Well done! Well-developed plot and characters. A 'what if' with a realistic scenario suited to the political climate after the war.

The flashback of Andie and Narcissa on the day she was cast out was sad because I don't think she even realized what she said. Narcissa said Mudblood not from spite, but because it was the word her family used and, unlike Andromeda, hadn't learned to think differently. Andromeda's defense of Ted was from the heart, but her choice of words must have hurt Narcissa deeply. They implied that the new lover mattered more even than the sister who'd always adored her. If she'd phrased things differently, crafty Slytherins that they are, the sisters might have stayed in touch and not both been so alone during the harshest events of their lives. Narcissa's already proven that she'll connive for the ones she loves. How much more so when she was younger and more impulsive?

That last line makes it clear that, brilliant social match it might have begun, there's more to the Malfoys' marriage than rich husband/beautiful wife. Was Narcissa surprised to feel her heart break, I wonder?

Slytherins or not, the Malfoys have plenty of nerve when it comes to protecting each other. Draco is becoming a man of action beside his least favorite Gryffindors but Lucius really surprised me. Blackmail is just something in his arsenal, but agreeing to protection for only his wife and son? Not a quality I'd expect in him. I can't tell if he slipped up or has a backup plan when he said he'd TELL Narcissa. Shouldn't he have implied that there was evidence she could easily access instead? Maybe he wants to leave the impression that his wife is no threat. I just worry that they'll assume it's safe to stab Lucius in the back by taking him into custody before he can tell Narcissa anything incriminating.

And I'm thoroughly sympathizing with the Malfoys. Lucius may have done monstrous things under Voldemort's orders, but Narcissa and Draco were a lot less culpable. These aren't saints, but right now this family are being batted around by people who think of mercy, and even ethics, as a luxury. I hope Snape comes up with a way to help them without landing himself in a cell in Azkaban. Or getting murdered by the boy hero.

So Snape's taking a lot of risks to protect Minerva, who'd hex him on sight, while heroic Harry wants to obsess about closure in the form of revenge. As Luna pointed out, his parents were betrayed by Peter Pettigrew and Harry chose to be merciful. Snape's betrayal took the form of loyalty to the Potters' enemy. Harry seems to need an excuse not to move on. He also needs a reminder about intent being at the heart of Dark Magic. He can say, "I don't want to hurt people with Dark Spells", but is it better to misuse so-called Light Spells to inflict pain? I suspect he could go very dark without ever using an Unforgivable.

A lot of introspection and a glimpse of Snape's awful last year at Hogwarts. Narcissa knows him well enough to warn him that McGonagall is in danger because she knows he cares even though he's trying not to. I have no doubt what decision he'll make and it's really not about Lily. He's a man who consistently chose to rush towards the sound of others in distress without taking time to do debate. (The egg in Goblet of Fire, Myrtle when Harry cut Draco, and when he realized that three of his least favorite students had gone off with a werewolf he didn't trust on the night of the full moon.) It's part of his essential character.

Typical of Severus to deny himself any chance of happiness or freedom. He knew that he couldn't forgive himself for his own crimes, so why risk giving anyone else a chance to? Even his backassward demand for the Malfoys' help just gave him a prison cell. I'm sure they'd have found a way to help him escape more fully, maybe to get plastic surgery in the muggle world so he wouldn't be so recognizable (that nose is... distinct).
What really caught my attention was how unaware Arthur Weasley still is of Percy's life. They may have settled their differences but I wouldn't say they're close. He really knows nothing about the girl his son dated for years? He never noticed any owls between them over the summers? The twins knew and I'm sure it was one more thing to tease their "uptight" brother about. It's as if he really wasn't a "real Weasley". That might just explain his willingness to blindly follow people who seemed to value his virtues. Severus Snape did the same thing once upon a time and the man he believed in wasn't part of the legitimate government. Like Snape, he was also moral enough to act for someone he cared for and ended up choosing the good guys as a whole.

But she was not Bellatrix, she would not turn
on her friends and family just to save her own skin.

To be fair, Bellatrix was hardly the type who would turn her back on any one to save her own skin. She went got Azkaban rather than deny Voldemort, unlike the Malfoys. Indeed, loyalty seems to be a Black family trait: Sirius is devoted to James, Narcissa to Draco and Bellatrix to Voldemort.

Great story! Intricately crafted and well-written. I thought the characters behaved realistically. A nice ending, even if not particularly happily ever after.

I like how Harry is slowing changing his opinion of Snape rather than instantly making him a saint.

Great twists.

Loved the conversation between Kingsley and Severus.

One of the most pathetic drivel I've had the displeasure of coming across. I was hoping something good would happen, but it's slow, boring and does not make any sense at all. Your efforts to bring suspense to the story has failed miserably and is just a drag to read while hoping something happens. Entire chapters with nothing happening to move the plot forward.

Man, its really good.