Note: Thank you, you wonderful reviewers you! Sorry for the terrible cliffhanger (although nobody actually complained about it). Here is what happens.
-:-
"Where are the wards?" Draco whispered, standing close to Ron as they spied the cottage in the distance, the light of a fire flickering in the one window.
"I don't know. Last time Lucius spelled them so I could pass, and Lestrange was already there, so obviously she can get in now. The wards probably haven't been changed since then."
"So, that means what?" Ron asked. "You're not going in there alone."
"Granger, can't you try to get past them? They've probably faded a bit since no one has been here for a year."
"We don't have time!" Harry hissed. "She could be killing him right now!"
"Let me try, Harry. If Bellatrix hasn't tampered with them then I may be able to get us all through." Harry opened his mouth to protest.
"Harry, he's my father, I'm worried about him too, but it won't do any good if you go in there alone and get killed." Harry sighed and nodded at Hermione to start working. She glanced at Draco before turning to face the cottage. After working for around ten minutes Harry was about to go on without them when suddenly Hermione stopped waving her wand.
"I think I did it," she said a little breathlessly. Everybody came close to her and looked at the distance between them and the cottage.
"Well, let's try it then," Ron said and took a few steps forward.
"Ron!" Draco exclaimed and tried to pull his boyfriend back. Ron just kept walking for a while and then turned back.
"Looks like you did it," he said simply and Draco sighed annoyed.
"You could have let her check it a bit more! Something could have happened! Crazy Gryffindor."
"We don't have time, let's go," Harry said and made his way towards the cottage. The wind was blowing pretty hard and the sun was starting to set. When they reached the wall of the cottage, Harry silenced the others with a finger to his lips. He crept along the wall and peaked in the one window. It was spelled to prevent anyone to see through, as he'd expected. The faint light was the only thing that came through. He motioned for the others to come closer.
"On the count of three we burst in. Hopefully we'll have surprise on our side."
"She'll probably be off her rocker so bad that she won't be thinking straight," Draco commented. Harry hoped he was right. He counted to three, everybody holding their wands raised. After three he spelled the door to break away and they all leaped in through the gaping opening.
On the floor by the fireplace Bellatrix was lying on top of Lucius, looking crazed and choking her former brother-in-law to death.
"Stupefy!" Harry yelled and hit her squarely in the back. She fell, body limp, over Lucius who looked a little blue. Harry rushed over and pushed Bellatrix off him. He held Lucius' head in his hands.
"Lucius! Wake up! Lucius!"
"Harry, move over, let me see," Hermione said, kneeling down next to Harry and pointing her wand. Draco used his wand to send Bellatrix across the room, not to gently. He made sure to grab Lucius' wand from her. Hermione cast a spell to clear and heal Lucius' throat, but he didn't wake up.
"He's not breathing! Do something!" Harry cried. Hermione shook her head.
"A heart stimulating spell is very complicated. I'm not a medi-witch, Harry. His heart could explode. I can't…"
"You have to try!"
"We should get him to St. Mungo's"
"It'll be to late by then!"
"Let me try something," Ron said suddenly, kneeling down on the other side of Lucius' limp body. "I arrived on a strange scene once. I was just there to fix a few exploding toilets, but a man had drowned or something. This muggle woman brought him back to life before the medi-witches arrived," Ron explained as he started performing CPR. "I asked her to explain it to me. Thought it might come in handy." Harry, Hermione and Draco stared, completely shocked, as Lucius' chest was assaulted by Ron. The redhead instructed Harry on how to fill Lucius' lungs with air. Suddenly Lucius gasped and started coughing uncontrollably.
"Lucius!"
"Father!" Hermione performed another throat healing spell for good measure, along with one for his chest, and Lucius could breath again. He looked up, wide-eyed and shaking slightly at the four people surrounding him.
"What happened? Harry?" Harry couldn't hold back any longer. He pulled Lucius into a hug, tears of relief travelling down his face.
"Merlin, I thought you were gone for a moment there."
"I thought the same myself," Lucius said. They separated, but Lucius pulled Harry into a soft kiss first. "Draco," he said, looking at his son and hugging him as well. "And Ron," he said, smiling and shaking the redhead's hand. "So you all came to rescue me? And Granger too?" he said, finally noticing Hermione.
"She helped get us through the wards," Draco explained.
"Really? You're the first person I've met that could mess with my wards. Impressive." Lucius said, standing up with help from Harry and Ron, Hermione blushed slightly. "Merlin, my entire body hurts. Let's go home."
"What about her?" Hermione asked, pointing to the sleeping Bellatrix on the floor. Harry's wand was immediately pointed at her.
"I think I'll be able to do it this time," he growled.
"No, Harry, don't do anything rash," Draco said, placing a hand on his arm. "The Ministry I think will take care of her properly this time." Everybody knew the meaning in those words and fell silent. Ron and Harry helped Lucius out of the cottage and towards the edge of the wards, while Draco and Hermione bound Bellatrix and floated her after them.
They explained everything to the Ministry, and they were given promises that most of the details were kept away from the press. The only thing the public learned was that Bellatrix had made her way to Malfoy Manor to kill Lucius and Harry, but had been apprehended before she got that far. Three days later she was given the Dementor's Kiss. Hermione kept silent during the explanation, and only commented on how she had arrived after seeing the article in the Prophet. Afterwards she left hurriedly before Harry even had time to thank her.
The four men returned home after Lucius had been fixed up properly at St. Mungo's. Ron and Lucius took the next few days off, even though they were all, including Lucius, perfectly fine. The days were spent mostly indoors, upstairs, in pairs.
Bellatrix was quickly forgotten, as she should be.
xxx (This is a few days later)
"Ron?" Lucius asked, knocking on the door of Ron's very small office, shared by Kinney.
"Come in," came the reply and Lucius stepped inside. The office looked like ten young men instead of two were sharing it. Stacks of papers lay everywhere and it was very hard for Lucius to even come into the room, let alone close the door behind him. He looked around and spotted the redhead rising from behind a row of very tall stacks of papers that could only mean Ron's desks was under there as well.
"Lucius!" Ron greeted merrily. "Sorry about the mess. Is something wrong? I thought we were meeting at Leakey like usual?"
"Yes, we were," Lucius answered, pulling his robe tighter to him so it wouldn't brush against anything and knock it down. "Unfortunately there have been a few… health violations discovered. Tom swears he is the victim of a prank, but nevertheless the establishment is closed for the day at least."
"Oh, well, we'll just have to go to the cafeteria then," Ron said, managing to balance yet another small stack of papers on an already dangerously high stack. He seemed to be an expert at it. He grinned when the stack only wobbled slightly and then settled down, a highpoint of the day that.
"The cafeteria?" Lucius asked, uncertain. He really didn't feel like eating at the Ministry.
"Sure. Draco and Harry aren't meeting us today after all. Both lost somewhere in muggle London I expect. Honestly if I hear one more story about the "most fascinating thing yet" my head will explode," Ron laughed.
"Yes, they do have a tendency to find things don't they? Very well, the cafeteria then," Lucius acquiesced.
"We can always find someplace else?" Ron offered, but Lucius waved his hand.
"No, let's go. I'm sure you're too hungry to decide on another place." Ron grinned, completely unabashed that Lucius had seen right through him. They left, Ron having to take his practiced route through the maze that was his office, and walked down to lunch.
"Are you happy with your current job, Ron?" Lucius asked as they sat down in a secluded corner of the cafeteria with their lunch. Ron glanced at him before answering with a sigh.
"No, I'm not really. I'm good at it. I mean, I can handle the people and situations pretty well. Growing up with such a big family, not to mention the twins' pranks, will teach you a thing or two about handling sticky situations. But… I just find muggles boring. I can't help it. I can't for the life of me understand why Draco and Harry go on their adventures all the time." Lucius sat in silence for a while, thinking carefully before answering.
"I could help you get into another department. I think you would do well in our department."
"Me? In International Magical Cooperation?"
"Why not? You're always saying you need a challenge. You're good with people. I think you'd make a good diplomat. In fact I would be willing to bet you'll be on the International Confederation of Wizards with me someday very soon." Ron stared at him, a little dazed. Lucius had given him a very great compliment. Lucius himself had only just gotten on the board again after the war, mostly thanks to his very good connections and war-effort, but there were a lot of people who were still sending him the odd glare.
"Wow, thanks… but I can't accept any help. I need to do things on my own."
"I understand completely, but promise me to at least put in for a transfer?"
"I'll think about it."
"Good." They ate their lunch in silence, Lucius knowing that Ron was in fact thinking it over right that very moment. Lucius decided the food wasn't that bad, just a little "official" tasting, whatever that meant. He glanced around the room and noticed that a few stares were being sent their way. Even though people no longer believed Lucius had done anything to make Harry marry him, they still knew about the animosity between the Weasleys and Ron. News travelled very fast in the Ministry, and not always through the paper birds. Lucius ignored the stares and went back to his meal.
"Ron... Lucius." Both men looked up to see Arthur Weasley standing before them. Ron and Lucius exchanged confused glances.
"Dad?"
"May I join you?" Arthur asked politely and Ron raised his eyebrows in mild shock.
"Of course, Arthur, please sit down," Lucius answered immediately. Arthur sat down and clapped a hand on Ron's shoulder. Ron opened his mouth to speak, but Arthur beat him to it.
"So, Lucius, what's going on with those Chinese delegates? I heard they tried to magically feng-shui the Minister's office?" Lucius smiled and nodded.
"Yes. It didn't go very well."
"Did they really stick the desk on the ceiling?" Lucius laughed at the memory.
"Not only that, but they conjured a waterfall right over the Minister's head!" Arthur and Lucius shared a laugh. Ron was looking back and forth between then, at a loss for words. Abruptly he realised this was his father's way of saying everything was ok, at least between them. Just like that, with a shared laugh over office jokes, they had put everything behind them. Ron shook his head in amusement, hoping every argument could be ended that easily. ...
xxx (Later that evening at Malfoy Manor….)
"Come on, Draco! It's stupid and it sucks!"
"You said I could pick and that's what I did!"
"But we've already-"
"You've picked the same one nearly every time as well!"
"Yeah, but apparently I'm the only one with taste!"
"Hey, if anyone should be saying that it's me!"
"Not if you pick that one!"
"It's my turn!"
"It'll be a long time till your next one if you don't choose another one! Give it here!"
"No! We're watching this one and that's final!"
"Your choice is absolute crap, you know that right?"
"Says the Boy Who Lived To Watch Sweet Home Alabama Every Other Day!"
"It's a new classic!"
Snort "It's a chick-flick!"
"You don't even know what a chick-flick is!"
"I know you want to watch one all the time! Now we are watching this one!"
"You're a spoilt little brat, but I'm sure you know that too."
"Yes, but you love me anyway," Draco smirked and Harry tried to scowl, but didn't managed it for long.
"What is all the shouting about?" Lucius asked, coming into the drawing room.
"We were going to go to the East Wing and watch a movie, father," Draco answered. "My favourite," he added with a smirk at Harry.
"I am sure that will be… fun, whatever it is, but could I speak with you for a moment first?" Lucius asked, looking at Harry.
"Sure," Harry said.
"I'll go set things up," Draco said and left. Lucius came forward and sat beside Harry on the couch, taking his hand and letting his thumb graze over Harry's ring.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"I wanted to talk you about the ceremony." Harry's features became abruptly dark and he tried to pull his hand away.
"I think… I believe we might want to start sending out invitations. If we're quick about it we can even have the ceremony on our anniversary." Harry frowned.
"And who exactly are we going to invite?"
"Everybody," Lucius said simply, smiling. "Today Ron and I had lunch… with Arthur. I think he would like to come, and I think he will be able to convince the others before the day arrives. He seemed up to the task at least. After work Ron went over to Hermione and talked to her. It seemed she had been reading up on behaviour modifying Dark Magic. Once Ron filled out the blanks in the story she seemed… apologetic." Harry gaped at Lucius, and the older man decided to change that. He leaned in and caught Harry's mouth with his own, delving into the opened mouth. Harry responded for a few seconds before pushing Lucius off.
"You're serious? They… they've come to their senses?" Lucius nodded and Harry laughed in relief. "That's brilliant!" he exclaimed.
"You know what else is brilliant? That I get to do this," Lucius whispered while he slid to the floor, kneeling in front of Harry and looking like a prince from a fairy tale. "Will you marry me again, Harry Potter?"
"Yes," Harry answered without a moment's hesitation.
"And will you take my name? And allow me to take yours?" Harry smiled and tilted his head, looking at Lucius curiously.
"Harry and Lucius Malfoy-Potter? Really?"
"Actually I was thinking Potter-Malfoy. It rolls off the tongue better, don't you think?"
"You know what I think?" Harry asked seductively, leaning forward and ghosting his lips over Lucius', combing his fingers through Lucius' soft hair. "I think you are the best husband ever." Their lips met in perfect bliss. Lucius put his hands on Harry's hips and pulled him forward. Their bodies collided and Lucius pushed Harry to the side and down onto the floor, drowning the other man with kisses as he lay down on top. Harry moaned as Lucius moved against him.
"Honestly! Can't leave you two alone for two seconds!" Ron's mocking voice made them look up and groan at the same time.
"And I can't believe we have this huge house and yet always end up being interrupted!" Lucius growled, but Ron wasn't in the least bit intimidated, most likely the only downside of being on the floor, looking utterly kissed and frustrated.
"I take it he said yes then?" Ron asked casually. Harry groaned again, while Lucius took a deep breath.
"Obviously. Now, will you kindly go and find Draco and keep him occupied? I have a feeling Harry won't be watching anything tonight."
"Yes, sir," Ron said merrily, waving goodbye before walking very slowly out of the room.
"Now, Mr. Potter-Malfoy, where were we?"
[Yay! They all came to their senses. Hermione isn't the smartest witch we know for nothing. Still not quite done, though. I need my fluff! And we need the Weasleys to come to the wedding. Not to mention one last flashback for those interested in those.