On the evening of October 31st 1981, Lucius Malfoy was reclining in his favourite armchair with a glass of firewhiskey and a plate of small pumpkin pies left over from the children's Halloween party, he had almost finished reading Cantankerous Nott's 'Importance of the Preservation of Pure Blood.' As he was about to reach for his fourth pie, a hand snatched the plate away and his hand hit the mahogany table instead.

'It's nearly eleven, you shouldn't eat so late.'

'Cissa, one more. Only. Please?'

Narcissa rolled her eyes and begrudgingly handed her husband the smallest pie on the plate before placing the pies a safe distance outside Lucius' reach.
It was almost midnight when Lucius finally finished his book and decided to go to sleep. He only slept for three hours before a brief sharp pain on his left forearm woke him. This must have been a dream, as the Dark Lord's call is more like a slow burning sensation, however, before he could comprehend what had just happened and go back to sleep, a figure of a woman appeared beside his bead.

'Bella! What in Merlin-'

His cousin and fellow Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange quickly smacked one hand over his mouth and the other on his shoulder to keep his still.

'We need to go. NOW,' she whispered.

Lucius quickly looked over at his wife; Narcissa looked as if a hundred hippogriffs would not be able to wake her. He grabbed a long dark green cloak that would hopefully conceal his pyjamas and slippers, then swiftly followed his cousin with not a word more.

This was one of the rare instances when Lucius Malfoy felt genuine fear; believing The Dark Lord would succeed in taking over wizarding Britain, Lucius had engaged in some activities which may not be looked upon favourably by the Ministry, and now that The Dark Lord has fallen, there was nothing preventing the damned Auror Office from initiating a full investigation.

'…He couldn't kill the Potter boy. When we arrived the house was practically destroyed and there was no sign of the Dark Lord, only the bodies of James and Lily Potter.'

Lucius caught sight of Severus Snape sitting alone in a corner, slumped against the wall, as if he had lost the will to live, his sallow skin even paler. At the mention of Lily Potter's name, deep ridges formed on his forehead and he closed his eyes, as if willing himself not to cry. Lucius walked over and gently patted his young friend's shoulder.

'How are you certain the boy survived?' Lucius demanded, there was no possible way a child of Draco's age could have killed The Dark Lord.

'We heard the kid crying as he was taken away by that half-breed,' Rodolphus Lestrange replied, 'Bella and I considered killing him and the boy, but, alas, he is not ours to kill.'

'You will need a plan,' Snape said, 'as Dumbledore believes me to be his spy, I am safe.'

'We fight. We have learnt from the most powerful wizard of all time, we can defeat the aurors and finish the Dark Lord's work!' Evan Rosier growled.

Half of the room showed their approval, whilst the other half exchanged worried glances. Lucius decided to speak for the latter half.

'I think that it is less than prudent to openly declare war against the Ministry.'

Cassius Crabbe, as well as many others, nodded in approval;

'My son has just turned two, and my wife is expecting another – do you honestly expect me to leave them behind and waste away in Azkaban?'

'Cowards! The lot of you!' Bellatrix spat, glowering at Cassius and Lucius.

'Perhaps you do not comprehend the severity of the situation, Lestrange,' Lucius hissed.

'Oh we comprehend perfectly, Malfoy,' Bellatrix's lips curled into a snarl, 'you know as well as I that the Dark Lord has not been completely vanquished, and that he will return soon.'

'And you know as well as I that he asked us to. Keep. Them. Safe.'

The night went on thusly, arguments and the occasional hex on how to proceed, until it was decided that those who unfortunately found themselves captured and sentenced to Azkaban will go proudly, however they will not betray any of their fellow comrades under questioning.

It was almost six o'clock when Lucius returned to Malfoy Manor, he went immediately to his study where a bottle of McLaggen's Finest Firewhisky was always present. About to pour himself a glass, a sudden impulsiveness compelled him to drink straight from the bottle – four large gulps before heading to his bedroom.

'Cissa!' Lucius was surprised that his wife has woken so early, she was sitting in an armchair besides the window in a dark blue dressing gown, looking intently at the sky outside. 'I hope I did not wake you when I left?'

'No no, it was the fireworks that woke me – around four in the morning I think. I take it that the reason for your impromptu meeting was the same as the fireworks?'

And so Lucius recounted the events of the three hours past, however no amount of firewhisky could inspire enough courage in him to tell his wife that her beloved sister has decided to fight for the Dark Lord until her death.

The next day Lucius and Narcissa were eating breakfast as if everything was normal – that was their decided plan; to pretend they had nothing to do with the Dark Lord, when Dobby came in carrying the mail: a copy of The Daily Prophet and a letter sealed with the Ministry of Magic stamp.

'Dear Mr and Mrs Malfoy,

Following the delightful events of last night, the Ministry is hosting a celebratory party tomorrow in honour of Harry Potter, 'The Boy Who Lived' and his spectacular defeat of You-Know-Who, ending a period of darkness and terror for the Wizarding World. As one of the Ministry's most generous supporters, we are inviting you to join us at 6 o'clock in the evening in the Atrium.

Best Wishes,

Millicent Bagnold, Minister for Magic.'

'It looks like we're going to a party Cissa,' Lucius said, placing the letter down onto the table and picking up The Daily Prophet.

'Slightly worse news; you cousin Sirius has been arrested for being a Death Eater and…' Lucius paused whilst finishing the article, 'and for blowing up some muggles and Peter Pettigrew.'

Narcissa gently shrugged one shoulder, broke off a piece of toast and started buttering it.

'Sirius Black is no family of mine,' she vehemently said lowly.

Lucius would have believed her except for the fact she continued to butter the same piece of toast for two minutes now, her knuckles holding the butter knife white. 'I hope he rots in Azkaban.'

Lucius and Narcissa, having arrived fashionably late, were instantly greeted with warm words from Cornelius Fudge, a Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, and with not so warm words from Alastor Moody, head of the Auror Office. Lucius was pleased to note the absence of the blood traitor Arthur Weasley, and returned to his conversation with Fudge.

'Shocking…absolutely shocking to see someone do such horrendous things…blood everywhere.'

'Yes, and I am sure that the entire wizarding world is grateful to you for the apprehension of such a violent criminal… certainly he must have been largely responsible for the numerous previous attacks as well?'

'Well we shall find out next week, during his trial, discover the monstrous things he has been doing under You-Know-Who, although he still claims inn- ah! Weasley! Glad you see you!'

Fudge's sudden exclamation was accompanied by loud grunts and the appearance of a lanky bespectacled redheaded man and a smaller redheaded boy, both wearing robes that had been roughly mended.

'Sorry I'm late Fudge, fireplace malfunctioned a bit – and three boys - you know how they can be!' Weasley laughed whilst wiping Floo Powder off his face. 'This is Percy, my youngest, he's been begging me to bring him to the Ministry, wants to be Minister of Magic – don't you, Percy?'

The boy threw his father an irritated look as his face turned as red as his hair, whilst Fudge burst into laughter.

This was completely and utterly against decorum; no other families brought their children, yet everyone else was fawning over this redhead little brat as if he was The-Boy-Who-Lived himself.

'How dare you show your face here Malfoy? Do you have no shame?'

Lucius cursed internally; it seems his pleasant evening will be short lived.

'Pity you did not bring your entire family Weasley, I suppose today's food will be the best they've ever have the chance to taste.'

'Surrounding you are the families of those who died fighting You-Know-Who, whose deaths were caused by you and your Death Eater friends!'

Lucius rolled his eyes and sighed, he was already bored with this conversation.

'I do not plan on wasting my time listening to your unfounded accusations Weasley,' he drawled, walking away to find better company more fitting for a Malfoy.

The evening was spent, on Lucius' part, discussing with various high ranking Ministry officials, such as the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Bartemius Crouch, on how You-Know-Who's downfall will affect the political landscape of wizarding Britain, whilst Narcissa utilised her time by offering her sincerest condolences as well as the occasional sympathetic smile and pat on the handto the widows and families of those who died fighting You-Know-Who's.

When they finally returned to Malfoy Manor, their son, Draco, was fast asleep. As Lucius sat stroking Draco's little cloud of blond hair, he realised that for his beloved child there was no possible way he would allow himself to go to Azkaban.