Narcissa had been prepared to be comforting, preparted to temper the news with reassurances that he'd been in an impossible situation. She had not expected him to turn upon her with that dark glance, and ask her pointed questions. "If you must know, I went to Severus and begged him to relieve Draco of his burden. He made an unbreakable vow to me that if Draco was unable to fulfill the Dark Lord's command, that Severus would fulfill it for him," she said, the only indication that she was perturbed being a slight pursing of her lips, and a line that formed between her perfectly shaped brows as they drew together. "I was utterly beside myself with worry for our son, but we were little better than hostages."