Since You've Been Gone

A/N: All things Harry Potter belong to JKR. I make no money from this.

Many thanks to my awesome beta, Southern_Witch_69! Sun, you're the greatest!

Chapter Ten

Since You've Been Gone

Severus awoke in an extremely good mood. He looked down at his wife in his arms and smiled blissfully. His world had fallen back into place. He indulged himself and held her tighter for a moment.

"Morning," she greeted sleepily.

"Good morning, love. Sleep well?" he asked with a knowing smirk. He was happy when she'd admitted to being tired and agreed to spend the night at the Manor. That had meant that he would be able to have her sooner. And have her he did. He had wanted her so much these past few days that he'd taken her twice during the night. He would have taken her a third time, had she not been exhausted.

"Yes, actually, I did." She searched his eyes. "You?"

"Indeed."

She hugged him and then started to get out of the bed. He only pulled her to him tighter.

"Going somewhere, are you?" He didn't want to move.

"Yes. I need the loo desperately!" He released her, and she jumped out of bed. "What's on our agenda today?" she called from the loo.

"If you would not mind, I would like to speak with Lucius this morning."

"No, not at all. I can visit with Ginny while you see him. Do you want me to send Draco down?"

"No. I have something private that I wish to discuss with Lucius."

Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow at her husband as she walked back into the bedroom, but let the topic drop. She didn't want to start out this beautiful morning nagging him after the wonderful night they'd spent together.

"Okay. In that case, I think I'll just stay here and finish cataloguing for Madam Pince. Will we be leaving? After you speak with him?"

"Yes." Severus smiled at his lovely wife. "Your stomach is growing."

She scowled. "Thank you so much for pointing out the fact that I'm fat."

He laughed. "No, not fat. With child." Severus walked up behind his wife, put his arms around her, and laid a possessive hand on her belly. His look went from teasing to serious. "My child. In my eyes, it makes you even more beautiful."

Hermione turned so that she could put her arms around his neck, humbled by the depth of emotion he could arouse in her. "I love you," she murmured in his chest.

Severus kissed the top of her head. "Me too," he told her, heart full.

She backed out of his arms. "I'm going to have a shower. Go on down and speak with Lucius."

Severus leaned down and kissed her, lightly at first, and then deepening it.

"Keep that up," she joked, "and you'll never make it out of this room."

Chuckling, he released her. "I shouldn't be very long."

"Take your time."

Severus waited until Hermione walked into the bath and closed the door before he walked out in search of his life-long friend.

*** *** ***

Lucius was sitting in his study, going over his accounts. Truth be told, he'd wanted to get out of his bedroom and away from Sophia and Giselle. Now that the night, thus the fun, was over, they were beginning to grate on his nerves a bit.

He sighed. Usually after a party held in his mansion, he and his Cissy would sit at the breakfast table to pick apart and discuss every detail. He missed her at times such as these.

Thoughts of Draco invaded his mind. What would Narcissa think about our son and his choice of a mate? No doubt, she'd think as I do. That girl is not worthy of my son. Yes, she got her hooks into him, right and proper.

He couldn't understand Draco. How could he love her so completely? I know the look of a besotted man when I see one. He stood and began to pace. It was done, and there was nothing he could do to undo things. If only he'd been here, rather than in France...

Lucius' musings were cut short by the knock on his door. "Come in," he called out, assuming it was his son. He was shocked to see Severus instead. "Severus. You're out early."

Severus inclined his head in greeting. "Lucius. I want to speak with you...in private. Is that possible?"

"Yes, of course. Do come in." Lucius stepped back so that Severus could walk in.

"Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee?"

"I wouldn't mind some coffee. Tell me, where are your... paramours at the moment?"

With an amused smirk, Lucius asked, "Why do you want to know, Severus? Are you interested after all?" Lucius sat and, in his amusement, forgot to call for his house-elf.

Agitated, Severus glowered. "No, not in the least, I assure you. I thought that I made myself perfectly clear to you on that subject, Lucius. Now, I've something I wish to discuss with you."

Lucius looked at Severus and simply raised an eyebrow. "This sounds important. What is it?" he asked.

Severus sat down in the chair in front of the desk, crossed his legs and steepled his fingers under his chin. Pausing a few moments to collect his thoughts, he said, "Tell me, Lucius, what do you know of the details about your son's marriage? Of the circumstances that brought it about?"

"I know that girl is expecting. Draco must have been captivated indeed to forget the numerous Contraceptive Charms I've taught him over the years."

"Is that what you think? That he married her because she is with child? Can you not look at the boy and see how he feels about her?"

"I have eyes, do I not?" Lucius asked, aggravated. "Of course I can see! I think, however, that his feelings would have run their course in due time had she not tricked him."

"She tricked him? How antiquated. If I'm not mistaken, it still does take two to create a baby."

Lucius waved his hand in the air dismissively. "Semantics, Severus. It's beside the point now, yeah? It's happened, and now there's nothing to be done for it. I would like to ask you, though, why you did not deem it necessary to inform me of their seeing one another?"

"Because they weren't. They've never... dated, as it were."

"I'm afraid that I don't have the pleasure of understanding you, Severus. How then is she with child if they've never dated? Dear Lord, don't tell me that this pregnancy is the result of a one night stand!" Lucius stood and started to pace.

"No, that's not what I'm saying, Lucius. Please sit and I will continue to explain."

Lucius gave in and sat back down, leveling a stern look at Severus. "Please do, my friend. I am quite interested in hearing this explanation."

"Tell me," Severus asked, leaning forward a bit, "do you remember the Viscerum Moribundus Curse?"

Lucius sat back, considering. Rubbing his chin with his first finger and thumb, he asked, "Hmmm. Isn't that the one that shuts down the internal organs?"

"Quite right, it is. Now, do you remember the cure for said curse?"

"What is this, Professor, a quiz? I assure you, I graduated from Hogwarts years ago."

"Let me refresh your memory then. The curse can be cured with a potion, but said potion requires three drops of a newborn infant's blood. An infant conceived of the victim and the victim's soul mate."

"This little lesson is very interesting, Severus, but what does that have to do with... What are you saying?" Lucius asked sharply.

"I am saying that your daughter-in-law and my wife were both hit with this curse in the final battle by Viktor Krum. You'd just Apparated away shortly after, if I recall correctly. That could be why you knew nothing of it." Severus sat back in his chair to let the implication of what he'd just told his friend sink in.

Lucius furrowed his brow, considering. Severus could see when Lucius understood what he was trying to tell him. "You mean to tell me that the Soul Mate Spell was performed, and that my son was this woman's soul mate?"

"That is exactly what I'm saying."

"I don't believe it! Whoever cast the spell must have cast it incorrectly! I demand that..."

"Lucius, stop," Severus commanded as he held up a hand. "Had the spell been done incorrectly, then the curse would not lie dormant. Remember?"

"I see."

Leaning back against the chair, Severus watched Lucius. Quietly, he asked, "Do you not remember what it was like to be married to your soul mate?"

Lucius closed his eyes, not able to fight the immense pain in not only his chest, but his whole being this time. "How could you ask me such a thing? Do you think I could forget? Narcissa was... everything to me."

"Then perhaps you should keep in mind that Draco is in the same marital bliss. He loves his wife... She is for him. They are meant."

"I remember when the Dark Lord cast that spell on all of us all those years ago. When the name Narcissa Black appeared before me, I wanted to rage, but dared not. It was Bellatrix I wanted then, you know. I had thought that she would be a more... fitting wife. But, Merlin, how could I have known the depth of the way I would come to feel for Cissy?"

"You can't know until you experience it firsthand." With a jolt, Severus remembered when the spell had been cast on him. No name had appeared, only the word 'undetermined.' He merely assumed that had meant there was no one for him. Now he realized that it was because Hermione Granger had not been born when the spell was cast. He was glad he didn't know of this before she started Hogwarts...who knows how he would have reacted?

Lucius opened his eyes suddenly and looked at Severus. "Then this means that Miss Granger is your soul mate?"

"That is exactly what this means. I would appreciate it if you would accept that and my marriage. I would like a little respect where my vows are concerned."

"I apologize," Lucius said stiffly.

"Lucius," Severus began, not sure of how to proceed, but following his heart, "you used to think more of the institution than you seem to now. I can't believe that you actually invited Josephine to your son's wedding party. And the women you see. I don't expect you to live your days alone, mind, but the constant flaunting. You know this hurts Draco, and I do believe you're also hurting yourself."

"You cannot begin to imagine the pain I felt when Fenrir Greyback attacked my wife," Lucius began. "He all but ripped her to pieces, simply for contradicting him in the presence of other Death Eaters. Naturally, he waited until I had been sent on an assignment by our Lord. If you remember, it was when the Dark Lord forbid me any retribution that I'd switched sides."

Wanting to comfort his friend because he remembered all to well, Severus laid his hand on top of Lucius' on the desk and squeezed once before releasing him. "I could never forget it, Lucius. I loved her, too. Now that I am married to Hermione, I can see how devastated you would become. I have no words..."

"No, you nor anybody else because there are no words. She was truly the other half of my heart, and when she was killed, she took the kinder half with her." Remembering his actions, especially since his son had wed, Lucius winced. "Severus, I apologize for my disregard of you and your wife."

"Apology accepted." Severus stood and walked over to the window to admire the view. "You can't continue this way, Lucius. You must know this."

"I can't be alone!"

Severus turned from the window to stare at his friend. "I am not only speaking of the women, but they are a factor as well. Nobody expects you to be alone. Simply pick one and act accordingly. However, I am speaking also of your behavior. Your dismissal of Draco and your treatment of his wife." When Lucius looked at Severus questioningly, he explained, "Draco told me of it."

"How was I supposed to know that she is his soul mate? Not one person informed me..."

"Do you think that whether she is his soul mate or not matters here?" Severus bit out angrily. "That is a moot point! The point is simply that she is his wife, Lucius. That alone should be enough for you! You cannot go around acting as you have been and not expect repercussions. You are going to lose your son as well if you are not careful."

Lucius folded his arms on his desk and lay his head down, defeated, in a rare show of weakness. "I can't do this any longer. I see her everywhere I go. This mansion alone if full of her. I hurt constantly, Severus. Constantly. I suppose I want others to feel pain, too."

"Misery loves company?"

"Something like that, I suppose."

Severus walked back to the desk. "Sell it. There's no need for you to keep it now. It's time to move on and to begin to heal. I understand that's easier said than done, but you're going to have to try. You can't continue this way, Lucius."

"No, I would never sell the home I made with Cissy, no matter what. I have tried to move on! I went to see Arthur Weasley about getting my job back at the Ministry, but he refused me." Lucius clenched his fists at the memory.

"Compromise then," Severus suggested. "Ask him if you can come back on a temporary basis to prove yourself, and that you would be willing to have your work evaluated."

"You're barking mad, man! How humiliating! Me, evaluated by Arthur Weasley? I think not."

Severus shrugged. "You're not the big man on top anymore, my friend. Things have changed. And Arthur Weasley is not a man to trifle with, nor will he take a bribe. You're going to have to bend a little if the Ministry is what you truly want."

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. "What?" Lucius yelled, bad temperedly.

"It's me, darling!" Sophia called from the other side. When Lucius started to send her away, Severus held up a hand to stop him.

"I must go. Hermione and I need to get back home. Just think on what I said."

Before Severus could reach the door, it was flung open, and the two gorgeous models entered the room. "Ooh! Who's your friend, love?" Giselle asked.

Lucius chuckled at the panicked look on his friend's face; he couldn't help himself. "This is Severus Snape. Severus, this is Giselle and, of course, Sophia."

"Nice to meet you," Severus greeted as he walked quickly toward the door, wanting to get out of there. God only knew what Lucius had told them about him.

"Leaving so soon?" Giselle asked. "I would like you to stay so that we can get to know one another. You seem so... interesting."

"It's a tempting offer, but no, thank you. I've a wife I need to get back to." Severus couldn't get to the door fast enough.

"Your loss, mate," Sophia told him. "She can be quite inventive... with conversation."

Without another word, Severus simply walked out, making sure he closed the door behind him. He could hear the women's laughter following him as he headed to his rooms.

*** *** ***

Ginny sat in the garden, admiring the roses. She especially enjoyed the peach colored ones. She wasn't worried about a repeat performance with her father-in-law, positive that he was tucked in his bed with his two... ladyfriends. Ginny snorted. Ladies my arse!

As her mind drifted to the night before, she smiled contentedly. Not from memories of the party, but from what happened afterwards. She'd lain in Draco's arms all night long, talking. Simply talking. It was wonderful.

They'd started out talking of their childhood. Just as she'd suspected, her husband had been very spoiled indeed. But what had surprised her was that he had also been very loved, although she didn't know why she was surprised by this fact.

It was that she honestly couldn't picture Lucius Malfoy in the role of an indulging father, but according to the tales Draco had told her, he definitely had been. And his mother...

Draco's entire being changed when speaking of her. Ginny couldn't help remembering how she hoped that her baby loved her as much as Draco had loved his mum. Of course, Narcissa was no longer here, so that could have a little to do with his reverence towards her, but she didn't think it had a lot to do with it. He'd truly loved and missed her. He'd confessed how he wished that his mum were still alive to witness the birth of their child. Her heart still ached for him.

It made her realize that she'd been taking her own mother for granted. She promised herself to try to be more patient with Molly Weasley and her... stern ways.

When they spoke of her past with Harry and his past with Pansy, Ginny had had an epiphany. He'd been saying that he truly cared for Pansy, loved her even, as a friend, but he'd just never been 'in love' with her, so he'd broken off dating her.

Ginny had been nodding in agreement, telling him that was the best and kindest thing he could've done for Pansy, when it hit her suddenly that Harry must have felt exactly the same way about her. She'd always known that Harry had loved her; she just didn't get that it had been the same love he'd felt for Hermione.

Somehow, lying with Draco and talking of that with him, made the hurt of that realization nonexistent. He'd stroked her hair, telling her that he was glad Potter didn't have those feelings for her. She was happy he didn't start sprouting off about how foolish Harry was because he didn't have those kinds of feelings for her. Perhaps his experience with Pansy had helped him understand Harry a little better. Ginny hoped so.

Draco had told her when he began to notice her. He admitted it was on the train to Hogwarts right before his sixth year when Blaise Zabini had said something about how pretty she was or some such rot, but that comment had caused Draco to see for himself.

He'd told her of how he had watched her during the Welcoming Feast that night and started to realize how beautiful he also thought she was. Her husband had confessed to watching her as much as he could, oftentimes taking the longest routes to his classes so that he'd pass her in the hallway. Until things started unraveling for him, that is. He told her that during those times, she'd almost became an obsession for him, that seeing her had been the only bright spot of his day. She chose not to dwell on those times...

She started chuckling, remembering that she must've fallen asleep mid-sentence because they'd talked so long. When she woke this morning, she was still wrapped tightly in his arms. She'd gently slipped out of bed, wanting to come and sit out here to reflect a bit before going back to Hogwarts.

Her thoughts were interrupted by footsteps walking in her direction. "Good morning, love. I hope I didn't..." She gasped when she realized that it was Lucius, not Draco, walking towards her. She rose quickly and turned to leave.

Careful not to touch her, Lucius stood in front of her, halting her escape. "If you would be so inclined, I would like a word, Ginevra."

"No thanks. I need to gather my things; we'll be going back home soon."

"Please."

Ginny was stunned. She studied him for a moment before relenting. "All right."

"Could we sit?" Lucius asked, gesturing towards the bench she'd been occupying before she'd seen him.

Without saying a word, Ginny walked to the bench and sat, back straight and stiff, looking at anything but Lucius.

Lucius sighed and ran a hand through his normally perfect hair. Severus was right, he had to make some changes, and this was the best place to start. "I would like to say that first and foremost, I owe you an apology, Ginevra. I have acted abhorrently towards you, and you have my sincerest regrets."

Ginny started at him, gobsmacked. "Um... Well..."

He smiled. "Draco is my son, and I love him endlessly. I had expectations and dreams for him that were my own and definitely not his. When he chose his own path...one decidedly different from the one I'd always wanted for him...I took it as a slap against me, never realizing that it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with him."

Ginny thought of her parents. "Yes. Sometimes it's impossible to live up to our parents' expectations of us." She turned to look him in the eyes then, voicing out loud what had only occurred to her at that moment. "I do love him, if that helps you any."

Lucius searched her eyes and, deciding she was telling him the truth, came to a decision. "Let me tell you a story, Ginevra."

"A story?"

"Yes. One that I think you will find very... enlightening." So he began. He told her things he'd only told Narcissa and Draco. He spoke of joining Voldemort and why he'd decided to. He spoke of the horror he'd felt when he'd realized that he'd basically pledged himself to a madman.

Then he began speaking of his wife, and his whole demeanor changed just as Draco's had. He'd told her how upset he'd been when the spell had deemed her his soul mate because he'd wanted her sister.

Once he'd started, he didn't...couldn't...stop until he'd told her everything, ending with his wife's death and why he'd switched sides. He'd felt oddly purged somehow having said everything out loud. He looked back at her, not remembering when his gaze had drifted from her face.

She had tears in her eyes, thinking only of Draco and how he had to live with the cause of his mother's death. "How horrible!"

"Indeed it was, and I'm afraid I haven't handled my life very well since then."

Ginny nodded. He hadn't. He'd been through a lot, though some things he'd brought on himself. "Well then, it's up to you to start handling it differently, eh?"

Lucius laughed out loud. Yes, he could see why his son had fallen for this young woman. How could he have missed that fiery spark in her? "My wife would have enjoyed you, Ginevra. I think she would have liked you very much."

"Do you really?" she asked, wanting that statement to be the truth.

"Absolutely. I can see you will keep my son on his toes."

She smiled. "Try to at least."

"What's this?" Draco asked from behind them, looking at his father hard.

"Nothing, son, I was just keeping your lovely wife company."

"She does not want your company!"

Ginny stood and walked to her husband, gently laying a hand on his shoulder. "Draco, it's all right. We've been having a nice conversation, honestly."

With one last glare towards his father, Draco turned towards his wife. When he saw that she was truly okay, Draco smiled. "What were you speaking of?"

"This and that," she told him nonchalantly. "I'm going to gather our things, love. You stay here and speak with your father before we go." Ginny turned to Lucius. "Thank you for the party, though I'll not thank you for your surprise from France," she told him saucily. "Never liked tart in any case. Goodbye."

Once again, this daughter-in-law of his had him laughing out loud. Deciding to keep with her tone, he told her, "You may not, but I expect your brother... hmmm... the one who is the dragon trainer?"

"Charlie."

"Yes, Charlie. I can guarantee you that he will thank me. They left together."

Ginny made a disgusted face. "Figures. That doesn't surprise me in the least. I need to go get our things together." She turned, kissed her husband on the cheek, and started back inside.

After she was out of sight, Lucius turned to clear the air with his son, but as he looked at Draco, his heart shattered.

No doubt, Draco was the spitting image of him, from his pale gray eyes, to his platinum hair, all the way down to the way his body was built, but at that moment...at that instant...when Lucius turned and saw the love that his boy had in his face when he watched his wife, all Lucius could see was Narcissa. Not so much the physical, but the expression.

Filled with emotion and heartbreak still from his talk with Severus and Ginevra, Lucius did something he'd not allowed himself...nor his son...to do since Narcissa Malfoy had died.

When Draco's gaze left his wife and turn to his father, he was utterly surprised to see the tears streaming down his face. He widened his eyes, uncomfortable because he'd never seen his father show any sort of sad emotion, much less cry. That was one of the reasons that Lucius' behavior these past months since his mother had died had bothered him so much. Lucius Malfoy had never shed one tear for his wife, and that, most of all, was what had hurt Draco.

On a ground unprecedented, Draco did the only thing he could think to do. Instinctively knowing his father was thinking of his mother, he walked to Lucius and hugged him. Lucius grabbed hold of him and squeezed tightly, as if Draco was his lifeline in a body of drowning emotions, finally sobbing and sharing his grief with his son, the only other person who had loved his wife unconditionally. Now, not only did he feel purged, but cleansed as well. Lucius would never know that this cleared the air between them more than any words ever would.

*** *** ***

Pansy was sitting in her office at the orphanage, going over the ever-mounting paperwork. She was happy to note that she had three appointments next week for potential adoptions.

It surprised her how quickly the children were finding homes. Well, all except the more... difficult ones. She sighed, wondering how on earth she was going to help them. Most of the ones who were difficult were that way because they had been harmed...one way or another...while the Dark Lord had been alive.

She could thank Harry for ridding them of that madman if nothing else. Harry. Pansy looked at the clock on the wall once more. He was thirty minutes late. He's not late, you twit! He's not coming!

Pansy could have kicked herself for getting her hopes up. She'd spent this past week since the party, allowing that small fraction of hope grow, knowing better even as she'd dreamed of him. He'd been so... intense with her when they'd danced. Truly focusing on her, not glancing around as if searching for a better person to be with. Now she had to deal with her disappointment and embarrassment as well, as she'd told the children to expect him.

The only other person who'd ever treated her like that was Draco, but then he'd hurt her terribly when Josephine walked into the room. When she felt a tear fall, she angrily swiped it away, vowing not to give Harry Bloody Potter...or Draco Bloody Malfoy...another thought. She refused to waste her time.

Just as she picked up the next application, her door burst open, and Harry came barreling in. "So sorry I'm late! Kingsley called a last minute meeting this morning, and it was mandatory that we all attend."

"It's no problem," she said in a short tone. "The children are around back playing all sorts of games. Just go out and jump in where you're needed."

Harry stood where he was and studied her, noticing her watery eyes. "You thought I wasn't going to show up, didn't you? I told you I'd be here, Pansy."

In a jerky movement, she lifted one shoulder. "People say a lot of things to me, Harry. Go on outside now. I need to finish these applications."

"I'm not people. It's me...Harry."

"Yeah? Who's that?" I refuse to be blinded by a strong wizard with gorgeous eyes again! "I don't know you, and you don't know me."

"True enough," Harry agreed. "I thought we'd established that was the purpose of dinner tonight?"

Pansy slumped her shoulders, defeated. "You're right. I apologize."

Harry nodded. "Don't categorize me or my feelings. You'll find that I won't fit into some neat, little package."

Ashamed because that is exactly what she'd been doing, she let her gaze fall to the papers on her desk. "They're expecting you out back, Harry. You really should go on out. The kids are excited that the Great Harry Potter is paying a visit."

Harry stepped closer to the desk. Taking her chin in his hand and lifting her face until her eyes locked with his, he asked, "What about the administrator? Is she excited that the Great Harry Potter is here?"

She wanted to laugh, but the expression on his face warned her that however teasing his tone might be, his eyes were very serious. "She seems to be...albeit reluctantly."

Suddenly, Harry smiled and his body relaxed. "That'll do. Reluctance never hurt anybody."

He leaned in and very lightly, very gently, and brushed his lips to hers. The shock rocked him down to the soles of his feet. He opened his eyes to find her staring at him as if dazed, so he knew that she'd felt it, too.

"Well," he said, "that certainly gives us something to think about."

Suddenly the door burst open again, only this time Ron Weasley walked in. "Oi! Sorry I'm late," he started, oblivious to the tension in the room, "I went by The Quibbler to try and talk Luna into coming." He rolled his eyes. "Said she's got some breaking story, but then, she always does."

Harry looked at Pansy sheepishly. "Um, I invited Ron to come with me. I hope that's okay."

"Of course it is," Pansy told him, happy for the excuse to take a few steps back. "When it comes to the children, the more the merrier."

"I was thinking," Ron said. "I could talk to Fred and George. What are they but big kids themselves? I bet they'd come some."

Pansy gave Ron a stern look. "As long as they leave their jokes in their shop, I wouldn't mind at all."

Ron looked at Harry. "I also had another idea when I went to talk to Luna. This place is not well known. Perhaps they could feature it in The Quibbler. Then maybe the Daily Prophet wouldn't be far behind, eh?"

"Why would you do that?" Pansy asked, stunned.

Ron shrugged. "For the children. They deserve a chance, and I'd like to help."

"Ron," Harry said, slapping him on the back, "that's a brilliant idea." He turned Pansy, smiling. "Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes, I would," she admitted, humbled by the unselfishness actions of the two men standing before her. Most she'd known would've asked 'What's in it for me?' "I thank you."

"Think nothing of it." Ron was getting embarrassed. "Let's go, mate. I have an itch to kick your arse in a spot of Quidditch."

Raising an eyebrow, Harry inclined his head, accepting the challenge. "Better wizards than you have tried," he joked.

Laughing, Ron swung an arm around Harry. "Ah, but they didn't know you like I do!"

Shaking her head and smiling hesitantly, she told the two, "Out. I have to finish this!"

When Harry got to the door, he turned to look back at Pansy. "Don't leave here without me tonight. I've made reservations for seven o'clock."

"Sure," she agreed. "No problem." Pansy desperately hoped that the nerves quivering in her belly didn't show on her face.

Satisfied that she wouldn't, Harry followed Ron to the back, where all the kids were playing... and dreaming.

Christy's Notes: Maybe if that doesn't redeem Lucius, it at least explains him some.

Since You've Been Gone by Outfield is from the year 1986

SW_69's Notes: Ah, it's great when things fall into place.