The Thirty-fifth
"You can't be serious!" Narcissa was staring at them as though they had both grown a second head.
"Of course we are," Molly said softly. "She's welcome here as long as you want."
"But she is --"
"Your sister," Arthur interrupted. "And you're like family. Just accept it. I've had enough of arguments after fighting about this with paranoid, megalomaniac pen pushers all week long instead of working."
He handed Narcissa, who looked close to fainting, her cup. Unable to speak, she thankfully hid her face behind it. She didn't know what she had done to deserve such friends.
The Thirty-sixth
Molly had excused herself, saying she wasn't well, and had lain down in bed, leaving Narcissa and Percy alone for tea.
It had been two days since they'd transferred Bellatrix from Azkaban to the twins' old room, and Molly wondered if she hadn't overestimated herself. The idea had sounded good in theory. Reality was entirely different, though.
It had never been doubtlessly proven that it was Bellatrix who had killed Charlie, but from what they had heard about it, Molly had little doubt. She had thought she would be able to cope, but now she wasn't so sure any more.
The Thirty-seventh
"It's nothing much, really." The dark circles under her eyes belied Molly's forced smile as she warded off Narcissa's concerned questions and her offer to help. "I just...I've been thinking about Charlie and Ginny a lot. Last Thursday, it was three years since Ginny died."
During the last week, Narcissa had watched her friend grow quiet and listless, much different from her usual cheerful and proactive self. Besides doing the housework, she had spent a lot of time alone in her room, saying she didn't feel well.
Now, Narcissa nodded, but she was convinced Molly hadn't told her the whole truth.
The Thirty-eighth
"Bella did WHAT?"
Narcissa was staring at Arthur incredulously. They were sitting alone in the kitchen after he had come home, Molly once again being "unwell".
"Why didn't you tell me? I'd never have accepted --"
"Which is why we kept silent at first. But we didn't think things would develop like this."
"It's not right. I should look for other accommodations for us."
Arthur shook his head. "There were very clear conditions. She'll either stay here or go back to Azkaban. I am responsible for her, not you."
Narcissa understood. She would lose her sister all over again.