School: Mahoutokoro
Year: 5
Prompt: Time Turner
Wordcount: 981
A Mighty Gamble
Narcissa stared at the Time Turner in her hands. Her hands shook a little. She could not mess it up. The last thing she wanted was to end up in a different century because of a shake in her fingers. It was a Black heirloom. No one knew about it.
She glanced at the clock. People must have started gathering in the room. Wondering where Narcissa Malfoy was at such a grave time. She was sure the press was standing outside. Waiting, waiting, waiting. To get the perfect shot. To capture the expression on her face. The anguish, perhaps? Is that what they wanted to see. She would never give her feelings away. But then again, she would be called cold-hearted. A woman at her husband's trial who felt nothing.
Everyone knew he was going to receive life-sentence. Everyone hoped at least.
Lucius had never killed. Just because they had been raised to hide their emotions and believed in blood-purity didn't mean that they were sadists. In fact, she had stopped believing in blood-purity ages ago.
Tom Riddle had been a charming man. So charming, that Abraxas had pressured his son to join the club for side activities.
The two had tried to keep their name clean. Lucius absolutely refused to let her associate her name with anything starting with V.
And so, the Wizengamot had started searching. File after file, for evidence. No one told her this. But she knew. The trial date was postponed every fifteen days.
And evidence, they did find.
It had been a rainy day. Narcissa had been preparing to leave for a luncheon while Lucius read a book. Draco had been away at Hogwarts for his third year.
"Master, someone has floo called," one of their house-elf's announced.
Narcissa had given him a questioning look. Lucius shrugged.
" Tell them I'm coming."
He was surprised to see Mulciber waiting for him.
"To what do I owe the pleasure Mulciber?"
Narcissa had lingered in the living room to check what the man had to say.
"We're meeting."
The sentence had been enough to send shivers down Narcissa's spine. She thought it was over. She had hoped that the man had disappeared for good.
She noticed Lucius has stilled as well.
"What is this about, Mulciber?"
"Just a little fun, Malfoy. You are joining us, aren't you?"
Lucius scoffed. "Time to me is more valuable than you think."
"It's been a long time, Lucius. What's wrong with meeting old friends?"
"Fine. I'll see you there."
"We'll meet in half an hour. Same spot."
He disconnected the floo.
Lucius turned towards her. He knew that she had been standing and listening.
"Do you think it's safe to go?"
"I can't not go."
"Alright. Be careful."
She pecked his cheek and left.
Only to come back, to find him shaking in front of the fire.
"What happened, my dear?" She rushed to him.
"Don't ask."
"Lucius?"
"I… I had to use the cruciatus," Lucius said so softly, that Narcissa had to strain her ears.
"Oh dear," Narcissa whispered.
"I didn't want to Cissy, but they were pressuring me. I couldn't make an excuse. I had to do it. It was an old man. And just for thirty seconds. I didn't want to. I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" Lucius was rambling by that point. Anguish clear on his face.
She hugged him and tried to quieten him down.
"They were saying, it's just a matter of time before He's back."
How she wished, he had not gone that day.
How she wished…
Narcissa stood, her decision made. She had to do it. She went outside the manor and placed the time-turner around her neck. She carefully set the time. She had worn the same dress as that day.
In a swirling motion, she landed in the same place, the rain soaking her. She quickly made her way inside the house, hiding the jewellery in her robes.
"Narcissa? You haven't left?"
"No, Lucius. I'm not feeling well suddenly."
And she was not. Her stomach was churning, and she was terrified beyond words. Time was not supposed to be messed with.
"What is it darling?"
He placed his hands on her shoulders and guided her towards the couch.
His touch! It had been six months, since she had been near him. They had put him in Azkaban till his trial date approached.
"I'm feeling dizzy."
"Betty! Fetch some cool towels," he called out to the elves.
"No need for that, Lucius. Just stay with me."
"Cissy, sweetheart. I need to leave-"
"No!" She said firmly. "Don't go Lucius. I need you hear, with me. Tell them that you have a family emergency."
He must have seen the desperation in her eyes, because he didn't argue.
He called for a parchment, wrote a quick letter and asked his house-elf to deliver it.
"Come here. Talk to me."
Narcissa had to be careful. She had to leave before her present self returned, and also make sure that Lucius didn't go.
She made him sit next her and they talked about everything and anything.
After three hours, she rose abruptly. Lucius' presence made her forget about time.
"I… I'll be back, love. I need to do something."
Lucius looked at her perplexed.
"Just stay here. Give me five minutes. I'll be back." She kissed his cheek and left.
Near a hidden spot outside the Manor, she watched her old self enter. It was time to leave.
There, what evidence would they find now?
It had been five hours, since she had been back. Her hands were covered in cool sweat. She felt someone breach the wards.
Two minutes later, her husband stood before her.
She burst into tears. He placed his hands on her shoulders. When she had calmed down, she asked, "You didn't ask why I wasn't at your trial?"
"I know Cissy. I know."