March 2005

Narcissa feels calm walking down Diagon Alley for the first time in years. The little girl holding her hand is basically being dragged along at a mellow pace, with her eyes going wide while she takes in everything in the bustling street. She is mildly surprised she hasn't asked for anything yet. But then again, that is why she is here with her, instead of Draco.

Delphini doesn't even notice the stares she gets, the small gasps escaping strangers' lips at the sight of her. She doesn't come out often. She does not know why exactly, but her family tells her it's for her protection and she doesn't fight it. She does not feel endangered here, but there is so much going on she almost wishes for the quiet of the Manor and the hoppy crows of Darkie instead.

Turning a corner, Narcissa's heart misses a beat and dives to the floor. She has seen Bella further ahead. No, not Bella. Bella is gone. Her heart restarts from the sheer pain of that realization. Andy...

Her mind goes wild with possibilities. She is on the verge of calling, on the very verge of rushing towards her only remaining sister, when she thinks of her niece. Andromeda may not know about her, but she will have no doubts the second she lays her eyes on her curls. She may remember whose eyes she has too... She knew Him, not that she was in his presence much.

In her chest lives a coil, twisting and burning. Hurting. It hurts so very much. But certain risks are not to be taken. Andromeda lost too many people. To them. Andromeda lost her daughter to her own sister and is raising a little boy in her stead. The sight of Delphini will bring all of it to the front of her mind and Narcissa dares not think of what it could bring forth. They have been apart for so long. They are the only Blacks left now.

And we will never share a room again.

Her niece is oblivious to her turmoil. The girl is delighted. She has never been amidst so many people. Amidst so much magic. Not that she can remember anyway. Although she does seem at ease, unlike most children on their first outings. She is older than most children. It is as if her body remembers feeling safe on those first months of existence, enveloped in pure, dark magic, like an ethereal beast ready to pounce, maim and shred any threat that came her way.

She decides that the street is too exposed now. Witches and wizards keep looking, their breaths hitching in recognition of those features. Someone may gasp too close to Andromeda, someone may say something that makes her head turn.

"Our errands are done. Would you like to go for some ice cream?"

"Yes!" Delphini is nodding and flashing the immense smile that lights up her eyes. "Can I have all the flavours?"

"No..." Narcissa chuckles, "but you may choose two and a table for us."

"Can we take some ice cream home for Vicious Mist?" The Kneazle had finally been given a name, after dissuading Delphie from a hundred ridiculous names, including Sparky, Fluffy and the sorts. An attempt on Darkie's life and a comparison of the creature's uncanny silent approaches to the early morning cold mist that surrounds the mansion had settled it.

"Kneazles do not eat ice cream. Now go find a table."

Something catches Delphini's attention, she can tell. She lifts her eyes from the ice cream and demurely turns her head towards the window. Her eyebrows come a little bit closer on her forehead and there is a very much Bella's twitch on the corner of her mouth. For a second, Narcissa catches it too. But it is gone too soon for her to recognize. Green, she thinks. Blonde? Her eyebrows climb slightly on her own forehead and come down again as she takes another spoon.

People are still looking. Not staring. They wouldn't dare. Just looking. They know Narcissa Malfoy. They know her family has been forgiven and allowed freedom at the end of the war. But they also know there is only one son, Draco, who has his own son, Scorpius. The few close friends they managed to keep were sworn to secrecy about this child. Allowing them freedom was one thing. Allowing them a child to raise, a Death Eater's child at that, was something else altogether. Only a few people know of Delphini's existence. And only six people know the truth behind the girl's eyes.

She had hoped to remain unnoticed. She had hoped Delphini would remain unnoticed. She had hoped for something different and only now does she see the error in her reasoning. How could they ever forget Bellatrix Lestrange's face? The deranged cackle of Mad Witch Lestrange? No matter the number of years gone by, she had left behind too large a shadow, too many nightmares, too many orphans, too much devotion to Her Master, too many scars. She had left something brighter too, but these people know nothing of her sister's soul. And so they fear. And so Narcissa fears. Staying is not an option anymore.

But she cannot force herself to cut Delphini's happiness short. To leave now and let their sundaes to melt along with her hopes.

"Aunt Cissa? Where did you go?"

Her daze is broken by a sweet voice. Not a little girl's voice. The voice of a keen intelligence behind wondering eyes, of someone used to observe and gather information. Was He like this? Was He ever a child?

"Oh, I was just remembering coming here as a child myself." A lie. And they both know it.

"What is wrong with us? Why are people looking at us?"

Her aunt's breath becomes shallow; she can see her throat moving faster. And then she lies again. Not exactly. A half-truth.

"You are a very pretty child. And you look like your mother so much. Many people knew her, you just remind them of her. Bella had that effect on people. She was always memorable."

Delphini notices a tiny green spot in her peripheral. She waves her right hand in an attempt to get rid of it and a beetle lands squarely on her sundae.

Delphini's magic lashes out in her horror and the beetle sounds like it is frying. The sundae melts completely.

"Aunt Cissa, make it leave! It's disgusting!"

Narcissa decides that is her cue. Calming her niece, she talks the outraged girl into leaving. Sooths her with a promise of taking some ice cream home. "For Draco too, yes. And Scorpius, and Toria and Uncle Lucius, yes. Ice cream for everyone." They leave beneath the looks of strangers. There is suspicion in their eyes. And some wonder at the graceful creatures walking down the street, at the shiny black curls under a pale hand of long fingers.

The world is not the same anymore. But their blood is still different. Somewhat higher. They carry themselves not in arrogance but in simple superiority. It's there, for all to see. Perfect Malfoy demeanour. Pure Black pride.

Narcissa puts every fibre of her into the effort to not jump off the floor at the glimpse of a flash. Every muscle of her body wants to shield Delphini behind her and draw her wand. She just barely manages to control her protective instinct, forcing her face to keep an ivory mask of composure while her eyes look for the source of that flash. Her mind wants to unleash every single dark spell, curse and hex she ever learned, but she forces her hands to keep still and her mind into searching the opposing side of the street.

A family proud of a Quidditch player. That is all there is when a second flash bursts in the air. A family celebrating the purchase of a new broom, just outside Quality Quidditch Supplies. Narcissa fights her body into regaining its calm, desperately trying to keep Delphini out of the loop.

Delphini sees them, slightly despises them for it. Family celebrations are family matters to be held at home, not there. Then she wonders if that is all there is to it. Her Aunt feels weirdly rigid behind her. She says nothing, so no question leaves her lips. It is appalling behaviour, after all.

X

They are just outside the Manor. Delphini has been quiet in contemplation. Narcissa has been quiet in grievance. Her mistake now made clear.

"Should I change my appearance? When we go out the next time?"

Narcissa lets a deep breath slow her mind. Next time... can we allow such a thing? The child knows her lies. She sees right through them. She knows her beauty has nothing to do with the looks today. She knows her Mother's beauty had nothing to do with it either.

Lucius is there, waiting for them. Listening and answering.

"Only if you wish to. Will you feel better? Safer?"

"No. I like that people look at me and feel a little afraid." There is an amused smile on the corner of her mouth. "My Mother was powerful. I am proud of that." And Lucius rolls his eyes like he hasn't done in years, because that roll used to be for Bellatrix alone, when she gloated on the way people moved out of her way.

Then he realizes the meaning of that declaration and of his reaction. She knew that complete strangers were afraid. Of her. She liked it.

Blue eyes lock with grey ones, understanding. A conversation has been on hold for years. They must face it.

The truth of her Mother as the world knew her.

There is a coil in Lucius chest, twisting and burning. Suffocating. It takes all air away from his lungs. Could it be the truth of her too? What have I done?

Author's Notes: Guess who is coming into this... guess right and you get to toss me a prompt for a one-shot related to Delphini in the comments

Remember what I said about 20 to 25 chapters? Scratch that. We're in for something a little longer