As far as Narcissa could comprehend the explosion should have killed her. It had not. It was almost as if she had a taste of luck as there was a strange internal voice that knew exactly what to do. Narcissa was shaking visibly. Her robes were soaked and torn. Her arm was bleeding and her smile was grim. She had never thought she would relive this day again. Harry, no longer scrawny, had told her what had happened before on, only now she truly felt the horror of it sink in. This was where her cousin had died. She strode into the cave. She heard him beg. It had been so long since she had heard his voice. She recognized it immediately. "Please," he begged. Tears stung in her eyes. "Please, stop Kreacher."

She heard Kreacher's croaky voice. "It will all soon be over, just a few more sips, young master." Her heart beat frantically. The dark, gloomy water contained inferi and seperated her from her cousin who she spotted sprawled before the torn house elf that poured a eerily green potion in his mouth. "That- thas was all of it master."

She looked on as Kreacher took an amulet and switched it with one that was identical. Kreacher then refilled the bowl with green potion. "Water," Regulus croaked. "Water."

Kreacher started trying conjuring water, but before it could reach Regulus mouth it disappeared. She knew exactly what was about to happen but she felt herself unable to move. Her hand was shaking as if she was not even capable of holding her wand.

Something in the water started to stir. Regulus croaked for water again and then started crawling through the muddy island towards the dark liquids. He was about to start drinking water: a fainted scream. A bony hand tightly grabbed Regulus wrist with a snap and dragged it towards the water. "Master," Kreacher screamed as he tried to pull Regulus away. More inferi were closing in on them. Kreacher felt hands coming his way and apparated with a loud crack. The inferi slowly dragged him across the rocks and through the mud.

Fire. Narcissa had not even noticed her harsh breathing or her raised hand or the tears streaming down her face. The inferi were retreating and left Regulus behind on the island. "Get in the damn boat," she screamed. To her relief the bleeding, muddy pile of human and robes got up and let himself fall with a loud clank into the tiny wooden boat. She ran towards the boat.

"C-Cissy?" Regulus whispered. "How'd you find me?" He looked guiltily. She wanted to get out of here.

Her feet was tapping impatiently. A nervous habit. "Just get up," she snapped.

Regulus did not seem to feel the danger lurking in every inch of the cave as she felt it as every hair was pulled straight by its musculus arrestor pili. Goosebumps. Regulus face scrunched up. "It's all my fault. I should have listened to Sirius and I.. I never... I should not have have allowed Lucius to.."

Narcissa glared. "Get up." With a harsh tug she pulls a stumbling Regulus out of the cave. The sea water is freezing cold, but she lets herself emerge in it as a desperate Regulus tries to quench his thirst with it. He whole body starts stinging from the cold as she grabs his wrist and apparates to the forest in France she knew all to well. Memories filled her as she smelled the familiar smell of pines and the lake. Her family had had a vacation home nearby and she had found a small treehouse one day. Bella had been awful. Pulling her pig tails and telling her she'd fail getting sorted into Slytherin and end up with a filthy muggle. She had been set to tears and had run away and had stumbled upon it. It must have been build by a muggle once long ago. It would be brilliant. She levitated Regulus into it and started casting some safety spells. It would keep him safe for a few days. Then she conjured water.

A few days later Regulus was able to speak coherently. He seemed more subdued than she can remember him ever being as she cast the Fidelius charm on the small hut in the tree. Earlier she had talked to Lucius. He had looked worn and had smiled warmly. He had agreed it would be better, safer to be in her family home in France. He had eagerly helped her settle in the vacation home and had hopefully added that he would try to join her as soon as possible. He was not here yet. It gave her some time.