When someone loves something you hate, you will stop at nothing to make them hate it to. Even if it makes them hate you in the process.
I continued to ignore my parent's plea, going behind their back and secretly communicating with Narcissa. This girl, a Black or not, was my best friend. I was not about to lose her. "Malfoys do not have 'friends' they have collogues, associates, inferiors, and family. No friends." My father had said. But, to an eleven year old boy, a friend is a necessity.
A friend was someone who would listen to you, be that shoulder to cry on, that friendly voice to laugh with. Narcissa was wonderful and I couldn't understand why they hated her so much. She wasn't a muggle or any other dirty type of thing…So why did they treat her as such?
I shook my head. There were, after all, more pleasant things to think about. At the end of this summer my dream was going to come true. Hogwarts, I was going to start Hogwarts, the most magical place on earth. Or so mother had said. I could hardly contain my excitement. But I did, for, Malfoys can't be excited.
There was a soft tap at the window. Looking up, I recognized the tan owl right away. Not even bothering to wipe the grin off my face, I walked over the fetch Narcissa's latest letter. It read as follows.
Lucius,
I think it's wonderful that you are starting Hogwarts! I wish I could go but I'm quite sure that you will have a marvelous time without me. I'll be there in two years anyway! I do hope you make some new friends. After all, you can't just rely on me now, can you? You need blokes to hang about with. I wonder what the teachers are like. Oh, it's all just so exciting!
To answer your question, yes I am doing wonderful! Though, I did want to ask you about something. Has your mother ever talked to you about custard? I know it sounds like an odd question but, my mother mentioned it to me.
She said, "A good family is like good custard. I am the cook, carefully placing all of the ingredients exactly where they belong. You are not an ingredient in this custard, Narcissa." I'm not quite sure what this means. Has your mother ever told you something like that?
Anyways, I hope your family is well! Have fun at Hogwarts!
Much love,
Narcissa Black
I shook my head. Custard? My mother had never told me about that. But if it came from Mrs. Black's mouth it must not have been a complement. She was a wretched woman. Narcissa rarely talked about her, or any of her family for that matter. As I learned later, she had good reason not to.
Despite her troubles, Narcissa was always happy in her letters. Even though she didn't have much to be happy about, she was able to find joy in any little thing. That was one of the things I loved about her, one of the things I still love about my Narcissa. I now know that she was hurting much more then she let on; but more of that later.
There was a tap at the door. "Lu? Might I come in?" My mother's voice rang. Quickly, I stuffed the letter in my trousers, trying desperately to shoo the owl away. "She can't find out! She can't find out!" My mind raced and my heart pumped, panic flooding every nerve in my body. Finally, the owl flew away and I plopped down onto my bed, trying to act as lazy as possible.
"Come in, mother." I sighed in relief, I was safe.
She gracefully entered my room and plopped down onto the bed. "You've been ignorin' us lately, Lu. Somthin' the matter?"
I shook my head. The panic was coming back.
She eyed me suspiciously. "I just can't shake the fealin' that you're hidin' somthin' from us…"
I shook my head again. "No, I'm just worried about school is all." I gulped.
She smiled and pulled me close. "Och, now. Not to worry. You'll make plenty friends." She patted my side. I cringed as I heard the crunch of parchment beneath her fingers. She stopped patting me and pulled the paper out. Her eyes hardened and her lips formed a straight line. Her voice was ice cold as she spoke.
"You ought not to have done that, Lucius. Get up."
Shaking, I stood. She grabbed me roughly by the color and dragged me to my father's study. I felt the tears trailing down my face.
My father sat at his desk. He smiled at us as we entered but caught my mother's eye as she set the letter in front of him. His eyes turned dark, his head shot up quickly, he glared at me.
"You disobeyed me, Lucius." His voice was deep and booming. I shuddered.
"I-I...I'm sorry."
"You will be silent." He boomed again.
"You have dishonored this family, Lucius." He paused to glare at me again. "Why you feel the need to talk to this filth, I have no idea. But it will come to an end! You are ruining yourself, talking to this Black girl! You are ruining your reputation! OUR reputation! This. Is. A. Disgrace!"
I couldn't hold my tongue any longer. "Why is it a disgrace, father? What's wrong with her?!" I was sobbing, something I had not done in seven years.
My father was quiet for a moment, breathing in and out heavily, trying to figure out what to say. He spoke. "Being friends with a Black is a terribly mistake, Lucius." His voice was still deep and filled with rage but there was a story on his tongue. "I made that mistake. Cygnus Black was a very close friend. He made a very poor choice and fell in love with a blood-traitor, having a bastard child with the filth." He spat out the last words, as if they were mud in his mouth. "It was a disgrace to our Wizarding race! He betrayed me…Our friendship, all that we believed in for that woman…" He was talking more to himself then me at this point. He closed his eyes. "I did what I believed to be right and told his family. The blood-traitor was disposed of and never heard from again. But not the child." His eyes opened, just as dark and furious as they were before. "That very child is the one you were speaking to."
My mother spoke. "She is a bastard child, Lucius. A disgrace. A disappointment. As are you if you continue this nonsense." She flung the letter into the fire. "You are never to speak to her again. Do I make myself clear?"
I nodded, all of the answers coming at me at once. My head felt light.
"Get up stairs and stay up there until we say otherwise." Mother snapped.
I quickly left the room, suddenly understanding what Mrs. Black had said. My parents had meant the same thing.
My parents were cooks, planning my whole life's recipe and Narcissa was not on the list of ingredients.
-Thank you SO much to all who reviewed, favorited, and followed! School stars in less than a week for me so updating will be a bit slower. I really hope you enjoyed this chapter! PLEASE REVIEW!-