Lucius peered glumly at the mirror, listening to the eagerly chattering women. They had kept the changes to his appearance to a minimum. They just shortened his hair to barely shoulder length and turned it a wavy black. His skin was now quite tanned, which made his eyes look a darker blue, for some reason. The biggest change was the clothing. He now sported muggle 'jeans' and one of those horrific T-shirts (Draco would be pleased that he'd sent for one of the dragon shirts Draco had bought for Lucius). Over it was a short, easily forgetable rust colored robe that, in the wizard world, proclaimed him a menial labourer or servant.

Short robes were worn by those who did work no one else wished to – usually squibs or those with little magic. Their lack of length kept them from getting in the way and torn and also minimized them getting dirty. The clothing, in itself, would ensure that anyone in his usual circle of friends would never deign to even look at him – so being recognized was a rather remote possibility.

It was a humiliating thought – being overlooked. Lucius could not recall it even having happened, before now.

The three women continued conspiring happily. They had giggled and fanned at their faces when he'd emerged in the jeans and shirt. He was horribly afraid he'd blushed and he'd hastily donned the offensive short robe. Rosmerta had asserted that he looked 'quite smart'. Molly had said she intended to obtain a pair of these 'jeans' for Arthur. Petunia just winked at him in the mirror.

Petunia had come up with the name 'Jason' for the new handyman, and he would be 'living' in the small apartment over the gatehouse next to the large gates at the entrance to Spinners End. That was fine with Lucius, since Petunia's house the the first one in from the gate. Lucius managed a small smile at the thought. He didn't intend to be at the gatehouse much – he was going to be busy stalking Petunia. After all, the houses were all new – how much fixing could they possibly need?

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Hugo stalked through the Ministry Law Enforcement hallways, scowling. Rufus – though Hugo had ordered him back to the Academy – had managed to stir up the ministry before he left. At least a dozen Aurors were on a man-hunt. The half-dozen Wizengamot members who were taking their turn presiding over the petty day to day court cases were acting like a startled flock of chickens. In general everyone was behaving like lunatics because they only had half the tale. He'd hoped that Amelia would have been able to head off the panic before it started after he'd firecalled her.

He sent for a horrified and confused Cornelius so he wouldn't have to repeat himself and told the tale to the harried-looking Wizengamot. There were one or two reporters lurking – Hugo was relieved that Rita was absent.

At the end the Wizengamot was silent except for Tiberious Ogden, who, in spite of advanced age was sharp-witted and no-one's fool.

"So, the problem is that you could not see clearly enough through the ghost to tell if Lucius Malfoy cast a spell to harm Harry Potter or 'send on' Professor Binns purposely, or if there truly was a dark spirit he was aiming at?" The wizened old warlock asked.

Hugo could see Dumbledore wander in and stand beside Cornelius, watching the procedings carefullly, but making no move to take the reins from Tiberius. Getting the lay of the land, Hugo expected.

Hugo nodded to the Wizengamot. "We were quite some distance away – but I could see that Harry Potter was wrestling with Professor Quirrell, and the Professor suddenly screamed and just ... disintegrated. Headmaster Dumbledore explained that was due to the blood wards." Hugo frowned and the rest of the court shifted uncomfortably, but in the end said nothing. "I know Lucius cast at least once – I saw that clearly, but I simply can't tell you if that was all he cast. I didn't see the specter Lucius Malfoy described, but I did see Professor Binns get 'sent on'."

"So, why isn't Mr Malfoy before us right now?" Griselda Marchbanks was a no-nonsense sort, now that her shock over things was done.

"I can answer that." A new voice came from behing Albus and Cornelius. Lucius' premier lawyer, Angus Essex, followed by three assistants and trailed by disgruntled Aurors filed into the courtroom.

The Aurors with Essex had gone to Malfoy Manor to try to pick up Lucius' trail. They had been surprised to be let through the wards without a fight. After encountering Essex and his crew of fellow lawyers on the other side of the wards they felt that a pitched battle with Lucius and a half-dozen other Death Eaters would have been less traumatic for them.

The Wizengamot turned to Angus in inquiry. The lawyer bowed formally and spoke. "No one placed Mr Malfoy under arrest – they just said they wished to question him ..." The court turned to Hugo, who nodded slowly in corroboration. "Questioning can be done in a more neutral setting than ... Azkaban."

"Azkaban?" Tiberious almost shouted, "Who said anything about Azkaban?"

"The law is still on the books that anyone bearing the Dark Mark can be taken directly to Azkaban to 'await' questioning at the Auror's leisure." Angus smirked. "Need I remind you about Raymond Stewey?"

The Wizengamot collectively winced. Raymond had been caught up in a sweep of a Death Eater safehouse during the first war about 10 years ago. He had been under the influence of several spells and no one had realized he was a captive, not a Death Eater – they had even failed to check him for a mark. The man had spent almost a year 'awaiting questioning' at Azkaban before the mistake had been found. The Ministry had tried to hush it all up, with little sucess.

"Mr Malfoy had no intention of trotting in for questioning, only to find himself having tea with a Dementor in the North Sea." Angus said firmly.

"If he has nothing to hide...?" Zebulon Smith sneered suggestively.

Hugo looked at the 50-ish year old wizard in amusement. He remembered the man's father. The Smith family had been around, now for close to 500 years. Not really considered all that old by the Wizarding World, but still, old enough to have gained reputation and respect as an honorable Light family.

The Smiths had seemed content with their status as well-respected but not high society wizards and witches. They had made some good alliances and married fairly well through the first 400 years. But, as the twentieth century rolled in, Zebulon's father had decided the Smith family needed to gain status.

Zebulon and his father had done some serious social climbing and ass-kissing. Society matrons still spoke in awe about one of Zebulon's sisters managing to marry one of the Abbotts. They whispered about a love potion and sneered that Nevus Abbott had been a bit of a loon, so maybe the Smiths deserved him.

Hugo sighed and glared at Zebulon, he was a Light wizard, yes, but a narrow-minded 'everything is black or white' type ... and he hated the Malfoys with a passion.

Angus, however, openly laughed at Zebulon Smith's obvious ploy. "Now, now – Lucius Malfoy is perfectly willing to give his pensieve memory ... when he can be assured of his safety and that he will not be sent to Azkaban."

"We can't give that assurance because if he is found to be guilty of an offence, he most certainly will be visiting the North Sea and the Dementors." Griselda barked.

"We can't just declare the law regarding holding Death Eaters at Azkaban null and void – we might need it again in the future. To make an exception will take a full Wizengamot hearing..." Tiberius snapped angrily. "Does Mr Malfoy truly intend to defy the Court in this matter?"

Angus' set face was answer enough.

At this, Albus stepped forward. He sensed an opportunity to halt the madness. "If I may ..."

Tiberius and Griselda nodded in relief, Zebulon sniffed in disgust – sensing the Head of the Wizengamot was not going to say anything he liked.

"Harry Potter is expected to awaken in a day or two and likely will be considered well enough to attend the court, if necessary with a week or so ..." The Wizengamot let out sighs of relief and looked happier. "His guardian has already said he will bring Harry here as soon as his Healer says he might. He and Lucius can bring their testimonies before the full Wizengamot – which is scheduled for next friday, anyway ..."

Griselda nodded firmly. "We can verify that their memories agree ... and whether Lucius is guilty of anything ... or not."

Tiberius nodded, satisfied as well. Zebulon Smith, though looked like he'd sucked on a particularly sour lemon. "So Malfoy gets to thumb his nose at us and not come in?"

Hugo hesitated only a moment. He would have to trust to Lucius' considerable skill as a conniving Slytherin and his ability to slip the Auror's nets. He glanced meaningfully at Angus Essex.

"Of course not ... If Lucius is caught before the hearing, he'll be warming his heels in the holding cells until the Wizengamot hearing." Hugo glared at the Wizengamot in general. "I would like to say that at present there is no reason anyone should be held in Azkaban unless he has already been tried and found guilty. There is plenty of space in the holding cells ... and I will take it ammiss if this is ignored."

"I concur with this most heartily." Albus intoned. He'd not been happy with that law – but at the time it was needed ... it was past time it was challenged and removed.

Tiberius banged the gavel happily. "This court is dismissed, we'll be seeing everyone, then, next friday."

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Severus continued to hold vigil beside Harry's bed. Night had fallen and the sun would soon be up again. Tom dozed fitfully in the next bed. The second bezoar had rid him of the last of the potion, though he had not enjoyed the cramps and trips to the loo. His Gryffindor roommates had been visiting at the time and snickered at him and made the usual juvenile jokes involving friends with intestinal problems.

Tom had taken it all with a better temper than he would have in the not too distant past, which pleased Severus, though he suspected that Tom was feeling just too worn out to bother with hexes. There were only a few more days of classes before the leaving feast. With final exams over with there was really only summer work to assign and some hints of what to study for the coming year.

Severus had already given his upper years their assignments, and he could trust Tom and the other two student assistants to give the younger years their summer work.

He had obsessively cast the diagnostic charm to check Harry's magical levels until Poppy and Minerva told him that a watched cauldron never boiled and to stop making himself crazy. Harry's magic would be high enough for him to awaken sometime the next day. Well, he thought it was the next day, technically. He fished for another pepper-up and sulked. They simply didn't understand parental worry – or had perhaps forgotton what it was like...

Dawn broke and Tom awakened soon after, he looked around blearily and spied Severus' empty pepper-up vial.

"Got another on you?" Tom asked hopefully. Severus smiled and tossed him one. Tom was smart enough to not overuse it. The other two student assitants strolled in, one was a Slytherin and the other a Ravenclaw – both smart enough to know they would be needed by the Professor when they had heard the very brief announcement by the Headmaster and the frantic rumors that had followed it.

Severus quickly told them where to find the assignments and shooed them – and Tom off to breakfast. He promised Tom he would send an elf when Harry woke, as he could see that Tom was a bit torn-looking, having to leave his 'brother's' side. As they left, Rosmerta stirred a bit in her sleep.

Severus glanced at her fondly. She'd come straight to Hogwarts after leaving Petunia's to give him the latest on Lucius' life as a fugitive. She'd even made him smile a little with the tale, and promised to pensieve the memory of Mad-eye vs. 'Tuney for him. Petunia had said she would ask Molly to bring her to see Harry later in the day, today, as he might be awake, then.

Severus snuck his wand out and cast the spell again – the magic levels were going up, just painfully slowly in his opinion. He leaned back, sighing. There was no real way to know if Harry had sufferd any damage other than physical until he awakened.

Remus watched the Potions Master from the Infirmay doorway pensively. Albus had given him a lecture this morning about ceasing to send letters full of 'adventures' that could easily be seen as unrepentant bullying. Remus had tried to protest, but really had not been able to defend many of the 'pranks' and 'fun' that Albus mentioned.

"I know that they seemed like just boyish high spirits – even I thought of them that way, back when I was a lad." Albus had uncomfortably admitted. "But some children – it has been pointed out – do not have the defences mentally or emotionally to handle such 'pranks'. To them it is intolerable cruelty. Harry is finding your letters to be much too distressing – perhaps you could reminisce about his parents life in Godric Hollow?"

Remus had nodded agreeably, knowing that it was useless to argue. He wan't sure what he could write to Harry, then. He'd been a very infrequent visitor to Godric's Hollow. He knew, now, that Sirius, damn him, had convinced the Potters that he was the traitor – being a dark creature and likely to turn to the Dark Lord. It had been clever of Sirius, after all, but the betrayal still hurt even after all these years.

He shook off the bad memories and watched with a bit of resentment as Snape sat at Harry's bedside. He couldn't really pretend anymore that Snape didn't care about Harry. The worried look in the man's usually impassive face said it all. It was almost painful to watch Snape tuck the blankets a little tighter around the small body and push the errant fringe of unruly hair back from Harry's face.

Remus sighed and slumped back down to the gates and apparated back to the werewolf compound. He'd hear when Harry woke, he was sure. In the meantime, he had to think of what to put in letters to Harry, now.

The papers blared loudly about Professor Quirrell attacking Harry Potter and being a supporter of 'You Know Who'. There was a reasonable factual account of the Wizengamot procedings, followed by wild speculation about Lucius Malfoy's hand in the events. Rita Skeeter pointed out rather slyly that, after all, Lucius was a marked Death Eater, as was his friend, Severus Snape – Harry's guardian, even though they had both been cleared by the trials a decade ago.

There was debate about whether Professor Binns being sent on was deliberate or not and whether it could be considered murder. Various laws were cited. The 'specter' that Lucius claimed left Quirrell's body was speculated on. The claim that Lucius had made that it had been Voldemort had been carefullly omitted, as well as the knowledge that Quirrell had been after the Sorcerer's Stone.

Fudge had made serious threats about what would happen if the newspapers caused a panic 'for nothing'. Cornelius wanted to see the pensieve memories before spreading fear, and of course he desperately hoped it was all a horrid mistake.

Rosmerta awakened at some point and made Severus eat. He did so automatically and drank some coffee, listening to her murmured assurances with half an ear. Lunch came and went as well, with Rosmerta sitting beside him to hold his hand. It was a small thing, but did make him feel less alone.

Other students came and went, spreading the news that Professor Snape was at Harry's bedside. Hufflepuffs were teary – eyed over it. Ravenclaws had been observing Snape and Harry all year, and listening to Cho and Mafalda's stories about Snape and Harry – they had drawn their own conclusions months ago.

The Gryffindors were behind Tom, who said that Snape was very devoted to Harry. Slytherins already knew that Snape was Harry's father in every way that mattered.

Snape might still be a bit nightmarish as a teacher, but his fearsomeness factor had dropped considerably among the student body in general.

At last, just before dinner, Harry stirred and rolled onto his side, blinking in confusion. Severus' throat felt a little tight as he sighed in relief.

"Harry? Can you hear me?" Severus asked.

Harry sat up a little, looking around the infirmary. "What happened? Did I get hit by a bludger in practice?"

Severus chuckled, choking down hysteria. "No, Harry. Do you recall chasing after some students to rescue the Sorcerers Stone?"

Remembrance flooded Harry's face, and then he looked at Severus in trepidation, making Severus smirk. "How much trouble am I in?" He asked straight out. Severus frowned at the very un-Slytherin question.

"Well, not as much as you would be if you hadn't sent for adults, as well as doing all you could to avoid trouble. Your use of the cloak was warranted, but I don't want you using it again unless the situation is equally dire. You could have turned back after finding Longbottom, Weasley and Granger though ... Quirrell could not have reached the Stone." Severus glared at Harry a little.

"I didn't know what the mirror did, or I'd have never gone into the chamber. Your trap was brilliant, by the way – I'd have been hours at that without the password." Harry grinned at Severus, who inclined his head.

They discussed the traps and the strategy Harry should have employed in the chase at great length. Severus intended Harry to have learned at least a little strategy from this, though he was chagrined that Dumbledore had gotten his way – Harry had made a trip through the gauntlet to save the stone, after all.

Severus told Harry about the debacle that followed Harry's wrestling match with Quirrell. Harry was horrified at Lucius' legal issues and said he was sure his memory could clear things up. Rosmerta watched them with a smile. It was wonderful to see them interact with such ease. She got up and kissed Harry's forehead, and then Severus', promising to return the next morning to check on both of them.

Harry's Healer – Randall - from Diagon Alley arrived soon after, having been alerted by Poppy. He thoroughly scanned Harry and said he should stay another night, to Harry's dismay. Tom, Draco and Dudley arrived to have dinner with Harry and Severus ... and to hear news of Lucius. They were quite relieved to hear that he was fine and had an excellent hiding place.

A house elf popped in to ask Severus and Tom to the Headmaster's office and they reluctantly took their leave. They arrived to find Hugo there, looking as mystified as they felt.

Albus told Hugo the tale of the Horcrux in the cave, and Hugo listened, fascinated by the story – an epic tale that really should be made into a muggle movie, he thought. At the end, Albus took the necklace out of his pocket, laying it on the desk in front of them.

"That's no Horcrux." Tom thought to Yvane.

"No, I'm not sure how such a switch could have occured or when." Yvane answered. "With all the dark magic in that cave, I did not notice that none of it was coming from the necklace."

Severus and Hugo frowned. With the ring and the cup, dark magic could be felt across the room. Severus pulled his wand and waved a spell at the necklace and looked uncertainly at Albus. "This not a Horcrux ... did we miss another hiding place at the cave?"

Albus paused ... he had not thought of that, then shook his head. "No – I'm quite sure the basin and potion were meant to be protecting the necklace ... just not this necklace."

Hugo came closer to the necklace and peered at it, drawing his own wand. He hesitated and then tapped it on the locket, muttering some incantations. The locket sprang open and revealed a folded scrap of parchment. Albus hesitantly reached for it after they all cast numerous spells to reveal curses.

He opened the parchment and read :

"To the Dark Lord: I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match you will be mortal once more. R.A.B." (1)

They were silent for a long moment before Severus said quietly, "Regulus Black ... it must be. He was rumored to have turned traitor just before his disappearance."

"Perhaps ... but it does make finding the real Horcrux problematic." Albus murmured. "The Black family home is heavily warded and we have no way to force entry – if that is even where it is."

Tom fumed in his chair, furious. All that work - horrible visions and nightmares – for nothing. It was a good thing this Regulus was dead – he should have just left the necklace – where they could have found and destroyed it.

Yvane just chuckled. "No, no – it is good to hear that one of his followers saw reason and tried to destroy a Horcrux – it's possible that it is destroyed ... though we had hoped to retrieve another part of your soul."

Tom's blood chilled and he felt a horrible sense of loss at the very thought that a piece of his soul had been forever destroyed, though it would have happened years ago.

Yvane sighed in the back of Tom's mind. Tom still didn't understand. Tom was already far more whole than this 'Lord Voldemort'. Besides, the soul ... even Yvane didn't totally understand how all that worked – no one still alive did. The soul was limitless in many ways, Yvane did know that much. Tom's growth as a person had really made more difference than the retrieval of the other soul-pieces, though that had helped as well. Tom would learn, he supposed, as he got older, like everyone else did.

Albus watched the other three with apparent casualness. Hugo was deep in thought, Severus was obviously trying to remember all he could regarding Regulus. Tom, to Albus' surprise, seemed to be struggling with some internal problem, a stream of different emotions crossing his face. Mostly, though, Tom seemed to be experiencing a deep grief.

Albus knew the potion had caused a great deal of what were likely old issues to come to the forefront. One of them seemed to involve someone's death. Albus was guessing it was perhaps his mother's death – many orphans blamed themselves for their parents deaths, and perhaps Tom did as well. Facing yet another of his father's victims was likely causing him pain as well. Albus would have liked to have spared him all this ... but the boy was far too powerful – and therefore useful for Albus to just let go.

Severus, at last, stopped mulling things over. "I need to consult with Lucius- carefully – since I obviously have no idea of where he could be hiding ..." Severus smirked and Hugo chuckled. "...he'll perhaps know who we can contact to get into the old Black house. They were his in-laws, after all."

"I intend to keep Rufus and as many of his students and Aurors as busy as possible, cleaning up all those Inferi ... I'll say that an old bastion of 'He-Who-etc.' was found and the Ministry intends to make it safe. News of the numerous Inferi will draw attention away from Lucius and keep Aurors from having so much time to look for him." Hugo beamed happily and Albus nodded in agreement.

They all nodded and Albus waved them off, staring at the necklace ruefully. All that trouble and they had been beaten to the punch.

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Lucius waved another reparo at a window and sullenly admitted that even new homes had repair work – and with so many houses, well they made sure his self-updating repair list was rarely empty. To his embarassment, he now knew more home-repair charms than any self-respecting rich pureblood should know existed.

He'd been lucky that the first home he arrived at was occupied by a very nearsighted, almost deaf witch. He'd had to call his personal elf, Ritzy to assist him. She'd not understood why her master would have changed his appearance and need to be doing such menial tasks. She'd taken care of that house's needs and as he went to the next repair job, she'd brought several books from his library regarding repair work. The books looked like they'd never been opened, of course.

This was the last job he intended to do, today – the others would have to wait. Ritzy had snuck around helping where she could when he'd been alone at his work, but a few of the owners had followed him around – acting like he might steal the silver.

This last house was owned by an elderly wizard that Lucius suspected just wanted someone to talk to. Certainly waving a few reparos at windows would not have taxed him that much. Lucius had tried hard to act interested in what was said.

It was no worse that listening to a lengthy board meeting with clueless stockholders asking stupid questions, after all. The old wizard was named Giles something-or-other, and had worked in a village in the Swiss alps for some British company or other for too many bloody years as far as Lucius could tell.

Lucius had politely shuffled through his papers regarding all the repairs he'd done, smiling politely while Giles told him about his expedition with friends to the top of Mount Sodding Huge about 80 years ago. Why they hadn't apparated to the top Lucius did not understand. Lucius was edging his way down the front steps when he saw Arthur Weasley coming up the street, grinning happily.

'What now?' Lucius grumped unhappily to himself.

"Ah, who's this, then? A friend of yours, Jason?" Giles smiled happily. Lucius introduced Arthur, eyeing the man's outfit in distaste – Arthur was now in jeans, T-shirt and short robe just as Lucius was.

"I just came by to let you know that Harry's awake and Molly has taken Petunia to see him." Arthur said happily. Lucius sighed in relief – the end would soon be in sight, then.

"Young Potter is awake, then – do you know him?" Giles looked at Jason quizzically.

"Oh, no ... but of course I know that my employer, Petunia Dursely is his Aunt, and I'm aware of Mr. Potter's difficulties – as is everyone, it seems." Jason looked at Arthur warningly. 'Jason' should not be too knowledgable about things. Arthur nodded in understanding.

Giles brightened and nodded as well. "Well, lets go down to the pub and have a drink to Mr. Potter, then! I know just the place – just shuck the over-robe and we'll fit right in with the muggles!"

To Lucius' horror Arthur chimed in, in agreement and soon Lucius found himself being chivvied out of Spinners End gates and down the street to a local pub that seemed to be full of rather experienced career drinkers. And they were throwing deadly looking missles at targets, they called them darts and Lucius tried to ascertain if they were poisoned or not. Lucius gulped in dread and braced himself for battle while Giles ordered up the first round with Arthurs help.

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