Author's note: Bonus points to anyone who knows where I got the title from.

As always, I love reading what you guys think, so please leave a review at the end.

-o-o-

Chapter 6

We're going to fight fire with marshmallows.

-o-o-

Voldemort,

Feel free to send over any Death Eaters you'd like me to improve. I can't promise results, but my family and I will have great fun trying. Let me know first of course, I wouldn't want to commit a faux pas and 'upset the peace' as you say.

Sorry I'm sending a note instead of meeting with you in person, but now isn't a good time, I have company you see. Perhaps we can arrange a meeting here. I've told my new family about you, and I'm sure they'd love to meet a monster like yourself. Perhaps you could even learn something from them. I understand the Addamses come from a long line of madmen and psychopaths.

In fact, feel free to stop in for tea sometime this week.

I think the only one I'd like to ask you to not target for death is little Pubert Addams, he's a little young to be fighting for his life. Feel free to try and torture the little boy if you want, I understand he's fond of medieval torture devices.

Harry Black.

P.S. I want Pettigrew. I have no problem with leaving your other servants alone, but give me the rat.

-o-o-

Voldemort laughed. "Surely there isn't a seer alive that could have predicted the Boy-Who-Lived inviting me to tea. Did you see anything worth noting Asclepius?" He asked as he set the note aside.

"Yes master." The scarred man said as he lifted his eyes to the Dark Lord. "Black has a manservant that is like an inferius, only not. I am sorry that I cannot tell you more about the creature. Also, Dumbledore saw me exit Black's home. Mad-Eye Moody was with him, as well as another wizard I did not recognize."

At the mention of Dumbledore, Voldemort showed interest. "The manservant is unimportant. Possibly a well controlled zombie, but no more than a curiosity. Tell me, what did Dumbledore do when he saw you?"

Asclepius grinned widely. "He looked frightened master. Mad-Eye looked furious, and the other man was afraid."

"I am very pleased." Voldemort said with an inhuman smile. "We have three new recruits. Take them with you, and find a muggle family to play with. Make sure each of them tortures at least one of the muggles, and then show them how it's done."

"Thank you master." Asclepius bowed low, and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes. Then he set off to find the recruits.

Alone, Voldemort picked the note back up, and reread the postscript. "Why would he want Wormtail? He says he holds no malice for me, and I killed his parents. He does not ask for Bella, and she killed his godfather. What did he do that was so bad as to draw the boy's ire?" He asked himself softly.

-o-o-

Harry woke up because he was cold. Disoriented, he opened one eye, then the other. Wherever he was it was completely dark, except for a thin line of light outlining a door, and there was something soft pressed against him, pinning his arm to the floor. Bringing his other hand up to massage his forehead, he tried to remember what happened.

Fevered screams echoed in his mind, and images flew past as he recalled last night. He remembered cutting Wednesday while she was distracted, tasting her blood, and then... He felt his face heat up with a blush as he recalled exactly what they had done.

Harry's stirring woke Wednesday, and she took a moment to enjoy the pain between her legs that she'd never known before. He'd actually managed to take her blood, and it had done something to him. He'd become some kind of insatiable beast, a primal strength driving him. Just thinking about the wild look in his eyes caused her desire to flare.

The soft form of Wednesday shifted and disappeared. Harry sat up, and tried in vain to look around the dark room. The striking of a match drew his focus over to the bench they had sat on. There in all her glory stood Wednesday holding a re-lit candelabra with fresh candles. Setting the light on the bench behind her, she walked purposefully toward him. A halo of orange firelight surrounded her, making her appear demonic. Harry forgot to breathe as he watched her nude form approach him. He idly noted that her cut was nearly healed before his attention was focused on more interesting parts of her body.

As Harry tried to rise to meet her, Wednesday caught him in the chest with her bare foot. She forcefully shoved him back to the ground, and knelt down, straddling his stomach. "I want more." She demanded.

More than willing to comply, Harry tried to shift her weight so he could sit up and take her into his arms. He was quickly reminded that she was stronger than him as she pinned his arms painfully to the floor, and roughly kissed him.

Releasing his lips, she whispered into his ear. "This time I want to hear your screams." She said before running her nails along his arms hard enough to leave angry red welts. Unable to wait any longer, she placed both her hands on his chest, and shifted herself backward onto him. Biting back a cry of pain/pleasure, she dug her nails into his flesh, and raked them across his chest.

As her claws dug into him hard enough to draw blood, he failed to contain his own shout of pleasure, which served to encourage her. Illuminated only by candlelight, she writhed on top of him, a wild look of desire on her porcelain face. He threw his head back with another shout, as she further bloodied him with her nails. Too deep in the moment for words to form, a single thought made itself known anyway. She was his, he was hers, and nothing short of death was going to change that.

-o-o-

Morticia raised her hand to push open the armory door, when she heard Harry's cries from within. Smiling she turned, and walked down the hall to go see if his little friend was awake yet. She would give those two a while longer yet.

Being careful to make no sound, Morticia walked into the bedroom where Luna was still asleep. She was on her back, wearing one of Wednesdays nightgowns, with one arm haphazardly laying across the bed. Thing was fast asleep in the palm of her hand.

Morticia gently picked the sleeping hand up, and carried him out of the room. "Now Thing, did she know you were in there?" She asked softly, so as not to wake the girl in question.

Standing up in Morticia's hand, Thing scratched her palm nervously with one finger.

"I didn't think so. Thing, we do not enter a lady's bed without her permission." She chided gently. "Now go wake Pugsley, breakfast will be ready soon."

Re-entering the guestroom, Morticia gently woke Luna and informed her about breakfast. Then she set out in search of her daughter.

-o-o-

"There's no point in even trying to ask Gringotts." Bill said adamantly. "The goblins respect the Addams family. They will not help us take down the wards."

Kingsley Shacklebolt looked skeptical. "Are you being serious? I was under the impression that the goblins viewed all humans with disdain. Surely if we offer them enough gold they will aid us."

Many of the other order members voiced their agreement with Shacklebolt.

Bill shook his head. "No. I did some research, and if I didn't know any better I'd think they were afraid of the Addamses. That's ridiculous of course, back in the rebellions, lone goblin warriors were known to charge fearlessly to their deaths rather than surrender."

"There are other ways available to us. In fact I have already set in motion a simple and safe plan to rescue the children. Regardless we must expect to have need of a more direct approach. William, since you were part of the team that set the new wards, can you give us details of Grimmauld Place's defences?" Dumbledore asked. "You need not participate in bringing down the wards yourself. I would not want you to jeopardize your employment."

"I'll need to go over my notes, but I'll get right on it." The redheaded curse-breaker agreed.

"Time is working against us, so please do so now." Dumbledore said before turning his attention to Snape. "Severus, do you know why there was a Death Eater at Grimmauld Place? Are these Addamses allied with Voldemort, or are they Death Eaters themselves?"

As Bill left the room to prepare, Snape answered. "There is something going on, but what I could not say. As far as I can tell, the Dark Lord is only allowing two of his inner circle to have knowledge of whatever he is planning. Bellatrix Lestrange, and someone new." Snape sneered in disgust. "The man's name is Asclepius Fawley, and he is cut from the same cloth as Lestrange."

Mad-Eye grunted. "This Fawley, does he have an extremely scarred face?"

"He does." Snape agreed. "He also has a silver right hand, much like Peter Pettigrew now has."

"That's the man that we saw coming out of Grimmauld Place." Remus said, looking pale. "Whatever Voldemort is planning must involve Harry and that Addams family."

"Once William has recalled the details of Grimmauld Place's wards, we will plan an assault. Our main goal is the rescue of Harry Potter, and Luna Lovegood." Dumbledore said, his words weighed down with the dangerous nature of the mission. "It is likely that they are both being controlled in some fashion, so to be safe, whomever finds them should stun them immediately."

Dumbledore stood. "There are many unknowns still, so this will be dangerous. I will understand if anyone wishes to not participate. Those joining in the mission should prepare, and we'll meet back here at eleven."

-o-o-

Unable to find a more viable option, the Order was still meeting at the Burrow. As everyone filed out, Dumbledore and Mad-Eye opted to take a walk through the Weasley orchard for privacy.

His magical eye spinning wildly to ensure their privacy, Mad-Eye questioned his old friend. "Who wound up checking on Longbottom anyway?"

"I did, or rather, I tried." Dumbledore said with no little frustration. "Augusta wouldn't let me in. She said her grandson was perfectly fine, and I should be ashamed of myself for chasing after children when I'm supposed to be fighting Voldemort."

Mad-Eye frowned. "There's little chance she's gone dark, but then again, it worries me that she's protecting her boy from you. We'll have to keep an eye on the two of them just in case."

Dumbledore nodded. "Unfortunately she is enough of an occlumens that I couldn't dare to see what Mister Longbottom had mentioned to her that provoked such hostility against me."

Grunting, the scarred ex-auror changed topics. "We'll deal with that later, Potter is more of a concern. Breaking through wards, especially dark ones is no easy task Albus. Do you have a plan?"

"A vague outline at the moment Alastor. A plan will come when I have the details of said wards." Dumbledore admitted while unconsciously fingering his wand. "If one has the means, it is possible to overcome wards by striking at a weak point with overwhelming power. If such a plan in necessary, I will likely be exhausted from the exertion. You will have to take charge, and ensure Harry's capture."

"Why are we still playing to this fantasy that the boy hasn't gone dark?" Mad-Eye demanded. "Lupin is smart enough to figure it out based on what he's seen. It's only a matter of time before more people realize the boy isn't being controlled at all."

Sighing, Dumbledore explained his hopes. "With any luck, we will be able to capture the children, and fix this mess before the truth comes to light."

-o-o-

Morticia found Wednesday in her room, sitting at her dressing table, and brushing the braids out of her long black hair. She walked over, and stood behind her daughter. Taking the hairbrush, she took over brushing Wednesday's hair.

"How do your feel?" Morticia asked simply as she rhythmically straightened out the braids. "Your screams kept us awake most of the night."

Not embarrassed in the slightest at her mothers question, she replied with the barest hint of a smile. "It was just like you said it should be. I've never felt pain like that before, and the way he acted..." She shivered, and turned to look her mother in the eyes. "He scared me mother."

"I'm happy for you dear." Morticia said with a smile. "Harry is such a nice young man, so bloodthirsty too."

Wednesday turned back around to allow her mother to finish with her hair. "About that. Harry is so shy unless I provoke him enough, except... He managed to cut me last night, and as soon as he tasted my blood he changed. It was like he became a rabid beast intent on devouring me."

"Magic is in the blood, you know that. And our blood is special, our magic old and primal." Finishing her task, Morticia set down the brush, and sat on the unused bed. "In time, Harry will get more and more used to our magic. It's already begun in fact. Had he tasted your blood when we first met him, it likely would have killed him."

Morticia pierced her palm with her sharp fingernail, and held up the drop of blood that escaped. "There are not many old magic families left. The ones that have survived have become little more than just another magical line. It would not surprise me to discover that the Black family stemmed from old magic." She allowed the drop of blood to fall, where it ate away at the wood flooring. "The Frumps of course came from old magic, but the Addams are special. Addams magic has sustained itself throughout the ages by drawing in like-minded suitors. Our magic will... absorb, for lack of a better word, the person into the family. Some will, in time, become Addamses in all ways that matter. Others simply grow mad, and still others cannot handle our magic and die."

Wednesday voiced a question that had been in the back of her mind for a while now. "Is that why Cousin Margaret was so... wholesome when we met her, but now is criminally mad?"

"Exactly, and it's also why we feel the need to try and kill our lovers every so often. If they die, they clearly weren't Addams material. Take your little admirer from camp, he didn't last very long at all."

"But mother, I'd been planning on killing him from the start." She objected.

Morticia smiled. "Yes dear, but what would you have done if he survived."

"Tried harder." Wednesday insisted. "Besides, I haven't thought about killing Harry. Well, not seriously."

"Not on purpose perhaps, but remember, there was a very good possibility letting him taste your blood would have killed him. On some level I think you knew that, and let's not forget the absurdity of him cutting you without you letting him. He's good, but not that good." Morticia pointed out as she stood. "Now let's go to breakfast, no doubt your father is thoroughly embarrassing your boyfriend."

-o-o-

An embarrassed Harry was relieved to have breakfast interrupted by a couple of owls. Gomez had been relentlessly teasing, and playfully threatening Harry about his late night and early morning activities. Hedwig had a message tied to one leg, and a slightly crumpled letter in her beak. The other owl had ruffled feathers, and was glaring daggers at Hedwig.

The snowy owl dropped the letter into her master's waiting hands, then hopped across the table. Luna offered both owls a bit of her breakfast as she untied the message from Hedwig's outstretched leg.

"Hmm, my OWL results from the ministry." Harry said absently. "Is that from your dad Luna?"

Luna looked torn, as if she couldn't decide whether the note was good news or bad. "Daddy wants me to stay here for a few days if you don't mind. Someone sent him an anonymous tip about a herd of crumple horned snorkack in Sweden. Usually we would go on expeditions together, but daddy got excited and left without me." She looked up at everyone with a guarded expression. "Is it okay if I stay? Daddy said just a few days, but knowing him it could take weeks."

Seeing no objection from any of the Addamses, Harry answered for them all. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like. Friends are always welcome."

"Absolutely!" Gomez added. "Thing has taken a shine to you, and he's an excellent judge of character. Besides, with your knowledge of creatures, maybe you can tell us all about the playful critters we have running around the place."

Seeing her eyes well up with emotion, Harry recalled how important friendship was to the blonde Ravenclaw. "If you'd like, I can have my house elf Kreacher gather some of your things for your stay."

"That would be lovely, I can't wear the same robes every day." Her features settled back down to their usual dreamy state, albeit happier, and she idly watched the bedraggled ministry owl leave.

When Harry summoned Kreacher, the house elf came clutching two letters from Hogwarts. "Mail from Hogwarts. Owls caught by the wards, and Kreacher brings master the letters." The aged elf then lowered his voice and muttered, "Kreacher wonders if master will let Kreacher eat the owls. Filthy owls, up to no good."

"Kreacher, why were they caught in the wards?" Harry asked before accepting the suspect letters.

The elf stopped talking to himself, and answered. "Kreacher thinks they're portkeys master."

Remembering the portkey that whisked him away to the graveyard in Little Hangleton, Harry nearly laughed. Was Dumbledore copying Voldemort to find ways to capture him now?

"Put the letters on the table, then help Luna by retrieving some of her belongings." Harry ordered calmly.

"As for the owls, I don't care what you do with them." Harry looked around at everyone at the table. "Unless any of you have an opinion."

Grandmama Frump immediately perked up from where she was fighting with a book she found in the library. "Never had owl before. I'd love to see what I could do with one, and the elf is welcome to join us."

Both Luna and Kreacher looked horrified.

"Kreacher would never eat with wizards! Kreacher has his pride as an elf!" He then turned back toward Luna, and began muttering again. "Kreacher may as well be given clothes... Filthy creatures, frightening mistress, and insulting Kreacher."

Luna's objection had more to do with her love of magical creatures. "You can't eat the owls! You should let them go, it's not their fault they were given tainted mail."

Harry looked down at the letters, then over to his own owl, who was busy stealing morsels from Luna's plate despite Thing's efforts to stop her. "You know what, you're right Luna. It's not the owls' fault." A dark smile slowly grew on his face. "I'll let them bring Dumbledore a message of my own. Hey Pugsley, can I speak with you after breakfast?"

Pugsley's first instinct was to be wary. He'd seen that smile on Wednesday a couple of times, and it usually meant she had something painful and humiliating in mind for him. "Why?" He asked, drawing out the word.

"I'd just like your help sending Dumbledore a message." Harry said cheerfully.

"Okay." Pugsley said with a happy nod, completely forgetting his previous concern.

Luna, happy that Harry wasn't going to let the owls be eaten, informed Kreacher of where her home was, and what she wanted him to gather. The elf apparated away with a pop, and she turned her attention to the remains of her breakfast, thanking Thing for guarding it.

"It's alright, I probably wasn't going to eat it all anyway, but thank you for trying." Luna consoled the dismembered hand, and gently patted his wrist

-o-o-

Dumbledore and Mad-Eye waited patiently with wands drawn. The aged professor figured his portkeys in the guise of school supply lists should be arriving any minute now. If all went according to plan, both Harry and Luna would be appearing soon, and they wouldn't have to do a risky assault of Grimmauld Place.

"Do you really think this has a chance of working Albus?" Mad-Eye asked, skeptical of the overly simple plan. "The boy isn't exactly stupid."

"To be honest Alastor, I don't think it will work; however, it isn't out of the realm of possibility. Miss Granger always acted as Mister Potter's common sense. Without her counsel, Harry very well may fall for my trap. On the other hand, without Mister Weasley's influence, he'll likely be less impulsive." Dumbledore spared a glance at his old friend. "I haven't enough experience with Mister Potter as he is now to know for certain."

In that split second when Dumbledore let his attention lapse, the sound of air being displaced marked the arrival of someone via portkey. Instead of Harry, or even Luna, a reddish-brown shaggy creature with five distinct legs appeared in front of the two wizards.

The quintaped wasted no time, already riled up, it launched itself at the momentarily distracted Dumbledore. It's fur sparked with magic as a curse from Mad-Eye dispersed harmlessly. Another curse missing the vicious creature completely.

Crying out in surprise and pain, Dumbledore jabbed his wand into the beast that had clamped down on his leg. With a surge of magic, the quintaped flew back, Dumbledore's blood dripping from its gaping maw.

Figuring the other wizard to be easier prey, the deadly creature tried to down moody by swiping at his legs with its powerful clubbed feet. The peg-legged wizard couldn't maneuver as well as he once could, and crashed to the ground, swearing venomously.

Turning its attention back to the greater threat, it barred its fangs and tensed to leap again.

"Avada Kedavra!" Mad-Eye spat from his prone position. The green light flew from the tip of his wand, and struck the slavering monster, causing it to glow green for a moment before collapsing bonelessly to the ground.

"Alastor!" Dumbledore exclaimed in shock and outrage.

"Don't give me that crap Albus." He grunted as he pulled himself up and limped over to kick the dead creature. "It's a class five X dangerous beast. Trying to subdue the damn thing would see us both injured too much to deal with Potter later on. Besides, the unforgivables are only illegal to use on humans. You know that."

Grunting in pain as he sealed his wound with a swirl of his wand, Dumbledore admitted the truth of the matter. "You are not wrong, but I still find the use of those spells repugnant under any conditions." Testing his weight on his wounded leg, Dumbledore winced slightly. "I will have Poppy look at this after we've completed our extraction of the children. I won't need to be quick on my feet to bring down the wards, and it will keep until then."

A jet of flame from Dumbledore's wand immolated the monster's corpse, leaving a blackened patch of earth in the Weasley's backyard. Then the two made their way back inside to start planning the assault of the wards with Bill.

"So much for a safe plan Albus. There's a reason I always say constant vigilance, and it's not just to watch people jump when I shout it." Mad-Eye groused as he hobbled along.

Sighing Dumbledore agreed. "Yes Alastor, I am well aware that my own inattention is responsible for my injury."

-o-o-

"What was that thing anyway?" Wednesday asked with interest. "If we find another I think it would make a lovely pet."

Harry shrugged. "I don't know to be honest, I'm just glad Pugley found the little guy down here."

The couple were standing in the basement of Grimmauld Place, watching Puglsey try and pull himself out of the hole the quintaped had dragged him into earlier.

Pugsley had been spending time in the basement lately trying to catch various critters that had made the darkness their home. When Harry asked him if he had any ideas about sending a creature by portkey, the Addams boy had immediately thought of the playful five legged monster. Upon trying to catch the beast, it had retreated into a hole in the foundation wall. Pugsley had poked his head in to see if he could coax the furry critter out, but had been pulled in by strong clubbed feet instead.

After the sounds of the two thrashing about, and the pitiful yipping of the quintaped, the scared monster scurried out of its lair only to be held fast by Pugsley's outstretched hand. Harry carefully opened one of the envelopes, and let the letter itself fall to land on the creature, warning Pugsley to let go at the last second. As the portkey landed on the quintaped, it vanished, leaving Pugsley in the awkward position of trying to crawl out of a hole too small for his husky body.

"How did it even pull you in?" Harry asked as he relented, and grabbed hold of one arm while Wednesday took the other.

"How should I know?" Pugsley said with irritation, he knew that smile earlier would lead to his humiliation.

They pulled hard, and the stuck boy came free, bringing a portion of the stonework with him.

Dusting themselves off, the three teenagers headed back to the main portion of the house. Pugsley pulling away, eager to work on the other favor Harry had asked of him. This one was more his style anyway.

Once Pugsley was out of earshot, Harry nervously asked, "So, your parents don't mind that we..."

"Had sex?" Wednesday finished his question. "No, why would they?"

Harry thought about all he knew about relationships, and realized he really didn't know anything. For all he knew it was expected that dating couples have sex. It would certainly explain some of the rumors flying about Hogwarts, not to mention Seamus Finnigan's boasting. "I guess I don't know." He admitted.

The walked in silence through the dark, damp basement until Harry brought up her change in hairstyle. "I like your hair, it makes you look older, more beautiful."

"It seemed like an appropriate change. After all, I'm hardly a child now." She said simply, then she looked at him with a gleam in her eye. "Of course that doesn't mean we can't still play."

Seemingly from nowhere, Wednesday produced her dagger, and a thin red line appeared on Harry's cheek. "Tag, you're it." She said with the corner of her mouth upturned as she melted into the shadows.

Harry laughed, and drew his own dagger, disappearing into the shadows as well.

-o-o-

Keeping his injured leg hidden, Dumbledore addressed those who would take part in the mission to 'rescue' the two teenagers.

"Thanks to the efforts of Mister William Weasley, I have a clear understanding of how we can safely breach the defenses of Grimmauld Place." He pointed with his wand at a simple map of the house that had been laid out on the Burrow kitchen table. "Remarkably, a direct assault through the front door, is the safest route. I will overcome the most dangerous of the wards with brute force. The amount of magic I will need to use to avoid dire repercussions will render me unable to assist any further. I will only be overwhelming the worst of the wards, so it is likely this 'pain ward' will still be standing."

Mad-Eye took over, drawing different colored lines with his wand to indicate them spreading out once inside. "From what the youngest Weasleys say, the pain ward is just that, painful. We know it's there, so brace for it, and ignore it as you pass the threshold. Shacklebolt, you will take Jones and Arthur and go left as soon as you're in. Tonks, take the right with Diggle and Vance. Lupin, you're with me. We're going straight down the center."

"Once we're in, we don't know what will be waiting for us." Mad-Eye warned. "Stun anything that moves, and that includes the children. We can't be certain they're not imperiused. Remember, Potter and Lovegood are our only concern. Use your portkeys to escape if things get too hot, and remember to send out the signal if you've captured either child. A cannon blast charm for Potter, and a shrill whistle for the Lovegood girl. As soon as you hear both signals, get out of there."

Looking around the room, Mad-Eye asked, "Any questions?"

He was met with silence, all those present had stoney resolve etched into their faces.

-o-o-

The inhabitants of Grimmauld Place thought nothing of the entire house shaking, and ignored it, figuring either Pugsley or Fester was having fun. Frustrated with his inability to navigate Luna's house, Kreacher had returned to take the girl with him to gather her belongings, and as a result, neither were present. The only one there capable of understanding what had actually happened was Harry, and he was preoccupied at the time.

The front door blew in off of its hinges, and members of the Order of the Phoenix poured inside. Mad-Eye and Lupin were immediately confronted with the odd sight of the door standing upright in the middle of the entrance way.

The door slowly toppled toward them, revealing the imposing form of the Addams butler. Lurch looked at the two wizards, confusion evident on his face. Wasting no time, both wizards cast multiple stunners which caused the butler to fall backward, hitting the floor with a resounding thud.

After they had run by him, Lurch slowly picked himself up, and shrugged. He then picked up the heavy wooden door, and set about fixing it back in place.

-o-o-

Shacklebolt's team encountered Gomez and Morticia waltzing without music, completely absorbed in each others gaze. Calling for stunners from his team, the powerful auror instead summoned ropes to bind the two dancers. The force from the spells sent the lovers crashing into a glass cabinet. Upon seeing their successful hits, the three pressed on in their search for the children, completely ignoring the toddler who was playing off to the side. Arthur couldn't help but wonder if they were doing the right thing as from his point of view they had just attacked a loving couple with a small child.

"Querida, are you hurt? Is the glass tearing at your flesh as it is mine? My dear, are you in agony?" Gomez asked with a romantic tone.

"Mmm." Mortica moaned. "Oui mon cher."

They felt the ropes go slack, and looked down to see Pubert holding a large shard of glass.

Gomez grinned, proud of his son. "Well done Pubert!" He leaped to his feet, and pulled a rapier from its display on the wall.

"There are invaders in our home Gomez, our lives are in danger. Just think of the children." Morticia said while still lying among the broken glass.

"I know, just think what fun they'll have." He pulled his wife to him, spinning her into his arms, then held the sword upright in anticipation. "The game is afoot! Come my love, let us hunt." He exclaimed, swinging the rapier to point where the strangers had gone.

The two swept out of the room hand in hand. Pubert ran along behind them, giggling while waving his glass shard trying to imitate his father's swordplay.

-o-o-

Tonks and her team encountered a sight that would haunt them for some time. They heard a high pitched scream from a closed room, and burst in, fearing the Lovegood girl was being tortured. Instead they saw a sickly pale woman who'd been shaved bald, tied down to a table. A hideous looking man with a twisted smile and a mad look in his eyes, held a fireplace poker that glowed cherry red over the bound woman. The bald man matched the description the Weasleys had given of the wizard seen with Harry.

A sickened Dedalus Diggle cast his stunner a split second before the outraged witches cast bludgeoning hexes. Fester dropped the poker, and was blown through the door, and into the adjoining room.

Dementia shrieked in outrage at the interruption, but her cries were misinterpreted. Emmaline rushed to her side, and in a soothing voice said, "Shh, it's alright. You're safe now."

Once the witch had released her from her bonds, Dementia rolled off the table, and sprang back up with the fallen poker already in motion. Enraged at the strangers for stopping Fester when she'd been so close, she swung the still burning poker, and caught the witch that untied her full in the face.

A blinding pain, and Emmaline was face down on the floor. Her jaw and cheekbone felt broken, and she could smell burning flesh. Terror gripped her as she realized she couldn't say the activation word to use her portkey, and she whimpered piteously in both pain and fear.

Realizing their terrible mistake of not stunning everyone like Mad-Eye had demanded, and that Emmaline was seriously hurt, she called out to Dedalus even as she began flinging curses at the insane woman. "Diggle! Get her out of here, now!"

Dedalus threw himself toward the injured witch, and grasped her arm tightly. "Egress!" He shouted, and the two of them vanished.

Tonks threw curse after curse at the deranged woman. Soon Dementia was pinned to the wall, and held in place by the table which had been transfigured into several iron straps. Taking a moment to catch her breath, Tonks soon found her arms pinned to her sides by incredibly strong hands.

After he had finished coughing up blood from the savage hexes he'd been struck by, Fester had made his way back to his wife. There he saw the pink-haired witch subduing his Dementia. Fun is fun, but he was in the middle of something, so he grabbed the small woman, intent on kicking out the intruder.

As easily as she would move a quaffle, Tonks found herself lifted up, and carried back through the house. In the foyer a tall man, at least she thought is was a man, was re-securing the front door in place. Her view of the door disappeared as whoever was carrying her lifted her above their head, and threw her into the street feet first. This time through it, the pain ward caught her off guard, and as a result she landed poorly, breaking her leg and knocking her head on the street forcefully. With a groan, she reached into her pocket and said, "Egress." The portkey activated, and she was whisked to the Hogwarts infirmary.

-o-o-

Shacklebolt's team was having no luck finding anyone else since their initial encounter. Worse, they found themselves progressing at a crawl, as there was no light in the part of the house they were in. They were forced to rely on wandlight provided by Arthur, and the other two kept their wands ready to respond to any threats. Unfortunately, every attempt to light any of the torches or candles was stymied by a fowl wind that periodically blew through the halls, likely caused by some kind of mischievous poltergeist.

They turned a corner, and saw the woman they had previously subdued standing in the hall. She held a single candle, shielding it from the wind that blew ominously around her. Between her long dark hair blowing toward them, and the glow of the candlelight, she looked inhuman. She looked at them with a dark smile, and pinched out the flame with her thumb and forefinger. Without the candlelight, she melted into the shadows, and could not be seen.

A door slammed behind them, causing them to jump and turn around. Then the sound of little feet ran across the hall where they had seen the woman.

Hestia screamed, and fell to the floor. Her wand slipped from her grasp, and rolled out of her reach as some unseen force dragged her into the darkness. Flailing and kicking madly, she disappeared from sight, and soon her screams were cut off abruptly.

Before either wizard could react, Arthur screamed in pain, and crumpled to the ground clutching at his legs.

"Enough!" Roared Shacklebolt as he lit the walls themselves on fire to illuminate the hall.

The firelight revealed a young boy, a toddler, clutching a shard of broken glass. The glass was dripping blood, and it was clear the child had severed Arthur's Achilles tendons.

The man from before stepped into view behind the child. Holding his sword low he advanced. His wild eyes and manic grin were accentuated by the fire, and an icy fear gripped the auror's heart.

Surrounded and clearly outmatched, Shacklebolt swore, and grabbed Arthur as well as his own portkey. In an instant they were both gone.

-o-o-

In the Hogwarts Infirmary, Shacklebolt and Diggle rushed around helping Madam Pomfrey wherever they could. Both wizards felt immense guilt that they were unscathed, while everyone else was suffering.

Tonks sat upright in one of the beds, her injuries were minor all things considered, and she was furious with herself for allowing her team to fail so spectacularly. Shacklebolt's assurance that he fared no better did little to sooth her crushed ego.

Emmaline and Arthur were both in a forced slumber to allow Pomfrey's magic time to heal their more brutal wounds.

Hestia had thankfully been able to escape, but not before receiving literally hundreds of cuts all over her body. She had no idea what had happened, and gladly accepted the offered sleeping draught to escape the pain of everything hurting.

Dumbledore looked around sadly from his own bed. How had things gone so poorly? He had temporarily collapsed the wards, as was planned, and both he and the wards would take at least a full day to recover. This was expected, and accounted for. The resistance that the Order met inside Grimmauld Place was unbelievable though. The only hope he could cling to was that Alastor and Remus had yet to return.

Almost as if summoned, Mad-Eye appeared. Barely conscious, bound by rusty chains, and missing both his prosthetic eye and leg, the ex-auror lay beaten and bloody on the infirmary floor. His last words before falling unconscious were: "They've got Lupin."

-o-o-

Author's note: I'm sorry for the cliffhanger, honest. I just couldn't help myself.

I'm really looking forward to reading what everyone thinks about the Order's failed attempt to 'rescue' Harry and Luna. I had a lot of fun writing it.