A/N: I noticed that that last chapter was kinda short–I'm sooooo sorry! I didn't mean to, and I didn't even notice because a whole lot of the page was taken up by review answers!!! Okay, I'll take up less room with the review responses now, k? Also, I'm sorry for not posting for what....the last two or three months? I'll try to make up for it today. And please, everyone, no more flames talking about the fact that I haven't updated for so long. I was at my dad's for the summer! He doesn't have a computer!

One more note: if I ever have a chapter after this that isn't at least seven pages on my writing program, someone must slap me immediately. I still have tons of the story left and I've already got almost thirty chapters!!!! Either I have to redo the story to merge chappies or I have to make longer ones. I have decided on the latter.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR HANDS

As soon as Severus entered the room his mind was made up. Go get Dumbledore. Go tell someone....that was all that he could do....the only thing that would work....

He pushed open the door and nearly screamed in fury at the obvious loss of more people.

Everyone in the room must've noticed his anger, because they didn't say anything and were smoothly avoiding his glare.

He choked down his anger with difficulty and spoke in a shaking voice, "If any more of you leave this room I won't be there to save you. I'm going to get Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. Potter may not be much for wisdom, but he's particularly good at getting out of trouble. When he gets back tell him that if he doesn't stay he'll have a lifetime of detention which he won't be able to escape from. Do not go to get anyone else."

"Look what Potter's gotten us into!" Snape muttered furiously.

Moony seemed to be thinking on the same level. "Which one?" He asked quietly.

They were spared the response, though, when the door opened (after a click resounded, signaling an unlocking charm) to admit first Harry, then James, and finally Lily. Harry looked rather harassed and anxious.

"How nice of you to join us." Snape snarled viciously. Sirius scowled at him, folding his arms across his chest.

"Did–er–Did anything happen while we were gone?" James asked in an offhand, cheerful sort of voice.

"While you were gone? Actually, yes." Snape began ranting, standing up as he did so, "First we all found out that you were gone and that your son's--" He glanced at Harry before continuing, "–friends have been caught by Death Eaters--"

"So what happened to your nose, Snape?" James interrupted, his eyes flashing. He'd easily spotted the bloody stream underneath it.

"A nosebleed, if you must know P--"

But Sirius was laughing now and he pointed at Snape with a shaking hand, because he was laughing so hard, and spoke in loud hoots, "He's the biggest liar....you should've seen....Lily and Harry....they decided to go....and Snape went in a rant about you....and Lily....she...." Another burst of laughter escaped Sirius' mouth, now joined by Wormtail and a guiltily chuckling Harry. "...she hit him right in the nose--"

"Wow, Lily," James began, obviously having trouble keeping the smirk off his face, "I never knew you cared."

Then James did something that surprised them all. He let the subject go. Usually he would be gloating in Snape's face and laughing in Lily's, but he swiftly let the subject go and instead went to more important matters.

"Well what happened after they left?"

Sirius goggled at him. Snape continued, "My older self–I–walked in saying that I was going to go get Dumbledore. That's about it."

"So what about Ron and Hermione?" Harry asked in a small voice.

"I don't know, don't ask me." Snape said, leaning back in his seat.

"Well, Harry," Lily said smiling, "It looks like we aren't quite through."

Harry nodded, smiling gratefully.

"Hey Sirius?" James said, with a grunt from Sirius who was now sitting once again on the bed, rubbing his head as though he had a headache.

"Yeah?"

"Why didn't anyone think to apparate out of here?"

Before Sirius could answer (with a look of disbelief and happiness on his face) Moony spoke up, "I did."

James turned to him, as did every other eye in the room, "Well?"

"No luck, Jamesie."

"....why?"

"I guess this place is a bit like Hogwarts–only more like a psychiatric institute than a school--" When no one laughed he coughed and continued. "–you can't apparate or disapparate here."

There was silence in the small room for a moment.

"When is old Snape supposed to be back?" James asked.

"He didn't say." Wormtail answered, sounding frightened.

"Then Harry and I are going to go get Ron and Hermione." Lily said resolutely.

"Well you'd better hurry, because if Snape comes back before you do, he told us to tell Harry that he'd have a year of detention...or...something along those lines." Moony said, smirking slightly.

A fly buzzed into the room through the window. They all watched it quietly before James said, "Then let's get going, Harry."

"What?" Lily said, surprised, "No, no, no! You're not coming, James! It's Harry and I. Not you. You're staying here. Besides, you're more trouble than you're worth--"

"I can go wherever I want to go, Evans--"

"Hey, wait, you three get all the action, I want to come--"

"We might as well all go," Harry said loudly, cutting over everyone, "since no one wants to stay."

Everyone stared at him.

"How do you know that no one will get killed or hurt?" Sirius asked.

"I would think that would be obvious. You all lived until adulthood, right? So I can safely say that none of you will die tonight."

Harry's spur of recklessness seemed to have called some sense to their minds.

"But what about what Snape said?" James asked, eyes wide.

Harry smiled slightly and ignored the question. "Let's just put it this way. You all seem to want to go, and...if you don't, you don't. That's fine with me. I don't know how long Snape will take in getting the Order. So maybe we ought to fend for ourselves until then. We can try to get out on our own. And if you all want to leave so badly, I'm sure you will. I'm not an adult, so I have no control over you--"

But Harry stopped, as something seemed to come to his mind.

He tried to speak, and had to lick his lips before trying again. His eyes betrayed fear as he said, "Never mind. I'll go and get Ron and Hermione. Please...everyone stay here."

Everyone stared, dumbstruck, as he left.

"What in bloody Hell was that?" James muttered.

"Beats me." Wormtail said, scowling at the door that stood innocently closed.

"I still want to go." James muttered bluntly. Sirius nodded. Lily looked at the pair almost hopefully.

"Then why don't we go?" Wormtail asked.

"Harry asked us not to...." James said.

"I think he's keeping something from us." Snape said crudely. James glanced at him.

Moony finally spoke, "We can't go. Leaving might just get us into more trouble with all of these Death Eaters who are looking for us. Obviously Mr. Snape knows what he is doing. Harry's already gone, sure, but is that any reason to follow him?"

James looked at him warmly, "You always have to be the voice of reason, don't you, Moony. Reasoning, polite, and just. Our angel."

He looked at the door one last time, then seemed to make up his mind. Moony's "voice of reason" hadn't changed his resolve at all.

"I'm not much for standing around while everyone else does the work. And...well...I still don't trust Snape. I'm never going to trust Snape. I don't want to put my life in his hands. I'm leaving." James said all of this very quietly and quickly. He then looked around and asked, "Who wants to come?"

After a moment of looking at each other as if for reassurance everyone nodded, even Snape.

"We should get into groups." Sirius said.

"Right," James said happily, his sudden mood swings leading him toward cheer, "Since Moony over here seems to get along so well with the loser over there in the corner," Here he indicated Snape, "They can pair up. Wormtail and Sirius because we need someone to watch after Wormtail. Ah, and I guess that means Evans and I get to be together, eh?" He smiled roguishly. Lily scowled, but didn't say anything.

haha. I know what you were all thinking right there. I'm so mean

REVIEW RESPONSES

Mystery Quill: Ah! Yes, I shall try to read your fics. I'm always looking for stuff to read....

J.E.A.R.K. Potter: thanks, I'm sorry for taking so long!

I-want-to-fly: I'll do my best, thanx.

Makalani Astral: Indeed it is a depressing topic. I wasn't quite sure how to make them all feel about each other. This is where my weird angsty writing style comes from. As for your second review, I think you're getting a bit testy, aye? I'm sorry for taking so long....

LJstagflower4e: I guess this is good for my plans on becoming a novelist, aye?

Crazy4padfoot: sniffs poor Harry. I'll do my best to write a lot from now until next summer (hopefully by then I won't be writing this particular story anymore)

krazykiwikatie: Thanks!

Jennifer: I'm sorry for not updating before....

supernova8610: thank you for the support, math didn't go good, though. Sorry for not updating....

Amitra DayMoonWater: Thanks for writing the long review in the first place. I only repaid you. Funny, people keep calling me a traveling dictionary and other things along those lines. I think that's just another way for them to call me weird and nerdy. Thanks for the email address. I have to tell you about this ezboard place that I've suddenly gotten addicted to...

Ness Lupin: I'm finally in driver's ed!!!!!

Sariah Greenleaf: Hurry up and write your novelization of FF!! I want to read it!!!!!

Diabla666: Well, your review thoroughly freaked me out. I had to ask about three friends to read the whole story over to see if I'd made a mistake, and I had to reread the story and the summary that I made about four times. I am positive at this moment that there aren't multiple numbers of the characters running around. I do NOT want to explain it, so please please please don't make me do so....

Nathalie17: Thanks.

Rory: Thanks for giving a good review . There will be romance in later chapters, although I don't know how much....

pointeblnk-1: You'll see winks

o.O.o.O.pudley wudlie.O.o.O.o: I'm sorry for short chapters. To explain myself on that aspect would be to explain my whole personality, and I'm sure you don't want to sit around for that.

Tigris T Draconis: Wow, evilness. I'll try not to stop in the middle, k? I have it all planned, I just need to write it out...

morning lily: As far as I can perceive, James is a little fickle and moody, I just had to use that...

She-Who-Snogs-Weasly-Boys: Thanks for reviewing.

hiei's lil dragon: Woah, try to be a bit more polite, or don't read my story and stick to Yuyu Hakusho, k?

Silvercrystal77: Thanks, I'll do my best.

kelchu963626: tsk, tsk. You have to read the fifth book!