Author's Note: So, I know I promised you a looooong chapter, but you will find that this is not a looooong chapter. :( I'm sorry. But I decided to split it into two parts, as it was getting way too looooong. I hope you can forgive me.

Enjoy chapter 9!


Narcissa knocked and went into Draco's room, where she found him sitting in the window sill. He turned his head toward her. "Mum," he greeted her, eyeing her attire, "Are you going out?"

"I am," she replied. She felt guilty leaving him alone today of all days, when his hearing was tomorrow, but she could not shake the feeling that if she didn't make this trip now, she might never make it at all.

Draco looked downcast at this news. "How long will you be gone?"

Narcissa considered the question for a moment. She honestly had no idea how to answer him. This could take hours, but if things went poorly... perhaps only a few minutes. Deciding to air on the side of caution, she answered, "Probably a few hours." She smoothed his hair affectionately. "I'm sorry, Draco, but this is something I need to do." He sighed, and she patted his shoulder. "I can have Pimmle bring your tea up here later, if you want. Shall I?"

Her son shrugged. "Sure."

She kissed the top of his head. "Will you be all right?"

Draco crossed his arms. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm fine," he repeated unconvincingly.

As much as she regretted leaving him alone, Narcissa could not give up this one opportunity she had. She bid her son farewell and left the house, walking down the path until she came to the gate. Adrenaline was surging through her veins, and she was not altogether convinced that she was prepared for the encounter she was headed toward. But she was a free woman - not guilty of war crimes, not held in fear by any dark wizard - and her son was stuck at home, her husband detained. It was now or never.

Narcissa went through the gate, and took out the wand Lucius had left her. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she turned on the spot and Disapparated.

Thanks to the Death Eaters who had made her home their base for the last year, Narcissa had been privy to the suspected locations of Order of the Phoenix safe-houses. One in particular had interested her.

She landed at the bottom of a path that led up to a cottage smaller than the one in which her family currently resided. A murky pond was situated ahead to her left, and a small vegetable garden was visible at the side of the house. It was a very plain residence, but did not seem unlivable. Narcissa took this all in, and nervously began up the path to the front door. Each step took a great amount of effort, and she repeatedly went over in her head what she planned to say. By the time she reached the doorstep she was afraid she might be sick.

Nevertheless, she had come this far, and she was not about to flee now. She lifted a shaky hand and knocked on the door.

It felt like hours until Narcissa finally heard some movement in the house. Someone was coming down the stairs, they were walking to the door, unlocking it... She swallowed as the door opened a few inches, and a thin, pale face peered out at her.

The woman's big brown eyes widened as they met hers. For a long moment, Narcissa was frozen; she could not breathe, she could not move, even her heart seemed to stop dead.

The door abruptly opened wider, and it gave her a start. Everything she had prepared to say somehow receded to the back of her mind and refused to be recalled. The only thing her mind would allow was to notice how much older sister looked since the last time she'd laid eyes on her.

Andromeda was staring at her with an expression that was not at all welcoming. "What do you want?" she finally asked, her voice abrupt and distant.

Narcissa opened her mouth, but no words came out. Here in the presence of her estranged sister, things were much less simple than they had seemed in her contemplations. Still, she had to say something, and she had already allowed too much of a pause in the conversation. "I wanted to speak to you," she said quietly.

Her sister crossed her arms. "Really? That's a sudden change of tune." Her eyes were narrowed and hostile.

Narcissa took in her sister's venom and tried to continue in spite of it. "I would have sent an owl, but I wanted to speak to you in person. And I thought you might refuse to see me if I asked to visit you," she admitted.

Andromeda pursed her lips. "You were probably right."

The younger witch nodded slightly, swallowing. "May I come in?"

She scrutinized her younger sister for a long moment, before shaking her head. "I don't think so. I'm not in the habit of inviting strangers into my home these days."

Her words stung Narcissa, who took another steadying breath. "Anny, there's something very particular I need to tell you."

The use of her childhood nickname had no effect. Andromeda raised her eyebrows impatiently. "Tell me, then. I might listen."

Narcissa bit her lip, before deciding to plunge ahead. "I will not pretend to you that I am entirely a victim in our estrangement. You know how we were brought up." There was no hint of familiarity in the cold look she was getting from Andromeda. Narcissa could feel her insides writhing with misgivings as she prepared to tell her sister something she had never revealed to anyone. "But I think you should know... I have not had the freedom to approach you."

Her older sister's expression remained cold. "Of course. You wanted to keep your inheritance and your place in society. That's always been more important to the Blacks than familial compassion. I already knew that, Narcissa."

"No," Narcissa interjected urgently. "You misunderstand me. I mean that I literally couldn't contact you." She swallowed, keeping her emotions tamped down. Somehow she had hoped that Anny would make this easier.

Narcissa took a breath, and the story began pouring out of her mouth. "I wanted to see you, Anny. I wanted to apologize for fighting with you, and for some foolish reason I still cannot fathom to this day, I told Bellatrix. And she flew into a rage," Narcissa recalled. The memory of her oldest sister's wrath was as clear to her now as it had been that day. She looked at Andromeda. "You know what she was like. She threatened to tell mother and father; she threatened all sorts of things, but when I wouldn't back down, she took matters into her own hands.

"Bella hexed me," Narcissa finally revealed. "I don't know what spell she cast, and all she would tell me was that I would be very, very sorry if I ever tried to see you or speak to you again." She could feel tears trying to force their way into her eyes, and she looked away, shaking her head. "I never did discover what she'd done. And I wasn't brave enough to test it."

There was a long silence as Narcissa stared at the ground, somehow feeling even sicker than before. Would her sister believe her? Her eyes remained fixed on the ground until finally Andromeda spoke. "And now, here you are."

Her sister's voice had softened enough that Narcissa lifted her eyes. "Bella's dead," she stated by way of explanation.

For the first time, Anny's expression was conflicted. The malice in her eyes was now permeated with sadness, and perhaps... sympathy? Narcissa wasn't sure, but knew better than to push any further - it was Anny's move.

Andromeda seemed at a loss for words. She began to say something, but stopped. Her attention had turned toward a sound coming from inside the house: a baby crying. The sound was very faint, but Narcissa could see the effect it had on her sister. Anny hesitated, torn between the wailing infant and the important conversation she was having, but finally sighed, "Come in."

She opened the door the whole way, and Narcissa stepped over the threshold into the cottage. It was brighter inside than she had expected. Andromeda shut the door behind her, and led the way to the sitting room across the hall. "Have a seat," she said in a tired voice, gesturing into the room. "I'll be right back."

Narcissa watched her sister trot up the stairs. She had forgotten how much Anny resembled their eldest sister. Her lighter brown hair was less wild, pulled back in a loose knot, but her shape and build were almost identical to Bellatrix.

Narcissa let out a quiet sigh. Anny had let her into the house, which meant, she presumed, that she was willing to speak to her. That was good. Still, as difficult as it had been getting admittance to the house, Narcissa suspected that they had not yet gotten to the most difficult part of their conversation.


Author's Note: Well, it certainly felt good to get that off of Narcissa's chest. Andromeda/Narcissa conversation (confrontation?) part II coming soon! Review please! :)