Chapter 2: N
I knew it. I knew he would mess it up. It was a simple task, and yet he messed it up. And guess who has to pay the price for that now.
Yes, that is right. It is yours truly. And if it were only me, it wouldn't be a problem now would it? No, for in this stupid society, the burden has to be passed on to the son.
The son carries the cross for his father's mistakes.
Now I have to figure a way out of this for my son. And there are precious few that I can trust. Most of them are no doubt happy to see that he failed and the family name has taken a severe beating.
Oh when I get my hands on him, he is going to wish that he wasn't born or that he wasn't married to me. He will rue the day he got engaged to me.
You may think I am being harsh. But if you were to look at the facts, you will agree with me.
It takes special skill to mess up a simple task against six teenagers, when you have eleven other people by your side.
There is no use in thinking about what has happened. Now I need to focus and find a solution to the problem in front of me.
I will not let that megalomaniac claim my son as well.
I think I have a fair idea of what he wants my son to do - kill one of the most powerful wizards of the modern age.
That bastard!
What utter crap!
I couldn't care less about my cursing. There is a limit to the amount of nonsense that one can take and fortunately or unfortunately, mine was passed just before I started this train of thought.
What is the way out? Bellatrix is useless, the same as my husband, dear Lucius.
And none of the others will help. They all want to see the Malfoy name fall further.
But I will show them. The daughter of Black and the bride of Malfoy will show the others that it is a folly to discount us.
What? You thought I bought into the Dark Lord's nonsense?
No. I didn't.
Yes, I am a pureblood and proud of that.
Yes, I am not fond of muggleborns as well (on principle I refuse to use the term mudblood).
But I don't believe that the Dark Lord has the solution.
It has been clear to me that he has only his own interests in mind. And that his followers, are mere minions for him to attain his cause.
It is also clear to me that his thinking is severely addled and fraught with inconsistencies.
If nothing else, then for the sake of my family alone I hope he loses.
Oh, I won't be working against him. But I won't be working for him very much as well.
That would be the most Slytherin thing to do now, wouldn't it?
Slytherins! That is it! Snape! The Potions Master of Hogwarts and the Head of House Slytherin. How did I not think of him first!?
Severus. Hmmmm. He is Draco's godfather. Perhaps I could use his help in this matter.
But what can I offer him in return? The man practically lives like a hermit, asking for nothing and taking nothing.
I need to find out what he wants and bargain Draco's safety for that.
I hope it is worth it.
In any case I need to have a Plan B in place. In the event that Severus too is unable to fulfil his end of the bargain.
While I am at it, I think I should have plans from letters B to Z and then some I suppose.
There is never anything wrong about being too prepared, is there?
No. There isn't
Ah the outline of Plan B has just begun to make itself known in my mind.
Not quite Plan B, but more of essentials needed for the success of any of the plans.
Mainly, for the success of keeping my son alive.
Now to find Draco and begin his lessons. This might be the only thing that stands between him staying alive and dropping dead.
He needs to learn real magic now. Not the wishy-washy stuff that is taught to the kids at that ridiculous school.
There is so much that I need to teach him, and there is so little time.
Lucius and more importantly Bella must never hear of what I plan to teach Draco.
Hmmmm. That poses a problem.
I am sure the Dark Lord is going to order Bellatrix to teach Draco about Occlumency. He already knows the basics, but I am sure the Master (not my Master) will want his shields to be as potent as that of an adult's.
Which means I will be able to teach Draco whatever I want to teach him only after that. Otherwise all the plans wll be laid bare when Bella mounts her Leglimency attacks at full force as she is bound to do.
Hmmm. Problems, decisions, more problems and more decisions.
Well there is nothing for it. I might as well make the best use of it. In fact, the more I think about it, it seems to me that teaching Draco after Bellatrix completes his mind training would be best. I would be able to prepare in detail what I want to teach Draco. It will be more meaningful and useful that way.
Damn it! I should have been a teacher at Hogwarts! But no, I decided it was beneath me and I have no doubts that Dumbledore would not have approved it.
Or maybe he would have. After all, he is big on second chances isn't he?
And third chances.
And fourth chances.
Now let me get back on track. First things first. I need to make a list of the subjects that I need to equip Draco with some knowledge in. He is most definitely not going to be sitting for OWLs and NEWTs in these subjects, so the practical aspects of the courses will be more important.
Which means I need to be able to find a secure place where I can teach him.
And preferably in a place that the Dark Lord doesn't know.
And most importantly, a place that would allow me to keep up the illusion that I am still at home, attending to the Master's needs like a faithful Death Eater.
Where can I find such a place? Hmmm.
The House of Black in London may work.
But I can't seem to remember the address of that place. Damn it.
Nevermind, I will think of something. I will come through. For my son.
At the end of all this nonsense, the wizarding world will know me, one way or the other.
The name is Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, from the house of cunning and ambition!