Hello everyone! I am sorry it has taken me so long to post the next chapter! Between getting married, quitting my job, selling my house, moving across the country, starting a new job, and moving again, this has been a crazy year. Haha! This chapter also ended up being more challenging than I had expected, but it's finally done and I hope you like it!
Before we dive in, however, I wanted to address a question that has come in through reviews and PMs. A couple of people have pointed out that Draco doesn't know of Delphi's existence in The Cursed Child and wondered if this story will follow the canon. The answer is yes (I love writing within the constrains of existing canon and my goal is always to follow it and remain as true-to-character as I can), and all will be revealed eventually.
I also wanted to thank those reviewers who have provided feedback on this story so far. Thank you! Reviews are my very favorite things. And thank you especially to TheArtfulDodger26. I really appreciate the feedback and encouragement!
Anyway, on to the important part. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please let me know what you think!
Mid-December, 1997
The evening Draco returned for the Christmas holiday was the first time Narcissa's entire family had been in one place in months. As she looked around her long dining table, she realized that this also marked the first private family dinner she had enjoyed since before the Dark Lord had adopted Malfoy Manor as his headquarters. She would normally be expected to play hostess to at least two or three of the Dark Lord's followers who had stopped in to report or receive assignments, and often to the man himself. Even now, when the Dark Lord was away much of the time, Narcissa's home saw many visitors. They clearly found her dining hall, sitting room, and library much more comfortable for their little rendezvous than the dark alleys and seedy pubs they would normally frequent.
But not tonight, Narcissa thought with satisfaction. Tonight her only company was her husband, her son, her sister, and her brother-in-law, which was very fortunate. They had an important matter to discuss.
Lucius had reclaimed his seat at the head of the table since the Dark Lord's most recent departure, but sat hunched, almost cowering, in the high-backed chair as if preparing at any moment to be shunted out of it again. Looking at him, Narcissa wondered sadly if she would ever see the tall, proud man who used to occupy that chair again.
Narcissa herself sat at Lucius' right hand and was doing a significantly better job looking like she belonged there. Draco sat next to his mother and was choosing to stare silently at his now empty plate rather than acknowledge his aunt and uncle, who sat across the table. Bellatrix had been the last to finish her meal and now sat back, lounging in her chair. With her eyes closed and a small, contented smile on her lips, she seemed quite oblivious to the pointed glances passing between her husband, sister, and brother-in-law.
Finally, Narcissa cleared her throat. "Bella," she said tentatively, watching her sister closely. Bellatrix opened her eyes lazily.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I think it's time we proceeded with our plan," Narcissa said. "You are beginning to show."
Bellatrix rolled her eyes and let out an exaggerated groan, slouching further down into her seat. She smiled mischievously as she looked down at her own abdomen and fondly placed a hand on the slight roundness there, which her posture had now made quite visible.
"Do you hear that?" she said playfully. "Your Aunt Cissy wants to hide you away from the world." She looked slyly up at her sister, who was frowning back impatiently.
They had been through this several times and Narcissa knew Bella saw the wisdom in her proposal. Now she was just being difficult for the sake of it. Rodolphus had not, however, been present for most of their quiet conversations and now looked at his wife with concern.
"Bellatrix," he began incredulously, "you must see that this is our only option if we're to keep both you and the child safe. If the Dark Lord's enemies caught wind of this, you would surely be targeted and…"
"Yes, yes," Bella snapped impatiently as she waved him off. "You do not have to tell me again."
Rodolphus was clearly affronted at her tone and had opened his mouth to argue when Bella suddenly pushed herself away from the long table, stood, and turned on him. "Nor do you need to speak to me as if I am the child."
Hoping to head off a pointless argument, Narcissa quickly stood and spoke. "It's settled then," she said firmly. "Why don't we go into the drawing room, where there will be a bit more space?"
All eyes turned to Narcissa and Rodolphus bit back the retort he was about to aim at his wife. Instead, he also stood and gestured for Bellatrix to lead the way, which, with an irritated huff and an eye roll, she did.
"We may need your help as well," Narcissa said gently to her husband. "The spell I found is quite obscure and complex, but I think we'll manage between the four of us."
Lucius nodded but Draco looked slightly startled. "Do you mean me as well, Mother?" he asked.
"Yes, please, Draco," Narcissa said matter-of-factly, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder as he also stood. "Not to worry, darling," she added kindly. "You'll do perfectly fine."
Rodolphus had just finished levitating a leather sofa to the nearest wall when the three Malfoys arrived in the drawing room. Bellatrix stood in the center of the room and eyed her sister expectantly as Narcissa crossed to her small writing table, retrieved a large, dusty volume from its surface, and opened it to a dog-eared page.
"Well?" she asked impatiently.
Narcissa ignored her and continued to skim over the yellowed pages, her lips moving slightly as she whispered the incantations under her breath. Then, satisfied that she knew what to do, she placed the spellbook back on the table and turned to face her family.
"Alright," she said briskly. "Bella, you'll stay where you are. The rest of us should be spaced evenly around her." Narcissa watched with satisfaction as Lucius, Draco, and Rodolphus moved into the positions she had indicated.
Double-checking the text, she continued, "Now, once I begin reciting the incantation, we will need to slowly walk around her. Lucius, you and Rodolphus will walk clockwise." Both men nodded as Narcissa turned to her son. "You and I will walk anticlockwise," she said.
"As for wandwork," she said as she consulted the spellbook again, "you three will simply keep your wands trained just above Bella's head as you walk. There are more complex movements for the one who voices the incantation, so I will handle those."
"Are you sure, Narciss'?" Rodolphus asked, giving her a skeptical look. "I'm sure we can handle whatever wandwork that old book of yours can throw at us." He gave Draco a furtive look, sizing him up before adding, "Well, Lucius and I can, at the very least."
Narcissa fixed him with a brief, irritated look before casting a sidelong glance at her son. Draco seemed unfazed by the slight, however, so she let it pass. "Thank you, Rodolphus," she replied coldly. "This arrangement should do just fine. The charm can actually be completed with only one witch or wizard, but my research has indicated that additional wands will lend strength to the concealment."
Bellatrix had become increasingly impatient with the discussion and finally stamped her foot in frustration. "Then let's get on with it, shall we?" she exclaimed hotly. "I'm sure I've grown another inch around while standing here listening to you!"
Ignoring her sister's remark, Narcissa set the spellbook back on the writing table and took her position between Lucius and Draco, facing Bellatrix head on. "Alright, wands up then, and follow the pace I set."
With a quick glance around the room, she confirmed that each of the men were in the correct position and gave Draco another small, reassuring smile, which he returned. Then, with a single deep, centering breath, Narcissa raised her own wand as if in salute and aimed at a point several inches above Bella's head. She began to speak clearly and confidently, concentrating on the words of the incantation.
"Venit usque ad tempus," she said, taking a step to the right and bringing her wand down in a sweeping motion until it was pointed at her sister's feet. Then, tracing the intricate pattern of curls and waves illustrated in the spellbook, she brought her wand back up to the original position, took another step to the right, and recited the second line, "Celare pueri sui."
As Narcissa continued, repeating the pattern and incantation with growing confidence, a faint shimmer slowly appeared in the air above Bellatrix's head. It had no perceivable color, but seemed to ripple and distort the light in the room like heat haze. The three men matched Narcissa's steps, keeping their wands trained on the haze. Draco's eyes grew wide and even Rodolphus looked mildly intrigued as the haze slowly thickened, reflecting the various dusty book covers that filled the surrounding shelves like a rippling, somber kaleidoscope. Bellatrix, though holding very still, watched the growing mass of distorted light grow through narrowed, upturned eyes.
After the seventh repetition of the incantation and wand movements, Narcissa came to a halt and slowly lowered her wand. The others mirrored her once again, still staring transfixed at the haze of magic swirling above Bellatrix's head. It was now about the size of a large cauldron, though still with no discernable color or form. Everyone in the room seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for some indication that the spell had worked.
Bellatrix was the first to move, not surprisingly. "Now what, Cissy?" she demanded loudly, turning toward her sister.
"Don't move, Bella!" Narcissa said sharply. Bellatrix lurched slightly as she came to an abrupt halt, glancing warily from her sister back to the haze above her. "Stay where you are," Narcissa said to the room at large, her hands outstretched. Everyone looked back up at the still churning mass and saw that it was now gradually, almost imperceptibly descending toward Bellatrix.
"It's alright," Narcissa said in barely more than a whisper. "This is what is supposed to happen."
The swirling haze continued to fall slowly until, it touched the nearest, flyaway strands of Bellatrix's curly black hair. Suddenly, it cascaded in a rush toward the ground, completely enveloping her from head to toe. Rodolphus and Lucius both gasped at the sudden movement and each took a hasty step toward Bellatrix, wands ready, while Draco stared on with wide eyes. Narcissa alone seemed unfazed by the swirl of distorted light and color that had engulfed her sister. Instead, she watched carefully and silently counted to herself.
After a count of exactly seven, the haze began to descend once again, revealing first Bella's head, then her torso, and so on until it reached the ground, sinking right through the old Turkish carpet. Narcissa released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and approached her sister, who was watching the last trails of magic fade around her feet, one hand resting protectively on her stomach.
"Is it done, then?" Lucius asked cautiously, looking over at his wife. Narcissa circled Bellatrix and examined her figure closely. The change was subtle, but undeniable. Narcissa took Bella's hand, the one that had unconsciously gone to her stomach, and saw that the slight roundness that had been visible before was now gone. Bellatrix's abdomen now looked as flat as ever. Narcissa reached forward and found that her hand reached Bella's stomach in what appeared to be midair, at least two inches away.
"So it worked like a Disillusionment Charm?" Draco asked as he, Lucius, and Rodolphus came closer, examining the effect of the spell and looking suitably impressed.
"Yes," Narcissa answered, letting her hand fall and giving a satisfied nod. "It shares similarities with the Disillusionment Charm, but it is obviously more specialized and meant to last much longer. It will hide her growing form from view until the child is born," Narcissa replied before turning back to Bellatrix." You'll still need to be careful not to brush against anyone, Bella. And you'll want to be careful of the way you move and carry yourself. Sharp eyes may still detect that something is off."
Bellatrix nodded and placed both of her hands back on the now-hidden roundness of her stomach. "I can still see it," she said quietly, a small smile forming on her lips.
Narcissa cast a sidelong glance at her sister. She had been about to remind her sister that cupping her abdomen with both hands like that would be a dead giveaway, but she had been taken aback at the warmth in Bella's voice and decided to let it pass for the moment. This was definitely a side of Bellatrix she could not remember having seen before, or at least not since they were children. With a sudden and surprising rush of affection for Bella, Narcissa put her hand on her sister's waist and gave her a gentle side hug.
"Well," she said, smiling, "I'd say that's the best we can hope for. It will have to do."
There it is! (Finally, I know.) I promise, the next chapter will follow much, much sooner than this last one has. I hope you enjoyed it! Please leave a review and let me know what you think!