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Harry Potter and Co. belong to Rowling.

Chapter 32. "Getting closer."

Two days after Moody's conversation with the Minister of Magic.

"It's extremely important you make it look like you've had too much to drink. He's an idiot but not that much of an idiot to think a sober woman would ever approach him."

"It'll be done as you wish Master."

"It'd better be my dear. It'd better be!" Lucius whispered to Rita threateningly as he thrust an invitation to Crabbe's dinner party into her hands.

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the next day at Potter Castle…

Draco sat looking straight ahead while the Weasel lectured about page 496. He took notes occasionally more out of reflex then anything. Things had to be done no matter what.

Ron sat at another desk looking out the window mumbling this and that under his breath while his brother lectured on only Merlin knew what. How had he ended up here? Why had his father allowed it? He thought angrily. He thought he'd at least have fun baiting Draco but even that had been a let down especially with Bill around. His brother had told him that if he did anything to disrupt life at the Castle he would get sent back. The only up side to this whole situation was that Harry would be arriving in two and a half weeks…they couldn't get here fast enough!

"Well I think that'll be all for today. Please copy the assignment off the board and report here at three o' clock for your next lesson which will be given by Porfessor Lupin."

"What!" Draco spit out before he could stop himself.

"Is there anything wrong?"

"What's wrong Malfoy? He's family now." Ron said trying not to laugh but failing miserably.

Draco shot him a look but didn't say anything and placed his books in his book bag. Ron had been asking for it since he got to the Castle and Draco would not let him down...but as his father had once said "never let them see you coming".

"Ron! That will be quiet enough!" Bill said closing his book. Draco wanted to scream, to stomp his foot, to cry, to hex, to hit someone but he didn't he instead bit his lip, picked up his books and walked out his robe billowing behind him.

"What he's been taking classes from Snape." Ron mumbled.

"Ronald another smart ass comment and you will be cleaning the chimneys in the castle!" Bill ordered curtly. Yes Draco was not an easy student but neither was Ronald, besides how was the youth supposed to act? He was fifteen for Merlin's sake! His father had recently been killed! Tortured to death! His mother forced to wed soon after. Bill knew the youth was a headache and had views which he did not agree with but he couldn't help but feel for him. There was a lot more to Draco Malfoy and he wished he could do something for him. Unfortunately he knew that it would be a cold day in Hades before the Prince of Slytherin allowed anyone to get close.

Ron mumbled something under of his breath and walked out. He couldn't wait for three o' clock.

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Draco Malfoy sat down for lunch with Prince Alessander and Lord Black in the large dining room. Meals were a formal affair for the Prince and he expected the youth not only be punctual but to dress for them. His father had been just as strict so Draco was kind of relieved he did not have to change his ways. If it was odd for Draco to sit at a table with a two Vampires who drank blood from crystal glasses he did not say. The truth was that he did not even think about it. An elf served him and he ate mechanically.

The Prince nodded a greeting to young Malfoy, he and Sirius were speaking Latin. A language he was absolutely sure the youth did not understand.

"He's coming at three."

"Do you think he'll talk to me?"

"Precious I didn't go through all the trouble of getting him here so he wouldn't"

"I don't deserve you Alessander."

"I think you do. In fact, I think we deserve each other." Alessander whispered smirking sarcastically. Sirius smirked and laughed too. Yes they did! They were both bastards and they deserved each other completely.

"You're still having nightmares." Alessander was worried about Sirius' nighmares and hoped they were just that nightmares.

"Yeah the sames one too." Sirius murmured watching Draco from the corner of his eye. The youth had grown quieter and quieter after the beating he had given him. He wondered if he had over done it?

"I've written our soverigns about it. They are consulting some of our seers."

"Come one you don't think they're premonitions"

"I don't think. I know."

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Ron was sitting outside munching on a sandwich when he saw a shadow pass by him. He looked up thinking it was someone he knew but was surprised to see no one anywhere near him. He stood up and walked around the terrace. He moved the handle on the door but it was closed. Thinking he might have imagined it he shrugged and called a house elf for another sandwich.

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Lupin entered the classroom at exactly three o' clock and after a brief greeting which to his surprise Draco answered he began lecturing on the immunity to counter spells. Draco listened and took some notes…he might hate the man but the werewolf did know what he was talking about. Ron listened but did not take notes and found himself distracted by a coldness in the room.

An hour later Lupin moved his two students to the next room and began practicing the intonation and wand movements to three spells. Draco caught on amazingly fast but Ron was another matter and needed a lot more instruction than the blonde.

Lupin had been reluctant to give the youths class for obvious reasons. In the end Narcissa had convinced him to do it. She wanted to make sure her son was prepared for the upcoming war and as the boy's step father it was Lupin's responsibility to make sure that Draco was thought whatever might help him. How she had known he had a Master's Degree in counter spells was beyond him.

Draco listened to Lupin's quiet voice and watched the werewolf's restrained manner. The youth had never been this close to his step father and used the opportunity to study him. Lupin's eyes were light brown and his brown hair was dusted with grey. He had a haggard look about him and did not seem very strong Draco knew otherwise and wondered if he'd ever get to see the werewolf his step father carried inside him.

"Try it now Ronald." Lupin requested.

Ronald who was shivering slightly nodded and cast the spell. It lasted a few seconds longer than the last one and Lupin nodded satisfactorily.

"That's better you can stop now Ronald."

"Thanks." Ronald mumbled tiredly.

"I think that will be everything for now." He said walking back to the classroom. "I want you to practice the three spells and we'll be doing them tomorrow with a couple variations so remember to get intonation just right. You both may go." Ronald sighed in relief and ran out. Draco placed his books in his bag and walked out silently. Lupin sighed sadly when the slytherin closed the door after him. So controlled, so distant, it couldn't be good… Remus picked up his book and went to open the door who would he find at the entrance but Sirius Black.

"Excuse me." Lupin meant to brush past the Vampire but Sirius blocked his way and pushed himself in the classroom.

"We need to talk!"

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Hermoine and the Professor held on to each other and concentrated …everything was out of focus and they felt themselves grow weak. They had been apparating from place to place tracking the Professor to Potter Castle. The wards they had hit coming in had been the worst they had come across and would've sent anyone but them running for the hills.

"Are we there Professor?" Hermoine asked breathing hard.

"Yes child I think we did it!" she said spotting Ronald Weasley flying out the door.

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Draco walked out into the garden ignoring the Vampires that stood on each side of the door. They didn't bother him but he knew the Prince had given specific orders that they were to prevent him from ever attacking Lord Black. He didn't care Black was in the past, his mother was in the past, his father, everyone…they had all let him down, hurt him or left him. In the end he was better off, anyway that's what he told himself every night before he went to bed. He was better off.

Draco had taken up walking as a way to relax. he wlaked for a good half hour and soon found himself in a small pond by the woods. He sat down and tried to relax. His nerves had been on edge since he had seen his mother. Duty, she had used the word "duty"…DUTY! He pulled his legs up and rested his head on them…Duty…

Well he had done his duty today…and yesterday and the day before that! First Bill Weasley, then Ron, and today Lupin! Merlin, when would it end? Were they trying to break him down? He felt trapped. Closing his eyes he felt tears sting his eyes and in a moment of weakness he allowed himself to admit that…he missed his friends, his mother and most of all he missed his father.

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Bill sat reading when he saw Draco near the pond. The youth's face a mask of misery. Bill wanted to offer his help but he doubted the youth would welcome it so he cast an unnoticeable charm instead. He watched the youth as he put his head on his knees and rock himself back and forth. Draco seemed to be on the breaking point. Bill swore at the adult and wondered what it would take for them to see what was happening to the ex-Slytherin.

Getting an idea he got up, doubled back around Draco's side and removed the charm. He walked purposefully loud and was happy to see the blonde's train of thought broken.

"Enjoying the grounds Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco jumped up as soon as he heard the footfalls and was surprised to see Bill Weasley standing about ten feet away from him. "Excuse me?" What had the Wizard asked?

"Enjoying the grounds?"

"Ah yes." Draco mumbled getting up.

"Please don't let me interrupt your solitude. I'm on my way to the pond on the other side of the hill. It's supposed to hold a mermaid. I thought I'd go and see."

"I see." Draco answered meaning to go around his Tutor.

Bill bit his lip, well here goes nothing. "Would you care to join me?"

"I'm sorry." Draco was confused. No one except for Lord Gribaldi had made an effort to talk to him. Not that he expected them to; he was a Malfoy after all. Needless to say Bill's invitation threw him off. The Wizard was obviously just being polite. It was good to know that at least one of the Weasleys had at least a minimal amount of up bringing.

"I don't want to impose." He said politely not quite meeting the older Wizard's eyes.

"Oh you won't. I'm glad to have the company"

Draco seemed to think about it but then surprised Bill by nodding in agreement. He had nothing to do until dinner time anyway.

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The next day….

Lord Gribaldi entered the Minister's office wondering what the man could want. He had been called away from his own work for this impromptu meeting and had come warily.

Lucius went over his plans in his head and waited for his 2 o clock appointment he needed to get rid of Moody for now a while at least or make him more humble and he had just the way.

"Minister your 2 o'clock is here." The secretary announced.

"Have him come in and I don't want to be interrupted." Lucius ordered not looking up.

His door closed and then opened again.

"Minister you needed to see me." Lord Gribaldi spoke softly holding his wand under his Judge's robes.

"Yes Judge. Please have a seat this is of the outmost importance." Lucius said standing to offer a seat. The Judge sat down never letting go of his wand.

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at the same time

Ginny was writing to Neville when he got an owl from Luna Lovegood, she had received an owl from a friend who had gone back to Hogwarts. It seemed that the girl had heard Headless Nick talking to a ghost that wasn't there! Nick had referred to the ghost as Granger at one time…Luna wrote that her friend had tried to get information from the deceased Lord but he had not told her anything. Something about ghosts sticking together!

Granger! Ginny immediately wrote to Neville and Harry and told him the story. Granger?

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Two days later….

Goyle rushed to his master's side. This was the chance he needed! This was it! He'd finally get the recognition he deserved! And he had done it all on his own! Skeeter! Who would have thought Fudge's whore would be the key to freeing Bella from Azkaban!

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The next day….

Twenty Death Eaters descended on Azkaban and through methods unknown were able to break into the Prison and release Bella Lestrange.

The Minister shortly after gave a speech asking for Moody's resignation.

Rita Skeeter interviewed a number of bureaucrats and asked for their opinion…among them was Lord Gribaldi…

"Well Ms. Skeeter it grieves me to see how one man is blamed for such an occurrence."

"So you think he's not responsible?"

"Not exactly, he's a head of the Aurors and although Azkaban is guarded by dementors it falls under his responsibility to make sure that if they fail… we do not. What can I say? It's a complex situation…more so because of the times we're living. I don't think he should be fired but I do think he should be reprimanded. How can we believe in his abilities or judgment in other situations if he is not held accountable right now? Still ... I think he is deserving of another opportunity."

Moody was not dismissed from his position but his investigation on Judge Gribaldi was dropped…you can't very well bite the hand that feeds you or speaks out for you…well sort of, anyway. Lucius couldn't be happier. Gribaldi was safe and as a result so was Draco. The insane Bella had been a small price to pay in keeping his son safe.

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Myrtle finally found the source of the soft cry that had haunted and beckoned her for weeks. it was a steel coffin engraved with ancient symbols and shapes. Not having a squeamish bone in her ghost body she stuck her head inside...seconds later she pulled out and let out a terrified scream…Sweet Merlin they had buried him alive!

Cecilia had been following Myrtle and although she had gotten side tracked by the plumpest rats she had ever laid eyes on…she was still close enough to hear the shrilly cry the ghost gave.

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