Blood Will Tell

It had started Draco's 2nd year. The boy was keeping something from her. Something that made Lucius nervous. Her husband was a dangerous Wizard, but when it came to his son, he was a big softy. Lucius adored his Heir and would do anything for him.

And whatever this new secret between the two was, it was enough to make Lucius wary of Narcissa. Letters from Draco came to Lucius weekly now, as opposed to monthly. Draco's letter to his mother still came regularly, but lacked a little something. They followed a script, complaints about dorm-mates, bragging about how well he did on a test, and yet more bragging of his prowess on a broom.

It wasn't till the very end of the school year, on the train platform to pick up Draco, that Narcissa finally figured out what it was. When a little girl with a riot of curls bumped into her. Narcissa knew right away, the moment she laid eyes on the girl.

She felt her husband tense up next to her, and just over the girl's shoulder was Draco standing with his friends. His already pale skin turned ghost white. So this is what they had been keeping secret from her.

"Cissa, darling." Her husband started, trying to distract her.

Narcissa waved a hand at him in warning, not even bothering to look at the Wizard as she studied the girl who was now looking up at her in surprise. Like a little doe, frozen in its tracks. The little Witch was tan of skin, with dark coffee colored curls that were just a shade away from black. Her eyes too, a brown so dark it bordered on black, making them seem large in her small oval shaped face.

"White Witch" The girl whispered in awe.

Narcissa bent down to her knees, putting herself eye level with the Witch the men in her life had been keeping secret from her. She was wearing a blue dress, well made, but distinctly muggle in fashion she noted.

"What was that?" Narcissa asked as she continued to look the girl over.

"You're like the White Witch."

"And who is this White Witch you speak of?"

The little Mudblood in front of her swallowed heavily before replying. Her eyes were not even blinking, as if Narcissa had hypnotized her.

"The White Witch of Narnia. She is the most beautiful and cold sorceress in the land. Her cruelty is only surpassed by her power."

Narcissa smiled wickedly. Oh yes, she liked that quite a bit. Reaching out, she tucked a stray curl behind the girl's ear. The child shivered at the contact, and Narcissa's smile deepened. Everything made sense now.

"Hermione, I see you have met my cousin, Narcissa."

Two large hands enveloped the girl's shoulders. Narcissa looked up, grey eyes meeting grey. Lifting a hand up, her husband helped her up as she kept her gaze on her cousin.

"Sirius dear, been keeping secrets from me?"

Her cousin looked at her dourly, his hands on the little Witch, Hermione, pulling her back behind him.

"Not the kind you think. If you will excuse us."

With a nod to her and Lucius, he quickly made his exit with the girl in tow. The Witch turned back around quickly though, tugging herself from Sirius's hands.

"It was a pleasure, Lady Malfoy." She curtseyed to Narcissa before turning back to Sirius and taking his hand in hers and letting him lead her away.

The White Witches' eyes followed them as they made their way to the Potters down the way. She watched as a young boy with messy black hair threw an arm over the girl's shoulder good naturedly, and began to ruffle her curls.

Soon enough, Draco joined his parents, his face set in stone. In fact, both Lucius and her son were stiff and wary. Narcissa could only smile at their discomfort as they made their way home. She let them simmer in their fear till dinner.

Her two wizards had gotten their wits about them by then. Bantering back and forth about the school year, and plans for summer. Narcissa played along, easing their fears as the night whined down. Until…

"Draco, dear. Who was that little Witch that I ran into earlier today? Hermione? Was that her name? Is she in your year?"

All noise in the dining room stopped, save for the clinking of Narcissa's silverware on her porcelain plate as she continued to take small delicate bites of the meal. Looking up she found Draco and her husband exchanging looks.

"Draco, I asked you a question."

Looking back down at his plate, her son didn't meet her eyes.

"Yes Mother, she is in my year."

"What a darling little Witch."

Both her husband and Draco looked at her in shock. She merely smiled at them both.

"Why have I not heard of her before? Are you not friends?"

"She is in Ravenclaw, and-" Here he hesitated.

"She is a Muggleborn is she not?" Lucius filled in. "I have heard about her in the School Board meetings. Strongest Witch to come through the school in a century. Even Severus has nothing but praise for the girl."

"A Mudblood, truly?" Narcissa picked up her wine and took a sip. Hiding her smile as both the wizards winced at her crude language.

"Well, you would never know it, What manners she has, and her clothing was quite fine."

She looked back and forth between the two.

"Her father is quite wealthy from what I have been told." Her son continued to hedge and hide behind half truths.

"A mudblood, how strange. I would have never guessed judging off the power coming off the girl. Will you be wishing to invite her over this summer Draco?"

Again, her two Wizards looked at her in shock. Draco's mouth was hanging open and it was all Narcissa could do not to laugh.

"Mother?"

"Come now, don't be coy. You have some connection to the girl, do you not?"

Of course he did, not that he would understand it yet.

"I only met her for a moment, but found her quite charming. I would love to have the little Witch over."

"Yes Mother."

Draco stuttered his acceptance, wonder and confusion clear on his little cherub face. Lucius merely studied her from across the table. His own face a mask giving nothing away, his thoughts shuttered away.

The White Witch took another sip of her wine. Smiling to herself as she thought of the little Witch she met today. With her wild curls, dark eyes, and the Black Blood inside her that called out to Narcissa's own. The girl wasn't a Mudblood, she was a bastard of the Black line.

Blood would always tell after all. Blood did not lie.

So this has been running around in my head for a while now. It was originally a little drabble I wrote ages ago. I will be posting that on my Library of Forgotten Tales, as it is a completely different take on this premise. With the two being fully grown when Narcissa finally meets Hermione.

There will be more chapters to come. I don't know if there will be smut, I think this will be told mainly from Narcissa's POV. I know I have mentioned before in other stories that I give all the Sacred 28 houses certain characteristics. Not just physical attributes, but magical and personality traits as well. I want to dig a bit into the darker traits of House Black with this story.

I think eventually I want to dig into a couple of the personality and magical traits of many of the houses. Perhaps a mini series of each house.