TITLE: Of Masks and Broken Marriages

GENRE: General (because I don't know)

RATING: T

SUMMARY: Narcissa tries to reason with her husband. She takes a deep, steadying breath. Don't panic. Malfoys don't panic. / And it's then that she knows, truly knows, that their marriage is over, and she's Narcissa Black once again. And that her son is now truly hers.

warning: implied torture

Of Masks and Broken Marriages

"Lucius, please."

Narcissa tries to reason with her husband. She takes a deep, steadying breath. Don't panic. Malfoys don't panic.

"No, Narcissa, how many times do I have to tell you?" Lucius asks in annoyance, striding forwards as Narcissa attempts to match his pace. "We are following the Dark Lord!"

"But can't you see -"

"Narcissa, no more talk."

She keeps her mouth shut obediently, but it isn't like she's lost her determination. Wait. Wait. Wait.

If Narcissa wasn't sure whether following the Dark Lord was a good choice before, she's definitely sure of it now. She attempts to hide her cringe. Beside her, Lucius tightens his hold on his cane.

Her mask settles over her face. Not a real one. Just one that she's always worn. She glances sideways at her husband. He, too, is wearing a mask like hers, but she can't read it.

Through her mask, Narcissa watches as her son, her brave Dragon, endures the Dark Lord's tests.

She can't bear to watch. She tries not to flinch.

Then, finally, after what seems like forever, it is over.

Narcissa breathes a sigh of relief discreetly. She doesn't know that Lucius hears it.

It's chaos.

A few seconds after the Dark Lord is defeated, it's complete chaos. There's no other word for it.

Battle has struck up again, spellfire everywhere. Screams. Shouts. Cries.

Narcissa still hasn't found her son.

She loses Lucius accidentally (or not), and darts through the crowd, uncaring of her appearance. She needs to find Draco. She just needs to.

A flash of white-blond hair -

"DRACO!"

His head whips around to face her, and Narcissa can see his face, his sharp features, his high cheekbones, his icy blue eyes (that he'd inherited from her). It's him. It's really him. Her son.

She reaches out to grab his arm, but then someone grabs her arm instead.

"NARCISSA!"

It's Lucius.

She turns around to face him, and yanks her arm out of his grip. "Yes, Lucius?" she breathes, wishing more than anything to go back to her son.

"What are you doing?" he snaps.

"Getting my - our son back!" Narcissa screams at him.

A flash of something crosses his face.

And it's then that she knows, truly knows, that their marriage is over, and she's Narcissa Black once again.

And that her son is now truly hers.

Assignment 12: Sociology Task 3: Write about someone who's been married for more than ten years

WC: 390