A/N - Hello lovely readers, I apologize in advance for the horrible action sequence that I attempted to gloss over in this chapter. I am not an action writer (though I seam to find myself writing action) though I do feel this is a better attempt than most.

Disclamer: I own nothing

Eynsworth Palace

December 23, 1983

Evening

Eynsworth Palace had not been the main residence for House Potter since the turn of the century, and even then it was not a home but more a fortress and hospital for those injured by the war of that time. Housing children, and the sick, using the 350,000 square feet floor plan to keep others safe. After the war it was used as a halfway house, for the families who had lost everything in the war. Families like the Eccles's, who had lost their patriarch to the fighting, and moved toward america to start anew. Or the Bayliss's who went from a family of seventeen before the war down to two in its wake. The house was their sanctuary for the last two years of the oldest girls Hogwarts schooling. Or the matriarch Lady Mawson who lived the rest of her life hidden behind the palace's castle, the line dying with her as all of her sons had already gone.

James's great grandfather, Thaddeus Stephen Potter made sure to regale all he could with him memories of the time. After the Potter line relocated to their ancestral home in Wilshire, Eynsworth became little more than a ballroom hall were all of the families large events were held. Christmas balls, Easter luncheons and so on. After James's parents, Charlus and Dorea died as the result of one such party during the war the annual celebrations came to a startling halt and Sirius was quite sure James had not been since that night. His pacing and twitching hands sealed it the fear James currently felt but at the moment, with so many similar fears running through his own head, Sirius was not sure what exactly was taking precedence in his friends mind.

It could be the half baked, hairbrained plan that they had thrown together.

It could be the fear that last time then had taken matters in their own hands like this it had not ended well.

It could be the fact that it was very possible one of them would not be returning, and the way his hazel eyes lingered on Regulus and Nymphadora the more he believed this was the case. Or maybe he was just being paranoid and projecting his fears onto his friend.

Regulus and Nymphadora were taking the biggest risk of all. James would be hidden by his invisibility cloak. Remus and Sirius disillusioned and hidden by less reliable invisibility cloaks. Remus would shaddow Nymphadora, who would look like Draco, and Sirius would shaddow Regulus. Making sure neither were alone should things take a turn for the worse. James would slip into the dungeons by way of of the kitchen and take care of who ever was down there. Get the kids and move and Remus would take care of the house elves. Giving James and escape route and then between James and Remus the children would be moved back to Eynsworth Palace and the ministry alerted.

This was the final moment the final battle. After this, if war was to rage again in the wizarding world, they agreed that they would pack up and leave it all behind. Leave the society that created a monster to deal with said monster themselves. They had already given too much to the war effort. They would not give one iota more. They just had to get through tonight. As Sirius looked on at the childish wonder that covered Draco's face as it lay half hidden in Regulus's shoulder as Nymphadora transformed to look like him he could not help but let out a sad smile of his own. A part of him wanted to grieve for this, for the cousin interaction that both of them had been deprived off because of their family. He did not allow himself to dwell on it though. There would be a time and a place, this was not it.

They were soldiers preparing for battle and the wear of the last war was palpable, more than that, it was visible.

Visible in the small shake of Regulus shoulders, in the uncharacteristic clinging to both Draco, who he had yet to set down, and Mary whose hand was probably slowly losing feeling.

Visible in the golden glint to Remus eyes showing how close Moony was to the surface and how much of his actions were being led by the wolf and not by the man Sirius knew so well.

Visible in the uninhibited fear that clouded the eyes of Nymphadora despite her attempts to make Draco chuckle. The fear that she would slip and be responsible for harm that the group felt. Fear that they would not be successful.

Visible in angry worry that pierced Petunia eyes as she kept her gaze on the far distant balcony. Sirius did not blame her, after all she was mad for good reason, the group had never worked on this small of a scale since the war started. There were always at least three more people, holding perimeter, providing back up, wands ready to fight if they were needed. But the addition of people made this plan more dangerous. More variables, more things that could go wrong. Therefore it would only be the five.

Visible in the way Marlene clutched to Astraea despite the childs wiggling to be let loose. In the clouded eyes as her brain ran through every worse case scenario.

Visible in the way Lily and Mary both fluttered around the house not thinking of anything but what was about to happen. Rather thinking of the fact this would be Harry's first christmas,

Visible in the undeniable weight that slumped all of their shoulders.

"We are ready," Sirius said after a few more moments. The resignation that flashed through each and every face as they said one last goodbye. Regulus, Sirius, James, Remus, and Nymphadora, who already shaped herself to look like Draco, moved toward the fireplace.

Malfoy Manor

December 23, 1983

Evening

"You are late Draco." Came the drawing tone as Regulus slowly stepped out of the fireplace making sure that the three disillusioned adults made it in before the floo was closed.

"That was my fault Lucius, Draco was regaling me of some of your new tales. I lost track of the time." The fear that crossed the usually collected blonds face showing his uninhibited fear in that moment.

"Ahh, well you know children always making up stories."

"Stories, silly me I had hope they were true. It would a most interesting event indeed."

"You abandoned the cause,"

"I survived, as a good Black will always do."

"You cohort with mudbloods," Narcissa hissed as Regulus regained his posture and continued to lure the adults into his case, get them focused on him. Nymphadora let out a yawn and tugged at Narcissa's dress in an action that was so similar to one Draco would have made it was unsettling.

"Excuse me, I have to get Draco laid down."

"I am not tired Mummy, can't I have some tea first." Nymphadora whined in a very draco-ish tone jetting out her bottom lip. The blonde woman nodded as Lucius turned to Regulus, "Let us take our talk some were more private." For the briefest moment relief flooded the eyes of the group, the beginning of their plan had worked.

However it did not work much past that point. The fullries of hexes, curses and multicolored lights that began to fly not six minutes later pinned the group in a uphill battle in which they were outnumbered. And as they fought James, Sirius, and Remus positioned themselves in such a way that Regulus and Nymphadora were more hidden. Not because they did not think that the two were capable of fighting but for sheer reasons of fluidity. James, Sirius, and Remus moved in unbelievable tandem and each had deadly accuracy. In a second of break however it had happened.

In that moment's rest things took a turn for the worse. Lucius sent a Spectrama toward James's back, with a quick push Nymphadora had pushed him out of the way but was not quick enough to be out of the spells reach herself. instantly a pool of blood spurted from Nymphadora's face and chest as though she had been slashed with an invisible sword. Her throat constructed as she struggled to get a good breath blood trickling from the side of her mouth as fear seeped into her gaze.

Staggering backward she collapsed onto the marble floor staining it with the blue liquid that was sputtering out of her body, turning read on contact with the oxygen. Her wand falling from her limp right hand. Remus jumped the amber far from his eyes as Moony attacked Lucius covered by the hexes that now flew out of Sirius' wand. James stood momentarily flabberghasted.

A loud crack was heard and each was stilled by the effects of a freezing curse before a unmasked man moved forward. A flurry of robes dragging behind him.

"Vulnera Sanentur" he murmured in a slightly melodic tone as the tip of his wand fluttered over the wounds. Slowly the wound began to knit itself together, healing quickly leaving but thin white lines in the place of the bloody streaks.

"Severus," The blonde man growled turning to face him anger clear in his tone

"Seize this foolery Lucius, They bring more with them. Auror's highly trained. They know of our Lord's return and wish to attack us while weak. They outnumber us greatly and have better trained fighters. Surely you see the outcome of this Lucius."

"How do you know."

"It was in the forefront of the girls mind. Clear as day. If we stay here we will not survive till dawn."

"Then what do you suggest."

"Cut our losses and flee. Give our lord time to regain his strength. We must leave hastily Lucius."

"and them,"

"They are insignificant either kill them or leave them be." He said the threat of acting without their lord so prevalent Severus could see the fear spead across Lucius' eyes before the blonde man nodded

"You will stay Severus, kill them and find us when the dust has settled." The blonde said before the men began to move. Severus waited standing stiff as he heard a stray crucio hit the form behind him. Severus Snape had never liked James Potter, and never would. But the scream made him wince. After he was sure the others had fled he sent well aimed death spells to those standing guard before releasing the group form their binding and silently walking away. Sirius jumped to his feet but a hand on his shoulder from Regulus had him stop.

"Severus," Regulus said.

"You will not die tonight. Retrieve the children and this time stay hidden." Severus said before twisting again and walking away.

James Potter moved slowly, certain to keep his body quiet as he slunk through the snakes den. It was not until he was behind the door that led to the dungeon that he let out a small breath of relief. Moving again eyes sharp as he look for signs of the children. Dropping guards with quick and silent spell work as they found them.

There were three children that huddled together in the cell. In the first moment where almost unrecognizable to James as he moved to the door under the invisibility cloak. Most everyone else were already positioned up stairs. Regulus flirting so close to the enemy line James was choking down the bile that rose in his throat. The dungeon hallway was dark and the flickering haunting light of the moon only served to put James more on edge. Raising his wand he transfigured the door of the cell into a match box before stepping over it to assure no noise was made. Then he was in the cell.

Before him were two cases that he was sure had gone cold months ago, Penelope Aderson and Jordan Falsworth had little resemblance to their family supplied pictures. Both emancipated and covered in a good few layers of grime, and filth. With a brownish mucky substance James dried blood. With a sigh he swallowed down the bile in his throat. Penelope looked the worse for the wear. Blonde hair dingy and falling in large clumps around what he knew once slightly chubby cheeks. She wore what James could only guess was a discarded old elf dress, seeing as the ones upstairs looked much more kept. The fabric however barely seemed to reach her upper thigh. Her blue eyes stared through him in a chilling way. Behind her slumped against the wall was Jordan, Jordan had blood seeping from a cut on his temple and due to what James could see he did not look to be in much better dress than Penelope. At the moment Jordan's eyes were closed, meaning exhaustion had set in or he had slipped out of consciousness. James prayed it was the first.

Hidden from view almost completely was the small huddled form of Harry. James' grip on his cloak loosened and it pooled around his feet. He did not even take note of the action until Penelope gasped and opened her mouth to protest. He bent down quickly and quieted her.

"Who are you?" Jordan asked, having been awoken by Penelope's gasp. His voice was soft but seemed to hold a sense of conviction James was not expecting.

"My name is Aruor Potter. I am…"

"Daddy," the voice was weak and broken, laden with sobs as Harry tossed himself from behind the two children into James' arms. Harry whimpered tucking himself into James chest. James for his part could not breathe. His body seemed frozen in that moment. The moment he had yearned for years and years to feel again.

He remembered when his Harry had first done the same. Due to the war James had not even been present for his biological son's first steps. He had missed the moment that Harry had let go of the couch and reached to grab the cat from hell. James had been away on a mission and he had forced Sirius to stay in the guest bedroom for his own sanity, seeing as it was not long after Marlene's kidnapping and he wasn't to keen on leaving Lily alone when there was a spy in the order.

He remembered getting the mirror call from a frantic Sirius who was doing all he could to get the attention of Lily who had been out of the room, and James by way of his own mirror, so they could see Harry's unsure steps. The first few he had taken however neither parent got to witness. Instead the only person who saw that jiggly kneed moment was Sirius and Sisyphus the cat. Lily had come down a few moments to late and James a few minutes before that. After answering the mirror Sirius turned it around to show James where Harry was bouncing on his toes. At the sight of his father then ten and a half month old Harry began to screech the word Daddy his small feet leaving their wobbly stage as he dashed to get to the mirror. He, like all children who are just learning to walk fell on his face quite comically before looking around at the adults as if seeing if was hurt or not, as if he did not trust his own body to inform him.

Slipping down to his knees on the floor of the dungeon James pressed his lips to this Harry's tuff of hair that was so much like his own and whispered reassurances into the messy locks.

"Everything is going to be alright now Harry." He began and the boy in his arms relaxed against him.

"I got you son," he whispered. "Daddy's got you".

A/N - This story is sadly coming to the end of its original arch we probably have only one or two chapters left, matters how flushed the following chapter ends up becoming. However I do have unorganized plans for the characters following this so hopefully I will return to have a working story line for the next part of this story soon after finishing the first. So soon this story will be moved to completion but will be revisited at a later date.