"But Mother! I don't want her here, and she doesn't want to be here, either! Why can't we just dump her in a Muggle orphanage?"

Narcissa Malfoy's face remained cool and composed, but those who knew her well might have been able to notice the barely-perceptible tightening of the lips. I don't want her here either, my darling.

With a brief flick of her wand, the dresses and robes in her wardrobe hovered, allowing Narcissa to parse through her collection without obstruction. "We've gone over this a dozen times, Draco," she said with a sigh, running her hands down the velvet emerald sleeve of one of her winter robes. "She is staying. You must compose yourself, my dear. This behavior is hardly befitting for the heir to the Malfoy household."

Draco crossed his arms and sulked, but said nothing. Despite her chastisement, Narcissa's heart ached for her son. She was tempted to scoop Draco in her arms and murmur that she didn't want the stain of her husband's infidelity plaguing their household either, and that the girl's presence devalued her more than it did him.

But she didn't. Because the one thing Narcissa Malfoy knew above all else was the importance of maintaining proper decorum. Instead, Narcissa allowed herself to give her son a soft smile as the dresses rotated once more. "I know it's been…difficult, but you've been rising to the challenge admirably, Draco. I'm proud of you."

While her son's expression still looked sour, the edges around his eyes thawed slightly. It wasn't a lie, either; Narcissa was impressed with Draco's restraint towards Diana, though she knew it was solely due to his fear of displeasing Lucius.

Lucius…

Thinking of her husband caused Narcissa's finger to twitch slightly. She remembered sitting on their bed last night, watching him pace around their bedroom restlessly like a jungle cat.

"—can barely form a coherent sentence, stumbles around with the grace of a baby giraffe, is arrogant and delusional enough to act as though she is superior to us. I don't know how we're supposed to endure this nonsense for the next six years."

Narcissa folded her hands on her lap. "It's been one week, Lucius. This arrangement will never be desirable, but in time, she'll learn to conduct herself properly. She's already made a slight amount of progress."

'Slight amount' might be a bit generous, but Narcissa was observant enough to recognize that Diana was soaking in knowledge of wizarding customs, even if she feigned ignorance.

"Hmph. Not nearly enough, if you ask me."

Narcissa's voice adopted a cooler tone and raised an arched eyebrow. "Perhaps you would prefer instructing her in etiquette?"

Narcissa had the rare privilege of being one of the few who could see Lucius Malfoy rattled. He rushed to course-correct. "O-of course, I didn't mean to insinuate that you were—"

She raised a hand and Lucius stopped. "For eleven years, she was raised in a low-class environment, and the standards and expectations reflect that accordingly. You must temper your expectations, dear."

"Yes, I suppose I must," muttered Lucius, looking weary. He walked over and sat on the bed beside her, and she put her hands on his arm. "Being in her mere presence is humiliating, let alone being seen with her in public. And if she's sorted into Hufflepuff…" He closed his eyes and Narcissa saw a vein on his neck throb. "The amount of mockery Nott and the others will feel entitled to give us will be unbearable."

Narcissa's light fingers trailed up his arms and began to caress his shoulders. "We won't be in the public eye forever. This will pass, my love."

He subtly leaned into Narcissa's relaxing motions. "Yes, I suppose that's the only consolation. I look forward to the day when I can raise her properly without the constant interference and hand-wringing of these simpletons."

Narcissa's fingers ceased in their movement and she frowned, though Lucius couldn't see her expression from behind him. "That day will come, but remember, your father's gaze will still be on you."

When Lucius's eyes opened, they were blazing with a simmering fury. "By all accounts, the man should be dead by now. I'm convinced his spite is what's sustaining his existence." His mouth deepened into a scowl. "As arrogant as he is delusional…perhaps the girl gets it from him." He scoffed at a memory, and closed his eyes again. "Throwing in my lot with Dumbledore and the rest of those Order fools…it's patently absurd."

Narcissa resumed her motions as her husband continued to rant against Abraxas's perceived ineptitude. She whispered her agreement and offered the appropriate wifely platitudes when the times in the conversation were appropriate.

But in truth, she didn't find the idea quite as absurd as her husband.

Narcissa Malfoy was, and always had been, a supporter of the natural order of the world. She knew the proper place of wizards, witches, Muggles, and Mudbloods, and felt that allying themselves with blood traitors was about as desirable as agreeing to live with trolls.

But Narcissa was also a mother, and the best interests of her son must always come first.

Feeling a rush of affection for the boy, Narcissa lowered her wand, causing the dresses to hover. She walked over to Draco and brushed her lips against his forehead.

"Mother, I'm eleven!" he protested, blushing a bit. "You don't need to keep treating me like a child."

She smiled indulgently. "I'm aware you're a young man now, but you'll always be my boy."

And I'll do anything to keep you safe. Even if it means holding my nose and working with filth.

Draco's lips pursed into a pout, but Narcissa could tell it wasn't fully genuine.

Narcissa wasn't prepared for the extent that having a child would change her worldview and priorities. While she firmly supported the idea of blood purity, the radicalism that often accompanied those ideas no longer held the same appeal it once did. She enjoyed the safe, comfortable existence their family shared since the fall of the Dark Lord. There was a certain power to the status quo, and the idea that the Dark Lord could return and upend everything they worked for was an unsettling thought.

And she did not want her son to become a Death Eater. As long as she breathed, it was simply out of the question.

And so, from the background, Narcissa began to subtly move the pieces in place. She hoped nothing would need to come of it, but if Abraxas was right, it would benefit the family immensely to have multiple options available. While her husband remained stubborn and oblivious, Narcissa was ingratiating herself with key individuals whose favor could potentially prove advantageous.

"I confess I didn't expect this, Cissy. The first, I could attribute to a temporary lapse in judgment due to your husband's misconduct. But the second?"

Narcissa took a sip of tea to shield the bottom half of her face and give her a moment to mentally compose a response. "I'd wager I'm more surprised than you, Andromeda." She put the cup in the saucer and looked at her sister to create a facade of humility, which was more difficult than she anticipated. "But after our conversation, it made me realize how much I missed having a sister. I know we may never see eye-to-eye politically, but I'm hopeful we'll be able to work on repairing our relationship nonetheless."

Andromeda arched one eyebrow—a classic Druella Black expression all three Black sisters picked up on and adopted as their own. "While I'd like to believe in your honesty, surely you can understand my skepticism?"

Narcissa nodded and set her teacup saucer on the table. "I do, and I don't begrudge you for feeling that way. But if you have reservations, I certainly don't wish to intrude where I'm not wanted."

"I didn't say you're not wanted," Andromeda replied quickly. Narcissa smirked inwardly, but outwardly maintained a neutral mask. "However, my family doesn't have the privilege of being able to brush 'politics' aside so easily. The concept of blood purity directly affects my husband and daughter, and their perceived worth in our world."

Narcissa nodded in a way that she hoped would come across as sympathetic, even though she had no sympathy for her older sister. It was her decision to marry a Mudblood, after all. She knew what she was getting into. "Your feelings are understandable. I know the importance of keeping one's family safe."

"Indeed," Andromeda said stiffly, bringing her teacup to her mouth and taking a sip. "And speaking of family…I'm assuming part of this visit has to do with that poor child?"

Narcissa bristled inwardly. She should be saying, 'poor Draco.' "Yes. The girl's living with us, and I have concerns about how she's adjusting. It's quite a change, going from living in a Muggle household to a wizarding family as prestigious as the Malfoys."

Andromeda did not bother hiding her disgust once she heard the word 'prestigious.' "Cissy, the kind of…behavior our Father engaged in with Muggles was wrong, legally and morally. I know it seemed like—"

"I didn't come here to be lectured," Narcissa redirected firmly. "I was merely curious if you knew ways I could make her transition more comfortable."

Andromeda's expression morphed into one that was more unreadable. "I do. And it's good that you're thinking about her comfort, because the rest of the world is watching your family very carefully."

"I'm well aware," Narcissa replied coolly, meeting her sister's gaze without flinching.

And the world was watching. Lucius didn't realize how important it was to get on the girl's good side, but Narcissa did, and was determined to make that happen.

Narcissa raised her wand again and the dresses and robes continued their rotation. "You need to be strong, Draco. You're the culmination of not just your paternal lineage, but mine as well. Always remember this."

"I know," he sulked. "It's just…hard sometimes."

Narcissa was the only person Draco felt comfortable showing vulnerability to throughout his life, and it warmed her heart that—despite his age–-he still felt that way.

"Life will always throw obstacles in our way, Draco, but I know you have the ability to overcome them. You're stronger than you think."

You are your mother's son, after all.

—-—-

The next day, Narcissa knocked on the door to Diana's room at daybreak. After a minute, the door creaked open, and Narcissa was met with a curtain of disheveled blonde hair and a groggy expression. "Whuh y'doin..?"

Narcissa plastered a fake smile on her face. "Good morning, Diana. You've been working hard this week, and that hasn't gone unnoticed. Today I'm going to be taking you on a trip to somewhere very special. Get your finest winter robes and meet me downstairs by the fireplace."

Diana rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times. "...what?"

Not for the first time, Narcissa wondered if the girl had some mental deficit. "Today we're going on a trip," she repeated, slower this time. "Get your finest winter robes and meet me downstairs by the fireplace."

"I heard what you said," she mumbled, now looking more awake and guarded. "Where are we going?"

Diana always seemed to be on guard and suspicious, which Narcissa couldn't fault her for. Perhaps she can fit into this family yet. "We're going to a place called Hyperborea. It's a land located in the north, so you must dress warmly. In order to get there, we're going to need to travel to the Ministry and use one of the Portkeys there. We'll be able to bypass the usual waiting time if we leave now."

Diana looked fully alert. "I never heard of that place before."

Narcissa was tempted to roll her eyes, but knew better. "I'd be surprised if you did, since it's a community of all wizards and witches. Even among our kind, the Hyperboreans are…"—how to put this kindly?—"reclusive. They've kept to themselves for centuries, but do occasionally permit outsiders to visit certain locations. Now get dressed; I'll meet you downstairs."

Narcissa waited patiently by the fireplace as the minutes ticked by. Eventually, Diana came trudging down the stairs, winter cloak clasped around her neck in a sloppy fashion. With a brisk wave of her wand, Narcissa readjusted Diana's robes in a way that was more in line with the expectations of a family of their standing. She ignored the way the girl's body tensed up and the glare directed at Narcissa.

"Shall we?" asked Narcissa, gathering a clump of Floo Powder in her hands. Diana reluctantly did the same.

It's a tragedy, Narcissa thought bitterly as they made their way through the Ministry building in order to get to the Transportation office. A month ago, Malfoy Manor was full of comfortable, content inhabitants. But now? Now, everyone who lived there was angry and miserable. Yet another reminder to never grow complacent.

Despite the stares and stolen glances of passerbys, Narcissa strode proudly and confidently to the Transportation office, a stark contrast with Diana's shy and awkward stumbling. The inside of the office looked larger than the outside would indicate, with various talismans and artifacts adorning the walls. As Diana gawked at the items, Narcissa filled out the customary paperwork and bureaucratic nonsense given to her by the office clerk—a gray-haired man who was frowning. No doubt a supporter of Weasley. Uneducated fool…

After paying a hefty sum (I certainly hope this won't be a waste…) the clerk removed from the wall the Hyperborean stave that functioned as a Portkey. Diana's eyes shone with curiosity as she examined the animal patterns carved into the stave. Narcissa tried to hide her smile; she knew she made the right choice of destination.

Grasping the stave immediately brought forth the uncomfortable sensation of traveling by Portkey, but within seconds they arrived at their destination. Narcissa almost stumbled as Diana knocked into her, looking pale and woozy. Alarmed at the prospect of her vomiting, Narcissa had her sit on the grassy field as both of them took in Hyperborea.

Narcissa's eyes wandered downward and smiled as she saw a wide-eyed Diana looking at the expanse of the magical dome that encased the realm. The barrier ensured that Hyperborea maintained a climate or eternal spring on the inside, which juxtaposed with the icy peaks and snow visible from beyond the dome. On the inside, a vast expanse of green was visible: meadows, trees, and forests covered the landscape, with two rivers running through the land. Although the buildings and statues looked–and were—ancient, they were well-kept and looked new.

The building closest to them was smaller, more like a hut than anything else. A Hyperborean man was sitting next to a table on the outside, arms folded and eyeing the visiting pair warily. Narcissa knew the majority of Hyperboreans were against the idea of any outsiders entering the dome, but just as in Britain, politics could be complex.

After giving Diana a minute to recover, she strode over to the table, where the man gestured toward the cup and knife on the table. Narcissa took the knife and pressed it against her thumb, making sure the droplets of blood fell into the cup, before handing the knife to Diana. Her stepdaughter didn't take it.

"It's required that all visitors offer a few drops of blood before entering," Narcissa said patiently.

Diana squinted at the cup, then at the man who was seated, who looked unamused. "But why? Is this blood ritual some kind of….satanic thing?"

Not for the first time, Narcissa had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes. "No, the Hyperboreans don't worship Satan. The blood is kept so it could be used to keep track of any visitors."

And assures retribution if anyone breaks the rules, Narcissa thought, but chose not to say. She noticed the man smirking from the corner of her eye. Yes, it would be best if Diana remained oblivious to the darker side of this land, and one of the reasons the mere existence of the Portkey in the Ministry was controversial.

"But was it even washed?" Diana asked, aghast, pointing to the knife. "It seems unsanitary. What about the germs?"

'Germs.' It was a foreign word to Narcissa. A Muggle fear, perhaps? "These steps have been followed countless times. There's no need for concern. If you're concerned about using the knife, I can do it for you to ensure the wound isn't too deep."

"I'll do it myself," Diana said, snatching the knife from Narcissa's hands. After a brief moment of hesitation, she pressed the knife into her thumb and winced as the drops trickled into the cup. It was always an odd experience, performing blood magic so casually in Hyperborean soil while the same actions could have severe consequences in the Ministry.

As Narcissa expected, the wound was cut too deep. She took out her ebony wand and whispered a healing spell, causing the wound to begin the healing process. "Thanks," Diana muttered.

That's progress... "You're welcome." She turned to the Hyperborean guard. "We're heading to the Temporal Gardens."

The man gestured lazily to a nearby path. Narcissa gave a polite nod—that the man did not deserve—and began to head down it, Diana trailing behind her. "Why didn't he say anything to us? Does he understand English?"

"If he's manning the table in the visitor's area, then he undoubtedly understands English. He simply chose not to speak. The natives here can be a tad…haughty."

Diana laughed at that for some reason, but didn't say any more. For a few minutes, they continued to walk in silence, taking in the sights. Life-sized wooden carvings of men, gods, and creatures from Hyperborea's past could be seen at various distances. They passed the bearded, blonde men and women in white dresses who shot them looks of curiosity before continuing their tasks of tilling the farmland, weaving cloth, plucking flowers to make garlands, and gathering kindling for tonight's Wicker Man sacrifice, something that Narcissa knew Diana must not see, under any circumstances.

And she had no desire to see it either. While Narcissa could appreciate the beauty of the country, she always found the Hyperboreans to be…unsettling in their backwards ways. Their relative isolationism from proper society established a culture that walked the line between primitive and advanced. Their lives seemed very slow, very tranquil, which had its own appeal, Narcissa supposed, but not the kind of life she would ever want.

Eventually, they arrived at the destination. Near the entrance to the garden was a woman etching a symbol into a runestone. She looked up when she saw the two visitors and pointed inward to the gardens. Without saying a word, Narcissa walked through the archway.

"Is this it?" Diana whispered. "No offense, but the walk to get here was more interesting."

The "garden" didn't have much foliage—there were dirt paths that led to dirt circles, with stones outside the circles that had writing on it in the Hyperborean language. Once the Hyperborean woman was out of earshot, Narcissa replied, "You'll see why I brought you here soon. Walk into the circle over there."

She pointed to one of the nearby circles, and Diana's eyes narrowed. Narcissa's lips thinned and she walked into the circle first, Diana only going after her. Once they entered the area, there was a shimmer and the world around them changed: it looked as if they were now in a eucalyptus forest, and their winter robes suddenly seemed like a detriment instead of an asset. .

"Where are we now? Are we still in that hyperplace?"

"Hyperborea," Narcissa corrected, "And yes. This is a type of magic meant to create additional space."

Diana wandered closer and then saw what they were waiting for. From out of the bushes It was a little doglike creature with a long tail and stripes running down the back. Diana looked like she was about to faint.

"Th-that looks like a Tasmanian tiger!" she breathed, eyes wide as saucers as the animal tentatively made its way closer and closer.

Narcissa smiled, one of the few times today that it was genuine. "It is. The Hyperboreans have a penchant for Divination and love of the natural world. Throughout history, their scouts have ensured the continuation of species that would have otherwise died out long ago."

Narcissa had no interest in animal welfare but knew her stepdaughter did, and bringing her here seemed to be a good judgment call. The opportunity to pet a Tasmanian tiger was too great to ignore. The girl was crouching by the creature and petting its head reverently, as if in a daze. When she saw baby Tasmanian tigers peeking their heads over plants, she let out an unladylike squeal and started babbling about how this was "the most amazing thing ever."

Narcissa wasn't sure how long they were there, but after Diana was satisfied, she turned to Narcissa and beamed, which was a very unfamiliar expression coming from the girl. It looked nice. "What other animals are there?"

Narcissa guided her back in the direction they came from, which caused the air around them to shimmer, and they were in the garden again. Over the course of the next couple hours, they entered the other circles and saw the Great Auk, Passenger Pigeon, Quagga, and more.

"I didn't know magic could do something like this," Diana whispered, still in awe as she stroked the beak of a Dodo.

Because the girl's back was turned, Narcissa didn't bother hiding the look of triumph on her expression.

After they saw all the creatures, Narcissa decided to take Diana down the hill to the nearby village so they could get a bite to eat before returning to Britain. Going through the gardens triggered a change in Diana; she was no longer the reticent, quiet girl, and instead babbled on without a filter, talking about the animals and the habitats and speculating about all the ways magic could be used to stop or reverse human impact on the environment.

Narcissa, for the most part, was content to let her talk. It was by far the most conversation she'd seen from the girl, and she didn't want to do anything to discourage it. Upon arrival in the village, Narcissa heard the familiar tunes of lyres and heard and saw singing and dancing, no doubt getting a head start on celebrating the festivities for later that night. While Diana's eyes were roving over the dancers and the wooden sculptures of hands reaching out from the ground, Narcissa purchased a plant-based dish that the two could share.

She was pleased to see Diana still seemed enthusiastic and receptive when they sat on a wooden table to eat. Because of this, she didn't bother correcting the girl when she started gobbling her food down like an uncultured commoner instead of a refined lady.

"What's the wizard religion like?" Diana asked between bites as she eyed the golden statue of Apollo, wreathed in garland in the town square.

'Wizard religion.' How quaint. "There is no 'wizard religion.' While the majority of British wizards follow some form of Christianity, others follow the old gods, or a combination of both, and for others, no gods at all. I wasn't aware that Muggles only had one religion."

"They don't," Diana said quickly. "Does Hyperborea have a Ministry, too? Do all countries?"

"No, different countries have different forms of government. Most countries today have some form of elected ruler and the wizarding communities are separate from Muggle ones. Hyperborea is more….old-fashioned, and ruled by three priest-kings. In America, there isn't a centralized magical government at all. Witches and wizards largely live among Muggles, though my understanding is there's some kind of group that ensures the existence of wizards remains secret."

"Wow," Diana breathed, nibbling her legume. "This is…a lot. It would actually be really cool if I didn't—"

She trailed off and her expression grew gloomy again. Frustrated, Narcissa attempted to coax more conversation out of her. "'If I didn't' what?"

Her gaze looked up, and when she did, there was a spark of defiance in her eyes. "If I didn't know the awful things magic could do."

There it was, they were getting closer to the heart of the matter. "I know you have a low opinion of magic. But magic is a tool, much like how Muggle weapons can be used for a variety of purposes. You saw today the beneficial effect it can have on the world."

Diana was quiet for a moment and stuffed some more legumes in her mouth. "Small, ladylike bites," Narcissa chided gently. Not for the first time, she felt a pang of longing that she would never be able to birth a daughter of her own.

Diana blushed a bit, but followed Narcissa's instructions. Then, she said, "I don't get how you're okay with this."

Narcissa knew what Diana met, but wanted her to say it. "You're going to need to be more specific."

"With your husband raping a woman, with me being here, everything. Why aren't you upset?"

Narcissa blinked and felt herself growing still. She wasn't used to such bluntness, and took a moment to compose an appropriate response. "Don't misunderstand, Diana. The past couple weeks have been…difficult for me as well. But I am the Lady of Malfoy Manor, it is my duty to conduct myself in a manner appropriate to my station. If there's nothing that can be done, then I must accept the situation with grace and maturity. I'm hoping you feel the same."

"I don't," she muttered. "I can't just…accept it. You know what he did to my mum." Her voice started to waver and Narcissa shifted her position. Narcissa found it difficult to muster sympathy for the Muggle woman, considering how much she ruined Narcissa's life, but was able to feel some degree of pity for the child. "The Hyperboreans didn't just accept that these animals were going to be extinct, they went out and saved them."

'Because they had the means to do so," Narcissa said gently. "You don't. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be."

Diana looked down and fiddled with her legumes, her morose expression a sharp contrast with the laughter of carefree children in the background. "Why did you bring me here?"

Narcissa leaned forward a bit. "I brought you here so you can understand that magic is more than what you think it is."

"I know that's not the whole reason."

Narcissa laced her fingers in her lap. "I want what's best for my family. And what's best for my family is what's best for you."

Diana glanced up skeptically, but didn't say anything and popped another legume in her mouth. The silence was tense and awkward, but it was broken by a smug, gravelly voice.

"Narcissa, my dear! What a fortuitous surprise."

Narcissa felt her toes curl, though such a reaction wouldn't have been discernible from the outside. She turned to see an elderly man with a sullen, brown-haired boy beside him. The man's smile was friendly, though his eyes were calculating. "Cantankerous. I was under the impression that the ministry forbade you from using the Ministry Portkey after that unfortunate incident two years ago. Surely you didn't enter Hyperborea the other way…"

Cantankerous Nott's eyes glanced downward as he lazily waved the thought away with a gesture of his hand. "Of course not. You should know by now, my dear, that wealth and influence goes a long way."

Stop staring at my chest, you lout. "Of course," Narcissa nodded politely. She looked at the young boy beside him—Theodore, she remembered. The boy's countenance always seemed gloomy and forlorn, and today did not seem to be any different. "What brings you here?"

"The summer sacrifice, of course." Damn. Narcissa looked at Diana from the corner of her eye, who grew paler and put her food down."I wanted to show young Theodore what a proper wizarding society looks like. One that doesn't tolerate blood mixing and never found itself beholden to the riffraff. And speaking of blood mixing, is this the girl?"

Narcissa felt Diana tense and inwardly cursed her luck. If she knew Cantankerous Nott, of all people, would be here, she would have prepared the child adequately. "Yes, this is Diana."

The boy's expression suddenly reflected more interest as he peered at Diana. "...Hello, my name is Theodore. We're going to be classmates this year. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Diana's eyes flickered from the boy to the gold statue, then—after a few beats—responded. "...Hi….nice to meet you, too."

"The blonde coloring is from Lucius, of course, but the facial features are all from the mother. The resemblance is quite uncanny, actually. I can't imagine what Lucius feels every day when he sees her."

Narcissa saw Theodore wince slightly. Narcissa silently prayed to any other god that might be listening that Diana wouldn't take the bait. She could tell the implication did not go unnoticed by her stepdaughter, who was growing even paler and her eyes were widening. Her mouth opened slightly and she turned to look at Narcissa in panic.

Narcissa was extremely grateful that Diana was looking to her for guidance instead of confronting Nott head-on. "He feels the desire to instruct her in our ways, I can assure you. Now, Diana and I will be taking our leaves. Good day, Cantankerous, Theodore. Come along, Diana."

Narcissa gracefully stood up and began to follow the path back to the hit the portkey brought them to, Diana scrambling behind her. Narcissa could feel Cantankerous's cold gaze on her, but gave the man what he deserved: no reaction.

Once they made quite a bit of distance, Diana leaned in. "Narcissa, than man—"

"Not now," Narcissa whispered lightly.

"What was he talking about? My mum—the sacrifice—and—?"

"I said, not now," she whispered, firmer.

They went back to the hut and the same man from earlier pointed to a Galleon they needed to touch in order to transport back to the ministry building. Once Narcissa signed the paperwork again and they left the office, Diana began her bombardment of questions.

"What sacrifice was he talking about?" she hissed as they walked through the crowds and towards the fireplaces that would allow them access to the Floo Network. She looked far more frazzled now than she did during the conversation; clearly, the walk back got her worked up.

"The Hyperboreans have a very different culture from ours. During specific times of the year they have certain…rituals. Of course, that sort of thing would be illegal in our society, but—"

"I can't believe I thought those folks were okay!" Diana cried out in exasperation. "They're just as evil as the wizards here!"

Narcissa bristled, but also felt slightly uneasy at the possibility of the child making a scene in the Ministry and scanned the crowds to make sure no one was listening in. "I hardly think it's fair to apply British values to a separate society. If you grew up in Hyperborea, you'd find those rituals normal."

"That's the same excuse I heard about why your husband raped my mum. There's right and there's wrong, and those things don't change."

Narcissa was tempted to roll her eyes at the girl's naivety. Was I ever that pig-headed? "You're entitled to your own beliefs."

Diana's eyes narrowed at the patronizing tone, but didn't say anything else as the pair grabbed a handful of Floo Power and returned to Malfoy Manor. Her husband and Draco were in Knockturn Alley for the day, which left Narcissa and Diana alone.

"Who was that nasty arsehole with the gray hair?"

"Language, Diana. And his name is Cantankerous Nott. He's a powerful man, and not the most pleasant, as I'm sure you surmised."

"Cantankerous? That's his real name?" Diana scoffed as she slouched down on the sofa. "It fits."

Narcissa allowed herself to give a small smile. "Perhaps his parents had the gift of Sight."

Diana didn't smile back. "Th-those things he said about—about my mum. He was there. He had to be. I—"

Narcissa inwardly debated how to handle this, but figured practicality would be the best option. "I'm sure he was." Diana looked stricken. "He didn't address you on purpose. He wanted you to lose your composure."

"Well, it worked," she snapped, tears forming in her eyes.

"It did not. I'm proud that you were able to maintain a sense of decorum." Diana said nothing. "There's no getting around it. In our social circles, you will be encountering children of men who knew your mother."

"Raped my mother, you mean." She stood up and glared venomously at Narcissa. "How could you not be bothered? You're a woman!"

Narcissa's mouth thinned. She expects me to have solidarity with a Muggle simply on the basis of gender? "I refuse to engage in this topic any more. I already told you my feelings earlier, and have nothing more to say."

Diana said nothing, but spun around and stomped to her bedroom. After the girl was out of sight, Narcissa felt a twinge of uncertainty in her stomach. Was she being too firm? Did she undo any good will she established earlier in the day?

Narcissa didn't see Diana again until dinner. Her stepdaughter was quiet as she usually was during that time, jabbing at her potatoes while listening to Lucius tell Narcissa about deals he made in Knockturn Alley. Throughout her husband's recollections, Narcissa examined Diana closely from the corner of her eye. She didn't seem angry anymore, but there was…something behind those eyes. Something that made Narcissa uneasy. When her husband pressed them about how their day was, Diana said nothing–typical–and Narcissa kept it light and vague.

Later that night, Narcissa found herself at the girl's door again, much as she did in the morning, except the door was slightly ajar. Feeling like she was twelve again, she peeked in to see Diana sitting on the bed, looking down at something in her hands with furrowed brows.

Narcissa opened the door and Diana looked up, startled at the creaking sound and unwanted visitor, before shoving whatever she was looking at behind her. "Hello, Diana. May I come in?"

Diana's wary eyes met Narcissa's cool ones. "Well, you're already pretty much in here, soooooo….."

Narcissa forced a smile and sat down next to her on the bed, ignoring Diana's rigid body posture and hardening eyes. "The room is getting a bit sloppier. You should have Dobby come in tomorrow to organize your belongings."

Diana shrugged. Clearly, Narcissa needed to change tactics to elicit a response. "Whatever you were holding, it must have been quite fascinating to hold your attention."

Diana's hands clenched the sheets of her blankets. "It's nothing," she muttered.

Should she press? It was advantageous for the Malfoys to get on the girl's good side, and it would be easy to find what was there without Diana's cooperation; she could order Dobby to find it without her step-daughter even knowing. But this was turning into a power play, and Narcissa couldn't let Diana think her rudeness throughout the day would just be ignored. "I'd like to see it."

Diana's eyes looked up, a mix of fearful and challenging. "It's nothing, just a photo."

"A photo of what?"

Diana's frown deepened into a scowl and her eyes grew sharper. Sometimes, Narcissa really could see the Lucius in her. "Just my mum, that's all…"

Oh? "I'd like to see it," she repeated. And now, she genuinely did.

The moment was tense; Narcissa knew Diana was wondering if it would be confiscated, and Narcissa was pondering the same thing herself. She aso wondered if Diana would challenge her on this, and what would happen afterward. But after a moment of hesitation, Diana reached behind her and pulled out the photograph before slowly handing it to Narcissa, who tried to overlook the hatred in the girl's eyes.

Looking down at the picture (How odd, to have pictures that don't move), she saw two young women: a blonde one, and a raven-haired one. Cantankerous Nott was right—Diana did look like her mother, who Narcissa surmised was the black-haired one. The girl had a natural beauty to her, with soft eyes of an ingenue who had no idea what horrors were in store for her.

She was pretty, that fool Bentley was right about that. But seeing this photo made Narcissa more confident that it was as Lucius said—a youthful indiscretion. He wouldn't be intrigued by an empty-headed, doe-eyed fool. That woman might have had her husband's body, but Narcissa had his heart.

"Can I have it back?"

Narcissa's eyes flickered upward. After a pause, she handed it back to Diana, who snatched it away quickly as if Narcissa would pull her hand back at any moment.

"What did you come for?" Diana muttered.

Narcissa wasn't quite sure herself. There were a lot of thoughts in her mind, but the one she settled on verbalizing was: "I came to tell you that we'll be doing more lessons on social etiquette. It's paramount that you learn how to hide your emotions better. I keep mine masked around you. You should do the same."

Before Diana could respond, Narcissa stood up and strolled to the door, closing it on her way out. As she walked down the hallway, she recalled with alarm that her advice to Diana was something Druella Black told her when she was about to start Hogwarts.

Narcissa wasn't sure how to feel about that.