This chapter is dedicated to Tiffani B., thanks for the reviews! ;)

Chapter Seven: The Escape

The four friends landed on the black marble steps of the looming Malfoy Manor. Ron eyed the two evil looking gargoyles standing at the top of the steps as he made his way, ahead of the other three, towards the large brass door.

"Ron, no!" Hermione started, but it was too late. The second Ron passed the gargoyles, their eyes glowed, and then Ron was thrown back and onto Harry. Hermione and Ginny giggled as they helped up the two men.

"Well, that's new," Harry commented as Hermione and Ginny lifted Ron off of him.

"What the bloody hell was that!?" Ron said.

"They're Watcher Demons," Hermione answered, easily, "It's for protection. They surround the house and you can't pass them."

"But then, how do you get in?" Harry asked, confused.

Ginny pointed to the platform under one of the gargoyles and said, "There's a doorbell right here."

"Oh."

-..-..-..-..-..-..-..-

"Teddy, could you invite Christina and Melanie over?" Rose asked, "I don't want to have to spend the whole day with just the boys."

Teddy laughed, "Sure, Rosie. I'll call your Uncle George right now."

"Thanks," Rose said, before going back to James, Albus, and Hugo.

When she reached them, James was rubbing his hands together and said, "Phase one, complete!"

Rose rolled her eyes and muttered, "You are so dramatic."

"Hey," James snapped, "It's my dramatic-ness that is going to get us to Lily."

"So, what's our next move, oh dramatic one?" Albus asked.

"Well, when Mel and Christina get here, we need to distract Teddy to carry out the rest of the plan."

"How are we going to distract Teddy? He's supposed to keep a close eye on us," Hugo pointed out.

"We are going to use this convenient little thing called 'magic', Dumb One."

"But we're underage!"

James was shaking his head, "Hugo, Hugo, Hugo, have you forgotten who I am? I know we're underage. That's why we are going to use Melanie's wand, well, actually, your sister is going to use Melanie's wand."

"Why are you making me do all the dirty work?" Rose questioned, for this was not the first time James included her in his special plans.

"Because, as much as I hate to admit it, you are the best at magic out of us four, and no one would ever suspect sweet little innocent Rosie."

"Sweet little innocent Rosie?" Melanie said, as she and Christina entered the room, "I hope you're not talking about our Rosie."

"Hi Melanie, Hi Christina!" The four cousins said.

"So, what's going on, Jamsie?" Christina asked.

"For the last time, don't call me Jamsie!!"

"But you let Thomas and Hannah call you Jamsie!" Christina complained.

James's voice got annoyed now, "Thomas and Hannah are seven."

"So"

James groaned and immediately regretted inviting Christina over. Recently, her new hobby has been annoying James, calling him Jamsie, ruining his pranks, and instead of helping him, his other cousins took pleasure in watching him crack.

"When you two are done," Melanie started, "Could someone please tell me why I'm here!"

Albus turned to face his older cousin, "Why do you always think something is going on?"

Melanie gave a sarcastic smile and said, "Because something is always going on with you and James. So what is it this time?"

"We need you to take us to Malfoy Manor," James responded, "That's where Dad and everyone just went."

Melanie thought for a moment, then said, "Okay."

"You'll take us?" Hugo said excitedly.

"Just like that?" Albus said, skeptically, "What's the catch?"

"No catch," she said, "I know Uncle Harry. When he finds out that you followed them, he'll send you right back here, and then you'll have to answer to Teddy."

"Oh, I don't think we'll have to worry about Teddy," James said, slyly.

-..-..-..-..-..-..-..-

"It's about time you lot arrived," Malfoy said, "There's such a thing as punctuality that we Malfoys like to live by."

Harry looked at his watch, "It's only 7:05!"

"Those five minutes could've been spent finding our son," A woman said.

The four friends looked up to see Asteria Malfoy standing in front of them. She was average height, with beautiful blond hair, peacock green eyes, and a certain glow about her stunning face. Judging by her good looks and the way Ron gazed at her, Harry guessed she was part veela. Hermione gently slapped Ron, and he snapped out of his trance.

"So, let's go then," he said quickly.

"Where exactly are we going?" Ginny questioned.

"I thought we would start in the dungeon," Malfoy said. When he received puzzled looks, he added, "The dungeon we kept you lot in all those years ago."

They nodded and the six adults went down a dark hall and down a trapdoor while Ginny muttered, "They have a dungeon?!"

-..-..-..-..-..-..-..-

"Would you like some lemonade, Melanie?" James entered the room holding a cup of ice cold lemonade.

"Could I have some lemonade, Jamsie?"

"No, Christina, this is for your sister," James said as he neared Melanie. He waited until he had the cup right over her head and—

"JAMES!!" Melanie screamed as freezing liquid was poured on her head.

"Lemonade for Ms. Weasley," James announced, and then winked at Rose.

"Here, let me help you," Rose scrambled towards Melanie and sat down next to her, picking the ice cubes off of her head, "You'd better go to the lavatory and clean yourself up." Melanie stood up and headed out of the room. When she was gone, Rose held up Melanie's wand.

Christina gasped and said, "You took—"before Albus covered her mouth.

"Rose, go! Christina, be quiet!" James instructed.

Rose went up the stairs and approached Teddy's room. The door was open, and she saw him sitting at his desk. Rose was then thankful that Victoire had left, or else she would have to deal with her too, and it was very hard to take down Victoire.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered before saying, "LANGLOCK!"

Teddy turned to see Rose pointing a wand at him. He tried to say something, but his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. Realizing what she had just done, he stood up, but then Rose said, "LOCOMOTOR MORTIS!" and Teddy fell over, unable to move his legs.

"Sorry, Teddy, but we have to save Lily!" Rose apologized before running downstairs.

-..-..-..-..-..-..-..-

Harry had never seen Malfoy's dungeon in proper light, and he now realized how small and empty it was. It was simply four walls, a ceiling, and floor.

"What now?" Ron muttered, but then was shushed by Hermione.

"Well, we could look around," Malfoy suggested.

"Look around where, exactly?" Ron said, "There's nothing here."

"I meant look around for any curses, Weasley," Malfoy shot back.

"I'm sure you already know about all of the curses in here, Malfoy," Ron said, which gave him Hermione's elbow in his stomach.

Then the doorbell was heard. Asteria went up the stairs, and soon after, she was back down with three kids.

"They say they're yours," she said to Harry. He looked down at his sons and niece. James looked smug, and Albus and Rose looked regretful.

Well, that was the most pathetic cliffhanger ever. I hate to end it here, but I feel so bad that I haven't updated, and I couldn't wait any longer.