Sorry it took too long for me to update! I am having some sort of dilemma with the chapters and with Draco! I am a wee bit panicked, actually! But here it is! I hope you like it! In this chapter, you will see how Narcissa decided to save Draco and a hint of where Draco will end up. Thank you for your patience and for the time you've given this story!

Chapter 5 - Falling Off a Cliff

Narcissa was full of apprehension when she returned to the Manor. She feared that the Dark Lord would already be back from his exploits and that the wooden door that protected Draco from the world would by now be broken down. She rushed as fast as she could. She was aware that it was unbecoming for a woman, and especially for a Malfoy, to run like a lunatic but she realized it was more unfitting for a mother to just let her son die. She was almost out of breath when she reached the entrance of Draco's room. Before entering, she took a few moments to inhale and exhale deeply to compose herself.

"Is he asleep?" Narcissa questioned, her elegant steps announcing her presence as she entered the room where Severus hid Draco.

"As you can see." His voice was unfeeling as he gestured his hand towards a sleeping Draco. Severus turned his back and walked towards the door.

"Do you think he could be saved?" Narcissa faced the man that she was eternally grateful for.

"His soul was already spared." Severus just looked at her coldly. The dark circles under his ebony eyes made his skin look ashen.

"No… Do you think he will live?" Her question was whisper. It seemed like she was almost afraid of the answer.

"There is always a way. Always." His tone was solemn, as if it was the most important thing his mouth had ever spoken.

"You have to assure me, Severus." Narcissa gazed at him pleadingly.

"You could not possibly believe that I could do that, Narcissa. I am not a seer. What I could do is remind you, with the words that came from your mouth, that you are a perceptive and powerful witch. I believe that is true. Use your talents. Most importantly, hold on to the love you have for your son. There are no limits to the things one does for love."

"Love, Severus? I did not know that about you." Narcissa gave him a small smile.

"Not perceptive enough, are we?" Severus smirked at her.

Narcissa dismissed him with a wave of her hand, a beam still painted on her face. "How many hours before he awakens?" Narcissa walked towards her son and sat on his bed.

"Three hours. Will that be enough?" Severus stopped his steps and looked at Narcissa.

"It will suffice." She looked at Draco and removed strands of blond hair from his forehead.

"I gather everything went well?"

"Perfectly." Narcissa smiled, not taking her eyes off her boy.

Severus nodded, even though he was aware that Narcissa was not looking at him. He took slow, gentle steps, afraid that he would disturb the peaceful moment between mother and son.

Narcissa raised her head and glanced around the room, making sure she was alone. She gazed at the tall floor-length windows that were draped with curtains of silver and green. It amused her how everything they owned, even the Malfoy crest, was branded by the house of Salazar Slytherin. It was a simple room, the simplest they had, maybe. Narcissa had asked Severus to keep her son in the most unnoticeable corner of the Manor and being the man Severus was, he followed her instructions to the letter.

She now proceeded to the tasks she had set for herself to save her son. In her mind, she listed the things that needed to be done. After mentally preparing herself for her undertakings, she carried on to performing them.

Without leaving her son's side, she whispered, "Accio glass vials." She only had to wait a while before she caught the little bottles with her hand. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. To ensure that her plans would not be disrupted by anyone and to assure the safety of her son, she murmured, "Cave Inimicum."

Narcissa took a few moments to breathe deeply and calm herself. When she was certain that all her unwarranted emotions were buried deep within her, she put the tip of her wand to her son's forehead. In an almost inaudible voice, she said, "I am sorry, Draco. I hope someday you will understand." With silent tears, she watched as wisps of silver left her son's temple. Carefully, she transferred them to the glass vials that she had summoned.

She whispered, "Darsha."

In an instant, a pop was heard and a three foot tall house-elf with bat-like ears, huge blue eyes and an even larger head appeared.

"Yes, Mistress?"

"I need you to get Thunder for me. Run a bath for the young master and prepare a feast for him. You shall serve him only the best. Bring everything here. No one must find out."

"Will my mistress be needing quills and parchments?"

"Ah, yes. Thank you, Darsha."

The house-elf bowed and Disapparated with a pop. Narcissa walked to the desk near the window and found sheets of parchment and a set of quills on it. She sat on the chair and wrote her letter. Afterwards, she stared at it and read what she had written.

"Dearest Sister,

If I do not see the end of it, be the one to show him his memories. Although I am hoping, with all of me, that I will be with him when he remembers."

Narcissa sealed the letter with the Malfoy Crest. She heard a gentle tapping on the window and she saw her dignified great grey owl. She opened the window and the owl's big head, grey face and yellow eyes greeted her. It landed on the desk and gently nibbled her finger. She attached the paper to its leg and secured the glass vials with it. Narcissa whispered "Thunder, my dear, bring this to Andromeda Tonks. Take excellent care of what I will be taking away from my Draco."

She watched as the owl flew away with her son's past. Her eyes were fixed on the majestic flying creature until it was out of sight. She let her gaze linger on the horizon for a little while. She breathed in and welcomed the inevitable. She walked towards Draco's bed and lovingly touched his cheek.

"My darling boy, wake up."

Draco was still groggy. It did not surprise him due to the massive amount of Dreamless Sleep Potion that Snape made him drink. It disturbed him that upon his waking for the past hours, it was his professor's face that he saw. It made him feel secure that it was his mother's voice this time. Slowly, he opened his eyes.

"Is it all over now, Mother?"

"Not yet, son, but it will be soon."

"I am going to die, Mother. Aren't I?"

"No, no, no," Narcissa whispered while she held her son. "I will never let that happen, not while I am still breathing."

Draco sat up. "But he is going to kill me. If you defend me, you will suffer. Let me die, Mother. Let me expiate for our sins. Maybe if he took my life, he will leave you and Father alone." He stood and walked away from his mother. He was being a hero, a Gryffindor, but he was a Slytherin. It scared him but his life was the best he could offer to save them.

"No deaths will be necessary, my son," Narcissa assured Draco.

"Mother, let me. Let me save you and father from the Dark Lord's wrath. If I die for you, my life and my death would mean something."

"Even if you do not do that, your life already means something." Narcissa paused then added, "It means everything to me."

"Your life also means as much. So let me die with the knowledge that because of my death, I spared you. I cannot let you save me when it will endanger you, Mother."

"It is not I…"

"Mother?"

"It is not I who will do the saving. Just trust me."

Draco wanted to believe his mother but he knew it was not possible that no life be given up. In the Dark Lord's world, murders were always an inevitability and sadly, even though the Manor was their home, it has become his castle where he was running his empire. Lucius was no longer the man of the house. They all existed to serve Him. Still, he decided to indulge his mother and ask, "How could that be possible?"

"It just is."

"I don't think I understand."

"It is not your place to understand." Narcissa paused then continued, "In an hour, we are leaving. Do not, I repeat, do not leave this room. If you need anything, summon Darsha. Your bath is ready. She will be here soon with your meal. Eat well, my son. I will be back in an hour to collect you."

"Where are we going, Mother?"

"Just trust me, Draco. Do not ask any more questions. One hour. Set your affairs in order."

The finality in Narcissa's voice was laced with apprehension when she finished speaking, but Draco trusted his mother. His heart was pounding and he was beginning to sweat profusely. He denied the obvious signs of turmoil and proceeded to the bath.

Slowly, Draco took of his clothing one by one. He gently untied his charcoal robes and let them slide off from his body. Next, he undid the buttons of his pitch-black trousers and let them fall to the floor. He tested the temperature of the bath with his fingertips. It was perfect. He let his body submerge in the foamy perfection, part by part: first his legs, then his trunk, then the rest of his body. He held his breath and he let himself be immersed completely underwater.

Draco did not really understand what his mother meant when she said 'set your affairs in order,' so he did not really do anything in that aspect. Although he dressed well, better than he usually did. He wore the grey dress robes which his mother loved because it brought out the grey in his eyes. Draco also summoned Darsha to find his silver ring which boasted a serpent, the symbol of his beloved house. He debated whether he'd bring his journal but decided not to because he assumed that if he would be going somewhere for a long time, her mother would ask him to pack.

He was ready before the hour his mother had given him. Darsha cooked a sumptuous meal for him. Her preparations were never disappointing but there was something different with each bite of the tender and juicy steak he had. The house-elf even outdid herself with the serving of the sweets. Darsha knew that he loved desserts but for his meal she had prepared almost all of the delicacies he could imagine, something that never happened - even during his birthday. He thought of getting another slice of devil's food cake when the wooden doors of his room opened.

"Draco, come now."

Draco desperately wanted to ask his mother where they were going but he knew that she was serious when she said, "Do not ask any more questions." He stayed quiet and complied. He matched the rushed pace of his mother. He nearly bumped into her when she suddenly halted.

"Cissy, where are you going?" A haunting screech broke the silent.

"We are leaving. I will explain when I get back."

"Are you going to do it?"

"I have no choice, do I?" Narcissa panicked.

"No! It will destroy you! Let me! It will be quick. I will be kind." Bellatrix walked towards Draco and attempted to pull him away from Narcissa.

"No! Do not touch my son! Just let us leave! I could not do it in our own home. It would haunt me forever. Please, just let us leave."

"No, Cissy, I can't. You might not do it."

"Do you not trust me? I am most loyal to the Dark Lord."

"No, Cissy, I am most loyal to the Dark Lord. You, on the other hand, are most loyal to your love for Draco. Let me do it."

"No!" Narcissa yelled. "Stupefy!" Narcissa gasped when she saw her sister tumble across the hall. "Forgive me Bella!" Narcissa took Draco's trembling hand and screamed, " Draco! Do not let go!"

There were a lot of people in this world that Draco Malfoy did not trust but his mother was not one of them. Despite the fact that his mother Stupefied her sister and even though everything around him got more twisted, he took her arm. He was swallowed by an absolute darkness and the familiar sensation of Apparition took over.

It was a beautiful place, a paradise. It never occurred to him how lovely this place was. His mother brought him to the Beachy Head. Draco took a few moments to take in the beauty that was before him. He breathed in deeply and listened to his mother speak.

"The Black family used to go here all the time, Draco. I think I brought you here only once, when you were a little boy. I was not able to do it again because going here without my sisters pained me so much. It is such a shame that you were not able to enjoy it as much as I did." Sadness and longing were evident in her voice.

"We could always come back, Mother." Draco reassured Narcissa.

"Perhaps." She gave him a small smile.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"So we could both marvel at its beauty. I had my most wonderful memories here as a child. You are not a child anymore but still…"

"Why are you crying, Mother?"

"It is nothing, my son." Narcissa gave her son a small smile and uttered, "Expecto Patronum!"

Narcissa and Draco watched as a majestic, glittering-white and translucent wolf was produced from the tip of her wand. They were both left in awe by its majesty. The sun was almost setting when Narcissa conjured the corporeal Patronus, so the grand, dazzling wolf illuminated the sky. Mother and son watched until it disappeared into oblivion.

"I thought you could not conjure a Patronus?"

"It just takes the most powerful and happiest memory."

Draco threw his mother a quizzical look. "What is yours, then?"

"You." Narcissa smiled at her son and continued. "Walk towards the end of the cliff, my darling boy."

"Why, Mother?"

"Just trust me."

"I am going to die, aren't I?" Draco asked. "You are going to kill me," he whispered, almost to himself.

In that moment, Draco was certain he was going to die. He did not know what hurt more, the thought of his death fast approaching or that his own mother would be the one to kill him. It made all of him ache horribly but he did not feel betrayed. After all, he deserved it. It was even he who suggested it. Maybe his mother never even considered murdering him before he opened his stupid mouth. But he understood, really understood, he deserved to die and his mother was only saving him from possible torment. At least, his mother would be gentle and death would come easily. And maybe if he died, his life could finally be worth something. His death would be payment for all the faults that the Malfoys had committed against the Dark Lord. After his sacrifice, maybe, just maybe, the Dark Lord will let his parents be. He closed his eyes and accepted his fate.

"Just trust me."

"Confundo." Narcissa walked towards Draco and inserted something into his robes. She kissed Draco on his forehead and looked into his eyes.

She took small and slow steps away from him, her eyes not leaving his. "Obliviate." Narcissa took a deep breath as tears escaped her eyes. "May the memories I took away pave the way for better ones. I love you, son. Stupefy!" A flash of red light hurled itself towards Draco, lodging him off the cliff.

"Wingardium Leviosa," a voice whispered.

I would like to thank my lovely and wonderful betas – Ariana, Daena and Eliza. Thank you guys for reading my story and for spending time on it. I hope you would continue reading it. Reviews are loved, I mean REALLY! Let me hear what you think! Once again, thanks!