"Narcissa! Are you home?!" A familiar bellow bounced off the walls, echoing through the hallways.

I could see the panic swarming her face, her lips moving slightly trying to think of her response. Her breathing was suddenly a lot faster, making it harder to gather her thoughts.

"Yes! I'll be down in a moment!" She immediately was in front of my face. "Go in the closet and stay there! Do not move until I return. Listen to me, you must not leave here for anyone other than me. Stay deadly silent and do not move!" Before I could take in anything she had said I was already being pushed to the other side of the room.

"Who is that?!" I could barely speak, my mouth was so dry each word became a struggle.

"Lucius, something must of happened." Her words were followed by the sound of footsteps pacing quickly up the stairs.

"Go now! Quickly!" She pushed me again but as a thousands thoughts raced through my head by legs froze still, it was only once I saw the fear in her eyes that it caused the adrenaline inside me to finally do so but as I did my foot caught the end of Draco's bed sending me hurtling towards the ground. The moment my body impacted the floor I knew it was over, whatever she had been protecting me from was no more. Lucius was bound to of heard me and there was no way I could get up now and make it to anywhere in time. I darted my eyes up to look at Narcissa, her face said everything I needed to know. Defeat. My one chance to escape whatever hell lies in front of me was ruined. Despite what felt like time standing still the seconds it took for Lucius to reach us were unbearable, not only did I have no understanding of the consequences of him seeing me but I had also never been so scared in my life.

Lucius burst into the room with a rather confused look on his face until his eyes wandered slightly and landed on me.

"Why is she here? The Dark Lord had no use for her yet." No use for me? What does he mean use for me? How does he know I exist? Why did he want to know about me?

"I feared Dumbledore may reach her before us, I thought it's better to keep her here until she's needed." Even though I stood only a metre away from them, they spoke about me like I wasn't there. Like I was an emotionless object.

"Ah yes, where do you propose to keep her until Draco is ready?" He turned to me slightly before pulling a disgusted face as if just my presence alone repulsed him.

"I can silence the cellar." Lucius gave an approving nod before beginning to turn out of the room.

"Well hurry up, Draco will be here shortly and I need to go!" Narcissa reached forward and quickly grabbed hold of his arm.

"Before you go, maybe we could discuss your...plan with Ivy. I mean she's here now, maybe if Draco saw her now he might be more understanding or maybe we don't have to involve her at all I mean Draco won't care for her life, he's not stupid! He's like you!" I could see she was trying her best to help me even if the words did sting, I tried to push the thought of Draco not caring enough to save me to the back of my mind. Draco wouldn't do that...he was nothing like his father!

The overwhelming fear had left a numb feeling right throughout my body, despite the pain I had experienced in my life I had never felt a feeling like this. For a while after my family's death I feared that they would want me dead too, that it was some kind of plot for some reason that I didn't know but then after time it went away, just disappeared. I guess I was too wrapped up in Draco to realise what was going on around me.

"No. If Draco does not agree to his duties she'll be used as leverage, if he does agree...well she'll be joining her family sooner than I anticipated. Don't make me regret leaving you in charge of this Narcissa." He near enough spat his words, they were cold and harsh. Just like him. I questioned what Narcissa really saw in him, she seemed like she didn't quite belong in this world. That she could have a normal life, a normal family.

"Yes Lucius" she bowed her head.

He began to strut out onto the landing and down the stairs when Narcissa ran over to me.

"I-I don't know how I can help you! I don't know if....oh god, if there's anything I can do!" Her movements were erratic, like she had lost control of herself. She crouched down to me, I could see her breath becoming faster and faster. Even though my life had literally been stripped away from me I couldn't help the burning desire to help her. I reached my hand out to her, gently I rested my palm on top of her hand.

"You've done everything you can..."

Her eyes met mine and just like how I imagined mine replicated hers they were filled with sorrow, deflation and most of all defeat.

"I'm sure you've been told before but you look exactly like your mother...especially your eyes." She paused for a moment, gathering her words. "I'm so sorry Ivy, I...I don't know what to say"

Nothing she could of said would of helped me anyway, nothing anyone could say would help me right now well except for one. A flash of Draco flew through my mind, his smirk, his smile, his laugh...his touch, his voice, his love. Everything that was missing from me. The darkness consumed me, I had never needed him more.