Lucius awoke.

Merlin, what a nightmare. Trying to make nice with the Weasleys? He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. 'Tea.' A silver salver appeared on a stand beside the bed with on it, a steaming pot of tea, a small jug of milk and a mug.

A mug? thought Lucius. But, of course, Narcissa didn't like the Black Keep and didn't care what was in it. More to the point: what was he doing here?

'Dobby.' The elf appeared. 'What am I doing here.'

The elf's face blanked for a moment as it consulted whatever arcane magics elves used to keep track of people. 'Mistress Andromeda brought you?'

'We own this place. Not her.'

'Mistress Andromeda was born a Black.'

And therefore the notoriously tricky Black Keep wards let her in.

'Does Narcissa know I'm here?'

'Dobby thinks not.'

'Please tell her that I am here and will be returning shortly.' Dobby vanished.

Please? thought Lucius, scandalised. For a house elf?

Still drinking his tea, he heard footsteps rapidly approaching. 'Lucius? demanded Narcissa, as she threw open the bedroom door. 'What on Earth is going on? Three different spells hit him in rapid succession. Are you alright?

Lucius didn't spill his tea. He wondered how long he'd been out of it. Madeye had never been one to pull his cursess 'What's been happening?'

That's what I want to know. Why have we been assigned Aurors "for our own protection"? What have you been doing?'

'Not me!' objected Lucius, getting up and heading for the door. 'Severus was the one performing all the heroics.''

'This is about that cleansing draught, isn't it? Narcissa followed him out of the bedroom. 'What were you doing here?'

'Andromeda brought me.'

'Ah.'

'You've been meeting with her here behind my back.'

'I have not.' Narcissa met his gaze for a moment then, pink suffusing her cheeks, turned away. 'A couple of times. She's my sister. I needed to know that she'd somewhere safe to go.'

Oh nicely done, thought Lucius. However many years of marriage and she was still trying to wrap him around her little finger. 'At least you had some use of the place.'

His wife's expression darkened.

Lucius took a deep breath. 'When I bought this place for you as a wedding present, when dear, sweet, old Cassiopeia sold it to me, I didn't realise that "entirely habitable if not quite the style" meant that your great grandfather Cygnus had had it reconstructed for the benefit of his Muggle mistress and her theatrical friends. Auntie had hidden all the Muggle stuff. I just thought it a bit unconventional.

Narcissa's jaw clenched.

'I'm sorry. I thought you would find it amusing.' Lucius glanced at the pale opulence surrounding them. This floor held a library, a dining room and various bedrooms, all giving onto a very large lounge with a wall of south facing glass doors leading out onto a viewing platform that stretched right around the outside of the structure.

Marble stairs and glass and steel lifts accessed the roof top solarium with its tropical gardens and the glass bottomed swimming pool that passed light through to the lounge. Below were more bedrooms, a gymnasium, a games room and a theatre/cinema all supplied with electricity from a trio of massive, magically driven generators hidden in the dungeon. Lucius had no idea how the Muggle stuff had worked but, while he could do without the theatre and games room, he'd rather liked the upper levels. Narcissa, unfortunately, thought it all too vulgar for words.

Not that she didn't have a point.

Bellatrix, with her usual tact, had called it "a mad man's muggle-loving love shack" and giggled, before going skinny dipping with Rabastan and Rudolphus in the pool.

"Skinny dipping?"

He wondered when he might have come across such a distasteful expression and, out it slid, from behind his occlumantic barriers, like some eldrich abomination requiring only a thought to manifest itself. As quickly as possible, Lucius stuffed that particular image (as viewed from below) back into one of the deeper holes in his subconscious. At least Bellatrix infatuation with Dark Lord had put an end to all that.

Narcissa lost the argument with herself. 'It would be different if you'd allow me to remodel. It's not as if we couldn't afford . . ..' She trailed off. 'Why has William Weasley been fire calling you concerning "Gringotts' Business"?'

'Was he?'

But Narcissa wasn't listening. She was instead heading towards the enormous, carved marble fireplace opposite the windows. 'Malfoy Manor!' The fire flared green and she was gone. Grimacing, Lucius followed.

He found Narcissa in his study gong through the books. It didn't take her long to reach a conclusion. 'We're broke. In fact,' she checked back to the beginning of the book, 'we're broke.'

'Yes,' Lucius heard himself saying from a distance. 'I'm sorry. Why is Gandolf Goyle out cold on the floor?'

'Because McNair drank first. He's in the pale green guest room. Any idea what Weasley wants?'

'I suppose I could find out.'

In an otherwise empty room, William Weasley was struggling with chalk, several pieces of parchment and something apparently constructed of string and shaped, wooden blocks, all of which were attempting to escape. 'Mr. Weasley?'

'Mr Malfoy. Would you like to come through? Or would you prefer . . . ?' A tea service slid past like a row of ducks.

'If you wouldn't mind coming to the Manor?'

Lucius withdrew and, moments later was joined by the young Curse Breaker. 'This way.' Lucius led him into the large reception room opposite. 'Hello again, Mr. Weasley,' said Narcissa.

'Ah, Hello.' Weasley looked uncomfortable.

'Just say it,' advised Lucius.

'Right. Well. On checking Madame Lestrange's vault, Gringotts discovered that she was in breach of contract regarding the contents. A fine has been levied, part of which accrues to you for information received.' An envelope was thrust into Lucius hands. 'You might want to get that transferred to your own vault as quickly as possible.'

Lucius froze, feeling as though his spine were boiling, entirely horrified. Gringotts' employee or not, there was no way he should have found out . . .. 'Why are you telling me this?' he asked,

Weasley grinned. 'Because my family owes you and because banking is Gringotts' other business.'

So the Cursebreaker didn't mind scuppering their schemes. Unexpected. Lucius opened the envelope, glanced over the enclosed missive and and noted the numbers near the bottom of of the page. 'No you don't,' he found himself saying automatically. 'Your sister would never have been endangered if Hogwarts were . . . .' He blinked and checked the numbers again.

'One tenth the value of the vault's contents.'

'I see. And the item?'

'Confiscated.' Weasley grinned. 'Three down. Would you happen to have any ideas regarding the others?'

Lucius considered. 'The curse on the Dark Arts position would suggest that there is something in the school.'

'That was my own thought. Incidentally, Professor Dumbledore wants to talk to you.'

'Indeed.' Lucius handed the parchment to his wife Thank you, Mr. Weasley. '

'My pleasure. Since you probably want to attend to that immediately, you'll excuse me?' A courteous bow and he was gone.

Narcissa's eyebrows rose as she read. 'We're not broke. Now that is a Weasley I could like. I'll deal with it, shall I?'

'Please.'

Narcissa came back before reaching the flue. 'Money is why I couldn't remodel the Keep?'

'Yes. The Dark Lord took . . ..'

'Lets not speak of him.' Pulling his head down, she kissed his brow.

'We have to.'

'Then you should attend to our guests. I'll be back as soon as I can.'

. . . . .

'Your wife.' said Gandolf Goyle, 'tried to poison me.'

'Actually, I believe it was a cleansing draught.'

Gandolf looked at him. 'I warned you about that woman. Not that the whole family isn't a bit high strung.'

Lucius shrugged. 'Can I offer you a drink?

'No. What's going on Lucius?'

Without mentioning the basilisk or the word horcrux, he explained.

'Topiary!' muttered Gandolph, finally. 'Bloody . . .. I think I might take you up on that drink now.'

'Brandy?'

'Firewhisky. A large one. So. Now you're siding with Dumbledore?'

Lucius proffered the half full glass. 'If he is wise, Dumbledore will side with me.'

The drink was downed in one. 'What about McNair?

Lucius couldn't quite repress a shudder. 'I think he might have to remain our guest for a while yet.'

'Ha! She fed you some.'

'She did.'

'Think I'll go before she gets back. You take care of yourself, Lucius.'

As the green fire of Goyle's departure died away, Narcissa emerged from the shadows. 'All done. I had the feeling that the goblins were a little disappointed,' she said.

'Excellent.'

'I think,' said Narcissa, 'that you and I should have a little chat.'

He told her everything. When he had finished, his wife appeared thoughtful. 'There were rumours about Seer blood in the Malfoy line.'

'Not since Marie-Suzanne de Malfoy. And she wasn't in the direct line.'

'There was, of course, your grandfather's infamous luck at cards.'

Source of the recent Malfoy fortune, thought Lucius. 'I don't think that had anything to do with Divination,' he said

'It would seem,' she mused 'that we have quite the opportunity. 'Although . . .. It might better if you were to remain here for now. I'll see if I can't find Andromeda. Find out what's happening.'

'Promise to be careful.'

Her smile was like sunshine. 'Of course.'

A bath and a meal had Lucius feeling considerably better than he had for a while. That and the fact that he was almost as well off as he'd been when he'd first inherited, before Riddle had properly got his hook in.

If he'd received one tenth, then it was surprising how much Bellatrix had actually had in her vault. Lucius sat up sharply. Voldemort's money. No chance then of him not noticing his loss. He would want access in fairly short order should he manage to reincarnate himself. Lucius was just settling down to plot when he was interrupted by Dobby.

'Master?'

'Yes?'

'Aurors is wanting to talk to Master.'

'Show them in.

There were four of them, wand in hand, clearly hoping that Lucius would start something. 'Gentlemen, what can I do for you?'

'If you'll come with us, sir: the Minister would like a word.'

He gave them a pleasant smile 'Would you happen to know what this is about?'

'Couldn't say sir.'

This time he didn't have to wait to be admitted. 'Lucius.' Fudge got up to shake his hand and pull back the chair for him. 'Good to see you again.'

'How can I be of help to you Minister?'

Fudge sat down. 'Well, the thing is, there's some damn nonsense about Sirius Black being innocent.'

'Really?'

'Yes. Or at least, that he never received a proper trial.'

'I see.' Lucius sat down. 'But wouldn't that be the responsibility of the previous administration?' he suggested.

'You're forgetting that I was part of that administration.'

'Hardly something that needs to be mentioned. Bagnold's foul up. You're just putting things right. Schedule a trial, and in the meantime, stick him in Saint Mungo's/'

The Minster scowled.''Unfortunately Black has got it into his head that I was personally responsible. Raving about me having him locked up so I could steal his property. Quite mad, of course.'

So Fudge had decided to indulge in a little extortion, had he? And found Black not nearly as far gone as expected. 'If he's insane, surely the place for him is in hospital?'

'The place for Black is Azkaban.'

'I fail to see what it is you think that I can do.'

'Really, Lucius? How about a statement from you regarding Black's sympathies?'

Now, the fool was pushing parchment and a quill towards him across the desk. Clutching at straws. Lucius sighed. 'To the best of my knowledge, Sirius Black never supported You-Know-Who. Quite the reverse as I recall.'

The feather crumpled in the Minister's fist. 'Should we be obliged to reopen the judicial process for Black, there is no telling where it might go.'

Lucius stood up. 'My best advice would be to have Black transferred to Saint Mungo's.' As he stepped out of the Minister's office, he found himself again surrounded.

'Sorry Lucius, but I feel that the best place for you right now is in protective custody,' said Fudge from behind him. 'Take his wand.' Lucius had no choice but to let it go. Fudge awarded him a particularly oily smile. 'Just until we can get this matter cleared up of course.'

In the corridor that led to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement's holding cells, the Aurors stopped. The wizard who had taken Lucius' wand tossed it back at him and he too smiled. 'Give it your best shot.'

'I don't understand.'

'He doesn't understand!'

Talk fast. 'Sirius Black was one of yours. He never had a trial. That's an embarrassment to the Minister. Especially as he's innocent.'

'Crucio!'

When the pain had receded sufficiently Lucius found himself on the floor. 'You didn't really think anyone bought that shit about "Imperius" did you, Malfoy?'

'Black was an Auror. One of your own.' But the man was no longer paying attention. He'd turned to face behind him, listening intently. The red spell caught him anyway just before another stunner hit Lucius.

. . . . .

He became conscious of a foul odour, then that he was lying on something hard and lumpy from which he was unable to rise. Lucius opened his eyes. He was in a holding cell at the Ministry. The door was open but that didn't help because he was quite firmly stuck to the bunk. Someone had also gone to the trouble of making him invisible and inaudible.

He was not without company though. In the cell opposite a filthy wreck of a man was snoring peacefully. Sirius Black. Footsteps brought a single Auror into view. Not one of those who had attacked him. The guard watched Black for a few moments before retreating, showing no awareness of Lucius' presence. Interesting, thought Lucius. It looked as though he had, again, been stashed out of the way.

Sirius continued to snore. Lucius began to itch. He was starting to suspect that perhaps he wasn't quite as alone on the bunk as he might have liked. He could move a little within his clothes but they were attached to the mattress and the mattress was stuck to the bunk. If he'd been dressed the way Black was, getting free wouldn't have been a problem, but all of Lucius' things were of the finest quality.

He wriggled.

Cursing silently, he wriggled some more.

Finally, hearing the cell block door open, he stopped and listened. 'I need to check your wand,' a female voice was saying. 'It won't take a moment.'

Wizards are idiots, thought Lucius.

Sure enough, a moment later came: 'Imperio!' He couldn't make out her orders but he heard the block door open again and close. A woman in pink came and, without fuss, opened the cell door opposite. 'Goodbye Mr. Black,' she said, and left.

Umbridge, He had a very bad feeling about this even before the temperature began to drop. In his cell, Sirius Black awoke, turned into a dog and scurried under the bunk. Moments later, the Dementor hove into view. The victim for whom it was intended being absent as far as it was concerned, that just left Lucius.

Twisting and contorting, he tried desperately to escape and failed, nose and fingers tingling as the cold intensified. Bony hands pressing down upon Lucius' shoulders, the foul thing bent over him and he wished that he still felt as though he were dreaming. Helplessly, he closed his eyes.

A loud clanging, and the icy pressure on his shoulders had gone. He discovered the Dementor wrestling with what he first took for a silvery, floor length beard. He found that he could sit up and and watched as the dark creature staggered backwards, bouncing off walls and doors, trying and failing to get a grip of something that twisted around and started shredding its hands with four rapidly paddling paws. A Patronus?: an aggressively corporeal one. As the Dementor collapsed across the bunk opposite, the dog scuttled, nails scraping franticly, from underneath and through the doors into Lucius cell to take refuge beneath him.

Shivering, Lucius took his time getting to his feet as the Dementor continued hairily to flap and flail, finally succeeding in prying its assailant away from its throat and throwing it off. The Patronus, a large fox, skipped brightly against the wall, shaking its head, dark material falling away from its grinning jaws, and sprang back to the attack. As it did its best to excavate the Dementor's innards, Lucius found his wand where he'd been lying. He bent down. Black fur eyed him warily from the shadow under the bunk.

'Hello Sirius. Or should that be "Padfoot".' Lucius sank down beside the dog. 'In case they haven't told you yet, we found a rat. Pettigrew's dead.' A particularly loud clanging caused the eyes to switch their attention to the struggle going on outside the cell. 'Black,' he tried again, we found Pettigrew.'

The dog became a man. 'Peter's dead?' he whispered.

'He was hiding out as the Weasley children's pet. At Hogwarts. Actually sharing a room with Harry Potter. Turned into a rat and tried to run. Forgot about McGonagall.'

'She caught him ?'

'Terminally.'

Sirius coughed and then couldn't stop coughing. Lucius conjured a glass and gave him water. Coughing turned into crying. 'We're going to get you out of here,' said Lucius, gripping the animagus' shoulder. 'You need to hold it together for just a bit longer.'

'We?' wheezed Sirius. 'Who's we?'

'Andromeda. That mad bastard . . . ' Speak of the devil.

'Malfoy. Can't you stay put for five bloody minutes?' demanded Moody stumping in ahead of a trio of Healers and Kingsly Shacklebolt. Tail still thumping, the silver fox faded. What was left of the Dementor fled.

Moody looked at Lucius askance.

'That toad Umbridge tried to set it on Black.'

'And the Patronus?'

No idea. I opened my eyes and there it was.'

'There's no one else here, Malfoy.'

'Want to tell you what happened.' Black's voice came hoarsely from under the bunk. 'The rat . . . Pettigrew, the rat . . . he did it. He told him. Never betray James. Not me. Never.'

'What about the explosion that killed all those Muggles?' enquired Shacklebolt.

'Peter. Must've got a gas line. Peter did it.'

From down on their knees, the healers had been running tests. 'Try "Veritaserum" right now and you'll kill him,' said one. 'Mr. Black, we're taking you to Saint Mungo's. You'll have a guard but they'll be there to protect you. Do you understand?'

When Black had been lured out, stretchered and borne away still muttering his innocence, Lucius found himself alone with the small, evil grin on the battered countenance of Alastair Moody. 'Had a falling out with Fudge, Malfoy?'

''He's been bleeding me for years. I refused to give him any more. When I wouldn't let him coerce me into falsely incriminating Black he must have decided that I'd be of more use to him dead.'

'Bleeding you?'

'Let me tell you about it.'

. . . . .

Lucius faced the hastily convened Wizenganot. Fudge leant forward. 'Mr. Malfoy, we'd like you to confirm that Sirius Black was a willing servant of You-Know-Who.'

'Objection,' said Amelia Bones.

'To my knowledge, Sirius Black never supported You-Know-Who. Quite the reverse, in fact,' volunteered Lucius.

'I believe that it would be useful to determine if Mr. Malfoy is able to repeat that under 'Veritaserum,' Umbridge suggested sweetly.

'Agreed,' said Bones.

Fudge looked furious and then glum.

Lucius decided that his best option would be to divert attention from himself. As quickly as possible.

'To my knowledge, Sirius Black never supported You-Know-Who. Quite the reverse, ' he repeated once the potion had taken effect.

Umbridge leant forward. 'You claim that your support of You-Know-Who was achieved through the use of "Imperius". Is that true?'

'Yes,' said Lucius. 'You-Know-Who used "Imperius" in order to gain control of myself and my resources and I don't know how many others.' He waited until the noise died down. 'You, Madam Umbridge, set a Dementor on Sirius Black in an attempt to avoid embarrassment to Minister Fudge, Imperiusing an Aurur to gain access.'

That is a lie!'

'I believe that it would be useful to determine if Madam Umbridge is able to repeat that under 'Veritaserum,' said Lucius. 'I also offer an unbreakable vow to tell the truth in this matter.'

A moment of silence preceded uproar.

. . . . .

It was an extremely pleasant evening for a stroll through the grounds of Hogwarts, he decided. Dumbledore had asked to speak with him and Lucius was happy to oblige. Of course it might take the old wizard a while to extricate himself from the near riot that Lucius had provoked at the Wizengamot.

Self congratulation aside, it was time for a chat with his son. He loved Draco dearly but, right now, he had a charm offensive to mount and the boy could not be allowed to threaten it. He awoke to find his wrists secured to a bench in the Ravenclaw Quiddich Team Changing Room.

'Hello,' said Lockhart.

Lucius considered 'Witch Weekly's' 'Most Charming Smile'. While he thought the black was probably an improvement on the pastels, Lucius personally would not have recommended padded silk satin and chamoise.

'The cuffs you are wearing will punish you for lying and any attempt to escape,' said Lockhart.

Best encourage a few explanations then. 'How did you get the drop on me?' he asked, concentrating on feeling the net of spells that ran between the cuffs looking for a weak point.

The smirk became more evident. 'I'm afraid that I can't be giving away all my secrets, Mr. Malfoy. You don't mind if I call you Lucius?''

'You mean you don't intend to obliviate me?'

Lockhart huffed and sat down on the bench opposite. Lucius ignored him. Tess,' said Lockhart, conversationally. An elf appeared beside him. 'Mr. Malfoy is being difficult.' Tess glanced sideways at Lucius. She was neatly dressed in a starched, black, maid's outfit complete with white apron and was carrying a feather duster. 'Be so good as to demonstrate.'

Looking miserable, Tess did as she was told. Where the feathers brushed his arm it felt like "cruciatus". Automatically, Lucius tried to curl up and the cuffs added their own quota of pain. 'Enough!' He struggled to regain his breath.

'Just wait for now,' Lockhart told the elf. 'Who stunned me?'

'Snape. Where did you get the cuffs?' Having had a few moments to examine the magic, Lucius thought he could break them.

'A gift from an admirer. A terribly plain woman, but useful. Now suppose you tell me what happened after I was stunned.'

'We found the missing child.'

'Well, of course you did. Stop delaying. Tess gets dreadfully upset when she has to hurt people.'

Lucius talked and kept on talking, trying not to say too much while he worked on the cuffs.

'So there wasn't actually a monster?' Lockhart sounded disappointed.

Beatrix is no monster. 'Apart from yourself, no.'

'Tess.' Even bracing himself, Lucius couldn't avoid the additional pain from the cuffs. 'What happened next?

Lucius explained about Pettigrew. '

Unfortunate, but just too many people,' mused Lockhart. 'Right. 'I think that you will remember that it was I who led you into the chamber and I who killed the book while you panicked. You're ashamed of that and don't like to think about it. While you and Snape escaped with the children, I remained in the chamber to hunt for the monster. Lots of people have seen Griffindor tower. The Chamber of Secrets will take me to a whole new level. I'm sure that Harry won't mind opening it again for his rescuer.'

Lockhart had raised his wand and Lucius was desperately attacking the cuffs when his vision was blocked by something shiny that descended and struck his knees before falling to roll, ringing on the ground. He looked down to discover that it was a large silver salver. Lockhart slumped, face down, onto the floor. Reflected obliviation, thought Lucius. The salver had to have been . . .'Dobby!' but, for once, the elf failed to appear. On the other hand, there was no sign of Tess. Again he set to, trying to unlock the cuffs.

He'd blocked the punishment element and thought he'd found a way of opening them when Lockhart picked himself up off the floor, rubbing at his face. 'What happened?'

''Quick! Release me before Snape gets back.'

'Snape?'

'He's fed you a potion that's damaging your memory. If you don't get the antidote soon you'll forget everything you ever knew.'

'Why would he . . . ?'

''He hates you. He's jealous. He was going through your things when you challenged him. Quickly now!'

'Tess!' said Lockhart. When the elf didn't arrive, Lockhart hastened to release Lucius who wasted no time in stunning and cuffing him. Then he destroyed the duster. There was a slow hand clap from the door.

'He hates you,' said Snape. 'He's jealous.'

'And you aren't?' said Lucius. 'That smile, that incredible hair. How did you know I was here?'

'Your elf.' Dobby appeared from behind the Potions Master looking considerably the worse for wear. 'Tess is being taken care of by our elves.'

Lucius stared at Dobby who blinked and rocked from foot to foot before bending down to pick up the salver. Quite vividly he could remember himself being attacked by this same elf; an elf that supported the Boy-Who-Lived and a dangerous loose end. Even if the creature had just rescued him, Potter could not be allowed to discover its connection to the Malfoys. 'Go home now and wait for me there.' Dobby popped away.

Lucius smiled. 'Severus, have you a sickle on you?'

'I've a knife.'

'No. Not a blade. Money.' Snape dug a hand into his pocket looking mutinous. 'It is customary to pay for house elves in silver.'

'Why would you want another deranged elf?

'Not for me,' said Lucius. Tess and Narcissa in the same house? The mind boggles. "Enervate!".

Lockhart spluttered and, with a sharp yelp, discovered the reactivated cuffs. He kept still as best he could. Mutinously he gazed up at Lucius. 'What do you want?'

'It was your elf Tess who captured me?'

'Yes.'

'I suppose she does all your dirty work?'

'Yes.'

'You're going to sell her to Professor Snape.'

'What? No! She belonged to my mother.'

'Really? What, do you think is the value of a dead house elf?' Lockhart paled but said nothing. 'When you are taken to Azkaban for torture and false imprisonment, what do you think will happen to her?'

'I don't need a house elf,' protested Snape.

Lockhart looked at him. 'You do,' he said. He turned to Lucius. 'Fine. I'll buy him an elf.'

'My intention is to deprive you of that one. You will find some other way of making a living.'

Lockhart looked stubborn but knew that he was in no position to argue. 'If he promises to look after her and you both promise that you won't say anything, then I'll sell her.'

After all, he could always buy himself another elf. Some people were too obvious. 'Agreed,' said Lucius. 'Severus, You won't be at Hogwarts forever and I'd like to think someone was taking care of you. Give him the money.'

Reluctantly, Snape extracted a silver coin from his pocket. Lucius uncuffed Lockhart. 'In full and final payment for the house elf Tess,' said Snape.

'In full and final payment for Tess,' grumped Lockhart, as he accepted the coin and slid it into a small coin-purse.

'You don't need to steal pieces of other peoples lives for ideas,' Lucius snarled. 'Try a muggle bookshop. Consider yourself warned,' he added, striding out of the changing room to breathe deep of the evening air.

'A muggle bookshop?' enquired Snape.

Lucius glared. He was wondering himself where that had come from. 'Is Dumbledore back yet?'

'Let's find out, shall we?' Snape pulled the Marauders' map out of his pocket. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Lucius looked at him. 'Pinched it.' He wandered off to stand where the late sunlight could illuminate the map.

As Lockhart tried to sneak past, Lucius confunded him. 'The Forbidden Forest holds no danger for as capable a wizard as yourself,' he suggested, quietly so that Severus wouldn't hear, 'and there are so many interesting things in there for you to write about.' Lockhart turned towards the forest looking thoughtful. "Obliviate!"

'Dumbledore, Hagrid and young Potter are all heading towards Myrtle's bathroom,' said Snape. 'And we've just acquired new roosters.' Irritation crossed the Potions Master's face. 'He would, wouldn't he?'

Quickly, Snape liberated a pair of brooms and they took off toward the castle.