~TW: This chapter contains content that might be upsetting, including mentions of torture. Reader discretion is advised.~

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Narcissa trembled at the mere sight of Lord Voldemort.

She didn't think anything could possibly make him surpass in his monstrosity but seeing him fired up in anger was a far more terrifying sight than earlier. He couldn't digest that Eleanor had been snatched right out of his grasp once again and he wouldn't rest until he got her back.

Since Narcissa was the one in charge of her, there was no way she would not be suspected of letting Eleanor escape. Plus, Regulus Black had been there at the battle too yet he had also managed to escape alive.

Serpentine red eyes were focused lethally on the blonde-haired woman as Voldemort seethed in anger. He had never punished Narcissa Malfoy before because the woman was timid, looking after her tasks well and staying out of sight usually.

She was somehow always in her husband Lucius Malfoy's shadow; harmless, obedient, and did not seem to be a threat.

But he knew that she was a very capable witch and if she really wanted to keep Eleanor at the hideout, she would have succeeded. There was no way Eleanor could have been taken without her help.

"I am asking one last time..." His voice was threateningly low as he asked, eyes piercing through the cowering figure of Narcissa Malfoy, "did you help Eleanor in escaping?"

"No, my Lord," she replied, her grip tightening on Lucius's arm.

Bellatrix was there too and did not want her sister to be tortured for the answer. So she took the risk of interrupting, "my Lord, we found Narcissa injured in the room. She was attacked too or else she would not have let the woman go."

Those blood-red eyes flickered toward her, "injured? How so?"

"She had been struck by the body bind curse and sustained a blow to the head," Lucius replied, keeping his voice steady though he too was afraid of the Dark Lord's wrath.

"Narcissa Malfoy, I find it hard to believe that a witch of your caliber could not have countered a mere body bind curse," the yew wand twirling in his hands indicated that he could use it any second to fire a hex at her.

But perhaps he was resisting because seeing her mounting fear and the terror in her eyes felt gave him a slight satisfaction. He wanted to be feared, he wanted his subordinates to know their place.

"Forgive me, my Lord," she mumbled, her hands still clutching onto Lucius's arm as if she would collapse if she didn't hold on to him, "please forgive me."

His eyes flashed with an angered spark and the wand lifted. Narcissa braced herself to be struck by the Cruciatus or some other worse curse. 

Lucius knew he wouldn't be able to shield her any longer. He wanted to but if he stepped in between, the Dark Lord would get angrier and could double the punishment.

The tension in the room was thick as the wand pointed at the trembling woman. Bellatrix waited with bated breath because she too knew it was a bad idea to try and stop Voldemort. Neither of them wanted to test his patience yet both of them wanted to protect Narcissa.

"Crucio," he uttered the torture curse but the jet of red light did not strike Narcissa.

Instead, it struck Lucius who collapsed to the ground from excruciating pain. 

Each cell in his body was lit up on fire as he panted, trying to lift himself up but failing. The Cruciatus curse varied in intensity from person to person. The stronger the wizard who cast it, the more well-versed in Dark Arts, and the more pain intended to be given, it resulted in a curse worse than the killing curse itself.

And Lucius was the one having to bear it at the moment.

Narcissa's blue eyes were wide in terror as she crouched beside her husband, his agonizing screams punishing her far worse than the Cruciatus could have. it was her fault that Eleanor escaped yet Lucius was taking the punishment. 

She begged and pleaded with Lord Voldemort to stop, knowing that each passing second was unbearable for Lucius. His translucent skin was flushing red from the blood churning painfully within his veins, his eyes were wide open and he couldn't breathe as the curse continued mercilessly.

"My Lord, I beg you... Please don't curse him... Please..."

Bellatrix did not dare intervene but seeing her younger sister in torment was affecting her too. 

At last, he withdrew the curse and Lucius Malfoy's violently shaking body came to a halt as he collapsed. Each tendon and ligament in his body seemed to have been forcefully ripped out and he had no strength left in him to breathe even.

Narcissa was in a pitiable state, weighed down by the guilt and concern she felt for Lucius. Her low voice was uttering apologies both to Voldemort and to her husband, promising that she would never do anything to invoke the Dark Lord's wrath.

Her hands fluttered over Lucius's shoulders, trying to help him up as he seemed too weakened. However, she was taken by alarm as the Dark Lord stepped closer, his hand closing onto her throat, lifting her up from the ground.

Lucius tried to say something in protest but struggled to speak as his voice seemed to have gone dry. 

Narcissa was fearfully looking at the Dark Lord whose eyes gave the impression that the torture wasn't over yet.

"Narcissa Malfoy," his spine-chilling voice resonated around her, making her tremble in fear, "the only reason I spared you this time is that I value the word given to me. All Malfoys are supposed to be my followers, including the one you are going to bear him. Next time, I will not be lenient."

He left her with a jerk and she would have stumbled but Bellatrix stepped forward to steady her. The Dark Lord had left after dismissing them all and they were supposed to return to their homes.

"Why did you not tell me?" Bellatrix asked, coal-black eyes studying her sister closely. She had realized the meaning behind Voldemort's words just then; the only reason he hadn't tortured Narcissa was that she was probably with child; a Malfoy heir, and a future Death Eater according to the family's oath to serve Voldemort.

Narcissa pulled herself out of her grip, bending down to help Lucius up. She did not say anything to her sister who was still expecting an answer from her.

"Lucius, I am so sorry," tears streaked down her face as she cradled his head in her lap, taking out her wand to use some healing spells so that he would feel better, "you had to go through this because of me."

With the healing spells taking effect, the suffocating pain lessened and he was able to sit up. Bellatrix flashed them both a warning look before leaving as well. That look meant they should return to Malfoy Manor before something worse happened to them.

Narcissa was thinking the same as she staggered under her husband's weight but supported him to the fireplace from where they could use Floo Powder and go back to the manor.

When they reached the Manor and stumbled out of the fireplace, she called their house elf Dobby to help in taking Lucius to their room. She had the elves prepare a bath and fetched the healing potions she kept that would be needed for him to recover.

By the time she returned, Lucius was seated in his armchair, his head resting back as he took in frail gulps of air. The curse was so strong and damaging that the effects on him still lingered.

"Cissa," he called in a hoarse voice and she came to him, eyes welling up again as she knew it was all due to her decision of helping Eleanor. 

She let him take her arms gently and bring her down to sit with him. He was deathly cold and his eyes still had that haunted look as he wrapped his arms around her, bringing her as close to him as he possibly could.

With his head nestled in her neck and his arms holding her close, she could sense that he was slightly trembling. He needed her to be with him at the moment.

She sighed softly, heart churning in pain as she let him bury his head deeper, her fingers gently running through his long silvery hair. Silently, she was comforting him and that comfort was what no other spell or potion could provide.

After suffering such a heavy curse, he badly needed all the comfort and warmth he could get.

"I was terrified that he would hurt you," he mumbled, his hands gripping tightly as if afraid of losing her, "never before have I been this scared..."

"I promise I won't let this happen again," she mumbled, lips touching his temple in a soft kiss.

He held her close to him and slowly his racing heartbeat was coming back to the steady normal pace. She was still stroking his head gently, engulfing him in her comforting warmth as his trembling too came to a halt.

When he was feeling somewhat better than earlier and his voice wasn't as choked, he asked, "you did help Miss Troy, didn't you?"

She took in a deep breath as she replied, "yes. But Lucius, I didn't want you to be tortured instead, I..."

He hushed her, his hands gently cupping her face, "we do what we must... If he had tortured you instead of me, it would have hurt our child. I'm relieved he tortured me and spared you."

Her eyes welled up because even though Lucius Malfoy was a man with a cold and unfeeling exterior, he cared a lot for his family.

"As for her, if she wasn't taken, she would have died," he mumbled, "I don't blame you for it, love. I understand."

"Thank you," she breathed in relief, kissing him delicately.

They were living in trialing times but at least they were together. She knew they were standing at the brink of war and both sides had a lot to lose. All she hoped was that she wouldn't lose her family. She hoped her husband and child would stay safe.

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