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Ginny sat in the library reading a paper, frowning at the latest Chudley Cannon loss. The Cannons had had their off seasons in the past, but this season was just pathetic. Ron would have been horrified.

Before she could follow that train of thought, she heard the front door open and her kids yell, "Grandpa!"

She set down the paper and strolled within earshot of the hall. Narcissa, the children, and Draco were already greeting Lucius. Ever since Lucius had left, they had been awaiting his return, eager for news on Severus. Now was the moment they had been anticipating with dread and hope.

"Is he free?" Scorpius asked as he bounced around Lucius.

"Are we gonna see him soon?" Margarita asked as she clung to her grandfather's leg.

"Well," Lucius began with a gleam in his eye. "The bail hearing was very interesting."

"And?" the children asked in unison.

"Hermione had to work very hard to get him released," Lucius continued.

Ginny scowled. Don't you dare make her some kind of hero.

"And?" the children asked again.

Lucius' smirk grew as he watched their eyes widen in anticipation. "The other lawyer really didn't want him released…"

"Would you just come out with it?" Draco burst out. "Is he free or not?"

"He was released on bond about an hour ago," Lucius answered.

The children cheered as Narcissa released the breath she'd been holding. "Thank Merlin," she whispered.

"Can we see him?" Scorpius asked.

"Please Grandpa Lucius!" Margarita begged. "I really want to see him."

Draco watched his father's eyes. In spite of his revelation, a hint of mischief still remained. There had to be a catch to Snape's release, and something told Draco he wouldn't like it. "It's a little late now," Narcissa began, oblivious to Lucius' demeanor.

"Yes," Draco answered. "I promised you could stay up and find out if Uncle Severus was free. Now that you two know, it's bedtime."

"Please? It's not that late where he is," Scorpius answered.

"No, but Severus needs to get situated," Lucius answered. "Let's give him some time to adjust to his new found freedom before visiting him."

"Aw," Scorpius answered. "I'm sure he won't mind if we see him now."

"No, your grandfather's right," Draco replied. "Let's give him some time to himself before we see him. I promise that we'll see him soon though."

"Fine," Scorpius huffed.

Margarita looked over at Narcissa and gave her a pleading look. Narcissa chuckled. "Sorry baby, but I agree. We need to give Uncle Severus some space."

Margarita sighed in defeat. Draco took Scorpius and Margarita's hands and said, "Come on you two. Let's say goodnight to your grandparents and your mother and head off to bed."

"Okay," They sighed.

"Goodnight Grandma Narcissa. Goodnight Grandpa Lucius," Scorpius answered.

"Night Grandma and Grandpa," Margarita answered.

Draco led the children down the hallway until they reached the library where Ginny was standing in the doorway. "You hear everything?" Draco asked with a small smile.

She nodded, trying to hide her growing suspicion of Lucius. "I'm happy for him," she replied.

"Mummy, can you take us to see Uncle Severus?" Margarita asked.

She chuckled at her daughter's persistence. "I'm sorry baby girl, but the answer's no. Both you and Uncle Severus need to get some sleep. We'll see him soon." Ginny answered.

"Okay," she groaned.

"Hey," Ginny began. "At least he's free, so now you don't need to go to the jail. That's certainly better than before. We'll visit him soon, I promise."

"Okay," they answered.

Ginny kissed her children on the cheek and embraced them. "I love you both so much."

"We love you too," Scorpius answered.

"Yeah," Margarita answered.

Ginny released them and kissed Draco on the cheek. "I'll be back soon," he whispered.

"Okay," she answered.

Draco led the children further down the hall until he reached the stairs to their bedrooms. Before Ginny could retreat to the library, Lucius began, "don't think I didn't notice you there."

His smirk and the gleam in his eyes were more prominent than ever. Even Narcissa was beginning to notice them. "Well," Ginny replied, "I figured you wouldn't want me crowding around you like everyone else was. Personal space is very important you know."

"Very true," he answered as Ginny stepped into the hall and joined her parents in law.

"Besides, I could hear you just fine from the library," Ginny continued. "Not to mention, your smirk is just as noticeable from here as it is up close."

"Yes," Narcissa answered. "What exactly do you find so amusing?"

"I can't believe we're discussing this without Draco! Don't you think it's rude to discuss things about your husband or your son's godfather behind his back?" Lucius asked in mock horror.

"What have you done with Severus?" Narcissa demanded. "Don't you dare tell me you have him stashed somewhere and are endangering his freedom through some doomed escape scheme!"

"I'm wounded," he answered. "I can't believe you think any escape plan I'd concoct would be doomed."

Ginny raised her eyebrow while Narcissa continued glowering at him. "Where is he?"

"In Terminus," Lucius answered still smirking. "I have no intention of getting his attorney disbarred."

"Excuse me?" Ginny asked.

Narcissa stopped glowering and blinked a couple of times. "What does Ms. Granger being disbarred have to do with any of this?"

"Yes Father!" Draco asked as he stepped in. "You've been running around all night like Scorpius when he's just hexed a reporter. What exactly is going on?"

Chills ran down Ginny's spine when she saw Lucius smile. "Severus was released into protective custody. Right now, he is under the custody of and living with his attorney, Hermione Granger."

"What?" Ginny screamed. "He's with that bitch?"

"He doesn't seem too upset about the arrangement either," Lucius continued.

"I'd imagine not," Draco grumbled.

Narcissa shrugged. "It seems to be a reasonable agreement, and at least he's out of jail."

"Mum! They're going to get each other arrested!" Draco argued.

"So, when I visit him with the children, she will be there? The drunk who killed my brother is going to be clinging to the man I consider a second father?" Ginny asked, her anger rising with each word.

"That's the court ruling, not mine," Lucius answered with a triumphant smirk.

"You could've picked another attorney!" Ginny yelled. "You could've given Severus one who would actually get him out of jail, not leech off of him until he has nothing left to give! You could've hired some one who didn't kill Ron!"

Ginny burst into tears at the end of the speech. Draco held her, massaged her back, and shushed her as she sobbed. "Dear," Narcissa began.

Draco gave her a silencing look. Narcissa obeyed as Lucius frowned. "Did I mention," Lucius began.

"Don't," Draco snapped. "Not now."

"Why?" Ginny gasped. "Why can't I ever just put her behind me? Why can't she just disappear?"

"I don't know," Draco answered.

"Mummy?"

Ginny looked up and saw her daughter rubbing a sleepy eye. "Sweetie," she began as she freed herself from Draco's embrace and wiped the tears from her eyes. "You're supposed to be in bed."

"I heard you shouting about Uncle Ron, and I wanted to make you feel better," Margarita answered.

"Oh baby," Ginny replied. "Mummy's fine. She's just emotional because of the new baby."

Margarita didn't appear to believe her, but nodded anyway. Ginny hugged and then whispered, "I love you, but you need to go to bed."

"Okay Mummy," Margarita answered as Ginny let her go. Then, she looked up at Ginny and continued, "Mummy, Hermione kept her promise to get Uncle Severus out of jail. Bad people don't help others out or keep promises. I don't think she's a bad person."

Ginny took a deep breath. "Come on; let's get you up to bed."

"Are we still going to see Uncle Severus later?"

"Of course we will honey," Ginny promised as she took her daughter's hand. "But we still won't see him tonight."

"Tomorrow?"

"We'll see," Ginny answered. Merlin knows we have a lot to talk about.