When Narcissa first heard the news, she felt a tightening in her chest and called for her son, drawing him close to her as if he could be easily swept away.
Draco asked what was wrong, but she simply held him, loved him, thanked whatever fates existed for allowing her simply one more day to spend with her son.
She wondered what she was feeling- was it loss, remorse, despair, hope?
Was it regret at the knowledge that herfamily could have been safe?
Or was it grudging determination, sorrow tinged with pride because her family, her real family, had died protecting what they loved?
It made her want to visit.
But the twenty plus years of cold indifference kept her at bay- after all, Narcissa had never understood how Andromeda could leave.
She had never understood how Andy, her beloved sister, could drop her life, drop her sisters, and run off into the arms of a man that she knew would only bring her strife and misery.
And in the end, Narcissa was right, wasn't she?
For Andy's beloved Ted was gone, vanished, swept away into the arms of death as if he was nothing more than an autumn leaf in the shadow of a great oak tree.
And her beautiful daughter was gone as well, taking her werewolf husband with her, hearts and hands intertwined for eternity.
Andromeda was alone.
Narcissa's grip on Draco tightened.
"Mother?"
She shook her head wordlessly, burying her head into her son's shoulder, tears working their way down her face as she relished his warm, breathing, living body so close to hers.
Behind her, she heard a door open.
When Lucius entered the room, he saw his wife's tears and understood- and then it was the three of them again, cloistered under the great chandelier of their home, grateful that they were at least together, that they were at least alive and well and safe.
Narcissa can almost hear Teddy's cry as her sister rocks him to sleep each night, her tears mingling with the ones of a boy who will never know his parents.
She can almost taste the bitterness on her tongue at the continual realization that nobody was coming home- that just as she had once left, she was now left- the remnants of a once bright and happy family.
She can almost feel the heat from Andromeda's eyes as she looks upon the only portrait of her old life she has left- one of the three Black sisters, holding hands and laughing, each with a unique smile, each with a unique beauty.
And now there is only one sister left.
For the eldest is dead, gone, descended into madness long before the war had even begun, and the second has been blasted off the tapestry, a charred mark representing all she had ever been, and the third…well, the third remained- broken, pitiful, but she remained.
And it is only at this point that Narcissa wonders if there is even a reason- if she wants to hold the name of Black, if she wants to clutch to her heart the reminder of all she has lost.
Because now, Narcissa can feel the warmth of Andromeda's heart, the burning love that has never left, the encompassing, undying care for the sisters that disowned her, hated her, loved her.
So when she finally disentangles herself from her family's arms, she takes a step back, a slight flush of color returning to her pale cheeks.
And she tells them in a clear, calm voice that they are alone- that she is alone, that Andy is alone.
And she strides from the room, disappearing with a small 'pop' and appearing inside the gate of a little ramshackle house, the distant sounds of a baby's laugh echoing through the garden.
And she raises a hand and knocks.
Please review! (:
-FantaFaerie