When Lucius reappeared in the clearing, Narcissa immediately flung her arms around him. He returned her embrace, but kept it brief. "Listen to me," he said, peeling her off of him. He looked at Draco, then back to his wife. "The Dark Lord has been destroyed."

Their eyes grew wide. Lucius went on, "The fight is over. I think it would be best for us if we returned to the castle."

Narcissa looked at him in shock, but he grabbed her arm firmly. "It is our best chance," he insisted. "We have not supported the Dark Lord today. You saved Harry Potter, Narcissa."

Draco looked confused, but Lucius continued. "I did not fight today, nor did I fight when they moved Potter last July. We are, essentially, innocent."

"I'm not." Draco looked at his parents fearfully. "I attacked Potter. And everyone here saw me go over to the Dark Lord while you both stood behind him."

Narcissa looked at her husband. "And we let Bellatrix torture the Granger girl. And locked up Potter and the Weasley boy, along with plenty of others."

"No one would begrudge us for staying out of Bella's way. Besides," Lucius said, turning to Draco, "You didn't identify Potter."

Father and son stared at each other. Draco swallowed nervously. "You knew it was him, didn't you?" Lucius asked quietly.

After a moment, he nodded. Lucius merely raised his eyebrows, and returned his gaze to Narcissa. "This is the only way we won't be arrested. We have to go up there and join the celebration. If we run, we're guilty."

"But you're supposed to be in Azkaban," Draco said. He was very white.

"And you refused to kill Albus Dumbledore," Lucius answered. He moved over to him and placed his hands on either side of his son's head. "It all evens out, Draco," he said. The boy was trembling, his skin was clammy. "We have as much evidence for us as against us. The more we cooperate now, the easier it will be, do you understand me?"

Draco nodded, though he still looked terrified. Lucius held his gaze for a moment longer, and then released him.

Narcissa was experiencing a range of emotions, but fear was definitely still one of the major players. However, she knew her husband was correct, and so, she followed as he led them out of the forest, back toward the castle.

Hogwarts was in even greater ruins than when they'd last left. Everywhere seemed deserted, but a dull murmur was audible coming from the Great Hall. Draco hesitated, but Narcissa put a hand on his back, urging him forward.

The doors were ajar to the huge chamber. Lucius led the way in, and did not hesitate in the doorway or draw attention toward them. He walked at a relatively slow pace toward the end of what would have been the Ravenclaw table, had anyone been sitting according to houses. The end of the table was empty, and it was near a corner of the room.

Once they were seated, with Draco in between them, Lucius looked over at his wife. She was successfully controlling her emotions while looking appropriately anxious. Their son seemed overwhelmed, and was staring blankly at the table.

They waited. Narcissa knew that eventually someone would confront them. The Dark Lord might be dead, but so were a lot of other people, and someone would have to answer for it.

It was Kingsley Shacklebolt who approached them, several hours later. He stood across the table from them, and nodded a greeting. "You should know that I've been named the temporary Minister for Magic," he said without preamble.

"Congratulations, Minister," Lucius said, without even a hint of irony.

Kingsley nodded and kept his eyes fixed on them. "It's been brought to my attention that your actions in the last twelve hours seem to suggest a change of heart from your previous allegiances," he said slowly, now fixing his eyes intently on Narcissa. She flushed uncomfortably under his scrutinizing gaze. "In light of this information, I suggest you go home. Get your affairs in order. You will be hearing from us soon."

Narcissa suddenly felt very light, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her. She almost smiled. "Thank you, Minister," she said. They wouldn't be held in Azkaban for questioning after all!

Kingsley didn't acknowledge her. He shifted his gaze to Lucius. "I highly suggest you all remain easy to find."

Lucius nodded solemnly. "Minister, I wonder if it wouldn't be more prudent for the Ministry to have a look at Malfoy Manor, before we return to live there."

Kingsley raised his eyebrows. "It might." He thought for a moment. "Would you consent to us questioning the house elves, as well?"

Narcissa swallowed nervously, but Lucius replied smoothly, "Of course."

The Minister nodded. "And where will you go until then?"

"I own a cottage in Shropshire," Lucius replied. "It would be quite easy for you to find."

Kingsley crossed his arms. Finally he nodded. "Very well. We'll be in touch." He nodded toward the doors. "The closest Apparition point is in Hogsmeade. The passage is on the seventh floor."

Lucius thanked him, and the three of them headed for the stairs.

The cottage looked just as Narcissa remembered it. The yard was surrounded by a stone wall, with a small iron gate at the front. The cottage itself was well-kept, with no sign of chipping paint or cobwebs. Lucius went first through the gate and held it open for his wife and son.

Narcissa looked closely at Lucius. He'd never liked this place, and she didn't know why. Today, though, he seemed thoroughly indifferent. He marched straight up to the door and unlocked it with a flick of his recently procured wand. They all went in, and almost immediately a loud crack! resounded and an ancient-looking house elf appeared.

The elf looked at them for only a moment before bowing deeply. "Master. Mistress." He straightened up slowly. "What brings you here?"

Lucius brushed past the little creature. "We're going to be staying here a while," he said shortly.

Narcissa had forgotten that her husband's dislike extended to the elf. Lucius had gone into the parlor, and she nodded for Draco to follow him. "Perhaps you could bring us a bottle of wine and some light refreshments, Pimmle," she said, much more courteously than Lucius had spoken.

The elf bowed and disappeared. Narcissa went into the parlor. Lucius had made a fire in the hearth, and was now slumped to the side in an armchair in the corner, his forehead resting on his hand. Draco looked equally exhausted, sitting on the love seat bent forward, with his face resting on his hands.

Pimmle appeared with a tray, and left it sitting on the low table between the love seats. Narcissa sat down and poured a glass of the deep red wine, and handed it to Draco, who took it but just stared at it.

She poured two more glasses, and took one over to Lucius. He seemed to come out of a reverie as she handed it to him. He stood up, and ran his thumb over her cheek before walking over to the sitting area.

He held up his glass as he sat down across from Draco. "To your mother," Lucius said, as Narcissa sat next to him. He looked at her quite seriously. "You are the bravest liar I have ever known."

Draco and Narcissa raised their glasses with his, and after they had all taken a drink, Lucius placed a hand on her knee. Narcissa smiled slightly and placed her hand over his. "Mum," Draco said hesitantly, interrupting their moment, "What... did you do?"

Narcissa looked up at her son, then to Lucius, then back to Draco again. She hadn't had to admit it out loud yet. Even knowing the Dark Lord was gone, fear spiked in her gut. "I lied to the Dark Lord," she said quietly. "I told him Harry Potter was dead."

They were all silent. Narcissa could hear the unspoken question lingering in the air, why? but neither one asked.

They sat in silence for a long time, sipping their wine. Pimmle had brought a tray of tea sandwiches and fruit, but no one touched them. Narcissa did pour herself another glass of wine, and was pleased to see that the bottle was refilling itself.

Lucius was on his third glass of wine when he finally spoke. "I owe you both an apology," he said haltingly. He looked across at their son. "Especially you, Draco."

The young man looked uncomfortable, but Lucius pressed on. "I should never have gotten us into this."

Narcissa set her glass of wine down. "You didn't have a choice, Lucius."

"Of course I had a choice," he retorted, looking back at her. "We all had a choice."

"And I agreed to marry you with the full knowledge that you had taken the Mark," Narcissa answered sharply. "I share as much blame as you where Draco is concerned."

Lucius shook his head. "You saw the truth long before I did, Cissa, don't argue with me," he said, his voice bitter.

Draco was watching his parents with wide eyes. Lucius turned back to him. "I should never have encouraged you to become involved. I should have taken us out of the country the moment the Mark burned again."

A tear slid down Narcissa's cheek. She wanted to stop him from saying these things, to stop him from taking the blame upon himself. Regardless of how true it was.

Lucius was fighting his own tears, she could tell. "I may spend the rest of my life in Azkaban paying for my mistakes," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I want you to know that I'm sorry, Draco." Their son's eyes were full of tears, staring at the table now. "I am going to do everything in my power to keep you out of there."

Abruptly, Lucius stood up and walked over to the window. His shoulders were shaking.

Draco, too, was stifling sobs. Narcissa looked at her son for a moment, then at her husband. She stood and went to Lucius, embracing him gently from behind, resting her cheek against his arm. His sobs did not dissipate.

Very gently, she tried to draw him back toward where they'd been sitting. He remained firmly rooted to the spot. Undeterred, she pulled on him again, and he slowly, begrudgingly, went with her. She brought him over to the seating area, and gently took his hand. He looked at her through his tears, and shook his head ever so slightly.

She ignored him, and without letting go of his hand, turned to her son, who was crying into his fists. Lucius was crushing her hand in his grip. He knew what she was doing.

Narcissa took hold of Draco's upper arm with her other hand, drawing him up to his feet. Both men seemed determined to prove to Narcissa that they didn't need this by smothering their sobs, and the room grew painfully quiet. She kissed her son on the cheek, gave his arm a squeeze, and then brought him around her, to his father. She wrestled her hand out of Lucius' grip and stepped back.

They stared at each other's shoes. Narcissa bit her lip and waited. Finally, Lucius raised a shaking hand and placed it on his son's shoulder. Draco's torso hitched ever so slightly with a small sob. Very unsteadily, Lucius drew his son toward him, and wrapped him in his arms. Draco returned his embrace tentatively, and only when his father tightened his arms around him did Narcissa see her son's face contort with suppressed emotion.

The two were clinging to each other, pretending not to cry, each letting out a quiet sob every few seconds or so, with tears rolling down their faces. Narcissa longed to hug them both, but wanted them to have this moment together.

After a few minutes they seemed more under-control, and Narcissa felt she could ease the ensuing awkwardness by taking it upon herself to end the moment. She encircled both of them in her arms from the side, resting her cheek against Lucius' shoulder, and felt both of them relax a little bit. She found Draco's hand and slid hers underneath, so that he curled his hand around hers, and her palm was against Lucius' back. Her other hand found Lucius' hand, and entwined her fingers with his.

Narcissa could have stayed like that forever, with her whole family safe in her arms, but she knew that the boys would soon get squirmy. After a few moments, she released both of their hands and drew back, feeling them do the same.

She diverted her husband's attention by drawing him to her, giving him a quick hug. As she pulled away again, he turned and looked at Draco. He reached out and gripped the young man's upper arm for a moment, and a look of understanding passed between them. Lucius then turned and left the room rather quickly.

Narcissa watched her son for a moment before giving him a quick hug as well. He pulled away after a moment. She held him at arm's length and wiped a smudge of soot off his cheek. "I'd like to be alone for a while," he said quietly.

She nodded. "We'll be..." she trailed off as she realized she didn't know where they'd be. "...around. It's not a big house," she added with a small smile.

Draco smiled slightly at that. Giving him a kiss on the cheek, Narcissa left the parlor and headed up the stairs after her husband.