A/N: Whehee an update

I wanna thank my reviewers, they make this so much more fun.

I've got nothing more constructive to say so read on.

Chapter 20

Return to Hogwarts

Normal POV

--- Sanctuary ---

A month had past and the Marauders had settled into life at Sanctuary and it was now mid March. They only had to join a fight twice to save the day, the other battles were either too little or they didn't get word in time. This did mean that there were more injuries amongst the Order. Luckily, according to the letters from both Remus and Severus most members of the Order had realized the truth and were sorry. Partially due to the fact that Alastor had returned and found out why his charges had left, lightly said he wasn't too happy with the Order. The Marauders trained in the now rebuilt library and enjoyed their exile from the magical community as much as possible which would seem a bit strange, but in truth it hardly stopped them from having fun. They had noticed the Aurors at Diagon Alley, but at least they weren't wanted throughout the Muggle community like Sirius had been. All in all it wasn't too bad. They did miss Hogwarts though.

--- One Day ---

"I guess we could return next week or so" Harry said, after reading Severus' last letter.

It said that everyone in the Order had realised that they were taking the kids for granted and had treated them like little children. And even though they were young they had seen more than most people twice their age.

"Yup" Ron said.

"So what are we going to do with our last week?" Hermione thought aloud as she stroked Crookshanks fur while sitting on the sofa.

"Well I don't know about the week, but I'm in the mood for an outside lunch" Audrey said.

"Good idea" Harry said.

"Ouh we can have fun disguising ourselves" Ron said, rubbing his hands.

"Hey how about this!" he said lengthening his hair to put up in a ponytail copying Bill's style, doing faces as he changed his eye color from purple-green to yellow till he finally settled on his own light green ones. Deciding on wearing green ¾ pants and a black sleeveless shirt with green matching Nike shoes, he finally did a little spin to present himself with a "Tada!" he grinned "What do you think?"

"I like it." Hermione said "Especially your hair."

Grinning she get up. Making a catwalk and as she goes her hair gets pulled up into a bun held into place with two shop sticks. Her eyes flickered from chocolate brown to deep green accompanied with wearing a pink shirt with a white thin jacket she wore wide ended white jeans with white Reeboks having blue logos to top it off.

Hermione swooped down from the catwalk which disappeared in a POOF! with polite clapping from Harry and Audrey while getting cat calls from an appreciating Ron.

Harry then made his change on the spot and in a lazy little poof! he suddenly stood with shoulder length black hair trailing lazily down his shoulders with a non visible scar skipping the glasses and wearing contacts instead showing off his now soft brown eyes. With this he wore black baggy jeans to a dark blue shirt wearing the print "Adopt a Minefield" in white. Shuffling the floor with his black striped Adidas shoes he asked,

"This okey?"

"Yup tis! Tis!" Audrey happily said as she trailed the wall with a hand as she with a thoughtful face finally stopped waving a hand dismissing whatever she thought as she suddenly disappeared and reappeared a number of times going through various combinations of her wardrobe. She finally stopped with a ping! And they could all now see that her hair was its usual brown but with red streaks in to give a flash of colour whenever the sun shone on her. She had changed her usual gold brown eyes to a very dark brown colour. She tugged a little on her red pants with wide ends and black stars, continuing on to try and fit the red tight t-shirt saying "I can multi-task, I can talk and piss you off at the same time" in black print and finally, snapping her fingers, wearing a black leather jacket accompanied with red swirled black Esprit shoes on her feet.

"Don't you just love glamour and a new and improved wardrobe" Audrey said as the four looked at the result in a large mirror.

"Amen to that" Harry nodded as Ron opened the door to the outside.

"Let's go"

"Oh dear, the food's got Prowl again" Hermione said .

Harry and Audrey snickered while the four of them left the apartment.

"So where are we going to eat?" Hermione asked as they walked down the street.

"Pizza Hut!" Ron replied with a little jump.

"Right then!" Harry said leading the way.

After lunch the four spend some time strolling through London. When they passed a electronics store Audrey suddenly stopped...

"Holly SHIT!!!" she gasped at the sight before her.

The others quickly turned around and saw Audrey staring into the window of the store.

"What's up Nova?" Harry asked walking up to stand beside her looking were Audrey pointed.

Hermione and Ron walked back and looked at what the others were staring at. It was a tv-set...a very large home cinema-set to be exact...and as they zoomed in...specifically looking at what the tv was showing...

Pictures...pictures of them...well them as they usually look.

"What does that mean?" Ron asked dumbstruck.

"That Prowl, means, that the ministry is getting a bit nervous. It means, that they're doing the same thing as with Sirius three years ago. They've asked the muggles for help." Hermione grimly replied.

"We need to find out what they're saying" Audrey said.

They entered the store and headed for the nearest tv showing the message and turned on the sound.

"...and anyone who has seen either of these four teenagers is asked to call the following number...We implore you not to approach any of them on your own. They are armed and dangerous and you mustn't be fooled by their young appearance. As for further news..."

Audrey turned off the sound again.

"Well that's a cheer up" Ron said a little put off, shoving his hands down his pockets.

"Yeah very nice" Hermione muttered.

"So what do we do?" Audrey asked as she fiddled with a lock of hair.

"We go home and pack immediately, we leave tonight!" Harry said, his voice as commanding as on the battlefield.

His three team-mates nodded and they quickly left the store. They entered the nearest alley and checked if there was someone in it.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? Little children in a dark alley...not a smart idea now is it boys?" a deep voice spoke.

"You've got to be kiddin' me" Audrey groaned as they saw a group of several gangers approach.

Don't forget, the law forbids the use of magic in front of muggles unless in dire circumstances Hermione said.

Really, I never knew Ron spoke sarcastically, getting a poke in return.

What the hell do you care about the law? We're already wanted for multiple murder which'll land us straight in Azkaban anyway. If they don't Shanghai us to the Dementors that is Audrey said.

"Good point" Hermione said aloud.

"Are you talking to me?" the head of the gangers asked.

"No I'm not talking to you" Hermione replied.

"Why you...we'll teach you to talk like that!" the leader growled.

"So who's gonna have the fun?" Ron asked looking at the others.

"Uhm well...how about rock-paper-scissors" Audrey suggested.

The gangers looked at the four as they took turns.

"What the hell are you doing?" one asked.

"Looking which two of us can kick your asses" Ron replied, groaning as he lost.

"What!" the gangers charged.

"To hell with this" Harry said.

He whipped out a blade the length of his lower arm from a back sheath and crouched low. Keeping an eye on where everyone was barging from and at the same time make three gangers stop and try to back away as they eyed the blade. Soon Harry was followed by Audrey as she pulled two daggers from her hip sheaths. She had two gangers stop on their toes as they suddenly had a razor sharp point each by their throats. Hermione pulled her knifes from her hip sheaths as she went down on one knee making two gangers squeak as she put pressure on their bits while Ron whipped his switchblades out into his hands grinning stupidly at the approaching members that were left. Harry lazily twirled a knife he had got from Audrey and Hermione.

"Now how are we going to deal with this?" Ron asked splitting his face in two with a big smile while the gangers eyeing them warily.

"Don't care as long as it's fast, we have many things to do" Audrey replied.

"Holy..., Yo Spike, I ain't dealing with those crazy bitches, I'm outta here" one of the gangers said taking off.

The other gangers nodded and turned around to run away like the devil himself was after them with Spike the Boss screaming angrily after them, but running right after them.

"That fast enough?" Hermione asked Audrey.

"Close enough" Audrey smiled as they sheathed their weapon and apparated back to Sanctuary.

--------------

After having packed their stuff, shoving an angry Crookshanks into his basket and making Sanctuary ready for any other time, should they need it, the four Mages apparated back to the front garden of number 12 Grimmauld Place. They were dressed in their usual light combat gear; black pants, boots, shirts and light chest armour, all covered by their usual black trench-coats.

"So who's knocking?" Ron asked into the air.

"Rock, Paper, Scissors?" Audrey suggested yet again.

"Yup" was the reply she got.

Eventually Hermione lost and with a sigh she begun the task at hand.

"Bugger" she muttered as she walked to the door and knocked. As the door open it revealed none other than Severus.

"Hermione?" he asked surprised blinking at the sight.

"Do I look like the pope?" she replied dryly.

"Long time no see, Sev" Audrey said grinning.

"Welcome back, by the way you're in for a lecture from Molly" Severus replied, smirking as he saw the Mages shudder.

"That's beside the point; did you see the muggle news?" Harry asked grimly.

"Yes we are aware of it. The minister is taking the same approach as when Black first escaped. Molly blew a fuse over it, littereally" Severus replied chuckling along with Ron.

"Well, can we come in?" Audrey asked.

"Yes of course" Severus said stupidly and stepped aside letting them pass.

"We're back" Ron said in a spooky voice.

"Very funny Prowl" Hermione said as she let Crookshanks out of his basket. The owls would fly there on their own.

They walked into the living room where everybody was talking about various missions, and as more and more noticed them, everyone quieted down to stand and stare at them.

"Good evening to you too" Audrey said cheerfully waving.

"You're back" Molly cried, and gave them a big hug but as she suddenly remembered she glared at them. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!!"

"We had our reasons mom, and everything went well didn't it?" Ron said.

"Where did you stay?" Remus asked as he gave them a hug as well.

"In London actually, but our trip was cut short when we saw the muggle news." Hermione said sitting down.

"Yes, the ministry wants you arrested and brought to Azkaban without trial" Kingsley said.

"Big newsflash " Harry muttered rolling his eyes.

"This is getting better by the minute" Audrey said as she unbeknownst to her unsheathed one of the draggers and started twirling it around.

Molly eyed it warily "Dear isn't that a bit dangerous?"

Audrey looked at her dagger, shrugged and sheathed it again.

"Dumbledore's here" Severus declared with Albus entering and stopping to look at his four favourite pupils with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes.

"Welcome back" he said.

"Hiya professor" the four greeted.

"I am relieved that you are back, your help would be greatly appreciated"

"You have it professor" Harry said immediately.

"Good, now I'm sure you want to unpack and get everything in order. And I must remind you to send a note to your friends still at Hogwarts" Albus said.

"Yes, how are Draco and the others, the clues in the notes were hardly satisfying?" Hermione tutted.

"They are alright, after your successful convincing techniques no one harassed them, though I believe that the fact that you're all wanted criminals has something to do with it too. Some students are scared that you'll go after them if something happens to Draco, Pansy or Blaise" Dumbledore said.

"So what you're basically saying is that we're the bogeyman of Hogwarts students" Audrey said with one of her eyebrows raised.

"In a way...yes"

The four mages laughed and made a high five.

"Voldemort is getting stronger by the day and they're afraid of us?" Ron said as he shook his head.

"Really intelligent people" Harry added dryly.

"It's because they know you one way or another so you're much realer to them than Voldemort. It doesn't mean that they don't fear him" Remus said.

"We'll deal with the rest tomorrow, they need to put their stuff away and sleep" Molly said.

"Yeah, we're kinda sleepy" Hermione said yawning.

"Very well, have a good nights rest" Albus said.

Not likely Audrey said cynically to her friends.

With a certain sentence of Azkaban and Dementors over our heads, no way Ron added.

They told everyone goodnight and went to their usual rooms.

"Well looks like we'll have to sleep separately for a while" Harry whispered to Audrey.

"Bugger, I'd gotten used to sleeping with company" Audrey whispered back with a grin.

Harry smiled and gave her a quick kiss as they separated. Audrey noticed Hermione giving Ron a longing look and decided to start working on them again. Ron joined Harry in their room and Audrey and Hermione went off to theirs.

That night none of them slept all too well with the TV-broadcast and the prospect of Azkaban haunting their dreams.

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This chap is over

on to the next one

Chapter 21 -- Attack too Close to Home