Chapter 17:

After navigating the barrage of reporters, the onslaught of photographers, and the vast crowd of magical news-people and their hovering news-cameras that flanked the exit of the congress' police division headquarters Padfoot and Moony successfully managed to use the floo network to return to the Clay residence along with the trio. As soon as they stepped into the living room the waiting parents quickly scooped up Chase and Alicia.

"Oh thank God you're all alright." Mary said as she hugged her daughter tight.

"I'm fine mom, both Mr. Clays made sure that the death eaters were far away from us while we were helping the others escape." Alicia said as her mother smoothed her hair down and hugged a final time before releasing her.

Chase's parents were also making sure he was entirely alright. Sara and Allen were both holding a protesting Chase tight as his mother rubbed a bit of soot off of his cheek.

"Mom, dad, I'm fine…" He mumbled.

"We know, we're just glad you're okay." Sara said.

"All this magic stuff is new to us. We were worried about you." Allen sighed, "I wish we could've helped, but us no-majs aren't exactly suited to magical combat." He turned to face Silas and Wolfgang who were themselves checking over Danny another time-as they hadn't had much of an opportunity in the little time between their release from questioning and returning home. "Thank you for making sure they were safe."

Wolfgang smiled slightly, "If the situation were reversed I'm sure any of you would have done the same."

"Honestly, we're amazed at the fact that you trusted us enough to even try it in the first place." Silas added.

"In all the years we've known you you've never done anything to make us question whether you'd keep Chase safe." Sara noted, "And even though it was insane, it was the only option we could think of."

"You're good men. You welcomed us here without knowing anything about my family. That's trust, I figured I could repay it." Mary responded.

**HP**

Following the evening of the rescue Padfoot and Moony both agreed to a handful of interviews-if for no other reason than to stop the constant requests from owls from being delivered and cluttering up their front stoop. They did however include a caveat in their replies-that it would only be them that the news-media continued hounding. While the identities of the three children who they'd escorted from the magical police office were still unknown (due mostly to them not being mentioned in any of the official reports of the events that evening thanks to a substantial bribe on Wolfgang's part), the men knew what fame could do to a child and wanted to nip any inquiries in the bud. The reporters agreed, and within the week the 'Fabulous Five' had changed into the story of how the Clay men had successfully kept the death eaters at bay while the students escaped with some outside help.

At Zauberei a full investigation was launched as soon as the students were recovered. The aurors on duty were stunned at the disappearances and made sure to interview extensively the victims to ensure that all the perpetrators were held accountable. After it was revealed that the students were actually kidnapped not just by the three, but actually by six different individuals, then held in a hidden chamber under the school which had been unknown to the remaining staff the three others were sought out. The descriptions positively matched with staff members, all of whom had taken sudden leaves of absence after the disappearances. Unfortunately by the time the authorities were aware of their actions they had vanished.

Classes resumed after the investigation with an even further increased auror presence and a strict protection field around the school that was designed to keep out all known death eaters. Despite this, however, there was still clear anger amongst the magical community over the fact that the events had happened in the first place. As consequence, headmistress Weber officially resigned within a month of the students returning, citing her own guilt and the cries for her early retirement as the primary reasons why she had decided to do so. When classes resumed the school continued the plan to halt exams for the year, which meant that Danny, Chase, and Alicia were able to enjoy their first year's conclusion. The rescued students were obviously quite grateful, and the three had suddenly gained popularity and the spotlight within the school-even if they'd been spared it elsewhere.

As winter melted into spring and spring started the transition into summer the trio were glad to conclude their first year of school together. As their last class concluded they started toward the front steps and chatted.

"Well, the club just opened up last weekend." Chase said as he stepped up the stairs to the bus, turning back slightly to look at the other two clambering up behind him. "You guys want to come over on Monday and go swimming?"

"Sure." Danny replied, "You want one of my dads to pop over and get you and your siblings?"

"I'll ask my mom, chances are she'll say yes. She's always telling one of us to do something outside instead of watching TV." Alicia said as she sat down on the seat opposite the boys.

**HP**

"Pads could you get the door? Sounds like another owl dropped something off!" Wolfgang yelled from upstairs master bathroom.

"I wouldn't have to if you didn't take twenty minute showers!" Silas yelled back up, knowing full well that as soon as Wolfgang was out of the shower he'd get him back for it. He smiled, enjoying the rare chance to be cheeky without his rod-up-his-arse boyfriend getting him back for it. He opened the door expecting to see an owl waiting with a letter, but instead saw only an envelope sitting on the stoop. Must've flown off. I swear some of those things are terribly impatient. He picked up the white slip of paper and closed the door. As he flipped it over to see if it had an intended recipient he was greeted with a damp towel cracking his back.

"Hey!" He whirled around to see a bathrobe clad Wolfgang chuckling to himself. "What was that for?"

His boyfriend raised an eyebrow. "As if you don't know." He pecked Silas on the forehead to show there were no hard feelings, the other man huffed indignantly, but allowed it. "Who'd it from?"

"Don't know. I haven't opened it yet." Silas said as he tore open the envelope. Inside was a piece of parchment with a single sentence written on it in blood red ink. "I know who you really are, and I hope you don't think this is over." Underneath was drawn a dark mark.

"What?" Silas said as he paled, "How?" The couple nervously exchanged glances as they again looked for any kind of clue on the parchment. A moment later a school bus appeared at the curb, honking to a waving Danny. Wolfgang quickly grabbed the paper and shoved it in his pocked a mere moment before the door opened.

"Hey. Chase invited me and Alicia to the country club on Monday. Could one of you pick up her and her brother and sister?" He asked as he dropped his bag by the door.

Silas swallowed dryly and tried to regain his composure, "Sure thing."

"Thanks! I'm gonna call her to let her know!" He shouted back as he walked into the kitchen. The two men exchanged a look as they peered out the window. Someone knew, and chances were that this wasn't over.

The End.

**Author's Note**

Hello and thanks to everyone who has been reading this! Let me know if you'd be willing to have me do something for the trio's year two. I probably won't do it for a little while-with the way everything has been recently writing something like this takes a good bit of planning (and research because the lore is DENSE in the HP universe). In any case, thanks again one last time!