Chapter 11:

"You know its one thing to call me a traitor and accuse me of spying—which, I might add, are all lies. But when someone attacks my children, watch out!" Kiki said, pacing the Black living room. For the first time in six years, all the surviving members of the Order of the Phoenix were back in 12 Grimmauld Place. Even Moody had port-keyed back from Florida, looking a little tanner and slightly more relaxed than they last saw him.

"What exactly did Wita print now?" Tonks asked, trying to reach for one of the copies floating around the room.

Kiki was too mad to answer, so Severus did. "She revealed that Sam was born before we were married, which in all honesty is common knowledge amongst all of you. But she wrote that both Kiki and I were sitting on the fence about which side of the war we were really on until Sam was born. Then we chose to fully join the good side," he explained.

"Well, that doesn't sound too bad," Ace replied, though staying far away from his Auror.

"Oh no?" Kiki said, rounding on him. "We didn't tell you the exact reason we joined the Order, according to Wita."

"Voldemort wanted you to offer Sam as a sacrifice and you two refused? You're actually Deatheaters on the lamb, including your daughter?" Harmony exclaimed as she read the story.

Dumbledore frowned. "She's alleging that Samantha Snape was the youngest person to ever receive the Dark Mark," he replied.

"So, we're here to attack the Daily Prophet? Count me in!" Moody said, waving his cane around. "Let's go in, wands a-blazing and shooting curses left and right." Everyone around Moody scooted a little farther away from the man.

"Alastor, I think you've been out in the Florida sun a little too long," Minerva said, bouncing her little grandson on her knee. Maxim squealed with glee and waved at his mother, who was sitting next to Ginny and Harry. Little Molly Potter was sound asleep in her father's arms.

Dumbledore chuckled at his old friend's antics. "No, Moody, I've not called the entire Order back together because of the lies. As much as I trust the Auror corps, I feel they need more help. And since the children's parents were—well, still are, I guess—members of the Order, I felt we should be the ones to help," he explained. Everyone agreed. "Good. Now, he wasn't in the Order back when Voldemort fell but does anyone have any objections to Draco Malfoy joining?"

"Absolutely not!" Tonks and Severus said together. "He fought by our side and should join in," Severus continued with Tonks nodded.

Moody looked thoughtful. "It's his father who is our confirmed kidnapper. He should be able to help us figure out what Lucius is thinking."

Dumbledore nodded. "Good," he said, motioning to Minerva. His wife nodded and walked upstairs.

"Is Draco here?" Severus asked, walking over from Garret's carrier. Dumbledore smiled as Minerva walked down with the Malfoy boy. Severus clapped his godson on the shoulder before Kiki hugged him. The two Snapes returned to their seats as Draco took one next to his cousin and her fiancé.

"So, any word from Lucius since his last note?" Dumbledore asked his son-in-law, who could only shake his head sadly. But Draco spoke up.

"He visited me," he said, "a few nights ago. He followed me home from work. I can't believe I was so stupid."

"Don't beat yourself up," Harmony scolded gently. "We all thought he wouldn't leave the house for fear of being spotted. We all underestimated him."

"I shouldn't. I'm his son. Or, I was. He's disowned me."

Tonks snorted. "You're better off," she said. Draco smiled at her before continuing.

"He hexed me and planned so that when it wore off, he would be long gone. He went to the apparition point near me—knowing it was one of the busiest—and apparated out of there. The man there wasn't watching it carefully and had no clue where he went." Everyone sat there stunned before a large din exploded.

"He hexed you!" Ginny and Eden jumped up and were immediately inspecting him.

"He was following you and no one noticed?"

"Lucius got on muggle transportation? He was desperate to find you, we know that."

"There are seven children kidnapped by a former Deatheater and the man at the apparition point didn't even bother to increase his vigilance?"

"Constant vigilance, that's what I always say."

"We know, Moody."

"Just saying."

"You know, this just makes me hate Wita even more. This just proves nothing good is coming from her articles."

"What apparition point?" This simply question from Riley ended the conversations. They all turned to him. He was still sitting, arms crossed. He repeated his question.

"Er—the one on King Street and Sixth Avenue," Draco replied. "I live on King and Twelfth."

Riley looked thoughtful for a bit. "They're in England then since that apparition point isn't international. It's posted so Lucius would know."

"So there may be a way to track where Lucius went?" Bianca asked, hopefully clutching her husband's hand.

"Not specifically, but at the end of every week all apparition points have to report how many people used it so we know. The King and Sixth is especially heavy, but it is mostly used for inter-London travel. So, anyone traveling outside of London gets a little flag next to the day but we can't track down where they go," Riley said, looking dead on at his brother-in-law.

Ace understood immediately. "But Aurors can. Especially since we know a known Deatheater and kidnapper used it! Thank you, Riley," he said.

The Snapes and Lupins would've celebrated if the Hogwarts Express hadn't pulled into the Hogsmeade station the next day. It was tradition that all the teachers at least attend both the Welcoming Feast and the Leaving Feast. As much as Dumbledore and McGonagall understood the situation, the Lupins and the Snapes were seated at the high table waiting for the students to enter. Once she had married Severus, Albus had insisted that Kiki join him at the table. All the children ate at a small table set up behind them, not used since Eden and Riley were growing up in Hogwarts. Now, only little Alida sat in a high chair hidden by her parents while Garret slept soundly in a playpen set right next to Kiki, but still out of view.

Students in years two through seven processed in and sat down at their appropriate tables. Gryffindors especially cast sympathetic looks to Professors Lupin and Anderson, while glaring at Professor Snape and his wife. Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws also glared at the Snapes but weren't especially sympathetic for the two Gryffindor professors. The Ravenclaws, though, were worried about Bianca Black—she had been one of theirs as well. All the Slytherins, however, cast well hidden glances (honestly, only Dumbledore could detect them) towards their head of house and his wife. Only they could tell the torment hidden behind the man's stony exterior. Everyone sat there, whispering as McGonagall led in the first years.

The sorting hat performed his traditional song before each scared first year placed it on his or her head. Those with magical parents were gaping at the professors who were in the news while shooting death glares at the ones who were known traitors. Finally, all forty-five students had been sorted into the proper houses and it was time for Dumbledore's beginning speech. He stood up at his place and looked at both the Lupins and Snapes kindly before beginning.

"I wish to welcome you all to another year at Hogwarts! For all of our returning students, your professors are looking forward to shaking out the cobwebs of the summer. To all our new students, they are waiting to introduce you to a world some of you have only dreamed about. I will remind you that only third years and up who have proper permission are allowed to attend Hogsmeade. You will also find that the Forbidden Forest is aptly named—it's forbidden to all students. Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has kept any Weasley product on his list of banned objects. If you have enough time between classes and studying, he encourages all students to read the full list.

"Now on to a serious note. As many of you undoubtedly know, the children of Professors Lupin, Anderson and Snape have been kidnapped. The investigation is still ongoing and the professors may be in and out of the classroom until all seven children are returned. I urge you to keep an open mind during this difficult time. These parents were students like you—Professors Anderson and Lupin were Gryffindors as well as Mrs. Snape while Professor Snape was a Slytherin. None of them were involved with the kidnappings and I wish that no student believe everything the newspaper prints.

"With that said, let the feasting begin!" Dumbledore waved his hands and the food appeared. The students began eating and talking immediately. Many Gryffindors had changed their tune about the Potions Master's wife once they learned she was one of them. Overall, many students believed their headmaster and the glares sent to the Snapes were changed into the sympathetic glances of the Lupins'.

Harry apparated to the safest point nearest Grimmauld Place before starting his walk home. To everyone else on the block, Harry and Ginny Potter were a normal couple with a small baby. They were also a private couple, but the neighbors noticed they were friendly with the Blacks (who weren't as weird as the older residents remembered the Blacks being) and the Lupins, whom all on the block believed were boarding school professors that needed to live at the school rather than commute. Harry waved at Mrs. Conlon, who lived at 20 Grimmauld Place, as he walked by. She merely nodded as she finished taking off her dog's leash. Harry finally reached number ten and opened the door.

Ginny was already home and hard at work at dinner. Harry placed his briefcase down and walked over to Molly's playpen. He looked down to see that his daughter was awake. Her hazel eyes were looking around but focused immediately on her father. She smiled and reached her little arms up. Harry smiled and picked Molly up. He walked into the kitchen where Ginny was magically setting the table. They kissed quickly as Harry settled his daughter into her high chair. Once Molly was set, he turned around and encircled Ginny from the back. She laughed but leaned into the embrace. Harry levitated dinner over to the table and then brought Ginny to her seat. He pulled it out for and she took it before he pushed her in. He then took his own seat. "You are too romantic for your own good, Mr. Potter," she joked, serving him.

"Only because you are worth every ounce of romance in my body," Harry replied, before getting quiet. Ginny grew concerned; their playful banter usually extended throughout dinner. Harry had started it when Ginny was in a hormone-induced funk during her pregnancy. Now, she knew something was on his mind and was determined to get it out of him.

"Harry?" she asked as he played with his mashed potatoes. He looked up. "What's the matter?"

Harry put the fork down. "I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but you're in the Order. And my wife," he said, reaching for her hand. "Riley figured out where Lucius may have apparated to with Draco's help. Apparently, they're using the Lestrange household."

"So that means Rodolphus is back in the country with Lucius?" Ginny asked, still scared of the man that once tricked her in school and beat her. Harry's grip tightened on her hand in support. He had later confessed to Ginny that the minute he had seen her beaten body in the hospital bed was the minute he realized he loved her though they hadn't been a couple yet. She smiled a bit.

"We think. Anyway, tomorrow night there will be an Auror raid. We hope to get the children then," Harry said. "This may end the nightmare for good."

"Finally," Ginny said as Harry kissed her hand.

Meanwhile, Rawlins was watching as his sisters began to hatch another plan for the next night. There were times that Lily was like him, trying to be sensible about everything. But most of the times, she was always by Jamie's side. He sighed as Sam crept into the room to help with the planning. "What have you guys figured out so far?" she asked in a whisper.

"A way to get us killed," Rawlins replied. Lily gently hit her brother upside the head. "Oww."

"Big baby," Jamie replied before turning back to her best friend. "Well, we're going to steal Le Strange Man's wand again because he keeps putting it where we can get it."

"Idiot," Lily inserted.

"Right. Anyway, I'm the best at charms so far and Aunt Mione taught me Wingardum Leviosa. And I want to get a dark robe and let's see if we can get these suckers to believe they are being haunted by the ghost of Moldy-Voldy!"

"Alright, leave me out!" Rawlins said, throwing up his hands. "I'm not hissing to pretend to be the Dark Lord."

"You are so much like Daddy," Lily said, then sighed. "I miss him."

"Me, too." Jamie and Rawlins hugged their sister as Sam pulled her knees up to her chest.

"I miss my daddy, too," she said, a tear falling. Lily broke free of her siblings and squeezed her friend hard.

"So," Jamie said, breaking it up before full hysterics were reached, "we're all set for tomorrow?"

"Yep," came two answers.

"Count me out."

"Alright, Rawlins. Broken record much?" Sam laughed and left the arguing siblings to go back to her room. She quietly closed the door and walked back to her room. She was almost there when she walked into someone.

"Ah, Miss Snape," Lucius' familiar drawl floated down to her. "Out of bed?"

"Just checking on my friends, sir," Sam said, head now tilted up to meet Lucius' eyes. She was surprised to not see the usual sneer he wore when dealing with them. Instead, he was gently smiling and looked at her like…like her daddy did.

"How kind of you," he said, almost like he would usually, but something was lacking. He didn't sound as…cold, distant. She yawned, starting to feel drowsy. "Here, I'll help you to bed," he said, picking her up. Sam gasped but he held her like her own father carried her so she calmed down. She wrapped her arms around Lucius' neck, resting her head on his shoulder. As she fought sleep, he silently marveled at how light she was and how…right…it was to hold her. They reached her bedroom and he placed her down, tucking her and Madi in. Sam drifted off to sleep, wondering if she was going to be in trouble the next day for letting her sister share her bed. Lucius, however, took a look at some of the items Lestrange had used to decorate the room with and covered the ugly troll head. He sighed and left the room.

A/N: What a week! First, I had to write a press release for my school's play. Then "Lennon" closed (and I didn't get to see it again. ). On Sunday, I was ping-ponging between Chapel duties and publicity duties before getting the AIM virus. I had problems all Sunday and Monday, but things were looking better yesterday. Then this morning, I discovered the AIM virus wasn't fully off and I had a Trojan. My awesome roomie helped me get rid of said Trojan and I think everything's alright. I also had a "Study Abroad" fair—I'm thinking about going to London for two weeks to study Shakespeare! Anyway, onto the reviewers (still the same two. Where are you all? I don't bite!):

SarahtheBardess: I probably felt like Melissa when I wrote that section myself. Uh, take out? I guess Italian. (I love me some chicken parm heroes!) I once heard that if you are being stalked, to take four right turns to see if they are following you and then ducking into a crowded area and calling the cops. Of course, that wouldn't work for Lucius, would it? Lily sometimes gets tired of her sister's antics. Besides, that was supposed to be reminiscent of "Pinky and the Brain" (Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?). I can't draw, but anyone is allowed to draw my characters if they want! Especially the picture you pointed out. And I might need that Holy Hand Grenade (I love me some Monty Python too ) I think the bunny knows my reluctance to end the story and refuses to die.

cerzee: The apparition points are of my own creation because they seemed so logical. I mean, how else were they supposed to apparate without being seen? Severus, wearing pink? Don't give her any ideas! I'm starting to regret asking her to send me her writing—I think my IQ has dropped a few points trying to read it. Only her favorite character has a personality—no one else. And I created personalities! Anyway, hope you succeed with your friend!

Well, since this has been long enough, I won't bore you any longer. Once again, read and review. I like reviews. And I answer any questions and/or comments you may send my way. Even if you flame me! –Mac