After the Aurors left, Severus sat back down in a chair between the two beds. Harry was a bit pale, but otherwise simply looked like he was sleeping. Tom was lying on the other bed, and was also staring in concern at Harry.

Poppy was waving her wand over Harry with a pensive look. "He seems to be physically unharmed, except for a few bruises on the neck. However, his magic was severely depleted by events – his magic must have worked very hard to counter the effects of the spirit attacking him in that manner." Poppy shuddered. "Especially if that truly was 'You know who'."

They were interupted in their assessment of Harry by the sound of retching from Tom. He'd turned an interesting shade of green and they conjured a basin just in time for him to empty his stomach of the flourescent green potion.

Poppy waved her wand and shook her head at Severus, who nodded in understanding and handed Tom another bezoar. "You still have some of that potion in you. This should engulf it and get it out of you one way or the other." Tom sullenly swallowed the bezoar and lay back down, he was simply too exhausted mentally and physically to argue. Maybe if he pretended to pass out they would leave him alone.

Remus had taken the opportunity their distraction presented to sidle closer to Harry. Draco and Dudley were sitting on a bed they'd pulled closer to Harry and Remus sat beside them. Draco stiffened, but otherwise ignored him. Dudley eyed him from the other side of Draco. Harry always shared Remus' letters with Dudley and Draco.

Dudley looked the shabby figure over. It was difficult to reconcile the gentle – looking man with the person constantly telling Harry about the pranks the original marauders had done and how their victims – Slytherins, usually Severus – always deserved it. The new marauders – Harry, Dudley and Draco - had tried to think of who they would like to do some of those pranks to. Outside of Rita Skeeter, the Dark Lord or maybe Quirrell when he was still alive – they couldn't think of anyone who deserved such humiliation.

Dudley wished he had the nerve to tell the werewolf that Harry had started to dread the letters. Why couldn't Mr. Lupin send stories about Harry's parents after they'd left school – just stories of the family at home – with no pranks in sight. Dudley shook his head – he'd leave it for Severus to deal with.

Albus listened to Minerva's muttering about all that had happened with half an ear, watching the huddled group carefully. Severus seemed to not have even noticed that Remus had sat near Harry's bed. Albus grimaced – of course that was not true ... Severus noticed everything. He simply didn't care that Remus was there.

Albus would have liked to think that Severus was getting over his animosity toward Remus, but that was unlikely. Albus knew that Remus was continuing his barrage of letters to Harry – though they had to go through Severus first. Lately Severus would read them with a grimacing smirk and hand them straight over to Harry at breadkfast with a comforting pat on the shoulder. Harry no longer seemed particularly eager to recieve the letters and would shove them into his bookbag. Perhaps, Albus thought, Remus was not telling Harry the right tales – it was increaslingly obvious that Harry was a different kettle of fish from James and so far had pulled very few pranks on anyone.

The few pranks that could be laid at Harry and Draco's feet had happened at Halloween. Harry, Draco and Theo had had a small prank war against Dudley, Seamus and Dean. It had lasted most of Halloween week and had ended amiably.

Albus sighed. He'd hoped that Remus could inspire Harry with at least a little Gryffindor adventurousness. He looked at Harry's still figure and Severus' shoulders that were hunched in worry. Harry had pulled through with a rescue of sorts – he'd used James' cloak and had retrieved that Sorceror's Stone.

The events leading up to Harry confronting Quirrell and Voldemort had not been the way he'd expected. He'd only gone after Neville, Ron and Hermione and rescued the stone because he'd thought there had been no time to fetch an adult. Even then Draco and Dudley had been sent to look for Minerva and Lucius. Harry was leaning much more on adults than Albus really wanted him to. Harry would likely face Voldemort alone. The Dark Lord was sure to try to pick off the people around Harry as much as possible. Losing Severus or Lucius or any of the others to death would be horrible for Harry, he sighed.

Albus shrugged mentally. There was no prying Severus away from Harry, now, he knew. He would need to speak to Remus about his letters, though, he supposed. Severus would likely only do so after Remus had irrevocably alienated Harry. Albus needed to have a Gryffindor that could be relied on to let him know how things were going with Harry. Remus could be that if he could get closer to Harry ... obviously Remus needed coaching on how to do that. The current letters being sent were not working.

While Albus mused on how to assist Remus in becoming best buddies with Harry over the upcoming summer Hugo Savage bounced back into the infirmary wearing a huge smile. He cheerfully informed them that Lucius had ducked out before he could be portkeyed to the ministry. Severus and Draco smirked, unsurprised, while Dudley sighed in relief. Tom smiled slightly while still pretending to sleep.

Ron gulped unhappily as he listened to the old Auror. Hermione was sitting on one side of his bed, muttering non-stop. She'd been going over all the clues they apparently had overlooked that would have told them that Quirrell was the culprit and not Snape. Neville was on the other side, twitching and muttering about how this was all Potter's fault. Neville seemed to think that he could have gone on to save the stone and would have done a better job at it.

Ron, for once, knew that he should remain silent. Potter's bed lay across from his. Snape hadn't even bothered to cast a glare in their direction, which likely meant that Potter had been seriously hurt. Ron didn't want to remind the Headmaster or Snape that he even existed and he seriously wished that his two friends would be quiet before they attracted attention to them.

Professor Flitwick arrived and dragged off a protesting Hermione for a lecture. Poppy waved her wand over Ron a few times and released him to the still glaring Professor McGonagall. Neville sat uncertainly until Professor Sinistra arrived.

Sinistra immediately went to Severus, looking at Harry with concern.

Severus sighed, "I've been assured that he will be alright – he'll wake when his magic levels are up to at least half strength. My own scans agree with Poppy's. I need you to handle the discipline for Mr Longbottom." Severus smirked a bit. "It will be good practice for you, later. I'm a bit biased regarding what punishments to hand out ... I've considered calling for Filch to bring out those chains he has hidden in his closet."

Aurora laughed and patted Severus' arm – something she would not have dared a couple of years ago. She went over and collected Neville and began a lengthy lecture as she took him back to the Slytherin dorm.

Albus waved to Draco and Dudley, telling them to run along to their dorms – they could return in the morning. Albus then hustled Remus out, intending to have a long talk about strategy to him.

Hugo looked Harry and Tom over pensively. Harry had survived an encounter with 'He Who Must Not Be Named', which was amazing enough. Hugo knew that Albus had been leading a mission to retrieve another Horcrux, obviously Tom had not gotten out of that unscathed.

Hugo leaned down to speak quietly to Severus, "Lucius will doubtless get in touch with you – if only regarding his son ... tell him I expect he realizes the sooner this is resolved – the less of a mountain this molehill will be turned into. After Lucius took off, I sent Rufus back off to his Academy duties and told him he had nothing further to do with this. I also used one of the school floos to alert Amelia regarding this – she will be awaiting word from Lucius' lawyer. It is inevitable that Aurors will be on the look out for him, though – and some will be more ... enthusiastic ... than others and he needs to be careful."

Severus nodded quietly and Hugo left just as quietly. Severus wasn't particularly worried about Lucius – once he had seen the portkey in Lucius' hand he knew the sly Slytherin would come out on the top of the encounter.

Hugo took a floo back to his office, noticing that Moody's desk - along with Dawlish and Robards, was empty. He suspected that before returning to the Academy, Rufus had turned loose the hounds for the hunt. Moody would be itching to have a reason to haul in Malfoy and the other two would be equally enthused with the idea.

Hugo shook his head. Malfoy had far too many secure boltholes and an entire kennel of eager lawyers. The Aurors should realize that they wouldn't win this one.

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Lucius sat at the elegant, inlaid antique desk in his study, fighting the urge to fidget like a crass schoolboy. The Manor was now echoingly empty without even Draco to make a little noise. With all the lawyers in place to handle the 'charges' Lucius had nothing to do but hide. However, it was increasingly obvious to Lucius that he would not feel happy hiding in the Manor.

Lucius glared unhappily at a small box sitting on the desk. He'd bought the ring months ago and never quite found 'the right moment' to ask 'the big question' to Petunia. And now ... he was essentially a wanted man – she might feel he was of little use to her. Lucius thought quickly. Of course this would answer his question of whether Petunia had real feelings for him ... or just thought of him as a rich protector.

Lucius picked up the ring box and pocketed it, deep in thought. He flooed to Petunia's house on Spinners End and wandered toward the patio area of the garden. He realized, belatedly that it was he 'garden club' day. Luckily it was a small group and Rosemerta and Molly were the only ones left – chattering about some herbs and spices that they wanted to try in the wizardspaced greenhouse Lucius had given Petunia.

Lucius coughed delicately and attracted their attention. Petunia greeted him with a brilliant smile that made the other two ladies grin a bit. Lucius smiled at her in return.

"I'm afraid you ladies are in the presence of a wanted man ... I hope you're not too alarmed?" Lucius said ruefully, making the three gape at him a bit. Lucius explained the events of the day – minus the Horcrux hunt, causing them to look even more astonished.

"Ridiculous! You would never harm Harry – whatever are they thinking?" Rosemerta objected. "And accusing you of killing a ghost ...?" Rosemerta waved a hand – unable to come up with an adjective to describe such lunacy.

"Well, until Harry wakes – and that might be a few days – I can't prove I didn't harm him and did not mean to send Professor Binns on." Lucius answered. "We need his pensieve testimony."

"Why can't you give yours, Lucius?" Molly asked, confused.

"There are still laws on the books regarding those who bear the Dark Mark. If I only had to wait it out in the holding cells I would do so. But, they can toss me straight into Azkaban to 'await' their questioning ... at their leisure." Lucius grimaced.

"But that was right after the war – when they were so overwhelmed." Molly said, aghast.

Lucius shook his head at her naivete. "The law is still on the books – and the Aurors don't hesitate to remind us of that when they are 'questioning' someone who has the mark."

Petunia was quite confused by Lucius' tale. Being charged with killing a ghost? Very odd.

There was a sudden clatter at the fireplace floo just inside the door. Moody's unmistakable voice bellowed. "Open in the name of the Ministry!" Dobby was at the floo, wringing his hands.

Petunia waved her hands at Lucius, "Hide, quick!" Lucius raised an eyebrow at her, and then shrugged and obeyed. There was a 'pop' and Lucius was replaced by a white fox who quickly dove under a nearby chaise lounge that had a ruffle that reached the patio floor. Petunia and Rosemerta had seen him change before and said nothing, but Molly gaped a bit.

Molly was still smiling when Moody charged up to them. It would figure, she thought, that even as an Animagus, Lucius would be wearing an expensive outfit. She wondered just how much his pelt would be worth.

Dobby scurried behind his mistress after letting the Aurors in. Moody, flanked by Dawlish and Robards strode up to Petunia with a sneer. "Where is he, then? Where's that slimey Malfoy slithered to?"

Moody stopped a little closer to Petunia than was strictly polite, but she was not without some knowledge of power plays, and refused to step back. Lucius growled low in his throat, not liking the Auror threatening Petunia in that manner. Molly covered the noise with a cough and sat on the chaise lounge, spreading her skirt to cover the small white snout sticking out. Once it was covered Molly smacked it lightly, making Lucius yip a bit and pull his snout back under the chaise.

"Who exactly are you and what are you talking about?" Petunia demanded in angry tones.

All three of the Aurors sneered, not believing that Petunia had no knowledge of what an Auror's uniform looked like. "We are ministry Aurors – your 'boyfriend' Lucius is wanted for the murder of a Hogwarts teacher and attacking your nephew – Harry Potter!"

Petunia didn't have to pretend surprise at this – they were certainly stretching the 'charges' to the limit.

"There is a warrant out for Lucius' arrest, then? I need to contact my husband regarding this." Molly asked sarcastically.

Moody looked at Molly angrily. He hadn't expected a challenge from another order member. "Well, no, but he's wanted for questioning about these charges. Now where is he?"

"Does it look like he is here, Moody?" Rosmerta snipped. "We were just finishing up our garden club and looking at herbs to plant when you came in."

Moody glowered at the three and the other two shuffled uncertainly behind them. They had followed him here because they'd been sure they could bully some information out of the Dursley women. Neither Dawlish or Robards wanted to brave the wrath of Molly – and both of them usually frequented the 3 Broomsticks, they didn't want to be on the bad side of Rosmerta.

Moody sensed he was losing control of the situation and his anger flared higher. "I can't believe a muggle – or squib, or whatever you are would cover for a murdering bastard like Lucius Malfoy. Don't you realize he's just using you to make himself look good?"

Lucius started to scramble out from under the chaise, teeth bared, intending to remove Moody's remaining good leg. Molly grabbed him by the scruff and held tight. Then they both were frozen in place – along with all the other occupants of the patio by the loud slap Petunia gave Moody's one unscarred cheek - leaving a handprint that was unlikely to go away very soon.

Lucius' little fox jaw dropped and his eyes popped a little. Molly shoved his limp form back under the chaise while everyone's attention was on Moody and Petunia.

Petunia furiously backed Moody across the floor. "How dare you? How dare you?" Petunia's icey hiss would have done Severus proud. "Who do you think you are coming in here and insulting me in this manner ... if you are an example of light wizards, I'll cheerfully stick with a dark one." Petunia glared at them heatedly. "Get. Out."

With his mistress delivering a direct order, Dobby got in front of her, obviously intending to evict the Aurors if necessary. The Aurors could block the house-elf, but it would create an incident they really didn't want. Dawlish and Robards were quickly muttering apologies and pulling the still stunned Moody toward the floo. Just as they pulled him in to go back to the ministry, Moody recovered enough to glare at the three ladies and say, "It doesn't end here!"

Dobby closed and locked the floo with an angry flourish and scurried to the kitchen, muttering angrily to himself.

"Well, it's too bad it took too long for me to recover to give them a piece of my mind ... but that slap stunned me as much as it did Mad-eye." Rosmerta turned to Petunia with a smile. "I don't think anyone's had the nerve to do that in decades."

A totally shocked and flustered Molly stood and let a still awe-struck white fox out from under the chaise. The fox slowly walked over to Petunia and sat, looking at her oddly. Petunia looked at him with a smile.

"You're quite cute that way – maybe you could hide as a pet?" Petunia asked. Rosmerta and Molly chuckled in response.

Lucius popped back to himself and gave Petunia a jaundiced look. "I think not." His face smoothed back out. "However you idea of hiding here is a good one – the Aurors have been by – they are unlikely to come back. While you were confronting Mad-eye, Dawlish did a quick scan looking for me – however he failed to scan for an animagus." Lucius turned and looked at Molly with a lifted eyebrow and casually rubbed his nose, making her snicker.

Petunia grinned, "Excellent – I've been intending to hire a 'handyman' – you can wear a disguise and pretend to be him." Molly and Rosmerta enthused with her over the idea while Lucius was stricken mute at the idea of pretending to be a ... a... servant.

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