Chapter 11:

A week later, Kiki sat in her office at the ministry, talking animatedly with Moody. A tiny beeping sound was heard and Kiki was surprised to hear it was coming from her watch. "That little sneak!" she said. "Severus set my watch to beep to remind me to leave and return to Hogwarts!"

Moody chuckled. "So I guess the new living arrangement is working out for both of you?" he asked. Kiki nodded as she gathered up her papers and placed them into her bag.

"Care to walk a young, pregnant witch out?" she asked, smiling.

Moody shook his head. "I'm not leaving yet. I still have some work to finish. See you tomorrow?" Kiki nodded and walked out of the Ministry. As she turned the corner, strong arms grabbed her, separated her from her wand and knocked her out.

"Where is she? She's never two hours late! I set her watch too!" Severus was pacing back in forth in the dungeons. In desperation, he called down the Lupins who were now also starting to worry.

"Have you tried contacting the Ministry?" Remus asked gently.

Severus plopped down and rubbed his temple. "The floo network is temporary down when it comes to reaching the Ministry."

"What about Headquarters? Maybe Alastor knows something, they still work together," Harmony suggested. Severus cocked his head and ran to the fireplace. With a pinch of floo powder, he leaned in and yelled, "12 Grimmauld Place."

The first person to answer was Alastor, luckily. "Moody, have you seen Kiki?" Severus asked.

"No, she left about five-thirty when her watch started beeping. Why?"

"She hasn't returned home yet. Is she there?"

"No. Have you checked in with her mother?"

"Her family lives two hours away. I doubt she'd suddenly want to go see them and not contact me," Severus said. Remus and Harmony voiced their agreement.

Moody looked thoughtful. "Then there's only one thing to do. I just received a message via Fawkes to come to Hogwarts. Meet me up in Dumbledore's office in fifteen minutes. Bring the Lupins."

It was quite a trek from the dungeons to the Headmaster's office, and Severus had to leave the Lupins behind for a bit due to Harmony's pregnancy. He hoped that Kiki was alright—her and their unborn daughter.

He finally made it to the office to see a hysterical McGonagall, a pale Bianca and Moody and Sirius talking with Dumbledore quietly in a corner. A few minutes later, Remus and Harmony emerged, the blonde settling on a nearby couch. Dumbledore nodded and dismissed the other two men.

He picked up a piece of paper on his desk and he suddenly looked older than his age. "I have called you all here because of two kidnappings by Fudge's Army," he said. "The first is Kristin Wright."

Severus slumped down on the couch next to Bianca, who began to pat his hand in hopes of comforting the man. "The other kidnapping is of Eden McCollugh," Dumbledore explained. "A healer at St. Mungo's.

"But who she really is does not leave this room," he warned, looking around at all the people present. "Her real name is Eden Dumbledore—she's the daughter of Minerva and myself."

There was a small gasp emitted from Bianca, and a knowing look shared between Remus and Harmony. Sirius stared at the Headmaster in sympathy, while Moody didn't look phased at all. He probably already knew, the others figured, judging by how long Albus and he had been friends.

Dumbledore now felt no need to keep up the charade and went to comfort Minerva, who was still crying hysterically. "Moody, I need you to gather Tonks, Kingsley and any other Auror you can. You will be there to arrest them."

He turned to Sirius and Remus. "You two will lead the main group to rescue Eden and Kiki. I want you to bring the Weasley twins as a distraction. The main group will be you two, Bianca and Oliver. Get in and get them out. Moody and the Aurors will understand."

The group nodded and flooed back to Grimmauld Place, but not before Remus could say a quick good-bye to Harmony. She settled on the couch, rubbing a still immobile Severus on the back. "Should we get Madame Pomfrey up here for him?" she asked Albus, motioning her head towards Severus. He nodded and called up Poppy.

The school nurse gave Minerva a calming draught and then moved Severus to the hospital so she could give him a dreamless sleep potion. "That should help knock him out of the shock," she explained. Albus helped a tired Minerva to her room and then offered to walk Harmony back to hers.

The two walked slowly in silence until Harmony ventured to break it. "How long have you and Minerva been married?"

"What makes you think we were married and Eden wasn't the result of some fling?" Dumbledore asked, bitterly. "That's what everyone else who learns of her think."

"Because I know you and Minerva, Albus. You two would not have a random fling unless you two had clear feelings. And you two do. So, how long?"

"Over forty years."

"Is Eden your only child?"

"We have a son. Riley McCollugh, or Dumbledore." They ended up at the painting entrance to the Lupins' chamber. "Twins," the Headmaster said and the painting swung open. He paused, looking solemn. "This is all my fault."

"How? Albus, don't beat yourself up over something you possibly couldn't control," Harmony said, rubbing his arm gently.

Dumbledore didn't seem too comforted. "Remember after the battle with Voldemort last year?"

"Yeah, you had Kiki, Bianca and I escort Harry and friends back to Hogwarts while…while Fudge wanted to talk to you about something." Harmony looked at the Headmaster. "You never told us what he said, but you think it has something to do with this?"

"It has everything to do with this. He told me that I was going to introduce a motion to re-instate him as Minister of Magic."

"Which would go against everything you've stated since the return of Voldemort."

"I know; I told him so. Then he warned that he would take something very precious away from me if I didn't comply. I immediately worried about Minerva and Harry and all of you. I didn't think he would harm my little girl…I should've been more protective of her. I'm her father, after all."

"Albus, don't. Just…don't."

Dumbledore sighed and then smiled lightly. "Good night, Harmony."

Harmony smiled. "Good night, Albus. And don't worry. Eden and Kiki will be fine," she said.

Kiki groaned as she woke and proceeded to throw up. Someone held her hair back as she finished and moved her away from the small puddle. "Are you okay?" the woman asked. Kiki opened her eyes to see a woman about her age sitting next to her. She had shoulder length black hair and clear blue eyes behind wire framed glasses.

"Yes…well, I don't know. Where are we and can I get any orange juice?"

"I don't know where we are but I know we are being held captive by Cornelius Fudge," the woman explained. "My name's Eden, by the way."

"Kristin. But everyone calls me Kiki." She wrapped her robe tighter as a figure approached the cell she and Eden were being held in. "MANDOLA!"

"Ahh, my brave supervisor awakes…and creates a mess!" he sneered, looking down. He shoved food into the cell, which immediately sent the baby revolting against the smell. Kiki tried to hold it down, but when a bucket was shoved underneath her mouth, she gave up.

When she finished, she looked at Mandola and asked, "Do you have any orange juice? I'm afraid it's the only thing I can stomach in the morning lately."

The man shook his head. "Deal with what we gave you!" he said. Mandola then turned and left, leaving the women in the dark, damp, dirty cell.

Kiki leaned against the wall. "Great way to treat your pregnant supervisor," she murmured, forgetting Eden was there.

"I thought so," the other woman said. "I'm a healer for St. Mungo's and had a feeling that was morning sickness." Eden leaned against the wall next to Kiki. "So, what's your last name?"

"Wright. Yours?"

"McCollugh. So, you married?"

"Engaged."

"Who is your fiancé?"

"You don't want to know."

"Oh, try me."

"I'm engaged to a former deatheater, Severus Snape."

"Isn't he a spy for Dumbledore?"

"How do you know that? It's not common knowledge."

"Well, since you told me your secret, I think I can trust you with mine." Eden paused. "I told you my last name was McCollugh. That's just an alibi."

"Is your name really Eden?"

"Yes. Eden Dumbledore."

"Oh." Pause. "So, Harmony's theory was right about Albus and Minerva…I am assuming your mother is Minerva McGonagall."

"Yes. My middle name is Minerva."

"So, how long have your parents been married?"

"Over forty years. Did you say your name was Kristin Wright?"

"Yes."

"Were you a Gryffindor?"

"Yes I was. Wait, you attended Hogwarts?"

Eden laughed. "My parents are the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress. Where else would you think I would attend? Certainly not Durmstrang. Nor Beauxbatons…my mother was not sending me and my brother there for most of the year. That's when Rile and I adopted the last name of McCollugh."

"Rile?"

"That's what I call my brother, Riley."

"So Minerva and Albus have a son. Older or younger?"

"Younger. But we were Gryffindors ourselves."

Kiki laughed this time. "Of course you were! Your parents were both proud Gryffindors. Your mother still is."

"I can imagine," Eden smiled. "Anyway, I graduated in nineteen-eighty."

"So you were two years younger than me. I was in nineteen-seventy-eight."

"With the Marauders."

"I was friends with them," Kiki said. "James, Sirius, Remus and the Rat…also known as Peter Pettigrew."

Eden frowned. "Yes," she said. "My father told me about his betrayal. And poor James and Lily. How's their son, Harry?"

"As normal as any seventeen-year-old wizard who constantly has to save the magical world." Both women smiled at this. "Someone's going to come for us. After all, you're Dumbledore's daughter and I'm a member of his secret Order."

"The Order of the Phoenix," Eden said, wistfully. "He won't let either me or Riley join…no matter how much we beg."

Kiki rubbed the woman's arm. "Hey," she said. "It's not all it's cracked up to be." This caused Eden to laugh and reach for the tray. "Oh no, I can't keep a single thing down!"

"You can't, but I can!" With that, Eden bit into a bit of toast. And then spat it out. "Never mind. Obviously this army is filled with men who can't cook. I no longer have an appetite."