Chapter 55.

Draco Malfoy stormed into his mother's drawing room, startling her at her desk. He had just said goodbye to Magnolia after their afternoon with the Dark Lord and he was bursting with anger and worry over how the afternoon had gone. He had always known the Dark Lord was unnaturally interested in his girlfriend; but seeing them so close, how they had reacted to each other and how the Dark Lord had almost stared into Magnolia's soul, it had been difficult for Draco not to drag Magnolia away.

Draco threw himself into the chair next to his mother, noticing the look she had sent his way at his undignified entrance. She placed her quill back in the ink pot and crossed her hands on her lap, turning to face her son, preparing for what was coming her way. Narcissa had noticed herself the way his fists and jaws clenched periodically at the lunch, how his eyes had tried but failed to hide the worry he had felt for Magnolia.

Narcissa had seen how her son had changed from when she first dropped him off at Kings Cross Station all those years ago. She remembered his letters had started early on; complaining about 'that Potter girl' who had been sorted into his House, how she was snappy and rude, and he couldn't understand how his friends put up with her. Narcissa remembered how in Draco's second year, all his letters would talk about was Magnolia; her turning his friends against him, her outrage at his jokes about the Chamber. She remembered his letter passionately asking her why Magnolia would be so protective and loyal to her brother, after Harry had set a snake on her in Duelling Club- how Draco had written in such detail how pale she had become, how still she had been, that he had noticed whenever she was scared or worried, she would hold her breath.

Narcissa remembered when she had met Draco at the station after that year; his eyes had sought Magnolia out, he had refused to leave without speaking to her. From then on, it was difficult for Narcissa to get any information about her son's schooling out of him at all unless it included a story or anecdote about the young Potter girl. She had been waiting for the time, in their fourth year, that she had seen it all change.

She had known the exact moment that she had read her son's letter that the pair had finally become an item. She had had clues throughout the year of course, her son had never been good at hiding his feelings from her, and this was no exception. First love was a powerful thing. She had seen how it had transformed Draco, suddenly his world revolved around something completely external from him. It had been a beautiful thing to see.

In the back of Narcissa's mind though, there had been the seed of worry. She had known, of course, that the Dark Mark was strengthening, meaning only one thing- the Dark Lord was becoming stronger. She had remembered his interest in the young girl when she was a baby. Her and Lucius had discussed the possibility of this girl's power during the years. Narcissa had shocked herself when she read Draco's first letter from school, until then she hadn't remembered the Potter's had a daughter at all. She knew that the Dark Lord must have done something to her that night, a spell or curse to keep her hidden from the people he had not trusted with her.

Narcissa worried, not only about her son's reaction to the Dark Lord's interest in Magnolia, but Magnolia herself too. Narcissa was unsure of anyone who knew the Dark Lord's plans for her. If her husband knew, he had not divulged the secret to her. Maybe that was by design. She didn't like it though, especially now her son was wrapped up in the mess.

Draco was sat forward on the chair now, his elbows resting on his knees, his head in hands. Narcissa had never seen her son look quite so defeated. She knew how he felt, there was nothing he could do to protect Magnolia against the Dark Lord's plans- just like there was nothing Narcissa could do to protect Draco. It worried her that she knew she would do anything to try and protect him though, there would be no request too far. She worried that her son thought the same- that he would go to any length to protect his love.

"What am I going to do, Mother?" he whispered, "How can I keep her away from him?"

Narcissa's heart broke at the desperation in her son's voice.

"I'm supposed to protect her, but there was nothing I could do to keep them apart today. I promised her that I wouldn't let her turn into the person she fears she could become, I promised her that every time she started to worry that she would turn into the dark witch who chose him, that I would be there to help her remember who she really is."

"Draco…"

"What does he want with her mother?"

Narcissa could see the desperation and fear in her son's eyes as he looked at her. She wanted to be able to give him an answer, any answer, but she couldn't. She had no idea herself. She had lay awake worrying what the future held for her son's love, and for her son himself because of his love. Narcissa tried to remain poised, calm, in front of her son.

"He wants her alive. That's the main thing."

Draco scoffed, "I'm not so sure that that's better."

"Draco," Narcissa sighed, moving to kneel in front of her son, "The Dark Lord does not want to harm Magnolia. He does not want her hurt, or in pain. We may not know what he is planning for her, or why he is interested in her, but we do know that he wants her protected. He always has. For now, we just have to accept and appreciate that."

"And what happens when he decides that he's done waiting, and whatever he wants her for needs to happen?"

"We'll figure it out when the time comes, Draco." Narcissa smiled, "After all, Magnolia is family."

Draco rolled his eyes at his mother. He had been distracted by the Dark Lord that day, but he hadn't missed his mother's watchful gaze on Magnolia and himself. Draco had seen his mother's smile reach her eyes as the two had interacted with each other. Draco knew that he loved Magnolia, he knew that he would do anything to protect her and make her happy, but how could he do that when his world was shrouded in such darkness?

He knew that his mother would already be dreaming of the perfect wedding day for her son, of the grandchildren he would give her. Draco was young, but he knew that right now he wanted nothing more then to share his life with Magnolia. He just needed to make sure that the life wouldn't endanger her. A thought that had been slowly growing in his mind recently re-emerged and Draco dropped his head back into his hands.

He knew what he needed to do. To protect Magnolia, he would have to become trusted by the Dark Lord. As Lucius' son, Draco was bound to become a Death Eater sooner or later, but he needed to make sure that the Dark Lord knew he was loyal and that there was nothing he wouldn't do. Maybe then, he would be able to find out what Magnolia's part in the Dark Lord's plans were.

Maybe then, he could construct his own plan to protect her.

XXX

George Weasley was sat in one of the plush armchairs in the lounge of Grimmauld Place. Next to him, his brother was prattling on about their new product idea for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, but he could barely pay attention. On the opposite side of the room Magnolia was sat, curled up under a blanket on the floor by the fire. She held a book in her hand, no doubt a Christmas present from Hermione, but George hadn't seen her turn a page in over 20minutes. Instead, she just stared into the fire.

This Christmas break had made George realise just how much Magnolia had changed from when he first met her. Their first meeting on Kings Cross Station, when he had seen her and Harry struggling to get their trunks on the Hogwarts Express, she had been shy and sweet. As they grew closer, George had seen just how kind and caring she was. This break though, he had noticed how withdrawn she had become.

He had barely seen her over this Christmas, and when he had she had seemed sullen and distant. He had known for a while that things were changing for her, but he hadn't quite realised just how badly she needed him. He knew that she had Malfoy now, there were times like this one where he was tempted to tell Harry what he knew about their relationship, but he also knew that Malfoy wasn't good for her.

It had become obvious to George, when Magnolia and Harry were fighting, that Magnolia's magic was stronger and less controllable than anyone he knew. He had seen first-hand how her emotions sent bursts of magic from her- turning a small flame on a candle into a firebomb or sending four teenage boys hurtling away in opposite directions without even touching her wand.

George had watched Magnolia closely after that, keeping his distance but making sure she was safe. In Dumbledore's Army, he had noticed the strain between Magnolia and Harry, how it only spurred her on, how destructive her spells could be. He had had arguments with Fred and Harry about it; they couldn't see what he did. They only saw Magnolia becoming what they had all feared, the Slytherin Girl, but George could see she was still his Magnolia, and she was screaming out for help.

George glanced at the door as Sirius, Remus, and his mother and father walked into the room. He had heard their whispered conversations about You-Know-Who, and how he was searching for something. He had heard there worries about Harry. He had seen in Sirius's eyes the worry and pure panic when he thought no one was watching him watch Magnolia.

A few times, George had heard snippets of conversations, sometimes he'd even heard Sirius shouting in his sleep about his Goddaughter. But the worst thing he had heard was at the beginning of the Christmas Break. Everyone had been so overjoyed that his father was going to be ok that no one had noticed Sirius disappear. George had though because he had been watching Sirius and Magnolia that entire day.

George had followed Sirius, planning to talk to him about Magnolia and his worries, but instead had overhead a conversation between Sirius and Professor Dumbledore. No one even knew the Headteacher had been there. It hadn't been long, but it had been tense and had put Sirius in a bad mood for days afterwards.

Professor Dumbledore knew something was wrong with Magnolia, that something was happening to her, and much to Sirius' agony he didn't plan on doing anything to help her. Instead, he focused his attention on Harry and protecting Harry. After hearing that conversation, George had been even more determined to learn everything he could about what was going on with the young Potter twin.

Maybe then, he could construct his own plan to protect her.