Disclaimer is in the Prologue. Narcissa wasn't born Malfoy, but in my theory on magical marriage, the two bloods mix and blend, so Narcissa would have Malfoy blood in her: Lucius' blood.
Shopping with Narcissa is so tiring.
She woke up engulfed in darkness that only curtains can give. After a day of starving and a night where the veela-witch didn't return, the ocean of acid in her stomach finally settled enough to allow her to sleep. She pulled back a green, velvet curtain so find Draco dressing just beyond them. Silently she returned the curtain to its place and leaned back into the satin pillow. A stream of light ran across her face as Draco drew back the curtain and gently shook her shoulder.
"Virginia…wake up, Virginia." She opened her eyes, squinting in the daylight. "I'm sorry, Virginia." His angelic faced hovered over her, his hair glowing in the sunlight. "I'm sorry for…everything."
"Sod off." She rolled, showing her back to him.
"Gin." He placed his hand on her arm; she shrugged it off.
"There wasn't anything I could do. I'm not Harry. I don't do recklessly noble things in the face of evil. I am part of evil. I can't fight against what I am, or those who put the evil in me. I wish I could make you understand. I'm sorry, Virginia." She listened as the door closed soundly shut before daring to look around the room. It looked as though it was Draco's room, done in rich green and white with furniture of a black wood. Ebony. The door opened.
"Oh good, you're up, dear." The veela-witch glided in, followed by a pathetically battered house-elf carrying a tray of silvered-covered platters. Another followed carrying a jug of pumpkin juice and cups. They set up breakfast at Draco's desk while Narcissa approached Ginny. You'll find clean clothes and a clean robe in the bathroom. Hurry bathing, because we have a lot of shopping to do today."
"Shopping?"
"Of course, dear. You can't stay dressed in the same clothes the entire time you stay. I won't stand for it. I'll explain our schedule during breakfast." She tidied Draco's nightstand as she spoke, displaying that it was not an often occurrence that she did so by her uncertain movements. The light danced on Narcissa's hair, glowing through it and surrounding her angelic face.
"You're Draco's mother, aren't you." Narcissa smiled.
"Yes, I am. Now hurry up or breakfast will be cold!" Ginny extricated herself from the warm bed and entered the bathroom. It was white, designed like an ancient greek bath with pillars. The toilet had golden clawed feet at the bottom, as if it would simply get up and walk away. Giggling at the thought, Ginny turned the taps, mixing the hot and cold water to her liking. She saw other taps for scents and bubbles, but now was not the time to relax. She sighed, sinking into the water that massaged her body familiarly. She found taps for shampoo and conditioner and liquid soap and washed the grime of the dungeon off her body. The towel she dried herself on and wrapped her self in was warm and soft, covered with hundreds of fibers that felt so strange next to the threadbare towels of the Burrow. Her chest constricted as she thought of her home. Would she ever be free to return?
The clothes lay waiting on the back of the toilet, a toothbrush on top. Ginny smiled at Narcissa's thoughtfulness. After she dressed and had brushed her teeth, she stepped back into Draco's room rejuvenated.
"You look wonderful, dear. Now come, sit down before your waffles get cold." Ginny did so with glee. Narcissa had transfigured the desk into a breakfast table so that Ginny sat across from her, the meal between them. Narcissa spoke between tiny, precise bites of her food.
"At ten we have a meeting with my favorite robemaker. Then we shall go to the jewelers; I have something to pick up. After lunch we shall stop for shoes. Then we will return. You will dress for dinner and join us. While we're shopping, be sure not to stray too far from me. Oh, and I will be doing glamour spells on you. In fact," Ginny finished her pumpkin juice, her syrup covered plate empty in front of her, "I will right now." Narcissa stood in front of Ginny as she worked on disguising her. She muttered, concentrating. "There." Ginny walked to the full length mirror. A pale woman with blond hair stared back at her. Her features remained the same, but her freckles had been banished, her hair as pale as Malfoy's, her lips thinned and coated with pale pink lipstick. The only thing that seemed untouched were Ginny's eyes. The vibrant green remained, looking startled against the rest of her colorless self, or what it that Ginny was startled? Her black clothing only aided in bringing more contrast to the Ginny that Narcissa had concealed. She turned back to Narcissa.
"If anyone asks, you are my niece. You will respond to Diana." Ginny nodded. "Follow me." They walked through the endless hallways of the Manor, each seeming more richly decorated than the last. Finally they reached the fireplace. "Hold my hand, dear." Narcissa took a pinch of floo powder and threw it into the fireplace. "Diagon Alley!" she declared, stepping into the fire. Away, she flew, Ginny in tow. Instead of the rattling, soot chimneys she expected she found herself shooting through, untouched by the walls. They both landed, Narcissa more gracefully than Ginny. "We have a shrinking charm on our chimney. It lasts for as long as any person with Malfoy blood in them is in the floo network."
"But I don't have Malfoy blood," Ginny whispered.
"You were touching me, and I do."
They made their way to Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occassions. Ginny had only been in there once; usually she bought her robes at the second hand robe shop on the other side of Diagon Alley.
"Ah, Mrs. Malfoy, you have a…ten o'clock appointment with Madame?"
"Yes, I'm fitting Diana for a new wardrobe. A complete new wardrobe."
"Yes, Mrs. Malfoy, please follow me." Ginny had never met Madame Malkin before; the one time she had come in was for a dress robe when she was young, and then one of the assistants had fitted her. Ginny found Madame to be a squat, aging witch with flyaway gray hair. She didn't mean to be rude, but Madame looked more like a hag than a witch.
"Good morning, Madame."
"Ah, Mrs. Malfoy. How are you today?" The two greeted each other like old friends.
"I have come to buy a new wardrobe for Diana, my niece." Madame eyed Ginny, expertly calculating the size and colors that would suit her best. "Please be sure that all items will be suitable for any hair color. Diana favors dying her hair," Narcissa said with feigned displeasure
"Step on the stool, Diana." The measuring tape swirled around Ginny as she stood. A quill raced across the parchment, taking down her measurements. Madame snapped her fingers and the measuring tape coiled itself and took its place beside the now still quill. Madame picked up the parchment and returned with her arms laden with robes. With a wave of her wand Ginny was wearing a black velvet gown. The sleeves flared at the bottom and there was a slit over her left leg up to her hip. She loved it. Madame looked on with approval, coming closer to make adjustments Ginny was sure weren't necessary. Narcissa circled Ginny wistfully.
"I always wanted to have a daughter."
"I always make everything perfect for my best customer." Madame gave Narcissa a warm smile that she returned. The next dress was gorgeous as well. This one was gold and made her shine like the sun. Madame went through 3 more dresses, each more perfect than the last. "Now to day wear." Madame fitted Ginny with simple separates: a green crushed velvet, ankle length skirt, a pair of black slacks, blouses of different cuts and colors, she counted the out fits that were tried on her. Twelve in all, each that could be mixed and matched. Ginny felt like she was floating. She had never gotten so many new clothes all at ones. She saw behind her glowing reflection Narcissa whispering to Madame and Madame nodding. Madame left and returned with an entirely new armload of clothing.
"Take these into that room over there. You need not show me how they fit, simply try them on and if something's the wrong size, tell me." Ginny took the clothing from the robe-maker who began talking to Narcissa as Ginny left the room. Upon closer examination of what she was carrying, she blushed. These were…intimate clothes, and not the simple cotton kind. Lace and silk and satin made up this pile. She undressed and tried them on. Some were uncomfortable, some were light as air, some made her feel glorious, but all were extremely provocative. Did Narcissa expect her to normally dress like this? Or rather look like this when she undressed. She dressed- everything fit fine- and returned to the fitting room where Narcissa was examining a bolt of cloth, giving her approval. "Just one more dress, dear," she said, "It won't take long to fit."
Ginny should have known that this
was a sign that it would not. After what seemed like an eternity of pokes and
prods and close calls to getting herself pinned, she was freed from the stool.
"Put it on our tab, Madame." Narcissa said, casually
waltzing out the door with Ginny in tow. They ate lunch at a fancy café outdoors.
"Diana? Would you mind waiting
here while I run my errand?"
"Not at all."
Ginny watched as Narcissa strode proudly through the crowd, parting it with her presence. She felt something tug within her. It was tugging her forward. She braced her hands on the table, pushing back. It hurt. It was as if she was being tugged inside out through her chest. She pushed back harder as the pain grew and the urge to run towards Narcissa encroached on her will to stay put. She knew she must look awkward but this inexplicable pain did not overcome her yet. Although she feared it might. She dug her heels into the ground, straining against the invisible tether hooked into her chest. Slowly, she felt the pain recede, the flush from her strain draining along with it. By the time she saw Narcissa approaching form, she felt no pain at all and sat unflustered and patiently waiting.
"Ready for shoes?"
"Yes."
Narcissa led her out of Diagon Alley and into a Muggle shoe store close by. "Don't tell Lucius that I took you here, but Muggles really do have better style in shoes than we do." She glowed like a little girl going to buy a doll long craved for and finally obtainable. Narcissa stepped into the shop and inhaled the scent of leather and new shoes, seeming to find life from it and joy from the sight of the shelves full of shoes. She took Ginny's hand eagerly and bounced down the aisles. Narcissa weaved through the store, pausing every now and again, sometimes handing Ginny a shoe to find in not only Ginny's size but Narcissa's as well. Narcissa was content to put the shoe on her foot and admire it lovingly. Only when every shoe seemed to have been examined, approved, or rejected did Narcissa approach the front counter with 5 pairs of shoes; all for Ginny.
"Won't you buy some for yourself?" Narcissa gazed at the shelves, a longing look in her eyes.
"No, I have too many." Ginny was surprised at how easily Narcissa handled Muggle money. Ginny herself had to stop and think about it whenever she tried, but it was like first nature to Narcissa.
"And remember, we did not get these in a Muggle shop. Oh, I almost forgot." She ducked into a wizard shoe store. Sighing, Ginny followed. Narcissa was browsing the garters.
"Wouldn't stockings be easier?"
"No," Narcissa said with a detached chill, "I can not abide stockings."
