Disclaimer: all right to go to the rightful owners, I only come up with the storyline.
This is the second time I have written the story, I'm adding a few changes and and a couple different storylines.
The sun sat high in the sky shining brightly over Hogwarts, radiating heat down below. The May breeze was flowing gracefully through the trees on the castle grounds. It was the perfect Spring day.
But, in the midst Nature's beauty sat tragedy.
The battle of Hogwarts was over, but not without great loss. The castle was damaged, blood had been shed, and the emotional pain was endless. The light flow of the wind caught Narcissa Malfoy's blonde locks as the wife and mother stood at the edge of the grounds. She watched from afar as her husband and son had been apprehended. The two men stood in a line with magically charmed shackles in a large group of Voldemort's followers. The ones who hadn't been able to getaway.
After the downfall of Lord Voldemort most death eaters vanished as quickly as possible, some weren't so lucky thanks to many Auror's, professors, and a few select talented Wizards. Narcissa couldn't help but be impressed by young Ginny Weasley's talent as she seemed to stop the majority of the people from escaping that was now being taken away to Azkaban.
Lucius Malfoy stood tall in the line of men but for the first time since Narcissa had known her husband—he didn't look as proud as he once had but he still showed no fear, though she knew he was scared. She knew her husband well and she knew if anything he was just as relieved as anyone else that Voldemort was gone. Thrilled even.
Although, as tall as he stood her eyes couldn't be torn away from her son, her Draco. The seventeen-year-old blonde-haired boy stood in the middle and looked utterly terrified. Narcissa nibbled at her bottom lip as she watched the lot vanish with a wave of Kingsley's wand, knowing any moment they would be standing at the gates of Azkaban. Narcissa felt weak in her knees when she looked in the spot where her son had been standing previously. How could she have let things come this far?
How could she have let this happen to her—their boy?
Narcissa stood there for a moment longer debating on returning back to Malfoy Manor but before she could leave there was one thing she had to do.
The blonde wiped her tears away and made her way into the castle. She walked through the halls observing the demolition and some of the random scorch marks from a curse or spell that had collided with a wall. It was the blood marks that made her want to crumble on the floor. Narcissa wrapped her arms around her body holding herself. She was normally a very formal person, careful not to show face in front of others but for the first time in her life, she found herself unable to hide the emotion seeping to the surface.
All heads turned and eyes directed at Narcissa when she took her first step into the great hall, she wasn't shocked. She wasn't even fazed—instead, she kept her head down doing her best to tune out the whispers of those she walked by. It made her shudder at the sight of all the bodies spread along the great hall, with loved ones gathering to pay their respects and to speak their goodbyes.
After what seemed like the longest walk of her life Narcissa finally reached the corner where very few bodies lay and no one stood mourning them. The blonde looked down into the face of Voldemort, lifeless.
Although, if she was being honest he didn't look much different from when he was alive. She was certain he was born without a soul—the only difference is he was lacking a heartbeat. He was lacking life and unlike many of the others, she had known Narcissa was unfazed by it. In fact, she had been praying for this day since he had returned.
She was just as proud of Harry Potter for his triumph as anyone else in the room.
Although, it was Tom Riddle after all and he had a tendency of not staying dead too long.
Narcissa drew her foot back and gave him a swift kick to the groin—he didn't move. She repeated this action once more, this time her foot hitting the side of his rib cage. She continued this for a few moments—sharing the similarities of a child being refused a piece of candy.
"I assure you he is dead Mrs. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall said as she approached the woman.
Narcissa felt her cheeks redden when she noticed that not only had Professor McGonagall noticed but so had everyone else within the walls of the great hall.
Narcissa held her head high—as if what she had done was remotely disturbing and said: "Just making sure, he is like a pop-up book from hell you know"?
According to a few smiles and giggles from a select few she wasn't the only one who shared her opinion of the dark man.
Professor McGonagall nodded in agreement with her lips pressed together in a line—if Narcissa didn't know any better she would have thought she was smiling but McGonagall would never admit it and Narcissa would never believe her if she did. "We have run many, many different magical tests. He is gone. As is your sister" she held out her hand in Bellatrix's direction.
It was then that Narcissa laid her eyes upon her sister who laid next to Voldemort and much like him she didn't look any different than when she was alive. It looked as though someone had placed her hands together overlapping one another resting on her stomach, but she couldn't think of anyone who would be so kind—her sister certainly didn't deserve it from anyone. Narcissa crouched down next to Bellatrix observing her sister for the last time and she wanted to cry because that was her sister but she felt nothing but a weight lift off of her chest. It was strange to look at someone that she had spent the majority of her life with and to feel nothing. Narcissa knew she should be sad about her sister's death—mourn even but couldn't seem to find any pain within herself.
The middle-aged woman's hands found their way around her sister's neck and fiercely jerked the necklace she had been wearing off.
When she stood Professor McGonagall looked at Narcissa curiously with her head tilted to the side.
"It was my necklace the wench stole it after she got out of Azkaban," Narcissa said without blinking as she slid the necklace in the pocket of her robes. "Our mother left it for me when she died". She paused for a moment without taking another glance down, like she felt any other sister would, she took a deep breath and walked away as she announced: "that will be all I need over here".
Narcissa was certain that Professor McGonagall thought she was mad. She came over to beat on Voldemort's dead body, stole a necklace from her sister's dead body, and left without shedding a tear over what you would assume was a great loss without so much as a tear.
Maybe she was a little mad or altogether just bloody insane but standing there she felt no emotion. It was the first time in her life that she felt as if she could breathe.
Narcissa walked through the great hall watching as those around her mourn the loss of their loved one. The tears and the goodbyes broke the mother's heart, especially whenever she saw Molly Weasley hunched over Fred Weasley planting small kisses on his forehead.
"Here you are," Narcissa told Molly handing her a small handkerchief as she stood next to her.
Molly, like the rest of the red-headed community surrounding Fred, looked shocked but she took the handkerchief with a small and forced smile "thank you".
Narcissa wasn't even sure how she had managed to force a smile as she sat next to her son.
"I'm greatly sorry for your loss," Narcissa said as she rubbed Molly's back.
Molly wrapped her small warm hand around Narcissa cold one finding comfort in the woman who she had known as a foe.
"We should never have to bury our children," Narcissa said. "But, as you do just remember that he was a brave wizard and you won't today but one day you will find comfort in that".
Molly was stunned by Narcissa. She spoke such kind words but still held such a cold disposition and yet she felt no one else better to console her.
Narcissa rose to her feet and turned to face the rest of the Weasley family.
"Harry tells us what you did for him" Ginny was the first to speak. "He wouldn't be—none of us would be alive if it wasn't for your bravery".
"Not many—no one else would have done what you did in your position," Hermione told her. "Thank you".
Harry was the first to step toward her and despite their kind words she couldn't help but feel a slight sense of worry rush over. That was until Harry reached his hand out, he didn't smile but not many people could in this current position.
Narcissa nodded her head as she shook Harry Potter's hand softly.
Harry glanced around, curiously "Where is Draco"? He asked her. "I would have thought he would be with you"?
Narcissa shook her head softly, shocked that he was unaware of her son's whereabouts but she hadn't seen him leave the inside of the castle since the defeat of Voldemort "he was arrested. Anyone with a dark mark has been taken to Azkaban until further notice".
"How did you manage to slip through the cracks"? Ron asked, although by the looks his family gave him he realized that maybe those weren't the right things to say.
Narcissa wasn't stunned by his question though, it was a logical one after all.
She reached down and pulled her right sleeve up and then her left one showing them her bare arms. "I was never a death eater. I have never killed anyone or shot an unforgivable curse except in class when I was young. Unfortunately, I was born and married into the wrong families".
"Bellatrix was the bad sister, I was the good sister, and poor Cissy was caught somewhere in between" she heard. It had been years since Narcissa had heard that voice, it had changed briefly with age but she knew without turning around that it was her sister who stood behind her. "Just looking to please our parents".
"Dromeda" Narcissa said as she turned and came face to face with her older sister.
"Hello, little sister," Andromeda said softly looking into the twin grey eyes they both shared. She turned to the Weasleys "she always just wanted to follow the rules that our mother and father sat for us. Bella and I broke them, both in many different ways but Cissy just wanted to please them. Isn't that right"?
Narcissa didn't hesitate before wrapping her arms around her elder sister, for the first time knowing neither her parents nor her husband was lurking over her shoulder. She breathed a long sigh of relief as she hugged her sister.
"Oh, how I needed that," Andromeda said stifling as she fought a cry.
Narcissa leaned away and looked back at her sister, it had been so long that she hadn't even noticed her sister was distraught. She had been crying.
"Wha-"? Narcissa asked her, unable to truly finish her sentence.
"It's Dora" she explained to her. "She died. She was killed. Her and—". Andromeda paused looking into the eyes of Narcissa as she hated to be the one to tell her. "Remus" she spoke his name softly as if she had burning hot sauce on her tongue.
Andromeda saw it in her little sister's eyes she wanted to be a supportive sister that had never been. She wanted to hug her and make the pain of losing her daughter go away but Narcissa couldn't think past the name she just spoke. Instead, her hands began to shake rapidly and noticeably as Andromeda held them in her own.
Narcissa shook her head rapidly as if she had misheard her sister. "Re—Remus"? She asked. She watched as her sister nodded slowly. "That can't... no. Where is he? I have to see him"?
"Cissy, calm down you're going to make a scene," Andromeda told her younger sister. "The kind of scene you don't want Lucius to know about".
"I don't give a damn about Lucius " Narcissa barked. "Where the hell is he"? She demanded scanning the room unable to see through the crowds of people.
"Here" Andromeda spoke taking her sister's hand. "I will take you to him but you have to calm down first".
Narcissa nodded, despite her efforts she knew she wasn't calm and she wouldn't be.
Andromeda quietly led her sister through the hall, the two noticed how there weren't as many people as there had been a few minutes prior. For that they were both grateful and as if on cue more was exiting the great hall.
Narcissa could feel her insides shaking and her blood ran through her veins as though it was fire. No matter what she felt as she walked hand in hand with her sister, nothing was as horrible as when the two stopped. Perhaps she had hoped it had been a mistake or some cruel, cruel joke—but she knew her sister and she knew that it wasn't a joke.
Narcissa wanted to continue to live in denial but she looked down as she stood at the feet of the love of her life.
"No, no, no" Narcissa cried as she dropped to his side tears flowing down her cheeks. The sound of her piercing cries echoed off the walls and her heartaches in a way she didn't know was possible until this moment.
" Muffliato" the two women heard and looked up to see Harry Potter as he waved his wand in a circle around the spot where he stood with the two women and his two friends that he had lost.
"Thank you, Harry" Andromeda told the young man taking a hold of his hand.
He nodded in response. Everyone deserves to mourn in peace, Narcissa included. Although, it did confuse him. She didn't shed a tear over her sister but she had become shattered over the sight of Remus.
"I wasn't aware that you knew Professor Lupin," Harry said as he avoided looking down once more at the two.
The guilt had continued to eat at his conscious since before the battle had begun, the lives that were unnecessarily lost filled his heart and mind with aches and pains.
Narcissa was paralyzed in grief unable to move, think, or even speak. She had heard the young Wizard words but had been unable to answer him.
Andromeda nodded "yes, she knew him—well. They were once engaged".
Harry was shocked by this information as he looked down at Narcissa.
"If it wasn't for our parents I would have spent the last eighteen years with him—not Lucius" Narcissa spoke for the first time, her words almost unrecognizable.
Harry wanted to know more but he wasn't going to pry.
"That's how I knew him when Dora brought him home to meet me," Andromeda said with a small smile.
Narcissa closed her eyes fighting—and losing the tears that were flooding down her face "she was so lucky to have such a wonderful man".
"She was" Andromeda agreed.
Narcissa turned around, her face puffy from her tears and the black marks from her makeup that had run down her cheeks. She stood up and rushed to her sister wrapping her tightly in a hug "I am so sorry about Nymphadora. She was far too young to suffer this kind of fate".
"She was" Andromeda repealed her words joining her sister in her own tears.
"Be strong, sister" Narcissa spoke into her elder siblings' ear without breaking apart.
"They had a son".
The two tore away, looking at one another.
"A son"?
Andromeda nodded proudly at the thought of him—her grandson had been the only thing that held her together.
"Teddy," Harry said, gaining their attention for both of them had forgotten about his presence. "If you don't mind my asking" Harry began looking Narcissa "whatever happened for you to end up with Lucius. I know you said your parents but—" he trailed off.
Harry didn't want to pry but it was hard for him to not be curious by this current revelation.
"I met the father of my child when I was only eleven, even though he was a year older than me and ahead of me in our schooling," Narcissa told him, unsure why she but she seemed to trust him. "I was a third-year when he first courted me, he asked me to the ball, we were together all through school—we planned to get married. But, when I was sixteen my father introduced me to Lucius Malfoy and informed me that I was to wed him directly after Hogwarts. I was able to put it off for an extra year or so with the planning—I did whatever I could to stall but eventually, I had to marry him".
"Wait," Harry said. "You met Lucius when you were sixteen, you just said that you met the father of your child when you were eleven. I don't quite understand".
Narcissa looked down at Remus as she spoke: "I never said Lucius was the father of Draco did I"?
Harry looked down Andromeda for he had just been let in on a nearly eighteen-year-old secret without actually having been told the specifics.
"Who killed them"? Narcissa asked.
"I have heard a couple of different names from different people but either Antonin Dolohov or Bella" Andromeda said shuddering at the thought of her own sister stealing the life of her only daughter.
Harry didn't speak at he stood in the same spot frozen, his eyes still wide as he was unable to fully process the new information
Harry was unsure of the specifics and he had questions—questions he assumed neither Narcissa nor Andromeda would answer but he was sure of one thing. Everything she had ever done she had done for her son. For Remus' son. Their son.
Draco Malfoy was in fact not a Malfoy at all, in fact, he had been one of them all the while.
He was the son of a Marauder, just like Harry.
Authors Note: thanks for reading, it has been a while since I have read the books so if there's any mistakes I am sorry. I used to have all the books but lost them in a house fire and haven't replaced them since.
This will be a Hermione/Draco. (In this story there was no Ron and Hermione)
Thanks for reading!