Alanna timidly pushed open the door and looked around as Draco left her alone. The room was painted a dark green color, and most of the furniture was black. Alanna crept up to the huge bed and laid down on top of the covers. Her bottom lip trembled slightly as she thought about what her uncle had told her. Parents…gone? How? And why? She grasped the necklace in her fingers as small tears made tracks down her full cheeks.
She remembered when her father would rant and rave; only Mum could calm him down. When Daddy would hurt her, curse her, Mum would clean her up and tell her that everything would be alright, that things would be okay. And Alanna had believed her. And look what believing everything would be better led her!
Narcissa poked her head in the bedroom to find Alanna crying. She made her way to the bed, reaching her arms out to Alanna.
Alanna scooted over to sit by her aunt. She didn't say anything, but she didn't have to. They understood each other completely.
Narcissa held Alanna tighter and closed her eyes, hoping this was all a dream. She felt childish when she opened her eyes again and saw what she had before. Alanna looked up at her aunt and spoke in a soft voice, "Aunt Cissy?"
"Yes?"
"Why did Mummy have to leave?"
The innocent question caught Narcissa off guard. "I…don't know Alanna. Do you know what death is?"
She shook her head.
"Death is when a person stops living. Sometimes its natural; other times it's forced. When someone dies, they don't come back, they can't. Death is a permanent thing."
"How did Mum die?"
Narcissa gulped. "It was forced. Someone deliberately killed her in a battle…"
"A battle? For what?"
"For what we thought was right. Control, mostly."
"Did she win the battle? Did Mummy win?"
Narcissa's throat tightened as she whispered a quiet "No," and Alanna's eyes filled with tears again. It was quiet for a little bit, just aunt and niece, mourning together.
"I miss her."
"Me too, Alanna. Me too."