House: Slytherin
Category: Drabble
Prompt: [Word] Sword/Dagger
Word Count: 496
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"This is for you."
Hermione turned, her smile fading when she saw Narcissa Malfoy standing beside her. "What do you want?" the younger witch sighed, steeling herself for yet another quasi-repentant Death Eater sympathiser trying to escape time in Azkaban by cozying up with one of the Golden Trio.
"I want to give you this." Narcissa held out a small box, no longer than a wand and no wider than a hand. Yet its contents nevertheless set Hermione on edge.
"Don't," she whispered, knowing that she had gone white as a sheet. She backed away from Narcissa, her voice trembling as she struggled to stay calm. She knew what was inside there. She could feel its malign presence seeping out, out of the box and into her… at the thought, she shuddered and took another step back. "Don't— don't give me this— why are you giving me this—"
"So that you remember," Narcissa said simply. After placing the small box squarely into Hermione's hands, she took a step back and regarded the young witch with clear eyes. "You are fighting for change in our world, Hermione, and it shall be no easier than your fight against the Dark Lord."
"Then why do I need this?" Hermione's eyes flickered down at the box, and she swallowed convulsively.
"Because no matter how hopeless it is, no matter how painful it is, there is always something worth fighting for. I know you are pushing for creature rights and homes for abused Wizarding children, and I wholeheartedly approve. Fight so that no one ever has to go through what you did again. Let the dagger remind you of the horrors of the war, so that you never give up."
Hermione nodded, blinking back the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. The woman before her seemed too sincere not to understand… Suddenly, she knew what Narcissa Malfoy must have gone through. She had fought against Voldemort as well, in her own, limited ways, and now, by giving Hermione the dagger, she was fighting to make sure no monster ever threatened the Wizarding World again.
"I will," Hermione said softly. "No one should ever be forced to kill innocents. No one should ever be forced to fight and plot assassinations. No one should ever be fucking tortured on marble floors, and have slurs carved into their arms."
Narcissa nodded slightly. "Then you understand why I give you my sister's cursed dagger."
"I do." Hermione tucked the small box into her robes. "Thank you, Lady Malfoy."
"Thank you, Hermione. The Malfoys shall support your proposals in Wizengamot." Then, as quietly as she'd come, Narcissa left, leaving Hermione alone at the Ministry function, the cursed dagger in her hand. The words, "I expect great things from you, Hermione," lingered in the air behind her.
Hermione watched her go. Then, when Narcissa had finally disappeared from sight, she turned back to the Greengrasses and began explaining why werewolves deserved the right to work.