"I am most displeased" Lord Voldemort's eyes seemed to gleam redder than they were before.

"But…but…he's dead isn't he?" said Draco, panicked. Narcissa sobbed. "My lord" Draco added.

"Yes" Voldemort hissed "Thanks to Severus. Oh he will be rewarded. But you Draco did not carry out your orders, and for that you must pay."

"Oh please…please…" Narcissa rocked back and forth in anguish.

"But it was I that got the Death Eaters in! I fixed the vanishing cabinet!" the panic in his voice increased.

"I was most shocked that you managed to get that much right I must admit"

"I knew it!" Narcissa interjected. But Voldemort continued as if there was no interruption.

"But you cannot hide your mistakes behind your triumphs. The fact still remains you did not carry out that which I entrusted to you"

"If I had been given one more moment..."

"Lies!" shrieked Voldemort. "You may know occlumency but I am a far better legilimens than you are an occlumens. No offense to your tutelage Bella." He inclined his head to Draco's aunt who was standing off to the side accompanied by Snape whose expression was unfathomable.

"Master! Thank-" but her master cut her short.

"I know Draco that you were seconds away from deserting me, from joining Dumbledore."

"Wasn't!" said Draco petulantly, though he knew his game was up.

"You dare lie to me twice! No matter…I will soon be rid of you." Voldemort drew his wand, a malevolent smile upon his inhuman face.

"NO!" Narcissa screamed. She surged forward shielding her only son. Voldemort's smile vanished.

"Stand aside you silly girl!"

"Not Draco…not Draco please…have mercy…"

"I said stand aside!"

"Have mercy…" she would not budge.

"Bella grab her! Control your worthless sister!" Bella strode forward and pinned Narcissa's arms to her side. Tears filled her brilliantly blue eyes as she was marched away from her doomed child.

Voldemort returned his attention to Draco. "I think you are old enough for Mummy to let go of your hand." He said softly. Narcissa made no bid for escape. Once more Voldemort raised his wand. "Avada Kedavra!"

Narcissa stamped on her captor's foot, catching her off her guard. Bellatrix howled in pain and let go of her arms instinctively. This only took a second leaving Narcissa enough time to throw herself in front of her son before the jet of green light reached him, hitting her instead. She fell silently to the floor at Draco's feet who backed away, staring horrified at his mother's dead body.

Voldemort advanced on Draco, stepping over Narcissa's lifeless body and for a third time raising his wand to kill him. This time it was Snape who shouted "NO!"

"I was not aware Severus" said Voldemort coldly "that it was a servants place to shout orders to his master!"

"Don't misunderstand me my lord, it's not that I don't want the boy dead…he deserves it. But you appear to have forgotten why it was that you could not kill Harry Potter" Snape swept his arm to indicate Narcissa's body. Voldemort was silent for awhile.

"Yes…yes. Thank you Severus. I cannot kill the boy. But others can. Will you do it Severus?"

"If it is your wish my lord."

"Very well." Voldemort turned to leave. "Come Bella"

"But my lord don't you wish to see me do it? To be sure it is done?" Voldemort paused but only for a second.

"I trust you Severus" He grabbed Bella's arm and he turned again and they disappeared into the air. Draco stared disbelievingly at his teacher.

"So you're going to kill me?" he whispered.

"Don't be silly Draco. I am taking you back to Hogwarts."