A/N: So apparently the Harry Potter fandom has grabbed my with both hands and is refusing to let go. This is chapter 1 of one of the two fics I've been working on. This particular fic is set just about a year after the war, and is mostly canon for now. Expect fairly regular updates, at least until I find a job. Rating may go up, depending on where this particular plot takes me. Not much left to say, except enjoy and I appreciate critique muchly. Pairings aren't important for this fic, but if you really want to know - I'm sticking with canon so far so Ginny's with Harry and Ron's with Hermione.

Edit: you can tell it's been a while since I posted anything. - Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, JKR does. Okay? Good.

Chapter 1 - The Meeting

A large blue ink drop landed on a sheet of parchment, as Harry chewed the end of his quill. He hadn't noticed though, he was staring straight ahead, lost in his own memories. They were not pleasant memories, the frown on his face was evidence enough of that. It was understandable perhaps, as it was almost a year to the most important day of his life. A year since Harry had defeated Lord Voldemort and saved the wizarding world. It was easier to dwell on what was lost, rather than consider what had been gained. Rationally, war always included some loss, some sacrifice for the greater good. It was no easier to bear, for knowing this, especially for Harry. If it hadn't been for these sacrifices, he might not have survived to complete the task set for him by Dumbledore.

It had been the story of his life, really. He thought of his parents, his father trying to protect his family. His mother, refusing to escape with her life for the sake of her young son. She gave her life, and saved his. Sirius, who'd run off to the Ministry to protect Harry, and been killed by his own cousin. Sirius had risked so much, after escaping Azkaban, just to be a godfather to him. Remus, and Tonks leaving their child to help in the battle, Fred who'd died with a smile on his face, little Colin Creevey who shouldn't have been there at all. Dumbledore, who had helped him so much, yet left him to work it all out for himself. There had been so much sacrifice, so much loss and even after that it was not finished with. They were still working on the clean up.

"Harry!" Ron shouted, pinching his friend hard.

"Huh?"

"Oh, you're still with us. Good. I've been trying to talk to you for five minutes! Lucius Malfoy wants to talk to you. He's out there right now!"

"Sorry, Ron, I was... What?" Harry looked up at his red-haired friend, startled.

"Lucius Malfoy is out there looking for you. He wants to talk, says it's important. Kingsley won't let him in unless you say it's okay."

Harry thought for a moment. He couldn't quite fathom why Lucius would wish to see him. He had intentionally left the Malfoy's alone, he no longer considered them Death Eaters. After all, they had essentially left the Dark Lord before his downfall. However, they were unlikely to become the best of friends considering the past, so Harry suspected this was anything but a social call. He decided to see what was going on. He wouldn't rest until he knew.

"Okay. I'll see Malfoy. But, you're coming with me, Ron."

"Right," the redhead said uncertainly.

"I don't trust him, Ron, Lucius Malfoy was always a slippery snake. I'd rather have a witness, or back up." Harry explained.

* * *

Harry and Ron waited outside the elevator on Level 2. They did not speak, but would occasionally glance at one another, looking worried. Whatever happened, Harry was sure that this was something to be reported to Hermione at the first chance. She liked to know what was going on, although at this time of year she would not appreciated being disturbed for trivial things. It was almost exam time at Hogwarts, and Hermione was scary at exam time.

"Level Two: Department of Magical Law Enforcement," the cool female voice rang out as the elevator doors opened, revealing a tall blonde man with a very different attitude from the last time Harry had seen him in this building. The arrogance was gone, indeed, Lucius Malfoy looked rather worn and tired now. 'Here we go,' Harry thought to himself, offering his hand for the other man to shake, out of sheer politeness.

"Good afternoon, Mr Malfoy. Shall we?" he said, turning to lead the visitor down the hall, into a nearby meeting room. Once Ron and Malfoy were inside, he closed the door. Harry indicated a chair, and took a seat at the other side of the table, with Ron sitting himself down on Harry's right.

"Thank you for agreeing to speak with me, Mr Potter." Lucius began, with a frown in Ron's direction. Harry hadn't missed the look.

"Anything you have to say to me, can be said in front of Mr Weasley," Harry pointed out casually.

"Of course." Lucius acknowledged the warning with a nod.

"Why are you here?" Harry asked.

"I have been hearing, ah... rumours. You have made a lot of changes, Mr Potter. I heard that you finally caught up with Rowle."

"That is correct. He's currently in Azkaban awaiting trial." Harry confirmed, waiting for Lucius to continue to explain why he was here.

"I appreciate your evidence, and I will be forever grateful for the protection you have given my family." The blond man offered an uncertain smile.

"Your wife saved my life last year, Lucius. I do not forget. Your family suffered at the hands of Tom Riddle as many others did. However, that does not absolve you of your own actions."

"Of course not. I regret everything, but I cannot change the past. I must focus on the future, to ensure that Draco does not go through life suffering because of my crimes. He is lucky to be alive, I think, and I do not wish for his life to be destroyed by mine."

"What's this got to do with Harry?" Ron demanded, before Harry could speak. He was perhaps being a little insensitive, only now learning to recognise these occasions, but he never forgave Draco for what he had done at school, or Lucius for almost killing his little sister.

"I wish to help catch my former... colleagues. If I hear of anything, I will pass it directly to you." Lucius spoke quietly, staring at the wall rather than meeting either Auror's eyes.

"And?" Harry prompted, sensing that there was more. He was correct, and realised very quickly that what he was to hear next he wasn't going to like. Lucius Malfoy shifted in his chair, making it creak slightly, clearly uncomfortable.

"You must understand, I do this at great personal risk, Mr Potter. This must be kept between us." When he spoke, the blond man was looking directly at Ron.

"Of course." Harry prompted.

"I know nothing of the details. All I know is that it has something to do with a teacher, at Hogwarts. The school could be in danger, perhaps their target is someone else, I do not know. But something is coming."

Harry didn't speak for quite some time. He wasn't sure what to say to that, for a start. He found it hard to trust Lucius Malfoy, for numerous reasons. How could he be sure that this was not some kind of trick or trap? He surveyed the blond man with a passive expression, hoping that something would jump out at him and scream 'He's lying, don't listen!'. When that didn't happen, he shot a glance at Ron, finding his own feelings etched on his best friend's face. Then he spoke,

"Thank you for telling me this. We'll look into it, keep an eye out for things. Is there anything else?" He only asked out of politeness, Harry really wanted to get Malfoy out of there so that he could discuss all of this with Ron, and write to Hermione.

"No. I don't suppose there is. If I find out anything else, I will be in touch."

"Thank you, Mr Malfoy."

Ron got up and saw Lucius to the door, holding it open until he had left. Then he closed and locked it, before turning to Harry.

"Never heard you speak as formally as that before, mate."

Harry stared for a moment, and then laughed. He shook his head and gave a shrug.

"That's the best way to talk to someone like him. Saves arguments and snark. So... what do you think?"

"I dunno, Harry. Sounds dodgy to me. I know he owes you and everything, but I wouldn't put it past a Malfoy to doublecross you or lie to you, y'know?"

"Yeah," Harry gave a nod, "Sounds like I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't. Either way, we've got a problem."

"He said something about Hogwarts..."

"About a teacher, yeah. I think I'll write a letter to Hermione, tell her what happened. A brain like hers could shed some light on this."

Ron gave a little fond smile. "If she doesn't curse you for disrupting her NEWT revision. Send her my love,"

Harry chuckled and pulled out a sheet of parchment and his quill. It took him a while to scribble down everything Lucius had said and all his own thoughts about it. He included Ron's love, and a hello to Ginny, who had already threatened to curse him if he sent another pointless owl during revision time. This was a threat to take seriously, even for the one who vanqished The Dark Lord, Ginny was rather scary when she was angry.

* * *

The Gryffindor common room was fairly empty. Most students were still eating dinner or in the library. Hermione Granger was sitting at one of the tables, reading through a pile of Transfiguration notes and a textbook at the same time. Ginny Weasley sat beside her, looking up counter-curses in a thick leather-bound book. The silence was interrupted by a tap at the window. When the tapping became too persistent to ignore, Hermione gave an exasperated sigh and looked up to see a tiny owl staring at her and tapping the glass.

"That looks like Pig," Ginny observed, also watching the little owl.

Hermione got up and opened the window, taking the letter from Pigwidgeon's leg. The little owl proceeded to fly laps around the room, hooting happily and distracting others from their studies. Hermione looked at the envelope with a frown. She didn't usually get owls from Ron or Harry this late, unless they had something important to tell her. Usually important also meant bad so this was unlikely to make her feel better about anything. She hadn't joined them as an Auror because she wanted to finish her education, but she was kept up to date on the hunt for the remaining Death Eaters.

"That's Harry's handwriting," she muttered, retaking her seat as she broke the seal and opened the envelope. Ginny watched curiously as her friend read the letter quickly, frowning at the look on Hermione's face. It didn't seem to be good news.

"Is he okay? Has something happened?" the red-head demanded.

"Yeah, he's fine. He says 'hello'. Uhm...," Hermione looked around furtively then handed the parchment to Ginny, "You'd better read it for yourself."

"I don't like the sound of this," Ginny said, once she'd finished reading. "I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw Hagrid. I hope he's being careful."

"Should we tell Professor McGonnagall?" Hermione asked.

"No. We'd only worry her, besides, Harry said not to worry, and just focus on our exams. I just hope he's going to be sensible about this."

"I'm sure he will be. I suppose we ought to just wait and see what happens." Hermione replied, accepting the letter back from Ginny and tucking it away inside her robes before returning to her revision. She couldn't concentrate quite as well, part of her brain was going over what Harry had said, trying to figure out what it might be. She hadn't noticed anything strange in the school all year. Hermione was sure she'd have spotted anything amiss, considering the number of odd events that had featured in her first six years in the school. Lucius Malfoy suddenly turning up did not bode well, especially when he was carrying a warning.

Once her study was finished for the night she pulled out a sheet of parchment and scribbled a reply to Harry. Pigwidgeon fluttered around her, hooting excitedly. He'd clearly waited for a reply. Finally she finished writing, rolled up the letter and sealed it with her wand. She called Pigwidgeon down, grumbling at him as she fumbled with the roll of parchment, trying to attach it to the excitable little owl's leg. Once successful, she sent the owl on his way, watching him fly across the pale orange sky until he had disappeared. It was getting close to midnight, she realised, as the sun had almost set. Marvelling at how long the days were during the late spring, she closed the window and made her way up to the dormitory. Her mind felt more at ease, as she thought of what she'd told Harry. She slept well, still thinking of that letter.

"Dear Harry,

Thank you for letting me know about this, it's a bit more important than NEWTS so don't worry. I won't curse you, this time. I hope you're not too worried. I haven't noticed anything odd at all, I'd have told you if I had. Gin and I will keep a look out though, I am a bit concerned that this might be a trap or a trick of some sort. I know you vouched for his change of heart, but I still wouldn't trust him. I think, as you said, the best idea would be to just wait and see what happens. I miss you and Ron. Stay safe, and don't forget there's a Hogsmeade weekend the day after our exams finish. You should try to come, it would be nice to see you again and I know Ginny would love to see you as well. Tell Neville I said 'hello' and give Ron my love. Be careful. I mean it.

Love,

Hermione xxx"