The house felt empty. A cold draft wafted about the ground. The sound of Narcissa's shoes clicking against the marble floor echoed through every hall. It was impossible to think that only one year ago she, Lucius, and Draco had all lived there together. Now, it felt like an eternity. Tightening her lips, Narcissa turned down a dimly lit hallway. Suddenly, something on the ground moved towards her. With a gasp, she jumped against the wall, knocking an unlit candelabra to the floor. The movement was the great snake belonging to Voldemort. It's red eyes sliced into her as it slowly slithered past. On it's gleaming neck was a white scar. During the battle, someone had tried to behead it but had not succeeded. Smoothly, the creature's tongue flickered out, it's bright red color clashing with the dull gray of the wall. After a moment, Nagini had passed. Breathing heavily, Narcissa continued down the hall. With a shaking hand, she drew an aged key on a necklace chain out from under her bodice; inserting it into the tall, battered door at the end of the hall. Once the door opened, she was instantly hit with the smell of mildew and dust. The room had not been accessed since Draco left. Closing the door soundlessly behind her, she walked into its center. The chamber was small and dark, ghosts of passed memories lingered in every object. A couch once belonging to her mother. A table Draco had cursed as a baby. A chest, once containing Lucius' wedding robes. What awful memories they were now. Only reminders of what had been. Feeling numb, she turned to a miniature cabinet on a writing desk and opened the rusted door. It contained exactly what she had hoped for; little glass bottles, each holding a memory pertaining to Draco. She had saved them, hoping to one day show her grandchildren. Lifting her wand to her temple, she felt a cold chill rush through her mind. A thin string of blue light glided from her head onto the tip of her wand. Selecting an empty bottle, she deposited the memory into it. Then, she turned to the desk again. Her family pensieve sat, gathering dust, atop a pile of books. Moving it to the table in the middle of the room, she blew the cobwebs off of the runes decorating its sides. Then, tilting the glistening bottle, she emptied its contents into the foggy mist of the pensieve. With a deep breath, she leaned her own face into it.

...

After the falling sensation faded away, she was able to see clearly. It was a scene she'd thought she would never again want to see, but over time, that had changed. Now, she needed to remember.

It was the last time she had seen Draco. The last time they were together.

Herself and Lucius sat on a sofa in their sitting room. Her memory-self was crying, her hand was plastered over her mouth. Lucius, on the other hand, looked angry. His thin lips were forced into a strait line. And Draco, her only child, looked hysterical. His sobs echoed through the room. One eye was swollen and his hair was frizzed.

"I..I..I just can't do it any more. If he kills me for this, I'll be happier than I am alive. You don't understand!" Draco choked, his fingernails clenching into his arms. "I can not do it!" He collapses onto the floor in a shaking heap.

Standing up, Lucius grabbed his son's arm and yanked him to his feet. "Draco, I forbid you to go. If you do, you will be betraying the Dark Lord and dishonoring the Malfoy name."

"I don't give a damn, father! You honestly expect me to go on like this?" Pulling away from Lucius, he drew his wand. "I am not afraid to use this if I have to." His hand shook violently.

"Don't pretend to be something you're not, boy. You deserved to be punished today."

"Oh I did, did I?"

"Lucius," Memory-Narcissa warned.

"Quiet, dear. Yes, you did. If the Dark Lord orders you to do something, you do it-"

"Oh, so you would have killed that muggle child? If a little girl stood before you, right now, crying and begging, you would murder her? On the spot?"

"Yes. But if I did not, I would accept the punishment-"

"I don't believe you-"

"You're talking to the man who has served time in Azkaban."

"Father, I was put under the Cruciatus Curse by three wizards, at one time!"

There was a moment if silence.

"Oh son." Memory-Narcissa whispered.

"I begged for death. I was on the floor, clutching their robes, groveling, and yet no one would relieve me." He held out his hands. On his palms were very deep fingernail marks. "I could feel nothing but pain. Most things numb eventually, but not the Cruciatus Curse. No, you continue to suffer, and it grows worse. It feels like someone cuts you and then dunks you in vinegar."

"I know. I have felt it before." Lucius crossed his arms. "But, as I said, you deserved a punishment. Perhaps not one that sever, but still. Use it and learn."

"Go to Hell, father!" Draco shouted, pointing his wand again. "I...I'm going away. Swear that you won't follow me."

"I'll do nothing of the sort-"

"Swear it!" At this point, Draco was completely hysterical; his voice was a scream.

Over the year, he had grown very thin. Standing before his tall father, crying and pointing his wand, he was almost pathetic. For a moment, everyone stood still. Then, Lucius' face collapsed into a pained expression. And, in a moment, he was hugging his son.

"I...I'm sorry, father." Draco sobbed. "I just...I just..."

"Hush, I know."

Pulling away, Draco wiped a tear from his thin cheek. "I'm sorry, but I have to leave. I can not stay a moment more." He turned to memory-Narcissa. "I love you mother." He whispered. Then, he turned, ready to disapperate.

"Wait." Lucius sighed, muttering something about regret. "We'll...We'll promise not to follow you-"

"Will you make an Unbreakable Vow?" Draco's face lit up.

With a strained look, Lucius nodded.

"Thank you father!"

"But! You must promise to write to me. If you write a letter and leave it in the same place every time, I can go, retrieve it, and leave one for you."

"Yes! Wonderful idea, dear." Memory-Narcissa smiled tearfully, walking to her son's side.

"Fine. Er, how about the hollow tree at the park we used to visit-"

"Ah, I know the one you're talking about." Memory-Narcissa nodded.

"Good. Well, join hands..."

...

The world splashed back around her like icy water. Wiping away a tear roughly, she returned the memory to its bottle and added it to the cabinet. Turning, she walked towards the door, but stopped. A thought suddenly came to her. If the Dark Lord really wanted to find Draco, surely he would go looking for this memory. Her eyes flashed to the bottles. As long as they remained, the risk of Draco's discovery was much higher. So, biting her lip, she drew her wand and cried, "Confringo!"

With a blast of light, the curse collided with the cabinet. Each bottle smashed, sending glass flying into the air. Slowly, ghostly wisps of memories floated towards the sky. In one, she could see baby-Draco laughing and another, Lucius holding Draco, a proud look on his normally reserved face. With a surge of guilt, Narcissa turned and fled the room, locking the door behind her.

A/N: Hey guys! I am now going to be done with Narcissa for a while now and concentrate more on our main gang and Draco. A very special thanks to the following awesome people: Nikki Pond, All hell broke loose, ElsaElphieGinny, ArumaR, notsing, and Ice Ninja Luna! You guys all made me smile this week, so thank you! :)