Prepared for, but never expecting, the worst
Disclaimer: these aren't my characters… Just in case you might have mistaken them…
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It was late. She sat in the study, feet
crossed at the ankles, cold eyes on a small clock. The clock was indented into
the wall, and usually hidden behind a panel that only a certain spell could
reveal. The spell wasn't the sort of thing the Ministry would regularly teach
wizards, so there was little risk of being found out.
She sneered a little when she thought of the fools in the ministry, how they
dared raid the manor three years ago. They had left empty handed. Her husband
was well versed in concealing things that he didn't want seen.
The clock she was watching was a typical family clock. It had three hands and moving pictures of the three members of the family on it. They had another in the sitting room. This clock, however, had a few more words on it then the rudimentary "at work" "travelling" "prison" and "mortal danger" type that the ordinary family clock had.
Words like "At the Dark Lord's side" and "Doing the Dark Lord's bidding" were the main reason this little clock was hidden. Any ministry official who saw that would go into paroxysm of delight at finding such an obvious statement of guilt.
Narcissa took another sip of her gradually cooling tea. Women WERE quite welcome at the Dark Lord's side- why, her darling sister served there, but Narcissa wasn't the active sort. She supported him and his aims, yes, but she was quite content to let her husband deal with the actual work. She smiled in a cold fondness. Lucius was ever so good at his work.
He was the reason she was up at all hours, watching this little clock. Kretcher, the house elf of the Black family had paid them an unexpected visit near Christmas, and provided them with invaluable information. The information had been passed, of course, to the Dark Lord himself- who had even honoured them with a personal visit- and implemented in the best way possible. Lucius was now following up on the plans that had been made since. She felt a fierce pride at this.
Her thoughts were so lulled she didn't hear the door open quietly.
"Would you like another cup of tea, ma'am?" A small, timid, mousy haired maid said from the doorway, her head bowed demurely. Narcissa quickly banished the clock and wheeled around
"I thought I instructed that I was NOT to be disturbed!" She snapped. The maid curtsied and blushed to the roots of her hair
"Yes, ma'am, sorry ma'am…" She said, looking slightly terrified. "I hadn't heard such orders yet ma'am. I'm terribly, terribly sorry, ma'am…" Narcissa stood, putting her teacup down and took a deep breath. However, she let it out slowly
"Go then. Pass the word to the others that
aren't aware and I shall forego any punishment." The maid looked up with a wild
hope in her eyes "If I'm not disturbed for the rest of the night, I shall even
forego informing my husband of your… lapse"
The maid could barely conceal her relief and curtsied low "Thank you ma'am- you
are most gracious!" And scurried off, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Narcissa glared at the door for a few seconds. It had been better with Dobby. The house elf had been disgustingly obsequious and filthy to boot, but he had been safer. All the serving staff had been enchanted to forget anything they saw within these walls as soon as they left the manor, but that wasn't fail proof, a good strong remembering charm could break it- and if anyone questioned them WITHIN the manor… She shut her eyes with a wince.
They had serving staff when Dobby was around, sure- they needed them to do the washing and ironing of their clothing. But two maids were easier to control then a full house of staff.
She turned back to the panel, muttering the vile spell that opened the clock's hidden compartment. Ah yes, the hands had not moved. Her son's was sitting happily on "Asleep" hers was on "Home" and her husbands looked at her from the position of "Doing the Dark Lord's bidding" She settled back into her chair, cast a quick warming spell on her almost cold tea and took a sip.
It was past midnight when her mind was jerked from her sleepy musings. Her husband's clock hand was moving. It shifted from its original place to the space labelled "travelling" She sat up taller, blinking her pretty eyes wider, sweeping away the cobwebs of sleepiness. It was over! She gripped the arms of the chair in expectance, prepared to see the hand move to "At the Dark Lord's side". However, as usual, a nasty little worry gnawed at her. She was ALWAYS anxious after an event like this. Her two greatest fears lay in the two words "In mortal danger" and "prison" for both her beloved and her son. Her eyes flickered nervously to the two horrid words. She shook her head, banishing the old fear.
The hand started moving again. She smiled satisfactorily as it hit "At the dark lord's side" but then vanished, sliding from her face like water down a drain. It moved straight past that. Maybe he was coming straight home? It was highly irregular, but…
She stood up and smoothed her hair, assuming that was the answer. He would be home soon. She should call a maid to light the fire in their bedroom so it'd be warm when he….
It went straight past "home". Her hands began to tremble… Was the clock broken? Her hand and Draco's remained where they were… why…?
It settled on the word "prison."
She stared at it for a horrible minute, frozen. Then she acted, heart thumping. She shut the panel and ran to her bedroom. Frantically she dressed for bed and positively leapt under the covers. She was white and trembling like mad. Hadn't they always discussed this possibility? She gripped the covers hard. They'd be here any minute…
Sure enough, five tense minutes later, someone knocked on her bedroom door, then poked their head in. The same maid who had offered her tea.
"Mrs. Malfoy?" She whispered "Excuse me, Mrs. Malfoy?" The maid ventured nearer and bent over her "Mrs. Malfoy, oh please do wake up…."
Narcissa pretended a groggy sleepiness she
did not feel and turned to face the wide eyed girl.
"yes?" She said in a curt, yet falsely sleepy voice, her hands under the covers
to hide their mad shaking. She was glad it was dark. Her bottom lip trembled
like a child's.
"I'm very sorry to disturb you Ma'am- I told
them you didn't want to be disturbed but there are two ministry wizards here to
see you. They say it's urgent… they're from the Department of Magical law
enforcement…"
Narcissa sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed "Oh very well, have
them seated in the sitting room and I tell them I shall be with them presently."
The maid curtsied and made her polite
escape.
Mrs. Malfoy swallowed hard. No good crying now- they'd be able to tell. She
didn't have the colouring to cry well, she looked all puffed up when she did.
She straightened her shoulders. Lucius wouldn't want her to anyway. Resolutely
she went to her wardrobe and drew out a teal green satin dressing gown,
fastening it well. She ran a brush through her hair until it looked
respectable, then primped in front of the mirror for a little while. She would
go there straight backed and haughty. How DARE they imprison her husband!
Ready, she slipped on a pair of satin slippers and fastened her hair with a snake pin- then pocketed her wand. No chances.
She descended the stair and swept as regally as she could manage into the sitting room where the witch and wizard sat enjoying a cup of tea. She wanted to smack it from their hands.
"How may I help you?" She asked in her coldest, most bleak voice. The witch stood up, a look of annoying sympathy on her face.
"Narcissa Malfoy?" The wizard asked, also rising. She inclined her head coldly. Who else would it be? She thought snidely
"We've come to inform you that your husband, Mr. Lucius Malfoy has been placed under arrest for Death Eater charges…" The wizard looked up at her. She kept her expression stony. "The charges are as listed." He went on, handing her a piece of parchment. She barely glanced at it. "He will be put on trial in front of the wizagamont at the date shown. You are welcome to attend."
The witch now came forward, and said in a
slightly overly soothing tone of voice "We understand that this is a hard time
for you, and you're welcome to visit on the times set on the sheet. I believe
you have a son?" She asked. Narcissa set her jaw and nodded. "We were to send
word to him through the headmaster, and a letter, but if you would prefer to
tell him, we fully understand."
"I shall inform him…" Narcissa said, icily. Draco… She hadn't thought of him…
"Ah yes… Well the headmaster will inform
him first in the morning, I'm afraid- unless you would like to send an owl as
soon as you can- it may move faster then Dumbledore's message." The witch
looked sympathising. Narcissa glared
"Is that all?" She asked, harshly. She felt her nose stinging a little.
"Yes… we're very sorry." The witch said, moving to the side of the wizard, and they
both disapparated.
Narcissa unclenched her hands. Nail marks
were on her palms. She got up and pointed her wand at the servant's quarters,
and a silvery something shot in that direction like a streaking bird. A few
seconds later, a butler came.
"Fetch me a quill, ink and parchment- and our owl immediately." She ordered.
The butler bowed and left.
She opened the parchment the wizard had handed her. There were so many crimes
listed. She breezed past them, noting quite a few she was aware of and that
they had missed. That was quite satisfying, for some reason. Her eyes fell on
the visiting times and her anger blazed. 1 until 5 on weekends ONLY? She almost
crumpled the paper in fury.
Just then the butler returned, arranging the requested items on a small table by a now curtained window, then left as silent as smoke. Mrs. Malfoy sighed and swept over to the things, seating herself and dipping the quill. She had to write to her son…
