"Now, now, young Draco..."
"I'm not young anymore!" Draco snapped.
"Right, we know you're not young anymore, Draco-"
"And stop treating me like a child all the time, mother, I'm sixteen! And I think you're forgetting that I'm"-he pointed to himself with a rather hard, jabbing finger-"the one the Dark Lord has given this mission, and if you disagree with him-"
"No, no, Draco! I wasn't-I was only saying-you're my son..."
"And father is your husband! If he's a Death Eater, then why can't I be one, too?" He must have realized how childish he was sounding, because he added quickly, "The Dark Lord knows I am capable of doing this, or else he wouldn't have assigned me the task."
Narcissa froze. "Look...Draco...he isn't exactly completely confident in you..."
"What're you getting at? Of course he's confident in me, why shouldn't he be?!"
Narcissa cast a wary look around her shoulder before saying in a low whisper, "Severus Snape's made the Unbreakable Vow to protect you."
"What? Why? I don't need to be protected, I can defend myself-!"
"Against Aurors, the Ministry, the other professors, and anyone else who may try to stop you? Even Lucius wouldn't refuse the offer of being protected under any Death Eater, especially someone such as Severus."
Draco fell silent. He knew that his mother was right. Tugging up the collar of his robes, he growled, "I don't trust him."
His blue eyes flickered to his mother's for a moment. He'd expected her to give him a look of shock, but all she said was, "I take it you've been speaking with your Aunt Bellatrix?"
Draco frowned, a look of pure contempt upon his pale face. "So what if I have?"
"Bella's a bit...superstitious...when it comes to these things. I should know, having grown up with her." Narcissa placed a loving hand over her son's wrist. The train behind them whistled deeply.
Draco yanked back his arm. "I've got to go, mother, I'll miss the train."
"Okay, Draco...just promise me one thing."
Draco, who had turned to start walking, turned back to glance at her.
"Trust Snape."
Draco said nothing. He just turned back and continued to walk, entering the car of the train, slamming the door behind him.