Ookay! Final chapter: read on!
Death Eaters littered the halls of Malfoy Manner, pealing with laughter as they flipped through the Daily Prophet. The Dark Lord was out, and they'd been left behind to bleed the Manor white. A door creaked open, and a tall blonde boy made his way from the kitchen. "Hey Mum," He whispered, stopping in front of the fire. The woman snapped down her paper.
"Are you alright?"
"Of course I'm okay!" he scoffed. "I just wanted to ask you, do you know where Aunt Bella's at? They brought in that mud blood that ran off with your sister all those years ago. Tonks is it?" Narcissa drained white.
"She's out with Dolohov, I'll tell her when she'd back. Now off to bed!"
"Oh leave the boy alone, Narcissa!" A voice nagged from the corner.
"He's a man now, aren't you Drakey-wakey?" A huskier one added. Draco flushed.
"I have to feed the prisoners-," He reminded his mum, holding up a crusty loaf of bread. "Do you want to make him angrier with us?"
"Draco," She said firmly, her voice running cold. "I don't think the Dark Lords greatest concern is whether or not a few mudbloods get fed, thank you."
Draco shook his head, and kept on walking. He was steps from the basement door when a Death Eater jut out his leg, tripping the boy. Narcissa sprung up from her seat at the fire. Running to her son.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Mum!"
"Yeah Cissy, leave the runt alone."
"Oh shut up!" She yelled in an exasperated tone. "Draco. Leave. Now." She hissed under her breath. Draco sulked upstairs; as his mother bent down to collect the bread. Back arched, she made her way to the basement: running when she was out of sight.
She recognized him at once: chained to the wall, and nonetheless smiling. His sandy hair was matted, and his face covered with grime.
"Narcissa." He said, pleasantly. "Good to see you again."
"There's nothing good about it, Ted."
"I suppose not." He said agreeably. "You look well."
"You don't," She answered coldly. He chuckled.
"Were you always so cruel, Cissy?"
"Were you always so weak?" She spat.
"You were always the strong one," He teased.
"I should kill you."
"Please!"
"What?" She asked: her voice brittle and drained.
"Please kill me."
"What if now I don't want to?"
"Don't be a child!" He goaded. Narcissa snapped.
"I am not a child, Ted. I am Narcissa Aurora Malfoy, and I've seen things you wouldn't dream of! We're not kids anymore. So don't go pretending everythings dandy, you filthy mudblood! We're not friends!"
Ted Tonks looked resigned. He sunk back into the shadows, shaking his head. Narcissa Malfoy should have left, but he was Ted: she couldn't. Instead she waited huffily, glaring down on the man.
"Say something," She snapped waspishly. "Fight back!"
"When have I fought with you, Narcissa?" He asked kindly. Narcissa paused.
"When have you, Ted?" She snarled.
"Never." He said. "You should know: I irrevocably admire you. I always have." The woman shook her head. He was so stupid-
"Why?"
"You're just such a damn princess-"
"You couldn't be farther from the truth." She interupted.
"-I always thought: a girl like that deserves her own fairytale." He continued. "I know I made Dromeda happy. And I'm sure Bella's happy too, in her way. But you, when were you happy?"
"I am happy."
"No Narcissa, no you're not. And it's not fair."
"Now who's a child?" She asked, sinking into the dirty floor at the base of a pilar. "Life's not fair. Surely you of all people should know that." He paused.
"I know that," He repeated quietly. "I learned that the day Bella tied me up in the attic. But you want to know what else I learned?"
"What?" She sighed impatiently.
"I learned not everyone's so black and white. You, you showed my kindness that day, despite who I was. I haven't forgotten."
"Neither have I."
"And Narcissa,"
"Yes," She asked. Her head rolled back against the stone pillar.
"Thanks for the kiss," he said. To his surprise, the woman only laughed. Narcissa was just to tired, tired of it all: Lucius, The Death Eaters, Voldemort! She shuttered.
"God, that was so long ago." Narcissa whispered. "That was so long ago." Ted looked over at her, amusement on his face.
"It was. And now I have to ask, why did you?"
"Why did I what?"
"Why did you help me that day in the attic?"
"Lord, I don't know. Why wouldn't I?" They were quiet; he already knew why she wouldn't. But she had, neither had forgotten. After a long sigh, Narcissa continued. "I was a child back then Ted: neither broken or bitter. And you," She said, reaching out to him. "You were kind. Really, how on earth are you so kind?" He shrugged.
"I'm just a decent human being."
Narcissa laughed craggily. "And what does that make me? A monster?"
"Well, a monstress." And like that the two worn souls began to laugh. Looking at each other, pathetic, as they'd become. It felt good.
"You don't suppose you can get Dromeda for me this time, can you?" He asked waterily. She shook her head.
"Not this time."
"Narcissa."
"Yes, Ted?"
"Please..."
"What?"
"Please do kill me."
"Please don't make me," she whispered, shaking her head. But she knew she owed him that much. "When do yo-" She began to ask, but stopped to realize he was crying. "God I'm sorry," She whispered, making no move to comfort him. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." She repeated. "Sorry, I'm sorry." Narcissa didn't know what she was sorry for, but it seemed like her fault: her fault he was trapped. And more than that: her fault she wouldn't help him escape. He knew it, she knew it. "I'm so sorry." She didn't know what else to say.
"Narcissa." He said again.
"mhm."
"Promise me something." She smiled shakily.
"Take pri- take pride in the person I am?" She asked.
"Well that too. But, no. Promise me, promise me you'll do what you think is best. Do you know what I mean?" She shook her head.
"Sorry."
"Don't be. Just, be brave. I know you can endure anything, but that's no way to live."
"It's the times, Ted."
"No, listen to me: I want you to listen to yourself. If you have to choose between...between Lucius and what you think is right. Hell, if the Dark Lord tells you to jump off a bridge, run! Don't listen, run."
"Are you trying to get me killed too?" She asked.
"No, just, just live on your own terms. Okay?" Narcissa forced a smile to appease him.
"Okay, I get it now"
"And Narcissa,"
"Yes, Ted?"
"Now."
Narcissa didn't question. She brandished her pretty wand, and pointed it shakily at his heart.
Avada Kedavra
El Fin. Please, please review! I've worked hard on this story, and I really hoped you liked it.