Chapter 3 - Bloodline
"Are you certain this leads to her?" Narcissa felt the outline of the ring wrapped in silk that she held in her hand. The defeat in her voice was evident. She took off the mask of strength that she wore the night before, letting Severus see how weary she truly was.
"I arranged everything to go perfectly. Just Apparate back to the Manor after you have accomplished your mission." Severus gave Narcissa a questioning look. "Not so fierce today, are we?"
"Not in front of you. It gets too tiring to keep up such acts," Narcissa sighed.
"Stay strong."
"I will." In the blink of an eye, Narcissa's perfect stance was back and all signs of vulnerability were gone. "When will the Dark Lord return?"
"You have forty-eight hours. Do try to finish everything before then. Remember that aside from caring for your son while you are away, arranging that Portkey was the last thing I could help you with. Now, I must await the Dark Lord's return." Severus' gaze was stern and the intensity in his eyes presented the true weight of his reminders.
"Wait for Draco to awaken and make him drink a dreamless sleeping draught. He must stay in his room at all times. He must not wake while I am out." Her voice was uncompromising, mirroring the austerity of Severus.
"I am aware. Be careful."
"I cannot thank you enough." Narcissa looked into Severus' eyes as she removed the silk that housed the ring. Once the ring touched her skin, she felt the pulling sensation that one gets while travelling via Portkey. She closed her eyes to brace herself for the battle she was going to have in a few moments.
She arrived at her desired location. She carefully surveyed the house in front of her. It was situated near the edge of a cliff. It was where the cerulean of the sky met the turquoise of the sea. She was astonished by her sister's choice of location. Maybe it was Ted's decision, but something told her that it was Andromeda who opted to live in such a place. Andromeda's home reminded her of Beachy Head, a place they frequented before all three sisters went to Hogwarts. She remembered the emerald green grass they rolled on while their parents were not looking and the differently-hued exquisite flowers, used to crown their heads, that they had made to bloom with raw magic. She longed for those days in her youth when, in their own world, there were no Dark Arts, Mudbloods or Blood-traitors, only three beautiful girls who loved each other dearly.
It was still dark when she left the Manor so when she reached her destination, a beautiful sunrise welcomed her. The majestic sight soothed her nerves and calmed her mind. She took it as a sign that maybe, just maybe, her plan would work. She let herself be engrossed in the beautiful surroundings. She longed for the hum of birds and for the feel of the warm rays of the sun against her face. She allowed herself a small smile. She composed herself and walked towards the door. Before she was able to knock, she met the surprised expression of a fair-haired, big-bellied man.
Ted Tonks' kindness was always present in his eyes and his stance. He had a warm aura that radiated to those near him, making them want to get closer to him. His face bore many lines from his repeated smiles. Anger was an emotion foreign to his sweet, kind face. It surprised him when rage filled his heart upon seeing the woman that stood on their doorway.
Ted Tonks was shocked and raised his wand against Narcissa. She was so struck by the suddenness of the action, she wasn't able to do anything.
"Why are you here?" Ted yelled with ferocity. He examined Narcissa's face and for a moment, confusion colored his expression.
"I mean no harm, Ted." Narcissa kept her head high and stared into the man's eyes.
"Leave now." He kept his wand raised at Narcissa.
"I need to speak to my sister." Narcissa looked at him pleadingly.
"This is your last warning." The man stepped forward causing Narcissa to take a step back and fall.
"I need to speak to my sister. Please, Ted. Please." Narcissa tried to keep the fire in her but instead, tears fell and she broke into a sob.
There was something in Narcissa's eyes that reminded him of his wife. It was Bellatrix that almost shared the face of his wife but those sad, pleading sapphires seem to speak to his soul, wounding him with his wife's pained look.
Unsettled, Ted called for Andromeda but did not let his guard down.
Andromeda Tonks née Black could pass as Bellatrix Lestrange's twin sister. There were a lot of similarities between them but the differences were more striking. Instead of the screaming madness that could be found in Bellatrix's eyes, Andromeda's were full of love and kindness. Like her husband, Andromeda also radiated compassion but the signature nobleness of the Black family stayed with her through the years.
"Why, darling? You sound like…" Andromeda wasn't able to finish her sentence as her gaze fell to her sister on the ground. "Help her up, Ted." Andromeda's voice was stern, gone was the warmth in her eyes. "Why are you here?" Andromeda pressed.
"I need your help." Narcissa's voice trembled and her hands shook as she spoke.
"Drop your wand, Ted." Andromeda stared at her husband. Ted threw her a questioning look but ended up lowering his wand.
"Come in." Andromeda remained cold as she gestured for Narcissa to enter her home. Andromeda motioned to a chair and asked her to sit. Andromeda found her way to a chair across her sister. "Ted, darling, please make us some tea." Narcissa glanced at Andromeda's husband. Upon her gaze, Ted left the room.
There was a great unrest stirring inside Narcissa. It has been years since she last saw Andromeda and she did not know what to read from her sister's calm demeanor. Narcissa's turmoil was evident. She failed to keep up her tough exterior upon her confrontation with Ted. Even the signature Black grace seemed to have left her for the time being. She wondered how she could ask Andromeda the greatest favor of helping her save her son. She doubted she needed to explain everything. Andromeda was affiliated with the Order of the Phoenix through her daughter. Narcissa was certain that she knew of their allegiance and of Draco's failure. Narcissa took a few deep breaths to help compose herself but her burden was too heavy and her worries too great.
"'Dromeda, dearest sister, the same blood runs through our veins…" Narcissa whispered.
"Now that you are in need, we are suddenly related again?" Andromeda narrowed her eyes.
Narcissa walked to Andromeda and reached for her hand. "I never stopped being your sister. I love you, Andromeda, despite the fact that there is this unbelievably huge gap between us. I love you despite the years we spent not talking to each other. I love you even though you turned your back from us. I love you, 'Dromeda. I know you do not see it, and I have not been given the chance to express it, but I love you."
"I thought you resented me too, for marrying Ted." Andromeda looked away, shame filling her heart and tears flowing from her eyes.
"No, 'Dromeda." Narcissa shook her head. "I do not. I never did. I never will…but I had to sever my connections with you or else our family would have disinherited me as well. I was young. I could not even imagine the indignities of losing our name. It is not that you are of lesser importance, not that at all. Our ways were the only ones I knew. I could not imagine living any other way. Also, I could not leave our mother. Despite her imperfections, I was certain she loved me dearly. I could not break her heart. I am sorry."
It took a while before Andromeda answered. She thought that through her marriage with Ted, she had lost not only her name but also her family. Apparently, she was able to keep Narcissa. "Forgive me if you felt like I have abandoned you. I love you, too. You were, you are and will always be my little Cissy." Andromeda gave her sister a warm hug.
Andromeda let Narcissa go and looked into her eyes. "What is causing your strife? I know you may not resent me deep in your heart but something must be terribly wretched for you to grace my home."
"Draco…" Narcissa felt relieved that she had been reunited with her sister. She was happy that she gained back a part of her family but it made her terribly scared. It terrified her that the world would take Draco away now that it gave Andromeda back. This thought shook her. She sobbed uncontrollably.
"Breathe, Cissy. Breathe." Andromeda ran her hands along her sister's back.
"The Da-dark Lord—" Narcissa hiccupped. "wi-ill ki-kill him." Narcissa desperately wanted to explain but her sobs were overpowering her voice.
"But Dumbledore is dead."
"Y-you know it—" Narcissa slurred– "wa-was not Dra-draco's doing." Narcissa's words were almost incomprehensible. She just cried and cried helpless tears for a few short moments, but that small lapse of time seemed an eternity to her older sister.
"I know that much."
"I thou-thought Du-dumbledore's death—" Narcissa stuttered still – "w-would be e-enough to sa-save my s-son." Narcissa gasped for air and then wailed, "It is my fault!" It seemed that not stammering took all of her. Narcissa started hyperventilating.
It pained Andromeda to watch her sister in such despair. She wanted to help but she knew she couldn't if she wasn't aware of the circumstance.
"Accio calming draught." In an instant, the vial of potion was in her hands. "Cissy, drink this. I need to understand."
Narcissa's whole body was trembling. The glass container almost fell to the floor. Andromeda put the bottle to her sister's lips and made her drink.
Andromeda waited. She held her sister to ease her quavering. She wished for the potion to take its effect already. She was not used to seeing her sister so broken, so human. Never had Narcissa Malfoy been anything less than regal in her adult life. It stunned Andromeda and it dawned on her how arduous the affliction was.
Narcissa's breathing started to return to normal. Tears still escaped her eyes but oh-so-silently. The grace that she always carried crept to her consciousness. Everything seemed ordinary except for the drops of pearl running down Narcissa's face and the shaking of her hands that gave away her inner turmoil.
Andromeda squeezed her sister's hand to help ease the trembling. "What do you want me to do?"
"Let me save my boy, 'Dromeda. Let me correct my errors as a mother. Let me. Help me. Please, dearest sister. I beseech you. Let my beloved boy experience the truth and the world as you see it. We blinded him. We did not show him anything but our side. Andromeda, help him open his eyes and see without the prejudices that were instilled into his being. I beg of you, please." Narcissa burst as her emotions flowed from her chest. By the end of her words, her tears were yet again, flowing like a river.
"You are asking too much, Cissy." Andromeda slowly walked away from Narcissa. She felt her sister's anguish and dire need, but she could not allow herself to help her.
Narcissa inhaled and fixed her eyes on her sister. "Please, 'Dromeda. Please. You have a daughter. I know, even in the smallest corner of your heart, you would understand me. You are a mother."
"Do not tell me, never tell me that I could understand you, because I would never sacrifice my child for any gain! Never, Narcissa! Never!" Andromeda paused and searched in her sister's eyes. "I will die first before I let anyone damage my child the way your way of life and your beliefs destroyed yours."
"Kill me if you must. Just save him." Narcissa held her sister's gaze and in that moment, despair left her and she let it be displaced by pure conviction. She had nothing to lose anymore. If she lost Draco, nothing would matter. Even if her heart continued to beat, she would be merely a body without a soul and a spirit.
Narcissa's words astounded Andromeda, which left her with her eyes wide and her mouth open. Quickly, she composed herself and walked to her sister. "Cissy…"
"'Dromeda, please. I have a plan and it could not work without you. Please. I know I am not the best mother so help, help me become better. Help me save my son!" Narcissa wailed.
Andromeda grasped her sister's hand. "Tell me what I must do."
"Please, 'Dromeda. Please!" Narcissa continued to cry. She did not realize what her sister just said. When she understood, she gaped at Andromeda and asked, "Pardon?"
Andromeda squeezed her sister's hand and gently repeated, "Tell me what I must do."
Narcissa sobbed, and despite her sister's hold, her whole body still shuddered. Her tears still poured like rain but she was not in anguish anymore. She cried because of gratitude and of hope. Her sister's willingness to help consoled her. The greater possibility of Draco being saved alleviated the weight of the world on her shoulders. She wept until she had no tears to shed. She held her sister tightly in her arms. Once she had collected herself, she proceeded to tell her sister her plans.