So this was more insomnia fueled work and Lady Lily Anne and I decided to go the semi-cliche route and make Narcissa Black a friend of Lily Evans, just because we could. Now I know the ages don't quite add up so just chalk this all up to it being an AU, and I promise once again that things will stop being so...fragmented and short as soon as I have a decent work schedule again.
Please, lemme know what you thought of the most recent update.
Vernon Dursley knew things were going to go pear shaped as soon as he saw the small girl sitting next to the freak on the front stoop of his home. Firstly, while he wasn't cultured in the slightest, as much as he tended to fake being so, he could quite easily tell she was an aristocrat.
Secondly, she had to almost certainly be one of them.
Her hair was an unnaturally freakish white, like pure cotton or freshly fallen snow, her eyes glowed just ever so slightly leaving their piercing ice blue tint burned into the mind, and her Gothic Victorian era dress was simply out of place in the modern world.
She met his gaze evenly as she stood gracefully whilst plucking a parasol off the ground and twirled it between her fingers as she placed it over her shoulder, then she grinned at him.
Vernon made a choking noise as he saw her perfectly white teeth flash in the dark, her slightly elongated canines giving her an almost vampiric appearance that set him on edge. This girl all but screamed 'unnatural' and Vernon had to rally his courage to stand his ground as she tilted her head to the side to appraise his quite normal family.
"Harry, why don't we head inside so your...relatives can begin to get properly settled in for the evening?"
Her voice was quietly demure with a hint of an Oxford accent, every motion she made seemed to be calculated to make others nervous as both she and the freak turned their backs on the Dursleys heading into the house without further word.
Vernon turned to his wife to demand answers but froze as he saw the look of utter horror on Petunia's face, his little Dudders noticed the woman's reaction as well poking her back gently while muttering, "Mum what's going on?"
"No...no it can't be her...there is...there is no way..."
"Pet?" He asked in a concerned tone, but his wife did not hear him, lost in her memories as she was.
July 3, 1977
Narcissa Black sighed in exasperation as she took in the ramshackle town of Cokeworth and did her best to mitigate the stench of the local mills with a bubblehead charm and a spray of perfume. Honestly her study partner better appreciate this...this utter insult to propriety that she had to endure for her, it was almost degrading, truly!
Sighing she decided to not hold it against her partner, after all it was not like great minds where able to choose the environment they were born into and dwelling on it meant more quality time with the muggles. So with a huff the young woman wrapped her shawl about her face and began walking past identical streets of brick terraced houses until she reached her target.
It was interesting to note that while all the surrounding houses had ill kept front gardens and soot stained windows the Evans family had a very well maintained property, complete with weeded vegetable planters, flower beds, and well scrubbed brickwork.
All in all, the home looked like it was lived in by a family who knew how to present themselves while also being pragmatic in the same breath, it truly explained her partner's thought processes when it came to research for sure.
Adjusting her black dress as she tilted her parasol a bit she walked up the front drive and came to a stop smiling a bit at the sight before her.
Lily Evans was currently sporting a pair of scandalously short shorts and a tank top whilst weeding a bed of obviously magical plants, bopping her head up and down to the music coming from the transistor radio hanging from the fence beside her. The young woman's crimson tresses swaying back and forth from the confines of her sloppily wrapped ponytail she didn't notice Narcissa's presence for a few moments until said woman coughed gently into her hand.
In the middle of clipping one of the plants offshoots Lily glanced up, and her brilliant emerald green eyes seemed to alight as she met Narcissa's imperious glacial blue gaze.
"Cissa you made it!" Jumping up Lily brushed the soil from her legs as she approached her partner and took her hands into her own, and as always this little ritual threw the aristocrat for a bit of a loop.
Her hands were soft, unworked, and conveyed the life of a proper noble, while Lily's were roughened from usage, yet maintained a certain gentleness to them, for some reason she always found this a bit unsettling.
"Of course I made it Lily," she stated in a dry tone, the slight Oxford lilt to her voice carrying across the property as she turned to observe the various planters about them. "I must say I'm rather impressed with the variety of plants your family grows."
"Heh, blame that on us, veterans of the rationing era and all. Although it's nice not having to worry about a Kraut bomb dropping in on the cucumbers. You're Lily's partner from school right, Narcissa? My names Marigold, Lily's mother."
Narcissa turned to the newcomer while taking in the tall woman's visage for a few moments, noting her green eyes and blonde hair before nodding in return.
"Quite, we're working on our Runes Mastery together. I had a bit of a breakthrough and I wanted to discuss it with her."
The older woman smiled and nodded at that while gesturing towards the house, "Not even going to pretend I know what you're referring to, I'm just happy to see my little Lils moving up in the world. If you girls want snacks or anything let me know, Bill won't be home from the mill till late so dinners kind of off the table till at least seven."
Narcissa nodded in return as Lily led her into the house, the lithe redhead as always seemingly endlessly excitable, "So I went over the preliminary arithmatic calculations and I think you're onto something here. I know we're really getting ahead of ourselves with working on our Mastery before we even pass our NEWT but seriously this is so...so..."
"Bloody interesting?" Narcissa threw out, the curse word nearly causing her partner to stumble, turning back to the Pure-Blood witch Lily couldn't help grinning in return.
"Precisely! Now if-"
"Who's this, another one of your freak friends?"
Lily froze and cringed as she turned to address the newcomer, meeting said woman's gaze, Narcissa could honestly say she was completely unimpressed with her.
Gangly with an overly long neck, wearing far too much pink, and her nose far too up in the air the woman before her was almost a caricature of a human being.
"Petunia...this is my research partner from school, Narcissa Black, Narcissa my sister Petunia."
"Charmed, I'm sure," Narcissa demurred as she tilted her head to the side, Petunia for her part sniffed disdainfully as she sauntered off leaving an embarrassed Lily in her wake.
"My sister...the charmer... Sorry about that, lets get started on the project yeah?"
What followed was a rather enjoyable three hours of bantering, gossiping, and brainstorming. Lily Evans would never be a true friend to Narcissa Black, her family would never allow it, especially with her upcoming betrothal to the Malfoys. Still though, the intellectual discourse and mutual respect went a long way and Narcissa found herself enjoying her interactions with the young mud...muggle-born as she always did.
Eventually the pair found themselves outside in the back garden laying down runestones while trying to work out the best alignment for them when Petunia stepped into the midst of their project.
"Mother says dinner is to be ready soon, you and your...friend should wrap up what you are doing and get cleaned up."
Narcissa couldn't help herself at this point, she sneered at the giraffe necked woman while offering her hand to Lily, "Yes, why don't we head inside and clean up while your...relatives get settled for the evening..."
Petunia stared at the pair of witches disdainfully as they walked into the house, the last thing she heard was Lily's "Thank you Cissa," before the sliding door closed shut
Present Time
As Harry and Dancia entered the house the young boy turned to the small witch while fidgeting slightly as he glanced back out the still open door, "I don't think they like you Dany..."
She only smirked in return, "That's fine Harry, I don't like them very much either, and I can deal with mutually acknowledged apathy. Now go get cleaned up ok? I'll...deal with your relatives..."
Harry could only stare at her for a few moments before running a hand through his hair, "Don't hurt them? Please?"
Dancia frowned at that while cocking her head to the side, "Why?"
So simple, so succinct, so to the point.
Harry's response made her pause though, "Because you're better than them."
She stared into his green gaze for several moments before nodding slowly, "Very well Harry, I won't hurt them. Now hurry up and get your shower, we have so much to plan tonight it isn't even funny."
Harry smiled, and for the first time in his life initiated a hug as he wrapped Dany in his arms, then was soon scurrying up the stairs.
Tapping her finger against her lower lip Dany glanced outside to the still petrified in terror Dursley family before a self satisfied grin worked its way across her now darkly amused visage.
"Dobby!" Her house elf appeared beside her as she tilted her head towards him, "How would you like to play with some muggles, long term?" The elf's matching grin would have made many a grown man shudder, because she had after all told Harry she wouldn't do anything to the Dursley family.
Dobby though? Well, that was a different story.
I think I may be able to get in two hours of sleep if my body doesn't fight me on it so going to bed now, I hope you enjoyed this insomnia fueled update.