Narcissa hadn't left her bed all day, not even when her father had called her down for Christmas dinner. She'd had the dream again. She and her sisters and Regulus and Sirius were playing in her her garden, the one she'd told Marlene about all those years ago, and Marlene appeared there, her hair loose and her dress robes flowing all around her, and she took Narcissa's hand and Narcissa rested her head on her shoulder and they danced as everyone smiled around them. She wanted to live inside that dream for the rest of her life and never wake up again.

There was a knock at the door and she heard her mother's voice. "Are you coming to the party, Cissy?"

Narcissa punched her pillow. Her mother had every reason to think she'd been ill for days, that's what Narcissa had told her, and she still wanted to know if she was coming to the Malfoy's Christmas party. Narcissa would have to be dying before her mother would pass up a chance to get her together with Lucius, and even then she'd probably just carry her to the Malfoy's on a stretcher and get a vicar to do a quick service before she expired.

Narcissa dreaded going, but she'd slept all day and the thought of lying awake in her dark bedroom all night was even more horrifying than the sight of all those faces at the party. There'd be large amounts of alcohol there, at least.

"I'm just getting ready now," she called to her mother. She grabbed her wand off the nightstand and Summoned her outfit from the wardrobe, a black satin pencil dress with long sleeves. She threw it over herself without much thought to how she looked, only giving her reflection the quickest glance in the mirror as she pinned her hair up at the top of her head after a few slapdash strokes of the brush.

She made her way to the front hall where her mother and father were waiting. Traveling to another family's house by Floo Network was considered rude unless it was close friends or families, and only then if it was an informal occasion, so they went outside to the front drive to Apparate.

"You look lovely, Cissy," said her father. Narcissa gave him the smallest smile to show she'd heard him.

Her mother smiled and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Are you feeling better then?"

Narcissa didn't know if she wanted to jerk away from her mother's soft touch or bury her head in her chest the way she'd done when she was little. She kept her face tight and her voice flat. "Yes, I think I'm over whatever it was."

"Wonderful," said her mother. "Shall we go then?"

They spun into the air, and when the elf had let them into Malfoy Manor Narcissa walked into the hall with her parents and found it hot and packed with bodies, as it always was. She walked over to the drink table and avoided looking anyone in the eye.

She'd nearly finished a glass of cider when there was a tap on her shoulder, and Narcissa turned to see Rookwood standing there, in robes of black velvet.

He smiled and held out a hand. "Dance with me, Miss Black?"

Perhaps it was the cider, she didn't know, but she didn't mind the thought of dancing with someone just then, forgetting everything else for awhile. She set down her glass and took his hand.

His hand was warm in hers but he didn't squeeze it too hard, didn't let his hands wander or look at her too long. He was dancing with her as a friend, and she appreciated it. But her mind was a thousand miles away.

"Something troubling you, Miss Black?" Rookwood asked after awhile.

Narcissa started and looked at him. She was always so good at hiding it, she wondered how he knew.

"No," she said, trying to sound cool, composed. She felt the warmth of his hand, and she spoke without really thinking. "It's just-I feel as though I'm growing apart from everyone I used to know," she said, hoping he didn't guess just who exactly it was. "Did you ever feel that way?"

"Certainly," said Rookwood. "I have close friends I hardly speak to anymore. I think that's a normal part of growing older, really."

"I suppose it is," said Narcissa, and they were quiet awhile as they made their way across the floor.

"Everything's changing," said Rookwood. "Everyone's taking sides, it seems."

[struck her as odd that he was here surrounded by the Dark Lord's supporters. Maybe he didn't know.

"But the Ministry is taking the right side, is it not?"

Rookwood looked at her closely. "Yes, I suppose it is," he said.

Something about the way he was looking at her made her uneasy. As soon as the song ended she let go of his hand.

"Well, that was lovely, thank you," she said, without meeting his eye. She dashed away to the drinks table and picked up a cocktail. She'd just tipped it to her lips when she saw Lucius out of the corner of her eye. He stood next to her and poured himself a drink.

"I'm glad to see you here, Narcissa," he said, smiling. "You're mother said you were feeling ill."

Sweet Merlin, did her mother send him hourly updates on her health?

"I'm much better now," she said.

Lucius smiled. "Didn't want to miss the party, I suppose?"

Narcissa smiled back and took another drink. Lucius too, had been distant with her when she'd first come back from New York, but lately they'd been talking more, like old friends, and it was nice, in a way. He'd dated a few women in the years since they'd left school, but hadn't asked any of them to marry him, as far as she knew. She tried not to think to hard about the kinds of things he was doing. Maybe he was behind the scenes, a tactical support person or something.

"You and Rookwood seem to be getting on well."

Narcissa noticed that the smile was gone from his face now, and she heard something like hurt or suspicion in his voice and she was struck with the realization that after all this time, after all that had happened, he still had feelings for her. And even after the hell she'd been through it was hard not to smile.

"There's nothing going on, if that's what you think," she said, playing with her cocktail stick and giving him a knowing look. "Though if he had things his way there probably would be," she added, the drink making her voice loose, easy.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "He's not getting pushy with you is he?"

Narcissa had a sudden thought, of Lucius striding over to Rookwood and pulling out his wand, and the thought was so amusing she was tempted to tell him had. "No, she said.

"Well, if he does tell him he'll have me to answer to," said Lucius. His voice too, was looser, freer. He looked at her closely. "How have you been, really?"

Narcissa took another drink to avoid looking at him. "Fine," she said, watching Bella and Rodolphus waltz by. Bella looked faintly annoyed, as though she'd rather be doing something else.

Lucius watched her, shifting a bit nervously, and she thought he knew what was coming.

"The Yaxleys are having a party on New Year's Eve. I thought perhaps you'd like to join me."

Narcissa opened her mouth and closed it again. She'd known Lucius all her life, he was safe familiar, and yet after all this time he was still like a stranger, someone who knew her without really knowing her.

"I'll have to check my schedule," she said, but she had a feeling he knew this was rubbish. She hardly ever went out anymore.

Lucius's face was smooth, unreadable, but she thought she could see the disappointment, or frustration maybe, in the way his lips tightened. He was just opening his mouth to answer when something caught his eye and he looked away from her. Narcissa followed his gaze and saw Tarquin standing by the doorway, and there was something about him, something about the expression on his face, that told Narcissa nothing good could come of this.

He gave Lucius the smallest nod and Lucius set down his drink.

"If you'll excuse me," he said.

"What is it-"

Lucius had already stepped away from her. "I can't discuss it now," he said, and rushed out of the room after Tarquin.

Somewhere in the back of her mind Narcissa knew, and she stared out into the crowd and all the colours seemed to blur together and she hated all of it, hated all of them, wanted to set the hall on fire and watch it burn to the ground. She set down her drink and left the room, not really knowing where she was going or what she was doing, venting her anger through her arms and legs as she walked up and down the halls, past the portraits and shields on the wall, past empty rooms filled with old furniture and antique vases and other useless shit.

Somewhere down the first-floor hall someone screamed, but this wasn't like any screaming she'd ever heard, this was raw, primal, an animal fighting for its life. She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing and pointed her wand to herself. "Celare."

She was almost invisible now, a human chameleon blending in with the walls around her. Her footsteps light and soundless, she crept closer to the sound.

"He's useless, Malfoy," said a voice that made her go rigid. Tarquin.

Another voice. Lucius. "The Dark Lord wants information-"

"And we're not going to get any from him," Tarquin snapped. "Might as well finish him off."

Beads of sweat broke out on Narcissa's forehead. She had to stop this somehow, but how she'd ever do it without getting caught...

There was a long silence, and Narcissa could picture Lucius staring down at the man, whoever it was, face inscrutable, playing for time because deep down he didn't really want to kill anyone. She closed her eyes as though the force of her thoughts was enough to get through to him.

Let him go. Don't do it. You're better than this.

"What if we had Reg do it?" said Tarquin. "He hasn't had the honour yet."

Narcissa's heart was in her throat. Regulus was in there with them.

Fast footfalls were coming down the hall and Narcissa flattened herself against a wall, praying they couldn't hear her fast breathing. A man in a long black robe was coming down the hall, and although she hadn't seen him in years she knew the stringy black hair and the pallid face. Severus.

"Lucius," he said. "The Dark Lord wishes to speak with you."

Narcissa couldn't believe what she'd just heard. The Dark Lord, in this manor, right in this fucking house, perhaps feet away from her, feet away from all those people dancing and laughing in the great hall.

This couldn't be real.

"Well," said Tarquin. "Are going you to do it or what?"

So stiff and shaky she could barely walk, Narcissa crept to the open door and peered inside the room. Regulus was pale and sweating, his hand shaking so badly he couldn't hold his wand steady. He was pointing it at a man who was sprawled out on the floor and Narcissa had to stop herself crying out, though his eyes were hollow and terrified, not laughing like the last time she'd seen them, Narcissa would know them anywhere, because they were just like Marlene's.

Marlene's father.

"For fuck's sake Reg. Do I have to do it?"

Narcissa could hear impatience in Tarquin's voice. She had maybe a minute, and then he'd be dead.

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, wand slipping in her sweaty fingers. She counted to ten and pointed it at Tarquin.

"Stupefy!"

She'd been waiting to do it for years, and she almost smiled as Tarquin collapsed onto the rug with a satisfying thud, legs splayed at odd angles. Regulus was staring just past her, and with a flick of the wand Narcissa made herself visible again.

Regulus's mouth opened. "Narcissa? What-?"

"We need to get him out of here. Now."

Regulus's eyes were wide and terrified and his face was shining with sweat. "Do you have any idea what could happen to us if we get caught?"

Narcissa tapped her wand to Regulus and Disillusioned him. She could do it well enough that she could barely see him, only when he moved.

"Then we'll just have to avoid getting caught, won't we?" she said, feigning a confidence she didn't feel, hands so stiff she could barely hold her wand.

There was heaving and wheezing from the floor and Narcissa looked down to see Marlene's father, face drenched in sweat and lips blue. She conjured a glass and filled it with water and knelt down, bringing it to his lips, tipping it into his mouth for him. He took a few shaky sips and when looked up at her and there was such a softness in his eyes, all she could see was Marlene, the way she used to look at her, and she had to look away.

"We'll have to get you out of here quickly," she said. "Do you think you can stand?"

"I think so," he said. Grimacing, as though it cost him everything, he raised himself up on one knee, and Narcissa and Regulus each took an arm and helped him to his feet, but when they let go McKinnon's legs shook underneath him and he nearly stumbled. He'd have to be half-carried out of there, and how they were going to do it without getting caught, Narcissa didn't have a bloody clue. She tapped her wand to him and Disillusioned him, then herself, and they guided him out of the room.

"Wait," said Narcissa, remembering something. She let go of McKinnon's arm and knelt beside Tarquin, who was beginning to stir. She'd never done a memory charm before, but if she did it wrong and his brains were addled it was no great loss.

"Obliviate," she muttered. Tarquin's eyes fluttered open and went slack.

"We need to do this quickly" she whispered to Regulus. He nodded, and they made their way down the hall, towards the staircase.

"...you have the Veritaserum?"

Narcissa whipped around. Lucius was coming down the hall with Severus. They had maybe a minute, maybe even less, before they realized Tarquin had been Stunned and McKinnon and Regulus had gone. The Dillusionment Charm didn't make them invisible, it simply made them blend in with whatever was around them. They could still be seen, especially when they moved.

"Against the wall," she hissed.

The three of them flattened themselves against the wall and Narcissa prayed no one bumped into them. She strained to hear their voices.

"Perhaps McKinnon subdued them," said Severus. He sounded cool and detached, as though describing a scene in a play he was watching.

"That's absurd!" shouted Lucius, who in contrast to Severus, sounded frustrated, almost afraid. "You saw how weak he was, there's no way he could've taken on Travers and Regulus himself."

There was shuffling, indistinct murmuring she couldn't make out. She thought perhaps Tarquin might've come to.

"Severus, go and search the manor for him. He couldn't have gone far."

There was a swish of fabric and as Severus strode down the hall Narcissa flattened herself against the wall. A portrait muttered from somewhere above her and she could smell burning candles and Regulus's sweat and the alcohol on her own breath and she studied the way the candlelight played on the polished wood of the banister, remembering how she used to slide down it when she was little.

Severus was almost on them now. His eyes flicked in their direction, then stared straight ahead down the hallway. He was almost past them…

His elbow jabbed her arm. Severus started, then turned slowly to stare at them, reaching out a hand.

Narcissa had never seen the Dark Lord, but she'd heard about him. Heard how his eyes were snakelike slits and his voice was high and cold and almost inhuman. They would be the last thing she ever saw or heard.

And she'd never be able to tell Marlene that she loved her.

She closed her eyes and waited.

"Who's there? Reveal yourselves."

Neither of them said a word, but she knew he could hear their breathing, because she could hear it too.

Severus glanced down the hall, towards the room where Lucius and Tarquin were. Lucius was shouting and Tarquin sounded dazed.

Severus lowered his voice. "Listen to me. I can help you, but we have minutes. Perhaps seconds. Do you trust me?"

This had to be a trick. Narcissa kept her mouth shut tight, but before she could stop him Regulus spoke.

"It's me, Sev. And Narcissa and McKinnon."

Severus turned sharply and looked at a point just beyond Narcissa's face. His eyes formed a question but there was a noise from the room beyond and his face became hard and set again. "Stay with me," he said. "And don't make a sound."

Sticking her mouth in her robes to stifle the sounds of her own breathing, Narcissa followed Severus down the hall to the staircase, clinging tightly to McKinnon to make sure he didn't stumble.

They'd just reached the bottom of the stairs when there were fast footfalls behind them. Lucius and Tarquin were making their way towards Severus. Narcissa tried to stop herself breathing but it only made her breathe harder.

"Travers' memory has been modified," said Lucius. "He doesn't remember what happened."

So Narcissa had done a memory charm. She'd have to remember to give herself credit for that if she ever got out of there alive.

"I've searched all the rooms on the first floor," said Severus. His voice was as cool as ever but Narcissa saw his hand twitch over his wand. "No sign of them, but they may have tried to escape through the laundry chute."

Lucius's nose crinkled in disgust the way it did when someone did something stupid. "Travers, go check the laundry chute," he drawled.

Travers looked indignant. "Why do I have to check it?"

"Because you're smaller than I am," said Lucius. Travers shot him a dark look and went back upstairs. Narcissa imagined him sliding down the laundry chute into a pile of Lucius's dirty pants and even though she'd never been in a less funny predicament in her life, she almost laughed. Fear was strange that way.

Narcissa could practically feel the frantic whir of Severus's thoughts. "Someone should check the fireplace in the sitting room on the ground floor in case they tried to use the Floo Network," he said. "I'll check outside."

Lucius gave him a stiff nod and left down the stairs. When he'd vanished down the corridor Severus beckoned to them, and they followed him down the staircase.

They'd just reached the door when she thought she heard voices coming closer. They were mere inches away from the door. Severus reached his hand and pulled it open, and Narcissa had put one foot out when McKinnon stumbled over the threshold.

"I'm sorry," he muttered when they'd picked him up, breathing hard.

"Don't worry about that now," said Narcissa. "We're almost there." She squeezed his arm and as Severus held the door open she and Regulus half-dragged him across, hoping like hell no one looked to closely, or wondered why Severus was holding the door open.

Severus closed the door behind him and Narcissa let out all the breath she'd been holding in for the last twenty minutes.

Hiding behind a hedge to be sure they weren't seen, Narcissa tapped her wand to McKinnon and he reappeared. "Can you Apparate?" she asked him.

McKinnon gave a shaky nod. "I think so," he said. He put a hand to Narcissa's shoulder. "I don't know how I can ever thank you enough," he said. He looked into her eyes a long time, searching them, and Narcissa wondered how much he knew, how much Marlene had told him. She wanted to give him a message, wanted him to tell Marlene that she still thought of her, still loved her. Her mouth opened, then closed again.

"You'd better go," she said, glancing behind her. "They could be coming any minute."

McKinnon nodded and began to spin, and with a loud crack he was gone.

Narcissa sank to the ground with her head in her hands and there was a rustle of grass as Regulus sat down behind her, rocking back and forth with his face in his hands.

"I am so fucked," he said, voice strained and tight, like he was trying not to sob, or scream.

Narcissa pulled her hands away from her face. "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Reg was almost laughing now, his voice high. "You can't just walk away from the Death Eaters, Cissy. They're going to fucking kill me."

Narcissa didn't know whether she wanted to hold him close or tell him off for being stupid enough to join them in the first place. She'd just opened her mouth when Severus spoke.

"There are those who can offer you protection," he said in a soft voice. "In exchange for certain…services."

Narcissa looked up at him as though just realizing he was there. In all her fear and single-minded determination to get Marlene's father to safety, she'd never once stopped to wonder just why Severus had helped them.

"What do you mean?" she said.

Severus glanced past them, to the manor house beyond, lights twinking in it's windows like sinister eyes.

"I'm talking about the Order," he said.

Regulus glanced at Narcissa, and she could tell he was thinking the same thing. This was a trap, it had to be. He was going to get them to defect and kill them both. Narcissa gripped her wand so hard her fingers hurt.

"The Order of the Phoenix?" said Regulus, and Narcissa knew he was playing for time, knew he was reaching for his wand just as she was, because she could see his hand moving inside his robes.

"I don't know of any other Orders," he sneered.

Narcissa stood up and faced him, readying herself for a fight. "What are you playing at Severus?" she said, holding her wand in front of her. "Why are you doing this?"

Severus's eyes flicked towards the wand in her hand. "I was only trying to help you," he said. "But if you'd rather get caught and killed, I won't stop you. It would certainly make things simpler for me."

Narcissa didn't lower her wand. "But why are you trying to help us? Why did you help us set that man free? You're a Death Eater."

Regulus's mouth opened as though understanding something, and he looked at Severus with something like awe. "You defected."

It wasn't a question, it was a statement, and Narcissa could hear the admiration in his voice. Regulus had always looked up to Severus, like he was an older brother, someone to take the place of Sirius.

Severus looked back at Regulus and said nothing, but that was its own answer, in a way. And Narcissa remembered something, a memory from another life, of Severus sitting on the castle steps with a red-headed Muggle-born girl. She lowered her wand.

"Thank you," he said, rather sarcastically. Narcissa saw that his hair was as stringy as ever and so thin his robes hung off him like a bedsheet, and he still had the look of a gangly teenager, but there was something about him, a haunted look on his face, that made him seem older.

Regulus lowered his wand and stepped closer to him. "I want to join the Order. I want to fight."

Severus looked at him a long time, as though deciding something. "Very well," he said. "You'd better go see Dumbledore straightaway. I'll cover for you but I think it inadvisable for you to return here. You're not exactly good at hiding your feelings."

Regulus's mouth twisted as though he was going to make a retort, but his face slackened and he nodded. She supposed there was really too much truth in that to deny it.

Severus turned to Narcissa. "You'd better get back to the party. Someone's bound to notice you're missing."

Narcissa couldn't think of anything she wanted to do less. "No," she said. "I want to see Dumbledore, and I want to do it now."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Narcissa bristled. "There's no need to take that tone with me."

"My apologies," said Severus, not sounding sorry at all. "I just thought, given the dangers-"

"I think I can handle it, thank you."

"Aren't they going to wonder where you've gone?"

Narcissa shrugged. She'd deal with that later.

Severus looked at her a moment, then nodded. Narcissa had just put away her wand when there was a swish of fabric and low muttering. "Obliv-"

Narcissa whipped out her wand before he could finish the incantation. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Severus kept his wand up and narrowed his eyes at her. "The Dark Lord happens to be an extraordinarily powerful Leglilimens," he snapped. "If he were to read your mind and discover my true loyalties-"

"What, and you think I'm in regular contact with the Dark Lord? I've never even seen him."

"But your family-"

Narcissa stood up straighter and glared at him. "We don't invite him over for dinner and drinks you know." Yet, she added to herself. Her aunt and her mother would probably be delighted.

Severus stared at her a moment, a stare so intense she felt like her skull was being scraped. Images of old memories flashed before her mind, images of her sister and her parents and Marlene and he'd just begun to see them together in New York when she shut them down.

"You're a natural at Occlemency at least," said Severus, still looking at her too closely.

"Yes, well, that comes with being a Black," said Narcissa. Always hide your true feelings, that should've been on the family coat of arms right next to Toujours Pur.

"I'll let it go for now," he said. "But if I get caught because of you and he finishes me off I'll make sure he takes you out with me."

Narcissa made a face and with a swish of his cloak Severus turned on his heel and started walking back up to the castle.

"Is he always like that?"

"Just to people he likes," said Regulus. He gave Narcissa a small smile. "You'll get used to him."

The night was strangely quiet, without even the sound of the wind in the trees. Regulus glanced back towards the manor. "We'd better get going," he said.

Narcissa nodded, concentrating with all her mind on Hogwarts castle, and together they spun into the air.

Narcissa had forgotten the castle smell of damp stone and chalk dust and burning candles. Every breath made her think of Marlene, and she wanted to stay there for years and she wanted to get away.

They stopped outside the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

"Do you know the password?" said Narcissa. Regulus shook his head and Narcissa let out an exasperated sigh, wondering how she could've overlooked something so obvious. She was just about to turn and find Slughorn or somebody when the door open and Dumbledore stood there, in robes of magenta over his nightshirt and fuzzy slippers shaped like Kneazles.

"Ah, Severus said you'd be coming," he said, and Narcissa wondered how he'd done it so quickly. "Come in." He beckoned them to the spiral staircase and they stood together as it moved on its own.

Narcissa had been to his office a few times, for academic awards and dueling trophies. It was a fascinating place, with the silver instruments and the phoenix on its perch, but she was far too preoccupied to pay much attention to it now.

"So," said Dumbledore, sitting behind his desk and putting the tips of his fingers together. "Severus tells me you two wish to join the Order."

"Yes Professor," said Narcissa, forcing a confidence she didn't feel.

Dumbledore gave them each a swift, piercing look. "It will, of course, mean quite a bit of danger to you both. Especially to you, Regulus. Am I to understand that you are a Death Eater?"

Regulus looked down at the floor and gave him the smallest nod.

Dumbledore said nothing to this, but his silence was so loud with disappointment even Narcissa squirmed.

He turned to Narcissa. "Am I to take it your family doesn't know about the change in your loyalties?"

"No, Professor."

Dumbledore stared into the space ahead of him, apparently thinking. "I believe you work for the Ministry, Miss Black?"

Narcissa thought she knew what was coming, and didn't know what she thought of it. "Yes, for the Department of Mysteries."

"Excellent," said Dumbledore quietly. "Then you are well placed to do a bit of espionage. Can I ask you to do this?"

Narcissa was shaking now, but she nodded. Dumbledore turned to Regulus. "I think you know, Regulus, what I must ask you to do."

Regulus just stared at him without saying anything. He looked pale and wide-eyed as though staring down an oncoming train.

"It will be exceedingly dangerous for you. Lord Voldemort-"Narcissa and Regulus both jumped at the sound of the name-"is a powerful Legilimens. If he were to look into your mind and see..." he let his words trail away, but Narcissa knew what he meant to say, and she knew Regulus did too. He swallowed hard.

"I shall arrange with Severus to teach you Occlumency," he said. "He is already an accomplished Occlumens."

He was quiet again, thinking, and after a long silence he stood up. "If you are both ready, I shall induct you."

Narcissa glanced at Regulus, and she could see they were thinking the same thing. That they weren't ready, that they'd never be ready, but there was really nothing for it now.

Dumbledore stood up and pulled out his wand.

"Do you, Narcissa Black and Regulus Black, pledge allegiance to the Order of the Phoenix?

"We do."

"Do you promise to fulfill your duties to the Order to the best of your ability?"

"We do."

"Do you promise to remain loyal to the Order, even to the point of death?"

Narcissa's hands were shaking and Regulus swallowed hard. "We do."

"Then I induct you as members of the Order of the Phoenix."

Dumbledore waved his wand around them and a golden ribbon shot out, winding itself around them before it vanished. The bird sitting on a perch beside his desk gave a low, beautiful cry.

Narcissa felt as though she should have transformed somehow, that it should have left some mark on her, but when she caught her reflection in the window she was the same, the same pale face, the same thin arms. Her forehead was glistening with sweat.

"Regulus, I suggest you return to Malfoy Manor at once. I shall notify Severus. You'll need to stay close to him for the time being." Regulus nodded and left the room.

"Miss Black, it would be a great help to us if you would be so kind as to make regular reports to us. Our headquarters aren't far from here, in Montrose."

"Montrose?" said Narcissa, and her heart beat faster. Marlene's family lived in Montrose. Dumbledore looked at her a bit sharply, and she wondered how much he knew, or suspected, about her and Marlene.

"Indeed. Our next meeting is tomorrow evening."

Narcissa was so overwhelmed she almost couldn't speak. "Right. I'll be there."

"Excellent," he said. "Oh, and before you leave, I ought to show you our special form of communication. You know how to do a Patronus Charm?"

Narcissa had managed a corporeal Patronus only once, during her N.E.W.T examination, but she nodded and took out her wand, hoping she'd be able to pull it off again.

She closed her eyes and remembered the way it felt to fall asleep beside Marlene.

"Expecto Patronum."

A silver swan shot out her wand, just as it had the last time she'd done it, and Narcissa watched as it flew around the room.

"Excellent," said Dumbledore. "Now point your wand at it, and say the incantation 'communicare."

Narcissa pointed her wand at the swan. "Communicare." The swan stopped as though waiting for her to speak to it.

"Now all you need to do is give it your message, and it will send it to whomever you ask. It's a much faster and more reliable form of communication than owls, and it has the advantage of not being intercepted."

"Right," said Narcissa. She watched as the swan soared to the window and flew away, as though searching for something.

"Good luck, Miss Black," said Dumbledore. His eyes were warm but he looked serious, the lines on his face deeper than they'd been when she was at school.

Narcissa hurried out of the castle, barely aware of what she was seeing, her only thought that she was about to see Marlene for the first time in nearly six years.

A/N: I'm just finishing up the ending, so the story is pretty much finished :) I think I'll keep posting once a week just so you're not being flooded with updates. The last few chapters will be kind of action-packed but there will be fluff and romance.

I made a mistake with the timeline, since Regulus is in his last year of Hogwarts is should be 1978 instead of 1979. I'm going to fix that right away.

Thanks for reading!