Copyright: I do not own any of the characters. Some of the plot in this chapter reflects the series, but taken through a new light. The plot of this story is entirely my own.

Prologue

"Wait!"

Narcissa heard the voice cry out from behind her. She had hoped that she could make this meeting private, without any interference from anyone else. She had wanted to go visit him in the strictest of confidence. That way no one would know where she was about to go, or who she was about to meet.

"Cissy – Narcissa – listen to me –" the voice called out again from behind her.

Narcissa kept going, ignoring the voice of her sister. She needed to go see Severus. He was the only one that could help her now. He could save her family from falling apart. If Lucius knew she was doing this, she would be dead in an instant. But unlike him, she did not think of herself, but for the safety of her own son.

"I've already made my decision. There's nothing you can say to change my mind Bella. I'm doing this. Now go back."

She knocked on the door of the place urgently. She didn't care for what her sister was saying about the buildings appearance and demeanour. There were more important things at stake for her.

As the knocking ceased, the door opened. Severus stood there and gave her a grim smile. He must know why she was here. "Narcissa, what a pleasant surprise!" he said. His smile then turned to a look of distain as he laid his eyes upon her sister. "Bellatrix." He said, acknowledging the witch's presence.

As they settled down in the library, her sister and the potions master began to argue. She once again questioned his loyalty to the Dark Lord, and caused him to launch into his story about his loyalty to Voldemort. He sounded awfully convincing with how he had spun around the stories to shin a different light upon them. After he had finished Bellatrix still seemed hesitant to believe it, but settled for accepting the truth. But Narcissa wasn't easily as satisfied. She knew something was wrong with the story but didn't say it aloud. She had no need to point it out, in fact it would rather be to her advantage.

But Severus turned his attention to her instead. "Narcissa, I believe you came to me for help?"

"Severus, I don't know who else to turn to. He's just a boy, just a boy. I know it is forbidden for me to speak of this" she said, her voice trailing off.

Bellatrix used this opportunity to tell her to stop talking. Snape sneered at her, and claimed he already knew of the mission.

Narcissa felt the relief return to her. "He trusts you so, Severus. My son, my only son. Severus, keep him safe. Please," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Her sister snickered upon Snape's agreement to help. She commented on how he wouldn't really help, after all he was a coward. To push her goading further, Bella had suggested making the Unbreakable Vow once he had agreed. Bella had been shocked that he had agreed as had Narcissa. But she linked arms with the wizard and the spell had been cast.

Bella disappeared then. She hadn't seen the point of staying any longer than she had to, and Narcissa had been relieved.

"Severus, I know. I know that you are still a spy for Dumbledore," She told him calmly.

"Narcissa, I think you missed how I defended myself earlier to your sister," he began.

She cut him off. "No Sev, I didn't. Don't worry, I'm not going to tell. I want your help. Can you seek Dumbledore with this information and ask him to find a way to stop Draco from having to go through with this? Can you ask him to give Draco the protection of the Order?" she asked, her voice close to whispers.

"Narcissa, do you understand what that would mean? You would be betraying the Dark Lord, and your husband. Do you want to do that?" He asked her feeling shocked and also accepting the truth she revealed about him.

"Severus, we both know I haven't loved my husband in a long time. Draco is all I have now and I need to protect Draco from him. I have spoken to my son about this, and Draco has agreed to seek the protection," she said.

"Narcissa, this is risky, what if someone found out?"

"Then it's a good thing that I'm the one who taught you about Occlumency now isn't it?" she said calmly.

Snape sighed in defeat, and Narcissa knew that he would help her.

"Draco!" The professor scolded as he pulled him out of the Slug's party. "What do you think you were doing?"

Draco looked at him frustrated. "I was attempting to make it look like I was completing the task," the boy said, with an annoyed look on his face.

"Draco you cannot afford any mistakes. Dumbledore is already trying to protect you from this. You need to be careful. If someone caught you without knowing the true extent of your plan, you would be expelled and then sent to Azkaban without a moment's delay."

"I know the risks! Do you think that I wouldn't? It's my mother's life at stake Severus. He's going to kill her if I can't make this look believable." The boy ran his hand through his hair.

Severus felt sorry for the boy. It had been a lot for a seventeen year old to go through on his own. Being forced to kill the Headmaster, one who was the most powerful wizard in the world, was not easy. They had gone to him for help, and he had gladly given it to them. He would die for them, but the ancient magic of protection would allow for him not to die. In the meantime, Draco was to continue on with the plan as if to execute it.

"I am aware of the risks involved for your mother if you fail Draco. But you need to be careful," Severus replied curtly.

"You care about her don't you?" he inquired, disregarding his warning. The boy was stubborn at times, but he didn't miss much.

Snape said nothing.

"What if he's dead?" She sobbed. Severus just held her tightly in his arms as the witch cried uncontrollably. As soon as she arrived on the battlefield at Hogwarts, she had thought of nothing but her son. While attempting to mascaraed as fighting, she had been searching with no prevail.

"Narcissa, control yourself. He's going to be fine," He said softly. "It won't do him any good if you are worrying constantly about his well being. He's a smart boy, and he knows how to survive."

Narcissa was unable to reply to this. Luckily for her, she didn't have to worry much longer.

Just then the platinum haired boy appeared before them. "Mother," said the worried voice. "I was afraid something might have happened to you!"

Narcissa cried further at the sight of her son. She pulled him into a tight hug. "Sweetie, you're alright. Oh Merlin, I was afraid that you had been done in."

Snape watched the mother and son reunion as he felt happy for the witch before him. He had been so glad that the two of them were still safe. They were both like family to him, and if something happened to either one of them, then he had no idea what he would do.

"Draco, I want you to listen closely. I do not want you to hide anymore. Fight for the side you believe in." Draco went to argue with her but she silenced him. "I shall be fine Draco. But he will fall today, and when he does, I want you to be on the side that you believe in."

Snape smiled and gave a nod of approval to the young boy.

"Severus, this wand does not seem to be working for me, and I think you know why," a cold voice said softly.

Severus said nothing. He knew that his death would be inevitable. But he would still die fighting. He would die to ensure the safety of Narcissa and Draco. At least by his death would they both be safe from this horrid man.

"Avada Kedvra."

Severus heard a soft voice crying around him. Was he dead? He must be. He looked around and saw Narcissa and Draco around his crippled body. She was holding him tightly in her arms and sobbing into his chest, whereas Draco was sitting there, pale faced. He knew what this was. This was the sound of his soul still listening to the people that surrounded his now dead body. He wanted to feel bitter in his death. He knew that now he would be joining Lily Evans in the afterlife, but she would still be there with James. But the bitterness of his death didn't come. He had died to protect those he loved. And for him, that was good enough.

But then the strangest thing happened.

He felt himself regaining consciousness. He found himself back in his own body. He could feel the control of his body actions once more. He felt his eyelids flicker, and saw a blurry face in front of him. Merlin's Beard, he was alive!

He saw Narcissa's head still huddled tightly in his chest. Draco's eyes widened at the sight of his body movement.

"Mother," Draco breathed. "He's alive. Severus is alive!" A wide relieved smile broke out upon the boy's face.

Narcissa looked up at him and saw that what her son was saying to be true. She pulled him into the tightest hug that he had ever received.

"Lucius Malfoy, you are accused of murder of muggles and wizards, using the Unforgivable curses, conspiring against the Ministry of Magic and being a Death Eater. Do you deny any of the following charges?" The judge called out.

Severus looked at him intently. Narcissa and Draco had been cleared of all charges due to their help with the order, much to Lucius' dismay. Severus knew that he would not be as lucky as his wife and child.

He took a hold of Narcissa's hand as she watched the trial in front of her. He knew that she wanted him to be locked away for good, and he secretly hoped it would happen as well. If there was one thing he knew, it was that Lucius was bad for Draco and Narcissa.

The Death Eater just smiled evilly at his charges. "None of them," he said, careful to annunciate each word.

The judge looked pleased, knowing that it would make his job a lot easier. "Lucius Malfoy, you are hereby charged guilty of all charges and shall face a sentence of 50 years in Azkaban."

Lucius just laughed.

He was relieved that the wizard would be locked away for a long time.

Narcissa smiled happily as she exited the building after the trial. She knew that the hardships of the war were now over. It would be hard for her family, as very few people actually trusted them anymore. Dumbledore had made it public knowledge about how she had helped their side. But people got caught up in the stereotypes. No matter how much it was laid in front of them, they refused to believe the goodness in some. She knew it would be a while until people were more accepting of the changes in the world, including that she and her son could actually be good people.

But they would come around eventually. It would take a while, but she knew that this world after the war would be able to put aside their differences and rebuild the world slowly together. And in time they would be able to accept everyone, regardless of blood status or stance in the war.

And now she had her new life cut out for her. She and Draco were free of her husband's wrath. Maybe now she could begin again, and try and find love out there somewhere. She would be able to love again, as she had once loved her husband so long ago. She would give Draco the father he deserved while finding some happiness for herself.

It was her turn to be happy.

A/N: I have decided to make this a short little series, so let me know what you guys think so far. I wanted to make this first chapter as a series of flashbacks from both of their prospectives so that you now what their take is on things before the story starts.