Hello everyone! Thank you so much for reading and for the reviews and PMs! I've loved reading your feedback about the story so far. It's been really interesting to see everyone's different opinions, especially about Voldemort's reaction. To answer a few of your questions, I'm planning on this story coming exclusively from Narcissa's point of view, but I'm thinking of adding a few one shots from other points of view to fill in the gaps afterward. Also, I know that last chapter was super short. This one's quite a bit longer and features the entrance of our favorite sullen little Slytherin. :) I hope you like it! Please leave a review and let me know what you think!
- Mid-December, 1997 -
Light flurries of snow grazed the glass ceiling as Narcissa stood on the crowded platform. An unusually large number of parents were milling about, awaiting the arrival of the scarlet steam engine that would return their children from Hogwarts. As she looked subtly around at the nearby faces, she was aware of several nervous pairs of eyes looking hastily away from her, as if she'd caught them in the act of watching her.
This was not quite a new sensation, she reflected. She had often been on the receiving end of similar, furtive looks on this platform. Her elegant clothing and carefully cultivated air of disdain had always attracted a few timid eyes and whispers. This was different, however. These people were turning away from her glances as if she'd struck them. Fear was apparent in their eyes, where only envy and sometimes distaste had shown before.
They know where he is staying, then, she thought to herself. If only they had known how similar her anxiety was to theirs. At least they had the benefit of some distance from the one they feared, and a small degree of safety within their own homes. She stared ahead impassively, gritting her teeth. Now she was the one who was envious.
A low rumble signaled that the Hogwarts Express was approaching and sighs of relief echoed around the platform. Narcissa didn't move or turn to watch the oncoming train as the others had, but closed her eyes and sighed deeply. At least she would have her son with her soon. Their home was far less safe for him than Hogwarts at the moment, but his presence would be a great comfort to her and to Lucius.
The scarlet steam engine screeched to a halt in front of the crowd of anxious parents and children began to stream out of every door, waving and calling out to family members as they hurried to meet outstretched arms.
Narcissa observed sadly that the students seemed to be just as distressed as their parents, except for maybe a few of the Slytherins. Of course, she understood why perfectly. She was all too familiar with Amycus and Alecto Carrow, and between Draco's somber letters and the gleeful reports so often given around her own dining table, Narcissa had no doubt that the atmosphere of Hogwarts had been altered dramatically from the warm and welcoming place she had known as a girl.
The platform had begun to clear more rapidly than usual as parents chose to bundle their children back to the comparative safety of their homes, rather than lingering to visit with other families. Narcissa had begun to grow anxious again when, with only a few people left on the platform, Draco finally appeared in the doorway of one of the nearby carriages. Relief swept through her as she watched her son walk toward her, trailing a few steps behind his two oafish friends
He still looked quite pale and thin, though much better than he had the last time he had returned to her from Hogwarts. Narcissa couldn't help but think of the tearful, frightened young man Severus had delivered to her the previous summer. They had both looked shaken and unwell, standing in her doorway in the early-morning hours.
"Here is your son, Narcissa," Snape had said quietly, gently pushing the trembling teenager into her open arms. "My vow has been fulfilled."
A brief look of understanding passed between them and Narcissa gave a single, shaky nod, tears filling her own eyes as she clung to Draco. Then, without another word, Severus had turned and strode away from them, Disapparating halfway down the path.
Seeing her son on the train platform, Narcissa wanted to rush to him and hold him as tightly to her as she had on that dark and dreary morning the summer before. She instead maintained her composure and only smiled as he approached and set his school trunk down beside her.
"Hello, Mother," Draco said. "Happy Christmas."
Narcissa beamed and stepped forward with her arms outstretched. "Son," she said softly, "it is good to see you."
He returned her embrace briefly and, though it might have appeared formal or stiff to an onlooker, it conveyed a great deal of comfort and relief to each of them. When they parted, Draco picked up his trunk once again and turned toward the Apparition point.
"Wait a moment, Draco," Narcissa said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Let's not leave just yet."
She ignored his surprised look and gestured to a nearby bench, looking around to be certain they wouldn't be overheard. Most of the crowd had vanished and only one other person remained in their vicinity, a middle-aged man with disheveled blonde hair and untidy, rather eccentric green robes. He was pacing back and forth a short distance from them and seemed to be muttering distractedly to himself as he peered through the windows of the train.
Narcissa spared the man an indifferent glance as she passed, but Draco carefully avoided looking at him, only turning back to watch the now retreating figure once he had reached the bench and sat down. Looking back at his mother, Draco was surprised to see Narcissa pointing her wand directly at the man's back. He quickly looked around to make sure no one else was watching them and was about to ask what she was doing when she whispered, "Muffliato." Draco had heard this incantation before, from both his father and from Professor Snape. He immediately understood what she had done.
"That's Xenophilius Lovegood," he said, now speaking openly and looking shamefaced.
Understanding dawned on Narcissa and she studied the man more closely as her son continued, "Travers and Selwyn took his daughter from the train a few miles out of Hogsmeade. Selwyn winked at me when they passed my compartment."
Narcissa nodded slowly. "Yes," she said, "The Quibbler. I imagine they'll use her to quiet his pro-Potter rhetoric."
They both watched Lovegood's continued pacing and muttering for a few more seconds before Draco spoke again.
"So how are things, Mother? How is Father?"
Narcissa closed her eyes briefly before she began to speak. "Much as they were over the summer," she said dully. "Your father seems to be doing a bit better now that he has replaced his wand. Losing the elm wand was quite a blow to him."
Draco nodded, looking down at his knees. That wand had been an heirloom of his father's family for centuries, and there were few things his father valued more than family connections and keepsakes.
"The Dark Lord has been away often," Narcissa continued, looking nervously at Lovegood again to be sure the charm was still in place. He hadn't seemed to notice that the Malfoys were even there, let alone their conversation.
"He has been traveling abroad, from what I've gathered, and his returns are infrequent but never announced. It still feels as if he is there all of the time," she added with a trace of bitterness.
"I see," Draco said, nodding again. "Was that why you wanted to stay here longer? To tell me all of this?"
Narcissa nodded. "Partly, and perhaps to escape the place for a few more minutes," she said with a smirk. Then all seriousness returned to her voice and she turned to face Draco properly.
"There is one other thing I need to tell you before we return to the Manor, Draco," she said. "It's about your aunt Bella."
Draco paled at his mother's tone. "Has she been hurt?" he asked. "Is she…"
He trailed off, not wanting to finish. He had never really known his aunt as a child and she had mainly frightened and intimidated him since her return from Azkaban. Still, he knew his mother cared for her.
Narcissa shook her head, steeling herself to tell him the truth. She glanced around the platform one more time; Lovegood was now sitting a few benches away from them, his head in his hands.
"No, she's not hurt," Narcissa said, turning to face him again. "She- is going to have a baby."
"Oh," Draco said, taken aback. That possibility had never crossed his mind, especially because his aunt, who was four years older than his mother, was well past the age at which most witches had children. He wondered if this was the reason his mother seemed so reticent.
"When?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
"In April, I think," Narcissa said, looking down at her clasped hands. She suddenly took both of his hands tightly in her own, forcing him to meet her gaze.
"Listen to me carefully, Draco," she said in a low, serious tone. "Very few people know about this. It is crucial that you not speak a word of it to anyone."
He nodded slowly, trying to put the pieces together. "Alright," he said, "but why the secrecy? Won't people know? Won't they see?"
"Not if I can help it," Narcissa said, almost to herself. It was a moment before she spoke again and her hesitation gave Draco a growing sense of foreboding.
"It…" she began haltingly, "it is the Dark Lord's child."
Draco stared at her blankly for a moment before turning away, his pale countenance turning a delicate shade of green. He did not speak for several seconds and when he finally did open his mouth, he only managed one word.
"Oh," he said, sounding a bit nauseated.
"Yes," his mother replied solemnly. "I'm sure you can imagine the danger both Bella and the child would be in if anyone knew, especially those among the Dark Lord's enemies."
Draco nodded, still quite unwilling to speak. "Does Rodolphus know?" he eventually asked.
"He returned to the Manor only yesterday," Narcissa said, nodding. "He had been abroad since late summer, on an errand for the Dark Lord." She hesitated again before continuing, "He seemed to- to take it in stride, when she told him."
They both sat quietly for a few moments before Draco asked his next question.
"And how-" he began, "how is she?"
Narcissa sighed and leaned against the backrest for the first time since sitting down, considering how best to answer. Draco could tell that she was quite exhausted, but she seemed relieved to finally be able to speak openly.
"It's a bit difficult to say," she said slowly, reflecting. "Physically, she is doing exceptionally so far. And I believe she is happy, but I'm not sure she really understands the effect it will have on her life. She is as incautious and involved in the Dark Lord's efforts as ever, with very little regard to her safety."
She paused again before adding, "I think we will simply have to wait and see how she responds when the time comes."
Draco nodded and neither of them spoke again for a long time. Finally, Narcissa stood.
"We should return home," she said. "Your father will start to worry."
Draco also stood and picked up his trunk. Narcissa looped her arm through his free arm and they made their way down the platform. Lovegood still sat on the bench and didn't look up as they passed. They approached the red telephone box that served as an Apparition point and Draco was reaching for the door handle when a figure suddenly appeared inside. Both Malfoys jumped and took a couple steps backward as the Death Eater Yaxley emerged from the booth, dressed in the elegant robes he now wore at the Ministry of Magic.
"Why, hello, Madam Malfoy," he said cordially, bowing slightly to Narcissa and turning to her son. "And young Draco. It's good to see you again. I trust all is well at Hogwarts these days?" Draco nodded and Yaxley clapped him on the back, beaming at the pair of them.
"Hello, Corban," Narcissa said, feigning warmth. "My son and I were just returning to the Manor."
She was uneager to stay and chat, but knew she must at least be polite. Yaxley might already be wondering why the two of them were so late in leaving the platform. Any shortness on her part might only arouse his suspicions.
"Of course," Yaxley said quickly. "I won't keep you. I just have a small matter to take care of."
He nodded pointedly toward Lovegood. "Someone's got to tell ol' Xeno where his daughter's gone to and why," he said with a wicked smile. "Maybe then he'll learn the kinds of materials he'd best be printing."
"Yes, of course," Narcissa said, smiling demurely. She gestured for Draco to enter the booth and returned Yaxley's bow politely. "Good day to you."
"Good day, Madam," Yaxley said, nodding curtly and turning to walk down the platform.
Narcissa watched as her son and his luggage disappeared with a pop, then entered the telephone box herself. Yaxley had just reached Lovegood's bench and she observed their conversation briefly through the glass. Lovegood had fallen to his knees and the Death Eater had just begun to raise his wand above the cowering man when Narcissa turned away and disappeared into nothingness. She did not want to see any more.
There you have it! I wanted to get some good mother/son time in there and couldn't resist tying in the Lovegood connection. Plan on seeing our very favorite Lovegood within the next few chapters. ;) Don't forget to leave your feedback!