And here's chapter 18. Hope you enjoy it. And don't forget to review. 
A couple of days later it was Harry’s birthday. The last days and weeks had been so filled with activity that he had completely forgotten about it. On his birthday he was still fast asleep when he heard some ruffling noise behind him in the room. He dismissed it as Ron moving in his sleep or probably going to the bathroom. Suddenly Harry sat up in his bed, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Harry. Happy birthday to you!” Ron, Hermione, Albus, Minerva and Severus stood at the foot end of his bed, singing and grinning at the stunned expression on his face.
“Happy birthday, Harry,” Hermione said before she practically jumped on his bed, hugging him tightly.
“A very happy birthday, my boy.” Albus winked at him while Minerva changed places with Hermione and hugged him too. “All the best, Harry.” Minerva kissed him gently on the cheek before handing him his present.
“Harry, happy birthday.” Even Severus couldn’t suppress a smile at the look on Harry’s face. It was a look of utter surprise which was replaced by happiness when he finally realized that he wasn’t dreaming.
“You look a bit stupid with your mouth open, mate.” Ron grinned before handing Harry another present.
Harry quickly shut his mouth but he still wasn’t able to think straight.
“I… I’m sorry,” he grinned.
“Oh please, don’t be. I guess you’ve never had a proper birthday party, so tonight we’ll celebrate. How does that sound?” Minerva asked, smiling. She had always loved having birthday parties for Severus, and now she would do her best to give Harry an unforgettable birthday.
“That sounds great.” Harry had finally managed to get a word out and grinned at Minerva. It was right; he had indeed never had a proper birthday party. In fact, the Dursleys had rarely remembered his birthday.
“Well… how about breakfast then for now?” Minerva asked, rising from Harry’s bed.
“I’ll be down in a minute. Just let me get dressed.” Harry felt like he had never felt before. He felt loved and appreciated, and he knew that he had finally found something like a family. Of course he had always been welcome at The Burrow, and Mr and Mrs Weasley had been nothing but kind and warm towards him. But there he was always just one among several kids. But with Minerva and Albus he felt … special.
When the others had left his room, Harry started dressing. He hadn’t opened his presents yet, as he intended to do so downstairs with the others.
A couple of minutes later Harry entered the kitchen. The table had been set beautifully, a bunch of flowers completing the arrangement. Albus was already seated at the head of the table, his usual place when they had meals together, while Hermione, Ron and Severus aided Minerva in preparing breakfast for all of them.
Albus was studying some parchment which seemed to have arrived by an urgent owl. The bird was still waiting patiently next to Albus, eyeing the toast longingly. Harry took pity in the animal, broke off a piece of bread and held it out to the beautiful barn owl. The bird hooted gratefully and took the toast from Harry’s fingers.
When he had finished reading, Albus rose from his chair, a grave look on his face. He went over to Minerva who was just preparing scrambled eggs.
“My dear, I’m afraid I have bad news.”
Minerva turned around, an eyebrow raised.
“What’s wrong?” She couldn’t believe that today of all days… But the evil didn’t stick to a schedule, and Minerva had a suspicion that the news had something to do with Voldemort and his followers.
“I won’t be able to attend the party tonight. I have to be off immediately. Voldemort seems to plan some attacks; at least that’s what our spies found out. We have to gather to strike before the Death Eaters can.” Albus looked rather worried. There wouldn’t be time for the relaxed breakfast they had planned. He would have to leave right now.
“I’ll be right with you, Albus. I…” Minerva wanted to put the spoon away and get her cloak but Albus stopped her.
“No. Minerva, you still don’t have a clear bill of health. And I don’t want you to get attacked again.” Minerva wanted to protest but Albus put his finger on her lips, silencing her.
“I know, my love. I know that you want to take part in this fight. But please, stay here this time. When you’re cleared, you’re welcome to fight at my side.” Gently he kissed her on the lips, knowing that there was always the danger he wouldn’t return from one of those missions. And he knew that Minerva was aware of that risk as well. But right now she still wasn’t up to fighting.
“I love you, Albus. Take care of yourself.” Tears shimmered in Minerva’s eyes when she looked at her husband.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back. Severus, I think you should come with me for the moment. Harry, Ron, Hermione, take care of Minerva, please. And be careful.”
The children just nodded at the words of their headmaster. This must be really bad if he was so worried. Severus kissed Minerva on the cheek and squeezed her hand. “I’ll have an eye on him, don’t worry,” he whispered.
Minerva simply nodded. She felt like she couldn’t move at all. It wasn’t like her to be so paralyzed just because Albus had to go on a mission for the order. But today was different. She had a feeling of foreboding when he left. And he had indeed seemed rather worried.
Hermione went over to the older witch and put her arm around Minerva’s slender shoulders.
“He’ll be fine. After all, he’s the greatest wizard of our time.”
Minerva turned her head and looked at the young woman. “Thanks, Hermione,” she whispered.
Ron and Harry didn’t really know what to do now. It seemed that Minerva had somehow lost her stride but the boys knew that it would be best to keep her occupied so she wouldn’t think of Albus and the other order members all the time.
Breakfast was taken in silence. The trio didn’t dare to voice their concerns; Minerva seemed already worried enough as it was. As the hours passed by, Ron and Hermione tried to find something to occupy both Harry and Minerva with. Harry seemed to have forgotten about his birthday; his presents lay still unopened on the kitchen table. Minerva had sat down on the couch in the living room, staring in to the flames. She wasn’t quite sure what made her so uneasy about today’s Order assignment but she knew that something would happen.
“Here, Minerva.” Hermione handed the older witch a mug of tea, still hot and steaming. Minerva smiled at the girl gratefully.
“Thanks, dear.” Minerva took the mug and sipped the hot liquid carefully. “I’m sorry I spoilt Harry’s birthday. But… I don’t know I have a really bad feeling about today.” She smiled apologetically.
“It’s okay. I really don’t mind. Besides I have to admit that I have a strange feeling about it too. Voldemort seems to be … I don’t know… restless is perhaps the best word to describe it. He’s definitely up to something.” Harry had entered the room, carrying another mug of tea, and sat down next to Minerva.
Minerva just nodded. It had been clear that something was about to happen sooner or later. She had hoped it would be later but apparently Voldemort was in some kind of rush all of a sudden.
“I know. That’s what makes me so anxious.”
It was already time for dinner when the four of them finally got up from their places around the coffee table in the living room and went to the kitchen. They had skipped lunch, and at least the boys seemed somewhat hungry. The house elf had prepared a simple dinner for them, just some sandwiches and a green salad, but though Minerva knew that she had to eat, she only picked at her food.
Hermione tried to persuade her to at least have some salad but Minerva didn’t seem to be able to eat at the moment. The trio exchanged worried looks but didn’t say anything. They still hoped that Minerva would get hungry enough to eat sooner or later.
Ron glanced at his watch. “What do you think, should we try to call HQ to get some information?” He looked at the others.
“I don’t think that would make much sense. Nobody will be there. I guess they’ll all be on that mission, fighting against Voldemort,” Hermione pointed out. Minerva had grown quieter over the past hours. She seemed to be lost in thought.
“Oh, right,” Ron said with a sheepish look on his face. He wished he could have gone out with the others, with his family to fight. But he also knew that he wasn’t up to it yet. It had been pure luck that they had survived the events of last term at the Ministry of Magic.
“They’ll be back unharmed.” Hermione said, trying to sound convinced but she couldn’t quite help to worry. It wasn’t only Albus and Severus, but also the Weasleys. Ron’s parents and his brothers were in the order too, so they would be fighting today too.
“I hope so. Perhaps I should try to contact my parents.” Ron got up from the table and marched to the living room to try to call his parents via the floo network. A couple of minutes later he came back. “They’re back. But I think something happened, though they didn’t want to tell me.”
Minerva looked at the boy. Her face was pale but when she heard movement at the front door, she was up and out of the kitchen in the blink of an eye.
“Severus!” Minerva exclaimed, rushing over to the wizard who looked bruised and battered. “What happened? And where’s Albus?”
Severus looked grave when Minerva mentioned her husband’s name.
“Minerva… Albus was captured. I think he’s alive but Voldemort took Albus with him. We don’t know yet where he is…” Severus was just in time to catch Minerva’s suddenly limp form. Her fears had been confirmed. The tension of the day together with the horrible news had made Minerva faint.
Severus caught the petite form of his colleague and friend in his arms but he winced slightly as he did so. Ron and Harry rushed over to him to take Minerva from him and carry her upstairs while Hermione had to drag Severus practically to the kitchen to treat his wounds.
“How… how did it happen?” she asked while cleaning the cuts and bruises all over Severus upper body.
“Well, we were informed that there would be some attacks at Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade and some other wizarding communities all over Britain. I went in disguise with Albus and some others to Hogsmeade where we soon located some Death Eaters. Unfortunately we were outnumbered. I still don’t know how Voldemort managed to get Albus but suddenly they were … just gone.”
Keep it coming, great fic 
