"…and then he just fell," A raucous laughter filled the damp cavern full of death eaters as Draco finished for the ninth time his retelling of Dumbledore's murder. They all sat around Draco, listening intently to what was a great victory for their side. Draco himself sat at the feet of Voldemort's stone work throne steps. He was the new pet, a fresh young face and despite his threats Voldemort would never harm a single silvery thread of hair on his head. Draco looked up when in a burst of green flame his mother entered. She looked worn and tired. Voldemort looked over to the fire place where she had appeared, spilling the contents of his chalice onto the floor, splashing Draco with droplets of red wine.
"It's about time, where is he?" With a wave of his hand, Voldemort summoned Narcissa to him, her body limply slid across the floor to him involuntarily till she was at his knees.
"Severus will not be attending tonight my lord," as she bowed her head blond hair covered her delicate features, the flush of her cheeks hidden.
"Really well fine if he will insult my hospitality," Voldemort released his control over her body; she staggered a little but maintained her footing on the flagstone floor. Draco went to her side. Voldemort muttered under his breath for a moment, his basilisk Nagini lifted her head; she seemed to giggle in what was a private joke between master and slave; Voldemort raised a hand and stroked her scaly head. He then gulped the remainder of his wine, trickling lines of red down his chin onto his robes.
"If you don't mind my lord ill take my son home, it's been a long and trying day," Narcissa made her way over the fireplace, placing her hand on Draco's Shoulder urging him to get up.
"Take care to visit your husband tomorrow Mrs. Malfoy," Voldemort called after her as she left, the last words she heard as her and her son made their exit, normally such rude behavior would have been severely punished but given the circumstances, not to mention Voldemort's inebriated state taking their leave went unnoticed, except for the few pats on the back Draco received as they left.
Reappearing in the marble fire place of Malfoy Manor Narcissa strode out in front of her son dropping her cape as she slumped herself into the inviting leather sofa that was situated opposite the living room fire place. With a flick of her wand she lit the fire and conjured a large glass of bourbon. Sipping slowly she gestured to Draco, who was stood next the fire place watching her, to come and sit with her. He walked over slowly, taking a seat next to her; he was shocked when she rapped her arms around him and pulled him closer and tighter than she had ever done in his entire life.
"I don't doubt for more minute how brave you were tonight," she looked down at his head nestled in her embrace, he had snaked his arms around her, a mothers comfort, "indeed how brave you have been for the last year, Lucius not being there for you…" Draco interjected,
"That man has never been there for me!" squeezing tighter into his mothers torso, "and even if he had of been it would only to have been to tell me how disappointed he was with me, I'm better of with out him!" the tone of Draco's voice lowered, "as are you." Narcissa looked deep into the fire, stroking Draco' hair,
"You have no idea Draco, you really don't" Draco looked up, pulling away from her slightly,
"Care to share mother?" his naturally inquisitive nature burned in his words, he had never liked information being with held from him, a factor that led the skull and snake now burned into his flesh. She sighed, long and deep, her blue eyes fluttering slightly with the pressure of the inquisition. She placed the glass down on the near by side table, on which stood an empty frame that had once contained a family portrait, the figures inside had long since gone their separate ways round the castle.
"Draco, you know as well as I do that your father, Lucius," she emphasized that last word of the sentence "isn't the nicest of men at the best of times…" a snort form Draco was silenced by a glance in his direction, Narcissa hated to be interrupted. "but never the less he is your father and my husband and lord of this manor…he should always have your respect Draco." She finished her glass with a final gulp. Draco couldn't stand it any longer; he removed himself from his mother's side and stormed over to the fire place.
"You honestly think I don't know, don't you? You think I never noticed when father went away, the late night visitor, I know my father isn't the only man sharing your bed…Why do we even keep up this pretence, you and I both know that Lucius Malfoy isn't even my father!" Draco turned to his mother screaming at her as tears rolled down his cheeks. "Its professor Snape isn't it, my father, your lover," he looked away again, wiping his face on the sleeve of his robes.
"How long have you known?" Before Narcissa stood no longer a child, but a adolescent on the brink of man hood, albeit in tears, he had he features, the silvery blonde hair, the ability to look down on anyone, but behind all that the mask of confidence, lay something more fragile, his fathers emotional nature, it was just hidden under years of Malfoy, cover up.
"I've known long enough" Draco's voice was horse with the pain of crying.
Narcissa opened her mouth to speak, only to hear a tapping on the window, a raven, she stood up stiff her eyes almost bulging from her head, a raven at the window meant only one thing, a death of someone close.