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Narcissa closed the door behind her softly, then hurried down the hall.

"Is everything alright with the boy, dear?" asked a tall, slender witch, running through several portrays and paintings hung along the wall to keep up with Narcissa.

Narcissa faltered in her step. She looked at Belvina Black. That was the question, wasn't it? Her talk with her only son had not led to anything. He had not really answered her questions, she had not really expected him to. But she had had to try, at least. And she needed him to know how much she loved him. That, no matter how much he and Lucius fought and how hard it was for her husband to show how much he cared, no matter how much Draco had changed, he was still their son and they loved him.

She had known something was off about her son for a long time now. Or, perhaps off was not the right word, as this seemed to be the new normal. Perhaps it was just him growing up, but it seemed so sudden. The way he talked, held himself, who he was friends with - could all of this really be explained by... puberty?

She had talked to Severus, several times, but apparently Draco's behavior in school was impeccable.

The thing that worried her most about Draco's sudden change was that he had obviously changed his thoughts about those of lesser blood, leading to a rift between him and Lucius. She knew how her husband thought about these things, how Slytherin had treated those showing different opinions, had seen how the family had treated Andromeda and Sirius, so she never discussed her observations and worries with Lucius. He knew something was different, but he was not as good as Narcissa at deciphering minute details and judging the extent of this change. Their father-son relationship had already suffered because of Sirius, and she did not want it to deteriorate any further. She did not regret helping Sirius, but she would have preferred Draco staying out of it altogether. The Malfoy's family crest might read "Sanctimonia Vincet Semper," purity will always conquer, and Narcissa might live accordingly, but her own motto would first and foremost always be "family first."

At first, the relationship between Lucius and Draco had been her main concern, but soon it became clear that the Dark Lord would return, and Narcissa's worries increased, taking on a whole new dimension.

"He's had terrible nightmares," Belvina continued. "Poor dear."

Narcissa glanced at Belvina again. During the summer, Narcissa had gotten her a portrait hung in Draco's room, so she could keep an eye on him. She was not proud of spying on her son, but a mother had to do what a mother had to do.

From her bedroom, Narcissa could hear the sound of breaking glass. She hurried along, she did not have time to discuss such matters with noisy portraits anyhow.

Throwing open the door to their shared bedroom, Narcissa walked in on a truly horrifying scene. Lucius was standing by the mirror, which was shattered into several pieces, from his hand was dripping blood. He was wearing his Death Eater robes, the mask carelessly thrown on the ground next to him. His face was pale and his body tense.

"Lucius," she gasped, throwing the door closed behind her and hurrying to her husband's side. She took his bleeding hand into hers and cleaned it from the shards.

All the while, Lucius did not utter a single word, just stared at the broken mirror.

He had been in a poor mood earlier. He had just returned from the ministry, angrier than she had ever seen him before, and she had been scared that it had something to do with Draco again. Then he had been called by the Dark Lord, and the mood he was in now truly frightened her.

"Talk to me," she whispered softly, taking dittany out of a cabinet.

Lucius laughed darkly and shook his head. "I need to talk to Draco," he said.

Narcissa's throat constricted. "I don't... I don't think that's a good idea." Nothing good could come from a conversation held in that state of mind. "It is late already. Whatever it is, I am sure it can wait until tomorrow."

Lucius gulped and closed his eyes. "Tomorrow," he repeated. Then he went to his study, closing and locking the door behind him. It reminded Narcissa of his behavior after the Quidditch Worldcup.

She went to bed, worry keeping her awake for a long time.

When she woke up the next morning, she was alone. Apparently, Lucius had not slept at all.

With a heavy heart she got out of bed, put on her robes and hurried downstairs into the dining room.

Lucius was sitting at the table, blood-shot eyes reading the Prophet, his face unreadable, his hands clenchig and unclenching into fists around the paper.

Narcissa sat down next to him, a steamig hot cup of tea already waiting for her. She was just taking her first sip, when Draco appeared in the dining room.

Lucius lowered the newspaper, looking up at their son. "Draco," he began, his tone icy, "is it true?" He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

"Is what true?" Draco asked, defiantly, sitting down.

"Don't be cheeky, boy," snapped Lucius. "Have you helped these... these... blood traitors?" he spat. He threw the Daily Prophet he had been reading in front of his son.

Draco leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, mirroring his father's posture. But his eyes wandered down to the front page of the Prophet.

SCANDAL AT ST. MUNGO'S it read in big black letters. Narcissa had no idea what this was about, but she leaned forward, reading the first few lines of the article.

Yesterday afternoon, renown healer Prof. Helbert Spleen broke into the room of two mentally incapacitated patients at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. It has been reported that he and an unknown accomplice have conducted painful, unauthorized experiments on the defenseless patients. When confronted by the personnel, they reacted violently, attacked the healers, and kidnapped the patients...

That did not sound good, but Narcissa had no idea why that had upset her husband so.

"I don't see how this has anything to do with me," Draco answered his father.

"You were seen there," hissed Lucius, and Narcissa could see her son gulping. So whatever Lucius was talking about, it was true that Draco had been involved, she thought. "You left school with these blood traitors, broke into St. Mungo's to help those who deserved everything they got and then lied to us about everything. And don't think I don't know about your friendship with this... boy." He said the last words as if they were poison.

Narcissa's eyes widened. This was what he had learned at the ministry yesterday and which had enraged him enough to worry Narcissa.

Draco stayed quiet. Narcissa hoped he would stay quiet as to not escalate things.

"Do you deny it? Did you or did you not help these blood traitors?" Lucius repeated his earlier question.

"What if I have?" Draco asked defiantly.

"Don't take this tone with me, boy," growled his father.

"Lucius, Darling-" Narcissa tried to soothe him.

"Stay out of this," he clipped, not even looking at her. "We do not associate with such people."

"Well, you might not, but I do! And there is nothing wrong with them!" Draco replied hotly.

Lucius eyebrows shot up. "Be careful what you say. Surely you don't mean that."

"But I do! They don't deserve to suffer just because they don't think that halfbloods and muggle borns deserve a gruesome death! They are people, too!"

"Draco!" Lucius yelled, standing up and bringing his hand down on the table so hard, Narcissa's cup of tea tipped over and spilled its contents on the table.

"No! You are wrong! About everything! And the Dark Lord is wrong as well. He will fall and if you follow him, he will take you down with him."

Lucius regarded Draco coldly. "Is this your final word?"

Draco looked away, but nodded his head. Then he said what Narcissa feared most, which she knew would set her husband off. "I will not follow him. Neither will I obey you, if you choose to follow him."

Lucius closed his eyes and sighed. "Then you are a blood traitor as well."

Draco flinched. So did Narcissa. "Lucius," she began.

"We cannot have a blood traitor in the family," Lucius continued evenly, ignoring his wife.

"W-What?" Draco stammered, all the rage leaving his body. "Are you... Are you disowning me?"

"L-Lucius, you can't," Narcissa said, her voice wavering, hardly believing what she was hearing. How could things go so horribly wrong?

"Narcissa! He is no longer part of this family and this is final," he bellowed, then turned towards Draco, sneering. "And you - leave our home! You are no longer welcome here. I don't want to see you again."

Narcissa was taken aback by his harsh tone. He never talked to her like that. "Lucius, please, Lucius," she pleaded, over and over again, panic taking over. "Don't do this, please." She made a step towards Draco, "my baby," she called, but Lucius put an arm on her shoulder, holding her back. She struggled to get free, but his grip was firm. She began to cry, her hands covering her face, and Lucius put one arm around her in what was supposed to be a comforting gesture.

Draco looked at them for a while. Her baby looked so pale and frightened. Then he stood up and left the manor.

"No," yelled Narcissa through her tears and Lucius hugged her tightly. At first, she let him, because it calmed her down somewhat, but when her rational mind took over again, and with it rage, she struggled free, pushing him away, making for the door.

"Where are you going?" Lucius asked, but Narcissa didn't answer.

He rushed after her, grabbing her arm. "You can't go after him!"

"Let go off me!" Narcissa shrieked, "My baby is out there and I am going after him."

"He betrayed this family," Lucius growled.

Narcissa spun around, glaring at her husband. "No. But you just did," she hissed. "How dare you make such a decision without me? How dare you cast out my baby? If he is no longer part of this family, then neither am I." She made for the door again.

"No," Lucius said, walking past her and standing in the door so she couldn't pass him. "Cissy, please. Let me explain."

Narcissa drew her wand. "Out off my way."

Lucius sighed and stepped aside.

Narcissa hurried past him and outside the manor.

"Draco!" she yelled, but he was nowhere to be seen. "Draco!" she ran away from the manor, but had no idea in which direction to go. She searched for hours, but couldn't find her son.

When she eventually returned to the manor, Lucius was waiting for her. She felt as if her soul had been ripped apart. She walked right past Lucius, into their bedroom and locked the door behind her.

TBC

Thanks to pepper'n'salt for suggesting a Narcissa POV, I would not have written this chapter this way if you hadn't suggested it :) perhaps not exactly what you wanted but I hope you still enjoyed it.

Hope you all aren't too upset about this turn of events.

Did you like this chapter or do you hate Lucius for what he just did to Draco? Let me know in a review.