She always imagined that seeing Lucius freed would be the end to all of her troubles. When she would venture out into Diagon Alley, her blonde head held high, and the public would snear at her, she would remember that she was Narcissa Malfoy and that when her husband was cleared all would be as it should be and those laughing at her now would be scum beneath her feet. When the ministry came poking around to try to find a trace of evidence linking her to Voldemort, she let her icy composure stand and reminded herself that someday soon Lucius would return to wipe these disgusting creatures off of the face of the earth.

But it was at night that the trouble came. She would put it off for as long as she could, have an extra glass of white wine in the library, write letters to old acquaintances, scribble her thoughts in her diary, anything to put off the inevitable task of going to her empty bed. It seemed too large now that it was just her, too cold now that Lucius's powerful presence wasn't there to warm the expensive sheets. Reluctantly she would undress, her eyes locked on the spot where his place should be. Her robes would pool at her feet as she stared at HIS pillow, HIS blankets, HIS sheets. She would imagine him there, concentrating so hard that she could almost hear the soft way he used to breathe in his sleep. Ignoring her usual bedtime rituals she had taken to crawling in bed immediately and shutting her eyes tight, fearful that if she opened them she would see what was and not what should have been.

"Goodnight Darling." She would whisper every night, as though he was laying beside her and could hear every word.

She would dream. She would see Lucius striding toward the manor, his impenetrable cold mask slipping off of his face at the sight of her. She would feel his arms wrapped around her, experience their strength and power and know that she was where she belonged once more…and the she would wake, and face the empty bed, and cry. She would wipe her tears dry, her vulnerable blue eyes turning icy and numb, and remind herself that when Lucius was released all would be well again.

Then one day, Narcissa's world fell apart. She was sitting in the library, wondering how to pass alone, when a small white owl came flying in. She recognized the bird immediately, it belonged to one of the wives of the death eaters. She sighed, wondering if there had been some attack she had not known about last night, if anyone she knew had been hurt.

But it was no ordinary correspondence, or even a sad letter containing the death of a friend. No, this was a howler.

Narcissa Malfoy was used to receiving howlers. She had received quite a few over her lifetime, but never, not once, from a woman who she considered to be a friend. Almost in a daze she opened it.

"HOW DARE YOU! YOU ALLOW YOUR HUSBAND TO BE A COWARD WHEN OTHERS ARE DYING. DYING. HAVE YOU NO PRIDE? HAVE YOU NO SPINE? MARK MY WORDS NARCISSA MALFOY I WILL SEE YOU RUINED."

She blinked. What had brought on such a verbal assault, particularly on Lucius? Had the woman lost her mind overnight and forgotten that Lucius was locked in Azkaban? He could hardly have done anything from within those walls to warrant such an abuse on his name.

Cursing softly she noticed another owl flying toward the manor, this one unfamiliar. It wasn't the Daily Prophet, she had cancelled the Malfoy subscription to that rubbish rag ages ago, and she was about to shut it out when at the last moment she had a change of heart.

"Hurry up…" She said softly, a sense of anticipation rising as the bird got closer. "In you go."

Her hands were uncharacteristically shaking when she reached for the bird's small envelope. There was a sense of trepidation about this moment, as though something very important was about to happen. She started trembling so violently that she needed to sit when she used one of her neatly manicured nails to slit open the envelope, and only when she was seated did she remove the parchment.

She gasped.

Her husband's script, though hurried and a bit less powerful looking than before, was evident on the page. She paused for a moment, just holding the letter, letting her eyes look over the words and take in the fact that this was indeed from Lucius. Then, and only then, did she very slowly read the sparse letter.

Darling,

I have made a deal with the devil, so to speak, a deal which I fear may drive you from me forever. However, I ask that you have an open mind, that you trust my judgment as you so often have before. I remain, first and foremost, your husband. Never forget that. I return home this evening, and we will discuss more then.

Yours,

LM

For what felt like forever, Narcissa stared at the letter, allowing five words to sink to the very core of her being. I return home this evening. So Lucius was to be freed then? Her prayers had been answered, all would be well and…

No matter how hard she tried, Narcissa felt a bit of fear come on. Somehow this was not going as it should. Lucius was fearful that she would hate him for something he had decided to do, and one of her dearest friends was sending her a howler and….

When Lucius returns, She thought, a bit less sure this time, All will be as it should be.

She had to believe that. It was all she could do.