Chapter One

"We must leave, immediately," Lucius paced up and down the room.

"But… do you really think that's wise? The dark lord..." Narcissa whispered.

"He is already most displeased with me for having failed to get the prophecy. I have no wish to stay and be tortured. I have just come back from Azkaban, something like that could kill me right now. No, it's best to leave."

"He'll find us!"

"Not if we're careful. I have already taken measures to ensure our safety. Narcissa… we have no time to lose! Get the elf to pack, and then we must leave. Where is Draco?" Lucius demanded. Of course, Narcissa thought bitterly. He makes a decision and that's it. Unfortunately it's often the wrong one. And who pays the price? A feeling rose up inside her, a feeling of rebellion against the man she had married. The man who was risking her life and his son's life to save his own skin. And she was so sick of putting up with all the risks… all the dark objects hidden everywhere. Narcissa closed her eyes. What could she do? There was one thing. But would she have the courage? She had to. For her son.

"I'll find him." She rushed off, calling for Draco.

"What now?" he asked, when she found him.

"Draco, we have to leave."

"Are we moving to a bigger castle?" he asked eagerly. She had to resist rolling her eyes. As much as she hated to say it, he was completely Lucius' son.

"No. Listen, your father wants to go into hiding. He fears for his life. I don't think it is a good idea to go with him. The Dark Lord will find him for sure, and then we will be killed as well," she grasped his shoulders and shook him hard. "Draco, come with me, we can go stay with one of my relatives, we'll be safe there…"

"You want me to just abandon dad?" Draco asked.
"I know this is hard for you, but—"

"No you don't! You never understand!" Here he goes again. Because his life is so horrible… not.

"Draco, we don't have much time! We have to pack!"

"I'm not leaving. I'm staying with dad," he said stubbornly. "I hate you, you never let me do anything cool."

"You'll be killed!" she hissed furiously. "You're coming with me and that's fin―"

"What's going on in here?" Lucius interrupted them. Draco shot Narcissa a hateful look.

"Tell you on the way. Where are we going to hide?" Draco said coolly.

Narcissa left them to their conversation. She walked into her room, trying to figure out what to bring. There were photographs of her wedding on the windowsill. She would definitely not take those. She looked into the photographs of her unsmiling self. When was the last time she had smiled? She couldn't even remember. Once upon a time she had been called pretty, but that had stopped around the time she stopped enjoying life… stopped laughing… stopped wearing anything other than the black dresses Lucius gave her every year for her birthday… it had stopped when she had stopped caring about her appearance… the marriage had really taken the life out of her. She remembered being in love, but it hadn't been with Lucius… ever. Theirs was an arranged marriage. She sighed and opened up her jewelry box. She would only be taking one thing from there. A silver necklace with a small diamond hanging off of it was pulled out of the box, and carefully clasped around her neck.

She wandered over to her wardrobe. Nothing to take from there. She couldn't believe she had so few dear possessions. And then she remembered. She opened up a small golden chest, hidden underneath the bed and protected by numerous spells. She took out her diary and a small photo album.

"Mom, hurry up or we'll leave without you!" Draco shouted from downstairs. "It didn't take me long to decide what to bring and what not to!" Of course. He's probably just going to bring everything. She sighed. If only Draco had agreed to her plan… This was suicide. She looked out the window. If only… She stood up determinedly. Lucius had taken much from her, but he wasn't going to take her life! They weren't going to leave without her; she was going to leave without them! Putting her diary and the photo album safely into her bag, she held it tight to herself as she did what she had always wanted to try; she threw herself out the window and apparated in mid-air.