"Draco, please cover that up," Narcissa somehow managed to say in a calm voice.
Draco looked up from the Dark Mark that he had been admiring on his exposed left arm.
"Why, Mother?" he asked. "We're safe in the manor. We don't need to hide our true allegiance here."
"That Mark is why your father is in Azkaban," Narcissa replied sharply.
Draco rolled down his left sleeve, covering up his Dark Mark.
"I'm sorry, Mother," he then said. "I didn't mean to upset you. I miss Father as well. But I'm just so proud and honoured that the Dark Lord actually wanted me to join his ranks. And not just that, he also gave me a very important task. He chose me above everyone else. I would think that would be a source of pride for you, Mother. Aunt Bella has expressed her pride in me."
"Well, I am not your Aunt Bella," Narcissa snapped. "I am your mother, and I love you very much."
"I love you too, Mother," Draco replied, "just like I know you love Father. That's why I don't understand why you're being this way. You never seemed to mind Father being a Death Eater. What's so different about me? Don't you think I'm worthy?"
"I have never doubted your worth, Draco," Narcissa responded, "and that's why I'm concerned. You and your father are everything to me, and I've already lost your father because of that Mark. I don't want to lose you as well."
"You don't need to worry about me, Mother," Draco grinned. "I'm going to be just fine. As for Father, I have no doubt that the Dark Lord will soon be breaking him out of Azkaban."
"Did the Dark Lord tell you this?"
"Not in those exact words," Draco replied, "but he did say we would be greatly rewarded as soon as I successfully complete my task. What greater reward could there be than getting Father back?"
"Draco," Narcissa gasped, just barely managing to keep her voice controlled, "your task is to murder Dumbledore. Dumbledore is not just some random wizard. He is dangerous. He could kill you so easily. Even the Dark Lord himself would struggle against him."
Draco looked around nervously. "You shouldn't doubt the Dark Lord like that," he said in a half-scared voice. "Aunt Bella may be near, and you know how much she hates anyone doubting the Dark Lord. As far as she is concerned, you might as well be insulting him."
"I'm just trying to get you to realize the reality of your task," Narcissa cried. "If the Dark Lord has not yet succeeded in killing Dumbledore, how much of a chance do you think you truly have? Draco, the Dark Lord does not expect you to succeed. This is just his way of punishing your father."
"No," Draco returned, "this is the Dark Lord's way of being merciful to us. He is giving our family a chance to redeem ourselves, and I intend to do that. Besides, Aunt Bella has been teaching me many things, so that I will be fully prepared. So, stop worrying, Mother. I will succeed, and then everything will go back to normal."
Narcissa just shook her head. Was her son truly this naïve? Neither she nor Lucius had been this way when they had been Draco's age. But then again, neither she nor Lucius had ever had the chance to really be children.
Narcissa could feel the tears beginning to form in her eyes. All she had ever wanted to do was to give Draco a better life than either she or Lucius had ever had. But now it seemed as if her desire to keep Draco as sheltered as possible could potentially end up getting him killed. He didn't understand what it truly meant to serve the Dark Lord. He didn't understand the sacrifices he would be forced to make.
Narcissa remembered all the times that she had been alone at night because Lucius had been doing something for the Dark Lord. She remembered all the times that she had heard news of Death Eaters being injured or killed, and she had been left wondering and worrying about whether or not Lucius had been one of those Death Eaters.
She also remembered all those times that Lucius had not wanted to leave her because he had known that she needed his support and comfort. Yet, she had always told him to go because she had not wanted him to risk receiving the Dark Lord's wrath.
And now it was going to be the same exact way with Draco.
Narcissa suddenly felt a hand gently touching her shoulder. It was Draco's hand.
"It's going to be all right, Mother," Draco spoke in a strong, reassuring voice. In that moment, he truly sounded like his father.
But none of Lucius's strength or confidence had been enough to save him. And Narcissa feared that it wouldn't be enough to save Draco either.
"It's time for bed, Draco," Narcissa finally said. "You need to get all the rest possible."
"Yeah, it wouldn't do for me to fall asleep when I have Dumbledore at wand point," Draco grinned. "Goodnight, Mother."
"Goodnight, Draco."
Narcissa watched her son leave the room with sad eyes. She had already lost Lucius. She couldn't lose Draco as well.
But what could she do? Usually, she would turn to Lucius for help.
But Lucius wasn't going to be coming back anytime soon.
She needed someone she could trust, someone who Lucius would trust.
Narcissa suddenly remembered something that Lucius had told her when Draco had still been an infant.
"If something ever happens to me, Narcissa, go to Severus. He will look after both you and Draco. I have named him Draco's godfather, after all."
Narcissa used her wand to summon her cloak. It was time for Severus to do his duty as Draco's godfather.