Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizards (Challenges & Assignments), Term 10, Assignment #1, Task #6 - Gluttony: Write about someone who is self-indulgent.
Other prompts listed at the end.
A Place for Temperance
With a careful flourish of her wand, Narcissa situated a large, ornate cage between two marble statues within the expansive garden that opened out in front of Malfoy Manor. That cage had been a eyesore of a crate at the beginning of their trip, but after a bit of wandwork, the thin wires now twisted beautifully, and inside, she could see her beautiful prize: a pure white peacock with tail plumes that spilled out from sections of the cage.
Beside her was Vivienne Nott, looking vaguely curious. Truthfully, reactions from Vivienne were rarely satisfying, even-tempered as she was, but she had an unmatched eye for natural beauty - or perhaps more importantly, she had been the only one among Narcissa's friends who had been willing to accompany her out of the country to fetch the bird. It had been an infuriating bout of insolence, the way the breeder had insisted his continued presence at his otherwise unremarkable farm was somehow more important than the inconvenience it caused her, but Narcissa had arranged for a portkey, and now that she was back at the manor, some amount of annoyance had faded.
The two women settled in plush chairs beneath the garden gazebo, flanking the white and gold-flecked table between them. Out of the corner of her eye, Narcissa could see her house-elf setting a tea tray on the table, and she waited until the cup was prepared before lifting it for a sip. With a flick of her wand, she opened the huge cage down in the grass, watching as the peacock stepped out, pure white feathers spreading.
"What will you call her?" Vivienne asked, taking a sip from her own cup.
"I have yet to decide," Narcissa responded thoughtfully, watching the peacock stretch out in some exploration of her new home.
"What about Temperance?"
Shooting Vivienne a sideways glance, Narcissa thought that her friend sounded something close to teasing, but there was no malice in the look, just mild amusement. An ironic choice, and they both knew it, draped as they were in every conceivable comfort. Narcissa was well aware that there was very little in the way of moderation at the manor - nor should there be, unless one liked bare or shabby manors - but self-restraint took many forms. Narcissa was not necessarily one for irony, but as she let it sit in her thoughts for a suspended moment, she started to think she might actually like it.
"Temperance. There's a nice ring to it," Narcissa allowed, before taking a sip of her drink. "It sounds dignified."
The late spring breeze was blow flyaway strands of brown hair into Vivienne's eyes, and as she tucked them back behind her ear, she turned her face into that breeze. "Quite so."
Narcissa watched as the bird approached the nearest fountain, marble in make and carved to look like a giant, blooming flower. Temperance would need a friend, of course. Perhaps that atrocious breeder could acquire another. Lucius would not mind, certainly, and there was something to be said for a matched set. Her bird would not go wanting.
Additional Author's Notes
Hogwarts Prompts:
Insane House Challenge - 139. (plot point) Getting a pet
365 Day Challenge - 253. (word) Fountain
Pokemon Gym Battles, Dark Type Gym, Entry - (location) Malfoy Manor
Chocolate Frog Cards Club, Narcissa Malfoy - Write about Narcissa Malfoy
Word Count - 515