Chapter 2 – The Unbreakable Vow
Sunday, July 2nd, 1995
That evening, more people came to Number 12, including the most of the Weasleys and Hermione.
"What is she doing here?" asked Molly Weasley, pointing to Narcissa, as she entered the Drawing Room.
"My cousin requested shelter in the safest house for a member of the House of Black."
"She shouldn't be here."
"Says who?"
"Have you taken a leave of your senses, Sirius? You cousin is evil, and she will betray us."
"I am here," said Narcissa with an icy voice.
"She won't. Her sister Andy is here."
"How can you be so sure of this?"
"Because I think I know my own cousin."
"You trusted Pettigrew."
"Don't compare Cissy to that rat. The rat was our friend just because he needed big bullies to protect him."
"What will Dumbledore say?" asked Molly.
"It's my house. Dumbledore didn't even realize I was imprisoned without a trial until Andy told him. He believed Crouch's lies that I got a private one."
"Anyways, I don't want to join your Order, but I can take an Unbreakable Vow that I won't betray you guys, in exchange of you protecting Draco. But I am only doing it for my sister and my cousin."
"Are you sure Cissy?" asked her sister.
"Yes. I don't want to go back to the Dark Lord."
"And Lucius?"
"He will have to choose between his family and the Dark Lord."
"Then I am ready to be the witness."
"And I am ready to do the Vow with you, Cissa," said Sirius.
"But we need her to leave," said Narcissa. Getting the message, Molly left.
Sirius and Narcissa stood opposite each other, clasping each other's right hand, while Andromeda placed the tip of her wand onto the linked hands.
"Do you, Narcissa Cassiopeia Malfoy née Black, pledge to not divulge any secret that belongs to the occupants of this house or the Order of the Phoenix with any third-party without permission?"
"I pledge."
A thin tongue of brilliant flame issued from Andromeda's wand.
"And do you pledge to not go back to Lord Voldemort whatever happens?"
"I pledge."
Another thin tongue of brilliant flame issued from Andromeda's wand.
"Do you also pledge to not aid anyone working against the Order of the Phoenix in any shape or form?"
"I pledge."
More flame came from Andromeda's wand. Now it was Narcissa's turn to ask her cousin to make pledges.
"Do you, Sirius Orion Black, pledge to do anything in your capacity to protect my son, Draco?"
"I pledge."
More flame.
"And do you pledge that you will not expel us from your house even if Dumbledore asks you to?"
"I pledge."
More flame.
"Do you also pledge that you will do everything to the best of your ability to protect me, my sister Andy, her husband, and my niece while we are under your protection?"
"I pledge."
More flame.
Then the two cousins hugged each other like they hadn't done for decades.
"I missed you, Cissa."
"I too missed you, Siri."
When the three Blacks entered the kitchen, Narcissa got glares from everyone at the table, but didn't care. Sirius sat the largest chair, because of his status as Lord Black. To his right, sat Harry, even though it should have been Nymphadora Tonks since she was the Heiress. To his left, instead of the Lady of the House, sat Andromeda, followed by Ted Tonks. Arthur Weasley sat opposite Sirius since the was the Lord of the guest House. Hermione and Remus were seating in the middle of the tsble. After dinner was finished, it was clear that Ginny was very nervous, which Narcissa attributed to her presence. Once she realized the reason, she turned to the younger Weasley.
"Miss Weasley, I assume that you are nervous around me because of the Chamber of Secrets incident, is that correct?"
"Yes," said Ginny in a nervous voice.
"And while I had a hard time believing it back then, I assume my husband was the cause."
"Yes. Your Death Eater of a husband slipped me the Diary of Tom Riddle."
"I am sorry about what happened to you, dear. I swear to God that I had no idea of what my foolish husband was doing."
"You didn't know? But I thought you wanted to rid the wizarding world of Muggles and Muggle-borns."
"I understand you may think like that, but no. I don't support genocide."
"But your husband supports Tom."
"Which is why I am here. I don't want my son to get branded and I don't want to live in the same house as a monster."
Looking around, Harry saw that someone was missing from the Weasleys' side of the table.
"Where's Percy?" Harry asked Ron. Mrs. Weasley appeared sad at hearing that name.
"That git thinks you made it all up?"
"WHAT?" asked Harry.
"It's what the Ministry is saying."
"I reminded him about getting possessed by Tom, but he still told me he couldn't have come back from the dead. He had a shouting match with dad and left the Burrow."
"But we saw Voldemort going after the Philosopher's Stone in first year."
"Fudge have been saying you want attention, Harry," said Hermione. Harry looked livid at this.
"Fudge is being played by Lucius and that toad Umbridge."
"What do you mean, Mother?"
"Fudge listens a lot to your father, especially with all the money he gets from him. Since the Dark Lord's return, I have barely seen your father at the Manor."
"So, are you telling me the wife and son of a Death Eater believed Harry but not Percy?" asked Ron.
"Your brother really believes that Potter was making it up about the Dark Lord? Mother thinks that Fudge guy is an idiot. I may not like Potter, but he wouldn't make it up about the Dark Lord," said Draco.
"That's because he is," started the blonde witch. "The Potter boy comes back with the body of a student claiming to have seen the Dark Lord return, and Fudge thinks he made it up? Will he accuse Potter of having murdered Diggory and chuck him in Azkaban?"
"But who cares about Diggory? He was just a Hufflepuff," said Draco. Tonks pointed her wand at him.
"Say that again?"
"And what will you do?"
"May I remind you that I am an Auror?"
"Father says that Aurors are stupid."
"Draco, be nicer to your cousin," chided Narcissa.
"Father says she's a blood-traitor. Plus, Loony Lovegood is my cousin but she's an airhead as Father says."
"Luna is your cousin?" asked Ginny, incredulously.
"Yes, her mother is Father's sister, but we don't speak of them. They are blood-traitors."
"That's not a way to talk about family."
"But you disowned your blood-traitor sister, Father says."
"I was angry at Andy because I felt she abandoned me to my horrible parents and I still believe she was wrong in her choice for a husband, but she remains my sister. Also, your grandfather once caught me contacting Andy and threatened to annul my marriage with Lucius if I did it again."
"Your father-in-law is really horrible," said Andromeda.
"He even murdered his own daughter."
"What?" asked everyone else, horrified.
Narcissa then turned to Ginny. "I am sure you have heard from your friend that my sister-in-law died from a spell accident, what no one knows is that Abraxas had one of his house-elves mess with her experiments while the Lovegoods were sleeping, he even gloated about it then same way he gloated about what happened on the 24th."
"I saw Grandfather with a silver hand this morning. He said it was for the Dark Lord."
"I saw your grandfather cut his own hand for Voldemort." Most people flinched at the name.
"It's for what's called a Regeneration Potion. Mister Potter, if you don't mind, can you show me the memory of what happened that night?"
"I don't mind. But I don't trust you with my memories, sorry."
"I will do it," started Andromeda. "Siri, can you bring us a Pensieve?"
"Kreacher!" called Sirius.
"Filthy Blood-traitor Master is calling for Kreacher? Hello Mistress Malfoy, Kreacher didn't know you is here. You is not like your blood-traitor sister."
"Yeah, yeah Kreacher. Now, get me a Pensieve," Sirius said rudely.
There was a POP then Kreacher returned with a Pensieve.
"Here is your Pensieve, blood-traitor Master."
"Thank you Kreacher!" said Narcissa.
Everyone except Draco looked at the blonde witch like she had three heads. Narcissa Malfoy thanking a house-elf?
"You is welcome, Mistress. You is kind to Kreacher unlike blood-traitor Master," said Kreacher before disappearing with another POP.
"Since when are you nice to house-elves, Cissy?" asked Andromeda.
"You have Reggie to thank for this. Now, we have memories to see."
Everyone, including the two Malfoys watched in horror as Harry's memories of the events were unfolding.