A/N: Sorry for the delay! Life, ya know? I'd like to send a hugeeeee thank you to Lunaluvr95 who has agreed to Beta for me. Hopefully this will help keep me on a better update schedule.
This chapter is dedicated to the anonymous reviewer who wanted more! Hope you all enjoy and please review!
November 6, 1980
"Bloody hell, Ariella, where have you been?" Narcissa hissed. She grabbed Ellie's arm and hauled her through the front door of Malfoy Manor. "Bella and the others got back nearly six hours ago. I've been worried sick! Come into the drawing room and sit down. I'll get you fetch you a cup of tea."
Ellie wasn't really sure what to expect when she arrived at the Malfoy's home at one in the morning, but this was far from any expectation she'd had. Narcissa had thrown the door open looking like she'd been up all night. Of course, for her this only meant that she hadn't changed into her nightclothes. Her platinum hair and makeup were still holding perfectly. Ellie was led down the entrance hall, past generations of portraits, and into the darkly decorated drawing room. She took at seat in front of the marble fireplace at Narcissa's instruction and waited as her tea was fetched.
A few minutes later, Narcissa returned, thrusting a warm, ornately painted china cup into her hands. "You must tell me what happened. Bella says she saw you hex that Meadows woman and then take off around the corner. Surely you knew better than to leave the others? It's far too easy for the Order to pick you off if you get separated. You really mustn't be so reckless, Ariella."
Ellie blinked dumbly at the witch, tea untouched in her hands.
"Well? What happened?"
Shaking herself from her stupor, Ellie told her everything that had happened once she and Ari met in the alley. Narcissa listened intently, gasping when Ellie described seeing her sister's face staring up at her from the pile of bricks.
"Oh you poor dear," She left her seat in the chair opposite Ellie and joined her on the couch. "You mustn't blame yourself." Taking Ellie's hands in hers, she continued, "It was an accident. Besides you told Estella multiple times that being in the Order was too dangerous."
"I-I did? I mean, yes, I did."
Narcissa patted her hands, "It'll be alright. The others left a while ago, but you can stay here as long as you need. If you'd like, you can stay the night and I will accompany you to the funeral tomorrow."
At this, Ellie perked up, "Oh could we? I was hoping my parents had told you something. I'd feel terrible if I missed her funeral."
Narcissa looked at her like she had three heads. "'Her funeral'? Do you mean Ellie's? Why on earth would we go to that? I was talking about Evan's."
"Evan? Who is-Oh yes. Yes, of course. My fiance." Ellie had completely forgotten about that little detail. Wait….She cast of surprised look at Narcissa, "He was killed?"
Narcissa clasped both hands over her mouth, "Oh, Merlin," she muttered, "Of course you wouldn't know. Oh dear. Um, Evan got caught up in a duel with Mad-Eye Moody. He gave a good show, the brave boy, took a piece of his nose. But Moody got in the last shot. I'm not really sure of all the specifics. I just know that Evan died at St. Mungos a short time after the battle."
"I see...and so we're going to his funeral tomorrow. Not my sister's."
"Darling, I don't even know when her Estella's funeral is. Besides, how do you think it would look if the woman who killed her attended? The Order would eat you alive."
Ellie had not retort to that.
Narcissa sighed, "I'll find out what I can. But you must promise not to go. They all think you killed her on purpose, Ari, and for your sake, the Order and the Dark Lord need to keeping believing so."
"I understand." Ellie mumbled.
The now empty tea cup was gently pulled from her hands. "Come along. Let's get you set up in a spare room. I think you still have some night clothes here from the last time you stayed so you should feel right at home."
Ellie followed her host our of the drawing room. They continued up a flight up stairs off the main foyer. The corridors were dimly lit, the flickering shadows only adding to the overall unpleasantness of the manor. Narcissa stopped at a dark wood door. She turned the brass knob and open it to reveal a richly decorated bedroom.
"You go grab something to sleep in from the dresser. I'll turn down the bed."
Ellie pulled a pair of sleep pants and matching top from a drawer. The pajamas were grey silk. She immediately recognized them as Ari's. Ellie pressed her face into the material and inhaled.
"Are you going to keep smelling it or are you going to change?" Ellie's face reddened. She quickly slipped into the nightclothes, trying her best to keep her body hidden from Narcissa. She knew that Ari was very close to her, and it was likely Narcissa wouldn't miss the sudden appearance of a large birthmark on "Ari's" hip.
Once dressed, Ellie slipped under the sheets while Narcissa lit the fire. When she finished, she extinguished the candle on the nightstand. "All tucked in?" She patted the quilt by Ellie's feet. "Wonderful. Lucius will be gone until tomorrow afternoon, so don't worry about running into him in the morning. Just come find me when you wake up. We'll get you presentable again." She winked and made towards the door, disregarding Ellie's miffed expression.
"Goodnight, Ari."
"Goodnight, Narcissa."
The woman paused on her way out the door. "Narcissa? You haven't called me that in years."
Ellie's heart pounded in her chest. I'm caught, It's over. I lasted all of two hours as Ari before I completely mucked everything up.
A chuckled came from the doorway, "Must've been hit in the head with one of those bricks." Narcissa-no, Cissy, smiled.
Ellie let out a relieved laugh, "Must've been."
"Sleep tight." The door closed with a click.
Ellie settled down into the mattress. Though it was certainly the most expensive bed she'd ever lain in, she couldn't see herself able to fall asleep anytime soon. The emptiness in the space next to her was overwhelming. It was the first night since she'd left Hogwarts that she was without Sirius.
Sleep would have been impossible had Narcissa not drugged her tea.
"Really, Cissy?" The nickname nearly chocked her. "A sleeping draught?" Ellie stormed into the woman's bedroom.
"Oh hush. It helped didn't it? You don't look nearly as dreadful as you did last night. Although…," Narcissa stepped back from the floor length mirror that she'd been inspecting her dress in, "You're hair is still awful. Merlin, Ari, it looks just like it did before I got my hands on it at school. Have you run out of cream?"
Terribly offended, Ellie's hands flew to her hair as she ran to the mirror Narcissa had just abandoned. She had always known that Ari's hair regime far surpassed hers, but her hair wasn't awful!
Ellie was suddenly pushed from the bedroom and into the bathroom. "Sit", Narcissa demanded. Ellie found herself falling into a chair in front of a large vanity. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and withheld a scream. This mirror, unlike the larger one in the bedroom, had been spelled to show every blemish and imperfection its user had. Her skin was pale and lifeless, her hair a frizzy mess, even her eyes seemed to have dulled.
I've become a goblin.
Before she had time to further torment herself over her appearance, Narcissa's cream filled hands came down on her head. The stuff must have been made of virgin's blood and infants toenails, because its effect was immediate. The frizzy and lackluster hair became lush, vibrant curls. Just like Ari's had been. Ellie started at herself in the terrible mirror. It was the first time since she'd taken Ari's place that she felt this hairbrained plan could actually work. She smiled at the thought.
"Ah, there we are," Narcissa's eyes met hers, "Amazing what work a simple product can do, isn't it?"
"You've no idea." Ellie grinned.
Narcissa clapped her hands, "Onto your face now. I've got just the-!" She was cut off by a high pitched wail coming from down the hall. "Bloody hell. He was supposed to sleep for another hour-at least. Dobby! Get Draco!"
Draco?
The witch refocused her attention on Ellie's face. Within minutes, she looked like any other pure-blood witch-fake.
"There now," Narcissa pulled back to study her work, "Good as new. Ah! And just in time. Bring him here elf!"
Ellie withheld a flinch as a pitiful looking house elf approached with a swaddled baby in its arms. A tuff of nearly white blonde hair stuck out from above the blanket. This must be Draco, she thought. The boy was about Harry's age, only a few months old. The bundle moved and the blanket slipped down to reveal grey eyes looking straight at her. Little arms forced themselves from the blanket and stretched out towards her. Ellie found herself unable to move.
His mother scoffed, "Merlin Ari, you act as if you've never seen him before. You know he loves you. What's the poor boy going to think if his own godmother won't hold him?"
Godmother?!
Oblivious to Ellie's internal predicament, the woman continued, "I'm going to go pull you some clothes from my wardrobe. Hold Draco, would you?"
Slowly, Ellie reached out to take the baby from the house elf's arms. As far as babies went, she had to admit her was adorable. He'd grow up to be a heartbreaker. Like Harry. Unlike his mother, little Draco seemed to understand perfectly that she was experiencing an emotional upheaval. His hand extended towards her, tiny fingers curled around her hair. As much as she wanted to hate the Malfoy's, both Narcissa and Draco had welcomed her with open arms. Granted, they did think she was Ariella. Ellie ran a finger over the child's cheek. Her touch was met with a toothless grin, so endearing it immediately triggered her own smile. Realizing she'd just fallen in love with Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy's son, Ellie heaved a sigh, tucked Draco over her shoulder, and left the bathroom to find his mother.
Several minutes later they'd all assembled in the foyer. Narcissa was giving the house-elf a few last minute instructions regarding Draco. Ellie considered the woman who had treated her so kindly last night, well, except for drugging her. But she would look over that. Oddly enough, Ellie found herself respecting Narcissa. It was obvious that she wasn't as cold as she tried to portray herself to be. At the same time, her steely attitude is what kept her safe, much like her pure-blood status and the clothes she wore. Ellie was quickly realizing that she would need to put on this same armour if she were to survive this new world she'd been thrust into. Already she felt different. Her form fitting silk black dress was not something she would ever dream of wearing. Ellie was more inclined to don a sweater and comfortable trousers. While she had initially felt uncomfortable in the dress and its matching heels and elbow length gloves, the awkwardness had disappeared when she'd looked into the mirror and seen Ari staring back at her.
"Are you ready, then?" Narcissa asked while she fixed a wide brimmed hat to her head.
Nodding, Ellie put on her own pillbox hat and dress the mesh veil over her face. Resolved, she straightened her posture and stared dispassionately at Narcissa who grinned and said, "Wonderful."