I walked stiffly to the door. Who could possibly be deciding it's a good idea to visit somebody in the middle of the night? I opened the door slowly to reveal a pale woman. Her brunette hair whipping bizarrely in the breezy night air, she was shivering but she seemed determined to stand there in front of the manor. "Alice, what happened?" I couldn't bear looking at her vulnerable figure in the merciless wind outside. I brought her in cautiously, as to not hurt her fragile figure. Alice looked like she hadn't eaten for weeks, her veins and bones shot out of her pale, porcelain skin. I peered into her beautiful fresh green eyes. She was scared, her tears welled in them. Fear was read across her gorgeous face. I pulled her into a tight hug; I no longer can hold the worries for her. She seemed hurt beyond repair. She sobbed harder in my long, blond hair that I didn't bother to tie up.
Slowly, I pulled her away from me and looked at her straight in the eye; it was a lot to take to keep looking in them. I discovered fear, worry but there was something else, probably a little hope. I knew Alice was the type who was impeccably strong. I trusted her to keep a hold on to the silver little hope that I saw in her blue orbs.
"He's found out; He has come to get my son and our family. Help me Narcissa, you're my only chance" she rushed through her words. I saw the pain in her, the burden she held. I don't know what to do. Even my own family was never released from the evil crimes and deeds of the Dark Lord. We were forced to his orders. But if Alice had faith in me, I would do whatever it took to help her, I'm sure she would only make choices based on her wise decision.
"I don't know Alice; I have no power at all against him, I-..."
"Narcissa, I have faith in you. I know he doesn't know of Hermione..." She produced a baby basket out of nowhere. Her tears welled once more. I felt so touched, she was protecting her only daughter, and she trusted me with that. But, I don't know if I could take care of Hermione but at the same time keep her identity intact. I shook my head, this made Alice cry harder. But, she sniffed hard and gulped her tears. "I know I can trust you with Hermione, I have seen you dealt with Draco and Lucius. I saw how you could bear the fact that Lucius was forced as a Death Eater. You have dealt with it. And you still put faith in him that when everything was over he would return to his real person. I know how hard it is to swallow the truth that the Dark Lord has chosen your son to become a Death Eater even before he could properly speak. Please, Narcissa, you're a strong woman and I only trust you with her. Just promise to protect her from him. I beg you, Narcissa..."
I pulled her into a hug and that was when I saw the baby. An innocent and beautiful baby that could make anybody laughs and cries at the same time. She had the magnificent curly brunette hair of her mother and the brown, round eyes of her father, Eric Birchwood that was full of honesty. I was struck by the thought of this little baby losing her parents and brother. I know that she would have to learn it one day, but for the time being, she needed car and love for her. She deserved a family to welcome her when her parents are...-are...-"
"Alice, I will protect your daughter with all my life. I will be sure she would lead a happy and safe life. I will try my best" I gathered up all my strength and faced her beautiful eyes. She was filled with happiness, she was relieved and grateful. I don't need her to tell me what she felt; I could read it in her eyes. She was readable to me. Maybe it was because I have known her for nearly my whole life. I gave her the most assuring smile that I could put on.
She smiled her last smile and said, "I put my trust in you not because I hope you could but because I know you could". I was puzzled, not entirely but I felt that she had more words to say on that but I couldn't quite place it yet...
"Mother, it's time" Draco announced. He realised his mother staring of into the wall. He wasn't sure what she was thinking of but he knew that whatever it was his mother would tell him soon one day. "Alright Draco, I'll be there, just hold on" Narcissa replied. Narcissa had returned from her flashback. She grabbed her clutch bag and headed out the door. Draco seemed to notice that her movements were stiff and she had that look on her eyes, it said that she wasn't really here, her mind was somewhere else. That seemed to worry him; he really hoped his mother wasn't upset or worried about something. But he kind of recognised that look, he had seen it before. His mother wore it when she was regretting something or there was a promise she didn't get to fulfil...