"Andora!" Narcissa hurried over to Rabastain and I as we appeared in the sitting room at Malfoy Manor. She wore a glittering blue dress and a joyful smile. She was the most genuinely happy person I knew.
"Thank you for coming," She hugged me briefly.
"Of course," She couldn't honestly have thought I would have missed it for anything. She was my best friend, after all. And it weren't as if I couldn't use a few drinks.
"And Rabastian, I'm so glad you came as well," She embraced him as well and I caught Lucius glare out of the corner of my eye. I wanted to roll my eyes, but restrained myself. The two of us in a room was trouble enough without me making things worse.
"Come, come, lets sit down," Narcissa took my hand and led me to one of the plush couches near the unlit fire place. The room was full of the sort of furniture one felt as if they weren't supposed to sit on. I had never understood that. Our manor house was full of antiques, but they were well worn, as they should be.
"Bella and Rodolphus should be arriving soon. I may not be able to convince my brother of anything, but Bella seems to have a way with him," I told her as I smoothed my dress.
"She does, doesn't she. They're made for each other," Narcissa's expression changed slightly and she seemed as if she were trying not to say something. "We've invited nearly everyone. Including Terrence. I hope you don't mind. I know the two of you aren't...exactly getting along," I wish she hadn't phrased it that way.
Narcissa had known Terrence Mulciber and his family for a long time. She considered him a good friend and a kind person. I hated to have to tell her otherwise, but there was no denying the kind of person he was. She was the one who had set us up and was overjoyed when the relationship actually lasted. She had been trying to convince me to forgive him and take him back. The problem was, not only did I not forgive him for constantly cheating on me, but he didn't want me back and more than I wanted him.
"That's alright. It's your party after all. I know the two of you are friends," Honestly, I had expected him to be there. What I hadn't been expecting was the next guest to suddenly appear in the sitting room.
Narcissa got up to greet Fenrir as I stared. I couldn't help but be repulsed that she touched him. Confounded that she was able to smile at him as easily as she smiled at everyone else. My eyes locked on hers as she walked back to the couch and I was asking her what was going on before my mouth even opened.
"I know, I know," She started, speaking quietly as she sat. "It's just...well, I invited everyone else. It would have been rude," Leave it to Narcissa. "You're not angry, are you?" I couldn't help but sigh.
"Angry, no. Unsettled, yes," My jaw tightened slightly and I couldn't make myself look at her. "I've been trying not to think about him," I stopped myself there, leaving more to be said, but wanting more than anything for that not to be the case.
The truth was, I couldn't keep him out of my mind. It was awkward and horribly uncomfortable. Our recent confrontations, the trauma of being cursed, and the deal he had made me were constantly in the back of my mind. I had been constantly surrounded by this sinking feeling that my interactions with him were far from over. Worst of all, the dreams hadn't ceased.
"Did something else happen?" Narcissa leaned forward, her voice hushed.
"No, nothing has happened," I shook my head to rid myself of my train of thought. "I need a drink," Narcissa and I linked arms as we stood and I tried to pretend she wasn't looking at me with that worried look.