After the incident of the entire top Ministry staff being locked in, the pressure to get the Ministry of Magic building up and running again was on. Sure, the same thing could not happen again, since Lucius Malfoy was now permanently settled within the Manor wards, but it was still clear that this post-war location solution could not go on for much longer. So for the next two days there was a rush to get everything in working order.

The Malfoy case had now been pushed forward, seeing that the punishments for actual Death Eater crimes were more important than economical retribution. After having lost their biggest case-name the Aurors had been even more bent on hard sentences for the rest of the accused. The first court day, witch originally had been for Lucius, three Death Eaters: McNair, Goyle sr. and Crouch jr., where all sent to Azkaban without any mercy.

The responses to these cases were adequate. Still there was something missing, something that the press and wizarding community could get their teeth into, a high profile case to get the word out that the Ministry and the Wizenganot were alive and kicking. With Severus Snape still on free foot, the Aurors eyes turned to the closest thing they had to image the potential greatness of the Lucius Malfoy case – the case against Draco Malfoy.

On the third day, after his return to the Malfoy Manor, Draco Malfoy would get his sentence.

The morning of this day was simply glorious, the sun was shining and the bright colours of autumn leaves decorated the Manors garden. The last ministry officials had left the house, leaving it to the incarcerated Malfoys, some Hogwarts students with families whose homes were damaged, a couple of patients from St. Mungos, and of course Harry Potter, who was best of where he was. Also staying at the Manor was the Weasleys, even Bill and Fleur who had travelled there as soon as they heard Fred was back.

Hermione had gone to Australia to find her parents, and left Ron, or rather Ron's mother, with the close care of Harry. It had taken quite a lot of convincing to get her to leave, but in the end she had given in and left by Portkey from the garden, taking only three plane tickets and her wand with her. Ron was still blushing red after her farewell kiss. George was taunting him over his redness; Fred was more solemn but managed to press out a teasing remark. The returned twin had not regained his former boisterous attitude, George was the only one that did not notice – or maybe he was the only one who really understood.

"Shut it," growled Ron to his annoying brother, still quite happy about the kiss. "You are just jealous."

As they walked back to the Manor they were greeted by the new headmistress of Hogwarts; Minerva McGonagall. She smiled at the three boys, giving Fred a kind pat on the cheek.

"I'm looking for the Minister," she said after the cordial phases had been exchanged. "I have found something at Hogwarts that will interest him, about Severus Snape. It looks as if the is not as guilty as we might have thought. "

"What?!" Fred's neck had shoot up at the mention of the name.

"It seems that Professor Snape left all his memories to Mr. Potter as he prepared to die," said Minerva. "Then Mr. Potter seems to, carelessly, have forgotten them in the Headmaster's… my office."

"Have you seen them?" asked Fred stepping forward with a ravenous look on his face.

"I… I have, Mr. Weasley," she retorted, a little taken back. "That is why I need to talk to the Minister; he needs to see them too."

"The Minister is busy," said Fred. "We'll give them to him."

"Oh, I don't know…" The old teacher's knowing eyes squinted at the animated twins. "What are you up to?"

"Professor!" George looked shocked. "We are honest businessmen, not pranksters."

"Your business is built on pranks, Mr. Weasley."

"Please, Professor," Fred stepped forward, chocking both his brothers and the old woman with the pleading sound in his voice. "Can I have the memories? I promise I will give the Minister what he needs. Do you really want him to see everything?"

"Well," Minerva's eyes shifted as she thought about what she had seen. "There were some… hrm… episodes, that I think Professor Snape would regard as private."

"Professor?" questioned Fred holding out his hand.

"What is your concern, Mr Weasley?"

"I… I…"

"It would not be fair," George stepped in. "To Professor Snape, if he is innocent, to have his private life turned to common knowledge. If the Minister sees it, then the Aurors, then the Wizenganot, where will it end? You know what kind of man the professor is."

"You rush quite quickly to his defence, Mr. Weasley," noted the old woman suspiciously. "And I would not call him innocent, just 'not as guilty'. What is your concern in this?"

"It is me," sighed Fred, knowing that the Headmistress would not settle for anything less than the truth. "I love him."

There was silence.

"Yeeewww!" exclaimed Ron.

"I am beginning to suspect that something is up," proclaimed Lucius Malfoy as he stood by the window looking down at three Weasley brats and McGonagall on the house path. "Why have we not been allowed to see Draco?"

"I an equally concerned, my love," said Narcissa gently clad in her silk nightdress from the bed. "But we are not in position to make demands."

"Is it a demand for a father to see his son?"

"The way you say it, it is."

"What do you mean?" Lucius came to sit down next to her legs, putting a light hand on her soft thigh.

"Ask them if you can see him, do not shout at them to show him to you." Narcissa laid her hand on his. "Just like we have been practicing with the house elves, dear."

"Yes, the elves," smiled Lucius. "I have worked on that."

He gave her leg a pat and rose from the bed. With a scheming smile he walked over to the finely carved dresser. He pushed the fixture to the side, exposing its backside. Opening a hidden compartment he pulled out a purse.

"Lucius, no!"

"Oh yes."

He rose and pushed the dresser back in its place. Counting the golden Galleons in the purse he returned to his wife. She just sighed, rolled her eyes and gave him a loving smile.

"Tibbit!" called Lucius laying up a row of seventeen Galleons on the side of the bed.

Harry stirred in his bed as the Aurors came to collect Draco from the dungeons. He did not awake, and Remus who guarded over him only thought it was a dream. With a sigh he went back to his papers. He had taken his Ministry work with him. For the moment the business of the Department for the Care, Preservation and Protection of Magical Creatures was more about the individual creatures that had fought in the war, than anything else. Remus knew that this job was hard work and a great responsibility, but if he could make the future better for his son, he would do it.