A/N: Sorry for the late update guys- thanks to those of you that left notes for us- we both fell asleep early last night before we could put up the story… so we're very sorry about that!
We're still not gonna update on Sat nite- but the schedule will resume next Tues. Here's to HBP being a great book and see you all on the flip side!!
Ginny laid in bed, thinking over the events of the past few weeks. For the first time since they'd come back to England, it looked as if Lucius's plan might actually work and that Draco would worm his way into the position of Minister as soon as Hermione was gone.
Right now he'd been assigned midnight rounds at the hospital and she hated that- she missed being able to spoon into his side as she fell asleep. And she hated her husband's absence because Lucius seemed to take this as his personal invitation to leer at her at will. He would sit close to her in the parlour and touch her leg or brush up against her when they met in the corridors. She hadn't said anything to Draco yet, but she was finding it hard to keep quiet about this.
She'd thought perhaps he'd figured out that nothing could tempt her away from Draco when she saw him trying to put some moves on Marisol at breakfast one morning, but that evening at dinner, he'd basically ignored the timid maid and instead had focused on her again.
Lucius made sure that Narcissa was asleep before he snuck out of their bedroom and down the hall. Over the past few weeks, he'd not been able to keep his mind off of his daughter-in-law. She had a certain spark that his wife didn't possess. And seeing as Draco was out of the house, now seemed like the perfect time to make his move.
Ginny had finally managed to drift off into a light sleep when her door slowly creaked open. "Draco?" she murmured, half in dreams. "Is that you?"
Lucius didn't say anything as he walked over to the bed. He hoped that she wouldn't turn on the lights just yet.
"Draco," Ginny could barely make out his blond hair- it was a drizzly night and there was no moon. "Why are you home already?"
"Couldn't stay away," Lucius whispered, pulling back the covers.
"You don't sound like yourself," Ginny pushed her hair out of her eyes.
Lucius slipped into bed and tried his best not to ravish her at once.
"Why are you being so quiet?" Ginny demanded irritably.
Lucius reached out for her arm. Keeping his voice barely above a whisper he said, "You have such soft skin."
"I know that," Ginny said, leaning into his touch. "I've missed you this week," she said softly.
"I'll bet you have," Lucius said nuzzling her neck. "You little minx..."
"You know I hate when you call me that," Ginny complained.
Lucius wasn't in the mood for talking and without a moment's hesitation bruisingly kissed her on the lips.
"Ow," Ginny tried to pull away from him. "Draco that hurts--" she put her hand up in his hair and instead of finding his short hair, she found long, silken strands running through her fingers instead. She gasped. "Lucius!"
Lucius smiled, glad that he didn't have to keep up the charade. He moved in to kiss her again.
"Get AWAY from me!" Ginny said shrilly.
Lucius laughed. "You are a firecracker, Ginevra. Just the way I like them. Reminds me of someone I used to know...I'd like to know you that way, too. "
"I'm your daughter in law!" Ginny pushed him away as hard as she could. "You're disgusting!"
This only seemed to excite Lucius more. He began to undo the buttons on his shirt as he fixed his gaze hungrily on her. "I won't tell, if you don't."
"I don't CHEAT on my husband!" Ginny shouted angrily. "Now GET OUT!"
"That's not what I heard," Lucius said grinning maniacally at her. "Still fancy Potter after all these years?"
"No," Ginny snapped. "I've always been faithful to Draco."
Lucius reached out and toyed with the strap of her negligee. "There's a first time for everything."
"Not with you," Ginny said, afraid of the look in his eyes.
He pulled her roughly to him and he kissed her again, trying to force his tongue into her mouth.
Ginny screamed and tried to bite down on his lower lips but he pushed her onto the pillows and started squeezing various parts of her body. "Leave me alone," she begged.
Lucius laughed. "Don't bother screaming. I put a silencing charm on the room before I came inside..."
Tears sprang to her eyes as she realised just how precarious a situation she was in. "What would your wife think of this?" she asked, trying to reason with him.
"She's never going to know," Lucius said looking down at Ginny. "I carried on with her very own sister and Narcissa never knew."
"You're disgusting," Ginny still tried to resist him as he ripped the strap of her lingerie.
Lucius sat up for a moment so he could unzip his trousers.
Ginny took the opportunity to try and scramble away but Lucius caught her loose hair in his hands. "Ow!" Ginny screamed, her tears flowing down her face as he jerked her back onto the bed. "NO!"
"Quit fighting it, Ginevra," Lucius said angrily. "You want me."
"No I don't!" Ginny managed to kick out and narrowly miss his face. "I hate you!"
Lucius pushed her back down. "Come on, Ginevra. Be a good girl."
"No!" Ginny slapped him, her wedding ring leaving a scratch across his cheek.
Lucius drew back and glared at her. "YOU BITCH!"
Ginny cowered as Lucius grabbed her throat and began to squeeze. Her eyes watered as the oxygen stopped flowing and she began to reach out for anything, anything she could find to get herself away from him.
She turned her head and saw a glass paperweight on the bedside table. If she could only find some way to get her hands on it, she might be able to get away from him.
"Be a good girl Ginevra," Lucius whispered before kissing her again.
Ginny gagged as she brought her knee up hard between his legs.
Lucius recoiled in pain and cursed at her.
Ginny didn't waste a moment in grabbing the paperweight and bringing it in contact with the side of Lucius's head.
The blow to his head knocked him out cold and Ginny just sat there looking at her father-in-law, her hands shaking.
Sobs rose from deep inside her but she scrambled for her wand and the robes she'd worn earlier that day. She grabbed the door and ran out into the hall and left the house, not really knowing where she was going but heading straight for the hospital and Draco.
Draco yawned as he made some notes on the patient's chart. He sure as hell hoped that these midnight rounds wouldn't be a regular occurrence. This was something first-year healers did. Healers of his stature and status shouldn't be subjected to this. He had a feeling Parkinson-Goyle was behind this.
Ginny rode the lift up to Draco's office, sniffling and trying to hold back her tears. The thought of what had almost happened made her shake and her knees buckled.
Draco had just closed his eyes for a quick kip when the door to his office flew open.
"Hey Red," Draco said smiling at her. "How did you know I needed to see you?"
"I uh..." Ginny's voice trembled as she closed the door behind her.
"Red?" Draco asked, seeing how shaken she looked. There were scratch marks on her cheek. He stood up and strode over to where she had collapsed against the door. "Red? What's wrong?"
"Draco," Ginny began to sob as he held her closely. "It was horrible!"
"It's okay love," Draco said soothingly. "What happened? Who got you in such a state?"
Ginny tried to stop crying as he ran his hands through her tangled hair. "I um..." she began shakily. "I was sleeping and... and I thought you were in the room but it wasn't you--" she was aware she was rambling and not making much sense but she couldn't stop.
In all the years they'd been together, he'd never seen her like this. "Did someone attack you, Red?"
Ginny managed to nod. "It was your father Draco," she sobbed. "He... he came in and he kissed me and I thought it was you..." she began to heave.
Draco froze. "What?"
"You believe me right?" Ginny pleaded.
Draco looked at her. "You...you're telling me that my father tried to...that he was going to ..."
Ginny nodded as she wiped away her tears. "He... he told me that he was going behind your mother's back with her sister. And he said no one ever had to know." she sniffled loudly. "And then I hit him with that paperweight and I came here."
Draco tried to wrap his brain around all of this. He'd caught his father looking at Ginny a couple of times, but he'd dismissed it completely. He'd thought his parents detested Ginny.
"I believe you, Red," Draco said hugging her to him. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
A fresh onslaught of sobs attacked her as she fell limply against her husband. "It was so horrible," she bawled.
"I'm going to kill him," Draco said, a far away look in his eyes. "That bloody bastard laying his hands on my wife..."
His voice trailed off as he tried to close out the image of his father manhandling Ginny.
Ginny didn't say anything, just buried her face in his shoulder.
"He's never going to lay another hand on you, Red," Draco said protectively. "I'm going to kill him."
"I'm afraid of him," Ginny whispered. "I'm afraid of what he'll do to us now."
Draco pulled away so he could look at her. "Red, you're never going to be alone with him again. I promise you that."
Ginny nodded, looking into his eyes. "I needed you so much," she whimpered.
"I know," Draco said softly. He couldn't help feeling that he was somehow responsible for all of this. They should have just stayed in Sydney. None of this would have happened. "I'm right here love. You're safe with me."
"I don't want to go back there," Ginny said as he hugged her again.
"You'll stay here with me tonight," Draco said taking her hand and leading her over to the sofa.
"Okay," Ginny managed a tremulous smile at her husband.
"You are the most precious thing in the world to me," he said touching her cheek. "I'd die before I let anything happen to you, Ginny. You know that, right?"
"I know," she said, her lips trembling.
Ginny rested her head on his chest and he held her as she cried. He was already formulating a plan of revenge. If he'd thought his father had crossed a line when he'd seen Snape's memory in the Pensieve, he certainly surpassed it with his behaviour tonight with Ginny. There was no way Draco would just let this pass.
"Gin," he said softly. "I need to tell you something..."
Ginny lifted her head and looked up at him. He couldn't remember ever seeing her look more vulnerable than she did at that moment.
"What?" she asked, her voice breaking a bit. "What is it?"
"The other day..." he began, stroking her red hair, partly to keep her calm and partly to soothe his own frayed nerves. "Snape came to see me."
"Why?" Ginny asked softly.
Draco sighed. "Apparently... Lucius went to see him on the last day of school and demanded a favour of him."
Ginny shuddered as he spoke Lucius's name. "What kind of favour?"
"After I'm made Minister," Draco said. "Snape was supposed to give Lucius a potion to slip into my drink that will kill me. This is after I name Lucius as my successor, which I'd have never done to begin with."
Ginny's eyes grew large. "K-kill you? You can't be serious..."
"Snape had a Pensieve," Draco said, getting up from the sofa and pacing his office. "I saw it with my own eyes Red."
"He's a monster," Ginny said shaking her head.
Draco only nodded. "I thought about taking you and just leaving," he said. "But that wouldn't accomplish anything. He knows where we live in Sydney, and if he found us once he'd do it again."
"I don't think I can continue to live with them," Ginny said. "Not after tonight, Draco. I can't..."
"I know," Draco returned to the sofa and pulled her close. "I've been thinking on this since Snape told me... and I keep coming back to one idea."
"What's that?" Ginny asked.
"I hate the very thought of this," Draco muttered. "But if we went to Potter and his wife--"
Ginny pulled away from him. She wanted to laugh at the absurdity of what he'd just said, but the look on his face told her he was dead serious.
"No," she said vehemently shaking her head. "Out of the question..."
"Who else could we go to Ginny?" Draco asked a slight edge on his words. "We have no friends here; certainly have no one who could help us."
"Yes, but..." Ginny protested.
"Do you have any better ideas?" Draco asked pointedly.
Ginny looked thoughtfully at him. "Well, no, but...it's them, Draco? For argument's sake, let's say we go to them and ask them for help. They'd never agree to it. They hate us as much as we hate them."
"Aye, but what if we own up to everything," Draco said. "And we tell them that we'll help them trap Lucius- we can tell them his whole plan."
"You really think this is the only way?" she asked.
"It's all I've been able to come up with," Draco sat down again behind his desk.
Ginny stayed on the sofa for a few moments, desperately trying to come up with some other plan. But, Draco was right. There was no one here that could help them other than the Potters.
"I'll do whatever you think is best," she finally said.
Draco shook his head. "This would never have happened if I'd listened to you in the first place." he said darkly.
Ginny walked over behind his chair and put her arms around his neck. "You would have been a great Minister, Draco."
"I know," he said. "You'd have made a great minister's wife."
"But you know what?" she asked. "We have a great life in Sydney. We made it there without your father's help. And we can have that again."
"Aye," Draco agreed. "We did have a good life- together, just you and me."
"And once we get rid of Lucius and your mother," Ginny told him. "We'll have it again."
"Right," Draco said. "I hope we can get him locked away forever."
"When did you want to go and see Harry and Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"As soon as possible," Draco said with another heavy sigh. "This is without a doubt going to be one of the worst moments of my life."
"And one of their best," Ginny said just picturing Harry and his slag of a wife making them eat crow.
"Well after I tell them Lucius's plan they'll want to get rid of him as badly as we do," Draco said with more confidence in his voice.
Ginny nodded. "And who knows, they'll be indebted to us for helping them. That could be nice..."
Draco snorted. "That'll be the day."
"I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of Lucius," Ginny said quietly. "Even if it means going to them."
Draco nodded. "For now why don't you get some sleep," he suggested. "I still have some rounds to do."
"Okay," Ginny said. "Will you make sure the door is locked?"
"I will," Draco said. "And we both have our wands... you can use this-" he indicated a gem on his desk. "To page me should... anyone come in."
Ginny let him kiss her softly. "You'll come back once you're finished right?"
"I'm certainly not going back to that house," Draco said, stroking her hair back and getting her a blanket from the small closet.
She lay down on the sofa and he draped the blanket over her. "I love you, you know."
"I love you," Draco said, still running his fingers through her hair.
Ginny closed her eyes, feeling safe and secure here in her husband's office.
Draco made sure the door was locked behind them before starting his way around the corridors. He wished he didn't have to do what he said he was going to do later that morning. He just couldn't figure out any other options out of this mess.
*** *** ***
Cho crept down the stairs- Neville had kept her awake wanting to be sure that Allison got in at a reasonable hour and after hearing her middle daughter come in and go into her room, she'd decided to go downstairs for a glass of water.
A light in the sitting room made her pause and she smiled as she looked in on Chiaki, fast asleep on the sofa with an open bridal magazine spread over her chest.
Cho picked up the magazine and set it down on the coffee table.
"Chi?" she said gently. "Wake up, sweetheart."
"Mmm," Chiaki turned on her side, not waking up.
"Come on sleeping beauty," Cho said touching her daughter on the shoulder. "You'll have a crick in your neck from sleeping on the sofa."
"I'm so tired," Chiaki murmured, finally cracking her eyes open.
"I should say so," Cho said sitting down on the edge of the sofa. "You've been going at full speed for how many days now?"
"I don't know," Chiaki rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Just gone one," Cho said softly.
"Merlin," Chiaki sat up. "Mum... were you nervous before you married Dad?"
"Completely," Cho remembered. "I was so worried that something was going to go wrong. And I had this feeling that your great-grandmother was going to come in and stop the wedding or something terrible like that."
"But when you saw Dad waiting for you," Chiaki twisted a lock of her hair in her fingers. "Did the feeling go away?"
"It did," Cho remembered fondly. "I'd never had anyone look at me the way he did. And everything just seemed to fall into place."
"I guess I'm having some last minute nerves," Chiaki confessed. "Not doubts, just nerves."
"That's normal," Cho reassured her. "Every bride gets them. And I'm sure Toshio feels the same, Chi."
"You should have seen his face when he proposed," Chiaki said with a smile. "He was positively ashen."
"He was probably scared you'd say no," Cho said grinning back at her.
"Oh please," Chiaki said with a laugh. "He's the guy of my dreams."
"I'm really happy for you, Chiaki," Cho said. "My sweet baby girl has grown up into this lovely, smart young woman. Your father and I are so proud."
"Thanks Mum," Chiaki moved over to lay her head on her mother's shoulder. "Part of me can't wait for this wedding to be over with but the other part of me doesn't want all this to ever end."
"I know," Cho said. "But the real work begins after you say 'I do'."
"Yeah," Chiaki said. "It's just nice to know that we're partners already... we've been dancing together since we were fourteen."
"And we couldn't have asked for a better man for our daughter," Cho said.
"I wish Dad would say the same about Jon for Allie," Chiaki said softly.
Cho groaned. "You and me both. I could see his concern if this was a boy we hadn't met, but this is little Jonathan Weasley. I remember when that sweet little boy used to call him 'Uncle Neville'. Now, he's 'Mr. Longbottom'."
"Well Dad's turned it into this big formal thing," Chiaki replied. "And Jon loves Allie so much- it's so obvious."
Cho nodded. "And Allie feels the same way. You remember how she couldn't stop smiling when she came back from Ireland? She had the time of her life when she was there. He makes her happy and that is good enough for me. I wish it was good enough for your father."
"He'll have to face up to her not being a kid anymore sooner or later," Chiaki said. "Or he'll drive her away."
"I hope it doesn't come to that," Cho said frowning.
"I hope not either," Chiaki stood up and stretched her slender frame. "I should probably get to bed."
"We both should," Cho said standing up as well. "And you should really have a lie in tomorrow, Chi. You need your rest."
"I thought you wanted me to come in to your morning class and help out," Chiaki asked her mother.
"I'll be okay," Cho said. "This is an order, Chiaki. Get some sleep."
"Boss's orders?" Chiaki teased.
"Boss?" Cho considered this. "I like the sound of that."
"Don't let Dad hear you," Chiaki giggled.
"He won't hear a thing," Cho said as she and Chiaki went upstairs. "You know how he is when he's sleeping...dead to the world."
"Don't I know it," Chiaki said. "How do you think I got all those late nights with Tosh?"
Cho stared sideways at her daughter. "What late nights with Tosh?"
"Mum he's going to be my husband in about a month," Chiaki said. "Don't get all protective on me now." she grinned.
"Fair enough," Cho said with a laugh. "Fair enough."
"Well if I wake up in time I'll come help you at the studio," Chiaki offered. "If not, I'll come by later in the week."
"Sleep," Cho said giving her a hug. "I mean it, Chiaki."
"Okay," Chiaki hugged her back. "Night Mum. Love you."
"Love you," Cho said, smiling at her daughter before heading for her bedroom. "Sweet dreams."
"I'll probably dream of Tosh," Chiaki said with a yawn. "He's been on my mind so much."
"And I'll make sure Frankie doesn't wake you up," Cho promised. "I'll get her to help me tomorrow morning."
"Okay," Chiaki agreed with a laugh. "You'll have to let me know how she reacts to being dragged out of bed before noon on the first few weeks of her holiday."
"We'll just consider it payback for her little countdown," Cho said, shaking her head.
"Good point," Chiaki said. "Night Mum," she hugged her mother again.
"Good night, my sweet girl," Cho said before walking toward her own bedroom.
*** *** ***
"There's still time to change our minds," Ginny whispered to Draco as they stood just outside Hermione's office. "We could think of something else, Draco..."
"Like what?" Draco asked in a tired voice. "Ginny I like this even less than you do."
"I know," Ginny said quickly. "It's just...I can't believe we're going to them for help."
"Would you rather go to Lucius," Draco said harshly.
Ginny scowled at him. "No, of course not! Of for Merlin's sake, let's just get this over with..."
She pushed open the door and stopped when she saw a harried wizard poring over the largest books Ginny could ever remember seeing. He looked up impatiently at the two of them.
"Can I help you?" he asked. "If you don't have an appointment, you won't be able to see the minister."
"Tell her Draco Malfoy is here to see her," Draco commanded.
The wizard stared back at them as if he could care less. "Look, I'm sorry, but if you don't have an appointment, you will not be seeing the minister. She's a very busy woman."
"She'll see me," Draco said assertively, glaring down at the man.
"Fine," the man said rolling his eyes. "What did you say your name was again?"
"Draco Malfoy," he said through clenched teeth.
"Wait here," the man said standing up and walking over to what was obviously Hermione's office. Ginny glared at him as he disappeared behind the door.
"What a pompous git," she hissed to her husband. "He's nothing more than a glorified secretary and he's acting as if he has no idea who we are!"
"Who cares," Draco muttered.
Samuel approached Hermione with caution. She'd been hard at work from the moment she'd arrived.
"I know you said that you didn't want visitors," he began.
Hermione looked up from her paperwork. "What's going on, Sam?"
"There's a guy outside," Samuel said. "His name is Malfoy, and he said you'd definitely see him. I tried to send him away but--"
"Malfoy?" Hermione asked taken aback. "Which one?"
"Said his name was Draco," Samuel replied. "He's out there with a redhead woman."
Hermione leaned back in her chair. She couldn't imagine why they would want to see her. "Did he say what this was about?"
"No," Samuel said. "Shall I send them in?"
Hermione looked thoughtfully at him. She knew it would probably be a good idea to have Samuel send them away, but she was curious to see what they wanted. "You can send them in, but will you do me a favour? Could you send for Harry please? Tell him I need to see him straightaway."
"Certainly Minister," Samuel agreed. He left her office and saw the two people still sitting outside. "The Minister will be with you shortly," he said. "I'll need to collect both your wands before you go inside, and the Minister has requested that her husband be present before you go in."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Of course she would. I'm surprised she's able to go to the loo without him."
Samuel glared at the woman. "Your wand," he said icily.
Ginny reached into her bag and handed it over to him. "There. Are you happy now?"
Samuel snatched it and threw it in a drawer then locked it. "You sit over there," he ordered.
"I'd appreciate it if you'd treat my wife with respect," Draco said handing over his own wand.
"Then she needs to treat the Minister with respect," Samuel snapped back.
"Why don't you get back to your transcriptions," Draco taunted him. "Or maybe you need to fetch the Minister some tea like a good little lapdog."
Samuel shot him a smug grin. "At least I have an honest job," he retorted. "And one in the ministry at that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco snapped back.
Samuel was about to open his mouth when Hermione's voice came through the gem on his desk. "Send Harry in when he gets here Samuel please."
"Certainly Minister," Samuel replied.
"Certainly Minister," Ginny mocked under her breath.
Samuel cast her a glare before calling for Harry.
"She acts as if we're going to do something to her if her big, strong husband isn't here to protect her," Ginny said not bothering to keep her voice down. She didn't care if Hermione's peon heard her.
Draco snorted. "Tempting," he replied.
Harry breezed into the office and didn't see Ginny or Draco sitting on the sofa. "Hi, Sam. What's so urgent?"
Samuel pointed at the Malfoys who were sitting on the sofa. Harry narrowed his eyes and had his wand pointed at them in the blink of an eye.
"Ease up Potter," Draco scoffed. "You can put your wand away."
"Not bloody likely, with you two sneaks around," Harry said coldly. "What the hell do you two losers want?" Samuel smirked at them from behind Harry's back.
"We need to talk to you," Draco said trying not to lose his temper. For this to work, he would have to be somewhat civil to his greatest enemy. "To you and Granger."
"We have nothing to say to either one of you," Harry snapped.
"You just might after you hear what we have to say," Draco said getting to his feet. "Come on, Potter. Surely you can spare five minutes from your saving people thing to listen to what Red and I have to say."
Harry wanted to throw Malfoy and Ginny out on their asses but he was also curious as to what his archenemy could possibly want with him and his wife. "Fine. Five minutes Malfoy."
"I don't want him there," Draco said motioning to Samuel.
"Sam you don't mind waiting out here do you?" Harry asked.
"Of course not Mr. Potter," Samuel said courteously. "It's nice to hear someone with manners around here." he glared at the Malfoys.
Ginny followed her husband and Harry into Hermione's office and though she was loath to admit it, it was quite majestic. Draco was born to have a place like this, Ginny thought to herself.
"I'm glad you could get away," Hermione said walking over to greet her husband.
"It's no problem," Harry said, curving an arm around her waist. "Malfoy said he has something he'd like to talk to us about."
"That's what I hear," Hermione said looking expectantly at the Malfoys. "Well, we're waiting..."
"You don't have to look so smug about this," Ginny crossed her arms before Draco could say anything.
"Gin," Draco put his hand on her arm. "Stop it."
"We're not being smug," Hermione said folding her arms. "But you can't honestly have expected us to roll out the welcome wagon for the two of you---not after all the crap you've pulled in the past. As you can remember, Ginevra, it was only a few months ago when you were throwing yourself at my husband in a boathouse in some pathetic attempt to make your husband jealous."
Ginny sat down, her arms still crossed.
"Look," Draco began testily. "I'm here today because I need your help- both of you."
"You want something from us?" Hermione asked.
"As I'm sure you both know, my father was released from Azkaban," Draco replied. "He found me and Ginny in Sydney and proposed we come back here to ruin you," he looked at Hermione.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a look. They'd already figured this much out themselves. What neither of them could seem to understand was why Draco was here fessing up as it were to what was going on.
Draco saw that neither of them was going to comment so he went on. "Well..." he stumbled a bit on his words which surprised Harry- Draco Malfoy always knew what he was going to say. "Snape came to see me at work a few days ago. He told me that my father's ultimate plan was to make me Minister, then have me name him my successor, and then he would have me killed."
Hermione stared at him, wondering if this was just another part of the plan. She was still wary of Draco Malfoy and wasn't about to let her guard down now.
"That sounds like something your father would do," Harry said quietly.
Draco was slightly encouraged by this. "Look we don't know anyone here," he said. "And after last night, what he did to my wife..."
"What did he do...?" Hermione asked, but Ginny cut her off.
"He tried to force himself on me," Ginny said looking right at Hermione.
Hermione's eyes opened wide in unexpected sympathy as Draco tightened his arm around his wife.
"We stayed in my office last night," Draco continued. "We haven't been home..."
"What exactly do you expect us to do?" Harry asked him.
Draco pulled Ginny closer for support. This was the moment of truth, but he couldn't seem to form the words. "I---that is we---well we sort of need----"
"Need what?" Hermione asked sharply.
Draco muttered something unintelligible as Ginny looked away unable to look at Harry and Hermione.
"What was that?" Harry asked. "We didn't quite hear that..."
"We need your help!" Draco said loudly. "All right? You satisfied Potter? We don't have anyone else we can turn to here."
"I'm really sorry for what happened to you Ginny," Hermione said softly. "I really am. Something like that happened to me once..."
"When?" Ginny tried to act disdainful but wasn't able to.
"It was years ago when Gordon was holding me hostage," Hermione replied. "He tried to force himself on me. I'd never been that scared in my entire life."
"Oh," Ginny said softly.
"Bet he didn't share that tidbit of information with you when you visited him, did he?" Harry couldn't stop himself from asking Draco.
Draco said nothing to this. "So I know you don't owe us anything, but we're asking your help in trying to get Lucius out of the picture. I don't care what happens to him--"
Harry wasn't so sure what to make out of all of this. On one hand, he knew that this was something Lucius was capable of, but on the other there was something quite surreal about Draco and Ginny Malfoy coming to them for help. Something didn't quite add up and Harry wanted to make sure that this wasn't just another trick on their part.
"Do you mind if my wife and I discuss this in private?" Harry asked him. "If you'd just wait outside."
Draco looked like he wanted to argue for a moment but then nodded. "I suppose we owe you that," he agreed and pulled Ginny into the corridor.
Hermione was silent as she thought about all that Draco and Ginny had just told them.
"This is just..." Harry ran his hands through his hair. "I don't even..."
"Words fail me too," Hermione said softly.
"I never thought I'd see this day," Harry confessed. "Shite..."
"Part of me thinks they're telling the truth," Hermione said. "And then another part wonders if this is just some ruse on their parts to gain access to my office." She walked over to the window and looked down at the Ministry grounds. Something in Ginny's eyes and in her voice when she talked about what had happened with Lucius though made Hermione think that what they were telling them was the truth.
"That's why I'm glad I'm here," Harry replied. "In case they are trying something."
Hermione turned around and looked at her husband. "I think we should help them, Harry. I think for once we can help each other to defeat a common enemy."
Harry shook his head. "I'm not so sure," he replied. "Malfoy never does anything to help someone else."
"What do you think we should do then?" Hermione asked. "You've known them both longer than me. And you know Professor Snape."
"I wouldn't call it knowing," Harry scoffed. "He hates me and I hate him."
Hermione sighed. "I don't know what to do, Harry."
Harry joined his wife at the window. "I guess part of me does think they're telling the truth," he said quietly.
"They'd have to be pretty desperate if they came to us of all people," Hermione said leaning against him.
"I know, that's what gets me the most," Harry pressed his lips to her head.
"Lucius has to be stopped," Hermione said determinedly. "I've never met him, but from what you've told me, he certainly sounds like the sort to double cross his son like that."
"It wouldn't be the first time, I'm sure," Harry said. "And he probably targeted you because you're married to me."
"He wants revenge," Hermione said thinking aloud. "He'll obviously stop at nothing to get it."
"I guess we're sort of in the same predicament," Harry replied, his arms around her. "I guess this means we have to work with the Malfoys."
Hermione nodded. "I suppose that's exactly what it means."
"All right," Harry sighed. "Let's tell them..."
Hermione nodded and watched as Harry opened her office door to ask the Malfoys back inside.
"Took you long enough," Ginny muttered.
"Do you want our help?" Hermione may have felt sorry for the other woman but it didn't mean she would take any verbal abuse.
"Yes," Ginny said quietly. "I'm sorry. I just wish you'd realise how hard this is for us. It wasn't easy to come here."
"I'm sure it wasn't," Hermione softened her voice. "Look, the way Harry and I see it; we're in the same boat here with Lucius. But after this, you two go back to Sydney and leave us alone."
"We wouldn't have it any other way," Draco answered in a neutral tone.
"Right," Harry said.
"We should probably make up some ground rules," Hermione said switching to her efficient Minister mode. "Determine how we'll meet; how we'll communicate..."
Draco grunted his approval while Ginny simply nodded. "Whatever we have to do," he said in a defeated tone.
The two couples spent the next hour devising a plan on how to meet. Ginny and Draco still didn't know where they would be staying, but they both agreed they wouldn't be returning to the Malfoy estate.
"What are you going to tell your father?" Harry asked. "He's going to realise something is up if you aren't around."
"It would probably be best if you went back," Hermione said. "You could keep a better eye on him..."
"I'm not staying in the same house with that man," Ginny said stubbornly. "He nearly raped me, Hermione. How would you feel if someone suggested you stay with that Gordon? No one would expect you to, of course. And if you understood half of what I felt, you'd know why I can't go back there...."
"I won't leave you alone in there," Draco said to her. "We'll figure out an excuse for you to come with me to work."
"Did either of you know that Lucius has been hitting on your maid as well?" Harry asked, leaning on the desk.
"How---how did you...?" Ginny asked. "You know about Marisol?"
"My current partner Natalie has befriended her," Harry replied. "Marisol was quite upset yesterday after Lucius had his hands all over her, apparently right in front of you." he looked at Ginny.
Ginny looked away. "I-I thought if he had her, he wouldn't bother with me..."
"You can see how well that worked," Harry decided not to divulge that Marisol had told them about their plan to take over the Ministry.
"I know it was wrong," Ginny said still not meeting Harry's gaze. "But I just---"
"That's not the issue here," Hermione replied. "We need to figure out a way to put Lucius back into Azkaban."
"Right," Ginny agreed.
"We need to get him to slip up, I think." Hermione said.
"Good luck," Draco snorted. "My father doesn't slip up."
Harry shook his head. "Maybe we can confront him somehow. If we can get him to threaten you, we can slap him with that." he looked at his wife.
"He plans on making a big scene at St. Mungos Fundraising Ball," Draco said quietly.
"Really," this was news to both Harry and Hermione.
Draco nodded. "We were to announce my candidacy that night and he thought that we'd have something big to discredit you with by then. That's what we've been doing in the papers..."
"I thought as much," Harry said, his eyes dark.
"Yes well," Draco said dismissively. "What's done is done..."
Harry rolled his eyes but nodded. "Got to keep remembering that..." he muttered.
"You know we do have something in common, Potter," Draco said a few minutes later as they prepared to leave after having made tentative plans to meet tomorrow afternoon.
Harry raised an eyebrow sceptically. "What's that?" he asked a tinge of sarcasm in his voice.
"There isn't anything we wouldn't do for our wives," Draco answered before taking Ginny's arm and leading her out of the office.
Harry looked disgusted for a moment after they left. "I suppose he's right. For once in his bloody life."
*** *** ***
After Harry had left Hermione's office and went back to his own, he was still a bit astounded at the events of that day. Draco Malfoy, coming to HIM for help... he shook his head.
"Hey Natalie," Harry said, making the younger girl jump.
"Oh hi, Harry," Natalie said. "I didn't hear you come in. I've been going over the notes I made with Marisol."
"I actually wanted to talk to you about that..." Harry said, closing the door. "Well... the Malfoys showed up at Hermione's office today," he explained what had transpired. "Well... you're not going to have to pose as Marisol anymore."
"Don't be silly," Natalie said. "I know you're worried that I'm still wet behind the ears, but I can do this, Harry. Marisol and I have been working so hard on this..."
"Well the thing is, we have the evidence we need Natalie," Harry said regretfully.
Natalie stared at him. "But I've worked so hard..."
"I know," Harry said. "I'm sorry Natalie, I really am."
Natalie sank lower in her chair. "I was so prepared!"
Harry felt bad. "There will be plenty of times where you'll get to go in the field," he began.
Natalie crumpled up her notes and threw them in the rubbish bin. "This is so bloody unfair! All this work for nothing!"
"Natalie," Harry said. "Being an Auror is unfair over half the time."
"I know I'm being silly, but I was so amped about this, Harry. I saw this as my way of proving to everyone how good an Auror I can be."
"Everyone will know that anyways," Harry retrieved her notes from the rubbish bin. "Keep these. Always keep your notes to go back and reference them."
Natalie nodded and took her notes back. "Now would be the time for you to tell me about your great disappointment as an Auror."
"Which one?" Harry asked. "There's been many."
"How about something from your first year?" Natalie asked eagerly.
"Well there was the time that my first big case got away," Harry replied. "And then there was also the whole Gordon Devereaux situation where the prat sat in my own home for months on end and tried to kidnap my wife."
"So in other words I should get used to things like this happening," Natalie said quietly.
"Exactly," Harry said gently. "You can't do everything, and you can't prevent everything."
"I still want to help you anyway I can," Natalie said. "And I want to help Marisol too."
"Well here's what we've come up with," Harry filled her in on what they had talked about that day. "Maybe you'd like to be with us when this ambush happens."
"Just try and keep me away," Natalie said with renewed enthusiasm.
Harry grinned at her. "That's the spirit," he teased her.
"So you're really going to work with the Malfoys," Natalie said shaking her head. "This is huge!"
"Yeah," Harry's grin disappeared. "Never thought I'd see the day."
"I imagine you'll want to keep this hush-hush," Natalie guessed. "Don't worry, boss. I won't tell anyone."
"I always said you'd make a good Auror," Harry replied. "You might even outshine me one day."
"Not bloody likely," she said. "There's only one Harry Potter."
"As Hermione says, that's a good thing," Harry's smile returned.
"That reminds me," Natalie said. "Your daughter stopped by while you were out."
"She did?" Harry asked. "What did she want?"
"I think she's feeling a little lonely since her boyfriend is out of town," Natalie said. "Wanted to catch up with her 'Old Man'." When Natalie saw the look on Harry's face at those words, she laughed. "Julie's words not mine, Sir."
"Old," Harry muttered. "I am not old!"
"She told me you'd react that way," Natalie giggled.
"Oh she did," Harry shook his head. "I'm so unappreciated."
"I don't think so," Natalie said. "Your daughter seems to think very highly of you. She was practically singing your praises to me when she was here."
"Well then," Harry straightened with pride. "She goes back in the will."
Natalie laughed. "She said she'd be by for dinner this evening."
Harry smiled. "It'll be good to have the whole family home for a change."
"Just like old times, right?" Natalie asked.
"Right," Harry replied. "I miss having my Jules around the house. I'm still not used to her being gone."
"I'm sure she misses being home too," Natalie said. "I've been living on my own for a year now, but I still get homesick."
"You know, I never asked you where you lived before moving out here," Harry looked up from his paperwork.
"Yorkshire," Natalie replied. "Born and bred."
"That's a nice area," Harry replied.
"I don't get back as often as I should," Natalie said.
"When I was your age I wished I had a home to go back to," Harry said. "But when I wasn't at Hogwarts, I was at Hillsdale and then I met Hermione..."
"And now you have a home," Natalie said with a smile. "And a family of your own."
"Aye," Harry agreed. "Couldn't ask for a better one."
"If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and let Marisol know the bad news," Natalie said pushing back from her chair.
"Tell her I think the Malfoys might be a bit nicer to her now," Harry called.
"I will," Natalie called out over her shoulder as she left their office.