The first rays of the sun were starting to peek in the window when Severus woke, feeling a pair of eyes on him. He raised his head, looking at the forest green eyes peering at him from the bed. He just looked into those eyes for a few moments, then shook his head.

"And why, exactly, are you staring at me?" he growled.

Aiden just stared some more.

"Mr. Applin. Would you be so kind as too." he trailed off. He was awake! He stood and swept out the door to find Ginny.

Ginny stirred.something kept poking her. She was vaguely aware of someone calling her name. She pulled the covers over her head.

"MISS WEASLEY!"

She jumped up, looking around wildly for a minute, finally focusing on an annoyed Potions Master. A few beds away, Draco woke and blearily glared at Severus.

Unaware of the glares from Draco and Ginny, Severus calmly stated, "Mr. Applin has awakened." The effect was instantaneous. Ginny was up and heading towards Aiden's room, babbling about barriers, and Draco was trying to untangle the covers from his legs as fast as he could.

"Professor Snape!" He heard Ginny call out. He headed back to the room, followed by Draco.

Ginny had her wand out, and she was chanting in a language that Severus only heard once in his life, spoken by Lily Evans.

A soft golden glow surrounded Aiden, his eyes slid out of focus. Ginny closed her eyes, concentrating. The glow disappeared, and she turned to Severus and Draco. "Could you retrieve the Headmaster?"

Severus turned on his heal, muttering a bit about being at anyone's beck and call. Reaching the stone gargoyle, he growled out "Acid Pop." Reaching the top of the stairs, the first thing he noticed was the door was wide open. He frowned. Albus always closed the door. He walked over to the desk, and picked up Albus' map of the school, not unlike the infamous Marauder's Map. He tapped it with his wand, and spoke "Albus Dumbledore." The map should have shown him the exact location of the Headmaster. Instead, the words "Not on premises" appeared in neat script. He frowned and walked down to Minerva McGonagall's office.

"Minerva!" He called out loudly, banging on the door.

A very irritated indeed McGonagall answered the door. "Severus?!"

"Where is the Headmaster?" He asked impatiently.

"In his quarters I should expect. Some people do like to sleep in on the weekends."

"If he was their do you think I would subject myself to asking you?!"

Minerva frowned. "He said he would be here all day. He has a meeting with myself and Miss Granger in two hours."

Severus frowned. Albus always told either himself or Minerva if he was leaving the school grounds. Grumbling, he turned back and headed to the infirmary, stopping only to pick up breakfast for Ginny, Draco, and Aiden, and a cup of coffee for himself.

Upon entering the infirmary, he heard anguished cries coming from Aiden's room. Setting the tray down on one of the tables, he quickly entered the room. Ginny had tears running down her face, Draco's face was snow-white, and Aiden, Aiden was the one the yells had come from. He was crying, over and over, for someone to "Save Him"

"What is that matter?" Severus demanded. "Save who?"

Draco spoke up with a shaky voice. "The headmaster. He.he went into a trance, and when he came out of it again, he started yelling for someone to save him. He said.he said that the Headmaster and Remus were ambushed.we told him they were still at the school, but he refuses to believe us."

Ginny wiped her face. "Professor Snape?"

"What, Miss Weasley?" He snapped. His mind was reeling. Could it be true? If the Headmaster wasn't at the school.but surely Aiden could be mistaken, he had been before.

"Where is the Headmaster? Why didn't you."

"He has business to take care of." He turned, stalking out of the Infirmary.

Draco's eyes widened when he heard Severus' reply. He jogged after him, catching up at the stairs.

"Severus!"

The man turned, and there was no mistaking the fear in his eyes.

"Their gone, aren't they?"

The emotionless mask slid back on. "I am going to see the mutt now, to inquire about the werewolf." He turned, and made his way to Sirius and Remus' apartment, Draco following.

Sirius was quite surprised to see Snape. He usually avoided all interactions with him, and had certainly never come to his quarters.

"Where is Lupin?" he growled.

"Why do you want to know?"

"None of your concern. Just tell me where he is."

"Diagon Alley. He left last yesterday afternoon."

Draco's eyes widened. "And he hasn't returned?!"

Sirius frowned. "No. I was worried, but I received and owl late last night."

"What did it say?" Severus demanded.

"Now see here Snivvy! That is none of your damned business!"

Severus opened his mouth to retort, but Draco cut him off.

"Sirius, please, just tell us. We will explain later.please!"

Sirius' eyes narrowed, but answered anyway. "He said that he had a few things to pick up in Knockturn Alley that would take awhile, so he was going to rent a room for the night."

"Does he often go to Knockturn Alley? What was he going to get?" Severus asked immediately.

"What? Why are you.Just what is this all about?!"

Draco sighed. "The headmaster is missing.we think Remus may be with him."

"And why do you think that?"

"Aiden had a vision."

"A.what?! He is awake? Can I see him? When did he wake up?"

"BLACK! For gods' sake do I have to muzzle you?!"

Sirius growled, but said "No. I've never known that he has gone to Knockturn Alley before, and I do not know what he needs there."

Severus and Draco shared a look. "Thanks" Draco said and they turned to go back to the Infirmary.

"Wait!" Sirius called. "You don't think.Voldemort?"

Severus turned. "Perhaps. We can't be too careful. Try and contact Lupin."

Sirius nodded and turned to his fireplace.

"The Leaky Cauldren!" He called, and the green fire swept him away. Arriving, he swept the ashes off his suit and headed to the bar. "Tom!"

The innkeeper walked out of a back room. "Mr. Black! How can I help you?"

"Hello Tom! Could you tell me what room Remus is in?"

"Lupin? He hasn't rented a room from me. I don't recall him even coming in anytime lately."

Sirius blanched. "Oh.." he croaked, and throwing some powder into the fireplace, cried "Hogwarts Infirmary!"

Severus was pacing up and down the room, Draco talking soothingly to Ginny. Aiden was in the bathroom, cleaning up, having insisted he was fine. Poppy was grumbling, but she had to agree that he wouldn't be in any danger that he wouldn't be in anyway. After awhile he emerged, clad in a bathrobe, rubbing his long black hair with a towel.

He glanced around. "Clothes would be nice." he drawled.

Poppy reached in a cabinet, pulling out gray sweats and a white shirt. "These will have to do."

He frowned, but turned back to the bathroom to change. While he was gone, Sirius burst in. "He's gone.Tom said he never checked in last night."

Aiden emerged. "They are at The Riddle House."

Sirius looked taken aback at seeing Aiden up and about so soon. "How do you know?"

Aiden tapped his the angry red scratches on his forehead, where his scar would be, and answered "I saw it. Don't worry, your precious werewolf is still alive. Albus is with him. Riddle intends to make an.example.of them."

Severus stopped pacing. "Yes, but when, and where?"

Aiden turned to him. "The ministry is having a exhibition regarding defense against the dark arts this coming Tuesday. They will be kept in perfect health till then, where they will be executed by Voldemort."

Severus frowned and turned to Ginny. "How does he know all this? I thought you put up a barrier!"

Aiden laughed. "You think I really need that? I am quite accomplished in Occlumency and Legimens myself. I do not need a barrier."

Severus glared. "And just how did you become so accomplished in the art, without training?"

"In Azkaban, I found that the more.mental aspects of magic were still possible. Unless I wanted my thoughts and feelings censored, I learned to build barriers. It took me till my last day there to perform wandless magic however. I should have figured it out.but I regress."

Sirius looked around. "Where is everyone else? We should alert the Order."

Severus didn't look up. "We were waiting for conformation. It seems we have no choice now."