Chapter Thirty-Nine

Fate of the Father

Jennifer felt a tender, very loving kiss brush her lips, followed by a series of gentle but insistent ones. She finally opened her green eyes to find herself looking into a pair of black ones.

"Severus!" Jennifer said weakly, a twinge of pain going through her as she reached up to hug him, ignoring his insistence that she be careful. "I thought I'd never see you again!"

"A feeling I assure you I can appreciate intimately," Severus said in such a tone that Jennifer chuckled softly, tearing up as he gently coaxed her back to her pillow. "Your body has a lot of healing to catch up with, and Doctor Sagittari would be quite annoyed with me if you got too excited. And there's really no need to be; Aurelius is recovering nicely and the rest of the children are unharmed besides a few scrapes and bruises that'll fade over time."

"I must still look like a terror," Jennifer said, glancing towards the stand to see if her mirror was there. Severus gently pulled her chin back in his direction.

"You as a beautiful as you are brave, Jennifer. A bit foolish, perhaps," he added.

"Foolish?" Jennifer frowned at him.

"Why didn't you tell me when this first began what was going on?" Severus said gently.

"And risk having you and the children go through it as well?" Jennifer said. "How could you possibly ask that? What would have you done then, had I told you?"

"Most likely I would have shipped the children into Harry or Dumbledore's care, borrowed the Aegis and then killed Lucius Malfoy myself," Severus said in low voice.

"And spent the rest of your life in Azkaban," Jennifer murmured.

"If it would have spared you a second of the pain you went through, it would have been worth it," Severus murmured back.

"And yet if it had been you in my position, you wouldn't have told me any more than I could have told you," Jennifer said. Severus gazed at her thoughtfully. Finally, he nodded.

"You're right. I wouldn't have," Severus admitted. "So we're both fools. Fools very lucky to be alive at this moment."

"I definitely wouldn't be if it had been for…" Jennifer paused then and Severus quickly tried to keep her down as she reacted. "Father? Where's my father?"

"Lie down, Jennifer."

"What are they going to do? There's a hearing? Today? Craters, they're going to kill him!" Jennifer said, throwing back her covers.

"One more move and I swear I'll put you to sleep again," Severus threatened.

"When does it start, Severus?" Jennifer said, ignoring the threat, grabbing a robe hidden under the bed.

"Um, it probably already has, but you're panicking for no reason. Counselor Vallid and Dumbledore…"

"He's not their father, Severus," Jennifer snapped, flinging the back door of the hospital wing open and charging out. Aurelius looked up from where he lay on his side studying for his OWLS, blinking in surprise to see her. Poppy and Sagittari, who had been standing near the counter talking quietly as Poppy prepared Jennifer's medicine tray both looked up as well, before Sagittari shot Severus a disapproving look.

"Jennifer, what are you doing up? You're supposed to be resting!" Poppy scolded her.

"How do you expect me to rest knowing what's going on in the Council right now?" Jennifer shouted at them angrily, holding her side. "How do you expect me to just lie here when if I do I may never see my father's face again?"

"Jennifer, I know you're upset, but you're in no condition to…"

"I've been in no condition for months!" Jennifer snapped at Sagittari. "And I'll be damned after everything I've gone through if I'm going to just lie here and let them take my father away from me without a fight! If they can't at least have the decency to hold this off a few more days, I'm sure as comets not going to give them the honor of writing me off…"

"Jennifer, I assure you, I've given them a full report. They know how badly wounded you are…"

"Well they may hear it," Jennifer said, grabbing a mirror out of the drawer and looking at herself before slamming it down again. "But I'm going to make sure they see it," she finished, walking out of the door while Poppy and Sagittari stared at Severus accusingly.

"Sorry, I know as well as you do that she ought to be in bed," Severus said, glancing at the tray in Poppy's hand before plucking the bottles off of it. "But at the same time, I also agree with her. I'll attempt to keep her from overextending herself," he added, before heading out the door after her.

"That's my Mum," Aurelius said unconcernedly, turning the page. "Nearly dead one day, ready to save the world the next. Amazing she's lived this long, isn't it?" Poppy and Sagittari gave him a dirty look.


It had been over thirty years since Albus Dumbledore had seen the assembly room of the Council of Wizards quite so full. Not only was the Council at full attendance, but a great many spectators also filled the room and spilled out into the surrounding halls, eagerly hanging on every word brought to them within the chamber itself. In the shadow of the Defense watching on the sidelines stood the Minister of Magic, standing tight-lipped and intent as he listened to the proceedings after having excused himself as a spokesman for the session. After Archimedes Muse decided to bow out of the inquisition and after a bit of heated discussion, it was Percy Weasley who ended up presiding, droning over a long list of possible charges only to be cut off by Counselor Lunette Vallid.

"I would like to point out, Minister Weasley, that quite a lot of new information has come in since that list of charges was made," Lunette said. "A great many of the Enforcers have reported after last night's events that they now believe that the charges attributed to the Ivory Skull were actually conducted by the deceased and his accomplice, Roger Baylor."

"By saying the deceased you refer to, of course, to the victim, Lucius Malfoy," Percival corrected.

"Well, the deceased is Lucius Malfoy, yes, but Council etiquette or not, I refuse to label him as a victim," Lunette said so coolly that there was a soft murmur in the Council. Draco didn't move from where he stood against the wooden panels below the Assembly, nor did his expression change.

"I must also point out that although they received six confessions last night of self-stylized Death Eaters claiming to be under the employ of the victim, that the Law Enforcement Ministry has already previously taken over a dozen confessions of Death Eaters who, under Veritaserum, have confessed to be working for the accused," Percy reminded her.

"And who were obviously being misled," Lunette said evenly, "since there is no way that many could have been paid by Mr. Craw, whose finances are tied up in his company, whose entire financial records, by the way, have been made public for the Council's perusal so that they can see that everything has been in order for that company for the last four months…"

"And what about before that?" Percy asked curiously.

"Well before that, they're a bit more chaotic," Lunette admitted wryly. "But if you don't mind seeing red, I'm sure Mr. Craw would be happy to provide them." Thomas glowered at her. "The point is that the money he had coming in does not even come close to covering the amounts of coinage coming into their Gringotts' accounts."

"Sir, if I may?" Percy nodded as Thurspire, sitting alone at the Ministry table stood up, clearing his throat. "I am given to understand that after figuring in the contents of the Craw vault…"

"Public inventory," Lunette said, pulling it out and tossing it on the floor. There was a flurry of paper sounds as quite a number of the Council made copies.

"And his son-in-law has gathered quite a substantial amount after his inheritance…"

"Snape finances," Lunette said unconcernedly, tossing another folder down. "I had that signed off as well." Thurspire looked uncomfortable.

"Friends, possibly…"

"Ederick!" Lunette said with exasperation then turned to where Thomas sat, surrounded by half a dozen Aurors. "Did any of you give Thomas a hundred and twenty thousand galleons?" Nearly all of them snickered.

"Your honor, we're Aurors…except for these two," Moody said, jerking his thumb at Thatcher Boltin and Dan Candus, "and they're public servants. And for the record, we didn't get in this job for the money. We're broke…well, except for the kid, maybe," he added, jerking his thumb at Harry.

"Harry, did you give Thomas a hundred and twenty thousand galleons?" Lunette asked expressionlessly.

"No, he never asked me for any money," Harry shrugged, but then tapped Thomas. "But let me know if you ever need a loan." The other Aurors sniggered.

"I'll send you the bill for my funeral," Thomas said dryly.

"Okay. I can cover that," Harry agreed.

"Do you blowhards ever take anything seriously?" Ederick said with exasperation. "We're in the middle of a hearing!"

"And we're still trying to figure out who let you in," Moody said.

"Can we please move on?" Percival sighed. "This isn't what the Council's here for."

"Precisely," Lunette said loudly, turning back around. "Which is why I move that these charges be dropped at the present time so that it can be further researched properly by the regular court system and so that we can concentrate on the undisputed charges of violating parole and the death of Lucius Malfoy, which, if Thomas Craw is convicted of, it doesn't matter a hill of beans who the Skull was, because all three of the suspects will be dead anyhow."

"I protest…"

"Any seconds?" Percy called out impatiently, ignoring Thurspire.

"Seconded," Dumbledore said, raising a pair of fingers.

"All in favor?" Percy asked, getting an overwhelming majority. Lunette smiled triumphantly at that. How eagerly they were prepared to drop the very charges that first wanted them to band against Thomas in the first place! Perhaps it was a small win considering what was at stake, Lunette admitted, but when she turned to see Thomas nod in appreciation, she knew it had been worth more than just having an hour or two cut off of the proceeding. "Good, then let's go on with only testimony having to do with the parole violation and the murder. Thurspire?"

"I think it's safe to say that the Ministry logs given to the Council containing the exact times Mr. Craw was out of bounds, not to mention his own confession stating that he killed the victim is proof enough," Thurspire said easily.

"Very well. Anything to add Counselor Vallid?" Percy said.

"Tons, actually," Lunette said cheerfully. "I would like to hear the testimony of Mrs. Thomas Craw," she said, a loud rumble of surprise spreading through the Council. "Fleur Delacour Craw, would you please come down?"

Dressed in a black, yet tasteful draping hooded robe, Fleur pulled it tighter over her face as she got up from her place in the stands behind Thomas and gracefully sauntered through, completely unconcerned about how many eyes were upon her. She suddenly jumped as she passed the tables, and then turned around to look accusingly at her husband who seemed to be inspecting his nails. Audi slapped Thomas in the shoulder.

"Don't blame me, it's not my fault she walks like that," Thomas grunted. Nearly everyone around him sniggered slightly as Fleur clucked at him and stepped up on the dais. Thurspire glared at the Aurors, wondering if they shouldn't have an escort of their own.

"For the record before I get started, Fleur, I know it's against council etiquette to have one's hood up, but you have a medical excuse, correct?"

"Physiological one, yes, Counselor. My grandmother was a Veela, and I am in my prime," Fleur said calmly.

"Congratulations," Vallid nodded. "How long have you known Thomas, Mrs. Craw?"

"I met him in August in the Leaky Cauldron before a job interview," Fleur said.

"You recall the meeting very well?"

"Oh, yes. He was very rude," Fleur said. "And very opinionated."

"But you agreed to see him socially?"

"Oh no, that was much later. I didn't much care for his attitude at first, but…Thomas has a way of growing on one. He has such irresistible charisma, and he is one of the most honest men I've ever met in my life, and I have known a lot of men," Fleur said seriously. Thomas sniggered softly and Fleur glanced sideways at him. Audi hit him again.

"Yes he is," Vallid said with a nod and a smile. "When did you begin to see him socially?"

"It was in November. He asked me to have a private dinner with him at the Leaky Cauldron the day of the Hogsmeade trip with the school," Fleur said.

"That was the night that Culwch Brogan was killed by the Ivory Skull, correct?"

"Yes."

"Were you aware that Thomas was questioned about that death?"

"Yes, of course," Fleur said quietly. "But it occurred at the time we were at dinner."

"And yet you never came forward as an alibi?" Vallid asked.

"Many people at the Leaky Cauldron saw Thomas before dinner that evening, Counselor. Thomas did not think it necessary that my name be mentioned and he wanted that evening kept discreet," Fleur admitted.

"And why was that?"

"Oh, there were many, many reasons," Fleur said with a sigh. "It was not a meeting either of us were comfortable with. I had my new position to think about, and Thomas' history was very, very, daunting, and Thomas is very proud of his family reputation and image…we were…what is the word…intimidated…by this strange attraction. We were not sure then if it was going to work out, and it was not worth…well, the attention if it had come out that we were considering such a thing."

"And after that how often did you see him?"

"Every weekend and sometimes evenings if I felt I could get away," Fleur admitted.

"And where were these meetings?"

"At the Leaky Cauldron at first, and sometimes at his home," Fleur said.

"So within his parole radius?"

"Oh! Yes, of course!" Fleur said surprised.

"And did this cause many problems?"

"Perhaps our comfort was sacrificed at times," Fleur said glancing at Thomas who smiled enigmatically at her. "But it did not a pose much of a problem until the Christmas holiday."

"Why's that?"

"Well, his family arrived home, and we were not prepared to tell them as yet, so we could no longer meet as his home. And, since I was staying in Hogsmeade, it became…tricky. So I decided to go to the Ministry and fill paperwork out to become a court guardian."

"Which would allow you to act as a legal escort, correct?"

"Yes, that is correct," Fleur said.

"Might I ask who it was that filed that?"

"Yes, of course, it was Minister Thurspire," Fleur said. A soft chuckle went up, and Thurspire grimaced. "It is part of his job to sign those, but unfortunately there was quite a bit more paperwork because I am not a citizen yet."

"And why is that unfortunate?"

"Well," Fleur hesitated and glanced at Thomas, who merely waved his hand to indicate it didn't really matter. "Well, as you know, there was a break-in at the Snape house on Christmas Eve, and he needed somewhere safe to stay, so it was decided it would be safest to just stay with me in Hogsmeade."

"And you were still waiting for confirmation, correct?"

"Well, yes," Fleur said uncomfortably. "I have it now, though! It arrived last Thursday," she admitted sheepishly.

"All right, one other question before we move on to last night," Vallid said. "Was there any point during his stay that you or your intended felt as if you had any safe options open to you that wouldn't have violated his parole?"

"No, Counselor," Fleur said.

"Pardon me, but I suppose his turning himself in wasn't an option?" Thurspire interrupted.

"Monsieur, she asked if we felt there were any safe options," Fleur said coolly. "Not only was a prisoner in Azkaban murdered and that case never solved, but the Ministry unofficially knew that Lucius Malfoy might have been behind the attacks but could not say so since they did not have enough evidence. As such they intentionally allowed the press to have a license to say what they wish about my husband based on circumstantial evidence. We do not trust the Ministry, nor have you ever given us reason to feel differently."

"Did that answer your question, Minister Thurspire?" Percy asked solemnly. Thurspire waved for them to continue, privately admitting to himself that Fleur and Thomas were better paired than he had previously thought.

"All right," Vallid said, a professional smile still in place. "Please tell the Council now what your part was in yesterday's events were."

"It is quite simple," Fleur said. "I was the one who informed Thomas that his daughter was in danger."

"And how did you know of it?"

"I was having lunch with Dumbledore when he was called to Professor Snape's sitting room, and he asked me along. I was there when Severus explained that not only were three of his children missing, but his wife had also disappeared and had left a note that indicated she was in trouble. He also had found a way to open her personal journal, and that is how he found out about the curse that Lucius Malfoy had placed upon Jennifer."

"And that is the curse described previously to the assembly?"

"Yes," Fleur said. "She had sketched some pictures in her journal. Professor Dumbledore and Severus both recognized them, and soon after, Severus went to try and save them. I happened to have the journal still, and knowing how grave things had gotten, I went directly to see Thomas. He identified the sketches to me as the Riddle House." Quite a few people in the Council shifted uncomfortably.

"So, knowing that Severus was already handling the matter, why was it that you felt it necessary to take this to your husband?" Vallid asked. Fleur blinked at her in surprise.

"Because it was his daughter and his family who were in danger!"

"But considering your husband's past history with Lucius Malfoy and knowing he might be involved, did you have any second thoughts about telling him, knowing that a confrontation between them may mean his death regardless of who won?" Vallid asked.

"No of course not! If anything, it made me want to tell him more and not less!" Fleur said. "Even if I were not involved with him, Counselor, I would have told him. Any man with any love for his daughter at all deserves to know when she's in peril! It is not something I would keep from anyone."

"Even knowing we'd probably be sitting here right now with your husband's life on the line?"

"If it was your daughter, wouldn't you want to know?" Fleur said simply. "Is it not the instinct of mankind to protect posterity? Of course I told him. Of course I knew what it might mean. But it is also not my place to withhold information between Thomas and his daughter, nor would I. Perhaps there are some who would think that I might do so in pure willingness to see my husband's death… I assure you, it is not the case," she said, her eyes glassy despite attempts to keep them clear. "I did it because it was the right thing to do, and out of love, and out of respect for my husband's decision to do anything in his power to save his family. And if the Council decides this day that his death should be his fate for that decision, I will be no less proud of him for what he has done."

"That's all I needed to know," Vallid said with a smile.

"I have a question," Thurspire said, but was more quiet and thoughtful than he had been when he had begun. "When the Ministry arrived, we ran into numerous barriers, not excluding protections against Apparation. In fact, I was told by my assistant that it took nearly ten minutes to get through to the beacon that was let off when Thomas cast the Killing Curse. Do you have any idea how exactly Thomas got in there without disarming any of them?"

"Yes, but it is not my place to say how," Fleur said.

"Minister, my next witness is more than willing to help clear that matter up for us," Vallid said. Thurspire couldn't get Fleur off the stand fast enough then. He had been waiting over a year to find out Thomas' secret method of getting past the Ministry's location charms. Fleur went to take her place, and everyone sitting behind Thomas stood up as one out of respect. Her hand gently brushed against his shoulder as she passed him as casually as if it were an accident before stepping back up into the stands, allowing Dumbledore to help her get settled back in her seat.

"You know, Thomas, I truly think Alice would have approved," Audi murmured softly from beside him.

"I wouldn't have married her otherwise," Thomas said back. Vallid nodded silently at them from where she stood.

"Would Alicia Snape come to the center, please?" Vallid said. Anna gave Alicia an encouraging pat and said something to her, Alicia nodding as she got up and went to the front. "Nervous?"

"I've had bigger crowds watch me play Quidditch," Alicia said, trying to sound calmer than she actually was. But when a chuckle went through the Wizard's Council, she felt decidedly better.

"All right, Alicia. I need to ask you what your part in yesterday's events leading to the death of Lucius Malfoy," Vallid said.

"I witnessed it," Alicia said. Even Draco raised his head and stared at her, the rest of the Council whispering with surprise.

"You were in the room, then?"

"Sort of," Alicia said, glancing at her grandfather, who nodded. Beside him, Moody gave her an encouraging thumbs up. "I was watching from where I was standing in the frame of a painting on the wall in the room."

"Perhaps you should explain that to those who aren't aware of your particular talent, Alicia," Vallid suggested with a kind smile.

"I can travel through paintings," Alicia evenly, a lot of eyebrows going up. "And I can take others with me." Thurspire stared at her for a long time before looking accusingly over at Moody, but Moody was smiling broadly at Alicia.

"And was anyone with you yesterday?"

"Of course," Alicia sighed. "My grandfather was there. He came to me to ask me to help him find my mother."

"What happened when you got there?" Vallid asked.

"He was…kicking Mum…" Alicia murmured.

"Lucius Malfoy?" Vallid asked. Alicia nodded.

"Yes…she was badly injured. If it wasn't for her hair, I wouldn't have even known it was her."

"You don't need to go into detail. The Council has a full doctor's report," Vallid said gently. "What happened next?"

"She… she pleaded with him just to kill her, and he said…he said he'd use the Bleeding Death Curse to do it so all her wounds bled at once, and then he'd take her to Father," Alicia said, folding her arms conscientiously. "Grandfather asked me for my wand, and I gave it to him and helped him out and… and then the rings started flashing."

"What rings?"

"They both had rings on that could tell when the other was around," Alicia said. "When it started flashing, Lucius turned around, and that's when my grandfather cast the spell."

"And what do you think would have happened then if your grandfather hadn't cast it?" Vallid asked.

"Speculation?" Thurspire questioned.

"Considering the state of her mother and what she's witnessed, I think the girl's entitled to an opinion," Vallid snapped at him.

"Malfoy would have killed her," Alicia said in a loud voice, looking angrily at Thurspire. "He would have killed them both!"

"So you confirm what your grandfather said that he was the one that killed Lucius?" Thurspire asked.

"Yes he did, but he had to!" Alicia protested.

"Understood, thank you," Thurspire said.

"What he's trying to tell you, Alicia, is that according to the law currently in place, if a parolee in Thomas' situation casts a dark spell for any reason whatsoever that results in a death, he may be put to death for it," Vallid explained gently. "But considering the testimony just given to us, I am certain those of you on the Council who were on the line on this issue can see he doesn't deserve it. Your country's Muggle government abolished such a penalty, and yet here we are still standing here, attempting to decide if this man, whose only crime was attempting to protect himself and his daughter, will die or live his life in prison."

"One moment, Counselor," Thurspire said with a sigh. "Look, I must admit to the Council, I agree with Vallid's sentiment in principal, but hasn't Craw himself stated to us that he's willing to accept death? What would his quality of life be were he to go back to Azkaban? Certainly the freedoms he had acquired before would be never again be attained. But the main reason I agreed to argue for the Ministry is this; can we afford the consequences of what would happen if he decided to kill again? Because I for one believe that were there occasion, that this man could very easily escape the confines of Azkaban to do just that, just as he has alluded us for months…not only now, but also last year, when we later found him in a different country. Tell me, Alicia, have you ever used your ability to get and out of Azkaban?"

"Only to visit," Alicia admitted, quite a number of the Council passing each other glances.

"And just one other quick question, if my may, to Probation Officer Candus," he said, looking over to the man sitting with Boltin at Thomas' table. "Did Thomas not claim at his own parole hearing that he could have escaped Azkaban had he chosen?"

"The point was, sir," Candus said, standing, "Not that he could have, but that he would not have."

"And yet if he felt the need, he would do so," Thurspire pointed out.

"Of course he would, he's a Craw," Alicia said proudly.

"Exactly," Thomas mused. "Come to think of it, if it were me on the Council, I'd vote to have me executed too." Audi hit his arm again and scowled at him.

"You should probably go back to your seat, now, Alicia," Vallid said gently. Reluctantly Alicia headed back, but despite some stern warnings stopped to hug her grandfather tightly. He whispered something to her and she stood back up, proudly letting a couple of Enforcers escort her back to her seat.

"Any other matters anyone wants to add to this particular issue before we call for a vote?" Percy said, Vallid and Thurspire glancing at each other before Percy turned to the Council. "Any other concerns about the vote that needs to be addressed?"

"Yes. Mine."

A very loud rumble followed by several gasps and a lot of whispering went through the council like a wave as Jennifer came into view just inside the entrance, the reactions changing as she passed each group. For she had chosen a dress that she would never have normally considered wearing into the assembly; a sleek black satin backless evening gown with a neck strap. It was not a dress she had felt comfortable in at the best of moments and had seldom worn it for that reason. Even now, she couldn't help wondering if she could go through with her plan despite the fact that she knew she had to.

With a single touch to make sure her hair was tightly on her head, Jennifer walked out into the center with so many of her wounds exposed to the elite of the magic world that she might as well have been naked. Her eyes met Vallid's then, and although it seemed to be a mere second for the rest of the room, a great deal more happened in that exchange than any of them might have believed.

"Professor Craw, we were under the impression you were too ill to be here," Percy said with surprise.

"I am, but since when has that stopped me before?" Jennifer said. "Especially considering that the fact that we're here at all is my fault on so many levels I can hardly keep from kicking myself."

"In what way, Professor?" Percy asked.

"Because this whole thing started nearly fourteen years ago when I fought a Wizard's Duel with Lucius Malfoy and I decided for his family's sake to let him live; provided that he would not ever harm my family again," Jennifer said. The Council remained silent. "I thought it was a reasonable condition to make. I had four very young children…I wanted to protect them, but I certainly didn't want to kill anyone, especially not someone who, despite his shortcomings, was providing a home to his niece. What I didn't suspect is how he would come back to use that same curse against me. He made a pact with Ciardoth; for providing a way out of his curse and helping him destroy me, he would help her destroy my husband and the rest of my family." Jennifer glanced at Severus who stood by the entrance, looking thoughtful. "The details took me some time to sort out. In fact, I was already inflicted with this curse of his before I truly put together how exactly it was accomplished and finally confronted Lucius with it. What is the easiest way to get rid of a Death Curse? To die, what else? So for her part of the bargain, Ciardoth killed Lucius…just long enough to release the curse…before forcing him to once again take a mortal form.

"In that moment, Ciardoth called me to them by a dream…to be perfectly honest, I still don't know exactly how…and Lucius wove his curse so that my body wouldn't heal any wounds I may receive, and that if I told anyone, my entire family who I had tried so hard to protect from him would cease healing as well. So what did I do? I tried to hide it, having no idea of how many little bumps and scrapes a person could accumulate in so little time. And then this whole Skull business came out, and I learned that Baylor, thought to be murdered, was helping Lucius damn my father's late alter ego and lead a bunch of Death Eaters who were only in it for the money. That's when I began getting more serious wounds. Some earned… some punishment for my attempts to work against them," Jennifer rubbed her rib thoughtfully. "Yes, well, obviously, I wasn't going to keep it up forever. My husband is suspicious by nature and it was to the point that he was watching my every move, and even when I was able to get painkillers, they weren't cutting through everything. The curse had to end, and that meant either him or me.

"Three nights ago, the so-called Death Eaters began an inferno upon Francis Pyther's studio, and as you know it wasn't without a casualty. My daughter, however, got Pyther to Grendelbane's…a place we often used as a designated safe spot. I went to fetch them, only to be surrounded by Death Eaters who threatened to kill my daughter, Mr. Pyther and myself. During the fight, one of the Death Eaters died from the Killing Curse. I had cast it, but I was not aiming at the man who was killed. I had been aiming at the man who looked like my father, but who was in fact, Lucius Malfoy in disguise…well, I'm sure someone in here has some sort of copy of that report to give you if necessary…" Jennifer paused as Vallid sifted through some papers in her folder to toss one onto the floor. "But as you can see, I am here… a clear case of self-defense, as witnessed by Wandmaker Grendelbane. Completely forgiven for casting an Unforgivable Curse! Amazing what one respectable witness can do…or is it the mere fact that I am who I am that saved me?

"You know, over the years everyone has accused me of getting away with too much," Jennifer glanced over at Thurspire, "well, maybe this is proof of that. I use a dark spell to save myself and my daughter and get to walk away, while my father, using the same spell tries to save me and you want to take his life for it. This is absolutely insane! I don't know if it's really even a legitimate murder, considering that Lucius had already died…"

"I resent that!" Thomas barked. "I take full responsibility for killing Lucius Malfoy! Deaths lasting no longer than a hiccup don't count!"

"Can't you curb your ego even at the expense of your life?" Jennifer shouted back with exasperation.

"Can you?" Thomas challenged. Jennifer sighed.

"Apparently not," Jennifer said, shaking her head. "And I know I can't really prove all of what I just said is true and all you have is my word, which I realize isn't worth much these days. But please… please don't take my father," she said, trying desperately to hold back her tears. "He hasn't done anything that you wouldn't have done for your own child or any of your fathers wouldn't have done for you. I guess that's really all I was trying to say to begin with," Jennifer said, looking so instantly exhausted that Severus quickly moved to her side, helping her towards the stands.

"Not a bad monologue for a Craw," Thomas mused as they passed by, "but promise not to write my eulogy." Audi hit him again. "Stop that woman! I don't want to be buried with a black and blue arm."

"I was almost buried with worse than that," Jennifer said quietly back. "Thanks, Dad."

"Take care of her, Severus," Thomas muttered quietly, exchanging nods before Severus took her up to find two empty seats waiting just in front of Dumbledore.

"Are there any other concerns that need addressed?" Percy said, waiting for Jennifer and Severus to get settled before continuing. "In that case, we shall proceed with the vote on the case of Thomas Craw. All of those in favor of…"

"Wait," called out a loud, firm voice that no one could mistake.

The Minister of Magic had suddenly moved from his position like a gargoyle coming to life after a hundred year's sleep. His face looked drawn and aged beyond his years, and it appeared as if he hadn't rested in days, but his eyes were as sharp as ever as he stepped upon the dais and studied them all with a critical eye.

"This is bullshit," Draco said, everyone staring at him in surprise. "If we passed a law right now to execute all the idiots so that those left could rule the wizard world, I would be able to count the people left in this room on one hand…and you fools would vote for it to happen! More than likely by a large majority!" he snarled. "And the true irony of that is the fact that Thomas Craw would be one of the few left!"

"Would I be left, I wonder," Vallid mused softly.

"Don't count on it," Draco snapped. "After I went to the trouble of making sure Thurspire was the one to argue for the case, knowing he would screw it up, and getting Weasley out here knowing he wasn't be able to maintain any sort of discipline, you still fail to mention that although there are over fifty laws in our society to protect the public from parolees, there is not one law protecting them!"

"Sir, as I'm sure you know, they sign a contract upon a release that they know they have no rights that aren't determined by the state," Lunette said. "Why would I bring up something that didn't help my case? I can't change laws, that's not my job, it's theirs."

"Fine," Draco said, turning towards them again. "Percy, get the hell off the dais, I'm taking over. I'm withholding this vote. Instead, I propose a vote on dropping this matter altogether! If you want to go through with it still, fine, we will, but know this; the Ministry itself is not pressing charges, nor will the family of Lucius Malfoy. And while we're at it, if you do vote to hold that law against him and decide on death, I'll pardon him, as is within my rights. If you pick Azkaban, I assure you, I'll find another way to get him out," he threatened, glancing over at Jennifer who stared back at him wide-eyed.

"Jennifer, you just pointed out to the Council that he didn't do anything that any other father wouldn't have done in the same position, but that's not even remotely true," Draco said bitterly. "Because mine wouldn't have. He would have let me die for being stupid enough to get myself into that mess, and he certainly wouldn't have risked going to jail or worse for it. My cousin's father wouldn't have. He only cares for himself. I would even go so far as to say Baylor's father wouldn't have, and Roger was a fool to not see it! If you want more examples, talk to Snape, I'm sure he could name more. The Council may not know this, but I was present during the Wizard's Duel that Professor Craw just mentioned. If she had killed him in that moment, no court would have convicted her. If she had killed him at any point up until now, there is not one person who wouldn't have let her walk away. And yet there she lay an inch from death and I saw with my own eyes what my father had done to her, and we want to convict the man who stopped it because once he went on a one-man strike against Death Eaters. Why? Because we, this government, failed to do anything constructive to stop them ourselves. And the fact that we didn't, by the way, also has direct ties to my father, and I can prove it.

"Deputy Minister Hanna Watson of court records… declassify all cases that Lucius Malfoy has contributed money to for the defense, and place them behind me on the floor of the Assembly," Draco ordered, taking a step forward. A rumble went up as stacks of paper and scrolls began to pile up, some of them threatening to topple over as they came up to the Minister's shoulder. "Now declassify all cases in which a company and/or subsidiary company of Malfoy Industries were suspected of giving monetary support to a person or group who used it for criminal means, but couldn't be directly traced to the head of the company. Please include ties to other species such as goblins as well."

An explosion of paper appeared then, filling up the entire length of the wall and toppling other piles over, the previous piles now up to Draco's head, the assembly growing more excited by the second.

"Let's not fool ourselves. We've all known about this, although I suspect some of you didn't realize how far reaching it was," Draco said, turning back around. "Some of these cases go back forty years, and this isn't even all of it! Many more documents were successfully destroyed by Malfoy, Rook, Fudge, and God knows who else in the Ministry who came across especially damning evidence, and none of it was ever brought to true light because of fear of life, fear of monetary loss, or in my case out of pure disgust. Had my father been caught and his ties to the Skull realized, all of this would probably have come out. As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Craw has simply saved the Ministry a lot of money.

"There is one other thing I want to note, and that is that Jennifer Craw Snape lost her mother thanks to my father's henchmen. I refuse to become one of his henchmen posthumously by doing the same to her other parent, and I hope you of the Wizard Council have the sense not to do so either. Now, who here would like to drop this?"

Draco watched as they began to stand, unsurprised when Dumbledore and Muse were two of the first before they all started to rise in an overwhelming majority, Draco taking careful note of those who hadn't stood or who had hesitated.

"Any opposed?" he added, but when the last person settled into place, no one had risen. "Yes, that's what I thought. Percy, get up here and adjourn the Council. I need a drink!"

With elation and sheer relief, Jennifer jumped up from her seat and ran down to hug her father with Alicia right on her heels, the Aurors around him cheering loudly and shaking each other's hands as if they had something to do with it before taking turns shaking Thomas' hand.

Severus gently pulled his wife and daughter out of the way to let others past, whispering in her ear.

"Once you are safely back in bed, I'm heading back out to visit Draco," he murmured to her. "So let's not be too long about this, I'd rather he not be completely drunk by the time I get to him. It appears you'll now have plenty of time to work things out with your father now."

"I'm just grateful he's alive, Severus!" Jennifer said with a beaming smile, rubbing her eyes a bit.

"Yes, well, remember that ten seconds from now," Severus murmured, and Jennifer glanced over to see what Severus was looking at.

Fleur had been standing back from the pack, pulling protectively on her hood and looking uncomfortably out of place as she waited for Thomas' enthusiastic friends to congratulate him. But the moment he caught sight of her, Thomas stood and went over to her, exchanging a few soft words with her before pulling her into a loving embrace and kissing her passionately.

"Oh, no you don't," Severus said when Jennifer grimaced and turned away, forcefully moving her chin back over towards them. "Like it or not, she's family now. She's a Craw."

"Well that's lovely, isn't that lovely?" Jennifer muttered as she leaned back into her husband. But Severus smiled thinly at that, knowing that his wife accepted it now, even if she didn't like it.

"I can't wait to get back to school and tell everyone who my new grandmother is!" Alicia said excitedly. Severus winced, scowling disapprovingly at his daughter. Jennifer simply groaned.