Narcissa awoke early the next morning, with a sense of dread. It was like the feeling she used to have at Christmas, before she sneaked downstairs to see if she'd been good. There was always that fear she would find only two piles of presents, with nothing for her, only this time there would be no chance of relief when she opened the door.

She almost wept at the sense of frustration she felt. These fools were going to destroy the only people who could save wizardkind from destroying itself. One day they would realise what they had done, polluting the stock by allowing inferior breeds to come in and take over. When it was too late they would turn to the true guardians, the purebloods, to save them and there would be nobody left.

She went out in to the garden, savouring the cool, fresh air and standing with her face to the sun. She wondered if she would ever feel it again. Everything was so still, so quiet. She resisted the temptation to remove the faded flowers from the plants in the borders; let them grow their seeds to provide the future generations she would never see.

Everything around her was so familiar, because this garden had been her creation. Lucius's mother had been fond of a very formal style, all gravel paths and box hedges. Narcissa had started from scratch, with sweeping borders and explosions of plants. She had created hidden corners and used hedges to create sudden vistas. She had spent years creating it and today she would leave, forever.

She walked slowly back to the house, where Dinky was waiting for her with a cup of tea and tears in her eyes.

'Mistress, what is to become of us?'

Narcissa took the tea from her. 'I have to go away. You know that, don't you? I have instructed my sister to take care of you all. She will find you other houses to go to.'

Dinky threw herself forward, clutching at Narcissa's leg. 'Please, Mistress, please can Dinky stay here? Dinky is born in this house.'

'You will be very lonely.'

'Can one other elf stay? We can look after the house until you come back and we can look after Mistress Pansy when she comes here.'

'How do you know about...House Elves! Yes, you can find one other, but only if they want to stay with you.'

'Thank you, Mistress. Shall Dinky awaken Mistress Pansy and prepare breakfast?'

'Yes. Thank you, Dinky, you have always been a good Elf.'

'Dinky is not like Dobby. Dinky is ashamed to say we is related.'

Breakfast was served in the dining room and Dinky had spared no effort. The finest plates and cutlery had been polished up and set out, and the golden serving dishes had been brought from the strongroom.

'All of this can go, as well,' Narcissa said, once Dinky was out of earshot. 'I shall not be needing it again.' She looked back at the door, to check it was shut. 'I'm afraid you've adopted Dinky, but she will look after you.'

'I know,' said Pansy. 'I don't mind; she's been slipping me biscuits and chocolate since I was eight!'

They ate in silence for a while and eventually Pansy had to speak.

'Oh, Narcissa! What's going to happen today?'

'Ah, the manticore in the room. We shall be travelling by portkey, which will activate at eleven o'clock precisely.'

'What if you don't take it?'

'I do not think I have an option. I imagine the house would be surrounded by aurors, who will probably trample on the flowerbeds and make a mess of the lawns, within five minutes.'

'How can you joke about such things?'

Narcissa shrugged. 'I can either laugh or cry, and they will not see me cry. I am feeling surprisingly calm and relaxed about the whole situation. I wonder if Dinky put something in my tea this morning? You didn't give her any ideas, did you?'

'No! I promise.'

'Not that I care much either way. After breakfast I shall dress and prepare myself and then we shall go. I must remember to show you how to get into the wand room, as well. Are you really going to sell them to muggles? How funny.'

'It is strange the things they like. I'm sure there are others things I can sell, as well; maybe old quills or cauldrons. Perhaps I can get hold of a pensieve. They don't have to work, just as long as they look genuine – or what muggles would think of as genuine. They don't really know.'

Narcissa put her hand on Pansy's and gave her a sad smile. 'I'm pleased for you, Pansy, I want you to know that. You seem to be coping with this new world far better than I. You can see a future in it, which I cannot. Perhaps it is right that I should be locked away as a museum piece.'

'You can change, Narcissa.'

'Maybe I don't want to, have you thought of that?' She stood and started walking around the room, touching things. 'I have to believe in what I believe in, or I have nothing, and I believe I am right. If we do not maintain our world, our society, then it will disappear forever and magic will be lost. One day it will be needed. I don't know how, or when, but I believe we are here for a purpose.'

Pansy came to stand by her. 'But why does that mean we should reject people? I thought about that once, you know, when I didn't have a wand. I realised that any muggleborn could do things with a wand that I couldn't do without one. Why should the purity of my blood make any difference?'

'Because it is pure, and pure must be better. Would you rather drink pure water, or that from a ditch?'

'Pure water, obviously, but I don't think that's the same at all.'

Narcissa moved towards the door. 'Perhaps you are right.' Then she stopped and turned back, with a coquettish look on her face. 'Are you going to tell me about your young man? I hope he's young, anyway.'

'What young man?'

'This young man who has obviously captured your heart.'

Pansy blushed, furiously. 'No, there isn't..I mean...I...'

'Come, my dear! Does he have a name?'

Pansy looked down. 'Mike.'

'Are you in love with him?'

'I don't know. I can't be, at the moment.'

'Because of Draco'

'Yes, amongst other things.'

'Forget Draco and fall in love with this boy. I think he may be your best hope for the future. I'm going to dress.'

-o0o-

They stood before the portkey, which was a vase. Narcissa wore a simple dress and travel cloak, with no jewellery at all. She was starting to shake, just slightly.

Pansy held her hand. 'When it glows I shall count to three, and we will touch it together.'

'Thank you, Pansy. I couldn't do it on my own, I know it.'

'I will stay with you for as long as possible and I will be at the trial tomorrow. Look for me.' The portkey started glowing. 'Now, one, two, three...'

They landed on a flat piece of rock outside the prison, which rose grey and stark above them. The only noises were the swell of waves breaking on the rocks and the harsh cries of the gulls, sounding accusingly through the air. Azkaban, as usual, was shrouded in fog; it was a place that did not need dementors to suck the soul from your body.

'Merlin, what an awful place,' cried Pansy. 'How inhuman! Surely they can't keep people here?'

'They do. I have only visited before, and that was bad enough. You see what I meant when I said they do not need a death sentence to kill people? I must see Draco. Come, let us go.'

Hand-in-hand they approached the door. Narcissa steeled herself before knocking and a peep hole opened. 'Narcissa Malfoy. I believe I am expected?'

The door opened and they stepped through into a vestibule that was as grey as the rest of the building, and cold. Two guards approached and demanded Narcissa hand over her wand, which she did. They told her to follow them and she hugged Pansy tightly.

'Remember who you are, Narcissa,' Pansy whispered into her ear.

Narcissa was led further in to the building and put in a cell. It had bare stone walls and contained a wooden bench and thin mattress, taking up the whole length of the wall, which was both a seat and her bed. On it were two blankets; grey, obviously. In one corner was a stone slab holding a wash basin and ewer of water. In the other corner was a bucket, with a lid. That was it. The only light source was a barred window. In winter the cell would be dark for sixteen hours a day.

As a remand prisoner she was allowed to keep her own clothing, and the medical was an interview with a healer rather than an examination. It was all over in a matter of minutes, after which a guard brought her some food served on a wooden plate. The food was as grey as the walls surrounding her.

'Will I be allowed to see my husband and son?' she asked him.

'This is a prison, not one of your grand parties,' he said, walking out and slamming the cell door shut.

Narcissa ate a little of the food before discarding it. She lay on the bed and, pulling her cloak around her, turned to face the wall.

-o0o-

Pansy watched Narcissa being led away. She didn't look back but her head was held high.

Pansy wanted to see Draco, to confirm what Narcissa had told her last night. She'd not seen the letter, so perhaps Narcissa had misread it, or overreacted due to her own situation. However, she didn't know how much time she had available, so approached the doorkeeper.

'What time is the next portkey, please?' She hoped there was one.

He checked his watch. 'They leave every hour, on the hour, from three until six, in that room there.' He nodded to indicate where she should go.

Almost four hours, which which was probably more time than she needed. 'Could I apparate, if I wanted to?'

The guard shrugged. 'Depends how good you are. It's a bit of a swim if you get it wrong.'

'I'd like to see somebody.'

'Won't change the portkey times.'

'No, I mean could I visit somebody being held here? He's on remand.'

'You got an appointment?'

'No.'

'Who?'

'Draco Malfoy.'

The guard gave a huge sigh. So much for a quiet day at work to catch up on the Quidditch results. 'Take a seat in that room over there. What's your name?'

'Pansy Parkinson.'

'Oh. You. Wait in there.'

Half-an-hour later he put his head round the door. 'Hand over your wand and come with me.' She was led to another small room which contained a table and a couple of chairs. 'Sit there and keep your hands in sight on the table top.'

Pansy did as she was told. A few minutes later the door opposite her was opened and Draco, his hands manacled, was led in by a guard. Pansy could only stare at him, at first. He'd lost weight since the last time she'd seen him; not just lost weight but he seemed shrunken. His skin was a deathly pale and his hair was much longer, having not been cut for months.

She could smell him, as well. It wasn't the stench of an unwashed body, but the cold smell of stonework and sunless rooms. He smelt like the cellar she had been held in after the battle. Then there were his eyes; eyes that looked but did not truly see. They were dead eyes. He was led to the chair and told to sit, which he did. The guard retired to the end of the room so that he could see them both, but not listen in too obviously.

'Hello, Draco. I've come to see you.'

'I've not had a visitor before.' His voice was quiet and rasping, as if he were unused to talking. Like his eyes it was dead, lacking any kind of emotion.

Pansy struggled for something to say. She couldn't think of anything. 'How are you?'

'I'm not ill, but my father is.'

'Have the Healers been to see him?'

'Yes.'

'What did they say?'

'They said he's ill. I'm going to my trial tomorrow.'

'I know. I'll be there.'

Draco nodded, almost imperceptibly. 'Will I have to come back here, afterwards? I think I should, so I can look after my father. He's ill, you see.'

'I don't know what will happen tomorrow. Has anyone spoken to you about what will happen?'

'They said I would have to go to London and tell people what I did.'

Pansy dropped her voice to a whisper. 'Listen to me, Draco. You must tell the people tomorrow, in London, that you were forced to do all those things. Tell them that if you did not obey you were tortured, do you understand? Say you were a hostage and you were forced to do things.'

Draco nodded. 'Do you know where my mother is? I miss her.'

'You will see her tomorrow.'

'It's my trial tomorrow, in London. I have to tell them I was a hostage and forced to do things.'

'Yes.'

'What things?'

'Bad things you didn't want to do.'

'I hope I will not be in London for long. My father is ill, the Healers said so.'

Pansy could not stay in the room much longer. 'I have to go. I will see you again tomorrow, Draco.'

'Thank you. You are very kind to come and see me. Do you know somebody called Pansy? I think she was a friend of mine, once. Will she be at the trial? It's my trial tomorrow, in London, and I have to tell them that I was a hostage and had to do bad things I didn't want to do.'

Pansy fought to maintain her composure; Draco didn't even recognise her. What had they done to him? 'I have to go now.'

She fled back to the entrance and stood outside, staring at the sea and the fog. The air was cold and wet in her lungs but it smelt of outdoors and freedom. She wanted Mike to hold her and stroke her hair even more than she wanted to cuddle Simon.