DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author notes: I want to thank my betas for their excellent job, revising my horrible grammar. So, thank you Aurias, Allana Linn Vegas and for your terrific work. And thanks Myk for letting me continue with this story!

Please be good and leave me a review!!

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Chapter 1: A New Life

Bounding up to the group of three, Mary threw her slender arms around the tall, dark figure of her long-term boyfriend, Angel. This caused Severus, Lucius, and Angel to turn towards the sweet little Slytherin who seemed out of place in their little group. They considered themselves the Lords of Hell because they made people believed because that was where they would be if they crossed their paths. They were the elite of Slytherin after all. Their current targets were none other than that annoying James Potter and his equally annoying group. They'd get what was coming to them. The Marauders last prank almost cost their quidditch match. Black has the brilliant idea of transfigurating Severus into a bat before the game and Slytherin have to played without seeker. Gryffindor have one beater less because of that to, Black crushed into the professor's stand trying to avoid a mad bat. They were going to pay for their little prank.

Severus Snape, was the tallest and darkest of the group; standing at 6'5'' he made quite the imposing figure. His nickname was "The Guardian" because he made sure that nobody knew what they were up to and that those who intended to do harm anyone in his care were dealt with. Lucius Malfoy and Angelus Lestrange were both the same height - 6'4' - but Lucius had a slender, more feminine look to him that made many people underestimate him. He excelled in inflicting pain and was called "The Prince" because he acted as though he were above all the others. He was the undisputed? leader of the group. Finally there was Angelus, who was rather muscled and strong. His blood-red hair and cold blue eyes they made him an intimidating and scary-looking person and he was referred to as "The Angel of Death" because if anyone met him alone, that meant that they were taking you out of the game, one way or another. They were impressive together or alone.

"Get off him Mary! When will you learn that a lady doesn't behave that way? We are members of the most prominent families in the Wizarding world; we have to care about the manners we use," Lucius snarled.

"Oh, quit being such a frumpy woman who does nothing but moans and complains about things. I'd like to spend some quality time with my wonderful boyfriend. I don't care about manners the same way that you do, but that doesn't mean that I don't know how to behave. Besides, it's not like my Angel doesn't like it!" exclaimed the ever-chipper Mary.

"Of course I like it, but Luc is quite right. After all, we don't want to look like common Gryffindors, do we?" smiled Angelus, giving his girlfriend a kiss on her forehead.

"I can 'act' like a lady if you want, but all of you know that I have a kind and sensible nature. I'm a Hufflepuff at heart, and Hufflepuffs don't care about appearances." Mary smiled and smirked sweetly.

Sighing in exasperation, Lucius was always amazed that people believed her to be sweet, generous and nice all of the time and even a lost member of that marshmallow's house because under that righteous facade lay an insipid strategist that could worm her way into someone's life and then destroy it with the tinniest amount of effort.

"I think that you will have to acquire a job as an actress when we finish school, Sweet Mary. You have a natural talent," Severus said, patting her on the head.

An abrupt knocking on Lucius Malfoy's door awoke him from his slumber, pulling him from a dream of his childhood. How he envied how naive he had been back then. He'd give almost anything to be able to go back and change what they had done in order to have Mary and Angelus back with them. They didn't deserve to be sitting in Azkaban, rotting away in their dingy little cells. They probably weren't even close enough to each other to talk! What if one of them had their soul forcibly removed from their bodies already? Oh, god! He needed them out of there! And if Voldemort was the way to do it, he would do anything to convince his 'master'. With the Lords of Hell back together, nobody would stand in their way. They'd prove to everybody they weren't the miscreants the people thought they were. They were the last royalty of the old days, the last true Slytherins.

"Master Malfoy, your wife is waiting for you, sir... Mistress Narcissa said that Minny would wake you, sir..."

Without noting the elf, the master of the Malfoy Manor pulled himself from his reverie. He got out of bed and made his way to his shower. Today was an important day. Today was the day that he and Severus would free their friends, whatever the cost. Once that was done, they'd work on proving their innocence of being dark wizards. They had been confused teenagers, who had made an honest mistake. The Ministry was dumb enough to believe them with a good defense. Putting on his best blue robes and taking care of his hair, he made his way down to the main dining room where his wife was waiting for him.

"Good morning dear. Did you sleep well?" Lucius greeted his wife while sat in front of her.

"Good morning, darling. I had a wonderful sleep." Narcissa smiled and took a sip of her orange juice. "You are going to see Severus today, if I am not mistaken. Are you sure you don't want me to go with you? I could don one of my best robes."

"That's not necessary. Sev is going to be there with me, we are going to be okay. I hope, so..." Lucius muttered playing with his cup of tea.

"Very true. Then you don't need to worry, you are going to do it great today."

"It's been more than ten years Cissa, I know that Angel is strong. But is he strong enough to conquer Azkaban?"

"We are Malfoys, Darling, and Malfoys don't doubt in their family. Angelus is part of the family, so..."

"We don't doubt about Angel. I remember, Cissa. We don't want to see a nervous Malfoy, right?"

"Of course not. Malfoys don't panic or has nervous attacks. Although, you don't want to have me with you today?"

"That's not necessary. I don't want to bother you darling. You have done enough," Lucius said, finishing his tea while he got up to bade her goodbye.

"Good luck, Dear. Say hello to Severus and bring them all to dinner if you can," Narcissa said, handing him a letter.

"I don't need it. I have you after all. Give my Dragon a good morning from me. See you at night, Darling," Lucius said.

He left manor quickly, walked past the anti-Apparation boundaries and Apparated as close to Hogwarts as he could, without noticing the great cloud-less day of the autumn morning. This was his favorite season, he loved the sunny but cold days, but he was to preoccupied to notice anything at all. He then proceeded to walk to the main gates of the school where he met with his old friend. The Potions Master was waiting with his arms crossed in his chest, standing in the shadows at the front gates.

"Severus."

"Lucius"

"We have to get them out of there, Sev. I'm truly worried, and my patience has run out. I'm ready to get physical! Let's go kick some Dementors and Aurors asses and free our friends! I want our cheerful Mary and darkly humorous Angelus back. It's been too long." Lucius ranted trying to keep his hands in his pocket. He was not going to make a tantrum. This was not the time, nor the place, he told himself.

"I know, I know. Calm yourself, Lucius. I've been thinking about our plan and I see a massive flaw. It could be too risky for Mary and Angel if we go through Voldemort. We'd never get a chance to prove their innocence. While I agree that it is the easiest way to get to them, Voldemort will kill them if they don't prove their loyalty to him. You know that they will not do this; they would rather die." Severus said sighing trying to avoid his prominent headache massaging his temple. Our best hope is to go through Dumbledore. He owes me for all the spying I've been doing for him and the Order. We need to talk with Dumbledore, and you can't go inside like 'that'," Severus said sighing.

"I'm fine. It's just that I'm tired. We have to persuade him but if he doesn't do anything, then we go to Azkaban by ourselves," Lucius said quietly but firmly.

"We will bring them home today, no matter what. Now, if you will follow me," Severus said, walking with long strides into the castle. He was a Potions Master and he had a lot of patience, now he need to keep his demeanor cold if he want to reach his goals. With that thoughts, Severus motioned Lucius to follow him.

Walking into the school, Lucius was assaulted with memories from his past years as a student at Hogwarts. Mary, covered in flour, ran to the group of Sev, Angel, and him to offer cookies that she had just finished making in the Malfoy summerhouse kitchen. A offended Sev, glaring at him in annoyance when he stated that potions was a waste of his time. Angel cracking a dark joke that had the dirt covered Mary, together with her Herbology tools because she just got back from an extra class The ever professional Sev, and the better-than-thou-art-attitude Luc laughing as if their very lives depended on it. Those were the good times. Lucius was pulled out of his reverie when Severus murmured the password to the gargoyle which guarded the headmaster's office. It was now or never, they might never get the nerve up to do this again and their friends deserved this chance at freedom.

Heading to the door, they noticed that it opened before they even had the chance to knock. The Headmaster was sitting by his desk petting his familiar with the usual twinkling in his eyes like he was expecting them. "Ah, Good morning Severus, Mister Malfoy. What can I do for you gentlemen? Lemon drops? Mhmm, quite tasty," came Dumbledore's odd request. This, of course, resulted in him receiving raised eyebrows and annoyed looks from the two occupants in his office. "Hmhp. Always so serious nowadays. On with business then."

"We are here to speak to you on the behalf of an appeal for Angelus and Mary Lestrange. They do not deserve to be rotting away their lives in Azkaban. We want to prove this to you. We know that you have massive pull with the Ministry, and with my extra pull, we should be able to manage to get them released," came Lucius's elegant reply. They waited with baited breath to see if the headmaster would allow them to continue with their plea or send them on their way. They could only pray for the former.

Receiving an affirmative nod from the Headmaster, Severus and Lucius launched into their rehearsed tale of the sins of innocence and how Mary and Angelus deserved a second chance at a new life. They recounted how they grew up around the Dark Arts and how everyone had always told them that they would become evil, just like their parents. They told him how their parents weren't good role models. They also told of their dislike of Muggles due to their unyielding ways of dealing with what they did not understand or did not like.

"Dumbledore, you are totally aware about the situation between the 'muggles' and my family. How do you expect me to vouch for them? If you recall correctly, they almost terminate 'my' lineage, with the pathetic excuse that we were wizards, which we are, but that doesn't give them any excuse," Lucius protested.

"We 'are' dark wizards as you say, Albus. We are not going to deny that. We born and grew up among the Dark Arts. It was expected, but we are not on Voldemort's side. It's not worthy, we don't gain anything from that sort of alliance," Severus added looking straight into the old wizard's eyes.

"We are not some minions. We are the most respectable families of the wizard world. We didn't and will never bow to such a pompous man. At the time is was convenience but time pass and we want to choose a more selectable choice, which is not His side." Lucius continued with their plea.

Finally, after many hours of pleading their case, Albus agreed to accompany them to the Ministry of Magic. He was going to assist Lucius and Severus in their attempt to exonerate the Lestranges. He was certain that if he didn't support them, they were going to free their friends without help. He could not afford to have the four of them against him. They were all very powerful and in these dark times, the Light needed as much help as possible. Albus didn't trust Mr. Malfoy, but at the moment his thoughts were elsewhere and if the situation came like he expect, he could have Angelus and Lucius were he wanted and can keep an eye in them.

Reaching the main doors of the Ministry of Magic, after letting McGonagall in charge of the school, Severus, Lucius, and Albus made their way along the winding corridors. They began to wonder if they would ever make it to their destination, The Court of Appeals for Dark Wizards Imprisoned in Azkaban. Turning into yet another hallway, trying to avoid the curious looks from the employees and the possible appearances of the press, they finally came upon an old door with this label.

It makes sense. Who would want to free a bunch of murderers? Lucius thought, but before he could say something or enter the court, a middle age secretary who was painting her nails stopped them. A cold shiver of disgust went down the Potion Master's spine, the woman looked exactly like the old bat Trelawney.

"Name of the accused you wish to have exonerated?" The secretary asked indifferent without even looking at them.

"Good morning to you too," Severus muttered.

"Angelus and Mary Lestrange," Lucius replied. He looked tiredly at the woman, sighing. 'The ministry is becoming worse than I thought' he Prince realized.

"Crime they committed?"

"Felonious assault, 50 counts of Avada Kedavra, 239 counts of Crucio, and conspiracy of being a Death Eater," Severus ground out, becoming very annoyed by her manners.

"Oh dear. And you think you can actually prove differently? That's funny," the no-name secretary stated giggling. "You can enter now, Mary and Angelus Lestrange will be transported into the room and a judge and jury will be awaiting your plea in a few minutes. Have a good day!" The secretary said returning her attention to herself.

"Twat," Severus mumbled as they walked into the corridor to the court.

"I quite agree. People like her are a disgrace to the name of wizard." Lucius said.

"A Gryffindor most probably," Severus replied with a small smile.

"Indeed, a mudblood perhaps?" Lucius responded passing trough the doors to the court room, without noting when the headmaster rolled his eyes.

Entering the cold and big courtroom, Lucius and Severus remembered their first trial where they tried to prove their innocence. The room was exactly the same, as if they were trying to freak them. The first thing that met the group's eyes was Mary and Angelus Lestrange. Angel seemed the same, the only main difference being that his hair now hung down to his waist and his eyes had a haunted quality but Mary seemed very different. Mary's curly brown hair hung in limp tendrils from her head; all the curls appeared to have disappeared. The freckles that under her eyes and across the bridge of her nose had become far too prominent feature on her overly pale and drawn face. Her bright blue eyes were fogged over with shadows. She seemed to have been greatly affected by the number of years she'd been in Azkaban; no smile graced her features, unlike her husband. Their dirty robes were in pieces and hanging around their thin bodies. They stand like discarded dolls from a very poor girl.

The jury consisted of 10 juries who were standing to their left side and the judge who was sitting in front of the defendants of the Lestranges and to the right of the pair. They walked past the grades in front of the jury, that usually were occupied by a public, and placed themselves in front of their friends suddenly determined that they wouldn't leave until Mary and Angelus were reunited with them again.

The Malfoy master opened his wife's letter and took out all the evidence he needed, thanking his ancestors that Narcissa was an excellent lawyer. He smiled to Severus, trying to comfort his friend, who was thinking along the same lines as himself. Standing next to them, the Headmaster sight softly. "This will be a long day, I hope the stars will be kind on our souls."

"We are here to hear a plea for the release of Angelus and Mary Lestrange," the judge said, standing up to address the jury. "Will Lucius Malfoy, Severus Alexander Snape, and Albus Dumbledore now step forward to state their case?"