Chapter 36

That night Severus filled Lucius in on their plan. He had been horrified to find out the amount of abuse the child had suffered. He smirked when he heard that the Headmaster had been the one to leave him there. He knew with that information coupled with the locking of the Potter's wills and the lack of trial Sirius Black received would make it difficult for Dumbledore. Once Rita got her teeth into something, she wouldn't let go. Plus, all the incidences here at the school that Dumbledore was hiding would add fuel to the flames.

Lucius fire called Rita and set up a time to meet for the following evening after the returning feast. This he knew with everyone getting ready for the following day, would allow them to meet unnoticed. He figured discussing what was happening in the school would be the best to start with, then move on to Harry's home life and finally the lack of a trial for one Sirius Black.

They would definitely play this one carefully. The old fool had considerable clout and had almost a century to build it in. He would definitely need to get Skeeter to dig into his background, no one was perfect, and he'd bet his entire vault neither was Dumbledore.

Lucius mad a mental note that he needed to bring the Goblins the new information that his Severus had uncovered. They still needed to get their Lord back and the diary would be an immense help. He snuggled closer to his husband. He couldn't forgive himself these last ten years thinking he had been married to Narcissa. The only thing he could say was he'd never slept with her, thinking he'd already done so for Draco and had never taken a lover. Something in him had balked at the idea of it. Now he had much to make up for. Once Dumbledore was gone, he planned to talk Sev into another baby. They'd had always wanted a large family due to being only children themselves. He closed his eyes and slipped into sleep with the scent of herbs that always clung to Severus in his nostrils.

Up in the Gryffindor tower, Harry and Ron were getting ready for bed. The day had been long and emotionally draining. Ron noticed that Harry was quieter than usual and refused to make eye contact. Ron gave a sad sigh and sat down on his bed facing Harry. As he watched his friend getting ready, he caught a glimpse of the necklace he was wearing.

"When did you get the necklace, Harry? I've never seen you wear it before," he said. Ron watched as Harry froze before grabbing the necklace and blushing bright red. Ron's eyebrows almost reached his hairline as he looked at his blushing friend. "Something you want to share, mate?" he asked.

"Umm…" Harry stuttered before he took a deep breath. "ItwasagiftfromDracoMalfoy!"

"Err, ya wanna repeat that? It sounded as if you said it was from Malfoy."

Harry nodded before he plopped down on his bed facing Ron. "I did. He sent it with an apology note and said it had protection charms."

"He apologized!" Ron was struck speechless. He didn't think the git knew what an apology was. Then it struck him. With narrowed eyes, he pinned his friend with a stern look. "You have a crush on him, don't you?"

"Why would you say that?" Harry asked, looking anywhere but at Ron as his face turned Weasley red.

"Oh, I don't know," he said with snark worthy of their Potions Professor. "It could be your face being redder than my hair."

"Are you mad?" He asked timidly.

Ron gave a deep sigh and thought it over before he answered. "No, I think that with everything going on, it's silly to hold last year against him. And he did get something to protect you, so I think he might like you that way too."

"Who are you and what did you do with my friend, Ron?" Harry asked with wide eyes.

"He left the day he found out he was really Ron Prewett," he teased.

Harry smiled, "You're the best friend ever."

Ron's ears turned red in embarrassment, "Go to bed, you crazy wanker."

Harry grinned and crawled under the covers to his bed. He put his wand and glasses on his bedside table. Ron snuggled down with a yawn. "Hey, Harry?"

"Hmm," came the sleepy reply.

"Does 'Mione know?"

"Yeah, she told me to keep it."

"What?!" Ron squawked as he sat up to glare at his half-asleep friend. "Why am I the last to know?" He asked indignantly.

"You had just found out that your parents aren't really married, and you had gone up to the dorm and Hermione was in the library." Harry paused to yawn before continuing sleepily. "Dobby brought it to me, by the way, you were right that he was a Malfoy elf, and Hermione saw me with it. Then everything with Ginny and your brothers happened, so I forgot." Harry yawned again and snuggled further into his bed.

Ron flopped back down on his bed, "It's okay Harry." Ron yawned and blinked sleepily. "As long as he doesn't hurt you, then I won't have to punch him in his pretty face."

Harry gave a sleepy giggle that made Ron smile. "Night," he said as he started to drift off. A snore was his answer. Ron chuckled before he too fell asleep, neither one knew the madness that was on the horizon heading their way.

***Note*** Sorry if this was short but a bit of fluff is always good, and I thought it did well to make Lucius a little more human.