Hi everyone.

I'm not sure where to end this story. I don't think I have the patience or the time to continue with 6 more detailed, good fanfictions. I'm up to chapter 24 by now, and it'll end up with 30 to 35 chapters. I may pick up with the stories again after a few years, but right now, I need to start focusing on undergrad and preparing to apply for grad schools. I promise that I will end up finishing this fanfic, even if it takes me a while. I'll try to not drag you out for too long, and I'm pleased that my story so far has been well liked and well received.

I have definitely thrown a curveball in the story to make it interesting for you all, but Harry and Hermione will be finishing out their first year at Hogwarts.

I also apologize for the long wait in updating. I was out of state and did not have my laptop, which has the entire story on it, and therefore couldn't upload.

Thank you all for your kindness and patience. Enjoy.

It was the night of the Azkaban break out. Lucius was pacing around his study while Severus and Narcisa were doing their best to calm him. The Dark Lord was scheduled to appear in a few minutes, and Lucius was really nervous about what he would do if he failed. There was no guarantee that he would succeed. While he was anxious to see his sister-in-law and every other death eater in Azkaban, he did not want to see their expressions if he failed.

"Lucius, sweetheart, please sit down, everything will be alright," Narcisa pleaded from her spot in front of the fire. Although she was more of a spitfire when she was alone with her husband and in front of Severus, she had to maintain the submissive Death Eater role she was expected to. This was something she wished would change but she doubted it.

"Narcissa, you must understand why I'm stressed?" Lucius snarled.

Narcissa bowed her head. She knew there was no point in arguing with her husband now. It would only cause issues. Severus stepped forward, his Death Eater mask in place.

"Lucius, I insist you calm down. Do not let our Lord see you in this way or you will be punished."

Lucius whipped towards Severus, but could neither say nor do anything, as the floor activated and Lord Voldemort stepped through. Lucius's Death Eater mask was up and both he and Severus bowed before him. Narcissa remained knelt by the fire, head bowed. She must not speak unless spoken to.

"Remove your masks," Voldemort hissed.

With a wave of their wands, their masks disappeared. Their faces were stone, their eyes were cold and hard and their lips were thin.

"Severus, go fetch your children and godson, I want them here when everyone leaves. Lucius, walk with me down to our meeting room," he said, red eyes on Lucius.

Severus bowed and walked from the room. With his lack of robes, he didn't look as intimidating as normal. He simply wore his normal black coat and pants. As he walked down the hallway to the library where his kids were, he tightened his occlumency shields. There was no way he would let anyone see his emotions. Especially fear and anger. He wanted his kids to be strong and know that he was not scared. Sure, he may be a spy and Hermione and Harry knew that he was good at hiding his emotions, but this was a time when they needed to feel as if his confidence was genuine.

As he entered the library, he saw Harry and Draco playing a game of wizards chess, while Hermione was curled up in the corner with a book. Cocking his head slightly, he saw that she was reading the potions book for second years. His heart fluttered with pride, but this was not the time.

"Children," he said, masking all emotion from his voice. "Follow me. Hermione, wear your cloak, and make sure your head is covered."

Although he wanted to argue this with Voldemort, he had his reasons. Voldemort did not want Hermione attached since she posed as a muggle born during school. She also needed to start posing as the submissive female in ranks until she started training with Bellatrix. Voldemort didn't want anyone taking advantage of Hermione, who had the brains to be one of the top people in his ranks, even though she was only 11.

As the children followed Severus out of the room, Hermione filed in directly behind Severus, head down, but watching his shoes so she would know where to go. She didn't like playing his role, but once her father explained it to her, she was more understanding. Harry was behind her and to her right, while Draco was to her left and behind her. She felt protected and felt like a precious gem that would be the saviour of all wizarding kinds. She had already been nicknamed Slytherin's Princess because everyone had adored her so much. Little did she know what her future held.

Harry and Draco on the other hand, did not feel as special. They were not sure what was going to happen, but they felt as if they were much too young to be getting involved in all of this. After all, they were only 11. But, they knew that they were supposed to do as they were told. They didn't want to anger their fathers or let Hermione down.

As they entered the ballroom, they went unnoticed by most people, and weaved their way towards Lucius and the Dark Lord. As they walked towards their target, people started to apparate away towards Azkaban. When there were only a few people left, including Narcissa, Severus, Lucius, the Dark Lord, and the children, Lucius broke his facade and walked towards Draco, who had stopped by his mother's side. He hugged him close, whispering something in his ear, and kissed his wife on the cheek, who said nothing. He nodded at Severus, donned his mask, bowed to the Dark Lord, and within seconds, he was gone.

For a minute, no one said anything. Finally, Voldemort spoke up.

"Narcissa, would you get us some tea?"

The Dark Lord was pacing around the room. He was undoubtedly nervous and stressed. It had been three hours since they had left, and they had heard no word or sign from any of them. There was no indication that they had been successful.

"My Lord," Severus began.

Voldemort turned towards him.

"What, Severus?" he snarled.

"Perhaps you should sit down, or find something to take your anger out on. I can see you are clearly frustrated, and we want you to be as calm as can be when they return," Severus said, although the moment the words passed his lips, he knew it was a mistake.

Voldemort's eyes flashed. No one was allowed to speak to him in such a way. Severus deserved to be punished for speaking to him like that. He hesitated in doing so, however. If he wanted those three children on his side, he needed them to trust him completely. Attacking their father or father figure would not help his cause.

"You ought to be punished for speaking to me that way, Severus," Voldemort said, wand extended. Severus simply nodded and bowed his head. "But, I shall refrain."

At that moment, they heard the distinct sound of cracking from apparation. Voldemort's eyes popped up and he sat himself down in a chair by the fire, looking distinctly at the ballroom door. The doors opened slowly, and Voldemort was looking at a disheveled Lucius, and the group of Death Eaters. Severus's chest tightened. Lucius had failed.

"My Lord," Lucius said, stepping into the room and bowing. "I regret to inform you that I have failed you and will take any punishment you see fit."

Voldemort stood up and walked towards Lucius. Anger was evident in his eyes.

"This was your operation, Lucius. You have failed me," he said, calmly. "Why?"

"My Lord, it will only anger you."

"Very well."

And with that, Voldemort delved into Lucius' mind and aggressively tore down his shield.

Distant sounds of popping were heard throughout the grounds. In front of them stood the large, triangular prison. Dementors were swooping around the prison, and screams could be heard from the inside of the prison. All of the captured Death Eaters were at the top of the prison, so it would be hardest to get to them.

"Let's go," Lucius shouted over the howling wind. "We have people to rescue."

A sea of black made its way across the dead field, but it gradually became invisible as Death Eaters made themselves invisible to the dementors. None of them could produce a patronus, so it would be hard to get past the dementors. Lucius was the last one to turn invisible, and his eyes swept the property, looking for the best way in.

"We will need to swim in through the moat. There are grates underneath that we can get in through. As long as we remain invisible in the prison, we will be okay."

The large group walked gently into the water, being careful not to splash. One by one the Death Eaters vanished under the moat. They found themselves in a very grimy tunnel that was half filled with water. They did not use magic, for they knew alarms would go off if they used it. They had over fifty sets of stairs to walk to get to the high-risk prisoners, which was every one of the death eaters that were captured. They made their way up the stairs, watching every cell. Every time they saw one that would escape, they posted someone by it. Everyone remained invisible because it was what needed to happen.

Lucius found himself outside of Bellatrix's cell, but the moment he got there, alarms started to blare. Lucius covered his ears, but knew that he had to abandon his mission. Dementors and soldiers would be here within the minute. They could not fight the dementors. They needed to get out. By this point, nearly two hours had passed. As Lucius shouted for everyone to get out, he noticed that Paisley was not invisible.

"You idiot!" Lucius shouted. "We were so close! You were required to stay invisible until after we had escaped with the prisoners."

"I'm sorry Malfoy," Paisely snarled. "It'll be a sight for sore eyes when our Lord is done with you."

"No, because I'm still getting Bella out."

"How," Paisley said. "They'll know."

"Because you will take her place. You are now Bellatrix Lestrange."

With a wave of his wand, he unlocked Bella's cell and dragged her out. He placed glamour charms on her to look like Paisley, and he forced the real Paisley into her old cell. He grabbed Paisley's wand and summoned Bella's. Paisley soon looked like Bellatrix, and the deed was done. This is what he got for screwing up their mission. No one would know that they were there.

"Serves you right, you steaming arse," Lucius spat, before turning Bellatrix invisible.

They needed to get out, now. Within minutes, they were halfway down the building, further away from the soldiers that they had encountered during their run down the stairs. Lucius wanted to sigh in relief but he wasn't free yet. He had to run past several imprisoned Death Eaters, who knew what was happening. He felt horrible, but he needed to rescue the person the Dark Lord wanted to see most.

The Dark Lord pulled out of Lucius's mind, who was kneeling and his shoulders were tense. He glanced at the remaining Death Eaters, lined up behind Lucius. They all were tense, heads bowed, faces tight. They were clearly nervous for his reaction.

"Where is Bellatrix?" Voldemort called.

A weak looking man stepped forward, but spoke with the cackle of a woman.

"Here, my Lord," he, well she, called.

With a flick of his wrist, Bella was back to her normal self. She was still wearing her Azkaban clothes, but Bella was back.

"Narcissa, get your sister some decent clothes until we can take her to Diagon Alley. She needs to be taken care of and fed properly. The rest of you," he paused, watching Narcissa leave with her sister. "Have failed me. You should have all gotten your prisoners and did as Lucius did, turned them invisible. But you did not! Lucius! You should have told them to!"

Lucius was the only one who looked at Voldemort.

"Crucio!" Voldemort cried, striking Lucius with the curse. He individually struck every Death Eater with the curse, driving most of them to their knees.

"Get. Out." The Dark Lord commanded. Within second, everyone besides Lucius was gone.

"Lucius," he hissed.

"My Lord," Lucius whispered.

"You did not tell them what to do if you got caught, but you did succeed in retrieving Bella for me. For that, you will not receive another round."

"Thank you, My Lord."

With a crack, the Dark Lord disappeared. The release of tension in Severus' and Lucius' shoulders was visible. Hermione lowered her hood, visibly shaken, and she was squeezing Draco and Harry's hands. Draco ran to his father, hugging him. They all knew the Dark Lord had his bad points, and this was one of them, but they agreed with him on most everything else. He had been nothing but kind to the children, and both fathers respected that. With a quick tap on the shoulders of Harry and Hermione, Lucius and Draco were finally alone.