This month has been crazy! Exams, coursework, Christmas, relatives… And while I'd written, this, it still needed editing!

Hope you enjoy, and before I get any more reviews begging for more chapters of Teasing, Teaching and Time Travel, I'm working on it. Unfortunately, that work is on the gigantic case of writer's block I have on that story. On the bright side, I've branched into Star Wars, and I've started several fics, including a couple of crossovers. So maybe they'll be up in the next few months as well. It's my cure for writer's block – write a new or completely different story/genre.

Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Startling Events

1st August 2003:

Harry stared at the newspapers, his throat dry.

"W-what?" He rasped. "H-how? W-why?"

"We don't know any more about it than you do. However, I would have thought that the Ministry would have contacted you about the desecration of your parents' graves before telling the Daily Prophet." Molly looked disgusted.

"It was a Daily Prophet reporter who went there." Tonks responded. "Apparently responding to someone's comment about fifteen years…" She frowned as she read her copy. "Here, 'judged to be referring to fifteen years after the fall of Voldemort, we at the Daily Prophet have been looking for strange occurrences for the past month, since we assumed 'fifteen years' to be approximate. Since Harry Potter himself was vital to the destruction of Lord Voldemort the first time, we acted on instinct that something might happen around his birthday. All the same, we had no idea that it could be something as dreadful as this.' Charming, really, didn't think to tell you about their suspicions…"

Harry sat down, shaking slightly. This was all so surreal.

"What did they do?" Harry asked. "And why didn't anyone take me?"

Dumbledore was at the door to answer this. "We all assumed you had seen their graves. We were unable to bury them in the Potter family crypt, so they were buried in Godric's Hollow. However, so many have seen them…"

"It's a crime that their son has not." Molly stated. "And if I ever get my hands on the Dursleys…"

Harry gave a smirk. "I still like remembering what that Orenda woman did to Uncle Vernon." He rhapsodised. "A fine right hook, sent him to the floor, straight out of Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Hermione stared at Harry. "You watch that?"

Harry shook his head. "Dudley does, though he does it more for seeing the girls fighting in short skirts, tight tops and leather than anything else. But I'd say it was the same thing Faith did to Buffy's mum."

"What?"

"Faith was a homicidal Slayer called because Buffy had died and been revived. She woke up from the coma Buffy put her in and visited Buffy's mother. It was a case of door opened, 'Hi Joyce', fist knocking her to floor. Same thing, except substitute 'Joyce' for 'Vernon' and Uncle Vernon didn't fall unconscious. And apparently Vernon had hit her before." Harry spat. "Effing bastard…"

The others blinked, and Albus Dumbledore was suddenly reminded of a hysterical young woman on her first morning at Hogwarts, crying about a vision. And he knew that had Vernon Dursley not been cursed, Harry would never have made it to Hogwarts. And he wasn't certain about the life expectancy of Petunia either.

Harry abruptly turned back to the subject at hand. "So what happened to the graves?"

"Looks like someone hit the whole lot with an exploding hex." Tonks replied. "The earth had been thrown from the ground. The coffins were untouched, except that they were empty. The only other clue is this."

A picture on page five showed the words 'Deceased no longer' scrawled in vibrant lettering across the large, semi-intact headstone that had covered them both.

Dumbledore blinked. "I know that writing…"

"It was burned into the stone. I've never seen a flame hot enough." Tonks replied. It seemed that she had been called in to look at it overnight.

"When did the others take place? Any actual course of events?" Harry asked.

"The graves first. There are suspicions that it could be all the same person. Another fear is that Voldemort has taken the bodies to hurt you. It doesn't make sense, since they'll be too decomposed to be used as Inferi." Tonks groaned.

"Not with Avada Kedavra. It completely suspends animation in the body. It dies, but it remains at the point of death with decomposition. Some even claim the corpses age, which is leading into a lot of research for a counter." Dumbledore explained.

Harry's face went pale, having read up on Inferi.

"However, Voldemort would not use his enemies for that. He is too superstitious to use the corpses of the parents of the child who is involved in the prophecy with him." He smiled at Harry. "He still does not know what it says and is in dread fear of bringing about his destruction."

"I'm not." Harry responded again. "Who broke into the Department of Mysteries?"

Moody gave a grim smile. "Tha's the interestin' thing, isn't it? No one actually broke in. They had a security code."

"Who's?" Hermione asked, surprised.

"A pretty effective one, considering it scanned the iris."

"They broke into the Veil Room, didn't they?" Harry asked suddenly.

They stared. "How did you know…"

"I – I just had the weirdest dream." Harry replied. "As though I was floating in front of the archway. Someone was using my name… even my magic… to call someone forth, but I don't know who."

Dumbledore's eyes widened.

"Excuse me." He stated, and threw Floo powder into the fireplace, disappearing quickly.

"What was that all about?" Ginny wondered.

Remus shook his head. "I don't know. Boys, I'll be doing the training today. Moody and Tonks are required at the Ministry."

"Why Moody?" Harry asked, surprised.

"That is classified, Potter, but good question." Moody growled as he and Tonks headed towards the door.

"What about me?" Ginny asked Tonks.

"Ask Remus, he's taking all of you."

The girls looked surprised, the boys grinned, and Remus looked resigned.

XXXXX

"So, Mr Potter, why exactly were you given a bunch of music books for your birthday?" Hermione asked, brow raised.

Harry coloured a little. "I – I…"

"You what?"

"I play the piano."

Silence met him.

"Really?" Ron rasped. "You – you do?"

Harry nodded. "I enjoy it. One of my primary school teachers used to teach me for free after school. I think she had an idea of my home life. I haven't done loads since, but it's the kind of thing that never leaves you. Even in Hogwarts…"

"Room of Requirement?" Ginny asked.

"Room of Requirement. I thought it was a music room at first, and used it as such every once in a while. It wasn't until Dobby explained…"

"Interesting." Ginny nodded, then smirked. "Well, Mr Potter, show us what you can do?"

"P-pardon?"

"Play us a little ditty."

"Only if you sing." Harry challenged her.

"All right then, duet?" Ginny replied.

Harry swore. She must have been speaking to Tonks and her mother about the control she wasn't sure she had yesterday.

"Fine. Any preferences?" Harry asked, getting out of his chair and walking over to the old grand piano.

"What music do you have?"

"Well, it looks like your parents are fans of Andrew Lloyd Webber…"

"And any Muggle musical in existence." Ron grinned. "I think Mum's dearest ambition is to persuade Celestina Warbeck to sing in Jesus Christ Superstar."

"Ah-ha!" Ginny cried triumphantly, holding a thick music book entitled Male and Female Duets: The Musicals.

She flipped through quickly, occasionally marking one or two, sighing at others, before selecting one.

"This one."

Harry looked at it and grinned. He loved the story, and this song, for all it wasn't so much a 'love' song as a symbol of one man's obsession, was absolutely amazing.

A charm to the piano meant it was sounding out like a church organ as he began playing the introduction.

Ginny's voice rang out clearly and beautifully, surprisingly strong for a girl yet to turn fifteen.

"In sleep he sang to me.

In dreams he came.

That voice which calls to me,

And speaks my name

And do I dream again?

For now I find,

The phantom of the opera is there,

Inside my mind."

They gasped at the ease with which she reached both high and low notes. Now was time for Harry and they watched and listened with interest to hear the voice that only Molly and Ginny had half-heard.

"Sing once again with me

Our strange duet."

They stared in awe at the young man's powerful voice as he stood and they could almost see the Phantom of the Opera calling Christine.

"My power over you,

Grows stronger yet.

And though you turn from me

To glance behind.

The phantom of the opera is there

Inside your mind."

In a bizarre thought, Hermione mused that really Tom Riddle ought to be singing this with Ginny. Harry ought to be the love interest, Raoul, singing All I Ask of You. Hmm, maybe she could convince them to sing that sometime.

The duet took hold now, as Ginny took the first lines.


"Those who have seen your face draw back in fear.

I am the mask you wear."


Harry grinned as he sang the next line, his voice smooth and seductive.

"It's me they hear."


They both sang with power and danger in their voices.

"My/Your spirit and your/my voice,

In one combined

The phantom of the opera is there

Inside your/my mind."


Almost magically, musical voices sang the part of the Chorus. Maybe it was the listeners themselves, but none afterwards would be able to explain who sang.

"Is that the phantom of the opera?

Beware the phantom of the opera."

Now Harry took control, his voice becoming even more commanding, as Ginny stood in front of the piano, almost seemed to sway under his control.

"In all your fantasies you always knew,

That man and mystery…"

Ginny nodded turning to look at Harry as she answered him.

"Were both in you."


Again their voices seemed to soar as they sang in unison.

"And in this labyrinth,

Where night is blind,

The Phantom of the opera is there/here…"


Ginny sang the last line of the 'chorus' alone.

"Inside my mind."

Harry grinned as he sang the Phantom's last line, his hands moving across the piano's keys at amazing speed. Not to mention he over-acted the words.

"Sing, my Angel of Music!"


Ginny turned towards him, looking at him as he played, a smile graced her face as she sang the lines.

"He's there,

The Phantom of the Opera…"

And now Ginny's face became a perfect mask of concentration as she sent her voice soaring systematically through the notes.

"Ahhh… ahhahhahh ahh!"

Several times the phrase was repeated, each higher, until Harry uttered the last of the Phantom's orders to an unknowing Christine.

"Sing for me!"

Ginny's voice soared higher, hitting a note perfectly that few could ever hope to reach correctly.

"Aaaaahhhhhhh!"

Her last note and Harry's last on the piano finished with triumph and they smiled at each other before turning to their friends.

Hermione, Ron and Neville looked dumbstruck. They had been joined by Fred and George on the sofas, for once unable to say anything. Molly, Arthur, Remus, McGonagall and Dumbledore stood around the door, each with equally amazed looks on their faces.

"I think we ought to bring back the dances with talent shows, Albus." McGonagall stated, her eyes never once leaving the two now slightly embarrassed-looking Gryffindors.

"Indeed." Albus responded, still looking shocked, which disconcerted Harry and Ginny even more.

Arthur shook himself and smiled. "That was one of the finest versions of that song I have ever heard. And I'm not biased just because my daughter and Harry were singing it."

The two blushed over the praise.

Their father's words seemed to awaken the twins. "Hey, Harry!" They spoke in unison and began their typical alternating speech.

"Why didn't you…"

"Tell us…"

"You were…"

"The Maestro…"

"The Master…

"The Phantom of the Opera!" They finished, grinning in unison.

Harry went red. "I – I'm not that good… I just know the song…"

McGonagall walked over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You sing as well as your parents did. They would be pleased to know that another Potter tradition has been fulfilled, albeit unknowingly."

"What?"

McGonagall's eyes rested wickedly on Ginny for a split-second, suggesting that there was more to her words than she claimed, and explained. "Almost all Potters are raised with music. Music, Quidditch and duelling, the three trademarks of the Potter name. Your mother was as good as your father, though she never matched his speed."

Harry blinked rapidly. "Mum played Quidditch?"

"She played Chaser with your father and Miss Orenda in their final year. He was Seeker before that."

Harry nodded. The switch of positions explained a lot.

"I daresay that she couldn't reach the notes Miss Weasley can, though, and she was a fine singer. None of those girls could."

A barely perceptible moan was heard from Remus as he looked away, but perceptible it was.

The others did not mention it, but Harry made a resolution to find out who his mother had known and what caused Remus pain.

"You know, this would make a nice piece for the Prophet." Hermione mused, then giggled. "Or even better, the Quibbler. Boy Who Lived Sings And Bursts Voldemort's Eardrums!"

"No, that would require a higher note, but I'm sure the Siren could oblige." Harry responded dryly.

Ginny whacked him. "What have I told you about calling me that?"

"Don't?"

"Yes!"

"No can do. Mermaid does fit, and I've yet to find a nymph who sings. Unless you prefer the other names for someone who can control with their voice…"

"All right then, but you are in trouble."

"I don't doubt it." Harry remarked.

Minerva smiled, whispering to Albus. "It's like seeing Lily and James again."

She didn't count on Harry's exceptional hearing as he froze, blushed furiously, and walked out suddenly. A few moments later, they heard several thuds against the wall.

"What's he doing?" Ginny asked curiously.

"It appears that he had entered the kitchen and begun hitting his head against the wall." Dumbledore stated as though remarking on the weather. "I can't imagine why."

Ginny nodded, walked past the audience at the doorway, and proceeded into the kitchen. There was the noticeable sign of Silencing Charm going up.

"Hmm, very like." Dumbledore responded to his deputy.

"Who's like who?"

Molly's eyes suddenly widened. "Oh, Minerva, you didn't!"

The deputy headmistress gave a slight grin. "I might have mentioned a passing resemblance to the behaviour of his parents… He didn't wait to hear that it was before they got together."

"While they were flirting." Remus pointed out. "I'm not sure how he'd take the story of how his parents got together."

"What happened?" The 'children' chorused, wicked glints in every eye.

"I walked out to see them snogging." An unfamiliar voice spoke. "Assuming you're speaking about James and Lily, of course."

The adults all whipped around, wands in hand, the students joining them with equal swiftness.

All colour from Remus' face drained. "Damion?"

In the doorway stood a fair-haired man appearing somewhere between twenty-five and thirty-five (meaning he could be as old as fifty, since wizards aged differently). His eyes were a light grey, and he wore a broad smile.

"Ah, Unspeakable Jackson. You have returned to the Department?" Dumbledore asked.

"First thing this morning. How on Earth did they end up with two break-ins in as many months? The security hasn't been changed since I was there!"

"Indeed, however it seems that whoever broke in the second time had had access at some point." Dumbledore seemed to convey more than the children understood.

"Agreed. Now, going to put down the wands? We were invited, you know." Damion Jackson grinned.

"We?" Remus asked.

"You expect him to know where his stuff is without me to tell him?" A feminine voice asked laughingly. "It's not been that long, Remus."

A dark-haired and –eyed woman with tan, almost olive, skin entered their eyesight. Remus' wand dropped.

"Alura!" He gasped, and suddenly grasped the two of them in his arms, shaking slightly.

"What's going on?" Harry's voice spoke from the hall – he and Ginny had arrived to ask about the commotion.

The two were released, their eyes widening. "Oh dear Merlin." Damion gasped. "He looks so much like James."

"Lily's eyes." Alura pointed out. "And nose. And… what do you know it, he has Lily's skin tone too!"

"Alura, James and Lily had identical skin tones. Comes from redheaded genes." Damion pointed out.

"All the same…"

"Who are you?" Harry's voice was somewhat cold. After all, the last time someone had spoken of his parents that familiarly were Sirius and Remus, and he knew how that turned out.

"How do you know the Potters?" Ginny asked.

Alura jumped three feet as she saw the redhead appear from behind Harry.

"Venus's heart, don't do that!" She cried. "Seeing Harry – who could, like all Potters, pass as hid dad's brother – and having a redhead suddenly appear next to him is too much!"

Damion gave a scrutinising eye. "She doesn't look all that much like Lily though." He pointed out. "Same hair and skin tone, yes, I'll grant you, but Lily was slimmer."

Ginny looked slightly offended at that comment.

Damion laughed. "Sorry, miss, but I meant that she didn't have your curves."

Harry shut his eyes, rubbing them underneath his glasses, muttering something incomprehensible to everyone else.

"What are you saying, Harry?" Ginny asked.

"I'm reciting all the Italian music commands backwards." He replied. "This is just far too confusing."

"And Italian isn't?"

He smirked. "Not at all, cara mia."

Hermione giggled. "How did you know that?"

"I saw Addams Family through the door. Dursleys didn't see me." Harry shrugged. "Part of me liked to base my parents on them just because they seemed so much in love."

Hermione began to laugh, unable to control herself. "Harry, if your parents are watching us now, hearing that, they'll either be scared beyond belief, or think you have a good idea."

Remus nodded. "Actually, that wouldn't surprise me at all. Except James would more likely use Welsh or Gaelic to compliment Lily."

"So, who are you?" Harry looked at the new arrivals again.

"Damion Jackson, Unspeakable, ex-Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain and a friend of your parents' via…" The woman clapped a hand over his mouth to stop him going further.

"Via his relationship with me, a member of Enchanted, and Quidditch." The woman finished with a glare at her husband. "I'm Alura Jackson, this oaf's wife, mother to his children, and magical representative in court."

"That's a lawyer." Damion answered, removing her hand.

"Actually, I think its barrister over here, Damion." Remus stated, walking into the drawing room and collapsing. "You've spent too much time across the pond."

"You should hear the kids." Damion grinned.

Alura nodded. "I can't believe we were gone for over sixteen years! Christ, this is the first time we even met Harry!"

"It is, isn't it? You left in such a hurry." Remus glared at them.

"That was a sensitive project, Remus, and you know it. The twins and Meda were barely old enough to travel, so we had to go by plane!" Damion looked crossed.

Remus' eyebrows raised. "So that's how you did it without being tracked. And Voldemort did not like you…"

"No, he didn't."

Now Harry entered, slamming down the piano lid so he could collapse on the stool, leaning on the piano for support.

"I'm confused."

"We were two of your parents' best friends, but we had to leave for America a couple of months before you were born because of the threat to our family and an extremely sensitive and important case Damion was offered." Alura explained.

Harry nodded and expelled a breath slowly. "Okay, I think I get it."

"Would you care to sit down?" Molly asked them, suddenly reassured by that. "I'll go and make some tea…"

"Oh would you?" Damion's eyes shone. "Proper English tea. Now that is something you can't get in the US. The stuff they sell as tea is…"

"Not as good as ours. Though the herbal teas are good." Alura interrupted. Her husband had gained quite the tongue in America.

"I was going to say that." He told her innocently.

"Suuure."

"I was!"

"Let's do introductions, shall we?" Dumbledore smiled. "The lady who just left is Molly Weasley. This is her husband Arthur…"

Damion shook his hand. "I remember you." He frowned, then grinned. "'Course I should, Kat rescued you. And Molly… I remember the reactions…"

Arthur nodded. "Her father was furious. Not to mention her husband."

Damion nodded, remembering being told. "He went crazy."

Harry groaned, rubbed his eyes again and asked, "Who are we talking about?"

"The girl that saved ours lives. We told you the day we arrived." Arthur explained.

Harry nodded, Kathryn Orenda, but he wanted her married name. He had a feeling it was important – and that she may even have been Sirius' wife. It would make sense…

"Obviously you remember Minerva."

"Professor McGonagall." The two murmured with identical grins.

The teacher rolled her eyes. "So few of my students remember I have a first name…"

"Some did."

She nodded. "True, but then they tried to use it to charm their way out of detention."

"Or into it as the case may be." Remus commented with a smirk.

"And you know Remus. You recognised Harry." Harry gave a tired wave.

"Shove up, Harry." Ginny nudged him over to share the piano stool, since there was getting to be less sitting space as more people entered.

"And the lovely young redhead telling him to move is the youngest of the Weasleys, Ginevra."

Ginny scowled as she sat. "I'm Ginny, and you would do as well as Harry to remember that."

The twins winced, memories of their punishment fresh in their minds.

"The twins are Fred and George Weasley. Ronald Weasley is sat next to Hermione Granger." Dumbledore introduced.

"I forgot the Weasleys had as many kids as the Orendas."

"Where is Paul anyway?" Ginny asked. He had barely been in Headquarters.

"His youngest elder sister is getting married." Remus answered.

"Adalia?"

"Yep."

"Interesting."

"Speaking of interesting…" Fred began.

"You missed the…"

"Marvellous concert…"

"We were…"

"Just witness to."

"What concert?"

And with that, Ginny and Harry ran from the room.

XXXXX

That evening saw Moody and Tonks enter the kitchen with satisfied looks on their faces.

"So?" Harry asked as soon as they appeared.

"Fudge is going to be removed from his position on the third with a full investigation into what's been going on." Tonks responded, looking satisfied.

"Whoever had that memory was careful enough to disguise themself within the memories. Never the same face twice." Kingsley Shacklebolt informed them, following the other two in. "All we could decipher was that it was a woman. Probably with a child."

"Why a child?" Harry asked, surprised.

"She was holding one in the main memory." Tonks explained. "Of when Sirius tracked Pettigrew down. She'd used a spell to hear what they were saying, and heard it, word for word."

"What other memories were there?"

"Something very odd. It was as though we were witnessing someone's vision." Kingsley explained. "But it looked to be the confrontation in the Shrieking Shack in your third-year. Bits seemed 'fast-forwarded' if you will, but…"

"Fudge was ready to burst into tears after he had so vehemently claimed Sirius had Confunded you." Tonks grinned. "Snape didn't look too rosy in it either."

"Anything else?"

"Oh, there was enough to clear Black, all right, and put Pettigrew away for good. We've even got a fairly clear idea of the person who's memories they are, but that's confidential." Moody growled. "They called me up for verification."

"And the break-in?"

"Veil Room. Evidence of heavy magic, scorch marks and death of some kind, but also of life." Damion replied.

Moody, Tonks and Kingsley stared at him.

"What?" Damion asked. "I went there this morning!"

"You've only been back a day, and already you're workin'? The Ministry's really in trouble." Moody growled, grasping his hand. "How are you, Damion?"

"Fine, fine. Glad to be back, but when one project ended, another started, and before you knew it, Meda and the twins had taken their OWL equivalents. Then we got a call from a frantic Beta, and here we are."

"Hey, Moody." Alura grinned.

Moody smiled. "How are you?"

"Well."

"How are the children?" Moody wanted to know.

"Yeah, where are they?" Remus asked, a frown marring his brow.

"Ours are visiting their grandfather, and the twins are in the Balkans on a tour. Something to do with magical and Dark Creatures."

Harry frowned. "Are they not 'yours'?"

Alura shook her head. "We're effectively their godparents. Their parents… couldn't look after them."

Everyone nodded, bowing their heads.

"So, now what?"

"Now we wait and see what the detailed examinations pull up, hope we get someone decent into office, and hope nothing else dreadful happens."

XXXXX

3rd August 2003:

Amelia Bones was currently filling in as Minister for Magic, and looked like a shoe-in for when the Wizengamot held elections. The Muggle-borns had been shocked to find that the Wizengamot selected the new Minister, not the people.

But it was this morning, when Tonks arrived looking horrified and frazzled, that everyone knew something else had happened.

"Moody!" Her voice rang out.

"What?" He demanded as he clumped into the meeting room in which she was standing.

"St Mungo's, now."

"What's happened?" He asked.

"Classified, we need your help."

"Why?"

"Classified."

She seemed very aware that the students were listening in.

"But they…"

"Have Remus take them, Moody, we're needed now! I don't know how long Kingsley and Scrimgeour can hold it out." Tonks informed him, and Apparated out.

Moody nodded to himself, muttering. He opened the door. "Remus, take the boys today! I'm needed!"

"Where?"

"Classified."

And Moody Apparated out.

Ron looked at a pale Neville. "I'm sure your parents are fine, Neville." He responded. "It'll be an attack, surely. Why would they want to hurt them now?"

"Because Death Eaters are sadists." Harry answered grimly. "C'mon, we'll do some warm ups, and then work on the punchbags. I think I've got that illusion spell sorted. Would you prefer Bellatrix or Barty?"

If anyone thought it odd that Harry knew almost all of the Death Eaters by their first names, they didn't mention it.

"Lestrange." Neville snarled. "She just never seems to learn."

Remus joined them in the basement training room a few minutes later.

"Where was Moody called to?" He asked, knowing they had heard.

"St Mungo's." Harry sneered. "The oh-so-brave Death Eaters picking on those unable to fight back. Might be even as much challenge as picking on a bunch of fifteen and sixteen-year-olds."

He heard a throat cleared as Ginny entered.

"My apologies, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen-year-olds." Harry replied.

Silently, Remus wondered if it was exposure to Moody that was making Harry come out with comments he expected from his parents, or just genetics. None of the Marauders had accepted the deaths of innocents.

Then he connected.

"St Mungo's? What happened?"

"We don't know. All Tonks would say was that it was classified. They've got Kingsley and Scrimgeour down there, though. Must be important if the Head of the Aurors is there." Ron observed.

"Could be an attack, could be something worse. We just don't know." Harry explained.

Before long, all of them (except Ginny) were on the punch bags, each able to see hated faces.

XXXXX

A noise in the kitchen that evening signalled the return of the Order – there was a meeting.

Instantly all of those in the basement (unable to think of anything without losing it, Neville, Harry and Remus had remained in training all day) were heading up the stairs.

"What happened?" Their voices spoke in cacophony. "Who is it?"

"Not Voldemort, from appearances." Dumbledore stated. "You should all stay, you may be able to shed some light on this. Remus and Neville have the right, after all."

And with those words, Remus and Neville collapsed into chairs.

A few moments later, the rest of the Order had appeared.

Dumbledore stood. "Some time very early this morning, there were four disappearances from St Mungo's Hospital. All four are the only remaining survivors of the insanity caused by Cruciatus – Frank and Alice Longbottom, Janyd Orenda and Radella Leigh."

Harry looked horrified, Paul Orenda and Bill scared, while Neville and Remus sunk low into their chairs, unable to comprehend what happened.

"Any knowledge of the abductors?" Harry asked, his voice rough, surprising everyone.

Dumbledore shook his head. "It is very clearly not Voldemort. This was done with a subtlety and finesse that Voldemort's Death Eaters do not possess, but for the Inner Circle, and none could enter. No, all we have is the early morning visit of four unidentified people – two witches, two wizards. All the Healers on duty could remember was 'sinking into ocean pools', then nothing. There is no record of the visitors."

"But?" Hermione asked, interpreting Dumbledore's cease.

"There was a set of symbols." Moody growled. "Not seen since the first war, and most of 'em are dead."

"What?"

Ron started. "They're back. The Elementals have returned, yet vengeance must fall to the next generation."

The Order stared at him as he seemed to stare into the distance.

"Ron?" Harry asked.

"Yeah?" Ron responded, completely oblivious to what he had just said.

"I think those brains had another effect after all." Harry murmured.

"And how would you notice?" Snape sneered. "If he is as much of a dunderhead now as before, none shall tell the difference."

Dumbledore shot an admonishing look at the Potions teacher, while Molly Weasley looked furious.

"Severus, curb your tongue." Remus informed him. "Or you will find yourself using it in your own potions."

The students shivered at the cold voice of the normally calm man.

"Shouldn't you be worrying about your bitch, Lupin?" Snape gave a mocking sneer.

WHAM!

Lupin had flung Snape into the wall. Without magic. His eyes blazing a feral amber, he walked over to the potions master and picked him up, a hand around his throat.

"Insult my mate again, Snivellus, and you will not live to regret it." Lupin informed him.

Snape, though spluttering, glared and tried to look haughty. "You would not soil your hands, werewolf. You're weak."

Lupin did not release him. "No, I'm not weak. However, I know Fenrir Greyback. Remember? I'm practically his cub." Lupin growled dangerously. "A couple of words in the wrong place, and your half-blood master will know the truth, Snivellus. Whispers, even. Werewolves have excellent hearing, as well you know."

Dumbledore had risen. "Remus, Severus! Stop this now."

Remus released the spy, and returned to his seat. Dumbledore looked furious.

"Severus, you very nearly got yourself killed." Dumbledore informed him.

"Um, not to sound stupid, but why?" Harry asked weakly.

"Radella was turned into a werewolf when Jack was driven insane. We think he was forced to watch on top of Cruciatus." Paul Orenda stated. "No one knew, not even Remus. The following full moon…"

"Radella was kidnapped again with Sirius and Kat…" Remus' voice weakened, as Paul looked down at the memory. "While they were tortured for information, Voldemort used the Cruciatus Curse on Radella during her first transformation… By the time we got there…"

"Black and Orenda were half-dead – Black was the worst – and Leigh was completely catatonic. She only responded to Lupin, and even that deteriorated." Moody growled.

"Radella had been my girlfriend since our sixth-year before the attack, nearly… five or six years?" Remus mused.

Damion nodded. "It was '86, you got together in '80. Nearly six years. I remember when the others realised you'd been snogging in Hogsmeade. First Marauder-Enchanted relationship…"

Remus gave a dry grin at the memory, then sobered. "They had used a spell to stop me from sensing her werewolf nature, and since she was fine after her escape, we didn't do a full check-up." He looked sorrowful. "If we had, it would have saved her. All the same, during that month, the wolf side of me… Well I essentially claimed her as my mate."

The children blushed, not really wanting to think about it, and understanding what it meant.

"Werewolves, like normal wolves and most humans, are strictly monogamous. After Radella… I could never move on." Remus gulped.

Something stirred in Harry. Despite this being the first he'd heard, it made a lot more sense now. He just didn't know what 'it' was.

"I wondered why she had her own room." Neville murmured. "I'm not surprised, the Ministry would have freaked if they realised there was a werewolf in St Mungo's, catatonic or not. The transformations must make it worse…"

Remus nodded, and they exchanged looks of understanding, the way only those who have suffered could.

"We need to find them, then." Hestia Jones stated. "If we don't…"

Dumbledore smiled. "I believe they are safe."

It was at this moment that the Floo lit up and – to many's surprise – Poppy Pomfrey appeared. She looked dishevelled and furious.

"You!" She accused, looking at Dumbledore. "You! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Poppy?" Dumbledore looked concerned.

"Why? Albus, he's mine! He's gone! He's gone! Why didn't you tell me?" She shrieked.

Harry was surprised when Paul caught the woman in his arms, hugging her close. "We'll find him, Poppy. I promise. We Orendas stick together."

Tears flowed down her face. "I'm not… I never had the chance…"

Paul picked up her left hand, pointing at a diamond and terran ring on the ring finger. "This makes you an Orenda. They just stole Jack before it could become official. I swear, Poppy, we'll find him. He's got too many siblings that love him for anything else to happen." Paul looked at Dumbledore. "I'm calling the twins. Adalia's working too hard on the wedding and the new protective wards to be called, and Leila's too important at St Mungo's. The goblins understand family ties, and it's not like they can't get away with it. They bring in near as much gold as Bill and I."

Dumbledore nodded. "I understand. Poppy… I'm sorry. It was remiss of us to forget such an important person in Janyd's life."

"Jack hated 'Janyd'." She sniffled.

"That he did."

The meeting was over. The students walked upstairs, heads spinning with the night's new revelations.

XXXXX

A/N:

That was nearly 5700 words long. I hope the length of the chapters make them worth the wait. And I hope you liked the musical aspects. I love musicals – as you can probably tell – and The Phantom of the Opera is one of my very favourites. Don't worry, there is a purpose to the discovery of their musical talents.

And I hope this appeased the cliffhanger of the last chapter. If not… review and tell me!

Merry (belated) Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Next time I write to you, I'll be legal! (My 18th birthday's shortly after New Year.)

Lol, Tanydwr