So Close, and Still So Far

Summary: My first multi-chapter Lucissa fic. Narcissa's point of view throughout the Second Wizarding War, her son's fear, her husband's duty and her eldest sister's final hour. Begins just after the Skirmish, includes extracts of On The Edge. Inspired by The Fourth Black Sister's Collapse. Named after a brilliant song, but not a song fic.

Disclaimer: Anyone recognisable as not being my own personal drivel belongs to Queen Rowling, anything else is mine.

Chapter One

Narcissa watched in despair as the youngest Weasley boy, the Granger girl and the famous Harry Potter joined hands with the Gringotts goblin and her own former House-Elf, Dobby, and vanished from the room in a greying puff of smoke, barely taking notice as her own eldest sister's knife flew through the air, disappearing along with them.

Narcissa stood a frozen statue for the next few moments, barely noticing as a raging Bellatrix screamed in anguish and stormed up the flight of stairs by the fireplace, fury and fear warring across her face as she left. It was at that moment that Narcissa remembered the rest of her family, pulling her shaking son closer to her for a long moment before releasing him and hurrying across the large room, collapsing on the floor beside her husband, who was only just recovering from being thrown across the room by 'The Boy Who Lived'. She wrapped her arms around him, attempting to pull him into her lap, but was taken by surprise as he sat up unstabally and pulled her into his embrace.

"Are you alright, darling?" he asked over her shoulder, inhaling her scent as he held her tight.

"Yes, I'm fine. I managed to avoid the majority of the debris and so did Draco, so we're alright. Are you?" she asked, seperating the pair of them to stroke his cheek affectionately.

"Yes, I'm fine, Cissa. It's not the first time I've been thrown across the room by that Potter boy." he sighed, obviously embarrassed by the fact.

"I know, but still." she pressed, pecking him on the cheek.

"Narcissa, I'm fine." he sighed. Narcissa had known Lucius long enough to know that his strong tone of voice meant that his statement was final, and knew instinctively not to push the point further. Instead, she rose from his side and returned to her son, who had smiled a little at the sight of his parents' early loving closeness returned, which was the first time he had seen them like that again since his father had broken free from Azkaban, at Voldemort's request. But then again, his parents had been very withdrawn since Lord Voldemort had taken the house as a base, and had taken to only showing their emotions for each other in private.

"Draco?" she asked, catching his attention.

"Yes, Mother?" he responded.

"I think it would be best if you went to bed. I think we should leave your father on his own for a while." she sighed.

"Yes, Mother." Draco agreed, turning to the door, before returning his gaze to his mother. She sensed his question as his gaze switched between his mother and his father, and answered it before he even opened his mouth to ask.

"I'll be up to bed in a moment, I might take a turn around the garden first to clear my head." she stated, wrapping her arms around her son and beginning to lead him from the room. Meanwhile, Lucius was left to walk across the drawing room and settle back down in an armchair by the fire, gazing at the wood burning and twisting in the flames, wondering if his life would soon end in a similar way.

A/N: Sorry that it's small, but I wanted to get this story off the ground (I can't count the amount of times I've said that before!). Please review, so I know if it was worth it or not.