EPILOGUE

The room was pitch black and silent. To the untrained eye it seemed that nobody inhabited the ominous room. But as the dull embers from the fire flickered and the lighting licked the sky a figure appeared. He sat in an armchair in the far corner of the room his black eyes staring out of the tall window opposite him. The rain lashed against the windows and the dull rumble of thunder echoed in the distance, but the room remained was silent. The only sound that could be heard was the low labouring of the man's breath as he blinked and brought a glass to his lips. He paused a moment as another sheet of lightning flashed in the sky, his eyes searched the blackness and came to rest upon a figure which seemed to sprout from the ground like a shoot. Their eyes seemed to lock despite the great distance and the cloaked figure began to walk towards the house in the middle of Spinners End. The man brought the glass to his lips once more. The man rose from his chair and the dull embers rose up into flames without aid, throwing the man's shadow upon the floor and his face into light. The man was tall, his pale oily skin encased in completely black robes, his hair was shoulder length and hung around his face in a greasy fashion. His nose was hooked and his black eyes, dark and unwelcoming. He was not one for visitors, in fact the man wondered why on earth anyone would be walking towards his home on this night. He flung the door open before the knocker sounded making the cloaked and hooded figure recoil at his presence.

"Narcissa." Said the man plainly. "What do I owe the pleasure?" Narcissa pulled down the hood that covered her face. Silvery blonde hair made its way across her shoulders, her green eyes swimming with discomfort and her skin pale as a sheet.

"I must ask you a favour, Severus." She said, her voice shook and the man looked down at the small bundle in Narcissa's arms. Not taking his eyes from the woman, he let her in and closed the door behind her. Severus led her to the room he had just occupied, the fire giving warmth to the otherwise chilly room.

"What is it you ask of me, Narcissa?" Said the man. He sat back in his chair and allowed Narcissa to take the chair opposite. The woman looked down at the bundle she held and then turned her eyes away blinking furiously to stop tears that were threatening to fall. You see, Narcissa Malfoy was not one for sympathy, anyone who knew her would tell you that. She was not weak like other women, she held her ground in a world that she thought was made for men and she would not be seen as weak in front of one of her own.

"You must understand the position I am in, Severus." She began. "I did not know who else to turn to."

"Perhaps your husband?" Severus said sarcastically making Narcissa glower at him.

"Lucius has different views on the matter at hand. I, however do not wish the fate that has been laid out for my… for my…" She looked down at the bundle again, moving the white linin from the rose cheeks of a new born baby. The child slumbered, blonde hair already showing upon its head, its breaths slow and undisturbed. "For my daughter."

"You should be proud that the dark lord has chosen her."

"It is not his place to decide my child's fate in this world!" The woman hissed, flaring up at Severus who didn't seem to recoil under her icy gaze. "I do not wish for my daughter to be part of this world! Part of his world!"

"You understand the consequences of this if you were to be found out." Severus said. He looked over at the woman and child, his eyes softened as he realised the predicament that Narcissa Malfoy found herself in. The dark lord wanted her daughter, he wanted Narcissa's daughter no doubt as a weapon in the war that is still waging in their world.

"Of course I understand." She snapped. "Severus, please. She can do things others cannot. He has branded her his weapon, his weapon of destruction. He made her. This is no way for a child, for my child to be." The woman blinked again but this time a single tear fell from her eye and rolled down her cheek. She truly loved this child, this child that had only been with her for mere months and yet she adored her.

"I know what to do." Said the man slowly. "She will be kept safe." Narcissa looked at Severus a light flaring up in her once cold eyes. A small smile crept at her lips and she let out a long sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Severus." She said. They were quiet for a moment during that time the baby stirred in her blankets letting out a sigh in her sleep. Narcissa stood then and Severus followed suit. She held the baby out to him and reluctantly he slid his arms around the bundle holding the child close to him. He looked down at the rosy cheeks and the baby smiled subconsciously.

"What is her name?" He asked as Narcissa turned to leave.

"Sophie… Her name is Sophie." And then she left, and disappeared into the night. Severus sat down in his chair still cradling the sleeping girl in his arms. Another fork of lightning split the sky and Narcissa disappeared from Spinners End, leaving her daughter with a man she barely knew, but trusted. The thunder echoed in the room again and the fire returned to its dull embers. The man raised his glass to his lips once more and the baby turned in her blankets, neither of them knowing what would happen in the years to come.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

If you are reading this then thanks for reading and if you feel like it review :)

Megs x