Hello readers :) This is the beginning of PART II of this story: the trial of Lucius Malfoy. I realize that there were some errors in my last chapter in terms of dates. I apologize, I had a cold and I just wanted to post an update and clearly did not proof read well enough.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and that it isn't too sappy. If you have a spare minute, please let me know what you think! Thank you!

PART II CHAPTER IV - War is a Gentlemen's Game

May 29, 1998

It felt like an entire lifetime had passed between Percy Weasley's visit to Malfoy Manor and the actual day of Lucius' trial. He and Narcissa had been busier than expected; between ridding the house of any last reminder of Lord Voldemort and the many funerals taking place in the weeks following the end of the war, Lucius and Narcissa hardly had any time at all to discuss the nature of the trial.

Only the night before did they discuss the fact that their life was going to be displayed publicly for strangers to intrude upon. Lying on their sides facing each other, their noses practically touching, were they able to quietly express their fears.

"Leave it up to Dumbledore and the Wizengamot to try and make a fool of me," breathed Lucius. "I don't want people knowing what I do in the privacy of my own house. It isn't any of their business! Mark my words, Narcissa. He'll make a public showing of how I treat my house elves and turn into some sort of public cause! Do you know he actually hired Dobby and paid-Narcissa?"

Narcissa, who had only been half listening, pursed her lips and frowned slightly.

"Darling, I know you're concerned that your image will be shattered and people will come to see you for the loving family man you are actually are-" Lucius scoffed. "But please remember that at least you are aware of what is to be extracted. To some extent," she added quickly seeing the look of confusion on her husband's face.

"I mean to say that at least you were present for all your own actions and doings. I, on the other hand," she said slowly. "as your wife, I have really no idea what I am going to see. Or if I even want to."

Lucius closed his eyes briefly. "I have always been honest with you about my activities as a Death Eater. There are no secrets there, sweetheart, which is why I could not be happier that you have been cleared completely from any charges; including guilt by association."

"I'm not talking about Death Eater activities." The sudden strain in her voice caught him off guard. Lucius shifted backwards so that he could look directly into his wife's eyes. Seeing her pained look, it only took him half a second to realize what she was implying.

He placed his hand firmly on her shoulder. "Narcissa, I have always been faithful to you. Not only have I always been faithful to you, but I have never stopped being madly in love with you. Please darling, please do not concern yourself with such worry. I promise you that tomorrow and for the duration of this trial and for the rest of my life, you will see nothing less than all of my love and devotion to you."

She did not answer him. Instead, one lone tear ran down her cheek. Wiping it away, he leaned over and kissed her firmly on the mouth. And then he kissed her again. Deeply, warmly, and lovingly. Narcissa snaked her arm around his neck and pulled him closer to her. Lucius moved his mouth across her face and down to the hallow of her neck, leaving a trail of soft kisses and hushed words of comfort. They had spent many nights lying in each others arms, exchanging loving words and languid kisses but this time there was an urgency shared between them. They had only made love twice since Lucius' return from Azkaban - on the night of his return and again the night before the Dark Lord made Malfoy Manor his new home and headquarters.

Placing his hand under Narcissa's nightshirt and moving it up to her chest, Lucius thought back to the days prior to Lord Voldemort's return. He was pleased to know that he and his wife had quite the active sex life; after all, having a son who is away at school ten months of the year certainly had its advantages. It saddened him that he had lost so much quality time with Narcissa over the last two years and he vowed to focus less on the past and more on the present. Especially with the possibility of him returning to Azkaban. It was with this renewed energy that Lucius Malfoy spent the night making love to his wife.

He was thankful that this nerve was still with him the next morning, especially when sitting in a windowless chamber in the dungeons of the Ministry; a small tube of veritaserum pulsing gently underneath the skin on his arm. The extraction of his memories took longer than expected. Despite the elderly official in charge of extracting Lucius' memories informing him to keep his mind cleared, it was difficult for Lucius. Every time he tried to think of nothing, he found himself focusing on more private, intimate moments with Narcissa.

"No, we don't need that one." The older gentlemen spoke softly, more to himself than Lucius, as he waved his wand to vanish the memory into the still air. Lucius said a silent prayer of thanks for this man's understanding. He understood that this whole ordeal was to expose him for everything that he was; a wizard, a father, a husband, a man, and a criminal. Narcissa, however, deserved for her image and dignity to remain intact.

After the extraction of his memories, Lucius quietly thanked the man and opened the door to the hall outside the courtroom.

There couldn't have been more than fifty people, all turning to watch him as he stood, frozen, in the doorway. He was unsure of what was more embarrassing: an room full of the strangers holding cameras and looking for a quotation for the front page or a room of his closest peers and colleagues, those who had known him his entire life. The silence that had initially engulfed the room upon his entrance quickly dissipated into murmurs as he moved towards Narcissa and Draco.

Narcissa reached for his hand and held it tightly. She leaned in and pretended to whisper something in his ear, allowing him the chance to sweep his eyes across the room and take in who exactly would be privy to his trial. Lucius immediately noticed Severus and Horace Slughorn, his key character witnesses. He was confused, however, by the presence of Sybil Trelawney. That is until he noticed her bony hand reach down and gently grasp Severus'. Lucius' eyebrow arched in surprise and he made a mental note to congratulate Severus on actually picking up a woman. He noticed Sirius Black standing with Remus Lupin and Nymphadora. They seemed to be chatting amicably with Andromeda and Ted Tonks. He wondered, briefly, how Narcissa felt about seeing her sister twice in less than a month after so many years apart. There were a couple of other members of the Order, including Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid, Hermione Granger, Longbottom, and that Lovegood child. Shifting his gaze, he saw that Harry Potter was also present, not surprisingly, and with what seemed like the entire Weasley clan. All nine of them.

Wonderful, he thought, just wonderful. I wonder though... He looked down to Narcissa who seemed to have picked up on what he was thinking. She reached into her clutch and pulled out a small key.

"I brought this just in case," she said and placed the key into her husband's palm. 'Shall we..." He nodded without word. He was nervous about approaching the senior Weasleys. After all that had happened, he had no clue as to what to expect when confronting them. And the last thing he needed was trouble right before the start of his trial and the single most important deciding factor in his future.

Hand in hand, he and Narcissa moved towards Arthur and Molly Weasley. Standing directly behind them, he coughed slightly to alert them to his presence. The look of surprise on Arthur's face would have been worth the risk on any other day...

"Lucius. Narcissa." He greeted them solemnly.

"Arthur. Molly," Lucius replied. The two women nodded their heads in acknowledgment of the other. A few tense moments of silence passed. Molly looked as if she wanted to speak so badly she was going to burst. Arthur, however, wordlessly commanded her to remain silent.

"Lucius," Narcissa prodded him gently. "Do you want to? Or shall I?" Lucius breathed out deeply.

"Arthur," he began. "Narcissa, Draco, and I read about what happened to your home in a copy of the Daily Prophet last week. We had no idea that had happened to you, much less Bellatrix's involvement in it. My father-in-law always used to say that war is a gentleman's game; there are rules to follow when engaging in war and attacking an enemy's home or family, especially when they aren't expecting it, certainly isn't fair game. We wanted to apologize for her involvement in destroying your family home."

The stone cold look on Arthur's face had given slightly but he remained straight faced and gave no indication that he was going to answer.

"I also wanted to apologize, as childish as this may seem, for the horrible things I may have said to you or about you over the years. I have learned in recent days that life is - should be- about family. Family is what makes a man. Not money or power." Lucius let go of Narcissa's hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "You are a better man than I am, Arthur. And I sincerely hope that, given the chance, I can do better."

"It isn't up to me, Lucius, whether or not you get a second chance," replied Arthur sharply. "So if you're looking to sway the jury-"

"What?! No-Arthur! That's not..oh Merlin." Lucius panicked. He quickly looked around the room to see if they had garnered an audience. Thankfully no one seemed to have noticed them.

"Here," he resolved, shoving the small key into Arthur's chest. Arthur held up the key and peered at it with scrutiny.

"Gringott's?" He asked.

"It is the key to Bellatrix's vault," Lucius answered. "Given that she had no descendants, Narcissa inherited everything. We have no need for her money and Narcissa already owned all of the family heirlooms she wished to have. It seems only right that Bellatrix's money and other valuables go to the victims of her inhumane actions. Look Arthur, I know it couldn't have been easy raising seven children, putting them in the finest education and providing for them..." Lucius looked across the room at Draco talking politely with Harry and Ron. His eyes teared at the sight of his son and the emotion behind the entire day.

"...there isn't anything I wouldn't do for my son. And I know there isn't anything you wouldn't do for your children. I think its safe to assume that is the one thing we have in common. Please, just take this - consider it war reparations. No matter what the outcome of this trial is, we want to know that you have been given the opportunity to rebuild your life, to take what had been used for destruction and to turn it into promise."

His speech had moved Narcissa as she gently wiped a tear from the corners of her eyes. The past few weeks had been both a blessing and curse for her and Draco. While the events of the wizarding war and the possibility of Lucius being sent back to Azkaban weighed heavily on them, the emotional change in Lucius had been the greatest prize of all. He had never been more open about his feelings and affections, and she took solace in knowing that even if he was sentenced to prison, that she and Draco would always have the memories of those recent times.

Molly was also clearly moved as a few tears slipped down her plump face. Arthur face had softened considerably. He opened his mouth but before he could reply, the giant wooden doors of the courtroom burst open and several Aurors came bustling through. The level of chatter in the entry hall rose as people began to proceed into the courtroom.

Placing the key in his pocket, Arthur stretched his hand out to Lucius. "Good luck, Lucius. May your trial be fair and just."

Lucius shook Arthur's hand and nodded his understanding. As the last few people filed into the courtroom, Lucius turned to Narcissa and Draco. They were the last remaining three in the hall.

They did not need words to express the emotion that filled their hearts or the anxiousness that filled their heads. Gathering in a tight family embrace, Lucius kissed his wife and son on the head before gently ushering them into the courtroom. One last glance at Narcissa before she entered the room gave him all the courage he needed. Letting out a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and prepared himself for what was to come.