Narcissa and Draco were silent while they Apparated onto platform 9 and ¾. Draco refused to let her help him load his trunk onto the Hogwarts Express, and lifted his supplies into a corridor in one swift motion. He returned to his mother, unsure of what to say before his departure.
Narcissa and Lucius thought that it would be best to send Draco back to Hogwarts for his seventh year. Not, for the purpose of education, but so that he would be away from the distress at their manor. Narcissa was also informed that Severus will be the headmaster this year, and knew that her son would be well protected. She felt as if she owed Severus her life for looking out for her family on countless occasions, and couldn't think of a single way to pay him back.
Narcissa looked around at the few embracing families, who seemed unable to let go of each other. Draco got off the train and approached his mother. The two stood in silence for a moment, incapable of starting their goodbyes. Oh how, she wished that Lucius was with her for moral support. She took a deep breath, we're doing the right thing she thought, and she placed her hands on Draco's shoulders.
She looked up at him, as he was taller than her, and said in a pleading voice, "Draco, please, promise me that you be careful." He met her watering eyes, and tried extremely hard not to let them soften him up.
He tried to emulate Lucius and as confidently as possible he said "mother, you know that I will be, but, you have to make me a promise in return." Narcissa nodded and waited for her son to continue. He grew up so much over the summer that he spoke with an authority that made him seem like a full grown adult as opposed to a seventeen year old. "You need to take care of yourself! Don't worry about me, mum, or father. You have to promise me that you will try your best to relax."
"Sure, of course, Draco. Everything will be fine," she lied unconvincingly. Tears started streaming down her face as she embraced him. Draco picked up on her lie but didn't utter a word, and let her grasp onto him without complaint. "I'm really going to miss you, son. I love you and you make me so proud," she said between sobs, as she slowly pulled away.
Draco forced himself to be strong and gently wiped away her tears. He gave his mother a quick peck on the cheek and whispered, "I love you too, mum." Draco caught her as she was about to collapse into him, and heard the conductor shout for passengers to board the train. He retreated back to the train and stared worriedly at his mother through the window.
As the train left the station, she hoped that this would not be the last time that she saw her son, and that her family would survive this battle, together.