The following events take place between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Remus waited for Dumbledore to fetch him after his arrival in the Great Hall. He looked around. He hadn't been to Hogwarts since his seventh year. Nothing appeared to have changed. The early hour meant that only the main fire was lit, the embers glowing deep orange. The rest of the hall of dark and quiet.

Remus suddenly turned his head, hearing the huge doors open. A small group of students, sixth or seventh years, Remus judged by their size, entered. He couldn't seem them very well, outlined against the brighter light from the main hall.

"Snape said to make sure we stay out of trouble." a girl said, darting her eyes around.

"Yeah, well, Snape's just nervous, isn't he?" said a taller boy just to her left. "His master went and got himself blown up tonight. Come on, keep moving."

Five in all, Remus quickly counted. And all Slytherin by the sound of it. He stepped back from the middle of the room, to hide in the shadows cast by the still crackling fire. They moved quickly along the hall.

"I'm starving!" a second girl complained.

"I know, that's why we're here." said a short boy from the back. "We'll just nick some food and head back to the common room."

"You know, we probably could have just asked Professor Snape for something." the third boy said.

"Shhh!" said the tall boy again. "Listen!"

All five of them went silent. Remus realized the boy had heard his breathing. Stepping out from the shadows, he addresses them. "I'm afraid you won't find any food here, children."

Eeps and gasps followed his statement. The shorter boy addresses him first. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Remus smiled, "A friend of the headmaster. I am waiting for him. I repeat, you won't find any food here. The house elves have cleaned up for the night, I'm afraid."

They approached him, forming a semi-circle. It would have been intimidating, were they not all visibly shaking in their dressing robes.

"If you are indeed hungry" Remus continued cheerfully, "I recommend finding the portrait of the fruit bowl-you know the one?" one of the Slytherins nodded, "and tickle the pear. A door will open and lead you to the kitchens. I am sure, once there, the house elves will be more than happy to provide you with an excellent repast." Remus informed them, thinking of his many late night trips to the larder.

They eyed his suspiciously, but, hearing a scraping noise outside the main door, they looked at one another and left quickly through the side door. Moments later, Minerva McGonagall walked through the door.

"Remus! What are you doing here?" she asked. "I thought I heard voices."

"Dumbledore's instructions. He invited me to sleep the remainder of the night away. Though, I don't truly feeling like resting. Too much to think about, really." he said, ending sorrowfully.

Minerva walked over and offered a comforting arm. "I know, my dear, the whole world has flipped."

-------4:13

Sirius managed to creep in to the wand store without being noticed. The laughing was coming from back behind some of the shelves. Crouching and moving forward, Sirius kept to the shadows.

"He's gone, Olivander, he truly is gone!" cried a man Sirius didn't recognize.

"I know, Florean. But at what cost?" The proprietor replied. Sirius thought for a moment....Florean...Fortescue, he owned the ice cream shop, of course.

"What do you mean? What does it matter? Plenty of witches and wizards have died. The Potters were especially committed to the cause. They were fighting against You-Know-Who on the front lines." Florean answered.

Mr. Olivander looked sternly at his friend. "Yes, and in the end they gave their lives. They gave their lives so that their son could live. That is the important thing."

Sirius perked up his ears.

"Well, of course, dear boy. Harry Potter is a hero. Voldemort defeated at the hand of a baby! It's a great story, you must admit, Olivander! Come, have a toast with me-to the boy-who-lived...Harry Potter!"

Sirius vaguely registered the clinking of glasses and chortles that continued at the back of the shop, but he was slowly backing out. Harry wasn't dead? Voldemort had been defeated?

Sirius exited the shot and turned in to a side alley. It was too difficult to think in dog form, so he morphed back to his human form. Harry was alive? He had to get to Godric's Hollow immediately.

-------4:29

Dumbledore was finally feeling the night's event have their wear upon him. Sitting in the giant courtroom which currently held the majority of the Wizengamot, Dumbledore caught himself nodding off again.

He had meant to return to Hogwarts with Remus, but as he was turning to leave, a memo calling all members of the Wizengamot for an emergency session had arrived. Cursing lightly under his breath, he had hitched up his robes and headed off to the lowest level of the Ministry.

Millicent had long since abdicated her position on the floor over to Barty Crouch, Sr. Barty was currently bragging himself up, bringing up the names of all the Death Eaters he had rounded up, conveniently forgetting to mention that the most notorious, Sirius Black, had escaped his grasp altogether.

Dumbledore leaned back and looked over to Amelia Bones, sitting a few chairs down from him. She shook her head and gave him a warm smile. Dumbledore returned the gesture and settled his eyes back on Crouch.

We have to find Peter, Dumbledore mused to himself. He is the missing piece to all this. Remus went looking for him this evening and couldn't find him. Sirius was looking for him as well. Probably still it, Dumbledore realized. That couldn't bode well for young Pettigrew.

This wouldn't wrap up for awhile, though, he realized. Might as well make the best of it, he thought, charming his eyelids to resemble his open blue eyes and settled back to catch a small nap.

------4:41

Remus was sitting on the sofa in Minerva McGonagall's front room. Minerva had invited him to wait for Albus there why she went and woke up the other heads of house to inform the students.

Remus, though exhausted, couldn't sleep. He sat up, a cooling cup of tea sitting on a saucer balancing on his knee.

"Lily." Remus breathed softly. "James." He blew absently on the tea, though, when he took a sip he grimaced at the cold dregs.

He stood up and walked to the window. Light was just beginning to break over the hill. It would be another hour until the sun has risen completely. What a day this would be. Voldemort had been defeated. And not by the Albus Dumbledore, as they had all assumed, or by some brilliant plan of the aurors, but by a little boy. A helpless little boy.

Remus shook his head. He didn't understand.

-----4:47

Severus was walking his rounds in the corridors of Hogwarts. He often did when sleep eluded him. Tonight was no exception. Minerva must have informed the Sprout and Flitwick by now, Severus mused.

He wondered what breakfast would bring. Great celebration, for certain. Eleven years of misery ended in a single moment. He wondered what Albus would do with the boy. Not that Severus had any great love for the boy, or his parents, but he owed Harry something.

The life debt to James still had to be paid, he reflected. That would now pass on to Harry, he supposed. But, more than that, Harry had saved him from a potential lifetime of servitude to the Dark Lord. With Voldemort gone, he was free to be his own man again.

That thought bolstered his up. He stopped at a window and noticed the approaching day.

"What a day it will be." he said quietly.

----4:56

"Gryffindors, please!" barked Minerva. She rubbed her right hand against her temple. She had been trying for almost five minutes to calm them down enough to explain exactly what had happened.

Apparently, one of the sixth years had an older brother in the aurors office. She had received an urgent owl two hours ago, giving her a few brief words of what had happened. Since then, the entire house had been woken up and chaos had broken loose.

"ENOUGH!" she cried, shooting red and gold sparks in to the air. "Silencio!" she muttered. The effect was immediate. Everyone's voice disappeared. They gaped, open-mouthed, at her.

She pocketed her wand. "When you have all shown me you can be treated as decent wizards and witches, I will release you. Until that time, none of you shall speak." she said sternly.

The Gryffindors meekly sat down around her in the common room. Once everyone was settled, she lifted the spell. But no need to tell them, she thought.

"As many of you know, last night, You-Know-Who attacked the Potters." Minerva started. There were a few gasps. A few of the older students still remembered James and Lily from their days at Hogwarts.

"Many of you also know that both James and Lily Potter were killed in the attack." More gasps, and one brown haired girl buried her head in the shoulder of a friend.

"What is not commonly known is that their You-Know-Who has disappeared. We do not know how. We do not know why. What we do know is that is appears that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has been defeated."

Arms went up. "Classes have been canceled for today." More open mouthed, silent cheers. "And an impromptu feast will take place. I advise you to try and get a little sleep before the celebration begins." Minerva advised them.

She nodded and made for the door. "Oh," she said, turning to them, "the charm has been lifted, in case you had not realized-you are free to shout." She left the common room to a roar of cheers.

The website redhen-publicationsDOTcom is where the article about the missing 24 may be found. I did not use it as inspiration (this story has already been written, I'm, just posting it piece by piece) For what it's worth—the essay on Snape's character is possible one of the most in-depth and illuminating guesses available....I highly recommend it to anyone.

Of my three stories, this has been my favorite to write, because I've tried as hard as possible to stay in canon...which has been difficult. Of course, somethings must be guessed, but I think I've made it all fit...my other two stories don't. One is clearly Alt-universe, and the other became Alt-universe once JKR released the title of Book 6.

And now, a note to my reviewers:

Le manchot de destin: as noted above, I went and read the article...it amazed me how close some of our thoughts are that day, though I do depart in three or four places. Thanks for the tip and review!

Miss kilis wale: thanks for the praise! I am deeply flattered, as I to have read tons and tons of fanfic. Keep reading (and tell your friends!)

Cine (loves Sirius): Thanks for noticing the 24 style...it's the only way I thought I could honestly do justice (and keep it simple for me to keep track of!)

Jekl: Ah, jekl, I love your reviews...little warm fuzzies every time..

Milady Darkan: As always, Milady, praise from you is welcome. I hope you like where I continue this story!!