Flight of the Thestrals

by GD-7

Plagued by insomnia, Draco spends his nights soaring through the sky over Hogwarts. What happens when he runs into Ginny one night? R for reason. DMGW, some 'slash' between BZRW (but these chapters are well marked)

70. Chapter 70

A/N - warning: adult stuff. Somewhat mild (IMHO), but still.

> > > > > > > > >

Chapter 70

Silence reigned as Pax slipped his talon gently out. He stroked his hand down Forester's hair and let out a soft sigh. He had known it would be bad... and he'd had to endure even more reprehensible acts, but somehow it seemed far worse for having happened to such an innocent child. As good as his memory was, he couldn't remember ever being that pure. Perhaps he'd just started out tainted.

"Take it away." Balthys said softly after a moment, his voice riddled with pain.

Pax looked over at him.

Balthys looked up, meeting his eyes. "I know what it means to ask a boon of one of your kind, but I'm doing it anyway. Take that from his mind and let him forget. Please."

Pax sighed, gazing back down at Forester with a deep sadness in his glowing eyes. "I can't." Balthys looked over at Draco, but Pax caught the glance and spoke again. "It's not a matter of permission. I can't remove it for the same reason that I had to leave the traumatic events in the minds of Harry, Blaise, Draco and Pansy. It has been too long, and that memory was too pivotal in molding him at a crucial point in his development. It's become a foundation memory... a memory on which the person he is today was built. If I were to remove it, his whole personality would destabilize and his sense of self would be destroyed."

Balthys let out a pained sound, then looked up. Forester's eyes met his. Balthys could see the shame in his son's eyes and it stabbed into his heart. "I'm so sorry..." He said softly.

Forester looked away, his tear dampened cheeks darkening. He'd stopped crying, having had time to master himself and put his neutral facade back in place, though he still wasn't to the point of releasing his hold on Blaise. "You didn't even know I existed. Not like you could have done anything even if you wanted to."

"All your mother would tell me was that there had been a fire and you'd gone missing for a time..."

"Try three and a half months. Course if they hadn't burnt down the house I doubt she would have noticed I was gone at all..."

Balthys' eyes had gone wide. "How could it have been that long?" He asked, shocked. The memory hadn't covered near that amount of time.

"It was only about three or four days the nearest I can figure before Silver saved me. After that... well I'd hardly been out of the house... I didn't know my address... wasn't even sure what state I lived in and that priest had taken me four states away. Hell, I didn't even know my last name! Come to think of it, I still don't... do I have one?"

"Snow elves don't have surnames. At most they include their place of origin, like 'of the vale' or some such thing. Incubi... well, to tell you the truth, I'm not sure they even have first names... If your mother took a surname to fit in, I don't know it. Perhaps she used her maiden name, DeLovo."

"Well... I don't feel quite as stupid then..." Forester muttered.

"So you just stayed with those people?"

"They tried to take me back. Took nearly two weeks to find the house, but of course it was burnt down by then. I guess Maria's father got her to tell him where I lived and him and his buddies took care of the 'witch's house'. When I got there it was just a charred pile of rubble." He dropped his eyes, unconsciously leaning his head against Blaise for comfort. "I saw Maria... She screamed and ran when she saw me... we had to leave before she could bring others. They checked with the local authorities, but no missing child reports had been filed, and there was nothing saying that house had ever even been occupied by anyone with magic. It was classified as a Muggle dwelling. We figured mom must've died in the fire, so they took me with them so I wouldn't get tossed in an orphanage or something. They worked out a glamour to put on me around Muggles and made me clothes and everything..." he said, running his fingers over the soft, worn material of his t-shirt. "Silver even let me sleep with him." He said, a little smile playing over his lips. He glanced over, noting Carys' eyes widening and glowered at her. "Oh shut up! He never touched me like that. None of them did." He dropped his eyes and his voice took on an aching quality. "They were my family..." He said softly.

He sniffled, then irritably scrubbed away the tear that was threatening in his eye. "Then the fuckin authorities decided to step in and fuck up my life. They took me away and laughed in their faces when they petitioned to become my guardians. Then they found mom and just chucked me back with her."

"You have no idea how relieved she was to find you. She thought you died in the fire."

Forester snorted derisively. "Oh please! First thing she did was slap me across the face, then she yelled at me for leaving the house and putting both of our lives in danger. I told her I hated her and I wanted to go back with Silver and the others because they at least didn't treat me like shit. She just stopped talking to me again after that. I tried to escape... to get back to Silver... so she tied me up and hauled me away against my will... just like that priest did. Dumped me on your doorstep and washed her hands of me. She knew I'd never be able to escape because she'd never taught me to swim or fly."

Balthys looked pained. "She didn't do it to punish you, Forester. She was just worried about you. When she gets frightened she acts angry and lashes out... that's just how she is. She knows it's wrong and she feels wretchedly guilty about it afterwards, but she can never seem to make herself apologize or even admit she was wrong. Believe me, I've been on the receiving end of that particular quirk more than once. It doesn't mean she doesn't love you. She brought you to me because she knew that on the island you would be safe. You know first hand how dangerous the Muggle world is. Trying to escape to look for someone who could have been half way across the country by then was foolish and dangerous. She was protecting you from yourself."

"Bullshit! She was just keeping me from the only family I'd ever known! Why are you always defending her? She's fucked you over more than any of us, and yet you still take her back without question any time she shows up at your door! Why are you such a fucking doormat for her? It seems pretty fucking obvious she doesn't really love you. Hell, most of her drinking buddies were men. She was probably fucking half of them!"

Balthys carefully kept his temper. "Your mother loves me just as much as I love her, and she has never once cheated on me. These two things I know with absolute certainty." He said calmly. He reached up and unbuttoned the bottom of his shirt, then pulled it open, "This never lies." He said, pushing the waist of his pants down slightly to reveal a shimmering design barely visible against the pale flesh just below his navel.

Forester stared at it in silence for a moment, then looked up, meeting his father's eyes. "Then why is it that every time she bothers coming around she just treats you like shit, fucks you, and then runs off?"

Balthys let out a belabored sigh, slumping back some as he buttoned his shirt back up. "Your mother has serious emotional problems. She can't deal with her feelings like other people can. When she can't handle her feelings she gets scared retreats into herself... drowns her emotions with alcohol... I understand this about her and I accept it. I'll always love her without question, and she knows that. I'm about the only constant thing in her life right now, and I'm not about to change that."

He sighed again, scrubbing his hands over his face, then dropped them, looking at his son sadly. "There are some things about her I've never told you before. Things she never wanted you to find out, but I don't think there is any other way that you'll ever understand her... I think you have the right to know, and I suppose you're old enough now to hear it. She was from a very emotionally aloof family that didn't seem to really want her in the first place... they shipped her off to anyone who would take her when she was young, which was damaging enough... then... when she was still little more than a girl, she was molested. She's never been quite right since."

"That's it? That's the 'Big Reason'? She got mildly neglected and molested once, so that's supposed to make everything ok?" Forester asked incredulously, "If neglect is a viable excuse, I could be a fuckin mass murderer and get away with it! Hell, I don't think I would've even minded being molested all that much, because at least that would mean someone was THERE! How the Hell does that give her any right to abandon her family, treat me like shit for the first half of my life, then do her damnedest to fuck up the rest of it too? I finally find a family, and she just dragged me away and tossed me on an island with strangers and no hope of escape and just left me there like a fucking prisoner!"

Balthys was silent for a moment, his eyes growing watery, "Is that really what it's been like for you? Am I nothing more to you than your warden?" He asked softly.

Forester sighed and looked away. He glanced up at Blaise and a little smile tugged at his lips. Blaise had nodded off, his head hanging to one side. Forester eased his hold on him and slipped out of his arms, shifting up and catching him as he started to drift to the side. He gathered him up in his arms and eased him up onto the couch, arranging him and pulling the blanket back over him. Blaise stirred and Forester leaned over, gently kissing his cheek.

"Thank you." Forester said softly, brushing the hair back from Blaise's face. "I feel worlds better already. I owe you."

Blaise managed a little smile, then drifted back off again.

Forester stood up. "I think we should let him rest now." He said quickly, starting for the door. He came to a stop with a sigh as a hand gently took ahold of his shoulder.

"Is that how you think of me?" Balthys persisted.

"You want an honest answer?" Forester asked softly.

Balthys took a bracing breath, "Yes." He said resolutely.

"It was." Forester said softly, not turning. "I've hated myself for as long as I can remember. The wings... the tail... everything that was different. Everything that made me a freak that had to be hidden away. I just wanted to be normal so I could go out and just... fit in. Then, after being wrenched from the only people who had ever shown me any affection, I was thrust onto some godforsaken little island with you... and one look at you told me exactly where I got everything I hated about myself. I hated you for that. I hated you for loving the woman who had treated me like shit all my life. I hated you for keeping me there, and even more for trying to 'get to know me'. It just seemed like you were trying to take Silver's place. I loved him with all my heart and no one can ever replace him."

"I didn't mean to... I didn't even know..." Balthys said, trying to fight back the tears that kept slipping down his cheeks.

"Spending time alone seemed to help." Forester went on softly. "With no one there I didn't think about what others would think of me as much. I didn't have 'regular' people there to compare myself to constantly. I taught myself how to fly watching the birds. The tail came in damn handy in the trees, and surprisingly helpful when swimming. Eventually they almost seemed to become more a part of me. More than just useless differences put there to torment me. I still don't like people staring at them... but I guess I'm ok with them now."

"And me?" Balthys asked softly.

"I watched you every now and then. Especially after mom dumped Celestial on you. Watched how you cared for her. You loved her the moment you saw her. It was obvious every time you were around her... holding her and playing with her and teaching her things... I could only wish I'd been raised like that. I know now that it's not your fault I'm the way I am... I know that if you'd raised me I would have been a better person. I'm sorry I'm so fucked up. You deserve a better son."

Balthys let out a pained breath, slipping in front of him and wrapping his arms around him. "I love you just the way you are. I would never ask you to change for me. If... if you would truly rather be with Silver, I'll help you find him. I just want you to be happy."

Forester pulled back some, looking at his father to see if he was serious. He could see the sad acceptance in his father's eyes and knew he would do just that if he asked it of him. He sighed, leaning against him and resting his head on his shoulder. "I love Silver... nothing will ever change that... and I would give anything to see him again..." Forester said achingly, "But he's not my dad. I know that. I think I need you more right now..."

Balthys held him closer, his throat tight with emotion as tears course from his eyes. He had felt so close to losing his son forever. His heart throbbed in his chest as he felt his son slip his arms around him and hug him back for the first time.

After a minute, Forester opened his eyes and spotted Carys standing there uncertainly. "You I could live without..." He said, but his slight smile and teasing tone softened the comment.

She flashed him a little smile. "Ya, well at least now I know where you got that mouth!"

> > > > >

They were back in the sitting room, waiting for the elves to tell them when dinner was ready. Draco had reluctantly taken on the onus of telling those who didn't yet know about Diagon Alley. He just gave them the basic facts as he'd gathered them while at the hospital, not going into detail... especially of his own involvement in dealing with the aftermath. As expected, it had been a bit of a shock.

After that, they had all gravitated into small groups, discussing it... but after a while the mood slowly began to lighten once again. There was just something about the festive decorations and the atmosphere that seemed to permeate the room that made those events seem somehow distant... as if they were cushioned from it, giving it almost a sense of unreality. Perhaps it was just shock... The horror was just too profound for their minds to properly grasp, so their minds tried to convince them that it was some kind of mistake and couldn't really have happened. Whatever the cause, the conversations began steering away from the disconcerting events, most of them either lapsing into silence or reverting back to 'small talk' in an attempt to dispel the dark shadow of the tragedy that seemed to hover over them all.

Draco, who couldn't escape the reality of what had happened even if he tried, remained silent for the most part. He occupied himself by just sitting there with Ginny in his lap, covertly watching Forester. It was very interesting actually. Before, Forester had been huddled and physically as well as mentally closed off to everyone around him, just lurking near the fire and trying to avoid attention. He was once again by the fire, but even his posture told of a profound difference. It wasn't instantaneous. Forester had been huddled up again out of habit when they had first emerged from the study and sat down... but over the past half hour or so, Draco had watched Forester's stance open up ever so slowly. It was like watching a flower bloom. By now, Forester was leaning back, braced by his arms in a very laid back, open manner. It wasn't only his posture either. The more Draco watched him, the more subtle differences he spotted. For instance, Forester was looking at the fire just as before, but as Draco watched, he caught him sneaking little peaks over at Tonks when he thought no one was looking.

Draco couldn't help but wondered what it was the others had seen. It was obviously something really bad, but he hadn't been able to gather much more than that it had involved a very neglectful mother, a Muggle priest and some kind of 'savior' named Silver. Even Draco had heard about some of the atrocities carried out supposedly in the name of God by Muggles in the past, including the indiscriminate slaughter of witches and wizards... he had thought the Muggles had gotten past such bestial compulsions, but apparently not all of them had. He was tempted to ask the demon, but his curiosity wasn't strong enough to overcome the dread he felt even contemplating what they might have done with a young incubus who probably wasn't even old enough to defend himself. He was still having to work to overcome what his father had tried to ingrain in him since birth - the idea that Muggles and Muggleborns were all vastly inferior... and in his father's opinion, barely more than animals. To allow himself to be shown just how low some of them could sink would probably be a serious detriment to his efforts.

Draco quickly looked away as Forester glanced around. When he hazarded another peek over at him a minute later he had to stifle a chuckle. Forester's tail had crept over, the end slipping up onto Tonks' thigh where she sat tailor fashion beside him. Tonks was smirking and blushing, but otherwise pretending she hadn't noticed.

He looked over as the door opened. One of his house elves scampered through, followed by his mother. She was still looking a bit pale, but smiled at him as she entered. He didn't miss the way she was lightly holding Lupin's arm. He knew it was probably just for support, but it made him smile nonetheless. He was really growing attached to the idea of them being together. Snape, who entered silently behind them, didn't look nearly as pleased with the gesture.

"Draco, dear." Narcissa said, spotting him immediately, "Glad to see you made it back. They said you got away ok, but I couldn't help but worry. Sorry we took a while..."

Forester's head jerked around at the sound of her voice, and he scrambled to his feet so fast he knocked over the little rack of fire tending implements. Balthys looked over at the noise, then followed his son's gaze to the door. He was instantly on his feet. "Eryn?" He asked incredulously.

Narcissa looked over at him in surprise, taking in his strange appearance and the way he seemed to be addressing her.

Balthys let out a sigh as he got a clearer view of her. "Forgive me. I mistook you for someone else." He said, obviously a bit dejected.

"Eryn DeLovo?" Kulia asked sharply, sitting up straighter in her chair.

Balthys blushed slightly and nodded. "My wife. I know it couldn't have been her here, but the resemblance... it just caught me off guard. Did you know her?"

"You married Eryn Delovo?" Kulia asked.

Balthys blinked, looking at her with confusion as to why this was a subject of such interest. "Yes. You must have been the one she mentioned. She said she had apprenticed with one of my sisters, but I thought it was Marinna. Her family has had business dealings with almost our entire family, so I wasn't sure. Eryn didn't like talking about her past much."

Draco had straightened up as well. The comments Kulia had made in the kitchen that morning and what Balthys had said in the study raced through his head and everything started clicking into place. "Oh bloody Hell! Don't tell me he married my grandmother!"

Kulia had her hand over her mouth to try to hide her mirth. She just nodded.

Narcissa was just looking back and forth between them in confusion. Balthys looked at her, his eyes going wide. He crossed over to her, holding out his hand. "I'm Balthys." He said with a warm smile.

She hesitantly took his hand and shook it. "Narcissa Black."

"I always suspected there was more to the story... but a daughter... I had no idea. You look just like her." He said, smiling.

Narcissa looked over at Kulia questioningly as she came over, still smirking.

"This is my half brother." Kulia said, patting his shoulder affectionately. "He's also apparently now your step-father."

Narcissa stared at Balthys wide-eyed, "I think I need a drink." She said faintly.

Forester snorted. "Ya. She's mom's." He said, folding his arms across his chest.

Balthys gave Forester a warning glare. "Be nice." He then turned back to Narcissa. "This is your half brother, Forester."

"Narcissa..." Forester said contemplatively, then nodded. "Female version of Narcissus or daffodil. That sounds like the kind of name mom would inflict on her offspring. At least the latin makes it sound nicer. Suppose I got of easy with Forester. She named one of my sisters 'love'."

Narcissa was staring at him, obviously stunned. "Daffodil?"

Balthys cleared his throat, drawing Narcissa's attention away from Forester. "And these are your half-sisters..."

"Alright! I get an older sister! Ace! I'm Carys. Like he said, that's 'love' if you're like Welsh or something." Carys said, coming over and giving the startled woman a hug, then she turned and giggled, bouncing over to Draco. "And a precious little nephy-po!" She said in a cutesy voice, pinching his cheek. She then leaned right over Ginny, throwing her arms around him, giggling again. "Good thing I wasn't attracted to you. That woulda been creepy!" When she released him, she plopped down on the arm of the chair and rested her elbow on his shoulder, propping her head up with it, looking contemplative. "And you married a Weasley..." She said, working something through. She looked over at him. "You don't mind if I shag your brother-in-law, do you?" She asked in a stage whisper.

Draco chuckled while Ginny tried to stifle a snort of laughter with her hands. "I don't have a problem with it, but it's not exactly my decision."

"That's a good little nephew!" She giggled, ruffling his hair, then hopping up and romping off back to her seat.

Celestial came over rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, looking between Narcissa and her father. "She's my sister?"

"Half sister, Celestial." Balthys replied. "Your mum had her before I met her."

"Oh... ok... like you and aunt Kulia." Celestial said with a thoughtful nod that looked absolutely adorable. She looked over at Carys, then rolled her eyes as she saw her draping herself over the chair and smirking over at Ron. Celestial went over and hugged Narcissa. "Finally a big sister I can look up to!" She said with an affectionate sigh.

Tonks was walking over, her arms folded across her chest and looking thoroughly put out. "You telling me I'm related to him?" She asked sulkily, nodding her head towards Forester.

Balthys looked between her and Forester, a smirk working its way onto his lips as he saw Forester's cheeks color. "How are you related to Narcissa?"

"My mum's her sister. Well... actually half sister I guess."

Balthys' smile broadened. "Well then, you're related to Narcissa through her father, and Forester is related to her through her mother. Technically you're family through Narcissa, Draco and... any other offspring she may have," He said, looking at Narcissa with a little glint in his eye, "But you have no blood relationship to me or my children."

Tonks broke out into a brilliant smile. "Oh... Ok..." She said, then sauntered back towards the fireplace with a spring in her step.

Balthys saw a little smile on Forester's lips as well, but it quickly vanished, replaced by a neutral expression as he saw his father's gaze upon him.

A small house elf near the door cleared his throat uneasily. "Dinner is being ready..." He squeaked timidly.

Everyone started drifting towards the door. Balthys grabbed up his thin under jacket and slipped it back on, unaccustomed to the chill after decades in the tropics, and started to follow them, but then paused, turning around. Snape was standing there, watching him contemplatively. Balthys smiled, letting his eyes trail down him, then circling around him, looking him over appraisingly. When he completed his circuit, he came to a stop facing him. "So you're the one the brunette has been pining after."

Hermione, who had been working her way over to Snape, stopped, looking between him and Balthys wide-eyed. She hadn't said a word, and hadn't heard anyone else mention their relationship either.

Snape cleared his throat uneasily, his pale cheeks tingeing slightly. "You must be the brother Kulia mentioned when we spoke earlier... I thought you were dead."

"No. Just out of touch. And yes, I'm sure I'm the one she was talking about. I'm her only part incubus sibling. That's the part that interested you I believe. Her father made sure never to leave mother alone during fertility cycles once they were married. It meant he had to spend a couple of nights with her every three years, but he made the sacrifice to insure they didn't wind up with any more children like me." He said with a rueful smirk, "I'll need some supplies, but I've been working on my skills, so it shouldn't take nearly as long as it used to. Made mine own in just two days, and that was twenty years ago, and considering my appearance, that's pretty impressive. Yours should be much simpler."

Snape just stared at him. "Has Kulia said something to you...?"

Balthys grinned. "She didn't have to. I know a client when I see one." He said, clapping him on the shoulder and following the others out.

"What was that about?" Hermione asked, coming up and slipping her arm around him.

Snape opened his mouth, but then closed it again. "Perhaps we should talk about this later." He said after a moment of silence, slipping his arm around her and leading her towards the door.

> > > > > > > > > >

Tonks was leaning against the wall, trying to keep out of the way of the scurrying house elves. She was never one to get between a house elf and what they perceived as 'their duties'. They never seemed to appreciate the gesture, no matter how well intentioned the 'help' was. She just sat there, amusing herself by sketching a tattoo on her back unseen. She bit her lip in concentration, visualizing it in as intricate detail as she could. She always liked playing with her 'body art', especially when she was forced to take on that somber 'public face'. She finished up and then stared around, growing bored once again. She pulled her hand out in front of her and started cycling the color of her nails. She got bored of that quickly and let her hair start to shift, turning it fire engine red, her lips cycling to match it exactly.

Balthys sidled up, leaning against the wall beside her. "Don't." He whispered softly.

She looked over at him in surprise. "Huh?"

He leaned his head closer. "Don't change. I think you nailed it on the first try."

She blinked, looking puzzled, then looked over, spotting Forester. He blushed brightly and looked away. A little smirk slipped over her lips as they started darkening again. "He likes the goth look, eh?"

Balthys grinned. "I'd say it's a pretty safe guess."

"It's usually one of my favorites when I'm just playing around..." She said contemplatively, watching Forester, "Any other pointers?" She asked with a mischievous smirk.

"Hmm... perhaps..." Balthys said thoughtfully, then he leaned closer, whispering softly in her ear. She grinned as she saw Forester glance over again, his blush brightening as he saw his father whispering to her.

When Forester finally made himself look over again, his father had moved on. He glanced at Tonks, then stared. She smirked at him, her hair and lips once more black, her eyes even more heavily lined, the lines extending out to the sides Egyptian style. He seemed transfixed for a moment before he was able to pull his eyes off her, trying to pretend he hadn't even noticed her. Her smirk turned wicked as she spotted him covertly adjusting his t-shirt to hide a sudden tenting in his pants.

Bill strolled into the dining room, followed by the twins. The house elves had managed to literally gouge out the entire door, frame and part of the wall that Pax had fused, but with the other preparations had only had time to patch it roughly back together and fit it with a door they swiped from one of the unused wings, covering it with a glamour to make it blend in. Still, considering it was demon damage, they had done a rather impressive job. You could barely even notice the difference unless you looked hard.

"Still can't believe it..." Bill was saying, shaking his head. "And you didn't even think it proper to clue us in?"

"Percy was making efforts to let dad know." Fred said with a shrug.

"Not our fault he was ignoring the letters."

"We did try to talk to dad about it once,"

"But he shut us down the minute we mentioned Percy."

"Gave us the cold shoulder for the better part of a month just for saying his name!"

"Dad just had to come to it on his own."

"As for the rest of you..."

"We were afraid if we told anyone, mum would find out..."

"And if she did and dad was still being a stubborn arse it would just kill her."

Bill sighed. "True. Still, you didn't honestly think he would turn his back on a grandchild just because he was on the outs with its father, did you?"

Fred snorted. "Logic doesn't always fit into his stubborn streak."

"We never thought he'd disown Percy over one little argument either."

"And look how that turned out!"

"Good point." Bill sighed.

"How's Penelope?" Ginny asked, setting down a handful of silverware and a stack of napkins. One of the house elves quickly grabbed them up, distributing them with practiced ease.

Bill smiled at her, "Much better now. The poor dear started crying with relief when she saw Justin. Mum and dad are staying with her while she gets in some quality time with him, but she's too exhausted to care for him on her own yet."

The twins nodded, then went over and slipped their arms around Kulia.

"You mind if we keep him with us tonight?" Fred asked.

"He's still a bit out of sorts..."

"And if he can't be with his mum..."

"We're the ones he's most comfortable around."

Kulia gave them a little smile, obviously amused by their almost paternal affection for the child. "Sure. Might as well... I'm not exactly feeling up to much tonight anyway."

"You ok?" George asked immediately as they both looked at her with open concern.

Her pale cheeks blushed slightly at their avid attention. "Stomach's just feeling a bit gimpy. I'm fine."

"We'll get you some of mum's tea." Fred said immediately as they ushered her into a seat. He pushed the chair in for her while George brought over a plate of crackers and set it before her.

Balthys watched them hurry off to get the tea with amusement, going over and resting his arm on the back of her chair. "They certainly are attentive." He said, chuckling softly.

She didn't comment, the pink tinge on her cheeks growing a bit darker. "Um... so... we have a two room suite. We aren't using the other room, and it appears we'll be hosting the baby anyway, so you and Celestial might as well take the other room if you'd like."

"A baby?" Celestial asked, grinning excitedly. She'd somehow managed to sleep through Justin's initial introduction, despite its volume. The trip must have been a rather arduous one. "Can I see the baby, daddy?" She asked eagerly.

He smirked, reaching over and tussling her hair. "Ok, but you have to let it sleep when it needs it. It's not one of your baby dolls."

She nodded quickly. "Can I feed it?"

He smirked over at Kulia. "What is it with little girls and babies? She's never even seen a real one and she's ready to adopt." He looked back over at his youngest. "He has just eaten, but if he gets hungry again we'll consider it."

She beamed, clapping her hands together excitedly and giggling. Balthys took a seat one down from Kulia, guessing the twins would probably want the seats to either side of her. Celestial took the next seat.

Narcissa was still looking a bit out of sorts about the revelation about this new branch of her family. Draco had taken the seat across from Balthys, seeming completely at ease in the presence of the incubus. Narcissa looked a bit like a deer in headlights as Balthys smiled and motioned her over.

"Well..." Lupin said a bit sadly, "I should probably..."

"Stay for dinner. Excellent idea." Narcissa said quickly, her grip on his arm tightening.

He looked over at her in surprise, then smiled, seeing how disconcerted she was. "If you insist." He said softly, patting her hand comfortingly. He led her over, seating her beside Draco and taking the seat on the other side of her.

As the others started settling into spots at the table, Ron looked over, spotting Blaise walking in. He looked a bit tired, but at least much better than he had been. Ron noticed the way he very carefully maneuvered around the elves and other people, giving them a wide berth. He gave Blaise a hug once he reached him. "You sure you should be up already? You didn't even get a full hour of sleep yet, and you were looking pretty wiped out."

Blaise smiled, giving him a kiss. "Don't worry about me. Feeling better already. Give it another half hour and I'll be right as rain."

Ron spotted Carys wending her way towards him and quickly sat next to Pansy and pulled Blaise into the seat on the other side of him. Blaise just chuckled, settling in and watching Carys pout and wander off.

Ron seemed to relax a bit, letting out a soft sigh of relief. Blaise leaned over, slipping his arm around Ron's shoulders. "Keep it up and she's gonna think you don't want her." He whispered teasingly in Ron's ear.

Ron blushed. "I love you and Pansy." He said a bit too quickly.

Blaise chuckled, nipping his earlobe. "Yes... but as we keep telling you, it's ok to be attracted to other people too, Ron. We aren't going to think you don't love us just because you want to shag someone else."

"I... I didn't say I..." Ron stammered.

Blaise chuckled. "I'm well familiar with lust, Ron. Felt it a fair bit myself. I've learned to recognize it. Besides... she's a succuba, Ron."

"So? Just because she's a succuba doesn't automatically mean I want to shag her."

Blaise's smile broadened a bit as he watched Carys take the seat directly across from Ron. "No... but she's obviously very attracted to you..."

"So?" Ron asked again stubbornly.

Blaise looked over at Ron. "You haven't even read anything on them, have you? Well rest assured, I have. I mean come on, like I wouldn't look into sex demons! I read just about everything ever written on them by the time I was fourteen, and though everyone seems to describe them differently, some of the most important facts seem to remain the same, from which I have pieced together what I believe is a decently accurate idea of what they are and what they do... so let me enlighten you." He said, pulling him a bit closer and dropping his voice. "Succuba like to fulfill sexual fantasies... sometimes ones we didn't even realize we had... now how could they possibly do that, Ron?" he purred softly.

Ron looked over at him, puzzled.

"Because they can see our sexual fantasies... What those prudish Bible thumpers would never admit was that succubi and incubi would never come to someone who didn't want them. They are most attracted to the ones that are most attracted to them..."

Ron's eyes went round and he glanced over at Carys. She was sitting there, smirking at him. He started slightly as he felt something brush his leg. His eyes darted down and he saw her bare foot brushing his inner thigh.

Blaise spotted it as well. "Belly up to the table there Ron. We're about to eat."

Ron looked over at him, wide eyed. Blaise just smirked, carefully pushing his chair in until he was right up to the table. Carys grinned wickedly and her foot slid up further, rubbing right up against his rapidly growing 'interest'. Blaise leaned over, quickly kissing him to muffle the surprised groan that tried to escape him.

"Hmm... maybe wraiths aren't all that bad..." Carys said with a smirk, shifting down just a bit in her chair.

Blaise's eyes widened slightly, then he smirked again. He shifted up to the table and a bit closer to Ron, then eased back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. From the contented look on his face, Ron had no doubt where her other foot was.

Ron looked over and blushed slightly as her brother took a seat on the other side of her, opposite Blaise. Tonks just happened to get the seat on the other side of him. Both of them noticed the blush on Ron's cheeks. Tonks 'accidentally' knocked her napkin off the table and stooped down to get it. When she sat back up, she was smirking and trying hard not to snicker, obviously having gotten a peek under the table. Ron's blush deepened, but Carys just grinned unabashedly at Tonks, not even bothering to remove her feet. Harry, who was sitting on Tonks' other side was just sitting there pretending he didn't notice anything odd going on.

Forester was looking from Tonks to his sister and over at the boys. He rolled his eyes, catching on. He leaned forward a bit and looked down the table to see why Balthys hadn't put a stop to it, but his father seem to be engrossed in conversation with George, who had chosen the seat between him and Kulia.

Forester sat back, looking over at them contemplatively. Pansy, who was obviously quite well aware of what was going on, was just smirking and picking apart a piece of bread, nibbling on it while waiting for the rest of the food to be served.

He looked thoughtful for a moment, then glanced surreptitiously up and down the table. He settled down some in his chair, folding his arms casually over his chest and looking bored. Tonks' eyes suddenly widened. A slight blush colored her cheeks as she fought a smirk.

Blaise watched Tonks with a wicked smirk as she shifted around a bit in her seat, then slipped down a bit, biting her lip as her eyes got a far off look. His eyes went opalescent and he glanced down, watching avidly as Tonks tried to hide a shudder of pleasure. "Damn..." Blaise said longingly, "I want a tail..."

Forester just smirked at him and Tonks grabbed a handful of tablecloth, shuddering hard.

"You ok, Tonks?" Blaise asked innocently, batting his eyelashes at her.

She forced a smile. "Oh just fine." She said, obviously having a very hard time keeping her voice from rising. She batted her silverware off the table. "Opps..." She said, quickly disappearing after it.

Forester looked over when she didn't come back up, then looked down at the table, a puzzled look on his face. He suddenly shifted down, and from his surprised expression it was obviously not his own doing.

Blaise grinned broadly as they heard the soft sound of a zipper, followed almost immediately by Forester's eyes shooting wide. Forester barely stifled a gasp, his cheeks going bright red. As he got over his initial surprise, he got a little smirk on his face, his eyes fluttering shut.

"You look tired." Blaise said mischievously.

Forester blinked his eyes open, then tried valiantly to keep them open though they kept trying to drift shut.

Blaise just smirked and pulled out his sunglasses. "Heads up." He said, tossing them over to Forester. Forester managed to catch them, then slipped them on, giving a Blaise a grateful smile, then settled down a bit more with a soft sigh.

Carys hadn't missed what was happening either. She was looking over at Ron contemplatively, but caught the subtle shake of the head Blaise gave her. She pouted slightly, but remained in her seat. Blaise grinned at her. He would have found that entertaining, but he had no doubt Ron wouldn't have been able to keep quiet in that situation. He contented himself watching Forester for a time. His breathing had definitely increased, but otherwise he was doing a rather admirable job of hiding the fact that his was getting what looked like a rather spectacular blow job right there under the table, especially since it was almost certainly his first. Blaise smirked, feeling a throb in his loins as Forester's tail gave up just rubbing against her pants and worked its way under the waistband. Oh yes, he definitely wanted a tail...

Ginny happened to glance down the table and noticed there seemed to be something going on with their little group. She watched them for a moment, trying to fathom what they were up to. Draco's sleeve caught on a fork as he passed the newly arrived bowl of mashed potatoes across the table.

"I got it." Ginny said quickly, ducking down and surreptitiously peeking under the table. She sat back up abruptly, her cheeks coloring. Draco looked over at her curiously. "Um... I can't reach it... why don't you see if you can get it."

"Oh just leave it. Not as if there aren't enough forks in the setting..." He said, then he paused, looking at her little blushing smirk and the way she subtly glanced down towards Blaise's group, then back at him. "But then I wouldn't want anyone stepping on it..." He said uncertainly, then leaned down, peeking under the table. He barely stifled a snort of laughter, then quickly sobered his expression and sat up. "Um... I see it. Just a moment." He said, covertly pulling out his wand. He ducked back under the table and Ginny heard him softly mutter a familiar incantation. Light shimmered around the edges of the tablecloth, but any who noticed it promptly forgot, losing any interest they may have had in looking under the table. "There we go." Draco said, reemerging with the fork. "All better."

Blaise smirked as the slight rustling sounds of movement under the table instantly ceased. Forester noticed as well, opening his eyes behind the dark glasses. He looked over, noticing the little smirk on Draco's face as their eyes met. He slid his hand down, feeling the warmth of the edge of the Sanctuary spell on the tablecloth. He reached under and rapped firmly on the underside of the table. No sound emerged. "Sweet..." he said, a wicked smirk slipped onto his lips and he settled down again. "Watch this." Forester whispered softly to Blaise, noting his attention and knowing full well the table was no obstacle for him. Blaise watched in fascination as the tip of Forester's tail wrapped back around itself, becoming decidedly phallic in shape. He could see Tonks shudder hard as Forester slid it into her, the firm ridges rubbing up against her, displaying remarkable flexibility as he slowly pressed deeper despite the angle required. He let out a little shuddering breath as Tonks managed to convey how much she liked that without words. He slunk down a bit more in the chair, his head barely above table level by this point, his eyes shutting again behind the dark glasses.

Blaise could see Tonks struggling one handedly with something at her waist, obviously undoing her pants to free up Forester's movement a bit. Blaise smirked and shifted his foot forward, slipping it between her legs and gently nudging them apart, widening up her stance. Forester took the opening. Blaise watched as he started thrusting it into her. He was sorely tempted to duck under the table, even if only to listen. He was sure from the way she was moving she was making a bit of noise.

Forester suddenly seized the edge of the table with one hand, the other darting under and holding her still as he tensed as he pressed back in the chair, trapping his wings as they wriggled in an attempt to escape. A shudder went through him as his breath caught in his throat. After a tense moment, the breath shuddered out of him and he sagged in his chair, a contented smile slipping across his lips.

Blaise smirked. That had been even more interesting than expected in wraith vision. Forester's whole being had seemed to pulse and flash brilliantly, though Forester had controlled his outward appearance very well, all things considered, and no one outside their little group even seemed to have noticed. He watched through the table as Tonks rested her head on Forester's thigh. No longer distracted, Forester redoubled his efforts on her and in a surprisingly short period of time he saw a sort of shimmer go through her essence as she shook, clinging to Forester as best she could while remaining out of sight. It was fascinating. He'd never really watched someone peak while seeing them as a wraith does. Well, not while sober enough to remember at any rate. Tonks hadn't been nearly as flashy, but he doubted it was because her peak was any less intense. To his eyes, Forester and his family were nearly twice as bright as most humans, even without any orgasmic help.

He could see her moving around again after a minute, letting Forester slip his tail out of her pants, then he saw little mist-like shimmers coming from her hand. She was obviously using her wand to clean them up a bit. He hadn't realized magic use would show up as well, but he supposed he should have guessed. The wands just drew out and focused the magic... they didn't work unless there was magic within the wielder to focus, so the magic could be thought of as an extension of yourself in a way. Thinking about it, he'd probably seen people using magic while using his vision at St. Mungo's... but at the time he'd felt like he was in some kind of a trance... he had only noticed what he had to to fulfill his compulsions. It was almost frightening once he was away from there and able to think about it more clearly. He could feel it tugging him this way and that, even here, and he knew he'd have to eventually fix all of those present to find any peace, but it wasn't overwhelming him as it had before. He was very glad the house elves had apparently spread the word, because none of them ventured within a couple yards of him.

Blaise shifted his eyes back to normal and smirked at Tonks as she reemerged from under the table with a handful of dropped silverware. "Got it." She said mischievously and Forester covertly adjusted his pants and shifted back up in his chair.

Blaise rolled his eyes, then glanced over as the door opened. Arthur came in, but he didn't see Molly with him. Still... He regretfully tapped Carys' foot, glancing significantly at Arthur. She spotted him and sighed. He felt the foot slip out of his lap, and from Ron's sigh of relief, he had been 'freed' as well. It was a good thing actually. He had started to look like he was about to come, even though it had just been her foot. His easy excitability amused Blaise and gave him the almost irresistible urge to reach over and finish him up with his hand, but he resisted.

"Where's Molly?" Delse asked as she went over to Arthur, having been hurrying around playing hostess almost non-stop since they arrived in the room.

"Staying with Penelope. Doesn't seem to want to let go of Justin." He said with a little smile. He shook his head. "Still can't believe I'm a grandfather already... I mean the prospect of being one in nine months was shocking enough..."

"Six." Balthys corrected him.

Arthur looked over at him, puzzled. "I didn't know about the one Penelope's currently carrying either, and I suspect that one will only be a further four months or so actually."

Balthys looked up from the bread he had been buttering. "I was talking about Kulia's twins. Normal gestation for a pureblood snow elf is four and a half to five months... it increases to about six and a half months if it's half human, but since she's carrying twins I suspect they'll go a bit sooner, so six months should be about right I believe."

Arthur blinked. "Oh. I see."

Balthys looked over at the twins, who were both wide eyed with the prospect of getting children even sooner than they counted on. "Oh, and rest up now, boys. Once she gets over this little queasy phase, the hormones are really going to hit and you're going to be hard pressed to keep up with her for a good several months... even with two of you!"

They looked at Kulia, noting her brightly blushing cheeks and grinned as they easily interpreted just how she was going to be wearing them out...

Arthur shifted uneasily, obviously having caught the implication as well. "Yes.. well... Just came to get some food and such to take back to the room." He said quickly to Delse.

"Oh, you didn't need to come all the way down here yourself. You could have just rang for a house elf."

"Penelope's fallen asleep again. I think Molly wanted Justin to herself for a bit before handing him over to the twins." He said with a grin. "She gave me a list."

Delse took the scrap of parchment he pulled out, looking it over. She nodded. "No problem. The house elves will have this together in just a few minutes... I believe they already have some water on the boil for tea." She said, handing it to a house elf who came scurrying over at her words.

Suddenly Balthys pulled up his hood, looking towards the door, and Forester shifted a bit, carefully tucking his wings completely behind him. Mere seconds later, the door banged open and a house elf dashed up to Blaise, quickly stopping and backing up a bit as it remembered its orders to keep its distance. "Master! Master!" It squeaked excitedly. "She is just showing up and she is not answering our questioned but we is not able to stop her because she is having an invitation..."

Blaise furrowed his brow, "Who?"

"Oh bottle it! I've had an excruciatingly long day and I'm not about to sit here explaining myself to a house elf!"

Arthur and Charlie stared in surprise as a very familiar looking woman strode purposefully in. Her long brown hair was down again, but now appeared wind tossed, her appearance not nearly as impeccable as it had been before.

"You..." Arthur said in surprise.

She paused, looking at him. "Oh, it's you again is it? See you made it home like I told you to. Somebody actually did as they were told today! About bloody time." She said, whisking past him.

"As for you, little mister!" She growled, heading purposefully for Draco. He turned his chair towards her and waited, grinning at her. She came to a stop before him, clutching her briefcase as if tempted to bat him with it. "Are you trying to make my life miserable? Is this some kind of attempt to give me a nervous breakdown? Or are you merely testing the limits of my patience? Because I'll tell you, right now I could just as soon kick your arse as look at you! Just wait until you see my bill! It's going to be so impressive even you are going to be stunned!"

"Well hello, sweetness." Draco drawled with an infuriating grin still firmly in place, "I've missed you too."

She narrowed her eyes. "Don't give me that sweetness shite after the loops I've had to jump through for you today!"

"I take it you two know eachother?" Arthur said with a little smile. "This is the one we told you about, the one at the Ministry..."

Draco nodded. "I suspected as much. It was the mention of paperwork that tipped me off. I'd like you to meet Bazentine, my legal representative. Bazentine, this is my wife, Ginevra and our family and friends..."

Bazentine rolled her eyes, making an impatient gesture with her hand. "Yes yes, simply lovely to see everyone, now can we get on to business?"

Draco sighed. "Very well. I can tell someone's had a bad day."

"You have no bloody idea!" She growled. She took a deep breath and breathed it out as if trying to expel her irritation and regain her composure. She did look a bit calm afterwards at least. "Let's start at the beginning then, shall we? Your suit was filed promptly at eleven twenty seven this morning." She said, setting the edge of her briefcase on the table in the gap between Draco and Narcissa and shoving the plates and such back a bit to give it room, then opened it.

"I didn't even send the owl until nearly eleven. How did you get it done that quick?" Draco asked curiously.

"Oh please! I subscribe to that bloody excuse for a paper as well. I was at the Ministry with the suit ready to go for half a bloody hour before you bothered to get that owl to me with permission to file it!" She said, jerking a stack of a good dozen large sheets of parchment out of her briefcase and tossing it on his lap. "There's your copy. Not that it's much more than a memento now. They had a source on record for just about every bloody word in that article, and handed over the their records without a qualm to cover their own arses. Remind me never to tip them on something 'anonymously'. About as much loyalty as a pack of rabid werewolves during the full moon. No offense." She shot offhandedly in Lupin's direction without even looking at him.

"So who was it?" Draco asked, leafing through the parchment.

"Fudge of course. Him and three high ranking aurors. I've taken the liberty of settling with the Daily Prophet."

He looked up sharply. "You let them off the hook that easily?"

She snorted. "It wasn't that easy on them, and Albus Dumbledore is the one who 'let them off the hook', though they don't appear quite bright enough to have figured that out yet. By the letter of law, they weren't required to do anything more than publish a brief apology if their sources are proven false and have their ledgers verify that the content was indeed provided to them by a valid source. They didn't even have to provide the legal documentation necessary for us to sue the sources, but as luck would have it, they didn't realize that either. Either that or they didn't care. Those suits are filed as well by the way, though I'm not sure they're going to manage to avoid 'accidental misplacement' considering who we're going after. Here are your copies of those..." She pulled out a further four sheaths of parchment, each just as thick as the first. Ginny shifted up a bit, trying to see just how big the inside of her thin briefcase was as Draco handed the paperwork off to one of his house elves that had hurried up to help.

"Oh, and I'm just curious, what the bloody Hell inspired you to go parading around in public pretending to be a healer?" She asked, leaning against the table and folding her arms over her chest.

He blushed, glancing around. They hadn't really told anyone about that part of their little visit to the hospital. "How did you find out about that?"

She rolled her eyes and groaned in exasperation. "Draco, Draco, Draco..." She said, shaking her head. "Glamors work on the minds of those who look upon you. They do not, however, work on FILM!" She reached in her briefcase again and pulled out a hefty stack of photos, chunking them on his lap.

His eyes went round as he leafed through them. There was picture after picture of him healing and tending to victims. many of them clearly showing the emblem on his robe. "Bloody Hell..." He muttered, leaning back and rubbing his eyes wearily. Ginny snatched the stack from his hands, looking through them with a big grin on her face. Her eyes went wide as she pulled out one, looking at it closer. "You delivered a baby?"

Draco looked over, spotting the picture of him handing a tiny newborn over to an exhausted, but ecstatic looking woman and her husband. He cleared his throat uneasily. "You just have to catch." He said dismissingly, his cheeks coloring. "Why don't you put those away?"

She peered closer still and smirked, "So that's how you lost your shirt!" She said, noting his bare chest and the familiar looking material wrapped around the infant. "How many of these are there?" She asked incredulously as she leafed through them.

"One hundred and forty three." Bazentine said, "One hundred and forty three lovely little pieces of evidence."

"Evidence?" Draco said, furrowing his brow.

She nodded, then smirked. "At least it would be if you didn't have me. Falsely representing yourself as an authority figure is not exactly legal. Considering the circumstances, it might have been played off as an emergency situation, but now we're talking about Fudge. He's got a corn cob up his arse over you for some reason. He could have used this, and quite gleefully at that I'm sure."

"Could have...?"

She grinned brilliantly. "Welcome to the proud ranks of Healer's in Training, Draco." She said, grabbing up something from the briefcase and tossing it at him. He caught it and looked at it. It was a pristine new Healer in Training robe. "You already got your backup robe I believe. They only provide two. If you need more it's your problem until you graduate from your training."

He pulled his eyes away from the robe and stared up at her. "You have to be joking!"

"Not in the least. You are, as of this afternoon, in training to be one of the few, the proud, the underpaid... the Healers. Your books will be waiting for you in your room at Hogwarts when you return after the holiday." She said, obviously enjoying this.

"But... I'm half way through my sixth year already."

"Yes, and that means I had to hunt down each and every one of those bloody professors from the school and get their signatures, and on Christmas no less! They all signed. You will have to take on extra classes for a bit to catch up, but you should be able to start your internship at St. Mungo's every Monday and Wednesday starting in March. Do some studying over the summer and I'm sure a bright boy like you will be able to graduate on time. St. Mungo's has excepted you into their graduate program as well, thought students usually don't get picked up by a hospital until they're nearly finished with their studies."

"They accepted me already?" He asked, looking stunned.

"Yep. It was a bit irritating actually. You need seven signatures from ranking healers on their staff to be accepted, but for you, every last bloody one of them insisted on signing! Even the helpers!" She said, pulling out yet another bit of parchment and handing it to him.

He stared down at the list. Cullis' signature was first, followed by dozens more. He lifted the front page, peering at the one affixed to the back of it. It was filled with signatures as well. Something caught his eye and he looked up, then stared. The back of the top page was covered as well. He flipped it over and saw that the signatures continued down the back of the second page all the way to the bottom as well, the last few rather small as they were pressed for space. A couple had even scrawled theirs in the narrow margins on the sides. He just stared, stunned. There had to be over two hundred signatures at least!

"Well, you want to see your story, or do you want to fondle that parchment all day?" She asked with a derisive chuckle.

"My story?" He asked, looking up at her in confusion.

She sighed. "Who do you think took the pictures? A tourist?" She reached into the seemingly bottomless briefcase once again and then handed him something that made his stomach sink. It was a copy of the Daily Prophet. He unrolled it and looked at the front page. It was covered with scenes of rubble and chaos and wounded being carted off. "Turn the page." She said a bit impatiently, "You can't expect to have made the cover today of all days. Get over yourself!"

He glared at her and opened up the paper. He let out a groan. Pages two and three appeared to be dedicated entirely to him. It was liberally dotted with pictures of him at St. Mungo's, many of which he recognized from the stack she had given him. He barely even notice Blaise, who had come over and was trying to look at the paper over his shoulder while maintaining his distance from the others around him.

Ministry Deception
by Rita Skeeter

Suit was filed today against this paper on behalf of Draco Malfoy and many others mentioned in the article
concerning him in this morning's paper. The Daily Prophet of course complied, supplying the source material
from which we gathered the information for the article required by the recently passed Author's Accountability
Act. Though we have the right to protect our sources, (as we have had to do in the case of the Author of the
"Ministry of Magic or Minions of He Who Must Not Be Named?" articles, whose name the Ministry
has been trying to force out of us since the article was published) we decided since it was apparent the information
was given in bad faith and towards devious ends, we freely supplied their names. It is upsetting to us here at the
Daily Prophet that such normally reliable and thought of as quite responsible and trustworthy people would have
provided information that, in light of recent events, is quite obviously false to the point of outright lies. To think that
some of the very highest ranking members of our governing body would supply such falsehoods in a blatantly
obvious attempt to steer public attention away from their own misdeed and cast a disparaging light on an innocent
boy is, quite frankly, disturbing. We strongly encourage the members of the wizarding community to take these
duplicitous actions into account when considering the candidates in the upcoming election.

In accordance with the agreement reached between the Daily Prophet and young Mr. Malfoy's representative, we
are publishing a complete, verbatim copy of our source interviews on pages four and five of this edition along with
testimony from Albus Dumbledore, Narcissa Black and Draco's Head of House, Severus Snape that refute the false
information given. These are provided for you in complete and unaltered form thanks to the recording devices
furnished by Albus Dumbledore and provided to all members of this paper so that we may stay in accordance with
the law. These devices record every word spoke once activated and are just as unalterable and irrefutable at the legal
ledgers that have long been used by many of the most affluent members of our society, as well as Gringotts Wizarding
bank. Our devices are, in fact, based on the same spells.

We at the Daily Prophet hereby officially apologize to Mr. Draco Malfoy and everyone else slighted in any way by that
article. We will also gladly be providing complete transcripts and testimony in the consequent personal libel suit(s) filed
towards the originators of the libelous comments previously published. We know this cannot possibly make up for the
damage it may have done to young Mr. Malfoy's image in the eyes of the wizarding public, but hopefully the more honest
and insightful article that follows will help shed more light on his true character. We hope those of you reading this paper
with disregard the previous article and remain open to the new information provided herein.

That wasn't too bad. The next article he wasn't so sure about. The opening alone was enough to worry him...

Draco Malfoy - the hidden side
Note: The quotes from Draco Malfoy and many others in this article are unsolicited and candid. They were not even, in fact,
talking directly to this reporter, nor had they any idea they were being recorded. These are taken from conversations amongst
themselves that happened to be uttered in the presence of one of the before mentioned recording devices, and therefor were
entered into record. We have received permission to publish these comments from Mr. Malfoy's representative with the
provision that she be allowed to compare them to the transcripts prior to our publishing this to make sure the quotes were
accurate, complete and not taken out of context. The photos provided were also of a candid nature, and are printed without
permission, but as all were taken in a public place, they have been allowed as well.

Note: The quotes from Draco Malfoy and many others in this article are unsolicited and candid. They were not even, in fact, talking directly to this reporter, nor had they any idea they were being recorded. These are taken from conversations amongst themselves that happened to be uttered in the presence of one of the before mentioned recording devices, and therefor were entered into record. We have received permission to publish these comments from Mr. Malfoy's representative with the provision that she be allowed to compare them to the transcripts prior to our publishing this to make sure the quotes were accurate, complete and not taken out of context. The photos provided were also of a candid nature, and are printed without permission, but as all were taken in a public place, they have been allowed as well.

Draco glanced down the article. "Oh Bloody Hell! Was she circling me like a bloody vulture or what?" He growled. She seemed to have copied down just about every significant conversation he'd had while in the emergency room. Some of them were out of order, but as his eyes combed the page he saw about everything he remembered saying of any consequence. They were all in small sections, each with an attention catching subtitle. The introductory section had the words 'Initiation by fire' In bold print over it and contained significant portions of his conversation with Abigail Litton's father that concerned his supposed Healer training and how he felt about it. Draco cringed. It sounded so sappy when set down in black and white. Draco groaned as he read on. His comments to Ginny on the subject were there as well, including his comments on what his father's reaction would be. Much to his horror, it went on to the whole of his explanation about the house elves and how they stopped the Death Eaters in a section entitled 'Lucius' backup plan backfires!'. He rubbed his forehead. "Well it's official... father is going to kill me." He muttered in exasperation. His eyes widened as it went on to include his comments on his father's ambition to usurp Voldemort's position once he reached full power. Oh now that was going to go over just great... He certainly hoped Voldemort believed it and took care of his father before his father could get ahold of him!

After that followed:

Husband and Father-to-be at Sixteen?
Yes, believe it or not, it has recently been revealed that fifteen year old Ginevra Weasley, the young woman whom our false
source portrayed as Draco's powerless victim, was in actuality his beloved fiancée. Just yesterday, he made her his wife in a
small family wedding presided over by Albus Dumbledore himself. In attendance were Ginevra's parents and family members,
all of which are said to pleased with the match. If that were not enough, the young couple's trip to St. Mungo's today was to
have her pregnancy officially confirmed. It is my pleasure to announce that they are, in fact, expecting their first child. Despite
the extremely short notice, arrangements have already begun to allow both parents to continue attending Hogwarts until they
are able to graduate.

"Oh sweet Merlin!" Draco growled as his eyes traveled down to the next section, "Is this out yet?" He asked Bazentine urgently.

"They were getting it ready to ship out when I left. If it hasn't reached their subscribers yet, it probably will any minute now." She said with a shrug.

He looked up at Blaise grimly. "If you have any wards or protections that aren't up yet, get them up!"

"You think he'd try to attack this place just because you married Ginny and knocked her up?" Blaise asked, his brow furrowed.

Draco rolled his eyes and handed the paper to him, jabbing his finger irritably at the next section. Blaise's eyes widened and he read it aloud.

Narcissa Black - in Love and Expecting!
Draco isn't the only one following his heart now that the Ministry has forced his father into hiding. Lucius Malfoy's ex-wife (as
of the Rescission of Legal Status decree recently passed by the Ministry of Magic) has found happiness in the arms of her
childhood love. Though the family refuses to release the name of this former love, Her new daughter-in-law, Ginevra Malfoy, had
this to say about her mystery man, "...I hope they do get together. He's a good, gentle and loving man. I think they'd make a good
match, and they both certainly deserve some happiness after the lives they've had to endure, and they've already waited more than
long enough to be together. It'll almost be like a whole new start for her. A new man in her life... well, different at least... and new
children...". That is not a typo. Sources reveal Narcissa is now expecting twins. Though we couldn't get a direct quote from Draco
on the subject, he seemed to approve of the match as well. Whomever it is, they already appear to be starting their life together.
Let's hope she finds more joy in this relationship than she did in the last.

Ginny clapped her hand over her mouth. "Oh no!" She gasped through her hand. "I can't believe I talked about that in public! How could I have been so daft?"

"It's alright, Ginny." Lupin said softly. "You had no idea, and besides, it didn't give my name. If he suspects me I very much doubt it will be because of that. Actually I thought it was quite a lovely quote, and I'm touched you would say that."

Ginny didn't look convinced of her innocence, but looked a little less upset at least.

"Don't worry," Bazentine said, "I'm already drawing up legislation to prevent the use of quotes taken without prior knowledge. Considering how it worked to our advantage in this case, Fudge might just pass it."

Draco sighed, angry at himself as much as anyone. With a father like his, he really should have known better than to speak freely without a couple dozen spells in place to prevent being overheard. "How the bloody Hell could you let that cow print this?" Draco demanded irritably.

Bazentine sighed indulgently, "Because, as I said before, so long as they have creditable sources, they can print whatever they bloody well please! I was able to keep it at least friendly towards you and your new little family, but I only managed that through quite liberal threats of legal action... and if they had a representative of their own on staff I wouldn't even have gotten that far! Her editor is still a bit gun-shy about these new rules that let people sue them, otherwise that would have been a much different article, I guarantee you! It still would have had all that information and a good deal more. She figured out who Narcissa's little boyfriend is for one. That alone accounted for a ten minute screaming and threatening session. In the end, her editor made her leave it out since it was really just supposition on her part and they didn't have solid proof. You might care to note that I also got the Rayne family left out entirely! She was just drooling to involve them, but enough legal jargon and a bit of flirting with her editor managed that little exclusion. You're getting charged extra for that as well. He's middle aged, over weight and resembles a troll!"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Sure. Fine. Just make sure you list out all of your charges. You know how the Gringotts goblins are about expenditures."

"No problem." She said, smiling sweetly. "That edition also has an article on that missing brother-in-law of yours, but it's mostly Ministry cover-up kind of mud slinging. That woman's going to bankrupt that paper with lawsuits if she doesn't watch herself."

Blaisedidn't object as Arthur snatched the paper out of his hands and started leafing through looking for the article.

"Well, unless you have any more hurtles for me, I believe I'll be off." Bazentine said, snapping her briefcase shut.

"You sure that's safe? I mean father is going to know which representative I used. When he reads this..." Draco said, shaking his head. "I'd really rather no one leave the grounds right now. It would take an army to get in here, and I have enough of my own elves that are already trained with that warding spell to hold them off for a good long time."

"Oh I'll be fine." she said, waving it off dismissingly. "That sexist lord of theirs always sends men. I think I can manage!"

Draco sighed. "Just because you're half Veela doesn't mean..."

She made a sharp hissing sound to silence him, but it was too late.

"You're half Veela?" Blaise asked, surprised.

She folded her arms over her chest. "You have a problem with that?" she asked menacingly.

"No... I just... your hair is a bit dark for a half Veela isn't it?" Blaise asked hesitantly, taken aback by her anger.

She rolled her eyes. "Have you ever tried to get any respect out of women looking like a bloody Veela? Of course I color my hair! Even Muggles can change their hair color. Why do you assume it's beyond my capabilities?"

"I didn't mean..." Blaise said, at a loss for words.

"Oh just stop." Draco sighed. "No one here cares about that. I mean Hell, I just found out I'm part Veela too!"

"Well duh!" Bazentine snorted.

Draco blinked, stunned.

"I certainly hope you don't rely on your seductive powers alone." Balthys said softly.

She looked over at him, then eyed him, furrowing her brow. "Please! Men have about as much willpower as a twig. It doesn't take much Veela blood to control them. Women are the only ones I have to look out for."

"Not all men are susceptible to a Veela's charms." He persisted.

"I have yet to meet a man who didn't melt at my whim." She said in a haughty tone.

"Oh dear." Balthys sighed. He got to his feet, making his way around the end of the table.

"Be gentle." Kulia said with a smirk.

He just smiled back, then came to a stop before Bazentine. "Very well. I'm a man. Show me." He said, folding his arms across his chest and waiting patiently.

She smirked at him. "Elves aren't immune. I could have you eating out of my hand if I wanted."

"Let's see it then." Balthys replied evenly.

She rolled her eyes. "Fine. Your funeral." She looked at him and the males in her vicinity could feel a strange tingling. "What do you think of me now?" She breathed in a heavenly voice.

"Are you actually trying?" Balthys asked, sounding only mildly curious.

She blinked, her smirk fading. Her expression darkened and took on a determined set. The air all but crackled around her. When she could still see no reaction from him, she began to dance. Power radiated from her barely less than the full blooded Veela had exuded at the World Cup. Balthys just watched her for a minute with a little bemused smile. "Don't stop." He said, reaching out and taking ahold of her shoulders. He turned her towards the others. "Now I want you to look closely."

She glared at him, still dancing as requested, but glanced around. She blinked. There were not nearly as many glazed stares looking back at her as there should have been. Draco was just sitting back in his chair, looking between her and Balthys as if wondering what would happen next... Harry was picking apart a piece of turkey, not even looking, Snape was taking a drink from his glass with a bored expression on his face, Lupin was looking around at the others, Hagrid was slipping a small gargoyle scraps under the table, Christian was watching him feed the gargoyle, Arthur was still reading the paper, Ron was just sitting back with his arm casually draped around Pansy and even Blaise didn't look enthralled. Ok, he was staring, but no more than he normally would if any attractive woman was writhing around in front of him.

Bazentine stopped, staring at the gathered people in shock. How could she affect so few of these men?

"You need to learn your limits." Balthys said gently.

"But... how?" She asked, still staring.

"Well... most of them are accounted for by the fact that Veelas are powerless when faced with a man who is already in love. A couple have various other reasons for their immunity... but the point is, you never know who is going to be effected and who isn't.

He reached out and gently turned her back towards him, then he grabbed up a spare chair from against the wall and placed it behind her before coming back to face her.

"What are you doing?" she asked warily.

"Just completing the lesson." Balthys said with an innocent smile. He reached up, pushing down his hood, then stared at her intently, his eyes starting to glow softly as her eyes went wide and glazed over slightly. He shifted forward, bringing his head within inches of hers, gazing at her with his eyes half hooded. She stared at him, starting to tremble, but unable to pull back. Her cheeks were flush as he tilted his head slightly, leaning just a bit closer and breathed out, his warm breath coursing over the side of her neck. She let out a little inarticulate sound. He let his breath drift slowly up her neck, then pursed his lips slightly, letting out a short, fast gust just behind and below her ear. She let out a little strangled cry as a hard shudder ran through her. She abruptly sat on the chair as her knees gave out, then just sat there, panting and looking dazed.

He leaned down, smirking at her. "If you are going to rely on seduction, learn to recognize your superiors."

Bazentine just sat there, staring at him.

He straightened and turned, heading back to his seat.

"Where are you going?" She asked in a quavering voice.

"Dinner's getting cold."

"But... but you can't just do that and leave me here!"

A wide grin wrapped across his face. "How does it feel?" He asked softly. "I want you to remember that feeling the next time you decide to vamp some poor slob just for giggles."

She just let out a little petulant sound as he walked away.

Draco had his hand firmly clamped over his mouth, his cheeks red from suppressed laughter. After a minute he was able to get himself under control and looked at her with a serious expression. "Just so you know... I don't compensate for schooling."

She glared at him venomously.

Forester got up and worked his way over to his father, meeting him as he reached his chair. Balthys paused, looking at his son curiously. Forester had his hands in his pockets and was looking very hesitant, his cheeks nearly as red as Bazentine's. "Something you wanted?" Balthys prompted gently when he didn't speak right away.

Forester looked over at Bazentine, then back at his father. "Did... did you just make her come by breathing on her?" he asked, keeping his voice low.

Balthys just smirked.

Forester scratched his side uneasily, then shifted a bit closer, dropping his voice even more. "Could... could you show me how to do that?"

Balthys' eyes got a bit watery and he suddenly wrapped his arms around Forester, hugging him tight. "I thought you'd never ask!" He sighed happily. He then released Forester, who was beet red and looking around, seeing everyone staring at them. "Most of it is instinctual of course," Balthys said, draping his arm across his shoulders and steering him towards the door, "But there is so very much I could teach you... let's discuss this in private. It's too bad you don't have a test subject. The explanations would be so much simpler..." He said, leading him out through the door.

Tonks stared at the door for a moment, then yawned wide, stretching expansively. "Boy am I done in!" She said getting to her feet. "I think I really need a nap..." She hurried to the door before anyone could say anything. When she opened the door, Balthys and Forester were standing there waiting with smirks on their faces. She quickly pulled the door shut behind her.

> > > > > > > > > > >

A/N - Sorry for making you wait once again. My muse has been fighting tooth and claw of late. She has her eye fixed on a different story and doesn't want to stay properly on task for this one. Well, the other story is related, being a sort of prequel to this one, but the thoughts that are buggin to get out would require some minor tweaking of this one to work. You know what? Prequels are hard! You have to actually go by the guidelines of everything you've already said happened and that's a pain! ;) No guarantees that other story will get far, but I wanted to let you know what was going on in case I have to write some on that as well to keep her happy. To her credit, she's stayed on task since like last September with no respite, so that's pretty damn good! Let's see if I can edge her through the final stretch... Sorry if there's typos, especially in the last bit. Too tired to proof read more and I've had another multi-day headache and my eyes won't put up with another read through.

Sunflour - (snickering) no, Silver is not related to Draco (and it certainly wasn't Draco, because, for one, he was about 18 or 19 when Forester was 7. That would mean his current age is late twenties). Besides, Balthys never met Silver. Seeing him in Forester's memory was the first time he'd even heard of him. I trust you've figured out by now why Draco smelled familiar ;) The description of Silver comes from a guy I saw once. The image of him just kind of stuck in my head and was stirred up recently for some unknown reason and I knew I had to put him into my story, even if only briefly ;) Also, if you couldn't tell from Carys' earlier mention of him growing up with American music and television, he spent his formative years in the States. Silver was American. I'm not saying all American wizards look like that, obviously, but those particular ones did. As for how Tonks knows Forester, she met him before they left for the Ministry to pick up Penelope. She was fondling his tail the last time he saw her, but she looked entirely different.