Chapter 11 – Sanctuary
The Bus sped along the streets, Draco found it very exciting at first, but after a while he became tired and miserable and began moaning. Narcissa looked out of the window preparing to face her long lost sister. She had not spoke to her in about nine years. What would she say if Narcissa turned up on her doorstep, after all this time, covered in blood, holding suitcases and with a child in toe? Narcissa knew she would not take kindly to herself if she were in Andromeda's place. But Narcissa remembered Andromeda was a very forgiving, thoughtful and kind girl, or woman as she was now.
What would her mud blood husband say? Would he chuck Narcissa out for ruining Andromeda's life, or would he agree with her. Narcissa did not know what kind of husband he was to Andromeda.
"Tonks residence" called out the driver, Ernie, stopping the bus suddenly. Narcissa who had been steadily crying again pulled out a bag of money from her suitcase. Gelda stopped her
"Don't worry about paying…we won't charge you," she said. Narcissa looked up at the kindly woman. She seemed to understand what Narcissa was running away from.
Gelda helped Narcissa with her luggage and gave Draco a chocolate frog.
"Its that one there" said Gelda pointing at a little house with a bright yellow door.
Narcissa, Andromeda and Bellatrix had all grown up in a very grand mansion. Every one they associated with did too. So here Andromeda was, when she left the Black family she moved into a normal life…a normal house, a normal family. Narcissa wondered if she was happy. She would soon see.
Narcissa took Draco's hand and walked to the simple suburban house. Narcissa sighed and knocked on the door.
She heard voices from the other side of the door. Narcissa's heart was beating with anticipation as she heard footsteps the door opened.
There stood a man, a man who she did not know very well but could vaguely remember; The man who tore her sister and her apart.
"Can I…are you alright?" he asked looking at Narcissa. She must have looked in a terrible state, then without thought, her legs gave way and she burst into tears. "I'm sorry do I know you?" He then guessed the answer "Narcissa Black?" Narcissa cried harder. Draco was looking up at the man and down at his mother. "Annie!" The man yelled into the house "Annie get here quickly"
"What is it Ted?" came a woman's voice. She was walked into the doorway. Narcissa looked up through tear filled eyes. Her vision was blurred but Narcissa could make out the familiar curly reddish brown hair, the medium height and the pretty freckles. The woman was silent. Her breathing heavy, she stared at Narcissa and then suddenly said breathily;
"Cissy?"
Narcissa cried harder
"Ted, help me get her in. Andromeda picked up her suitcases and put them hastily into the house and Narcissa felt her warm arms around her own waist pulling her up, Ted put an arm around her back helping Andromeda.
Narcissa was in the warmth of the house, she felt her self being led to a sofa. She put her hand to her face and was crying.
"Shh" Andromeda said. She kissed her hair, "Ted, where's the boy?"
"He's here"
"Mum who is it?" came another voice of a young girl
"Nymmy make some tea will you?"
"Who is it?"
"My sister"
"What!"
"Just make some tea"
Andromeda pulled Narcissa hands away from her face.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" she gushed. Andromeda hugged her tightly
"Never mind that now…what happened?"
"L-Lucius…h-he…"
"Oh I understand" she said softly
"Mummy?" came Draco's voice. Narcissa looked up immediately
"Whats wrong?"
"I'm tired" he moaned
Narcissa stretched a hand for him to come closer to her
"Is this my nephew?" asked Andromeda softly
Narcissa nodded.
Narcissa sipped her tea, she had stopped crying now, next to her sat Andromeda who was half smiling, and on a chair opposite sat Ted Tonks he was looking at Narcissa with slight pity. Andromeda's twelve-year-old daughter, Nymphadora, was a metamorphmagus, and was currently wearing bright ice blue hair. She held Draco, who was sleeping, on her lap. She was cooing over him, saying he was 'the cutest thing ever.'
Andromeda was just as pretty as ever, her long auburn curls had been cut to shoulder length; it made her look older and more mature. She still possessed her sparkling green eyes and her child like freckles. Although Andromeda had been living like a normal witch instead of one from an ancient pure blood family, she still had the airs and graces of a woman born for higher things. Narcissa also noticed that Andromeda walked very gracefully even though she had a slight limp, this was due to her being knocked off her broom by Bellatrix when she was fourteen, from an extreme height.
"Narcissa, how old is Draco?"
"Three…almost four"
"He's adorable Aunt Narcissa"
"Thank-you," Narcissa said softly
"So Cissy…you can stay the night, maybe even a couple of nights but Lucius will find you here so perhaps it will be safer to find somewhere else…another country perhaps"
"To be honest I'm grateful you let me in the house?"
"Hey, what are sisters for, what Mother and Father did wasn't your fault…I would have done the same thing even for Bella"
Narcissa felt very bad about herself, she then saw a photograph on the coffee table, a photograph of Andromeda and Ted Tonks. She was several years younger with her hair at its old length. She was wearing a simple wedding dress. Unlike the one she would have worn if she had married her betrothed; Rabastan Lestrange, Rudolphus' brother. That had cost a fortune. Their Mother burned it when Andromeda left.
"Is this your wedding?" asked Narcissa, even though it obviously was
"Yes" Andromeda smiled tenderly looking at the picture
"It was just a shame their wasn't many people on the friends of the bride seating" Ted said coldly
Narcissa swallowed and looked down at her hands
"Ted!" said Andromeda sharply. Ted and Annie glared at each other "Cissy, come I'll show you your room, here I'll take Draco" said Andromeda walking over to Nymphadora. She gave Draco to Andromeda. "Come on…lets go"