Chapter 20

Corona Australis: Seizing Power

Summer & Autumn 1997

It was nightfall, and Narcissa was sitting on a broomstick, floating high above the ground. The cool night air brushed gently over her black robes, her long blonde hair concealed by a dark hood. She was bobbing gently in a group of over thirty Death Eaters and Imperiused allies. They were arranged in a circle over the place they knew Harry Potter to be living. Tonight was the night the Order of the Phoenix planned to move Potter to a new safe-house. Which house, they knew not; all the Order Members' houses had had every conceivable protection thrown at it, and Potter could be going to any of them. Once inside, he would be untouchable, so the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters planned to ambush the boy en-route. Next to Narcissa, Draco was sitting on his own broom, looking confident and comfortable - he was a very good flyer, after all. Once the Dark Lord had told them of the plan, Draco had spent hours training his parents until they could fly reasonable well, but Narcissa still felt uneasy, hovering so high above the ground.

On her other side, Lucius was holding his broom with one hand, the other gripping Florian Fortescue's old wand. He glared down at it, and Narcissa knew why. Lucius had been very proud of his own wand, which was elm and dragon heartstring. He believed elm was a superior wood type, particularly for pure-blood wizards. It was true that the wand had suited him extremely well, and his magic had always been careful, precise and had a certain finesse which Narcissa had always admired. Her wand own was ebony, also with a dragon heartstring core.

Narcissa still remembered finding her wand in Ollivander's when she was eleven years old, and feeling a connection the moment her fingers had touched the studded handle. Ebony wands were particularly suited to Transfiguration, Ollivander had told her, and she had quickly found this to be true. It was in her very first Transfiguration lesson that Narcissa had first spoken to Lucius, when Professor McGonagall had paired them up to work on turning matches into needles. He had smiled at her when she managed it on her second attempt, earning five points for Slytherin, and she had helped correct his wand movements, earning them another five points when Lucius' match also turned into a silver needle. Narcissa and Lucius had been friends from that moment, their relationship slowly deepening and maturing as they began dating in their fifth year. Narcissa had always liked how they looked together - both tall, blond and elegant. Even their wands looked similar, with their black and silver designs.

Lucius' wand, however, had been taken from him by the Dark Lord less than a week ago - Narcissa wasn't sure why. As a punishment? To humiliate him? It seemed likely, even though the Dark Lord had allowed Lucius his freedom, the Malfoys were definitely not back in favour. But for the Dark Lord to use a servant's wand when his own is still fully functioning... Narcissa briefly closed her eyes, feeling a wave of nausea pass over her as she remember that fateful night... forced to watch as Voldemort's snake had contorted itself, thrusting its dislocated jaws over the corpse of that woman, seeing her head then shoulders slowly disappear inside Nagini's muscular body...

"Here they come!" shouted Severus, looking down at the dim lights of houses and traffic, hundreds of feet below them. "Hold your positions, remember, the Dark Lord wants Potter for himself; you must not harm him."

Narcissa gripped the handle of Draco's old broom tightly as she squinted through the darkness and saw seven shapes rising up quickly towards them. "There's too many of them," Lucius muttered next to her, his eyes moving over the looming forms. "What the hell's going on?"

"Split up!" bellowed Severus. "Call once you have the right one! Don't let any of them get away!"

The shapes drew nearer, and Narcissa saw the tops of seven identical heads - Polyjuice Potion - she realised, staring down at seven Harry Potters. Four were riding brooms, each behind a different member of the Order of the Phoenix, one was sitting in a sidecar beside Hagrid on a giant motorbike, and two more were riding huge, skeletal, winged horses. Thestrals, Narcissa thought, her eyes widening. She had never been able to see them before... but then, she had not seen a person die until the Dark Lord had brought Charity Burbage into her home...

Narcissa was jerked back to the present as screams ripped through the still night air; the Order members and the seven Potters had realised they had risen into the middle of an ambush. Draco shot forwards on his broom, joining four other hooded figures chasing Kingsley Shacklebolt. His thestral was moving so quickly it was a blur, and Draco was soon swallowed by the darkness. Lucius, predictably, began to pursue Arthur Weasley, shooting Killing curses at him as the Potter with him returned fire. Narcissa tore her eyes away from her husband's back, suddenly seeing the scarred face of Remus Lupin illuminated by another jet of green light. The werewolf, who put my baby in danger for a year and has publicly disgraced our family through his marriage to Andromeda's brat... Narcissa's face twisted in fury as she remembered the Dark Lord and the other Death Eaters jeering at their misfortune as Lupin's marriage to Andromeda's daughter had been announced. Narcissa bent low over the broom's handle and shot through the dark sky towards Lupin, narrowly missing a Stunning spell shot by the Potter riding with him. Whipping her wand through the air, she began to shoot Killing curses at Lupin's back, the green light flashing over and over again in the dark sky. Narcissa was not confident on a broom, despite Draco's intensive training over the last few days, and she struggled to cast her spells whilst maintaining her grip. Her aim was poor, and she almost hit another Death Eater - who, she could not say. She cast another curse, and this time it nearly hit the Potter, who twisted around and returned fire, shooting Stunning spells at her. She veered to the left, and heard a voice beside her cry,

"Narcissa! You nearly hit the boy!" She turned her head, seeing Severus, whose hood had fallen back. His face was a mask of concentration as he aimed his wand carefully and shouted, "Sectumsempra!" But at the exact same moment, the Potter sent a jinx at Narcissa. She swerved to the left, bumping into Severus, and his spell went off course, missing Lupin and striking the boy instead. He howled in pain, blood pouring down the side of his face. Severus swore loudly, then snarled venomously at her, "You idiot!" He pulled his broom up sharply and soared away from her. Lupin was desperately trying to keep the bleeding boy on the broom, and Narcissa shot another Killing curse at him, but missed again. The other Death Eater, who had been flying almost parallel to Lupin and the Potter, shooting his own spells at them, suddenly braked mid-air, turning his face to Narcissa,

"It's not him!" Mallory Mulciber cried, shaking back his hood. "They've found the real one, come on!" Narcissa cast one last jet of green light at Lupin, but it soared over his head, and she was forced to admit defeat, following Mallory through the night sky. They were too late to witness what happened next, and she was so focused on searching the flying Death Eaters for her husband and son that it wasn't until much later that she heard the full story; Potter's wand had somehow sought out and destroyed Lucius', shooting golden flames at the Dark Lord, and Potter had, once again, escaped. It was magic reminiscent of what had happened in the graveyard, when the wands of the Dark Lord and the Boy-Who-Lived had connected. Voldemort was deeply unsettled by it; it was magic he did not know and did not understand, and he reacted in a dangerous and destructive manner. Fortunately for Narcissa and her family, the Dark Lord chose to vent his ire on Ollivander, back in the cellar at Malfoy Manor.

Safely hidden in Narcissa's parlour, she, Bellatrix, Lucius and Draco discussed what had happened, talking loudly over the screams of the incarcerated wand-maker. Bellatrix had tried to kill Andromeda's daughter, but had not succeeded, instead, the Potter with her had managed to stun one of the hooded men, who had fallen to his death. Who it had been, Bellatrix neither knew nor cared. Rodolphus had been hit with a jinx which removed bones from his hands and he had fallen from his broom. Luckily he survived, landing in a lake rather than on solid ground. He was currently in bed, having been dosed with Skele-gro to re-grow his bones. Draco had pursued Shacklebolt, who had also managed to knock a Death Eater from their broom - their fate was unknown. Draco's broom had been hit with a powerful Fire-making spell cast by the Potter riding with the Auror, and he had lost time extinguishing the flames, but other than some minor burns, had not sustained any injuries. Lucius had meanwhile tried in vain to kill Arthur Weasley.

"This damn wand!" he complained, looking down at the pinky-brown wood in disgust. "It just doesn't work properly for me!" After he had been forced to give up his own wand, Narcissa had remembered the two wands she had taken from Draco all those months ago. Lucius had tried both, and had achieved better results with Fortescue's than Ollivander's. Since Lucius was an escaped convict, they had no way of buying him a new, bespoke wand, so he was stuck with Fortescue's. But he brightened visibly when Bellatrix told them that the Order had lost one of their best wizards, Alastor Moody, who had been killed by Voldemort himself. Eventually, Ollivander's punishment ended, and the Dark Lord left for Yaxley's home to discuss the take-over of the Ministry.

Despite the horrors of the scene Narcissa had been forced to witness the previous week in her drawing room, she was feeling more determined than she had in months because Lucius was back by her side. He was sallow, thin, and a bit jumpy, but the lack of Dementors meant his stay in Azkaban had not been anywhere near as terrible an ordeal as it otherwise would have been. They had both wept during their first embrace after his escape, and had spent all evening sitting together, talking, looking into each other's eyes and drinking each other in as if they had been separated for years. That first night, watching her husband sleep, Narcissa had vowed to herself, I was an emotional wreck this past year, but that ends today. I have my husband and my son, and I will fight to keep them. I will waste no more time on tears. She tried to shove all her doubts, all her worries and all her reservations to the back of her mind. I am a Malfoy and a Black, and I will conquer this. She hardened her heart, and so when the Dark Lord had scathingly told her and Lucius that they were useless to him as society spies now, and therefore had to undertake an active role in his future plans, she did not protest. When her Master had asked for Lucius' wand, she had placed her hand on her husband's arm, silently telling him not to resist. When the Dark Lord ordered herself, Lucius and Draco to take part in the air-borne battle, she had agreed without hesitation. Harry Potter needs to die, she told herself, then it will all be over. Then Lucius, Draco and I will be free. But Narcissa was forced to admit to herself that, when Voldemort had killed Burbage in front of her, her horror had not just been caused by the snake's consumption of the body; she had actually felt pity for the helpless, pleading woman. Narcissa Malfoy had felt sorry for a Muggle-loving witch.

Voldemort did not return to Malfoy Manor for a few days. Where he had gone, none of the Death Eaters knew, not even Severus, who was firmly established as the Dark Lord's second-in-command. Voldemort instructed the Death Eaters to keep working on overthrowing the Ministry in his absence, and, on 1st August, Yaxley succeeded. Rufus Scrimgeour was captured, tortured for information he did not give, then murdered. The Death Eaters moved quickly, Yaxley identifying the Ministry protections put on the homes of the members of the Orders of the Phoenix. He called in Doyle Travers, Antonin Dolohov, Valdis Avery and Mallory Mulciber, and they worked together to reverse the enchantments, causing the magical barriers to crumble. The Death Eaters then stormed each of the properties, cursing and torturing the inhabitants for any information on the elusive Boy-Who-Lived. Narcissa was sent with Bellatrix to Dedalus Diggle's home - Bellatrix begged to be allowed to visit Andromeda instead, but Severus refused, saying the Dark Lord wanted them alive for information, and did not think Bellatrix would be able to control herself. She was not able to argue with this point, and with relatively good grace, contented herself with burning Diggle's house to the ground. The wizard was not at home, and it looked as though he had been away for quite some time. A delighted Lucius was sent with a group to the Weasleys' home in Ottery St. Catchpole, but came back with the news that Potter had evaded capture.

"They were having a wedding, one of the Weasley boys, to a half-breed," he drawled. "But Potter was there, I'm sure of it! The Granger Mudblood was conspicuously absent, so my guess is they disapparated together. The Weasley boy isn't with them, though. The Carrows saw him - he's got spattergroit." Bellatrix hissed with laughter, whilst Severus smirked and said silkily,

"It hardly matters that he got away, he will not last for long. Potter is a Gryffindor to the last degree - he is rash, and freely uses the Dark Lord's name. It is only a matter of time before he slips up, and when he does, we will be ready for him - the Taboo is set up. If Potter - or anyone else - says his name, we will know." And he was right - a short while later, someone said, "Voldemort" in London, on Tottenham Court Road, and Severus dispatched Thorfinn Rowle and Antonin Dolohov to investigate. "If it is Potter, bring him back here. If it is anyone else, kill them."

But they returned empty handed. Narcissa, Lucius, Draco and Severus were waiting for them in the drawing room went the front door swung open and the two men marched in, both looking white and shaken. "What happened?" Severus called, rising to his feet and striding into the hall, the Malfoys following in his wake. But before they could answer, another person stepped into the hallway through the open front door - Lord Voldemort, white-faced and furious, Nagini close at his heels. Narcissa took a step back as the huge snake slithered into her home, and she pulled Draco back with her as the Dark Lord rounded on Rowle.

"You dare to summon me? You dare to call me here, Rowle?"

"My Lord!" Rowle begged. "I think it was Potter -"

"Think?" Voldemort exclaimed. "Think?"

"We were Obliviated, we don't know -" Rowle plunged on desperately. The Dark Lord's face twisted into a cruel smile and he laughed softly.

"There is a very easy way, Rowle, to break through a Memory charm. I am sure you know what I am talking about..."

"My Lord! I beg you -"

"No, Rowle. It isn't me you should be begging... Draco. Please step forwards." Draco left his mother's side, walking to his Master silently. "Escort Rowle into the drawing room. You and I shall have a little word with him." Draco looked nervously at Rowle, who shook as he led the way into the room, Draco and the Dark Lord following behind. Nagini slithered in as well, and the door closed, leaving Severus, Lucius, Narcissa, and Antonin in the hall.

"What happened?" hissed Narcissa, grabbing Antonin by the arm, but before he could reply, Rowle's yells of pain rang out from behind the closed door.

"I don't know!" Antonin cried, trying to make himself heard over the shouts which were increasing in volume. "Whoever it was Obliviated us! I have no idea -"

"And yet Rowle saw fit to summon the Dark Lord?" Severus asked smoothly.

"I - I didn't know he was planning to," Antonin stammered, looking at Severus, his eyes wide. "You have to believe me!" It was strange, seeing Antonin, who had taught Severus how to duel, and who had once been so admired by the younger man, now begging him for mercy. The yells suddenly stopped and Voldemort's voice cried out,

"Who was it, Rowle?"

"My Lord, please -" choked Rowle's voice.

"Draco, do it again!" commanded the high, cold voice, and the screams started once more.

"Whether I believe you or not is inconsequential," Severus said, his voice devoid of any emotion. "If Rowle does not give him the answers he needs, you will be questioned next." Antonin went white but did not argue. He stood still, looking straight ahead, breathing shallowly. Narcissa stood beside Lucius, gripping his hand tightly and begging inside her head, Draco, please be ok, please be ok...

The screams stopped again, and Rowle's voice choked out, "Potter... it was Potter and -" but the rest of his words were cut off as Voldemort shrieked in fury and Rowle began to scream again. Narcissa looked at Severus, and he met her gaze calmly, his black eyes shuttered against her. The Dark Lord's merciless voice spoke once more as Rowle's shrieks died away,

"More Rowle, or shall we end it and feed you to Nagini? Lord Voldemort is not sure he will forgive this time... You called me back for this, to tell me that Harry Potter escaped again? Draco, give Rowle another taste of our displeasure... do it, or feel my wrath yourself!"

Rowle's screams sounded once more, before fading away into an ominous silence. The drawing room door opened and Draco stood there, his face much whiter than usual. He looked at the floor as he muttered. "Dolohov, he - he wants you." Antonin did not protest, but walked into the room unflinchingly. A few seconds later, his yells of pain cut through the air, and Narcissa had to fight the urge to put her hands over her ears. It went on and on, but, at last, it was over.

The Dark Lord swept out of the drawing room, Nagini draped over his shoulders. "Severus, join me," he commanded, and the dark-haired wizard fell into step beside his Master as he went out into the night, without even glancing at Lucius and Narcissa. Once they were out of sight, Narcissa rushed into the drawing room. Antonin was slumped against a wall. He looked shaken, but was at least conscious. Draco was crouched on the floor over the huddled form of Rowle.

"Mother, we need to help him," Draco said, voice shaking as he looked up at her with wide, terrified eyes. "I didn't mean to -"

"Stop talking now, Draco," Lucius said sharply, entering the room and placing a hand on Narcissa's shoulder. "You did mean to. You followed your Master's instructions whole-heartedly and without hesitation and will continue to do so. Now stand up."

Draco looked as if he was going to refuse, but caught Narcissa's eye. She shook her head. "Come on, Draco. Ingle can deal with him." Draco slowly straightened up, and Narcissa shepherded him up the stairs to his bedroom. Lucius paused in the hallway, calling for Ingle. He gave her her instructions, and the little elf scurried into the drawing room to try to revive Rowle and help Antonin. When Narcissa went back downstairs an hour later, both men were gone.

Most of the wizarding world had no idea the fate which had befallen their ex-Minister; the Death Eaters' take-over had been almost silent. The story was quickly put out that Scrimgeour had retired, and the Imperiused Pius Thicknesse was smoothly put in his place. Through his puppet, Yaxley quickly introduced the Muggle-born Registration Committee, inviting all those with no magical parents to present themselves for questioning at the Ministry. Those who could not prove they were at least half-blood were then imprisoned and left to the mercy of the Dementors, who had willingly agreed to partake in the scheme in exchange for free reign over the Muggle-born victims. Yaxley also sat hard on the Daily Prophet, and the paper began to print new stories about Harry Potter, questioning his involvement in the death of Albus Dumbledore. The fact that Severus had murdered the man was suppressed, and although the wizarding population whispered amongst themselves, they were too frightened to resist, and so accepted the Prophet's version of events. The suspicions that all was not well were quickly quashed, and people went on with their daily lives.

The Dark Lord then launched the second part of his plan, and Severus Snape was prompted to the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts School. The Carrows were appointed as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts and Muggle Studies Professors. Severus was able to briefly speak to Narcissa and Lucius about it one hot day in August after a Death Eater meeting, but when he shared the news of his appointment, Narcissa grabbed his arm, exclaiming,

"Severus, you can't go back to Hogwarts! They'll kill you! McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout... even Slughorn! They're exceptionally talented, and they know it was you who murdered -"

"I am the new Headmaster, Narcissa, and I will go back," Severus interrupted smoothly, gently removing her clutching hand. "The other Professors will not like it, I am fully aware of that, but they will they will keep quiet and toe the line to try to protect the students."

"But what about the students?" Narcissa pressed, still looking worried.

"Whatever do you mean?" Severus asked coolly.

"There are lots of families out there, Severus, who won't take kindly to your appointment!"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "I think I am more than capable of defending myself against a brainless bunch of imbecilic school-children." Narcissa opened her mouth to argue, but Severus went on smoothly, "But I have not told you the most important piece of news yet."

"What's that?" Lucius asked, putting an arm around his wife.

"As Headmaster, I finally have the power to allow myself to eat meals alone in my office. I may actually find I have an appetite, when I am not forced to sit in front of hundreds of slobbering, gluttonous children, swilling food around in their gormless, open mouths."

Narcissa laughed, despite herself, and Lucius chuckled, saying, "I think that comment goes on the 'Things not to say when the Prophet interviews you' list! As do the words 'inane', 'dunderheaded', 'infernal', 'stupid', 'idiotic', 'disgusting' and 'bratty' when you are referring to your pupils."

Severus groaned. "Will the press really want to speak to me?"

Lucius laughed again. "You're the first new headmaster of the most famous wizarding school in Europe in, what, forty years? Yes, Severus, they will definitely interview you, so you'd better start practicing now!" Severus scowled darkly, and Lucius smirked, saying sarcastically, "Yes, that's a great start."

"Well what am I supposed to say?" Severus demanded. "You know the press, Lucius. What would go down well with them without making me sound like a buffoon?"

"Just make it up, Severus!" Lucius sounded both amused and exasperated. "You know, something like, 'I welcome the opportunity to uphold our finest wizarding traditions and values at this prestigious school. I am passionately committed to furthering the learning of the next generation, and it is my ambition to equip every pupil with the knowledge, skills and determination they need to succeed in life.'"

Severus' mouth twitched as if he was trying not to laugh, and Narcissa smiled, saying, "So can we write to you freely this year?"

Severus nodded. "Yes. I see no reason why not. I will be busy, but will correspond as frequently as I can."

Narcissa smiled, but then the thought which had been troubling her for weeks surfaced once more, and she said in a rush, "And Severus, what about Draco? Is it safe for him to go back? After what he did last year..."

Severus looked at her silently for a few seconds before answering. "Draco will be perfectly safe at school, Narcissa. The rest of the staff would never intentionally harm a pupil. I cannot guarantee that the other students will show the same level of restraint, but scuffles in the corridors are commonplace, and I do not believe any will resort to outright violence. Draco is in the same boat as many of the other Slytherin pupils - their families' allegiances are also to the Dark Lord, so naturally they will incur opposition, but most pupils will fear them and keep out of their way. A small handful may be more confrontational, but since Potter will not be attending school this year, they will have no standard around which to rally. And, Narcissa, Draco is more than capable of taking care of himself." Narcissa's fears lessened slightly, but she was still not completely comforted, until Severus said quietly, "I shall continue to watch over him, Narcissa. You have my word."

The new Headmaster of Hogwarts then took his leave. Narcissa and Lucius laughed when they saw Severus' interview in the Prophet a week later. "He memorised what I said!" Lucius laughed. "I wish I could have seen the look on his face as he spouted that twaddle! I bet he was furious!" The paper also reported a series of changes at the castle; attendance at Hogwarts was mandatory and all students had to prove their blood status, meaning Muggle-borns were no longer permitted to attend. Carefully left out of the article were the Carrows' new curriculums - Defence Against the Dark Arts was going to simply become 'The Dark Arts', and Muggle Studies would be a compulsory subject, but it was not going to encourage harmonious relations. Instead, Alecto Carrow was going to use her classes to spread poison about the non-magical population to evoke fear, distrust and feelings of innate superiority in the minds of the magical students.

Over the course of the rest of the summer, the Death Eaters were called upon to keep watch on Harry Potter's house - not the one his Muggle relations had lived in, but the one he had inherited from Sirius Black. With the records of the Ministry their disposal, Yaxley had found Sirius Black's will, and therefore knew the house had passed into Potter's possession. What was more, someone inside that property said, "Voldemort" several times, setting off the Taboo. However, even though the Fidelius charm had been considerably weakened by the death of the original Secret Keeper, Albus Dumbledore, the Death Eaters could still not get inside the property. Even Severus could not enter the house or divulge the address, despite the fact he was now a Secret Keeper himself. The Order had apparently anticipated this, and had put a series of powerful protective enchantments in place. But the Death Eaters knew the location, and so every day two or three Death Eaters were sent to stand on the small green on Grimmauld Place, staring at the boundary between numbers 11 and 13. Narcissa was also required to take her turn, and spent several long days gazing aimlessly at the brickwork. She saw nothing of interest, but Lucius thought he saw a flicker of movement once or twice and started forwards, only to stop and return to his position, looking disappointed. If Harry Potter was inside, he did not show himself, not even on 1st September, when Draco and the rest of the students returned to Hogwarts. Severus confirmed that Potter and Granger did not turn up, and with Weasley still infected with spattergroit, the Death Eaters were back to square one, not knowing where the Boy-Who-Lived was hiding.

On 2nd September, Narcissa was shocked to hear that Harry Potter and two accomplices had managed to: infiltrate the Ministry of Magic by impersonating three members of staff, get into a court room, disrupt a trial, Stun Umbridge and Yaxley, and escape with a group of Muggle-borns who had been brought in for questioning. Yaxley and Doyle arrived at the Manor to inform the Dark Lord, but he was not there. The Malfoys had thought he was at Yaxley's home, but this clearly was not the case. The four stood, each feeling sick with dread, imagining how the Dark Lord would react when he found out that Potter has evaded capture yet again. The only silver lining was that Yaxley had gained access to 12 Grimmauld Place; he had grabbed hold of the imposter disguised as Mafalda Hopkirk as she had disapparated, but she had hexed him and he had been forced to let go whilst they were still in transit. The three pretenders had vanished, and Yaxley had been shocked to find himself on the doorstep of Harry Potter's house; he had been taken inside the protection of the Fidelius charm. The Tongue-typing curse put in place by the Order to stop Severus from speaking the name of the house had no lasting impact on Yaxley, and so the Death Eaters were able to get inside the property.

Bellatrix went to help search the house the next day, but they found nothing of interest. It seemed that everything of value had been taken long ago, and whilst they found copious notes about the Ministry, it was clear these were for the plan that Potter - and presumably Granger - had just executed. The identity of the third imposter was still unknown, since Weasley was still bed-ridden. Perhaps one of the Order, Narcissa mused. The werewolf, or Andromeda's daughter... Oddly, the House-elf, Kreacher, was no-where to be found, and had not answered Bellatrix's calls for him.

"Perhaps he died." She shrugged carelessly. "Wouldn't surprise me. Doddering old creature. He's of no real use to us anyway."

"But why would Potter want to get into the Ministry?" Narcissa asked her sister. "It makes no sense! The prophesy has been destroyed - what possible reason did he have to go there now?"

Bellatrix looked at Narcissa as though she were very stupid. "To free the Mudbloods, of course!" Narcissa opened her mouth to argue, but Lucius spoke first,

"Haven't the Dark Lord and Severus always said Potter has a Gryffindor-hero-complex? He raced to the Ministry last year to save Black, so it makes sense."

"But the whole Ministry's after him this time..." Narcissa protested weakly, but at the unconvinced looks the others gave her, she went on, "Well, what does the Dark Lord think about all this, anyway?"

Bellatrix looked suddenly fearful. "He - he doesn't know yet. He's gone away."

"Away?" Narcissa asked sharply. "Where?"

"I won't tell you." Bellatrix looked haughtily at them. "If he did not see fit to share this information with you, then I shan't either." Narcissa and Lucius tried to persuade her, but to no avail.

The Dark Lord was back a few days later, but seemed pre-occupied, and did not react violently to the news that Potter had been at the Ministry, as Narcissa and the others had feared he would. To the contrary, he listened quietly as Yaxley made his report, shaking with fear as he did so, but to Narcissa's amazement, Voldemort did not torture the man. He rolled his wand silently between his fingertips, then said in a high, cold voice, "Leave. All of you." Narcissa and the rest of the Death Eaters quickly exited the room, leaving the Dark Lord alone with his thoughts.

Narcissa wrote to both Draco and Severus regularly throughout the autumn months. Draco hardly replied, and when he did, his letters were very brief. Narcissa suspected that his grades were falling, but Horace Slughorn, who had already made his feelings about the children of Death Eaters known by his marked exclusion of Draco from his 'Slug Club' the previous year, did not even attempt to contact her about it. She suspected he was leaving Draco be, and could not pretend she was not relieved. It was no secret to the staff at Hogwarts what had really happened to Dumbledore; although Draco had not killed him, he had actively contributed to his death. With Severus' assurances and brief updates on Draco's well-being, she knew that he was safe, but she just wished that her son was happier. Narcissa sighed sadly, looking down at Draco's latest little letter,

Mother,

I am fine. I am attending my lessons. It is mostly quiet here.

Draco.

Her heart ached, but Narcissa saw no way to help him, other than furthering the Dark Lord's cause so the new regime could be implemented as quickly as possible.

Severus's letters were much more informative. He wrote sporadically, and complained in his usual style about a low-level mutinous core of pupils, who were consistently breaking rules, daubing graffiti on the walls and talking back to the newest Professors: 'Their behaviour is disruptive and irritating, but I cannot see what they hope to achieve. The Carrows are rather brutal in their punishments, but the message does not seem to be getting through to these three pupils in particular. They really are becoming rather tiresome.'

The three pupils in question were Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. "All of them were with Potter in the Department of Mysteries," Lucius said as he read the letter. "I suppose they feel that, with Potter missing in action, they need to take up the mantle."

Severus was forced to take more drastic action against this renegade outfit when the three broke into his office and tried to steal a historical artefact; the sword of Godric Gryffindor. He wrote, 'I have taken a leaf out of Professor McGonagall's book and assigned them all detention in the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid - just as she did to Draco in his first year. I only hope this will encourage them to behave properly.'

The other outcome of the attempted robbery placed Bellatrix in high spirits, as the Dark Lord asked her to store the precious sword in her vault at Gringotts. Bellatrix had been overjoyed to be asked, and so the coveted sword was sent from Scotland down to London, and promptly secured in the Lestrange's vault. "He has truly forgiven me now, I am sure of it!" Bellatrix cried, flinging back her head and laughing in delight. "And soon, Potter will be dead and the war will be over, Cissy! We have won!"

Narcissa was vividly reminded of her sister's insistence that the war would be won within the year whilst she was still at Hogwarts. But this time, things are different. The Ministry has fallen, we have the press on our side, we've already taken Hogwarts, Dumbledore is dead, and the only thing that stands in his way now is Harry Potter - a teenage boy on the run. He won't last for long. Narcissa smiled back at her sister. "You're right, Bella. We can't lose now."