A/N: SometimeSelkie, betamazing!

Completely overwhelmed at the response last chapter! Thanks to all who reviewed! I hope you all continue to enjoy where this is going.

No candy needed for this chapter! :)

The Safe House

Chapter Thirty-One

Harry entered the small room within Parkinson Prison that contained its newest resident. "I just heard from Ron. Your marriage ritual thing? Didn't work."

Draco didn't turn his head away from the barred window at which he was standing. He continued to stare at the sky, refusing to give the other man any satisfaction over how much he had just hurt him.

"No comment, huh? It's just a matter of time before she believes us." Harry walked further into the room so that he was standing just behind the tall blond. "And since the Ministry is so busy with cleaning up after the war, it may take months before we even set your trial date."

"Years will not change anything between us." Draco's voice was steady, but he kept his face turned away from Harry. He could feel his jaw twitching, and for the first time, he was starting to fear that maybe Potter did have what it takes to lock him away.

"A specialist is coming in tomorrow. She will undo everything that you have done to Ginny. So you're right. Years won't change anything, but a few seconds just might." Harry exited the room, smiling to himself. He finally felt like things were going to work out.

Draco rubbed his forehead and pinched the bridge of his nose. He's lying. The ceremony worked. I know it did. He's just angry that it's unbreakable. He fell back into the small bed and stared at the ceiling. He missed his wife and child, and he was starting to worry about what had happened to them in his absence. He considered breaking free if he ever had the chance. He could find his mother, and she could find Ginny and Thuban. They could move to another country. They could even live as Muggles; it wouldn't be that difficult after being in the Safe House for three years.

There was nothing to do in the small room. His meals appeared on the table, without any utensils, and disappeared after twenty minutes, whether he was finished or not. He tried to do some exercises, but he was not in a very good mood after Potter's visit, and the activity only fuelled his anger. Finally, he lay back down, hoping that sleep would help pass the time.

He had been sleeping for a few hours when he heard his door open. He didn't even open his eyes. The only people to enter his room had been the Aurors who had brought him in and Potter. He lay perfectly still, pretending to be asleep, when he heard a familiar voice scream.

"Holy shite! Draco! You're alive!" Pansy flung herself onto the bed and hugged her friend. "How are you alive?"

Draco started laughing as he gently pushed her back. "Pansy? What are you doing here?"

"It's my house, well, it's my prison. I heard that there was a new inmate, but no one knew who it was. So I came to investigate. And I repeat, how are you alive?" She again threw her arms around him and held him tightly.

"It's a long story." He moved to get up from the bed, unsure if he could trust her. He wouldn't put it past Potter to use her to get to him, or just toy with his emotions. "Why is this a prison?"

"Oh, well, I didn't really want it, and Harry suggested we use it as a prison. Azkaban is still used, of course, but this is where everyone goes who is awaiting trial."

"Harry?" He arched one brow at her.

"I know, Draco. It's complicated. He and I have had a relationship of sorts, but it's pretty much over. He can't get over losing Ginny Weasley."

"Ginny Weasley? Really? What happened to her?" He turned away from her to hide his face. Pansy was a Slytherin, and she had known Draco far too long for him to easily fool her.

"She was taken by the Dark Lord. He wanted to do terrible things to her, and now that he's gone, she is still missing. No one knows what happened to her except that Snape had rescued her and hidden her somewhere."

He waited a moment and replied steadily, "Is that so? How do you know she's not dead?"

"Oh, her family has this clock that keeps track of everyone. It says she's still at home, wherever that may be." She marched over to him and turned him around. "Where have you been and why are you here?"

"You are close to the Weasley family as well?" He frowned at her.

She squinted her eyes at him, curious about his refusing to answer her. "No, not really. Well, George is okay. I've never been in their home or anything." Saying the word home again triggered something and Pansy's eyes grew wide. "Oh my God! Narcissa! I need to go get your mother!"

Suddenly, he lost the mask, and he grabbed her shoulders. "My mother? You can bring her here?"

"It's my prison; I can do whatever the hell I want."

Still holding her, he looked deep into her eyes, attempting to perform Legilimency on her. "Can I trust you?"

Sensing his invasion of her mind, she opened herself completely to him and smiled. "Of course. I owe you a life debt, Draco. What's going on? Why are you here?"

He stepped away from her and ran his hand through his hair. "Potter brought me here. He wants to lock me away for crimes I committed during the war, but also for some things he wants to have happened."

"Harry does hate you. He has never let me talk about you. He bound me to silence about the night he took me in. Your mother doesn't even know for sure how I made it to the Order. No one does. But something happened after you left. There was an attack at one of the Horcrux sites. It almost killed Hermione Weasley, and it did kill Remus Lupin and left your cousin, Nymphadora Tonks, in a coma."

"What?" He turned back to her again, and then he sat down heavily on the bed. "Oh God."

"They blame you, Draco. That's all I know. I'm not even supposed to know that much, but I overheard some conversations between Harry and Ron."

"It makes sense now."

"Is that what they're holding you for? And what are these other things that he's accusing you of doing?"

"Get my mother. She needs to know I'm alive. I will tell you both everything when you return. Do not let Potter know what you are doing. Please, Pansy. Help me get out of here and your life debt is paid."

"I'll be back as soon as I can."

.

It was only twenty minutes before Draco heard voices outside his door. He stood and waited with bated breath for the door to open. Finally, it did, and standing next to a beaming Pansy was his mother. "Mum!"

Narcissa froze. She looked shocked, and after checking to see if Pansy was seeing the same person, she ran into the room, tears streaming down her face. She nearly collapsed when she felt Draco's arms enclose around her smaller frame. She breathed in his scent and cried out. "My Draco! Oh my son!" She pulled back and took his face in her hands. "I don't know what to say. I'm so … I'm so happy!"

Draco's tears began to fall, and he enjoyed the feeling of his mother gently wiping his cheeks. He held her again to his chest, and whispered, "I love you."

"Oh, I love you so much. I really don't know what to say." She started laughing into his chest. She looked up at him and smiled. "Pansy told me it was you, but I just couldn't really let myself believe it to be true."

"It's really me."

"How? They said you were dead. Lucius said – oh Draco, your father!" She held him to her again.

"It's okay, Mum. I know he died."

"You do?" He nodded. "We buried him Thursday. He betrayed Voldemort in the end, Draco. He died for it. " She sighed, but then she collected her thoughts and began questioning him. "I need to know about you first. When did you get here? Where have you been?"

Pansy closed the door behind her and entered the room. "That's what I want to know."

Draco kissed his mother's cheek and grinned at the two witches. "I have so much to tell you." He sat on the bed and Narcissa joined him, still holding his arm. As he began to tell them what had happened when Severus brought him to the house, his mother would occasionally reach over and stroke his cheek, still taking in the fact that her son was alive.

Narcissa's face was shining with pride. "I knew you helped Pansy. I knew it."

"I was living in the house for about eight months when Severus showed up one night unexpectedly. He had brought someone with him, a member of the Order that needed to be protected. Someone that he had risked his life to protect."

The two witches gasped. Pansy fell into the chair and shrilled, "Shut up!" Her eyes were wide and her mouth dropped open.

He looked at Pansy, sitting across from him. He hoped he could really trust her. "Ginny Weasley was with me since that night onward."

"Your father left me some memories. He knew that Severus had taken her, but he didn't know where. … Draco, your father had to kill Severus." She saw his eyes begin to darken with anger. "Wait, before you get upset, let me explain. He did it to protect Miss Weasley. Severus was being tortured, and he was able to use Legilimency on Lucius, showing him that he had rescued her. Your father could tell that Severus was moments from breaking. Draco, do you realize what this means? Lucius saved you. He didn't know you were with her, but when he chose to protect Miss Weasley, he saved the both of you."

"Oh…. Father thought I was dead, didn't he?" She nodded, her eyes glistening. "He never knew what he did for me." He sighed heavily and put his head in his hands. "I tried to get Severus to stay, but he refused, wanting to continue to help the Order. He made me promise to protect her."

Pansy asked, "Does George know?"

He kept his head down, and the two women could hear the strain in his voice. "Yes. I saw him Sunday evening. We stayed at the Weasleys' Sunday night. We were supposed to come to you yesterday." He looked at his mother and took her hand.

Narcissa gave him a curious smile before saying, "You both were going to come? Are you with her, Draco?"

His face broke into a broad smile. "I am. In fact, I married her, Mum." He held up his left hand, showing the two witches the ring he had transfigured.

They both gasped again. Pansy laughed loudly. "So this is why you're here? That arsehole has locked you up because she married you."

Narcissa looked livid. "Harry Potter brought you here?"

Draco couldn't help but to chuckle at the fact that his mother knew instantly that the 'arsehole' in question was Potter. "Yes, and I have no idea what is happening to Ginevra. I'm going to need a great litigator, not to mention some press. We need to surprise them with this. He cannot know that you have been here. As far as I know, he's planning on keeping me a secret for as long as possible. Only two other Aurors besides Ron Weasley ever saw me in the Ministry. And I did not see any guards when they brought me here. Since I'm supposed to be dead, it's going to be easy for no one to know I'm here. And because he is Harry Potter, he can get by with bending some of the rules."

Pansy frowned. "I'm sorry, Draco. He's almost obsessed with her. I don't know what he would be willing to do. I wish I could say that he wouldn't break the rules, but this is different. He's been waiting for her for years." She bit her lip and furrowed her brows. "Still, I can't imagine him lying. I know I am biased, but he really is a good man. He would never do anything to hurt her. She's your wife – wow, that sounds strange – but she is your wife and she loves you. He will eventually see that."

"I'm not so sure, Pansy. It didn't seem to mean anything to the Weasleys. … Except for George. You said you know him?"

Narcissa answered, "We both know him. Pansy and I lived with him for a while." She saw the confusion on his face. "We can explain that later. Pansy, you should go to George and find out what is happening from their side."

"They said he knew how to reach you. I wondered about that. I don't think he knows what has happened. Ginevra trusted him above all the others, and he defended her from Potter and Weasley. He might be willing to help."

Narcissa shook her head in disbelief. "Draco, how are you even alive? Voldemort performed the Curse of the Mark on you."

"Is that what it's called? Well, you can thank Ginevra. She saved me with some crazy healing spell that could have left both of us dead. You have to help her, Mum."

"We will. We will do whatever it takes to help you both."

Pansy stood up. "Right. Well, I think we should leave. Who knows when Harry could show up? I'll go straight to George and see what I can find out."

Draco reached his hand out to Pansy. "Wait. I have something else to tell you." He smiled again at his mother. "I have a son. His name is Thuban Severus, and he is perfect."

Pansy fell back into her chair, and Narcissa began tearing up again. She swallowed her tears and found her voice. "I have a grandson?" He nodded. "How old is he?"

"He was one at the end of July. He looks just like me, but I think his personality will be more like Ginevra. He is amazing, Mum. You're going to love him."

"I already do."

ooo

Pansy Apparated directly to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and stormed into the store, straight up to Percy, who was working behind the counter.

"Where is George?"

"He left this afternoon. I think he may be upstairs. Do you know the way? It's really busy."

"I'm sure I can figure it out."

After Percy pointed her to the back hallway, Pansy ran up the stairs and knocked on the door of the flat, calling for George. After a few minutes, he opened the door, suppressing a yawn. "Hey. This is unexpected. I would have cleaned up if I knew you were coming, Pansy."

"Have you seen Ginny since Sunday?" she practically shouted at him.

"No. I thought you'd be happier about this. You look upset." He took a deep breath. "Listen, if it's Harry, just, well, I just think that you'd be better off without him. You deserve someone who really wants to be with you."

She was surprised by his response, and it took her a moment to refocus. "I won't hesitate to hex you if I have to."

"Merlin, Pansy. Relax." He stepped back into the flat and gestured for her to follow him. "What is this all about?"

"They have arrested Draco. He's locked up in my prison, and I think your sister is being kept at the Burrow."

"What?"

"You heard me, arsehole!" She smacked him on the arm, earning a glare from the tall redhead. "They have Draco, and they're trying to convict him of being a Death Eater. He's not! He even was the …..Aah! Damn you, Harry. I can't talk about it, but I know he's not a Death Eater."

"Okay, um, let's sit down, and you can tell me everything from the beginning." He waited by the small table for her to join him and then sat sideways, facing her.

She bit her lip and collected her thoughts before turning more towards George. "I wasn't even supposed to know that Draco was there. I came in to check on some things and heard from the elves that there was a new inmate. I was curious and went to see who it was. And there he was, the late Draco Malfoy. I was completely shocked. I tried to get him to explain things, but he wouldn't tell me much without Narcissa being there."

"Narcissa needs to know, Pansy! Go get her!"

"What do you take me for? Like I would come to you first? Of course, I took her to him!" She rolled her eyes dramatically. "We just left the prison - no visitors allowed after six – and the fact that Harry could show up. The guards already think we were visiting Mrs. Golye. Don't worry, she can hardly form complete words, let alone sentences. An overzealous Auror hit her a little too hard with a hex, and she has some kind of brain damage."

"It's Harry and Ron, isn't it?" he asked quietly. "They're out to get him. Ron told me that there were things that we didn't know about him. He truly believes that Draco was acting on orders from within the house. Pansy, are you sure that isn't true?"

"Orders? He was supposed to have been dead. Everyone thought so, including Lucius. I'm still not sure how he even survived the Curse of the Mark, except that it was because of your sister. No, George, Ron blames Draco for the attack. That's what this is about. And as for Harry? I'm sure we all know what's in it for him."

"He blames him for the attack?" He frowned for a moment and then gasped. "Because he was their informant. Pansy, what if he did set them up?"

"George, I know you don't have a reason to trust him, but I know him. He did not do this. Please, trust me on this. Don't let them take out their personal vendettas against him, give him a chance. That's all I'm asking."

The two sat for a minute and George began organizing the papers on the table. Suddenly, he noticed Ginny's message, and he grabbed the parchment. "This is from Ginny! When could she have even been here?" He started reading the letter. "George, Please help me. Ron and Harry have convinced Mum and Dad that Draco has me under some spell and that I don't even know what has really happened to me. Right now they have Thuban and want to test him to see if he's mine. I don't know where Draco is, and I have no wand. Please, come get us out of here. Ginny."

Pansy took George's hand. "We need to get her, but we need to get the press involved before Harry has a chance to spin it his way."

"I can't just leave her there. She's probably scared out of her mind. She's going to expect me to come tonight."

"I know, but they're not going to hurt her. Draco needs his side of the story to be told. He needs a litigator. We have to make sure he will have a fair trial. Please, give us one more day to get things started for Draco. I'm sure Ginny will understand."

He sighed heavily and squeezed her hand. "Okay, but we need Bill. If anyone can talk to Mum and Dad, it's him."

"No, George. Draco only trusts you."

"Why me?"

She gave him a small smile. "Because I trust you."

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A/N: Thanks for reading. You know what to do!

So, is George on the right track now? And how was the Narcissa reunion? I know many of you were looking forward to that scene. I hope it lived up to your expectations.