Author's Note: This is the final chapter of this story.
Additional Author's Note: The headline in the Daily Prophet is from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 10, "Mayhem at the Ministry."
Additional Author's Note: There is a reference in this chapter to another story I have written, "Meet Baby Draco."
Lucius and Narcissa were both sitting at the dining table back at Malfoy Manor, looking at the front page of the Daily Prophet. The headline read: "SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP." A picture of the Dark Mark up in the sky was a part of the article.
"Has there been any changes in your Mark?" Narcissa asked Lucius, unable to keep the nervousness from her voice.
"I can't be absolutely certain," Lucius replied, somehow managing to keep his voice steady, "but I think it might have gotten slightly darker."
Lucius then rolled up the left sleeve of his robe, revealing his Dark Mark.
Narcissa looked at it closely. It did appear to be a little darker than she had gotten used to seeing, but maybe her anxiety was just causing her to see things.
"This does not necessarily mean anything, though," Lucius spoke. "It may just be my imagination."
"Your Mark never disappeared," Narcissa returned. "It just faded. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for the Dark Lord to return."
"No, it wouldn't," Lucius agreed.
Narcissa shifted slightly in her chair. "If the Dark Lord does return, you're going to have to return to him," she said. "It would be suicide not to."
"I know," Lucius replied simply.
Narcissa shifted again in her chair. "He's going to be upset with us for denying him."
"Yes, he will be," Lucius agreed, "but we weren't the only ones to do so. If the Dark Lord was to kill everyone who did not continue to support him after his fall, he would not have many followers left. Besides, he has always found me to be useful. That will mean more to him than my betrayal. If he does return, I will be just fine, and I will of course do whatever it takes to keep his attention off you and Draco."
Narcissa's hands clenched slightly. "But what if he still wants Draco in his service?" she asked anxiously.
She, of course, was referring to when the Dark Lord had come to their manor not long after Draco had been born. The Dark Lord had made it clear back then that he wanted the infant to one day serve him.
Even though she knew it was treacherous to think such a thought, a part of Narcissa had been relieved when the Dark Lord had fallen. Lucius's service to him had resulted in him often being away from her and in him often being in danger, and Narcissa had not wanted the same fate for her only child. And of course, Narcissa had also been relieved to know that she would no longer have to worry about her husband being killed or imprisoned in Azkaban because of his service to the Dark Lord.
"Draco is still a child," Lucius told his wife. "The Dark Lord needs warriors, not children, if he wants to win. And if the Dark Lord does ask about Draco, I will find a way to convince him that it would be for the best if Draco served him in other ways beside open warfare.
"But we are both jumping ahead of ourselves. Nothing is certain. It may be many more years before the Dark Lord returns, if he does indeed return at all. So, until that day arrives, if it ever does arrive, we will continue as normal. There is no need to cause any upheaval in our lives or especially in Draco's life unless it is absolutely necessary."
Narcissa just nodded her head.
At that moment, Draco came walking into the room.
Narcissa watched her approaching son with some anxiety. The sight of the Dark Mark had made her so upset and so worried that she had not told Lucius about Draco running off from her. And Draco, most definitely not wanting to get in trouble with his father, had not said anything either.
Narcissa knew that as calm as her husband was acting, a part of him had to be just as anxious as she was. It would probably be for the best then if he didn't find out that Draco had placed himself close to the action that he and the other Death Eaters had caused. Narcissa knew that Lucius cared about Draco's well-being and that it would upset him to learn that his actions could have potentially placed Draco in danger, especially since he had expected both Narcissa and Draco to be far out of the way for appearance's sake.
As Draco approached, he noticed the newspaper on the table.
"So, does this mean that the Dark Lord is returning?" he asked excitingly. "Has there been any changes in your Mark, Father?"
"Not that I have noticed," Lucius answered smoothly.
Draco sat down with a disappointed expression on his face.
"It would be awesome, though, if he returned, wouldn't it?" the teenage boy inquired. "If he returned, we would finally be able to get the world that we want, a world where us Purebloods will rule and Mudbloods and Blood-Traitors will not be allowed."
"You're jumping ahead of yourself, Draco," Lucius responded. "The world that we want will not come easily or quickly, even if the Dark Lord were to return. War has the tendency to drag on for a long time. And don't be so eager for battle either, Draco. It is not always as glorious as you no doubt think."
"But it would be worth it, wouldn't it?" Draco pressed.
"If we win, yes, it would be worth it," Lucius returned. "But don't be in a hurry to be a hero or a champion. Never charge into any situation without thinking first about all the possible outcomes. Achieving Pureblood supremacy will mean nothing if you're dead or so incapacitated that you aren't able to enjoy it."
Draco nodded his head, but it was clear that his mind was thinking about fighting in a war full of glory.
"Do you have your trunk packed yet?" Narcissa asked her son.
"Just about," Draco answered. "Don't worry, Mother, I'll be ready to go on time. I always am. I'll finish packing as soon as I am done with breakfast."
"Good," Narcissa responded.
As Draco ate, though, he could not keep his eyes from occasionally glancing at the newspaper on the table. He truly hoped that the Dark Mark in the sky meant that the Dark Lord would soon be returning. It was time for the Purebloods like him and his parents to finally rule. He was really starting to get tired of Mudbloods like Hermione Granger and disgraceful Blood-Traitors like the Weasleys. And if he was truly lucky, maybe the Dark Lord would take care of bloody Harry Potter as well. Draco was especially tired of Scarhead.