THIRD YEAR

MALFOY MANOR

Draco flopped down on the couch in Lucius's study with the morning paper clasped in one hand. Lucius didn't look up from the financial statements he was engrossed in but he did ask, "Will you at least pretend to make an effort at maintaining a poised air?"

"Uh, father? Have you, um, seen the paper?"

"What have I told you about using filler words?" Lucius replied tiredly. Draco was constantly testing his patience and sometimes Lucius wondered why he even bothered to correct the boy anymore. At this point he was just grateful that Draco usually did not forget himself like this when they had company.

"They're ineloquent and make me sound dumber than I actually am," Draco replied guilelessly. Lucius looked up from his paperwork then and he pinned his only child with a long-suffering stare. Draco ignored him and asked again, "Have you seen the paper? Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban!"

Draco shook the paper roughly for emphasis. The newspaper wriggled out of Draco's grasp and flew over to Lucius's desk. He scanned the article quickly and then glanced at his son. Draco was smirking at him smugly, "Well?"

Lucius folded up the paper crisply and said, "The jailbreak is unprecedented and indeed surprising but Sirius Black is no threat to Harry. If Peter Pettigrew ever crawls out of whatever hole he's been hiding in, that would be a different matter all together."

"I'd forgotten about Sirius Black until now but don't you think Harry would be very interested to know that he has a godfather?"

Lucius frowned slightly and questioned, "Are you saying Harry might not know? That cannot be true."

"I'm saying he definitely doesn't know - Dumbledore doesn't tell him anything as far as I can tell. Unless we do something soon Harry is probably going to believe that Sirius Black betrayed his parents!"

Draco was undoubtedly imagining all sorts of horrible tragedies now. Lucius could tell.

Lucius ignored him for the moment. It was deeply unsettling that Albus would keep such knowledge from the Harry. Lucius didn't know anything about Harry's muggle family but there was a slim possibility that they might not know about Harry's godfather. Albus, on the other hand, was well aware of who Sirius was to Harry. The old man should have at least mentioned Black to Harry at some point in the previous two years.

Lucius had always thought it was strange that Albus had allowed Black to go to Azkaban. Perhaps there was a deeper reason for that?

Lucius frowned and he said, "Perhaps you can explain things to Harry after the school year starts. I have no way of getting letters to him while he is staying with his muggle family. In the meantime, however, I will see if I can make contact with Black and arrange a meeting. It would be good to discuss his plans for the future."

"His plans for the future?"

"Regarding Harry, of course."

Draco started to worry his bottom lip but he stopped immediately when he saw Lucius had noticed.

Lucius sighed and asked the obvious question, "What is it now?"

"Well, I was just thinking," Draco said slowly, "I'm sure Harry would like to meet Black. If they get along maybe he'd even prefer to live with Black. Then we might be able to write him letters during the holidays and maybe even visit him too. If Black was exonerated, that is. Also, if we help Black, he'll have to change his mind about us because he'd be indebted to us."

Lucius just nodded, "Yes, well done, Draco. I was thinking the same."

Draco pouted, "But you didn't say so."

"Do I need to share my every idea with you?" Lucius questioned exasperatedly, hiding his amusement. On the second thought he added, "Malfoys do not pout, Draco."

Draco smoothed his expression and replied coolly, "Harry might be your future mate, father, but he is also my friend. If you make plans concerning him, I want to know about it."

Lucius pretended to study the newspaper once more. He didn't want to smile because he knew Draco would think he was laughing at him. The truth was Lucius was actually feeling a mixture of pride and satisfaction.

"That is a fair and reasonable request," Lucius replied seriously. "I will be sure to honor it in the future."

[][][][][]

THE LEAKY CAULDRON

Remus looked as if he hadn't slept in weeks. He eyes were red-rimmed and darkly shadowed. He was eyeing Lucius suspiciously but Lucius pretended to ignore it.

A large black dog lay at Remus's feet. None of the other patrons seemed to notice.

Lucius added his own privacy wards after sitting down, reinforcing the spells already in place. He would have preferred to meet elsewhere but for some reason Remus had insisted upon the Leaky Cauldron. Lucius could only assume it was because Remus was was familiar with the place and felt it was safe. Maybe he even had friends here.

Remus spoke immediately, surprising Lucius with his bluntness, "You said you would help me get Sirius exonerated. Why the sudden change of heart? You never cared all those years he was in Azkaban."

"Circumstances have changed," Lucius answered blithely. "I don't care about Black personally but he is Harry Potter's godfather."

The dog started to growl and Remus looked angry too, "So all this is, is you trying to gain some kind of leverage over Harry?"

Lucius cast a quelling look at the dog - he had little patience for ill-behaved pets. The dog glared back at him and curled its lips back in a silent, threatening snarl. Lucius replied, "I am doing it because I think it would please Harry, yes, and I am endeavoring to earn his favor. I believe it is in my best interest."

Lucius was reluctant to disclose the truth to Remus, but this explanation was close enough and he hoped it would satisfy the werewolf. Remus narrowed his gaze, "You want to support Harry? I find that hard to believe."

"I cannot support him openly, no, but I intend… to follow Severus's path."

"You believe that You-Know-Who will rise again?" Remus questioned. "That there will be another war?"

Lucius frowned at him, not liking the ignorance that this anxious reply implied, "Do you not? Surely you could not have missed the signs."

Remus glanced down at the dog beside him. He was clearly fishing for some sort of passible explanation but all he finally said was, "I… have been preoccupied."

"For the last decade?" Lucius demanded derisively. "Surely not."

Remus pressed his lips together and it was clear he would not elaborate. Lucius moved on smoothly, adopting a cajoling tone, "Whichever side Harry Potter supports is the side that will win, so I will support Harry Potter. There is nothing sinister in my motivations. I have no love or loyalty for the Dark Lord. I will always do what is best for myself and my family, irregardless of political ideologies. This course of action will benefit me, but it may also benefit you and Black. You should want to be my friend, Remus."

Remus was silent for a long minute then he said uncertainly, "Would you truly be able to clear Sirius's name?"

Lucius smirked, "Remus, I've already begun. The Ministry is deeply embarrassed by this debacle. As things stand currently, the public believes that a dangerous prisoner has broken out of Azkaban - for the first time in our history. Everyone is trying to sift the blame, but it is an enormous problem for the Ministry and for the Minister in particular. It is a spectacular failure in competency and the Minister's opposition will exploit it to their full advantage. Political careers have been ended with far less damaging material. The Minister is desperate to get ahead of this in any way that he can."

Lucius paused, noticing how the wrinkles at the corners of Remus's eyes had deepened with stress. Lucius allowed his words to sink in then he added, "If Sirius Black isn't a criminal and if he was actually released from Azkaban at the Minister's order… then the Minister's problems go away."

Remus's amber eyes flickered, "But it's too late for that."

Lucius shook his head, "It has only been three days. Due to my interference, the Minister has not yet made an official statement. If he says that the press was misinformed and he delivers an alternative storyline, then it is as simple as that. The Minister would much rather take credit for releasing a man wrongfully imprisoned than assume responsibility for a career-shattering failure. He will apologize publicly to Black and award him a monetary compensation."

"You can make this happen," Remus clarified once more, still seeming skeptical.

"As I've said, it is already happening," Lucius said nonchalantly. "I only need to find Sirius Black so that he can provide his memories as evidence of his innocence. There will not be another trial - the point is to sweep all of this under the rug as quickly as possible, after all. I only need enough to assure the Minister that this story won't unravel later and result in an even greater scandal. Black will also need to provide details of how he escaped, as a gesture of good faith, so that the weakness in Azkaban's security can be rectified."

"And what exactly will you want in return?"

"I want Sirius Black to assume guardianship of Harry Potter and I want our families to be… friendly in the future. Occasional dinner invites perhaps. I want Black to allow my son Draco to be Harry's friend. I would also like to be allowed to send Harry gifts and correspondence."

Remus shook his head, "I can't believe we're having this conversation. You really don't seem like the Lucius Malfoy I remember."

"Harry is kind," Lucius replied quietly, and more earnestly than he initially meant to. "If I wish for him to think favorably of me, mustn't I also be kind?"

Remus looked down at the dog beside him. The dog nodded and Lucius's eyes narrowed in sudden suspicion. Surely Black was not so stupid as to have come here in person? There was an old rumor that the 'marauders' were animagi, but if it was true then they were unregistered so Lucius couldn't be certain what kind of animal Black transformed into. There was something vaguely human about the dog's eyes.

Lucius hissed, "You did not bring him here."

Remus shrugged helplessly, not bothering to deny it, "He really did not give me much choice in the matter. I have a room upstairs. We'll bottle the memories for you then bring it back to you."

The dog barked and jerked its head at Lucius. Remus muttered under his breath, "Are you sure about that?"

The dog barked again. Lucius glanced at the other patrons but no one was looking their way. He was grateful he'd installed his own privacy wards because these two were careless in the extreme. Lucius was not nearly as at ease as he was pretending to be. The Leaky Cauldron was a place Death Eaters and other morally disreputable individuals avoided but meeting here was still a calculated risk. Even with all the precautions he had taken, the risk was still more than what he normally would have considered acceptable.

Remus said, "He wants you to come upstairs with us."

Lucius cast an irritated look at the dog, "I will follow two minutes after you."

Once he was in the room, he got his first look at Sirius Black in his human form. Azkaban had not been good to him. He looked almost feral, just like the dog had been. Lucius reminded himself that he'd dealt with less stable individuals in the past. He was not overly concerned.

Sirius grinned at him, "Lucius Malfoy. You've barely aged. Must be that lovely mixed blood of yours."

Lucius's immediate impulse was to scoff and reply with some scathing remark. He reminded himself he needed to try his best to get along with Sirius. Lucius forced a smile, "You might be right, thank you for the compliment."

Sirius regarded Lucius as if he'd suddenly grown a second head. Sirius looked at Remus and spoke to him as if Lucius wasn't right in front of him, "He really is acting bizarre, isn't he?"

Remus just nodded. Sirius looked at Lucius again, "Well, Remus keeps telling me time changes people, but I don't think you could have possibly changed that much. Tell me what you really want or there will be no deal."

Remus spoke Sirius's name in a warning. Sirius ignored him and kept his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Lucius. There was a gleam in his eyes that wasn't completely sane, but Sirius had always been more intelligent than anyone gave him credit for. However, he was also foolish enough to actually follow through with what he was saying and pass up the opportunity to clear his name if Lucius refused to answer him.

Lucius debated for a moment whether or not he was willing to risk lying to Sirius. At long last, Lucius said reluctantly, "It concerns my mixed blood."

Sirius's eyes narrowed and he waited. Lucius continued, "Harry is my future mate."

Sirius and Remus both appeared shocked for a moment then Sirius started cackling madly, in a way that reminded Lucius of Sirius's cousin. Madness did run in that family.

Remus muttered, "Sirius stop."

Sirius pressed a hand over his mouth, his eyes positively glowing with mirth, "Oh, that's just rich. How did Harry react? Do you think he's excited about the prospect of binding himself to a man more than twice his age? You're pretty enough, but for gods' sake, you have a son his age! Will Draco call Harry 'father' too or have you not decided? How about Narcissa? How will she factor in, hm?"

There was a sharp edge to Sirius's voice that did not escape Lucius's notice. Lucius was careful to keep his own tone perfectly even as he replied, "I have not told Harry yet. I feel it would be more appropriate to wait until he is of age."

"Don't ignore the other issues," Sirius snapped harshly. Remus winced.

Lucius considered Sirius briefly before addressing the other 'issues' Sirius had raised, as if each rhetorical question was worthy of a thoughtful answer, "I cannot speculate as to how Harry will react, I can only endeavor to endear myself to him. I also cannot say if he may or may not be excited about the age difference. I do hope he will find me as attractive as you seem to. I am aware I do not look my age so perhaps that will work in my favor."

Sirius's expression was rather difficult to interpret. So was Remus's - he hadn't seemed to appreciate the insinuation that Sirius found Lucius attractive. Lucius carried on, "Harry's relationship with me and his relationship with my son have no bearing on each other. He will most likely never be a father figure to Draco but Harry and Draco are friends. Draco admires and respects Harry greatly. As for Narcissa, I will be divorcing her prior to Harry's seventeenth birthday. As you are aware, it is a marriage in name only. She fully supports my decision."

A little of the danger had faded from Sirius but he still seemed hostile. Remus leaned close to Sirius and spoke to him quietly, "This is good news, Sirius. You told me he has Veela blood and he's saying Harry is his future mate. That means he is incapable of hurting Harry. He's not going to take advantage of Harry, he's just trying to be what Harry needs right now. Where the relationship goes will be up to Harry in the end. In the meantime, Lucius will be an invaluable ally. He's going to get you exonerated Sirius and he's barely asking anything of you in return. Please, just… agree to the deal and give him the memories he needs. It will change everything for us."

Remus placed a hand on Sirius's arm and Sirius relaxed. His overly intense gaze gentled when he looked at Remus and much seemed to pass between them unsaid. Lucius watched the interaction between them keenly. It seemed that the werewolf knew a thing or two about mates - from experience.

Sirius finally sighed and nodded, "Okay fine, let's do this."

[][][][][]

A/N: Thank you to ALiveTodaytoWrite, GraceDragon609, and PukwudgiePuff for your reviews! Thank you also to everyone who has favorited and followed the story! So far it has been a great first month for me on this site and your support encourages me to keep writing.