I hope you all had some happy holidays! I am battling some bad health issues and chronic anxiety. I always get it bad around this time of year, it sucks :(. Anyways I hope you enjoy this intense chapter. See note at end*


Aria and Lucius arrived at the end of a very long and majestic driveway. While the Mansion loomed grand and impressive in the distance, it gave off a more modern vibe, partly due to it being nearby the bustling city of London, unlike the grand Malfoy Manor which was very much more old-world and nestled in the glorious British countryside. Both mansions were very impressive but of course nothing could compare for the comfort Aria and Lucius felt at their own beautiful estate.

Hand and in hand, Aria and Lucius walked up the long drive to the front of the grand mansion. Some witches and wizards had opted to make an even grander entrance by hiring sleek muggle limousines which caused Aria and Lucius to roll their eyes and chuckle under their breaths as the gaudy vehicles drove passed the pair as they continued walking up the drive. Aria could see as they got closer hundreds of finely dressed witches and wizards arriving and making their way up the grand front steps and into the mansion as the party thrummed with energy and light from inside. It also couldn't be missed that there were a few dozen paparazzis snapping photos of the big event and of the notable members of the Wizarding Community arriving.

Upon seeing the snap and flash of the cameras, Lucius squeezed Aria's hand in his own and sighed out unhappily. Lucius detested the paparazzi; especially since one of the last times they had really crossed a line for Lucius was when he was at the hospital, still not knowing whether or not Aria was going to live or die from her poisoning. Lucius had almost ripped off the paparazzi's heads for sticking their noses into his own personal Hell to try and get their next big story.

Aria sighed out with Lucius. She wasn't too keen on the tabloid press either, especially when it came to her and Lucius' relationship. "Why are they here? Does the Minister know they are here? Surely he wouldn't allow them to crash his party like this and disturb the guests as they arrive…" she said.

"Oh he knows they are here….I wouldn't be surprised if he invited them himself!" scoffed Lucius. "Any excuse for him to look good and grand in the papers. And I am sure the guests don't mind either….only people who have truly been tortured by the papers and the tabloids would really mind…like myself…" he scowled.

Aria brought their connected hands up to her lips and gave him a kiss on the top of his gloved hand causing the distressed Wizard to smile down at her lovingly. They were close to the crowd of people now and Aria knew that they must grin and bear it to get into the party.

"Let's go in confident and proud," she said as she looked up at him one last time before she stood up straight and tall with a smile plastered on her face.

Lucius smirked down at her and followed suit. She was right. Why not go in confidently and proud? They had endured so much and had come out on top. For once Lucius would be proud to see his photo in the papers. The couple walked up the grand steps of the mansion as the paparazzi went wild over the arrival of the Wizarding World's most talked about couple, who were usually so private and hard to get photos of. The couple smiled warmly at each other as the flash of the photos blinded their eyes and the screams of the photographers deafened their ears to anything else but their names being shouted over and over again. The two held hands so tight as if they were to be pulled apart at any moment. As they neared the top of the steps, Lucius turned to face Aria and grabbed her by the waist as he pulled her in for a kiss and dipped her dramatically, clearly making a show for the cameras. This move of his caused the photographers to scream wildly with delight as they surely got some excellent photos to use in the tabloids of the most famous couple, kissing each other passionately. As Lucius swooped her back up, Aria giggled delightedly and finally dragged Lucius into the warmth and brightness of the party inside the mansion, their eyes still blurry and adjusting from the flash of the camera bulbs.

"Lucius! I didn't know you could be such a show-off!" Aria giggled with delight.

"My love…have you not noticed the home in which we live in? The clothes that I wear? Everything else about me?" He laughed, as he admitted the truth about himself. Although in his more recent years, he would rather live a more private life than a flashy one. "But in all honestly, that is the most those damned buzzards will get from us tonight, so they better be content with that."

"Are you ready to get the mingling over with?" Aria asked as she looked up at him, as they stood in the first hallway of the mansion as numerous fancy witches and wizards eyed them and walked by them, all making their way to the refreshments, the dancing and the gossiping. Aria heard beautiful orchestral music coming from deeper within the mansion and longed to dance with Lucius, who could always blow her away with his graceful and sensual dancing skills. She flushed a bit at the memory of dancing with him at other extravagant events. "I would really love to get a dance or two with you," she smirked up at him.

"It would be my pleasure," Lucius said raising his hand to her cheek and lightly stroking it with his fingertips as his grey gaze pierced into her soul. Aria shuddered at his touch and mewled a bit, which caused Lucius to sigh out in need and want for his petit witch. "You never cease to arouse and tempt me little witch…" he teased as he dropped his hand suddenly before he became too entrenched in his own arousal.

"Sorry," she teased and giggled a bit as her flushed body cooled down. She grabbed his hand once more and confidently led them down the hallway and to the main space in the mansion which had been converted into the ballroom for the evening. Hundreds of witches and wizards were already dancing and mingling, and before Lucius and Aria could even get their wits about them, a server with a tray of sparkling and fizzing golden champagne glasses came and offered Aria and Lucius a drink, to which they gladly accepted. As they grabbed their glasses the champagne inside began to ignite with tiny fireworks and streamers popped out of the glasses, meant to be a fun celebratory, magical drink. Aria giggled but Lucius simply rolled his eyes at the classlessness of it all.

As Lucius and Aria took their first sips of their champagne, Aria spotted the Minister for Magic from a bit aways, and he himself, caught her eye. She smiled kindly at the man, although not all together overly excitedly, and he began making his way over. Aria could hear Lucius sigh out behind her, as he prepared to make small talk with the man who had once would have done anything to see the head of the Malfoy family behind bars.

"Aria….Lucius," the Minister greeted them with a smile and a bow of his head, his purple and gold robes glowing brightly in the candlelight of the room. "I hope you two are enjoying yourselves."

"We just arrived," Lucius said plainly.

"I am sure we will have a great time," Aria quickly added with a smile.

The Minister decided to focus his attentions on Aria just then as he looked away nervously, or maybe even slightly ashamed, from Lucius.

"Aria, I trust you received our letters about that open Oxford position we would like for you to take?" The Minister inquired.

"Oh yes I have! I am extremely excited about that opportunity and I thank you all at the Ministry for still thinking of me," Aria smiled.

"Of course," the Minister nodded his head. "Couldn't think of anyone more suited for the position. We were worried we wouldn't be able to get the letter to you…seems as if the Malfoy Manor had a lot of protective and repellent charms surrounding it…" the Minister said as his questioning eyes flashed over to Lucius briefly.

Lucius glared at the Minister over the brim of his champagne glass he had just been sipping from. "As you know Minister, Aria's life had been threatened and almost taken during her time at the Ministry…and all precautions must be taken to insure her safety…" Lucius said as he reminded the Minister of the Ministry's screw-up by allowing Aria to be poisoned so easily while in their employ.

The Minister cleared his throat, as if embarrassed that he had been called out for his nosiness into why the Malfoy Manor had so many charms surrounding it.

"I see…yes of course…completely understandable," he said as he looked back over at Aria. Aria gave him a tiny smile, the awkwardness of the conversation becoming thick in the air.

"You know…I always tell Lucius, that I wish everyone in the Wizarding World would use a cell phone! So much easier to get in contact with someone," Aria chuckled as she tried to diffuse the awkward tension.

The Minister cringed at her mention of the common muggle item. "Hmmm I quite disagree…owls are best," the Minister said flatly.

"That is what Lucius thinks as well," Aria sighed. The awkwardness still hung heavy in the air. "Well…umm..anyways…thank you again Minister for the opportunity at Oxford. I look forward to it….now though…I think I must dance with my Lucius," Aria said as she reached behind her and grabbed Lucius' hand.

The Minister nodded at the couple awkwardly in acknowledgement and in farewell and Lucius groaned out in annoyance as Aria led them closer to the dance floor as the two put down their empty champagne glasses on a nearby tray.

"Well that was painful," Lucius grumbled as Aria led him to the middle of the dance floor. "Why did we come here to-"

Aria smirked as she put her finger up to Lucius' lips to quiet him and before Lucius knew it she had dragged him out into the middle of the dance floor.

"I know my love…" she said with a silky voice, "But now all you need to do is put your hands on me…and lead the way," she said as she placed her hands tenderly on his muscular chest to which she heard a low grumble of satisfaction emanating from immediately.

"Mmmm….as you wish," he said as he gripped her hips firmly bringing her close against his body and then slowly snaked his hands up her hips, her waist, her back and up to her delicate arms where he grabbed a hold of them and began leading her in a beyond graceful dance across the dance floor. All of the awkwardness of the conversation with the Minister completely forgotten as the two lovers stared into each others' eyes, the world seemingly forgotten for a while. That was always how it was when they danced together. Of course many were staring, seeing the now famous and deeply magical couple gliding across the floor with mind numbing elegance. It was easy to see now how these two really might be the Veela Soul Mate couple that had been foretold in Wizarding mythology; a couple that was always meant to be throughout time and space.

The two danced for what seemed like an age, never taking their eyes off of each other. If it was one of those special magical nights of the year, like the Winter Solstice or Spring Equinox, the couple would have surely been glowing from head to toe in their special magical soul mate bond, but despite them not glowing, the magic between the two of them could certainly be sensed throughout the room.

As one of the songs ended, Lucius and Aria stopped briefly as they saw a tiny, old man approaching. Aria flushed a bit and Lucius smirked as they recognized the older man to be none other than Reginald Fawley. Reginald was the older bachelor Aria had done some personal archiving work for right before the Christmas holiday and he was the naughty old man who had gifted her some rather risqué lingerie. It had been slightly hilarious to Lucius, and yet even more slightly mortifying for Aria. The old man currently had a sly smirk on his face as he hobbled up to Lucius and Aria.

"Lucius my good man…may I?" Fawley said as he indicated his boney fingered hand at Aria, as if wanting to dance with her.

Lucius smirked and looked down at the short ancient wizard. "Now Reginald…you should understand that I do not share," Lucius said as he clearly tightened his grip around Aria's waist. "Don't think I didn't know about the Christmas gift you bought for my fiancé," Lucius smirked as he teased the old man, however causing Aria to blush pink.

"Lucius you can't blame a man for trying….she is absolutely divine," said Reginald as he spoke as if she wasn't even there.

Aria looked down humbly as the two men discussed her surpassing beauty.

"Of course I understand Regi, but she is mine…and mine alone," he said with a deep, husky voice that made Aria shudder with delight. She adored when he told her that in the privacy of their own home, but somehow hearing him announce it to someone else so openly was even more arousing.

"I see, I see," conceded Fawley. "Well if you won't allow me the honor of dancing with your betrothed and I truly have no chance…then you must indulge me on some business propositions and inquires?"

Fawley clearly wanted to talk business with Lucius. Old money often attracted old money, and Aria honestly had no clue what type of business dealings Lucius often did, but she knew once he got talking business, it could often times go on and on. It impressed Aria, as these strategic dealings is what made the Malfoy name so successful, but it honestly didn't intrigue her as much as some of their other more common interests they shared as a couple. Lucius looked down at her, silently wondering if he should go with the old man or not to go over some business. Aria and Lucius had been so pent up in the Manor as of late, she knew it was rare for him to sit with some of his old colleagues and talk important money things she knew little about.

"Oh I don't know Regi…now isn't that good of a time…" he began to say.

"Oh of course, please feel free!" Aria said enthusiastically. She had just luckily seen Hermione walk in, on the arm of none other than Harry Potter. That intrigued her way more anyways and she instantly wanted to go see them.

"Okay my love, I won't be far…please don't go far either…." Lucius said as he gripped her hand and brought it up to his lips to place a gentle kiss on it. She knew he was still wary about leaving her alone out in the open, but Aria had felt nothing but completely safe and secure so far at the party and she had seen no indication that Narcissa would be anywhere near the event. The Minister surely wouldn't have invited Aria and then also the woman who had poisoned her to the same event.

"I will be alright my love," Aria said as she leaned up a bit to kiss Lucius strongly and surely on the lips.
Fawley looked at them with his own naughty twinkle in his eye. "Lucky bastard…" he muttered under his breath at Lucius.

Lucius slightly smiled at the old man's mock jealousy (or maybe even real jealousy) and walked off with the man into a more quiet part of the mansion. As the two men walked off, Aria immediately made a bee-line towards Hermione and Harry who were both surrounded by hordes of people. They were the 'golden children' after all.

Hermione looked stunning in a beautiful soft-grey colored gown with a long flowing matching cape and her hair was pulled back tight against her head. Harry wore classic Wizards dress robes and looked dashing himself. Hermione had her hand clutched to Harry's arm and the two beamed as if completely lit up from within. Aria then wondered if they were "together."

Aria grabbed another glass of champagne as she waited for the crowd around the famous witch and wizard to dissipate. After a brief period of waiting her turn, Aria made her way up to them, a huge grin on her face. Hermione lit up with joy when she saw Aria making her way towards her and Harry beamed himself.

"Aria!" said Hermione as she gave her a big hug, followed by Harry who greeted her pleasantly as well.

"I've missed you so much! You look stunning….both of you!" said Aria.

"As do you! My goodness you are a vision," said Hermione. "How are you? How are you and Lucius doing?"

"We are doing well…a bit isolated now a-days…Lucius is still nervous about Narcissa attacking me, so we've put up some pretty strong wards around the house."

"Have you been threatened?" Harry asked seriously, as he immediately went into Auror mode.

"Not since the poisoning…but we did get an ominous warning from Draco," Aria grimaced which caused Harry's brow to furrow in concern.

"Please let me know the moment you see or hear anything happen against you," began Harry. "We sadly weren't able to arrest her for the poisoning as there was no physical proof of her involvement…I of course believe you…just legally I couldn't make an arrest…." he said grimly.

"I know you would help if you could Harry. Thank you as always," Aria smiled warmly. "Well enough about me…what about you two? Are you guys….?" Aria said with a glint in her eye as she looked at Hermione's hand clutching Harry's.

Hermione flushed and looked down as she quickly let go of Harry's hand, but Aria could see a huge smile begin to grow on her face. Aria also noticed Harry turn a bit brighter in color as well, but he looked immensely happy too.

"Well…we have been working a lot together lately, and I suppose we fell into our old routine of really being with each other all of the time. With us both being single…I guess we realized our true feelings…something we never admitted to ourselves all of those years…" Hermione said as eloquently as ever.

The way Harry beamed at her and looked at her with so much love in his emerald green eyes, made Aria's face light up with a smile. She recognized that look as she often saw it on Lucius' own face when he looked at her. Harry was deeply in love.

"It really was sort of an epiphany…we had been through so much and I can't imagine my life without Hermione…Hell I can't imagine I would have ever made it this far without Hermione…I realized then I loved her, as more than just a friend, with all of my heart."

Aria's eyes were welling up at the sight and sound of such love. She knew it well of course.

"I am so happy for you guys!" Aria said as she raised her glass to them as if in a toast.

"We are too…" the both said at the same time causing all three of them to chuckle.

"Would you keep this our little secret though Aria? Obviously when the press finds out about this it is going to be a media circus….the Minister allowed us to Floo directly into the mansion for the party so that we wouldn't have to get bombarded by the paparazzi that are always here every year out front," said Hermione.

"Of course Hermione, my lips are sealed!" promised Aria. "I feel special you let me in on your little secret."

"Well I guess it's fitting…we knew about you and Lucius before the rest of the world did as well," laughed Hermione.

The three laughed and drank and chatted for quite some time, and Aria felt as if she could talk to the two of them forever. Eventually however, Aria soon began missing Lucius' presence and knew that she wanted to get back into his arms and she didn't want to completely take up Hermione and Harry's time.

"Well I should probably get back to Lucius…we don't like being parted for long…" said Aria as she began scanning the surrounding crowds in search of that platinum blonde head.

"I am beginning to understand that rather well," said Harry as he looked over at Hermione with a smile.

"It was so amazing seeing you guys and I am so happy for you….promise me we will see each other soon?" Aria asked before she left the happy couple.

"Absolutely!" said Hermione. "I will owl you next week!"

With a smile Aria walked away from the couple and truly began searching for Lucius. She couldn't find him anywhere immediately, however, it didn't concern her. She knew Lucius would be more concerned about her well-being and perhaps he was looking for her as well. As she looked around she noticed all of the witches and wizards in attendance were very notable figures in the Wizarding World. She was hoping to have seen Pepper at the party but realized Pepper might not rank as high on the Minister's list of famous (or infamous) people, something which made Aria sad, and to be honest, think a bit less of the Minister. This party really was all about status…something that was very Pure-Blood minded of him, surprising Aria. Perhaps her and Lucius should leave when they found each other; she knew Lucius wouldn't argue with that.

Aria eventually wandered into the beautiful gardens which over-looked a vast expanse of hedges and and fountains and candles. She could see the city skyline of London in the distance, and it truly was incredible in this estate that so much gardens and space could magically fit into the tight constraints of London. Surely much magic was involved in the construction of this place. It was rather beautiful and Aria didn't mind in that moment just having a moment's peace to herself as she listened to the running water of the fountains and admired the glowing lights of the candles. There was literally no one out in the gardens except for her, everyone else was inside enjoying the dancing, food and drink. Aria wandered a bit down farther into the gardens and sat on the edge of the first large fountain she saw, admiring the way the water cascaded down from the top layer into the bigger pool underneath. The candles around the area glinted off of the water, almost causing it to sparkle, and Aria looked down into her reflection in the water as she admired the gorgeous necklace from Lucius' mother she had been wearing; it too also sparkled in the candle and moonlight.

Aria couldn't help but smile…until she saw in the reflection in the water, someone standing behind her. The hair on the back of her neck stood up and she practically jumped up from where she stood. Her skin rose in gooseflesh as she came to realize that the woman who had been standing behind her had been none other than Narcissa. She wore a black as night velvet dress and and her hair fell around her face in yellow-ish blond waves. Her eyes were narrowed into slits as she took in Aria's beautiful form, gown, and jewelry and her eyes practically glowed red with hatred.

"Narcissa!" Aria practically screamed, her nerves feeling as if they were bombs about to explode. "How in the world did you get in here? How did you know I was here…?"

"Everyone who is everyone is here girl…" Narcissa spat "But clearly my invitation got lost in the post…"

Aria stood up from where she was relaxing on the fountain and faced Narcissa head-on, her stance squared off and ready for anything that might happen. She sincerely hoped Lucius had been currently looking for her. "I guarantee you didn't get an invitation because no one wants you here…don't you know…you aren't important anymore," Aria teased as she raised an eyebrow and smirked as she mocked Narcissa. She really was getting rather good at the famous Lucius Malfoy smirk.

Narcissa's eyes narrowed into slits again and she walked a bit closer to Aria. Aria stood her ground though, and didn't move a muscle. "Be careful Narcissa," Aria warned. "Remember last time you laid your hands on me?"

Narcissa remembered it well; the way her hands burned into millions of blisters as Aria's skin had scalded her when she had touched her that one Samhain night when her and Draco had come to threaten Lucius.

Narcissa stopped in her tracks but gave a smirk of her own however. "That hasn't stopped me from getting to you before," her eyes glinted as she referenced the time she successfully poisoned and almost killed Aria. "And while I must admit that the wards surrounding Malfoy Manor have been rather…impossible…for me to penetrate as of late, I knew that tonight would be the perfect night to get to you."

Aria's breathing began quickening, knowing Narcissa had indeed been trying to get into the Manor. It felt so invasive. Thank Merlin that Lucius had been so strict about all of the wards and protective spells. But why would Narcissa try to attack at a crowded party?

"Why would you think attacking at a party where hundreds of people are, including many Aurors, would be a good idea?" Aria asked.

"Well I knew at some point I would have to get you out here, alone. I had been waiting for you to leave the Manor for weeks, and this seemed to be my only opportunity," purred Narcissa. "I thought I would have to use a glamor or some form of Polyjuice potion to transform myself into Lucius, to lure you out here, but you both did me the favor of separating briefly…and then you all too perfectly wandered out here on your own. You fool," said Narcissa as she removed her wand from inside her caped gown.

"Lucius will be looking for me…" Aria warned, as she still kept her ground. She wasn't scared, but she knew Narcissa feared Lucius' power.

Narcissa looked around as she mocked Aria's warning, her eyes scanning the deadly quiet, empty garden. "Where is he then? Your knight in shining armor?"

Narcissa raised her wand slightly, but not before Aria spoke quickly to try and distract her a bit longer.

"Why do you want to hurt me so badly Narcissa? What will you gain out of this? You are the one that left Lucius out of shame all of those years ago. Why not let him live out his life and you do the same? You simply don't ever have to talk to him again!" Aria tried to reason.

"BECAUSE!" spat Narcissa. "HE CAN NEVER CHANGE! He pretends to but he can't. He has ruined the Malfoy name!"

"Again, I ask…why do you care?!" Aria said quite frustratedly. "Are you jealous that he can change but you can't?! That he can find happiness finally in his life, but you are stuck forever being the miserable witch who can't move on or rise to a high place of power again? You can change…you can be better!"

That seemed to strike a cord with Narcissa as it seemed Aria guessed correctly as to her Narcissa's inner demons. However she would never admit it.

"NO! I am doing this for my son! He deserves so much better out of his name…out of his Father!"

"Oh leave Draco out of it! Hasn't he already showed you he wants nothing to do with this anymore!?" Aria countered back. Narcissa looked down, knowing that again, Aria was right. Draco hadn't talked to her for weeks and weeks. "Draco came to Lucius and I on Christmas, and warned us about you; about something like this. He is no longer on your side Narcissa. Just drop your wand and give-up. None of the Aurors up there have to know, if you just leave now…" Aria said as she looked up at the mansion, attempting to make Narcissa disappear back into the night.

Narcissa said nothing for a long moment. Her eyes were wet and glassy looking, almost as if she was about to cry, but then suddenly she raised her wand directly out in front of her body, her eyes narrowing again, seemingly glowing red with rage.

"CONFRINGO!" Narcissa yelled out as she attempted to blast Aria away with her first offensive spell. Luckily, Aria had known this was coming at jumped to the side causing the fountain behind her to explode, water now spurting everywhere, drenching Aria from head to toe.

Aria hoped that the witches and wizards at the party above would have heard the explosion and would come to investigate, but Aria couldn't focus much on that as Narcissa was hurling another curse her way with a shriek of anger. "BOMBARDA!"

What happened next Narcissa wasn't prepared for. Aria began utilizing her wandless magic; what Lucius had been training her in for all of these weeks. This was the exact reason why she had asked him to train her. It came as second nature to her when she thought in her mind the shield charm Protego. Her hands were raised out in front of her and Narcissa's spell bounced off of Aria's invisible shield and propelled back at her causing the vile witch to narrowly avoid the rebounded curse.

"Wh…what?! Wandless magic?! A witch as young as you knows the art of wandless magic!?" Narcissa yelled.

"Oh yes…thanks to Lucius," Aria smiled proudly.

Narcissa let out a vile and soul shattering screech as she began hurling curse after curse at Aria. Red lights and explosions blasted all around the two witches. Various topiaries, statues and fountains exploding one after the other, the two witches drenched with water, dirt and sweat.

Up until this point Aria had simply been using her defensive shield charm, but suddenly, Narcissa seemed to go literally insane and began attempting to use unforgivable curses upon Aria. "CRUCIO!" Narcissa screamed multiple times. Again, Aria blocked the spells, but her anger was rising, especially now that Narcissa was going into the use of unforgivable curses. With her anger, Aria's hands started sparking and tingling with her rage, until she had formed two giant fireballs of pure magic and power in her hands. Her use of wandless magic seemed to take on a mind of its own and she now couldn't hold back the fury she was feeling towards Narcissa. With her left hand, Aria launched her first fireball straight at Narcissa, who's wide eyes held pure fear at the sight of Aria wielding such a Fiendfyre type fire magic. Narcissa dove and missed the fireball but the fire caused the hedge behind Narcissa to burst into flames. Behind the rage, Aria felt a tinge of regret for damaging such a beautiful garden at the Minister's house, but she was so enraged that only a tiny part of her consciousness that thought that was breaking through.

Up at the party, Lucius had been looking for Aria for a solid twenty minutes and he was getting nervous. He knew they shouldn't have parted and his nerves sank to the pit of his stomach when he heard an explosion coming from somewhere outside. A large crowd of party goers rushed to the windows and saw flashes of light and bursts of fire coming from the gardens.

Many of the witches and wizards screamed and many of them pulled their wands out of their robes; some however simply ran straight out the front door and apparated back to the safety of their own homes.

"ARIA!" Lucius shouted as he immediately withdrew his wand and ran as fast as lightning out and down into the massive expanse of gardens.

Somewhere behind him he heard the Minister shout out into the room, "Aurors! Follow me! Now!"

Back down in the gardens, both Aria and Narcissa were breathing heavily. Aria's hair had come down from her bun in the fight and was now wet and wild and her makeup was running down her face from when she had been drenched from the burst fountain. Both witches had bloody cuts and bruises on their arms, faces and chests from defending themselves and diving away to miss counter attacks. Aria's right hand still held her remaining fireball, the magic of it still making the ball of fire throb and pulsate as if it was alive. Aria's rage had slightly calmed down but not by much, as she waited for Narcissa to catch her next breath.

Aria had a ringing in her ear from the adrenaline of the fight but somewhere off close by she heard the sound of her love yelling out to her.

"Aria!" Lucius called out as he came upon the scene in the garden, his wand already drawn and pointing in the direction of Narcissa. How could he have let this happen was his only thought; that and for her safety. He noticed the fireball in Aria's hand and felt a sense of pride deep down, but that would have to wait as he saw Narcissa reach on the ground for her wand where she had dropped it when she dove out of the way of Aria's first fireball.

Aria had briefly turned at the sound of Lucius' voice when he had shouted her name and Narcissa took her shot in that moment, a moment of distraction for Aria, to utter the most forbidden curse of all. Just as the words "Avada Kedavra" left Narcissa's mouth, Lucius' reflexes acted the quickest they ever had in his life and he literally dove into Aria, knocking her body to the ground, right in time for the green curse of death to miss her and crash into a poor statue behind them.

"NOOO!" He had yelled as he had dove into the love of his life, saving her from death. As the two lovers crashed to the ground, Lucius let out another cry, this time of pain, as he felt his right shoulder dislocate from where he landed on the ground with Aria's body on-top of him. Luckily Aria had moved her right hand out of the way which still contained her remaining fireball, but the odd angle had caused her to land awkwardly on Lucius' arm.

"Lucius!" Aria cried out as she saw his arm fall limp to his side, and his face contort with pain at the dislocation. "My love! I am so sorry…" she began to say. However Narcissa took this second opportunity of Aria's distraction to try and use the Killing Curse yet again, this time aimed at Lucius, who was in a weakened state.

The Minister and the Aurors came running down into the battle scene in the garden, their wands drawn, screaming came from all around, but Aria heard none of it.

In the matter of a split second Aria dove on her knees placing her body in front of Lucius' own sprawled out body and a blood curdling shout of fury, fear and protection emanated from her throat. It sounded inhuman and Aria knew her Veela powers were now pouring out of her as the fireball she had in her hand turned from a flaming orange to an even hotter bright blue. Aria hurled the ball of blue flame directly into Narcissa's curse which caused the power of both spells to explode in the air, both witches blown back to hit the ground hard.

While the explosion of the two spells had thrown the witches hard against the ground, Aria seemed to feel none of it, her body in full protection mode of Lucius. She immediately got up from where she fell and ran over to Narcissa, who was just barely recovering from the blast. Before Narcissa could crawl over to where her wand had fallen, Aria had shoved the older witch hard with her foot, causing Narcissa to fall over onto her back with a grunt. Aria wasted no time, as she straddled Narcissa where she lay on the ground, so that she couldn't move and gripped her hard by her wrists.

Narcissa screamed out in pain as her flesh burned under Aria's touch, just like it had before, the last time Narcissa and Aria had physical contact. Aria's bloodcurdling shrieks and noises of fury hadn't stopped and as Narcissa screamed out in pain from her burning skin, she looked up into Aria's face with terrified eyes at the same time. Narcissa had never been so afraid of another witch, as she was in that moment. "Please don't kill me!" She screamed, her brave act finally faltering.

"I SHOULD!" screamed Aria, who could only remember the past minute where Narcissa herself had just tried to kill her and Lucius.

"Aria!" cried two voices at the same time. One from Lucius where he now stood, still clutching to his bad arm. The other voice coming from Harry Potter himself, who had finally run in to intervene in the fight.

Aria looked at the two men with wild eyes, her breath coming out hard and strong. She could smell the burning skin of Narcissa beneath her; the woman she so badly wanted to kill, who still cried out in agony at the pain of her burning flesh. But after a few deep breaths, Aria's sanity returned. She couldn't kill Narcissa. The Aurors and the Minister had seen Narcissa trying to kill, and that was enough. She would spend the rest of her days in Azkaban.

Reluctantly but quickly, Aria let go of Narcissa and got up off the witch and ran over to Lucius, who held on to her tight and comfortingly with his good arm.

Harry Potter leaned over Narcissa who had now curled up into a ball. "Narcissa Black, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Aria De La Cour and Lucius Malfoy." The woman screamed out in pain and frustration as she thrashed in Potter's arms.

"She isn't human! She is a monster! She deserves to die!" she screamed at Aria. Aria simply looked back at the woman with the dimming rage in her eyes as she held onto Lucius. It was finally done.

"Silence Narcissa!" yelled the Minister as the other Aurors escorted her off of the premises.

The Minister for Magic himself walked straight over to Aria and Lucius, a very humbled look in his eyes. "Aria…Lucius…" he said in a low, calm voice. "I am so incredibly sorry. I did not invite that woman here. I had no idea she was in my home."

"She told me she snuck in," said Aria. "She had been stalking me for weeks. She said this was her only opportunity."

"Perhaps if you had proper security here instead of focusing on having a plentiful paparazzi group here, this wouldn't have happened," Lucius said through his teeth.

The Minister looked down in shame. Lucius was right.

"Well Minister, it looks like you got your wish. Your party will be the talk of the town. It will be in all of the papers," Aria said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. For once she was actually as disgusted by the Minister as Lucius normally was. "It's finally done though, isn't it Minister? Narcissa will never bother us again I presume?"

"No. No of course not. We all saw her try to use the Killing Curse. Twice. Her trial will be swift I assure you," he said sincerely.

Aria looked around her, at the destroyed garden, the hedges still burning with Aria's magically induced fire, and then back at the Minister. "Sorry about the garden," she said with more dry sarcasm. "Lucius my love, shall we go home?" Aria said as she turned to her fiancé.

Lucius gripped his arm and grimaced. "Definitely….but first…" he held out his hand and used wandless magic to conjure his wand back to himself. As soon as he had the wand in his hand he pointed it at his dislocated shoulder and muttered "Episky." With a nauseating pop and a slight scream of pain from Lucius, his shoulder was back in place. Aria grimaced and put her hands in Lucius'. With one last look at the Minister, who looked back at them both with waves of humiliation and shame, and even wonder at their casual use of wandless magic, the couple apparated back to Malfoy Manor.


Hope you enjoyed the climax battle between Aria and Narcissa. Now that Aria has all this pent up rage, she might need to release some of it in other ways. ;) The next chapter will start out pretty smutty, just a forewarning. xoxo