Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
"I'm afraid I have some distressing news," Dumbledore told the adults in his office solemnly. "Bellatrix and Lucius have escaped Azkaban."
"What?" Astoria gasped.
"How? When?" Draco demanded.
Harry just shut his eyes for a moment.
"The kids," Hermione whispered. "What better way to hurt us than by going after our kids?"
Snape put a hand on his son's shoulder. "We won't let that happen." He said determinedly.
"They escaped last night," Dumbledore said. "It looks like they had help, although who helped them I do not know. I've already been in contact with Sirius and Remus, they and the other Aurors are doing everything they can to find them."
Harry rubbed a hand over his face. "What do we do in the meantime?"
"We keep an eye out," Dumbledore said. "And perhaps the children should have some protective measures put in place. An earlier curfew, escorts to and from their classes..."
"No going outside," Harry added.
"What about Quidditch for Evan?" Hermione murmured.
"He'll have to deal with it," Harry said flatly. "Lucius and Bellatrix, they will want to hurt us. And Hermione is right, the best way to do that is to hurt our children. I'm not risking it. I also want our kids to stay in our quarters for the time being."
"Same for Castor and Selene," Astoria said, glancing at Draco. He nodded his agreement.
"Jaime and Teddy can help with escorting them," Harry paced slightly. He glanced over at Draco and Astoria. "They both have had dueling training. Comes with being the kids of Aurors."
"Constant vigilance," Draco said wryly.
"Minerva is escorting the children here," Dumbledore said. "So we can tell them what is going on. I thought perhaps Dobby would help keep an eye on the children as well."
Pop! Dobby beamed at Harry. "Harry Snape sir! Dobby is most happy to keep children safe, you can count on Dobby!"
"Thanks Dobby," Harry grinned.
"Like he'll watch out for my kids," Draco muttered. He had watched his father be cruel to Dobby for years, but there was nothing he could do as a kid about it.
Dobby gave the blonde a reproachful look. "Dobby will watch out for Draco Malfoy's children as well!" He popped away.
The floo flared and Minerva stepped out, followed by Evan, Sage, Gavin, Castor and Selene.
"What's going on?" Selene asked, noticing the tension in the room.
"Bellatrix and Lucius have escaped Azkaban," Dumbledore announced.
Selene and Sage gasped. Evan and Castor looked to their parents with wide eyes while Gavin looked confused. "Who?" he asked.
"Bellatrix was Voldemort's most devoted follower, remember?" Evan told him. "And Lucius too, as well as being Castor and Selene's grandfather."
"You think they will come after you?" Sage asked with worried eyes.
"They may want revenge, yes," Hermione said gently. "They may also target you children, as a way to get to us."
"Oh," Sage whispered as her mother put her arm around in comfort.
Gavin shuffled over to his papa and Snape put his arm around him.
"As long as you follow the protective measures, you will be fine," Draco said.
"What protective measures?" Evan asked.
"You will stay in our quarters until Bellatrix and Lucius are caught," Harry said. "Your curfew will be a little earlier and you are not to go anywhere alone, including to your classes. You will have an escort. One of us, or Jaime or Teddy."
"I have to live in your quarter again? I just got back to the Tower!" Castor whined.
"Not now, Castor. We will discuss it later," Astoria said.
"But mum -"
"Castor. Enough." Draco snapped.
Castor looked mutinous but didn't say anything else.
"You also will stay inside the castle at all times," Harry said, his eyes on Evan.
"But I have Quidditch practice this week!" Evan protested.
"Not until they are caught," Harry said.
"That's not fair! What if they are never caught?" Evan raged.
"They will be. The Aurors won't stop until they are." Hermione said.
"Don't worry Evan. It's not like you really play much," Sage offered, trying to make her brother feel better.
"Sod off, Sage!" Evan snapped.
Sage glared at him. "You sod off!"
"How about both of you sod off?" Gavin suggested. He winced when his papa gave him a mild swat.
"Was that really necessary?" Snape lightly scolded.
"Apparently my children need to go take a nap," Harry said, a stern look coming over his features. "They must be overly tired if they are acting like toddlers."
"I'm not acting like a toddler," Selene spoke up smugly. "Of course, I am older than they are."
"Only by a year, so shut up!" Castor snapped at her.
Selene glared back. "You shut up, firstie!"
Draco took a deep breath. "Yes, apparently a nap is a good idea."
HP
"I hate not being able to go outside," Evan sighed as they waited for an escort to walk them to their quarters. They had just finished Herbology but Professor Longbottom had had to take a student to the infirmary for getting bit by one of the plants. "Wait...We could use the secret passageway to go to Honeydukes and get some sweets." he said, brightening.
"I don't know," Artie hedged. His father had explained how serious it was that Lucius and Bellatrix were free, how much danger his friends were in.
"There's a secret passageway to Honeydukes?" Castor asked excitedly. "Let's go! I have money on me."
"But it's not safe," Artie protested.
Evan stared at his friend. "Merlin, you sound like Sage." He rolled his eyes. "What do you think? That Bellatrix and Lucius are at Honeydukes right now stocking up on chocolate frogs?"
Castor snickered.
"If you don't want to go, then that's fine," Evan shrugged. "Castor and I will. Just cover for us, tell them we went to the loo."
"Yeah," Castor nodded.
Artie's eyes widened and he began shaking his head.
"Come on, we'll pick you up so licorice. And I won't tell anyone you were chicken," Evan laughed.
"Evan."
Evan froze for a moment and then slowly turned around. Castor did too and both boys stared at Harry and Draco, who were glaring at them.
"Did I really just hear you decide to sneak out of the castle?" Harry asked slowly. "And ask your friend to lie for you?"
"Um," Evan hesitated.
"We heard both of you," Draco snapped.
"Artie, go to your dorm," Harry said. "And thank you for showing some responsibility in your decision making.
Artie gave his friends a grimace and took off.
"I can't believe -" Harry shook his head. "I'm not doing this here. Let's go."
Draco took Castor's shoulder and propelled him forward. "To our quarters."
Castor felt humiliated as his dad held his hand the whole way to their rooms. As soon as Draco entered their quarters and closed the door behind them, he turned his son to the side and gave him two swats.
"Ow!" Castor yelped, rubbing the sting out with a pout on his face.
"What's going on?" Astoria asked in concern, looking from Draco to her son.
"Harry and I went to get our sons and overheard them planning to sneak out of the castle by using one of the secret passageways," Draco said. "Apparently, sneaking off to Honeydukes is worth risking the danger of Bellatrix and Lucius being loose." he said sarcastically.
"Castor, what were you thinking?" Astoria asked, looking at her son in disappointment. "I thought you understood how serious this is, we don't have you follow these precautions to punish you. We're trying to protect you."
"We didn't actually do it," Castor muttered.
"Only because I caught you before you could!" Draco snapped.
"Cas, I think you should go to room," Astoria said. "I want you to think about what you did and why it is so important for you to follow the rules. We'll discuss this more a little later."
"Fine," Castor mumbled as he began to walk to his room.
"And that attitude better improve soon, or your backside is going to regret it," Draco called after him.
Castor went into his room and flopped onto his bed, feeling like an idiot. He couldn't do anything right. And he knew it was stupid to plan to sneak out of the castle.
"Castor?" Selene entered his room and sat next to him on the bed. "Are you okay?"
Castor told her what he and Evan had been planning to do. "You probably think I'm a dunderhead." he sighed.
"I always think you're a dunderhead," Selene teased, patting him on the shoulder. "Actually, I get it. I'm sick of being cooped up and followed around everywhere. But our grandfather and aunt are really bad news. From what mum told me, grandfather wasn't very nice to dad when he was growing up."
"Like he abused him?" Castor asked, horrified.
"I think so," Selene said sadly.
"Oh," Castor bit his lip. "I feel like dad and I just keep fighting. I think he disapproves of me being Gryffindor."
"I don't think he does," Selene said gently. "You two need to talk. Really talk."
"Yeah," Castor agreed miserably.
HP
"Of all the reckless, foolish things to do," Harry said as he closed the door behind them.
Hermione looked up from the book she was reading as her husband and son walked into the sitting room. "What happened?"
"Go on, tell her," Harry looked at Evan with a raised eyebrow.
Evan fidgeted. "Castor and I were thinking about using one of the secret passageways to sneak out to Honeydukes."
"You were thinking about it? You were about to go before Draco and I overheard you," Harry folded his arms across his chest.
"Evan," Hermione said in an exasperated voice. "Have we not made you realize how serious this situation is? It is not worth risking your safety for some sweets!"
"I know, I'm sorry," Evan said, hating being scolded. "But dad, you used to sneak around the castle when you were a kid. You told me you did!"
"Just because I did it doesn't mean it's okay for you to do it," Harry shot back. "I did some foolish things when I was a kid, it doesn't mean I want you to do them. Unlike you, for most of my school years I didn't have parents to hold me accountable. If your papa had known I was his son, I would -"
"Have spent most of your Hogwarts years standing up, from all the smackings your father would have given you," Hermione said smugly.
"Very funny," Harry rolled his eyes. He paused. "True, though." he admitted. He eyed Evan sternly. "And so will you, if you don't stop taking foolish risks. You need to think before you act. Understand?"
"Yes sir," Evan sighed. "I'm sorry. I just hate all of this."
"So do we," Hermione said softly.
"Go to your room until dinner," Harry instructed. He sent Evan on his way with a firm tap to his bottom. After his son left, he turned to Hermione. "Well, I guess it's official."
"What is?"
"We're raising me," Harry laughed. "Merlin help us."
HP
"Have you finished your potions essay, Sage?" Evan asked as he flipped through his potions book.
"Yes," Sage said absently as she wrote her Charms essay. "And no, you can't copy it."
Evan, Sage, Selene, and Castor were in the library doing some homework while their parents had a meeting. Dobby had escorted them and would be escorting them back when they were finished. There was a Quidditch match going on, but they weren't allowed to attend which upset Evan the most.
"I just wanted to see it," Evan grumbled.
"Sure you did," Sage rolled her eyes.
Suddenly Kelvin Nott ran into the library. "You have to come!"
"What?" Castor gave Kelvin a cool stare. "Why would we go with you?"
"Your dads were attacked," Kelvin gasped, out of breath. "They're being hurt right now! Come on!"
"Dobby!" Sage called. She looked nervously at her brother. "Where is he?"
"Something's going on," Selene said, biting her lip.
"Listen, I know we don't like each other but I'm not lying. Your dads are being hurt, we have to help them," Kelvin said urgently.
"Let's go," Evan said determinedly.
"Evan, we should get an adult," Sage said warily.
"Everyone is at the game or meeting!" Evan snapped. "I'm going."
"Me too," Castor said, following.
Sage and Selene both followed.
Kelvin led them to the seventh floor and opened a door. "I saw them go in here," he whispered.
Evan and the others ran in, looking around in confusion. There was nothing there except a cabinet. "Where are they?" He turned around but Kelvin had left.
"Expelliarmus!"
All four children's wands went flying and Theo Nott stepped out of the shadows. "Hello children."
"What do you want?"
"You're coming with me," Theo said. He opened the cabinet. "Everyone in."
"We're not going in with you," Selene spat.
Theo pointed his wand at Castor. "Do it or I will make sure your brother is in agony."
With no choice, the children filed into the cabinet that was just large enough to hold them. Theo then edged himself in. Evan watched as he started to close them in, Sage and Selene were closest to the door and without a thought, pushed the two girls out before the door slammed shut.
"No!" Theo shouted in anger.
TBC: