She ignored him, drumming her fingers together. "Are you here to negotiate a deal for Narcissa?"

He tilted his head at her and lowered his arms. "What could I possibly negotiate with?"

The fine layer of hope in her chest cracked, like ice on a lake. She'd thought maybe he had a plan. He always had a plan.

"Do you know where Draco is?" she asked.

His lips twitched. "Funny. I was going to ask you the same question."

She sat back, closing her eyes in frustration. Nine minutes. "They won't let me back into the Manor," she said dully. "So I can't retrieve your memories."

Opening her eyes, she found him staring at her — his gaze narrowed, but amused. "My memories?"

"The ones in the black vials. You left your study unlocked, and I found them."

"Did I?" He cocked his head. "That doesn't sound like me."

She didn't have time for his games, so she plowed ahead. "You will need to submit them to evidence again. Leave nothing out — Goyle Sr., Romania, Charlotte and the Carrow Girls — all of it."

He studied her silently. She took that as acceptance.

"Did you kill Romano and Berge in Salerno?"

"I did."

She let out a ragged breath. At least there was that. "Then submit that memory to evidence as well."

"Miss Granger," said Lucius, eyes flicking up to her. "You can't possibly be this naive."

Her mouth felt dry. "Pardon?"

"Do you truly believe they will review my memories in preparation for the trial?"

"I do," she said, with more confidence than she felt. "The Tribunal has been appalling thus far, but that ends today. If they won't review your memories, I'll drag a Pensieve into the courtroom myself."

His lips tugged in a half-smile. Something glittered behind his eyes. "I wasn't expecting you, Miss Granger."

"I know." He looked like Draco when he smirked. She twisted her fingers together. "I just came from my first meeting with the True Order."

"No, not just here." He glanced at the wall over her shoulder like there was a beautiful view she was missing out on. "You're quite unexpected."

She stared at him, waiting for him to say more.

"Don't misunderstand me, you're clearly more trouble than you're worth." He folded his hands and rolled his shoulders back. "But I almost regret preventing you from escaping the Palace."

Ice ran through her veins. The arms that had wrapped around her in the scuffle backstage.

Good work, Malfoy. It had been so long since she thought of that moment. At the time, she'd assumed it had been Draco.

"You said you weren't there — that you had no interest in slave-trading."

He shrugged. "I lied."

She racked her brain for the memory. "You were trying to take me outside. Why?"

"I hadn't quite decided," he lilted. "I was half-tempted to kill you. Would have saved me an awful lot of trouble."

She scowled at him, crossing her arms over her chest.