Trigger Warning: This chapter gets a little dark. There is talk of rape and torture in this chapter as Draco talks about what the Death Eaters could do and remembers what happened to him during the war. I don't get too graphic but I wanted to post a warning just in case. Also a character has a panic attack in the chapter.

Chapter Six: Shadows from The Past

Harry sat behind his desk as the two Malfoy's told their story. He listened raptly as they told him all about Lucius's twin brother, Aurora's father, and how the two had come to be ostracized from the Malfoy family before Draco and Narcissa had welcomed the two back.

"Wow, that's…" Harry couldn't think of anything else to say. "That's crazy. Just knowing that two members of your family were kept quiet for so long, knowing that Abraxas was able to keep the existence of his other son hidden from the world is insane."

"Well the Malfoy family has always been very good at keeping secrets," Draco reminded him wryly.

Harry shook his head in understanding. "So, do you have a secret keeper in mind?"

Aurora raised her hand.

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Harry looked at the other Malfoy.

"Aurora is the only option. I can't risk telling anyone else about what we're doing. Besides, my cousin is very good at keeping secrets."

"I suppose you're right," he sighed. "So where do you think would be a safe place for them? France?"

"Too obvious," Draco told him. "I was thinking Greece. My mother inherited a small villa there from the Black family that would be safe for them. Not many people outside of the family know about it. We'll just need to make sure that the charm lets those who already know where it is come and go safely."

"We can work those provisions into the charm," Harry promised. "I'll start work on the charm today after the two of you leave and hopefully I will have it authorized by the Ministry in the morning and we can do the spell just in time for Aurora to leave with her father and Narcissa."

"Are you going to be able to do this?" Draco asked the dark haired man.

"I already cleared it with Kingsley. He didn't need to know how many people are going to be protected under the spell and he's helping me set up the more elaborate parts."

"If you have to tell him about my father and myself you can," Aurora told him. "I know that the Minister of Magic won't be a danger to our family."

Harry looked at Draco who nodded in agreement. "Kingsley would never do anything to put anyone innocent in harm's way."

"I promise that I'll do anything I can to protect your whole family," Harry assured the blond.

"I appreciate that," Draco looked up at his former rival. "Harry."

Harry hadn't been prepared to hear the other man address him by his first name but after all they had been through and what they were trying to accomplish it just seemed right.

Draco got to his feet after another moment or two and Aurora followed suit.

"We had best be getting back," Draco spoke. "We need to try and plan out what we're going to say to convince my mother to go to Greece."

Harry stood as well. "Let me know if you need any help, and I will be in touch with you early tomorrow morning."

Draco nodded at Harry and Aurora gave him a smile before they both turned to leave.

"Draco," Harry used his name as well. "Could you spare a moment? I want to talk to you about a private matter."

"I'll see you back at home Draco," Aurora told him, before turning to Harry. "Thank you for everything Mr. Potter."

"Please call me Harry," he smiled at her.

"Harry then," she smiled back, blushing a little. "Thank you."

As soon as she was gone Harry turned back to the other Malfoy in his office.

"What can I do for you?" Draco asked the savior of the Wizarding world.

"I know you're dating Ginny," Harry told him simply. "She didn't tell me but I saw the two of you walking back to Diagon alley one night looking pretty cozy."

Draco felt his heart skip a beat but kept his mask firmly in place. "And?"

"Relax," Harry put his hands up as if depending himself. "I'm not going to tell on you or anything. I just want to make sure both of you are being careful….does Ginny know?"

Draco shook his head. "If she knows she could be in danger. That is why we haven't been parading around the fact that we're dating, I don't want to put her in jeopardy because of me. I shouldn't have even started this until it was safe but I just couldn't help it."

Harry chuckled a little. "Sometimes it is hard to control when you fall for someone."

Draco narrowed his eyes a little, having seen the way Harry had looked at his cousin. "I'm just afraid to tell her. I don't want her to think that I'm doing this for anything other than the right reasons. I'm doing this to protect my family and all the other families that went through the war, I'm doing this so that no one has to be scared when they walk down the streets anymore. I may not be a hero but I know that no one deserves to live in fear and if I can help I will."

Harry looked at the young man and thought he understood exactly what he was trying to say. He had been treated like the hero for so long he never knew when people actually liked him for himself.

"I know you just want to keep her safe, but Ginny can handle herself," Harry tried to reassure him.

"I know she can," Draco replied firmly. "I just know what that crowd is capable of. Why do you think I was so anxious to get Aurora and my uncle protected as well as my mother?"

Harry took a deep breath in before the next words came out of his mouth. He knew he would regret asking but he had to.

"Draco," he finally got out. "What would they do to your Uncle and Aurora if they found out about them?"

Draco had not been prepared for that question and he closed his eyes for a moment or two to steady himself, flashbacks of his own nights at the hands of Death Eaters hitting him like a punch in the gut.

"It depends on the Death Eater," Draco answered, his voice a little rough. "Some of the less intense ones would kill them quickly, knowing that doing so would cause me the most pain. Most Death Eaters would Crucio them until their minds break, much like the Longbottoms or they would find other ways to torture them that they know would be most traumatic. Using spells that would cut them and let them bleed out slowly and painfully before healing their wounds and giving them blood replenishing potions so they could do it all over again."

"Dear Merlin," Harry felt his stomach churn a little as the Slytherin continued to speak.

"And that isn't even the worst of it," Draco continued, his hands clenched at his sides, wanting to make sure Harry understood the danger and what was at stake. "Men like my uncle and his brother won't stop at normal tortures like that. Oh they'll Crucio both of them until they get tired of their screams but then that's when the real fun will begin."

Draco tried to keep back the tears that wanted to escape. "After the physical pain comes the mental pain…the pain that scars for life. They might rape Aurora while Uncle Gabriel is forced to watch, they might rape him while my cousin is forced to watch or if they are feeling really evil they might Imperio my Uncle and force him to rape his daughter."

Harry felt the bile rise in his throat as Draco finished talking but kept his mouth shut tight so he wouldn't be sick all over his desk. When he finally had himself under control he opened his mouth to speak one last time.

"I promise we will keep them safe."

Draco gave him a curt nod. "I'll see you tomorrow morning then. Thank you Harry."

Without waiting for a response Draco rushed from the room, feeling as if he couldn't breathe. He rushed through the halls of the Ministry making his way as fast as he could back to all of the fireplaces so he could Floo home. As he walked he felt as if every pair of eyes was watching him move, as if the walls were closing in around him. Draco shuddered and tried to get a hold of himself. He hadn't felt this badly since Voldemort had been camped out in his house and talking with Harry about what people like the Lestrange brothers were capable of had only made Draco more aware of the risk he was bringing to his family yet again. He finally reached the nearest grate and threw powder in, calling out his destination. He managed to land on his feet as he stumbled out of the Floo in the sitting room but quickly dropped to his knees as memories continued to wash over him.

He looked around the room and saw the bodies and blood that had littered the floor after the Golden Trio had escaped his families grasp as if they were still there. He remembered his mother being forced to Crucio him for not speaking up when he knew it was Harry's face that was obscured by a stinging jinx. Every scar and mark that his clothing hid felt as if it was on fire and Draco started gasping for air feeling as if he couldn't properly breathe any longer.

"Oh my god, Draco," he heard Aurora's voice, though it sounded far away.

She rushed over and dropped to the ground beside her cousin. She had been by Draco's side for many attacks like this over the last few years. She knew that this room was one where many bad things had happened to him so she got him to his feet and took him a down the hall to her own suites. She sat him on the couch in her own sitting room and knelt in front of him, gripping his hands in her own to ground him.

"Okay Draco, just breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth while I count," she instructed calmly, knowing just what to do.

The blond shook his head and managed to rasp out one word. "Can't."

"Yes you can, we're just counting," Aurora told him. "You can get through this. Now I'm going to count and you breathe just like I told you."

Slowly she counted to ten as her cousin focused on his breath and began to calm himself. By the time Aurora got to ten Draco had pushed down the thoughts and some of the panic. He pulled his cousin up and hugged her tightly to him.

"You're safe Draco," she reminded him. "I'm safe, your mum and my dad are safe. What you're feeling is frightening but you are not in danger."

He nodded and took a few more deep breaths before letting Aurora go. She raised her hand and wordlessly summoned something from Draco's lab, uncorking it and pressing it into his hand.

"Drink it," she ordered.

The blond recognized the color and smell of a calming draught. "Rora, I don't need this."

"Please Draco," she encouraged him. "It will help you with some of the lingering feelings."

"I'll be fine, I promise," he continued to refuse.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, drink the damn potion or I will hex you," her voice was firm. "You're a Healer you should know how important these potions are."

He huffed and knew that she was right, so he threw the potion back and swallowed. He felt the potion take control and his muscles started to relax, tension draining out of his body.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Aurora asked cautiously.

"I think it just hit me what I'm doing," he whispered. "Harry had a few questions and as I talked I started to get flashbacks. I realized that I'm walking myself and people I care about into untold danger again. I must be mad."

"Draco, you don't have to do this," she reminded him. "It isn't too late to walk away."

"It is," he sighed. "Rabastan and Rodolphus would never let me back out now, but even if I could get out I wouldn't. I need to do this Rora, I need them to be locked up safely in Azkaban so they can't hurt anyone else ever again."

She knew convincing Draco wouldn't work and she hadn't really wanted to, Aurora just wanted her cousin to remember he had options.

Aurora gripped Draco's hand in hers again. "I'm here for you no matter what happens Draco. If it's helping you through a panic attack or protecting your secrets and keeping our family safe I am here for you."

The Malfoy heir smiled brightly at his cousin and kissed her on the forehead.

"I think I'll go take a nap," Draco got to his feet.

"I'll be right here if you need me," she smiled at him picking up a book.

Draco retreated to his own room and laid down on his bed. His thoughts were still a little jumbled but he was calm. He continued to breathe deeply and focus on the good things in his life; his family, his job, Ginny, they were all things he could hold on to when things got dark. He closed his eyes and pictured Ginny's warm brown eyes and her light happy laugh and drifted off to sleep with his mind a lot more at ease.

A few hours later Draco was gently awoken by his cousin.

"Dinner is early," she told him. "Your mother has that charity event tonight."

Draco got up out of his bed and righted his clothing, making sure he looked presentable.

"Are you ready?" Draco asked the younger woman.

"I hate lying to them," she sighed. "But I know why we have to, so I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

Draco offered his arm to Aurora and the two walked together to the dining room of the Manor sitting down in their respective seats.

"I'm glad you both could join us," Narcissa addressed the two younger Malfoy's as they settled in. "It's nice to have everyone here at one time. Draco is so busy with St. Mungo's that he's becoming hard to pin down."

"I'm sorry mother," he smiled taking a sip of his wine. "I have been busy with work and helping Aurora."

"How did your meeting go?" Narcissa asked her niece.

The younger Malfoy tried to keep the smirk off her face, Draco knew exactly how to get his mother to play right into his hand.

"It went wonderfully Aunt Cissa," she smiled. "The board is going over my research and I have a few weeks before I hear anything."

"You've been working so hard Aurora," Draco smiled at her.

"We're all very proud of you," her father beamed.

"I feel so burned out though," she continued, trying to remember some of the things she and Draco had gone over. "Even when Dad and I were visiting our friends in the states I was working, researching, and still trying to keep up with my project."

"Maybe you need a real vacation," Draco suggested.

"What a wonderful idea," Narcissa started, her voice excited. "I know that the two of you have never really had a nice holiday. Where would you like to go?"

"Oh I don't know," Aurora pretended to think for a few moments. "Maybe somewhere with beautiful beaches and blue waters but still has plenty of culture and history."

"We could go to the French Riviera," she suggested.

"You go to France all the time mother," Draco pointed out. "This should be a vacation for you as well. You should all go somewhere new and exciting."

"We don't go to Italy often," Narcissa tried again.

"You only like Italy for the shopping," the blond reminded her. "What about Greece mother?"

"Draco, that is a perfect," she clasped her hands together at the idea. "We have the Villa on Ithaca, it hasn't been used in years but I can send a few of the elves over to make sure everything is clean. We'll have so much fun Aurora, we can go island hopping."

"That sounds amazing Aunt Cissa," the younger woman gushed.

"You two will have a wonderful time," her father smiled.

"Aren't you coming with us Gabriel?" Narcissa turned to look at him.

"I don't want to intrude," he put his hand up.

"Daddy please come with us," Aurora reached out and put her hand on her fathers. "You deserve a holiday too. You've been taking care of me my whole life. You do so much and you never ask for anything, please have some fun."

Draco smiled around the rim of his wine glass. He knew Aurora had her father wrapped around her finger; she knew just how to get what she wanted out of him. She usually only referred to him as 'Daddy' when she was trying to get her way. In the last two years he had discovered that he and Aurora were both equally spoiled but in different ways. Aurora was spoiled because she had a father who lavished attention and affection on her. Gabriel Malfoy never let anything become more important than his daughter and he never would have put her in danger in any way, shape, or form. He hadn't really had the money to give her whatever she wanted but he was always there for her and that was more important. Draco was obviously doted on by both his parents, spoiled rotten from the moment he was born. Lucius and Narcissa were able to give him the best of everything but they didn't always give him the emotional support that he needed. Narcissa loved her son more than words but Lucius made sure she didn't coddle him, stating that a Malfoy needs to be able to stand on his own. Sometimes it amazed Draco how alike and still different he and his cousin were.

"If you really think I should go," he conceded.

Aurora shared a glance with her aunt.

"We do," they chorused together.

He chuckled. "Well I can't fight you both and it would be nice to get out of the Manor."

"It's a shame I won't be able to come with you," Draco continued. "A few other Healers are on vacation right now so I can't get away from the hospital."

"Are you sure," Narcissa asked her son. "You work hard too Draco."

"I am sure, but I will pop over to see you while you're there," he assured his mother. "I promise I won't work too hard while you're off having fun."

After that Narcissa began to talk excitedly with her brother-in-law about what they could do and making plans. Draco caught his cousin's eye and the two subtly held up their glasses to each other, proud of their little victory.

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The next morning Harry was in the office early having tossed and turned most of the night, his head filled with thoughts of the kind of tortures Draco had told him about. For the first time he was worried about the blond man who had been his tormenter in school. Draco Malfoy had changed a lot in the few years since the war and Harry would feel guilty if anything happened to him while he was trying to help capture Death Eaters. Especially considering what Narcissa Malfoy had done for him and the entire Wizarding world when she had lied to Voldemort.

His thoughts then turned to the female Malfoy he had met the previous day, Harry couldn't help his attraction to her. There was just something about that family, it seemed they got under his skin like no one else could. Harry could see the differences between Aurora and her cousin but he could also see that the two were alike in some ways. As his thoughts continued to spiral around in his head Ron walked through the door to their office.

"You're here early," Ron observed. "Something wrong?"

Harry shook his head no. "Malfoy and his cousin are going to be here soon to finishing setting up the secret keeper charm."

"So what was his cousin like?" Ron wondered sitting down. "Spoiled little brat? Ice queen?"

"Neither," Harry told him. "She was quite lovely."

Ron looked at his best friend for a moment or two. "Lovely? And you're sure she's related to Malfoy?"

"Grow up Ron," Harry told him. "Malfoy is putting himself on the line here can't you give him a chance."

Harry knew that the more Ron warmed up to Draco now the easier it would be if Ginny and the blond kept dating. Plus Harry was really tired of his friend's inability to move past their problems from school.

"Alright, alright," he held up his hands. "I was just kidding."

"It's bad enough you have it out for him, but now you're insulting a woman you don't even know just because she's related to the Malfoys."

"Did something happen with her Harry?" Ron wondered, knowing that his friend wouldn't be this sensitive for no reason.

Harry sighed but nodded. "I know it sounds mental Ron but something about her just feels different than any other woman I've met. I introduced myself and she didn't fall all over herself, she didn't look at my scar, it was as if I wasn't The-Boy-Who-Lived with her, I was just Harry."

"I didn't know it meant that much to you to find a girl who would look at you like that," Ron was starting to understand what Harry meant.

"I didn't think I would find one," Harry confessed. "I've almost come to terms with the idea that any woman I could date might know more about me by the first date than I know about her. I would worry about a girlfriend dating me for my name, or being attracted to me for being a savior and I can't help but like the fact that Aurora doesn't see me like that. I can have a normal relationship with her where we can share things at our own pace and get to know each other the way we want to."

Ron nodded as Harry spoke. "If that's what you want Harry then you should go for it."

Before he could respond however a knock came at their office door and the two Malfoy's they had just been discussing entered

"Sorry," Draco said when he saw Ron was still in the office. "We're a little early."

"That's alright," Ron assured them. "I just got to the office."

He walked up and shook hands with Draco before turning to Aurora. "Nice to meet you, I'm Ron Weasley, Harry's partner.

"I'm Aurora Malfoy, Draco's cousin," she smiled and shook his hand.

Ron looked back at Harry for a moment. "I am going to run across to the Leakey Cauldron for coffee while you three finish up what you need to do."

Ron exited the office knowing that Harry had to finish up the Fidelius charm but he couldn't help thinking as he left that if Harry really was attracted to Aurora Malfoy it was a good thing he was a Gryffindor.

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Hopefully everyone is still with me. I know that Ginny wasn't in this chapter but I needed to focus on some other characters for a little bit. Hope everyone enjoyed and as always if you liked it please leave me a review. Much love to anyone who follows, reads or reviews!