A/N: Hey y'all, sorry it took so long to put out this chapter! I had a lot going on and I had to be sad to write sad. :(((( Anyways happy reading!

Chapter insights: The aftermath of Draco finding out about you and Narcissa had been rough. The holiday spirit did not help. But, as Hermione said: "One day at a time"

MC's POV

The days seemed to have blended into one big blur after Christmas. I haven't even touched any of the gifts that have my name on them, If my father and/or my mother had noticed how much more time I've been sleeping they didn't say anything.

I'm almost glad to be going back to Hogwarts tomorrow, it's a welcome distraction from the heartache that I've been feeling for the past week.

Packing and organizing was never my strong side, it was always Hermione's forte. So shoving everything I have is the method to my madness, I scanned my things trying to look for my sketchbook; excited to draw something with the brand new charcoals and watercolour that Hermione had given me during Christmas. I was too sad to look for it last week since I really didn't have any inspiration or energy to draw or paint.

I rummaged through the bag with the extension charm, even using the accio charm for faster acquisition but nothing popped up in my hand, I repeated the charm again hoping that it was just in the abyss of the bag and was taking some time to come up, still nothing. I rummage through the haphazardly thrown clothes in my luggage, still not there. I thought about where the last place I might have placed it.

I kept on wracking my brain, my clothes are now on the floor and my mind was frantic. Some of my best works were drawn there. Well, mainly the portrait of Narcissa which I haven't even coloured in. Then it suddenly hit me, I placed it above the fireplace mantle in Malfoy Manor.

I curse myself. Not even bothering to check my belongings while I attempt to escape Narcissa and Draco after what had happened. I sigh, so much for getting it back I guessed. Because there was no way I would be able to talk to Draco or Narcissa after all this. It's also not like I could march into Malfoy Manor and not see both of them.

I ran my fingers through my hair tussling it in the process. I wanted to berate myself but, what good will that do?

I picked up the clothes on my floor, frustratedly stuffing everything but taking everything into account so I don't miss bringing anything back to Hogwarts.

After I finished packing I dialled Hermione, eventually telling her that I left my prized sketchbook at Narcissa's place.

"Well if there's any consolation, I don't think she would look through your stuff. I mean, I don't know her that well but from what you told me, she wanted you to be the one to show your work. So, you know?" Hermione said on the other end of the line.

She was right, if I hadn't shown Narcissa my art she wouldn't have pushed me to see it.

Flashes of her smile that night crossed my mind and the tightening feeling in my chest was back.

"Are you still there?" Hermione inquired due to my sudden silence.

I sigh, "Yeah, yeah. I'm still here. Well, I doubt that I could ever get that sketchbook back. So, I guess I need to move on to a new sketchbook." I reply, pinching my phone between my shoulder and my cheek.

Hermione hums, "Somehow I don't think that it's the sketchbook you have to move on from. But, I know you'll get there." She half-heartedly tells me.

"Some days are easy, Mione. Days when I don't drown in her memories? I'm good and can function normally. But the nights are different. When I remember how she was with me. When I remember how she looked at me before I stormed out of the room?"

Hermione stops me before I could get too emotional. "Peterson, moving on is hard. One day at a time, yeah?"

We continue our conversation, careful not to mention Narcissa and Draco as if their names would trigger a cataclysmic event.

Narcissa's POV

Draco has been keeping a keen eye on me ever since he saw me get hit by Lucius. Especially during the days when his father is around he sticks to me like he was when he was such a small boy. He's been especially keen to watch how his father interacts with me when he was around.

Lucius was always careful about how and where he hit, even when it started. I always made excuses for him. Even now I find myself making excuses time and time again for him.

Breakfast with him around was tense, because now Draco knows he would shoot his father glances that are somewhat with murderous intent as if challenging him to do anything to me. But alas, Lucius was careful.

I helped Draco pack up for his return to Hogwarts, making sure that he was prepared for the journey. I filled his pouch with some galleons for the treat trolley and set it on the table so he wouldn't forget.

I summon Trixie to make sure that Draco is brought an afternoon snack while I tend to a personal errand.

I slipped into another set of robes apt for my errand and headed out the door, keys to the Pontiac in my palm. I decided to sit in the driver's seat of the car instead of the vision that was usually in place when around muggles.

I still let the car drive itself along the countryside, opting to lean back and look at myself in the rear-view mirror. The bruises have now vanished thanks to the healing salve that Severus had given me many years ago; he's known about Lucius' propensity to use his hands to communicate instead of his words. Severus has never mentioned it outright, never spoken to me about it, just handed me a pot of the salve and told me to apply it right after, and walked away.

I pulled out the small rectangle from my pocket, feeling its weight in my hand before pressing the button to unlock it and be greeted by her photo. I didn't have any heart to change the photo on the screen, even if I did have the knowledge to do so I don't want to change it.

I unlocked the phone and was greeted by our photo, I sigh, finding my finger hovering over the green button to call her.

I quickly decide not to and placed the phone back in my pocket; quickly ridding my thoughts of attempting to reach out to her.

The scenery had changed which meant I was getting close to my intended location. Finally, the car stops on the gravel road and I exited. The air smelled musty but comforting. I walked across the path leading up to a small cottage in a clearing surrounded by trees.

My haven. A space to myself.

I used to share this space with Lucius when we were newlywed, and when Draco was young. A form of escaping the lavish lifestyle, the politics that had and still surrounds my husband. We used to visit and spend some time as a family, but now? That is just a distant memory of the past.

I opened the front door and was greeted with the smell of time. I fished out my wand from my sleeve and repaired everything that was broken with the Reparo charm. I picked up a broom shortly after and swept the dust off the floor.

You would think that a Black sister married to a Malfoy wouldn't know how to do chores, but these things take me back to a happier time, a time when I was blissfully oblivious to what would happen in the future, that my husband would turn out to be abusive; that somehow these things made me seem normal.

I finished cleaning the cottage and repairing the broken furniture. I made sure that everything was in order before I left. A quick break from the Manor was indeed needed.

I got in the car once more and debated if I wanted to pay Severus a quick visit for another batch of the salve. These days had me putting it on multiple times a day, so I'm running out fairly quickly. I decided to just send him an owl once I am back at the Manor.

The manor was as quiet as I left it, only the sound of Trixie working in the kitchen resonated within the halls, I peeked in my room first half-expecting that my husband will be in there waiting for me, but he was nowhere to be seen, a part of me was relieved.

I checked up on Draco, he was packing before I left him.

I poked my head into his room and he was just sitting on his chair by the window, seemingly deep in thought.

I walked up to him and touched his shoulder to make my presence known. "Are you done packing?"

He nods, his eyes still fixed outside his window.

"Penny for your thoughts, my son?" I offer him, sitting by the window sill so I can see his face.

"It's nothing." His voice was worried, he avoided looking at me.

"Nothing is never nothing sweetheart, especially if you're so deep in thought like that." I smiled at him.

"I'm just worried, Mother. I worry that Father will hurt you again."

I feel my smile fade as he fidgets more with his fingers. I smooth his hair and caress his face, "I could deal with your father, sweetheart. You don't have to worry about me. I cannot promise that your father will do better, but I can handle myself."

He looked down on his hands and clenched his fist. "I don't want to be like him, Mother. I'm scared of being like him."

I surged to wrap my arms around him. "Hush sweetheart. You are nothing like him, you'd never hurt someone you love."

"But, I hurt you when I made Riley leave."

My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach, and I wrapped my arms around him tighter. "You didn't, Draco."

"I hurt both of you, did I make the wrong choice?" He said burying his face in the crook of my neck.

I vehemently shook my head, "No, sweetheart. It was bound to happen, I didn't want you to find out that way. Even if I wanted to be with her, if it meant losing you, I would always choose you."

Draco returns the hug, his arms snaked around me and pulled me close. "I'm sorry, Mom."

MC's POV

Today is the day I go back to Hogwarts, and I'm relieved. Was I panicking about how I could get my sketchbook back from one Narcissa Malfoy? Sure, I was freaking out, but at some point last night I accepted that I might never be able to get it. I could never face Narcissa or Draco ever. So after I made sure that everything was in order I made my way to the car and we drove to the platform.

Hogwarts was just a train ride away, my mother and father had driven to the station early to avoid the rush of muggles. I had initially asked Hermione to meet me at King's Cross station, but seeing as she was stuck in traffic me, and my parents decided that it was best to wait for them by the Hogwarts Express.

My parents had said their goodbyes to me but stuck around to watch the train leave, I saw Hermione bounding in my direction.

She greeted my parents and said that she'll save me a seat since she was still to meet up with Harry and Ron.

My parents went behind the line as soon as most of the students boarded, I was about to step up the steps of the train when I hear someone call me.

"Miss Peterson!" I recognized his voice immediately, Lucius Malfoy.

I turned back and sure enough, his long blonde hair was in front of me. "A second of your time?" He asked.

I nodded and politely asked if there was something he needed of me.

"I would just to apologize, I realized that you abruptly left the manor before your intended departure." His lips curl into a sort of smile.

"There is nothing to apologize for Mr Malfoy." I say to him. "I had simply wished to come home earlier than intended,"

His brow knits and he looked confused, "Well, that isn't what Narcissa had told me. She mentioned that it was her fault."

I was taken aback, just to what extent did Narcissa say about us? "How is it N-Mrs Malfoy's fault?" I inquired him, trying to pry for a little more information. I could feel my heart in my throat.

He adjusted his stance, his lips tightening before he could muster his reply. "She simply mentioned that it was her fault that you left. I'm sorry for anything that my wife had done. Malfoy Manor will remain open for you and your family. If there is anything I could do to further apologize-"

Just then the train horn sounded signalling that everyone should be onboard.

"I'm sorry as well, Mr Malfoy." The last thing I say to him before the train started to move and pick up speed. I looked back at the faces of the people that were on the platform, most of them had mixed emotions on their faces, both happy and sad to see their children go back to Hogwarts, the end of the platform was approaching, when I saw a familiar figure walking away from the platform.

"Narcissa." I mutter under my breath surprised to see her at the platform, far away from where I had left her husband.

I almost ran into the treat trolley as I ran to the last window of the train car. I had to be sure it was her. Was I seeing her because I was unconsciously looking for her? No, I can't be mistaken. But, I didn't see if it was her.

I ran out of windows to look out of and the platform was getting smaller and smaller to see. I felt like crying, my heart raced.

Hermione found me at the very last car of the train, "I've been looking for you! Why are you here?"

I didn't speak and just got up to go back to the car that Hermione and the others were in and sat down. Hermione was behind me and joined me on the seat.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She whispers.

I brought my knees to my chest and shook my head no. Hermione just stayed with me, she held my hand and gave me a small smile. "I'll be here if you're ready to talk about it."

Narcissa's POV

Draco had already boarded the train, and surprisingly Lucius had come to see his son go back to Hogwarts. Draco insisted on sitting with me so his father had to sit at the front passenger seat.

Draco kept his eyes on him during the whole ride. I made some casual talk with him, Lucius would occasionally chime in and Draco would ignore him.

The platform was packed with students and parents alike. I found myself scanning the crowd, hoping to see a glimpse of the little darling even from afar. Somehow I wanted to see if she was okay, that gave me some odd sort of comfort even if I was just on the outside looking in. I clutched her sketchbook in my purse, I was hoping to give this back to her. I must admit I was tempted to see the piece that she hasn't finished, but she promised that she would let me see once she was done, so I was adamant to get this to her. I don't know how yet, but I will.

Lucius excused himself to talk to someone and walked away, I didn't see who he talked to because the thick of people were starting to come forward since the train was close to leaving, I walked to the back of the crowd. So, I walked to the end of the platform.

The final horn sounded and the train started going, I took one last look when the train had picked up speed and walked away.

I sigh, the hope of seeing even a glimpse of her was slim. Even if I wanted to see her, I chose to pull away. I touched the pendant that hung around my neck, wishing at least that she was still wearing my gift.

Wishing that she still loved me.

The ride back to the manor was awkward. It hasn't been always this way, but right now sitting together with my husband is the first time I didn't feel anything towards him. Halfway through the ride, I decided to pop in at Bella's place. I got out of the car soon as it had stopped at the gravel road leading up to the manor. Heading up to our bedroom and changing, I get ready to apparate before Lucius even notices and just left him a note.

The second my feet hit the marble floor of my sister's house she notices me. Her unruly hair swayed in the resulting gush of wind of my sudden appearance, she studies my expression and says nothing; she just grabbed me by the arm and brought me to an isolated room, making sure that we were alone. She once again cast a hushing spell to make sure no one could listen in on us.

Her stern gaze softened as soon as she saw the fading bruise on my cheek. "Cissy, what on Earth happened to you?"

My first thought was always to protect my family, so lying to Bellatrix had already crossed my mind, "I just wanted to visit and see you sister, and before you ask it's nothing."

She knits her eyebrows, her eyes questioning like searching for something wrong in what I had said. She walked away from me momentarily and handed me a jar of salve and sighed. "Severus said that you might need more."

I placed the salve in my purse, Bella motioned for me to take a seat and gladly took up the offer.

Her voice was uneasy when she spoke again, "I hear the Peterson girl left early."

I nodded, "Draco had cornered her the morning after you left, he gave us both an ultimatum, I wasn't about to leave my boy. I did the right thing right?"

Bella listened intently, her jaw clenched when I asked if I had done the right thing, but she had said nothing.

"Do you think you had done the right thing?" She asked.

"I wouldn't know, Bella." My voice breaks. "You should've seen how she ran out of there like she wanted to be anywhere else but in a room with me. And Draco." I looked at my hands.

"Cissy, Draco would've understood if he knew about you and the Peterson girl, or he would've understood if you told him about his father." Bella lectures.

"He saw," I say meekly. "He was so angry that he wanted to retaliate, but I asked him not to. I pleaded to him not to."

Bella sighs, "Do you miss her?"

I laughed, at the situation, at my current state, at how I just can't stand up and leave. But that was what being a mother was to me. "I wish it were different, Bella. Could she have been a little older, or had I been a little younger," My hands instinctively run over the pendant again. Remembering how she looked wearing her around her neck proudly during the party in her pretty sunglow dress. "I wish she knew how much it hurt to let her go, how much I think of her, and wish that everything happened differently. How I wake up in a cold sweat at two am when I dream of her. Not knowing what she wanted to say to me."

The tears had fallen again, "I wish to go back to that moment and tell her not to leave, tell her that I choose her, tell her that I love her."

Bella wiped my tears away, "You could still do so, Cissy."

I shook my head, "No, I made a promise to Draco, I love my son."

"And he knows that. He'll come around, Cissy."

MC's POV

I fell asleep during the train ride, Hermione had cleared the boys out of the train car to let me rest. When I opened my eyes, Hogsmeade was already in view, Hermione had changed into her school robes and urged me to do the same.

I still haven't mentioned to Hermione the reason why she found me at the last train car. I wanted it to not be Narcissa and just a figment of my imagination. But what does that tell about me? If I was imagining Narcissa at the platform and hoping to see her.

I stare at myself in the comfort room mirror adjusting my tie. The dark circles around my eyes from the sleepless nights after rushing out of Malfoy Manor had followed me to Hogwarts, the necklace around my neck that I refused to remove from my person, and the images of Narcissa that plagues me. I sigh, finally exiting the comfort room.

I hadn't noticed another student waiting and bumped into them.

"I'm sorry." I immediately said before looking up.

I almost regretted looking up to see a blonde mop of hair and piercing blue eyes. "Draco." I breathe. He was almost just as surprised to see me, like I was the last person he wanted to see.

"Peterson." He says through gritted teeth. His jaw was clenched and his gaze was filled with such animosity. I almost wanted to flee, almost wanted to be swallowed by the ground.

The train had finally stopped and the train horn sounds, announcing our arrival at Hogsmeade. Draco walked away not even using the toilet nor changing into his uniform, before the swarm of bodies push through the halls of the train, he looked back to me as if wanting to say something but decided not to and kept walking.

I sigh. So much for the first day back at Hogwarts.