a/n: disclaimer: please don't expect canon here. this is post hogwarts so anything is goes :)

He'd seen her come in a couple times, but never made actual contact with her. She would come in and occasionally speak to Hermione Granger when they crossed paths. Other than that, she typically went into just about any office that had an open door. American, judging by the sound of her voice — she was loud when she wanted to be. But the one place Draco never thought he'd see that woman was in the one room where no Witch or wizard stepped foot in unless it was required. The Wizengamot. He'd be honest and say that every single time he was there, he wasn't exactly scouring the crowds to see who had come and who hadn't. She may have always been there and he just didn't notice before.

The height of the war had finally come down, and it only took a short amount of four years. In those four years, Draco, along with many other former Death Eaters, were put through the ringer by the Ministry and that was just the lucky portion who managed to avoid Azkaban. Those who were immediately sentenced had no future pending whatsoever except for inevitable death. As terrible as the situation had been, Draco was aware that he had been very lucky to have been sentenced with those Death Eaters and other war criminals on trial because it meant that somewhere in the future, he would have a future.

Plus, he also got to be with some friends. Those without the mark but aligned with the purebloods. He, Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson were somehow together through it all. Blaise for aiding him, and Pansy for — honestly, Draco didn't even know why the Ministry kept going after Pansy. He never bothered to ask.

The trio were summoned at whatever hour the Ministry wanted, expected, for reasons that usually went to interviews, questioning, interrogations and all that stuff. They were also given surprise home visits that usually followed the same line. At first, it was nonstop. There was no break ever. Now, apparently, they were reaching the end and although no one would admit it, there was a growing giddiness (something quite alarming to realize for these three). Today was one of those last summoning dates.

And that was where Draco would see the young woman again. He was just in too much of a shock to really notice her at first. The same went with Blaise and Pansy. They had just heard one of the worst news ever.

"What do you mean we have to visit MACUSA?" Pansy was the one who broke the silence after the news was delivered. "I'm sorry, last time I checked, I wasn't American."

None of the witches and wizards sitting on the stands paid the girl any attention. They merely went on to say that each of the accused would have a date with MACUSA to answer for crimes linked to some catastrophe in '97.

"This is insane," Blaise muttered, his glare sweeping over the lines of authority. "Nothing we did ever left the bloody continent."

"I did nothing," Draco said, plain and simple. "I am guilty of many things but here," he pointed. "In England. I never left the bloody place. What do I have to answer for at MACUSA?"

"They will explain," answered one of the witches, "But I will tell you all this. It is one of the last assignments of your sentence. MACUSA is demanding your presence for a couple days and you must answer."

"Where the hell are we even supposed to stay? It's multiple days!" Pansy's question brought up a series of chats amongst the witches and wizards. Apparently, no one had yet to think about that. "You froze most of our assets!"

Enter the unknown woman.

"I can do it." Her voice was clear, articulate, and certain. Heads turned in her direction. She had her hand raised in the air (that also held a quill) when she stood up from her seat. Her other hand held a parchment.

She had shoulder length brown hair and dark eyes. She was dressed pretty normally — muggleborn-ly — to be anywhere near the Ministry. Black pantsuit and nothing else. And she was American.

There were a bit more murmurs from the witches and wizards on the bleachers until one of them called upon her.

"Miss, uh, Adler?" The witch who had asked seemed to be checking a piece of parchment in front of him.

"Lana Adler," the woman nodded, clearing her throat as she gathered her hands together in front of her. "Testimonial writer of MACUSA. I've been here for a lot of your young offenders' cases?"

"Yes, yes," the witch motioned Lana to pause as she continued skimming her parchment of information. "And in all this time you've been a silent writer. What's changed?"

Lana seemed to expect the question and she supposed the trio in question were also wondering the same thing. Her eyes flickered down on them for a moment while she explained. "I attended Hogwarts with them. Same year. Same House."

'A fellow Slytherin!?' The same thought ran through Draco's, Blaise's and Pansy's heads as they glanced at each other. Not a single one could place the girl.

However, the streak of information did strike the interest of their superiors. Lana waited patiently as they broke into another set of murmurs and whispers.

"Miss Adler," the same witch as before called, "Did you ever cross paths with them?"

"No," Lana shook her head, "Uh, we…never really crossed paths. I started Hogwarts in my 5th year. You'll understand that by that point in a student's life, friends have already been made and it's very hard to get into an established group."

"Well then, why would you want to take this assignment? You understand they would be released under your custody, right?"

Lana nodded. "Two reasons, actually."

"Speak them."

"One, I am a researcher for our community. It's my job to research the impossible and I have a theory I'd like to try out. Oh, and second" — Lana smiled pretty smugly for the trio's taste — "because no one else will do this job for free." Her smile widened at the reactions of her three fellow Slytherins. Her eyes then shifted up at the stand towards the rest of the witches and wizards. "They have been accused of many things concerning the endangerment of muggles. I live well and comfortably but I do so around muggles. I would say that before releasing them completely, you find out whether or not they are capable of true change."

"And you would make yourself responsible for any liabilities?" The witch asked her directly.

"Mhm," Lana nodded. "I will be taking my own precautions of course so I will need some leeway to exercise that right."

"Miss Adler, you need to understand what you're asking here."

"Oh, I'm not 'asking'," Lana said, "As I have said before, nobody else will want to do this. Let the punishment fit the crime. One of their crimes, anyways."

It was uncanny the way that Draco, Blaise and Pansy could deadpan in the same way. They could see the Slytherin in her alright, but it didn't mean that they had to like her.

And they did not like her.

And yet, Lana Adler was granted her request.

~0~

It was the day of and they still couldn't believe it. Hell, they were in MACUSA, the real deal, and they still couldn't believe it. For the next 72 hours, they would be at the mercy of some—

"Well, it's about damn time."

They recognized her voice right away. Lana waited for the trio just a few doors down from the office they'd been kept in ever since they arrived. Just like before, Lana was dressed completely muggle — a black blouse, dark jeans and a gray and black plaid coat. Professional, sure, but definitely a muggle.

She smiled at the three, or rather smirked. "I've been waiting for you."

"More like we've been waiting for you," Pansy sneered, her brows furrowing.

Lana's smirk didn't wane. "Caught me. I was in another meeting. Jobs, you know…or do you?"

"Can we just get this over with?" Draco said, rolling his eyes. He didn't think he could take the squabbles of either woman. There was already too much to digest from the conference they just walked out from.

"Certainly," Lana nodded. "Follow me." She turned around and started leading the way down the hallway. "So, how are you liking MACUSA so far?"

"Bloody peachy, of course," Blaise couldn't wait to say.

Lana chuckled. "C'mon, it definitely beats the underground scheme the Ministry's got going on. Talk about unsanitary — eugh!" She shuddered. "At least MACUSA gets an entire building above the ground."

"Yeah, how do you keep the muggles out anyways?" Pansy asked out of sheer curiosity.

"Special doorman, of course. He recognizes most of us but those that are new have to know somebody in order to get in. But from outside, the building looks perfectly normal."

"And so what do you do about the strays?"

Lana snorted. "Muggles are not pets, Miss Parkinson."

"You better call me Pansy," the girl snapped. "Making me sound like my fucking mother..."

"Ooh, got it," Lana snickered. "Does that go for you two as well?" She looked over her shoulders towards Draco and Blaise. She translated their grunts as a 'yes' and moved on.

Lana spent the rest of the way to the entrance explaining the kinks of MACUSA as well as where they would be reporting when they were summoned. It appeared that each one had been summoned at a different date and hour, the latter still undefined until they got a proper letter later.

"That's fine. We can apparate the summoned and then the rest of us can go make a day of it or something."

Somebody scoffed behind her. Lana rolled her eyes at their weak attempt to mutter.

"If you're going to talk behind my back, at least have the decency to do it right." She turned around and met the three with a smile.

"Do you ever stop smiling?" Pansy looked more or less disgusted.

"Why? Is it bothering you?"

"Yes," all three of them had answered.

Lana's smile grew from ear to ear. They collectively groaned, and she laughed. "How you didn't see that coming gives you a terrible reputation as former Death Eaters."

"Do you think you're funny or something?" asked Draco.

"I don't know — sometimes," shrugged Lana. "Plus, I don't know if you've heard, but we're finally safe."

"Ish," Pansy didn't hesitate to say. "Nobody is safe forever."

"Very true words, Pansy, but that's a problem for the Aurors, not us. And now, here is how this is going to work," Lana stopped them at the top of the stairs leading down to the entrance. "Once we step outside this building, you are under my watch. I am responsible for anything you do so if you try to do anything rest assured I will drop kick your asses and before you tell me I can't do it" — she smiled tightly — "don't be fooled. I was at the battle of Hogwarts and I took down my fair share of Death Eaters."

"We get it, you're a badass," Blaise rolled his eyes.

"That's not the point I was making. I just meant I can put up a fight. Besides, it's in your best interest not to fuck this up, honestly. If you step out of line, I report it back to MACUSA and the Ministry and bye, bye future. That scary enough for you?"

"Honestly, a bit," Pansy said as she glanced at her friends to gauge their feelings towards the matter.

"Good. You wouldn't be humans if you weren't. So, here's how it's going to work. You're going to come live with me for a few days. Your magic is on a strict need basis. That means if you don't need to do magic, don't do it. I have full authorization to hold your wands if I even suspect that you're thinking of doing something. And if you try to apparate away from me, it's game over for your entire future."

"So we're tied to you like a bunch of dogs?" Draco was already scowling from ear to ear. "Thanks for clearing that up for us."

"It's either that or you get a comfy cell in MACUSA to rest for the next few days," Lana said, shrugging, "Sorry."

"But are you really?"

Lana's smile said it all.

"It's not that bad. I have cable." Lana turned and headed down the stairs.

"What the fuck is a that? A leash?" frowned Blaise. He and the others followed Lana down the steps.

Laughing, Lana looked back at them. "No. I'll show you when we get home. Are you guys hungry? There's a good restaurant we can stop by before heading home. I can send your things to my place so you don't have to carry it."

"We don't have any money," Pansy said, scowling even wider than Draco, if that were possible. She presumed Lana was taunting them considering everyone else typically did these days.

Lana just chuckled. "I know. It's on me. And it's really good, I swear. You guys like chocolate?"

The three looked at each other, simultaneously trying to decide what the hell Lana's game was.

Lana shook her head. "It's a genuine question! I'm a sweets kind of girl. If you guys like chocolate mousse for dessert, follow me." She motioned the trio to follow her and headed for the entrance doors. Slowly, the others walked after her, still mighty confused and wary.

~0~

Neither of the three would admit it, but the restaurant was actually really good. Their food was delicious and the atmosphere, although slightly louder than what they were used to, was nice as well. It was almost easy to forget that it was completely muggle. They ate nicely, silently.

Lana abhorred the silence, so she endeavored to end it. "If you guys hate it, you can say it," she said and reached for her glass of lemonade.

"We don't hate it," said Pansy rather flatly. "But you don't expect us to make conversation, right?"

"I wouldn't mind it."

"Look, Alana—"

"My name is Lana—"

"—we get what you're doing. Everyone's done this to us already. It's a kickback seeing us down like this. Have your fun, but don't expect us to pretend and play house."

"Um, okay," Lana's smile seemed on the verge of breaking into a laugh. The sight was not appealing to the other three.

"Is it too late to pick the cell?" Blaise asked his friends.

"Guys, I'm not — I'm not here to make fun of you," Lana said.

"Then why are you doing all this?" asked Draco. "You mentioned a research — about what exactly?"

"Not about you, don't you worry your pretty little blonde hair about it," Lana replied. "I said it in the beginning, I'm a researcher and a testimonial writer for MACUSA. I go to court hearings where we are involved and I report back about what I heard and saw. I also take some of the cases on."

"So you have two jobs?" Pansy nearly shuddered.

"Sort of, yeah," nodded Lana. "I also go to school — a muggle college. I want to be a lawyer for their world."

Draco was stuck on another detail rather than the 'two jobs' bit. "Why would you want to work for muggles?"

"Because they're fascinating," Lana said, shrugging. "I'm a half blood but my father insisted that my mother give up that muggle side of her so that I wouldn't, uh, get confused." She rolled her eyes.

"Confused about what?" Draco asked.

"About how to live, apparently," Lana said, scoffing. "Apparently, he thought that my brain was too little to comprehend that, yes, I can use electricity but I can also use candles to light my room. It's like he was afraid that me learning 2 different languages would confuse me and inhibit me."

"And did it?"

Lana smiled strangely at Draco. She didn't expect the series of questions from him, but if it meant keeping the silence away she'd take it. "No," she said, shaking her head. "All it did was separate my family. My parents divorced when I was ten and I ended up living with my dad. He didn't win, though. My mother always wrote to me, helping me out, giving me perspectives. And trust me, you need a lot of those to function the right way. You can't live in a bubble because sooner or later bubbles pop."

And just like that, silence fell over the group. Neither would admit it, but Lana's words struck a chord of the trio's reality. Draco, in particular, didn't like how close it was to his situation.

"You're not a Legilimens, are you?" He found himself asking. Seeing Lana's confusion brought a bit of relief to him.

"Um, no?"

"Okay," Pansy tucked some of her hair behind her ears, "if we're going to do this, then I gotta know how the hell do you know us?"

"Oh, I don't," Lana said, shrugging. "I mean — yes, we did sort of meet but you guys — we were never—"

"You ramble," Pansy said flatly, "It's annoying."

Lana lowered her head for a moment to keep herself from getting aggravated. You signed up for this, she reminded herself. After a few minutes, she looked back up with a smile. "Fine. Pansy, remember that time a Niffler bit your finger in our Care of Magical Creatures class?"

"Eugh, how could I forget?" Pansy frowned. "That thing nearly bit my finger off!" That was the last time she wore any kind of rings to that class.

"Remember the girl who ripped the Niffler off you?"

"I think so?" Pansy said as she thought back to the painful moment.

"Yeah, well, that was me," Lana pointed at herself. "You're welcome."

"Ooh…" Pansy was now remembering that a young brunette girl had come to her aid as none of her other friends had been brave enough to touch the biting Niffler. "Um, thanks…I guess…"

Lana chuckled lightly. "You're welcome. Blaise, I met you at Slughorn's club."

"You were in the club?" Blaise said incredulously.

"Mhm," nodded Lana. "He invited me because I was one of the foreign exchange students and my father worked for MACUSA. I'm also the one who shoved Cormac McLaggen down the stairs when Slughorn had his party."

"Ah…" A great big smirk spread across Blaise. Now he remembered Lana. McLaggen was the notorious player who had tried to entice a brunette Slytherin girl until she angrily pushed him down the stairs and caused him a concussion. "Didn't you get detention for that?"

"Totally worth it," Lana said automatically, and Blaise laughed. "And you know what? McLaggen didn't bother me again. So worth it."

Blaise seemed to laugh even more, a true sight for Pansy and Draco. They looked bewildered at him.

"And Draco, we met at the World Cup," Lana said afterwards.

"We did?" Draco couldn't place her, but he honestly wasn't trying that hard.

"Yes," Lana nodded. "My dad was invited by the Ministry — the Minister himself — and he brought me along. We sat behind you on the Top Box. We literally shook hands."

Draco looked at Lana blankly. "I don't—"

"You were insulting the Weasleys in front of you and I flicked you on the back."

Draco now remembered her perfectly. He felt that harsh finger scrape the back of his neck, and he remembered the brunette girl smiling innocently at him. "You owe me for that," he said with a frown.

"And I think you owe the Weasleys some therapy."

There was a mini stare-off between the two that lasted several minutes. Finally, Lana straightened in her seat and asked the group if they wanted to order anything else. No one wanted anything else so Lana got up to go pay for their dinner.

"She's fucking weird," Pansy said while the three waited for Lana outside the restaurant, "But I guess she's better than some of the other people we've had to speak with."

"I'm beginning to like her," Blaise said, "You should've seen her with McLaggen. She had no shame."

"Good," Pansy crossed her arms. "That guy was a nuisance. Tried to get anyone with a heartbeat in bed. Maybe she's not that bad at all." She glanced at Draco to hear his opinion but found hin staring after Lana with a strange look on his face. "What's up with you?"

"Nothing," Draco muttered. There was a slight marrow in his eyes that Pansy noticed, the kind he made when he was thinking about something.

Lana came back a few minutes later and told them they were going home — her home. They moved down to a lonely alleyway to apparate on her block.

"I thought you were all about the 'muggle way'," Blaise seemed to be poking fun at her. Lana had led them out of the new alley into her block.

Lana laughed lightly. "The beauty of living in both worlds is that I get to use each side's advantages. New York City is a filth city to drive in. I apparate most of the time if I'm not around muggles."

She brought them inside a tall building, straight into an elevator. She explained she liked to apparate a few buildings down and not directly inside her building to avoid being caught.

"I thought MACUSA enforced the idea of living away from muggles," Draco said. He distinctly remembered his father mentioning that rule various times. Lucius loved the idea and felt that the Ministry should follow in suit.

"Mm, they do," Lana muttered. "But it's not a law."

The elevator stopped at the 7th floor and the group walked out. The hallway was pretty empty but as they passed by apartment doors, they could hear some of the muggles inside. There was music, loud voices sounding like conversations and perhaps a radio somewhere?

Lana stopped them on a door marked 7H. She forewarned them not to expect a mansion by any means before letting them inside.

It was true that the place was no mansion, but the trio were surprised to find a decent apartment inside. There was a spacious living room with a balcony on its right side. They could see the kitchen tucked on the right side, towards the end. A hallway was set in the middle where three more doors stood.

Lana dumped her bag on the coffee table and then turned to her guests, hands on her hips. "Well, let me hear it. No mansion, no house elves by the way, and no ridiculously long garden."

"Not bad," Pansy was the first to speak, and her words left Lana a little bit dumbfounded.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

Pansy was walking towards the balcony already. The view was enticing. "I said it's not bad. You could do with, like, one of those penthouses I've heard about."

Lana's brows raised but she honestly couldn't argue with that comment. She would love to live in a penthouse!

"What the hell is that?" Blaise asked suddenly. He and Draco were staring at the television set on the wall.

Lana laughed. "Oh, that's gonna be one of your favorites, boys. It's a television — TV? — and it's like your local radio except you can see who's talking and what's happening."

"How does it work?" Blaise asked, tilting his head as he scanned the television for any apparent buttons.

"It's pretty easy. All you have to do is—"

"Alana, there's someone at your door." Pansy stared at the owl fluttering on the other side of the balcony.

Lana groaned. "My name is Lana." She walked over to the balcony and unlocked the door, sliding it open to let the owl in.

It dropped off a series of letters on her round kitchen table then landed next to the pile for a little break. Lana walked over to the kitchen and picked up a few treats off her counter. She dropped them next to the owl and started going through the mail.

She picked up the one sent directly from MACUSA and opened it up. "Hm, it's a summoning date and time." Her eyes flickered up at the trio, landing specifically on one of them. "Draco, you've been summoned first."

"That's not a sur—"

"Twice, actually."

Draco fell silent for a few minutes. He went through an initial anger as usual when he received one of those impromptu summons, but hearing that it was twice irritated him beyond belief.

Lana could tell as much how he felt about it. She cleared her throat and went further down the letter. "You'll go first, tomorrow at 8am. Don't worry, we can apparate there and then I'll head to class—"

"Oh, thanks, because I was so worried," Draco drawled with as much sarcasm as he could. Lana didn't bother with him.

"Pansy, you'll go the day after, at 10am. Blaise, you'll go in the afternoon tomorrow. Draco, you'll go again the day after tomorrow…" Lana bit on her bottom lip, meeting Draco's gaze once again, "At 8am."

Both Pansy and Blaise sniggered beside their friend. Draco seethed and with reasons that even Lana wouldn't deny were good ones. He was essentially going to be questioned for multiple hours on both days, no doubt longer than Pansy and Blaise combined. There was a clear target in MACUSA's eyes and it had to be frustrating.

"You don't even need to say it," Lana told him, pursing her lips together as she folded the letter in her hands. "But it's very fair to curse. I'd do it."

"Oh, he does it," Pansy said with a smirk. "Nonverbally too. Spells included."

Lana's eyes widened for a moment. "Okay, well…I would like to remind you that I am just the messenger and not the person who assigned this…schedule." She lowered the letter to the table, deciding to leave it at that.

Draco still said nothing, but his hard face spoke volumes. Lana wouldn't bother again but for different reasons this time.

"Well, there's a few more letters here for you guys."

"For us?" Pansy made a face. "Who would write to us all the way over here?"

"Judging by the same surnames, I'm gonna go with your parents," Lana said as she handed Pansy her letter. "They were let known of your location in case anything happened."

"Oh…" Pansy still didn't seem very excited.

Lana handed Blaise a letter addressed to him. "Don't bite my fingers off," she told Draco when she handed him his letter.

"I don't find you funny," he said, snatching the letter out of her hands.

"My friends think I'm hilarious," Lana replied. "Good luck Blaise. Your roommate is an absolute ray of sunshine." She then told them they would be taking the guest room which was the first door on the right of the hallway. "Pansy, you can have my room. But I will be sleeping there as well."

"Yay," Pansy said with a weak wave of her hand.

"Oh, Draco, you have another letter," Lana said when she saw another envelope under her pile.

"Is it from MACUSA?" He could already see it now. He would be summoned for a third day at an even earlier hour.

"Uh, nope," Lana said when she got a look on the cover. "But I do remember this name — well, her sister's name anyways." She held the envelope out to him. "It's from Astoria Greengrass."

For some other reason, that still didn't bring anything but a scowl from Draco. He snatched the envelope from Lana's hand, even harder than the last one. He stormed into the hallway, disappearing into the room she directed him and Blaise seconds prior.

"I didn't — this time, I really didn't mean to annoy," Lana said to Pansy and Blaise, her eyes wide. "I mean, I'll take credit when I'm intentionally trying to annoy the hell out of someone but this time I…"

"It's not you," Pansy said, shrugging. "Nobody really knows what goes through Draco's head half the time. Most of the time..." Her brows furrowed after putting more thought into it, "...all the time."

Lana looked over at Blaise who seemed to agree with Pansy. "Aren't you guys supposed to be friends or something?"

"It's complicated," Blaise said.

"I get 'complicated' but this feels like it's more. You guys were inseparable at school."

"It's custom more than friendship sometimes," Pansy said. "Our families have known each other since before we were born so naturally they were going to pair us up with each other."

"So…you guys aren't friends?" Lana tried following but her brain was hurting already.

"It's complicated, Alana. Good night."

"My name is Lana," groaned Lana as Pansy headed into the hallway.

"I wouldn't bother with that," Blaise advised her.

Lana's head whipped in his direction. "But it's my name!"

Blaise shrugged. "Not anymore."

Lana let out a growl. "You guys are so irritating!"

"And you let us into your house," Blaise smirked. "Now who's the crazy one?"

"Go to sleep!" Lana pointed at the hallway, frustrated. With a quiet laugh, Blaise bid her goodnight and disappeared into his room.

Lana shook her head. Maybe I was crazy for doing this. She wouldn't dwell on it; what was done was done. Instead, she focused on what she still had to do before going to sleep.

A/N:

P.S. As always, I have an AO3/Wattpad account under "noblecrescent" and a tumblr account under "saiilorstars" if you'd like to follow :)