Clare stayed with the Malfoys. However she did stay inside her room and out of the family's business. She tried to make it as if she wasn't there at all, so that the family could go on with their normal business.

From the old days, the Malfoys had wands stored away. Clare took one that didn't resist her as a makeshift solution until she got her things back.

While Clare was biding her time, she wasn't docile. She was doing a little "public relations" work. She made visits to those she knew were truly loyal to her father, she needed allies. However, there were only a few of them weren't in Azkaban.

She also gave attention to those that sold out her father's followers. She paid them visits. People were found battered and bruised, lying in alleyways. These stories reached the newspapers. Each column telling of how old followers of Voldemort, who were granted pardon, were being tortured in their homes, their families left wondering if they were going to be killed. The whole wizarding world was left in a frenzy, unsure of what measures they should take.

The ministry, attempting to console the public, released a statement that they were looking into the assaults. They told the public to not assume the Dark Lord's influence, not even daring to assume Clare was behind the tortures.

After six months of waiting, the batch of polyjuice potion was finished. She had been careful to find a ministry official who was taking a vacation in Iceland. Clare held her prisoner, just to borrow some DNA.

Infiltrating the ministry was too easy. She walked straight through the doors, across to the Azkaban sector where the room with the prisoner's belongings were kept. No one questioned her being there. It was all too easy to pick up her things, put them in her bag, and walk out. She was calm until she saw him.

Harry walked into the same elevator Clare was using for her escape. She hadn't seen him, or anyone else, since her trial. He had been sitting with Hermione and Ron in the far left corner of the courtroom. They had watched her with uncaring eyes; they had given up on her, with good reason.

Her body instinctively stiffened, she was sure if the made eye contact he would recognize her. Their eyes met for a moment, but he only nodded in recognition of her. The woman she was posing as must have been a work-acquaintance of his. The friendly look they shared was something she'd once known, but didn't receive anymore.

She walked out of the ministry unscathed and unnoticed, her wand safely tucked away in her bag. The polyjuice potion didn't wear out until she reached the Malfoy's house, her face glowing. The time for waiting was over. Her plans were about to begin.

"Draco, Astoria!" she yelled gleefully. She walked up the house.

As she bounced through the door, she saw Astoria speaking with a tall man in dark robes.

Clare continued walking as Astoria's eyes widened and her guest turned his head and began to stand up from his chair. In the corner of Clare's vision, she could see their hands moving for their wands. She grabbed her own first and pointed it at the two.

Clare warily began to speak. "Move your arms and I will be forced to use unfortunate measures." The couple froze.

"That wasn't too hard right? Now. Put your wands on the ground, slowly."

Astoria immediately followed directions, but the man with her acted more hesitantly.

Clare began to speak again. "So, Astoria. Where is Draco?"

"He's out, with his parents." Her voice was shaking.

"Does he know you've invited a ministry official into his home so you can reveal my existence here?"

Astoria looked alarmed. "Clare, that's not—

"Don't attempt to lie to me. I'm not a dimwit. I can recognize the ministry's lackeys." Clare said, distain coloring her voice. There was nothing she hated more than liars. She stunned the man, then Mrs. Malfoy.

"I should kill you both, but you and I are family now, Astoria. So I guess I will settle for your friend here. Oh and tell Draco when he gets back, I will be in touch."

With that, Clare grabbed the man and dissapparated.

They apparrated right outside an old shack on the outskirts of London. Clare dragged the official through the door and onto the only piece of furniture in the room. She grabbed rope from a pile in the corner, and tied him to the wooden chair.

The spell she used was still wearing off as she began to speak. "Listen to me closely. This is what will happen, I will kill you. You cannot avoid that. However, you can control it. You could resist. In that case, I can cause you much greater pain, kill your family and friends, and make sure your exit from this life is not easy. Or, you could tell me what I want. Then I will kill you quickly and painlessly, no one else has to die. The choice is yours."

When he began to move, Clare spoke to him. "I don't know your face. What's your name?"

He sat there, trying to decide what he should do. He was no more than 24. A newlywed sent out to investigate a claim. He had a lot to lose, people that he cared more about that than himself.

He began to speak, "My name is Eugene Chambers."

She didn't recognize it so she asked, "Mud-Blood?"

"My mum's a wizard but my dad's a muggle-born."

"Explains the last name." She muttered to herself. "What is the ministry's knowledge my whereabouts?"

"I am not at liberty to say."

Clare sighed and pulled out her wand. Today was not the day to be torturing people. She spoke, annoyed. "We both know that you are perfectly able to say."

"We have a file filled with information pertaining to you. Five people are working the case, including myself."

Clare paced the room, frustration colored her face. "What exactly are you investigating, and what do you know?"

"We were brought together the day that you escaped Azkaban. They told us that we had to discover your motives, plans, and record every action you made. We brought out your old file and began to investigate your whole life," Clare inwardly shuddered. It wasn't the first time somebody had invaded her privacy and tried to read into her intentions.

"We sent letters to your old friends and acquaintances to see if they could contribute to our inquiry. The friends from your earlier years all contributed anything they could, continuing to insist that you only needed guidance because of your circumstances."

Clare was dumbstruck, these people were so convinced that she wasn't to blame. What foolishly hopeful people.

He continued. "A letter from Malfoy's house came, but it wasn't from Draco, but his wife. She was willing to tell us your whereabouts and everything she knew of your plans. All we had was decade old information, until I interviewed Astoria."

"Well, I'm glad I stopped you before you had a chance to put that in my file." Clare continued to question Eugene. "Who else is on the case?"

He kept silent.

"You've been helpful so far. This is my last question, please just answer it quickly."

"I won't give away my friends."

"Just give me last names." She continued to push him.

"Alright, McGee, Greyman, Potter, Weasely and myself."

"Stupefy!" Clare stunned her captive.

So many of her old friends, family and loved ones, were a part of this investigation. But the time to think about that would come later.

She began her work. She erased his memory of the past twelve hours, dissapparated to Diagon Alley, and sat him down in an alleyway. She grabbed Astoria's letter out of his pocket, then proceeded back to the Malfoy's house, walking straight through the door.

"Astoria! We have something to discuss."

When Clare walked in the door, Draco was speaking with his wife, their child playing on the floor of the room. They both looked up from their conversation. Draco was smiling, while Astoria looked like her heart was in her stomach.

Draco addressed Clare as she walked in. "Clare!" He saw her face and continued more cautiously. "Astoria told me you came back and left immediately for reasons you wouldn't say."

"Yes. I returned to tell your wife her visitor is safely confused in Diagon Alley wondering where he'd been in the last twelve hours, before he received your letter, and before anything happened."

Draco looked confused. "Astoria what? What is she talking about?"

Clare jumped to explain before Astoria could. "Well, your wife received a letter from the ministry meant for you, and contacted them about me. Luckily, I arrived before any real damage was done. She just doesn't understand how the family works."

Astoria attempted to justify herself. "I had to protect our family Draco."

Draco sighed. "Astoria, Clare is a part of our family. She deserves just as much loyalty as I do."

"Astoria, you don't need to be afraid that I will hurt you. But after today, you should no longer consider me an ally."

After Clare said that, the room was completely silent. Astoria realized what she had lost in her: a strong ally, friend, and family member.

"Draco, you can expect my letters." She embraced him before she walked out the door. "Thank you for your hospitality." With that, she left.