AUTHOR NOTE: This chapter Sirius takes a few more down. There are repercussions to the events at the Quidditch pitch. Harry gets his house and we get to see some Voldy.

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DennisUD: I'm not entirely sure I'd be amazed at the way my mind works, more that it works at all. Lol. The problem isn't getting ideas its getting ideas that are on topic, on focus and relevant to the situation. My mind is always working at 100% throttle which can be rather problematic. During the week I have a job which fortunately or unfortunately takes only about half my concentration so I keep a pocket tape recorder with me to make notes ( I drive a delivery truck so am alone most of the day too) on various things. Unfortunately when an idea goes AWOL or dies it is lost and gone. Like Nargles. And trying to force my mind to go there makes it go even further away. So yeah when an idea comes to me it hits hard and charges in, when it goes though it takes the cake with it. Thanks though. Anyhow yeah Draco will not have much fun after this chapter.

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The Headmaster announced his resignation the next evening at Dinner. The school was draped in black with mourning bands on all uniforms for their lost students. Professor McGonnegal would be provisional headmistress until the board could decide to confirm her or hire another.

Out of the changed students Hannah was the only one that had calmed down at least enough for the muzzle to be removed. Susan visited her daily talking and stroking her fur. Harry and the other friends came to visit her frequently. When they would leave she would begin to whine and howl eventually settling into whimpers.

Susan came to visit with her friends to discover a large group of Professors around Hannah as well as the Abbots.

"Mister Abbot." Susan said greeting him, "I'm sorry sir."

"Don't be. We came to see what could be done."
"Yes it seems that the potion has begun to wear off somewhat differently for each of the students who underwent changes." Madam Pomfrey said.

"Oh." Looking at Hannah who was no longer chained. She came over and licked Susan across the face before laying her huge shaggy head on her shoulder.

Susan hugged her.

"Does this mean her mind is back?"

Snape started to say something before looking at the parents who nodded. "Yes. It does. She is responding to mental probes. Unfortunately her physical form does not appear to be shifting in the slightest."

"Why?" Susan asked breathing hard.

"Because it seems to have overwritten her pattern. We were discussing what to do. As poly-juice is not meant for animal to human or human to animal transformations it would not work."

"What about teaching her to become an animagus?" Hermione considered.

Everyone turned to look at her. "She is already an animal." Snape sighed.

"Okay well if you can make a potion that will allow a human to turn into an animal at will why can't you do it the other way round." Harry said understanding what Hermione was getting at.

Snape frowned at him before raising his eyebrow, "Because there has never been an animal with a human intellect inside it to warrant such research."

"Well there is a first time for everything Severus." Minerva said understanding Harry's line of reasoning. Nodding in hopeful consideration.

"There could even be a publication in the Journal of the Advanced Potioneers Guild." Snape looked off into the distance with a small smile.

"I will be in the lab." He said hurrying off, pausing by Hermione, "10 points TO Gryffindor." He said with a nod.

Hermione shook her head as the professor hurried off. "Well that was odd. Fine time to get points given to us."

"So Hannah is in here?"

The shaggy head turned and licked him then huffed.

Hermione shook her finger at Hannah "Hey now."

There was a soft chuffing noise from the beast before Hermione got licked too.

"We think there may have been some personality changes but otherwise yes she is in there Mister Potter."

"The only problem is we live in an apartment of the pub we run. In a muggle town."

"Oh so Hannah couldn't come home with you."

"No she will need to have some care and to be kept somewhere away from muggles. On an estate with plenty of land to run on." Minerva said with a smile looking at Harry.

"And between Luna, Neville and I we have a great deal of land that is hidden from muggles."

"You place is probably the most hidden Harry. We have tenant farmers in the valley. And Luna's dad is dating a muggle." Neville pointed out.

"I suppose. The Weasleys could help take care of her. And the Goblins are almost done with my manor house. Building a house for her would not take too long."

"Well the board has said that they will be closing the school early this year for break. December tenth everyone will be going home until at least January. However the board will be making some changes they have said in that time so we will see if we reopen on schedule or not."

"I hope they are not going to meddle too much." Lavender frowned.

"Trust the bureaucratic mind they will meddle until their fingers bleed." Neville grumped.

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Harry contacted the Goblins and had them build a stable with a small apartment over it. They said it would not be a problem and sent him the design specs and contracts which he had Augusta sign for him.

The other students had some severe issues. The Ravenclaw Elizabeth Snook had physically reverted back to her 6th year self but mentally was still the wolf while Helen Cadmus had not reverted at all. Richard Hawke a second year Hufflepuff had partially reverted physically but died in agony as his body could not handle the stress of the in-between form that he was stuck in.

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Sirius read about the attack at Hogwarts. He was glad to see that none of his charges were part of the victims but he was sure some of them had been friends of them. He got very angry and decided that he was going to have a little conversation with someone. Someone that could shed some light on things and who was responsible.

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The next afternoon Ministry employee Yaxley was getting into his high powered Mercedes sedan. He had just turned the key when he felt a sharp poke from a wand in his neck.

"Hello Yax. How's it going?"
"Black. How did you get past my security wards?"

"Trade secret you know. Just drive."
"Any particular destination?"

"Oh you know a nice dinner, movie then maybe back to your place for a real head blowing time..."
"You're the one who did Rowle."
"Well the date didn't get that far." Sirius sneered.
Yaxley started to slide his hand off the wheel but Sirius poked him in the neck that much harder.

"Aha haah. Both hands on the wheel at all time. 10 and 2 safety first you know." He lectured the tall blonde man.

Laughing Yaxley agreed but started pushing the accelerator down. Knowing once the muggle law enforcement called his plate across their radio the ministry would be alerted and come to deal with things. All he had to do was stay alive long enough.

"Okay you got the drop on me. But you know what Black we might be able to work a deal out. We could use someone like you. Especially after you took Macnair out. Eh? What do you say?"

"Simon says keep driving."
Yaxley was weaving in and out of traffic faster and faster. Passing through streets the wrong way running lights. He knew he had to be on every muggle and magical alert by now. This close to Westminster and the Palace. And at the next intersection two muggle police cars started chasing him their blue light flashing and sirens wailing. Soon several others had joined them.

"Ah look at that. We've become rather popular. When they flash those that's not being friendly."

"I just want to know who did the potion for the attack at Hogwarts."
"That little trick. You want to know about that. ha. Malfoy's brat did it."
"Bullshit. That was an advanced potion from what my sources say."
"The little shit is a potions prodigy. The dark lord himself worked with him all summer prepping him for his mission."

"So the boy is in the family business eh?"

"All the way in."

"You marked a boy!"

"He's man enough to wield a wand. He's man enough to kill. That's more than you goody two shoes in the Phoenix. You wanna redeem the world."
"Fuck redemption I'm out for revenge."

Yaxley heard the sheer malice and hate in his kidnapper's voice. He reconsidered provoking him. He swerved the car sharply left and right causing Sirius to slide to the side. Yaxley regained control but Sirius was back on him wrestling with the wheel. They were driving east up the Victoria Embankment at 90 miles per hour bouncing off of parked cars and knocking others off the road. Passing Cleopatra's Needle Yaxley was smashing Sirius' face into the dash of the Mercedes as he had managed to gather the man's hair in his hand.

Sirius managed to get his elbow up and shove it backwards into Yaxley's throat hard enough to cause him to choke momentarily letting Sirius wriggle out of the grip by shifting into his animal form. Leaping on the man's arm and clamping down with his teeth the Irish Wolfhound tore and pulled him around enough that the car slewed out of control briefly before striking another car and rolling over and over multiple times. Both occupants of the vehicle were bounced around with Sirius taking the brunt of it. He was thrown through the side window and landed on the windshield of a passing car. Reaching into his magic he healed himself quickly. At least enough to function and staggered towards the now upside down Mercedes. Yaxley still strapped into his seat. Sirius looked around and didn't see his wand. Reaching into the car the dazed Yaxley struggled with Sirius for a bit before he lost his wand to the violent man.

"You know what Yax? I really fucking hate you." Sirius spit a tooth out before he leaned in and slapped the man in the face. He cast a permanent sticking charm to the belt and Yaxley then smiling said, "Is that gasoline I smell? Confringo!" As a jet of flame shot out into the interior of the car. The vapors from the leaking gas tank igniting in an immediate flashover. Sirius was blown backwards several feet by the magically enhanced fire. He sat there a moment and watched as Yaxley struggled and strained to get free.

"And that is why you still practice your wandless magic asshole." he spat more blood out.

"Stop! Don't move! Hands up!" Several police shouted as they came running up.

Sirius stood up sighing. His face burned and hair singed off. "You know what up yours assholes." He took a half step spin and apparated out in front of the officers who stood staring at each other then the spot in confusion.

A pair of black SUV's rolled up with blue lights flashing. A one eyed officer in a suit got out of the front one and came limping up. "Who's the lead officer?" He barked out.

"Who are you?"

"Special branch." He said flipping an id case out to show a badge and warrant card. The officer glanced at it then the other black suited people pouring into the scene as two more SUVS arrived.

He stepped back and saluted, "Sorry sir. I assume you'll be taking control of the situation?"

"Yeah you go over by the two ladies there to give your report." He said pointing at two female officers holding clipboards.

"Yes sir."
The fire department was arriving at that point to extinguish the flaming wreckage. Moody recognized Yaxley's Mercedes. For a pure-blood he did like the muggle comforts and status symbols. How Sirius managed to hijack that was what made Moody concerned. Yaxley worked in the Improper Use office. An enforcer and thug but a rich and well connected one. This meant that the vehicle had been warded of course. Moody shook his head before turning back to the SUV.

"You done with them?"
"Yes sir they said the suspect vanished in front of them. He was a tall probably black haired man who was still smoldering. He had multiple lacerations and uh sir a long stick in his hand."
"A long stick." Moody reached into his jacket, "Sort of like this?" He said pointing his wand in the general direction of the three officers.

"Yeah that looks sorta like it."
"Alright thanks. Obliviate."
The three officer's eyes glazed over as their faces assumed a blank expression. "You were pursing the car of a known Interpol wanted terrorist when he lost control and crashed. There was a tragic fire and nothing strange happened at all."

The three men started blinking before turning to Moody, "Sir we tried to stop him but he crashed."

"I know. We got your report officer. You go see the medics and see if you need any help."

"You know boss I think you like that too much." his assistant said as the officers walked off.

===xxx===xxx===xxx===x

Moody was sitting in Madam Bones office sucking on his teeth. "Yaxley makes the sixth DE that got a full meal since Black escaped."

"I know. Fudge is jumping down my neck to know what happened. He's beginning to think that Sirius isn't dead."
"Great that's all we need Melia. Fudge to start thinking now though I bet its Malfoy putting those thoughts in his head."

"I managed to pass it off as a common car accident. You know how Cornelius has no idea how muggle devices work."
"Yeah for being such a muggle lover he and Arthur both are utterly clueless."
"Pure-bloods. What can you say." Amelia shrugged.

"Quite a lot and not much of it fit for polite company."

"We may have to try and reign in Black. We know the list of who he's going to hit. I doubt he's going to stop until he's gone through the same list."

"Yeah well the collateral damage is starting to mount too. I wouldn't say anything to him if he'd just kill the bastards quietly."
"Fudge is livid about that. Not so much the lives lost but the galleons we've had to pay out and the overtime for the obliviators and with Umbridge gone we have Runcorn in place now. I'm not entirely sure I like that."
Moody grumbled softly, "Runcorn has the warmth of an iceberg in January. He's also got a serious case of the supremacy syndrome."

"I know he has already been pressuring for reforms across the entire Ministry. Transferring, demoting, or pushing out anyone who is even slightly sympathetic towards muggles or muggle-borns."

"With Dumbledore gone Hogwarts is going to be the next battleground."
"I know the board is meeting tonight to vote for the new headmaster. I've talked to Augusta. She doesn't think Minerva will get the nod."

"She's been Albus' right hand for too long. His shadow is gonna taint her."

"I know. The only serious contender is Reginald Nott."

"Reggie Nott? Bah!" Moody growled as if he had bitten into a candy bar to discover it was actually dog crap.

"I know. At least he's not going to be a draconian tyrant."
"No just a backwards blood supremacist, er excuse me fine upstanding wizard traditionalist."

She dryly looked at the head of the special division auror. "Yes I know. Augusta tried to put forward Arthur Weasley or even Molly but they both got shot down for the same reason Minerva did. Remus Lupin can't thanks to the laws Umbridge got passed before she shuffled off, Flitwick is a good man but to the bigots on the board he's not even worth half of one."

"Well hell Melia. This is not going to end well at all. Don't need to be a seer to figure this one out."
====xxx====xxx====xxx====xx

Harry and his crew had made sure they were totally packed before breakfast. Not sure what else was going to be happening they stayed close and on guard. Harry got his post and smiled. Going to the Hufflepuff table he sat beside Susan.

"Good morning Harry."

"Hello. I have good news. Hannah's room is ready and you'll be able to stay with her. The Goblin's sent me the notice that the estate is ready to be moved into."
"Oh good. Thank you Harry." She said then hugged him.

Grunting Harry hugged her back briefly before retreating back to the Gryffindor table.

"So Hannah's spot is ready?"

"Yeah. Susan can come stay with her. The goblins got the boundaries warded and will make arrangements to transport her there later today. She'll probably get there before us."

"So how are we going to work this now that we have four houses to bounce between?" Lavender asked.

"Well I guess we can choose to spend a night or two at mine, a night or two with Nanna make a cycle out of it."

"Yeah what Hermione said. Sounds good to me." Harry agreed enthusiastically. Excited that he was going to have a home of his own. A place to set down roots and eventually have a family. He was lost in his visions of playing with little brown and blonde haired kids when Hermione elbowed him.

"Hunh wazzup?"

Hermione nodded towards the high table where McGonnegal was standing having just walked to the lectern to make an announcement.

"I wanted to say that as we depart here today let us not forget the ones who we leave behind. The ones whose lives were ended by the actions of someone who has worked very hard this year to destroy us. We will rise again from the ashes of this like the phoenix. We will be stronger and we will not allow our friends loss to be in vain. Darkness shall never prevail as long as there is light in our hearts." She paused for a moment then in the Scotts she said what must have been a prayer or at least blessing as a few students who understood her bowed their heads. Other like Harry that didn't know bowed their heads too.

"Thank you and may you find peace and joy during your break."

She then turned and sat down. Looking far older than she had ever before Harry thought.

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On the train ride back the group was in their car going down the tracks. They had almost reached the viaduct when Harry heard the whistle blow and stay blowing in one long drawn out shriek. He recognized that was a warning to the guards on the train to brace as Charley must have seen something on the tracks ahead that was a danger.

"Brace!" Harry screamed grabbing Luna and Hermione as the train began a shuddering sliding squeal of the wheels sliding on the tracks as the brakes went to full stopping power. Everything that wasn't bolted to the carriage vibrated and shook until they finally came to a stop.

"What was that?" Veronica exclaimed. Drawing her wand as she saw Harry had pulled his.

"Be ready. Something happened. We went into emergency. The engineer must have seen something on the track."

"This is a magical train couldn't they have done something?"

"Its not entirely magical. Neville stay here and watch over things. Mione, wanna come help me find out what's going on?"

"Yeah."

They moved forward talking to people until they reached the stairwell off the carriage. Stepping out they joined several other students who were looking forward at the engine sitting strangely with the carriage behind it at an odd angle.

"I think we derailed." Hermione said.

Harry began walking forward along the ballast. He saw that they had not begun venting steam so the engine was not damaged.

"Well I don't think the boiler's damaged. We'd be looking at a lot bigger mess if that happened. Maybe a rail came loose."

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While Harry was walking forward with Hermione another figure was walking from the front towards the back. A disillusioned man using a peeping mirror to look in the windows above him searching for something. In the third carriage back from the engine he stopped at a compartment and smiled.

Inside the compartment was a blonde boy looking quite peeved, a girl with wild black hair and two thuggish looking boys along with another two girls one tall and slender and the other short and squat. There was only one he was interested in.

He pulled out a couple of small green muggle devices. The people who he had taken this from called them flash-bangs. He had played with one and discovered they worked really nicely. They were simple enough chemical reactions that even the great hall at Hogwarts wouldn't have prevented happening. Muggles and their fondness for blowing shit up he chuckled softly to himself.

Pulling the pins he let the levers fly off then threw them through the conveniently open window.

====xxxx====xxx=====xx=====xx

Draco was annoyed, "This is a disgrace. We should be allowed to floo to the school." He was ranting. Romilda sitting beside him impassively looking at a magazine while Pansy sat on his left silently with her eyes closed. Crabbe and Goyle had grown used to their boss ranting. I was just another part of the job. Suddenly two cans of something came in through the window. Crabbe caught one in his hand and bent down to read the side of it when suddenly it exploded.

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Harry and Hermione had reached the engine. Several yards of track had vanished at some point causing the engine to run off into the ballast. Charlie and Archibald were inspecting the engine for any other damage and venting steam to reduce pressure so they could tamp down the coals.

"Hey Archie what happened?" Harry called out to the man walking along the outside of the engine pulling valve levers.

"Oh hey Mister Potter. Looks like somehow the tracks decided to take a holiday. Don't rightly know why they've never felt a desire to go anywhere afore now." He said with a grim chuckle.

"Might wanna stay on guard though. I been reading bout things going on. This don't feel no good." Charley called from within the cab.

The engineer had just said that when there was a pair of loud thumps from further back along the train. Harry looked at Hermione then leaping over the coupler ran down the other side of the lodged cars.

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Romilda saw the cans come through the window. She had barely enough time to throw her hands over her face when they exploded. The others in the car were pure-bloods so they didn't recognize the threat and stared at the devices.

Crabbe who had his face only inches away from a few ounces of explosive wrapped with magnesium and aluminum when it went off had the worst injuries. His eyes would never see anythign again due to the intense flare of light and small pieces of shrapnel as well as needing to regrow the fingers of his hand.

The intense double thunderclaps that occurred though immediately rendered everyone in the compartment deaf as all sound was replaced with a high pitched whining drone. Bright purple clouds covered the vision of everyone in the compartment. Goyle tried to rise and flee but his balance was gone and he slammed his head through the glass window of the door cutting his own throat as he fell.

Draco was screaming but couldn't even hear himself. Flailing and thrashing in sheer blind panic.

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Sirius had cast a muffling charm on himself and still heard the double thumps of the explosions. He jumped up and banished the wall of the carriage. Leaping into the compartment he grabbed Draco and tossed him outside. Seeing Goyle bleeding on the floor struggling to get up he decided to end that family line with a quick cutting curse. Crabbe was grasping his face with blood running from his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Sirius slammed his head against the back of the compartment as hard as he could and turned on the two girls. Pansy had curled up in a fetal position screaming but the dark haired one was fumbling for her wand. He couldn't allow that so he stunned her at point blank range to the head and leapt out.

He glanced up to see several other students coming. Two of them Harry and Hermione. He made brief eye contact with Harry who looked shocked and stunned. A stinging hex to his shoulder brought Sirius back to the moment. He spun his wand around causing a large purple cloud of smoke to surround him and Draco. When it cleared the two of them were gone.

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He and Hermione had been running down the side of the train, not sure what to expect he was shocked when Sirius Black jumped out of the carriage landing beside a struggling Draco. They made eye contact for a brief moment with Sirius looking at him sadly. His face dirty and haggard, his youthful good looks faded. A stinging hex from a fourth year Slytherin caused Sirius to cast a purple cloud obscuring them long enough to apparate out Harry figured.

He stood there for long seconds as Hermione took his arm.

"Harry was that Sirius Black?"

"Yes it was."

"Why'd he kidnap Draco?"
"I don't know."

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Madam Bones was standing in the late afternoon sun looking at a ruined train carriage that had blood and scorch marks on it. Trained forensic aurors were going over the compartment with a fine toothed comb.

Moody stomped up beside her, "According to all of the eyewitnesses Black grabbed Draco and split. After giving Goyle the final shave."
"The others?"

"According to the emergency healers Crabbe's going to be blind. He took burning magnesium to the eyes. Probably had the thing in his hands when it went off. The girls got taken in for evaluation as they seemed to be stunned but ok."

"Why didn't the safety wards dampen the explosion?"

"It was a pair of muggle devices. Black must have picked up a couple of what they call flash-bangs. No magic involved." He said holding up a clear jar with two levers and ringed pins.

Amelia looked at the jar with a frown. "No magic involved? I thought the wards damped all explosions?"

"Not all of them. Just the ones caused by magical sources on the train. Otherwise they'd have to be set up so strong that all magic would be suppressed."

"We'll have to look into that for when they get this repaired."

"Don't look now but your day just got better."

Amelia sighed and turned. Stomping towards her was Cornelius Fudge followed by Lucius Malfoy. Cornelius looked livid while Malfoy merely looked constipated she thought. A brief ludicrous thought flitted through her mind about how hard it must be for Cornelius to walk with Lucius' hand so far up his backside."

"Amelia. I want to know how in the world a man you declared dead had the ability to wreck our train and kidnap an innocent child!" Cornelius practically shouted in her face. She looked over and saw Rita Skeeter and her photographer working the scene of course. Cornelius didn't leave the house without his bowler or the press.

"The muggles had found his body. Our forensic teams had confirmed it was a very dead Sirius Black."

"Muggles. You trusted muggles of course. That's why we are in such a mess right now."

"Cornelius there was a reason for this. Sirius Black has been targeting death eaters."
"Victims of Death Eaters you mean." Lucius smoothly interjected. "Any involvement with that sad group of terrorists was proven to be coerced."

"Well Sirius Black feels otherwise it seems."

"I don't care what Sirius Black feels unless its the embrace of a Dementor! You have 48 hours to find and recover Draco Malfoy unharmed Amelia or it'll be your head on my desk!"

"Cornelius Sirius Black is a highly skilled and trained..."

"Spare me your personal admiration of the man. I want this terrorist found and I want him to know what terror feels like. If these attacks they will cause doubt in our ability to maintain peace and order. We will be thrown back into the chaotic bad old days when he-who-must-not be named was still alive. We must never allow that. Do you understand me Amelia?"

"Imminently sir."

Cornelius wandered over to speak with the forensic analysts as Lucius Malfoy smiled at Amelia in a cold predatory way. "Draco is my only child, the last heir to a long and illustrious family. His loss would be tremendously painful."

"My sympathies Lord Malfoy. I will ensure that all efforts possible are brought to bear."
"See to it that you do so. We are living in troubling times. It seems lives, even those of children, are becoming expendable."

"No child is expendable." She flatly hissed at the tall blonde.

"Good. How is your niece? Her friend was one of the changed wasn't she?"
"They are both doing fine. Thank you for asking about them in your time of pain."

"Yes well a parent's pain calls out in concern to others. So that they do not share in the pain."

He nodded then joined Cornelius by the train.

Moody had been standing a few feet away patiently observing. Bones walked to him and hissed under her breath. "Find Black. I don't care how or what you do but find him. End him if you have to. This stops now!"

=====xxxx===xxxx===xxx===xx

Potter and his friends had been taken from the site of the derailment to the Longbottom estate via portkey. Harry and his friends had been shaken by the events.

Remus, Dumbledore and Augusta met them at the lawn. "Neville, Harry, oh my goodness! Are all of you alright?" Augusta cried out coming over to wrap each of them in a hug. Her normally restrained demeanor peeled back by the relief to see them.

"Yes Gram., Of course Nan." They all murmured or cried their assent."

"Oh dear well come inside. Your things have already been brought by the elves."

"Are you sure it was Sirius you saw?"
"Unless it was someone under poly-juice or a glamour then yeah." Harry said. "He looked like the man in the pictures."

"He looked right at Harry then left."

"He looked at you?"

"Yeah sort of sad like."

Remus sighed. "I don't know what to tell you Harry."

"What do you think he'll do with Draco?"

"Well probably use him for bait against Lucius and then I have no idea. I fear Sirius may be sliding further into madness." Dumbledore sadly asserted.

"Sir did Hannah make it to Harry's estate?" Susan asked worriedly.

Remus nodded, "Ah yes Arthur called to let me know she had arrived safely and was settling in comfortably."

"Oh good. Can I go see her?"

"I'll take her sir." Luna said, "Plus I'm sure Ginny and Veronica would like to see their parents."
"Very well Luna. The Floo address is Potterplace." Harry said looking at Remus who nodded.

"Thank you Harry, Thank you Mr Lupin." Luna said and collected the other three girls.

=====xxxx====xxxx====xxx=====xxx

Draco woke up hanging from a wall. He was in just his underwear with his arms stretched overhead. He still had a ringing in his ears and a pounding headache, but could see better. Most of the spots had gone and he could see that he was in a concrete room. There was a grate by the floor on one wall and a drain in the center of the room. It smelled slightly like the ocean in the air. Turning his head the other way he saw another grate and a rusty ladder that went up to a hatch of some kind.

He tried twisting and turning. Struggling but all that did was make the chains rattle and clank. He sighed and resigned himself to enduring this until his father or mother would come to rescue him. They might send someone he supposed. As his vision cleared he noticed in the dim light that the wall seemed to have a strange wavy line that ran along it about a foot above where his head hung. A sort of greenish mossy discoloration.

Draco thought back to his potions and herbology classes what that kind of line meant. The information he remembered did not make him very happy and he began to struggle that much harder.

====xxxxx=====xxxxx====xxx===xxx

The body that housed the spirit of Voldemort sat at the head of the table in his elevated seat. His face a placid benevolent smile as he gazed along the table at the remaining Death Eaters who served him.

"Lucius how goes the hunt for your son?"
"I have sent operatives to all corners of the land my lord. I have also pressured Madam Bones to redouble her efforts or be removed so we can take over the DMLE."

"Is not Rufus Scrimgeour next in line?"

"No my lord." Alecto Carrow replied. "He suffered an unfortunate case of terminal death late this afternoon."

"Ahhh that puts Thicknesse next in line. Good we can use him. However it is troubling that Sirius Black is still roaming free. I want him dead."

"I have strike teams already working on it. Aside from the operatives assisting my wife in her search for the Grangers Sirius Black is our primary target."
"Very good Lucius. This is why you are my most trusted of followers. Now what of the others?"
"Kiernan is mourning the loss of his son. That is why he did not join us."

"As I understand it that ends the Goyle family line?"

"Yes sire."

"Pity. He will be granted a day for his mourning then he is to be here. Selwyn you have a daughter do you not?"

"Yes sire. She is a 6th year at Hogwarts."

"Give her to Goyle in compensation for his loss. She should be able to breed him a strong son."
Selwyn glanced at the door then his lord who had drawn his bone handled wand. "My lord I had already spoken with Travers to betroth her to his son."

"Travers your son will not mind finding another will he?

"No my lord. We understand that sacrifices must be made for the cause."
"See Selwyn. There is no problem is there?"

Selwyn noticed that Gibbon and Jugson had shuffled their chairs away from him. "My lord she is but 16 and Lord Goyle is 52. She is my only child. I had hoped that she would be spared."
"Selwyn. Dear friend Sentorius Selwyn. Did you not swear an oath of loyalty and obedience to my cause. To myself. I did but ask you one. Simple. Task."

Selwyn seemed to be accepting his order as he bowed his head, sliding his hands under the table. "I understand my lord. I see now my error."

He rolled backwards as Gibbon dove under the table. Selwyn's spell flew towards Voldemort only for Rosier to jerk across the table thanks to Voldemort's flick of his wand and block it as a human shield. Voldemort's answering green burst though did not miss.

Rosier's lifeless body slid off the table with a reverse flick of Voldemort's wrist. "Alecto you are to collect the girl and prepare her for her wedding. She will be quite pleased that we have rewarded her with a fine and powerful husband." He said as if none of the previous brief flurry of combat occurred.

"Yes my lord. The girl will be ready by noon tomorrow."

"Then let the funeral feast be the wedding banquet."

====xxxx=====xxxx====xxx===xx

Madam Bones was still in her office, as long as it was, She had contacted her niece at the Potter estate and spoken with her. Made sure she was safe and secure there. She was happy to be told to stay there as her friend Hannah was given the run of the land. Harry and company had warded and secured the property to higher than Ministry standards using the finest goblin wardmasters.

"Remus Lupin to see you ma'am." Her secretary said.

"Thank you. Hello Remus. Thank you for coming at such short notice."
"Well given the circumstances I felt it best not to dawdle."

"I need to know more about Sirius Black. How he learned so much about muggles and their weapons."

"I fear some of that may be the fault of Lily. She introduced us all to the muggle concept of movies. Sirius saw his first one and instantly became enamored, no obsessed would be more accurate. He was rebelling against his parents and so went muggle for a time. One of his favorites was the James Bond series."

"Oh. Well. That explains a bit I suppose."

"Yes when we fought for the Order in the last time he made a great many friends among muggles and half bloods. All sorts of people from all walks of life."
"So we are a looking at a genius level intellect, with a fondness for muggle devices and techniques, we is probably insane but functional enough to remain hidden and incognito.

Remus smiled wryly as he said, "As well as has access to ancient dark magics from his family and their wealth.

"Thank you Remus I had been trying to forget that."

"Sirius was barely able to be restrained by James and I when we were younger, now it seems as he has fixated on his godfather oath and is doing all he can to protect Harry, that he has no restrictions on his behavior at all."

"So you feel Sirius is a threat?"

"Not to Harry or his friends, but to anyone who would dare threaten them, or prevent Sirius from protecting them. Yes. I understand that he did not kill two girls that shared the compartment with Draco?"

"Correct Pansy Parkinson had a panic attack and was in a fetal position. Romilda Vane was apparently trying to draw her wand and he stunned her in the forehead at point blank range. While she did not die she is in Saint Mungo's recovering from a cracked skull and brain trauma. They are not sure when she wakes up what her condition will be."

"I see. I take it you wanted to know if I had contact with or some knowledge of Sirius and his whereabouts?"
"I was hoping you could reign him in."

"No Thurban has said that all contact will be one way between he and I. Sirius apparently does not want to be reigned in."

"Some of my mindhealers are telling me that he's going to keep spiraling out of control until he's nothing but a ravening killer."
"I do not think he will become that bad."

Amelia sighed deeply, "I had already graduated by the time Sirius and all of you came to Hogwarts. I have no idea about his personality or what he will or will not do. I see how he is acting. The collateral damage he is causing. The Hogwarts express will be out of commission until mid January at the earliest. 36 muggles had to be obliviated and still it wound up on the news that officers had been chasing a man who vanished into thin air because we missed one. They are starting to get cameras everywhere. The muggle prime minister yelled at Fudge who took it in turn to yell at me. Tell me Remus can we get out of this? Can we get him reigned in?"

"No. Sirius is an avalanche and he won't stop until he runs out of targets or gets killed."

"So we are going to have to go on the offensive to get him stopped."

"Probably."
"What about the Malfoy boy. Any chance of getting him back alive?"

Remus shook his head sadly, "Doubtful. Especially if he took the mark. I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't dead already."

====xxxx=====xxx====xxx==xxx

Harry and his friends had been exploring the estate. Hannah chuffing and licking all of them when they arrived. Arthur was acting as tour guide and pointing out the various amenities and excitedly asking Harry about the muggle devices he had installed.

Eventually they relaxed and calmed down. Watching Hannah and Susan play fetch.

"Sir when we get Hannah back to a human do you think she's going to be alright?"

"Well aside from having a few personality quirks I think she will recover nicely. Your idea Miss Granger to adapt the animagus potion is coming along quite nicely. Severus says it may be a few months for a viable formula to be developed but by next summer she should be quite better."

"Thank you sir. You didn't come here to discus Hannah or my potion idea though."
"No I was going over my notes for Tom's horcrux. I think I have an idea of where one is located. As Mr Black gave us the one that had been located in a cave by the sea we are saved that perilous task."

"Only to have another perilous task ahead of us."

"All life is peril Harry. Its just choosing which ones to face."

"Yes sir. So what peril do you want my help with?"

"As you are the only parsel tongue I know your skill may be essential to unlocking a few doors. I will of course be there to help protect you. Mister Longbottom or one of your Valkyries maybe be essential but we should keep the party to the bare minimum."

"I understand. Tell us more details and we'll decide who will come with us."

"First I must tell you of a family, an ancient pure-blood family known as the Gaunts..."

====xxxx====xxxx===xxx===xxx====xx

Sirius was looking through the bars of the cell that he had Draco in. He was chuckling softly at the blonde boys torment as he thrashed and turned in nightmares.

Thinking to himself that the Epialian Potion was a very interesting creation. He had never used it of course before now but the instructions in his mother's journal was quite clear as to body weight and dosages. Draco would be experiencing his worst fears as realistic nightmares over and over until he was awakened or died. As Draco was important to Sirius' future plans he would have to be kept alive though.

Now to get a message to Lucius and set up a meeting. He had a lot of work to do.

====xxxx====xxx====xxx===xx

That night in bed Hermione hugged Harry tightly from one side with Luna on the other.

"This ring he's going after. It'll be heavily protected Harry."

"I know Luna. That's why I'm taking my sword. The only question is who to bring with us."

"The only logical choice is between Hermione and I."
"Why the two of you?"

"Either one of us has an analytical mine. Mine is based more on intuition and filling in gaps, while Hermione's is based in logic and deduction. As the Gaunt's are descended from Salazar Slytherin who is of Irish decent, like myself, there may be things that are in Gaelic or otherwise referencing the land of Eire. I have been teaching Hermione Gaelic and other cultural stories but still I have learned them since birth. Hermione is stronger in transfiguration and charms while I am only slightly less skilled at them I am stronger in divination and sensing things. As this is your task you will have to decide."

"What if I just choose Neville and tell the both of you to stay here."

Luna and Hermione both looked at him crossly. Luna shook her head and continued, "No Harry Neville and you should not be on excursions like this together. As the prophecy could have also applied to him should anything happen to you we would need him to slay Voldemort. Lavender is a healer and while that might come in handy should you encounter danger she is not as strong in defensive magic. She is learning but still has trouble with the concept of hurting others. She cares and feels too much. Susan is distracted by Hannah being a dog and the Weasleys are a liability due to their mental weakness. Ginny was possessed by one item already. The possibility of her being possessed if she is exposed to another is far greater than anyone else."

Harry clicked his tongue against his teeth as he sighed in vexation, "Okay Luna I see your point. We have until Lunch tomorrow to make a decision. Let's get some sleep and see what tomorrow brings."

"That is a very good idea."