November 27th, 2017

Lucius strode through the halls of the Ministry, ready for his lunch after a grueling few hours of meetings.  Draco had agreed to meet him for lunch at a new café in Diagon Alley, one of many meetings father and son had undertaken in an effort to breach the gap of sixteen years.

Shifting his traveling coat from one arm to the other as he juggled his cane and gloves, Lucius waited impatiently for the lift. He glanced around, surveying his surroundings, years of war still taking their toll on his reflexes. As the lift dinged its presence, he entered forcefully, making his way through the crowded lift. After checking to ensure his level's button was pressed, he leaned up against a free corner of wall and closed his eyes partially, hoping to ease the oncoming headache.

"Malfoy." Well that certainly wasn't going to help. He inwardly groaned, recognizing the voice.

Opening his eyes and resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, he nodded slightly to the speaker. "Potter."  He glanced to the left and fought harder against that groan, "Weasley."

Ron merely nodded his head and turned his attention back to the papers in his hand, while Harry merely stared at Lucius.

"Yes?" The blonde asked mockingly, hoping to pull Harry out of the stare.

"Nothing. Saw you and Hermione, together again, in the paper. Seems to be happening a lot considering your 'views' on her genetics." Harry smirked lightly and Lucius rolled his eyes.

"Indeed. Well, perhaps you should ask your friend then, instead of bothering her coworker that is helping her on a project, don't you think, Potter?"

 "I think you're too close to Hermione! That's what I think!"  Harry snarled softly, mindful of the crowded car. "It's a little strange to see someone with your prejudices attending to her. Stay away from her."

Lucius stepped forward slightly so that Harry was forced to tilt his head up to keep him in view. "The only prejudiced one that I see here is you, Potter," he said simply. "And I believe your friend would take exception to you dictating who she can and cannot see. Perhaps you need to open your eyes a bit beyond your own immediate family." With that, Lucius stepped out of the now stopped lift and walked, robes billowing, into the stream of Ministry goers.

Harry stood in the lift, a rather puzzled look straining his face as he thought over Lucius' parting words.

Ron's ears were stained red and as Harry glanced over at him, he was rather proud of the way the red head had kept quiet.

As they entered their shared office, Ron burst out, "He's such an arrogant bastard! I'd like nothing more than to take him down a peg!"

"I know Ron, but what did he mean, d'you think? I mean I talk to you and Hermione all the time. I read the Prophet, and even just last week we went out with the old DA crowd. I'm not that self-centered, am I?" Harry asked softly.

Ron shook his head, "The man's barmy, Harry. Everyone knows that. He just wants to cause trouble. Don't let him get to you, and I shouldn't either." He glanced over at his desk and groaned, "I'll never get through all these raid reports; who cares if there's a teapot that sings?!"

Harry snorted and then paused, thought a moment, and smirked a look so reminiscent of the old Draco Malfoy that Ron did a double take. "What's up mate?"

"Ron, which former Death Eater haven't we raided?"

Ron thought for a moment, and then blinked. "Aren't they all in Azkaban?"

Harry sighed exasperatedly, "Most, but not all, Ron. What man walked away with merely a fine, all because of his family?" Harry growled at Ron's blank expression. "Lucius Malfoy! Merlin, Ron, he'd be perfect! We have to raid him sometime; he needs that smarmy smirk wiped right off his Pureblooded face. Let's do it now, when he's least expecting it! We'll do it at night!" Harry was waving his arms excitedly and Ron was beginning to grin.

"That might just work … we'll have to clear it with Kings and let Hermione know we can't meet her for dinner."

Harry nodded distractedly and waved Ron's suggestions away. "Yeah, yeah. You want to take care of that mate? I'm going to go plan out everything we can do and look for." He walked away hurriedly, leaving Ron at his desk.

As Ron turned back to his stack of papers, he could be heard muttering, "Sure, Harry, I'll do the dirty work for you! And since when are you the tactician?" Ron continued to grumble as he scratched out a quick note to Hermione and sent it on its way.