When Gregory got to his flat the next morning, he found Narcissa sitting at the table staring at a letter. She looked up when he cleared his throat and he suddenly found his arms full of a crying woman. He patted her back awkwardly and let her cry for a couple of minutes before gently pushing her back. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Truly, it's something good," Narcissa said, pulling her handkerchief from her sleeve and wiping her eyes. "Come sit down and I'll try to explain."

Half an hour later, Narcissa explained the long estrangement from her sister, shunned by the family because she'd married a muggle, a scandalous and shameful thing to the Ancient Black family of purebloods and the Malfoy family as well. "Voldemort whipped up the pureblood families with promises of cleansing our society of the tainted blood. We believed that the decreasing number of children born to pureblood families and less and less powerful wizards were due to mixed blood. We didn't know that Voldemort was a half blood. That's why Lucius joined him though and set our family on the course to destruction."

"But she's willing to see you?" House asked to confirm.

"Yes, but she said she'd be here today at noon," Narcissa said, suddenly frantic realizing she'd forgotten to relay that important point.

"Hey, there's still 20 minutes and the place is clean. Do we need any food for her visit? I could get some from the Three Broomsticks."

"You're not angry?"

"Angry? Why would I be angry?" House asked, puzzled.

"This is your house, you wanted a visit today. I should have called her and had her come tomorrow. I might still catch her," she said, turning toward the fireplace but was stopped by his hand on her arm.

"Unless you don't want her to meet me, she can come."

"Of course I want her to meet you," Narcissa assured him.

"Well, then it's settled. Do we need anything?"

"Yes, please get some sandwiches and a something for tea. And thank you," she said, giving him a peck on the cheek. He gave her a wide smile and headed out to get the food.

Before he returned, the floo roared to life and Andromeda stepped through with Teddy in her arms.

"Andromeda, welcome. Hello, Teddy," Narcissa said, gazing briefly at the child. "Please, come sit down. Gregory is here for a visit, he's gone to get some treats from the Three Broomsticks."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't think he'd be home the first weekend of school," Andromeda said as she settled on the sofa with Teddy. "I could come back later in the week."

"No, it's all right," Narcissa answered, settling down on a chair nervously.

Narcissa asked some questions about Teddy for the few minutes it took Gregory to get back, then jumped up to introduce him to Andromeda and put the luncheon together.

"Narcissa tells me you were a doctor in the muggle world," Andromeda said, glancing up at the odd sight of her sister fussing in the small kitchenette. "What made you decide to teach instead of work at St Mungo's?"

"I'm in no way qualified to heal magical maladies and injuries, for one thing," House answered. "Besides, that was my old life. This is a fresh start. Time to do something new."

"You teach muggle studies and an introductory healing course? How was your first week of school?" she asked when he nodded.

"Brutal," he answered with a grin that clearly conveyed he'd enjoyed it immensely. "The old curriculum was crap, so doing a total rewrite of the course, gearing it for all years since it's now mandatory has been more work than I'd planned on. Hardest part's been navigating the trauma the war had on everyone."

"Yes, I can well imagine," Andromeda replied sadly. "Did you know what was going on in our world when you joined us over the summer?"

"No, not at all. Why?"

"Frankly, I wonder why, upon finding out, you didn't run for your life."

"Never could resist a good challenge. I didn't belong in the world I was in anymore. I needed to find a place to belong, good, bad or ugly."

"Here we are," Narcissa said, putting the platter of sandwiches on the table. "There's lemonade here as well," she added, retrieving the pitcher and pouring each of them a glass.

"I'll be blunt here at the risk of offending but I need to know the truth. Do you know my sister's involvement in the war? And of her late husband and son as well?" Andromeda asked point blank.

"I do. Are you expecting me to walk out in terror or disgust? Don't hold your breath." House replied equally as blunt.

"You are a muggle born, correct?"

"Yes, but the pedigree test showed I'm from the MacDougal line. Probably half blood, or maybe quarter blood if there is such a thing. Don't really care. Why do you?"

"It's just that the war began over conflicting beliefs about the rights of muggle born wizards. I thought you'd have more of an opinion."

"An opinion? Don't you mean to say that you think I should shun anyone who thought to put the muggle born down, obliviate their memories and send them back into the muggle world?"

"Yes, I do mean to say just that," Andromeda replied. "I'd like to have the air fully cleared before I make up my mind whether to reconcile with my sister and those she is currently spending time with."

"After a civil war, the only path to recovery is becoming one people again, not some sort of reversed oppression masquerading under the name of justice. Shunning only proves the point; that muggle born and blood traitors shouldn't be trusted and are out to destroy wizard society, because shunning will widen the division in this world and eventually completely collapse it," he answered with a cold look in his eyes, ignoring Narcissa's gasp of surprise.

Andromeda was stunned that he had so harsh an opinion and sat back staring at him while he stared right back. She wanted to tell him he was wrong but… Sirius had been as obsessed about punishing people like Snape, a half blood, as any pureblood touting blood supremacist. What would happen to Narcissa, to Draco especially, if the Ministry kept them from their funds and home too long? Surely they'd become bitter and perhaps turn that bitterness into yet another wizarding war in the future.

"Do you think that all those who fought on Voldemort's side should be embraced back into society?" Andromeda asked.

"No, not all of them. Some clearly committed war crimes and should get the maximum sentence. Some were only under duress, for fear of their lives and those of their families. Your sister and your nephew were not charged with a crime and yet they are being punished as if they were. Should they have to serve the sentence for crimes committed by Lucius? Where's the justice in that? People are out for blood vengeance, going after them because they're Malfoy's and wealthy. The Goyle boy isn't turned out of his house, nor Parkinson. That speaks of vendetta, not justice."

Narcissa sat completely still as the showdown played out between Gregory and Andromeda. She was stunned to hear his defense of her and Draco and moreso to hear the logic of it. Lucius would have loved debating with this man, she thought with a twinge of grief for him.

After a moment to think, looking at it from his outside perspective, Andromeda began to see his point. It wasn't right that the other Death Eater families were still in their homes, had their vaults open to them after having paid fines of restitution and Narcissa did not. Why was it that Narcissa and Draco were still being targeted? Honestly, she could think of no other reason other than that they were Malfoys.

"I think you'll bring remarkable clarity to the up and coming generations, Gregory," Andromeda said with a nod. "Clarity and guidance that our world is in sore need of right now. Cissy, I accept your apology. I miss having family as well. Let's try and mend this. Would you like to hold your nephew?"

Narcissa nodded, tears of relief trailing down her cheeks as she settled the infant in her arms. "Thank you so much Andy. I've truly missed you."

Andromeda stayed for a couple of hours then left for home when Teddy started to fuss. She promised to stay in touch and invited Narcissa to tea later on in the week. Once she was gone, Narcissa wrapped her arms around Gregory.

"Thank you. I'm sure she would have stayed away if it wasn't for your persuasive argument."

"That would have been her loss. She'd keep missing out on a great person," House answered with a smirk.

"So please, sit down," Narcissa urged, drawing him to the sofa and sitting beside him. "Draco wrote that you'd had a migraine Friday night. What's going on?"

House sighed and scrubbed his face with his palm. "It's just a lot more work than I'd expected it would be. Laying out the course work, patrolling, grading, and navigating the castle. Just got worn out and not enough sleep. I didn't know I could call you or visit. McGonagall explained it to me now."

"I'm happy to help you but I'm not sure what I can do when you're at school," Narcissa said.

"It helps to just talk to you. Even if it isn't about school. My mind can get caught up and obsessed on things, especially negative things. You're pretty good at distraction or outright ordering me to stop it," he teased with a chuckle. She smiled and lightly smacked his shoulder.

"You and Severus are two peas in a pod that way. How is Severus?"

"He's still really upset. He was prepared to die and have the struggles he's been through over with and ended. I think he feels cheated by living. It's going to take time and effort to try to get him to see he can have a new life too."

"I hope you aren't planning to take that task on all by yourself."

"I'd love some help, but I haven't seen any volunteers lining up to help, so I guess I am."

"Draco will help, as will I."

"I know. McGonagall and Pomfrey are pretty protective of him but I don't think they can relate to what he's been through enough to help guide him out."

He spent the night with Narcissa, heading back to the school about an hour before breakfast was to be served. He felt much better for the time he spent away from the school, the teaching work, and his own lessons. He tried not to think too much about his developing friendship with Narcissa, to avoid any self-sabotage by over analyzing things. For once, he was simply going to let it develop on its own and not try to manipulate the relationship or predict how it would go as he had before. He stopped at his room to change his clothes and headed down to the great hall for breakfast.

"You look much better this morning than you did Friday night," Draco said as he stepped alongside him as they entered the great hall.

"A day off worked wonders. I'll have to thank Potter."

"Potter?" Draco asked with a puzzled frown.

"Yeah, he went to McGonagall and she explained the rules on days off and having guests more clearly."

"Oh. Then I'm glad he did as well. How was Mother?"

"She was a bundle of nerves when I first got there but she has good news to share with you, so she's better now. Listen, it's a big deal for her, so even if you don't think it's good news… lie," House said, fixing him in place with a stern look.

"What? Did you ask her to marry you or something?" Draco asked with a smirk though it fell at the pale look on House's face. "Wait. Did you?" Draco demanded more seriously.

"No, I didn't," House responded brusquely and started toward the teacher's table.

"I wouldn't have a problem with that, by the way," Draco called out as he turned to the Slytherin table. He saw House hesitate just a moment and give him a short nod indicating that he'd heard him. Draco was sure that House had been telling the truth, that he hadn't asked Narcissa to marry him, but he was equally certain that somewhere buried deep in the man was the desire to do so.

The post arrived just after the meal had been served, bringing with it a letter from his mother that detailed Andromeda's visit and how the sisters' reconciliation came about. Draco smiled as he folded the letter away in his robes. She sounded happy, something he hadn't heard from her since the Tri-wizard Tournament and Voldemort's return. He was curious to meet his aunt and his cousin. He hadn't even known that Nymphadora had married until he'd seen her lying dead next to her husband, Remus Lupin. Wasn't Potter involved somehow? Godfather to the boy, if he recalled correctly.

Harry and Hermione managed to give Ron the slip by going to do homework in the library on Sunday morning. Ron grumbled that he wasn't about to give up sleeping in to do homework and went back to sleep. After working in the library for an hour, they packed up their books and went to Bill's office for their arranged talk.

"Harry, Hermione," Bill greeted them with a smile. "Come in. Did you get breakfast? I have some scones here from Mum and tea if you like."

"Thanks, Bill," Harry replied, taking a couple of scones as Hermione poured them all a cup of tea. "And thanks for seeing us."

"Hey, not only am I a professor but we're also family," Bill said seriously. "If either of you need to talk, you only have to ask."

"Well, Hermione and I are worried about Ron," Harry explained. "He's always been a bit of a hot head but now he's just plain explosive. I mean, I thought it was grieving for Fred and maybe it is still but he's never seemed to not be angry since we got back to school."

"You know that Ron hates Draco Malfoy and has plenty of reason to after the way Draco treated him all through school," Hermione added. "But he's started instigating trouble with Draco this year."

"How has Draco responded?" Bill asked.

"Pretty well, actually," Hermione said with a touch of surprise. "He doesn't take the bait and he says he fully expects to get back what he dished out in our previous school years."

"Friday night, Ron thought Draco was up to something when he took a plate of dinner from the hall," Harry picked up the story. "Hermione and I thought he might be taking it to Headmaster Snape so we wanted to ask Draco how he was doing. Draco said he was getting better but was still upset. Ron just went off about not caring if Snape was upset and took off back to the common room. Hermione went after him and I stayed with Draco."

"Was he taking the plate to Snape? I thought he had a house elf tending him," Bill interjected.

"No, he was taking the plate to Professor House. He noticed he hadn't been at dinner. I went with him to check on him. Turned out the Professor had a migraine and needed extra potions. Anyway, when I got back to the common room, Ron was even more furious. Accused me of getting chummy with Draco and maybe I should get more Death Eater friends and leave his family alone."

"Oh, boy," Bill sighed. "Did he cool down at all?"
"Not until late last night. All day yesterday he was raging," Hermione answered worriedly. "He's furious that Snape is the headmaster still, even knowing the truth about his double agent work for Dumbledore. He's convinced that Draco is forming his own new death eater group with the Slytherin students without the slightest shred of evidence. He's hated Professor House ever since he chastised Ron on the platform for baiting Malfoy and now that he knows Malfoy, I mean, Draco, and his mother are living with Professor House, he's got this elaborate scheme in his mind that Professor House is some sort of American branch of death eater, come over to help form a new group. He keeps wanting to come with some way to expose them. So far, his ideas have just been crazy nothing serious but I'm worried he could do something serious if he keeps stewing on this. What if he curses them?"

"I see what you mean. I've noticed how easy he is to set off, but like you, I thought he was working through his grief. It sounds like he could be on the edge of doing something foolish. I'll invite him down this evening to talk with him."

"Thanks, Bill," Harry said, smiling with relief and hope that Ron would be on the road back to himself after talking with his brother.

Later on that evening, Ron returned from his night with Bill fuming.

"You backstabbed me!" he shouted at Harry and Hermione. "You went behind my back and told Bill I was some kind of psycho or something! Making nice with Malfoy's not enough for you, huh? Maybe you should call Rita Skeeter! War Hero becomes maniac!"

"Ron, we never said that!" Harry snapped, surging to his feet to meet Ron head on. "You're angry all the time, mate -"

"Don't call me mate! You're no mate of mine! And you! You're supposed to be my girlfriend and you go with Harry. Again. Well, forget it, it's over. I don't want to speak to either of you ever again. I'm sure you two will be happy together."

"Ron, stop it, you don't understand," Hermione pleaded, putting her hand on his arm to stop him.

Ron snarled at her, whipping his arm away from her hand and shoving her backward onto the couch. "Don't ever touch me again!"

Harry stepped between Hermione and Ron protectively and pulled his wand on him. "Don't you ever push her down again, Ron Weasley," Harry growled dangerously.

Ron sneered at Harry and took off up to the dormitory.

"You okay?" Harry asked, stowing his wand and turning to Hermione.

"I'm fine," she answered shakily, wiping away tears. "He didn't hurt me. Physically anyway. I can't believe that backfired so badly. Harry, what do we do now?"

"We watch him. Closely. And go to Bill or McGonagall if it gets worse," Harry answered solemnly as he sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulder comfortingly.