Whoa, guys, thanks for the reviews! I posted the story and logged off at 2:15 PM on the 22nd, and when I got back on three hours later, I had 6 reviews! Thank you!

Also, thanks to the reviewers who took a chance at guessing, a lot of you were right!

I have some GOOD news and some BAD news:

GOOD: I will be posting a new story soon... well, not really a story. It's a series of newspapers from the Marauder's seventh year, called the Lion's Den. It's a Gryffindor-only paper, and I personally think it's going to be funny. Also, updates for this story won't be delayed by the new one.

BAD: We're reading Frankenstein in English, and it takes me forever to read crap I don't like, and I particularly hate this book. So that will delay updates a bit.

Well, I don't want to hold up the chapter any longer... so here it is, chapter two! Hope you guys like it!

Chapter Two:

Of Kidnaps and Newspaper Stories

by PotterScar

"M'lord," Orion Black began, as he knelt at a handsome man's feet, "Sirius is considering the position."

"Excellent," the handsome man said in a cold, otherwise emotionless voice. "I have been told of his great talent. He will be a welcome asset to the Death Eaters after he leaves Hogwarts."

"Of course, m'lord," Orion agreed, looking up at his master. "Is Sirius the only child?"

"Of course not," Lord Voldemort snapped. "Three Durmstrang students have also agreed. We are also going to be taking some in by... force," he said, his voice saturated with glee.

Orion looked startled, as did many other Death Eaters. "Like who, m'lord?" Sebastian Lestrange asked, bravely voicing the question others were wondering.

"Nott, Malfoy, and Hollington know, and they are all that need to," Voldemort said coldly in response, and Lestrange looked apologetic.

"Of course, m'lord, please forgive me," he mumbled, bowing slightly, nervousness lacing his features.

"This once, Lestrange. Next time you speak out of line, I will not be so lenient," Voldemort hissed, his black eyes narrowed at the stocky, well-built man, who nodded fervently.

"You are dismissed," he said, turning away from the dozen Death Eaters that made up his "inner circle": Sebastian Lestrange, Abraxas Malfoy, Edward Nott, Orion Black, Keith Hollington, Matthew Zabini, Kevin Bullstrode, Percival Parkinson, Eric Avery, Jonathan Richardson, Jasper Quentin, and Stuart Vixen.

Hollington, Malfoy, and Nott shuffled out together into the hall as the other Death Eaters dispersed, some taking Floo and others Apparating. Orion bid them a good day, before he Disapparated back home, before he would go to work.

"We need to find that stupid boy," Hollington hissed to Nott and Malfoy, who nodded quickly. Malfoy ran his hand through his cropped blonde hair.

"We've got a street, right?" The other two nodded. "Okay, we look at every house in that neighborhood. The biggest one is bound to belong to them..."

Nott and Hollington grinned. "Let's go now and get the job over with," Nott whispered, ready to Disapparate, but Malfoy grabbed his arm.

"No, you idiot! This has to be planned!" Malfoy snapped at Nott, who nodded meekly.

"Okay, then. We find out the house, and we wait until the entire family is home. Maybe we can kill off that stupid Daniel Potter too, or maybe his pretty little wife," Hollington hissed, an evil grin on his face.

"Don't get too wrapped up in your excitement, Keith," Malfoy warned. "We're there for the boy, James, and nothing else."

Nott furrowed his brow. "Why does he want that brat so badly?" he asked, 'he' being the Dark Lord.

"He's a pureblood and talented, just like Black's kid. Our Lord most likely believes that with a little work, we can turn him. It shouldn't be too hard," Hollington said with a shrug.

"Alright, then, come to my house, nobody'll be home; Lucius and his mother are in Italy, or somewhere close to there," Malfoy said with a shrug, sounding as if he didn't know and didn't care. "We can properly plan this thing out and hopefully execute it by next week."

"Perfect," Nott and Hollington chorused, and on that note, the three Death Eaters left.

Daniel Potter hurried through the Ministry, his black-and-gold work robes billowing behind him as he half-walked, half-ran to the Department of Mysteries.

"In a hurry, Daniel?" asked a smooth voice behind him, with a slight chuckle. Daniel nearly groaned, turning around to face Orion Black. The normally sullen man looked unusually giddy.

"Yes, there were a few murders last night," Daniel said tiredly, itching to finish his job so he could get back home to James and Michelle.

"Ah, yes, the Zaytons. Horrible," Orion said, but he didn't look the least bit sorry. Daniel raised one eyebrow silently, looking at the other man eye-to-eye.

"Any reason you're so happy?" Daniel asked flatly, and Orion's smirk just grew wider.

"Oh, nothing. I'm attending a rather exciting event tonight, and I'm just looking forward to it so much," he said, and glee danced in his normally cold gray eyes. "Well, I must be off, lots to do. Goodbye, Daniel." With that, he left Daniel Potter.

Daniel shook his head. The way he'd said "goodbye" to him, it had a finality about it...

Shaking it off, Daniel followed the hall Orion took, leading him to the Department of Homicides, thoughts buzzing around his head wildly.

"Oi! Potter!" shouted a voice. Daniel bit back a groan; was he ever going to get the work he needed to do done? Turning around, he caught sight of Alastor Moody, a new addition to the Auror force, striding down the hallway after him.

"A letter came into the Auror department for you," Moody said stiffly, handing Daniel the letter. "It's gone through inspection and all, it's jinx free," he said in a matter-of-fact voice. "Say hi to the misses for me," he said, turning to take his leave.

"Of course," Daniel replied absently, turning the letter over in his hands. The writing on the front was only slightly familiar and in a loopy, slightly slanted scrawl, stating his name and occupation. A memory stirred in him, but he couldn't quite place where he'd seen the handwriting before.

Daniel Potter
Unspeakable
Department of Mysteries
Ministry of Magic
South London

Daniel turned it over again, not noticing that Moody had left him. A old-fashioned wax seal closed the envelope, and suddenly, Daniel grinned. The seal was a serpent, lion, eagle, and badger surrounding an H.

Wedging his finger under the envelope flap, he unstuck the seal, withdrawing the thick parchment letter.

Daniel,

Spies in Voldemort's circle have gotten wind of an attack on a Wizarding family. I have sent a letter not only to you, but to the Lupin, Weasley, Prewett, McKinnon, Fenwick, Trenton, and Susanna families. I would not worry too much about it, but be prepared. Enclosed is a guide on protecting you and your family that may come in handy, but always use your first instinct.

Sincerely,
Professor Dumbledore

Daniel's eyes widened in worry as he read the letter, and suddenly, he realized why Orion had been so happy looking.

"That slimy bastard," Daniel growled under his breath, before stuffing the letter in his pocket and power-walking the rest of the way to the Department of Homicides, determined to finish his filing quickly so he could go home and protect his family.

"Remus, could you help me clean up the dishes?" called Sarah Lupin to her son, who was curled up on the couch in the living room, doing his Transfiguration homework.

"Be right there, Mum," Remus hollered back, standing up and tossing his textbook, parchment, ink bottle, and quill to the side (thankfully, the ink bottle was corked). As he started to leave the living room, he heard a noise behind him, coming from the fireplace. Turning around, he stared at the black, ash-filled brick fireplace, not seeing anything. Just as he was about to turn around, green flames erupted in the grate, and a small envelope was suddenly catapulted into the room.

"Er... Mum?" he called out to the kitchen, leaning over and tentatively picking up the thick, parchment envelope. It looked so much like his Hogwarts letter. On the front, it said,

Blake and Sarah Lupin
Kitchen and Bedroom
9087CanusRoad
Outside of London
England

"Yes, dear?" Sarah asked, striding out to the living room where her son stood, turning an envelope over in his hands. "What's that?"

"I dunno... it just sort of popped out of the grate after a bunch of Floo flames appeared..." he said, handing the letter to his mother.

Sarah glanced at the address, before shouting up the stairs, "Blake, honey, come down here!"

There were a few muffled thumps, some cursing, a door opening and closing, and then some more thumps as tall, brunette Blake Lupin trotted down the stairs, looking sleepy.

"Yes?" he asked sleepily, and Sarah merely thrust the letter at him. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, he read the letter, his blue eyes beginning to widen in alarm.

"Why would they –" he started, but halted when Sarah looked pointedly at Remus. "Leave, Remus," Blake said, and Remus quietly complied, leaving his book and homework behind and leaving the room.

"Why would they want to attack us?" Blake continued to his wife, unaware that his son was crouched at the door, listening. "I mean, we're just poor half-bloods, what would they want with us?"

"Dear, it's probably just a false alarm," Sarah said softly. "He listed other families here too, the Prewetts, the Weasleys, the Potters..."

Remus gasped softly, getting up and running back to his room.

Daniel hurriedly signed out at the front desk, grabbing his cloak out of the hall closet and tossing it hurriedly over his shoulders, clasping the silver hook at the neck and grabbing a handful of glittery green powder out of the Floo pot and tossing it into one of the fireplaces. Stepping into the flames, he cried out, "Number 8, Snidget Boulevard!"

He stumbled out of the grate of his house, immediately looking around himself worriedly.

Relax, you old fool, Daniel thought to himself. The house, of course, was intact, and his son and wife were in the sitting room. James was scribbling on a piece of parchment, and a textbook was open in his lap, while Michelle was reading Witch Weekly.

"Hello, dear," Michelle greeted him. James smiled a half-smile, returning to his homework quickly.

Daniel forced a smile, throwing his cloak on the ground and lowering himself onto his chair shakily. Michelle watched him closely, concerned. "Daniel, honey, are you alright?" she asked, putting down her tabloid.

"Yeah, I'm –" Daniel said, but was cut off by an explosion in the front of the house. James jumped, looking alarmed, while both of the Potter parents jumped to their feet, withdrawing their wands.

There was another explosion, and the door of the sitting room. Michelle shrieked, James tossed his homework to the ground, fishing around in his pockets for his wand, and Daniel stood protectively in front of his family as dark, cloaked figures streamed into the room, numbering about ten.

"All we want is the boy," the one in the front growled. He was standing near a significantly shorter figure that was shifting nervously from foot to foot.

"James?" Daniel asked, shocked, and the Death Eater in the lead took advantage of the opportunity, throwing a Dark curse his way. Unable to block it in time, Daniel Potter crumpled to the ground.

Michelle whimpered, though she shoved her son, who had his wand out, behind her.

"Move, you silly woman," another Death Eater growled, as the men had their wands on the quivering lady, but Michelle would not move aside.

"Move and we won't hurt you!" he barked again, but Michelle still refused to move aside and let her son be taken... or worse.

"Fine then," the Death Eater huffed, sounding annoyed, before waving his wand. The nonverbal curse sent Mrs. Potter sprawling.

James was now backed up against the wall, feebly trying to curse the Death Eaters, who began to laugh. The shortest one backed up several steps, shaking.

"Let's just grab him and get out of here," one of the Death Eaters growled, stepping forward and grabbing James' arm. The black-haired boy tried to pull away, but the Death Eater's grip was too strong.

Another Death Eater grabbed the short figure's arm, Disapparating, and the Death Eater with James left as well.

30 minutes earlier

"Sirius! Get down here immediately!" Orion Black cried up the stairs, shoving his Ministry cloak into the hall closet.

Sirius looked up from a book he'd been skimming. "Coming, Father!" he replied with a sigh, getting up and leaving his room, going out to the hall.

Orion Black turned to another person standing nearby behind him, his hands sweaty. Voldemort just looked rather bored, his black eyes flicking around the dark hallway.

"Nice place," he commented casually, only making Orion even more nervous. He felt like he was going to piss himself at any time.

He was saved the displeasure of responding by Sirius, who'd arrived. Orion was relieved at his choice of clothing; he feared the boy would be wearing some of his ridiculous Gryffindor paraphernalia. Thankfully, he was wearing a clean, simple black robe with silver trimming along the wrists, neck, and bottom. His hair wasn't neat, but it was still elegantly falling around his face as he looked curiously at the handsome man that was not his father.

"Sirius, meet the Dark Lord Voldemort," Orion coolly introduced. Sirius' eyes widened, and Orion felt his heart nearly stop. No, boy, don't lose control of your emotions!

Sirius somehow managed to contain his shock, and his eyes ceased to widen, returning to indifference with some respect glittering in his eyes as he shook the Dark Lord's hand. Orion breathed a silent sigh of relief.

"Sirius," began Voldemort, "your father tells me you are considering my program for children wishing to be future Death Eaters?"

"Yes, sir," Sirius said quietly, his eyes flicking to his father, then back to the Dark Lord, who looked satisfied.

"Are we taking him along?" Orion inquired, looking at his Lord, who seemed to analyze Sirius, before flicking one long, thin finger. Instantly, a set of black robes was conjured up, and Sirius caught them instinctively before they hit the ground.

"Bring him to the house," he emphasized the two words, "in those robes. He shan't participate, but he will watch and learn how a proper raid is done." With that, Voldemort disappeared.

"Boy, get down here, NOW!" Orion Black hollered up the stairs. Instead of black-and-gold Ministry robes, he was wearing simple black robes. His hood was up, ominously masking his face.

Sirius nearly tripped and fell down the stairs in his haste. His black robes were a tad too loose, but he'd get over it. He wasn't quite in the mood to infuriate his father.

"Finally!" Orion said, sharply slapping his son. Sirius yelped slightly, stumbling back; that would leave a nasty bruise.

"Let's go!" Orion said, firmly grabbing his son's arm. Sirius winced; his father's nails were digging into his arm.

A second later, Sirius experienced the oddest sensation as his father preformed Side-Along-Apparition.

The only way Sirius could describe Apparition was being forcibly shoved into a tiny tube the size of a Sickle. It was extremely uncomfortable, in other words. Sirius found himself almost glad when he appeared in a large, dark chamber.

About eight or so Death Eaters were milling around boredly, while Voldemort talked to three of them.

Orion dragged Sirius around, introducing him to the other Death Eaters of the Inner Circle, and soon, Voldemort waved his wand. There was a loud cracking noise, silencing everyone instantly.

"You know where to go," he said. The silence in the room was so absolute that the Dark Lord's quiet voice echoed and rang, reverberating off of rafters and the dark, moldy walls. "Go," he said simply, and Orion pushed Sirius' hood up, before preforming Side-Along-Apparition once again.

"Come on," he beckoned, and Sirius followed him up a tall hill, all the while squinting around him in the night. They were in a high-class neighborhood. Every house had lights on, and families were around their kitchen tables, enjoying dinner and family time. Sirius felt soothed by the comfortable atmosphere... well, until his father told him to get a move on "or else".

The small troop moved up the grassy hill, moving up to a large mansion. The lights were on, and in the sitting room window, there was a fire roaring in the gate, with three people sitting around it. Sirius couldn't get a good view of them.

"Father," Sirius said, trying to get a better look in the window, "who are those people?"

"The Potters," Orion said offhandedly, unaware of Sirius and James' friendship. Sirius' eyes widened, and he turned to look at his father so fast his neck cricked.

"Wh... what?" he whispered, looking horrified, though it was hidden by the mask. Orion turned to look at his son.

"The Potters," he repeated, his eyes narrowing. "You wouldn't have happened to make any personal connections with their son, James?" His tone was threatening.

"Of... of course not," Sirius choked, his heart wrenching painfully. Suddenly filled with shame, he turned his face towards the ground, and didn't look up until they'd appeared at the front door.

"Shall I?" Hollington smirked, and Abraxas Malfoy nodded his head slightly, giving him the go-ahead. Hollington raised his wand, and murmured, "Reducto," quietly, breaking the slightly uneasy silence that drifted over the group of Death Eaters; this was the biggest mission that they'd had yet. Attacking an old Wizarding family... many of the Death Eaters secretly thought that the Dark Lord was asking for trouble.

The door exploded open, and there was no sound coming from the sitting room other than someone jumping swiftly from a chair. Malfoy crossed the hallway to where he knew the sitting room was, holding his wand to the door and stating, "Reducto!" His voice was filled with excitement, and Sirius shivered.

I'm sorry, James, he thought to himself, dropping back as James' mother shrieked and his father jumped protectively in front of his small family as James searched his pockets for his wand. Sirius nearly smiled.

Arrogant James, he thought affectionately, but his thoughts were cut short by his father's voice.

"All we want is the boy." Sirius' father's voice sounded significantly different. Instead of smooth and sophisticated, it sounded rough and savage.

"James?" Daniel Potter asked, confusion written all over his face. Sirius felt his stomach lurch, and suddenly, Sirius' father threw a Dark stunning curse at Daniel, and the older man crumpled to the ground.

Sirius couldn't help but throw an (unseen) glare at his father.

Michelle jumped in front of her son, whimpering slightly, and Sebastian Lestrange growled, "Move, you silly woman." Every Death Eater had their wand on Michelle, but the quivering woman would not move.

"Move and we won't hurt you!" Sebastian barked, anger filling his voice, but the determined woman wouldn't move away from her son. Sirius lowered his eyes to his feet, unwilling to watch, as angry tears filled his eyes.

"Fine then," Sebastion huffed, sounding irritated, before waving his wand wordlessly. The nonverbal curse sent James' mother sprawling to the ground. Sirius bit hard on his lower lip, trying to keep himself from crying out, before he chanced a look up again.

James was now backed up against the wall near the fireplace, trying to curse the Death Eaters. James, as a first year, didn't know any effective curses, and sadness filled Sirius' heart as the Death Eaters began to laugh. He backed away, ashamed. He was a horrible friend.

"Let's just grab him and get out of here," Percival Parkinson, whose temper was not to be messed with, snapped, stepping forward and grabbing James' arm tightly. James tried to pull away, but Parkinson's grip was too strong.

Orion's arm snaked from his side, grabbing his son's upper arm and preforming Side-Along-Apparition again. Sirius saw Parkinson Apparate with James, before he was sucked into the tiny tube once again.

July 7th, 1972

POTTER KIDNAPPED

The Potter home on Snidget Boulevard was attacked last night. Daniel Potter (58) and his wife Michelle Potter (56) suffered minor injuries, though they went through the worst thing that could ever happen to a parent: the loss of a child.

James Potter, 12, was kidnapped by the Death Eaters see page 5 for more information, who were also responsible for the murder of the Zayton family.

The Potters request that if anyone has any information, they write them immediately. "We just want our son back," Michelle Potter choked through tears.

For more information on Lord Voldemort, see page 6
For contact information, see next page

Wow, that was hard to write. I worked on it every day for a week! Wow!

Hope y'all had a satisfying Thanksgiving, I sure did! I ate half a pie by myself!

Coming in Chapter Three: The search for James Potter begins, Sirius has a fight with his father, leaving him in terrible condition, and Lord Voldemort wants Sirius as a Junior Death Eater. Will Sirius refuse?

Later,

PotterScar