Harry stared at the silvery toad and blinked. It didn't disappear. He sure as hell didn't know what to do. The thing kept repeating its message, but no current aurors had a toad for a patronus. It made no bloody sense.

He'd sent for Kingsley and Gawain, but the waiting was killing him. There was someone out there that expected him to find them. Someone sending for back up he couldn't provide.

"What is so urgent, Potter?" Kingsley slammed into the room and froze as his eyes settled on the huge shining amphibian.

"You recognize it?" Harry gestured to the toad. "Because I don't. How can I trace them and send back up?"

"I know the patronus, but it isn't possible." Kingsley shook his head. "We need to get to Saint Mungo's now."

Harry stumbled as he took off following the Minister through the halls racing at full speed toward the aurors' protected apparition point.


Neville stared into the room. It was the same private room they'd been assigned after the war, but nothing else resembled what he considered normal. His mother was stalking around the room like a caged panther. The wards she'd erected were nasty things. There was no hope of getting through the things without her hexing him. Hell, she didn't seem to recognize anything.

"You're sure Hermione is in there?" His gran sounded panicked.

"She's in there." Draco sighed. "I can feel her and so can you. I'm pretty sure that swirling silver tornado is meant to protect her."

"From what?" Neville frowned. "From Hannah? Is that why she's bound and gagged?"

"What's going on here?" Kingsley Shacklebolt approached them with Harry hot on his heels. Neville closed his eyes and bit back a curse.

"Just what this situation needs." Lucius Malfoy rolled his eyes and muttered. "Because the chaos of this nonsense isn't enough. Now, we have to deal with the Minister and the circus that comes with all things Potter."

Neville wanted to agree, but this wasn't the time. He wasn't sure when the time would be, but he was sure this wasn't it.

"Hermione and Hannah had some idea about helping them." Draco shook his head. "I didn't push for more information. It never occurred to me that they'd be taking any kind of risks."

"You're not used to them, yet." Neville turned toward Draco. "They seem like ordinary girls, but they're not."

"Hermione isn't a risk taker." Harry shook his head. "She loves rules. She's always quoting them at me."

"She loves rules because she likes to play at the edges of them. If she'd loved rules so bloody much, she never would have followed you passed a three headed dog. Believe me, she likes not getting caught. Rules are things she works around. She twists them to suit her, finds a contradiction, or just ignores them." Neville smirked. "You never really saw her. So wrapped up in your own problems, I guess. You never noticed that she was moving the earth, the sun, and the stars to keep you safe. All you've ever seen in her was the girl that tried to help Ron float a feather."

Harry gaped at him like a carp.

"Why are you even here?" Neville stepped next to Draco and stared at Harry. He knew Harry wouldn't see the meaning of the gesture, wouldn't grasp that this was a situation for family. He hadn't figured out the new lay of the land.

"A giant silver frog hopped into the aurors' office and asked for back up." Harry frowned. "Kingsley knew to come here. Why didn't you send for me? She's my best friend."

"She's your friend." Draco nodded and pressed his lips together.

"She is." Harry glared, shoved Draco and knocked him back a half step. "Let me look at what's going on."

It was all the excuse Neville needed. The stress of the day and his inner drive to protect his family collided inside him. He grabbed Harry and tossed him to the floor. It felt good to do something. Even if it was a little over the top. Harry wasn't one for subtleties in any case.

"You will not put your hands on my family, Potter." Neville glared down at Harry. "You are not here in an official capacity. You have no authority to make demands. You can't rush in there and save the day. My father, my mother, my sister, and my fiancée are in there. Rushing in without a plan could wind up hurting them all."

"You're just standing around." Harry snarled and jumped up. "What good is that doing?"

"She really was the brains of their little group." Draco shook his head and stared incredulously as Harry sputtered.

"Potter." Kingsley snapped. "We need to come up with a plan of action. The healers have some ideas, but you might offer some insights."

"They were trying to help your parents." Draco glanced into the room. "They wouldn't just rush into this. We need to get the others here. Susan and Luna might know something."

"Millie might, too." Neville nodded. "She flitted right in with the others.

"Her girl friends?" Harry shook his head. "Why would she tell them anything? It's not like they're going to be interested in all of this."

"Do you think they spend their days shopping?" Draco shook his head and chuckled.

"They do a fair amount of that as well." Neville shrugged. "But they do all sorts of things. I know Susan and Luna would have helped with this."


Harry listened as the healers talked about waiting out the Longbottoms. He grimaced. It seemed like a faulty plan to him. Their magic didn't seem to be weakening.

The other girls arrived. Luna was covered in something sparkly. It was typical. Why did anyone think they would have the answer.

"They'll give Hannah to James." Luna smiled at Kingsley. "He will need a little coaching, but Harry could be James for them."

"Then what?" Harry nodded. "I stun them and we storm the room?"

"No." Draco shook his head emphatically. Neville looked ready to knock him down again and Mrs. Longbottom was stroking her wand in a slightly disturbing fashion. Lucius Malfoy shook his head and his wife rolled her eyes.

"Then we talk to Hannah and find out what's going on." Susan took a deep breath. "We need more information."

"But they think James is dead." Harry sighed. "They won't believe me."

"You'll have to sell it. Tell them there was an attack but you got to safety, and let the gossip fly in hopes of saving Harry." Luna smiled at him. "It will work, but we need someone to glamour you a bit."

"I can do it." Narcissa stepped forward. "I knew James well enough. He was my cousin after all."

She began flicking her wand at him and he felt her magic settle on him like a cloak. It was disconcerting at best.

"Call her Allie cat or Allie palie." Augusta smiled. "She hated it when James used those names, but she'll believe you are James then. He was the only one stupid enough to mock her. She hexed him often enough for it."

"If she asks for a pass word, try splice ice mice." Lucius looked up toward the ceiling. "It was the last order password Pettigrew passed us before your parents died."

"You remember that?" Harry looked at the older blond.

"There isn't much that I forget, Potter." Lucius frowned. "Though I don't know the prompt, so it may be of no use at all."

"She's going to expect more back up than me." Harry frowned. "Could you glamour Susan to look like my mother?"

Augusta blinked and then nodded and set about creating the illusion. Her lips were set in a grim line. Harry felt a twinge of guilt as he considered how difficult this must be for her.

"One red head is as good as another." Susan grimaced as the glamour settled on her.

"I'd do it if I could dear, but the dragging potion has so many risks." Augusta took a deep breath. "My emotional distress keeps nullifying any magic worked on me."

"No one else could handle this with more grace." Narcissa moved closer and patted the older woman's shoulder.

Harry blinked and stepped back. Everything was changing around him, and he felt like he was missing something important. Great galloping griffin, he needed Hermione.

"You need to do this now." Luna pushed him. "If you wait much longer, they'll know it's a trick. You need to act worried or I'll hex you."

Harry nodded and moved toward the door while Susan slid behind him and waited out of sight. He sent his patronus through the wards and hoped Alice Longbottom would be watching it rather than him. He swallowed as the woman in question glared at him and raised her wand.

"You're supposed to be dead." Her voice was steady and calm.

"Let's not be boring, Allie cat." He swallowed as her eyes narrowed. "Things have happened and the Order is stretched thin. That's why I'm here."

Her wand dropped an inch.

"James," Susan murmured just loud enough for Alice to hear. "We need to hurry. I don't like being exposed like this."

"I've got lemon and lime." Alice tilted her head and made an oddly sour face. "What should I do?"

"Splice ice mice." Harry rolled his eyes. "Though, I prefer strawberry and kiwi."

"You can never stick to the script." Alice rolled her eyes and lowered her wand to point at the ground. "If Dumbledore didn't favor you so much, I'd hex you blind. Did I hear Lily?"

"She's guarding my back. I see you've got someone all wrapped up." Harry quirked a brow and decided to give in to his inner Sirius. "Can I have my prezzie then?"

"I'm not letting you in." Alice's wand twitched. "Frank is protecting her, and I won't take a chance with that."

"Just pass her through and Lily will take her in to headquarters for questioning." Harry nodded his head toward Susan.

"Back up." Alice sent Hannah through the ward with a gentle motion. "I think she's a victim, but I can't take any risks. Be careful with her."

"Of course." Susan nodded and took over the levitation smoothly as Hannah began to blink. "Take care and be safe, Alice."

"Go, Lily." Harry gestured at Lily. "I'm going to see her off and have a little explore. Might find something wicked. Alright then, Allie."

"Mind yourself." Alice winked at him. "You may drive me quite mad, but the world would be a poorer place without you in it."

Harry nodded and stepped away from her line of sight before his shoulders slumped. He felt the glamour dissipate and looked up to find Draco offering him a hand.

He stared up at the blond. His cousin. How has he never realized?

Harry took a deep breath and clasped Draco's hand.