The Marauders were late returning to bed. James was the last one to climb through the portrait hole. He took in the scene before him. Cassi was crying into Sirius' shirt. Peter was staring at the fire, and Remus was staring out the window. Then, he saw what should have hit him first. There stood his goddess, Lily Evans, looking anxious and worried, apparently waiting for him.

"Lily," he whispered.

"James," she whispered back. She launched herself at him, much to his surprise, but he caught her. To his utter shock, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face into his shoulder.

Dia paced Dumbledore's office. Rose was prattling nonstop under her breath, her fingers flying over a parchment as she brainstormed. Moira was staring straight ahead, eyes narrowed as she concentrated. Dia would occasionally stop and glare at the ceiling. Teddy was sitting on the floor, twiddling his thumbs with a look of intense concentration. Dumbledore was merely amused. These people, he could tell, were the best at what they did.

They planned all that night, and the next morning, it was time to explain their plan to the others.

Lily and Cassi, both of whom had demanded to come, were the first ones to awaken. The two girls descended to the common room to wait. Dumbledore had said he would fetch them at seven the next morning, but it was only 5:30. Lily rubbed her eyes as Cassi poured over the book that had started all this trouble. She gasped as she found what she was looking for.

"Lily, look here. Here's the spell to send notes back to this Harry guy. We should try it."

"Why not. It'll kill some time."

So the two girls penned a note to Harry Potter.

Dear Mr. Potter,

It sounds so strange to say that, because, if what the Marauders say is true, then you are my son. Of course, you never can really rely on the Marauders, but, as they are backed up by Dumbledore and Professor Lovell, I feel inclined to believe them.

So much has happened in the past day that I barely know where to begin. I assume you knew there was trouble, as you sent the three girls that you did. I do have a question though, once Jamie and Rory are rescued, will they return to your time, or have you figured that spell out yet?

Rory is quite wonderful, as is Jamie, and I must say, you do a wonderful job of raising children, as Professor Lovell assures us that you raised him as well. I only wish that I had been able to raise you myself.

Mr. Potter. Harry. I do not know you, but I feel that I do. I love you, even though I have never met you, and, if James' account is accurate, I never will, at least not properly. But please know, I wish I could have been your mum properly, with fresh baked cookies and over-feeding you, and scolding you and all that.

Harry, this is Cassi Sinclaire speaking. Or writing. Whichever. If what Rory tells me is true, then I have to thank you. I have to thank you for not only raising my granddaughter, but raising her well, as a member of your own family. I know many would not have done the same, so I have to thank you.

Please respond, if you can.

Much love,

Lily E. and Cassi S.

Cassi muttered the spell under her breath and the letter disappeared in a puff of smoke. The girls looked at each other.

"I sure hope I did that right," Cassi muttered.

Dia was only awoken at five to seven, having stayed up almost all night in order to plan. But they had planned. They had planned like they had never planned before, and the result was fairly brilliant. It required a lot of things, and relied on a lot of maybes, but they were all risks the girls from the future were willing to take.

Dia waited until everyone was assembled. She began to explain. It would only be herself and Teddy who would go in. she would cause a ruckus, and be the distraction. Teddy, meanwhile, would go find Rory and Jamie, who were sure to be imprisoned somewhere, and Apparate away with them. They were sure it would work because Voldemort used blood wards, and both Dia and Teddy had Black blood flowing in their veins.

Remus had started at the last part, because he was certainly not a Black, which must have meant Teddy's mother was. But he could not, for the life of him, figure out why he would marry a Black. Or be allowed to marry a Black, rather.

With the plan out in the open, several objections were voiced.

"Can't I go? I am a Sinclaire, after all. They'd let me through."

"No."

"What about me? They wouldn't even know what hit them, I have Black blood as much as either of you, if not more!"

"No."

"Me? I could make them think I'd escaped, and that I was Jamie, and then-"

"No."

"PEOPLE," Moira yelled at last, "The plan is the plan. There are no changes or take-backs, I promise. This plan will work. Rose came up with it."

Rose's jaw dropped open.

"Moira, did you just compliment me for something?"

Moira blushed.

"I guess I did. Why so surprised, Weasley?"

"Which," Dumbledore said, "Brings us to our next point. I assume that the Mr. Potter on your side has not come up with a spell to bring you forward in time, therefore, we need to make arrangements as to what will happen, should the mission be successful. I propose that we set Miss Pettigrew and Miss Weasley up as students, and Miss Lestrange, you can be Teddy's assistant, or a guest teacher for a while."

Media made a face.

"I'd rather eat students than teach them."

Rose smirked and Dumbledore sighed.

"Then do whatever you wish, Miss Lestrange. Founders know I can't stop you."

And with that, the plan was set.