A/N: Well this is slightly embarrassing...I haven't updated in literally two years. o.O so sorry! No one probably reads this...but I felt like updating it, even with such a short chapter, as I am wont. I can't manage to write chapters much longer, since I have such a short attention span! I hope you enjoy this, but don't expect an update any time soon...I don't actually know what I'm planning on doing with this story, no clue where I'm going to go with it. Now that Deathly Hallows is out (and my theory of Harry as the seventh Horcrux proven correct, by the way!) I have to avoid using the information we now know about Horcruxes if I can, so it's more original than just writing basically the same story with some tiny twists...it'll be a challenge that I probably will never finish. But hey, why not enjoy for the time being! Why is the author's note so long?

Disclaimer: I think I'm even more broke than before, therefore I'm not earning money off this pathetic excuse for a fan fiction.

Chapter Five

"'Mione, can we please take a break?"

"Ronald, do you want to save Harry's life or not?"

"Of course I do, but…come on, even Harry's willing to take a break, right?"

Harry looked up from his book. "Yeah, a break would be nice. We've been at this for hours."

Draco hid a smile behind his book at Hermione's indignant expression. She let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine. We'll break for lunch. But then we really have to get back here!"

A small chuckle left Draco's lips and the Trio turned to look at him. He raised his eyebrows. "What?"

Ron narrowed his eyes. "What was that chuckle for, Malfoy?"

"I was just laughing at Granger. She thinks it's only time for lunch."

"What?" said Hermione crossly.

"By my watch," Draco explained, "it's past dinner time."

Ron let out a whine. "I've never missed a meal before unless I was physically hurt! 'Mione, you kept us at this through lunch! No wonder my stomach feels like it shrunk to the size of a peanut."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you'll get over it, Ronald."

Harry laughed. "Either way, it's past time for a break."

Draco led the way back through the house and down to the kitchens. He greeted the house-elf already preparing dinner. "Thank you, Marci," he said. "We'll take it in the dining room, if you wouldn't mind." The house-elf bowed low as he whisked past her.

Hermione caught up to him as he passed through the doors into the spacious dining room. She was looking at him with the same, strange look as she had that morning. "Yes?" he said softly, raising an eyebrow.

"I never knew you were so kind to house-elves," she said breathlessly.

"I bet there's a lot of stuff you don't know about me, Granger," he replied, not unkindly. She looked angry for a moment then let it pass. There was silence between them for moment, but then Draco moved forward to settle into his usual chair at the long table, which was set with silver cutlery. Hermione hesitated, then sat beside him. Harry and Ron, still discussing what they had found, took the seats closest to them on the opposite side of the table. Hermione joined in the conversation, but Draco stayed quiet, anxious. There was a sense of foreboding hanging over his mind and his gaze darted to both doors within his range of sight.

Bang!

"Draco Malfoy!"

Draco leaped to his feet, nearly pushing the chair over in his haste. He knew that voice, and his wand was in his hand before he had completely straightened his spine. He felt the Trio move behind him, more slowly.

Narcissa Malfoy stood in a doorway on the opposite wall of the dining room. She bore a stern look upon her sharp features. "Draco Malfoy, put your wand away. I'm here to help."

Draco's hand twitched and he lowered his wand, but he did not put it away.

"Why are you here, Mother?"

"Didn't I just say? I'm here to help Potter."

Draco spluttered. "But—but, hang on—you—?" He trailed into silence, then organized his thoughts enough to say, "How did you find us?"

Narcissa smirked, looking remarkably like Draco. "I'm surprised you didn't know. Then again, you never paid attention to anything your father told me. I found out that your father died, and that someone killed him, and it could only have been you. So I came as soon as I could."

"How did you find out he died?"

Narcissa sighed exasperatedly. "It's old bonding magic—once upon a time, when Lucius and I were young, part of the bonding ceremony was to exchange blood. This gave us the ability to know when the other was mortally injured, killed, or had killed. So, I just felt yesterday that he'd been killed here."

Draco's mouth hung open. He immediately felt guilt rising up within him, but Narcissa shook her head. "Draco, don't feel bad. We're both free now. I'm tired of serving the Dark Lord, and I know you are too. Of course, why else would you have brought the Abominable Trio into our home?" The woman put on a winning smile, and Draco rushed to hug her.

"Draco," a voice behind him said, just as he felt the comfort of his mother's arms closed around him. He recognized Hermione's soft tone and pulled away to look at her. "How do we know we can trust her?" Her words were guarded, and her eyes were fixed on Narcissa.

He flushed angrily. "She's my mother, of course we can trust her! You trust me, don't you?" Ron looked uncomfortable at this, but Harry and Hermione nodded.

"But we only trusted you on one condition, remember? Veritaserum," Harry reminded him.

Narcissa nodded her head. "Of course. I'll gladly answer questions under Veritaserum."

She regally placed herself in the chair at the end of the table as Hermione rummaged in her pockets for the vial of clear liquid. Upon administering it, Harry promptly began the questioning.

"Why are you here?" he started, his face directly in front of Narcissa's.

"To help Draco help you," she said simply.

Harry looked startled to hear this simple answer. He cleared his throat and continued, shooting a glance towards Hermione.

"And why did you stop supporting Voldemort?"

"I never did," Narcissa replied. "It was always Lucius who was really the supporter of the Dark Lord, but since I loved him at the time, I was willing—and I was expected to—join up as well."

Draco watched Harry's eyes widen and Hermione's eyebrows shoot up into her hair. Ron was still glaring at Narcissa, distrust in his entire facial expression. There was a long, tense silence, but Narcissa seemed perfectly relaxed. At last, Harry pushed back his chair, and sighed resignedly.

"I guess we have no choice but to believe you." Ron looked as though he was about to protest, but Hermione put a hand on his hand across the table. Draco felt an inexplicable rush of anger at the sight of their automatic ease with each other. When Ron returned his gaze to the witch next to him, the anger was replaced by a jealous flash as he saw the warmth in the Weasel's blue eyes.

Narcissa looked smug, giving a perfect Malfoy smirk, but emotion actually reached her eyes. "Well then, I imagine you're looking for information on Horcruxes?"

Again, shock appeared on the Trio's faces, and Hermione couldn't stop Ron in time.

"How do you know about that? Why are you really here? Harry, we can't trust her, she's a Malfoy, she was married to that git and—"

"Enough!" Harry held up his hand, his green eyes flashing. "We've already been over this, Ron, we have to trust her. And obviously Voldemort's Horcruxes aren't exactly a secret anymore among the Death Eaters. So shut your mouth and pay attention!"

Ron's eyes were wide and shocked, staring at his best friend. Hermione was looking away from both of them, and Draco watched them with a small smirk on his face. It's about time Potter took charge of this operation.

"Potter is right," Narcissa replied, effectively hiding her amusement at the red-headed boy's outburst and Harry's sudden power. "Lucius was very dear to the Dark Lord, he knew almost everything about his Horcruxes. Naturally he told Draco and me, that's how I know." She drew herself up with dignity and stood.

"If you'll follow me." She gestured toward the door to the dining hall.

Harry was the first one out of his chair, still looking slightly wary but determined to see this through. Ron followed, glowering. Finally, with a furtive look at Draco, Hermione stood and moved toward the others. Draco merely watched her go, then stared at the plate in front of him. A soft hand dropped onto his shoulder, and he looked up to see his mother standing over him. His eyes began to glisten with tears, his mind on his father and what he had done to Lucius. He shut his eyes tight, but a tear slipped out anyway, hot and salty down his cheek. Narcissa drew him up and wrapped him in her embrace, and he let out a quiet sob. He didn't care that the others were watching, he could only think of his guilt and his relief that his mother was safe and with him. Her soft hand ran up and down his back, reminding him of his childhood when she would comfort him after he endured listening to a shouting match between her and Lucius, and he sobbed harder.

"Er, we'll be out in the hall," Harry said softly, looking stricken. Ron wasn't watching, already turned toward the door. Hermione looked absolutely torn, but she moved out of the room with Harry and Ron.

"It's alright, Draco, you did the right thing, dear. It's alright, it's okay, shh…" Narcissa's soothing voice eventually calmed Draco, and his shame returned in a rush.

He pulled away from his mother, wiping his eyes on his sleeve and sniffling a bit. "I'm glad you're here, I was so worried…" he trailed off, his voice hoarse. Narcissa gave him a small smile, then ushered him towards the door.

"I'm glad I'm here too, dear. It's time we ended this and went back to a free life."

Draco squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and walked out of the room, facing the Golden Trio, leaving behind his mistakes and regrets.

Ron whined, as Narcissa led them to Lucius' private rooms, "We still haven't eaten yet!"