p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" It was lonely at Malfoy Manor. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy had left the country in search of a milder climate at their French chateau for the winter. The chateau had only recently come into Narcissa's in-laws possession, after the last of the French Malfoys had died out. Narcissa supposed none of them should have been as happy to inherit the chateau as they were, but it would be a beautiful vacation home, had an elvish winery on the premises, and it was hard to feel too upset about distant relations that none of them had met. Narcissa wished that she and Lucius could have gone along to see it in all its grandeur, but duty still kept Lucius in the British Isles, where he could apparate to the Dark Lord's side at a moment's notice./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" She reflected that the winter hadn't been a complete waste. She and Lucius had celebrated their anniversary at Morgana's, the most exlusive wizard owned restaurant in London. It had been a beautiful night in an exquisite restaurant overlooking the city. The wine pairings had been perfect: an earthy Burgundy Pinot Noir with their dragon tartare appetizer, a dry Chablis with Scottish salmon cooked rare and mashed potatoes filled with truffles, and crème brulee with champagne for dessert. There could have been no better place to celebrate their anniversary./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" Then there had been Christmas with her family this year. Of course, they were a smaller family than they had once been. Annie and Sirius were gone- not that she missed them- she was quick to remind herself. Regulus had seemed distant this Christmas, though. Uncle Orion and Aunt Walburga seemed a bit paranoid. Narcissa's parents were the only ones who seemed normal. Even Bella and Rodolphus had only put in an appearance, rushing back to spend the majority of the holiday with the Lestranges. Madame Lestrange had recently died from complications of a cosmetic spell she'd cast to try to get rid of her wrinkles, so Bella and Rodolphus said they needed to be home to console his father and Rabastan. Narcissa had a feeling that none of them were particularly distressed, though. Madame Lestrange had never been a kind woman. Now, Bella was the new Madame Lestrange, Narcissa reflected; the thought of Bella in such a position in society was almost strange./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" But Bella had made an impression at the St. Mungo's New Years Eve Charity Gala. It had been her that the society papers raved about, in her shiny silver dress, with her dragonhide highheeled boots, and her long shiny black curls falling perfectly. She'd barely even tried that night. Bella's hair just was always that perfect. She always wore heeled boots like that. All she had had to do was have her elf put a little makeup on her and put on her silver dress, and Bella was the most beautiful woman in the room. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" Narcissa, on the other hand, had worked with Armazi Tattings to design a perfect black gown with sparkles that shown like stars against the night sky. She'd spent hundreds of galleons on custom made designer heels to go with her dress. And because her elf couldn't be trusted to touch her hair, which had no natural body to it, or her face, Narcissa had had to spend half the day in a salon preparing. She couldn't even begin to fathom how after all that work, the society papers still chose to feature Bella as the best-dressed, while Narcissa received a mere honorable mention. Bella had told her it was because she was trying too hard to get their attention. Lucius had insisted to Narcissa that she was more beautiful, but that Bella just had a certain presence. Narcissa was not sure that she appreciated his comment./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" But the gala was behind them, just as Christmas was. And now, Narcissa was truly alone. There were no fancy events to attend, and Lucius was rarely home. He spent his days lobbying ministers and squaring up the books on all the charities he was treasurer of after the holiday giving season. Narcissa told him he should resign from the boards of a few of them, but he insisted that they all needed him and that it was his duty as a man of society to help where he was needed. Narcissa wasn't stupid; she knew something more must be at stake than just helping a good cause, but she liked his explanation. It was easy, it was believable, and if the aurors ever came calling, it was all she would ever have to tell them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" How he spent his nights, though, was something entirely different. Lucius would all too often leave abruptly with no knowledge of what was to come other than that he would do the Dark Lord's bidding. She hated waiting for him to return, wondering why he was summoned, wondering if the Dark Lord was angry, wondering who would be hurt or killed that night. She would each night sit there and plead with whatever higher power there might be in the universe that Lucius come home safely. But when he did come home, it was the best feeling in the world. Certainly, he'd come home late, often smelling of blood and with several friends intent on getting drunk in tow, but Narcissa didn't mind. She'd sit with her husband and drink with the men and when her husband's friends had staggered out, she would take Lucius up to his room and show him how grateful she was for him fighting for wizard rights./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" But now, she was alone, waiting in the moonlit hallway, the portraits of centuries worth of Malfoys staring at her, watching her in the silence they so often maintained. The line started with Armand Malfoy, who had received their land in Wiltshire for his services to William the Conquerer. There were notable Malfoys at every step of the halway: Lucius I, who had proposed to Elizabeth I in hope of becoming King of England, Brutus Malfoy, who used his quill to shape public opinion about Muggles for centuries to come, Septimus Malfoy, who had held the Minister of Magic under his thumb, and someday, her father-in-law and Lucius and the son she would someday give him would have portraits in this hall as well. Narcissa wasn't sure why she lingered here amongst the dead. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"She walked past them, putting on her cloak and walking out into the gardens. She moved carefully over the moist grass, feeling the frosty fog against her skin. She had sent Dobby to put the peacocks inside tonight against the cold, but the unicorns still galloped across the grounds: a pure white mother and a golden foal shining against the darkness. The unicorns had no idea how simple their lives were. Creatures of the forest didn't have to wait for the end of a war to have children. They didn't have to be afraid of their family or friends dying in the war. The unicorns were free, but Narcissa was not. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"She wandered until she could find that peaceful spot where benches sat facing their fountain. It would be beautiful, surrounded by flowering bushes in the spring and summer, but now the bushes were as dead as the men in the portraits in the hallway. And even from where she sat, the mausoleum, holding generation upon generation of Malfoys loomed over the peaceful garden. War and death had even infiltrated this peaceful place. She stared at the fountain, golden from warming enchantments placed upon it hundreds of years prior when the manor and the gardens were built, so that the fountain would never freeze- even in the dead of winter. She watched it- that one reminder that wizards could make their own refuge from the cold and death that surrounded them- that joy and life were not solely the domain of the beasts of the forest./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Narcissa?" She suddenly jolted from meditation at the sound of her name./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Lucius?" She called back, but it wasn't Lucius. Lucius was gone, traveling with the Dark Lord for days or weeks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""It's Severus," her bodyguard or jailor responded. Lucius insisted that Severus's presence was for her protection, but to her, it felt like he was there to watch her. "An owl arrived for you." He extended his hand with a letter in it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa opened the letter and saw Evan's careful writing asking her and Lucius to dinner with him and his fiancée, Calluna Yaxley. Narcissa sighed. What excuse was she to make? If he didn't know of Lucius's mission, she certainly couldn't tell him over owl./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"She thought for a moment, and then she looked up at Severus. "Put on your best robes. We're going to Poseidon's."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Poseidon's- I can't-" he sputtered to a stop. "Lucius said we weren't supposed to go out. Someone could try to hurt you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""That's why he left you here to protect me. It's just dinner, and Poseidon's is an excellent restaurant. Evan and Calluna will be there," Narcissa pleaded with him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus traced his mouth thinking./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""They already made a reservation- we have to go," Narcissa told him. "And I'll pay for your dinner, since you're only coming because you had to protect me- not because you wanted to be there." She understood that he couldn't afford to eat there, but didn't dare mention that she knew that was part of what gave him pause./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus nodded, which was all that Narcissa needed. She was quick to lead Severus back up to the manor so that they could change for dinner. When they were done changing, there was really nothing that could be done to make Severus look like the type who belonged at Poseidon's. His robes simply weren't as stylish or well made as the other wizards who would be there were. Narcissa, however, more than made up for him, in her stylish black dress with her diamond earrings, diamond necklace, and her hair up in a diamond hair clip. She put her niffler fur coat over it to hold back the cold. There was no need to worry how Severus looked, because all eyes would be on her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"They made the trip across Diagon Alley to Poseidon's as quickly as her stiletto heels would allow them to move. It was another cold, deserted place, but once they arrived at Poseidon's the environment was warm and intimate. Evan and Calluna, both tall and blond stood just inside the door, engrossed in conversation./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa was quick to throw her arms around her cousin. He returned her hug, but lacked some of its usual warmth. None of the men were as warm as they used to be. She released him, and hugged Calluna, as well./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""You don't look like Lucius," Evan laughed, as the two men shook hands./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Lucius is away on business and left Severus to take care of me," Narcissa quickly explained./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""He left you in good hands," Evan heartily told her. "Severus and I- we've been in a few tight spots together, and he has my endorsement as a duelist."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Calluna arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Your endorsement as a duelist? That does mean something." Evan turned his eyes to her, reverance entering his eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa had once thought that no couple could love each other more than she and Lucius did, but there was something in that gaze that Evan and Calluna shared that made her wonder. Or maybe the look was just the passion two young, not yet married lovers felt./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Shall we get drinks? It may take them a few minutes to put the portkey together for us," Evan suggested./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""What portkey?" Severus asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Down to the dining room. They call this place Poseidon's for a reason," Evan replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"And as Narcissa well knew, indeed they did call it Poseidon's for a reason. The bar and the kitchen were on Diagon Alley, but not long after the drinks came, an elf presented the group with a golden platter that took them down to a dining room fully encapsulated in a bubble under the ocean./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""We're in an old underwater minefield from one of the Muggle wars. Their ships and submarines don't dare bother us here," Evan explained./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa sipped on her Chardonney and watched as Severus took in the surroundings for the first time: the wrought-iron café style tables and chairs, the lights strung overhead like in the middle of a courtyard, the firepit in the center of the scene and the fish and sharks swimming around outside the bubble. Narcissa smiled and took his arm as they walked toward their table in a secluded spot near the back of the restaurant. She had predicted correctly, that beautiful though Calluna might be, all eyes were on Narcissa. After all, Narcissa had been seen in the society pages ever since she had been noticed as the beautiful young bridesmaid at Bellatrix's wedding. Everyone who was anyone knew Narcissa Black Malfoy by sight./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"The dinner was gorgeous, starting with a seafood tower with lobster, crab, oysters, and shrimp resting on ice with ample garlic butter for dipping, though Narcissa tried to avoid using too much butter. Then for her main course she had seared scallops with an arugula salad with shallot lemon vinaigrette dressing, and a raspberry sorbet as dessert. It was an immaculate meal, and having the opportunity to see her cousin was simply wonderful. He was clearly going to have a successful future and stand up in the ranks of the new wizarding order along with Lucius and Bellatrix./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"The night ended far too early, and Narcissa found herself taking the portkey back to restaurant front. She wrapped her nifler coat around herself as they walked out into the dark, deserted street. Evan offered each woman an arm, and they walked down Diagon Alley three wide, laughing and smiling amongst themselves, feeling a little buzz from the fine wine they had drank that night. From the way Calluna laughed at all the jokes, maybe she was past a little buzzed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""You'll like this one," Evan started. "A half-giant, a troll, and a Mudblood all decide to jump off a cliff in a race to see who hits the ground first. Who do you think won?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""I don't know," Narcissa responded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Humanity," Evan blurted out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa closed her eyes and covered her mouth to hide her laughter, embarrassed that as a society woman she would laugh at such an off-color joke, but laughing despite herself. Suddenly, Evan tripped, almost pulling her down with him, with Calluna clattering to the street, unable to catch herself./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Calluna, started to pick herself up, but Evan didn't pop right back up, lying there, as if stunned. Severus rushed forward in front of Narcissa, wand out, firing a spell into an alleyway. Calluna was crying./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Evan! Evan!" Calluna wailed, shaking him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Narcissa, take her, and get out of here. She's too drunk to apparate by herself," Severus snarled./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa helped Calluna to her feet and ran despite their heels on cobblestone to the overhang over Flourish and Blotts, which gave her cover to disapparate. When Calluna realized what they were about to do, she screamed, "No, we have to get Evan," and tried to rush forward./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Leave him," Severus yelled at them. Narcissa quickly realized from all the flashes of light that Severus was surely dueling more than one assailant./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"They didn't have time to waste. She held Calluna tight to her and apparated to the Manor. Without a moments' thought, she dashed through the gate, practically dragging Calluna with her, and the two women collapsed to their knees outside. Calluna was sobbing, and looked pretty beat up from her fall and Narcissa practically dragging her to safety. Narcissa had so much adrenaline pumping that she couldn't tell if she was hurt or not./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Evan's going to be all right. He was just stunned," Narcissa tried to reassure her. It was hard to be reassuring, though, when you had just left your cousin unconscious in the middle of a battle that seemed to be intensifying rather than abating./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus had been right. Lucius had been right; it was dangerous to go out in these times. "Let's go inside," Narcissa told her. She helped Calluna up, and they walked slowly, carefully to the front door. Narcissa showed her into the drawing room, and they flopped down on the sofa next to each other, both women shocked by what had just happened./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"The moments ticked by, feeling like hours. Narcissa took off her heels and helped Calluna take hers off, too. As the adrenaline wore off, Narcissa noticed that her right ankle hurt and was swollen. She must have turned it without realizing. She brushed one of Calluna's long blond curls out of her face as the younger woman sat there still crying. She was practically still a girl- not yet aware of anything that came with being married to an important Death Eater./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"After what might have been ten of fifteen minutes, but felt like hours, Severus came through the door, levitating Evan in front of him. "What happened?" Narcissa asked him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""I took care of them," Severus coldly responded. There was something terrifying in his face- maybe it was the after effects of whatever dark magic he had just used to win that duel. He put Evan's form into a chair. "Let's give him an Invigoration Draught to bring him around a bit faster."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""So he was just stunned?" Narcissa double-checked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""With three or four stunners in the chest at the same time," Severus replied. "He's going to be hurting tomorrow."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa summoned Dobby and told him to bring Evan an Invigoration Draught, which she throught even Dobby couldn't botch retrieving a simple bottle, until he dropped it on her carpet right in front of Evan. Calluna let out another loud sob at that. Severus dropped to his knees and started casting spells to repair the bottle and return as much of the potion to it as possible. Narcissa was so angry with the elf that she slapped him twice across the face. "Punish yourself!" she screeched./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus looked at what he had collected. "It shouldn't be contaminated. Let's try this." He tilted the bottle to Evan's mouth, and slowly poured a little in. Evan started to stir. Severus gave him more. Narcissa looked down at her still stained carpet and cast a cleaning charm before the stain could set in. Gradually, Evan finally came to./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""What happened?" He asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""We were attacked." Severus replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""But why?" Calluna finally spoke./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Was it the order of the Phoenix?" Evan asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus nodded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Did you kill them?" Evan asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Maybe one or two," Severus replied. "They weren't in good condition when I was done with them."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""I wish I could have helped you. We would have finished them together," Evan lamented./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""We would have," Severus calmly agreed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Let me make up guest rooms for you two," Narcissa offered to Evan and Calluna. "You shouldn't travel tonight in your condition."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""You need only make up one for the Calluna and I. We don't mind sharing," Evan told her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa paused for a moment, having trouble believing that the Yaxleys' would approve of their daughter spending the night with her intended before the wedding. She didn't have the energy to fight that battle tonight, and anyway, after being stunned like that, she doubted that Evan would be capable of anything too inappropriate that night. She went up to prepare the room, not trusting Dobby to do it. Evan and Calluna staggered up to their shared room together, and Narcissa returned to the drawing room. Severus was sitting on the sofa, staring at the ceiling./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Thank you," Narcissa quietly said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"When he looked at her, the terrifying look was gone, and the funny-looking halfblood was back. "I could use a drink," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Of course. Wine or liquor?" she asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Red wine," he told her. "I want to sleep well tonight."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"She summoned a bottle and glasses. "I'll have a glass with you, if you don't mind. Mine has quite worn off from dinner."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus nodded and they sat on the sofa together in silence drinking wine. "Will you tell Lucius what happened?" She asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"He nodded. "It's good we were there. Otherwise, Evan and Calluna would have been captured or killed. This may put an end to dinners out for everyone for a while."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa sighed. She didn't want to hear that, but she understood why; a dinner out simply wasn't worth dying for. "It's scary- thinking what could happen everytime we go out. I worry so much: Lucius, Bella, Evan, and Regulus are all in danger."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Only until we win. Once we win, the Dark Lord will reward us all handsomely," he replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa nodded. She refilled their glasses. She held hers up. "To a speedy victory." Severus repeated the words and they clinked glasses, both glad to still be among the living at the end of that night./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" She reflected that the winter hadn't been a complete waste. She and Lucius had celebrated their anniversary at Morgana's, the most exlusive wizard owned restaurant in London. It had been a beautiful night in an exquisite restaurant overlooking the city. The wine pairings had been perfect: an earthy Burgundy Pinot Noir with their dragon tartare appetizer, a dry Chablis with Scottish salmon cooked rare and mashed potatoes filled with truffles, and crème brulee with champagne for dessert. There could have been no better place to celebrate their anniversary./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" Then there had been Christmas with her family this year. Of course, they were a smaller family than they had once been. Annie and Sirius were gone- not that she missed them- she was quick to remind herself. Regulus had seemed distant this Christmas, though. Uncle Orion and Aunt Walburga seemed a bit paranoid. Narcissa's parents were the only ones who seemed normal. Even Bella and Rodolphus had only put in an appearance, rushing back to spend the majority of the holiday with the Lestranges. Madame Lestrange had recently died from complications of a cosmetic spell she'd cast to try to get rid of her wrinkles, so Bella and Rodolphus said they needed to be home to console his father and Rabastan. Narcissa had a feeling that none of them were particularly distressed, though. Madame Lestrange had never been a kind woman. Now, Bella was the new Madame Lestrange, Narcissa reflected; the thought of Bella in such a position in society was almost strange./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" But Bella had made an impression at the St. Mungo's New Years Eve Charity Gala. It had been her that the society papers raved about, in her shiny silver dress, with her dragonhide highheeled boots, and her long shiny black curls falling perfectly. She'd barely even tried that night. Bella's hair just was always that perfect. She always wore heeled boots like that. All she had had to do was have her elf put a little makeup on her and put on her silver dress, and Bella was the most beautiful woman in the room. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" Narcissa, on the other hand, had worked with Armazi Tattings to design a perfect black gown with sparkles that shown like stars against the night sky. She'd spent hundreds of galleons on custom made designer heels to go with her dress. And because her elf couldn't be trusted to touch her hair, which had no natural body to it, or her face, Narcissa had had to spend half the day in a salon preparing. She couldn't even begin to fathom how after all that work, the society papers still chose to feature Bella as the best-dressed, while Narcissa received a mere honorable mention. Bella had told her it was because she was trying too hard to get their attention. Lucius had insisted to Narcissa that she was more beautiful, but that Bella just had a certain presence. Narcissa was not sure that she appreciated his comment./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" But the gala was behind them, just as Christmas was. And now, Narcissa was truly alone. There were no fancy events to attend, and Lucius was rarely home. He spent his days lobbying ministers and squaring up the books on all the charities he was treasurer of after the holiday giving season. Narcissa told him he should resign from the boards of a few of them, but he insisted that they all needed him and that it was his duty as a man of society to help where he was needed. Narcissa wasn't stupid; she knew something more must be at stake than just helping a good cause, but she liked his explanation. It was easy, it was believable, and if the aurors ever came calling, it was all she would ever have to tell them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" How he spent his nights, though, was something entirely different. Lucius would all too often leave abruptly with no knowledge of what was to come other than that he would do the Dark Lord's bidding. She hated waiting for him to return, wondering why he was summoned, wondering if the Dark Lord was angry, wondering who would be hurt or killed that night. She would each night sit there and plead with whatever higher power there might be in the universe that Lucius come home safely. But when he did come home, it was the best feeling in the world. Certainly, he'd come home late, often smelling of blood and with several friends intent on getting drunk in tow, but Narcissa didn't mind. She'd sit with her husband and drink with the men and when her husband's friends had staggered out, she would take Lucius up to his room and show him how grateful she was for him fighting for wizard rights./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 32px;" But now, she was alone, waiting in the moonlit hallway, the portraits of centuries worth of Malfoys staring at her, watching her in the silence they so often maintained. The line started with Armand Malfoy, who had received their land in Wiltshire for his services to William the Conquerer. There were notable Malfoys at every step of the halway: Lucius I, who had proposed to Elizabeth I in hope of becoming King of England, Brutus Malfoy, who used his quill to shape public opinion about Muggles for centuries to come, Septimus Malfoy, who had held the Minister of Magic under his thumb, and someday, her father-in-law and Lucius and the son she would someday give him would have portraits in this hall as well. Narcissa wasn't sure why she lingered here amongst the dead. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"She walked past them, putting on her cloak and walking out into the gardens. She moved carefully over the moist grass, feeling the frosty fog against her skin. She had sent Dobby to put the peacocks inside tonight against the cold, but the unicorns still galloped across the grounds: a pure white mother and a golden foal shining against the darkness. The unicorns had no idea how simple their lives were. Creatures of the forest didn't have to wait for the end of a war to have children. They didn't have to be afraid of their family or friends dying in the war. The unicorns were free, but Narcissa was not. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"She wandered until she could find that peaceful spot where benches sat facing their fountain. It would be beautiful, surrounded by flowering bushes in the spring and summer, but now the bushes were as dead as the men in the portraits in the hallway. And even from where she sat, the mausoleum, holding generation upon generation of Malfoys loomed over the peaceful garden. War and death had even infiltrated this peaceful place. She stared at the fountain, golden from warming enchantments placed upon it hundreds of years prior when the manor and the gardens were built, so that the fountain would never freeze- even in the dead of winter. She watched it- that one reminder that wizards could make their own refuge from the cold and death that surrounded them- that joy and life were not solely the domain of the beasts of the forest./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Narcissa?" She suddenly jolted from meditation at the sound of her name./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Lucius?" She called back, but it wasn't Lucius. Lucius was gone, traveling with the Dark Lord for days or weeks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""It's Severus," her bodyguard or jailor responded. Lucius insisted that Severus's presence was for her protection, but to her, it felt like he was there to watch her. "An owl arrived for you." He extended his hand with a letter in it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa opened the letter and saw Evan's careful writing asking her and Lucius to dinner with him and his fiancée, Calluna Yaxley. Narcissa sighed. What excuse was she to make? If he didn't know of Lucius's mission, she certainly couldn't tell him over owl./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"She thought for a moment, and then she looked up at Severus. "Put on your best robes. We're going to Poseidon's."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Poseidon's- I can't-" he sputtered to a stop. "Lucius said we weren't supposed to go out. Someone could try to hurt you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""That's why he left you here to protect me. It's just dinner, and Poseidon's is an excellent restaurant. Evan and Calluna will be there," Narcissa pleaded with him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus traced his mouth thinking./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""They already made a reservation- we have to go," Narcissa told him. "And I'll pay for your dinner, since you're only coming because you had to protect me- not because you wanted to be there." She understood that he couldn't afford to eat there, but didn't dare mention that she knew that was part of what gave him pause./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus nodded, which was all that Narcissa needed. She was quick to lead Severus back up to the manor so that they could change for dinner. When they were done changing, there was really nothing that could be done to make Severus look like the type who belonged at Poseidon's. His robes simply weren't as stylish or well made as the other wizards who would be there were. Narcissa, however, more than made up for him, in her stylish black dress with her diamond earrings, diamond necklace, and her hair up in a diamond hair clip. She put her niffler fur coat over it to hold back the cold. There was no need to worry how Severus looked, because all eyes would be on her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"They made the trip across Diagon Alley to Poseidon's as quickly as her stiletto heels would allow them to move. It was another cold, deserted place, but once they arrived at Poseidon's the environment was warm and intimate. Evan and Calluna, both tall and blond stood just inside the door, engrossed in conversation./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa was quick to throw her arms around her cousin. He returned her hug, but lacked some of its usual warmth. None of the men were as warm as they used to be. She released him, and hugged Calluna, as well./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""You don't look like Lucius," Evan laughed, as the two men shook hands./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Lucius is away on business and left Severus to take care of me," Narcissa quickly explained./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""He left you in good hands," Evan heartily told her. "Severus and I- we've been in a few tight spots together, and he has my endorsement as a duelist."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Calluna arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Your endorsement as a duelist? That does mean something." Evan turned his eyes to her, reverance entering his eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa had once thought that no couple could love each other more than she and Lucius did, but there was something in that gaze that Evan and Calluna shared that made her wonder. Or maybe the look was just the passion two young, not yet married lovers felt./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Shall we get drinks? It may take them a few minutes to put the portkey together for us," Evan suggested./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""What portkey?" Severus asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Down to the dining room. They call this place Poseidon's for a reason," Evan replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"And as Narcissa well knew, indeed they did call it Poseidon's for a reason. The bar and the kitchen were on Diagon Alley, but not long after the drinks came, an elf presented the group with a golden platter that took them down to a dining room fully encapsulated in a bubble under the ocean./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""We're in an old underwater minefield from one of the Muggle wars. Their ships and submarines don't dare bother us here," Evan explained./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa sipped on her Chardonney and watched as Severus took in the surroundings for the first time: the wrought-iron café style tables and chairs, the lights strung overhead like in the middle of a courtyard, the firepit in the center of the scene and the fish and sharks swimming around outside the bubble. Narcissa smiled and took his arm as they walked toward their table in a secluded spot near the back of the restaurant. She had predicted correctly, that beautiful though Calluna might be, all eyes were on Narcissa. After all, Narcissa had been seen in the society pages ever since she had been noticed as the beautiful young bridesmaid at Bellatrix's wedding. Everyone who was anyone knew Narcissa Black Malfoy by sight./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"The dinner was gorgeous, starting with a seafood tower with lobster, crab, oysters, and shrimp resting on ice with ample garlic butter for dipping, though Narcissa tried to avoid using too much butter. Then for her main course she had seared scallops with an arugula salad with shallot lemon vinaigrette dressing, and a raspberry sorbet as dessert. It was an immaculate meal, and having the opportunity to see her cousin was simply wonderful. He was clearly going to have a successful future and stand up in the ranks of the new wizarding order along with Lucius and Bellatrix./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"The night ended far too early, and Narcissa found herself taking the portkey back to restaurant front. She wrapped her nifler coat around herself as they walked out into the dark, deserted street. Evan offered each woman an arm, and they walked down Diagon Alley three wide, laughing and smiling amongst themselves, feeling a little buzz from the fine wine they had drank that night. From the way Calluna laughed at all the jokes, maybe she was past a little buzzed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""You'll like this one," Evan started. "A half-giant, a troll, and a Mudblood all decide to jump off a cliff in a race to see who hits the ground first. Who do you think won?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""I don't know," Narcissa responded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Humanity," Evan blurted out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa closed her eyes and covered her mouth to hide her laughter, embarrassed that as a society woman she would laugh at such an off-color joke, but laughing despite herself. Suddenly, Evan tripped, almost pulling her down with him, with Calluna clattering to the street, unable to catch herself./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Calluna, started to pick herself up, but Evan didn't pop right back up, lying there, as if stunned. Severus rushed forward in front of Narcissa, wand out, firing a spell into an alleyway. Calluna was crying./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Evan! Evan!" Calluna wailed, shaking him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Narcissa, take her, and get out of here. She's too drunk to apparate by herself," Severus snarled./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa helped Calluna to her feet and ran despite their heels on cobblestone to the overhang over Flourish and Blotts, which gave her cover to disapparate. When Calluna realized what they were about to do, she screamed, "No, we have to get Evan," and tried to rush forward./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Leave him," Severus yelled at them. Narcissa quickly realized from all the flashes of light that Severus was surely dueling more than one assailant./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"They didn't have time to waste. She held Calluna tight to her and apparated to the Manor. Without a moments' thought, she dashed through the gate, practically dragging Calluna with her, and the two women collapsed to their knees outside. Calluna was sobbing, and looked pretty beat up from her fall and Narcissa practically dragging her to safety. Narcissa had so much adrenaline pumping that she couldn't tell if she was hurt or not./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Evan's going to be all right. He was just stunned," Narcissa tried to reassure her. It was hard to be reassuring, though, when you had just left your cousin unconscious in the middle of a battle that seemed to be intensifying rather than abating./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus had been right. Lucius had been right; it was dangerous to go out in these times. "Let's go inside," Narcissa told her. She helped Calluna up, and they walked slowly, carefully to the front door. Narcissa showed her into the drawing room, and they flopped down on the sofa next to each other, both women shocked by what had just happened./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"The moments ticked by, feeling like hours. Narcissa took off her heels and helped Calluna take hers off, too. As the adrenaline wore off, Narcissa noticed that her right ankle hurt and was swollen. She must have turned it without realizing. She brushed one of Calluna's long blond curls out of her face as the younger woman sat there still crying. She was practically still a girl- not yet aware of anything that came with being married to an important Death Eater./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"After what might have been ten of fifteen minutes, but felt like hours, Severus came through the door, levitating Evan in front of him. "What happened?" Narcissa asked him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""I took care of them," Severus coldly responded. There was something terrifying in his face- maybe it was the after effects of whatever dark magic he had just used to win that duel. He put Evan's form into a chair. "Let's give him an Invigoration Draught to bring him around a bit faster."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""So he was just stunned?" Narcissa double-checked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""With three or four stunners in the chest at the same time," Severus replied. "He's going to be hurting tomorrow."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa summoned Dobby and told him to bring Evan an Invigoration Draught, which she throught even Dobby couldn't botch retrieving a simple bottle, until he dropped it on her carpet right in front of Evan. Calluna let out another loud sob at that. Severus dropped to his knees and started casting spells to repair the bottle and return as much of the potion to it as possible. Narcissa was so angry with the elf that she slapped him twice across the face. "Punish yourself!" she screeched./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus looked at what he had collected. "It shouldn't be contaminated. Let's try this." He tilted the bottle to Evan's mouth, and slowly poured a little in. Evan started to stir. Severus gave him more. Narcissa looked down at her still stained carpet and cast a cleaning charm before the stain could set in. Gradually, Evan finally came to./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""What happened?" He asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""We were attacked." Severus replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""But why?" Calluna finally spoke./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Was it the order of the Phoenix?" Evan asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus nodded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Did you kill them?" Evan asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Maybe one or two," Severus replied. "They weren't in good condition when I was done with them."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""I wish I could have helped you. We would have finished them together," Evan lamented./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""We would have," Severus calmly agreed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Let me make up guest rooms for you two," Narcissa offered to Evan and Calluna. "You shouldn't travel tonight in your condition."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""You need only make up one for the Calluna and I. We don't mind sharing," Evan told her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa paused for a moment, having trouble believing that the Yaxleys' would approve of their daughter spending the night with her intended before the wedding. She didn't have the energy to fight that battle tonight, and anyway, after being stunned like that, she doubted that Evan would be capable of anything too inappropriate that night. She went up to prepare the room, not trusting Dobby to do it. Evan and Calluna staggered up to their shared room together, and Narcissa returned to the drawing room. Severus was sitting on the sofa, staring at the ceiling./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Thank you," Narcissa quietly said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"When he looked at her, the terrifying look was gone, and the funny-looking halfblood was back. "I could use a drink," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Of course. Wine or liquor?" she asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Red wine," he told her. "I want to sleep well tonight."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"She summoned a bottle and glasses. "I'll have a glass with you, if you don't mind. Mine has quite worn off from dinner."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Severus nodded and they sat on the sofa together in silence drinking wine. "Will you tell Lucius what happened?" She asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"He nodded. "It's good we were there. Otherwise, Evan and Calluna would have been captured or killed. This may put an end to dinners out for everyone for a while."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa sighed. She didn't want to hear that, but she understood why; a dinner out simply wasn't worth dying for. "It's scary- thinking what could happen everytime we go out. I worry so much: Lucius, Bella, Evan, and Regulus are all in danger."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Only until we win. Once we win, the Dark Lord will reward us all handsomely," he replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Narcissa nodded. She refilled their glasses. She held hers up. "To a speedy victory." Severus repeated the words and they clinked glasses, both glad to still be among the living at the end of that night./p