A/N: To be honest, I didn't expect such a response to the first chapter and so fast. Thank you so much to everyone who had followed and favourited this story. It really means a lot. I wasn't going to to update until I finished my exams in May, but I thought anyone who decided to give this a chance even though the Dramione part hadn't begun yet, deserved an update so soon. I can't promise next chapters would be as fast. But please, tell me your opinion. Any review would make my day and make me write faster!

Who knew Dramione fans were this awesome?! Enjoy!

Beta'd by Lna Anwar

...

The morning of one of the sunniest days the city had had since winter left it was bright and warm. Yet, its warmth and beauty was lost on no one except Narcissa Malfoy.

Narcissa knew it was going to be a beautiful day from the way the sun illuminated the curtains of her bedroom. She had always longed for such sunny days after the long dark days of winter. The promise of something new, something bright; the promise of new life after winter's death. But its charm was entirely lost on her. Maybe because the things she lost had no hope of returning like the spring would.

She didn't try to look at the empty bed beside her, marking that her husband hadn't returned home the night before either. It wasn't much of a surprise and it didn't bother her as much as it usually did. After the Dark Lord managed to take down the city's previous ruler, no follower of his knew comfort. She remembered Lucius telling her that he'd have much time for them once the new regiem was established. It's now been six months and she hadn't seen him for more than the few hours he'd steal to have dinner with her each night before hurrying to be by the Dark Lord's side right after.

After a few minutes of contemplating getting up and seeing her household duties or getting back and sleep for a few more hours, Narcissa finally decided to get up. She had stayed in bed long enough for the past week since it had happened, it was about time she took some control.

...

The house wasn't the mess Narcissa thought it would be.

If anything, it was running as smoothly as she would've been there. Some chores were neglected, but she figured they were so because she used to directly supervise them and she was actually thankful the servants had left them till she was better. She was also thankful that she had insisted her house would be one of the few that didn't have muggle servants like all other purebloods houses did these days have. She wasn't going to tolerate some muggle who took hours to finish a task a wizard servant would do in seconds. She knew that new decision was made to secure the wizarding rule over muggles, but she didn't care. She only cared that her family was safe and living at the same position as it had before the war. Anything else simply didn't matter.

The wind was slightly cold as Narcissa got out of the double doors of the house main balcony. She helped her son, Draco, take a few steps before he let go of her hand and started running around on his own. He was but three years old and already bursting with energy. She smiled as she looked at him taking a branch of the tree that hung low over the stone edge that separated the balcony from the outer garden and started waving it around as if it was a real wand. She knew he was imagining sparks coming out of its end.

Soon, Draco's laughter filled the place and Narcissa found herself feeling lighter than she did leaving her bed that morning. Maybe she lost something that would never come back, but she still got those who meant the world to her safe and around her. Somehow, in that moment, it felt enough.

The doors of the balcony weren't visible from where Narcissa sat, her chair back was to them, but when they got open, it was Draco's look that made her know who it was.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Draco's giggles filled the place and he ran towards his father to hug his legs with his tiny hands. Lucius brushed him off easily.

Draco ran to his mother and hid himself behind her chair. Narcissa pet his soft blond hair. "Sweetie, daddy is tired, why don't you go and finish playing?"

Draco looked at his mother and nodded. He went back to the previously discarded branch and started waving it in the air again, although his giggles were gone now and he started moving further away from where his parents sat, Narcissa knew it was so he'd be away from his father as possible for him not to criticize his behavior. She sighed.

"Don't get very close the edge of the water," Narcissa called a moment later when she saw her son get farther away towards the garden that was very close to the river. She signaled to Draco's nurse that stood beside her to follow him.

"You don't have to be so hard on him all the time, Lucius. He's but a child." She said later to her husband when they were alone and he sat beside her.

Lucius huffed, "he's the son of the Dark Lord's right hand, he needs to be able to fill his part when the time is right." Lucius answered and though his voice started hard, it got softer as he looked into his wife's eyes. Narcissa has always had that effect on him. He held her hand that was on the hand of the chair.

"How are you today?" His voice came out a lot softer than it had in days. He saw her look change and she dropped their eye contact.

"I'm fine," she said as she tried to look in the way Draco and his nurse went. She couldn't see where they were, but she could hear Draco's giggles. "I'm better than I had been in a while," she added the last sentence when she felt her husband's hand tense in hers. She looked at him again in the sunlight and tried to smile.

Lucius looked at her as if trying to determine if there was anything she wasn't saying, he gave up at last and smiled to her. Narcissa could see how tired his eyes were. She knew he was out in another task of Voldemort's as it's always been, but something about the way he looked told her he wouldn't tell her what he's done this time even if she asked.

Narcissa knew that her husband didn't regret the things he's done to secure the purebloods ascending in power in the past few years. He had killed and tortured. But the thing about Lucius was he would do anything to protect his family. He would deny it if she would tell him that, but she knew he was doing all of this so she and Draco would be safe. Perhaps it was twisted logic, but it was the logic of the world they lived in. If he refused to obey the Dark Lord, their fall would break him and that would break her.

Narcissa looked up at her husband when that thought crossed her mind and he looked back at her instantly. "Are you alright?" He asked when she didn't say anything.

"It's nothing, just thinking." She answered dropping her gaze.

Lucius tensed beside her and she now regretted saying those words, he thought she was thinking about what happened. "Narcissa, it'll be alright." His voice was low but assuring, "we can try again. We're still young and you don't have to—"

"The mediwitch was clear in what she said, Lucius." Her voice was sharp. She didn't want to reopen the subject, but she didn't want him to give her false hope when she knew there was none, "I can't have children anymore. It's over."

"Then we'll try something else," he said, but Narcissa knew there was nothing. She smiled to him and pressed at his hand harder. It's been only a week since her miscarriage and Lucius seemed more worried about her than losing the chance of having another child to secure the Malfoy bloodline. She had had two miscarriages before Draco and she was frightened the entire time she was pregnant with him. His birth felt like a miracle to her even if Lucius had attributed it to the numerous potions and army of healers they had at the manor. She thought her body was finally ready to have children again, but she was mistaken. The mediwitch had warned her but she still tried. Her last miscarriage was the final blow; the mediwitch who examined her right after said it was impossible for her to have another child. It was impossible for her to get pregnant again.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Draco's voice came from far as he ran to his mother. His soft voice cut Narcissa's thought train, but it didn't seem like he was calling out of danger so Narcissa only smiled.

"What is it, sweetie?" Narcissa called back suddenly feeling too tired to go to her son. She looked at Lucius who tried to ignore her look at first, then got up reluctantly and went to his son.

"What is it, Draco?" His voice wasn't soft, but it wasn't shouting either, Narcissa took it as a good sign. But, soon, both father and son weren't in her field of vision. In a couple of minutes, they were back.

Narcissa noticed the box in her husband's hands a little too late as she was focusing on Draco holding his nurse's hand and looking a little too proud. Narcussa knew that look on her only son. It was the look he'd always make when he'd think he's done something to impress his father.

"Lucius, what—?" She was about to ask, but got silent when Lisious said: "it was in the river," he said that and put the box at the table in front of her and tried to open it. Lucius' hand stopped hesitantly for a second and his expression changed. A moment later, he was holding his wand and moving it above the box's lid. Narcissa noticed Draco's eyes gleam as his father started using magic while still moving his other hand above the box. The box was closed with magic.

...

"Lily,"

James's voice wasn't calling, it was acknowledging and so Lily didn't look back at him as he sat beside her on the doorstep. He didn't say anything either, he just sat there and looked out at the dark street as she did.

"Why are you crying?" James's voice was very quiet, like he was afraid to ask. He wasn't looking at her either.

"How's Kate?" She asked, sniffing pathetically.

"I've just convinced her to eat something, she's sleeping." James answered with a sigh.

Lily nodded, like she didn't trust her voice enough to speak.

"Lily, what did you do?"

She turned and looked James Potter in the eyes. She tried to search them for blame or anger or any other feeling she was feeling about herself, instead she found unfading compassion and understanding. She looked down at her hands.

"I shouldn't have thrown her. I should have found another way. I should have! Kate wasn't supposed to lose her child! She had already lost her husband because of me and now I took her only child away! I should—" she didn't realize she was losing it and almost talking hysterically until James's hands were holding her shoulders. He didn't say anything other than whispering her name. She closed her eyes and let her tears fall. She couldn't look at him anymore, she couldn't endure his look of understanding. She didn't deserve it. She deserved to be punished. Even Kate's look of forgiveness burned her more than it would have if it was of anger. That's why she had left the Potter's manor and hadn't made it back until it was already passed midnight.

James wouldn't have let her leave, so she snuck without his nor Kate's knowledge. She couldn't stay there and just think of what she's done. She should've known he'd be waiting for her when she made it back. She should've known he'd never give up on her.

"I followed its trail." She spoke at last, sniffing her tears as James's hands dropped from her shoulders and she let her hair fall between them. She went back to starring at the dark street out. She spoke more calmly. "I followed my magic trail. I thought I'd be able to Accio it back once I was close enough. But I couldn't." She added the last sentence and closed her eyes.

It took her a moment for her to answer James's unspoken question: "it entered the Malfoy's estate."

She could hear, if not see, James's gasp. His sharp intake of air made her talk incoherently; "I couldn't get closer. I couldn't accio it back, the guards would've seen me. I couldn't do anything. I just stood there and watched. There was a child playing beside the river where the box stopped and I was going to take it back, but then I saw him." She closed her eyes. She could still see luscious Malfoy nearing the boy and Accio-ing the box easily from the water. "He took it up. Luscious Malfoy. He picked it up and returned to the manor and I—" Her sentences were coming out more as pitiful excuses to her ears. She sighed. "I waited. I tried to listen, to hear anything. But there was nothing. Nothing happened for hours." She didn't tell him she was also waiting for a bright green color coming from where she could see Malfoy trying to crack her magic on the box day old Hermione was sleeping in.

And then James Potter was hugging her.

It surprised her at first that she felt like a woodblock in his arms, her eyes were wide open and she had a mind of pushing him away and leave. Leave anywhere else like she's been contemplating all the way back there. Just run away and never be seen again. God knows it was better for everyone. She hasn't caused anyone but hurt with everything she's ever done or thought of doing. Her simple existence was a problem and she had no idea why anyone would want to be around her anymore.

But James's strong arms around her wouldn't have let her push him even if she wanted to. She relaxed in his arms and closed her eyes feeling his smell engulfing her. He smelled of old books, leather, and broomsticks' wood. She sighed and buried her face in his embrace.

"We'll find a way. We'll find a way to get her back." James breathed at last as he inhaled her hair. "We'll find a way."

...

Narcissa smiled warmly as she covered the small infant with a blanket in her son's old crib. Draco was standing by her legs. He wasn't long enough to look properly into the crib, but he squeezed his head between the wooden bars and stared at the child as if she was the most magical thing he's ever seen in his life.

Narcissa ruffled her son's pale blond hair and he looked up at her. His look was still of pure bewilderment. "Mommy, did daddy make it with magic?" Draco asked at last and Narsissa smiled. That was the first thing Draco has said since she picked up the sleeping child from the box after her husband opened it. She knew he didn't dare speak in his father's presence fearing his mockery for Draco's childish questions. But she doubted Lucius would've noticed even if Draco had. He was so surprised when he found a small infant in the box that was so securely closed with magic that he didn't object when she picked her up and carried her inside instantly. She knew his objections were coming eventually so she avoided him completely as she called a healer and made sure the child was alright.

"No, sweetie. She was just locked inside the box you're father opened." Narcissa tried to explain, then looked back at the sleeping child.

"Why was she there?" Draco asked again, staring at the little girl.

"I don't know, honey." Narcissa answered with a sigh. Draco's question was what she's been asking herself since she was sure the child wasn't ill or hurt.

Narcissa looked again as her son extended his hand and touched the sleeping infant cheek with his hand. His expression was hesitant at first but then he smiled.

"Do you like her, Draco?" Narcissa couldn't help but ask her son. He giggled when she asked. "Wouldn't you like it if she stayed with us?"

"I like her." Draco answered his mother, "I think she's made of magic." Draco finally whispered when the girl opened her eyes and made a newborn voice that Narcissa smiled at.

...

"What are you saying?" Narcissa tried to make her voice less hurt than she actually felt. She shouldn't have been surprised that the Dark Lord would give such an order, nor surprised her husband would carry it off and obey as he should.

"I'm saying that the child needs to go." Lucius' voice was final, "if the Dark Lord knew..." He didn't have to finish his sentence because Narcissa knew what that the Dark Lord would do if he ever finds out. Narcissa looked away.

Lucius sighed and came closer to his wife. He touched her cheek with his palm, "There's no other explanation to why she was in that box, Cissy." He added when she crossed her arms over her chest and refused to look at him.

"You heard what the healer said about her. She's a witch, Lucius. Besides, why would the box be protected with magic if she was a muggelborn?" She answered him. When Lucius didn't answer, she added, "Lucius, no one would have to know. We can keep her. Whoever threw her away obviously didn't want her," she plead with her husband.

"Cissy," Lucius sighed and passed his hand threw his hair, he sat at a chair in front of his wife. He thought about it for a second, "what are we going to tell people? Do you want us to adopt a girl we know nothing of her origin as a daughter? Cissy, just think about what you're saying."

"We don't have to say she's our daughter." Narcissa answered feeling her upcoming victory in the argument, "We can say she's a friend's daughter who died and left her in our care. Lucius, she's an infant, what harm can she do? We can raise her as a respectful pureblood witch. She'll do us all some good one day. I know it."

She smiled saying the last sentence and Lucius knew she was smiling at the child image in her mind. He sighed, knowing it was too late now to convince his wife of giving up the child, she was already in love with her.

...

A/N: Please, make sure you leave a review of your thoughts. I had fun writing this chapter, especially the little Dramione scene [which my sister (also my beta) named the 'ghagha gogo' scene because both Draco and Hermione are babies in it XD]

Please, don't forget to tell me what you think, I'd really appreciate it!