A/N: This one's dedicated to CrystalizedFairy.

Chapter 35: Saving Sirius

Sev's POV

'Dear Severus

Lycan Malum has escaped. I'm sorry for only letting you know now, but Sirius and I have been searching for him – and we can't find him. I'll keep searching, but Sirius can't – as you know.

Please reply soon. I'm afraid for Skye.

Remus'

I crumpled the letter. It's been a month and a week now. Skye and Draco have been missing, and it's getting beyond ridiculous. I'm sure they wouldn't have run away, school is too important to Skye. With a sigh I turned back to my Potion Essays. But try as I might, I couldn't concentrate. I've been worried sick; I haven't been eating, well, much. I kept wondering where they were. If anything happened to Skye…

I wiped a stray tear from my face. It's been years since I've cried… the last time I cried was the night Lily died.

I gave the essays up as a bad job and left for breakfast. Perhaps today I would eat something. Today would be the History of Magic OWL – and I knew Skye would be devastated to know she'd missed it.

"Professor?" I hadn't noticed the girl sneaking up on me.

"Miss Lovegood."

"Here." She stretched her hand out and in it I saw a copy of The Quibbler.

I've gained a certain soft spot for this publication; it always gave me comic relief… well, not in the last few weeks.

"Miss Lovegood, I…"

"Please, sir. And read the article on page four."

With that she skipped off to the Ravenclaw table, where a very out of place Blaise was sitting. He smiled at her, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. I guess he was missing them just as much as I did.

I went up to the head table, feeling more than half the faculty's eyes on me. Umbridge to a bigger extent. I sat down next to Minerva.

"You'll be glad to know you won't have classes today." She said lightly. I looked thankfully at her. She'd been arranging off days for me – she was one rather clever witch.

"Thank you." I said, rather stiffly.

Opening The Quibbler I read:

'Cissy Wolfe and Sev Drake, better known as Skye Night and Draco Malfoy, have been abducted by the Ministry. Why? We don't know, but this information comes from a reliable source that saw the two students boarding the Hogwarts Express the one moment, the next two men in masks and similar robes put their hands on the two teen's shoulders – and they disappeared. We here at The Quibbler believe that they are holding the two children hostage to gain information on them about something still unknown. We have been informed that their parents are still in the dark on their whereabouts and sincerely hope that this might shed some light on the topic.

Miss Wolfe and Mr. Drake have been attending Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, under Glamour Charms, and, according to sources, they've been doing rather well.

The question on all our tongues are: why did the Ministry of Magic kidnap these two children? What do they expect to gain from them?'

I stared. Was it true? Did the Ministry have them?

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"He's got Padfoot." Potter said. I turned around slowly. "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden."

"Where what is hidden, what is he talking about?" Umbridge asked me. I looked at Potter, making eye-contact and trying to make him understand that I'd handle it.

"No idea." I said coldly before swooping from the room.

I headed to my office, I knew that all of the fireplaces were being watched – except mine. Umbridge, quite foolishly, trusted me.

I strew some floo-powder into the fireplace.

"Grimmauld Place!" I screamed into the fireplace and stuck my head in.

"Filthy mudbloods, bloodtraitors… and what is this? The greasy professor has come through the fireplace to see his master?" The elf spoke to himself. I ignored him.

"Sirius!" I can't remember ever referring to him by his first name, but I didn't think he'd hear my otherwise.

"Sirius!" I yelled again.

Remus came running down the stairs, along with Nymphadora and Mad-Eye.

"Severus? What are you doing here?" Remus asked me.

"Where's Black?" I asked, ignoring his question.

"He's upstairs with Buckbeak…"

I pulled out, took more floo-powder and climbed into the fireplace, yelling my destination.

"Severus, tell me what's going on." Remus demanded.

"Potter believes that Black is in the Department of Mysteries in the Hall of Prophecy."

"What… how?"

"I don't know, he just told me this."

"When?"

"A few moments ago, Umbridge had caught him in a fireplace and thought he was communicating with Dumbledore."

"What exactly did he say, Snape?" Mad-Eye asked me.

"They've got Padfoot. They've got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden." I quoted what Potter had said directly.

"I'll alert the Order." Tonks said, turning around.

"Me too." Mad-Eye joined her on her way to the door.

"Have you got any idea where Dumbledore is, Severus?" Remus asked me. I shook my head, but lifted my wand and cast a patronus.

"Potter in trouble. Ministry of Magic." I said silkily. The doe bowed its beautiful head before jumping gracefully out the window.

"Severus… was that…"

"Where's Black?" I asked, cutting across him, not wishing to discuss Lily right now. The werewolf turned around and headed up the stairs.

"Follow me."

"Sirius, Severus is here."

"Snape?"

"You're godson's in danger." I said. His eyes widened and he immediately headed for the door. I grabbed his arm.

"You'd better stay, Black."

"I'm not staying, Snape."

"What if you die tonight? What about Potter?"

"What if it was Skye, would you just sit here?"

His words sank in. I released him.

"Okay, but I'm coming with you."

Black smiled at me.

"Snape, you and I might end up as friends."

"Don't get your hopes up, though."

"Now is not the time, boys." Remus interrupted.

"You're right, but let's wait for the rest of the Order first."

Black's face fell.

"In the meanwhile, have you heard anything from Skye?"

"No."

I handed him the magazine I'd read this morning.

"Page four."

We went downstairs and waited.

"Do you think it's true?" Black asked me, handing the periodical to Remus.

"It might be."

"I think it is." Remus said. He was always a fast reader.

"Perhaps we'll find them tonight." Black reached out and patted my arm. Then he realized what he'd done and pulled his hand back.

"That was touching, Black." I said, not going to miss a chance to taunt him.

The door to Grimmauld Place opened and the three of us rushed to the front door, wands out.

"It's me!" That was the voice of Arthur Weasley.

My two companions lowered their wands slightly.

"Prove it." Remus said.

"I have a likeness for everything to do with muggles and I collect sparkplugs."

I lowered my wand. He entered.

"I didn't realize you'll be here too, Snape." He said to me.

I didn't answer. The door opened again. My hand was in the air again.

"It's Kingsley."

"Prove it." Remus said again. Kingsley did and he was allowed in.

Member after member of the Order of the Phoenix arrived.

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Draco's POV

I was tied to a chair.

"What do you want from us?" I asked the masked stranger.

"We want the truth."

"The truth about what?"

"You and your friend are shape-shifters! And we want to know how you became it!"

I didn't answer. He pointed his wand at me.

"Crucio!"

I waited for the pain to pass. I refused to give him the satisfactory of hearing me scream.

I was roughly pushed into the little hell hole again. Skye was whimpering in the corner. I went to her side and pulled her into my lap. Holding her. She must've been through more than I had.

"What did they do to you?" I asked.

She just kept shaking.

"Did they crucio you?"

She didn't answer me. She just held on tightly to me with her healthy hand.

We fell asleep in that position.

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Sev's POV

I stopped by Prince Manor to pick Laud up. Perhaps Black had been right, and we'd find Skye and Draco tonight.

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I blasted the door open.

I was furious. I could only see one thing – red.

"Tell me where they are!" I demanded from the masked men.

"They're in that room!" The one screamed in a high pitch voice.

"Take me to them!"

Outside the office of the Unspeakables I'd seen pictures of the two – Cissy and Sev. I'd burst in and demanded to know where they are. Laud was right behind me.

The Unspeakables got up and shakily led me to the room.

I saw them.

Skye was shaking… she was curled in Draco's arms…

I told Laud to go check on them, not wanting to give the two masked men a chance to escape.

"They've been starved… and tortured… and Skye's wrist is broken… her face is hot… Severus, we have to get her out of here!" His voice had grown into a panic. "Her pulse is slowing…"

I didn't think before casting the curse on the Unspeakables… Wiping their memories completely, no one would be able to bring their memories back, I stunned them and tortured them a little, hey – my daughter had been held prisoner here for quite some time.

I grabbed their wands and Skye and Draco's wands that were lying on a desktop.

I went to the two, crouching over Skye while Laud took care of Draco. As soon as my hand touched her, her eyes flitted open, and at first I saw fear in the darkness, then it turned to recognition.

"Daddy." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"I'm here, sweetheart." I soothed. I picked her up, Laud picked Draco up.

We exited the Unspeakables' office.

The doors to the Department of Mysteries shifted.

"Dad…" Skye's voice gained a little volume.

"Shhss…"

"Can… I… have my… wand?"

"We're going home."

"No…"

I heard a ruckus to my left. Bellatrix was jeering…

I put Skye down gently and went into that room. Laud calling after me that he'd take care of her.

Potter and Sirius were fighting against Lucius, side by side.

I saw it coming… Bellatrix appeared out of nowhere and pointed her wand at Black over her head…

"Avada Kedavra!"

I apparated to his side.

"Protego!" I yelled, pulling both Potter and Black to the front, to safety and out of the way. The jinx passed to where Black had stood mere seconds ago.

"Snape?" I heard Potter gasp, but I was already gone.

I heard Potter chase Bellatrix… but I was already back at the main entrance…

"Let's go." I said, picking Skye up and asking for the exit. The door opened and we left.

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