Hey there everybody!! :D This is the prologue of my second fic, Tears of Gold, well duh lol, but hey it has to be said. I probably won't get around to updating more than this for quite a while, because finally, I have managed to get these things straight in my head. I am basically planning to write three fictions, all of which will in some ways interlink but more importantly lead on a little from each other. All Over again is the first, centuring obviously on Lily, James and the Marauders. Tears of Gold will go back in time and concentrate on Lucius and Narcissa, but will also show their role in the background of AOA, which might be only hinted at . Sirius and the others will obviously makes appearnces bt through very different eyes. This fic will lead on to my final work probably which will be centered around... Well I tell you at the end of this prologue if you haven't already guessed. ;) It's quite a rough copy but it really was screaming to be written and hopefully, now my plan is worked out, I can get back to actually aclomplishing it ^^
luv ya all!!
Lili
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Tears of Gold: Prologue
It feels like it's crumbling. Eroding a little more each day in time's caress. The foundations of everything I have ever know, ever believed, all falling to pieces around me.
The dust collects despite all our best efforts. The cobwebs linger like poison ivy, snaking their way into the nooks and crannies of tarnished gold and smudged glass. Soon they'll win and tear down the last soft echo of our once legendary glory. I feel it, feel it in the stale air. The fading glow. The dying strength.
The House of Black is falling. With each stone that loosens, the proud ancient line weakens. My line. My heritage.
The time of the Purebloods is ending. Now, only I remain. The last of an impeachable bloodline, of a cursed and doomed generation, I linger like a shadow as a cold reminder of what was and what might have been. And as the new era slowly dawns, I watch, mourning silently for my family that tore itself apart.
I, Narcissa Black.
Who could have imagined how right I truly was as I wrote those words many years, many decades ago, sitting in a tired, crumbling house, in small leather-clad diary that would probably always be the closest friend I would ever have. I remember the soft embroided cover and the ornate clasp as one still manages to pull out from the past, names and hair-colours of companions and loved-ones from time gone by. Probably the one person who truly knew, truly understood my weak, naïve heart. The weaknesses that would ever hold me back, some that I wore as proudly as the diamond and sapphires, whilst others that still remained locked away beneath the façade that the world believed was I. Lucius always knew of them, using them and hating them in equal measure.
My beautiful, strong Lucius. My Nemesis and my chain. I can still see him sometimes, always as he once was, so tall, so golden and so cruel. I can still hear his old mocking laugh in the wind as it brushes my cheek, chilling my skin like his fingers that were never anything but cold. Lucius before the war came and changed him, for better and for worse.
My Grandson runs up to me, eyes sparkling with bright new life, eager and scared but so ready for this next step, next journey. I smile, a pale wrinkled hand stretching out to brush his silken hair. Lucius' hair and Draco's.
My head lifts and his eyes as ever are on my face, love and worry evident in those pools of silver. My son, my darling, my first true unselfish love. So tall, so much like his father outwardly, but inside, the echo of a younger me. He will endure, as I have, whilst all my loved ones around me have fallen. My father, mother, Bella, Snape, Roldulphus, and finally my Lucius, who now waits for me and my time, with all his unnatural patience.
Grandmamma!! The word make me drop my head once more, to smile down adoringly at little Scorpius. He points towards a family down the platform, and I follow his innocent gaze and feel the familiar clench, as the legendary heroes of the War nod and stare back at me respectfully. I return the gesture, perhaps still haughty, who knows.
Is that really THE Harry Potter Grandmamma?, he ask asks eagerly. I nod and smile at him. He's a daddy now, I laugh gently, look, he's taking his son to the train too. Off to Hogwarts just like you my angel.
And so he is. The little boy is his father in miniature, same black hair, escaping the Weasley red of his wife, and those famous green eyes that take me suddenly into the past where a young, Gryffindor prefect stares stubbornly back at me, fighting for House Unity and the right to patrol with any Slytherin prefect she likes.
I close my eyes and turn back to the angel in front of me. There's Ronald Weasley too beside him, and Hermione Granger. His eyes widen. The famous aurors? I nod again and he turns back to stare once more. Then his little face flushes and he asks shyly. And the girl Grandmamma, do you think, is she coming to Hogwarts too.
Another smile, a soft secret one but he's still looking into the little girls eyes and doesn't see it. But Draco does, just as he hears the words and he makes to open his mouth. I glance at him and he pauses, glaring at me. Then he shrugs, and turns away and I smile again for my same stubborn boy.
The train whistles, the sound dragging me back and the fight is a little harder. Scorpius nods anxiously at his father, who picks up his trunk and moves towards the train. He makes to follow before suddenly turning round and throwing himself into his mother's arms. She kisses him lovingly, holing back the tears. Then he turns to me, and as he hugs me tightly, I hear him murmur into my soft blue cardigan. I'll miss you Grandmamma. He whispers brokenly and I pull him closer, wishing my grasp wasn't so fragile. I lift his chin and kiss his forehead. Then he's off.
The potter boy and the little girl run to the train too, in the wake of two older boys, one head flaming red, the other the same unruly black as another boy I once met. A beautiful golden haired seventeen-year-old breaks off a kiss and jumps onto the express seconds before it begins to move and her lover's black hair flickers gracefully in the steam as he lifts his hand and waves. I smile and wish them luck silently, better luck than mine.
As the train moves out of sight a hundred parents and loved ones wave after it, until finally the children are gone. We sigh a little wistfully and one by one, the faces disappear. Draco turns to me and offers his arm but I shake my grey head and nod for him and Astoria to go. He looks worried and for some reason I take his beautiful head in my hands and kiss his white brow as I did his sons. Something flickers in his eyes and he whispers softly. 'I love you mother. I smile again and nod. I know, my darling, I know. I kiss Astoria' cheek and smile as the pair of them joins hands and disparate.
Nearby, Harry Potter and his most loyal friends nod one last time in my direction and once more, I return the gesture, this time with a small smile. The Boy and the Man Who Lived looks as though he wants to say something but I know there aren't really any words. I saved his life to save that of my family's, so he believes and that is right. He doesn't need to know my past and my small part in his parent's and Godparent's story. They disappear and soon the platform is all but empty.
My back creeks and Lucius' old cane taps the tiled floor loudly, making my heart ache at the memory of his typical arrogance, as I slowly make my way towards one of the metal benches. The sound echoes almost eerily down the deserted 9 ¾ Platform when suddenly a voice at my side makes my head turn.
May I help you Madam. Amber eyes stare into mine. It's the boy from earlier, the lover of the golden girl who reminded me so strongly of my youth. But his hair is no longer black as night, instead I stare at the ludicrously turquoise locks, decorated with one blonde streak that hangs over his left brow. I gasp, I cannot help it, knowing, realising finally the reason for my true inexplicable sadness this day.
He thinks it's his hair that has shocked an elderly lady and all at once, his expression is apologetic. He wrinkles his nose and his head is once more black. His beautiful eyes look shyly into mine but he grins. I beg your pardon ma'am. And miraculously, I laugh, a true clear laugh as I haven't laughed since Lucius was laid to rest.
The boy smiles back and offer's me his arm and I accept, drinking in his face and features thirstily. He leads me to the bench and gently helps me sit. I thank him and he hesitates, wondering if he should leave.
Stay a while my child. If you have time to keep an old woman company for a few minutes. The same charming grin breaks out once more over those handsome features, features I hadn't thought to see again. Bella's strong, determined chin, his father's frighteningly golden eyes and dimples, dimples I envied both of them so much, dimples I recognise anywhere.
He sits beside me. I shut my eyes for the briefest moment, as the words from so long ago echo in my ears, once frightening, now merely sad. Reminding me of a choice that was never really in question.
Not much longer now. I know it as certain as the sun would rise tomorrow. Lucius' hand is on my shoulder but I turn back to my Great Nephew and smile for just a little longer.
Tell me about yourself, my child. And he does.
So there you go. Yes it'll be a Teddy and victoire fic in case you really didn't get the whole thing lol. Tell me what you think if you like but don't feel obliged, this is, as I said a little bit more of a sketch of what is to come, but I just HAD to get it out of my systme lol.
luv ya
Lili
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