Lucius looked at Narcissa with pure adoration. Finally, they were husband and wife. Finally, they were alone for the night. All the formal ceremonies and all the proper parties were finally over. Now it could be just the two of them.

"I have some wonderful plans for tonight," Lucius smiled at his wife as he began to undress her.

"You have me intrigued," Narcissa smiled back as she began to undress him as well.

Lucius suddenly felt the Mark on his left arm burning. "Not tonight," he hissed.

"You better go," Narcissa said, trying to keep the sadness out of her voice.

"But it's our wedding night," Lucius growled. "Surely the Dark Lord will be able to understand that. No, Narcissa, I'm staying here with you tonight."

"I don't want you to get hurt because of me," Narcissa breathed. "The Dark Lord will be angry if you don't go."

"Right now," Lucius growled, "I could care less."

Lucius and Narcissa were eating breakfast the next day when the Dark Lord suddenly entered the room.

Lucius and Narcissa stood up immediately, with Lucius placing himself in front of his wife.

"My Lord," the blond-haired wizard greeted respectfully.

"Where were you last night, Lucius?" the Dark Lord hissed angrily.

"I'm sorry, my Lord," Lucius replied, "but I wasn't able to get away."

"Don't lie to me, Lucius," the Dark Lord said. "I know exactly where you were last night. Surely your wife understands that your servitude to me takes precedence over everything else."

Narcissa nodded her head. Lucius took her hand and gently squeezed it.

"Is your wife going to continue to be a hindrance?" the Dark Lord asked. "Do you care more about her than doing your duty?" The Dark Lord began to go for his wand.

Lucius could feel Narcissa trembling behind him.

"It wasn't Narcissa's fault, my Lord," Lucius spoke quickly and with desperation in his voice. "She told me to leave and to go to you. I was the one who didn't want to do my duty last night, not her."

The Dark Lord's hand drifted away from his wand. "That's good to hear, Lucius," he smiled unpleasantly. "It really would be a shame if your wife ever again got in the way of your priorities."

"Of course, my Lord," Lucius breathed. "This will never happen again."

Lucius was at the Ministry when the ring on his finger burned, indicating that Narcissa was sending him a message.

The blond-haired wizard looked down at the ring and read the words, It's Draco. He's really sick. I've already given him some potions, but he's not looking any better. I'm really worried about him.

Lucius quickly tapped his wand to his ring to send a message back to his wife:

Take him to St. Mungo's. I'm on my way there.

Lucius's Mark burned at that moment.

The blond-haired wizard sighed in both anger and desperation. He really wanted to be with his wife and son, especially with Draco (who was only about three months old) being sick. However, he also didn't want to risk angering the Dark Lord. His life, after all, wasn't the only life he had to worry about if the Dark Lord became angry.

Lucius reluctantly tapped his wand to his ring.

I'll be there as soon as I can. I'm currently needed elsewhere.

Narcissa would know what he meant by those words.

A few moments passed. Then, Narcissa sent him a message back:

You better go to him. I don't want any harm to come to you because of us.

I'm so sorry, Lucius messaged back.

It's fine, Narcissa returned. I understand. Now go to him. I'm sure that Draco will be just fine. It's probably just something minor. You know how I get sometimes when it comes to him. I'm always worrying about nothing.

Lucius sighed to himself. He still believed in blood purity, but sometimes he wondered if it was truly worth all the sacrifices that he had to make. Was it truly worth abandoning his wife and his son in their time of need?

Sometimes Lucius really didn't know who he hated the most: the Muggles, the Mudbloods, the Muggle-lovers, the war, the Dark Lord.

Or himself.