Chapter 12

Canis Major: Sirius Black

Autumn 1993 - Summer 1994

Narcissa and Lucius both took Draco to London on the first day of the new school term. Once they had arrived on Platform 9¾, found Draco a compartment on the train and got his luggage and Apus' cage safely stowed away, Draco jumped back down onto the platform to say goodbye to his parents. He hugged his mother whispering,

"I love you, Mum." He then turned to his father, and, to Narcissa's surprise, instead of hugging him, offered Lucius his hand. Lucius nodded approvingly as he shook it.

"Goodbye, Draco. Remember you are representing the Malfoy family at school now."

"Yes, Father. Goodbye. Bye Mum." He then turned and climbed back onto the train.

Once the scarlet steam engine had pulled away, Narcissa found her arm taken by Persephone Crabbe, who begged her to go shopping with herself and Zillah in Diagon Alley. Lucius looked pleased, and so Narcissa found herself swept away by the women. It was a pleasant enough outing, but Narcissa found Sephy's constant stream of salacious gossip and giggling wearing, especially as she could see, when looking into Sephy's eyes, that she herself was a regular target of the witch's vicious tongue. After visiting a few shops, they headed to a cafe for a light lunch. They ordered, then Sephy excused herself to go to the bathroom. Narcissa seized her chance and bluntly asked Zillah,

"What exactly does Sephy say about me behind my back?"

"Narcissa!" Zillah tried to smile, as if it was a joke. "I don't know what you're talking -"

"Please, Zillah, it's pretty obvious. And I think I have a right to know," Narcissa cut in.

"You shouldn't pay any attention to Sephy, she's harmless, just bored. Saxon doesn't pay her much attention, and Vincent's quite distant with her - typical teenager! Sephy's a bit funny about you - you made a better match than her, and what with your Manor and your Christmas Balls - and being Head of the Hospital Committee... she's jealous, that's all."

"I'm not interested in her motive, Zillah. I just want to know what she's been saying." Narcissa folded her arms, looking stubbornly at the other woman.

"Look." Zillah looked pleadingly at Narcissa. "Sephy's my best friend, and it's all really silly. Really, Narcissa, no-one who sees you and Lucius together would believe what Sephy says for a moment..."

"Severus," Narcissa said flatly, remembering Sephy's comments outside the ice-cream parlour in July.

"Well... yes." Zillah looked uncomfortable. "But really, it's nothing to get upset about..."

"I'll be the judge of that." Narcissa stood up abruptly. "I must be going."

"Narcissa, don't be like that." Zillah stood up too, placing a hand on her arm. "Just ignore her and it'll die down. Honestly, she'll get bored and move onto something else. If you run away now, she'll cling onto it, and -"

"Are you leaving, Narcissa?" came Sephy's voice. She was smiling, her eyes alight with malice. "Meeting someone else, are we?"

Narcissa looked into Sephy's face and realised Zillah was right. She had to face this. She steeled herself as she thought, I have created a hoard of Inferi, cursed hundreds of medallions, saved my husband's life, helped depose the Minister for Magic, lost my best friend and both my sisters, lied my way out of Azkaban and I have lied to the Dark Lord himself - I will not be bested by a common, spiteful scold! "Oh no." Narcissa smiled brightly, sitting back down. "So tell me, Sephy, what did you do over the holidays?" Sephy looked surprised, but delighted at the chance to show off, and launched into a long, boring and boastful tale. Their food arrived, and Narcissa let her mind wander as the three of them chatted on. You'll pay for what you said about me, Sephy, Narcissa thought. You won't know what hit you. Just you wait.

Narcissa's plans for revenge, however, were delayed by the alarming news that, not even a week into the new school year, Draco had been attacked and badly injured in his first Care of Magical Creatures class. Lucius was out when the message arrived, so Narcissa left a note for him and travelled to Hogwarts by herself. She began to feel an unnatural cold as she approached the wrought iron gates, and a sense of foreboding. Thea is dead. Regulus is dead. My parents are gone. I will never see Andromeda or Bella again... Narcissa mentally shook herself, trying to clear her head, but new, equally unwelcome thoughts were now taking over. Draco might die - they wouldn't have summoned me here if it wasn't really serious. And if Lucius hears what Sephy has been saying, he will leave me. Then I will be alone. No husband... no son...

"Narcissa?" A voice roused her from her thoughts and she blinked. Severus was standing at the now open gates, his face carefully blank. "They didn't tell you, did they?"

"Tell me what?" Narcissa asked, then she took an involuntary step back as she saw two, towering, hooded figures standing on either side of the gate posts; Dementors.

"Our new security guards," Severus said. "Courtesy of the Ministry - they're here just in case Sirius Black decides to show up." He beckoned her to come through the gates. She did, glancing nervously at the sentries. Their hooded faces turned, following her as she walked past, and she heard their rattling breaths. Should I try to cast my Patronus? Narcissa wondered, but she knew she was too consumed with worry over Draco to summon it. As she and Severus walked further away from the Dementors, the intense cold abated, and the worries and fears chasing around her mind cleared.

"What happened to Draco?" Narcissa demanded.

"He was attacked by a hippogriff. It slashed his arm, the cuts were quite deep and there is some muscle damage. It took about ten minutes to get him to the Hospital Wing, so he lost a fair amount of blood, and as his arm wasn't secured, it caused further damage," Severus spoke slowly, as if the words were being dredged up from deep inside him. I wonder what the Dementors made him think of... Narcissa briefly wondered, before snapping back to the issue at hand and saying quickly,

"But why didn't Kettleburn treat him where it happened? Draco shouldn't have been moved - what was he thinking?"

Severus glanced at her curiously. "I take it, then, that you are unaware that Kettleburn retired at the end of last year? He has been replaced by Hagrid." He sounded more like himself, the effects of the Dementors having fully passed. Narcissa stopped, shock and fury coursing through her.

"The Gamekeeper. Severus! But he was expelled - he doesn't have any qualifications - he doesn't even have a wand! How did this happen? All the students are in danger, Severus. Hagrid knows nothing - and he can't legally use magic!"

"It was certainly an interesting choice..." Severus said lightly. "But I did not invite you here to discuss Hagrid's appointment. The cuts on Draco's arm have been cleaned and healed, but Madam Pomfrey says it will take a few weeks for the muscles to recover fully. Draco, however, is adamant that the 'future Head of the Malfoy family' will not be seen wearing a sling, and he is refusing to stay in the Hospital Wing. And do not ask me to repeat what he said when Madam Pomfrey told him he was not to play Quidditch - I was forced to deduct ten points from Slytherin. I am hoping that you can talk some sense into him; he needs to rest his arm, otherwise he will cause irrecoverable damage and may lose use of it altogether." Severus motioned for Narcissa to keep walking, and they entered the castle together. Narcissa could hear Draco's voice echoing down the corridor as they approached the Hospital Wing,

"Take it off!" he bellowed. "I am fine. I am the heir of the Malfoy family! I won't wear it! I won't! I am not weak!" As Narcissa and Severus entered the room, Draco stopped shouting and hopped down from the bed he was perched on, dodging past Madam Pomfrey as he raced towards them. "Mum!" he cried. "They shouldn't have called you, I'm -" but he broke off, wincing and clutching involuntarily at his bandaged arm.

"Please sit down, Draco," Narcissa said quietly. He obeyed immediately, sitting back on the bed, still clutching his arm. Narcissa turned to the Matron. "Will you be so kind as to explain my son's injuries and recovery plan to me?"

Madam Pomfrey efficiently ran through the incident, asking Draco to attempt to extend his arm, flex his fingers, make a fist and try to hold a coin in his hand. He struggled with each of these tasks, was unable to fully extend his arm, and he failed completely to clutch the Galleon, which fell out of his loose grip and clattered nosily onto the floor. "I would like Draco to stay in the Hospital Wing for two days, then to wear a sling for at least two weeks," the Matron finished. "He certainly should not be playing or practising Quidditch for the foreseeable future. His muscles need time to recover fully."

"But -" Draco blurted out "- when Harry Potter had all the bones in his arm removed, he was back in lessons the very next day! And he still got to play Quidditch!"

"Bones and muscles are not the same," Madam Pomfrey said sternly. "And are therefore treated differently. If Mr Potter had torn his muscles as you have, he would have been in for a considerably longer time, and would have been banned from Quidditch."

Draco slumped back onto the bed, glaring ferociously at the three adults. "Stupid, scar-head, Harry Potter," he muttered darkly.

"Please may I speak with my son alone for a moment?" Narcissa asked. Severus and Madam Pomfrey both retreated to the other end of the room, and Narcissa drew up a chair, sitting at Draco's bedside.

"Mum," Draco said immediately. "I can't wear a sling. Father will think I'm weak, and not worthy to be the heir of the family." He looked close to tears. Narcissa reached out and stroked his blond hair, speaking soothingly,

"Draco, you are my son and I love you, but you are being awfully Gryffindor about this." Draco started, and looked confused. Narcissa went on in a low voice, glancing up to check the other two adults couldn't hear her, "You are hurt, baby. And you will do as Madam Pomfrey says. However, we can work this to our advantage..." Draco sat up, his grey eyes beginning to sparkle.

"You mean... we could get the oaf fired?" he whispered.

Narcissa smirked. "It's certainly worth a try. You father has rather a lot of contacts at the Ministry. Imagine how bad it will look for the Gamekeeper that a member of the Sacred Twenty-Eight was seriously injured in his very first lesson. If you were to strut out of here right now with a fully recovered arm, it would lend considerably less weight to our argument. But if you were to spend a few days in here and had to have your arm bound for a few weeks afterwards..."

"So I should go along with it? But what about Quidditch? If I can't play, we won't have a Seeker, and we'll be out of the running for the championship." Draco looked panicky, and Narcissa sighed. What is it about boys and Quidditch?

"You are a Slytherin, Draco. Use your influence and cunning, and you will be able to get out of playing without forfeiting the match."

"You mean... get the schedule rearranged so Slytherin don't play in their next match? I think I can do that! I'll talk to Flint."

Narcissa smiled, patting his uninjured hand. "That's more like it."

"But, Mum." Draco looked down, fiddling with his cuffs. "Hagrid did tell us not to insult the hippogriffs, but I sort of... didn't listen. I told it it was ugly. That's why it attacked me."

Narcissa's face was grim. "Tell me, Draco, were you able to do any research in advance for Care of Magical Creatures?"

"No." He looked up, surprised. "I couldn't open my book - you know I couldn't."

"And did Hagrid supervise each student individually as they approached these volatile and dangerous creatures?"

"No. He just left us to it," Draco said, smirking as he caught on to her meaning.

"And can you understand everything Hagrid says? From what I recall, he has a rather gruff voice, and does not annunciate very clearly," Narcissa finished, smirking back at her son.

"Well..." Draco drawled. "He is rather difficult to understand. Now I come to think of it, I don't think I recall him saying anything about needing to be polite to hippogriffs."

Narcissa kissed her son on the forehead and got to her feet. "Very good, Draco. I'll speak to your father and get things moving at the Ministry. You will do as Madam Pomfrey says and accept all treatment and advice she gives. Do you understand?

"Yes, Mum," Draco said, settling back onto the pillows, looking very pleased with himself.

Narcissa joined Severus and Madam Pomfrey and said, "He'll do as he is told. Thank you for taking such good care of him." The Matron nodded and excused herself. Narcissa went back to Draco to say goodbye, Severus waiting at her shoulder, before he escorted her from the room.

"What did you say to him?" Severus asked abruptly as soon as they left the Hospital Wing. Narcissa turned her head, smiling pleasantly at him but said nothing. "Don't give me that look," Severus snorted. "I know you far too well to fall for it. Draco's plotting something. I'll find out the next time I speak to him - he's an open book. But I would prefer it if you were to tell me."

"It's nothing for you to worry about, Severus."

"But what about Hagrid? Are you really going to go out of your way to punish him? Isn't that beneath you?"

Narcissa raised an eyebrow. "Hagrid hurt my baby, Severus. He has to pay for what he's done. Surely you can see that?"

Severus sighed as they left the castle and headed into the grounds. "Hagrid is careless, but not malicious. It was an oversight, Narcissa. But I suppose there's no point asking you to reconsider?"

"None whatsoever," Narcissa said simply.

"Then I won't bother." Severus sounded annoyed.

As the iron gates came into view. Narcissa stopped, putting a hand on her friend's arm. She wanted to part on a positive note, and wanted to sort this out before the influence of the Dementors began to cloud her thoughts again. "Don't be like that, Severus."

"I'm not being like anything," he grumbled, sounding just like the second-year boy she and Lucius had rescued from James Potter and his cronies all those years ago. She smiled gently.

"Yes, you are. We won't make any trouble for you, you know that. And surely you can't be pleased about Hagrid's appointment." She looked seriously into his eyes, willing him to understand how she couldn't stand by and let people hurt Draco. It was a compulsion, something she couldn't fight; she had to protect her son. Severus nodded slowly, then conceded,

"I haven't been pleased with any of the Headmaster's appointments in recent years. Hiring a man who cannot use magic, has a fascination for dangerous creatures, and has not even a rudimentary knowledge of healing for that particular subject was not a wise move - but I will not publically say anything about it, Narcissa, so do not attempt to draw me into your little scheme."

"Fine." She squeezed his arm, smiling, then released him. "How are you getting on with Lupin?"

"I am attempting to ignore his very existence, which is rather difficult when he repeatedly tries to engage me in conversation. It is really rather irksome. He should get the message into his thick skull soon enough, but until then, I have to endure his pathetic attempts to 'bury the hatchet'," Severus sneered, looking murderous.

"Want me to help you plan revenge on him? I am rather good at it, you know. I actually have my own little project on the go at the moment..."

"Really?" Severus looked interested. "Who?"

"Sephy Crabbe, she's a vicious gossip and said something about me I really didn't take too kindly to."

Severus laughed, despite himself. "Remind me never to get on your wrong side. And thank you for the offer, but no. I will handle Lupin myself."

"If you change your mind..."

"Then I know where to find you. As sorry as I am to end this discussion, I do have a class of dunderheads to teach in a few minutes - shall we?" He gestured and they walked on. Narcissa felt the penetrating cold of the Dementors wash over her once more, and the doubts and worries filled her head. The gates opened and Severus bid her goodbye. Narcissa walked away as quickly as she could, and only disapparated once she could no longer feel the cloying, clammy presence of the hooded figures.

Lucius was outraged when Narcissa related the events of the day to him, but his face lit up when she relayed her plan to him. "Good thinking!" he cried, pacing back and forth across the parlour. "I'll go to the Ministry first thing tomorrow morning, and visit the new Head of the Board. That creature ought to be killed! And the oaf should be fired. That'll teach Dumbledore a lesson... show him you can't just get rid of Lucius Malfoy!" Lucius worked tirelessly, pulling in favours, wheedling, and outright intimidating people to ally with his cause. The Headmaster's staunch support of Hagrid meant Lucius gave up pretty quickly attempting to get him sacked, but did succeed in getting the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures on his side. The hippogriff responsible for Draco's injuries was to attend a hearing at the Ministry on 20th April, and if it lost, would be beheaded.

Whilst Lucius pursued the hippogriff, Narcissa concentrated on her work with the St Mungo's Committee. The summer fundraiser for the hospital had been, for the most part, successful. They had raised a large amount of money through donations, and most people had been suitably impressed. The write-up in the Daily Prophet, however, had suggested that the Committee was out of touch with the needs of the patients and staff, and was more concerned with 'lavish displays of wealth' than it was with the people. Narcissa could not deny the truth that she had not set foot in St Mungo's since her last visit to her father, and was determined to prove that she was more than a society air-head. She therefore pulled in favours with some of Lucius' contacts, and arranged for a feature to run in the Daily Prophet, following Narcissa as she visited each department in the hospital, spoke to the patients and gave presents to the staff. There was a huge amount to organise, from her outfits, to the gifts, to the topics of conversation she would hold. "At least there are no seating plans!" she joked to Lucius, as she finalised her order to their favourite patisserie (they had decided edible gifts were safest; kind and thoughtful without being ostentatious).

Narcissa found the visits to be more fun than she had anticipated. She even forgot the news that Sirius Black had been sighted in Scotland, as she laughed with the Healers, chatted to the patients and their visitors and posed for photographs for the newspaper. She particularly enjoyed her last day's visit, to the Spell Damage Department on the fourth floor. She had planned her outfit very carefully for this visit, choosing her most flattering robes in rose gold, keeping her make-up to a minimum and twisting her hair into a simple, elegant knot. As she entered the ward, she did a very convincing double-take, before crying, "Sephy!" and rushing to the bedside of Persephone Crabbe, who was looking swollen, blotchy and hilariously ugly, Narcissa added in her head. "What happened to you?" she cried, clutching the witch's hand and posing carefully for a photo. Sephy made a gargling noise, and a Healer helpfully put in,

"Unidentified hex, Mrs Malfoy. Husband says she received a medallion by owl and when she touched it, she swelled up and lost her voice. The usual counter-jinxes for tongue-tying and stings aren't working. They didn't manage to trace the sender."

No, I made sure of that! Narcissa thought gleefully. Ingle really had been most helpful at securing the owl and returning it to its rightful owner before it had been missed. "Oh you poor thing!" Narcissa cooed, patting Sephy's hand, and the witch gargled again. Narcissa rose, looking at Sephy with her face carefully arranged to express pity and concern. "I really feel we should put this in the papers," she muttered to the reporter and photographer. "People need to be on their guard against this kind of thing."

And so the next day's paper showed a beautiful and caring Narcissa, sat at her 'dear friend's' bedside, alongside a warning tale of the dangers of opening unexpected parcels. There was also a double page spread on Narcissa's visits across the whole hospital, and a glowing review about the Committee's new Chair and her 'wonderful dedication to the hardworking staff and hurting patients.' Narcissa triumphantly took the paper with her when she went to visit Sephy. She read the witch both articles and showed her the pictures, smiling sweetly the whole time. When Narcissa went to leave, she stood and said carefully, "Look after yourself, Sephy. I'm sure the hex will wear off in a few days, then you'll be back at home. But do be careful, as your friend, I would hate you see anything else happen to you." And Narcissa swept from the room. The incident had one other bonus - the additional time Narcissa had spent with Sephy meant she had missed the visiting hours of the Janus Thickey Ward, which housed Frank and Alice Longbottom.

Narcissa was also making more time to spend with Zillah. The witch was certainly not a friend to her as Theodosia had been, but Narcissa found her tolerable in small doses, and so met up with her fortnightly for a quick catch up over coffee, or a shopping trip. Sometimes, a recovered Sephy also joined them. She seemed a bit dampened in her spirits, and did not gossip as freely as she once had. Narcissa saw the witch regarding her with suspicion, but simply smiled back, knowing there was no way that Sephy's little 'accident' could be traced back to her. Narcissa also found that spite was a powerful motivator, pushing her to build a stronger friendship with Zillah than she would usually have bothered with; it was rather satisfying to take Zillah away from Sephy. I hope you've learned your lesson now, Narcissa thought smugly as they chatted about the boys' marks - Draco, of course, always vastly outperformed Vincent and Gregory, so Narcissa enjoyed these conversations immensely.

Just after Halloween, Draco wrote to his parents, telling them his arm felt much better, and that he had managed to get out of the upcoming Quidditch match without forfeiting the tournament. He then related the startling news that Sirius Black had managed to access Hogwarts, and had tried to get into the Gryffindor common room. 'Everyone's talking about it! We think Potter will be dead by the end of the year! And everyone's saying Black must have had help from the inside. Do you know who it could be?'

Narcissa looked at Lucius as he read the letter. "You don't think Lupin..."

"I was about to say the same thing. It's rather a coincidence that Black escapes from Azkaban and gets into Hogwarts - both places which are being guarded by Dementors - the same year Lupin starts working at the school. They were best friends, after all."

"Yes... it's suspicious. And what has Lupin been doing for all these years? I mean, Lockhart was a fraud, but he at least he had history - he worked for the Ministry. And Quirrell had been teaching at the school for a few years before he died. But Lupin... I haven't heard anything about him since school."

"No..." Lucius screwed his face up. "Now I come to think of it, I don't think I know anything about him. I'll ask around." But Lucius found out nothing; Professor Remus Lupin seemed not to have existed between leaving school and taking up his post at Hogwarts. Narcissa wrote to Severus to ask him about it, but he replied rather tersely that he was busy enough as it was without engaging in mindless gossip.

When Draco came home for the Christmas holidays, his arm was fully recovered, and he celebrated by doing spirited impressions of Harry Potter fainting on the Hogwarts Express (because of the Dementors), Harry Potter falling off his broomstick during Quidditch (because of the Dementors), and Weasley throwing a crocodile heart at him and having fifty points deducted from Gryffindor (because of these impressions of Potter reacting to the Dementors). These theatrics were only shown to Narcissa; in front of his father, Draco was reserved and uptight, only showing enthusiasm when Lucius continued his duelling lessons. Draco was also practicing hard for the upcoming match against Ravenclaw, and spent several hours each day outdoors, flying around the grounds in even the coldest and wettest conditions. Narcissa was worried about her son - she knew he was desperately trying to be like Lucius, but surely it wasn't healthy for him to be so rigid and cold in his father's presence? She tried talking to Lucius about it, but he laughed, saying she was babying Draco, and that it was good for him to behave like a man. She didn't have much time to dwell on the subject, however, as she had the annual Yule Ball to host. This time, she spent considerably less money on it, going for a more homely vibe, and it seemed to go down well. The Minister for Magic cancelled last-minute - again - which irked her, but he did invite Lucius to a men's social gathering in the New Year, so she decided it was a genuine work emergency which had kept Fudge away, rather than a deliberate a snub.

After Draco went back to school in the New Year, Narcissa settled into a comfortable (albeit dull) routine. She visited St Mungo's regularly, led Committee meetings, attended dinners with Lucius' contacts and went on shopping trips with Zillah. Narcissa looked forward to her fortnightly letters from Draco, and always had letter on the go to him, adding to it each and every day until Apus arrived, and she could send it back with him. Draco wrote that Harry Potter had gotten a Firebolt (Narcissa hoped against hope that Draco wouldn't start clamouring for one - they were eye-wateringly expensive). Draco then admitted that he, Vincent, Gregory and Marcus Flint had been caught impersonating Dementors during the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff Quidditch match. Narcissa rolled her eyes, and Lucius took it rather well, laughing at Draco's audacity. They both stopped laughing, however, as they read the next paragraph; Sirius Black had broken into the castle once again and attempted to stab Weasley, but he had missed, much to Draco's disappointment. 'I can't believe he mucked it up - what an idiot!'

"He must have mistaken Weasley for Potter," Lucius mused. "Hard to see how, though. Those boys don't look at all alike..."

Narcissa and Lucius also kept up their correspondence with Severus, but his extra workload thanks to Lupin's mysterious illness meant his replies were shorter and more sporadic than usual. He did send one interesting letter though, in which he ranted that Harry Potter and somehow gotten into Hogsmeade without permission and wriggled his way out of trouble with the help of Lupin: 'Arrogant, self-important, insolent little brat - like father like son! And Lupin hasn't changed, he's a cowardly fool who hides behind others - and since James is dead, Harry seems to be his new leader. It disgusts me.' Draco's letter similarly complained that Harry had once again blatantly flouted the rules and got off without punishment. Draco was especially angry a few weeks later when Gryffindor beat Slytherin in the Quidditch final. 'It was so unfair! I saw the Snitch first and I nearly caught it, but Saint Potter has a Firebolt, so he got there first.'

Lucius, meanwhile was busy networking, and was delighted when Hagrid's hippogriff lost its case and was sentenced to death. Draco wrote that he was revising hard for his exams, and there were no further mentions of Sirius Black. Narcissa was spending quite a lot of time planning for the next summer fundraiser and before she knew it, it was the end of the school year, and Draco was due home. The news he shared with his parents that the hippogriff had escaped was overshadowed by the shocking revelations that Sirius Black had been captured on school property and escaped, and that Professor Remus Lupin was a werewolf. Narcissa managed to hold it together until they got home, then shut herself in her parlour and cried all evening. Lucius tried to comfort her, but she was distraught, paralysed by terror as she thought over and over again, My baby, my son, could have been killed. But then her anguish gave way to anger, when Draco added that it was Professor Snape who had told the whole school about Lupin's condition. Consequently, when Severus arrived on the Malfoy's doorstep two days after the end of term, he did not receive a very warm welcome. Ingle showed him into the library, where Narcissa was already shouting at the top of her voice,

"GET HIM OUT OF MY HOUSE! I WON'T SEE HIM, HE'S A WORTHLESS, DESPICABLE, TRAITOR!" She was red in the face, tears streaming down her cheeks as Severus entered the room. Lucius was physically restraining his wife, stopping her from launching herself on Severus and hitting him. She had a thousand curses and hexes running through her mind, but Lucius had disarmed her before the Potions Master's arrival.

"Narcissa!" Lucius cried in exasperation. "I asked Severus here so we could talk, just sit down and listen to him -"

But Narcissa struggled against her husband more viciously, screeching at Severus, "HOW CAN YOU SHOW YOUR FACE HERE? YOU LET THAT MONSTER TEACH MY BABY FOR A WHOLE YEAR! HOW COULD YOU? I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS, NEVER!" Through her tears, Narcissa saw Severus flinch as if she had struck him. She felt a vindictive surge of satisfaction and struggled harder against Lucius, screaming, "GIVE ME MY WAND, LUCIUS! GIVE IT TO ME!"

Severus stood frozen in the doorway, watching Narcissa with a completely blank expression. "Stop it!" Lucius shouted over his wife's raised voice. "Draco will hear, Narcissa, it'll upset him." Lucius words penetrated her brain and Narcissa felt all the fight go out of her.

"Draco," she whispered, and went limp in Lucius' arms. Her husband guided her to a chair, gesturing for Severus to also take a seat. He did so hesitantly, still looking at Narcissa with his black eyes. A little voice inside Narcissa's head said, He's my only real friend, and who would he have if we cut him off? Narcissa caught Severus' gaze and before he could shut her out, she read a thought as clearly as if he had said it out loud: 'Please, not you two.' Or was it 'Please, not you, too.'?

"Severus," Lucius began. "Narcissa feels - well, we both feel, that you have done us a disservice, not telling us that Lupin was a werewolf. I know it all worked out fine, and Draco wasn't hurt, but I certainly would not have allowed him to go to Hogwarts this year had I known. Why didn't you tell us?" The disappointment in his voice cut through the room, and Severus twitched again. He was silent for a few moments, then spoke slowly,

"Remus Lupin was bitten when he was a child. He was a werewolf whilst he was at school, too."

Lucius looked shocked. "You mean - when we were all at school with him?"

Severus nodded. "Yes. The 'trick' Sirius Black played on me when I was sixteen? He tried to get me and Lupin in the same room when he was transformed. Had he succeeded, I would have been killed." Narcissa gasped and gripped Lucius' hand tightly as Severus continued, "Please don't assume I was being blasé about this situation. I understand completely what was at stake. However, Remus Lupin, whilst being a cretin and a cowardly swine, was not dangerous to the pupils this year, since I was charged with brewing him Wolfsbane Potion. It is a relatively recent discovery which allows the drinker keep their own mind when they transform. As much as I loathe the man, I know that Lupin has suffered greatly and despises his condition. He would never willing harm a child; Draco was in no danger from him." Narcissa looked into Severus eyes, and saw a brief flash of self-loathing. He hates himself for pitying Lupin, she realised. And here I am punishing him and blaming him... "And I am still at the mercy of Albus Dumbledore. My freedom depends on his support. He forbade me to say anything, and so I was bound to silence," Severus finished. "I am sorry."

His apology was said with such sincerity, that Narcissa felt a rush of affection for her friend. "I'm sorry I shouted at you, Severus!" she sobbed, crying again. He gave her a half-smile. "I thought I was a 'worthless, despicable, traitor' and that you would never forgive me?"

Narcissa gave a hiccup as she laughed and sobbed at the same time, and Lucius put an arm around her, squeezing her to him. "See? I said it was all be fine," he said, then he turned to Severus. "So Black escaped. Was Lupin helping him get into the castle?"

Severus shook his head slowly. "It seems not. Black, it transpires, did not have the assistance of the werewolf."

"So.." Lucius said carefully. "How did Dumbledore take your outing Lupin to the whole school? Do you still have a job?"

"I do." Severus' mouth stretched in a mirthless smile. "The Headmaster was disappointed, but tolerant as always. And I believe he realises it is more of a punishment for me to stay at that infernal school with the Potter brat than it would be for me to lose my place. So I am staying." Severus turned abruptly to Narcissa. "Have you truly forgiven me? Or am I going to wake up in St Mungo's tomorrow after receiving a mysterious package containing a cursed medallion?"

"Not this time," Narcissa said, smiling weakly at her friend, wiping the last of the tears from her eyes.