The Curse and The Cure *Snamione*

Chapter 11

11

Malfoy Manor had changed beyond all recognition since Lucius had first been released from Azkaban a couple of years ago. Destroyed by fire during the last Wizarding War, it'd been painstakingly remodelled, and these days, the vulgar opulence of the Versailles style curlicues and adornments were long gone and in its stead, stood modest reclaimed wood furnishings and fittings.  Solar panels and wind generators, sat proudly alongside vegetable gardens and expansive fruit orchards making the whole estate far more sustainable and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief when she tumbled out of the floo along with Severus and Draco and found herself in a room that was unrecognisable.

"Come in" said Lucius welcoming them. "The buggers at The Ministry got me." He said cheerily yet they could detect an air of worry behind his upbeat tones. "Thanks to Harry Potter I'm not in Azkaban, which was awfully good of him considering our past... history."

"Are you alright dad?" Asked Draco, looking at his father's ashen countenance.

"Don't fret Draco" replied Lucius, patting his son's shoulder. "I'm fine. I'm sure this whole sorry business will be sorted sooner rather than later but it looks like you may have to come here for Christmas though as I won't be  going anywhere, for the foreseeable. He then turned to Hermione "Are you ok, Hermione?" He asked kindly, reaching for her hand.

Hermione hadn't said much on arrival but nodded. "I'm fine." She answered softly. "It's fine, thank you. Harry told us to come here. He's checking out a point of law that might help our cause..." She then went on to tell the blond wizard all about the book Severus had found and about Maple and Whipsnade and Lazarus Whittle. Lucius sat down on a large comfortable settee, looking agog at this information and still holding her hand until he caught Severus' eyebrow raised and released it quickly.

"Well I think this calls for a cup of tea." He smiled at no one in particular and stood up. "It will take a few moments I'm afraid as, well, they've taken my wand you see. So I'll have to do it the Muggle way."

Hermione gave him a small smile of encouragement. "It's ok Lucius" she said "Muggle tea is so much nicer I think. And I'm sure you'll get your wand back soon enough."

They sat around for a while making idle chit chat when eventually Harry's head appeared in the floo grate. "May I come through?" He asked Lucius.

"Of course Mister Potter." Enthused Lucius "of course!"

Harry dusted off the soot that was covering his shoulders - such was the downside of 'floo travel' - and steadied himself as he came into Malfoy Manor.

Lucius reached forward and shook his hand with sincerity. "Thank you for coming." He said "and thank you for keeping me out of Azkaban. You don't know what it means to me."

"It's nothing" replied Harry a little brusquely, still feeling a little uneasy in Lucius' company.

"What do you know, Harry?" Asked Severus, breaking up the reunion. "What news?"

"Is it good news?" Asked Hermione, anxiously.

Harry nodded "As good as we can hope for I think.  I have to give you these." He handed a parchment to Hermione and Lucius respectively.  "They're a Court Summons" he said answering their questioning looks.  "An emergency Hearing of the Wizengamot has been called to order for five thirty this afternoon.  Walter Whipsnade and Lazarus Whittle have also been called upon.  I managed to persuade The Order of Merlin's Counsel that this needed to be sorted before Christmas and apparently being 'Minister of Magic'" he winked at Hermione "does give one a certain amount of weight - so they agreed.  I've issued a formal statement, so your two cases should be a mere formality.  It's not looking good for Whittle and Whipsnade though."