A/N Thank you so much to Anjay for adding this to favs.

Also thank you to my guest and I Love Music for your reviews of the last chapter. You guys are why I write!

Chapter 30: Harry Comes Through

"That Bitch!" Arthur Prince slammed his fist on the fireplace mantle, making Pansy jump slightly.

He starting pacing and running his fingers through his hair.

Pansy sat with her legs crossed, wearing a skirt which was a little too short as usual. She had been working on her article about what was now called 'The Nott Fire' for three days but couldn't come up with a way to write the story which would make Arthur look good and make Nott look like the culprit.

The thefts Arthur planned, had been specifically chosen for their content and destination. Both headed for Muggle support facilities within the Wizarding World. Burning down the entire factory, however, didn't affect only the Muggle's who lived amongst the Wizards, but the Witches and Wizards as well.

So far, the best she could come up with was the sheer number of Muggle employees who worked at the factory, who were now without work. Her editor had rejected her first draft, telling her even in the gossip column, it was a stretch to accuse Nott of burning down his own factory to put people out of work. He had written in loud red ink on the top of the paper when he returned it to her desk, 'Why not just fire them and hire Wizards to replace them?'

Pansy sat there now watching Arthur's plan begin to fall apart before him. She had always known this silly plan of his to get the Board of Elders to put him back in control had been doomed to failure, but that hadn't been why she had decided to assist him. Her own plan had been working perfectly. Arthur had all but insisted a month ago, she move in with him. He liked having her beside him in the morning when he woke up horny, which was more often than not. However, if Potter had already had him in for questioning and was now closing in on his contact within the ministry, time was running out. She would need to get him to agree to marriage and quickly, but how?

Arthur pulled her out of her thoughts. "Can you believe the nerve of that woman? She wants more than double what I gave her to begin with."

"I am sure she is just getting nervous Arthur. Susan Bones was never a strong person to begin with. I told you, you should have found someone with more of a back bone." Pansy set her parchment and quill on the table

"She was perfect, eager to help because of what happened to her Aunt, and she was cheap. But now that Potter may be uncovering her part in it, she is getting greedy." Arthur walked over to the couch and fell onto it exasperated.

Pansy reached over and started rubbing his thigh. "Don't you think you're over reacting just a little?" Pansy maneuvered her self from her seated position and straddled Arthur on the couch causing her skirt to move up even higher.

"How could I be over reacting Pansy?" Arthur looked up at her, his hands instinctively going to her bottom. "I already gave the woman three thousand galleons to change the portkey of Nott's shipment. Now she wants ten thousand more, to stay quiet when Potter interviews her in the morning. I don't have an extra ten thousand to spare her, not with out dipping into my families vault. My sister, no matter how stupid she is, would notice that amount missing."

Pansy bit her lip thinking while pulling her skirt up so Arthur's hands were now on her bare skin. "You, know I have money of my own. Ten thousand would be nothing, if I were to get something out of it." She started moving her hips against him as she watched his eyes flutter shut.

Arthur moaned slightly, moving his hands inside her panties gripping her bottom tightly. "What is it, you're wanting in return?"

She reached down and unbuckled Arthur's belt slipping her hands down the front of his pants to feel the length of him as he hardened from her touch. "Your name."

Arthur hissed in pleasure from her touch and started to yank Pansy's panties off of her. A little maneuvering and she was back straddling him with the lacey panties tossed on the floor. "My name? Are you referring to Prince?"

"I'd rather be a princess, but Prince will do." Pansy told him and she lowered her self on him slowly so she could watch his facial expressions.

Arthur gipped her waist not letting her move. "Are you saying you want to marry me Pansy?"

"Don't you want to marry me Arthur?" She contracted her muscles giving his cock a squeeze since he was holding her down and smiled when he groaned. Pansy started unbuttoning his shirt and kissing her way down his chest, pushing the shirt off his shoulders and tossing it on the floor by her already discarded panties.

Arthur pulled her shirt off over her head and pulled one breast out of her bra fondling the nipple between his fingers. "I have given it some thought. But if I give you my name, I want more then just ten thousands galleons out of it." Arthur leaned forward and pulled her nipple into his mouth sucking fiercely on it.

Pansy moaned and broke free of his hold. She started moving up and down on him to the rhythm of his sucking. "We will get the next part of my inheritance, which is well more then a measly ten thousand. What more could you want?" Her voice was shaky and breathless as she rode him.

Arthur bit her nipple a little harder then she liked causing her to stop moving. She went to move off of him, but Arthur grabbed her waist and held her in place locking his eyes on hers. "A son Pansy. I want a son. You promise me a son, and we will go to the Ministry in the morning before the board meeting, and I will give you my name."

She continue to hold his look while she considered it. Pansy expected he would end up in Azkaban for his plotting soon, so promising a baby that would never happen, was easy. She started moving against him slowly as he relaxed his grip on her. "A son. I suppose one baby would be nice. You have to promise to make sure I enjoy making it, and then to continuing pleasuring me like this after he is born."

Arthur let his head fall back on the couch while Pansy rode him, faster and faster. "Keep up that pace my pet, and I won't last for you."

Pansy adjusted her self on Arthur's lap so her movement put pressure on her clit and she started riding again. She could feel her climax building and wanted that release, "Hold it Arthur, I am right there."

Arthur held her tighter against him moving under her, to help push her over the edge. He moved forward and started to suck on her nipple again, soon he felt the shudder of her orgasm. He flipped her on to her back, put her right leg over his shoulder and began to pound into her making her cry out with each thrust. As she begged him to go harder, he sunk his fingers into her hips and pulled her off the couch bringing her closer to him.

Once they were done, laying on the couch together, partly dressed breathing heavily Pansy turned to look at him. "I will agree to give you son, if will you agree to my terms. I want freedom, to come and go as I please. I won't be a perfect Pure-Blood housewife like my mother was, going only where my husband says, dressing in only what he wants. I also want sex, just like this, before, during and after."

Arthur licked his lips, he reached over to fondle her breast again. "Of course I agree. I would have to be dead to not agree to that. I only ask you to be the perfect Pure-Blood wife in public. I am still the man after all, I have an image to uphold."

"I can do that." Pansy moved over and laid her head on his chest. She figured showing some affection at this point wouldn't hurt. "What time did Bones say Potter was going to interview her?"

Arthur stroked her hair, "At eleven. We can get to the bank at eight to get her money. Get it to her by nine, be married by ten and still have time for a celebratory lunch before the board meets to discuss Nott's future at one."

Pansy smiled to herself thinking about how sure Arthur sounded. He believed he had everything planned out. Pansy knew full well, money or not as soon as Susan Bones was seated in front of Harry Potter, with his damn charming smile and green eyes locked on her, Bones would buckle. As long as they were married before that, Pansy could care less. Her plan was moving along masterfully.

After they had finally gotten dressed and he left the room to attend to some business related task, Pansy picked up her half finished article. She wondered, whether writing a story with a different twist would suit her better at this point. Maybe it was time to write one, saying she had been wrong all along with her assessment of Nott and the others. After all, it would only be a matter of time, before Arthur and the few who assisted him along the way would be ousted. She would need something to put her back in good standing with her readers once it was made known she had married him.

An article, clearing her four former housemates may just do that. It would need to clear Goyle of any wrong doing stating he had paid his dues to the Wizarding World and his clubs were nothing more then clubs.

The article would need to explain how Zabini had simply been caught in the path of the press's misguided interpretation of his motives as he tried to stay loyal to his friends.

She would need to give Draco a heart felt apology for accusing him of not changing his ways, when now it seems so clear he has been all along.

Most of all though the article would need to explain why, she thought Nott was a true Death Eater at first, and why she now, no longer does.

In the end the article would need to have some sappy 'call to arms' so to speak, telling everyone to let the past go so the Wizarding World could finally heal.

It would take all night to write, but if she started now, she would get the headline, being the first article on the editors desk Saturday morning. She looked down at the parchment in her hand, and threw it in the fire place. Casting incendio, she set the parchment on fire and smiled while she watched it burn.

Pansy left the sitting room and went down the hallway to the small office Arthur had given her in his house. She sat at the desk and begun writing the article of her career. A few hours later, happy with at least the large start she had on the article, she hid it under one of the seat cushions in the room. Arthur would never go in there anyway, but best not to take any chances. She didn't need him finding out before she had the marriage certificate in her hand that she intended to turn on him once he was behind bars.

It would be easy enough to visit him in Azkaban and explain with tears and red puffy eyes, how she needed someway to occupy herself while the 'love of her life' was in that horrible place leaving her to face a cold empty bed all alone. Keeping her career would do that. Arthur was just conceded enough to fall for it. Pansy wondered what conjugal visits would be like. She would have to agree to them, if she wanted to make the marriage seem legit, and not have Arthur annul it to avoid her getting his money and the house. She would also have to prove to his sap of a sister, that she actually loved the man. Nothing Pansy couldn't handle.

Perhaps she should give him a son? What better way to seal the deal and prove the relationship was real. Plus she would have an heir of her own. Then she would get her entire inheritance. She thought about raising a kid by herself, and what type of impact it would have on her romps with Selwyn. She shook her head, dismissing the worry. Selwyn wouldn't care, as long as the kid didn't interrupt while he pulled her hair. Besides, what fun she would have raising a small male version of herself. The Wizarding World wouldn't know what hit it.

xXXx

Theo sat in his study staring at the engagement ring nestled in it's black velvet box. The blue diamond shown brightly as the sunlight danced off the perfectly cut faucets. The jeweler had contacted Theo the night before saying he simply couldn't continue to hold on to it and needed Theo to pick the ring up. Reluctantly he had gone to the store Friday morning when they opened and picked up the ring he had made for Daphne.

He sat there, in his study, dressed in his charcoal suit ready for the board meeting remembering, in the last fifteen years of his life he had only gone four months with out Daphne on his mind. Theo had finally made it to Tennessee by the end of May the year after the war and was working on Tom's ranch. He had decided to stay in one of the ranch hand cabins back behind the main barn. He wanted a little bit of freedom and hoped that way he wouldn't disturb anyone when a nightmare woke him up. By mid-June, he met Amy, the daughter of the Veterinarian who tended to Tom's horses. She was studying to also become a vet and was Theo's age. They spent two weeks smiling at each other and flirting until one day Theo realized he hadn't written a single letter to Daphne since he had met Amy.

Theo put the little wooden box away on July third that year, deciding he would never forget Daphne, but thankful, he had finally moved on. He asked Amy to accompany him to the town Fourth of July picnic and celebration, admitting he knew nothing about how Americans celebrated the holiday, since it was foreign to him.

By the end of July the two of them were inseparable. He loved watching her study and she loved watching him work out. They would spend every night at her apartment watching tv curled up on the couch together until the night came when Theo didn't pull himself away from her embrace and go home. As summer faded into fall, he was waking up next to her every morning. For three months Theo felt content, finally falling asleep with out Daphne having been the last thing that went through his mind and not the first thing on his mind when he opened his eyes.

He was standing out side on the porch of his cabin at the ranch one day in October watching the first snow fall. Amy said she was going inside to start dinner. When she came out, it wasn't to tell him it was ready or to ask for help. Instead she had a bag in her hand with all the things she had left at his place over the last few weeks packed up. With tears in her eyes she explained to him, that she couldn't take hearing him talk about Daphne in his sleep any longer. He tried to explain that he couldn't control what he dreamt about, but she wasn't hearing him.

She told him it wasn't just that, but the nightmares he refused to talk about were too much for her. He talked about things in his sleep that didn't make sense, and scared her, hexes and curses, Dark lords and snakes in the sky. She feared there was something mentally wrong with him and his refusal to seek help bothered her. Theo didn't argue with her and let her leave. He couldn't tell her about the world he came from.

Once Halloween came thoughts and memories of Daphne had come flooding back. His nightmares were relentless and Theo's every waking moment was spent wondering were Daphne was and what she was doing. He decided being with a Muggle wasn't what he needed. Amy was right, the things he talked about in his sleep would seem crazy to any one who didn't understand the Wizarding World. He took a two week trip back to France to try once again to find Daphne, but the French ministry was as tight lipped then, as they had been a year ago. Returning back to Tennessee, Theo made up his mind it was time to try traveling again. He wanted to see the states and watch a live American Football game. He kissed Clair goodbye, promised Tim he would be back for Christmas and headed to New York.

Now sitting there in his study he was staring at the engagement ring meant for the love of his life, unsure what to do with it, if putting it on Daphne's hand never became a reality.

Anna had been standing in the doorway watching him for the last twenty minutes. Deciding she had allowed him to brood long enough, she quietly walked into the room. "You gunna, stare at thing until it talks to you or what?"

Theo snapped the lid closed and set the box gingerly on his desk. "How long have you been spying on me?"

"I don't spy Theo, I observe." Anna walked over to the couch in Theo's study and sat down. "I was observing you sittin' there feelin' sorry for yourself for far too long." Anna patted the seat beside her. "Come over and sit with me for a few."

Theo considered her for a moment. Anna had always known what to say to him in the past. This certainly wouldn't be the first time she caught him feeling sorry for himself and missing Daphne. He pushed his chair away from the desk, stood up and walked over to the couch. Theo stood looking down at Anna, "Are you going to lecture me on why I shouldn't be feeling so sad?"

Anna reached up and pulled Theo down on the couch beside her. "No. You don't need me to lecture you Theo. You're doin' a fine job beating yourself up without me adding salt to the wound you already keep pickin' at."

Theo ran his fingers through his hair. "Everyone keeps saying the same thing. That I need to stop brooding and focus on the things I can control, like the factories." He let out a heavy sigh. "I know you are all right, and that I need to. But Anna," He took a deep breath, "I want her back so badly. I can't think about anything else. Didn't I spend long enough without her, to have earned the right to miss her now?"

"Yes, you have. And that wasn't what I was gunna say." Anna placed her hand on Theo's knee and gave it a squeeze.

Theo looked shocked, "You weren't? What were you going to say then?"

She reached up and gently stroked his cheek with the back of her knuckles then moved her hand and started rubbing his back. "I was gunna say I understand how you're feelin'." She pulled both her hands back in her lap. "Did I ever tell you why I never settle down with just one fella?"

"No, I just always accepted you were a wild free spirit. It was what I needed, so it didn't bother me." Theo smiled at her.

"Because the fella I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with, Aaron, decided he wanted to join the Muggle military. He left on a deployment, and never came home." Anna looked at her hands for a moment, then pulled a small silk bag out of her pocket. "I know you have seen this before, since I always have it with me."

Theo gave her a soft smile, "Yes, I have seen that. I am sorry to hear about Aaron. Why didn't you ever tell me?"

She turned to look at him and gave him a sly smile. "Oh, and ruin my reputation as a wild cowgirl who can't be tamed? Not a chance, that is why this doesn't leave this room. You see, it is my way of coping. I decided if I guarded my heart and didn't give it away again, I couldn't get hurt again. Now I know, leaving me wasn't Aaron's fault, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt." She held up the little bag and shook it. "Inside here is the ring he gave me. I wore it for a long time after he died, but eventually had to take it off and move on." Anna pulled the ring out and looked at it. A shiny little diamond set in yellow gold. She smiled warmly at it for a moment then put it back in the bag.

Theo watched her until the ring was safely put away. "Then you know how I feel."

"Yes, but they are hardly the same thing Theo. Daphne is not dead, but the way you are walkin' around, not sleeping, not eating, on edge with everyone, your actin' like she is." Anna put the silk bag back in her pocket. "If you continue on this way you will end up just like me."

"I don't see how that is a bad thing, Anna. You're strong, resilient, the bravest person I know. You never let anything hurt you." Theo laid back on the couch.

"I am also alone, Darlin'."

He looked over at her quickly. She sounded sad. "I thought alone, was what you wanted."

"It was, for a while. But I would give my left big toe, for a man to look at me the way you look at pictures of Daphne. To want me the way you have always wanted her." She shifted on the seat, so she was facing him. "I found you attractive because of the devotion you had to her. You wanted and loved her but had learned to live without her. I found that sexy. But that strong willed man, who always knew he would find her again, but lived his life until then, is gone. This, this brooding, self-pity party thing you're doin', is so not sexy."

Theo sat up and studied Anna's face. "So, what are you saying?"

"I am sayin' snap out of it. It's fine to miss her, to yearn for her and fight for her." Anna placed a hand on his shoulder, "But what you're doin' isn't fightin' Theo, it's givin' up. You fight, by standing up, dustin' your self-off and gettin' back on the horse, cowboy." She gave his shoulder a squeeze. "You fight by, livin' your life knowin' you will get her back again, just like you did, when we first met."

Theo chuckled to himself. "That almost sounds exactly like what Draco was telling me the other day. To fight, by getting to the bottom of what is going on with the factories and letting my friends help me with the rest."

"Hot damn, I knew I liked that Draco fella. He sounds just as smart as me." Anna winked at Theo.

"Problem is Anna, I am out of fight. This whole thing has been a fight. Getting her back, the factories, my title, now losing her. I am just so tired, and not the kind of tired eighteen hours of sleep will help." Theo laid back on the couch again.

Anna thought for a moment, "That is why you can only focus on one thing at a time. Today, right now, focus on the meeting. Focus on showing those old men, why you should be running the business. Once that is done, we can focus on the other things. Did you write Weasley back, like I told you to?"

Theo nodded yes. "I think I was cordial enough. No talk about politics or prejudice. I hate that guy Anna, why do you want me to mend that fence so badly?"

"Because Theo, you're a nobleman, you need to take the high road, always."

Theo shot her a dirty look, "But he is always the one who starts it."

"Oh, you poor little boy!" Anna rolled her eyes, "In your position you don't get to act like a selfish teenager. I know you didn't have much of a childhood, but that is what the bike, and your friends are for. When wearing a suit and putting on the CEO or the Earl hat, you need to be a man." Anna put one hand on either side of his face and forced him to look at her. "The world is not always fair Darlin', but you can do this Theo, I know you can. One step and problem at a time. Today, the board, tomorrow the factories, in a week at the party, Daphne. One day at a time."

Just then Blaise walked into the study with his suitcoat draped across his arm. "Did I interrupt something? Tell me you were slapping him around Anna, please."

Theo stood up, "No mate, but she was helping me realize a few things." Theo walked over to his desk and picked up his tie. He turned to Blaise while he put the tie on. "I am ready to go and prove to the Board of Elders that I am the best person to run Nott factories."

"Wow, I expecting to have to pull you out of your chair and basically carry you to the ministry. This is a nice change." Blaise put his coat on.

Theo winked at Anna, "Well, I guess I needed Anna to put things into perspective for me." Theo finished with his tie, then grabbed his coat of the back of the chair. "I know that at least four people on the board will have my back, Lord Malfoy, Ambassador Macmillan, Mr. Weasley and my best guess Lord Greengrass. I just need to impress eleven more of them."

Blaise raised his eyebrows. "Wow, Weasley. You really think so?"

"I do, Ron sent over a letter this morning, wishing me luck and saying his father supported me. I sent him back a letter thanking him. Anna thinks he and I need to find a way to put the past in the past. If he is willing, then so am I." Theo picked up his briefcase.

Blaise put his hand to his chest play acting like he was having a heart attack. "What! What did you just say?" He straightened up laughing. "Who are you and what have you done with Theo?"

"Ha ha. Very funny asshole." Theo went over to give Anna a hug. "Thank you, Anna."

"Any time Darlin." She kissed his cheek.

Theo and Blaise went over to the fireplace and grabbed the floo powder. Blaise put a hand on Theo's shoulder. "Before we go, why do you think Lord Greengrass has your back?"

Theo grimaced, "Well, he has never given me any reason to think he doesn't see me as a fit businessman. Taking the factories away from me, will have no impact on who Daphne marries. My guess is, he will see having my back as a gesture of good will."

"I hope you'er right." Blaise grabbed the floo powder and threw it in the fireplace. "Let's do this."

xXXx

Theo continued to fidget in his chair, his left leg bouncing up and down. Ernie had taken him and Blaise to a small room while they waited for the Board of Elders to convene and call them in.

"This will be the order of business today Theo." Ernie started telling him as he looked at a clip board. "First Arthur Prince will present his case to the board, give the reasons why he thinks you should be forced to step down and why he thinks he should be given back the position as CEO. Once he has presented his case, it will be our turn to presents ours. I plan to put Blaise on the stand first since his insight to your ability to run your factories is key because of his mother. Next, Theo you will take the stand." Ernie turned a page in his notes. "Once we have presented, the board will have time to discuss and then will vote. Any questions?"

Theo and Blaise looked at each other, then Theo rubbed his thighs with his palms. "No Ernie, I think you have covered it. By the way, thank you for doing this. I know you were still on your honeymoon, and I am sure Sally is less then pleased. But I can't tell you what it means to me that you're here."

Ernie smiled at Theo. "Don't mention it. I will back with her tonight. She is taking the day to shop and go to a spa. Somehow, I doubt I will be missed."

The three men chuckled allowing Ernie's joke to lighten the mood, as a short women opened the door to the room and told the three of them the board was ready for them.

Ernie put his papers back in his briefcase and closed it. "Thank you, Gladys."

Gladys gave Ernie a warm smile. "Certainly Mr. Macmillan."

He gave her a pat on the back, "Well Theo, Blaise let's get in there."

Before long Theo was seated at a table with Ernie and Blaise beside him. Theo looked up at the Board of Elders, the eyes of all twenty-eight members were on him. As soon as he had looked up at them his eyes had locked with Lord Greengrass. It took every ounce of his will power to not clinch his fists and sneer at the man. To his surprise Lord Greengrass gave him an apologetic smile and nod. He was almost certain the man who had in Theo's mind 'ruined' his life had just mouthed the word 'relax' to him. He decided to head the man's suggestion and took a deep breath.

Arthur Prince stood up and directed his attention first to the spectators. Theo looked over, to see Pansy sitting in the first row. You had to be paying close attention to see the quick exchange between them. The smile Prince gave her and the kiss she blew him, that she tried to hide. Theo's stomach turned; did he really just see Pansy blow Arthur Prince a kiss?

"Elected Elders, thank you for allowing me the chance to talk to you today. I hope once I am finished you will see things as I do and vote to put me back in charge of the Nott Factories. For the very fabric of our way of life is balanced like a well stitched tapestry in order for us to stay secret from the Muggle world." Prince allowed a dramatic pause. "If even one piece of that tapestry begins to fray, the possibility of our discovery becomes greater. I will show you how as the proxy CEO we never had even one thread threaten to pull or become loose." He walked from around the table to stand in front of it. "Unfortunately, young Lord Nott, as not only allowed a theft to happen once, but he also allowed it to happen twice. On top of that he allowed a fire to destroy his largest factory and all but expose what goes on in the facility." Prince turned to look at Theo. "I do not blame him for wanting to take over once his father died. I don't blame him for wanting to be a boy and see the world once he had been cleared of the Death Eater charges after the war. But clearly his father not only failed to properly prepare him for the role he is trying to take on, but his lack of interest in the business while he was off sowing his seeds in America has hindered his ability to learn any further."

There were murmurs among the elders as they discussed Prince's words. Prince took a deep breath and then continued. "Before we get on to my evidence however, I request Mr. Chairman, that Lord Malfoy is not allowed to vote in these proceedings due to his Death Eater past. That Ambassador Macmillan is not allowed to vote due to his son acting as council for Lord Nott, and finally that Lord Greengrass not be allowed to vote due to the extremely close relationship his eldest daughter had with Lord Nott." Prince gave Ernie a smug smile and then sat back down at his table.

Ernie stood quickly, "I object. It is not Mr. Prince's place to say whom does or does not vote in these proceedings."

Prine got on his feet, "I must insist..."

Kingsley Shacklebolt, the elected chairman for the group stood up, and cut Prince off. "You may insist on whatever you like Mr. Prince, but this board will decide who doesn't participate not you."

"If I may Mr. Chairman. A vote within the members of the board may put Mr. Prince at ease so he feels he is getting a fair judgment." Mr. Weasley sounded surer of himself when he spoke then Theo remembered ever hearing him.

Shacklebolt considered the words of his fellow board member. "Fine a vote. We will start with Lord Malfoy." He turned to address the blond man who sat in the back row. "Lord Malfoy, since you have only recently started to attend meetings in person, do you feel you are ready to make an unbiased decision regarding this matter?"

Lucius stood as tall and proud as he could. "Yes Mr. Chairman, I do." He remained standing while Kingsley waited for the hushed whispers to quiet.

Kingsley raised his hands, "All those in favor of allowing Lord Malfoy to participate, please stand."

Ernie leaned over and whispered to Theo. "We need at least fourteen members to vote in favor for Malfoy to be allowed a vote."

Theo felt his heart pound in his chest rapidly as one by one slowly members of the Elder Board stood in support of Lord Malfoy. Arthur Weasley being the first to stand. Theo, he took a breath and held it as he counted. He felt himself relax a little when he counted fifteen.

"I count eighteen in favor. Lord Malfoy you may stay. Ambassador Macmillan, do you feel you can render a fair judgment and not once based solely on what side your son is council for?" Kingsley now directed his attention to Fredrick who sat directly beside him on the right.

Fredrick Macmillan stood, "Of course Mr. Chairman, my son and I are not new to politics."

The room filled with laughter. "Right, you are Fredrick. All those in favor of allowing Ambassador Macmillan to participate, please stand." Kingsley looked at Prince instead of the board as every one of the twenty-eight members stood up.

Kingsley quickly looked around the room. "Looks like all twenty-eight to me."

Prince started to look uneasy. He was undoubtedly hoping to rid the floor of the members he also knew most likely would be in support of Nott.

Kingsley turned his attention to the last member in question. "Lord Greengrass, same question, do you feel you can provide an unbiased vote in this matter?"

Dalton stood quickly and avoided direct eye contact with Theo, who hadn't taken his eyes off Greengrass yet. "Most certainly Mr. Chairman."

"Then once again, all those in favor of allowing Lord Greengrass to participate, please stand." Kingsley turned to start counting. Many members stood quickly. It took a few seconds longer than Theo liked but soon he had the fourteen members he needed. By the time Kingsley was done counting, Lord Greengrass's final total was twenty-eight as well.

Before Greengrass sat down, the doors to the room burst open and Harry Potter followed by a blond woman who was escorted by Auror Parker came in. Theo recognized the woman, but it took him a moment to place her. Potter walked quickly to the front of the room to directly stand in front of the board. "Members of the Board of Elders. I am sorry for the interruption. But information as just come to the Auror's office that I must act upon with out delay. I am afraid, I must place Arthur Prince under arrest."

Pansy yelled 'NO!' from the spectators seats and suddenly Theo felt like things may be looking up for him. He allowed himself to smile as the thought that this may finally be coming to an end today entered his mind.

Prince stood up quickly and shot the woman a nasty look. "What on earth for?"

Potter turned and looked and Prince. "I am sure you already know the answer to that question, Prince."

Shacklebolt stood and quieted the room down. "He may know the reason Auror Potter, but I am afraid this board does not. I will need you to enlighten us before I can allow this interruption."

Harry looked at the board and tried to give each of the twenty-eight members his attention. "Of course Mr. Chairman. Lord Nott sought out our assistance after the first theft. The investigation led us to Prince. We discovered that he was able to secure the help of the manager of the medical supply factory in London, Jasper Brown." Whispers filled the chambers, but Harry continued. "Brown did not like the fact that he would be answering to a twenty-two year old, who in his opinion had no business running the factories." Harry turned to give Theo a small smile. "Mr. Brown paid the head of his shipping department to divert the delivery that went missing. Arthur Prince performed memory charms on the other two drivers to cover his tracks."

"You can not prove that." Prince said quickly with out thinking.

"I can and will. Parker, take the man's wand please." Harry held out his hand for Parker to give him Prince's wand. "It will only take a simple charm to find out what your wand knows Mr. Prince." Harry put the wand in a safe bag, for the curse breaker to look at later.

"I hope you have more proof then that, Potter." Christopher Flint stood in the second row of elders with a disgusted look on his face.

"Of course I do Flint." Harry gave Flint a smug look. "The second shipment that went missing was shipped by portkey. Mr. Prince paid Susan Bones, secretary to the head of the Department of Magical Transportation, three thousand galleons to change the portkey so the shipment went no where."

Whispers broke out in the room while all the elders talked back and forth about this new development. Shacklebolt looked at Susan, "Is this true Miss Bones?"

Harry motioned for Susan to come forward. She looked scared and winced when she walked past Prince. "Yes Mr. Chairman, it is. He paid me three thousand to do it, and another ten this morning to stay quiet."

Theo knew he was out of line, but he couldn't help himself when he stood up and asked, "Why? Why would you help him?"

Susan turned and looked at Theo, her hands shaking, "I don't have to answer your questions, Nott."

"No, but you do have to answer mine." Shacklebolt interjected causing Susan to turn back around and look at the Chairman. "Why did you help him, Miss Bones?"

Susan went pale and her knees threaten to give out. Harry reached out to steady her. "My aunt was a good woman, the Death Eaters killed her for no reason other then to put that imp Pius Thicknesse in her place. I wanted some sort of revenge."

Theo was shaking and went to say something, but Ernie gave him a look warning him not to. Shacklebolt leaned forward in his seat. "You are aware, are you not, that Lord Nott was never an active Death Eater?"

"I don't care what the Ministry claimed at his trial, too many got off with far too light of sentences. The ministry allowing people like Nott and Malfoy off, dishonored my Aunts memory. I did what I had to, too try and bring her some honor back. I don't expect you to understand." Susan's voice got stronger as she spoke, making it very clear she believed in what she was saying.

A soft roar over took the room as everyone looked from Susan, to Harry, to Theo and finally to Shacklebolt. He stood and raised his hands to command quiet. "Auror Potter, this board will not stand in your departments way. If the arresting of Prince is your duty, please get to it."

As Harry put Prince under arrest, Theo stood up. "What about the fire? Did you set that too?"

Prince smiled at Theo, "Have fun rebuilding and cleaning that mess up Nott."

Theo clinched his fists. "That is not an answer."

"I told you, you would regret letting me go." Prince then laughed as Parker took his arm and escorted him out of the room.

Harry stopped by the table Theo and Ernie were at. "I am still ironing out the details of the fire Theo, but it looks like Prince was involved along with Jasper Brown." Harry gave Theo a pat on the back and then shook Ernie's hand. He turned to Susan. "Come with me please Miss. Bones, we still have much to talk about." Susan followed Harry out of the room.

"Miss Bones." Theo said, stopping Harry. Susan turned and looked at Theo. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, before he spoke to her. "I am sorry for what happened to your Aunt. We all lost too much." Theo didn't know what else to say, so he just sat down.

Susan looked at him for a moment, then quietly turned and let Harry lead her from the room.

Shacklebolt spoke to the board again. "We still have a vote on the floor. Whether or not to allow Lord Nott to continue as CEO of his families factories or to remove him and place someone else in that position. Does anyone wish to hear from Lord Nott?"

Several hands shot in the air indicating they did. Shacklebolt turned to Theo. "Lord Nott, would you please tell this board why you should continue on."

Theo's hands got sweaty as he stood up. He took a shaky breath and was unable to talk until his eyes locked again with Lord Greengrass. As mad at the man as Theo was, for some reason looking at Greengrass, seeing him mouth the words, 'just breath', calmed him. "I know that at times I can be impulsive and a bit of a hot head as Lord Malfoy as described me from time to time, but I care very much, not only about my families business but for the Wizarding World. It is true that I left for a while to finish growing up after the war, but once my father died I returned with a determination to do my best for the people, both Wizarding and Muggle whom I employ. I think the improvements I have made with security and benefits would show that. I promise this board to work tirelessly to get the factory that burned down rebuilt and those people back to work as soon as possible. I would never ask anyone to forgive or forget my fathers or my actions. All I can do is move forward, doing my best every day to make the Nott name stand for something good."

Theo sat back down and tried to remain calm as the deliberations began. He could hear the members of the board talking amongst themselves. Every now and then a voice he knew would raise a little loader then the others. Finally Shacklebolt called for a vote. "All those in favor of Lord Nott remaining as CEO, please stand."

Lord Malfoy was the first to stand up. Dalton smiled at Theo, then stood up. Theo continued to look at Greengrass while the others stood. After a moment Dalton gestured to the spectators seats, and gave Theo a nod. Theo turned to see what Greengrass was looking at and saw Daphne sitting there watching the proceeding. She was biting her lip and wringing her hands as they waited to see the result of the vote. Theo's heart beat a little faster, he couldn't believe she had come to watch. Unfortunately Daphne didn't turn to look at him before Ernie wooted loudly and pumped his fist in the air. "Yes, Theo that's all twenty-eight."

"What, even Flint?" Theo look at Ernie surprised.

Ernie slapped his friend on the back. "Yep, even Flint."

When Theo looked back at the spectators seats with a big smile to see Daphne, she was already walking out the door.