him a tired smile and closed his eyes again.

"Is he sick," Severus asked Hermione, still rubbing Ethan's face.

Hermione started chewing her lip, "I'm not sure. He doesn't feel warm, but he hasn't been himself the last couple of days."

Severus smiled and pulled Hermione's hand into his, "Don't worry so much, love. I think Ethan is just tired and missing us. Why don't we leave him down here with your parents today instead of taking him to the learning center. I have to teach Abby's potion classes, but when I have a free period I'll come down here and spend time with him."

Hermione smiled and nodded, "That sounds good, and I will do the same."

Severus and Hermione spent their day teaching and spending time with Ethan. They had told the twins that if they wanted to spend the day in their chambers with Edward and Jane they could, but those two were too excited about something Ginny had planned for them to do in the learning center. The twins didn't even want to come down and have lunch with them in their chambers. Ethan had been pretty quiet and clingy to both Hermione and Severus when they were in their chambers with him. Kingsley was flooing into Severus' office after dinner, because Severus wanted to speak with him. Hermione wanted to be a part of the little meeting too, but didn't want to leave Ethan. So, they brought him to Severus' office with them. Ethan was asleep after sitting with Hermione for five minutes on the couch.

"Severus, Ethan is making me nervous," Hermione stated, as she chewed on her bottom lip. Severus sat at his desk, catching up on some paperwork he had missed while teaching Abby's potion's classes.

"Love, I'm sure he is fine. We can take Ethan to Poppy once Kingsley leaves."

The floo lit up and Kingsley stepped out. He looked just as tired as Severus felt.

"I don't have a lot of time," Kingsley stated and sat down in the wingback chair in front of Severus' desk.

"I'll get right to the point," Severus stated and put his pen down. "Where did you send Abby last night and why couldn't she tell me what she was doing. The original plan was for me to be Abby's team leader. I know things are different now, but if you want me to help lead her and control her, I need to know what she's doing. Abby came back here beaten, and bruised last night. " For a split second Kingsley looked confused, but then he masked it with a neutral face. He wasn't quick enough for Severus though, he saw his confusion right away. He glanced over at Hermione, but she was looking down at Ethan. She was only listening to what was being said.

"I didn't send Abby anywhere last night," Kingsley said slowly. "But she may have been doing a follow up on another case. Anything that has to do with Page Summers and the Death Eaters, you, Hermione, and the rest of the Order are privy to that information. I will speak with Abby and see what she was doing. If it's relevant I will make sure you know what she was up to."

Severus just nodded and watched as Kingsley stood and made a quick goodbye. He said he needed to return to the Ministry and finish a file on a hearing that was happening tomorrow. Severus was sure of one thing: Kingsley had absolutely no idea what Abby was doing last night.

-Please Review! Thanks.