Disclaimer: Okay, anything you don't recognize from the books is mine.  K?  Good.

 

Chapter 39 **Hogwarts Again**

Minerva McGonagall was pacing in the Hogwarts entrance hall.  It had been four days since Severus had set off to find Harry with Sirius, Remus, Saerry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Draco, and Saeln in tow.  Marcus Vector was standing not too far away from her, watching her pace.

"Calm down, Minerva.  They'll get back in one piece.  I'm certain Severus will make sure of that."

McGonagall frowned and said, "But we don't know that, Marcus."

Suddenly a owl swooped in through one of the open windows and landed on McGonagall's shoulder, a letter tied to its leg.  Vector frowned then said, "Isn't that Harry's owl?"

"Yes.  And she had a letter."

McGonagall untied the letter from Hedwig's leg and gave the owl a pat before sending it up to the Owlery.  She unrolled the letter and read it out loud for Vector's benefit.

Minerva,

We're going after Harry.  Saerry has this rather strange idea that he is in danger and I agree with it.  By the time you get this, we'll either have rescued him or be dead.  If it's the former, we'll be back as soon as we possibly can.  If it's the latter…well, you know the drill, do you not?  Saerry pleads you give Conall and Deirdre to the werewolf pack in the Forbidden Forest is we don't make it.

S. Snape

"Oh, well, that's a cheerfully letter," said Vector snappishly.  McGonagall folded the letter and tucked it into a pocket of her cloak before turning towards the door.

"Are you going to do it, Minerva?"

"What, Marcus?"

"If they don't make it back…will you give those two children to the werewolves?"

"They're mother is – was, if that may be the case – a werewolf, Marcus.  She lived in those woods for years.  I believe the werewolf pack would take good care of her children if what she told me of her time with them was true enough."

"So," said Vector, "do you think they're…"

"No," snapped McGonagall before he could finish.  "I don't think so.  And neither should you until it is proven."

"Of course, Minerva."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The students and teachers were in the Great Hall when it happened.  There was still chatter over where the missing Headmaster and two missing teachers were among the students.  McGonagall had told them nothing about it except that the Headmaster and the two teachers had gone to London on business.  As to the five missing students, they were visiting relatives.

Of course, anyone who knew the story knew well enough that Harry's only family were his aunt, uncle, and cousin and Draco had no close relatives to speak of.

But, back to the Great Hall.  As the students and teachers were eating, they heard the main castle doors open.  They closed a few minutes later with a rather loud bang.  Everyone began to talk, as there was silence for a few moments then there was the sound of boot heels clicking on the stone flagged floor.

McGonagall rose from her seat clutching her wand and waving at everyone to be silent.  Just as she had done that a figure in a hooded black cloak walked in.  Several people gave little shrieks as the figure walked past them, right up to the Head Table.  McGonagall's voice quavered as she asked, "Who are you?"

"Don't recognize me, Minerva?  I am hurt."

Nearly everyone close enough to hear the low voice recognized it and spread the word out.

"Severus," whispered McGonagall.

The figure threw the hood of the cloak back, smirking.  Severus said, "Yes.  Surprised you, did I?"

"Scared me half to death is more like it.  Where is everyone else?"

"Hospital Wing.  Remus and Black should be…"

"Hello, hello, HELLO!"

"Right behind me," groaned Severus.

Sirius and Remus walked up to the Head Table, Sirius grinning and waving like an idiot.

"Ah, hello, Minerva.  Fancy seeing you here."

"Sirius…" growled McGonagall warningly.

"Oh, alright.  No more sarcasm.  Oh, wait, that's your mode of communication isn't it, Severus?"

"What would it matter if it was, Sirius?"

"Oh, I don't know…"

"Shut.  Up.  Now."

"Mmmm."

"Padfoot," said Remus warningly.

"Oh, fine."

McGonagall shook her head at the three of them, surprised that Severus and Sirius were calling each other by their first names.  She smiled and said, "It is good to have all of you back.  Might we hear what happened?"

"Possibly," said Severus with a grin.  "Right now, we're going to get cleaned up.  Do you duty to the students, Minerva."

"Of course, Severus."

Severus smiled then the three men left the hall as McGonagall addressed the students.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Hey, Harry, your back!"

Harry looked up from the work he was making up for Charms at the Creevey brothers.

"Hello Colin, Dennis.  Yeah, I'm back."

Colin grinned and said, "McGonagall told us you had family problems."

Harry arched an eyebrow then nodded.

"A few."

"Are Ron and Hermione back too?"

"Yes.  And Ginny and Draco as well."

"Malfoy?" Dennis wrinkled his nose at the name, earning an elbow in the side from Colin and a furious scowl from Harry.

Harry growled, "That would be my brother you're talking about, Dennis."

"Brother?"

Colin elbowed Dennis again and said, "Why don't you do down to the pitch, Dennis."

"Why?"

"Because," growled Colin.  Dennis frowned at his brother then ran up to his dormitory to retrieve his broomstick.  As soon as he came back down and was gone, Colin turned to Harry.

"Sorry about him, Harry.  He had a bad run-in with Malfoy."

"I think everyone has."

"More than likely.  Anyway, Malfoy cursed him pretty badly and he ended up in the Hospital Wing for a week.  He's hated him ever since."

Harry hunched over his Charms homework as he said, "Hates a strong word."

"Yeah, I know," said Colin.  "He doesn't know Snape's adopting him either."

"I don't think many people do.  Though lots of people know he's living at the Manor."

"Oh.  So, you two are brothers now?"

Harry smiled.  Colin didn't see it.

"Not officially."

"Oh.  Well, I'll see you later."

"Alright."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Back into the groove!  No, I can't move!"

"Ron, stop it!"

Amara covered Ron's mouth with her hand but he continued to sing behind it.  She finally gave up and cast a Silencing Charm on him.  He grinning annoyingly and continued singing, even though they could no longer hear him.

Harry shook his head and skipped another rock across the lake.  The five of them, plus Amara, were sitting down by the lake under an oak tree.  Ginny and Draco were cuddled together under the oak while Amara and Ron were sitting on a blanket.  Harry was leaning back against one of the upraised roots with Hermione leaning against him.  She had pulled up his sleeve and was tracing the mark on his arm for the hundredth time in the last week since they had returned to Hogwarts.  They had told Amara everything, including about Harry's Mark and Draco's.  She had taken it in stride and firmly told them that next time they went on an adventure, she wanted to come along.

"Okay," said Amara now.  "So, tell me it again."

Harry groaned and looked pointedly at Draco, who rolled his eyes and launched into the telling.  When he was done, Amara looked at the five of them and asked, "You still have that book on Animagi?"

Harry nodded and asked, "You want to become one."

"If I could."

"Well, my dad will most likely kill me for this as he knows I own the book, but okay."

Hermione said firmly, "He won't kill you," as she ran her finger over one of the snakes.  Harry's arm jerked slightly and he smiled down at her.

"Yeah.  Sure, he won't.  When Hell freezes over."

Hermione smiled and Draco, Ginny, and Amara burst out laughing.  Ron was still singing silently so they went on with their conversation.

"So, we're registered now are we?"

Ginny nodded and said, "Yep.  Professor Snape made us go to McGonagall as soon as he found out from Saeln."

Harry nodded and looked out towards the lake.  He smirked then asked, "Did you happen to see his name on the list?"

Draco grinned and replied, "No.  There was a Perseus Snape who could turn into a house fly but that's it."

"A house fly?" gaped Amara.

"Yep."

"Weird."

"No, your boyfriend there is weird.  Rita Skeeter could turn into a beetle."

"A very annoying beetle," said Harry.

"But a beetle none the less."

"Stop splitting straws, Draco."

"Stop using Muggle expressions, Harry."

"I'm sorry, your request has been denied."

"So has yours."

The two glared at each other for a moment before bursting out laughing, followed quickly by everyone else.  Ron stared at them then took Amara's wand and cast the counter to the Silencing Charm on himself.

"What's going on?"

His only reply was more laughter.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"So, what are the plans for this summer?"

"Oh, get kidnapped, join a biker gang, play Quidditch.  You know.  Same old, same old."

Hermione laughed while Draco grinned in amusement.

"Very funny, Harry."

"Yes, I thought so too, Draco."

Ron shook his head then asked, "Any chance of us coming over?  Or you coming to stay with us?"

Harry shrugged.  "Who knows?  Ten Galleons says Dad will want to keep me inside the Manor the entire summer."

"Ouch."

"Yep.  Anyway, we'd better get downstairs.  The feast is about to start."

At the word 'feast', Ron jumped up and shot out of the hidden room, leaving Amara to glare after him.  Harry laughed and said, "You'll have to get used to that."

"Either that or beat it out of him," said Amara with a twinkle in her gray eyes.

"Oh, I like her," said Draco with a grin, earning a prod from Ginny.  Hermione shook her head at all of them then grabbed Harry's hand and dragged into towards the passage out into the hall.

"C'mon, you all!  Before Ron eats all the food!"

Laughing, the five of them left the secret room and headed down to the Great Hall for the last feast of their sixth year.

**Fin**

A/N: Yes, T&T has ended.  But do not fear, good readers!  I have two more installments planned for our heroes.  And heroines.  Yes, yes, yes.  Same thing.  The third part in this series shall be called Prophecy Bound, which gives you a hint at some of the plot, and the fourth Harkening Home, which will be set thirteen years after Prophecy Bound.  I also plan to do a small short about Remus and Saerry's wedding.  ^_^  I have no idea as to when my two hell-bent muses shall inspire me to start on PB (they've already gotten me to write out a 13 page Chapter one for HH) but it won't be soon.  I think they are focusing on Not Myself, so there shall be a short break between TaT and PB.  Until then, faithful readers, and many bear-hugs and chocolate frog's to all of you!