Chapter 8

Hercules: The Boy-Who-Lived

1981

The New Year got off to a flying start for the Death Eaters as they carried out another Imperius curse attack. This time, they targeted Muggles, and compelled them to commit a series of crimes across the country throughout the dark winter months of January and February. Each time the Ministry thought the attacks had stopped, a new group of Muggles would be darkly influenced and the atrocities continued. Voldemort used this time with the Ministry's attention diverted elsewhere to establish new contact with the giant community, having lost Brennan Wilkes the previous year. The giants were still amenable to the Dark Lord's cause and willingly came down from the mountains to wreak havoc in Scotland. The Order of the Phoenix, headed by Kingsley Shacklebolt and Frank Longbottom, managed to force the giants to retreat, but only after substantial loss of life, both wizarding and Muggle. The Obliviators and Healers got to work, erasing memories and treating the wounded. Augustus Rookwood was able to provide the Death Eaters with useful information about various Ministry Departments and their plans, both through his own work there, and through a new source; Ludovic Bagman, Beater for the Wimborne Wasps. Although he came across as rather stupid, he was open, boyish and very popular, and people talked easily to him, telling him things they wouldn't usually have said. And so the Death Eaters had another trickle of useful titbits of information from the heart of the Ministry, and used it to their advantage. All the while, Fenrir Greyback was recruiting for his own ranks, infecting his victims with Lycanthropy. They savagely killed Muggles and kidnapped the children of blood traitors, holding them to ransom, with the threat that their child would become a werewolf should they choose not to cooperate.

Narcissa was assigned more medallions to enchant with powerful Dark magic. These were passed to shady back-street traders, and sold to unsuspecting witches and wizards. The constant stream of injuries and curses these items caused added to the Ministry's workload, and again served to divert attention from the larger attacks the Death Eaters were planning and carrying out until it was too late for the Ministry to interfere. It was tedious work, but Narcissa was grateful that she was not set to task creating more Inferi. She still did not know want had happened to the original batch she, Lucius, Theodosia, Antonin and Doyle had created, and she did not want to ask. Lucius, Antonin and Doyle created a new set of enchanted bodies, which were set loose in wizarding villages, including Ottery St. Catchpole, where the notorious blood traitors, the Weasleys, resided. "Arthur Weasley is almost as bad as Dumbledore," Lucius ranted. "No wizarding pride! It disgusts me that his family are in the Sacred Twenty-Eight. He thinks Muggles are harmless and deserve rights! If I can get him killed in the next attack, I'll be doing the world a favour..." But despite Lucius' best attempts, all the Weasleys survived the Inferi attack.

The Death Eaters then added weather manipulation into the mix, creating a series of storms, floods and hurricanes to attack the coastal regions of the UK. The death toll mounted and the Daily Prophet reported that the Ministry was overwhelmed. Hope was being drained from the population as quickly as if Dementors were swooping among them, although they were all still stationed at Azkaban. But there was a rumour, murmurs running around the Death Eaters, that Voldemort had re-opened negations with these foul beings. This led Narcissa and Lucius to secretly start trying to learn the Patronus charm. It was hard work, and Lucius gave up in disgust after a month. Narcissa, however, persevered, thinking of Draco and Lucius, her family - those she loved above anything and wanted to protect. Slowly, very slowly, she manged to cast a few silver wisps of smoke. She redoubled her efforts, and by the spring, could cast a silver shield of light. But she kept going, and by the summer, whilst terror and devastation reigned in the wizarding world, Narcissa Malfoy could cast a corporeal Patronus at will - an elegant black swan.

Severus came to visit Narcissa, Lucius and Draco one hot afternoon in July with some surprising news - he had gotten a job at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "The Dark Lord wishes to have a spy close to Dumbledore," he explained. Severus was sitting on the floor of the parlour at Malfoy Manor with Draco, who would now sit unaided, and was playing with some wooden blocks. Severus stacked the blocks into a neat tower, only for Draco to knock them down with his pudgy fist, gurgling with laughter. Severus would then stack the blocks again, and the game repeated itself.

"Good!" Lucius sat back on the sofa, arm around his wife. "We need more Professors at Hogwarts with proper wizarding pride. Most of the staff are acceptable, but they're far too easily swayed by the Headmaster and his ridiculous pro-Muggle viewpoints. How did you get him to agree? You applied last year as well, didn't you?"

Severus nodded, collecting the fallen blocks. "Yes, but I was obviously unsuccessful. I applied for Defence Against the Dark Arts last time, but the Headmaster did not even give me an interview. It seems his Legilimency skills are more powerful than I had anticipated - he suspected me of being a Death Eater."

Narcissa felt her heart drop. "But Severus, he could get you arrested and sent to Azkaban if he finds out - you can't -"

But Severus shook his head, smirking. "He already knows, Narcissa. When I applied this time, he called me to interview, and very calmly told me as much. The Dark Lord had anticipated this, so I spun Dumbledore a tale of deepest remorse - he is an old fool, and believes no-one is beyond redemption. So starting in September, I will be the Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House - Slughorn has just retired." Severus sighed softly. "I think I prefer fighting Aurors to teaching dunderheaded children, but the Dark Lord was adamant."

They talked on about Hogwarts and Severus' new role. Even Severus laughed as Narcissa exclaimed, "At least you'll put on weight! Three square meals a day, Severus - and all those feasts. It'll do you good."

He groaned theatrically and replied, "Perhaps I should have all my students work on nutrient potions and then I would never have to eat again. It will be a nightmare! Like feeding time at the zoo - I will have to witness all those ghastly little brats chewing with their mouths open three times a day... it is repulsive." He shuddered. Draco knocked the tower over again, and Severus patiently collected the scattered blocks and started rebuilding. He said slowly, "The Dark Lord also wants a man on the inside for -" He glanced at Lucius "- has the Dark Lord discussed his plans for Hogwarts with you yet?"

Lucius nodded. "Yes, he thinks he can have the castle by the New Year. I am to angle to take over as Head of the Board to ensure a smooth transition. The Dark Lord wants the school houses abolished, except for Slytherin, of course. We're planning to bring it more in line with the Durmstrang Institute. They teach the Dark Arts as they ought to be taught - Gellert Grindelwald went to school there, after all. And they certainly do not accept Mudbloods. Once Hogwarts is ours, we will only accept those of magical blood. It's about time - I don't want Draco mixing with the wrong sort when he starts school." He paused, looking at his laughing son as the blocks went flying again.

Narcissa took her husband's hand and said quietly to Severus, "Is it true he's bringing in the Dementors for this attack?"

Severus paused, turning a block thoughtfully over in his hand. "He is certainly not eliminating it as a possibility. However, since Wilkes died, we lost our main point of contact with them. They are restless, and eager to join us - but the Dark Lord does not trust them to remain loyal to him. That creeping cretin, Pettigrew, informed the Dark Lord that the Order is not only expecting him to use Dementors, but are banking on it; the Order can all cast the Patronus charm, which places them at a huge advantage. It seems that none of the Death Eaters can manage it. This places us at as much risk from the Dementors as the people we would be setting them on. Even if we succeeded in eradicating the Order, if we cannot control the Dementors, once they have finished with their assigned victims, they will turn on us. The Dark Lord is not willing to give up his power or share it with them. Therefore, for the moment, he has decided against using them. He will only bring them in as a last resort." Severus set the last block on the tower, and Draco leaned forwards, joyfully destroying it once more.

"Severus, what if I could cast a Patronus?" Narcissa asked.

Severus raised his head and looked her in the eyes, his face carefully blank, as he replied seriously, "Personally, I would keep that information to myself. A wise witch once told me: 'Knowledge is power, don't give the wrong people power over you.' A person's Patronus is an insight into their very soul - it is a representation of their truest self. It cannot be altered, hidden, or changed at will. You should only share it with those you fully trust - those who will not use it against you." He paused, deftly stacking the tower of blocks again, then continued in a lighter tone, "Unless, of course, you wish to be put in charge of all the Dementors by yourself, in which case I applaud your ambition and determination. Lucius always says you are a formidable witch." He nodded to Lucius who kissed his wife's hand gallantly.

Narcissa laughed, but narrowed her eyes at her friend as she said, "It sounds like you've given this a great deal of thought, Severus. Would I be right in thinking I am not the only one on our side capable of driving away Dementors?"

He gave her a wry half-smile but didn't reply, turning his full attention back to Draco and their game.

Lucius and Narcissa corresponded regularly with Severus once he started his new role in September. He complained bitterly about his 'dank' living quarters in the dungeons, the 'abysmal' ingredients he was expected to teach with, the 'gluttonous' feasts he was forced to sit through, the 'supercilious' staff team and the 'inane' students. He begged Lucius to use his influence on the Board to get him some funding for decent potions supplies, and made them promise to teach Draco how to use a quill and chop ingredients before he came to Hogwarts. 'It is bedlam,' he wrote. 'Even the students from wizarding families are clueless, and none of them understand the subtle science and exact art to potion making... I am considering writing speech about it to give to each new class so I do not constantly have to repeat myself. The only good thing is they are all too scared of me to misbehave, so that, at least, is something.' He asked after Draco, and promised to pay them a visit 'as soon as the Headmaster deigns to release me from this hellish prison.'

Severus was ordered to stay at Hogwarts whilst the targeted attacks on the Order of the Phoenix were carried out, as September saw the constant trickle of information gleaned from Peter Pettigrew put to its full use at last. The Death Eaters were able to positively identify the names and locations of several high-ranking Order members, and set out to exterminate them. Antonin Dolohov led an attack on the highly skilled Prewett brothers, Fabian and Gideon. He was aided by Barty Crouch Jr, Valdis Avery, and Lucius (who was very pleased to be able to harm the Weasley family, the matriarch of whom was sister to the Prewetts). Doyle Travers carried out a similar attack on the McKinnon family, assisted by Dunstan Nott and Mallory Mulciber. Thorfinn Rowle and Fenrir Greyback, meanwhile, discovered the location of Edgar Bones, mercilessly slaughtering him, his wife and children. Bellatrix was delighted to be assigned two victims, and joyfully took Evan Rosier to visit Benjy Fenwick and Julius Jerome. Bellatrix was never one for a quiet kill, and went so far with her mutilation of Jerome that only bits of him were found. Lucius reported to Narcissa that Evan had looked haunted and sickened to his core when they had eventually returned. The Carrow siblings kidnapped and murdered Caradoc Dearborn, whose body was never recovered. Voldemort himself even deigned to enter the fray, and murdered Dorcas Meadowes personally.

The news of these brutal attacks was reported in the Daily Prophet, but the victories for the Death Eaters were balanced by triumphs for their opposition, as several of the Dark Lord's supporters were captured. Igor Karkaroff, Doyle Travers and Mallory Mulciber were arrested in quick succession and sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban for their crimes. Then Evan Rosier was captured and killed by Auror Alastor Moody. Evan had managed to slice a chunk out of Moody's nose using Sectumsempra before succumbing to the Killing curse. But despite these arrests and Evan's death, it seemed only a matter of time before the Ministry would fall, then all that would stand in the way the new regime was Albus Dumbledore. The attack on Hogwarts was set for the first week of November, and with Severus at the castle and the Death Eaters primed, victory would surely be theirs. Narcissa was looking forward to a peaceful Christmas in a new era, where witches and wizards would not have to live in hiding, and Muggles and their offspring would know their place at the bottom the pile.

It was a shock on Halloween night, therefore, when Lucius yelled suddenly in pain, wrenching up the left sleeve of his robe. The Dark Mark on his skin glowed vividly, then faced, almost completely away. "What the -?" Lucius stopped speaking, tentatively putting a finger to the pale skin, and touched the Mark lightly. Nothing happened. He slowly raised his large, grey eyes to Narcissa's, and whispered, "But I don't understand. What's happened?" Narcissa looked fearfully down at the faded Mark. They were sat in the parlour with Draco between them on the sofa, reading to him before bed. The boy looked up at the sound of his father's shout, face crumpling. Narcissa stood up abruptly, the book falling to the floor.

"I'll put Draco to bed. Contact Bella, find out if the same thing has happened to her and Rodolphus." She picked Draco up quickly and took him to his room. Once he was settled - a task which took much longer than usual, since Draco had picked up on his parents' distress - she returned to the parlour. Long before she reached the door, she could hear her sister's manic screeches, and Lucius' raised voice, trying to calm her down.

"HE WENT TO THE POTTERS'!" Bellatrix was screaming, "AND HE'S GONE! GONE!" She burst into hysterical tears as Narcissa entered the room. She rushed to her sister's side and put an arm around her shaking shoulders. Bellatrix's Mark too, was faded and washed out. She consoled her sister whilst her husband paced the room in agitation. Eventually, they got the whole story out of Bellatrix - but it wasn't much to go on. Apparently, the Dark Lord had been determined to find and kill the Potters, due to their continual defiance of him. He had only told Bellatrix of his plans, as he had planned to return to her and Rodolphus' home to call the Death Eaters to him once he had finished in Godric's Hollow. When Bellatrix had felt her Mark disappear, she had apparated immediately to the village, and seen a cottage destroyed. "There was no Dark Mark above the house!" she wailed. "So he never got as far as casting it. And he didn't summon us, he didn't come back. My Master! My Dark Lord is gone!" Bellatrix broke down into sobs again.

Lucius approached the women, addressing Bellatrix sharply, "Pull yourself together, Bella. We need to act - now. Was anyone else there?"

Bellatrix looked up, eyes streaming, and she gasped out, "The blood traitor, Black, and the filthy half-breed, Hagrid. I heard them talking - the Potter brat survived, the half-breed had him."

"What does it matter, Luc?" Narcissa shot him a disapproving look.

Lucius sounded more panicked than ever as he cried, "Don't you see? Hagrid! Black! That means Dumbledore and the Order knows - they know the Dark Lord is gone! They'll be rounding us up before long! They might even be on their way right now! Get up, Narcissa! We have to tell my parents and prepare the house!"

Finally realising what he was talking about, Narcissa released her sister and leapt to her feet. "Bella, go home," she commanded. "Hide anything that links you to the Dark Lord - when the Ministry come, tell them you were under the Imperius curse -"

But manic laughter cut her off. "Cissy! I will never betray the Dark Lord. I will never deny him. I love him."

"Bella, please, we have to -" Narcissa grabbed her sister's hands, pleading, but Bellatrix cut her off.

"No." She stood, her eyes dry and her voice suddenly level and more rational than Narcissa had heard it in years. "You need to protect Draco. I understand. I'll help you - have you ever been under the Imperius curse?"

Narcissa shook her head, as did her husband. Bellatrix said, still in a sane, low voice, "Let me perform it on you both now. You need to know what it feels like to play your part convincingly. And when I get caught, I'll back you up, I'll tell them I controlled you, to keep you on the right side."

"Bella, stop. You can't." Narcissa was crying now, still holding her sister's hands. Bellatrix gently released her, and said,

"I can, and I will, Cissy. I cannot deny our Master. I know I will go to Azkaban, but that's my choice. And it is my choice to protect you."

Narcissa felt Lucius' hand on her shoulder. "Let her," he whispered. "We need to be free, Narcissa, for Draco."

Bellatrix raised her wand, looking at her sister. Narcissa wiped her eyes and nodded. "For Draco," she echoed.

The three worked through the night. After submitting to the Imperius curse and working out several cover stories for the crimes they could be linked to, Narcissa, Lucius and Bellatrix worked their way through every room of the Manor, removing all evidence of their allegiance to the Dark Lord. All the books on Dark magic and all their Dark artefacts were hidden in the secret cellar, a place only known to the current inhabitants, Bellatrix and Severus. Theodosia, Evan, and Regulus, after all, could not tell anyone about it anymore. Bellatrix cast new protective enchantments over it, whilst Lucius rushed to his parents to tell them the news and share their cover story with them. The East Wing was very much a separate living space, and days went by when Narcissa and Lucius did not see or speak to Abraxas and Candace. They decided it would therefore be best for Abraxas and Candace to plead complete ignorance of their son's and daughter-in-law's actions. Narcissa meanwhile sought out Dobby. The elf was coached in their lies, and was ordered and threatened in equal measure to repeat these lies to anyone who asked him about his masters' beliefs, values and actions over the past few years.

The Ministry representatives arrived at the Manor at seven in the morning on 1st November. A team was sent in to search the property, whilst Lucius, Narcissa, Abraxas and Candace were questioned separately. It seemed that the Malfoys' years of hosting, hobnobbing and extravagant giving had paid off - they were not taken into the Ministry for questioning, and the officials seemed satisfied with their tale. Dobby, for once, did not disappoint his masters; when he was questioned, he fully corroborated their tale of being under the Imperius curse. This barely took two hours, and by the time the owl with that morning's Daily Prophet arrived, the Ministry officials had departed, leaving the Malfoys with a formally written pardon for suspecting them of being Death Eaters. Narcissa and Lucius pounced on the poor owl, almost wrestling it in their determination to read the day's news and find out what had happened to their fallen Master. Together, they read the front page with mounting shock. It was entitled: 'Wizarding World Free At Last! He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Defeated by Infant Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived'. The paper reported that You-Know-Who had indeed travelled to Godric's Hollow in the pursuit of James and Lily Potter, prominent members of the Order of the Phoenix who had clashed with the Death Eaters on several occasions. Knowing the Dark Lord was after them, the couple had gone into hiding with their infant son, Harry. Investigators of the scene speculated that You-Know-Who had first murdered James Potter, before forcing his way into baby Harry's nursery. Lily Potter had died defending her son, but somehow, baby Harry had survived with nothing more than a scar on his forehead, shaped like a bolt of lightning. It was theorised that You-Know-Who had cast the Killing curse at the child, which had impossibly, miraculously, rebounded on its caster, killing the most evil Dark wizard of all time. The paper went on to report that The-Boy-Who-Lived was safe, and had been taken to live with relatives.

"But how is this possible?" Narcissa whispered, pulling the corner of the newspaper out of baby Draco's grip, replacing it quickly with one of his stuffed toys. "How could a baby defeat the most powerful wizard of all time? It's impossible!"

"But it's happened, Narcissa. The Dark Lord is gone. And this might not be an ordinary baby... He might be another Dark wizard." Lucius stared down at the paper again, frowning. "Maybe he had powers the Dark Lord didn't..."

"With the saintly Potters as parents?" Narcissa looked sceptically at her husband, setting Draco on the rug where he immediately leaned forwards, grabbing at the sofa, using it to pull himself onto his feet. He determinedly pulled himself along the sofa, little legs working hard to support him. You'll be walking soon, she thought wryly. "He'll be in Draco's year, when he starts school," Narcissa commented. "I remember the announcement of his birth, it was the end of July or early August last year. So he's only about two months younger than Draco."

"Really..." Lucius looked at Draco appraisingly. He had got to the edge of the sofa now, and dropping onto his knees, began to crawl across the floor, eyes fixed on the open door to the parlour. "That could be interesting... depending on how he is raised, of course. I wonder where he is... James Potters' parents died last year, didn't they? Dragonpox?"

Narcissa nodded, her eyes also on their son's progress across the room. She pointed her wand at the parlour door which closed gently. Lucius continued, "When he grows up, he might be a rallying point - unless he's raised by Muggles, of course." He looked horrified at the thought. "It's repugnant - but James was an only child, wasn't he? And as far as I recall, he was the last of their line."

"You're right..." Narcissa murmured, getting quickly to her feet and retrieving Draco, who had found his escape route had been barred, and was attempting in vain to pull himself up the door, reaching for the handle. She turned him around, setting him back on his hands and knees. He promptly crawled back across the room towards his father's legs. "I have no idea about his mother's side of the family, though," she said, returning to the sofa.

"I'll do some digging." Lucius scooped Draco from the floor and gave him a kiss before passing him to his wife. "I should head into the Ministry anyway, be seen to be humble and contrite and offering to help wherever I can." He kissed his wife goodbye and left. Narcissa pondered the fate of baby Harry Potter all day, but when Lucius returned that evening, he had nothing to report; it seemed that no-one knew where the Boy-Who-Lived was, apart from Albus Dumbledore, who had assured the Minister for Magic that the child was safe, but refused to divulge his whereabouts. And so the Malfoys had to give up, and trust that, in time, they would find out whether Harry Potter would become a standard around which the blood purists could one day rally.

Over the next few days, Narcissa and Lucius found that Crabbe, Goyle, Avery, Nott and MacNair had also managed to escape justice. Bagman had also gotten away with his crime of passing information to their side. Narcissa's parents and her aunt had not even been questioned; the Black name was still very well respected in wizarding society. Narcissa was consumed with worry about Severus, to whom they had sent a concealed message, asking if he was ok, and letting him know they were safe. As the days went by, she was seriously contemplating travelling to Hogwarts, when she and Lucius at last received a reply. It was a brief note which transfigured from a single black feather:

Narcissa and Lucius,

Thank you for your last. I am relieved to hear you have been cleared. I am fine. Dumbledore has vouched for me and I have also been cleared of all charges. Do not contact me for a while. I will get in touch when I am able to.

Severus.

Narcissa looked down at the note and felt unease stir in the pit of her stomach. "Something's wrong - he's upset." Lucius held out his hand and she passed the note to him. He read it through quickly and said,

"You're reading too much into it. He's just taking precautions - it would seem suspicious if lots of accused Death Eaters were corresponding all of a sudden."

Narcissa looked at him, eyes narrowing. "But it isn't all of a sudden. We've been writing to him since he started that job. It'll look much more suspicious if we stop now. He's withdrawing again - just like he did after Regulus died."

Lucius handed the note back to his wife as he replied, "But no-one he cares about died this time, Narcissa! It was only the Potters and Severus hated them. And the Dark Lord... but I think the only person who's crying over him is your sister..."

Narcissa looked back down at the note and said stubbornly, "He hated James, not Lily. They used to be friends."

Lucius looked exasperated and said, "But that was years ago!"

"Severus could have easily beaten her when he tried to recruit them," Narcissa said doggedly. "But he chose not to harm her and ran away. After he defeated the Inferi and Bella, you don't find that even the slightest bit strange? He didn't even try to defend himself against Lily Potter!"

Lucius turned to his wife, speaking emphatically, "There could have been a whole host of reasons for that! The Dark Lord did say not to kill them. You're doing Severus a disservice, implying he's fond of a Mudblood. I know they were friends at one time, but that's well and truly over now. Anyway, she was a pretty poor friend to him by all accounts - she married his main persecutor! If he's upset over anyone, it's Evan. Those two actually got on quite well."

Narcissa shook her head, but spoke softly, "They've drifted apart since Regulus died... but I take your point. I only hope you're right, Luc."

"I usually am." He smirked as she threw an amused glare at him. The sound of Draco's wails interrupted their conversation, and Lucius went to get him up from his nap. Narcissa stepped over to the fireplace, setting the note alight with her wand and dropping it into the hearth.

Over these same few days, the Daily Prophet reported a series of scandalous tales. Barely two days had passed since the triumph of baby Harry, when Sirius Black was found to have been working for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. It seemed he had turned traitor and revealed the location of the Potters to his Master, resulting in the murders of James and Lily. Black had been hunted down by the 'noble and brave' Peter Pettigrew, who had cornered him in a busy Muggle street and challenged him. Black had then blown the street apart, killing a dozen Muggles and his former friend. Pettigrew's grieving mother had no body to bury, the largest part of Pettigrew they found being his finger. Black was arrested and came quietly. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban with no trial by Barty Crouch Snr. Pettigrew was posthumously awarded the Order of Merlin for his actions.

"That can't be right..." Lucius glanced up from the paper, face screwed up in disgust. "Sirius wasn't working for us, not to my knowledge anyway. And Pettigrew was spying for us!" He jabbed his finger at the text, scathingly reading aloud, "'noble and brave'. He was a treacherous little swine! He must have defected back to the Order."

"That's hardly surprising. He was a coward, always looking for the most powerful wizard to hide behind. He was the same at school." Narcissa sat down beside her husband, scanning the article. "I had no idea about Sirius, though. I never thought he'd come over to our side. I wonder why the Dark Lord never told us?"

The same day's news reported that a Death Eater named Igor Karkaroff had willingly given over information to the Ministry in exchange for his freedom. He gave a list of names to Barty Crouch Snr and immediately, Aurors arrested Augustus Rookwood, respected employee of the Department of Mysteries. An investigation found that he was indeed guilty of being in league with You-Know-Who. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban, and Karkaroff was released from prison and deported back to Northern Europe.

"He's as bad as Pettigrew!" Lucius scoffed, throwing down the paper in disgust. "A cowardly thing to do, betraying others to save his own unworthy skin. And he's been allowed to swan back off to his home country with no consequences! It's outrageous!"

"It's good to know we have such honest and trustworthy ministers, who can't be bribed and would never make deals with criminals," Narcissa said sarcastically, as she deftly changed Draco's nappy. The irony of their indignation was lost on both of them, and they spent the rest of the day plotting how to keep their place in society, having evaded justice as effectively as Karkaroff.

Only a day later, the wizarding world was outraged to learn that the popular Aurors, Frank and Alice Longbottom, had been tortured into insanity by four Death Eaters, intent on finding and restoring their fallen Master. Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange had confessed to their crimes immediately. The fourth member of their party was none other than Barty Crouch Jr. This saw the collapse of his father's carefully ordered life and career, just as Narcissa had predicted. The four were sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban, Frank and Alice were committed to St Mungo's for treatment and their son was passed into the custody of his grandmother. Narcissa was devastated for her sister, realising she would never see her again, but Bellatrix had made her decision, and had chosen her path. Narcissa was grateful for her sister's protection, and even managed to act her part when two Ministry wizards paid them another visit, asking her and Lucius to sit down as they gently broke the news that Bellatrix had confessed to keeping them both under the Imperius curse.

"She said that she knew you would never agree to what the Death Eaters were doing," the first wizard said. "And so she used the curse to bring you over to You-Know-Who's side. She's obsessed with him, and thought it would win his approval to have you and your husband serve him." He nodded respectfully to Lucius. The other wizard then produced some official looking sheets of parchment and coughed importantly.

"You sister named you as her executor, Mrs Malfoy, to manage her home and affairs for the duration of her incarceration, and to inherit her wealth and property after her eventual... demise." He coughed again. "Should you agree."

"Will this be made public?" Narcissa asked. "You understand, I have no wish to be further associated with my sister and her abhorrent actions."

The wizard looked extremely gratified at her statement, and said pompously, "Madam, we can assure you this will be handled with the utmost discretion, and will not taint your good name." Narcissa nodded, taking the parchment and the quill offered to her. She read the documents carefully, and signed her name with a flourish.

After the officials had left, she broke down. Lucius tried to comfort her, saying, "We can visit her. I can pull some strings -" but Narcissa shook her head.

"No. We have to be seen to be putting anything and everything Dark behind us, if people are going to truly believe we were Imperiused. If they start to doubt us, we could be arrested."

"But we've been pardoned -"

"A pardon written by the current Ministry could be overthrown as soon as a new Minister comes to power. We have to make sure we are on the right side of anyone of influence there - or it'll be us in Azkaban. Then what would happen to Draco?" She looked into her husband's eyes, and saw her own fears reflected back at her. Then he smiled, and she felt a warmth spread through her. He gently kissed her, and whispered,

"You're right. We are Malfoys and we will keep going. We will keep striving for a better society, for blood purity, but we will work within the realms of the Ministry, until another wizard comes along who can lead us in the open again. We will keep our place at the head of society, and lead others in the true way."

"Yes," she said. "I'll organise a charity ball, with the proceeds going to St Mungo's - for the department the Longbottoms are in. That'll be sure to make the papers and establish us well in the public eye again."

Lucius nodded, rubbing his hands together and starting to pace the room. "And it might be worth hosting another dinner party soon, with the Minister for Magic and anyone else who looks prominent... Now Crouch has been disgraced, Fudge is in a much stronger position. I've already established a cordial relationship with him, so he should be fairly malleable." Cornelius Fudge was a half-blood, currently working as a Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Lucius had earmarked him a few years previously as a potentially useful ally - whilst he was not supportive of blood purity, he was a weak man, and could be easily guided and led by a stronger personality. Narcissa sank onto the sofa, watching Lucius as he walked briskly to and fro.

"Yes, and it would be good to invite the other Hogwarts Governors to dinner as well..." she mused. "If they find out the school was to be targeted, we need to appear as shocked and appalled as the rest of them. And Severus' position may be at risk... I know he said Dumbledore's defended him, but if the rest get wind he was a Death Eater, they might turn against him. If we can put a good word in for him now, it might help him later on."

"Good thinking." Lucius nodded approvingly. He stopped pacing and sat beside her, putting his arm around his wife. "We'll make sure Bella's sacrifice won't be in vain, and when Draco grows up, he'll have a world of opportunities open to him."