"So, you've been recruited to go too," Ron asked Harry.

"Like I have much of a choice." He was still checking papers. "McGonagall won't go anywhere without me anymore."

"They'll have so many aurors in Hogsmeade. I don't know why she bothered letting any of them go. They're not going to have any fun with us hovering over them."

"They won't have any fun if they're attacked by death eaters either."

"Good point." They were quiet for a second. "I heard James was really angry when you told him he couldn't go."

"Where'd you hear that?"

"My kids tell me everything. He's been storming around like the world hates him all week."

"He just doesn't understand the seriousness of the situation."

"Yeah, he thinks you hate him."

"I thought the same thing when I couldn't go. Some things you just have to let them learn on their own."

"You never gave him that map, did you?"

"Nope."

"Good."

"Could you imagine?" Harry laughed. "I was bad with that thing. He would go insane."

"He isn't quite as bad as we were, though."

"But he also doesn't have a group of psychos chasing him."

Ron laughed. "I've heard he does get into trouble. Some of your genes got there somehow."

"A lot of Ginny's overrode mine." They both laughed. Suddenly, an owl flew past the window and threw a paper at Ron's head. "What's that?" Harry asked.

"Special edition – more about death eaters." Harry signed and shook his head. "Wait. Something about Bellatrix."

"What?" Harry stopped and got up, going behind Ron to read it as well.

"They have some master plan," Ron read. "Look, they mentioned you. They wonder if the plan has something to do with you."

"I wouldn't be surprised."

"But – they couldn't use you again, could they? There aren't any spells like that…"

Harry sat back down at his desk. "I don't know. They usually leave hints of what they're doing – even if they don't know it. This time though, they're covering their tracks well."

"When was the last time you saw Bellatrix?"

Harry thought for a second. "Years ago, I think. About… seventeen years, maybe."

"That long ago?"

"Yeah. She… well, we were in Diagon Alley – Ginny and I. And Bellatrix came out of some hole in the wall and took Ginny. I went after her, and then… she just let Ginny and I go. It was really odd now that I think about it."

"Did she say anything?"

"Not really. Some mumbling about something crazy. Something about Voldemort and 'in time'. I don't know. I thought she had finally lost it."

"In time?"

"She was excited when she saw Ginny. Then she said something like that… I don't know what it's supposed to mean."

"Seventeen years ago – that's when we were first in ministry school."

"Yeah." Harry stared at his desk and thought. Why would Ginny be so exciting to her? She just let us go… Ginny and 'in time'…. "Oh my -"

"What?"

"I think I figured it out. She didn't want me or Ginny. But she knew that we were together…"

"And she knew eventually you would reproduce."

"Yes. She doesn't want me – she wants my children." He swore under his breath. "That's why McGonagall wanted me here. I could have just done guard duty like you and everyone else, but she wants me here all the time. She must have thought that they would be after my kids. If I'm here, they would never attack. She acted like she wanted to help me out… wow, she's good."

"And they can't get at the ones at home, because nothing is getting in that house. So they would have to lure the ones here out."

"Hogsmeade." Harry sighed. "I have to go tell Ginny." He got up and headed for McGonagall's office. She had the only fireplace that he could use.

Ron got up as well and followed him. "What about going on the Hogsmeade trip? They're leaving in a few minutes."

"It can wait." He hurried up the stairs and walked into McGonagall's office without knocking. Ron came in behind him.

"Potter," McGonagall said, coming down from her desk. "What-?"

"I need the fireplace," Harry said quickly, and went to it. He stuck his head in and found home. Ginny was in the kitchen, cooking. "Ginny!"

She jumped and dropped the pot she was carrying. "Harry? What-?"

"Where are the kids?"

"Upstairs. Why? What's wrong?" She kneeled down beside the fire.

"Keep them here. Don't let them outside."

"Why?"

"And tell Hermione to bring hers over. She might need the protection too."

"Protection from what? What's going on?"

"I figured out what Bellatrix needs."

She was quiet for a minute. Then... "No – not -?"

"Yeah. Keep them inside. I'm sending some of the Order over to stay with you until I can get there."

"Alright, but – Harry, be careful. Oh, why are you always chasing the bad guys?"

"I'll stop chasing them as soon as they stop chasing me. I'm going to get Molly and James and bring them home. They'll be safer there."

"You can't take them out of school."

"I'd rather them be alive than smart. Then, I guess I'll have to go persuade Bellatrix to give up her plans. I have to go take care of this now, before it gets out of control."

"Okay. Harry?"

"What?"

"Be careful."

"I'm always careful."

"You've said that before."

"It will be okay, I promise. I have to get going."

"I love you."

"I love you too. I'll be there soon, don't worry." He pulled his head back. McGonagall was staring at him. "Headmistress – I'm sorry, but I don't think I can teach for you anymore."

"It's about time."

"I – what?"

"I was wondering when you were going to leave. The other professor has been ready since October. You could have left at any time."

"You were just keeping me here for protection?"

"Quite sneaky of me, wasn't it?" She smiled at him. It reminded Harry of Dumbledore's smile – that one where he knew something but wouldn't tell you. It was creepy.

"I'm taking Molly and James home."

"I'm sure you could teach them all they need to know." She smiled again. This is very odd, Harry though. He turned to leave, when he heard someone running quickly up the stairs. Molly burst through the door and ran to her father. She was in tears. Another girl with blond and red hair came in behind her.

"Molly." Harry stooped down a bit so that he could look at her. "What is it?"

"It – I -" She was crying so hard that she could barely talk.

"Calm down. Just tell me what happened."

The other girl spoke: "Professor, we tried, but he wouldn't listen."

"James -" Molly mumbled.

"What about James?"

"He -"

"He went to Hogsmeade," the other girl finished.

"What?"

Molly continued. "He told me last weekend that he was sneaking in. He told me not to tell you, but I -" she started crying again.

"It's okay. I'll take care of it."

"He'll murder me when he finds out I told you."

"He won't be able to once I'm through with him. Now, I need you to stay here, with the Headmistress, until I come back, okay?" He lead her to McGonagall, who was at her desk again. "Just stay right here, and I'll be back." He made her sit down, and then turned again to leave. He grabbed the other girl and took her with him. Ron followed him.

"Do you like licorice?" McGonagall asked Molly. It seemed to calm her down a bit.

"Scary," Ron said as they walked down the stairs.

"Very scary," Harry agreed.

"What's scary?" the girl asked.

"You talked to James about this?" Harry asked her as they walked down the hall quickly.

"Well, more like he told me…"

"Did he say where he was going out at?"

"What?"

"Did he say where he's going out at?" Harry repeated, somewhat annoyed.

"I -"

"Relax, mate, she doesn't know," Ron said, from behind them.

"How do you know him?"

"We're on the quidditch team together. Please, sir, he was telling John and me about his plan…"

"Plan?" They were at his office by now. They stopped in front of the door.

"Yeah. And then, he just got up and left. John followed him. Then, Molly told me what he had said earlier, about sneaking in, and I though we should tell someone before he got himself hurt."

"What's your name?" Harry asked her.

"Katie, sir. From your class on Monday afternoons."

"Oh, yes, Katie. Go back up and stay with Molly. She'll need the support. Stay with the headmistress until I come back." Katie nodded and left quickly.

The Map was in his desk. If James was still in the castle, or in one of the passages out, he would be able to see him.

When he opened his office door, everything was in disarray. Someone had plowed through and thrown the things on his desk everywhere. He pulled out the map, and noticed – "It's on. Whoever made this mess came to see the map, and they forgot to turn it off."

He scanned the map quickly. Most of the dots were in the common rooms. A small group was heading out – that must be the sixth and seventh years leaving. McGonagall and Molly were still in the office. Katie was heading back up. No one was in the passages, but right next to the one eyed witch entrance was a spot that said John Weasley.

"Somebody's in trouble," Ron mumbled. They ran quickly to the witch statue, knocking over more than a few students in the process. They found John standing next to the statue, looking worried. "John -"

He jumped. "Dad –I-"

"Where's James?" Harry asked.

"He went in the statue. I was going to follow him, but it sealed itself shut. I can't get it open."

"You were going to sneak out too?" Ron asked.

"Well, yes, but only to watch out for him. I wasn't going to let him go alone. I thought maybe he'd wait for me to come in, but he's gone. I've already tried talking to him through the statue."

"How long ago did he leave?" Harry asked.

"Maybe twenty minutes ago."

Harry turned and ran for Hogsmeade. Ron followed, but had trouble keeping up. Harry had never felt himself run that fast before. When he reached the entrance to Hogsmeade, he stopped. Ron caught up, but was very much out of breath.

"Check every store," Harry said. "He has to be here somewhere. Or look for people hiding in dark places. If we can't find him, we can find the death eaters first." They went in and out of every store. There weren't many people, probably because of the death eater warnings. Eventually they reached Fred and George's store.

"What do you two want?" Fred asked as they came in.

"Are you the reason we don't have any customers?" George asked. "It's really not nice of you. Who will buy all of our useless stuff?"

"Not to mention the useful stuff," Fred added.

"Oh yes, that too."

"We're looking for James," Harry said quickly.

"He wasn't allowed, was he?"

"He snuck out and I need to find him before a death eater does."

"Haven't seen him," Fred said. "I don't think he'd be stupid enough to come here."

Harry sighed and left the store again. Where could he be? They had checked every store. The only place left was the Shrieking Shack… I doubt he's there. Maybe he's still in the basement of Honeydukes. Ron came back out and joined Harry, and they turned and headed back, when there was a scream.

People were fleeing into stores. A group of hooded figures had come out of nowhere. They walked in a group with something in the middle. Harry ran after them.

The group began running quickly. Where are they going? he wondered. The apparation area, of course. There was one spot where you could apparate to and from in Hogsmeade, and it was at the end of the main road. That's where they're going

One of the death eaters turned and saw Harry coming after them. That made them move faster, and broke up the group a bit. Harry got a glimpse of what was in the center. It was a person….

Harry felt the bottom of his stomach fall out. James…

James saw him as well. "Dad!" he screamed, his voice cracking. His eyes looked scared, and he was thrashing around trying to get free, but they were holding him too tightly.

Harry ran faster. James managed to get his hand free and tried reaching for him. Harry pushed himself even more. He had never run that fast before. He was out of air, and his muscles were aching, but he kept going. Almost there….

"James."

"Dad!"

They disappeared.