59

As they normally did, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny apparated to just outside the gates of the Manor and then walked down the drive. They had gradually grown used to the enormous building that towered above them; the high windows and carvings no longer imposing like they used to be. Although, now the lord of the manor was in residence, they weren't sure if they would like it as much. It had become a haven, of sorts, for all of them; especially Harry, Ron and Hermione. Toted as the saviours of the Wizarding world, there was hardly anywhere they could go without being hounded by the press. Indeed, Harry was glad that Grimmauld Place was totally hidden or he presumed that he wouldn't even be able to step out the front door without having a camera flash shoved in his face.

The door was opened by one of the house elves just like it normally was and they were directed upstairs to the Master suite.

"Mistress says to just go in." The house elf squeaked. "Master is sleeping." The four of them nodded and headed up the stairs.

"What if they're, you know." Ron gestured, his eyebrows raised apprehensively. "I'm not sure if I would be able to look her in the face again."

"Honestly Ron!" Hermione sighed, giving her boyfriend a disparaging look. "I don't know why I love you sometimes." She gave him a playful thump on the shoulder.

"I don't think she would have left a message for us to just 'come on in' if she was going to be doing anything Ron." Ginny told Ron in the same voice she would have used to talk to a very small child.

"So why do you tell mum that you're going to do your homework?" Ron taunted. "I didn't know you needed to do transfiguration essays in a locked room."

"Oh yeah, and what do you do?" Ginny shot back. "Say you're playing chess?" both siblings stood still, glaring daggers at each other whilst Harry and Hermione stood behind them giggling. Ron and Ginny, on hearing their respective other-half's laughter, both seemed to back down and eventually joined in.

This laughter quickly ceased, however, as they arrived at the large double doors that were the entrance to the master suite. Scrimgeour and Dawlish were sat outside, looking thoroughly fed up; obviously not the work they thought they would be doing when they joined the Auror office. Both of them snapped to attention when they approached; obviously feeling that they deserved respect, being the heroes of the wizarding world. They gave no sign that they had seen their respectful nods and slight bows and carried straight on in. The sight that met them probably shocked them more than having grown men bowing at them.

The blond they were guarding was sleeping peacefully in the enormous bed; looking completely harmless save for the brand of a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth which adorned his left arm. Beside him was Kathryn; lying on top of the covers in her pyjamas and what appeared to be one of his shirts. Harry took the brief moment, when she had not realised that they were here, to study his sister when she didn't have to put up a front for the public eye. She was lying on her side; one hand resting beneath her head and her long legs stretching down the bed. Her hair flowed lazily across the bedspread and she barely moved save the regular rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Her eyes were fixed, almost unblinkingly, on the man beside her and they wore an expression that Harry could only define as love.

She held a finger to her lips when she noticed that they were there, instructing them to be quiet. Carefully, she sat up, gave him a soft kiss on the cheek and slid off the bed; walking silently across the room to where they were standing.

"Where should we go?" Harry asked.

"The study." Kathryn whispered back. "No!" she hissed as Harry reached for the doorknob.

"Why not?" Harry hissed back.

"I don't want them to think I've left him alone." She explained in barely a whisper.

"Then how are we supposed to get out?"

"This way." She motioned for them to follow her as she walked into the walk-in wardrobe and opened one of the doors. "Get in." Ignoring their protests, she shoved them in and pulled the door to.

"Ron stop shoving." Hermione complained as Ron's elbow connected with her ribs.

"Well there isn't much space, why do we have to talk in here anyway?"

"If you'll wait." Kathryn sighed, pushing her way through and releasing the wooden panel at the back of the wardrobe. "We can go through here." She indicated the dark passage that stretched out before them.

"Oh, that's alright then." Ron said sheepishly, following her through.

"We're behind the portrait gallery." She told them as they walked. "I reckon this passage was for when the Malfoy men had to hide their mistresses."

"So were even you hidden in here then?" Harry asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"No." she replied casually. "I only ever saw Narcissa once and that was at Fudge's Christmas reception. That was rather uncomfortable," she admitted, "I was all shaky and I felt like I was going to vomit."

"What was she like?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Oh, you know, her usual cold, unfriendly self." Kathryn shrugged. "Although I think I did succeed in cheesing her off quite royally, I mean, you heard what she had to say about me afterwards. I wonder what she would think to the fact that her husband had bought practically everything I was wearing." The four of them blanched at this statement. "And that they were probably more expensive than hers. Here we are." She pushed open the wall before them and they emerged from behind one of the bookcases in his study.

"So that article really was on the right track?" Hermione asked as Kathryn perched herself on the edge of the desk.

"More or less, although if he bought that dress and jewels for Narcissa, it was quite clear with whom he was more concerned." Kathryn admitted.

"So he was the mysterious sender of all those parcels?" Harry asked incredulously. Kathryn merely nodded in response. "When did you find that out?"

"I knew as soon as I got the first one, well, not as soon as. More like when I saw his signature matched the handwriting."

"Anything more we should know about?" Harry went on, apparently quite riled that he hadn't been told this before now.

"Plenty, but you'll have to wait to hear the details as I'm not going through it now, not after today." She explained. "I also don't want them accusing you of hiding information."

"So I take it that Fudge has just gone completely back on his word." Hermione summarised, swiftly changing the topic as she settled herself down in one of the dark green armchairs. "You can even see that he's thin through the bedcovers."

"You know I hadn't honestly thought that you would care or notice that." Kathryn admitted with a smile. "Being who he is."

"Who he is doesn't matter in the slightest." Hermione smiled back at her friend. "He still deserves ethical treatment."

"Are you going to start S.P.A.D now then?" Ron asked incredulously. "Society for the Protection of Azkaban Detainees."

"It's not funny Ron." Kathryn told him sternly. "I had a deal with Fudge and he broke it."

"Sorry. I don't think it's right to do that though." Ron said sheepishly.

"Fudge is getting out of hand with his desire for speedy convictions." Harry mused. "Dumbledore, Sirius, Lupin and Moody are worried he will adopt the stance that Barty Crouch did after Voldemort's first disappearance." He explained. "You know; no trial and sent packing to Azkaban for life."

"If he dares try that I'll land on top of him like a ton of bricks." She smirked evilly. "Just slip it to Rita Skeeter that Death Eaters have had his ear for years and that he has accepted bribes. I'm sure that they'd have a field day with that."

"How can you prove he accepted bribes?" Hermione asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Look at the Malfoy bank account records." Kathryn explained as though she had thought this all through. "You compare the passing or delay of laws supported by Malfoy to significant withdrawals from the vault or very generous donations to charity."

"I'm not sure Lucius would be happy with you doing that." Harry remarked.

"It's only a backup plan." Kathryn said, shaking her head. "I wouldn't do something like that unless I was really desperate. I want Fudge to be Minister during this whole thing because I would be doomed if there was a competent person chairing the Wizengamot; Fudge's apparent lack of common sense is key."

"Are you desperate though?" Harry asked rather bluntly.

"No." she replied quickly and firmly. "I am going to fight this with the truth and a smart plan." She told them of her strategy. "I'm not going to belittle it with cheap shots at disgustingly easy targets. Plus, Fudge would say that he was in the dark as to his status as a Death Eater whereas I was fully aware of the fact."

"But you weren't at fault for what you did!" Ron protested. "What you did was brave; Fudge never sacrificed himself for anything. I can't think of anyone else that I know who could have put up with such a thing."

"Thanks Ron." Kathryn blushed slightly at the flattery, giving him a warm smile. "But they'll counter that by saying what I did was foolhardy and reckless and that I should have told someone."

"Tell them they don't know a thing about how something like that feels." Hermione said indignantly.

"That's what I'm worried about." Kathryn confessed. "I fear that, in the scandal that my life has become, they will forget what actually happened to me at the start."

"I'm not sure how anyone could forget what they saw today." Harry replied darkly. "I don't think I will."

"At least you only watched." Kathryn's voice had gone hollow and her eyes were blankly staring ahead. "I know the fear that the Death Eater's masks inspire," she explained, "but when you are alone with nothing but a sheet to protect you from whatever they might have in mind, the terror is worse than when they outnumber you fifty to one."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Harry asked her pleadingly.

"If I'd allowed you to hear what he said to me then, you'd understand why." She told Harry quietly. "I left it out because I thought your Mum might faint if she heard it." She inclined her head at Ron and Ginny.

"So was that everything?" Ginny asked. "Was what we saw everything that happened?"

"Of course not." Kathryn shook her head, deciding to be frank. "I have no desire to show every instant that we were together; only to illustrate a basic timeline of events. As I understand it, I am to elaborate on the details tomorrow."

"So we should be prepared to be shocked." Harry stated bluntly.

"No, you should be prepared to listen."

"But if you listen, you must also try to understand." Another voice spoke from the hidden doorway through which they had emerged. They all turned to see Lucius Malfoy standing there, still looking imposing even though only wearing pyjama bottoms and a green dressing gown that Harry had seen Kathryn wear on several occasions.

"What are you doing up?" Kathryn asked quickly, springing up from where she was perched on the edge of his desk and crossing the room in an instant. Harry noticed that this was exactly the same way he had gone to her when Fudge had left her at the mercy of the Dementors. "You should be resting." They heard her murmur as he sat down.

"I heard visitors."

"Yes, although these are infinitely more welcome then our other guests." She groaned, thinking of Scrimgeour and Dawlish who were still sitting outside the master suite. "I think we could leave them there all night and just use the servants' passages to get you about, at least then we might get some peace."

"I don't think I've ever used those before." He mused.

"Well, you're going to have to swallow your pride and slum it for today." Kathryn teased. "Because I'm not having them leaning over me when I eat."

"Did I ever suggest that I would do such?" he retorted, raising his eyebrows at her.

"No, but I'm just being pre-emptive." She flashed him a dry smile. "That is, of course, if you want to stay for tea?" she asked hopefully.

"Sure," Harry nodded, "what's for dinner by the way, I'm starving." He asked, earning a similar nod from Ron.

"Sautéed foie gras, magret of duck with orange and cointreau glaze and chocolate tart." Kathryn reeled off, enjoying Ron's shocked face.

"On second thoughts, we might go back to number twelve for Toad in the Hole." Ron said quickly, looking rather worried at the extravagant menu.

"I'm only kidding!" Kathryn giggled. "You can have whatever you want for dinner. I'm sure the elves will be thrilled to know we have guests and, considering what they made for our lunch, they'll put on a spread fit for Hogwarts."

"That's ok then!" Ron grinned. "When do we eat?"

"Well," Kathryn glanced at the clock, "it's six now, so we need to give the elves time to cook. Is seven ok?"

"Great!" Ron clapped his hands together. "Can I go and let the house elves know?" he asked.

"Yeah, only go back through the passage and out the bedroom doors." Kathryn reminded him as he headed for the study door. "Just to keep the gruesome twosome in the dark." She smiled dryly as Ron practically ran for the passage.

"Is his stomach all that boy thinks about?" Lucius commented as soon as he was gone.

"I didn't give you leave to insult my friends." Kathryn said quickly in a tone of measured anger. "Play nice or I'll just give you back to Scrimgeour and Dawlish." Harry, Hermione and Ginny were, quite frankly, shocked to hear her speak to him like this. True, they had never seen the pair of them together like this before, but they had always imagined that he was the dominant force in the relationship and would never tolerate being spoken to in such a manner.

"Is killing Muggle-borns all you think about?" Hermione shot back, her arms crossed and a ferocious glare in her eyes. Lucius was about to reply when Kathryn intervened.

"I did not yell at Fudge and sacrifice my privacy to sit here and listen to you argue." Her voice was calm but belied the anger she felt. "You either get along or you all leave and I'll eat my dinner alone and, honestly, I do that too often these days." Her tone was firm and brooked no compromise.

"Sorry." Hermione apologised, looking sheepishly at her feet.

"And you." She gave Lucius a reproachful look.

"Sorry." He replied grudgingly, giving off the distinct impression that he didn't apologise often.

"Good. No more arguments then." Kathryn smiled as Ron emerged through the hidden door.

"One of the elves practically fainted when I told him that there was going to be six people for dinner." He said with a grin, settling himself on the arm of Hermione's chair. "They were like Dobby whenever you give him a new pair of socks!"

"Did Scrimgeour ask you anything?" Kathryn asked quickly, noting that Lucius pretended that he hadn't heard Dobby's name.

"He asked what we were doing." Ron shrugged. "I just said that we were talking and that he," Ron nodded at Lucius, "was asleep."

"That's ok then. Look, why don't you four go downstairs, I'll get changed and we'll follow you down in a little while."

"Whatever." Harry agreed, not giving the others time to speak. "We'll see you downstairs." The four of them stood and filed out through the secret passageway.

"Please be nice." She implored him as soon as the door had closed, sliding down into his lap.

"Only if they're nice back." He replied, pulling her close; nuzzling at the curve of her neck as one hand wormed its way beneath her shirt. "I've missed you."

"I know." She held onto him, contemplating the merits of just running away with him. Looking at it in an objective, very Hermione way, she decided that it wasn't worth the hassle or danger.

"I take it you were pleased with my birthday gift." He said, fingering the stones around her neck.

"They're beautiful," she smiled, "and I'm honoured that you think of me in such a way."

"Nothing more than you deserve."

"I doubt that many others would agree." She shook her head. "Not now."

"I don't care. Look in the bottom desk drawer." He motioned, pushing her gently off his lap with a mischievous smile. With a dubious feeling, she opened the drawer to reveal several boxes within.

"You shouldn't have." She chastised him. "You spoil me."

"I don't care."

"Other people might." She told him rather sternly. "I am forever under scrutiny. They will question where the money comes from."

"That is none of their business. Besides, I thought you were rich enough."

"I know it's none of their business and yes, I am rich enough on my own but no one, save my friends, knows that I am living here." She explained. "If they knew that I was living here and that I had guardianship of the estate, there would be a call for the estate and your fortune to be turned over to the Ministry."

"I've told you already, they could never do that." He reassured her. "Just open them." Smiling, she undid the ribbon that held the first parcel together and a copious quantity of velvet, the intense colour of red wine, spilled out onto her lap.

"Such a Gryffindor colour." She commented wryly as she unfolded the dress. "An interesting purchase for such a well renowned Slytherin," she smirked, "but, other than that, it's beautiful." It had a v-neckline from where the material wrapped around at the front and long full sleeves. It was very elegant, yet simple in design. She laid it out on the back of a chair.

"Don't say things like that," he replied jokingly, "I'm coming round to the thinking that typical Gryffindor brashness is a useful thing."

"For your information, it's called courage and without it you would be back in Azkaban right now."

"Well, it's a useful trait." He slid across the sofa and pressed his lips to hers. Craftily keeping her occupied, his hands made light work of the buttons down the front of the shirt she was wearing and swiftly moved to the waistband of her pyjamas.

"Not now." She protested meekly as he tossed her pyjamas aside. "They're waiting."

"There's time." He murmured, slipping off his own.

"No there's not." She gasped, unable to move thanks to his weight on top of her.

"There's always time." He smirked, moving her legs to afford himself a better position.

"What if they come back?" she tried to reason with him in the moment he stopped kissing her.

"They won't." He pulled one of the cushions down behind her head. "They won't risk it." He murmured, trailing kisses all over her. By that point all she could do was gasp or moan in response. Every kiss and touch was undoing her and he was touching her in all the right places.

"Please." She gasped into his ear as his teeth nipped lightly at her neck.

"God I've missed you." He gasped back.

"You're making me ache." She pleaded again, her nails digging into his back.

"As you wish." She dearly hoped that no one, especially Dawlish and Scrimgeour, heard them. She was quite frankly surprised that they hadn't fallen off the sofa, he was working so vigorously. These were, however, the last thoughts in her mind as she felt her muscles clench and the delicious pain that had been building up was finally relieved.

"Missed you too." She gasped, pecking him on the cheek as he pulled away. "But now we really have to get dressed for dinner."

"Alright then." He threw her the shirt that he had tossed across the room as he pulled his own pyjama bottoms back on. She noted the disappointed look on his face as she opened the hidden door.

"There'll be plenty of time for that later too." She smirked, holding out her hand and beckoning him to follow her.

"Promise?"

"Have I ever not?" she asked him, raising a questioning eyebrow. Smiling at the prospect, he followed her through the passage, pocketing an envelope from his desk as he passed.

Scrimgeour and Dawlish hadn't appeared to have moved an inch since she last saw them when she stepped out of the doors in her new dress.

"Where are you going dressed like that?" Scrimgeour demanded at once, springing to his feet.

"Dinner." She shrugged.

"Dressed like that?" Scrimgeour cast a critical eye over her outfit.

"What does it concern you?" she replied haughtily. "The last time I checked, you weren't here to give me wardrobe advice." Apparently unshaken, Scrimgeour continued.

"Where is he then?" he asked fiercely.

"Asleep, where he has been for the past few hours." She answered with a disinterested shrug. "Check if you like."

Warily, Scrimgeour pushed open the door with his wand drawn, Dawlish in the same stance right behind him. All they saw was the blond, lying in the bed facing away from them.

"Fine." Scrimgeour said in a petulant tone, apparently annoyed that he had found no trace of an escape attempt. Shaking her head, Kathryn walked away as they closed the doors once more, a wicked smirk playing across her face.

Back in the bedroom, once the doors were firmly shut again, Lucius slipped from beneath the covers fully dressed. Brushing the creases out of his shirt and pulling on his jacket, he walked straight back to the passage they had just used and hurried through to his study. Not stopping, he went into the drawing room next door and, after an expert touch, disappeared behind one of the walls.

The stairs were small and rickety, not made for humans to use; children maybe but not fully grown men. He fumbled his way down in the dark hoping that the stairs would not break beneath him due to their state of ill repair thanks to less than frequent use. After what seemed like an eternity of twists and turns, he emerged from a concealed door in the downstairs parlour. Dusting cobwebs off his jacket, he walked towards the sound of voices coming from the back drawing room.

He found it odd that he, Lucius Malfoy, would be having dinner with Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley. Dinner with Kathryn Potter, yes, but had he been told that he would be dining with all of them, he would have laughed back in their face. From what he had gleaned from the few newspapers he had been able to acquire in Azkaban, Potter, despite his hero status, shied away from the media attention. He and his friends were, apparently, elusive and no one even knew where Potter lived. The Dark Lord had become increasingly frustrated as time had worn on. The Potters, their friends and their blasted Order had been undetectable throughout the war. Well, all of them bar one. He shuddered to think what would have happened to him had his Master found out how easily he could have had one of the pair.

He would have been honoured beyond his wildest dreams for being able to bring the Dark Lord one of the Potters. His position would have been unquestionable. The only thing better would have been if he had brought the pair.

Horrible images assailed his mind of what could have happened as he caught sight of her talking and laughing with her brother and friends. The masked and robed Death Eaters standing in an unyielding circle around her form. All of them laughing as their Master sent curse after curse her way, prolonging her pain as long as possible. As the one who had brought her to the Dark Lord, he would have probably been allowed a bit of sport with her as a reward. Any time up until their one year 'anniversary', he would have relished such an honour; employing his skills masterfully for the twisted enjoyment of his fellow Death Eaters. After that, however, and he wouldn't have been able to do such a thing. He'd have sooner gone to Dumbledore than let that happen.

Her body lifeless and broken; limbs at odd angles with cuts and bruises marring the otherwise perfect surface. Her face, cold and pale, lying on icy flagstones with a trickle of blood running from beneath her hairline. Her hair, matted with blood and tangled, fanning around her head. Green eyes devoid of their fire, leaving only emptiness and pain. All these images that he had prayed that he'd never have to see.

He felt his heart skip as she smiled at him, reaching her hand out ever so slightly and beckoning him to come over. He looked at her as he walked. The dress was perfect on her; wrapping around her body in just the right way. He imagined what it would have been like were things different, were she Pureblood. She would have been exalted as the luckiest person ever to have won the affections of such a wealthy and influential man, not treated like a criminal for daring to love, for daring to differ.

Her outstretched had caught his, pulling him closer towards her. He obliged, wrapping his arm across her waist and kissing her lightly on the cheek as he came to stand behind her. He saw anger flash in her brother's eyes for a second, his face remaining impassive. This did not, however, deter him for he understood what she was trying to do. She was going to force them to accept him as her choice, and understand that they could do nothing to change it.

"I see you made it down the stairs then." She said with a smile, brushing a cobweb off his shoulder.

"I doubt I'll want to again, seeing as they're not really built for human use."

"You'd rather have Scrimgeour and Dawlish watching you while you eat?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You'd rather not be able to speak freely or go where you please in your own home?"

"Touché." He replied. "Why do your arguments always win?"

"Because mine are right," she smiled back at him, "most of the time." She added with a smirk. She could tell that the rest of them were uncomfortable with watching this exchange and swiftly changed the subject. "Dinner?" she asked them with a smile. She got four enthusiastic nods in response and she led them back through the entrance hall, being careful not to alert Scrimgeour and Dawlish that he was downstairs, and through to the dining room.

Harry watched curiously as he paused for a moment and, with a cursory glance down at the girl walking beside him, offered her his arm. With a smile and an amused shake of her head, she accepted and they continued on through the house. Harry found it unnerving to witness such small, intimate gestures between them. True, he had caught them at their most intimate, but this was different. These were the gestures of a pair completely accustomed to each other; that understood the other without either having to speak. Ordinarily, Harry would have thought this endearing. But considering what he had done to his sister, it was quite sickening that she could still be near to him. He did not voice this however, preferring to see his sister happy than have her miserable.

The dining room was cavernous, as they had noted before; the table apparently enlarging or shrinking to suit the number of guests. Harry was surprised to see him pull out Kathryn's chair for her before he sat down; he had never expected someone so proud to do such a thing. He and Ginny were sat on one side of the table with Ron and Hermione on the other. He and Kathryn were seated at the opposite ends of the table; places that Harry understood to be reserved for the master and mistress of the house. Harry could see that this was not only an indication of what she had practically become, but also of the regard he held for her, and he was sure that this had not slipped past Ron, Hermione or Ginny either.

There was no question that she was comfortable living here. Harry had seen many times before that she was at ease in the Manor; she lived in its rooms as if she had done all her life. She seemed to know every nook and cranny which, to Harry, spoke of a much deeper relationship than any of them would like to believe she had. As they ate, Harry noticed that she seemed to understand his every minute expression and gesture. She expertly steered the conversation away from the more sensitive subjects and made sure that neither party went as far as to insult or argue with the other. It seemed that both parties had taken heed of her earlier warning and stuck to polite conversation; Lucius even going as far as to enquire after their plans for the future.

"I seem to recall the notion that you may apply to the Auror office being mentioned." He commented. "Am I right to assume that you still intend to take the same career path?" he raised a questioning eyebrow at Harry.

"Yes."

"Do you not think that, perhaps, there will be little for you to do now that the Dark Lord has fallen?"

"Couldn't the same be said for you?" Harry replied casually.

"Of course," Lucius took this jibe graciously, continuing nevertheless, "but I am currently living at Cornelius Fudge's pleasure whereas you have a free reign over your future. My point is, haven't you had enough of dark wizards for the time being?" Kathryn smiled to herself, knowing that he definitely had a point.

"It appears to be what we're best at." Harry explained.

"Well, from what I've seen, you are also good at Quidditch." He nodded at Harry and Ron. "The pair of you are."

"And your point would be?" Harry asked with a quizzical look.

"You could easily play for England or, if you so desire, instigate the Chudley Cannons resurgence." He suggested with a wry smile, remembering her tales of Ron's never ending allegiance to the Cannons. "And I believe Miss Granger has every possible avenue open to her, at least, once your exam results arrive." Kathryn was actually surprised to see Hermione blush at such a comment from a man so known for his hatred of Muggle-borns.

"And what of my sister?" Harry asked as dessert was placed before him. "What kind of future can she look forward to?"

"Harry please don't." Kathryn asked her brother, setting her fork down and giving him a pleading look.

"No, I want to know." He continued, staring Malfoy out as he spoke. "What kind of future will she have?" he asked. "Who will even consider trusting her once this mess is over? Who will give her a job?" Kathryn tried to interrupt him but he just kept going. "Do you think that she even has the slightest chance of being accepted into the Auror office now?"

"Harry, I forfeited that option quite a while ago." Kathryn snapped suddenly at her brother. "Along with peoples' respect."

"No." He protested. "They may still accept you when this is all over. Once people know what happened."

"Accept but not trust." Kathryn corrected him. "Accept but not respect. Accept but not forgive."

"But if you have done no wrong!" Harry continued, trying in vain to win the debate.

"It will make no difference. I will forever be seen as a traitor no matter the true version of events. It does not matter that I helped save the world; I will be vilified all the same for one choice."

"Well it was a bad choice." Harry shot back in an unforgiving tone. Down at the other end of the table, Kathryn saw something flare in Lucius' eyes and she knew Harry was in for a lot of trouble. Instead of the angry outburst she had expected, however, he merely cleared his throat and stood up.

"Would you excuse us for a moment." He said in a curt tone that was not a question, but a command. The four of them nodded, all looking rather worried, and exited the room in silence. Kathryn did not meet their eyes as they left; instead staring down at the miniature sponge pudding that she had gone off eating. At the last moment, Harry looked as if he was about to say something else, maybe even apologise. This was met, however, by an icy glare from Kathryn as she gracefully stood and breezed over to gaze out of the window at the far side of the room.

She looked out of the windows, across the rolling lawns on that side of the house and towards the fields in the distance, until she heard the click of a lock and Lucius came to stand behind her. Hands ran slowly down her arms and took her hands in his; his arms pulling her closer until she was flush against him. They stood in silence for a moment, his head resting gently at her neck until she turned her head and met his lips.

"What your life must be like." He murmured apologetically into her hair. "What you must have suffered."

"Don't worry about it." She murmured back. "I have a thicker skin than some think."

"You shouldn't have to though." He persisted. "You should be the last person they criticise at every moment they get, I mean, have they even acknowledged you as one of the two who finally killed the Dark Lord?"

"Once," she nodded slowly, "just after the battle, as soon as the news broke." She explained. "But at that point it was only a rumour. It was the day after that photo appeared on the front page that they had a fuller picture of what actually happened. I noted that my name was skilfully omitted from that account."

"They will acknowledge it eventually. Once everything is cleared up."

"But they will never forgive me." She sighed. "And no one will ever forget."

"You never know, humanity may surprise us."

"It doesn't matter really. I'll just not read the Prophet and become a recluse!" she laughed. "But then again, I'm not going to let a scandalised public ruin my life."

"Still, you shouldn't have to bear what you already have done." He repeated; wrapping an arm around her waist as they walked towards the doors where she was sure Harry would have been trying to eavesdrop.

Outside, Harry could hear the sound of voices coming closer and, as the lock clicked, he jumped back to a reasonable distance. Seconds later, the doors opened and the pair of them exited; his arm firmly, almost protectively, around her waist as they walked.

"I'll say this again Harry," she said as they walked through the entrance hall, "do not fight and do not ruin one of the few happy moments I have been allowed over the past months." She told him in a stern, but calm voice. Harry nodded in response but remained silent, afraid he might snap at him again. They remained in silence until they reached the large drawing room at the back of the house. Kathryn slipped out of his grasp and grabbed Harry's arm before he could go in. She motioned for the rest of them to go on ahead of them whilst the stayed in the next room with Harry.

"I need a word." She told him, shutting the doors to the drawing room behind her.

"Look, I'm sorry I said that." Harry told his sister. "I just can't help it."

"Don't worry." Kathryn shrugged.

"It's just going to take some getting used to."

"Harry, please understand," she said in a near whisper, "I know that you would gladly kill him if you got the chance. I know that you cannot understand what has happened to me. I know that you hate him," she hesitated for a moment before continuing, "but please understand that I can't."

"That's what I don't get," Harry explained, "I can't understand how you cannot hate him for what he did."

"It has gone so far beyond that now." She sighed. "But I do not know where I stand."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know what I am to him and I have certainly never told him where I stand with all of this." Kathryn explained. "I mean, nothing's ever been said."

"You mean you don't even know how he feels?" Harry couldn't believe this.

"No." Kathryn shook her hair with a sad look on her face. "I may never know, I mean, he's so protective of things people may use to hurt him; like me."

"And what about you?" Harry asked. "What do you feel?"

"I don't know." She sighed. "But he will be the first to know. I don't care if he's in Azkaban, I'll make the journey to tell him." Although Harry did not necessarily support her view, he had to admire her for sticking to her guns after all the abuse that had been thrown at her.

"Well, just know that we'll stand by you whatever happens." Harry finally said after a few moments of awkward silence. "I know we might not agree, but we've been through a war and it would be silly to fall out over something like this."

"Oh Harry," she sighed, flinging her arms around his neck, "thank you. I've waited so long for you to say that." She held on for a few moments longer before beginning to laugh. "How prosaic do I sound!" she laughed, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.

"You sound like a trashy romance novel," Harry laughed, "please stop it, it's quite scary!"

"Sorry, I'll try not to do that again! Shall we go back in then?" she motioned her hand to the door. "And thanks Harry." She gave him a small nod before following him through the door.

It appeared that Lucius still knew how to play host as there was a silver tray complete with coffee pot, teapot and bone china cups already laid out on a table. Catching his eye, he jerked his head in the direction of a side cabinet full of glasses where an open bottle of her favourite Australian red was sitting. Smiling at him, she ignored the tea and coffee that Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were helping themselves to; instead pulling out two large glasses and filling them generously.

"Are you sure you should be having more to drink?" Hermione asked as Kathryn settled herself on the arm of Lucius' chair and handed him his glass.

"I don't see why not." Kathryn shrugged.

"Well, you've already had a few glasses with dinner," Hermione said rationally, "and that's practically a bottle."

"I see no problem."

"Well, it's a bit much for one night." Hermione persisted.

"In view of what I could drink, it's not." Kathryn brushed off Hermione's comments. "I could bypass the wine and go straight to the Firewhisky." She took another drink. "I mean, you've seen the stores here, but I'm not going to get into a discussion about this." That firmly ended the discussion and the topic of conversation moved on.

They were surprised to find him quite a lively conversationalist and, once they forgot who he was and what he had done, he was quite good company. They dispersed after a little while; Harry and Ron having a game of billiards in the next room whilst Hermione and Ginny went for a gossip in the gardens.

"See," she said with a smirk, sliding into his lap, "That wasn't so hard now, was it?"

"No, although for your brother and friends, they are quick to say that you are wrong."

"They only care." She sighed, entwining her fingers with his. "This has been hard for them to accept, especially for Harry."

"They stand by you though, don't they?"

"Of course, although only after I explained everything to them, and even then Harry was still hostile." She explained. "They have kept secrets for me though, about what is in this house; the books, the cellar playroom, the graveyard in that wood. They haven't told a soul at my request." She slipped from his lap and walked to the door. Without a word, he stood and followed her as she slipped out of the doors; their guests unlikely to notice their disappearance.

They walked slowly, side by side, through the house; just enjoying each others company. They wandered through the entrance hall and into the drawing room next door to the cavernous ballroom. Opening the door, Lucius peeked inside before shutting the doors again.

"Close your eyes." He asked with a small smirk on his face.

"What are you up to?" she asked, closing her eyes all the same.

"Nothing." Flinging open the doors, he waved his wand and instantly the grand chandelier in the middle of the ceiling flared to life. With another wave of his wand, the dust lifted from the floor and the room seemed to glow with life once more. Taking her hands, he led her into the centre of the room.

"Open your eyes." Doing so, a gasp immediately escaped her lips as she saw the room in all its splendour. She had only ever seen it in daylight, and it was nowhere near as amazing as it was now.

"And what was your purpose to bringing me here?" she laughed, kissing him softly.

"To dance, why else?" he smiled back, pulling her close. Laughing, she let him lead her over the polished wooden floors with practiced ease.

"My, my," she laughed softly as they danced, "who would have thought the proud Lucius Malfoy romantic?"

"Not one of the qualities I am renowned for." He admitted. "And not regarded favourably in my previous circles."

"Well, I don't care who or what the Wizengamot sees." She kissed him softly. "This is the man I see." Unbeknownst to them, Hermione and Ginny had caught a glimpse of the pair whilst walking in the gardens and had immediately rushed, pulling Harry and Ron away from their game, to peer in through the door.

"The man you see is as good as condemned." He told her, slowing their dancing to little more than a standstill.

"Not if I have any say in that." she corrected him sternly. "But there is the possibility that my testimony will do you more harm than good." She admitted, finally voicing the sad truth.

"We'll see." He murmured, putting his forehead against hers and staring deep into her eyes. He chuckled slightly as he watched the pupils move in and out of focus.

"What?" she asked with a smirk.

"I think you've had a little too much wine!"

"Don't let Hermione hear that." She giggled. "I've got enough on my plate without her worrying about whether or not I'm an alcoholic." He followed her as she sank down to sit on the floor. "Besides, I like the light headed feeling, and I'd be more worried about me getting depressed than anything else." She sighed, her eyes growing distant.

"It can't be that bad." He said from his position opposite her, lightly caressing her hands with his.

"Some days I don't even get out of bed." She confessed, hanging her head. "I mean, I have spent my entire life in hiding and I thought that I would at least be able to walk down a street without having to worry about anything."

"True." He sighed. "I never wanted to put you in this position. You are a hero and deserve peoples' respect, not their hatred."

"I accepted this fate." She reminded him. "I knew that there would be no going back. I've known that ever since you said that it was the final time you would ask me to tell you anything." she smiled at him, leaning closer. "And I haven't regretted a moment." She whispered in his ear.

"I have something more for you." He told her, slipping the envelope from his pocket, returning it to its normal size, and handing it to her.

"What are you up to?" she asked, fingering the envelope and quirking an eyebrow at him.

"Just open it."

"Fine." She slid her finger beneath the flap and tore it open, pulling out a piece of parchment. Looking at it, it appeared to be some form of legal document. In large script at the head of the page, the words 'Title Deed' were written.

"What is this?" she asked him, bemused.

"The deeds to the land where your parents' house is, in Godric's Hollow." He explained. "I bought it, under your name, because it should belong to no one else."

"You did this for me?" she asked, awestruck, with tears welling in the corners of her eyes.

"It seemed like the right thing to do. You have precious little of them to begin with…" Without saying any more, she flung her arms around his neck; sending him sprawling onto the floor. Tangled in her arms, he lay there for several minutes whilst she kissed him.

"You have no idea how much this means to me." She murmured between kisses that he soon began to return.

"I do have some indication." He smirked, gazing deep into her eyes. "But I would advise you to stop, as we do not want your brother or your friends walking in on us, do we?"

"I don't care!" she replied with an identical smirk, working her hands beneath his shirt. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny immediately backed away from the door and retreated to the drawing room.

"Would you rather you attracted the attention of Scrimgeour or Dawlish?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "I did notice that Dawlish could barely keep his jaw shut around you, not that I mind that you have that effect on people." She slapped him playfully on the arm, sitting back up and straightening her dress.

"Fine, besides, the floor isn't as comfortable as some other places I can think of." She stood and took his hand before walking back to the drawing room where the four of them were sitting waiting. Without a word, she handed the envelope to Harry and let him inspect the contents.

"Why?" he asked. "What do you hope to achieve by doing this?"

"Nothing." He shrugged. "It is a gift and, if you'll note the date on which it was acquired, this was planned long before recent events transpired." Looking down at the parchment, Harry saw that the date was halfway through May.

"Well, thank you, although I hope you don't expect us to live in it."

"Certainly not, I just thought that would not like to see a part of your history destroyed." Harry couldn't believe his ears.

"Well, thanks again, but we should probably be heading off." Harry added, glancing at the clock. "You know your mum," he told Ron, "She'll have us up at sunrise."

"Yeah." Ron nodded in agreement. "Thanks for having us though." He told Kathryn. "And we'll see you tomorrow I guess."

"Yeah." She nodded. "Looking forward to that." She added sarcastically. She hugged Hermione and Ginny goodbye before turning to Harry.

"Take that to show Sirius," she told him, "and Lupin. I'm sure they'd appreciate it."

"Don't give the gruesome twosome too hard a time." He reminded her, hugging her tight. "At least, no more than they deserve."

"Promise, I'll only retaliate if absolutely necessary!" she smiled wickedly; leaving Harry to imagine what she might do if they pushed her.

"Just make sure they're still alive in the morning." He followed Ron, Hermione and Ginny into the next room where they were going to use the fireplace to Floo back to Grimmauld Place. Lucius made to follow him but a hand on his shoulder stopped him from going any further.

"You can't," she told him, "you can't hear."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know what charms are still in effect, you know, protecting where we live. Well, where Harry, Sirius and I live." She explained. "Even with everything over, we still want to keep it as secret as possible just because it is one of the few places where no one can find us. That's why Harry, Ron and Hermione like coming here, because they can relax."

"The Dark Lord was always angry that we could not find where you lived or where you hid your headquarters." He admitted.

"They're one and the same." She revealed. "You can know that now we no longer have to fight."

"What do you mean?"

"Harry and I live at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix." She explained. "That is why you could never find us. It's as heavily protected as Hogwarts and then some. We've lived there since we were fifteen." She started to wander through the house, towards the dining room.

"You mean you've been in the Order of the Phoenix since you were fifteen?" he asked in disbelief.

"Not technically, but we always knew most of what was going on." She shrugged, pausing before the section of wall in the drawing room which concealed the cache of his more potent potions. She selected one and closed the compartment.

"How do you know which one that is?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "And, if you do know which one that is, what are you up to?"

"I've identified them all." She replied with a knowing smirk. "And I know that a couple of those are actually illegal; but what Fudge doesn't know won't hurt him, unless I slip it in his tea of course!"

"Where did you learn to be so devious?" he followed her through to the kitchens where the house elves immediately snapped to attention.

"Well, I had a lot of practice at Hogwarts, and I had a good teacher." She nodded at him before turning to the nearest house elf. "I need you to make two mugs of strong coffee." She instructed it. "Then add three drops of this potion to each and take them up to the two men upstairs." She handed the elf the small crystal vial.

"Isn't three drops a bit much?" he queried her, not wanting to overdose the two Aurors.

"No. It will send them out until about ten tomorrow morning though."

"Just making sure because, whilst that is a fairly unobtrusive potion, it is not undetectable and I would not like to wake up to a pair of comatose Aurors and have to explain what happened." They watched the two mugs of coffee leave the kitchen on a silver tray, waiting a few moments before heading back upstairs too.

"What am I going to say when they realise I got past them?" he mused as they walked slowly.

"You'll think of something witty." She shrugged as they rounded the corner to where Scrimgeour and Dawlish were standing with their coffee.

"I took the liberty of sending you some coffee." She told them brightly.

"Thank you," Scrimgeour began, looking up at her, "how did you get out?" he asked, spotting Malfoy; his eyes widening in shock and almost choking on his coffee.

"Magic." Lucius replied dryly, not failing to notice the way Dawlish was leering at Kathryn as she stood beside him. "And Dawlish," he addressed the Auror in a belittling tone, "need I remind you that you look and I touch." He smirked as Dawlish blanched. "If you do need to look, do so in a respectful and unobtrusive way, not like a dog ogling a piece of meat." Both men before them looked quite stunned then, quite suddenly, their eyes rolled back into their heads and they collapsed onto the floor.

"Good." Kathryn sighed, stepping around them as she opened the door. "I don't like an audience." Smirking, she shut and locked the door behind them.