Summer felt long and slow once the Lestranges went back abroad, leaving the Black manor cold and quiet. Druella and Cygnus went back and forth on holding a ball at the end of the summer until Cygnus finally insisted, stating loudly at the dinner table that they would not hide like cowards from the faces of their community.
For the first time in her life, Narcissa found herself dreading the ball. She didn't want to see anyone. Especially Lucius. She hadn't responded to a single one of his owls all summer, but he kept sending them. They piled up on her desk, each of them carefully read and set aside. Every letter made her heart sink further and further until she could almost feel it trying to crawl out her toes.
She had to break up with him. Every day leading up to the ball, it felt like it was becoming even more of a certainty. Narcissa barely slept each night. She figured, if she didn't sleep, she could stretch the days out and the day where she had to break up with Lucius would never come. She read and reread each of his letters, almost memorizing them. It was almost like having him there. Almost like he was besides her. And if she didn't write back, she wouldn't have to lie to him. She could keep pretending everything was alright and her life wasn't going to shit.
No matter what she tried, however, the day still arrived. Her mother ran around the house all morning, yelling at the house elves, trying to make sure every single detail was perfect to satisfy Cygnus. Narcissa just sat on the floor of the room, staring at the grey carpeting and listening to the faint sounds of the house being ready.
Eventually, Druella comes up and knocks on her door. "Come in," Narcissa says softly. Druella enters and lets out a sad sigh, seeing Narcissa rolled tightly on the floor, looking wilted.
"Oh, Narcissa," she says, coming to her and kneeling besides her. She reaches out and traces Narcissa's face, gently pushing back her blonde hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry, my dear. I know this has been a difficult summer. I wish there was more I could do, I…"
"Please don't make me go down," Narcissa whispers softly. "Tell papa I'm sick. Please. I don't want to go down."
"I know my dear," Druella says, wrapping her arms around her. "I know, but we have to. We've got to be strong. We've got to be brave. We're Blacks, Narcissa. The world looks to us for strength. I know this is going to be hard, but things will be easier after this. You just have to be brave tonight, okay? Just worry about tonight."
Narcissa nods, looking to her mother and trying to keep her lip from quivering.
"You know the best way to be brave?" Druella says, her fingers combing through her hair. "I'll tell you what I do whenever I need to feel brave. A little secret from me to you."
"How?" Narcissa whispers.
Druella smiles, tapping her nose. "I put on my most beautiful dress," she says. "I do my hair far more elaborately than I usually would. I put on my favorite red lipstick and I look in the mirror and make sure I'm the most beautiful woman in the world. And once I know that I look perfect, I can feel perfect, too. If the mirror shows me someone who is beautiful and confident, then I must be, too."
Narcissa looks up at Druella, taking some comfort in her words.
"How about we make you that most beautiful woman in the world?" Druella says with a smile. "I'll even let you wear my lipstick."
Narcissa can't help but smile, her lips twisting to try and stop it before giving in. "Okay, mama," she says, letting her mother help her up to her feet.
"Wait here for a moment," Druella smiles, running a hand through Narcissa's hair one last time. "I used to be your size once, my darling. I have the perfect dress for you. I haven't been able to wear it since I had Bellatrix, but I couldn't bear to part with it. It'll look so beautiful on you."
"Okay, mama," she says, feeling a rise of excitement.
Druella kisses the top of her head and then heads out of the room. She comes back a few minutes later with a red dress in her arms. It's nearly all beading with red and orange beads carefully stitched together. Druella helps her into it and then leads Narcissa in front of a mirror. The dress is far more mature than anything Druella had let her wear before, cut down nearly the length of her stomach and nearly as sheer as it is beading. It's a bit loose on Narcissa's slim body, but Druella carefully takes it in, letting the fabric hug against her frame.
"Your hair now," Druella directs, leading her to a chair in front of the mirror. She combs out Narcissa's long hair and starts working on straightening it until it lays sleek down Narcissa's back. Druella then begins to work on Narcissa's makeup, using dark tones along her eyes and a bit of shine on her cheeks. With a smile, Druella pulls out a dark blood red shade of lipstick. "My very favorite," she says, crinkling her nose. Narcissa smiles as Druella applies it, feeling as beautiful as her mother.
"Perfect," Druella says, stepping back and letting Narcissa inspect herself.
Narcissa takes a step forward and sucks in a breath. She looked like she was on fire. This was… This is how Bellatrix must feel all the time. She looked powerful. Beautiful. Her mother was right. This girl could be confident. This girl could do everything. Narcissa can't help the smile crossing her face. She turns back to her mother and throws her arms around her, hugging her tightly. "Oh, thank you," she says. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you."
Druella smiles and kisses the top of her head. "I've got to make sure your sister is all ready, but you look beautiful. Far more beautiful than I ever looked in that dress."
Narcissa beams, feeling relieved for the first time in months.
"Dance with boys," Druella encourages. "Laugh with your friends. Enjoy yourself, Narcissa. I know your father has high expectations, but don't let that keep you from having a life. You're young. When the time comes, you'll do everything you need to do. Don't worry about that. You're young, my darling, so be young. Let your father and me take care of the rest."
"I will, mama," Narcissa says with a vigorous nod.
Druella smiles and nods, kissing Narcissa's head once more. "I know you will, my baby girl. You're absolutely perfect."
Narcissa hugs her mother tightly once more before letting her go. As Druella leaves to check on Bellatrix, Narcissa returns to look herself over in the mirror. Her dress nearly glowed with each of her movements, and if she spun around, she looked like a single burning flame. She could do anything dressed like this. Anything.
