~*11 years Later.*~

Draco sauntered into the Great Hall and sat in his normal place at the Slytherin Table. Fourteen years had passed since Iana fled the Malfoy Manor. Draco could remember...he knew who'd driven the lady that he'd first called "Mom" away. He knew who'd hurt his mother and driven her away. Voldemort. His father had become cold and empty when Iana had left...and Draco blamed that on Voldemort, too. He sighed and lowered his head to the cool table. Feeling eyes on him, however, he lifted his head once again, swiftly. His eyes swept the Great Hall before settling on a stern-looking female professor. She had long, straight, silky brown hair, and her eyes bore into Draco's, even from where she was sitting. Shivering, Draco nudged the person sitting next to him.

"Zambini...who's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" He looked back up at the woman sitting there, making small talk with Dumbledore. Her eyes no longer bored into Draco. Rather, she seemed to be watching the doors to the Great Hall for something important. The boy beside Draco studied her for a few moments before shrugging and looking back towards this year's flock of First Years. Since Voldemort had come back, many of the muggleborns from Draco's class had been dying out. Draco didn't protest, but he'd long since refused to accept a dark mark, saying that he'd just spy for the dark side...he didn't want to actively involve himself. Shaking himself from his reverie, Draco turned to watch the sorting.

Professor McGonagall stood with her normal bench, scroll, and sorting hat at the front of the hall, waiting for the First Year Students to calm down. Seeing that they were as calm as they were going to get, she clapped her hands for silence. Only when the hall was completely and utterly quiet, did the woman begin. "Avery, Melissa." The sorting hat was placed on the young girl's head.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat roared. Draco and the other Slytherin's smirked. Draco looked up at the Teacher's table to see the brown-haired Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher frowning in disapproval. He could practically see her eyes sadden as she watched the line of First Years move forward. Draco arched an eyebrow. She was a strange one. He didn't think he'd ever seen a stranger teacher...but then again, they'd had some strange ones, without a doubt. He stared at her as she nodded slowly, smiling as if to comfort someone. Probably a First Year...shrugging he turned back to watch as McGonagall reached the M's.

"Malfoy, Jewel!" Draco fell out of his chair. To his knowledge, his father was an only child...as had his Grandfather been. Choking, the 15-year-old watched a beautiful platinum-haired little girl approach the Transfiguration Professor. She stopped and looked towards the teacher's table and, following her gaze, Draco saw the mysterious teacher nod her encouragement once again. He turned his eyes back to the young girl as she sat nervously on the stool and put her hands in her lap. He arched an eyebrow. She looked uncannily like...Lucius...but no. Draco knew better than to think that his father had had any other children. He and Narcissa had never even shared each other's beds.

Draco jolted when the Sorting hat roared out, "SLYTHERIN!" He looked at the young girl walking slowly towards the table...looking as if she might bolt back to the teachers' table at any second. On impulse, he smiled at her, and was rewarded in kind. The girl spotted an empty seat down by Pansy Parkinson, but everyone shifted down, blocking her from sitting there. Draco, growing irrationally angry at their treatment towards the young girl, stood up and walked over to her, putting a hand on her shoulder and leading her back to sit beside him. He glanced up at the teacher's table one last time and was rewarded with the new teacher's smile of approval.

"Here." He said, quietly, to the girl. "Be careful...the people here are brutal." He sat back down as Professor Dumbledore stood up. Turning to the girl at his elbow. "So...uh...who's your dad?" He asked, arching an eyebrow at her. "I'm sorry...it's just that it's not every day I meet another Malfoy...as far as I know, my father and that whore that he was forced to marry haven't ever had...that kind...of a relationship. To his surprise, the young girl giggled, pleasantly and gently.

"I'm Lucius' daughter. See the new teacher up there?" She pointed, and then waved. Draco watched as, seeing this, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher waved back. "She's my mum. Great person, really...She doesn't really talk about my daddy much. 'Specially since Voldemort's back. But she did tell me that Daddy would have loved me no matter what...if Voldemort hadn't Obliviated him. Mummy said that Voldemort Obliviated Daddy before she could tell him her news." Draco stared at her in disbelief. "What? Did I do something wrong?" She suddenly looked unsure, and Draco rested a hand on her shoulder.

"No, it's just that...you're my little sister..." Jewel nodded. "Well...I don't believe we've formally met. I'm Draco Xavier Malfoy. And you are?" He held out his hand, formally. He couldn't believe it. Lucius had had a...daughter? And his own SON didn't know about it? Wait...from the sound of it, Lucius didn't know, either. Draco remembered how cold and distant Lucius had become after Mum had left, and with the information that Jewel had just given him, understood why.

"I'm Jewel Lucia Malfoy." She said, smiling up at him and taking his hand. "I'm glad to finally meet you, Draco. Mum said you were a cutie when you were a baby. She has pictures and everything." The First Year was rewarded with his blush. She giggled and hugged him before turning and looking up at the teacher's table as Dumbledore began speaking. Crackpot old fool...Draco cursed to himself...I wanna talk to my sister...

"Welcome back students! First Years, please note that the Forbidden Forest is strictly forbidden. Hence it's name. Also, everyone please welcome your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Iana Salem!" Draco watched as the woman stood. Her silk, light-blue robes were little more than a loose cover of her body, and they shimmered in the light perfectly. And Draco could see the warmth in her face, even from so far away. Jewel, he noticed, had stood up and was clapping furiously, a smile on her young face. "Also...due to recent...events...we are inviting Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy to spend a week teaching you all to duel...properly." Draco grinned, remembering Gildroy Lockhart's dueling club in their second year. He clapped furiously for his father...excluding his stepmother in the process. He noticed that Professor Salem's smile turned to a frown at the name of his parents, and she turned to Dumbledore with an obvious bone to pick. "That is all...let's eat." Dumbledore said, hurriedly, and turned to the woman beside him.

"Uh-oh...he didn't tell mum that Dad would be here..." Jewel whispered to Draco as she took a bite of a chicken leg. "That's bad. She doesn't like the thought of daddy being around...but knowing Professor D, he'll ask Mum to help out...Ugh..." Draco looked down at her as she shook her head, wondering what was so bad about it. "She'll kill whoever she duels if she's mad...unless Professor D reminds her..." Jewel shook her head and continued eating. "Poor Mum."

The next day, Draco walked into his first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson that year...with the Gryffindors. Damn them. Professor Salem was also teaching wandless magic classes, so Professor Dumbledore merely had her double up Gryffindor with Slytherin and Ravenclaw with Hufflepuff. The students sat quietly, waiting for the teacher, as they looked around in awe at the room. Professor Salem had put all sorts of tanks and cases around the room, showing off practically every monster known to man. The door to the office opened after a few minutes, and the regal professor walked through. Draco glanced over and saw open admiration in Potter, Weasley, and Granger's eyes. The class watched as the professor picked up a clipboard and looked over it before turning her gaze to them. When she spoke, her voice was tightly controlled, as if she'd just had a very emotional argument.

"There will be no excess wand waving or book opening in this class. I don't want to see any rivalries put into effect. The information you gain in this class with is difficult and unpleasant and more often than not, many of you will have to see me for easier assignments. I will take away your wands and your assignments at the first sign of any arguments or disagreements. When defending against the Dark Arts, it is best to work together as a team...no matter who is on the team and no matter what the feelings within the team is." She let her eyes travel over the groups. "For these reasons, and more, Professor Dumbledore has agreed to allow me to create a year-round project for all of your classes...including Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Wandless Magic, and Care of Magical Creatures. Classes that it will NOT be required in will be Herbology, Divination." She sneered out the word 'divination' as if she'd had troubles with Professor Trelawney before. "Muggle Studies, Arithmancy, and any anonymous class that I haven't named. It will, however, bring you extra credit in this class and all of the others named and not named if you DO sit together when it is not mandatory. There will be six of you in each group...and I expect you not to whine or gripe...lest you want to attempt transfiguration without a wand. I understand that wandless magic has become an official required class, so I will be seeing you more than you might like. But I warn you, I will not accept playing around in either of my classes." Draco thought she looked rather dangerous at that moment.

"Now...you will answer with a simple "present" when I call your name." After roll, the professor crossed her arms and looked at the class. "I will now be handing out your assignments. I have learned from the other professors who've been with you for the past five years who your archrivals are...and I have paired you up accordingly." Draco felt ice run through his veins...she wouldn't. "The first group will be sitting at this table right here." She put her left hand at the very front table. "And will consist of: Potter, Weasley, Granger, Parkinson, Zambini and..." she glanced at her list and Draco dared to hope. "Malfoy." The name pained her, though Draco was the only one to notice. "In this table." She moved to the next table. "Patil, Finnigan, Longbottom, Crabbe, Goyle, and Bulstrode." And then, after four more groups, "I think that does it for this class." Then, seeing that they weren't moving "MOVE!"

Immediately, it was as if a bomb had gone off. Everyone was scrambling to his or her assigned group. Professor Salem smirked and clapped her hands. "Very nice. Now...I want you in this order." She gave them their seating arrangements and still had time to assign a four-page essay for homework before class was over. She smirked, settling down to her desk quietly, looking over her notes. She didn't have to glance up to know who had stayed behind. "Do you make it a habit to remain behind when your classmates rush from the room at the mere thought of how horrible I'm going to be? Comparing me to your own dear, Potions Professor?" An amused smile twisted her lips. "And for one that doesn't even know me. Congratulations. You have guts, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco arched an eyebrow as he finally stood and gathered his things. "How so? Because I listened to what my half-sister told me instead of tuning her out like I'm sure seven-eighths of the world does? Jewel is a lovely girl." He left his bag on the table and walked up to the professor's desk. "I missed you, you know. When you left. It was empty without someone to play with all of the time. Someone who humored me." He knew he'd hit a nerve when she twitched, but continued anyways. "Father changed, you know...From what Jewel tells me, it must have been the Obliviate...he was cold and empty. He even raised a hand against me a few times." That got her attention. The professor's eyes were trained on his face, cool and calculating.

"I put that behind me years ago, Mr. Malfoy." She said, deadly quiet. "Nothing that happened then is to be reminisced with my student...no matter if that student called me mom for the first time in his life or not. That bastard, Voldemort, took Lucius and all chances that I had with him from me, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. I don't expect you to understand, Draco...but when I fled from that mansion for my life...I left everything that I loved and cared for behind. Jewel is my life now."

Draco was stunned. He hadn't expected her to be so blunt...I mean sure he'd wondered what had happened...but the way she spoke of it... "Do you miss Father?" He asked, watching her face. A variety of emotions crossed her face ranging anywhere from pain to hatred and back again flitted across her voice one after the other. He thought maybe he'd pushed too far, but the professor sighed and nodded slowly. She stood and walked to the stairway that would take her up to her office.

"More than anything, Mr. Malfoy." She said, softly. "I suppose you'll need a note to get into Severus' class, won't you? Right this way, Mr. Malfoy." Draco couldn't help feeling a sharp, shooting wave of disappointment, as she reverted back to the use of his last name, rather than his first name. Sitting down, she scribbled out a note and handed it to him. As he left, however, he didn't notice Iana's eyes trail after him...and had he noticed, he might...just MIGHT...have noticed the wistful look that filled her eyes as she thought of him as a baby and what she and Lucius might have had...had Narcissa not interfered. Shaking herself out of her reverie, the woman smiled as a familiar face walked in. "Hello there, Jewel."

Draco sighed in frustration. NOBODY had dared to take this step towards "peace" between Slytherin and Gryffindor before. Which was probably why, a voice argued inside of his head, Professor Salem deemed it necessary that you do something like this. What, with Voldemort back and all...Hogwarts had to be united against him. Draco shuddered at the thought of Voldemort's plans to take over Hogwarts. Lucius had bragged about them, and Draco- in a panicked rush- had sent desperate owls to all of his friends...well, the ones he KNEW were against Voldemort. He'd even sent panicky letters to the wonder trio...though what good that did, he didn't know.

He walked into Potions, and was just making his way back towards his usual seat beside Crabbe and Goyle, when Granger had looked up from the finishing touches of her summer essay. "Malfoy!" She called, making a face at the thought. Blaise and Pansy were already sitting there; the former was having a petty argument with Potter and Weasley about whether or not the Chudley Cannons deserved to win the cup. He grinned. Seemed Blaise had finally found someone to side with her on the Cannon's side. She and Weasley were arguing heatedly over whether Mistrille Banchessa or Tibbalt Miffin was a better seeker. Seems Weasley thought they'd have been better off had Mistrille retired much sooner, and Blaise stuck by her firm beliefs that Tibbalt was folly and Mistrille was much better. He sat down in the only available chair, the one between Granger and Pansy. The latter of which was speaking with Potter about whether or not Snape was a greasy git or a greased hog. Seeing as neither Pansy, nor Draco, knew what a greased hog was, it was fairly amusing to the other two listeners...namely Potter and Granger.

Without warning, Granger turned to Pansy and grinned. "Hi, I don't believe we've properly met. I'm Hermione Granger." She held out her hand in a formal gesture. Draco, Blaise, Potter, Weasley, and Pansy all looked at her oddly before Pansy caught on and grinned. She took Granger's hand and shook it firmly, and Draco and the others could see that friendship was already beginning to blossom between the two girls. Pansy had changed a bit over the summer, having spent time with her family in the Americas...none of which were DeathEaters...and she'd immediately joined up with the "non-DeathEater" branch of Slytherin. Namely: Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Millicent.

"Pansy Parkinson." Pansy said. She smiled at Hermione, who smiled back. They then, unexpectedly and almost on an unspoken whim, they both whirled on two members of the opposite house, introducing themselves. The rest of the class, staring at the three most influential members of each House, goggled for only moments before following suit. Thus began the strong, albeit fairly temporary...as it would most likely NOT stretch to the other years...friendly relationship between Gryffindor and Slytherin.

Iana glared daggers at Dumbledore as she walked into the Great Hall, where the Malfoys waited, several weeks later. As her daughter had predicted...she'd been "volunteered" to help out, as she held more skills than most witches around. She was dressed in an original dueling robe, given to her by Lucius himself on her seventeenth birthday. The young professor stepped quietly through the students and over to Lucius and Narcissa. The latter gave her a death glare and nodded slowly. Iana returned the nod, emotionlessly, and turned to offer her hand to Lucius. "Mr. Malfoy." She said, her voice ringing with cool, almost desperate control. "I'm Iana Salem. I...volunteered...to help out with the dueling...as my skills have come in handy over past years."

She felt her heart flutter, in spite of herself, when he gave her a tight smile and took her hand. She was partially glad that he didn't remember...had he known who she was, she'd never have survived through the introductions, even. Turning to Narcissa, she nodded tightly a second time. "Narcissa." She said, not bothering to be respectful. After the greeting was returned, she turned and walked coolly to the end of the table, mounting it and waiting, her hand on her hip, resting right beside her obviously placed wand. "Students!" Her voice rang with authority, and even Narcissa was surprised. "I believe you are here to learn, not to chatter." With that, she moved back down into the crowd as Lucius and Narcissa mounted the table.

"Students." Narcissa's voice was cold. "I assume, as your Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor has been so VERY cooperative, that you all have lists of the hexes, curses, and counters that were given to her. Yes?" When the heads of the students nodded, she smirked. "Very good. Now, the fine points of dueling are to bow, walk ten paces, turn, and fire. As my husband and..." she was cut off, rather conveniently, by Lucius...who had not missed the tension between his wife and Iana earlier.

"My dear...why not let you and an old rival provide the demonstration? I'm slowing, after all." Iana visibly tensed. Did he remember...? Surely not...he'd just sensed their tension. "What do you say, Professor Salem?" His dark gray eyes bored into hers, and she didn't trust herself to speak. Instead, she mounted the table once again, drawing her wand easily. Eleven years worth of training and learning had insured that she was as familiar with the instrument as she was with her own innate ability. She'd never shown off to Narcissa, and so held the upper hand. Narcissa was glaring daggers at her, as if she was wondering if her Obliviated husband was remembering a few too many things. Iana stared right back and, on an impulse, spoke.

"Of course, Lucius. But first...if I might do something to insure the...fairness...of the duel?" At his nod, she smirked and lifted her wand. "Shieldus Maximus." A visible shield shimmered around the two duelers, and settled into place. The duelers saluted and bowed before turning and walking to their respective ends of the tables. Turning, Narcissa struck an obscene pose, while Iana remained motionless, her wand easily at the ready. Wondering what trick this was, Narcissa narrowed her eyes and studied the woman before her before lifting her wand in the swish and flick motion that showed her spell casting.

Iana beat her to it. Her swish and flick was finishing as Narcissa's was beginning, and her voice rang out clearly. "Romulus, Rotatius." Just as she finished speaking, Narcissa's own spell was set off...but as Iana's spell finished and its effect took over, Narcissa and Iana were immediately switched...meaning that Narcissa got the brunt of her own spell, and Iana was calm and just as uninjured as before. At the older woman's amazed glance, Iana spoke, her voice cool and quiet. "I've had training."

"I should have guessed. That Crackpot Headmaster never was one to hire under qualified teachers...even if he IS a mugglelover." Narcissa hissed. "I'm not surprised at all that he trained you." Jewel, in the meanwhile, had moved up beside Draco and tugged on his sleeve. He lifted her easily and let her sit on his shoulders to watch. Seeing her daughter watching, Iana grit her teeth and concentrated on Narcissa...the bitch who'd taken away her baby's father...who'd reduced the warmest, gentlest, kindest...Gods, she was still in love with him...sweetest man to a cold, hard shell. Iana's heart hardened, and her normally warm brown eyes turned ice-cold and filled with hatred.

"Uh-Oh, Drakie..." Jewel whispered, from on top of Draco's shoulders. "Mummy's going to hurt her..." Draco, not knowing what to do, offered the child his hand. She took it and he gave hers a comforting squeeze. Hermione and Pansy, who'd become fast friends and were basically inseparable as of that point, stood beside them with Blaise, Harry, and Ron. The six Fifth-Years stared up at the table, holding their breaths in anticipation for the inevitable duel. None of them had quite managed to miss the tension flying between their professor and all wondered how Lucius had. (Lucius: Duhhhhhh...did I miss something...?)

"Wonder why they're so pissy towards each other..." Hermione whispered to Pansy. "I didn't think it was in Professor Salem to be pissy..." Indeed, after the last day, nobody had ever seen that firm, pissy side of their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. When asked, she'd explained that it was just to insure that they did the work during the separation and that if they didn't behave, she'd REALLY become a witch and ride in on her broom. Pun intended.

"Looked for a minute there like Narcissa was going to murder Lucius, too." Pansy replied. "You think maybe Prof. Salem and Lucius have something going on?" Hermione just shrugged. Pansy turned to Draco. "Psst! Draco!" When he turned, the blonde-haired Slytherin continued. "Is there something going on between the Prof. and your Dad?" When he shot them a warning look, he mouthed...quite angrily 'Later!' Wisely, Pansy and Hermione kept their noses to themselves for the rest of the duel...though they never stopped being curious.

"Ferniculus!" Narcissa Malfoy roared, but was disappointed when her spell hit the shield put up at last minute by the Professor. "Romulus Ticklus!" She tried again, thinking she had Iana on the defensive. The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor wasn't just for show, however, and she easily shielded herself a second time. Time and again, she blocked Narcissa's attacks, just to further irritate and anger the elder woman. Narcissa was, indeed, growing ready to kill, when finally Iana stepped up to the plate, so to speak.

"Garbulus Dumpus!" Iana called, grinning to herself as a rather large pile of Hippogriff poo buried Narcissa. The Malfoy was furious, to say the least. But Iana wasn't done. "Wingardium Leviosa!" The elder woman floated into the air, and Iana grinned. It had always been her favorite spell...the first spell that she'd ever seen. Iana smirked and, without warning, let Narcissa drop. Lucius was staring at Iana, trying to remember why he remembered her...in a vague way. Noticing this, Narcissa turned redder than Ron's hair. The teenagers exchanged amazed glances.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Narcissa roared, dangerously. Her jaw dropped, however, when Iana once again got a shield into place. This time, however, it was a reflecting shield. Narcissa fell, completely stiff. Iana wasn't through. She didn't even bother lifting her wand this time, however, and Narcissa found herself bounding back and forth across the barrier that held the duelers on top of the table. Hard.

Lucius stared. He stood. The outrage! That...WOMAN...couldn't handle his wife that way! But something held him back. Something told him that Professor Salem wouldn't let Narcissa be seriously injured. Sure enough, the professor stopped after mere minutes of this, dropping Narcissa cruelly to the table and dropping the barrier. She took off the body bind and turned, walking out of the Great Hall. Lucius, on a whim, followed.

Iana couldn't believe that she'd lost her temper. She'd not had that problem since back in the early days...when she'd first gone to Albus for help. What would the dear, kind headmaster think of her now? She would probably be fired. Lucius Malfoy had considerable influence among the Governors of the school...and Narcissa had considerable influence among Lucius' "hidden identity." When she fled the Great Hall, her only thought was sanctuary. And with that thought came her dormitory. She moved to the hidden portrait of a pair of adorable five-year-old platinum-haired twins and spoke the password.

"Dragon's Tears." She didn't care who heard at that moment, she just walked inside. Closing the door, Iana moved back into the bathroom that adjoined her room. Sinking into the tub, she let herself drift. Closing her eyes, she whispered. "Gods...I haven't been that angry since Voldemort Obliviated Lucius...Iana...you're a crazy bitch. If Albus fires you, it'll be your fault. You could always go back to the cathouse to pay Jewel's way through school. In NO WAY are you going to ask her father for help...Narcissa severed all ties to him that you had fourteen years ago. So there."

"Shame." Iana jumped at the familiar voice. "I SO would love to get to know the child that I didn't know I had out of the woman that I didn't know I'd ever bedded." She looked over, stricken, to see none other than Lucius Malfoy. He was leaning on his cane, staring at her calmly. She wasn't fooled. Even after fourteen years, Lucius Malfoy was an open book for Iana. She saw the confusion battling with uncertainty within him, and she felt her heart go to him for the umpteenth time in fourteen years.

"Lucius." She said, softly. "I didn't expect to see you here..." She paused and arched an eyebrow for emphasis. "And in a Mudblood Teacher's Bathroom, no less." She smirked as he noticeably flinched. Good. Damage that ego, girl! Damage it good! "Now. May I help you?" She arched an eyebrow and she noticed that he was beginning to turn slightly red with rage. Uh-Oh. Oops! No more damaging ego lines...you don't want to be dead yet! Jewel needs SOME help with schooling...and Albus can't give her what you can.

"You might be able to. I come here expecting to teach my only child...a boy...and his peers how to duel. I arrive to find that Professor Severus Snape is cornering me and demanding to know exactly why I didn't inform him or the Dark Lord that I had a daughter, as well as a son. I'd like to know what the fuck is going on, myself, and I think you have answers. I don't know who the hell you are but I want answers and I want them now so I'm not moving until I have them! I'll stand right here." He tapped his cane for emphasis. "Here."

Iana arched an eyebrow, amused. "Suit yourself...you might get a bit tired standing there, though." She stood from the bath and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around herself. She proceeded past him into her room and dressed while he was watching, smirking as she heard his exasperated sigh. He walked in behind her, and she knew that she'd won that battle. Good girl. Then she felt his hands on her shoulders. Uh-Oh...

"Do I have to make myself any clearer, Miss Salem? I want my answers. I WILL have my answers." He told her, his voice chiding her angrily. Iana winced slightly. She didn't want to breach this with him. She'd been over him. She WAS over him. She was! So why...her subconscious betrayed her...are you shuddering at his touch? Damn.

"Alright." Her voice was weary. "I'll help you understand..." She turned, now dressed in a pair of baby green muggle silk pajama pants and a matching tank top. She lifted her wand. He flinched, having seen what she could do. "Don't worry...I won't hurt you." She said, gently. "Oblivium." The wand was pointing at him and he noticed immediately that she spoke the counter-charm to the Memory-erasing charm 'Obliviate.' A flood of memories hit him. A young, brown-haired teenager spinning a platinum-haired baby boy...later, that same woman sliding into bed with him, holding him close...soothing away his latest nightmare.

Memory after memory hit him, and his eyes widened with each memory. He saw her, laughing and happy, as she turned 17. He saw her trying to tell him something just days after her party. He saw Narcissa bullying her around as she just silently took it. He saw Narcissa dragging him from the Banquet Hall...and then he saw the woman hiding as Voldemort lifted his wand and said that fateful word. 'Obliviate.' Lucius staggered. He looked, shocked, down at Iana, and she turned and walked to the cupboard.

"Iana..." He whispered, reaching for her. Ignoring him, she began unwarding and unlocking the cabinet beside the bed. Quietly, she picked up a book and walked back to the bed. "What's that...?" He asked as she sat down. She motioned him to sit and, without a word, handed him the pensieve/book. He looked through it, seeing every one of her memories of the hard years that he'd missed. Jewel's birth...her naming ceremony...her first step...everything had been meticulously recorded. He smiled with his daughter as he watched her grow up through the book...and he cried with "his" girls when their hearts were broken by a rogue wizard. He wanted desperately to kill the man who'd dared to hurt his dear Iana.

As he watched Iana slowly come to terms with the life she was forcing herself to live, Lucius Malfoy felt a compassion that he'd only glimpsed before...when she'd been beside him. He saw the years through his love's eyes...and he could understand why she didn't speak any longer. He watched as Iana struggled to come to terms with her wand...he could literally feel the awkwardness in using the instrument after having used an innate ability for years. He watched as Jewel shrieked with joy, crying and laughing at the same time as she showed her mom her letter to Hogwarts. He watched Iana grit her teeth and endure her first class, and he watched the woman come to terms with the fact that he'd be coming to Hogwarts and she wouldn't be allowed to do anything.

When the last page was turned, Lucius looked up to meet the woman who'd long ago stolen his heart and neglected returning it's eyes. He reached up out of habit and brushed some hair behind her ear. "My Iana...My heart...My soul...My love." He whispered. Iana stared at him. He'd seen some of the things she'd done in the worst years of her trainings...he'd watched her slit her wrists every day to relieve herself of the stress. He'd watched her nearly die, and then promise Dumbledore to never cut herself again. He'd watched her break her promise only a few times as she finally began getting over her anguish...and he still wanted her.

Iana nearly choked as she moved into his arms, running her hands through his long, silky platinum-hair. He lowered his face to hers just slightly, for a chaste kiss, before they both melted together temporarily. Later that evening, as the students were filing out of the Great Hall slowly, Lucius and Iana walked quietly, together, out of the room and down to see Dumbledore. He'd protested, at first. But she'd insisted...begged, pleaded. He had refused to hear the names of Dumbledore's spies...saying that Narcissa would put him under Veritaserum at the first sign of suspicion...and that she might anyway.

Dumbledore was pleasantly waiting in his office, watching Iana and Lucius fidget a bit. The man seemed uncomfortable and unhappy about something...but Iana looked less reserved than she once had. She looked almost human...instead of like an unsmiling porcelain doll. Albus had hoped...but not expected...the success of her plan to unite Hogwarts against Voldemort to cheer her. Now, it seemed, that the key to her heart had been unlocked. Dumbledore smiled at them expectantly, waiting. Lucius spoke up, finally. "Albus...I want to spy against Voldemort for you."

Dumbledore wasn't surprised often...but this time he was. He literally fell out of his chair at those nine words. The words that he'd NEVER expected to hear. Obviously, however, Lucius wasn't finished. "I'm in his inner-circle...and you know that my wife..." He sneered as if the word 'wife' was a bad word. Indeed, any wife besides Iana WAS- for Lucius- a bad word. "Is Voldemort's younger sister. I'm certain that if I became a spy, you'd gain two...for Draco, I know, would agree with me."

Dumbledore stared at Lucius. He'd heard Iana's descriptions of her love, but until now, hadn't believed them. They'd always seemed a "tad" farfetched for even the wise headmaster to believe. Now, however, it seemed that he had no choice. "Fare thee well, Lucius..." He stood and walked to the younger man. "I will, however, caution you that should you be caught, you would be executed." Before Lucius could comment, Dumbledore held up his hand to silence him. "However, the choice is yours. And you will not be without some protection. Professor Salem will teach you all of the wandless magic you can learn and I, myself, will put several wards on you...you will also be taught by our dear Professors Snape and Salem to ignore and override the effects of Veritaserum...but it is still difficult."

Lucius had only to look at Iana to see that all he'd ever wanted in life was possible with her beside him. He ran a hand through her hair, contemplating the consequences. Finally, he nodded. "I'll do it." It didn't really shock him that Severus Snape was a spy...after all, hadn't he known it for years? Exactly. It was simply a matter of keeping an eye on your enemies, in Lucius' eyes. If any of their plans were spoiled too badly, Lucius was going to turn the Potions Master in. Now, however, he was glad that he HAD taken pity on the old professor. It might just have saved Lucius' soul.