Yeah, I know. It's been forever. All I can say is that medical school is not conducive to writing or maintaining your creativity or your sanity. Don't want to delay story. I included the last bit from the last chapter for those of you that don't want to go back and reread. Further comments at the end if anyone is interested….

"None of us are going anywhere! Sirius!" Mad-Eye hit Sirius with a Full Body Bind. "We're not going to go chasing about after any one when we don't know where they are. The plan was to wait here for Dumbledore when we got back and that's what we're going to do." He flicked his wand again, releasing Sirius.

"Don't you ever do that again!" Sirius shouted. "If you think I'm going to sit around here waiting while Remus could be…"

"Could be what?" Mad-Eye challenged him. "Dead? What are you going to do if he is? Die with him and leave that godson of yours with nobody? Lupin's a bloody good duelist. We wait here."

XXX

The bloody good duelist was feeling bloody well overwhelmed as he dodged a hex while simultaneously deflecting a jinx sent at the younger Weasley boy. The three had been holding up well until the four Death Eater's they'd been dueling became six. Hexes were coming from all directions, and Remus was acting on pure instinct. He wasn't thinking or planning. He'd put himself in another place, just as he'd learned on a cold mountain range in India and let his subconscious guide him. For some reason, on the rare occasion he was required to do this, it was always the voices of his fellow Marauders that ran through his head.

"Sure are a lot of them, aren't there?" Peter said nervously.

"Hah, any less and it'd hardly be worth drawing your wand for. Aim for the balls, Moony," Sirius was motivating but a bit unhelpful at times.

"Ah, but you forget Mister Padfoot, these are Death Eaters," James said, "And that means…"

"They don't have balls!" shouted the Marauders.

Remus ducked as a curse raised the hairs on his head and blasted the tree behind him apart.

"I say, that was rather unsporting," Sirius observed.

Remus fired a curse of his own back at the source and was gratified to hear an "umph" and a body thud against the ground. There was a shout behind him. He turned and saw Bill fall. Charlie turned as well, abandoning his position to try and reach his brother, but he was struck in the back and fell right beside his sibling.

"Boy, Moony, if you thought their Mum hated you before wait 'til you get back," James said.

If I get back, Remus answered the voice in his head as the spells came even faster than before. Hexes and jinxes flew from his wand as he performed as many wandless spells as he could at the same time. Tree limbs pulled back and swat at two Death Eaters, knocking them off their feet. Another pair of Death Eaters' robes erupted in flames and a well placed Petrificus Totalis felled the last. Quickly, Remus summoned a cow bell from a nearby milking herd that was unlikely to be giving milk for at least a week, tied it to the belts of both Weasley boys, and placed a port spell on it. The bell glowed blue for a moment, then both boys were wisked away, and Remus immediately disapparated.

He rematerialized in a crouch at the edge of a garden near one of the buildings at the end of town. Sirius was likely having litters at the moment, but Remus couldn't risk sending a patronus to assure him that he was still all right. He could make out the movements of Death Eaters on the only road that ran by the main house just meters away and sending a message right now was sure to give away his position. Slowly, and feeling all too much like a wolf on the hunt, Remus prowled from the vegetable garden to the side of the large store house. Sensing no immediate danger, Remus slipped inside. He gave the large room a quick check and saw nothing but several rats feeding on the stock of food. Quietly, he moved to the other side of the warehouse which exited on to the main road. Several shadows were congregating just on the other side of the door.

"…know we were here tonight?"

"That is the Order's job," a snide voice explained. Remus recognized it immediately as Lucius Malfoy. "They do their best to meddle and pretend that their actions matter. Their time will come. The Dark Lord will see to that."

"Still," another voice Remus didn't recognize said, "Are you sure they're all gone?"

"Why Nott, are you frightened of that group of blood traitors, mudbloods, and, dare I say it," Malfoy sneered, "squibs?"

Remus could hear appreciative guffaws in the background.

"Shut it Goyle! I ain't afraid of them. Bring'em all here for all I care," Nott snapped back.

"Yes, yes, I'm sure you would wipe the ground with all of them," Lucius's dismissive tone was unmistakable. Good grief, Remus thought rolling his eyes. It's like an older version of Draco and those two bookends that follow him around. "Crabbe, go get the others. We should be heading back. The Dark Lord will be expecting information."

Do an old werewolf a favor and say what information.

"They didn't know anything Lucius," Goyle said, "Said they knew their son worked in the Department of Mysteries, but they didn't know what branch, and they hadn't had contact with him for years."

"And whether or not that information is valuable is not for us to decide," Malfoy hissed.

More footsteps approached.

"Do you think they're really all gone, Lucius?" Another new voice said, "We counted eight new ones with those battle marks before they took them down, but between us all, we can't account for four, one of the ones that was already here and three of the ones that arrived."

"Homenem revelio!"

Remus felt the spell flit through him and immediately heaved a silent sigh of relief. If there was ever a time to appreciate not being completely human.

"You see?" the smug voice said, "They probably apparated away. Nobody here but us mice. Speaking of which, where is Wormtail?"

Remus's insides froze as he whipped his head around to check the rats in the shadows. A figure rose behind him, and he caught a flash of silver sweeping towards his face before he reflexively threw up a shield charm.

Wormtail stood with a grin on his face, his wand aimed at Remus's heart, "You always underest…" Wormtail couldn't finish his sentence as Remus cold-cocked him with a left hook.

"Guess you weren't expecting that," Remus glared down at the unconscious form, shaking his left hand gingerly.

"What was that?" A voice shouted from outside as hurried footsteps approached the door to the storehouse.

"We'll continue this at the house," Remus said. "Colloportus!" He waved his wand at the door just in time. The handle jiggled, followed by banging. Remus tucked his wand in his belt and bent over to haul Peter's unconscious form over his shoulder. "Merlin, how many times did we try to help you lose weight?" He grumbled.

"Out of my way, you idiots!" Malfoy's voice shouted.

Breathing hard, Remus turned on the spot to apparate away. Nothing happened. Remus froze. How could he not disapparate? They had been apparating and disapparating all over the village.

A mocking knock sounded at the door, "Whoever you are," it was Malfoy again, "You're not going anywhere. You might as well come out."

Remus could hear footsteps surrounding the shed. He struggled to redraw his wand with Peter's weight bearing down on him.

"Alohamora."

Remus dropped Peter, feeling briefly satisfied at seeing his head bounce on the floor, and quickly disillusioned himself. He moved into the shadows as the door flew open, his lower half still melting into the background.

Wand-drawn arms rushed into the room before one of the figures grunted disdainfully, "It's just Wormtail," he said, kicking the unconscious form in the side.

"Well, unless he fainted, which I do not put beyond the realm of possibility," Malfoy said, "Someone else was here."

"Lucius," Crabbe gasped, returning at a run, "I found Gibbon in a Full Body Bind. I don't know what McNair was hit with, but he doesn't look too good. The Carrows robes were set on fire, but they managed to keep from being burned too badly, and both Jugson and Selwyn say….er, that they were attacked by a tree. They were dueling with three order members. Gibbon says he saw two port away, and the other disapparated."

"So," Lucius said, scrutinizing the shadows, "Someone was here."

Remus held his breath as one of the robed figures passed entirely too close, but he dared not move, afraid that the slight shimmer that would result would be enough to give him away.

"Lumos maxima," Lucius hissed. The shed lit up, and Remus squinted painfully as his eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. The masked figures turned, searching the illuminated shed.

"Homenum revelio!" A female voice spat with a jab of her wand. Remus felt the spell flit through him again without effect. Each of the Death Eaters briefly shone with a golden aura before it faded.

Lucius turned to her, "Did you expect a different result than before?" He sneered.

"How did they get out?" A gruff voice asked, "I put an Anti-Apparition Charm on the building."

"One way to find out," Malfoy pointed his wand at Peter, "Enervate."

The group stared at the unconscious form.

"Not much of a healer, are you Lucius?" The gruff voice said wryly.

"He's obviously not been stunned." The female voice scowled, "He's suffered a blow to the head. He'll either wake on his own or need a healer."

"Enough of this. We should leave before the Ministry shows. Whoever was here is unimportant." Malfoy turned, leading the group out, "Someone carry that fool."

Remus watched, biting his lip, as Wormtail was levitated and hovered away with the group. He was grateful they left the door open, though he waited several minutes before daring to follow out into the night air.

A light breeze blew down the cobblestoned street, and Remus could see the figures of the Death Eaters heading west out of town and one by one, they disapparated. Almost immediately, once the last one had gone, he heard distinctive "pops" of apparition not far behind him. With a grimace, Remus turned and saw a number of Ministry Aurors begin to sweep the village. He remained very still as he watched them sweep the houses and discover the bodies of the muggles in one of the homes. They levitated them out one by one, an elderly man, followed by a man and woman who were just a bit younger, and last, Remus grit his teeth, a little girl. There was not a mark on any of them that his eyes could see, but on each of their faces were final looks of terror in empty eyes.

"Report back to Scrimgeour what we've found." One of the Aurors directed another. Without a word, he apparated away only to return quickly with three others. One, Remus assumed having never met the man, was Scrimgeour, given that he wore the robes of the Head of Aurors. Beside him stood Cornelius Fudge and, to Remus's surprise, Dumbledore.

"Minister," the Auror that seemed to be in charge nodded at Fudge, whose hair was disheveled and without his usual lime green bowler hat.

"What seems to have happened here?" Fudge demanded. Scrimgeour frowned, but did not interrupt.

"Four dead bodies, Minister," The same Auror answered. "And evidence of recent use of magic in the area."

"I think, Cornelius," Dumbledore said softly, "it is fairly obvious what has happened here?"

"Oh you think so, do you," Fudge turned on Dumbledore, "and what do you see that a team of my best Aurors cannot?"

"I believe that they see exactly what I do," Dumbledore replied in the same soft voice, "that Death Eaters have killed this family."

"Death Eaters?" Fudge sputtered, "Absurd. I know we had that spot of trouble at the World Cup and rumors have run rampant, but that's exactly what they are, Dumbledore, rumors. And they're getting worse with you and that Potter boy spouting to anyone that will listen that You-Know-Who is back. If this is the work of so-called Death Eaters, it is former supports of You-Know-Who who have come out because they think he's back. And they think he's back because you keep trying to drive everyone into a frenzy."

If anyone looked in a frenzy at the moment, however, it was Fudge.

"Minister," Scrimgeour spoke, "we must keep an open mind about this. The scene must be processed and the bodies examined. Until then it would be premature to make any assumptions about what has happened here tonight."

"And I'll tell you exactly what your findings will be, Rufus," Fudge glared, "It will be that these muggles died by some muggle means. A fume leak or whatever they call it. Nothing happened here."

"Cornelius," Dumbledore said, his voice still soft, but now more urgent, "You cannot ignore what is in front of you. Magic has been used in this area tonight. Your own man informed us back at the Ministry that they were found huddled together in their living room dead, not a mark on them. How many times did we see this when Voldemort was active before."

"They were found lying in their beds," Fudge hissed, "and that is what everyone found tonight. That is what the muggle papers will report, and no one from the Prophet will be interested in something that happened in a muggle town that has nothing to do with our world."

"You do the deaths of this family a great disservice, Cornelius. Their son is Sherman Lickney, an Unspeakable at the Ministry. He is the only wizard that has family in this town. You know what I have told you about…"

"I know what you've told me, and it's all utter nonsense!" Fudge growled, "Nothing happened here tonight, do you understand me," he turned now to meet eyes with each of the Aurors standing witness, "Nothing."

"I see how it will be then," Dumbledore said, his voice mournful, "We are reaching a parting of the ways, Cornelius. If you will not accept the truth, then I cannot support you any further."

"I don't need your support," Fudge spat, "and I can see now that I've been far too lenient with how your run your school. Do not expect that to continue."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, "The Ministry has never dictated what occurs at Hogwarts. It is left to the Governors and the Headmaster to run the school."

"Yes, and I can see that needs changing. Expect to hear from me very soon about that," Fudge said before turning his back.

Dumbledore sighed, his eyes shifting to where Remus stood, still disillusioned nearby. Dumbledore inclined his head and nodded then turned to begin walking away slowly. Remus followed, his footsteps silent as he caught up to the elder wizard.

"Report back to Headquarters," Dumbledore said under his breath, "Inform them of what has happened. I will not be able to brief them tonight. I must return to Hogwarts."

"That was quite a threat Fudge made," Remus whispered.

"It is one he will carry out. I must be prepared. If you would, assemble the reports of the team leaders and send them to me as soon as you can."

"I will." Remus said.

And with that, both wizards disapparated.

I really do apologize for the long wait. I appreciate those that have made this story a favorite and commented even in its long unintended hiatus. It did at least let me know that people were still interested in the story continuing. Believe me, seeing the hit counts still registering, favorites, and reviews made me determined to continue. For this story's most dedicated follower, SHP, hope this doesn't disappoint. To my wonderful beta, Wolviesfan, who still wields a mean cattleprod, commands an army of mutant pincher crabs, and now has added Krav Maga to her arsenal, thanks a million for working in betaing this story into your many other responsibilities.