Thirty minutes later she still stood there, with her arms crossed and eyes concentrate placed on the once loathsome clothing in the fireplace, whichever was now turned into ashes. Like broken from a hypnotic state Narcissa turned and decided to fetch some new clothes for her husband.

Forty minutes had now passed and Narcissa went to the door to listen if Lucius was done yet. She placed her ear to the door to listen. Dead quiet. "Lucius?" she said and knocked gently on the door. When she didn't got an answer she opened the door. Inside stood Lucius in front of one of the two sinks, naked and with water dripping from his hair and body. His eyes were empty and his face held no expression. He held onto the sink with a firm grip trying to keep balance.

"Lucius?" Narcissa tried again.

His expression was unchanged. One could barely believe that he was conscious. She walked towards him and looked at him in the reflection of the gold framed mirror. Without saying anything she went to one of the shelves and grabbed a big white towel, went back to him and wrapped it around his shoulders. He flinched at the touch of the cotton terry on his, now, clean skin. He then slowly grabbed the towel and let slid over his shoulders, till he held it in both his hands. He looked at it and squeezed the fabric between his fingers, as if checking if it was real. He then started to wipe his body, his chest still throbbed from the punishment he had been given from the Dark Lord. When he was finished he wrapped the towel around the waist and went back to starring at himself in the mirror. Narcissa had just been standing there and inspect him, she now took a step forwards and turned him towards her. She didn't say anything, there was nothing to say, just the look of him was enough for her at the moment. Even though he had bloodshot eyes, exposed ribs, a cut lip and hells knows what else, was he still, the most handsome man she'd ever laid her eyes on. She placed her hands on his chest and felt his bare skin against her palms.

"I bet you're hungry, right?" she asked in a sweet tone.

"How can you be so calm about me?" he suddenly said harshly, almost like he blamed her "After everything I've done to you, to our family? I've dragged the Malfoy name in the dirt. Left you alone for way longer time then what's acceptable. It was my faulty who could get Draco killed this year, our son, our only child Narcissa, it would be my fault if he had die-"

"No! Please... Don't say so" her voice was stern "He's alive, that's all that matters, Lucius. And haven't I made myself clear tonight? I love you! Despite your stupidity and all your other flaws!" she stroked his unshaved cheek. "You still have a place by the Dark Lord's side, he rescued you from Azkaban and that must mean something."

"I'm not so sure about that" he sighed, his voice was still hoarse. "The Dark Lord doesn't forgive in a hurry."

Now it was Narcissa's time to sigh. "I've heard that before, yes." she looked down at his chest.

Lucius noticed that her voice was hiding something. It was something in the was she'd sighed that told him that something wasn't right. He tilted her chin upwards "What do mean by that?"

She took another shaky breath "I guess it's better that I'll tell you now, it'll pop up sooner or later in which case. Last summer, when Draco got the task I... I went to Spinners End, to Severus." she waited for an reaction, nothing received so she continued: "I went to Severus to ask for help. I-I didn't know what else to do, you wasn't here and-. I thought Severus could help Draco. I wasn't supposed to tell anyone about the assignment but-"

"If the Dark Lord knew..." Lucius grabbed her upper arms, a bit more aggressive than planned. "He would've killed you in a heartbeat, Narcissa!"

"What was I supposed to do! He's plan was that Draco would be killed trying! I couldn't just stand and watch our son walk straight in to his own death, Lucius!"

He let his hands slide alongside her arms and grabbed her hands in his. He was silent for a few moments. "Severus knew didn't he? The Dark Lord had already told him?"

Narcissa nodded. "Yes. I begged him to help Draco. To watch over him and if necessary..." she paused "He made the unbreakable vow, Lucius" she whispered.

Lucius stiffened. "The... The unbreakable vow?"

"Yes."

"Severus has always been a good man, but- but risking his own life for... why would he-"

"Does it matter?!" Narcissa looked surprised. "Draco is alive. And now we're both here to look after him. Thus we have Severus to thank, Lucius."

"Yes, yes, of course we have. Both for Draco cause and that he didn't revealed what you'd done. For that, I will be forever grateful."

They left it there and several silent moments went. The only sound you heard was the drizzle from outside the thick stone walls of the manor, that and Lucius's slightly wheezing breathing.

"I can't believe that you're actually home. I'm scared of waking up from this dream and that you'll be gone, again." She looked up at him again.

"I won't leave you again, I promise."

"No, don't promise, Lucius. You don't know what's going to happen, and a promise would only make whatever happens worse-"

Lucius interrupted her with a fierce kiss. A deep, passionate kiss, like the ones when they were newly wedded and life was nothing but brilliant. Because with or without promise, he vowed to himself that he would do no more harm to his wife or family. That was the least he could do.

Hello again! I'm terrible sorry for this long delay on this story. There is no excuse all I can do, is to apologise. However, that's the last chapter and I hope that you have enjoyed the story. Please leave a review, I love every single one of them, negative or positive. Thanks for reading :)