Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, and make no profit from this fic. Someday though, as I put a complete disregard towards the end of OotP, I will own Sirius Black; My future husband. MUAHAHAHAHAHA! Okay, I'm done.

Under an old oak tree, the hot, mid-July sun beat down on her back as she took a seat, her heavy green skirts pooling out about her as her knees folded gracefully to one side. She turned her pallid face to the clear, azure body of water that stretched out in front of her. A sighed escaped her soft lips, as she trailed one manicured finger through the cold water.

Her crystalline gaze turned to the sprawling expanse of wood and brick that was her mansion. A tear trickled down her cheek as she thought of how, come September, she'd be all alone in the cold, lavishly decorated house. As the tear hit her bare collarbone, a finger gently wiped it away, it's owner standing behind her.

"Lucius?" Narcissa whispered hopefully, knowing her question was foolish even as she said it, as two strong hands smoothed back her blonde hair.

"No Mum. It's me," Draco answered as he sat next to her, and wrapped her up in a hug. Narcissa nodded, and hugged him back. "It'll be alright Mum. He'll be out soon enough. The Dark Lord needs him," Draco said, trying to comfort his mother, who was now sobbing into his chest.

"Why y-y-you?" Narcissa stuttered, clutching her son's broad shoulders. "He is mad at your father…But why you? Why? Why my only son? He could have asked me. Me, not my son!" The blonde woman said, losing control of her cool exterior.

The pale boy's gray eyes glittered the sun's reflection as he patted his mother's back. "It will be fine Mother. It's an honor. I will succeed Mum. Don't worry. And you said…you said Professor Snape would help, should I need it. He made the Vow. He can't break it Mother," He reminded her, his cool voice soft, but betraying his anxiety at his upcoming task.

"You're worried too, aren't you Draco dear?" Narcissa demanded. She clutched at the fabric of his extremely expensive, now tear-stained, black silk shirt. "Your father, Lucius, darling Lucius, is in Azkaban. The Dark Lord has set you a task near impossible. He himself could not-" Narcissa's whispery monologue was cut off by her son, whose cold, handsome features sported an appalled, frightened expression.

"Mother! We mustn't speak so of the Dark Lord," Draco ordered, extricating himself from his mother's grasp. As he stood, Narcissa, usually so calm and collected, collapsed on the ground, her face pressed into her green skirts, her blonde hair falling over her arms.

"Mother? Mum…come on, it'll be fine. I'll take care of you, until Dad's let out," Draco reassured her, gently lifting her torso and head, so she was upright once more. "I promise, I'll take care of you," He repeated.

"You'll be at Hogwarts. It's your sixth year. You have to be there, the Dark Lord requires it," Narcissa whimpered, her blue eyes fixing the steely gray ones that peered from the pale, aristocratic face of her sixteen-year-old son.

"It'll be fine Mum," Draco repeated. He held out his hand, and Narcissa took it. He helped her to her feet. Gripping her son's elbow, Narcissa took a few trembling steps before collapsing against him. The blond boy lifted her back to her feet, and gently took her shoulders, and locked gazes with her, "Mum, I mean it. I'll be fine. I'll take care of you, and Dad will be home soon."

"You're right," Narcissa conceded, regaining her composure. She straightened her back, and gently combed her long blonde mane with her slender white fingers. "I do believe Blaise said he was coming to call later for a pick-up game of Quidditch, why don't you go owl him dear?" She said as she headed towards the mansion.

She sighed, opening the front door to her lovely mansion. It seemed so empty without Lucius. He wasn't there, ordering around their new house elf, Ceecee, or the hired help, Jacqueline, Annette, and Paul. They were all, of course, French, though they weren't quite from the well-bred Black or Malfoy lines, they were still purebloods.

"Ceecee!" Narcissa shrieked. The little brown creature, with its saucer-like blue eyes, slightly squashed, tomato nose, and huge ears, appeared in front of her mistress. The tiny house-elf was nervously wringing the very clean table-cloth she sported, wrapped around her like a toga, the graceful blonde woman ordered, "Ceecee, fetch my Marina."

"Yes Mistress!" Ceecee squeaked, before disappearing, only to reappear moments later with a rather snooty-looking white Persian cat perched between her ears. "Here Mistress!" The house-elf squeaked once again, handing the squirming cat to her mistress. Once in Narcissa's arms, the cat stopped squirming and hissing, and began to purr as Mrs. Malfoy ran her fingers down the cat's downy back.

Narcissa headed up the massive, polished marble stairway, one hand trailing on the black marble, the other clutching Marina to her chest. "Marina, darling, at least you're still here. I wish there was someone left for me to invite over. Mama and Papa are dead. Bella and Rodolphus are in hiding. They are monitoring my house too closely too have her here. Andy and that mud-blood she married are as good as dead to me, as well as Draco's cousin. Nymphadora, yes, that is her name. That Fudge woman is a simpering fool. No, it shall just be you and I, Marina." She whispered to the cat as the reached the landing to the second floor.

"One more staircase," Narcissa huffed, as once again she mounted a staircase, this one of a greenish marble, instead of black. She reached the third floor, and turned down a corridor to the left. "We're nearly there Marina. Then…I will write the Minister. Plead for a visit to Lucius. They will comply, of course," The pale, drawn woman said, though there was little confidence, nor condescending tones in her shaky voice.

She flung open a cherry-wood door, and walked into the room. The whole room was furnished in black marble, cherry-wood, and green velvet. She pulled out her vanity table chair, and settled into the wooden seat. Pulling a quill from a drawer, along with a piece of scented, monogrammed parchment, Narcissa began to write, to beg for a visit to her husband, who would waste away without her.

'My dear Minister,

It is I, Narcissa Malfoy. I cannot express enough my grief enough that you are having difficulties with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I write not only to congratulate you on your new position, but also to ask that I be allowed a visit to my husband, who is wasting away in Azkaban.

I beg of you, please allow a sorrowful woman a visit to her husband. I cannot live without my Lucius, and I hope that you, of all people, will understand, and allot me a visit. I thank you profusely,

Sincerely,

N. Malfoy'

Narcissa smiled into her gilt mirror, and bound the message tightly with a green ribbon. She called once again for Ceecee, who appeared with Narcissa's owl, a majestic Eagle owl, Aquill. Tying the message to Aquill's extended silvery claw, Narcissa stood, disgruntling the cat that had been sleeping in her lap.

"Soon my Lucius…" She whispered, as she watched the owl fly until it was just a speck against the brilliantly blue sky. Lucius had once said that the sky on such a day reminded him of her eyes, while a stormy sky reminded him of Draco…of his own eyes.

The response came back soon enough, and Narcissa read it, tears of fury and despair in bungling her vision.

'Mrs. Malfoy,

The Ministry does not help supporters of You-Know-Who. Do not write me again,

R. Scrimgeour'

"No!" Narcissa screamed, before falling onto the bed she had shared with Lucius for so many years, the green velvet bed-spread holding her shape, the cherry-wood frame creaking as she landed. The black pillows took the brunt of her tears though, as she sobbed, the Minister's letter clutched in one hand, the dressing gown Lucius had worn to bed that last night clutched in the other.

Thanks to Fairy-GYAKUTENNO-MEGAMI, and Rocks-my-socks for reviewing. Thankyou for all the hits I recieved, and I thank all the reviewers for this chapter here. Before you review. ! I :heart: all my supporters through this story.

And that's it. It's over. Oh Em Gee. That's so sad.