Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter (or any of its subsidiaries) nor do I claim to.

A/N: There's not much to say about this next installment, although expect a few surprises. Enjoy and please review!

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The next day, Harry was awoken by the feeling of the covers being drawn over him and another person crawling into bed with him. He smiled, not even fully awake, as he detected in the air one of his favourite smells, a flowery scent that he associated with the love of his life, Ginny. He didn't open his eyes, just slid his arm over her shoulder and through her silky red hair, pulling her closer so he could kiss her. Ginny laughed quietly, so close to Harry's face he could feel her breathing on his face. They kissed softly and for a long moment before they broke apart, Harry's eyes opening and his mouth spreading into a wide smile.

'You know, I think I could be woken up like that every morning for the rest of my life and always wake up a happy man,' he whispered, staring directly into Ginny's eyes. They twined their fingers together and kissed again.

'I wouldn't mind waking you up sometimes, Harry,' Ginny replied, squeezing his hand, 'but every day? I don't think so.' They shared a laugh and Harry yawned, stretching out on the queen-sized mattress.

Harry kissed her nose. 'So, either your parents have gone shopping for groceries, or your dad whisked your mum away on some amazingly romantic vacation. Otherwise, you wouldn't be in here at this hour.'

Ginny laughed, poking him in the ribs. 'Neither, actually. Sorry to disappoint you. They went to that Ministry function. Apparently Percy told them last night that there was an emergency change in the time, so instead of two weeks from now, it's now. Mum and dad said to tell you goodbye and that you're in charge.'

If it weren't impossible, Harry's eyes would have popped out of his skull at that last comment. 'They said what?' he asked, thinking he must not have heard her right.

Ginny grinned. 'They reckon Ron is too immature to be left in charge of the house and I'm too young. The obvious choice was you.'

Harry laughed hoarsely. 'This is very…surreal,' he said, pinching himself on the leg to make sure he wasn't still sleeping. 'Okay, not the smartest thing to do.'

Ginny giggled a bit. 'Want me to kiss it and-'

'Gin, if you finish that sentence, I won't get out of bed at all today,' Harry said, interrupting her, though he wore a roguish grin. He kissed her softly and smiled once more. 'We'll have much more time and opportunity to finish that later, you know. Right now I have an urgent meeting with the loo that I probably shouldn't miss. I'll be back in a moment, don't go anywhere.' He grinned at her and slid out of the bed, dashing across the hall to the bathroom and doing his morning business. When he returned, Ginny was picking the return letter from Malfoy up from the floor.

'What's this Harry? It looks like an owl dropped it through the crack at the bottom of the window,' she said, looking at him curiously.

'That's why we have to wait until later to finish our earlier conversation, Gin,' he said, walking over to his writing desk and picking up the original letter from Draco. 'Give this a read while I read his return.' They traded letters and sat next to each other on the bed. Harry was slightly distracted; Ginny was in a very brief robe with what looked like little under that. He shook his head to clear it and set about opening and reading Malfoy's return letter. It only had six words and a time written on it:

Potter-

Thanks. Hall of Remembrance, 10:30am today.

Draco

Harry nodded and slid it back into the envelope, waiting for Ginny to finish Draco's first letter. As he did, he ruminated on the place Draco had chosen to meet. The Hall of Remembrance was a new addition to the Ministry, a sort of museum dedicated to everyone who fought in the First and Second Wizarding Wars against Voldemort. It was the closest to street level that the Ministry got, right above Level One which housed the Minister of Magic's office and those of his support staff. There were portraits of all who had died in the wars in the Hall and a statue of, embarrassingly, Harry, Ron, and Hermione with all of the names of the brave people who had fought with them. It not only listed the names of those who had died, but those who had lived as well. Harry had to fight tooth and nail to get Severus Snape's name added to that list, but considering he was the Man Who Won, it didn't take long for Kingsley to acquiesce. After Ginny finished, she wordlessly picked up the response and looked at Harry when she was finished with that letter as well.

'And you're sure about this? Helping Draco Malfoy after all he did to you?' Ginny asked soberly. She'd calmed down from earlier and was totally serious now.

Harry nodded, looking her directly in the eye. 'It's my duty as an Auror and you know I can't turn my back on someone that asks for my help, it's just who I am.'

Ginny nodded. 'Somehow, I knew you were going to say that,' she said and kissed him. 'I know he said only to bring Ron and Hermione, at least that's what I assumed from "Weasley and Granger," but I'm going with you.'

'Gin, I don't-'

She cut him off with a dangerous look. 'I'm coming with you, Harry. Don't try to argue, you know I'll win.' She kissed him again and quickly left the room, leaving the letters on his bed. Harry sighed and grabbed his bath things; it would be pointless to say anything to the contrary because, after all, she was correct. Harry never won an argument against Ginevra Molly Weasley, not that he really tried that hard.

He crossed the hall again and quickly showered, glancing at the clock on the way and seeing they only had about one hour before they had to meet up with Draco. When he exited the shower, he looked in the slightly foggy mirror and noticed the stubble on his face. He had once tried to grow a goatee, but Ron and George had laughed so heartily at this, he'd decided against it until he was a bit older. He picked up the razor he'd been given as a seventeenth birthday present; telling it clearly that he wanted a very clean, smooth shave. After he was done, his face clean of hair once more, Harry put on the robes he wore when he wasn't going to work, a nice set of bottle green ones that weren't too fancy, but weren't shabby either. Ginny wasn't in his room when he entered it again, though he assumed that she was getting dressed as well. He went up to the top of the house and knocked on Ron's door when he finished, straightening the collar of his robes as he went. No one answered, but the door wasn't unlocked. He opened it quietly and poked his head inside with his eyes closed.

'Okay, I know you and Hermione are in there. If you like, I'll stay outside until you come out, but I do need to talk to you quickly.' He pulled his head out and leaned against the wall next to Ron's door. He'd made the mistake of just walking in once and found Ron and Hermione horizontally snogging and groping like the world were about to end. He didn't want to repeat that experience if he lived another hundred years.

A few moments later, Ron opened the door a crack and stuck his head out. He looked somewhat disgruntled, his hair was mussed and his face was flushed. 'We'll be downstairs in about five minutes.' He closed the door a little harder than necessary and Harry grinned. They were entitled to their comforts just as he and Ginny were.

When he entered the kitchen, after getting the letters and his wand from his room, he found Ginny waiting for him with a steaming mug of hot tea. He smiled and kissed her cheek, accepting the mug. She must have showered while Harry was, because her hair was damp and her face looked like it was freshly scrubbed. She was wearing a spare pair of robes as well, though hers were a dark blue in colour. They sat next to each other at the kitchen table and grasped hands.

'Will we have enough time to meet with Draco and get you to the game?' Harry asked. 'If I know Gwenog, and I do, she'll want to practice before the game.'

'It'll be fine,' Ginny replied. 'Don't worry. Drink your tea before it gets cold.'

Harry took a sip of tea with a sheepish smile, finding it made just the way he liked it, and then leaned over to kiss Ginny again. He took a deep whiff of her skin and was flooded by her flowery scent that he found intoxicating.

'Is this why you dragged us down here at an ungodly hour?' Ron asked from the bottom of the staircase. 'To see you and my sister acting all lovey-dovey? He was dressed in a pair of pajamas that looked too short around the ankle and a bit too long around the wrists. Harry laughed to himself when he also noticed the buttons were not done up properly as several inches of material extended on one side; it appeared that he'd had to dress in a hurry. As had Hermione for that matter, her usually bushy hair was a snarled mess around her head and her own dressing gown seemed to be experiencing the same problem Ron's was.

Harry laughed. 'No, that is not why I called you down here. Have a seat; otherwise you might fall down out of shock.' This last he said in a deadly serious voice. They looked at each other and shrugged before sitting down across from Harry and Ginny. Harry sighed and slid the letters across the table to them, deciding to let them do the explaining instead of Harry doing so. 'I received these last night during the party.'

Hermione grabbed the first and quickly read it through, her eyes widening all the time. She handed it off to Ron and read the second, looking up at Harry when she finished. She didn't say anything until Ron finished both. He, too, looked up at Harry with wide eyes.

'This has to be a joke, mate,' Ron said hoarsely. He obviously chose to disbelieve the letter in its entirety. 'Right, Hermione?' He turned to her with a pleading look.

Hermione looked right back at him and shook her head. Harry could not gauge the look on her face, but it said something to Ron and he slumped in his chair, looking very lost and confused. 'I think you're right to help him, Harry. If you want us to go, we'll go with you. I doubt he'll be coming alone and if this is a trap, you'll need the backup.'

Harry let out a sigh of relief. 'Thanks Hermione. What about you, Ron?' he asked hesitantly. He knew Ron hated Draco nearly as much as Harry did and wouldn't miss an opportunity to hex him halfway to hell.

Ron looked up, his eyes returning to a normal state. 'I'll go. If he tries anything I want to be the first to curse him, though. I've been waiting to for a long time.'

Harry, Hermione, and Ginny all laughed at his response, though it wasn't unexpected. 'Okay,' Harry said, rubbing his hands together. 'You two go get showered and dressed, we'll Floo there in about fifteen minutes. We have to meet up with him in about half an hour, so mind you use separate showers. Otherwise we'll never leave.'

Ron flushed scarlet and Hermione nearly matched him, both of them shooting him filthy looks as they left the table without another word. Ginny poked Harry in the ribs when they were gone.

'That wasn't something that even crossed my mind this morning,' she said with a wicked grin. 'Showering together I mean. We are alone this weekend.'

Harry grinned back. 'We'll have plenty of time for that later, Gin. Trust me, there will be a later. I'd really like to finish our "conversation" from earlier.'

Ginny laughed and kissed him and they stayed locked together in that way until they heard Ron and Hermione descending the stairs a quarter of an hour later. They broke apart unwillingly and comported themselves so Ron wouldn't have anything to gripe about. When Ron and Hermione entered, Harry and Ginny saw that they were dressed similar to themselves. Ron was wearing maroon robes and Hermione was wearing black.

'Are we ready to go, then?' Ron asked. He still looked slightly irritated that he and Hermione could not stay abed all day and Harry didn't blame him. He would have much preferred to stay in his room with Ginny all day. Andromeda had Ted all weekend unless Harry wanted to visit, so he and Ginny could have had the day to themselves, just as Ron and Hermione could have.

'Yeah, I'm ready if you lot are,' Harry said, standing and going to the fireplace, Ginny in tow. The others rose and joined Harry and Ginny in a line to the fireplace. 'I just want to say one thing, don't automatically curse, hex, or jinx him, all right? We're there on friendly terms today. Though if you see someone else draw a wand, have yours ready.'

They nodded to each other and Harry dropped Ginny's hand in favor of grabbing some Floo powder out of the pot by the fireplace. He stepped into the hearth and threw it down, shouting, 'Ministry of Magic!' At once the Burrow was whipped away and he saw several other rooms flash by before he was deposited neatly at the Ministry. He quickly stepped out, knowing that only one fireplace in the Atrium operated during the weekends. The Ministry was deserted. There were no people milling about, not even the cleaning staff; not even memos were to be seen zooming hither and yon. Harry smiled in the silence; the Ministry could be a peaceful place.

A few seconds after Harry arrived, Ginny appeared in the same grate, coughing on some soot. Harry pulled her out and gently patted her back, trying to help her dislodge the ash as Ron spun into view in the fireplace.

'I hate it when that happens,' Harry said sympathetically to Ginny.

'So do I,' she replied. 'I didn't close my mouth fast enough and I inhaled some soot. It was a stupid mistake.' She looked quite embarrassed by it.

'Nothing to worry about, I did that on my way to work day before yesterday,' Harry said as he looked up and saw Hermione arrive. He dropped his voice to a whisper, 'And you know Ron does it all the time.'

Ginny laughed and cheered up at this. It was true that Ron inhaled a lot of ash and soot when he Flooed. Ron looked at them skeptically for a moment before he shrugged, dismissing whatever it was they were laughing at as none of his business. They all brushed off their robes, Harry having quite a bit of fun helping Ginny with hers as there was a large streak of soot on her backside. She swatted his hand playfully and whispered, 'Later.'

Harry laughed and looked over at Ron and Hermione who were also dusting each other off. 'Okay, let's go if we're all sufficiently soot-free and ready.' The others nodded and walked in pairs to the gold lifts. They found several waiting in the Atrium and all got in one, riding it up to the top level.

'Hall of Remembrance,' the voice of the lift said simply, the doors opening onto the Hall. They all stepped out and heard the doors close behind them, though it did not descend. They couldn't see anyone inside the hall, though the marble statue of Harry, Ron, and Hermione was directly in front of them and Draco could be on the other side. He could also be in the room to their left, the Artifacts Room. In there was housed the remains of all of Voldemort's Horcruxes that were found, with the exception of Nagini and Harry of course. It also housed many items that were used during the wars, like the radio that the program Potterwatch used for its broadcasts and the fake locket that Regulus Black had left in the Horcrux Cave.

Draco might also be in the room to the left, the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army Memorial room. In there were plaques listing those that were in both organizations, anyone who wished not to have their name listed was, of course, left off. Some liked to lead a quiet life, it was understandable. Also in there was a portrait of Twelve, Grimmauld Place, the headquarters for the Order. Harry had commissioned it be painted after the war ended specifically for this room so everyone would know what it stood for. Among the items on display, there was one of the contact Galleons that had been used to alert D.A. of meetings and, on one memorable occasion, had alerted Luna and Neville (the only two members of Dumbledore's Army that had still kept watch of their Galleons) that they were needed for the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. There was even one of the Death Eater dummies that the D.A. had used to practice their spells on in one corner, the initials of each member carved into it. Even those who had died before the Hall was created had their initials carved in, like Colin Creevey. His brother, Dennis, had carved his in since Colin could not.

Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione decided to stick together, peering through the archways into those rooms as they passed them. The room at the end of the Hall, the Portrait Room which held a portrait of each casualty of the wars, was dark as of yet so it was not likely Draco was in there. The only other room he could be in was the Tribute Room, where one could light candles in memory of those who had been slain. They did not have to check this room out, however, as they heard footsteps to their right once they reached the statue. They turned and saw Draco striding towards them from the plaque that was adjacent to the Order/D.A. Memorial room. That plaque, as Harry well knew, was the only thing in the room that contained the names of the Death Eaters that had died or were currently imprisoned. Draco and his parents' names did not appear on that list since they'd changed sides just before the end of the war.

Draco hadn't changed much. His pale blonde hair was neat and orderly as it always was, his black robes were immaculate and his black shoes shiny. The only real difference was in his face and his eyes. Gone was the look of contempt he used to have for any who he deemed inferior to himself. He looked older than his nineteen years, like the events of the war had aged him considerably. When he was close enough to extend his hand to them, he stopped and did so. Harry hesitantly took a step forward and shook it, finding it quite cold.

'Thank you for meeting me here, Potter, Weasley, Granger. Though I did specify those were the only ones I wanted to know about this,' he said, not sneering, but looking slightly uneasy instead.

Ginny cocked an eyebrow. 'Deal with it, Malfoy. I wanted to be here with Harry and so I am. It's not like he wouldn't have told me after anyways.'

Draco nodded stiffly. 'All right, that's fine. I don't want to waste any time, so let's get down to it.' He pulled his wand, the others echoing his movement and pulling out their own. 'Relax, I'm just going to conjure a chair.' And he did, a black leather armchair appearing right on the floor in front of the statue.

The others relaxed their stances slightly, conjuring chairs of their own so they could sit as well. Said chairs all conformed to each individuals personality, just like the chairs conjured by Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall had. Harry sat in a high-backed black leather executive chair; Ginny conjured an overstuffed red recliner; Ron's was a maroon leather armchair; and Hermione had a wooden chair with a padded seat and arm rests, the like of which could be found in most libraries. After they all made themselves comfortable, Harry motioned for Malfoy to speak.

Draco cleared his throat and closed his eyes as he began to speak. It was obviously difficult for him. 'Two nights ago, my father went out to have a drink with someone. He said he'd received a letter and had to go meet whoever it was, he wouldn't tell mother or I who it was. The only thing we do know is he went to the Hog's Head and he hasn't been back since.' He opened his eyes and looked at each of them in turn. 'Before you ask, I know my father did not run out. If there is anything that he is, it is a faithful man. He did not leave my mother and me.'

Harry considered this for a few moments. It was true that it was highly unlikely that Lucius Malfoy would leave his family. Lucius had only been and stayed a Death Eater, in the end, because Voldemort had threatened his family with death if he did not. If it had not been that, if it had not been for his want to keep Draco and Narcissa safe, he would have left the employ of his Dark Lord much sooner. No matter how much Harry hated him, he could not begrudge Lucius for that. If there are extreme circumstances, one would do anything to protect their family unless they had no soul. Harry sighed heavily; Lucius was in trouble and it was Harry's duty as an Auror to help him.

'Where do you suggest we start, Draco?' Harry asked. He pulled out his wand and conjured a notepad and quill. He had forgotten his own set at home; he always carried them with him on a work day.

Draco visibly relaxed; he was relieved. 'Thank you, Potter. I think we should-'

'Wait, Harry,' Hermione said. For one surprise-filled moment, Harry thought that Hermione was about to advise him against helping Draco and Lucius, but that was not her intent. She leaned forward and snatched both notepad and quill from Harry's lap. 'We all know how terrible a note-taker you are.'

Ginny covered her mouth to stifle a giggle while Ron sat up a little straighter in his chair. Harry scowled at Hermione, but nodded at her after a moment. She was right after all; she was always good at taking notes in school.

Draco looked at them all snidely. 'If you're finished?' he asked with a slight sneer. 'I think we should start at the Hog's Head and see if there are any people there that saw him the other night.'

Harry nodded and was about to suggest that they set out at once for Hogsmeade when Ron spoke up. 'Round what time did your dad go to the pub?'

Harry looked around incredulously, seeing his expression mirrored on Hermione and Ginny's faces. Harry was mentally cursing himself, why hadn't he asked that? He was the Auror, the trained investigator. That was the type of question Harry was supposed to ask.

'What?' Ron asked as he saw the looks he was getting not only from Harry, Hermione, and Ginny, but from Draco as well. 'It just seemed like the right thing to ask. The shops all close around a certain time and the only two places that stay open past then are the Three Broomsticks and the Hog's Head. If Mr Malfoy had disappeared before the other shops closed, we need to check with those shop owners as well as with Aberforth.'

Draco shook himself, obviously trying to dispel the idea of Ron thinking of something he had not. 'Father left around five o'clock.'

Harry nodded once again and stood, vanishing his chair. The others stood up as well and likewise got rid of their chairs. 'How should we pair up?' he asked the group.

'Hermione and I'll check with Verity at the Hogsmeade branch of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and then head over to Honeydukes,' Ron said. December of the year previous, George and Lee Jordan (his best mate from school and his new business partner after Fred had died) had set up shop in the location vacated by Zonko's Joke Shop. Verity had been put in charge of that branch, a task which she flourished at.

'I'll check with Madam Rosmerta and some of the regulars at the Three Broomsticks and then head over to Madam Puddifoot's,' said Ginny, squeezing Harry's hand. 'We'll all meet up with you and Malfoy at the Hog's Head when we've finished.'

Harry nodded. 'Does that work for you, Draco?' he asked, half hoping he would say no so Harry could bring Ginny with them.

Draco considered for a moment, and then nodded as well. 'Yes, that should do. I think we should leave immediately, the sooner the better.' He looked up at the statue for a long moment, considering the mingled looks of defiance and victory on the faces of the marble versions of Harry, Ron, and Hermione before he looked at the real ones, plus Ginny, again. 'Before we set out, I'd like to thank you all for your help. I know we've had our…disagreements in the past, but it does mean a lot to me that you took the time to help me.'

No more words were said, but they all nodded at each other and walked as one to the archway leading to the lifts. They rode down in silence and when they arrived at the Atrium, went through the employees exit (still the fireplaces that led to the toilets in Muggle London) and went in pairs, with Ginny walking with Harry and Draco, to the secluded alley that Harry, Hermione, and Ron had once Apparated into to infiltrate the Ministry. Harry kissed Ginny goodbye and waved to Hermione and Ron before nodding to Draco and Disapparating to Hogsmeade. They all appeared on the high street, a little ways away from the village proper, close to it, though also quite close to the Shrieking Shack. One by one, the others appeared there as well, Ginny appearing last. They departed, Harry and Malfoy turning off first to go to the Hog's Head, its sign of a bloody severed head of a boar swinging in the light breeze that carried the faint scent of rain on it. The others continued up the street, Ginny breaking off on her own while Hermione and Ron held hands as they walked towards the very ostentatious storefront of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

Harry opened the door to the Hog's Head pub and let Draco enter first, Harry closing the door behind them. There were few patrons at the bar and one such person swiftly paid the barman, Aberforth Dumbledore, and left upon seeing Harry. The others paid them no mind, though a warlock in one corner looked up from his book for a few moments before returning to it and his drink. Aberforth looked somewhat surprised to see the pair of them together, though he didn't do much about it. He watched them as they walked to the bar and quirked an eyebrow in a silent question.

'Something to drink, lads?' he asked as he cleaned a grimy glass with an equally grimy rag. He had done the same the first time Harry had seen him in his fifth year, though that was before he knew that Aberforth was the younger brother of his former headmaster, Albus.

Harry shook his head. 'Maybe later, Aberforth. We need to ask you a few questions about Thursday night. You were here, were you not?'

Aberforth nodded shiftily. 'Yeah, I was here. What about it?' he asked. One of the bar patrons, an elderly witch draped in shawls vaguely reminiscent of Professor Trelawney, came up to the bar and paid for her drink before she left. Aberforth swept the Sickles from the dusty wooden surface of the bar and dropped it into the till.

Draco stepped closer and put his hands on the bar with a look of slight distaste. 'My father, Lucius Malfoy, was supposed to be in here that night. Did you see him come in?' he asked. It was obvious to Harry that Draco was desperate for answers and this, above anything else that had happened that day, confirmed that Malfoy was telling the truth. He would not have shown such, in his eyes, weakness in front of anyone if he had not needed to.

Aberforth thought a moment as a stray goat meandered in the door with a tinkle from the bell round its neck behind the bar before going back outside at a stern look from its master. 'Yeah, he was here. He was waiting for some bloke and ordered a Firewhiskey, but he didn't drink it.'

'I don't care what he ordered,' Draco said sharply, slipping back into the attitude he usually had when Harry was around him. Harry cleared his throat and shot Draco a look that clearly meant he was not to be rude to Aberforth. Draco looked almost as though he wanted to curse Harry or Aberforth or possibly both, but he looked away instead, comporting himself once more into a calm young wizard. 'Sorry,' he said, 'I'm just very worried. Did the other man he was waiting for show up?'

Aberforth narrowed his eyes shrewdly at them for a moment, but then returned to cleaning his glass and nodded absentmindedly. 'He showed about fifteen minutes after your dad,' he said to Draco. 'I didn't recognize him though, not someone I'd seen in here before.'

Harry looked the older man in the eyes for a moment, but he was still not a very accomplished Legilimens and could not, as yet, detect lies just by staring into another person's eyes. 'What did this other man look like?'

'He was thin and was quite pale. He had oily brown hair and wore a shabby black traveling cloak with the hood up when he came in,' Aberforth said, closing his eyes so as to better remember, then opened them to refocus on Harry and Draco. 'I didn't really hear him talk beyond ordering a drink, though he had a simpering, smooth voice when I did hear him. Mr Malfoy looked like he knew who he was, even if I didn't. They didn't stay very long after the other bloke came in.'

Draco slumped a bit and sat down at the bar and looked at Harry, who also sat down on a bar stool. 'So all we have is that my father knew this man and left with him. That isn't much to go on.' He sighed and looked at Aberforth again. 'Did you hear them say anything about where they were going?' He sounded hopeful once again, though Harry suspected that this was a last ditch effort on the part of Draco. This was partly because of the air of defeat around him, and partly because Harry had never known Draco to be that blindly hopeful in all the time they'd known each other.

Aberforth shook his head. 'No, I didn't hear anything like that.'

Harry had a sudden thought and stood abruptly. 'Do you remember the table they were sitting at?' he asked Aberforth.

The barman looked at him oddly, and then nodded in a hesitant matter. 'Come with me,' he said as he came around the end of the bar. Harry and Draco followed him to the corner of the bar on the same wall as the main enterance; coincidentally, it was also the corner that could not be seen from the door. Anyone entering the bar would be in full view of any patrons sitting at the corner table before they could properly look at the corner themselves. 'This is where Mr Malfoy and his guest were sitting, though like I said they didn't stay long,' Aberforth said and shrugged, returning to his usual post as another person had entered and immediately sat down at the bar, looking for the bartender.

Harry looked around on the floor, knowing Aberforth usually didn't clean the floor unless it was absolutely necessary. There was nothing there, though. So he started looking under each of the four chairs, moving in a counter-clockwise order until he was back where he started. Just as he was about to give up, having not succeeded in finding anything like he had hoped to, he saw something on the underside of the table on the far edge. He quickly went to that side and dropped to the floor, pulling out his wand as he did. He prodded the small folded square of parchment with the tip of his wand, but there didn't seem to be anything funny about it, so he reached out and pulled it. It didn't budge.

'Draco, fancy coming over here a moment?' he asked, looking straight ahead and jumping slightly as he saw Draco was already across from him. 'Don't scare me like that when I'm holding a wand!' he exclaimed, drawing a few unwelcome glances from the pub patrons and Aberforth. He recovered and pointed at the parchment stuck to the table. 'Try and pull that off, would you? I couldn't get it.'

Draco nodded and reached for it, sliding his fingers under the parchment and easily pulling it off. Obviously it was meant for either him or his mother and that was why Harry could not remove it. Draco hastily unfolded it and read it, the frown he had worn since they had left the Ministry deepening with each line he apparently read. Wordlessly, he handed the parchment to Harry when he finished. Harry took it gingerly and sat on one of the chairs as he read it through several times. It read simply:

Draco-

If you are reading this, I have not returned from my sojourn to the Hog's Head and the meeting I was not at liberty to explain to you and your mother. If I have not returned by Saturday evening, look for me in my usual haunts. I can say no more here, my time is running short for the man I'm meeting is due to arrive at any moment. Give my love to your mother and remember that anything I do, I do for the both of your safety. Make sure Narcissa is safe before you take off looking for me. Also, if you feel the need to employ anyone else in looking for me, trust no one until you've made sure they are who they appear to be.

With love,

Your father, Lucius

Harry looked up at Draco who was quite pale and sitting stiff on his chair. The letter had obviously shocked him, and Harry could see why. It seemed like somewhat of a goodbye letter, though Harry was somewhat disappointed that Lucius had not specified where his 'usual haunts' were. They could have been anywhere in Britain and wouldn't be of any help if Draco didn't know them all. Harry turned in his chair and looked for Aberforth, motioning for him to come over.

'Can we get a few glasses of Butterbeer?' Harry asked. Aberforth nodded and was about to leave when Draco spoke up.

'Make mine a Firewhiskey,' he said glumly. Aberforth cocked a bushy eyebrow, but decided not to question anything and went to get their drinks. Harry knew that he normally not wait on his patrons, but he was making a one-time exception for Harry.

'Where are these usual haunts, Draco?' Harry asked after Aberforth had returned with their drinks. Draco took a sip of his Firewhiskey and grimaced as it burned down his throat. Harry opened and took a drag from his dusty Butterbeer bottle as he waited for Draco to respond.

'My father didn't visit many places after the war, we were afraid to leave the manor,' he said quietly in case there were any eavesdroppers in the bar. 'The only places I can think of are Borgin and Burke's, a pub called The Green Dragon, and the Ministry.'

Harry thought about this. Borgin and Burke's might be somewhere they could go, though The Green Dragon was a place Harry had never heard of before and it was more unlikely than anything else that Lucius Malfoy was at the Ministry of Magic. 'Where do you think he might be?' Harry asked hesitantly.

Draco shook his head and tossed back his remaining Firewhiskey, grimacing again. 'No idea,' he replied. 'When the others get back we can split up once more, three of us going to Knockturn Alley and the other two going to The Green Dragon. We should all be careful though, anyone who would have taken my father has to be quite dangerous.'

Harry nodded, silently agreeing with Draco. They did not speak again except to order refills, Draco getting a gillywater instead of another Firewhiskey and Harry asking for another Butterbeer. About half an hour later, Ginny entered and looked around a bit before joining Harry and Draco at the table. Harry kissed her cheek and grasped her hand unthinkingly when she sat down next to him. She smiled softly at him and ordered a Butterbeer when she saw that the other two had drinks in front of them as well. Only after she'd taken a swig of it did she seem ready to talk.

'Well,' she said after a moment, both Harry and Draco looking at her intently, 'Rosmerta doesn't remember seeing him, but a few people reckon they saw him heading in the direction of the Shrieking Shack, but weren't positive. Another witch swears he was heading for Hogwarts. So really, I didn't find out much.' She took another swig of Butterbeer and went on. 'No one at Madam Puddifoot's remembers seeing him at all. Scrivenshaft's and Gladrags were already closed by the time Mr Malfoy would have been in town and since the Owl Post Office is back towards Madam Puddifoot's, I didn't think it was worth it going in there and trying to talk over all the owls and ask pointless questions.'

Harry nodded, not having expected even that much from her search. 'At least someone besides Aberforth saw him in Hogsmeade.' He then proceeded to explain what they had learned of Lucius and his guest and showed her the note that had been left for Draco. Draco did not add much to the conversation except for a few nods in the affirmative.

Ginny asked similar questions to Harry about the 'usual haunts' mentioned in the note, but Harry cut across Draco and explained those as well. Draco looked slightly grateful at not having to speak. Ginny nodded and thought about this for a while. No one spoke between the three of them until Ron and Hermione came in, a few droplets of rain on their robes and in their hair. They immediately ordered Butterbeers from Aberforth and took them back to the table where Harry, Ginny, and Draco were eagerly waiting for them.

'Any luck?' Harry asked hesitantly after he explained what he and Draco had found out and had Ginny, who was still holding the creased piece of parchment, show each of them Lucius's note. He could not decipher the looks on their faces after he finished, so he waited for them to speak. They both took a drag from the Butterbeers before Hermione spoke.

'Well, Mr Flume from Honeydukes saw Mr Malfoy walk down the high street from the direction of Hogwarts around five thirty, but didn't see him again,' she said quietly. 'He also said that about ten minutes after Mr Malfoy walked by, another man with his hood raised walked by going in the same direction. He said he'd remembered the second man because he thought it odd that someone would be wearing a hood when it was so bright outside.'

Harry nodded and looked to Ron. 'How about at the shop?' he asked.

'Not much, really,' Ron replied. 'Verity didn't remember seeing Lucius going to the pub; she said they were busy that afternoon.' Ron took another drink and looked up as he set it down. 'But she did say she saw both of them walk by window in the direction of the Shrieking Shack. She saw the face of the other guy, but she said she couldn't remember who he was. She said she knew she'd seen him before, but not from where or when she had.' Ron finished and drank more of his Butterbeer. 'So what's the plan from here?'

Harry considered for a moment before answering. 'Draco and I think we should split up and check the two places that are the most likely that Lucius would go. If we can't find him there, we'll have to come up with something.' Harry looked at each in turn, turning to Ginny last. 'I also think you should go back to the Burrow to get ready for Quidditch. It's almost one thirty and if you leave now, you should have time to do one more thing for us before you go to the match.'

Ginny nodded reluctantly. 'What do you need, Harry?' she asked with a slightly petulant tone. She knew, as well as everyone else at the table did, that she was being asked to withdraw because Harry was trying to protect her, but she didn't say anything about it. It was more likely she would do so when she had Harry alone later on.

'I'd like you to go see Hagrid and Professor McGonagall. If he was walking away from Hogwarts, he might have been up there talking to someone,' he said, squeezing her hand gently. 'There's about half an hour that isn't accounted for and I'd really like to know where he was in that time.'

Ginny nodded, appearing to be pleased that she was not being asked to leave completely. 'All right, if I learn anything, I'll send word by Patronus. If you don't hear from me, just assume that I didn't hear anything worth telling you about.'

Harry nodded and smiled slightly. 'Be safe, Gin.'

'I will, Harry,' she said with a matching smile. 'I love you,' she whispered.

'Love you, too,' he replied and kissed her softly. She said her goodbyes to the others and left.

Harry looked at the others. 'So, who wants to go where?' he asked the other three. Ron and Hermione looked at each other while Draco just looked into the bottom of his gillywater glass as though it could give him answers. Harry sighed. 'Ron, you and Hermione check The Green Dragon and the area around it. If anyone has seen anything, send a Patronus, we'll do the same. If not, meet Draco and I at the Diagon Alley Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes location in forty-five minutes,' he said, deciding to take the initiative and the lead of their operation which looked more and more like a search and rescue rather than simply a search like it had at the start. 'If you can't find us there, be on your guard and look for us in Knockturn Alley.'

Ron looked slightly alarmed. 'Do you think it might come down to that, Harry?' he asked.

Harry nodded gravely. 'It might, you never know. Just be on your guard and look out for anything suspicious. If you find yourself in too much danger or an uncomfortable situation, get yourselves out as fast as you can. If that happens, we'll all meet up at the Burrow and go from there.'

Hermione nodded hesitantly and rose with Ron. 'We'll see you soon, Harry. You, too, Draco,' she added as an afterthought. 'If anything happens to Harry and we find out you had a hand in it, we'll come after you.'

Draco looked up at the quietly fierce tone in her voice. 'I give you my oath as a wizard that if there is a fight to be had, I will fight alongside Potter, not against him.' Harry sucked in a sharp breath and Ron did a double-take at Draco while Hermione's eyes widened. A Wizard's Oath was less powerful that the more well known Unbreakable Vow, though it was equally significant. Since Draco had vowed not to harm Harry, he could not unless he wanted to endure horrible agony. The only thing close to it, besides the Unbreakable Vow, was a Life Debt akin to the one that Peter Pettigrew once owed to Harry and had saved Harry's life in the cellar of Malfoy Manor.

Hermione nodded hesitantly. 'All right, we'll get going now, then,' she said. Ron nodded as well, looking slightly impressed by Malfoy's Oath. He reached for his money pouch, but Draco raised a hand.

'Don't worry about your drinks, I'll pay for them,' he said. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were impressed and surprised yet again. They all knew Draco was rich, but they'd never known him to be so beneficent. The only thing Harry could think was that Draco was so shaken by the aftermath of the war and the disappearance of his father that he had grown up from the cruel Draco Malfoy he had known at school.

Ron shrugged and left with Hermione without another word. Hermione waved goodbye as Harry and Draco rose. Harry grabbed the bottles that Ginny, Ron, and Hermione had left on the table along with his own and carried them to the bar while Draco took his glass and paid Aberforth. Harry tipped him a Galleon, though Draco tried to forestall him. Harry wouldn't have it and paid Aberforth anyway.

'Hope you find what you're looking for,' Aberforth said. It was clear that he was reluctant to say that much. Harry thanked him, as did Draco, and they left the bar together.

'Before we leave Hogsmeade,' Harry said as they walked down the high street towards the Shrieking Shack, 'let's head over to the Shrieking Shack, just to make sure he isn't there with whoever it is he was drinking with.'

Draco nodded and kept walking past where they had first Apparated to when they came earlier. They walked in silence, bypassing the locked gate and continuing down the path to the front door of the Shrieking Shack. It was locked. There was a heavy cast iron padlock and chains along with a sign that bore the legend, 'KEEP OUT! NO TRESPASSING!'

Harry pulled out his wand. 'Alohomora!' he said, pointing at the heavy padlock. There was a click and the padlock fell off, the chains going limp. Harry opened the door, keeping his wand drawn and entered with Draco following close behind him, his wand drawn as well.

They walked around the ground level, not finding anything until Draco saw bloodstains near a crate pushed up against a wall. 'Potter!' he hissed, lighting his wand silently and pointing it at the blood on the floor. Harry rushed over and looked where Draco was pointing, relaxing slightly when he realized where the bloodstains were.

'It's all right, Draco. That's where Snape died,' he said, his voice choking off slightly. Though he hadn't had much liking for Snape in life, after he'd died Harry understood and pitied the man a bit more.

Draco lowered his wand and extinguished it. 'I was wondering where…' he stopped, deciding not to say any more on that particular subject.

Harry turned and started up the stairs, stepping over some weak spots and holes in the aged wood. Draco followed him after a moment, clearly having to master his emotions first. They split at the top and searched room by room. Harry took the room that Sirius had taken Ron to in their third year so that Draco wouldn't ask questions about the paw prints and obvious signs of a person being dragged about and a scuffle as well. There was nothing to be found in the shack, though Harry hadn't suspected there would be. He and Draco left and went back to the road.

'When we get to Knockturn Alley,' Draco said, 'let me do the talking. Borgin might not want to talk to you.'

Harry nodded. There was nothing more to be said. They looked at each other then Disapparated at the same time, reappearing in one of the alleys between Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. This time, Draco took the lead and led Harry to the shop Harry had only been in once. Borgin and Burke's was shabbier than ever. The always grimy windows displaying dark artifacts were more obscured than usual, only a few things visible. Harry wondered if the store was still occupied, but Draco just strode inside without stopping to look in the window. It was as dark as the last time Harry had been inside and Borgin was nowhere to be seen. There were several blank spots on the shelves, evident only because the spots where they had been were less dusty than the spaces around them. It was obvious to Harry that there was no longer a high demand for the kinds of things that the shop sold. He followed Draco to the counter and waiting while he rang the bell. After a few moments, Borgin came out from the storeroom behind the counter and looked shocked as he saw Draco, even more so when he spotted Harry.

'Master Malfoy? What brings you to my humble shop?' Borgin asked, his oily voice laced with fear. It appeared he'd decided to just ignore Harry instead of acknowledge him beyond the shocked expression he'd worn when setting eyes on him when he'd initially seen him. Harry looked to Draco and saw that he'd drawn himself up and put on the sneer he usually wore when addressing those he considered lesser than him, though Harry thought it looked slightly half-hearted.

'I am looking for my father, Borgin,' Malfoy said, sneering at the small man. 'If you know anything, you had best tell me now.'

Borgin swallowed hard and his forehead broke out in sweat. 'I-I-I don't know a-anything, M-master Malfoy,' he stuttered, utterly unconvincing.

Harry moved closer to Draco, pulling his wand out as he did. Borgin's eyes shifted to Harry so quickly it was hard to track the movement, then he shifted them back to Draco who had also drawn his wand.

'Ch-check the b-back,' Borgin said in an inaudible whisper. He moved from behind the counter and into a far corner of the shop.

Harry and Draco quickly circled the counter and, each taking a side of the holey and nasty black curtain, nodded to each other. Harry counted down from three on his fingers and when he reached one muttered, 'Diffindo!' pointing his wand at the top of the curtain. It fell, letting Harry and Draco rush through the now vacant archway. What they saw inside made Harry pause in horror for a moment before looking at Draco. The younger Malfoy had stopped dead, his wand shaking in his grip. They were facing a tilted metal examination table like those frequently seen in old photographs of hospitals for the mentally-ill. On it was the unconscious, possibly dead, form of Lucius Malfoy. His long hair, normally quite clean and straight, was grimy and disheveled, splayed around his head and it looked as though it had been burned off in some places. He was shirtless and there were straps holding him to the bed, half-healed cuts, welts, and bruises forming nonsensical patterns on his chest. His arms were likewise battered and bruised, two more straps wrapped around his wrists and further secured to the table. A rattling wheeze came from him and Harry relaxed some, knowing that he was still alive. From the waist down, he wore trousers with holes and burn marks marring them. His face, too, had been savaged. It looked as though he might have a broken cheek bone and both eyes had been blackened and swollen shut. There was a long gash leading from Lucius's scalp to the bottom of his stubbly chin and it looked like someone had attempted to close it with magic and had not bothered to finish the job.

Harry sucked in a hasty breath and fought the urge to retch. He heard a noise behind him and spun just in time to avoid a blow from hooded and cloaked figure in the archway leading back into the shop. Harry danced backwards and fired a hex at the man, but he'd dodged it. Draco, at this point, had realized what was happening and spun around to face the attacker that had most likely captured and tortured his father. It was hard dueling in the close quarters of the storeroom, but it made it easier for Harry that Draco was on his side, the both of them battling the figure they assumed was a man. At one point, the hood was thrown back to reveal a Death Eaters' mask. Harry dueled faster and harder, Malfoy doing the same. Eventually, Harry landed a powerful Stunning Spell right to the man's chest which threw him backwards into the counter and toppled him over it. Harry rushed around the counter, Malfoy vaulting on top of it and on over, and Harry kicked the man's wand aside and glared down at him.

'Incarcerous!' Harry growled. Ropes sprang into existence and wrapped themselves sinuously around the Death Eater's arms and legs, binding them together with no possibility of movement. Harry leaned down and pried the mask from the now struggling man's face. It was Walden MacNair, the would-be killer of Buckbeak years previously. The years had not been kind to MacNair, his once thick hair was thinning and graying as well, thick tufts were also missing from his mustache. Not only that, but Harry noticed he hadn't been eating and looked starved, bones of his face jutting out horribly.

'You,' Malfoy hissed. He still held his wand and pressed it to MacNair's throat. 'You are the one who kidnapped my father? You are the one who tortured him?'

MacNair laughed hoarsely, attempting to get out of his bonds. 'The Dark Lord will return and I will be the one to do it! Lucius was his favorite, he'll know how to bring the Dark Lord back, and I know it!' Harry groaned. He'd expected something like this, though not to such an extreme.

Draco pressed the wand harder into MacNair's throat. 'I should kill you myself, you sniveling excuse for a wizard.' MacNair laughed again, but then yelped as Draco's wand smoked slightly, the tip glowing red hot and burning the skin of his neck.

'You don't have the guts to kill anyone, Draco! You couldn't do in Dumbledore and you won't be able to kill me!' MacNair shouted, laughing once more.

Draco yelled, 'Avada-!'

'NO!' Harry shouted, turning his wand on Draco instead of the now scared looking Death Eater. 'If you kill him now, I'll have to arrest you, Draco. Let him live and face charges. You don't want to do this.'

'I don't care,' Draco hissed, pointing his wand between MacNair's eyes. 'Azkaban won't be so bad; he deserves to die!'

A cough and wheeze came from the other room. 'Draco? Is that you?' called the faint voice of Lucius Malfoy. Immediately, Draco turned and dashed back to his father's side.

Harry, however, stayed where he was, training his wand upon MacNair once more. 'You know, I could let Draco kill you, but I think I'd rather haul you into the Ministry myself. I want to be there at your trial when you face charges on being a Death Eater, trying to bring back Voldemort,' MacNair flinched at his former master's name, 'and torturing an innocent civilian.'

MacNair did not look as frightened as Harry thought he should be. 'Azkaban is nothing without the Dementors,' he spat at Harry. 'I'll be welcomed by the others, especially once they hear of my noble work, trying to bring back our master!' The emaciated man laughed once more, though after a moment he started coughing.

Harry smiled coldly, no trace of true amusement displayed on his face or in his mannerisms. 'You'll be convicted and sentenced, then I'll personally take you to Azkaban and help you to the solitary confinement area. Do you know what that is? That's where you won't have any contact with any of the other prisoners. The only time you'll see another human is when you are brought food and only then for brief moments. You won't be able to hear anything or be heard. How does that sound, MacNair?'

Now, Harry thought, MacNair looked frightened. Harry smiled again and stood, levitating the bound MacNair into the air so he could not escape as he went to check on Draco and Lucius. Draco had removed the straps binding his father's chest and wrists to the table and was now trying to help him to stand.

'Draco! We can't let him walk without knowing what has happened to his legs and feet. You'll have to Apparate with him directly to St. Mungo's,' Harry said urgently. He helped Draco lay Lucius back down gently, though another groan came from the man's chapped lips. 'I'll join you in a bit, I have to take MacNair to Azkaban and fill out some papers. Wait for me there, I'll find you as fast as I can.'

Draco merely nodded, grasping his wand in one hand and a seemingly uninjured part of his father's forearm in the other. He nodded once more to Harry and then Disapparated with a pop. Harry turned and stalked into the shop proper, seeking out Borgin. He found him in a back corned, curled into the fetal position and sniveling.

'Did you have any part in this, Borgin?' Harry asked, his dangerous tone daring the smaller man to argue.

Borgin whimpered and held up his hands. 'N-no! MacNair m-made me meet master M-Malfoy in the Hog's Head and bring him back here. After th-that he threatened to do the s-same to me if I said anything to a-anyone. I didn't want to d-do any of this!'

Harry nodded coldly and went back to the counter were MacNair was struggling futilely in mid-air to get out of his bonds. Harry grabbed MaacNair's upper arm and turned on the spot, Disapparating from the shop with a pop.

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'So MacNair had him the whole time?' Hermione asked later. They'd just come from St. Mungo's and were sitting at the kitchen table of the Burrow with Ron. They were just about to leave for the Holyhead Harpies/Puddlemere United Quidditch game and Harry wanted to tell them what had happened before they left.

Harry sighed. 'Yes, apparently. He wanted to find a way to bring Voldemort back and thought Lucius Malfoy would know how because he was Voldemort's favorite at one point. When Lucius didn't tell him what he wanted to hear, MacNair told me, and anyone who would listen, that he had Stunned Lucius and began torturing him.'

Ron and Hermione shook their heads wearily. They had not found anything worth interest at The Green Dragon and had been waiting with George at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes when Harry's Patronus had arrived and told them what happened. After Harry returned from Azkaban, they'd met at the shop and Apparated straight to St. Mungo's hospital. They'd met up with Draco who had told them his father was with his mother and would not see any visitors at that time. He'd thanked them and walked off, obviously not wanting any more to do with them. It appeared the olive branch he'd held out to them only extended as far as reaching his own ends and no farther. This did not bother Harry very much, though. He still disliked Draco and his family, remembering this when he had to stop Draco from killing MacNair.

'Git,' Ron said succinctly.

Hermione looked up from the study of her interlaced fingers on the table. 'Harry, what if there are other Death Eaters out there? Waiting to come out of hiding and try to bring Voldemort back?'

Harry looked at her. 'I guess we'll have to deal with them when they come, Hermione. We shouldn't bother ourselves with them now, though.' He looked at the pair of them and tried to plaster a smile on his face. 'Come on, let's go to the Quidditch game. I really want to see Ginny fly today and we have prime seats.'

Ron grinned a bit hesitantly and looked to Hermione. She still looked slightly troubled, but smiled some and got up.

'Okay, let's go,' she said bravely. Harry and Ron stood as well and they all walked to the door.

'Wait!' Harry said, dashing upstairs. He went to one of the drawers in his dresser and pulled out a pair of badges, one reading, 'Support Puddlemere United!' and the other bearing the legend, 'Go Harpies!' with the talon that was the team's insignia emblazoned on it. He pinned each to a side of his robes and ran back downstairs. Ron laughed at his appearance and they all walked outside, Harry closing and locking the kitchen door behind him before they all Disapparated just beyond the garden fence.

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A/N: Sorry about the lengthiness, there was a lot to tell. Hope you enjoyed it! Reviews highly appreciated!!!