When Tobias woke the next morning, he was startled to see that he wasn't the first one up; Moody was already seated at the kitchen table with a glass of water in hand. Tobias slowly got up from his place on the couch, stretching as he did so and, careful not to step on any of the kids who were still asleep on the floor, made his way over to the table.

After dinner last night, they had decided where everyone was to sleep. There were two small bedrooms in the cabin and only one was equipped with a single small bed that was hardly big enough for one grown man. Eileen had somehow claimed that bedroom for herself and immediately after dinner pulled Tobias in with her, slamming the door shut behind them. It lasted for about twenty minutes before the dust they stirred up under the bed had them both sneezing insanely. He had left the bedroom with a runny nose and a bruise forming on his thigh, only to walk into the living room where he had a captive audience that had yet to go to bed. After kicking Severus and Serenity off the couch, reminding the children that they should have already been in bed, and glaring at everyone for good measure, he had laid down on the couch and went to sleep.

Tobias sat down heavily at the table and look around the living room. The four teens were still sleeping soundly on the hard wood floors. They had been unable to locate any pillows whatsoever so they had all the blankets available piled both on top of and underneath them. Sirius was in his dog form sleeping on top of Harry's feet. Serenity and Severus had made a makeshift bed by pulling two of the large armchairs together to face each other. It was kind of amusing really; you couldn't see their heads over the arms of the chairs, but their legs were intertwined and sticking out over the sides every which way. He and Eileen should have tried that last night. Moody had slept in the other armchair.

"I'm surprised; I'm usually the first one up in the morning." Tobias spoke to Moody softly as not to disturb anyone else.

Moody gave a smirk, but said nothing in return. He needed coffee.

The two sat in companionable silence for a few more minutes, before Moody spoke in a gruff whisper. "What's your plan?"

Now it was Tobias's turn to smirk. "To make it to the closest town and get the hell away from here."

"The Dark Lord probably has Death Eaters stationed around every village near here." Moody's voice became slightly louder, causing Sirius to stir.

Sirius stood up on all fours and stretched, before padding softy over to the table and transfigured back into human form before sitting down. When he spoke, he sounded wide awake, as though he were one of those detestable morning people. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, yet." Tobias replied as he watched Harry roll over, his sleep having been disturbed by the lack of weight on top of his feet. Then turning his attention back to Sirius he gave him a small glare. He realized that the wrongly convicted convict did indeed care for his son, but...the man had been in prison for a long time. That sort of confinement, with dementors no less, could change a man. "We need to wait until everyone is up before discussing any plans."

The three men sat in silence for several more minutes before movement from the floor caught their attention. Tobias watched, amused, as his son, still half asleep, pushed himself up into a sitting position and looked around before standing up and making his way over to the table, stumbling over his own two feet along the way. Once the boy was seated next to his dad at the table he put his head down on top of his folded arms and closed his eyes.

"Good morning," said Tobias unable to keep the smile from his face.

Harry grunted in response.

Tobias sighed and spoke quietly, but mockingly: "Good morning dad. Did you sleep well last night?"

"Yes, son, considering I had to sleep on a couch. How about you? Was the floor comfortable?" he answered himself.

"Well, dad..."

"Dad," Harry spoke up, in a tired voice, interrupting his dad's single-person dialog. "Stuff it."

Tobias chuckled, and landed a playful slap on his son's hip. "Don't talk to your father that way."

Harry sneered.

Once again a comfortable silence fell over the only awake occupants of the cottage. After a couple of minutes, however, Harry's insecure voice broke the silence. Had he been fully awake Harry never would have asked his father this question in front of Mad-Eye and Sirius, but in his drowsy state he didn't even think about their presence. "Dad?"

"Yes, Harry?" Tobias's voice was low and soothing.

"Are you still mad at me?" Harry's voice was small and laced with sleep and his eyes were still closed.

"Harry look at me." Tobias commanded, his tone become just the slightest bit harder. Once Harry open sleepy, fearful eyes, Tobias continued. "I'm still upset with you, yes. But it doesn't matter anymore. You know what you did was wrong and you know all the reasons it was wrong, and while it is going to take you a while to build my trust up in you again...you are still my son, and I still love you. Understand?"

Harry nodded his head, which was still resting on the table.

Tobias wanted to ask his son if he were still mad at him for allowing Eileen to use an Unforgivable on him, but knew now that this was not the time or place to discuss that. He was sure the boy was still upset with him and he didn't blame him at all. All he could hope for is that once everything was over and done with his son would forgive him. He prayed that both his sons would forgive him.

Before anything more could be said, a thud and very colorful cursing could be heard from the direction of the two armchairs. Severus stood up from where he had landed on the floor and walked over to the table to sit down next to Harry. "Do you have any idea what it's like to wake up hearing your father saying the same speech you've heard a dozen times as you lay there listening feeling ashamed - even though you're not sure why because you can't remember what you did wrong - only to realize he isn't talking to you?"

Tobias raised an eyebrow, "No, Severus, I can't say I do."

Severus was obviously still partially asleep. "It's very disconcerting."

"I can imagine," replied Tobias amused. Suddenly a confused look came over Tobias's face. "Severus, where's your shirt?"

Severus looked confused for a moment before looking down and noticing his bare chest. He looked back up before replying in a confused tone. "I have no idea."

Everyone at the table slowly looked over to the chairs Severus had occupied the night before but couldn't see anything. Severus stood up and walked over to the chairs to peer down at Serenity before walking back over to the table and sitting down. His reply was casual. "It's indisposed at the moment."

"How so?" asked Tobias smiling broadly.

"It's being used as a pillow." Severus said matter-of-factly, yet he still seemed slightly confused.

Tobias couldn't help it. He stared laughing. When his laughter started to die down he heard Severus.

"Dad." Severus began, speaking in the same tone as before, though slightly harsher. "Stuff it."

Tobias cocked an eyebrow and almost started laughing again but instead spoke to Harry in a calm but amused voice. "Harry, if you would please."

Harry slowly removed one arm out from under his head and used it to slap Severus on the arm. "Don't talk to your father that way." Harry then placed his arm back under his head not seeing the look on Severus's face.

Severus looked at his brother with a raised eyebrow before looking up at his dad with the same expression.

Tobias started chuckling.

Severus shook his head and mumbled something under his breath.

Harry yawned.

Sirius and Moody watched the entire scene with amusement doing their best not to laugh hysterically.

.................

Half an hour after Severus had woken up, Tobias decided it was time to wake everyone else, including Harry, who had fallen back asleep on the table. Once everyone was awake, they sat around the table making plans while eating some wild berries the kids had found growing near the cottage the day before.

"So you have no idea which way to go?" Tobias asked, while gritting his teeth, his anger clearly etched on his features.

Severus tried not to squirm or give any outward appearances that his father was making him feel like a ten year at the moment. When he answered his voice was surprisingly steady and emotionless. "Not exactly, sir. I know which direction the Manor is located and that we shouldn't go that way, but I don't know where the closest town is located."

Tobias glared, but said nothing as he simultaneously tried to find a solution to their current problem while making his son feel as uncomfortable as possible.

"Why can't you just make a portkey or apparate us out of here?" Ginny asked, curiously.

"Making a portkey requires knowing our exact location." Sirius answered with patience. "As does apparating."

"Unless, of course someone here already has a portkey, then we can adjust it a bit," Eileen stated casually while drumming her fingers against the table.

"You can't adjust a portkey." Stated Severus with the same impatient yet angry tone he seemed to always speak to his mother with.

"Maybe you can't," began Eileen with badly concealed annoyance while glaring at Severus, "but I can."

"Really..." drawled Severus, his voice was a soft purr, but he was obviously angry. Severus reached into his pocket and pulled out a small potions vial stopper slamming it down in front of his mother. "Albus, gave me that emergency portkey in case I was discovered as a spy. It's designed to take one person directly to the Hogwarts infirmary."

Eileen looked up and glared furiously at her son, who was glaring back with equal force. "If I had had this before it would have saved us all some trouble." Though her voice was quiet, it made many of those around shiver. Pulling out the borrowed wand, Eileen began waving it above the portkey and saying a series of spells in Latin. While it was in fact possible to modify a portkey, it was very difficult. Usually it was easier just to make a new one, but the present situation called for the use of this very difficult form of magic.

As Eileen spoke in a steady, almost musical voice the stopper began to glow. The light seemed to intensify for a second before it suddenly stopped and Eileen lowered her wand. Her hand trembled slightly from the effort. The amount of energy required for that spell was tremendous, causing her to feel dizzy and disoriented for a moment.

Almost the moment she was done with a spell, shouting and cursing was heard in the distance as one of Moody and Eileen traps were set off. The massive amount of magic had attracted Death Eaters.

"Everyone form a circle and hold hands!" Severus shouted. They needed to activate the portkey and get out of there immediately.

Quickly, everyone did as instructed as Sirius and Eileen held the portkey between them and with another whispered word from Eileen, everyone felt a familiar pull behind their naval and the room around them began to swirl as they were transported away from the small cottage.

Lucius Malfoy blasted the door to the cottage down just in time to see the escaped prisoners portkey away to safety. He let out a howl of frustration and blew away the wall opposite to the door before turning around swiftly to first free his fellow deatheaters from the traps they had stumbled into before reporting back to the Dark Lord.

...........................

The group landed in the hospital wing with a thud and Eileen immediately fainted. The spell to modify the portkey had taken a lot out of her and the bumpy ride that followed was just too much, causing her to collapse in a heap on the infirmary floor.

Madam Pomfrey was immediately alerted to the impromptu visit and was pointing her wand and medically assessing each person in the room before she was entirely out of her office. In what seemed like seconds, everyone was to be found on a bed waiting for the mediwitch to heal them.

.......................

Albus Dumbledore smiled serenely as he looked around the hospital wing. It had been two days since the surprising yet welcome arrival of the kidnapped Order members. Severus and Eileen were the only two still left in beds as Madam Pomfrey had allowed the others to get up and move around.

Eileen had used a very old, almost dark form of magic to alter the portkey which brought them safely to Hogwarts. The effort had drained the magic from her and she didn't wake up for well over twenty-four hours after she passed out. Now, however, she was back to her old self and was currently arguing with the medi-witch.

Severus had received more injuries than was originally suspected and he had hid them very well. Apparently, Voldemort had been slightly impatient when it came to dealing with the traitor and cursed him with a few nasty hexes. One such hex was very difficult to remove. It caused a person's lungs to very slowly deteriorate. It usually would take days after being hit with that curse for the person to even notice the difference in breathing, but once it was noticed the damage was to sever to heal. Luckily, they had caught Severus's before it got that far.

Everyone else had received only minor scraps, cuts, and bruises which took only a matter of seconds to heal. Of course they had all stayed overnight in the hospital wing anyway.

After they had arrived in the hospital wing and Poppy had taken care of all their serious injuries she had alerted Albus to their arrival. When he came to see them he had brought the Weasley's with him. Now, most of the Order was in the infirmary making sure everything was alright and trying to find out what had happened. He had, of course, already received a full report from Severus, Sirius, and Alastor but there was one other person he wished to speak to.

Approaching the bed Severus was laying on, who had already giving up on trying to leave the infirmary, Albus greeted those gathered around his bed.

"Hello, I trust your stay last night wasn't to horrible, Tobias," Dumbledore asked serenely.

"Not at all," Tobias answered, leaving his hand on his son's shoulder. It was almost impossible to keep Severus in the bed, but when he had pointed out how his son was arguing in the same way as his mother, Severus had immediately shut up.

"And I trust you both remained in bed last night?" Dumbledore asked looking over his half mooned glasses at Severus and Harry, who was sitting on the foot of his brother's bed.

Harry blushed and began studying the blanket while mumbling a quite ‘yes, sir.'

Severus refused to let himself blush though he was feeling much the same way Harry was, and merely inclined his head yes.

"Good, Good," said Albus cheerily. "Now, I was wondering if I could speak to you alone for a moment, Tobias."

Tobias, Severus, and Harry all raised a suspicious eyebrow, but Dumbledore ignored them in favor or smiling serenely.

Tobias eventually smiled as well. "Of course, Headmaster."

Without looking back at his sons, Tobias followed Dumbledore out of the hospital wing and to the Headmaster's office.

Once both men were seated and tea and lemon drops were passed around, Dumbledore broached the reason why he wanted to speak to Tobias.

"I didn't bring you here to discuss your recent adventure," confessed Dumbledore with a small sigh.

"I figured as much," replied Tobias carefully. He wasn't about to allow himself to be manipulated unless it worked to his benefit.

"Yes," smiled Dumbledore "I thought you might."

It was silent for a moment as the two seemed to size each other up, trying to figure out what the other wanted.

"I suppose I should get right to the point," Dumbledore said after a moment. "I would like to make a bargain with you. As you know, Death Eaters are aware as to where you live and your home is no longer safe. I have already made arrangements for Serenity regarding her safety but yours is bit more complicated." Dumbledore paused for a moment before continuing. His voice was light but serious at the same time. "I, of course, would be able to offer you much more protection if you remain at Hogwarts, but...I've had to deal with the ministry far to much lately regarding the Dursley's so that may be difficult."

Tobias stopped himself from raising an eyebrow. He had a feeling he knew where this conversation was headed, and he felt anger rise inside of him but remained silent waiting on the Headmaster to continue.

"Therefore, I'm willing to make you a deal. Forget about the Dursley's and I will ensure your safety within these walls."

Tobias remained neutral the cup of tea in his hand forgotten. "And if I refuse?"

"Ahh...well, you see, outside of these wall it is much more difficult for me to protect you; consequently, you would be vulnerable to attack."

Tobias, though outwardly calm, was fuming inside. His tone did not betray his anger however. "So unless I drop the charges against the ‘people' who abused my son, I don't receive any sort of protection."

Dumbledore said nothing, confirming Tobias's thoughts. Tobias leaned back in his chair thinking while watching the man in front of him.

"Would it not be possible to hide out with another Order member? Like Moody or even Black?" Tobias had to restrain himself from cringing as he suggested hiding out with the mutt but figured it was worth suggesting it.

Dumbledore sighed deeply, as though he were truly regretful for denying a child a piece of candy before dinner. "Alas, no, I'm afraid not. Since Headquarters have been compromised we must go to extreme measures to not only find the spy amongst us, but secure a safe, permanent, residence. Alastor and Sirius, as well as many other Order members will be on various assignments in regards to this.

"I see," commented Tobias dryly. He didn't entirely believe this reasoning. He knew what the headmaster was doing, but..."You're leaving something out," Tobias said after a moment. Something was missing from this, but he didn't know what.

Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled. "Well, I thought, that if you needed further persuasion then I might mention that Professor Binns, the History of Magic teacher, had conveniently decided that it was time to cross over and that his position has yet to be filled."

"How convenient," purred Tobias. "Tell me, did he decided this before or after you heard the reports from my son, Sirius, and Alastor?"

"He made the decision just last night, as a matter of fact," Dumbledore said still smiling.

"I see," Tobias cocked an eyebrow. "I seriously doubt that the ministry will permit a muggle to teach History of Magic."

"It can be done," stated Dumbledore firmly, "if I don't push other matters."

Tobias knew then that if this man wanted it to happen it could.

"What would happen to the Dursley's?" asked Tobias not yet giving in.

"We will quietly have them surrender guardianship to you. If done quietly with only a few select people it shouldn't be too difficult; though, you may have to face a small inquiry with the Department of Magical Children and Families."

"But they would get off without punishment. They wouldn't have to pay for the abuse they dealt out to my son." Tobias's tone was hard and his dark eyes cold and dangerous.

"Yes, but Harry would never have to see them again."

Tobias sat back and studied the man on the other side of the desk, before making a decision.