Author's note: This story begins during the Battle of Hogwarts, immediately following Harry Potter's reappearance. There is one deviation from the book, in that the Malfoys run from the battle (like in the movie). Other than that, everything will strictly follow canon.

Narcissa pulled her son along with her, mind racing. She didn't know where she was going but knew that they had to put distance between themselves and the Dark Lord. He would kill them all if he got the chance now.

She didn't stop to look for her husband. She could hear his footsteps following.

When she reached the Forbidden Forest, Narcissa plunged in, leading them blindly. At last, when she realized that she could not remember the way back out, she slowed her steps. They were in a little clearing that looked as if it had been trampled - most likely knocked down by the Dark Lord's giants. She went over to a fallen log, and finally relinquished her hold on her son.

Draco sank down onto the log and let his head hang. Narcissa felt a hand on her back, and turned her head slightly to glance at her husband as he walked past her. He was taking in their surroundings warily. Narcissa finally realized that she was out of breath, and leaned against the nearest tree.

She was watching Lucius look around before she heard Draco take in a sharp breath. Her eyes immediately went to him, and she saw that her son's back was heaving with silent sobs.

Narcissa sat next to him, putting a comforting arm around his shoulders. It took him a few seconds to find his words, but he finally croaked, "I lost your wand."

She had already feared as much, but nonetheless her stomach clenched as if she'd swallowed a ball of ice. Lucius had turned and was now watching them. Draco continued haltingly, "...I got Disarmed... I could have got it back but... Crabbe..." He clenched his eyes shut, and she realized that her son's young friend was dead. "He cast Fiendfyre, and couldn't control it. Goyle was out cold, and I just barely got us away..."

Tears rolled down his face. Narcissa pulled him in to her, letting him rest his head on her shoulder. She wanted to comfort him, but no words came to her.

"I'm sorry, Mum," he croaked.

Narcissa hushed him. "No," she said, rubbing his back, "It's all right."

Even so, she looked over Draco's shoulder to her husband. Lucius' gaze was unreadable. She could tell he was thinking very hard about something. He looked away, and began to slowly circle around the clearing.

Finally he approached them. "There is something I must do," Lucius said. Draco lifted his head at the sound of his father's voice, and he snapped out of his grief for a moment. Lucius dug his hand deep into the inner pocket of his robes, and withdrew a pocket-watch. He handed it to his son, and said, "If I am not back in an hour, I want you to get out of here on foot."

"Where are you going?" Narcissa interrupted him.

Lucius looked at her. "Without a single wand between the three of us, we don't stand a chance. I'm going to find one."

"I'll go with you," Narcissa said quickly.

Her husband shook his head. "One person is not as noticeable as two or three." He looked at Draco again, whose eyes were red and wet. "I'll be back," Lucius said quietly, putting a hand on the young man's shoulder.

He glanced at Narcissa before turning to go. She grabbed his sleeve quickly, pulling him back. "No, Lucius, we have to stay together," she whispered urgently. Her eyes were suddenly wet.

Lucius looked down at her. "Trust me," he said. Narcissa shook her head ever so slightly, unwilling to let him go.

Lucius leaned in close to her and pressed his lips gently against hers. Tears slid down her cheeks into their kiss. He placed a hand on the crook of her neck, pulling her closer. Narcissa felt him coaxing her mouth open, and although surprised, she let him. Her surprise grew when he felt him tip her head back and deepen the kiss, claiming her. His weeks of stubble was rough against her face, but she didn't care.

As she finally felt him pulling away, she gave his lips one last kiss before she looked up into his eyes. The intensity there reassured her of his love. He backed away from her a step without breaking their gaze, before turning and heading off.

Narcissa watched him disappear, pushing away the feeling that this felt like goodbye. Her lips were red from kissing, her eyes and nose, from weeping.

At last she became very aware of the presence of Draco, on whose back her hand still rested. With only a tiny bit of embarrassment, she glanced over at him and gave him a final little pat before returning her hand to her lap.

Draco, courteously, made no comment.

Each minute seemed to drag on for hours at first, but then, after half an hour, time seemed to speed up. Soon it had been forty-five minutes. Draco and Narcissa were silent as they waited. When at last Lucius had only one minute left, Narcissa could take it no more. She stood and walked to the other side of the clearing behind her son, and sobbed as quietly as she could.

Could she leave her husband behind? Did she have a choice? She'd lied to the Dark Lord to save her son's life. Her responsibility, now, was to get him away from all this. But to abandon Lucius... On the other hand, her husband could be dead. The thought occurred to her abruptly, and it sent a jolt of fear through her body.

Draco appeared at her side. "Mum," he said tentatively. "Let's wait a few more minutes."

The temptation was great. She immediately wanted to nod, to be grateful for the suggestion, but she couldn't be. Lucius had wanted her to take Draco and get out. And if he was dead, and she was waiting here for nothing... No. They had to go now.

She wiped her eyes and shook her head at her son. Draco pleaded, "Just five minutes, who knows if he could have gotten held up, he could be hurt -"

"He could be dead." Narcissa surprised herself with how bluntly she said it. She gathered up her skirt and headed for the far edge of the clearing. "Come."

After a few yards she stopped. Draco hadn't moved. His eyes were fixed on a ball of blue light that was flying toward them at an alarming pace. Narcissa's breath caught in her throat as hope swelled within her. As it neared them, it gracefully changed form into a peacock.

"I am coming. Stay where you are," it said.

The Patronus disappeared, and Narcissa let out a sigh of relief.

Please R&R!