Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

Sorry for the long wait!

Christmas break was over, the students were back in school, and after his shift at the ministry, Regulus was hoping to visit Hogwarts to surprise Harry and Sirius by catching a Gryffindors Quidditch practice. He knew his brother was worried about the attacks that were happening and he figured popping in for a visit would reassure his Sirius that he was okay. "He still thinks of me as a kid," Regulus grumbled to himself, although he did it fondly.

He was patrolling the area he had been assigned by Moody when he stopped walking, tilting his head. He then gazed around warily. He felt like he was being watched. He turned around and pointed his wand. "Homenum Revelio!" He cast. When no one was revealed, he began to cast the spell in a different direction. "Homen -"

"Stupefy!"

Regulus collapsed, his wand clattering to the ground next to him.

HP

Harry flung himself down on the sofa in his common room, next to Hermione and Ron. "I'm exhausted!"

"Good practice?" Ron asked, looking up from the exploding snap cards he was playing with.

"Yeah, I think we're ready for our next match," Harry said happily. He was living back in the Tower, his restriction to living in his parents' quarters over.

"You two should be studying, we have finals soon," Hermione spoke up, frantically underlining something in her Charms book.

"We'll get to it eventually," Ron shrugged.

Harry grinned at the disapproving look Hermione gave him. He was about to join Ron in playing exploding snap when Percy stomped over, a fierce look on his face as he stood in front of Harry.

"Percy?" Harry asked in surprise.

"Come with me, Potter," Percy said briskly. "Your parents are outside and ask that you join them."

"But I just came in from outside," Harry said with a frown.

"We'll go too," Ron said, starting to stand up.

"No! Just Potter." Percy glared at him.

"Why?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Because his parents only asked for him," Percy said in irritation. "Come on, Potter! I don't have all day!"

"You're in a mood," Ron grumbled as he sat back down.

Harry sighed and proceeded to follow Percy out of the common room. "What are my parents doing outside?" He asked as they left the castle.

"That's for them to tell you," Percy said as he led Harry to the forest.

Harry stopped walking. "Wait. They are waiting for me in the forest?" He asked suspiciously. He was starting to have a bad feeling.

Percy roughly grabbed his arm and pulled him along. "Can't you just do as you are told?" He snapped.

"Arry?" Hagrid called out from his hut, watching them curiously. "Whacha two doin' out here?"

"Hagrid!" Harry yelled as Percy pulled him along. He felt something was wrong and he didn't want to go with Percy. "Hagrid, help!" He shouted.

"Shut up!" Percy hissed.

"You're not Percy!" Harry accused. Percy could be pompous but he never acted like this! He struggled to get away.

Percy backhanded him and then dragged then him to the forest.

"'Arry, I'm coming!" Hagrid yelled as he began running after them.

"It's not really Percy!" Harry screamed.

Percy dragged him further into the forest and then turned to face him. His face distorted and suddenly, it was Quirrell glaring at him. "More trouble than you're worth." He muttered.

"You!" Harry gasped. Why would Professor Quirrell pretend to be Percy?

Quirrell smirked. "They are anxious to see you."

"Who?" Harry asked, fear beginning to fill him.

"The Blacks."

Harry frowned in confusion before his eyes suddenly widened. "Reg and Sirius's parents?" Harry's mouth dropped open.

"They've disowned them," Quirrell said dismissively. "But yes, and they are anxious to see them too. Especially him." He smirked at something behind Harry.

Harry turned around and was shocked to see Reg lying unconscious on the ground. "Reggie!" He ran to him and knelt down next to him. "Reg?"

"Arry!" Hagrid burst through the trees. His eyes widened in shock.

Quirrell held out a button. It was a portkey and after grabbing Harry and Regulus, the three of them disappeared, while Hagrid could only watch in horror.

HP

"Are you two studying for finals?"

Hermione and Ron looked up to see Percy watching them.

"Where's Harry?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," Percy said, giving Ron a bemused look.

"You took him outside," Hermione said, setting her book down.

"No, I didn't." Percy frowned.

"We saw you," Ron insisted.

"I don't know what you saw but it wasn't me," Percy said, now looking really confused.

"Oh, Merlin," Hermione whispered, turning to stare at Ron. "Then who was it that took Harry outside?"

Ron stood up. "We need to get Mr. and Mrs. Potter. Right now."

"Are you saying someone who looked like me took Harry out of the castle?" Percy asked in alarm.

"Yes. He looked and sounded like you and said Mr. and Mrs. Potter wanted to see Harry outside," Hermione said, worry in her voice.

"Come with me," Percy said, hurrying to the door. "We need to get help."

HP

"Harry's been taken!"

James, Lily, and Sirius were in the teachers' lounge when Percy, Ron, and Hermione burst in.

"What did you say?" Lily paled, jumping to her feet.

"Someone who looked like Percy took Harry outside," Ron said in a shaky voice. "He said you guys were waiting for him outside.

"But it wasn't me," Percy added.

"Whoever it was looked and sounded just like Percy," Hermione said just as Hagrid ran into the room.

"Professor Quirrell, disguised as Percy, dragged Harry into the forest!" Hagrid said breathlessly.

"Quirrell?" James felt his heart pound.

"I ran after them but Quirrell used a portkey to escape," Hagrid said, pain in his voice. "I couldn't stop them. And it wasn't only Harry. I saw Regulus unconscious on the ground. Quirrell took them both!"

"Pup and Reggie!" Sirius whispered in horror. "Why? Why would Quirrell do this?"

"I heard some of what he was saying, he was taking them to your parents," Hagrid told Sirius in a trembling voice.

Sirius's eyes widened with fear before his face darkened. "They were big supporters of Voldemort. And they detested me, and Reg they almost beat him to death when he refused to become a death eater." He spat out.

"Why would they want Harry?" Lily asked frantically.

"My guess is to make an example of him," Dumbledore entered the room along with Snape, a somber look in his eyes. "And revenge. Harry was the catalyst that led to Voldemort's demise. And apparently, Quirrell was a supporter of Voldemort." He shook his head. "I had no idea." He glanced at Percy, Hermione, and Ron. They looked terrified. "Mr. Weasley, could take Miss Granger and your brother to the Tower?"

"But Harry…" Hermione said, tears in her eyes.

"We'll let you know as soon as we find him," Dumbledore assured her.

"Come on," Percy said quietly, putting one arm around Hermione and the other around Ron as he guided them out of the room.

"We need to find them," Sirius said with determination once the young Gryffindors had left.

"Grimmauld Place?" James gripped his wand.

"We'll try there first," Dumbledore nodded. "I'll also alert the Aurors so they can help with the search."

"Would they really be at Grimmauld Place?" Lily asked anxiously. She wanted her baby back!

"That's my guess, but they would have warded it to where no one gets in," Sirius said in frustration.

"No person, maybe. What about a stag? Or a dog?" James suggested.

"Or a cobra?" Snape offered.

"That's right, you're an Animagus now," Sirius murmured. He nodded. "Let's try it."

"Lily and I can check Quirrell's home, just in case," Dumbledore said. "Hagrid, tell Minerva what is going on." He instructed.

Hagrid nodded. "Yes, Professor."

"Is Prim still at the Weasleys?" James asked Lily.

Lily nodded. "Yes, she'll be safe there." She grabbed James's arm. "I want Harry back," She whispered. She was terrified of what her son could be experiencing right now. "And Reg." Reg was family too.

"We'll get them both back," James said.

Unfortunately, although Snape, Sirius, and James were able to enter Grimmauld Place in their Animagus forms, they found it empty.

"Where could they be?" James looked at Sirius, fear in his eyes.

"Any friends of theirs that might be helping?" Snape asked.

"Maybe. I mean, anyone who was a death eater," Sirius said, feeling helpless. "But most of them are in Azkaban." He ran a hand over his face. "I have no idea where they would go. Even Kreacher isn't here. Let's check in at the ministry and then head back to the castle. Maybe Dumbledore and Lily found something."

HP

"You're Sirius's parents?" Harry asked the older man and woman who were glaring at him. Quirrell had brought them to an empty house, dim without much furniture. He had no idea where they were. He suddenly had a memory…

Who would suspect p-p-poor, st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?

No, dear boy. I tried to kill you!

I'm never alone…

Quirrell takes off his turban to reveal the face of Voldemort...

"This is Walburga and Orion Black." Quirrell was saying. "Your precious godfather's parents," He said snidely.

"We are not that piece of filth's parents," Walburga spat out. "Not anymore. Nor that one's," She glared at where Regulus was lying on the floor. "Traitors."

"They are not!" Harry shouted. He took a step back as Walburga's face darkened.

"Harry?" Regulus blinked and sat up. His eyes widened when he saw his parents and Quirrell. He didn't know where they were but he did know they were in trouble. He shot to his feet, his hand going for his wand only to find it gone. "What do you two think you are doing?" He snapped, pushing Harry behind him.

"What do you think?" Walburga sneered. "This boy is the reason for the dark lord's downfall. He will die for it. But first, he will watch you die."

"You'd kill your own son?" Harry asked in shock, trying to step out from behind Regulus. But Reg kept pushing him back.

"He is no son of ours!" Orion shouted. "Just like the other traitor. But see, we knew Sirius would never be the son we hoped for. We knew it when he was a child. He was always a disappointment. But Regulus was supposed to be the loyal one. The one we put our hopes on." He glared at Reg.

"Kill me if you want but you will not hurt Harry," Regulus said firmly.

"Oh, we will," Walburga smiled slowly. "And we will send a message. The dark lord may be gone but we will take up where he left off. We will rid the wizarding world of blood traitors and mudbloods."

"Of course, your pure-blooded nonsense," Regulus scoffed. They would never change. "And why are you doing this?" He asked Quirrell.

"I had hoped to join the dark lord," Quirrell said bitterly. "He had the right idea. But I never got the chance because of this little brat," He stared at Harry. "So I waited for my chance to make you pay. I did jump the gun, with the troll and broom." He smirked.

"So it was you," Regulus said slowly.

"Well, I had a little help from some of the seventh-year Slytherins. They were ready to prove their worth, for the new order." Quirrell grinned maliciously.

"The dark lord may be gone but his cause isn't. We will continue his work." Walburga said proudly.

"You won't be able to go back to Hogwarts, Hagrid saw you," Harry pointed out to Quirrell.

"That stupid oaf," Quirrell muttered.

"No matter. In time, we will gain control over Hogwarts," Orion said dismissively.

"Can we kill them now?" Quirrell asked impatiently.

"We're waiting for our guests," Walburga said.

The floo flared and stepped out were Bellatrix Lestrange and Peter Pettigrew.

Bellatrix immediately stared at Harry. "The boy who traveled through time," She whispered. "And led to the murder of my master." She glared at him hatefully.

"He was a monster who deserved to die," Regulus spat out, wanting her attention off of Harry.

Bellatrix shrieked in anger and cast a crucio at him.

"No! Reggie!" Harry knelt next to him. "Stop! Leave him alone!" He yelled.

Peter fidgeted uncomfortably. "You're planning to murder them?" He asked finally.

"Obviously, you idiot," Bellatrix snapped. "What else would we do with them?"

"You're still a traitor," Harry glared at Peter. "It's just who you are. In any reality!"

Peter flushed and looked away.

"Let Harry go," Regulus spoke up. "You want to kill me, then fine. But he's just a kid. I know you two are hateful and cruel, but would you really kill a child?"

"Yes," Walburga said as Bellatrix cackled. "And you're going to watch," She hissed. "And then we'll leave your bodies so that your brother and the Potters can find them."

Regulus put his arm around Harry protectively, his mind racing on how to get them out of this. "Kreacher!" He called suddenly.

Kreacher immediately popped into the room. "Master Regulus!" Kreacher said happily.

"He is not your master!" Orion snapped. "He is nothing!"

Kreacher looked crestfallen, as Regulus had always been his favorite.

"Please, get Harry to safety," Regulus whispered to the house-elf.

Kreacher just stared at him as Walburga began laughing. "He is our servant, not yours!" She said. She pointed her wand at Harry. "Crucio!"

"No!" Reg tried to push Harry out of the way but was cruico'd by Bellatrix.

Harry screamed as the curse caused unimaginable pain to run through his body. When Walburga finally lifted it, he lay panting on the floor. He looked up at Kreacher, pleading in his emerald eyes. "Get Reg to Sirius, please? They're going to kill him!" He begged.

"Look at him trying to order our servant around," Orion sneered.

"I'm not ordering him. I'm asking him," Harry gasped. "Please Kreacher, save Reg!"

"Kill the boy now and then we can kill this blood traitor," Orion glared at his youngest. "And our message will be sent."

"Allow me," Bellatrix said with a mean smile. She pointed her wand at Harry. "Avada -"

"No!" Despite the pain radiating through him, Reg jumped up and covered Harry with his body.

Kreacher suddenly sprung forward and with one hand on Reg, who had a tight hold of Harry, he snapped his fingers and they were gone.

TBC: