Yes, I am back to this story! I will do whatever I can to finish this story and it's going to be a long plot to work on. So, please be patience! I apologize for over a year wait as I have several stories getting stuck in my head and been juggling so much with school and work and family. But, things are slowing down a bit and it's an improvement to get writing time in!

There may be a shift of style, so bear with me as it has been a while to focus.

So, enjoy!

Lucius nods lightly, "It is up to you, Harry. After all, multiple marriages for all the titles and heritages are serious business. Which is necessary to find someone who loves you as they love you in return, that will bring you nothing but happiness."

Harry nods, "Thank you. For now, I'd like to figure out a way to stop them, especially summer time will feel too long for everyone, let alone returning in the public outing without risking our safety. I suspect either of you have some advantages and disadvantages to Hogwarts?" His arms crosses and glances at the Slytherins expectedly.

Lucius hums, "Considering the disadvantage is Hogwarts' warding is down until the school year begins, which means we will need to find a way to wait or trigger the proper warding."

Severus grimaces, "Which requires several people on the field to draw the warding. It won't be enough."

Harry faces his fiancée, "How many people required to draw the warding?"

"Forget it, Potter, it won't take you alone."

The Gryffindor crosses his arms, "Ginny can assist to draw the warding, what about you?"

"It might not be enough, she and I are not equally powerful as you are."

Lucius turns over to Severus, "Yet, you are equally powerful to him…you are able to master several things aside from potions abilities."

Severus scowls, "I am not. If I was, I would have instantly destroyed the dark lord when Potter was a baby."

The blond crosses his arms, "If you weren't controlled by the bastard monsters of yours, you would immediately. I assumed they gathered you and prevented your self-esteem, did they not?"

The dark eyes glares, "So? They still overpowered me each time and I would suffer the consequences for trying to resist and fight against them."

"No. You allowed them, Severus! You believed you are weak! You always have! You didn't let James or Sirius weakens you and you always fought back!" He hisses.

Snarls harshly against the blond, "Because I was powerful than those idiots, but those monsters are more powerful than I am! You have no idea how much control they have over me and I-I…forget it." Severus marches to the door-

-And that was because you didn't come to me for help," Yanks Severus away from the door and draws out the wand, "After everything I've done for you."

Harry sees Severus drawing the wand out and braces himself for the incoming attack. The Gryffindor lifts his wrist and-

Lucius held his wrist and glares at the Gryffindor at this attempt to end this. Harry's eyes narrow harshly against the blond and yanks away.

"He needs to learn, Harry, or I will not hear the end of those monsters. You will step aside and let us be." He swishes his wand and strikes against the potion master.

Severus counteracts it a foot apart and redirect it elsewhere. Lucius continues to attack various hex and increases the difficult over time. Each time the spell releases, it nearly reaches closer and closer to the point of physical contact coming in. Harry grits his teeth at the point of being failed to be heard of his rules and ignored the entire time of this ongoing duel. Severus keeps moving swiftly and quickly as he could until knocks down on the bed. The professor finally strikes out a hex and blows Lucius off his feet temporarily.

Lucius immediately rises on his stand and turns creatively into his hex attack. Severus uses the attack in a redirect target practice and remains focus on the blond the entire time. Severus recreates the hex and manages to shove Malfoy against the door. The attacking hex whisks away the wand from Lucius and depleted the attack. The veela within twitches his fingers and triggers fire slipping out from the fingertips. The fire removes him from being clung on the door and Lucius silently accio his wand over. Severus stands without any movement and Lucius flicks his wand to the point no spells actively happening.

"See my point? You are more powerful than a veela, equally powerful as Harry is. Harry can overcome the lure of a veela and maintain his strength of magic. You failed to see yourself powerful because I am not there to remind you."

Severus grips the wand, "Idiot, they're more powerful than you."

"Really? Why haven't they become the next dark lord?"

The professor lowers his wand and considers the question. He draws back on everything they have done to him and the way everything ran with those monsters. Harry looks over to Lucius and struggles to comprehend the intention behind it, but the way Severus responds more to someone who knew him all his life makes the most sense. Lucius is someone that Severus depended on all his life throughout Hogwarts years and someone to trust his life. Severus did not want to risk losing the only friend that understands everything about him.

"I…do not know," Sitting down on the bed, "They dragged me in to whatever they wanted, demand tall orders to see how much I will survive through it."

Harry walks over and sits next to him, "Sounds to me, they like control and enjoy maintaining that. I stopped the dark wizard, I escaped them easily, and I'm still here."

Severus shakes his head, "But why me?"

Lucius sighs, "Because you were an easy target at that time. Your emotions have gotten the best of you and willfully followed the rules to those who didn't use you like myself or a few friends you had."

Harry settles his arms around Severus, "You're powerful and these…sick monsters didn't want you to think you can actually stop them."

Lucius sits down on the opposite seat from Harry, "So, defy all their rules, commands, and expectation. Anything they said and reveals you to be doing or not doing, destroy and disobey them."

Severus lowers his head, his dark hair covering his face, and barely seeing his face. His fingers clenches on his trousers and breathes in deeply. Harry pulls his hair back and softly places the hair behind the ear. The dark eyes all watery and lips quivers with a soft whimpering, Severus breathes in deeper, and weeps uncontrollably. The Gryffindor wipes the man's tears and gets in front of Severus. Harry bends down in front of him and places his fingers to hold up the man's chin.

"They no longer have you and will no longer destroy you anymore, Severus. You will never be harmed again by them and I promise you that much I will stop them."

Severus sniffles loudly, "I…" Voice cracking and coarsely, "…don't die, please?"

"I promise that I will not die by them. I promise you that much."

Severus nods and Lucius slowly leaves the room. Lucius shakes his head and couldn't find the strength to handle such upsetting moment, especially knowing Severus all his life. The thought of those…those monsters, he starts to suspect a few group of people that took advantage of the poor Slytherin. Yet, the fire within him burns intensifies to know someone has messed with his Slytherin and it burns through him that the damage is too severe. He decides to head into the library and joins the witch in seeking in revenge for his friend. All those years…he should have known and save him, again as always.

Lucius enters into the library and finds himself searching the books. Once he finds a few, he carries over to the table and joins Granger. Hermione notices and sees the man into reading as his action puzzles her.

"What are you doing, sir?" Keeping the books close to her.

Lucius hums, "Finding a way to locate Severus' monsters and seeing legal justice enough to kill. No one messes Severus without passing by me."

She sits up straight, "Why? Why are you trying to do the legal system way?"

Lucius blinks and looks at her, "Because I will not be the monster Severus have been subjected to. I know the fine line is and understand, but no one deserves to be enslaved to mad men."

Hermione tilts her head, "You knew he went through, why now all of a sudden?"

Lucius sighs, "I had my suspicion, but he managed to keep me out of it. Severus was influenced by these…monsters for so long, he's afraid for our life. He knew I would have done anything to save him and I intended to make it happen."

She hums, "Look for something that involves laws on life threatening cases. A loophole that states others' lives being involved in a threat aside from being controlled."

Lucius softly smiles and admires her critical thinking skills involved. He checks into the index table and looks for certain pages to read into. Hermione noticed he willingly listened to her and did not ask a single question. She wonders what draws Harry with him and how Draco will react. For now, researching a way to stop the monsters after Severus and returning their lives back to normal. She sits up straight and tries to recall a few things. She crosses her arms and sits back in her chair. Her brow furrows and stares at the table to think about a few things.

"…how did they know Harry was the last person to see Severus?"

Lucius looks up at her, "Severus said they watched him closely."

Hermione hums, "And nothing happened since they moved here. It is clear they couldn't locate Severus because of the warding. Yet, they could at Hogwarts and anywhere else…how are they watching him?"

Lucius blinks, "They must have some sort of device, but most devices will have its limit like this warding system."

She snaps her fingers, "Of course…that's how they're watching him. The moment Harry took him here, it changes everything. It's clear they are not powerful as they appear to be."

Malfoy finds himself amazed at the witch's brilliance mind and realizing she held an excellent point. He analyzes everything he knew that Severus had told him and everything they went through.

"If I recalled, wouldn't it have classified as stalking and harassment?" Lucius hums, "If it is, they can legally be stripped of their magic and sentenced for life in Azkaban."

She looks up at him, "Could potentially fall into the category. It's providing evidence in their actions are the problem. Severus would have to provide the memories…which might be more difficult for him to handle."

Lucius hums, "What if there is a way without traumatizing him? I know a few people who are specialized and ensure the memories intact."

"…the approach would be?"

"They possess rare abilities in their creature forms, but no Ministry has denied those evidences. It would qualify as evidence."

"How do we reach them?"

Lucius leans back in his chair, "A few calling it would require, however, fire calling is unsafe. I could perform it at Hogwarts, if I knew where would be privately done to contact."

Hermione nods, "I know a place that will do."

They both nods and returns to reading into their books to back their resources. The curious part of them wonder how these monsters managed to monitor Severus' movement and controlled his life entirely. Hermione returns the books she had and changed a few to a better resource. Lucius kept reading further into laws and wards to understand how it would work in the wizarding world.

… … …

Hours later, Lucius is still reading and finding himself walking into the kitchen. The red head witch notices him entering in and eyes him carefully. She observes his action and recognize the oblivious state the blond wizard is in. The way Malfoy is beyond absorbed into whatever he is reading currently and unaware of her presence in the room.

"Hello Lucy," She spoke nonchalantly, while holding a cup of tea.

Lucius feels his cheeks much warmer than usual when he heard that, "What do you want, Miss Weasely?" Trying to appear unembarrassed to such nickname.

Ginny notices his reaction before he spoke, the way he didn't snap at her for calling him that, and trying to make it seems something is up. This amuses her to see the wizard squirming out of character act and dealing with several people in this house. She eases back and leans on the counter as she watches him. Lucius draws in the poker face and tries to mask in his personal embarrassment, keeping his focus on the book he's currently reading, and trying not to cause trouble.

"What do I want," She hums and sips, "I don't know, Lucy, you tell me."

Lucius finds himself frozen on the spot when Ginny said a line. He would recognize that line with any witch he has known in his entire life. Yet, he finds himself unable to stop his face feeling warmer than usual. Ginny waits for his response and notices he is uncertain how to approach her.

"…what did I do, miss Weasley?" He softly spoken.

She breathes in, "Let's see…drove my entire family to hate you, your son would bully everyone I know and gets us in trouble, and the moment you tuck in the diary into my father's basket." She scowls.

Lucius picks up his head when he learns something to be involved a diary. It was the same diary that cost him a house elf by Potter, but he wasn't too upset. He didn't know how to approach the situation without getting hex to death. He nods slowly and decides to let her express whatever she had to say. Ginny tilts her head and sets her cup down on the counter.

"I took the diary with me to my first year and began writing it in. Turns out, it was taking my soul for the exchange of the owner's soul. I nearly died." She lift her head up, "I nearly died because you wanted to get rid of anything involving you-know-who!" She scoffs, "You didn't care who came in the crossfire unless you are bloody safe!" She marches up to him with no space between them, "I nearly died because of you, Lucy, all because you didn't want to be seen evil!"

Lucius' grey eyes widen to see this young witch not wasting her time. Her voice got so loud that he didn't know what would happen and it kept him frozen no matter what. The way she explains and the anger grew stronger to the obvious point. The humanity within him crumbles at the thought of an innocent child nearly died because of his reckless decision. His shoulders drops and his brave mask fades away when learning the truth.

"I am sorry…I didn't know what happened or what it does exactly…I…please, forgive me, Miss Weasley."

Ginny steps back and crosses her arms. She looks at him emotionlessly and he waits for what comes next. He didn't move an inch and finds the weight became heavier on his shoulders. The fact a diary belonged to the dark lord almost killed her and she would have never lived to this day. The sheer of fear that war could have been much worse, leading to the regrets of his action, and desperation of escaping these fears and regrets.

"I forgive you, Lucy…but if you ever do that again, I will curse your arse to hell. Understand?"

Lucius gulps, "Yes…"

She smells, "Lucy…fitting, isn't it?"

Lucius blinks and realized it is over now. Flabbergasted on how to move forward with Ginny and she turns into a friendly witch everyone knows. However, his inner-self is pleased to be called Lucy and yearns for silly things like this and appears to be Ginny deciding for him. He closes the book and decides to take a break from the research.

"Oddly…yes, my grandmother used to call me that. I take it you prefer Gin or Ginny?"

She smiles, "Yes, better than Miss Weasley any day…besides, it'll be Mrs. Potter soon."

He softly chuckles, "True, the only Mrs. Potter you will become."

Ginny grins to the fact he is correct and there wouldn't be another Mrs. Potter in the future until the children are married, which is far in the future. She collects her cup of tea and sits at the table.

"Tell me, why are you interested in becoming a Mister Potter yourself?"

Lucius blinks, "I…Harry hasn't proposed. Why you think I would become Mister Potter?"

Ginny hums, "Harry can be clueless sometimes, but it's clear he trusts you, Lucy. He could have gone to anywhere else to get help, but he trusted you to help him."

He sits at the table with her, "True…still, it is entirely Harry's decision. He needs to decide whether he wants to wed me or find someone else."

Ginny rolls her eyes as she sighs, which Lucius has no idea why she would react this way. He decides to help himself to drink something and eat something as well. The day seems to be long and tiring already with much difficulty going on.

"What is it, Gin?" Lucius tests the water as he gathers a couple of food to eat.

Ginny glances over to him, "What is it with you Slytherin always making it out impossible for someone to want you or love you?"

The wizard hums, "I see Severus displayed disinterests in marriage?"

She nods, "Yup."

"You do realize that I will believe it once the questions do pop up, right?"

"So you won't try and get out of marriage once you accept it?"

"Am I getting a threat if I change my mind, Gin?"

"…maybe." She hums.

Lucius returns to the table and stares at the witch as if she has gone mad. He decides to be careful in any decisions he would make in the future and considers the consequences.

"Fair warning, I supposed." He hums and sits down.

Ginny nods, "Yeah…well, I'm going to check on everyone else. Are we good, Lucy?"

Lucius tilts his head, "As long you don't call me that in public, we are good."

Ginny nods and Lucius watches her leaves the kitchen to his own dismay. He secretly enjoys the nickname and knows there is someone calling him that way. Perhaps, he might survive fine in this house for a little while and enjoy it for now.

Ginny walks around the house and sees her parents spending time together quietly. She passes her twin brothers with Ron in playing games to entertain themselves for the day. Hermione still glued to the library and fixated to the research going on. She heads upstairs and finds Harry with Severus hanging around in the hallway from their rooms. Her arms crossed and relaxed shoulders to see the pair in good mood. She joins them with a smile on her face. Harry glances up to see his witch fiancée joining them in the hallway. He acknowledges her with a smile, which signals her that Severus would be fine for now. Severus shifts his attention towards her and finds himself comfortable enough to trust her.

"I see you both doing well." She hums.

Harry looks over to Severus, "So far, yes."

Severus sighs, "For now. However, it is only going to remain peaceful for short time with everyone here."

Ginny nods, "True, especially my dad…we all know he hates Malfoy."

Harry glances at his fiancées, "I really do not want to tolerate any fights in my home. Right now, everyone is safe and that is our priority."

Severus realizes that he's included and knowing he had a weak moment alone. Ginny leans against the wall and briefly stares at the ceiling before her fiancée.

"I forgave him, Harry. Lucy has changed, he's not who he used to be." She shrugs, comfortably knowing Senior Malfoy has apologized to what it has cost her.

Severus finds himself mortified to what Ginny has said and finds himself worried already. The witch notices his immediate reaction and chuckles.

"Don't worry, Lucy is good with me calling him that." Ginny looks to Harry, "So…when you proposing him?"

Harry nearly choked on his air and coughs to clear his voice. Both his fiancées are amused to his reaction and the savior shakes his head as if he didn't know if he heard her correctly.

"I…I haven't had the chance to court him again to be sure." Harry sigh roughly.

Severus scoffs, "So you regretted choosing older wizards," He hums curiously.

Ginny chortles softly, "Come on, you trusted Lucy to save you while you're saving Severus. Lucy is already set in to be taken by you, Harry, why are you denying that?"

The emerald eyes rolled, "Come on, give me time to think. Right now, we need to survive a houseful of guests with your family, Gin. I'd like to make sure we call all live through it until school starts."

"…I was wondering where you guys are," A voice joins into the hallway, revealing to be other red head fiancée, "What's going on?"

Severus shrugs, "Potter is having trouble deciding on proposing Luc. Your sister has called him Lucy already and I think she made her death wish already."

Ron snorts, "Harry, I think you should propose the mate already. I mean, you need someone to make you feel like to remind you that you're a hero still and you're still proving him no matter what."

Harry didn't realize he would become singled-out and hadn't been certain what to decide with Lucius. He knew this situation is beyond different since he didn't have to make any decision as it is given to him like an arranged marriage. He hadn't realized they accepted the wizard already without putting him on some kind of trial. He crosses his arms and look at his fiancées that he couldn't believe them.

"I sort of expected Severus to approve, but you guys, really?" Harry huffs as he realize there is no escape.

Ron tilts his head, "You got a thing about each of us anyway and you're picky, Harry."

Harry smirks, "Hm, and you're shy with me loving you."

Ginny laughs, "Good one!"

Ron blushes deeply, "…give me time, mate."

Harry glances over to the witch, "And you never gave up a crush on me, most people don't get to fall in love with their crush."

"Hey!" She scowls, but slowly smirks.

Severus shakes his head at this silly notion going on and Harry caught him doing that. He turns over to him.

"And you being so damn stubborn, you love it when I keep fighting."

Severus glances away as he feels his cheeks are warm again. They knew Harry would find a way to win a point and decide to leave him alone on the proposal decision or not. However, he wasn't entirely sure since he feels this is already his family. He needed another time alone with Lucius to be sure he's committing to someone he can love and trust like he does with his current fiancées. He glances over to the see the clock and seeing the time is nearing for dinner hours.

"You be alright, Sev?" Harry turns to him.

Severus hums drily, "Yes…why?"

"Dinner. I told Kreacher to take the evening off and let Molly and I cook for dinner. He seems to be pleased with the arrangement."

Severus nods, "I will survive…I will attend to the library."

Harry watches the slytherin heads toward the stairs and find himself to the library. The Weasley siblings still remain the area and waits for the distance between Severus and them.

"How is he holding up, Harry?" Ron frowns.

Harry shaking his head, "Terrifies…but he knows he is safe. The Magic Link will keep it that way, but I do have another plan to work on."

Ginny jerks her head up at him, "What plan?"

"…Salazar's mansion. I need to clear out a routing approach there and remove dangerous ones. I think Hermione will help me out."

"And you need us to make sure no one fights?" Ron frowns, "I don't think between you and Hermione is a good idea. What if it's more dangerous than it is?"

Harry crosses his arms, "Would you rather be dead once they try to locate Severus here? We need a safe place and that place is the only one undetected because of the ability to speak the tongue of snakes."

Ginny sighs, "I don't like it one bit, but I will bring you back to life and kill you if anything happens." She glares.

He smirks, "Really? Considering I have a hard time dying, you know?"

Ron rolls his eyes, "Blimey, not the joke!" He covers his ears.

Ginny shakes her head, "Don't make joke, I can find a way to kill you."

Harry pulls her and smirks still, "I still fear you, but love you all the same." Kissing her on the lips.

Ron quickly looks away while they kiss, but Harry notices as he grabs Ron closer into his hold. Once he ends the kiss with Ginny, he does the same to Ron while holding onto Ginny. She finds herself bewilder by his sudden action and blushing like crazy. As the kissing ends, Harry looks at his fiancées in admiration and seeing they couldn't resist.

"I love you both as well as Severus…and I promise nothing will happen." Harry softly smiles.

Ron murmurs a few words, "…and eventually Malfoy?"

Harry nods, "We'll see."

Ginny sighs, but she knew Harry wouldn't change his mind unless there is another option. Ron snorts leads to chuckling lightly, but decides to wait to see what will happen. He releases them and head himself downstairs to the kitchen. There is a feeling he couldn't ignore, but he decides to be careful in anything that would come his way. He needed to find a way to stop those monsters going after Severus and everyone will eventually lose their heads before they solve a solution. He thanks Salazar for having a place to feel more secure to do something to change.