A/N: ... Wow. I haven't updated this fic in two years. This is due to real life issues, general lack of muse, growing up, and growing out of my Harry Potter faze. But I've re-read this story recently, and although a little dismayed at the amount of typos, incorrect tenses and the fact I haven't written each character to their full ability, it's still good... the idea is good. The concept is interesting. I think I'm one of the first people to write from this angle, which is good. I have delibrated about doing several longshots, planning to span them out so many chapters... but alas. I cannot keep to my word. Before I start new stories, I must finish the old. And so that is what I am doing - updating the old and labelling them as completed. I know only a few people read this fic, but I don't mind. If I don't know you, and you have come across this fic out of bordeom or if it was something you were looking for... then I hope I can do you justice. Drop a review, I'd love to hear from you all. I'll do my very best to reply. *Sorry for the short chapter, but I felt compelled to update.*
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It was ten to eleven, and Draco Malfoy was standing with his parents outside Kings Cross station. To anybody whom was not from the Wizarding Kind, they would have appeared quite bizzare; several muggles had stopped to stare at the owl in it's cage, which was hooting loudly. The muggles who passed heard words like 'Hogwarts' and 'Wands' and 'Not to be cursing the Potter boy, Draco.' But alas, this was London, and the many people who passed through it were often strange. And so the muggles hurried on; not wanting to meet the fierce gaze of the man with pale blonde hair, whose dark green velvet cloak fluttered gently in the breeze.
"Muggles... absolute filth..." Lucius clapped Draco on the shoulder, smirking. "Let me know if you're going to do well this year in Quidditch, Draco, last year you were an absolute disgrace..."
Draco looked affronted. "Father, that wasn't my fault!" He looked at his mother for support.
"Leave off, Lucius darling. Now Draco - have you got everything?" Narcissa sighed and picked up one of Draco's suitcases. It was clear her health had detoriated during the summer break; her wrists were bony, her body skeletal. She would rival any witch from Witch Weekly, with her slim body and beautiful looks. But her beauty had come at a price. Although her hair had been carefully styled into ringlets, the shine wasn't there. Her face was gaunt, her eyes sunken.
Bellatrix was in Azkaban with Rodolphus and a mere handful of other Death Eaters, who declared themselves loyal. Narcissa hadn't heard from Remus, Sirius or Peter Pettrigrew for several years now, and she was beginning to think that she never would.
They made their way through the trainstation, and waited for Draco to run through the solid-looking arch. "Be good, darling," Narcissa said softly, kissing her son's head. Draco wriggled away, and darting a pat on the shoulder from his father, ran towards the arch at top speed. Within a moment he had vanished, and both Lucius and Narcissa stood in silence for a moment or two.
"Come on now, dearest," purred Lucius, sliding a hand around her waist, "We have things to celebrate... great things..."
They began to walk in time; Narcissa looked at her husband enquiringly. "What things?"
"Don't act dull, petal." She was so used to Lucius' sneers now that they simply bounced off her.
"I am not acting dull," she snapped.
Lucius chuckled. "Black is on the loose... I did tell you."
"No you didn't!" Her words came out shriller than she had intended-- several people stopped to look. "You said he had tried and failed!"
He brushed a strand of hair off her face, laughing, "It is so nice to hear you eventually accept your cousin is nothing but a failure, Cissy."
"He's not! HE'S NOT!" Narcissa's tears were running now, her dam had been burst. Exhaustion and misery swept over her and she leant against a muggle newspaper stand, breathing heavily.
"Get a hold of yourself woman," whispered Lucius sharply, grabbing her by the arm. They apparated back to the mansion within a split second, finding themselves in the living room. Narcissa threw herself on the couch, weeping. "Dear god... you are such a misery darling... I would never have married you had your parents not bribed me so generously..."
"MY PARENTS!" she gulped between her tears, "Wanted me to marry you because you had money! What could they bribe you with?"
He simply looked at her. "Bella was right ..., you really are gullible." And with that Lucius left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Fluffy the Owl hooted happily, flying around the living room. "Oh, shut up you stupid owl..." Narcissa rubbed her ears and watched the bird with mild irritation. She missed her friends dearly - maybe if she closed her eyes long enough, she'd be back in the past, holding hands with Remus in the snow. . .