Chapter Eight

Severus looked out the window, shocked (this didn't happen often; he was generally quite a hard person to shock). He could see Narcissa and her mother, facing each other with wands raised and grim expressions. This could be interesting, he thought.

88

"I'm not doing anything you tell me to do!" Narcissa told her mother, heatedly. Her mother rolled her eyes. She muttered something under her breath, and sparks flew out of her wand. Moments later, Lucius arrived.

"Narcissa," Lucius said smoothly, walking towards her. He put a hand on her shoulder, as if to guide her somewhere. She flinched at his touch and pulled away sharply. She stood, back against the tree. She would take them both, if she had to.

"She won't listen to reason," her mother hissed. Lucius nodded and turned back to his wife.

"Narcissa, we can't stay here for long… You know how it is for me right now…" if he was nervous, he hid it well. Narcissa couldn't help admiring him, just a little.

"Then why don't you do me a favor, Lucius, and leave?" she smiled sweetly, but no one returned the smile.

"Let's not make this difficult," Lucius said dangerously. Narcissa laughed. What did she have left to lose? Her life? It wasn't worth much…

"We've played this game long enough. Narcissa, hold onto Lucius' arm, and we'll be off," her mother said, using what Narcissa knew to be her most persuasive tone.

"I won't leave," Narcissa said defiantly.

"I can't stay anywhere unprotected by magic for more than 5 minutes, or they'll track me!" Lucius' voice had a more agitated edge to it now.

"I'm staying right here!"

"Fine! Then I'll have to force you," Lucius stepped forward menacingly.

Narcissa strengthened her hold on her wand. She blinked slowly, and time seemed to stretch out in front of her. Lucius broke the silence first.

"Imp—" he was interrupted by a flash of red light.

"Lucius!" Bellatrix giggled. "You didn't think you'd get away did you? Your son didn't…" The Death Eaters around her started laughing.

"B-b-bellatrix," Lucius stuttered. In spite of herself, Narcissa felt a small stab of humiliation for her husband. She had never seen him this scared. "You won't kill me, will you? We were such good friends once upon a time… surely you wouldn't forget that?" Bellatrix's smile faltered for a second. Nott noticed and took over quickly.

"Old friends don't run away, Lucius… Besides… we certainly won't kill you. We're leaving that pleasure to someone who deserves it far more…," Nott's voice dropped to a whisper. "The Dark Lord." Lucius shivered. Suddenly, Bellatrix seemed to notice Narcissa, who still had her back to the tree.

"It seems we caught his accomplice too," she smirked. Narcissa didn't budge. She knew that this wasn't going to be easy. She silently begged Lucius to tell them the truth, to prove that their marriage had been built on more than family honor, as she seemed to think. He didn't speak up for her. Maybe it was his revenge… maybe he just didn't care. Either way, she knew she had to speak up for herself.

"I had nothing to do with him. He was trying to persuade me to join him, something I refused."

"A cute story… too bad I won't buy it… let's see… what should I do… which spell should I use to torture you with, before I kill you? The dark lord never left instructions on what I should do with you," Bellatrix smiled evilly.

"I swear it's the truth," Narcissa said, her heart falling slightly.

"Right," Bellatrix said skeptically. "It's all lies."

"She's telling the truth," a voice called from behind them. It was Severus Snape. Bellatrix lowered her wand slightly.

"Severus… how nice of you to finally join us. Been busy again, no doubt?" she sneered.

"I have been overseeing the situation from my house. I saw Narcissa refuse to go with Lucius, he was close to forcing her," Severus said calmly, ignoring the incredulous looks that were being exchanged.

"Do you have proof?" Crabbe barked. Severus sighed, as if he had expected such a question.

"I have a bottle of veritaserum in my house; I could go get it…?"

"Ye—"

"No!" Bellatrix shouted. "We have more pressing matters at hand. We can deal with her later if we find out she is lying!" Around her, heads nodded vigorously.

"What if she runs away? I don't want to use up any more time looking for people…" one of the Death Eaters grumbled.

"We could leave her with someone," someone volunteered.

"Why doesn't Snape take her? He lives so close," Avery said finally.

"As long as we hurry… the dark lord doesn't like to be kept waiting…"

"I don't think that—" Severus began, but was cut off.

"Not like you do much else," Bellatrix snorted. "Right, leave Narcissa here, Goyle, have you got Lucius? Ok, let's go!" One by one, they apparated, until it was just Narcissa and Severus. Narcissa noticed that her mother had gone completely missing sometime during the scenario. Typical, she thought. Severus sighed.

"Let's go inside, it looks like it's going to rain." Narcissa remembered an old saying: It always rains hardest on the people who deserve the sun. She wished it wasn't so true.