Chapter 8 -
Narcissa went down the stairs and entered the Slytherin common room as quietly as possible, she saw the exit and tried to leave without attracting too much attention. She was currently hoping to not be noticed, especially by Malfoy and his boy band of idiotic wizards. Before he would have stayed back due to Harry but now that no longer worked because Harry was no longer here.
It had been a week, an entire week, since Harry had left. After the first few days the rest of the Slytherin's began getting more confident in the belief that Harry would not be returning, which naturally meant that Lucius was slowly but surely reverting back to his usual undesirable self.
Narcissa could not help but think back on her decision to free Harry, yes she wished he was here but she did not regret doing so. Harry had suffered plenty without being forced to be a passenger in his own mind while the controller of his body made him obey every single wish of the woman who according to him would marry Malfoy and spawn the arrogant brat that would be his rival.
As of the moment her only hope was that the future would turn out different from how Harry had said it would, Harry's mere presence here had surely caused at least a few changes. But as far as she knew her parents were still considering the offer to marry her into the Malfoy family. Yesterday she had received a letter telling her to meet her parents at Hogsmeade tomorrow so they can 'discuss' the Malfoy marriage offer. She had scoffed immediately when she read the word 'discuss', in the Black family women did not discuss anything.
The crazier women like her Aunt Walburga would screech and shout while the other women would nod their head and reluctantly accept whatever it is they are told.
"Narcissa." The last voice that Narcissa wanted to heard drawled just before she managed to reach the door. She bit back a large variety of curses and turned around to see Malfoy standing like he was king of the castle, behind him was his two inbred idiotic bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle looking like golems awaiting orders from their master, unlike Harry who somehow made it look cool. And to complete this gang there was also that disgusting and unhygienic creature called Severus Snape whose face seemed to always alternate between scowling and sneering, it was currently on sneering, yet he still did not understand why Lily Evans did not want to return to being his friend.
If Narcissa was being honest then the girl held her respect for simply putting with the foul creature for so long, but then she also lost respect for not getting rid of him sooner.
"Can I help you Lucius?" She said in a barely polite voice.
"Yes," Lucius smirked, either not noticing or ignoring the forced politeness. "I have been informed that you will be meeting with your parents today to discuss our marriage contract."
"Of course you have," Narcissa said before she could stop herself. "what of it?"
"I think I will accompany you." Lucius said.
"That is not necessary." Narcissa said, the last thing she wanted was more of Malfoy.
"Are you sure? I am sure you will enjoy yourself more with me."
"I, however, do disagree." Narcissa said and she walked out before he could respond. She walked for several moments when she suddenly felt a presence alongside her, she glanced to the right and with considerable effort resisted the urge to hex Malfoy. "I was planning on going to the bathroom first unless you feel the need to accompany me there as well." She glared at him before quickly changing direction, as soon as she was able to turn a corner she disillusioned herself.
When Malfoy came by about two seconds later she hit him with a confoundus charm and let him continue while she disillusioned herself and went back to her original destination.
"Cissy." Narcissa heard a familiar voice call on her way out of the caste, she turned around to see Sirius and his friends standing behind her. "Are you alright?" Sirius asked.
"I...have been better." Narcissa sighed.
"I can tell...because you look horrible...I mean you are still pretty and all but you do not look happy at all. Is it because of Harry?"
"Partially." Narcissa nodded.
"Why is he gone anyway?" James asked, the unasked question of 'why did someone who is supposedly supposed to obey your every wish gone?' hanged in the air.
"It is complicated." Narcissa said in a tired voice. "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go to Hogsmeade to meet with my parents.
"What? Why?" Sirius asked.
"They...want to discuss...my marriage contract with Lucius Malfoy." Narcissa said in a trembling voice, she had tried to act strong, as if nothing was wrong but was unable to stop the lone tear that slid out of her eyes.
"Oh Cissy!" Sirius quickly pulled her into a hug, Narcissa hesitated for a moment before she returned it, the small act caused the floodgates to open and she quickly began crying into his shoulder. James and Remus had to put up some privacy spells around the two so that Sirius and Narcissa's conversation would not be heard by anyone, even themselves. "Narcissa I am so sorry, but it will all be alright, it will..."
"This won't be alright!" Narcissa cried. "Harry was the only way for me to escape and I let him go!"
"What do you mean?" A very, very confused Sirius asked.
"Harry was my servant!" Narcissa said as she moved her head from his shoulder and looked up at him. "He obeyed my every command and I made him tell me about his past and...and he suffered Sirius!"
"Suffered?"
"Yes, he went through things that nobody should go through just to end up magically tied to me. So...so I set him free...the first thing he did was disappear Sirius!"
"Cissy, it will be alright."
"What if he doesn't come back?!"
"He might."
"But what if he doesn't?! I could get married to Malfoy and I hate him Sirius! I...I...I am running away Sirius!"
"What?!" Sirius blurted out in shock.
"After my conversation with my parents, if I have not been successful in convincing them to get rid of the contract then I am going to run away."
"But where would you go?!"
"I am going to go to Andromeda's and see if she is willing to take me in. But...if she is not...then...I do not where I will go. But I am definitely not staying to be married to that prat!"
"You could come stay with me and James!" Sirius suggested. "The Potters took me in, they might take you in as well."
"I don't know," Narcissa said, shaking her head. "but even if they did I do not think it would be a good idea. You have already left home to go and live with them, it is lucky that the family has not tried anything against them for that alone. But if two children from the family run there then that could cause them problems and I do not want to make their lives more difficult."
"But then where..."
"Andromeda's hopefully and if that does not work then I do not know Sirius." Narcissa said in a defeated voice. "I...I will try to think of something. But...if my parents insist on going through with this then I will find Regulus and say my goodbye then I will say my goodbye's to you, after that I will leave Sirius."
"Maybe we can ask Dumbledore..."
"No!" Narcissa cut him off quickly. "I mean no, I do not want to involve the headmaster in this." Narcissa said, memories of what Harry told her about the man had caused her to lose the very small amount of respect she had for him.
"Why not?" Sirius asked, of course Dumbledore seemed a bit senile and crazy at times but nearly everyone would love to have his help.
"I have my reasons," Narcissa said before she kissed Sirius on the cheek. "goodbye Sirius." She said as she wiped her eyes and walked off while James and Remus got rid of the privacy charms.
"What happened?" Peter asked.
"Let's just say that from tomorrow there might not be much left of Malfoy to curse." Sirius replied, thinking up things to do to Malfoy that were definitely not legal and if done could end with him being permanently locked in Azkaban for life. This was shortly followed by the two questions 'is it worth it' and 'could I get away with it?'. "Excuse me." Sirius said before he started walking.
"Where are you going?" James called as the marauders followed after him.
"To go help Narcissa, after that I am going to work out how to kill Malfoy and get away with it."
"Father, mother." Narcissa said as she greeted Cygnus and Druella Black, her father and mother, as they met in Hogsmeade.
"Narcissa." Cygnus nodded. "How has school been?" He asked, more because he should rather than any desire to know.
"Can we please skip the small talk?" Narcissa said, unwilling to draw this out more than needed.
"Very well, let's get inside." Druella said, gesturing to the three broomsticks pub where they would go inside and request a private room.
"We can talk out here." Narcissa responded, not moving from her spot.
"I think you would prefer it if we talked in private." Cygnus said while he frowned at her for not instantly doing as she was told. "After all we need to discuss some sensitive topics."
"Like what?" Narcissa raised a perfect eyebrow.
"We have been hearing rumours about you," Cygnus's frown became even worse. "rumors that we, and you, will hope are nothing but falsehoods." He said, the warning not missed by any of them.
"What rumors?" Narcissa asked.
"Rumors about you and the latest Potter boy." Druella answered even though she was glaring at Narcissa for not hurrying up and entering the three broomsticks. "There have been many ridiculous stories about the boy being able to do wandless magic daily with ease and not requiring a wand, like anyone is capable of that, but there are also rumor that can affect our family reputation."
"Rumors about your relationship with him." Cygnus said. "I well and truly hope, for your sake at least, that they are false rumors and that we can hurry up with your marriage contract. Lucius Malfoy..."
"Is a horrible idiot," Narcissa cut him off. "he is an arrogant toe rag who thinks that he is greater than Merlin despite having no admirable qualities besides his money."
"Now dear, Lucius is a handsome young man and most importantly a rich one with pure blood." Druella said.
"Quite frankly I do not care if he has unicorn or veela blood at this point. I do not want anything to do with him."
"Now Narcissa I understand you have your problems with the boy..." Cygnus started only to be interrupted.
"Problems? I loathe him. I would easily prefer to marry a muggleborn or squib before him. The squib grandchild of two squibs even. If you want I will go to knock turn alley and find a house elf then marry that elf but I will not marry Malfoy."
"We will discuss this inside." Cygnus said in a slow and deadly voice.
"No, we will not." Narcissa said, surprising her parents and herself as she for the first time in her life stood up to them. "If you chose to continue with this and force me to even consider marrying that waste of air then I will...I will..." Narcissa took a deep breath, 'come on, get through this Cissy' she encouraged herself mentally.
"You will what?" Cygnus scoffed.
"If you force me then I will leave the Black family," Narcissa said, shocking her parents into silence. "if I have to run away and live with Andromeda and her muggleborn husband then I will, if I have to learn how to live like a muggle then I will do so but I am not marrying Malfoy!"
"To be fair living with a pig would probably be nicer than Malfoy." A voice said and the trio turned around to see Sirius walking up to them along with the marauders.
"Ah you, the disappointment." Cygnus sneered. "What are you doing here?"
"Helping out a fellow disappointer." Sirius answered as he placed an arm around Narcissa's shoulders. "She is not marrying that prat Malfoy."
"What my daughter does is no concern of yours." Druella glared at him. "Neither is who she will marry."
"Nor is it your choice." Narcissa said, glaring at her.
"Listen to me and listen well girl," Cygnus said in a low and threatening voice. "when I say..."
Cygnus found himself cut off by the sound of an explosion. Everyone turned towards the sound, it was followed by a building on fire and screams of people.
"Shit! Death eater raid!" James cursed.
A small army of death eaters were sending spells left right and centre. Not even Cygnus and Druella felt safe, despite their allegiance to the dark lord, the reason behind this was because the fools were shooting spells in every direction possible and could potentially shoot them, even if it was accidentally.
"We need to go now." Sirius yelled, but before they could even move a few feet a deathly green curse flew towards them.
All of their eyes widened as the killing curse flew towards them. They knew how dangerous the curse was, no shield could block it and if it hits you then it will cause instant death. Sirius quickly pulled Narcissa behind him in case the curse could hit her while James and Remus along with Cygnus and Druella pulled their wands out, hoping to be able to conjure something to take the curse while Peter jumped to the back of the group.
However the curse did not manage to reach them as a figure dropped in front of them, the killing curse collided with the figure. They, along with all the other many people around them, watched but the figure did not fall. He stood, strong as an oak, as if he was not just hit with the deadliest known curse.
Narcissa leaned past Sirius and looked at the figure, or at least from the back.. He stood wearing red trainers, black jeans and a grey jacket. Her eyes widened as she recognised the owner of the messy raven coloured hair.
"Harry?!" She blurted out, hope evident in her voice.
"Hey," Harry turned his head back and gave her a wink and a small smile. "I'll be right with you." He said before he turned his head back and looked at the stunned death eaters. "I've got to take care of some business first."
A.N: Hi guys, this chapter was supposed to be longer and one really big chapter followed by a shorter one but I got busy today and did not have as much time or energy as I would have liked. So instead after this chapter there will be a bigger one then possibly a shorter one. Hope you enjoyed it, feel free to leave a review.