"Don't say anything," Narcissa hissed at Bellatrix, seeing that her sister was about to open her mouth. "What's done is done."

Narcissa removed her cloak and sat down on the sofa in her favorite study at Malfoy Manor.

It felt so empty without Lucius being there.

No, she couldn't lose it again. She had already embarrassed herself with Severus. She didn't need to be embarrassing herself again.

What was wrong with her? She was usually more controlled than this. She usually only cried in front of Lucius.

Narcissa truly considered herself fortunate that Severus had given in to her to her wishes, especially considering that she had been such an emotional mess.

Her mother would have been so disappointed in her.

But Narcissa couldn't bear the thought of anything bad happening to her precious Draco. She had already lost Lucius. She couldn't lose her son as well.

"I still can't believe he actually made the Unbreakable Vow," Bellatrix muttered, interrupting Narcissa's thoughts.

"But you still doubt him," Narcissa stated matter-of-factly.

Bellatrix snorted as if that should have been the most obvious thing in the world.

"The Dark Lord isn't going to like this," she then said.

"I don't care about that," Narcissa replied.

Bellatrix looked at her sister in disbelief. "You should care. Don't you realize how dangerous all of this could be to you, Cissy?"

"Of course I do," Narcissa snapped, "but it's Draco's safety that concerns me."

"I still think you should be proud that Draco was chosen," Bellatrix responded. "Do you know how many Death Eaters would have been honoured to have received such a task as the one that Draco was given?"

Narcissa just sighed. There was no way she could ever make Bellatrix understand.

Bellatrix was completely loyal to the Dark Lord.

Narcissa's loyalty, on the other hand, was to her husband and her son.

"I'm proud of Draco," Narcissa finally said, "and whether it's Draco or Severus that ends up doing it, the task will still be done. Let that be enough for you."

It was Bellatrix's turn to sigh.

"I'm going up to bed now," Narcissa said. "I'll see you in the morning."

Bellatrix just nodded her head.

Narcissa paused by Draco's closed bedroom door.

Before she could help herself, she grabbed the doorknob and opened the door as quietly as possible.

Narcissa knew that Draco was safe for the moment, but she still felt the need to confirm with her own eyes that he was indeed in no current danger.

She also had to make sure that he was sleeping soundly.

Narcissa knew that as soon as Draco returned to Hogwarts, he wouldn't be getting much sleep.

But at least Draco wouldn't be alone. Severus would look after him.

Narcissa had left Severus with no other choice.

A part of Narcissa felt guilty for forcing Severus into this, but a huger part of her knew that Severus was her best option for keeping Draco safe.

And at this moment, there was nothing more important to Narcissa than keeping her son safe.

That and she couldn't bear the thought of the Dark Lord torturing Lucius by putting Draco's death on his conscience.

Lucius did not deserve that, especially considering that as far as Narcissa was concerned, none of this was her husband's fault.