"And then the dragon keeper…" murmured Draco, really trying to remember names here. "Uh, big, tall guy… Red hair…"

"You do not seem too familiar with his family," said Severus suspiciously.

"I recognize the names, though," Fred sounded excided, looking at Draco in a new light. "He does know something!"

"I have never heard these names…" muttered Severus.

"You last name is Weasley," said Draco, giving up on the oldest offspring's name.

"I know that name…" Fred glanced at Severus. "What about Prince's family?"

Draco hesitated; he looked at the older man, who had a little spark of interest in his dark eyes. Then he took a deep breath.

"His name is Snape, Severus Snape," Draco shifted his seat. "And… and I guess… that I am his family."

"You are his son?" asked Fred, a little too excited.

"No, no!" Draco lifted his hands, clearing away the slightly horrified expression in Severus disapproving eyes. "He is… was… is a very good friend of my father. I am… his godson."

"Oh!" Fred nodded, looking more confused by the second. "Why has no one looked for us? We have checked the paper every day."

"It would not be in a Muggle paper."

"What is a Muggle?" asked Severus.

Draco kneaded the bridge of his nose, really wishing he was dead, or at least sleeping, with Harry. He knew he should have drunken all the venom before, that way none of this would have happened.

"I have to take you back," said Draco. "Aurors are looking for you, they have just not realized that you were in a Mugg.. in a place like this."

"Aurors?" asked Fred. "Who is he?"

"They" corrected Draco trying to find the right word to explain. "Law enforcement."

Severus paled several nuances and tightened his grip on Fred's hand.

"We have considered going to the police," said Fred with a worried to the older man. "But…"

Draco noticed the minuscule shaking of Severus head.

Suddenly he realized that the two men's memory losses were not caused by the same injury. And on top of that, the great differences in the two men's underling personality. He might be able to gain Fred's trust with vaguely familiar names and kindness, Severus would not be so easily convinced.

"You have not told us your name," said Severus, his posture very rigid.

"It is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

"What kind of name is that?" snorted the dark man. "It sounds made up."

"Well, I do not know, Severus Snape," Draco sneered.

"I need to go to the bathroom," exclaimed Severus and rose.

He hesitated, bent down to Fred and placed a gentile kiss on the man's lips.

Draco wanted to follow him, but Fred had grabbed hold of his arm.

"Tell me more!" Fred was furiously pulling his arm, spitting out questions. "Where do I live? Where are my parents? What happened to me? Why did you not tell me sooner? What is a dragon keeper?"

Distracted by the onslaught of inquiries Draco lost sight of Severus. Wrecking his mind after the glimpses of Weasley information hidden there, he hid not notice Severus slipping out of the pub.

Fred tried not to look as the older man gave him a last glance.

Lucius Malfoy laughed. He had not had so much fun since he could not remember when (it was well before the Dark Lord's return, he could say that much; he had never appreciated being sent out to fight children). He eyed the Auror standing before him, red faced, in the cell.

"Did you hear, dear?" Lucuis looked down at his wife lying on the narrow bed.

"Yes, my love," Narcissa also had an amused smile on her beautiful lips.

She was nowhere near any danger yet, but still took it very easy, not to risk the possibility of miscarriage before any of the greater court dates.

"The entire top cabinet of the Ministry of Magic trapped inside my house," Lucius chuckled, a strange sound even foreign to his wife. "And now they are asking for my help."

"We are not really asking, Mr Malfoy," scowled the middle aged Auror and adjusted his glasses.

"What will be in it for me?" Lucius face turned serious so suddenly that the Auror took a step back. "What will I get if I help you?"

"You… you are not in a position to make demands."

"But I think I am," Lucius aristocratic presence was intimidating. "From what I hear from my little friend here…" he patted the house elf sitting by Narcissa's feet on the head, giving it an almost orgasmic look on its face, "…you don't have much choice."

"The wards are over five hundred years old," continued Lucius. "And every generation renews them, with Dark Magic I might add. I have myself given the wards extra attention during the war, and I know for a fact that the Dark Lord enforced them as well when he took residence in my home."

"I… We…" the Auror paled.

"I guess you could get people out one at a time, say about every…" he looked down at his wife and shrugged, "…fifth, seventh hour?"

"Something like that," Narcissa nodded.

"Of course," pondered Lucius. "With a powerful wizard as Harry Potter on your side you might be able to hold up the wards a couple of minutes…" he smiled. "But as I hear, the young man seems to be indisposed. And the fact that every other powerful wizard that might could help is trapped…"

"What do you want?" spat the Auror.

"I know quite well that I never will go free, what ever I do to help," Lucius eyes were calm and accepting at this. "But I will not go back to Azkaban."

"It is not in my authority to…"

"Well get some one that has!"

The Auror flinched at the sudden outcry.

"I… I…"

"Well?" Lucius crossed his arms.

"House arrest?" peeped the Auror.

"What?"

"You can get house arrest for life in stead of life in Azkaban," the Auror seemed a bit more confident. "Your wife's… situation could… help."

"In the Manor?"

"Yes."

"Is that a magically binding promise by the court?"

Zachariah Smith sat with his face in his hands swearing loud curses at the floor. Lupin did not know if he should laugh or cry. The Malfoy couple was permanently locked to the Manor but still under the treat of loosing their funds. That would basically mean if Teddy was to inherit, he would also be responsible for the Malfoys welfare and upkeep for as long as they both should live. And if Narcissa's child survived, it could even mean that he would be responsible for its upbringing as well. He snorted as Kingsley Shacklebolt signed the magically binding contract.

The parchment folded up on itself, spun around and vanished. The decision was now official and magically permanent.

"Go get him," sighed Shacklebolt.

"Hello!" said Draco Malfoy walking in to the dining room with a wide eyed Fred Weasley in tow. "Have I missed anything?"

Smith looked like he was going to cry.