By the time Hermione had come out of hiding, Gwendolyn and Severus had decided that Gwendolyn would do the spell on Sunday, after taking Hermione to her parents' to get a few urgent items.

So it was that Gwendolyn knocked on their door just before midday on Sunday, toting a couple of plant cuttings in her handbag. The Granger's house was a nice place, much like the one Gwendolyn remembered living in when she had been very young. It was neither obscenely large, nor small, and it had a cottage type of atmosphere. Gwendolyn took in the beautiful gardens as Hermione unlocked the front door, all the while talking about Apparition manners.

Once inside, the voice of what Gwendolyn could only assume was Hermione's mother called out, "We're in the living room, darling." Hermione set her bag down next to the commode that seemed to house a beautiful collection of chess sets, and bade Gwendolyn to follow her. Gwendolyn waited in the entryway to the living room, eyes roaming the beautiful interior, as Hermione went to give her parents kisses. She had just gotten to her father when Gwendolyn realized that the third person in the living room appeared incredibly familiar. "Mom?"

Ms. Flores-Hawkins turned around. "Gwendolyn? Well, I guess that you are acquainted with the Grangers, then?"

"I'm a friend of Hermione's. What are you doing here?"

"They're old friends, and we're discussing a lawsuit one of their colleagues is making."

Hermione and her parents had a good laugh before Hermione led Gwendolyn up the stairs to her bedroom, where they procured a number of texts and clothing items. Gwendolyn took in the nice furniture and smiled. "This would probably be a good place to cast the spell. Familiar, comfortable surroundings, and three people downstairs who will notice if, against all odds, something goes wrong." At Hermione's frown, Gwendolyn continued. "You don't really want to do this with Severus breathing nervously down our necks, do you?"

Watching another's memories had a very calming effect on Gwendolyn. Where normally she would have been reacting violently to the scene before her, she instead felt only a distant edge of anger as she reached into Hermione's mind and severed most of the strings to that particular memory. There was a faint tickle of puzzlement when a short, dark-haired man entered the edge of Hermione's memory. Puzzlement turned into shock as Healer Murray revealed himself, dragging an unconscious Ginny across the floor, away from Lucius Malfoy. When the memory had played itself out, Gwendolyn sat rooted in the chair she had taken, unable to move for fear she would fly into an uncontrollable rage.

"Hermione, do you think you could record everything you remember so that we can deliver it to the Aurors?"

"Gwendolyn, are you alright?" Hermione looked more than a little concerned.

"That was my boss. I'm going to have to go to St. Mungo's tomorrow, and not confront him, kill him, or otherwise betray that I know what happened." Gwendolyn took a deep breath and closed her eyes, whispering to herself. "His Healer's sigil should have deactivated, even if he removed it. How could he avoid that?"

Hermione looked up from her parchment, considering the question. "Occlumency."

"Oh, Hecate."

Gwendolyn returned Hermione to the shop in a daze, only coming to her senses when a group of girls waiting outside the door started giggling incessantly.

An older witch looked on with a raised eyebrow. "Ms. Granger, having fun living in sin?"

"What?"

Gwendolyn aimed a glare at the crowd that was beginning to form. "We are not in the mood to have our privacy invaded today, so I suggest you go away. Let's go, Hermione."

Severus handed Gwendolyn a cup of tea while Hermione owled her account off. "That was quite the temper out there, Gwendolyn."

Gwendolyn drained her cup quickly. "What was that about, anyway?"

Severus smiled as Hermione returned to the room. ""They thought Hermione, Draco, and I had set up a manage a trios." Severus handed Gwendolyn the Daily Prophet.

Hermione watched in amusement as Gwendolyn went red, first in embarrassment and then in anger. Severus sent a cautious glance at her. "That's even more farcical than usual. I think I know why, though." Severus took on his carelessly sarcastic tone. "They most likely got a tip off about Hermione and I, and since the thought is laughable without a catalyst, they threw in Draco because he is the only other one with a key."

Gwendolyn muttered something that sounded like, "I hate reporters," before downing another cup of tea.

Hermione put a hand on Gwendolyn's shoulder. "It's just a silly story. I had one like that written about me when I was only fourteen. Why does it make you so angry?"

Gwendolyn poured herself yet another cup of tea. "My parents separated because one person took a news article about my mother seriously. They loved – still love – each other, but the company got a letter saying the marriage resulted in a severe conflict of interest."

Hermione took Gwendolyn's hands. "That's awful, but Severus and I have read the kinds of fantasies the Daily Prophet dreams up for years. It's a load of rubbish, and no one in their right mind treats it seriously."

The very next day, Harry received a visit in his office from the Auror in charge of their case. "We got the information you and your friends sent in. How did you guys pull that together?"

Harry pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Our Mind Healer decided she wanted to ask us questions."

The Auror harrumphed. "Well, with Ms. Granger's account, we have a break in the case that we've followed up on. We should get you kids to court within a month."

Harry took a significant effort to keep his jaw from dropping. "You found Malfoy?" At this question, the Auror was evasive. They had caught someone, but it was not Lucius Malfoy.

Harry decided an outing with Draco and Gwendolyn was in order. After a moment, he reconsidered. Severus would also likely have necessary input. So, what had started as a small outing for drinks and ideas turned into an emergency meeting for the seven friends.

Gwendolyn received his letter just as she was changing out of her work clothes, and happily picked out some bar clothing. She thought it interesting, him calling a meeting midweek. It had to be something big.

"Mom! I'm going out with friends!" Gwendolyn called out into the depths of the flat as she opened the door. Hearing the swish of a quick-moving wand, Gwendolyn ducked, simultaneously turning to view her assailant. It was a frumpy witch in her late forties, and before her cruse could be completed Gwendolyn grabbed the witch's wrist and forced it above their heads. A few knocks against the doorframe later and the witch lie groaning on the floor, Gwendolyn in possession of her wand.

Gwendolyn's mother poked her head out of her room. "You alright?"

"Yeah, just an adoring fan. I'm going to make sure everyone else is okay."

Gwendolyn listened halfheartedly, wondering why she had been ambushed, and her friends had not. In a hoarse whisper, Harry conveyed his news, as well as his worries. He turned to Severus. "Surely you know some of Lucius's hide-outs?"

Severus shakily told them of the places that he had known, all of them either destroyed or already searched. The hope they had seemed to be ebbing away, until Gwendolyn put her mind to the test. "What about the house elves?"

Draco turned to Gwendolyn, puzzled. "Of course they would know where he is, but they won't help us put him in Azkaban."

Gwendolyn shrugged. "You tell them that he hasn't been in his right mind since the war, that you are worried for his well being."

Severus laughed, a deep chuckle. "A good idea, Gwendolyn, but not one that would work. House elves would be able to see the lie. They would visit him, make sure he is well, but they would never lead us to him."

Gwendolyn smiled, a hint of her inner predator glinting in her eyes. "Then we put a tracking spell on the house elves. If you think they would notice wand waving, there was one we used on mentally broken patients in the Amazon. They are shrouded in so much old magic that I doubt they would notice a little more."

Severus snorted. "You underestimate them."

Gwendolyn threw her hands in the air. "If you were caught in a great gust of wind, would you notice that a child blew a bit of air in an attempt to ruffle your hair? I suppose you have a better suggestion?"

"There are old blood tracking spells."

Gwendolyn tone was flat in reply. "No. It is too dangerous. I'm going to accompany Draco home tonight, just to make sure he gets there alright, and in the confusion of my old magic heavy presence, I'll put a tracking spell on them and link it up so that the Aurors know the moment any of the house elves visit him." Too many people died being used for blood tracking spells. Gwendolyn would not risk that with Draco.

Gwendolyn dressed for court, worry paining her. Court was in three hours, and Lucius had yet to be caught. Severus had told her to wear her Amazonian Healer's uniform. A regular Healer's uniform gave her credibility. The uniform of the old magic was designed to show her tattoo as proof of her authority.

The seven friends met at the Ministry of Magic, hearts pounding. Draco looked fearfully at Gwendolyn, who could only shake her head. Lucius would not be punished tonight. The hour of the trial came, and they spoke of their months of tribulation and travail. Hermione spoke of her pain, Neville of his insecurities. Gwendolyn was the last to testify, speaking of the malicious words her boss had spoken, his willful denial of resources needed to heal her patients, relating how she had brought forward the memories concerning Lucius Malfoy.

Then they were made to wait as Healer Murray pleaded his case, fear evident to them all as he stared at Gwendolyn's garb. The case was irrefutable, even he knew that. Nervousness permeated Gwendolyn's mind with despair as the Wizengamot conferred, Lucius Malfoy still at large.

"We find Healer Murray to be guilty. He is sentenced to a lifetime in Azkaban for his crimes, and stripped of his Healer's sigil." Gwendolyn nearly cried. Such a great price for only half a victory. They were about to be dismissed when two harried-looking Aurors stepped in, a bound Mr. Malfoy being led by a chain. No testimony was allowed on his part, for Lucius was wanted for the crime of slaughtering his wife immediately following the war. For the first time in months, Gwendolyn felt at peace.

The crowd thronged about Gwendolyn, pushing her out into the fountain area before she could regain her bearings or locate her dear Draco. Gwendolyn searched for many minutes before she gave up, thinking that he must have gone home already to celebrate it's newfound safety. Gwendolyn sighed, ready to make her way toward the apparition area, just as a fair hand fell on her shoulder. Gwendolyn was twirled around and caught in a kiss sweet with the taste of victory. When Draco had pulled away from her lips, Gwendolyn laughed. "Felt like putting your opinion in for those reporters?"

Draco's smile nearly made her knees melt. "I'm taking you out. Out in public, out. Tonight."

Gwendolyn's hand grasped nervously at his. "Yes?"

Draco hugged Gwendolyn close. "Two hours enough for you to get into something formal?"

Gwendolyn pushed away, waving as she made her way to the Apparition area. "I think I can manage."

A/N: YAY! This chapter had quite a bit of last minute editing of scenes, as I changed the one with the article and added Healer Murray's wife attacking Gwendolyn. It turned out LONG. Yes, the attack scene is necessary, or you would never have known Gwendolyn's physical prowess.