===June 7 1996===
There was nothing McGonagall hated more than sending one of her lions off to fight without her. Now she hadn't sent just one, but four of them. Two of which she carried for as if they were her own flesh and blood.
Alas, she has a duty; to the rest of her lions, tto Hogwarts itself, and lastly to her own daughter who waits in their apartments behind this office. She sits there watching her fireplace waiting for their return. The fire springs up and she grabs her wand and aims it at the forms of Remus, Tonks and Sirius. "Welcome to Hogwarts." McGonagall says.
"Minny, is the wand really necessary?" Sirius asks.
McGonagall puts her wand down as she smiles. "Only the real Sirius Black would use that bloody nickname." She sighs. "You're late."
"We got here as soon as we could." Remus says.
"Where's everyone else?" Tonks asks.
"They've already headed on, you best catch up with them." McGonagall says.
Remus grabs a handful of floo powder and tosses it into the fireplace. "Ministry of Magic!"
===Gryffindor Common Room===
Ginny bangs on the door out of the common room. "I can't believe they left us!"
"Ginny, calm down." Ron says.
"Don't tell me to calm down Ronald!" Ginny growls. "Our brothers are out there!"
"You think I don't know that?" Ron yells back.
"Harry and Hermione are my best friends, yet they left me behind."
Ginny goes to say something but then she sees the tears in Ron's eyes. "Ron." She hugs him.
"I've helped them before, why not now?" Ron asks. "Is it because we still have the trace? I'm sorry we're not like them or Draco and Amanda."
"Amanda." Ginny says. "That's it!"
"What is?" Ron asks.
"I know how we're getting out of here." Ginny says.
"How?" Ron asks.
"You know how Draco comes into our common room through their door occasionally?" Ginny asks.
Ron's eyes widen as he makes the connection. "Amanda should be able to exit to the Slytherin common room, and let us out!"
"Then we can go after them." Ginny says.
"There's no way Professor McGonagall is going to let us floo to the Ministry." Ron says.
"You're the strategist, you tell me what we do." Ginny says.
Ron grins as an idea comes to him. "Has anyone achieved a corporeal patronus?"
#####
The door to the common room opens, Amanda stands in the doorway. "What are you all standing around for?" She asks.
"Thanks, Amanda." Ginny says as she heads out the door along with Neville, Ron, Lavender, Luna and Hannah.
Ginny and Neville split off and the rest of the group heads to McGonagall's office. "I see Malachi's runes didn't keep you for long." McGonagall says.
"Did you really think it would?" Ron asks.
"I had hoped it would." McGonagall admits. "I don't suppose you'll tell me how you did it?"
"I don't see why not." Ron says "We realized that Amanda Malfoy had stayed behind."
McGonagall chuckles. "Of course, her room is magically attached to both the Slytherin and Gryffindor common room. A loophole I missed. Well done, ten points to Gryffindor."
"Now, if you don't mind we're going to go join our friends." Hannah says as she turns around and goes to grab the floo powder only to realize there's none there.
"Surely you didn't believe for one minute I was going to allow you to go to the Ministry." McGonagall says.
"I had hoped you would let us, but I anticipated this reaction." Ron says.
"Really?" McGonagall asks. "Then why are you here?"
"We're the distraction." Ron answers.
#####
Ginny and Neville make their way to the Rookery. Right as they do Artemis flies in and lands in Ginny's arms. "Hey there girl, you have something for me?" Ginny asks and sure enough her father's Ministry badge is held in her claws. Ginny gives her a treat and retrieves the badge.
"I don't understand, how did she know to go anywhere?" Neville asks.
'I told her.' Loki says to both of them as she comes out of the shadows. 'I wanted to help Mum and Dad more than I had.'
"I sent my patronus home and told my parents we needed the badge." Ginny says as she puts the badge on. "Ready?"
Neville grabs her hand tightly as she taps the badge with her wand and says: "Corner office." Activating the portkey.
They arrive inside the Ministry at her father's desk. "Come on," Ginny says. "The Department of Mysteries is this way."
#####
"And that would put you in check." Ron says, having explained the plan to her. "Your move Professor."
McGonagall takes off her glasses and sighs as she rubs her eyes. "What am I going to do with you lot?"
"Let us stay here and wait for our friends then determine our punishment appropriately?" Lavender suggests.
"Very well, ladies, why don't you go down to the kitchen and get us some snacks?" McGonagall suggests.
"Good idea," Hannah says. "I'll show you the way." Lavender nods and follows.
"Mister Weasley," McGonagall says once they are gone. "I'm holding you personally responsible for anything that happens to Mister Longbottom or Miss Potter, are we clear?'
"Yes, Ma'am!" Ron says.
#####
A couple of empty bowls sit on the floor of McGonagall's office. Lavender and Hannah sleep leaning against each other in a pair of chairs. Ron and McGonagall are playing wizard chess when the fireplace flares up. They both quickly grab their wands and point them towards the fireplace.
"Lav! Hannah! Incoming!" Ron shouts, waking the girls who quickly get up and pull out their wands.
Ginny is the first through, followed by Fred and George. "Prove who you are." Lavender commands.
"I gave Ron the ring you're wearing on the train ride home last year." Ginny says.
They all quickly put their wands away. Ron goes over and hugs Ginny. "I'm glad you're okay."
"We should move," George says.
"The others are right behind us." Fred finishes.
Everyone moves out of the way as the others start to come through. Neville, then Remus with Tonks, then Harry and Hermione leaning on each other, finally Malachi comes through the fire dying down afterwards.
McGonagall looks the disheveled group over for a minute before quietly asking. "Sirius?" They all look to the ground as a silence fills the room. "How?"
"He saved me." Harry says, his voice cracking as he does. He looks up at McGonagall and she can see tear marks on his dirty face. He speaks again, his voice weak. "Pettigrew was about to cast the killing curse on me. Sirius tackled him, they both fell through the veil."
"Then he died a noble death." McGonagall says. "He was a true Gryffindor to the very end."
Harry nods as he cries. Hermione puts her arm around him. "Can we go clean up and see our children?" Hermione asks.
"If none of you need medical attention then you may all go clean up. I expect a full briefing tomorrow." McGonagall says.
They all nod sullen and everyone except Remus and Tonks head off. "Do you happen to have a space we can clean up and get some sleep?" Tonks asks.
"We have quarters normally reserved for visiting professors." McGonagall says.
"As long as there's a shower and a bed I'm good." Tonks says.
"Me too." Remus says.
"Then let me show you to your rooms."
===June 8 1995===
While breakfast should have been a sullen affair for The Potters they both knew that their attitudes could affect their children. So they put on their best happy faces as they carry the toddlers down to the Great Hall and place them into a couple of high chairs.
Ron comes down a little later and sits beside them. "Hey, did you two get any sleep?" He asks.
"Yeah, we keep a stock of dreamless sleep potions just in case." Harry says.
"Good to hear."
"I wanted to thank you for waiting for us." Harry says.
"I should have been there with you." Ron says.
"I'm sorry," Harry says.
"We both are." Hermione says. "We should have argued with Professor Meris to let you come. We really could have used your help with the dementors."
Ron nods. "I figured he'd use them, that's why I sent Neville and Ginny. They both said they had achieved a corporeal patronus, plus Neville has his sword."
"Yes, you sent two knights to protect your king and queen." Harry teases.
"Better than the court jesters you took with you." Ron teases back.
"Are we good?" Harry asks.
Ron nods. "Just don't do it again."
"Deal." Harry says then he goes back to feeding one of the twins while snagging bites himself.
#####
They finish breakfast when The Daily Prophet drops in front of them. After a moment of hesitation Harry grabs the paper and looks at the headline.
Ministry of Magic Attacked!
We have confirmation from multiple sources, including aurors that He-who-will-not-named and a group of his followers, commonly referred to as Death Eaters. attacked the Ministry of Magic last night.
Our sources also say a group of unidentified vigilantes arrived and fought the Death Eaters before the aurors arrived. One auror died, it's believed they were caught in the crossfire. When we reached out to Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she had this to say:
"I can't say much as this matter is still under investigation. We do ask that anyone with information regarding this incident come forward."
"We'd better talk to Amelia." Harry says as he puts the paper down.
Hermione nods. "We need to brief McGonagall too."
#####
Harry, Hermione and McGonagall are sitting in McGonagall's office when the fireplace flares and Amelia steps out. "This is unexpected."
"Thank you for coming." McGonagall says.
"You said you had information on the attack last night that needed discretion." Amelia says.
"We're two of the vigilantes that were at the Ministry last night." Hermione says.
"Were you there when the aurors came in?" Amelia asks.
They both shake their heads. "Professor Meris said he was." Hermione says.
Amelia nods. "I'll need to talk to him."
"I'll go get him." McGonagall says as she gets up and leaves the room.
"So what happened?"
"We found out Riddle was after the prophecy regarding us." Harry explains. "You know, the one I had permission to come and destroy. When we heard he was going after it we went to destroy it first."
"Our plan was to get in and out without confrontation." Hermione says. "Obviously, that failed."
"Obviously." Amelia says. "Did you succeed?"
"Yes." Harry says as a sullen look comes over his face.
"Why do I feel like I'm missing something?" Amelia asks.
"Sirius sacrificed himself to save Harry." Hermione says.
"You took the body?" Amelia asks incredulously.
"He went through the veil, with Pettigrew." Harry says.
McGonagall and Malachi enter the office. "Did we miss anything?" McGonagall asks.
"Just your general briefing." Amelia says.
"Good, this is Malachi Meris." McGonagall says.
"I was there when the one aurors came in." Malachi admits.
"What happened?" Amelia asks.
"The lead auror told us we were surrounded, told us to put down our weapons and surrender." Malachi says. "I complied, but Riddle had other ideas."
"Who's Riddle?" Amelia asks.
"That's You-know-who's real name, Tom Riddle." Malachi answers.
"How long have you known this?" Amelia asks.
"Harry told me when I started training him." Malachi answers.
"I found out in our second-year" Harry quickly says before she can ask.
"I'll have put that information in the file, we didn't know that." Amelia says.
"Oh, sorry." Harry says. "I assumed you did."
"It's not a big deal." Amelia says. "Now, Mister Meris, please continue."
"Why don't I just give you a copy of the memory?" Malachi asks.
"That would be easier." Amelia answers.
"Very well," Malachi says. Amelia hands him a vial and he fills it with the memory.
"Is there anything else?" Hermione asks.
"Not at this moment." Amelia says. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Try and get better response time." McGonagall says. "It took you almost an hour to respond to a Death Eater sighting."
Amelia sighs. "All of our aurors were busy. There was an attack on the Minister."
They all gasp. "Is he okay?" Harry asks.
"Yes, nobody was seriously hurt." Amelia says, "that's how we managed to keep it a secret." They all nod. "We had all of our experienced aurors there except the one in charge of training the new recruits, and Miss Tonks as she is permanently assigned to help you. The delay was because the lead auror had to wait for the trainees to get there and then he had to kit them out."
"That explains why the other aurors started firing blind." Malachi says.
Amelia nods. "They were nowhere near ready for action, we shouldn't have sent them out."
"When will the name of the auror who died be released?" Hermione asks. "We'd like to make sure the family doesn't need anything."
"For security reasons the name will not be formally released." Amelia says. "I'll pass along your condolences and tell them to contact you if they need anything."
"Thank you." Hermione says. They all get up and leave.
#####
Once they are gone Amelia casts a privacy spell. "I'm afraid your job is about to get harder." She says as she slides a folder to McGonagall.
McGonagall opens the folder with a sigh. "Wait here." She gets up and heads to the Gryffindor common room.
#####
Shannon is waiting for Harry and Hermione in the Gryffindor common room, as soon as they enter the girl shots towards them and hugs them. "I'm glad you two are okay." She says.
"Thank you." Hermione says, not wanting to know how she knows. They go sit on a couch, Shannon sits between Harry and Hermione, Ron sits across from them and they chat.
The door to the common room opens and McGonagall steps in. The entire room goes still as she looks around the room and then heads up the girls' stairs.
"What do you suppose that's about?" Ron asks.
"Nothing good." Hermione answers.
A few minutes later McGonagall comes downstairs followed by Lavender and her sister, Lilac. Harry pales as he whispers: "No."
"Harry, did I miss something?" Ron asks.
#####
McGonagall enters her office followed by the two girls. "Allow me to introduce Lavender and Lilac Brown." McGonagall says.
Amelia stands. "Hello ladies, I'm Amelia Bones."
"Pleased to meet you." Lavender says, "why do you want to talk to us?"
"Please sit." Amelia says and the two girls do. "If you have not yet heard there was an incident last night where an auror was killed."
"The ministry attack!" Lilac says. "I saw it in the paper!"
"I'm so very sorry to have to tell you this, but the auror that was killed was your father."
#####
Ron, Harry, and Hermione are watching Shannon play with the twinsnwhen Lavender and Lilac come into the common room. Both of them look like they've been crying.
Ron gets up and walks over to Lavender. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Lavender shakes her head before grabbing Ron, she presses her face against his chest and starts crying. Ron rubs her back gently as she sobs. Lilac hugs both Ron and Lavender as she cries, Ron strokes her hair.
After a few minutes the girls both let him go. "I think we're ready to talk." Lavender says.
Ron nods as he notices all the other students in the common room staring at them. "Not here."
"You can use our room." Hermione says as she gets up and heads to the door.
"Thanks, Hermione." Ron says.
"No problem." Hermione says as she opens the door. "Let us know if you need anything."
"Actually, could you stay?" Lavender asks.
Hermione nods as they all go in and she closes the door. Lavender and Lilac sit on the foot of the bed, Hermione and Ron pull up seats from the sitting area.
After a brief pause Ron speaks. "So your father?" He asks.
Lavender nods. "I'm so sorry." Hermione says.
"It's not your fault." Lavender says. "We all knew that his job was dangerous. Dad chose to do it anyway."
"It's a good career." Ron says. "I was going to try and go that way myself."
"No, please, pick anything else!" Lavender begs. "It's bad enough I might lose you in this war, I couldn't stand the thought of wondering if you were coming home everyday."
"If it means that much to you, then you can help me pick another career." Ron says.
"Thank you." Lavender says.
"Did they contact your mother?" Hermione asks.
"She's… no longer interested in having us." Lilac says.
"That's putting it nicely." Lavender says coldly.
"She disowned them." Ron says. "All the rest of their family is in the states, before you ask."
"So what happens to you two?" Hermione asks.
"We don't know yet." Lavender says. "Amelia says they'll be reading his will before the end of the week. We're hoping there's a provision in the will."
Hermione nods. "You are welcome to stay with us."
"Thank you," Lavender says. "We may have to take you up on that."