Magic
~Blasts From The Past~
Long shimmering strands that seemed to be spun from golden threads, spilled over her shoulders in soft waves as she wept piteously. Yet the stringing tears did nothing to mar her exquisite beauty for even shrouded in gloom the portrait of loveliness refused to leave her.
"Oh don't cry, you're making me sad…" Mytle implored with feeling, hovering next to the lone girl splendidly decked in black, silky pyjamas at the edge of the pool-like bath in the Prefects' bathroom. "Those girls are stupid, they're jealous because you're beautiful like a princess, rich and clever and powerful and kind unlike your crazy sister and boys simply adore you especially your boyfriend, that handsome Malfoy boy…"
Her shiny blonde head jerked up. "That snarky, arrogant, conceited, hypocrite twit is not my boyfriend!"
"Now… now…" Mytle cooed. "Tell me what happened, did those girls bully you again?"
"They're spreading malicious rumours about me adoring adolescent girls," she sniffed, daintily dabbing her eyes with the back of her slender, polished fingers. "All I did was to kiss that sweet first year Gryffindor girl on her cheeks because she returned my sapphire bracelet that my uncle gave me, she saw I'd dropped it in the library."
"Cissa… Cissa, you should be a Hufflepuff," Mytle shook her head. "You are too soft on those whores…"
"Language, Mytle," Narcissa chided, her luscious lips though, were hinting into a smile. "Not fitting for a young lady."
"I am way older than you are," Mytle retorted as she floated right into her face, squealing away in delight when Narcissa tried to splash some of the bubbly warm water at her. "I bet if I had lived I'd be even prettier than…. Cissa? Don't frighten me..."
The ghost watched in horror as Narcissa's entire form convulse, appearing to be having a seizure of the most painful genus. "Mytle… you're my real friend…" she rasped, the blue in her eyes was fast diminishing, "get Dumbledore now… tell no one…"
Thick, cloudlike mists swirled and now a fatigued looking Narcissa was seen lounging in a green armchair in Dumbledore's private chambers. The Headmaster himself was seen perched on his bed, anxiously watching her.
"The two Saviours are the ones who are going to put an end to that hateful mad wizard aren't they, Professor?" Narcissa put across the query quietly in a single breath, looking directly into his eyes. "Because if they are, I want a hand in this, I believe I do have the right."
Dumbledore's pair of brilliant blue orbs traced deep into her own cool blue pools. "I see that you are a natural Legilimens and an Occlumens as well, my child," he said quietly. "No one, not even your uncle has ever quite managed to deflect my utmost subtle yet lethal probing."
Narcissa sighed. "I'd rather not have these abilities, I can't seem to control them whenever I'm emotionally hyper," she admitted ruefully, suddenly interested in admiring her black satin bed slippers. "It's unnerving to inadvertently float into people's minds without them even realising it."
"You have gifts that others could only dream of, Narcissa," Dumbledore reminded gently. "Those gifts will better with age, do you wish me to guide you, child?"
Her head bobbed up again, hopeful eyes searching for his. "I'd welcome your guidance but only if you would allow me the exclusive privilege of guarding the two mysterious Saviours."
"This isn't the first time you're being indulged with a Prophecy is it?" he replied with a query.
Well in-bred manners probably prevented her from slanting scathing retorts at him for evading her request yet another time. "Twice I dreamt of a cheeky, laughing dragon with silver scales that shone like the finest of diamonds, first he mocked me for naming my child after him when the father is an airhead and a vain poncey git."
Dumbledore's sparkling bark of laugh startled her. "My apologies, do indulge me more."
"Another occasion saw the dragon bring me flying with him, so high that my hair grazed the misty skies," she sighed softly, smiling at the memory. "After indulging me across the universe and back, he landed in front of a handsome house, there was a child, a toddler at the doorstep, sobbing his poor little heart out, he had thick, sooty hair and brilliant green eyes but it was his scar, like a fiery bolt of lightning, so red and raw carved on his forehead and it looked to be extremely painful to the poor child that had me broken into tears but the silver dragon told me not to worry about feisty Harrius, my own fiery Draconis will watch over him."
Dumbledore's startled gasps were lost as whiteness probed in again and a cold looking but still as beautiful as ever adult Narcissa was seen seated across Dumbledore in a small Muggle café right opposite King's Cross station.
"I have discarded my gracious, gentle bearing readily to favour one of extreme coldness, wickedness and a Muggle hating witch to boot simply to honour my words to you, Albus," she said calmly. "Now you're asking me to consider bonding with that vile excuse of a man who I'm sure will toss me away at the first hint of danger."
Dumbledore granted her a knowing chuckle. "Apparently his virile, handsome stature doesn't bother you one bit, Narcissa."
Narcissa's cool demeanour went down several notches, her flawless porcelain complexion blotched crimson. "With all due respect, Albus, I'm a healthy grown woman and you're the one who tasked me to get closer to him," she gritted unbecomingly. "Lusty passion does not equal to love, Headmaster."
"For what he is inside, he really loves you with all his soul and he'll never desert you, that I know for certain," Dumbledore returned quietly. "Sometimes it's less heart-aching to be with someone who loves you more, my child."
Her eyes pooled and spilled, her quiet tears cut short when another scene came by.
Two women were seen embroiled in an embrace so tight it appeared they were practically joined as one on the bed. Two boys, toddlers to be exact, one was blond haired and the other was a stark contrast of the blackest black were heard gurgling as they wrestled one another in the wooden playpen nearby.
"I'm glad you came, I've missed you, Cissa," Lilly grinned when the hug broke. "James is going mad with boredom."
"I was so worried when Sirius told me he's meeting James for some serious round of Firewhiskey, leaving you all alone here with Harry," Narcissa responded furiously and then grew distracted when a sudden shriek sounded from one of the boys. "Draco! Stop smothering Harry with your icky kisses!" she rapped out sharply and that sent young Draco pouting and huffing to the corner of the large playpen. "Behave yourself!"
Lily's peals of laughter rang out when tiny sized Harry, speedily crawled over to Draco, cooing what-not baby talk in an attempt to soothe his distressed playmate. Both women shared an amused look when Draco began running his curious little fingers to comb through Harry's messy hair and the smaller boy was seen grinning delightedly, obviously only too happy to be the blond's focus of attention again.
"I've been inside Peter's mind, a part of it was being barred from intrusion that even I couldn't manage to break in," Narcissa spoke again in a voice tinted with a hint of hysteria as she took Lilly's hands in hers. "I'm just worried that my worst fear, my dream will come to pass, my friend."
"James said Peter would never betray him but I never did like Peter very much," Lily confided, voice brittle with bitterness. "This place is heavily warded and protected by Dumbledore himself." She soon rested her forehead against Narcissa's whilst the two boys, arms draped around one another, watched on quietly like as though they could sense their mothers' distress. "I will be fine, Cissa, don't worry so much."
Narcissa's deflated sigh was barely heard in the mist as the scene changed yet again.
"How dare you?!" Narcissa let out a shrill wail, looking quite demented with unrestrained fury, wild fists pummeling at Dumbledore's thin chest as they stood over Lily's grave. "How dare you give him away to those infernal Muggles! Lily entrusted him to me! I made her a promise to protect Harry with my life, Albus! What don't I have that gives that horsy, jealous Petunia the rights to protect my helpless godson?!"
Dumbledore mumbled a wandless spell to shield them from prying eyes before gently tugging her wily hands away. "You do not have the same blood that flowed in Lily's veins, Narcissa and only that will make him live long enough until he finds his own strength."
Defeated, Narcissa dropped to the ground, her heart wrenching sobs faded as the waves of mists came by again.
"Dobby, dear," Narcissa said with an affectionate pat on the elf's wrinkly head. "You must hint to my pretty godson of the ways to set you free from your link with us."
Dobby threw his head down on her lap, tears leaked from his eyes, some spilled onto the quilted bedcover. "Mistress is not wanting Dobby?" he wept. "Dobby is loving Mistress much… Who is taking care of Mistress and Master Draco if Dobby gone?"
"I love you too you know." Narcissa tickled his batty ears. "But you do want to be a hero like Harry don't you? Besides, breaking free doesn't mean you can't come visit me anytime you wish and being free without a master means that you can keep my secrets from my husband, Dobby. "
Dobby's large, glassy eyes sparkled at her words. "Dobby be happy so long as Mistress is loving Dobby," he hiccuped the remains of his sobs away. "Dobby promise to keep secrets for Mistress."
"Oh my precious, Dobby…"
Narcissa's wistful smile that was glistening with tears dissolved into the thick swirling mists and the change of scene saw Dobby jumping up and down excitedly on one of the long kitchen tables while the rest of Hogwarts' elves eyed them in a curious mix of curiosity and adoration.
"Dobby, what're you doing here?" Harry said in amazement.
"Dobby has come to work at Hogwarts, sir!" Dobby squealed excitedly. "Professor Dumbledore gave Dobby and Winky jobs, sir!
"Winky?" said Harry. "She's here too?"
"Yes, sir, yes!" said Dobby, and when he seized one of Harry's hands, no one saw that tiny speck of something shiny in between his knobbly little fingers stick onto Harry's forefinger and the tracking charm blended seamlessly into the boy's skin.
The next scene revealed Narcissa standing face to face with Mundungus in a discreet corner at Dervish & Banges, a rather grand looking store of which its marked trade was dealing with magical instruments.
"You will cross path with Aberforth and offer to sell Sirius' mirror to him," she murmured, her usually emotionless eyes went overly bright as she gazed into Mundungus' unfocused ones. "You will not remember this moment."
The second Narcissa Disapparated, leaving no hint of a crackle in the air, Mundungus stomped out of the store, muttering that he really needed to have a shot of Firewhiskey in Hogs Inn.
The following scene saw Narcissa in her own bedroom holding a small, silver frame in her hands.
"Have you got words for me from Albus, eldest Grandfather?" she questioned.
"A change of ownership is in dire need, whatever that means," replied Phineas, scowling at her curt tone. "And I will not be spoken to like that in future, young lady!"
Narcissa ignored him, frowning in concentration before breaking into a reverent beam. "It's risky but I must act now…"
Phineas huffed loudly as he exited, bringing in the mists again and the scene was now in the Forest of Dean. Harry, Ron and Hermione were seen chattering in their tent. None of them apparently saw that Narcissa was sitting right next to Harry.
"He's abroad! He's still looking for the Wand, I knew it!" Harry whooped.
"Harry!" Hermione tossed him a disbelieving look. "The wand is just a myth, folklore."
"Call out his name…" Narcissa whispered into Harry's left ear. "Call out his name…"
Harry blinked. "Come on, Hermione, you know it's true, Vo… "
"HARRY, NO!" Ron turned ashen with horror.
"Call out his name…" Narcissa whispered, more urgently this time. "Now…"
"…ldemort's after the Elder Wand!"
"The name's Taboo!" Ron yelled, leaping to his feet just as loud cracks sounded outside. "I told you, Harry, I told you, we can't say it…"
Soundlessly Narcissa disappeared and the scene swiftly switched into one that held fallen chandelier, green and red jets were shooting free flow at Malfoy Manor's extravagant living hall. Amidst the chaos, Draco's eyes flashed with a ray of hope when Harry grabbed all the three wands from him.
Had his attention been not so focused on Harry, he probably wouldn't have missed that split second knowing upturn of Narcissa's mouth or the slight gasp of relief that escaped past her lips.
In another abrupt flash the scene was now at the heart of the Forbidden Forest.
"Is Draco alive? Is he in the castle?" Narcissa breathed, fingers digging into Harry's chest, her lustrous, crowning glory shielded every eye away from his face.
No one saw her eyes slipped into slits and she appeared to be in some form of pain that seemed to gather in her head. A close distance away, Voldermort's serpent-like eyes burned coal red. His primary focus was aimed at her rather than the fallen saviour.
"Yes," Harry breathed through tightly lidded eyes.
When her eyes sparked to open fully again and then glinted with an eerie gleam of the brightest hue of blue, Voldermort's fiery gaze contracted into one of mad glee because he thought he had won.
"He is dead!" Narcissa called out her lie.
The white mists came by just in time to drown out the shouts of triumphs ringing all around them, bringing Draco and Harry out of the Pensive that hoarded all of Narcissa's most shielded memories.
"Vanishio…"
The Pensive went out of sight when Narcissa moved her lips without the need of a wand.
"Wicked…" Draco muttered in awe.
Several long moments of prominent silence stretched before Harry, feet unsteady, face burdened with an emotion so heavy it seemed to weigh on his entire body, making him rely heavily on Draco's firm grip on his arm with every step taken as they made their way slowly to her at the edge of the long table.
"It was you, wasn't it?" Harry let out a wondrous whisper as his gaze met hers. "I always had that feeling someone was watching over me all those years when I was in Privet Drive, those cold winter nights while I was shivering in that cupboard and all of a sudden I felt warm, at times feeling well fed when I should be starving…" His voice broke but a brief handclasp from Draco spurred him on. "Those strange feelings of inner comfort that came out of nowhere when I felt all alone and not worth living at all."
"I made a promise to your mom, Harry," Narcissa said, tentatively reaching out all ten fingers to cup his cheeks, eyeing him longingly, "she's the only one friend who knew every secret of my heart."
Next to him, a contented looking Draco remained silent as his mother, all teary eyed drew Harry into her arms. Godmother and Godson reunited at last.
"I hate to interrupt, Mother but I think I can hear Father huffing outside, " he finally informed with a straight face, pointing at the drawing room door, generously ignoring Harry's rather unmanly sniffing, "I assume he doesn't know yet?"
Very gently, as if afraid that breaking the hug would break him like some fragile piece of china, Narcissa pulled away but not before planting a sound peck on Harry's forehead who in turn, glowed rosy pink.
"Oh he'll be thrilled to know," she shrugged but was looking at Harry instead. "You're not obliged to spare my husband any niceties at all, Harry."
"I don't intend to," Harry said and then immediately tapped on a sheepish grimace, "I'm sorry, Narcissa, that wasn't what I meant…."
"That was exactly what you meant," Draco snorted.
Harry slanted him a furious glare. "Stop interrupting me!"
"I was just stating the fact!"
"Boys, please, aren't you both tired of it already?"
Appearing deaf to her pleas, the two continued their pointless bickering, apparently not seeing that one huge radiant grin playing on Narcissa's lovely lips as she trotted leisurely to the door.
~TBC~
A/N: Ahem… Some small parts were quoted from the books to make it seem more real, or at least I hope so ^_^
