I've decided to put a little quote at the beginning of every chapter from now on - as this is a landmark for chapter thirty.. w00t!! I'll try write a long chapter for you guys for a treat.
"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." - Sirius Black, Goblet of Fire

Narcissa looked at Dobby with wonder. "Send him in, Dobby." But before the house elf could move, Lucius strode in, his pale-blonde hair falling over his face. His stony grey eyes looked cold, and he narrowed them. "I did not realise I needed permission to enter my own lounge," he said crispsly, seating himself down on the armchair nearest the fire. Draco stared at him fearfully.
"Draco, go play with Dobby or something," snapped Lucius, not taking his eyes off Narcissa. Draco obeyed, picking up his toy train and skittering out of the room to follow the misfortunate elf, who could be heard running up some stairs in rapid speed. Lucius looked somewhat distracted - his eyes kept skittering across the room, unable to look her in the eyes anymore.
"Lucius," her voice was firm but gentle, "What's the urgency?"
"I thought," he replied, his tone abrupt, "That you would like to know some information before I returned to work. You're familiar with Wormtail?"
"Yes," replied Narcissa, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. Lucius continued to look uneasy, shifty even. He cleared his throat as if playing for unnecessary time, before relaying the information she needed to hear. His expression was somewhat cautious; as if he was suspecting Lord Voldemort himself would intrude and punish him for warning her. He looked at his hands rather than her sparkling eyes; his hands were somewhat more of a comfort zone then her awaiting embrace. "Wormtail has become somewhat unfaithful, Narcissa," begun Lucius, pressing his hands together before cracking his knuckles which sent tension down her spine. She loathed it when he did that. "He has been feeding information to the Dark Lord as to were Lily and James Potter may be."
Narcissa's hand turned into a fist; whatever colour she had in her face had drained. "Why would he do that?" she said hoarsely. Lucius shrugged in contempt, and he reminded her so much of Sirius for a moment, just by shrugging carelessly. Her eyes clouded, and she cocked her head to one side and waited for him to continue intently. "How should I know, Narissa? As far as I am concerned, it's a friendship that has lost it's touch. And in saying so, what I'm trying to get across is ... oh, Narcissa. Warn Sirius. Remember, Voldemort still has a debt to reclaim."
"Why are you helping me?" she asked suspiciously, standing up and smoothing out the creases in her dress. "You dislike the lot, don't you?"
Lucius looked aghast.
"Yes, I do. But they are your best friends, and he is your cousin. It's only ... right," he replied weakly, running his hands through his hair in mild agitation. She gave him a quick hug. "Lucius, thank you."
He smiled wearily. "Pleasure, my dear. And now, I must go to work." He dissapparated, and Narcissa sighed, grabbing some parchment and ink from the side table, which whistled at her. It appeared all of their furnishings whistled or burped, or had some magical enchanment placed upon them. Narcissa ignored the noises, and quickly drafted out a letter to Sirius. It was very simple. 'Padfoot - we need to meet, NOW. Come to my house. Love Cissy.' It seemed simple, and so she handed it to Fluffy the owl, who hooted happily at being given a job to do, and flew out of the window. Draco scuttled back into the room with Dobby, who looked a bit weary of the young child. Draco dropped his train onto the carpet with a bang, but Narcissa didn't reprimand him. There was no point; there was too much on her mind right now for her to berate a child who'd merely dropped a toy. He narrowed his pale eyebrows at his mother, and scowled. "I want pancakes, mummy."
"Fine," she sighed wearily, now looking directly at Dobby. "Dobby, could you oblige?" The house elf, who was mysteriously covered in flour nodded weakly, before dissapearing into thin air. She needed Sirius, and she needed him now. She hadn't told anybody about the migraines, or the nightmares. For the first time in her life, she wished she had paid attention in Divination. Perhaps this meant something. Suddenly, a wave of inspiration grabbed her, and she ran off into the kitchen, dress swirling. She made the fastest cup tea in a lifetime; and drank it quickly, ignoring the fact her lips were burnt. She gazed at the tealeaves, and it was a clear sign. Narcissa was supersticious, but was this really coincidental?
Someone cleared their throat and she started; dropping the cup to the ground with a fantastic smash. The tealeaves, which had shown the grim, seeped into the green kitchen floor tiles quickly, along with a few remaining droplets of tea. She looked up at him through framed eyelashes and a smile crept onto her face. She couldn't contain herself - it had been months since they had last met properly. "Sirius!" she flung her arms around him and buried her head against his neck. He stroked her hair with quick but soft brushes. "It seemed important," he murmured. He let go of her, and his blue eyes flashed with concern. She looked thinner, and her eyes seemed so ... cold. Different. He blamed Lucius. "Cmon," he coaxed, "let's go to the lounge and you can tell me all about-"
"Mother, I want more pancakes!" the shrill voice of Draco could not be ignored as he strode into the kitchen, a surly expression on his usually cute face. He stared at Sirius, then grinned. "You're Sirius - aren't you?"
"I, uh ... yeah. Yeah I am," said Sirius, his usual swagger returning as he considered her child. Draco looked like Narcissa alot, but had Lucius's mannerisims - which meant Draco was probably going to be a brat.
"Father dislikes you," said Draco thoughtfully, unaware of the fact he had pancake mixture all around his face. "I don't like you either. Mother, what's Sirius doing here?"
Narcissa was disgusted. "Apologise at once Draco - you do not treat your family like scum."
Draco scuffed his shoes and tried to look sorry for himself. "Sorry, Mr.Sirius,"
"That's okay," said Sirius, lowering his voice so only Draco could hear, "but next time, I'll hex you." Draco looked terrified and ran off out of the room, tripping as he went. Sirius was mildly satisified, but Narcissa was frowning. "Sirius, you shouldn't of-"
"Shush, Cissy," he sighed, helping himself to Firewhisky. "Want some?"
"Okay. But take them through to the ... outside," she replied hurriedly, sweeping off to open the doors leading out to acres of wonderous green. Sirius followed quietly, carrying the clear glasses with swirling orange liquid. He handed one to her and their fingers brushed; just. Her insides felt as if they'd been corrupted by butterflies but for some reason she felt relaxed at the same time, as if her brain was co-operating and telling her to calm. Calm ...

"So ... what did you ask me here for?" Sirius had finished his drink and was now staring with the same intensity as he had done a few years ago. Narcissa missed it, often. She tried to smile but couldn't, and decided the only way to tell him was the quickest. "Wormtail isn't who you think he is," she said quietly. "Sirius, you will want to know this."
Ah. He looked alert now, his eyes wide open as he surveyed her with curiousity. He looked at her enquiringly, and she swallowed. "He's been passing information to Lord Voldemort regarding Lily and James." When Sirius displayed no emotion, she felt she should continue. "As in, where they are currently, what their motives are as such, who they are corresponding with. Sirius ... he's a spy. He's not your friend."
"How do you know this?" he said finally, cracking his knuckles as he averted her eyeline.
"Voldemort told Lucius, and Lucius felt it was right to tell me." Sirius didn't reply. "I think it was quite noble of him to relay this information ... it could put us all, you included, in danger."
Sirius glowered at this sudden revelation of truth inspired by what had appeared at first to be a trivial visit. "Are you quite sure? Are you positive this isn't a set up, dear cousin?"
She smiled faintly. "Yes, Padfoot."
He stood up. "I should probably get going, then . . ."
Narcissa clambered to her feet ungracefully. "Can't you stay for a bit longer? It's been forever, Sirius. Don't go."
Sirius sighed deeply and looked into her eyes. "You've got to have some hope in me, Narcissa." Her eyes flickered with sudden anger. She didn't appriceate mind games. She stepped very close to him so their bodies were touching, and whispered in his ear with a quote she loved. "To hope is to look forward with desire; and usually with a measure of confidence in the likelihood of gaining what is desire, my dear cousin."
"Merlins beard," he said, "since when did you get so knowledgeable?" He could see how much her eyes sparkled now they were aligned perfectly.
"Always have been 'knowledgeable' dear cousin," she grinned, and gave him a slight push in the chest. "Go sort out your business, then."
"What? Oh, yeah, okay ..." He squeezed her hand before dissapearing into thin air. She sighed, and went inside, wondering if Dobby felt like making another round of pancakes just for her, because a sudden need for food had begun to gurgle in her stomach.
She walked into the house to find Dobby playing with her son. "You are the Hogwarts driver," he was telling Dobby clearly, "and I am the big bad wizard, and I shall blow up this train!"
"I don't think that's an appropiate game, Draco," scolded Narcissa, standing over the two of them with her hands on hips. Draco looked at her and grinned toothily.
"Where that man go, Mummy?"
"Mother, Draco," she corrected, "and Sirius left."
"Good, he's got odd hair like daddy." Draco observed crisply, taking another bite of pancake and making it crumble all over him. He was such a messy eater, like his father.
Narcissa couldn't even be bothered to correct him, she just laughed, but inside she was shaking with worry. She just hoped Sirius wouldn't do anything reckless or dangerous; but he was just that sort of person. He always had been - why would that change now? Why did Voldemort have a problem with James anyway? She didn't have any idea. She wanted to speak to James but it was far too dangerous. He'd be slaughtered instantly if he comminucated with her. Maybe she could owl Remus ... no, no she couldn't. God damn it, god bloody damn it.
"I need to go shopping," Narcissa told Dobby and Draco, "Dobby, could you mind Draco?" The house elf looked terrified but nodded in agreement. Smiling, she approached her fireplace and grabbing some floo powder, she said clearly, "Diagon Alley!"
Of course, shopping was the only remedy for times like these. She was making her way to the Quidditch shop to look at the new broomsticks in mild interest, when a dark haired woman stepped out of the shop in a black corset, with a black shawl covering her other-wise bare arms. "Narcissa," she said smugly, "how nice to see you."
"Bellatrix," simpered Narcissa fakely, "how are you?" Bellatrix smirked and indicated several shopping bags. Rodolphus emerged a moment later, carrying a brand new type of Nimbus. He flashed his gleaming white teeth at Narcissa in which was meant to be a smile. She shuddered slightly, but forced her lips into a smile. "Rodolphus," she acknowleged him unwillingly.
"Narcissa," he smirked, "have you seen Severus, oh ... never mind ..."
Severus Snape appeared with bloodshot eyes and black hair stuck to his head. It looked like he hadn't sleeped in months. His face was gaunt with a slight yellow tinge, but other than that he was deathly pale. His lips forced themselves to smile. "Narcissa," he greeted weakly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Severus, are you alright?" Narcissa was overcome with sympathay for her old friend, who looked like he was going to faint any moment. He such his head fiercely and learnt forward to whisper in her ear. "Soon, it will be soon, but he won't listen to me, he won't stop it."
"Ignore Sev, Narcissa," interjected Rodolphus rudely, "he's gone a bit crackers recently." Bellatrix giggled and punched his arm playfully, and he wrapped a hand around her skinny waist. Narcissa ignored them.
"Severus - is it to do with Lil-"
He looked aghast as she mentioned Lily, and tears filled his eyes, and he stalked off, looking ludicriously bat like. Rodolphus rolled his eyes and tutted at Narcissa, looking cross. "Don't mention Lily Potter," he hissed, "he just starts crying."
"What have you done to James and her?" snapped Narcissa, anger seizing her once more.
"Don't talk to Rod like that!" snapped Bellatrix, glaring at her sister. Narcissa ignored her, and continued to glare at Rodolphus, who was smirking.
"Not me doing anything as much, Narcissa dear ... but the dark lord himself. Come on, Bellatrix, let's go." Bellatrix walked off with Rodolphus in a huff, muttering under her breath about her sister. Narcissa felt rather angry - what had upset Severus so? Lily had done something, perhaps? She thought back to her school days as she gazed in the shop window, when it hit her.
Severus Snape had loved Lily Evans - and she was going to die - and there was nothing anyone could do about it ... or was there?