Come the Maëlstrom

Chapter Thirty Six

Harry was glad to be back at his apartment. While Healer Sargad was professional and enjoyable, her assistants had driven him absolutely crazy with all their fawning. When he'd left, Healer Sargad had told him to keep in touch and let her know if he wasn't feeling well. Harry had promised to do so and found himself dismissed from the hospital and back in his apartment. He'd thought about going back to St. Mungo's to see how Lucius was doing, but realised just what might happen if he did. And if more people were starting to find out, it just might add fuel to the fire.

He knew he had to have a talk with Ron and Seamus, but it was not something he was looking forward to. Besides, he hadn't gone anywhere in the past four days; if anything, he could simply claim not feeling up to it. And given the past two weeks, there wasn't a person he knew that would argue with that.

When he had woken up today he tried to firecall Ron but Mrs. Weasley said that he was at Parvati's house. Harry couldn't be bothered to track him down; he could wait to talk to Ron. Calling Hermione probably wouldn't pan out; she was either arguing with Snape at the moment or doing something Gringotts related. And he didn't want to bother Lupin with any of this.

He was sitting on his couch with a bowl of ice cream, looking out the window and thinking to himself. Everything concerning Voldemort was pretty much finished and he wasn't all that sure of what to do now. The ice cream had melted a good bit when the sound of flames in the fireplace came. Harry looked up to see Valerian stepping out, dusting Floo powder from his robes and shaking it from a thick portfolio at his side. Harry set his bowl down on the couch and rose quickly.

"Hi Valerian, good to see you again." Harry smiled, offering his hand.

"Likewise," Valerian said in a rough voice. He coughed, clearing it. "I'm not intruding am I?" he shook Harry's hand.

"No, I was just eating some ice cream," Harry replied as he walked back to the couch and picked up the bowl in question. "So, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I'm here to present you with your inheritance. Officially as possible anyway. Merlin knows they dithered around with it enough at the Ministry."

"Inheritance?" Harry echoed, some of Narcissa's rant coming back to him. "The Black estates and property?"

"Correct," Valerian affirmed, looking around. "Do you have a table somewhere? It would be better than the couch. There are some things you will have to sign."

"Yeah, sure." Harry said.

He led Valerian to the table behind the screen. After pushing aside the pile of owls and magazines, he gestured to a chair across from him. Valerian placed the portfolio on the table as he took the offered seat. He undid the clasp and Harry's eyes widened as he saw the pile of parchment that bounced back up from its confines.

"I have to sign all of that?" he looked at Valerian in shock.

"There is a good amount to sign, but it's not every single piece of parchment here," Valerian chuckled. "Basically, this simply lists just what you are inheriting. When you sign, you'll be bound to the Black properties in perpetuity; you and your descendants."

Harry didn't say anything for a moment as he absorbed the implications. "Binds me to Black properties in perpetuity? What does that mean?"

"Well, you're now the only heir to the entire Black inheritance, it is necessary as you weren't born a Black by blood."

"So why hasn't this been done before?" Harry frowned.

"The Ministry requires a year's grace period, and so the papers are sent there for the full inheritance to be itemised; then they're kept in the ministry until the grace period is over. Usually someone has a contesting claim to an inheritance; the year is to resolve any sort of… squabbling that might arise. Due to recent events, the grace period has been waived."

"Sounds like something old." Harry mused.

"Quite old," Valerian affirmed. "A lot of wizards were prone to simply murdering in order to claim inheritance they felt was theirs by right. This clause was enforced quite stringently. It's still useful today."

"So, because Bellatrix and Narcissa are married…"

"Bellatrix had no claim to the Black inheritance as it usually goes to the eldest, in this case Narcissa."

"And Narcissa is being held as a Death Eater."

"There is that. But because Sirius forgot to send me a form, you only owned it in name. She actually owned it."

"But then how – " Harry stopped as Valerian held up a hand.

"There is a little law that states that whatever inheritance the wife comes into during a marriage becomes the property of the husband. Narcissa didn't know this and I kindly informed Lucius of it. As soon as he signed over full rights to Grimmauld Place, it made you the sole heir to the Black estate. Narcissa was simply keeping it in trust for you until you reached eighteen."

"But how does owning Grimmauld Place make me the sole heir to the Black inheritance?"

"The Black inheritance is tied to the ownership of Grimmauld Place. Who owns the house, also owns all other Black property,"

"So Lucius basically signed over everything to me?"

"Correct. Narcissa now has no connections and can't fight her case from Azkaban. She's due to receive the Kiss in three weeks, along with the other remaining Death Eaters."

"There're still Dementors at Azkaban!" Harry sounded outraged. "But they sided with Voldemort!"

"I know, but the interim Minister feels it would be much better to keep an eye on them and tightly control the one thing they want. There are wizard guards there now as well. The Dementors are kept only for executions." Valerian paused. "Last I heard, all the candy shops were overjoyed. We might be facing a chocolate shortage in the near future."

Harry couldn't help but smile at Valerian's wry joke. "Okay, so I just sign and I'm bound to it?"

"Yes and no," Valerian looked at Harry for a moment. "Didn't you study how binding usually works?"

Harry stared at Valerian in disbelief, mind putting together the pieces. "You mean I've got to sign in blood?"

"Yes, you do. You know, I have to explain that to a good portion of my clients. It's especially applicable to you. The bind will ensure that no one can contest your claim to the inheritance. Your blood is what will –"

"Ugh, all right, before it gets any more complicated, what am I getting and what do I need to sign? And can this be kept simple?"

Valerian sighed as he separated the pile into seven smaller ones. "This," he tapped on the first pile to his right. "Is for all land properties in the Europe. This is for all other land properties," the pile to the left was tapped next. "This is for all monetary holdings and what income some estates generate and this is for all investments and the percentage in the respective company," the next two piles were tapped. "And this is for all Gringotts vaults with liquid assets and finally all other miscellaneous holdings and property." two more piles were tapped.

"What's that last one for?" Harry asked curiously.

"That is an addendum Sirius Black made to your inheritance. And I do say yours as he decided that you would be his heir from the time you were born," Valerian mused, rubbing his chin a bit. "He added to it as time went by. The last time he added something was around the summer of 1995."

Harry didn't say anything for a long moment; that was the first summer he spent at Grimmauld Place. "Well, what is it?"

"There's a letter here for you to be read only when you have completed the process," Valerian instructed. "The rest is various other accounts and assets set up in your name, for specific purposes."

"Oh," Harry said, looking down at the wax seal with the tiny red letters of 'Toujours pur' before he pushed it aside. "Well, is there anything else major that I should know about this?" he gestured to the papers.

Valerian shook his head. "While you will own a sizeable portion of some companies, it's not large enough that you will have shareholder responsibilities. It's more of what you own rather than how much."

"Really?"

"Yes," Valerian began as he rummaged through the fourth pile from his right. "Here, for example, the Nimbus Racing Broom Company. They'd received a good amount of research Galleons from Aristide Black, and as per their contract of the time, they continue to receive monthly amounts that entitle any Black to certain privileges for as long as the company exists."

"So that's how Sirius…" Harry trailed off as Valerian spoke.

"He checked in on that contract in 1993; I think it's the one thing Sirius is glad his father did," Valerian smiled. "Believe it or not, I do know a bit about you. But it was still something of a surprise when Lucius asked me to deliver that letter to you."

"I'll bet," Harry said. "So these papers are mine?"

"I would advise keeping them for documentation purposes," Valerian suggested. "And visit the property to ensure that everything is there and accounted for. I don't know how long it's been since Sirius was there and who knows what any other Black might have done."

Harry nodded his head. "So, where's the stuff I have to sign?"

"Right here. Not that much, wouldn't you agree?"

Harry watched as Valerian reached into his portfolio again and drew out a thinner pile of papers; he did agree with him, but was still a good amount to sign. In his own blood nonetheless. He sighed and looked around wondering if he should get a kitchen knife to draw some blood when he heard the sound of someone Flooing in. He rose from his seat and walked to the edge of the screen, peering around. Ginny was standing in the living room, looking flustered and anxious.

"Ginny, what are you doing here?" he asked, coming out.

"I-I wanted to talk," she said, her voice hesitant. "And everyone else has been busy and you were the only one I could talk to about everything that's happened and what I… what I…"

"Okay, just sit right here. I'll be with you in a moment."

"Did I interrupt something?" she leaned to the side, as if to look around the screen.

"It's all right; just have a seat." Harry said, gesturing to the couch.

Harry walked back to the table and found Valerian packing up the papers. He gave him an apologetic look. Valerian simply smiled and shook his head in dismissal.

"I guess you'll owl me later to take care of this?" Harry asked.

Valerian nodded his head. "I'll slip out the front and Apparate back. Miss Weasley might not be comfortable with me here."

Harry nodded and looked around the screen. Ginny was sitting on the couch with a distracted expression and playing with the sleeve of her robe. He motioned to Valerian and walked him to the front door quickly. Once he'd locked the door, he went back into the living room and sat down on the couch beside Ginny.

"Hungry? Thirsty?" he asked.

"No, I'm fine, thanks," Ginny said. "I had something to eat for breakfast this morning."

"All right then," Harry sat back into the couch. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Everything!" Ginny said in a sniffling voice as she blinked rapidly. "I didn't pay any attention to what anyone was saying, I was so mean to them and stirred up so much trouble and Mr. Malfoy was so mean – "

Ginny's eyes, which had become progressively shinier, were now brimming with tears and she screwed her eyes shut, rubbing at her nose with sniffling gulps. Harry watched as she hunched her shoulders, her back trembling from her gulps.

" – And then Tonks tells me that Octavia is really Mrs. Malfoy and she was using me the entire time to try and land Mr. Malfoy in Azkaban and…" she trailed off, rubbing at her eyes now. "And I was such an idiot to actually let myself listen to her. That's how she got me and then…"

She broke off into full-fledged sobs now and Harry scooted in a bit closer, patting her on the back. He really didn't know how to handle sobbing girls. Ginny gave a pained sound and flung her arms around Harry, sobbing into his shoulder. Harry looked around in mild panic, realising he was completely alone with her. He now had a sobbing Ginny clinging to him. This was not going well at all.

He finally decided to simply let her cling to him. Perhaps, he thought, if he made no sudden movements, she just might not tighten her grip any, and her crying would, hopefully, stop eventually. It seemed to take awhile before her sobs subsided and became sniffles again.

"Harry, what am I going to do?" Ginny asked in a scared voice. He could barely hear her, as she was talking into his shoulder. "Mum and Dad have been really careful around me. Nobody else in the family wants to really talk to me. Ron… he won't even look at me any more."

"Well," Harry began, disentangling her arms from around him slowly. "Maybe you should apologise."

Ginny didn't say anything to that. Harry looked to find her staring down at the floor. He sighed.

"It's not going to go away Ginny. You did something. No amount of hiding is going to solve the problem. It might be easier to solve it than just hiding from everyone else."

"How did you – "

"I used to do the same thing."

Ginny sniffled and sat up, not saying anything for a long moment. "I don't think Ron will hear me out. I know the others will, but Ron…"

"Ron will," Harry said. "He was just mad because of all those things you said that night."

Ginny took a deep breath, as if steeling herself. "I said some awful things to him."

"You did," Harry said a moment later. "But you're admitting that you said some awful things. Some people would just try to ignore it and continue on as if nothing happened."

Ginny nodded her head. "I'm glad Dumbledore let me come to speak to you. I really didn't know who else to talk to," she paused for a moment before she laughed. "I guess it's a good thing you didn't stick around, before I got really nasty, huh?"

"Seems so. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to come here, would you?"

"No, I guess not." She didn't speak for a long moment. "I'm glad you're all right Harry."

Harry gave a shrug but peered into her face. "Are you going to be?"

"Eventually," she replied. "Do you think that when I apologise, you can come with me?"

"Sure, if you like."

"Good. Because I don't think I'll be able to do it alone when I go to St. Mungo's."

"What? St. Mungo's?" Harry repeated.

"I'm going to apologise to Mr. Malfoy as well. Even though he's a creep, he was found somewhat innocent."

Harry chose to not reply to that. He wasn't sure if he could even say anything remotely objective. He simply settled on patting Ginny's shoulder again. She sighed and finally sat up properly, wiping at her eyes.

"It's all right if you don't want to come with me," Ginny said. "I mean you might not want to –"

"No, I'll come with you. Do you really see anyone else going with you?" Harry asked.

Ginny shook her head. "Maybe I should do that now…"

"It might be better to do it after you've apologised to anyone else. It won't seem so bad if he rejects it."

"Good point." Ginny took another deep breath and rose. "Okay, I'm going to head back now. I've got a lot of thinking to do."

"Thinking?" Harry echoed.

"Well, I'm not going to just come up with something to say on the spot. Just seems wrong. I should put some thought into what I am going to say." Ginny shook her head a moment later. "Lord, this isn't going to be easy at all."

Harry watched as Ginny stepped into the fireplace and vanished in a burst of green flames. He went back to the table and got his bowl of ice cream. He found that it had melted. He made a face, walked into the kitchen and rinsed it all down the sink before leaving the bowl there. After a few moments, he walked to his front closet, slipped on some sneakers, grabbed a jacket and headed for the fireplace.

It didn't take him long to Floo over to the Burrow and when he stepped out, he just caught a glimpse of Mrs. Weasley's back disappearing into the kitchen.

"Mrs. Weasley?" he called.

A shriek of surprise came from the kitchen and the next thing he knew Mrs. Weasley came hurrying out the kitchen and wrapped him in a hug before she pulled back, looking him over.

"Gracious Merlin Harry, I didn't expect you to come and visit so soon. You said you didn't feel like going anywhere for a good while when I saw you last."

"I know. I just really need to talk to Ron." Harry said. "Is he back yet?"

"He's been back for an hour now. He's up in his room with some company."

"Oh, I'll just pop up then. I don't think it'll take long." Harry said as he headed for the staircase.

"Are you sure you're feeling all right? You can always talk to Ron later, dear." Mrs. Weasley said as she came after him.

"I'm fine," Harry replied. "Really, I do need to talk to Ron. It's kind of urgent."

"All right then," Mrs. Weasley didn't seem all too pleased with his explanation. "Up you go then."

Harry nodded and took the stairs two at a time hurrying up to the top floor. He paused at the landing for a moment. He was expecting this to go horribly wrong and Ron would never want to see him again. But he at least had to try and talk to him. And then he would have to hunt Seamus down and do it all over again. He could hear murmuring through the door but it was so low that he couldn't make it out.

"Yeah, this is going to be a great day," he muttered to himself as he knocked on the door. "Ron'll yell at me and Seamus just might go running to the press."

Nothing sounded for a moment. "Who is it?" Ron's voice was muffled.

"It's me," Harry called. "Can I come in?"

There was more murmuring and then the door opened slowly. Harry stepped into the violently orange room to find Seamus sitting on the bed beside Parvati. They were looking at him intently and it made him kind of nervous. He waved slightly with a smile but it disappeared quickly. The door closed and he heard a murmur of a spell being uttered. When he looked back, he found Ron leaning against it, his arms crossed.

Harry had a very sinking feeling that this would not go well. "Hi." He finally said, in a calmer voice than he felt.

"Harry," Ron said finally. "Just what have you been doing?"

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, wishing he could sit somewhere; he felt like he was facing an inquisition.

"With Lucius Malfoy," Ron replied. "First Seamus tells us that you're oddly attached to him and next thing I know, Tonks tells Hermione and Professor Snape that they should tell me because Seamus knew…" he shook his head. "I seem to be the only one who didn't know what the hell you've been doing in your love life."

"Ron –" Harry began.

"We know you're seeing him," Ron interrupted. "And you have been for a year… somehow. But all we have is garbled information and some bare basics. And it's all come from everyone else, except you."

"So…" Harry trailed off, unsure of what they wanted from him.

"We want to hear your side of it." Ron said simply.

Harry was expecting some huge blowup and, quite possibly, the end of his friendship with Ron. He wasn't expecting a calm, almost Hermione-like approach to the whole situation. He stared at Ron, not quite believing what he was hearing.

"Um… come again?" he asked, feeling a bit stupid.

"We want to hear your side of it," Ron said as he walked over to his desk and pulled out the rickety chair. "Take all the time you need. I've finished work for the day and Seamus and Parvati have nothing to do."

Harry looked at the chair feeling like he was being led to the gallows. Even the stake. Either way, it was not a good feeling. He sat down in the chair gingerly, as Ron squeezed into the space on the end of his bed. There was a long silence in which Harry just looked at them and they looked back.

"You aren't going to ask me anything?" he asked.

"Why? You're supposed to be talking." Seamus replied, still looking at Harry expectantly.

"Well, you all look like you want me to say the right thing." Harry cringed mentally at the peevish tone in his voice.

"We just want you to tell us something," Ron shrugged. "There's nothing exactly right or wrong."

"Then why do I get the feeling that you're lying," Harry said. "That you all want me to say something like nothing happened."

"Maybe that's what you're expecting from us." Seamus stated flatly.

Harry shrugged a moment later. That probably was it. His mind was supplying a steady stream of scenarios where everything went wrong.

"I don't know what to say," Harry said a moment later. "So maybe you should ask me some questions."

"We'd rather heard your version of it Harry." Parvati said quietly.

"All right, fine," Harry said. "I ended up in Spain. Lucius ended up in Spain. We stuck a truce, we got along. We kissed once, then again, then we slept together and then we were happy and life seemed like it was finally going right for me. And then Dumbledore dragged me back here to finish off his little war. Lucius got taken back by the Death Eaters. Some more stuff happened. Then Lucius and Severus found out about a potion and it helped me off the Dark Lord, along with the spell that 'Mione found. And I thought maybe, just maybe, I can finally be happy again for once in my shoddy little life, but some people found out. They all decided to keep it quiet, and things didn't seem so bad. And then Lucius' bitch of a wife tried to kill him and then me and I ended up in St. Mungo's and then Snape tells me that even more people know and if they used Veritaserum on her, then whoever interrogated her knows and I don't know how many people know now and it's only a matter of time until it hits the papers and God, can't something just go my way for once in my life?"

Silence followed on the heels of Harry's rushed, angry words. He sank back into his seat and crossed his arms. Ron didn't say anything, watching him for a long moment. Seamus looked uncomfortable and Parvati looked deep in thought. Harry stared down at his knees; he could feel them staring at him, as if preparing to say something. After a moment, the bed creaked and Harry could make out the hem of Parvati's purple robes in front of him.

"Harry," Parvati began as she crouched down. "Don't you think that you might just be assuming the worst?"

"Better than being disappointed." Harry replied a bit petulantly.

"Well I, for one, think that your explanation says enough; if it's… Lucius you want to be with…" she trailed off.

"Honestly," Ron asked, standing up and crossing his arms with a scowl. "Why Malfoy of all people? I mean… Malfoy?"

"Ron, don't start." Parvati said in a warning tone of voice.

"No Parv, I want a straight answer from him. He just gave us a lot of circumstances and said how he felt about them. He didn't say how he felt about… him."

Harry didn't say anything, watching Ron for a long moment. "What do you want me to say? Because I have a feeling that no matter how I try to phrase it, you're not going to like my response."

Ron looked flabbergasted for a second before he regained his composure. "Harry, since you can't seem to give me a bloody straight answer, I want you to answer something for me."

"All right," Harry replied, as he gripped his knees, preparing for the worst.

"Yes or no; do you love him?"

Harry spluttered for a moment, staring at Ron like he was off his rocker.

"What do you mean, 'do I love him'?"

"You heard me." Ron said flatly.

Harry stared at Ron for a bit longer, unable to make his brain think properly. "How can you expect me to answer something like that?" he bristled.

"Because I'm your friend and I think the least I deserve is an honest answer!" Ron retorted, his face flushing red.

"Ron, may I talk to you for a moment?" Parvati asked quickly. "Somewhere private?"

Harry watched as Parvati dragged Ron from the room and firmly shut the door. A second later, there came the sound of a locking spell. He slouched in his chair and crossed his arms glancing at Seamus.

"Don't you have something to say?"

It was silence that greeted him in reply. Harry looked up to find Seamus staring at his clasped hands, with a sullen expression on his face.

"Fine by me." Harry muttered to himself as he sat up a bit.

He was looking at the Cannons posters on the walls when Seamus spoke and startled him a bit.

"Why?"

"Huh? Why what?" Harry asked, glancing at Seamus.

"Why him?" Seamus shifted to the edge of the bed. "What does he have that I don't?"

"Lucius?" Harry asked, still feeling a bit wary. "What does that matter?"

"Everything!" Seamus exploded. "Here I am trying my damnedest to get you back and you've been with… with… Lucius bloody Malfoy the entire time, you… you… cocktease!"

Harry scowled darkly. "Take that back Finnegan."

"Oh, so we're on a surname basis now?"

"Since you just insulted me, yes! Slut, cocktease, it's all the same thing when you get down to it and I swear to God if you don't take it back, I'll hex you so bad your mum won't recognise you when you're admitted to St. Mungo's."

Seamus scrambled up from his seat, looking ready to fight. "Well maybe if you'd stop acting like a hermit and see people once in awhile –"

"I think I'll keep being a hermit! I had reporters stalking me at Hogwarts; d'you think they'll let up now that I'm out on my own now. They don't know where I am and I'm not about to have them starting up a 'Harry Potter Sightings' page in the Daily Prophet or Witch Weekly!"

"Christ, you're being a bit self-centered!" Seamus retorted.

"I think I'm bloody well entitled to it!" Harry snarled. "I only offed Voldemort after all. I'm thinking about something solely for me at the moment."

"Would you not say his name?" Seamus ground out. "I don't want to hear about him when we're talking about us."

Harry glared at Seamus for a second before he bellowed, "Voldemort!" at the top of his lungs. "Voldemort, Voldemort, Voldemort! Vol-de-bloody-mort! I'll say his damned name if I want to!"

"Don't you have any common sense at all?" Seamus demanded as he moved closer to Harry. "You don't have to go crowing his name in the middle of an argument! It makes no sense!"

"Too bad for you! This whole stupid argument is just you bitching and whining like a little kid, and already makes no sense," Harry snapped. "Volde-"

Seamus clapped a hand over Harry's mouth, muffling the word. Harry bit down on his hand and shoved him away as Seamus recoiled with a hiss. Seamus shook his hand, as if to take away the sting of the bite, before he glared at Harry.

"That was a cheap shot." Seamus said accusingly.

"Does it look like I really care?" Harry hissed back. "Let me spell it out for you Seamus: there. Is. No. Us. Got it? There won't be an us," he made exaggerated hand motions between himself and Seamus. "Ever again, got it? You and me aren't gonna happen."

"And why the hell not!" Seamus demanded.

"Because we're not!" Harry was quickly reaching the end of his admittedly short patience.

"You're just saying that because Lucius messed with your head and –"

"He didn't mess up my head, all right! He didn't mess with my head, he didn't force me into anything, nothing like that!" Harry bristled. "You're just making up… delusions!"

"Delusions?" Seamus repeated incredulously. "I'm making up delusions? I'm not the one letting Lucius Malfoy fuck me into the mattress!"

Harry's hand was already moving before he could even think of an appropriately outraged response. It caught Seamus high in the face, connecting with the side of his head. Seamus gave Harry a shocked look before anger flooded his face and he slapped Harry right back. The next thing Harry knew, he had socked Seamus right in the face with a left hook and then felt a fist settling in his gut. He drove his shoulder into Seamus midsection and drove him against the door. The air left Seamus' body with a huff, and Harry felt blows on his back. He tried to pull back, but Seamus clung on and made him overbalance. They fell to the floor, still scuffling and pummelling one another with blows landing everywhere.

"Oi!" Ron yelled as he burst back into the room. "Break it up!"

It took Ron quite a bit of effort to break Harry and Seamus up. Harry wiped at the blood that was trickling from a cut on his eyebrow while Seamus stopped the blood dripping from his nose with his sleeve. Harry's face felt sore in a few places and he knew he'd be sporting some bruises by tomorrow. Though, if Seamus' expression was anything to judge from, at least the Irish boy would be aching as much too.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Ron demanded as he looked between Harry and Seamus.

"Nothing. We're done." Seamus managed thickly before he stomped from the room.

Harry glared after him before he snorted once Seamus was gone. "Good riddance." He muttered.

"Cripes Harry, I step out for one minute and next thing I know, you two are brawling!" Ron didn't look too happy. "What happened?"

"He insulted me! And Lucius!" Harry snapped.

"Don't go trying to bite my head off," Ron warned. "I didn't try to beat you up."

"I know, I know," Harry righted the chair and seated himself again with a sigh. "Sorry, but Seamus just got me so mad…"

Ron didn't say anything for a moment before he sat back down on the side of his bed. "Does he really mean that much to you?"

Harry didn't say anything for a moment before he simply nodded his head. Ron gave a long huff before he rubbed his face briskly.

"Well, Parv is downstairs helping Mum, so we are going to have a talk about you and Lucius."

Harry didn't know whether to be glad that Ron hadn't descended into a yelling fit or worried about this talk that Ron wanted to have with him. And even as he watched Ron's expression carefully, he still couldn't tell. He did know, however, that he was in for a long afternoon.

Being back in St. Mungo's was not very pleasing. It didn't help that he had little less than two weeks in here. While he had a room with a view this time, he found himself becoming increasingly restless. Tonks was flitting in and out seeing him when she could. Valerian was handling his full pardon as well as Harry's inheritance paperwork and probably about twenty other cases; the man simply did not know that there was such a thing as rest. The only thing he really had to keep him company in the days was six newspapers. It was even more aggravating that he dragged out reading each one, so that they would last through the day.

His ribs were fully healed and didn't hurt as much to breathe. Some of his joints felt oddly stiff, but it wasn't anything too unbearable. All major healing had been taken care of in his first week, and he had been asleep for most of it. These last few weeks were for smaller things, like allowing torn cartilage and tendons to heal, and for Cruciatus stressed muscles to fully rest and relax.

Today, the sky was overcast with pearly grey clouds and it seemed to be snowing lightly. He turned his attention back to the ignored newspaper in his lap. There was only so much speculation that he could take. The papers were still running stories on the Death Eater trials and imminent executions, but what seemed to be popping up everywhere was anything remotely related to Harry. Sometimes there were grainy looking photographs and wild rumours. But no one seemed able to find out exactly where he was.

It was one small thing that Lucius was grateful for. If someone had found out where Harry lived, it meant that it was only a matter of time before he was spotted in the company of younger wizard. That would be all the fodder that the gossips needed.

The sound of the door opening made him look over. Today Tonks hair was a forest green colour with streaks of white. She had a smile on her face as she grabbed a chair and brought to his bedside.

"You look like a peppermint." Lucius snorted as he folded his newspaper and placed it on the sill with the others.

"That was the look I was going for," Tonks grinned. "I was getting a bit bored with neon colours. I think I might try to get the jellied slugs colour next week."

"I'm sure a vile shade of orange will be most attractive," Lucius mused. "As something like plain black must be far too bland."

"Definitely; not nearly interesting as a vile shade of orange." Tonks laughed before she sobered up. "I've got three things to tell you."

"And they would be?"

"Valerian finished with the paperwork and the proceedings today; you're officially a free man. No parole, no checking in, nothing. Can't tell how glad I am; it's that much less paperwork for me."

"And the second one?"

"Ginny's dropped her lawsuit against you. The whole mess is now gone."

Lucius didn't say anything for a moment. "The third?"

Tonks took a deep breath. "You've got a visitor."

"And may I ask who it is?"

"Ginny Weasley."

"I have no interest in speaking with her." Lucius said curtly as he picked up the newspaper again.

"The thing is," Tonks began as she rubbed at the back of her neck. "I think she has something to say to you whether you want to hear it or not."

Lucius gave Tonks a long look before he opened the newspaper and started reading the latest claim that some witch in Cornwall was now carrying Harry Potter's love child. He had no interest in hearing anything else Ginny Weasley possibly had to say to him.

"Lucius?" Tonks asked a bit hesitantly.

Lucius elected to not reply, simply turning the page to read a summary on Bellatrix's trial. Tonks rose from her seat with a sigh and made her way to the door. She stood in the doorway and Lucius could hear muffled conversation from three people. He thought it odd, but when Ginny stepped into the room, followed by Harry he found himself raising an eyebrow in surprise. Harry gave him a look and shook his head slightly. Ginny looked momentarily bemused before she took a deep breath. Lucius was fairly sure that he didn't want to hear it at all, so he turned his attention back to the newspaper.

Footsteps made their way over to his bedside, and he could hear nervous breathing. Lucius didn't bother to look up from his newspaper.

"Mr. Malfoy," Ginny started after a long moment. "I would like to apologise for… attempting to sue you. I let Mrs. Malfoy get the better of me and…"

Lucius put the paper down and looked up at Ginny. She was standing there, her gaze fixed on him resolutely and her hands balled into fists at her side. He knew that expression; she was here merely to apologise and ease her troubled mind.

"Look, I just wanted to apologise. The least you could do would be to have the decency to look me in the eye when I'm talking to you," Ginny said. "I'm sorry that I attempted to sue you and I put you through that. I'm still not too sure what happened, but I don't think it was you that… did it. Mrs. Malfoy got the better of me, preyed on me, and goaded me into doing what I did. You don't have to accept my apology or anything, but that's what I wanted to say to you. I'll be going now."

"Would you stay a moment, Ginny?" Harry suddenly asked.

Lucius looked at him in surprise, as did Ginny. Harry rose from his seat and came over to the bed, sitting down on the edge.

"Harry?" Ginny asked.

"You asked me how I got so bruised; well, the truth of the matter is, Seamus as I had a fight three days ago."

"About?" Ginny's eyes were flitting between Harry and Lucius warily.

"Lucius," Harry said simply before he took a deep breath. "Seamus didn't exactly… approve of me seeing him."

Lucius pegged Harry with a hard look while Ginny was looking between them incredulously, her jaw slack.

"Kindly say something or shut your mouth." Lucius said a bit acidly.

"W-What?" Ginny said in a hoarse whisper. "You're seeing Lucius?

Harry nodded. "Look, you don't have to like it, but what Ron said when we talked was true: you deserve to know, you all do. But if you can't handle it, please, just don't go blabbling, that's all I'm asking."

"But Harry, the things he's done –"

"I know some of the things he's done. Others… well, I think we'd both rather not go there. But I do know Gin."

Lucius watched as Ginny stared at them incredulously before she stepped back, weakly feeling for the seat. When she found it, she sat down heavily in it and closed her eyes.

"Is he the only reason why you came with me today?"

"No; I came because you needed someone to come with you," Harry didn't say anything for a moment. "Besides, you were pretty worked up when you came to see me anyhow."

Ginny didn't say anything for a moment. "How long?"

"Over a year now. In a few months, it'll be two."

Ginny sat in the chair for a bit longer before she opened her eyes and rose. "I think I'm going to go talk to Tonks. Maybe go have some tea or a pint or something."

There was a dazed sort of light in Ginny's eyes that Harry didn't miss either.

"Gin?" Harry started from the bed.

"No… just… no, I need some time, all right?" Ginny said a bit absently as she made her way to the door. "Just give me a bit of time."

Lucius watched as Ginny stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind her. Harry didn't move for a moment before he sank back on the bed.

"Well, that went well."

"Absolutely brilliant," Lucius mused dryly as he rested the paper on the sill once more. "Telling yet another person."

"You know it was only a matter of time," Harry said a bit defensively. "I don't think Ginny would tell. Seamus just might."

"I'm sure there's some discreet method to shut him up."

"Why bother? If someone goes digging deep enough, they'll find out about it. And any thing like that will just prove what we've been trying to keep secret. It's over Lucius."

"Over?" Lucius repeated as Harry held his head in his hands. Harry could not have just said that he thought in shock.

Harry nodded his head and sighed, toeing off his shoes he stretched out on the bed beside Lucius. "The Daily Prophet society pages and Witch Weekly will be all over this. Our privacy will be completely dead and over with by what… what month is it now?"

"November, late November." Lucius replied.

"Cripes, where the hell do the days go? I'd give it until mid-December at best," Harry looked over at him and frowned. "Is something wrong? You look… really relieved."

"Don't bother, it's quite all right," Lucius felt absolutely silly now.

"Are you sure?" Harry sat up, an anxious expression on his face. "I didn't mean to upset you… if I did. Did I?"

Lucius didn't reply for a moment. "You should choose your words carefully."

"Choose my words carefully?" Harry echoed in puzzlement. "I just said that it's over… oh." He gave Lucius a sheepish look as he fully comprehended what he had accidentally implied. "Well, our privacy will be over. Not us. What, are you mad or something?"

"Not at you," Lucius said, seeing a particularly dark bruise on Harry's chin.

"Hm? Oh, just forget about Seamus," Harry gave an irritable wave of his hand. "If he wants to be an ass about it, then let him be."

Lucius didn't say anything, reaching over and cupping Harry's chin. Harry glanced at him but didn't say anything as he closed his eyes. Lucius ran his fingers along Harry's jawbone lightly, stopping once he encountered the bruise, as well as the scar.

"He managed to punch me in the same spot you scarred me," Harry cracked an eye open, an amused smile coming to his face. "A bit ironic, don't you think?"

"Very," Lucius replied.

Harry opened both eyes fully. "You'll have a clean bill of health when you're released, right?"

"With only a few minor warnings of not to stress myself out and the like."

Harry didn't say anything for a moment. "And if our privacy is shot to all hell, why don't we have a bit of fun?"

"Fun?"

"Yes, fun," Harry gave a wicked grin. "And if we do it right, they'll drive themselves nuts when we leave."

"Leave?" Lucius couldn't quite see where Harry was going with this.

"You were the one that suggested travelling, Lucius."

Lucius felt a smirk coming to his face as Harry's smile grew wider; he understood now. "I daresay you do enjoy playing with people's minds."

Harry sat up and gave a shrug. "I suppose Dumbledore isn't all that bad; who else would have been such a great example of manipulating people?"

"It sounds like you're paraphrasing me."

"Not exactly; you used the words of controlling and strange logic."

"Thankfully, you lack his odd obliqueness."

"I know," Harry sighed. "I better get going before someone other than Tonks or Gin comes in here and finds us like this."

Lucius watched as Harry swung his legs over the side of the bed and jammed his feet into his shoes. He was rising from the bed, when Lucius quickly caught his arm. Harry turned and looked back at him in surprise.

"Did you want something?" he asked.

Lucius cleared his throat and arched an eyebrow questioningly. Harry cocked his head and blinked, though he had a small impish smile on his face.

"Really Lucius, what is it that you want? You're going to have to tell me."

"You know precisely what I want."

"No, really I don't. Why don't you just – mmpf!"

Lucius had tugged on Harry's arm, making him stretch over the bed so he could kiss him properly. One of Harry's hands had slid up into Lucius hair and he was half climbing back on the bed when the door was swung open.

"Heads up! Healer Sargad is coming this way right now!" Tonks hissed.

Lucius didn't think Harry could have ever pulled out of a kiss so fast. Not even a split second after Tonks' warning, Lucius found Harry's lips gone.

"Sheesh, she'll chew me up and spit me out if she thinks I've been bothering you. I'd better get out of here."

"Aren't you supposed to be a hero?" Lucius asked in dry amusement.

Harry shot him a look before he snorted. "Not against her. I like my head on my shoulders, thanks." He paused and looked back at Lucius. "I'll see you later on, all right? Might pop by the manor to see how Draco's doing… finally, since I know he won't hex me to death."

Lucius shook his head as Harry darted to the door and slipped out, saying something quickly to someone. A few seconds later, Idun walked in through the door, with a slightly confused expression on her face.

"Lucius," she said slowly as she came to the bedside. "What on Earth would Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley be here seeing you for?"

"Young Miss Weasley was here to offer her apologies; Mr. Potter came along for moral support."

Idun coughed at that, an odd little smirk coming to her face. "Oh, I see. So the fact that you and Mr. Potter have obviously… swollen lips, dilated pupils and slightly erratic breathing means…"

"Nothing." Lucius replied crisply.

"Of course not," Idun's smirk grew wider. "All right, let's see how you're doing today, shall we? You're slowly but surely getting better. "

Lucius couldn't wait to leave the hospital.