Between Fine Lines

Thirty-Two.

"Narcissa! Narcissa, slow down!" Lucius pleaded with his wife. Spells were flying everywhere, but that did not slow down a wandless Narcissa Malfoy as she tore her way through the courtyard, trying to get back into the castle and in the direction she had seen two death eaters take off after Draco and Theo.

Lucius, also without a wand, took long strides, barely glancing down as he stepped over the body he was pretty sure belonged to Corban Yaxley, trying not to slip over the blood that was oozing from the older man's throat.

"I will not slow down, Lucius!" Narcissa turned her head to look at him, stumbling as Lucius pulled her out of the way of some kind of a stinging jinx (but he could only assume based on the way he watched Gregory Goyle junior yelp as it connected with his backside.)

"Our son is somewhere in this castle and we must protect him! I will not make any more mistakes for our family!" Narcissa yanked her elbow from Lucius' grip. She continued on for a few steps and there was a grunt behind her, causing her to turn her head and find Lucius on the floor. The woman cried out, rushing back to her husband, fearing the worst as she sank to her knees next to him.

"Lucius! Lucius, can you hear me?" she pleaded, her hands going to his throat to check for a pulse. Relief washed over her as she could still feel his heart beating, Sirius skidded around the corner in that moment, locking eyes with his cousin. "What's happened?" he questioned, looking at Lucius.

"He is fine, I think he got hit with a knockout jinx. I have to find Draco, have you seen him?" Narcissa questioned, ducking her head down as Sirius cast a shield charm over the three of them.

"He took off toward the dungeons with Theodore-I think they're looking for their friends. You go, I'll stick old Lucy here in a nice hiding spot until he comes to," Sirius insisted as Remus came from another direction, sending a blasting jinx toward a death eater that was rushing toward them.

"Are you sure?" Narcissa questioned warily. "You saved Harry, I owe you this one," Sirius grabbed her hand, helping her stand up. " Hurry along now, we'll be just fine, won't we Moony?" Sirius gave his fiance a grin and Remus shook his head.

"Go on Cissa, he'll be just fine," Sirius insisted again, giving her a small push toward the direction Draco had gone. Narcissa squeezed Sirius' hand before taking back off the corridors.

She wandered toward the dungeons, trying to stay out of sight, but coming across less and less people the further she got into the castle. Finally, her eyes caught sight of Draco's blonde hair and she opened her mouth to call out to him when two bodies came out of the shadows.

"See, I told you- follow the blood traitor son and find his blood traitor mother," Rabastan Lestrange had a malicious grin on his face as he spoke to his brother Rodolphus, the two of them nearing closer to the blonde woman.

"Move aside," Narcissa scowled, trying to keep her fear at bay. She could do a bit of wandless magic, hold her own in a one on one duel-but against two wizards that were both not only older than her, but more sadistic? She wasn't quite sure.

"We'll be doing no such thing, you betrayed the Dark Lord, we'll be taking you right back to him," Rodolphus informed her as they crept closer.

"Voldemort is going to die," Narcissa spat at them. "Harry Potter will defeat him once and for all."

She watched them raise their wands, preparing herself to counter with a shield as best as she could when suddenly, both men's eyes became wide, simultaneously hitting the floor with a loud 'thump!'

Ron and Ginny Weasley stood behind them, wands pointed at the death eaters' backs. Narcissa raised her hands slowly to show that she meant no harm, and they lowered their wands slightly. Ginny crouched down, snatching one of the brothers' wands and handing it to Narcissa. "You shouldn't be wandless in the castle, especially not where people can lurk in the shadows," she informed her.