A Snake's Secrets ~Draco&Hermione FF~

Chapter 9 ~ Sacrifices

Narcissa's POV

               I clasped my hands together tightly on my lap, staring intently into the fire. A continuous shiver ran through my body from my worries. Draco was supposed to kill Dumbledore, but I didn't believe my son was capable of murder. And if he failed, the Dark Lord would kill him. I wrapped my arms around myself tightly as I fought back the burning in my eyes again.

               "He will be fine, my dear," Lucius whispered as he sat next to me, wrapping his arm around me gently. "Draco is strong. He will kill Dumbledore and come home to us."

               "I don't want our son to be a murderer," I whispered back, shaking my head.

               "He must kill Dumbledore, or the Dark Lord will punish all of us severely," Lucius reminded me. But I knew he hated the idea as much as I did.

               I jumped slightly when the front door burst open. Bellatrix and Severus came striding into the house without invitation. My sister looked absolutely ecstatic. Severus was clearly annoyed.

               "Dumbledore is dead!" Bellatrix crowed happily.

               I couldn't stop the gasp that escaped my lips. "So Draco-"

               "No," Severus said, cutting me off smoothly. "I killed him. Your son fled. We assumed he was here."

               "You mean you don't know where he is?" I asked quickly, a new wave of worry crashing over me.

               "He wasn't in the castle when we left," Bellatrix said with a shrug, clearly not worried about her nephew.

               "We must find him!" I yelled at them, jumping to my feet. "If he did not follow the Dark Lord's orders, he will be punished! What if he was killed in the fight?!"

               "I assure you, Draco was not anywhere inside Hogwarts," Severus hissed. "Perhaps he has run off."

               "If he truly has abandoned us, the Dark Lord will punish him most severely," Lucius murmured, looking as white as a ghost.

               I looked to Bellatrix and Severus with wide, pleading eyes. "You mustn’t tell the Dark Lord! I beg you! Give me a chance to find Draco!"

               "He has asked for a full report on the attack. You know I will never lie to our master," Bellatrix said. "Not even for the sake of your son. If he truly has abandoned us, he has chosen his own fate."

               They left without another word. Neither one of them seemed to care that my son would die a slow, painful death as soon as he was found.

               I dropped back down onto the couch and sobbed quietly, praying that Draco was never found. If never seeing my son again meant he would be alive, then I hoped he never returned.