A/N - Sorry for the wait. Here is the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

December 23, 1983

Two Weeks.

Two weeks since the attack at the ministry, two weeks since the Nine gave order to change the dimensional traveling laws, two weeks since the nine gave Harry Potter a pardon from the rigorous process they decided dimension travelers would have to take and two weeks that everyone in the British wizarding world held their breath. They could feel change coming upon them. So they waited with bated breath.

For Lily Potter it was two weeks of struggling to breathe as the world crumbled around her. In fact since the day of the attack Lily was quite sure that her lungs had suddenly become inadequate as they never seemed to supply her with enough air. Most days she could barely get herself to leave the couch where she had taken to sleeping seeing as she was two accustomed to having someone else in bed with her she couldn't find sleep.

For James Potter it was two weeks without a lick of sleep as he searched endlessly for Harry. He picked through every avenue, every contact to such a point he looks as he did the end of seventh year studying for newts ink rubbed so in to the back of his hand it had long since stained the skin and body taking any kip it could. A few days ago he was found taking a kip on the loo. Something that would have been funny if not the circumstances.

For Sirius Black it was two weeks of defining silence and running his body to the ground. He was doing as much as he could to help the Harry search despite not being personally involved. He would go to the office at the same time as before but he would stay later and avoid all contact with his friends. He was under no illusion that the current state of his friends was anyones fault but his own.

For Remus Lupin it was two weeks of wrestling with a wolf that was getting more anxious as the time passed. Moony was adamant about not losing the cub again and Remus was at the point where he almost stopped fighting back. Instead he tried to go about his days as normally as possible and prayed that the upcoming full moon would not be as bad as the first one after Halloween two years ago.

For Mary McDonald it was two weeks of avoiding certain parts of the hospital and fighting her own heart as not to loose hope. She knew that Harry had unmatchable magical ability and that he was unbelievably resilient and those were the two things she held to. Harry's magic would keep him relatively physically safe and his experience hopefully would... she had no idea.

For Regulus Black it was two weeks of twisted night terrors as he remembered every single muggle baiting run he was forced to attend and imagined Harry as the victim. Not wanting to push dreamless sleep doses Regulus would just lay in bed until Mary fell asleep before he slipped out and banged his head over the file he had trying to figure out where in the hell he had found that rune before.

For Marlene Black nee McKinnon it was two weeks of suspended anticipation, knowing that Harry would either be found or that the group would be forced to accept his loss once again and not knowing exactly how to handle that. She was doing her best to keep everyone afloat. Spending her days cooking or baking and having Andromeda watch Astraea for two hours each night as she traveled around and forced food into the mouths of her friends. She was stretched thin and didn't know how much longer she could last.

For Petunia Evans it was two weeks of question why she had never been told about her nephews return? Did they not trust her? What had her counterpart done that would make this Harry so scared of her? Why would anyone want to kidnap a three year old? And the one she tried to think of least, how a three year old could survive two weeks at the hands of Death Eaters.

For Nymphadora Tonks it was two weeks of praying that someone somewhere would come up with a viable lead so that everything would be able to even itself out. And that she could disguising herself as shady women and placing herself in death eater frequented pubs in hopes someone slipped up. Praying that someone would trip on their words and give her a lead. Not that just a prayer seemed even plausible even more.

For Severus Snape it was two weeks waiting for the green light to come. The boy who Lucius used to return the Dark Lord was given the horcrux by a counterpart of the dark lord they knew. This counterpart was much more interested in organized and orchestrated strikes not wanting to move until he ran through every possible trip up. To do this he needed a spy, and unfortunately for Snape his counterpart was no doubt a better spy than he and ever been.

For Amelia Bones it was two weeks of holding her niece just a little bit tighter each night. Pressing her lips just a little harder to her head each morning and going into work just a little later as she began to prepare herself for the worst case scenario.

For Freak and the two children who had recently moved from dungeon to dungeon it was two weeks of constant pain as they were used as target practice for itchy handed death eaters. The girl and the boy more so than Freak due to their unwavering and constant placement in-between themselves and whatever curse was meant for the small green eyed boy. Both knew they couldn't take every curse, but they could take most. Or at least more than Freak would be able to.

For Dumbledore and the other politicians it was two weeks spent waiting for the fallout that would surely come when the other shoe dropped. After all their Voldemort was known for his finesse not his patience.

Grimlard Place

December 23, 1983

Late Morning

Regulus Black sat silently at the edge of his porch step back slouched in a manner that would have seen him cursed if his mother was still alive. He watched a small bundle of green winter robes that was currently playing with its new child sized snitch as a bundle jumped around the snow covered lawn. If one where to inquire about the boy and or Regulus to the boy's parents they would be told to either sod off (seeing as his parent's hadn't ever been very catering and where not in the best of moods as late) or that the small boy was learning to be Lord Black, of the lesser black family. As the second son of a both a greater and lesser Black, Regulus, like his brother, was given the title Lord Black. He just didn't have to go through the majority of the pomp and circumstance his brother did considering his lesser Lord standing. He did however have to train the next Lord Black, as all young lords must be trained by a direct line of the name they are inheriting and despite having a Black for a mother the boy bared his father's surname.

Despite his 'duty' to the child Regulus had not really trained the boy at all yet. In fact most of the time he was handed the child for 'lessons' he just took the boy to Grimlard and let him play in the yard. Sure during lunch they would sit in the Family Tree room and Regulus would regale him with a tale of a Black family member, but mostly they just played. The boy was only three and a half after all. He did not know what his parent's expected him to learn.

"I caugh'dit, I really did, and I got it right in, in my hand. Did you see me Reggie!?" The boy screeched running at the man and wrapping himself around him. Regulus stiffened momentarily, he had never been one to initiate physical contact but growing up around his brother had gotten him quite used to the need for physicality after a long period of solitude. The three year old was similar in that aspect, a fault of his parents no doubt children should not be raised by house elves. Not that he had room to speak Kreature did raise him.

"I did see you Draco,"

"No you didn't!" The boy said with a pout as he rearranged himself to sit on Regulus' lap and pull the man's face to be in direct line with his own. "You was board-ing"

"Were brooding," Regulus corrected, "And no I wasn't,"

"Yuh Huh," The boy whined making Regulus raise an eyebrow.

"You wasn't,"

"Weren't,"

"Stop that!"

"Do not use that tone Draco Abraxius,"

"No! You just like Mummy 'n, 'n, 'n, 'n Daddy 'n the maskeded people, dey never want to pway e'der!" The boy said pushing himself up before running into the house. Regulus sat shocked for a minute before he pushed himself up and moved quickly grabbing the boy by the waist as he moved down the hallway and turning him around. Draco began to fight violently in his arms.

"Draco stop fighting me," Regulus said trying to adjust his grip on the squirming boy but not squeeze so much it harmed him.

"Yet me go!" Draco said his small fists pounding on Regulus's arms.

"Not until you talk," Regulus said and Draco lost his fight with in seconds before looking up with his blue eyes hidden behind pale lashes.

"You is not gonna li'then,"

"are not going to," Regulus corrected.

"See," Draco whined.

"Force of habit, Draco look I am sorry for being distant."

"O'tay,"

"Is there something you wanted to add to that?"

"So'wy for yelling at you." Draco said his voice small.

"Apology accepted, now Draco, please talk to me? I promise I will not even correct your grammar." Regulus promised, it took a few minutes before Draco let out a huff and his small shoulders shrugged in defeat.

"Mommy 'n Daddy have a yot of friends at the house, dey y'ike wearing masks 'n spendening a lot of time bowing to a guy who is yucky."

"Why, Draco, what makes this guy yucky?"

"He has snake eyes and don't have a nose. It look y'ike someone takeded it and didn't give it back. Dey keep calling him Lord but he never says it back, and aren't Lord's 'possed to address o'der Lords like dat."

"Yes, in proper situations. Is there anything else Draco, anything at all maybe about a boy."

"Well Dobby says that we can't play dungeon save anymore 'cause, 'cause Daddy is hiding bad kids down there again." At those words Draco was lifted into Regulus's arms and carried to the fireplace at speeds Draco, despite only being three years old, knew where improper. Regulus grabbed floo powder and yelled for "Black Cottage."

Black Cottage

December 23, 1983

Late Morning

Marlene McKinnon moved in a borderline lethargic pace as she watched where Astraea was coloring in a small notepad making a gift for 'E'yi,' who Astraea seemed to be quite concerned about. Not that Marlene disagreed after all Marlene was quite concerned about Lily as well. At the moment Marlene was baking up a storm. A nervous habit she had inherited from her governess as a child and sneaking more of the snacks than usual. She said it was to calm her own nerves but the past two or three early morning bathroom sessions had her nerves all but shot. The snacks she did not eat where packed into four different types of clear bags. She was ingroused in her work when she heard the floo roar to life.

"Marlene!" Regulus said his voice tight and pressed in a way that spoke to the man's urgency. It was not a common tone for the more collected of the Black brothers. In fact the tone itself was quite rare and worrisome enough to have Marlene set silent monitoring charms on both her daughter and the food and running to the living room.

Regulus stood holding on to a tuff of blonde hair Marlene had only seen in pictures. She could see the silent plea in his eyes. Something was pressing on his mind and whatever it is he did not want Draco around to see it. Reaching her arms out her picked the blonde boy from Regulus' arms and placed him on her hip.

"Draco, you behave now alright." He told the boy who pursed his lips in thought before nodding. "Sirius?"

"Work, Regulus are you alright."

"I will explain later." He said pressing his lips to the boy's blonde hair in an affectionate gesture Marlene had rarely seen the man share with anyone other than Astraea when she cried. Before she had time to question it he was gone. Marlene looked at the boy who began to squirm as soon as he saw Regulus leave.

"I'm Draco Lou'see'us Malfoy," The boy said offering a hand. "Who is, are," he corrected. "Who are you?"

"Marlene Black, it is very nice to finally meet you Draco. I have only heard good things."

"Mommy doesn't y'ike you." The boy informed. "But she do y'ike anybody so it okay." The boy placated a second later. Marlene reached her own hand out with a smile and the boy took it happily before the two began the walk back to the kitchen.

"Uncle Reggie got me a snitch, you wanna see me catch it?" The boy asked and for the first time in a few weeks Marlene let out a laugh so full she had to hide her snort.

"I would love to Draco,"

Ministry of Magic

Auror Department

December 23, 1983

Regulus moved so quickly though the ministry one would think him running in an unbecoming manner if they paid him any mind. Most did not though. A perk of looking so similar to his brother. Slipping into the auror department he keep an eye out for two people specially. The first he saw was a tuff of purple hair. Grabbing her arm he pulled her with him into Sirius office.

"Reggie," Sirius said his voice holding a question.

"Malfoy." Regulus said voice steady syllables thankfully coming out clear and concise despite the way they tripped over themselves to get out.

"What?" Nymphadora added last.

"Malfoy's are hording death eaters, and Voldemort more than likely…."

"Harry," Nymphadora's voice was soft and reflective and despite itself relieved.

"It's a good chance." Regulus conceded.

"How?"

"Draco, apparently he is feeling more left out than usual."

"We need to get James then right. Tell Scrimgeour and get a team together…"

"No," Sirius said breaking the two sided conversation with his sharp tone. Both Regulus and Nymphadora turned to him and watched in slight awe. As Sirius Black was curled over his desk a shaky hand pressing against the wood helping him stand. His voice seemed to be the strongest part of his body at the moment. Nymphadora found her voice first.

"Sirius,"

"Well tell James and Remus, we do this alone. Send for the Auror's after we have Harry."

"Sirius," Nymphadora repeated.

"To everyone else Harry is dispensable. We go first. We make sure he comes home." He said before pushing away from his desk and walking to the door. "Right now we have the advantage. No one else knows. We go tonight."

A/N – Before writers block knocks me out for the count I wanted to get this one out. Using Draco was an easy way to fix my problems, but I think he worked. I hope he did. I don't know. Next chapter they save Harry JYeyyy. I usually have a rough go of battle chapters so my fingers are crossed for a quick update. J