This was absolutely brilliant! I loved your Ginny so much. She was spot on, as was Draco. Your writing was exceptional as well. I didn't know what to expect when I started the story, but oddly one moment that kept me going was your description of Ginny in the rain, the way she nodded, tipping her hat and the water onto the floor, and Draco jumping back. Everything was so vivid. I could imagine it perfectly. I really loved so much of this story, including Ginny's outfit, Draco unable to stop himself eyeing her midriff, their little tet-a-tet, and the ending. :) Thank you for such a wonderful story!

Nice job! Not what I was expecting!

As much as I love Drinny, Dramione, reformed Slytherin alumni association, or repentant Death Eaters, this is a gorgeous portrait of canon, recent post-Battle Malfoys - broken and likely suffering, but still scheming and not at all contrite, racist bastards.

Northumbrian, you are a goddamn master of the epilogue-compliant fic. I resist, I flee, I nail my colors to the masts of my ships, but you, you wonderful, magnificent magician, being me back to canon.

Love your work! Can you update your bio with all your new stories soon? I love reading them in chronological order. Thanks!

Draco and Narcissa scarily remind me of Joffrey and Cersei.

Another well done story. I almost wish it was more than a one-shot. I'd love to see Malfoy come crawling to her and asking for her help.

Excellent! Malfoy is having hard time to realise what his present situation is. Such a fool! But I wonder if the other girl who accepted the invitation is Astoria Greengrass. Her sister is involved with the events of Hunters and Prey, merely an year before. Astoria probably isn't but gives us food for thought. Particularly after chapter 5 of Friends and Foes. Even the name of that story is suggestive of what must be going on.

Well, I'm very glad that Ginny doesn't need to have her head examined for switching love interests! That was quite an elaborate plan of hers to find out what's going on with Draco, and making him think the mead was THAT mead from all those years ago! Poor Draco...not!

North,
As fascinating as that was, it confuses me. Other than saving Fenella the torture of being vetted by Draco, and discovering his true self, why the mead? On the other hand it helps in the flow of your greater story. That in itself is worth this story. Draco was doomed the moment he was born. but he can change that, if he works at it.
FoM

Northumbrian,

Good work... I need the laugh. :)

Very intriguing. So Draco is the same bigoted, nasty person he was before his fall from grace. His ideals are still the same, even if he knows that he would probably be dead if Volde had won the war.

I suppose it is difficult to change the beliefs that have been inculcated within one since birth.

Well, Ginny certainly decided to prove to Harry that Malfoy was still Malfoy, and she did it in spectacular fashion. Unfortunately, because Malfoy's past showed him as having not always following the evil path his master laid down for him, Harry wants to believe their is good in him. Harry wants to believe there is good in everyone.

Your title 'Knavery' intrigues me. A knave is a dishonest and unscrupulous person, but you chose knavery instead. A servant boy. Because he is still a servant to the Dark Lords beliefs?

Beautiful characterisations of Malfoy, Narcissa, and Ginny.

Lesley

Really good story. Always love Ginny when she sets her mind to do something. However I have noticed in a few stories the misconcept that Draco did not identify the trio at Malfoy Manor. If you read the book he clearly confirmed Ron and Hermione (and Harry by association) after some initial hesitation. It's just a sore point of mine.

It's always a delightful surprise to see you've written something new and this didn't disappoint. I always appreciate your depiction of Ginny: feisty, clever, witty. Draco had both light and dark within him, wrapped in thick layers of cowardice and self-preservation, which is exactly what Draco is all about. And I had to chuckle at Narcissa, always pragmatic in the face of her fall from grace but by far the most lucid of the three Malfoys.
As always, very well done.

Another little gem of a tale, Ginny gave him a fair chance, but the leopard hasn't really changed his spots, just started sailing under a 'false flag' to mix metaphors. Well written and well plotted as ever.
Many Blessings.
Oriondruid, (John).

nice!