Chapter 7:

Jamie snuck quietly down the front staircase, which she learned led to the parlor all the adults sat in after dinner. She walked into the parlor as they ate and placed her left over pudding on the chair she learned Lucius sat on. She then snuck back upstairs and into the room. The others sat there, her brother glaring at her with crossed arms. "That should teach him," she simply said.

The day before, Lucius came in fuming. Kreacher had told how he ran into four of the children on the third floor, a restricted zone. "I told you to stay put," he raged. "Don't make me do anything you'll regret in the morning. Understood?" With that, he turned and left. Of course, the children were not going to be intimidated and take the threat laying down.

A half hour later, Lucius Malfoy stormed up and entered the room. "Alright, which one of you did it?" he demanded.

"Did what, Mr. Malfoy?" Lily asked, confused. Lucius looked down at them, sneering.

"You know what. If I find out who did it, he or she will pay." With that, Lucius turned around. Once he was out of ear shot, the kids dissolved into giggles over the pudding pattern on his rear end.

"I hate the Prophet," Ace said in monotone behind a newspaper. The headline read: "Malfoy Back in England; Already Kidnaps Children." He folded the paper over and stared down his team.

"You hate the Prophet? Think about us!" Kiki said from where she had taken over the couch. "Bianca went in and tried to argue the printing, but the editor went ahead with the story. How did this Wita woman get the story?"

"A leak?" Ace asked.

"Who?"

"Wait," Harry said, picking up the paper. "We're talking about a woman who covers transportation usually, right? Well, she would have to talk to Riley, right?"

"Like Riley is going to say anything," Tonks replied, extremely defensive. After all, he was her future husband.

Ace ran a hand through his hair. "My wife would kill him."

"It's not him, but he would know Wita," Harry reasoned. "I'll go down and ask him how she talks to him to get her reports." Ace nodded and Harry was gone for a few minutes.

After some tense minutes with the group staring each other down, Harry returned. "Wita comes to get the reports in person. Told Riley that she feels better doing so. He also thinks she's trying to hit on him, but can't confirm it," he explained. "My theory: Wita was walking by this office and heard us talking about the kidnapping and smelled a career making story."

"Okay, here's new rules for this case. Be careful what you discuss and where you discuss it. I would love to say this office is incredibly safe but it's not so. If that Wita woman did cross lines and is reporting things she's overhearing, the editor is going to hear it. Kiki, accidentally on purpose slip it to Bianca. I'm sure she'll have some choice words on it." Ace straightened out some papers on his desk. "Well, the story is out there. We should have the families keep a look out to see if Lucius sends another note. Kiki, Harry, I have the case you'll be working on. It shouldn't be too hard, but needs to be done."

Outside, Wita was crouched down to hear the last part. "Another note? That means there was at least one already sent. Wonder what it said?" She walked away as that Auror—Ace Michaelson—gave Potter and Snape their assignment. Wita sat down and pondered how to get the note. She also wondered why no one cared that an Auror had married a former Deatheater. She smelled two stories and was wondering how to connect them into one large article. Wita walked over and decided to speak to the security guard. "Hello, can I ask you a question?" she asked.

"Certainly, ma'am," the guard answered.

Wita put on her best innocent schoolgirl smile. "I agreed to go on a date with one of the Aurors and he said to meet him here when he got off duty. But the guy was so nervous he forgot to tell me when that was and I was so excited, I forgot to ask! He's not here right now, must be off on some brave quest, and I was wondering if you knew anything."

"Certainly," the guard said, smiling. "The Auror department is one of those that rarely closes, but everyone usually goes home around sevenish if they have families, eightish if they have dates and nine-ish if they don't have either. Usually, by eight-thirty, this place is cleared unless there's a big case." The guard chuckled. "Of course, there haven't been any of those sort since Voldemort was defeated."

"Thank you so much," Wita replied.

"I hope you enjoy your night," the guard said.

Wita smiled back. "I'm sure I will," she said.

Empty plates and used silverware littered the table as seven very full and very tired children lay down on their bed. Madi curled up next to her sister while Rawlins was sandwiched in between his. The Black boys were sprawled across the end of the bed, staring down their friends. The door opened, spooking the children. Lucius walked in, sneering at them. "Well, it looks like you're all done. I think its bath time. After all, you did sleep in those clothes. What would your parents think?" he said, looking over the wrinkled outfits of the children.

"You're not the one giving us the baths, right?" Jamie asked, eyeing Lucius up.

The Malfoy man chuckled. "No. I had the house elves run your baths. But you will have to give each other baths. Any problems with that?" The seven shook their heads. "Good. And this time, you'll find pajamas in the rooms you originally woke up in. As well as a fresh change of clothes. But I see you want to stay together during the day. Fine by me. There's a spare room at the end of the hall where I will instruct the house elves to bring your meals from now on."

He began to leave when he turned around one last time. "By the way, everyone knows I've kidnapped you. It was in the papers today. I think I'll write another letter to your parents. Have any words for them?"

"Just tell them that we love them," Sam said, taking Madi's hand.

"How sentimental," Lucius sneered. And then he was gone.

After they were all bathed, everyone settled down for bed. Everyone but Madi. "I don't wanna be left alone," she whined, clutching her sister's hand. "Can you sweep with me tonight?"

"Of course," Sam said, smiling. "He just said our pajamas would be in our rooms. He never said anything about staying in those rooms." With that, Madi climbed into her sister's bed. Within minutes, the two were sound asleep.

Kiki lay sprawled out over her bed and husband, who was lying on his side. He was watching her as she tried to will herself out of bed. "Kiki, my love, care to do me a favor?" he asked.

"What?"

"Move your arm."

Kiki looked over to see her arm across his face. "Sorry, I'm just a little anxious," she said, blushing. He laughed and encircled her body with his arm, bringing her closer to him. She placed her head in the crook of his neck and breathed in his scent. He kissed the side of her head.

"I hate to tell you this, but you have to get up and go to work," he said, holding her closer.

"Work? What's that?"

"Come on, love, you can do this." Kiki shot him a look but stood up anyway. "See? I knew you could do that!"

"Severus, love, shut up." Kiki walked out of the bathroom and changed into her work robes. "Are you going to get up and make some coffee?" she asked her husband, who was still lying in bed watching her.

"No. I don't have to go back to work just yet, you do. Make your own coffee," Severus replied, sliding back underneath the sheets.

"Sure, ask the distraught mother whose children were kidnapped to do it. Fine, but you're getting it if I 'accidentally' drop it on myself."

"Who will blame me, the distraught father betrayed by a former friend?"

Kiki shot him a look and went into the kitchen. She came back, pale and clutching an envelope. "Severus…" she said, collapsing on the bed. He shot up and took the envelope, clutching his wife closer to him. He opened the letter and began reading:

"Dear Traitor,

"Yes, once again I'm writing. As you must know, the Daily Prophet has told everyone I'm back in the country. I cannot wait to see how fearful the people are going to be. I have already kidnapped your children and they know I mean business. My ex-wife will never know this, but I have new demands. The Ministry of Magic will be turned over to me and not that idiot Cornelius Fudge. I still demand that you turn yourself in and get tried.

"Your brats say that they love you. They are the most annoying creatures on the face of this earth. Them and their friends. Are you not a Slytherin father? I do not see any sign of Slytherin in them and their upbringing. You are a disgrace to all purebloods (except the Weasleys) everywhere. Tell your Gryffindor whore I said hello. Sincerely, Lucius Malfoy. PS: Your eldest brat, Samantha, is far too smart for her own good. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Severus."

Severus crumpled the note, but Kiki pulled it back together and smoothed it out. "Ace will want it," was all she said. "And we know they are still safe." Severus started to gently rock her as Garret started to cry.

"Sirius? Sirius, wake up!" Giacinta shook her son-in-law as he slept in bed. She was extremely worried. Her daughter went into the pressroom for a rare visit to talk about columns with her editors and left her in charge. Arden was the one who found the letter and Giacinta panicked when she saw the Deatheater symbol on the seal. "Sirius, please!"

Sirius shot up, sheets twisted around his midsection. He was breathing hard as he stared at his mother-in-law. Once the fog of sleep cleared his mind, he noted her worried expression. "Giacinta, what is it?" he asked. She only held out an envelope, which Sirius took and paled when he noticed the seal. He turned so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed, not caring that he was only in boxer shorts and his mother-in-law was standing right there. He read it carefully and ran to the closet. "Can you keep an eye on Arden?"

"I'm her grandmother, that's what I do. It's also why I'm here," Giacinta said. "Sirius?" She received a hum of recognition. "Are the boys alright?"

"According to this letter, they are still fine. But I have to get this in. It's crucial to the investigation. Lucius likes the media attention," Sirius said, giving the woman a sonly peck on the cheek. With a little stop to kiss Arden good morning, he was soon on his way.

A/N: And I can go back to my weekly update schedule since this story is well written. Which is how I know Lucius is insane. I just have to do some research before I continue writing. Anyway, thanks to all my reviewers:

cerzee: Aww, thanks. I do plan on writing professional, both as a novelist and a journalist. (Just not like Wita!)

SarahtheBardess: Sam, the logical leader. I love her, really. You'll hate Kreacher even more in a later chapter. You can drop-kick Mrs. Wright. I wanted to as I wrote the scene. Wita is the type of baddie who isn't pure evil, but is purely selfish. Well, when you put it that way, you'll all be questioning his remaining sanity when the plot bunny reveals itself.

Roxy Black: Bianca won't kick Wita's but for a long time. Sorry. But Wita will get her comeuppance when Mount Bianca blows!

Well, here's another chapter. I'm going to miss the EL trilogy. But I need to dive back into other fandoms. HP has taken over my creative juices. But, and don't hold me to this, after trying another story in another category, I may come back and do a series based on Sam. Maybe. --Mac