The Truth Will Set You Free

A/N: Just borrowing some toys with promises to return when I am finished.

Urien closed his eyes and spoke no more to Lucius. For his part, Lucius stared at the bust and said nothing. Words could not form in his mouth. Thoughts and images ran through his mind so fast he hardly realized them. His son, a father. The man who could destroy the world. Destroy his family. A child, so small and innocent, his grandchild. His family, his blood. The mother, who was she? Did she know? Did Draco know? How can he protect them all now? Can he protect them? Can he hide this new information from Voldemort? They needed to flee. The need to run and hide was overwhelming.

He would do something, but first he needed to find the only person outside his family he trusted. Will he be willing to help him? He knew of his friend's true allegiance was not to the Dark Lord. He had known since the first war. He never betrayed him, and he keep that piece of information locked away in his mind. He hoped that it will have earned him the right to ask for this favor from him. With a last glance at Urien's bust, he left the confines of the master suite in search of a Death Eater. A Death Eater he desperately hoped would be in residence at the manor.

Lucius spent the rest of the morning strolling around the manor. Unable to find whom he was looking for, he took the time to enjoy the morning breeze. He needed some time to himself to think. He had not mentioned anything about his talk with the bust to his wife or son. They had gone their separate ways after breakfast, determined not to let Voldemort see their love for each other. He was confident in his and Narcissa's ability to Occlude the Dark Lord. However, he knew it would take very little prying for him to break down Draco's walls. His only hope was that Draco did not yet know of his child. Whatever mistakes he had made while raising his son and by joining Voldemort, he hoped to be able to rectify them by saving his family from this monster.

The dark mark on his arm began to burn, and he knew he was being summoned. He feared it would be for more punishment. It was best to get this over with. Maybe he would be able to determine if Snape was in residence. He quickly made his way to his library where the Dark Lord had taken up residence. It disgusted Lucius to think that his private study and his personal belongings were now in the possession of Voldemort.

He entered the library and bowed at the feet of his master, bending so low he could kiss the hem of his robes. Not so very long ago he would have given his life for this snake of a man. Now he wanted only to be there to celebrate the man's death. Lucius remained bent at his master's feet for what seemed like hours before the Dark Lord finally spoke.

"You seem to be feeling better. I expected that I would be higher on your priorities than a stroll in the gardens this morning."

"Forgive me, my Lord. It has been long since I was able to be in fresh air."

"Surely, by now, you realize I do not forgive. Crucio."

The curse was unexpected and fast, giving Lucius no time to prepare himself. The pain scorched through ever fiber of his being. His muscles protested. Barely recovered from his last bought, he was unable to suppress the scream in his lungs. The pain lifted almost as fast as it started. Lucius resumed his position at the hem of his master's robes.

"Stand up," hissed Voldemort.

Lucius rose to his feet, quickly locking away his thoughts of his family and his plans of escape in a secret room in his mind. He knew when he turned to look at Voldemort, his mind would be assaulted almost instantly.

Voldemort gathered very little information from Lucius' mind. A few specks of being relieved to be free, a growing animosity toward someone, and a desire to be done with the war and get on with his life was all the was visible without deep prodding. He knew Lucius could never hide anything from him, so he exited the man's head.

"Not much to look at for a man who spent so long in Azkaban. I would have thought you would be harboring some feelings of revenge or hatred towards me."

"My feelings of revenge and hatred are only for those responsible for putting me there"

"Tonight I will make plans to finish Harry Potter. You and your family will be in attendance. Your disappointment of an heir will learn the respect I command from my followers. You may wait in the hall until then."

"Yes, my Lord." Lucius bowed his way out of the room. He knew that he was indeed still being punished. It was barely noon. The meetings rarely took place before ten at night. He knew he could do nothing but stand here for the next ten hours.

The meeting that night went as bad as Lucius had anticipated. He was demeaned and ridiculed by other Death Eaters. Ignored by those he thought were his friends. And just when he thought it couldn't get much worse, he had to surrender his wand to the Dark Lord. He tried and failed to get Severus to acknowledge him.

His foul mood was only worsened by his lack of food. He had nothing to eat or drink since breakfast. He stormed to the kitchens in hopes of finding some leftovers from dinner to tide him over until morning.

As he burst through the door, he was surprised by a wand in his face. The man holding it had the most menacing look in his eyes. "Show me" was all he said.

Lucius looked up at him, mentally unlocking the room, allowing this man to see everything he kept hidden. Images flooded his brain. Breakfast this morning. The conversation with Urien. Azkaban. The battle at the Department of Mysteries. Dinners with his family. Draco as a baby. Snape and Dumbledore atop a hill while the wind howled around them. Snape swearing his allegiance to the old man and the Order.

"You have known all this time and said nothing," the dark man scowled.

"You were never a threat to me or my family. You were always a friend though. I was not as brave as you. I knew I would never be able to leave on my own. But I have felt the need for some time. I always hoped that one friend could help another when time came no matter which side won."

"So, you keep this secret so long only to assure a way onto to the winning side."

"I will admit that was my objective at first. Now, my only goals are safety of my family and the death of that monster. I do not care what happens to me, it is for Narcissa and Draco I do this. And for whoever is the mother of my grandchild."

"The girl is....."

"Yes, do you know who she is?"

"I have my suspicions. If I am correct, you will disown your son."

"No, he told me he was in love with a girl not of pureblood. I have come to accept that. The only hatred I feel is towards...." He trailed, not wanting to be overheard. "My family is all that matters to me. That girl whoever she is, is family"

"Have you told Draco and Narcissa of the upcoming arrival?"

"Draco cannot be trusted to know. His mind is weak in front of the Dark Lord. Narcissa would be beside herself if she knew. It is best to keep this to ourselves for now."

Snape stared his friend as if looking at him for the first time. He searched his mind and knew he was being truthful.

"I will see what I can do. I will make no promises."

He turned and headed towards the entry, robes billowing behind him.

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"Are you sure he can be trusted, Severus," Minerva McGonagall asked her young friend when he returned to Hogwarts to give his report to her and the portrait of his mentor and friend.

"I have seen all of his darkest secrets today. He laid his mind totally open to me. I could feel how strong his feelings were for his family, as I could feel the hatred towards the Dark Lord."

"Is that enough to be certain, did he offer you proof?" This voice came from the portrait behind the desk.

"He knows all about me, Albus. He followed me that night to the hill. He has known since day one."

"Surely he only kept this information in order for it to benefit him in some way," the witch spit out.

"He did, at first. He no longer cares what happens to him. Only the lives of his wife, his son and his grandchild matter to him now. It is for them that he is pleading."

"Grandchild?"

"Grandchild!"

"It seems young Mr. Malfoy has been having an affair with a girl that is Muggle-born. They have produced a child. Though it is likely that neither of them know about it yet as they have been out of contact since just after school ended last term. It appears the boy has visited her at her parents' house in Muggle London," explained Snape.

"Who is the girl? And how does Lucius know if neither one of them know yet?" McGonagall asked.

It was Dumbledore who answered. "I believe the girl would be Miss Granger." Snape nodded and McGonagall felt her mouth fall open. "As for how Lucius knows, well, that would be the Trouble with Magic."

Again Snape nodded and Minerva looked even further confused. It was Snape's turn to explain what they were talking about.

"The Black Family had a bust that was enchanted to inform parents on the behaviors of their children. Seeing as the Narcissa is the last of the Blacks to have child, she inherited the bust."

"All the time I wasted sending her owls to report his behavior and she knew ahead of time," she said with a slight smirk on her face.

The two men looked at each other and both broke out in a smile.

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Minerva sat across the desk from the portrait of Dumbledore, sipping her tea. The man in the portrait was lost in thought. It was Minerva who broke the silence first.

"It is time to alert some members of the Order as to Severus' true allegiance."

"I believe you are correct." Rustled from his thoughts, he stared intently at the witch across from him. "We need to be discreet on whom we should invite into this."

"Yes, I believe Remus can be trusted, Shacklebolt as well. I think for the girl's sake we should invite one of the Weasleys. Arthur would be my choice, as Molly might get too emotional."

"Exactly the three I was thinking of. Get the Pensieve ready, they may need to see my memories in order to believe it was me who orchestrated my death."

"I will send the owls right away and tell them to meet me here in the morning. I am sure Molly won't mind us borrowing Arthur for a few hours."

"I am sure Arthur will be happy to get out from all the wedding preparations for a few hours," he chuckled, eyes twinkling.

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It took very little persuasion from Dumbledore and McGonagall for the three men to see Snape's vital role as a double agent. Dumbledore expected as much, as these three were the most likely to see the advantages of still having a spy in Voldemort's inner circle. They were still not pleased that Dumbledore had sacrificed himself for the cause, but at least they understood that the deed would have occurred naturally anyway. Getting them to trust in Lucius was more of a problem.

"How do we know that Malfoy isn't just trying to cover himself in the event that Voldemort loses?" Remus questioned.

"Because he isn't doing it for himself, he is doing it for his family. The family he has now and the family that is to come."

"Even as a portrait he still speaks in riddles," Arthur remarked.

Laughter filled the room. "What Albus is trying and failing to mention is that Draco has been in a relationship with a Muggle-born witch. It is our belief that she is with child."

"Draco and a Muggle-born, you can't be serious. Lucius knows this and he is.... He is okay with it," Remus stuttered.

"Muggle-born or not, that is not enough of the reason for the Order to get involved and protect them," Shacklebolt sniped.

Minerva and Albus looked to each other. Minerva sighed and shook her head. Albus sat thinking for a few moments before he completed the puzzle for the three younger wizards.

"Draco's love and the mother of his child is our star pupil."

"No!" Remus looked between his two former professors as if pleading to make them say it was all a lie. Arthur and Shacklebolt just shook their heads in disbelief.

"Arthur, by your stunned silence, am I correct in assuming that the residents of the Burrow are unaware of this relationship," asked the portrait.

"Yes."

"Then we must not let on to anyone that we know. I have no desire to increase her stress levels in her condition. Nor do I wish to, how to say it... out her condition. Which means this information does not leave this room. Arthur you will need to see what you can do about getting her to take it easy without raising anyone suspicions, especially Molly. No, before you ask, we can't let her know." He held up his hand to stop the words he knew the man was about to say. "She will only coddle the girl and the others will catch on."

"We must all do what we can to protect her without her knowledge. Voldemort will eventually find out, and then he will want to use her and the child to hurt and control the Malfoys. I assume she is making plans with Harry and Ron to go on a little task I have for Harry." Arthur nodded. "We must try and discourage her from it. Minerva, I leave that up to you."

"I will speak to her after the wedding. I am sure they won't leave until after that."

"Very good. There is not much we can do for the Malfoys at the moment, not with Voldemort taking up residence in the manor. After the nuptials, we will meet and see what we can do to hide them away."

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"Albus, it was an ambush," Minerva screeched to the portrait as she burst through the door to her office. "We were attacked at the wedding. Luckily, there were no loses. But I was unable to speak to Hermione, and now she has disappeared with Potter and Weasley."

"She must be found and protected. I fear she is in more danger than she can possibly know."

"Remus is on it."

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A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this. Chapter 3 will be up soon.

My thanks as always to my beta, lilywillow.