"Your workmate?" Severus said. "Polyjuiced, no doubt."
"Gods why does he always sneak up on me?" Ginny replied.
"Pettigrew lived as a rat in your brother's care for quite some time before he noticed. He's been the master of invisibility and deception since his schoolboy years."
Ginny opened Severus' book and inspected the notes inside. She was certainly glad for the subject change. She pushed Severus' rejection to the back of her mind. So stupid, what was she even thinking admitting her stupid feelings at a time like this? Especially feelings that could not be real!
"I couldn't imagine why but it makes sense to me now. Pertha has always been a little odd, ugh! No wonder she and I got along so swimmingly. She—Pettigrew probably just made up all his interests to be as similar as mine! And the fact that she was happy to offer me her night shifts while she dabbled with the Dark Lord? I mean how stupid was I?"
"I had my suspicions that some members of Cagailshire, the newcomers particularly, had come with a secondary reason," Severus said. "No need to berate yourself."
"But if Pertha was Pettigrew, then Talia…..is she someone else? I mean even Marcia the Obscurial was on the Dark Lord's side!"
"It's best not to let Ms Taddletail know that you know of Pertha's true form. For now," Severus said.
"I don't think you are going to like my idea, but Severus I really believe it would be a greater disservice to not tell Harry about our observations at this point. It will look considerably worse on both our records unless we come clean about our involvement."
Severus snarled. "That boy-"
"-he could become an ally."
"Unless." Severus looked down. "No. There is no need to tell Potter. I believe that it would only make matters worse in the sense that those Aurors would rustle the leaves too early and condemn the entire operation. Unless we can take it down from within the organization itself."
"Do you mean, Death Eaters against Death Eaters?"
"Precisely."
"But where are we going to find a Death Eater willing to cooperate?"
The two spoke simultaneously. "The Malfoys."
-xxx-
It was no secret that the Malfoys had long ago abandoned their elitist Pureblood ideas in favor of Ministry pardon. The Dark Lord was not winning the war against Harry Potter, and Lucius and Narcissa had wasted enough nerves putting up with Voldemort and his band of dirty, messy, grumpy Death Eaters lounging about their pristine Malfoy Manor and terrorizing Lucius' peacocks. Not to mention Lucius did not want his son's chances of building a career to be thwarted by having an association to Voldemort.
A large donation to war rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts from their bottomless Gringotts safe and the Malfoys' good name was polished away from bad records. These days, Narcissa spent most of her time hosting events to fundraise for war victims—anything from costume balls to cake competitions—and volunteering at the local orphanages. Money really did make the world go around, Ginny thought as Severus threw a handful of Floo powder into the chimney port.
His chimney port.
Ginny thought she'd never actually be allowed near his home, but Severus took her to the room he was renting out at the very edge of town, the seediest street in Cagailshire. She wasn't sure how long he lived here, but the room looked barely touched. There was a large bed by the wall, a writing desk by a window and a wardrobe. The kitchenette at the end looked barely used, save for a few grains of instant coffee and toast crumbs.
It took five handfuls of Floo powder until Lucius Malfoy's blond head of hair appeared in the green flames.
"Severus, it's six in the morning," Mr Malfoy's voice was a gravelly mix of frustration and contempt. "The world better be crumbling or I will have one of my peacocks pluck your eyes out for waking me up at this hour."
"Believe me I wouldn't–"
"Do I see Miss Weasley?" Mr Malfoy said, eyeing her.
"Yes."
"Severus, when I said it was permissible for you to have your follies, I meant not with any of your past students. Certainly not any quite so young-"
Ginny's cheeks burned. "I'm not anyone's folly."
"I can see your attitude has not improved with time-"
"Silence. Lucius, your assumptions are neither here nor there, and I'll ask you to refrain from unnecessary gossip in Ginevra's presence," Severus interjected. "Now, how would you like to improve your reputation and also repay Mrs Weasley's sons for putting in a good word for you at the Ministry?"
Lucius' face brightened. "If you put it that way, I could be tempted."
"Then you are to meet me in an hour in the town of Cagailshire by Carlisle at the main Portkey terminal."
"An hour? I haven't even had my cocoa," the wizard said, lip curling down into a theatrical pout.
"You are awake, don't play on my nerves," Severus snapped. "The matter concerns a certain Dark Lord. It is time sensitive so I suggest that you make haste."
-xxx-
Lucius Malfoy came to Cagailshire like the brightest diamond in a giant pit of mud. Turning up his nose at everything, he stood at the Portkey terminal dressed to the absolute nines in a sleek, dark-gray suit (sans cape) with a small peacock broach on the lapel. Gone was his snake cane and it was replaced by a parasol (even though it was hardly raining) and a day bag. He had trimmed his hair to a shorter length, and Ginny admitted, it did shave some of the Pureblood snottiness off his demeanor.
The second he saw Severus and Ginny, he greeted both like old friends, kissing Ginny's hand and shaking Severus'.
He insisted they have tea. Seeing Severus'...home….he insisted the tea be served elsewhere and because Severus felt it too public to discuss Death Eater matters in any cafe or public establishment, they took tea in Ginny's flat.
If Molly Weasley saw that her daughter was pouring Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape tea in her flat at eight in the morning, she'd surely have had a fit. But Ginny's mum was not there and Ginny honestly couldn't say she felt the least bit threatened to see the blond wizard there—all polite small talk and friendliness itself. It was very easy to call him Lucius after the vast array of compliments he showered in her direction. Ginny had to admit, despite his shortcomings, Lucius had the gift of gab.
"Very well, let's discuss the matter at hand." Severus waved his arm in the air and an intricate schema of images and texts floated before them. He explained Ginny's memory alteration, her pleasing the Dark Lord and the sightings of possible Death Eaters (Pettigrew too) around Carlisle.
"Convincing Riddle would be much easier if the both of us could come groveling back," Lucius said. "Certainly would be very convenient if I could join your little–"
He raised his brows, glancing between Ginny and Severus. "What do you call it now?"
"I'm his confidente," Ginny said. The following laugh was shared between her and Lucius.
"His confidente now? Severus, now is that really the proper way to refer to such a beautiful witch who has clearly captured your interest? Hm?"
Severus held his gaze. There was an immovable air around him, one that could only come from years of being subjugated to provocation. "Let's not change the topic."
"Very well, we will save it for dinner, shall we not?" Lucius glanced coyly at Ginny. "Now then, I have not come empty handed."
Lucius opened his day bag and reached in for a beautiful package. He unwrapped layer after layer of silken scarves. "Riddle likes his trinkets."
"I thought you sold your precious collection of Dark artifacts away to Borgin and Burkes?" Severus asked.
"Oh, but this old thing is nothing really. Something I found in my house elf's closet." Lucius lifted all the layers of silk to reveal a set of silver goblets with snakes on the base. "They were his very favorite. Handcrafted by the very same crafts wizards who created King Arthur's battlegear."
Ginny's eyes widened. "The very King Arthur?"
"That's right, my dear girl. One of a kind. Now where was I? Ah yes, Mr Potter's inauguration ceremony as Head of Auror Office," Lucius said. "Now I've been trying to convince the Minister to have it anywhere but here, but Minister Shacklebolt insisted this be the place. Apparently very historically rich. That and Longbottom's line has many ties here so the ceremony would allow the Ministry to show their condolences for the crimes against Frank and Alice Longbottom—"
"Neville Longbottom will be present?" Ginny asked.
"Yes he will also be presented with an honorary award for his bravery in killing Nagini the Snake and given an official sum of money on behalf of the Malfoie Foundation to aid in medical expenses-"
"Oh my gods," Ginny said. "Tom Riddle is going to kill Neville Longbottom here, in front of everyone! Neville AND Harry!"
Lucius and Severus hushed her, but Ginny's resolve was made up. "We need to warn Harry and the other Aurors!"
"You will do no such thing," Severus all but growled. "That boy has had enough fame already, he does not need another heroic act to contribute to his ballooning ego."
"But Harry is still a wizard. He's still my friend," Ginny said decisively. "Lucius, will you support me?"
"I must agree with Severus on the matter. Mr Potter's previous battle has very clearly not destroyed Tom Riddle. I doubt that this interaction will end well for him. We must strike while the iron is hot-"
"-Yes, we will leave tomorrow evening," Severus said.
A/N: I must admit, I'm really guilty of loving the trope where Lucius and Severus are the best of friends. Of course, I had to include it in this story.