A/N: Sorry for the delay! Hope it was worth the wait :-)

Draco sat in his drawing room feeling rather nervous. He and Hermione had promised each other honesty, and here he was, turning his back on that promise yet again, even though he knew Sophie was right about Hermione and Phillip never being able to understand. They were both so good natured that they wouldn't care that this injustice wouldn't be forever. All they would see was that someone was getting away with what was essentially murder. But there were four people in Draco's office that day, and if they turned Pansy in she would be killed long before she ever got the chance to blab. Because Draco, like everyone else, knew she undoubtedly would. Pansy was selfish. Always had been. Well … not in all aspects, Draco recalled.

Sophie was the first to arrive. It was fairly easy, considering Phillip had decided to go into work today and she hadn't. With Draco on his lunch break, Phillip would never leave the office. Not until he got back. Now they just needed one more …

A knock came at the door. Draco jumped. He was so convinced that Hermione was going to catch them here that he was a little on edge. Sophie rolled her eyes and went to answer the door.

"Good day, 'Arry," she said, kissing the black-haired wizard on each cheek.

He blushed. "Uhh … Hi, Sophie. I wasn't … I mean, Malfoy didn't say …"

"I am ze one who made 'im ask you 'ere, actually."

"Oh."

Harry looked over at Draco, who was watching him from the entryway to the drawing room. He had thought it strange when Draco had approached him outside the Leaky Cauldron last night, the moment after Hermione went inside to settle their bill. He'd said he had something very important to talk about with him and asked Harry to meet him at his house at noon the following day. Before Harry had a chance to ask any questions, Hermione had returned, and it was quite evident that Draco didn't want her to know about this.

"Why have you asked me here, Malfoy?" Harry asked after they had all gone into the drawing room and taken their seats. He was on the sofa with Sophie, while Draco was across from them on an armchair that very much resembled the ones in Malfoy Manor.

Draco didn't say anything. He just looked to Sophie. She sighed. "I lied before, 'Arry. Een ze 'ospital when you came to question me, I lied."

Harry blinked. "What did you lie about?"

"When I said I deed not see any of my attackers. Zat ees not true. I deed see one. When she stepped forward to try and stop ze others I got a clear view of 'er face, and I knew 'er."

"You did?" said Harry, his eyes widening behind his glasses. "Well, who was it?"

Sophie was about to tell him, but Draco put up his hand to stop her. She shut her mouth immediately.

Harry was baffled. "I don't understand. Why did you lie?"

"Because we don't want her imprisoned yet, Potter."

"Why not?" asked Harry, furrowing his brow.

"Because a war ees starting, 'Arry. Ze murder last night made zat perfectly clear."

"The other side isn't very forgiving, Potter," said Draco. "If we turn her in now her name goes to the top of every hit list. But, if we wait, maybe she'll be stupid enough to reveal who the others were. Maybe even more."

Harry looked at Draco and took a deep breath. "Why are you telling me this? You know as an Auror I have to -"

"Look out for the best interest of the people? Yeah, I get that," said Draco, putting his arms on his thighs and leaning forward. "That's why we're telling you. You know we're right. Even though turning her in is the right thing to do, it will only hurt us in the long run."

"We are telling you because you are an Auror, and we trust you," explained Sophie. "Eef zis war ees anyzing like ze last, zen you can never be too careful about where you put your trust."

"But what about Hermione and Phillip?" asked Harry. "My guess is they're not here because they don't know you saw someone. Am I right?"

"You are," said Draco, in a strained voice.

Sophie sighed. "Phillipe weell never understand why we are doing zis, 'Arry. 'E cannot know."

"And what about Hermione?" he asked, looking at Draco.

"She would never support this," was all Draco said.

"While she might not support the idea, she supports and trusts you," said Harry, scowling at him. "You should really give her more credit, Malfoy."

"I don't want her knowing, all right?" Draco shouted, while jumping to his feet. One sharp look from Sophie had him back in his chair again. "Look, I just don't want her in any danger. That okay, Potter?"

Harry frowned. "She's going to be angry."

"I know," said Draco, putting his head in his hands.

There was a long silence. During this time, Harry looked up at the clock above the mantel and stared blankly at Hermione's name, currently pointing at 'work'. He knew Draco had her best interest in mind, but he really thought not letting her in on this was a mistake. Hermione was smarter than the three of them combined. She would be able to come up with a plan much better than whatever they thought up.

"So weell you 'elp us, 'Arry?" Sophie asked desperately from beside him.

Harry could hardly look at her. He would never forget how guilty he felt when he heard about the attack at Thinx, knowing very well that Hermione had been there. All they were told was a witch had been seriously hurt, and he had been so relieved when he found out it wasn't his longtime friend. If Hermione knew he'd thought that, even for a second, she would never forgive him.

Harry did like Sophie. She was a bit bolder than the people he was used to, but her loyalty to her friends was unmatched. He didn't know why but, for some reason, Harry felt he owed her. For being relieved it was her and not Hermione who was attacked. For always being there for his best friend. For seeing the good in people like Draco without having to squint quite as hard as everyone else. Harry still found himself questioning this changed Malfoy at times.

"Yes, I will help you. The Aurors can keep an eye on this witch for you just as soon as you tell me who -"

"Not all the Aurors," Draco said quickly.

"Only ze ones you know you can trust," said Sophie.

"And that does not include Weasley. I wouldn't put it past him to blab this whole damn thing to Hermione."

"He wouldn't," Harry said defensively. "But Ron is still an Auror in training. If I involved him it would be on a personal level but, for now, I won't say anything. There are only two Aurors offhand I can think of that I'd want to involve."

"Then those two are it," said Draco firmly. "Anyone you are forgetting about in this moment and remember later cannot be involved. If they were truly trustworthy then you would think of them 'offhand'."

"Right," said Harry. He waited. "Aren't you going to tell me who it is now?"

Draco blinked. "You swear? You won't turn them in, you won't tell Hermione, you won't tell Weasley -"

"Yes, I swear, Malfoy. Now who the bloody hell is it?"

Draco looked at Sophie. They exchanged a nod. "Pansy Parkinson," said Draco. "Sophie saw her and I found her acting suspicious at St. Mungo's. She confessed to me, but she wouldn't tell me anything more. Just that they were there for me. To scare, not to torture."

Sophie looked to the floor and forced herself to swallow back tears.

Draco noticed. "Should've been me." He paused and took a deep breath. "I think Blaise Zabini was there too. Pansy had a large mark on her face when I saw her and he has been known to lose his temper with women in the past."

"And zat smug, smug look …" Sophie's fists clenched.

Draco sighed. "Last night when we got into the confrontation with Zandicus, Blaise looked all too pleased."

"And the other two?" asked Harry.

Draco looked at Sophie. "I think …"

"Draco, no!" she snapped. "You do not know!"

"We can never be too careful, Soph! If it's a possibility -"

"But I 'ave met 'im! 'E would never -"

"I've done things I'm sure you think I could never do."

"Well, yes … but zat was een ze past. You would never now -"

"I think you should keep an eye on Goyle and Daphne," Draco said quickly, before Sophie could object again.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Really? But Goyle seems so …" What was the right word here? "… normal. For him, anyway."

"Yes, but the four of them are often together. It doesn't hurt to look into them as a possibility."

Sophie frowned. "Well, I do not know about Goyle, but eef you zink Blaise ees involved zen Daphne definitely should be investigated."

"Why do you say that?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh …" Sophie blushed and quickly looked away. "No reason."

Draco narrowed his eyes at her. "Did Hermione tell you about what I saw at my bachelor party?"

"No!" Sophie clenched her face. Even she knew her answer was too quick. "Okay, maybe she mentioned somezing …"

"What is it?" Harry asked curiously. "I don't remember witnessing anything funny."

"Well, you weren't there at the moment." Draco took a deep breath. He hated sharing his friend's (hopefully a friend) dirty laundry, especially when he hadn't even told Goyle what he witnessed, but now it seemed like he had to. "Daphne didn't stay with Pansy that weekend. I saw her Flooing out and she was definitely going to Blaise's, suitcase in hand."

"Oh," said Harry, blushing slightly. "That's … wow."

"And not even married a year yet!" shouted Sophie. "Seemply appalling!

"Yes, because if it had been ten years that would be better," mocked Draco. "Right, Soph?"

Sophie narrowed her eyes at him. "You know what I mean. Why even get married eef you are just going to cheat ze first chance you get?"

Draco almost told them that the marriage was arranged but, luckily, he caught himself. If Goyle truly was his friend - and he hoped he was - then he could at least keep some of his secrets.

"So is there anything else you need to tell me?" asked Harry, looking at his watch. "I want to know exactly what was said between you and Parkinson, Malfoy, but we don't really have time for that now. Is there something that sticks out? Something I should know immediately?"

Draco thought about this. "My mind wasn't exactly clear in the moment, but I seem to recall her saying something about Hermione and me both being in danger. That they had something planned. But it was all very vague. Nothing we don't already know."

"All right then," said Harry, climbing to his feet. "I have to be getting back now, but when would be a good time to discuss this more thoroughly?"

"I could probably get away sometime zis weekend," said Sophie. "Tell Phillipe I need some fresh air or somezing." She and Harry looked to Draco.

"Hermione and I are going furniture shopping in Diagon Alley on Saturday," he said. "I could try and break away for a little while, say I'm shopping for the game room or something. She won't want to help with that."

"Or you could just tell her, Mal -"

"I said no!" Draco snapped.

"Fine," Harry shrugged, "but you're going to regret it later." He walked towards the door. Draco and Sophie stood up and followed. "Meet me in Quality Quidditch Supplies at half past one. The owner owes me a favor so we can use the back of the shop." He opened the door.

"Wait, 'Arry," said Sophie.

Harry turned back around.

"Deed … deed zey ever find Zandeecus?"

Harry looked at her and sighed. "No. There's an Auror stationed outside of his home now but, so far, he hasn't been there."

Sophie frowned. "Phillipe deed not come 'ome until almost dawn. 'E 'ad been looking for 'im everywhere. I still cannot believe 'e chose today of all days to go to work."

"He just needs a distraction, Soph," said Draco. "You should think about coming in too."

Sophie clenched her eyes shut and shook her head. "No. I zink Phillipe needs …" she gulped … "and wants zis time away from me right now."

"Sophie, I don't -"

Sophie walked out of the room without saying goodbye to Harry. Draco sighed and looked at the other wizard. "I am fairly certain that Zandicus had something to do with what happened to Sophie, but I don't think he killed Inga."

"Why did he run, then?" asked Harry.

Draco shrugged. "I don't know. Fear, maybe. There was a whole pub full of witnesses who knew he was with her, and he had just thrown a fit a few minutes earlier. Even I'll admit it didn't look good for him."

"At this point we really know nothing," sighed Harry. "The Minister has a few people on the inside. So far none of them are in deep enough to know about the events that have transpired, but they're working on it."

"Any idea who these 'people' are?" asked Draco.

"None at all," said Harry before disapparating with a wave.

XXX

"What is that?" asked Hermione, looking at Lucius Malfoy with raised eyebrows. He had just put a frame on her desk, with the photo of him and Narcissa with her and Draco at their wedding inside of it.

"The last time I was here I was thinking your office seemed a bit bare," said Lucius. "An old colleague of mine who works at Witch Weekly got a copy of the photo for me. You don't like it?" he asked, frowning down at the frame.

"No!" Hermione said quickly. "It's not that!" It really, really was. "It's just that … you and Narcissa … I mean, don't you ever smile in photos? We all just look so … stiff."

Lucius picked up the photo and studied it more thoroughly. "Do you think so? I am smiling much more in this than I am in any other family portrait I've ever taken. See?" he said, pointing at the ever-so-slight curve to his lips. Narcissa's image looked at him and scowled before walking out. Photo-Lucius followed her and pulled her back in several seconds later while Draco and Hermione continued to smile awkwardly.

Hermione said nothing.

"Well, if you don't like it." Lucius began to tuck the photo back in his robes.

Hermione sighed. "Put it down, please, Lucius. It is a very thoughtful gift and I will be happy to keep it on my des …" Narcissa staring at her all day long? No thank you … "on my shelf over there." She pointed. "My desk gets a bit crowded at times and I wouldn't want to risk knocking it over."

Lucius smirked. "Of course," he said with a wink. He walked over and placed the frame on her bookshelf, right next to the very first photo Hermione and Draco had ever taken together in Sequoia last summer. The photo was a bit forced, since they had barely been friends at the time, but she loved it, nonetheless.

"I know we had lunch plans today, but I have so much work to catch up on, I really don't think I can get away," Hermione said, writing something else she just remembered onto her to-do list.

"But I told you I have a surprise for you today," said Lucius, taking the quill from her hands.

"You mean that wasn't it?" she asked, motioning to the photo.

"Of course not. That was just a bonus to remind everyone who enters here that you are a Malfoy now."

"Because the nameplate on the door wasn't enough?" She smirked.

"Hermione."

"Lucius."

"I will not take no for an answer," he said, crossing his arms.

Hermione leaned back in her chair and did the same. "It appears that stubbornness is a Malfoy family trait."

"Yes it is," he said. "Whether you are born with the name or become a Malfoy through marriage, we are never short of tenacity."

Hermione tried really hard not to smile. "Can you have me back in twenty minutes?"

"I can have you back in fifteen."

"All right, fine," she said, stepping out of her chair. "Take me to this 'surprise'. And be quick about it."

Lucius smiled at her, finally getting Hermione to cave and smile back. He held out his arm and she grabbed onto it, letting him apparate the two of them to an undisclosed location.

Hermione felt a horrible chill run up her spine when she realized they had reappeared in Knockturn Alley. Lucius stepped forward and opened a door to what appeared to be a book shop. He held it for her but she remained frozen, staring dumbfounded into the dark shop.

"I promise, Hermione, nothing inside of this shop is going to hurt you," Lucius said with that signature Malfoy grin. "You might want to hurry along before someone sees you standing in the alley, though."

Hermione looked around nervously before darting into the shop. Lucius sniggered and shut the door behind them. He looked over at the shopkeeper and the two exchanged a nod before the man turned the other way. Lucius then led Hermione past the bookshelves and behind a tattered green curtain in the back of the shop. As they went inside she noticed the shopkeeper glancing sideways at them, his face permanently frozen with a look of malice on it, so she beamed at him. He upchucked a little and stopped looking at them then.

"Please, don't frighten Nogus, Hermione. He is doing us quite a large favor," said Lucius as she stepped into the room behind the curtain.

"Sorry," she said, taking a good look around.

All of the books back here looked as if they had not been read in years. A thick layer of dust covered the room like a blanket, particles in the air giving her the constant urge to sneeze. Spiders were crawling on webs in every corner, high and low, and when one large one scurried by their feet, Lucius smashed it with his cane.

"Truly revolting creatures," he said as he took out a handkerchief and wiped his cane clean. Clearly the handkerchief was magic because the spider's remains vanished instantly.

"Lucius, why are we here?" asked Hermione, reading a few titles of the books. None of them seemed especially impressive.

Lucius went over to one of the bookcases near the back and pulled out a book. Hermione jumped as it began to rotate, revealing a hidden bookcase of very ancient looking books. She walked over and began stroking her fingers along the spines. When one of them hissed at her she was quick to stop doing this. Lucius smirked before using his cane to point at the third shelf from the top. The books were so worn it was impossible to read the titles.

Hermione grabbed the first book on that shelf and began leafing through it. She was not surprised to see that it was a book about the dark arts, considering where they were and all, but she couldn't help but gasp a little when she realized that it was all about ancient wizard machines.

"I caught a glimpse of that dreadful drawing you did in your journal last week," explained Lucius. "You did not shut it quite fast enough when I arrived for lunch."

Hermione blushed. "Draco did a much better one."

"Did he now?" Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Hmm … He must have picked that talent up from his mother."

Hermione turned a few more pages.

"While I am not sure what you are planning to do with this 'machine'," he drawled, "it was quite evident by the question mark above it that you are as clueless about its components as I am."

"What makes you think the machine is dark?" she asked, finally looking up from the book and into Lucius's familiar gray eyes.

The left corner of Lucius's mouth twitched upwards. "They do not make machines like that for the side of good, Hermione. Surely you know that." He reached up and grabbed one of the books. After flipping a few pages he held it out to her and pointed. "Are any of these symbols visible on it?"

Hermione looked down at the page full of different symbols and frowned. "This one might be." She started to point but Lucius snapped the book shut.

"Do not tell me which ones. I am not sure whether this machine has anything to do with the power mentioned in the prophecy but, if it does, you must reveal any information you discover on it to no one. Not even to those closest to you. This is a war, Hermione. You never know who you can trust."

"Not even my father-in-law?" she asked.

Lucius's hard eyes softened a bit. "That would be nice, wouldn't it? But, I am afraid, with my history I am exactly the type of person you should never put your trust in."

Hermione frowned and looked down at the book in her hand. Lucius put the one he was holding on top of it.

"Do you have a means of protecting yourself, Hermione? If something were to happen to you?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, looking up.

"Are you familiar with Occlumency or Legilimency?"

"Well, of course I'm familiar with them. But I assume you're asking if I know them and, I'm afraid, I do not."

"Would you like to learn?" he asked.

Hermione blinked. "Well … yes. Yes, I suppose I would."

"Then we will have to make our lunches more frequent," Lucius said, walking towards the curtain. "Take what you want. Nogus is paid not to mind. This entire room has not been touched in years. Not since the days of the Dark Lord's youth. He used to frequent this place during the years he worked at Borgin and Burkes. Or so I am told."

Lucius went back into the main room of the shop, leaving Hermione alone with the books. There weren't many on machines, but enough that it was hard for her to decide which ones were worth taking.

Hermione could only just make out the sound of the bell above the entrance of the shop after several minutes alone with the books. Lucius came back through the curtain and said, "You need to leave."

Hermione froze. She stared blankly at him, her hand mid-turn of the page she was on.

"Are you taking that one?" he asked.

"I … I don't know yet."

"Then you are," he said, walking over and slamming the book shut. He then went over and grabbed several more books from a random section and threw them on top of her already large pile. Then he grabbed a few more.

"We do not want them to know what section you were seeking."

Someone's heavy footsteps were making the floorboards creak.

"Go," he demanded.

Hermione nodded, but she wasn't sure if he could see it since she was hidden behind the huge stack of books. Without waiting for a response, she disapparated. The moment she was gone, Lucius went over and pulled the book necessary to turn the bookcase back around. Not a second after it locked into place, someone pulled aside the curtain and walked into the back room. They smiled when they saw him.

"Lucius, old friend. I thought I heard someone back here."

Lucius turned around and came face-to-face with Gorden Goyle. He smiled back. "Ah, Gorden. What brings you here?"

"Just pickin' something up from Nogus," he said, glancing back at the shopkeeper. "You?"

"Just setting a little something up," he said. "Something I will be glad to tell all of you in due time."

"Righto," said Goyle. "You still joining us for a drink tonight?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

Goyle smiled. "Good. I am told Arron has a surprise in store. Something truly … unique."

Lucius nodded.

Goyle said, "Good day," and returned to the front of the shop.

Lucius lingered in the back until he heard him leave, then went out to pay Nogus for his silence. Once that was taken care of, he exited, suddenly feeling very hesitant about that evening.

XXX

A slightly tipsy Lucius Malfoy laughed with his oldest mates as they walked through the streets outside of the pub they had just gotten kicked out of - for shouting obscenities at a couple of Mudbloods. It was late, anyway, and they would all have to be getting home to their wives soon enough, but Arron Greengrass wanted to get some fresh air first. His surprise had yet to be revealed.

"So tell me something," said Lucius, between chuckles. "Which one of you bastards was it who put a hit out on my son?"

"Wasn't any of us," laughed Stuart Parkinson.

"You can thank our children for that one," smiled Arron. "It seems they're all a little bitter about Draco choosing to marry that dirty little Mudblood just when they decided to let him back in."

"But you can't blame Draco for wanting a taste of her," said Wiley Rosier, licking his lips. "All of those tight skirts she wears down at the Ministry, I'm tempted to pull her into a dark corner and slam her against a wall myself. That is, if she didn't reek so terribly of Mudblood."

"She does have this purity about her you can't wait to corrupt," laughed Orson Crabbe.

"So it wasn't that Zandicus prick after all?" asked Lucius, anxious to get them off the subject of fondling his son's wife.

"Of course not," said Goyle. "That prick doesn't have the stones to follow through with his threats. Though, he certainly has a knack for digging his own bloody grave."

"Aren't you working with 'that prick'?" asked Quincy Nott.

Goyle smiled. "I am. I just love mugs with large sums of money at their disposal."

"Ah! Here we are!" said Arron, stopping in the center of an alley and beaming at everyone. "Wait right here." He ran into the shadows.

"Any of you know what this is about?" asked Lucius.

Most of his old mates shook their heads, but Goyle and Crabbe exchanged sly grins. This was not lost on Lucius.

Arron came back a few minutes later, lugging a struggling man with bound wrists and a sack over his head. Lucius's insides immediately tensed, but his outsides remained calm.

"Lucius, it has come to our attention that your loyalties have been a bit … sketchy lately."

Lucius cocked an eyebrow. "Have they?"

"Well, not so much yours as your sons," corrected Goyle. "But Rosier here has mentioned that you have been spending an awful lot of time at the Ministry with that Mudblood wife of his."

"We have a weekly lunch date," Lucius said calmly, trying hard not to stare at the struggling man. "My son hardly speaks to me anymore. While she is not exactly gullible, there have been several occasions where she has let things slip to me."

"And we would all really like to believe that," said Arron, pushing a few more steps forward with the man. "That is why we brought him." He took off the sack, revealing a wide-eyed Wesley Granger with a gag in his mouth.

Lucius struggled to keep his breath from hitching. "I do not understand what you are trying to prove here?" he asked, looking past Wesley to Arron.

"Your wife had tea with mine a few months back," he explained. "She told her this odd story about how you forced her to meet your Mudblood daughter-in-law's parents at their home for lunch. Said you got on quite well with the father. My wife said Narcissa was horrified, of course. Claims you haven't been the same since you got your sanity back."

"Did she now?"

"Yes, she did. She's been worried about you, Lucius. We all have."

The others all nodded, each one of them looking quite amused.

"That is why we arranged this test for you. Just to make sure your loyalty truly does lie with your old friends."

Arron then took out his wand and swiftly cast a hovering charm on Wesley. The Muggle man went flying into the air, becoming suspended thirty feet above their heads. Lucius watched as Wesley became perfectly still, seeming to think that this would somehow stop him from falling.

"That spell will wear off in about twenty seconds," said Arron. "It's your choice if you wish to save him or not."

The others all started laughing. Lucius showed no signs of movement, his cane holding his wand pressed firmly to the ground.

They waited for what seemed to be the longest twenty seconds of their lives. Then they heard a muffled scream. Everyone looked up as Wesley began to teeter. And then he fell, plunging head first towards the ground, all eyes fixed on him.

"Immobulus!"

The others had all been so focused on Wesley that none of them noticed Lucius lift his cane. The Muggle froze midair. Before anyone could even get their wands out, Lucius had used a Stunning Charm on Crabbe and Nott. Parkinson stumbled with his wand and ended up missing Lucius with his own Stunning Charm, only to be hit with a successful one a moment later. Rosier bolted, but was hit with a Jelly-Leg Jinx by Goyle meant for Lucius.

"Expelliarmus!" Lucius shouted, successfully disarming Goyle, as well as sending him flying backwards into the wall.

Now it was just him and Arron Greengrass, facing each other, wand to wand.

"I guess we know the truth now." Arron gulped. "I have to say, I never would have believed it if I hadn't just seen it for myself. Lucius Malfoy's actually gone soft."

"Believe me when I tell you, I have hardly gone soft. But my loyalties have changed. They are with Draco, as they should have always been," said Lucius in his calm, drawling voice. "And I will not deny that I have become somewhat fond of his bride. She would be most displeased with me if I let you harm her father."

"Who cares?"

"Obviously, I do," said Lucius, "or else I would have let you harm him." He paused. "Why is it that you have chosen to fight now, Arron? You were never a Death Eater. Is this truly all because your daughter has abandoned your family to date a Weasley?"

"Piss off!"

Lucius cocked an eyebrow. "Is it more than that, then? Who exactly is the puppet master pulling your strings?"

"I said piss off!"

"Titillando!"

Arron fell back in a fit of laughter.

Lucius walked over and kicked him in his side. "You should be glad I've changed, old friend. My former self would not have hesitated to use the Cruciatus Curse on you."

He kicked him again while the other wizard both laughed from the tickling hex and cried out in pain at the same time.

Lucius crouched down and looked the other wizard straight in the eye has his laughter finally subsided. "If you or your children come after my son again, I will make sure it is the last thing you ever do. And that extends to his wife."

"Crucio!"

Lucius turned around just in time to see Goyle pointing his wand - which he had found - at him, sending him back in a fury of pain. When he hit the ground so did Wesley, only now his fall was only around two feet.

Lucius felt several jabs in his side and a wet spot hit his face. When the pain relinquished, Lucius wiped the spit off of him and sat up to see that everyone had gone. He looked over at Wesley, who was sitting a few feet away and staring at him. Lucius waved his wand, removing the man's bonds from his wrists and the gag from his mouth.

"Let's get you home," he said, rising to his feet.

Wesley stood up without a word and followed Lucius out of the alley. He was still feeling a bit weak from the Cruciatus Curse and didn't think he could manage to apparate them both out of there. Luckily, a locater spell let him know that they were not far from the Granger home at all. Until this moment, Lucius had not registered their location. He should have known the moment his 'friends' suggested they come all the way out here for a drink, but he wasn't even aware that they knew where the Grangers lived. He barely knew.

"Lucius," said Wesley when they finally turned onto his block.

Lucius stopped and turned.

"When … when you first came to my house, you mentioned a war many years ago. How many, exactly?"

Lucius stared into the anxious eyes of this Muggle man, unsure of where his loyalty was supposed to lie in this moment. But, understanding the pleas of a desperate father, he decided it was best to be honest with him. "It was just over four years ago."

Wesley looked to the ground. "During that odd time my wife and I randomly decided to move to Australia? It's funny, but until Hermione showed up to ask us to move home I don't remember thinking about her once down there."

"I am really not sure," said Lucius, "but it certainly sounds like something your daughter is capable of doing. As a means to protect you."

"Well, she's not supposed to be the one protecting us," said Wesley, looking up angrily. "Is …" he gulped. "Is Hermione in danger?"

"Yes," Lucius said honestly.

"Because she married your son?"

"Partially."

Wesley sighed. "I will never understand your world."

He walked past Lucius and continued towards his house. Lucius followed a few steps behind him.

When Wesley got to his front door he stopped with his hand on the knob. After several moments of what appeared to be an internal struggle, he turned around.

"I can't help Hermione in the ways she needs, can I?"

Lucius frowned. "I am afraid not."

"But you can?"

"I can try," he said. "I have already arranged to teach her something very necessary to protect herself."

"Good," he said, looking dazed at the ground, yet again. "You fought on the opposite side of my daughter in the war … didn't you?"

"I did."

"And … and Draco?"

"He did as well," said Lucius with a sigh. "But heed my words, Wesley. My son never would have done it if he was not following my lead. He is a better man than I and he loves your daughter. Unconditionally. He will do whatever it takes to protect her and so will I."

Wesley nodded, though, he didn't look completely convinced.

"If you would like, I can use a memory charm to make you forget this -"

"No!" Wesley said quickly. He took a deep breath and repeated, "No," more calmly. "I prefer knowing. I am always sick with worry when it comes to Hermione. Please, keep me informed."

"I will do my best," said Lucius, trying to smile.

Wesley nodded again. "Thank you for not letting them splatter me."

"Don't mention it."

Wesley managed a half-smile before turning and entering his house, several locks clicking behind him.

Lucius waited a few moments before apparating home. When he entered the drawing room, Narcissa was reading in an armchair she had pulled over to the fireplace. She looked up as he entered.

"Lucius, what happened?" she asked, leaping out of her chair and running over to him.

He hadn't caught a glimpse of himself yet, but one look in the gilded mirror above the marble mantelpiece let him know that the Cruciatus Curse had done his appearance no favors. His nose was bloody, his hair dirty and tangled, and his face bruised; not to mention the other parts of his body covered by his robes.

"Nothing," he said, pushing her concerned hands aside and heading for his study.

"What do you mean 'nothing'? Clearly, something has happened," she said, following him.

Lucius took several deep breaths. "While I understand your need to vent to someone about our lunch with Muggles, I really wish it had been anyone other than Delilah Greengrass."

"What do you mean?" she asked, quickening her steps so she was walking even with him. "Did Arron do this to you? Lucius, talk to me."

Lucius stopped and looked at his wife. "How did they know where the Grangers live, Narcissa?"

Narcissa went white. "I … I am not sure."

"Did you tell them?"

"I don't believe so."

"Not even the name of the town?"

Narcissa blinked. "I don't remember, Lucius. I don't believe I did, but who's to say? It was several months ago. And what exactly does this have to do with why you're all bloody and tarnished?"

Lucius scowled at her before returning to his march towards his study. "Arron thought it would be funny to see how I would react to Wesley Granger plummeting thirty feet towards the ground. Needless to say, they were not happy with the results."

"Dear Merlin," she said, grabbing at her heart. "Is he all right?"

"Do you care?"

"Please don't make me out to be the one at fault here, Lucius. Arron should never have brought that Mudblood into this -"

"Did your son not tell you to stop calling them that?"

Narcissa stopped walking, her mouth agape. "Lucius, I … Why are you acting this way?"

"I'm angry," he said, finally reaching the door to his study and opening it. "You should be too. Especially since it was your incessant need to gossip that put Wesley in danger in the first place."

Lucius stepped inside and slammed the door behind him, leaving Narcissa stunned in the hallway. His snowy owl woke up and squawked at him.

He went over to his desk and pulled out a small piece of parchment. He picked up his quill and dipped it into his pot of ink, then scrawled a quick note:

- K -

I have been found out. Will explain on Monday. Hopefully, the others you have on the inside will do a better job than I have.

- L -

As soon as it was written, Lucius folded the note and fastened it to his owl's leg. "You know where to take it, girl," he said, opening the window and sending the owl on its way.

Lucius let the cool air hit his face, staying near the open window long after the owl was gone.

"Sorry, Draco," he whispered after several minutes had past. "I tried. I truly tried." Lucius shut the window and went to lie down on his sofa, too exhausted to even seek out a guestroom. He had no interest in seeing his wife again tonight. Or any night in the near future.