Draco found it very difficult to integrate the adult memories into his life. He needed more time, so he used the time-turner to go back a day. He returned 10 objective minutes later. Eventually he spent five days in such a fashion, the last one he went to Gringotts and sped the application naming him Lord Malfoy, so it would be signed that very day.

It was exceedingly strange to feel both 17 and 36 years old, to combine in a sole viewpoint the ardor of youth and the maturity of a father. And Scorpius's loss caused him deep heartache. But he was ready to ride high once more. Before, he'd given them Atonement, 20 long years he spent paying for his youthful sins and the louts did not forgive him, but tortured and chastised him, they killed his parents, and in the end they killed his son.

He will not be humble again! They will find out their worst enemy, and it will be him.

Draco faced the room and intoned, rubbing the Malfoy signet ring. "Lord Malfoy requests the services of the excellent Griphook, to settle urgent matters."

There was the sound of goblin Apparition and a goblin appeared. He bowed to Draco and said, "Griphook is here, how may I serve you?"

Draco answered, "The Malfoys are the biggest customers of Gringotts, yet the Ministry wants my money. I've conceived of a way to fool them, but I need your help."

"Of course, I know that Gringotts may deny such help, so I thought about things that unite us, like the broken promises of Harry Potter towards the goblins, when he promised he'd give them the Sword of Gryffindor for services rendered. The goblin performed the service, yet the Sword vanished after a few days."

"It is against this hypocrisy and treacherous logic that we must unite. If you help me, I willingly give my oath as Lord Malfoy that within one year hence, the Sword will be returned to you, free of enchantment, or I will lose my magic."

Griphook was astonished. He'd thought the Sword was gone forever, a shame upon his honor, but to have the chance to win it back, especially against that curmudgeon Potter, it was brilliant. He said, "Griphook and Gringotts will be pleased to do everything we can to help you, so we can reach our goals."

Draco stated, "I would like to change vaults. Instead of using vaults 00 to 100, as has been done up to now, I want us to use vaults 1,000 to 1,100. It would be advantageous if this were done overnight." Draco sported a decidedly serpentine smile, "Of course, it would be so much easier if you numbered your vaults in other way. Let's say that the one on top begins with 0, and so on, so you don't have to actually drag the contents across vaults, but simply change the numbering system itself."

"Also I would like your help to perform a Magnus Fidelius charm. I want to place all Malfoy real estate assets under the Fidelius charm. To do that a list of all the property is needed, which I think you will find here. We also need to have three different magical creatures. You are one, I will call one of my House elves."

Griphook commented, "You still need another magical creature."

Draco replied, "I have the powers of a Veela."

Draco called on Trini, a Malfoy house elf, and the Magnus Fidelius was performed.

Then he transfigured some TV cameras and put them under concealment charms.

Lastly, he had a request to make of Griphook. He wanted to have the controlling interest of the Daily Prophet, so he asked Griphook to buy shares until he owned 70 of all outstanding shares.

HRHRHRHRHRHRHRH

That afternoon, the Ministry representatives appeared, waiting to see a broken Draco Malfoy. They met a brisk one, who apparently had his own game plan. When they tried to make him sign, he demurred and said:

"I have a proposition: I give you control of all my vaults and all known Malfoy property. You give me my parents, and take them to the trial tomorrow so I can talk with them."

Percy Weasley asked, "What will you do if we say no?"

Draco answered, "Then I will fight you as much as I need to."

Weasley continued, "You agree to give up everything for your parents? You must really love them."

Draco replied, "Apparently more than you, at any rate."

The senior representative commented, "I can say that we will let you meet with your parents tomorrow, but only if you hand over the Malfoy assets. We cannot let such a big amount go to people sympathetic to the Dark Arts."

HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHR

The next day dawned in a glorious explosion of red and gold. Unbeknownst to many, several enviable plots of land were conspicuously missing from preferred locations across the United Kingdom , including plots from Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley.

There was also the little matter that Hogwarts had seemingly disappeared.

The Wizengamot hearing destined to seal the fate of Draco Malfoy would take place at 9:00 AM. Harry was surprised to discover Neville there. The public had no idea of the nature of that meeting, exactly like Harry wanted.

He would start to ensnare his prey right now, watching with gleefulness as the prey fell. But Neville, what was he doing here?

The Wizengamot made its entrance, and then Draco. Harry was irritated to note that he seemed in control and unafraid.

Draco simply extended his hand and Summoned a piece of parchment. Harry was astonished to see that he had a Birch wand; he hadn't given him his own wand back to keep him subservient and weak. He'd have to be more careful around him.

Draco imperiously signed the parchment. The terms were that in return for relinquishing control of his Gringotts vaults 00 to 100, and ceding all known Malfoy property to the Ministry, Draco Malfoy was declared innocent of any charges related to his life up to that point, and the same applied to Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Draco could meet his parents from that moment on. Draco watched as the magic in the contract ran its course. Then he wanted to see his parents.

Shacklebolt said, "I'm not sure it's safe to allow you to see them, Draco!"

Draco replied, "It's too late, Shakie. When I signed the parchment and the magic was activated, it was made real for all parts of the contract, it was a Magical Holographic contract. I demand to see my parents!"

There was the sound of tempests and thunder, and there, in front of Draco, stood Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy. They wore chains. Draco moved his wand and issued a nonverbal command. The chains fell off. Draco said, "Accio Lucius's cane!"

A cane flew towards Draco. He caught it and flung it towards his father. He said, "Catch and hug!" Lucius understood the implied command and hugged Narcissa.

Draco took out an Origami letter, and blew it with a kiss towards Narcissa. As everyone was so caught up with the display of magic and the origami letter, they did not think to wonder what was in the letter.

Lucius and Narcissa read:

Malfoy Manor may be located 20 miles from Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, England

The password to activate the portkey is Victory. Do not go out of the Manor for a few weeks.

Lucius looked proudly at Draco and said clearly, "Victory." The portkey activated and they were whisked away from the rabid Ministry, and Draco's fears eased a bit.

There was pandemonium among the members. Draco stepped up to the podium and shouted, "I demand to see the Chief Warlock."

A shadowy figure presented itself as Thaddeus Rimes, Chief Warlock.

Draco continued, making sure that the reporters of the Daily Prophet heard, "I accuse the Ministry of blackmailing me into seemingly providing them with the Malfoy assets so my parents would be left alone! In support of this claim I offer this:" He offered DVDs with the recording of the incriminating evidence.

He continued, "It doesn't matter if you try to hide this under a chair, for the press has access to the evidence and will surely publish it! I accuse the Minister of deepest corruption, and in support of my claim, I hereby withdraw the Malfoy monies from any reparation funds. We will not sit idly by while you chastise us with our money!"

"You can be sure that I will speak with the other pureblood families and come to an accommodation with them."

Every member was aghast. Without the Malfoy monies, which contributed to around half the total, the Ministry would collapse. Of course, they could institute taxes or contributions, but that would mean that the Muggleborns and Half-bloods would have to pay, when they were used to being the ones in control, without having to contribute.

Draco continued, with fire in his cold grey eyes and the demeanor of angry vengeance, "Before you do something stupid, you should consider this: Hogwarts belongs to me!"

"Possession is nine points of the law! And I possess Hogwarts, for I can go there whenever I want. No one else can go unless I permit it. The Malfoys own Hogwarts."

"I will retain Hogwarts inaccessibility for the moment. It will probably change when classes start, or it might not."

HRHRHRHRHRHR

Harry was incensed. All his careful plans to subdue Malfoy would come to naught, they all turned on him losing everything and becoming dependent on Harry. Right now that seemed unlikely. Harry glared heatedly at Draco, and discovered to his chagrin that Draco didn't pay attention.

Instead Draco spoke to Neville, "What's up, Longbottom?"

Neville replied, "Not much, Malfoy. Thanks for the invite."
Draco answered, "You were my ace in the hole. If I needed help, I knew I could count on you."
Neville answered, "After last year and the enormous help you gave me with the Slytherins and the school, I could do nothing else."

Harry was dying of curiosity and had to ask, "What help was that?"

Neville, "When I stood up for other people, the Death Eaters would have killed me, but Draco pretended to torture and torment me, and that satisfied their hunger for pain. In reality, Draco just used very colorful and vivid innocuous spells. Without him being there at least part of the time, they would have killed me."

Neville asked Draco, "I have to return to Hogwarts soon, can you help me?"

Draco replied, "Of course, Nev. You'll find the way very soon."

Harry was inwardly fuming, since when does Draco called Longbottom Nev? What is the world coming to? What's happening with his plans?

Harry was still irate, and did not notice the scrap of paper that Draco shoved unobtrusively into Neville's hand. It said:

Hogwarts may be found several miles from Hogsmeade, in Scotland .

tbc