CHAPTER ONE: Reaching Out

Narcissa had been absentmindedly drumming on the windowsill for a good half an hour now. Over the last three days, she'd used up a number of excuses to spend time in the sitting room, sneaking lingering glances out the window, but now she'd dropped all pretences and spent her time simply waiting. Ever since she'd written that damn letter she'd been completely unable to relax. Even sleep was evading her.

A distant screech of a bird made its way into the room, causing the blonde witch to start forwards hopefully, only to sit back down again. Lucius raised an eyebrow but didn't look up from his book. That was all he did these days, read the same dusty old volumes, over and over, in the sitting room. To tell the truth, their marriage was barely a marriage anymore. It was more of a convenient living arrangement. They ate together twice a day and the polite conversation that ensued was usually their only form of interaction for the day. It was a shame; they used to be almost inseparable. She missed him. It had become clear to her, lately, that war changes everything. Narcissa sighed and continued watching out the window, waiting for the letter that she was beginning to suspect would never arrive.

"Merlin's beard, would you give it a REST!" Lucius snapped.

"Excuse me?" Narcissa was shocked. "I didn't realise my presence caused you so much discomfort, Lucius!"

"Oh, I don't give a damn if you sit there wasting your time for the rest of your life." he sneered. "However, if you fail give that pathetic tapping on the sill a rest; I'm afraid I do have an objection!"

She hadn't even noticed. "I'm sorry, Lucius. I didn't mean to disturb you."

He grunted and went back to his reading.

That night, Narcissa lay alone in her bed. She hadn't shared a room with Lucius since before the War, not properly, and never for more than a few minutes whenever the two of them desperately craved some human contact. She had her eyes closed, but did not sleep – simply lay there, passing the time. All of a sudden, she sat bolt upright. Either the lack of sleep was making her delusional, or there had been a sharp tapping on her window. Narcissa leapt out of bed and flew to the window, drawing back the curtains. Sure enough, the snowy white owl was ruffling its feathers impatiently as if it was the usual to deliver at this time.

With shaking hands, she untied the parchment from the bird's claws, and it took off into the night. Scolding herself for being so ridiculous, and deciding that she was only trembling from the chill of the night air, she closed the window quietly. After snuggling under the covers, she took in a deep breath and unrolled the parchment.

Narcissa –

I will waste no time expressing my complete shock in hearing from you after all these years. I accepted years ago that I would never hear from either of my sisters again – I knew I had committed the ultimate crime against our family and would never be forgiven.

Your advance is, surprisingly, not an unwelcome one, although you may have feared so due to my delayed response. It was painful to be reminded of certain memories that I cannot help but associate with your family and its connections with the movement that cruelly took my husband, daughter and son in law from me.

However, after some thought, I believe you are not to blame. Given our upbringing, I am not surprised that the majority of our family tree ended up on the wrong side of the War, and you had to stick with your family. I always admired that quality in you, your sense of pride and duty to your family, no matter what happened. Of course, when I was young, I simultaneously detested that quality too. I hated our family; our parents, their outdated beliefs, and their treatment of muggles and 'mudbloods'. So much that I ran away with one and never looked back.

We may have lived our lives apart, and we may have once been on opposing sides of a merciless War, Narcissa, but we are sisters, first and foremost. Our relationship was so strong when we were young, and it is a shame that it ended so abruptly. It deserves to be rebuilt.

I must enquire after your son, Draco... and Lucius. I do hope they are well.

Yours,

Andromeda

Smiling, and with tears in her eyes, Narcissa rolled up the parchment and placed it under her pillow. For the first time in days, she slept.

Andromeda was so, so tired. She had aged beyond her years, but she still had her beauty. Not that there was any need for it now. Being a widow, grandmother and guardian at the same time took precedence over caring for her appearance. Young Teddy Lupin simply had far too much energy for Andromeda to cope with all day... so much like his mother, although when she was a child Andy was far more capable of keeping up. When Harry stopped by at lunchtime to pick up his godson – for a sleepover no less! – she could have wept with relief. Harry really was such a help to her. He was always checking in to make sure she was okay and she wasn't too lonely.

As she settled down in a comfy chair by the fire, she let out a breath she felt she had been holding in for days. Just as she started to truly relax, there came a screeching from the back garden, following by a tap on the window. Andromeda sighed and pulled herself out of the chair. Removing the letter from the owl's grip, she was surprised to see her sister's handwriting again so soon. Narcissa must have been eagerly awaiting her letter to have replied that quickly.

She took her place by the fire again and poured over her younger sister's words. It seems Narcissa had been waiting a long time for someone to talk to, because the letter was many pages long and told in great detail the stories of Draco's success at the ministry, Lucius's troubles, the depressing state of their marriage, and her loneliness and boredom at the Malfoy Manor. It was as if she was having a deep-and-meaningful session with a close friend over a cup of tea, rather than writing the second letter of a tentative correspondence with a sister she hadn't seen since their school days forty years ago. Andromeda was glad. Her sister's open, friendly manner made this out-of-the-blue correspondence easier for the both of them.

The brunette witch laid the parchment down on the fireplace, closed her eyes, and lay back in her chair. She really had to make the most of these blessed hours of peace. Narcissa could wait a little longer for her next letter.

It was dark, and it was silent. The moon shone brightly over the still forest. All had been calm for hours, and then abruptly, three events took place in quick succession. There was a small rustling in a leafy bush, followed by the slightest of movements from a dark figure by the hollow of an old tree, and a startling flash of bright green light.

Bellatrix crept slowly out of her hiding place, wand at the ready. She was breathing rapidly and repeatedly glancing around in every direction. Reaching the bush, she lunged into it and tore the plant apart. Lying at the base was a small, white rabbit. Bellatrix chuckled darkly. She grabbed the lifeless creature and skipped back to her hollow.

"Dinner," she breathed, her eyes glazed over and glowing in the moonlight. Licking her lips and cackling softly to herself, she sliced open the animal and without even cooking it first, began her meal.

She was hungry - she was starving - and she had completely lost her mind.

This is my first attempt at a multi-chapter story, so reviews are very much appreciated! I have another chapter written but it won't be going up unless I know people want to read on. Thank you!