Hey everyone! Again, thank you for all the reviews....to answers some questions....The students are in their 6th year....also, the message that was written on the blackboard was in chapter 14 of this story...sorry I made it seem that it was a different message! Thanks again for everything!

Minerva woke the next morning, finding Albus gone. She looked around the room and saw that nothing had changed, except for the fact that there was a single red rose lying on his pillow. She picked it up and read the note attatched to it.

Minerva,

I did not want to wake you so early. I needed to get some things ready for our trip today. I will be back soon. I love you and Happy Christmas!

Albus

She smiled to herself and then started getting ready for the trip to Grimmauld Place. She knew this was going to be a day of ups and downs. Harry of course would not be thrilled to be back in Sirius' old house. There were many memories of the godfather he loved so much still fresh in the young man's mind. And then there was Neville of course. He usually visited with his Grandother over the Christmas holiday but she had asked that he stayed at Hogwarts, for protection. She was afraid that Voldemort would return and hurt her grandson, just as he had his parents. Hermoine, well, Hermoine had seemed to be upset ever since the kidnapping and rightly so. But, Minerva knew she would be happy to be with Ron for Christmas.

An hour later, Minerva was dressed and ready to go when Albus walked into her chambers.

"Ah, Minerva. Happy Christmas, my dear." He kissed the top of her hand and moved aside. Standing in the doorway were the Weasley children, Hermoine, Neville, and Harry.

"Happy Christmas to you Albus. To all of you." The students all returned her greeting as Albus pulled out a portkey.

"Everyone ready?" They all placed a finger on the portkey and were transferred to Grimmauld Place in a matter of seconds. Shouts of "Happy Christmas!" filled the air as the children were almost attacked after landing safely in the living room of Grimmauld Place. Molly, Arthur, Bill, and Charlie Weasley, along with Remus, Tonks, and Alastor had been awaiting the arrival of the students and Albus and Minerva. Minerva returned everyone's greetings before sitting down. She was still exhausted from the event's of the night before. The crying had taken a lot out of her. Albus took a seat next to her as all the children opened their gifts from the Weasley's and the rest of the Order that was in Grimmauld Place.

"Harry seems to be having a good time," Albus whispered in Minerva's ear. She nodded.

"Neville and Hermione as well." The two enjoyed watching the students, all happy for once. Minerva saw Molly head for the kitchen and decided to make herself useful.

"I'm going to help Molly. Be back soon." She left and walked into the kitchen. "Molly, what can I do to help?" Molly turned around and smiled.

"Minerva...really, you don't..."

"I want to. Come now, there must be something." Molly sighed.

"Well, I guess you could do the potatoes if you like." Minerva picked up a peeler and examined it closely. She had only used one once before and wasn't sure she remembered how to use one. Albus had suggested that magic not be used much on Christmas, considering it would be a perfect day for Voldemort to attack and the use of magic would tip him off. She figued out how to work the peeler and began working with the potatoes.

"So, Minerva, how are you feeling?" Minerva turned to Molly with a shocked look on her face.

"You know?" Molly smiled.

"Of course I know! Poppy came by to see Alastor one day and told Arthur and I. Don't worry, no one else knows, not even Alastor or Remus. I'm afraid poor Poppy couldn't contain her excitement as she had just found out. Oh, Minerva, it's wonderful! I'm so happy for you and Albus!" Molly squeezed Minerva in a tight hug. After letting go, Minerva smiled at her.

"Thank you, Molly. I have a feeling I will be needing your help once..." she lowered her voice to a whisper, "...the baby arrives." Molly giggled.

"You'll be fine, Minerva, but I'll be pleased to help in any way I can. I guess you could say I have had some practice!" Minerva laughed along with Molly and then continued making Christmas dinner. An hour later, Poppy arrived in the living room. She came into the kitchen and found Minerva and Molly working on the food.

"Happy Christmas, Molly, Minerva." They turned and smiled at seeing Poppy. "Can I help?" Poppy made herself comfortable on a chair with a bowl of fruit that needed to be sliced. The three women talked amongst themselves about different subjects, the baby included, and what had been happening at Hogwarts.

In the other room, the students had long since finished opening their presents and were busying themselves with their new things. Harry tapped Neville on the shoulder and pointed across the room. Ron and Hermione were sitting very close, talking quietly over candy they had received for the holiday. Neville laughed, as did Harry, at their two friends. They always knew they fought like cats and dogs which had brought them closer together. Albus smiled as Alastor sat down next to him.

"The children seem to be enjoying themselves, don't they Alastor?" Alastor nodded.

"Yes, they do. That's a good thing. Albus, this thing in the dungeons...we need to find some answers...now." Albus nodded, his smile fading.

"That is what the meeting is for tonight. I believe I have found some answers." Alastor studied Albus for a moment. He knew these answers had not come easily, but he was glad that things seemed to be coming together.

"Dinner's ready!" Poppy yelled from the kitchen. Everyone sat down to a wonderful meal. After dinner and dessert, the members of the Order knew it was time to get things underway. Poppy had gone back to Hogwarts to check on the other students. The children did not want to leave.

"Please, Professor Dumbledore, let us stay. We need to know what is going on." It was Harry who was pleading with the Headmaster.

"Mr. Potter, you and the others are to go upstairs for now. After the other members and I have discussed some solutions to this problem, we will call for you." Harry reluctantly gave in and followed the rest of his friends up the steps. He hoped that Dumbledore was telling the truth...that he would let the students know what was going on.

He reached the top of the steps and saw Sirius' old room. It pained him to think of his godfather. Ever since Sirius' death, a hole had opened in Harry's heart...a hole no one was able to fill. He followed the others into Ron and his room and they all sat down on the beds. They tried to entertain themselves with stories and memories from past years, but nothing worked. They were all too anxious to hear what was going on in the kitchen.

"I, for one, do not think the children should know about this situation. There is nothing they can do to help!"

"Molly, please, just listen to what Albus has to say. Maybe there is something the children can help us with." Arthur Weasley put his arm around Molly, squeezing her to him reassuringly.

"Well...I guess you're right. What have you learned Albus?" The rest of the member's eyes turned to Albus.

"There are many details about the room in which Miss Granger was found that I have not discussed with anyone...except Minerva. My dear, I believe it is time we tell the Order what happened." Minerva's eyes were filled with both horror and fear at his suggestion. He calmly took her hand and held it tightly.

"Minerva was able to reach the room Miss Granger was taken to because she had once been taken there herself." Realization struck a few moments later as the members of the Order recollected the incident eleven years prior.

"But Minerva, how were you able to remember how to get to the room. Hermione said she remembers nothing of the journey there...just a lot of twists and turns." Mineva took a deep breath and answered Remus.

"I knew that the Dark Lord was back in power and I figured my kidnapping was because of him. I wanted to make sure I knew how to get out." The others nodded, understanding her logic. Albus continued.

"Now, Mr. Longbottom's nightmares have consistently shown one room in which he and the other sixth years Gryffindors are transferred to. Bellatrix is there, causing the problem. There are two people thrown into the room. Does this sound familiar to any of you?"

"So, what you're saying Albus, is that Bellatrix took Minerva eleven years ago and Hermione this year and those are the two people in Neville's dream?" Alastor was trying to work this all out in his own mind as he asked the question.

"What I believe, Alastor, is that yes, the two people are Minerva and Hermione. However, I do not think it is Bellatrix who took them. Neville has been afraid and hurt by Bellatrix because of her attack on his parents. Both Hermione and Minerva said that the person who took them was a man."

"Ok, so we know that Minerva and Hermione were both taken by the same person? Is that what we're saying?"

"That is what I believe." Albus looked around the room at everyone's faces. They were all deep in thought.

"Who could it be? A Deatheater of course but not..You-Know-Who?" Molly had suddenly grown more worried about the possibility that Voldemort had been so near the children.

"No, Molly, not Voldemort. A male Deatheater...one who knows the school very well." Remus' head shot up and he looked directly into Dumbledore's eyes.

"One who went to Hogwarts...one who has a son at Hogwarts...one who has always been a follower..." Albus nodded.

"Precisely Remus." Alastor still did not know who the person was.

"Who? Just say his name!"

"Lucius Malfoy, Alastor." Everyone in the room was silent for a few moments, letting it sink in just how much they loathed Lucius Malfoy for all he had done.

"Well, I think it's time we make up a plan to stop him."

"The problem is, Alastor, we do not know his reasoning. We don't know if he's working under Voldemort's orders or of his own volition. I believe it is under Voldemort's orders. He wants something...and there is another who stands in the way of him getting that person he desperately wants."

"Albus, you're talking too general. You know what it is Voldemort wants, don't you?" Albus looked at Remus and then looked at Minerva. She had been silent the entire time, not saying a word. Her hand remained in his and she stared at it, rather than into Albus' eyes.

"Shall I tell them Minerva?" She simply nodded, knowing that after her revelation of what Lucius had done to her, Albus had formulated some answers to the situation. After finding the note on the board, he knew it was true, as did she.

"Harry is in the way of Voldemort getting what he really wants."

"Absolute power?" Arthur questioned. Albus shook his head.

"Not absolute power, though he knows that will be nice to have as well. No, what he wants is a person. He wants Minerva back."