"O'hana" means family. "Family" means nobody gets left behind.

-Lilo and Stitch

As Cygnus had requested, I gathered Cissa's belongings promptly. It was a long and tiring process. Druella hung over me, never leaving my side, a constant looming shadow. They wanted ever essence of Narcissa gone from that house. By the time the process was done, you have never known Narcissa had lived there. It was almost like a sucking poison from a wound to them. I think, or I like to think rather, that they saw it that way. I like to think that it pained them, that this was just as hard for them as it was for Cissa. But one can never be sure.

Whether it was painful or not, when it was over, it was over.

As the elves loaded the last of Cissa's belongings, I explored the dark mansion. There was nothing much to see really, it was a typical pureblood house. Cold and dark, just like its owners.

Proud pictures glared at me as I walked through the halls. I paid them no mind, and continued to walk on until I stumbled upon the room I really wanted to see.

Libraries have always been a fascination of mine. It's my personal opinion that a person's essence can be entirely conveyed by what kind of books they keep. For a lot of writing, says exactly what we want to say without the risk of you actually saying it.

From the looks of the Blacks library, they were exactly the type of people I thought they were. Their shelves were stacked to the ceiling with age old Pure-Blood history books.

Though it was particularly well stocked library, there was nothing worth wile. I was about to give up on my search until something caught my eye.

A small book, well hidden behind a few others, shone a bright pale blue in the sunlight. In small gold writing the title "Cinderella" was engraved on the spine.

Curious, I picked the book up. From the looks of the print, the book was muggle. A curious thing to find in a library like this. As I began to thumb through, a small piece of paper hit the floor.

A happy couple, smiled up at me. The dark haired man's eyes glittered, as the snow fell and his arms wrapped around the woman. The woman who looked exactly like my Cissa. I felt the gears in my brain slowly turn.

Quickly, I turned the photo over. It read as follows.

My Dear One,

A special present for our little one. Our little girl, I might add. Hoping to have many more happy days with you.

Forever yours,

Cecilia

"A typical Malfoy….Always snooping…" A slurred voice sneered from behind me.

I spun around and faced Cygnus.

He continued, speaking. "That was the same place your father found that book, you know. The day he told….He…He…" Silent sobs wracked his body.

He shot up quickly, glaring at me. "You must think I'm a horrible person, Malfoy! ME! I never did anything wrong…And that Abraxas…He betrayed me." He took a swig from his glass. "Do you know what it was like raising, Narcissa! Having her here as a constant reminder of her mother! How could I never forget Cecilia when she stared at me every day? HOW? TELL ME, MALFOY! HOW?"

I stood, frozen in place. What was happening?

"I wanted revenge on your father…I wanted it so badly. But it came! And I didn't even have to do anything. All I had to do was wait. Wait until he lost. And he did. And he ran…Just like I ran from Narcissa. He ran from you, he finally paid for what he did to me…"

I gulped, trying to keep my composure. "He did not run."

Cygnus chuckled, darkly. "As soon as your mother died your father couldn't stand to be around you. You constant reminder of what he lost. And he ran away, leaving you to work for the ministry. Leaving poor, little Lucius all alone. Didn't he?" He began to circle me. "Didn't he!"

I suppose I should explain that part of this story now. As soon as I was out of Hogwarts, my father left England. I woke up one day, and he was gone. I got letters from him every once and a while, but nothing with too much detail. Every time I tried to find him, he had already move on to another place, gone without a trace. He never even bothered to say goodbye. I tend to forget that part of this story, for it's one of my more painful memories.

In fact, Cissa was the only person I ever told that to. Well, until now. Aren't you lucky?

Anyways, back to the story.

I looked into Cygnus' eyes. I saw a mixture of hate, and anger, all of those emotions just drowning in black pools of sorrow. Sorrow for what he lost, for what he never had, and what he was losing today.

I finally found my voice. "Yes. He did."

I swept past Cygnus, not looking back. That was the last time I saw the inside of Black Manor.

I shut the door behind me as I entered my study, desperately trying to compose myself before Cissa saw me. Leaning my head against the door frame, I took in a deep breath.

The door opened slightly as Cissa entered the room.

I sighed. "I thought I locked that door…"

She chuckled softly. "You did, dear." I felt her tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. "However, I have the strange ability to use a wand."

"Mmm. Of course. How could I forget?" I answered gruffly.

A gentle hand rubbed my back. "Was is too terrible?"

"No."

"I'll take that as a yes then." She smiled softly. "It's behind us now."

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "How did you cope, Narcissa? I was only with them for a few hours and they've already put me in state. You spent years in that mad house."

"I taught myself how to pity, and how to forgive the wrongs of others. But to be completely honest." I felt her head lean on my shoulder. "Most of the time…I didn't cope at all."

We stood there for a while. Supporting each other.

"Master Lucius?" An elf peaked around the door.

"What?" I snapped.

The elf gulped. "I is just wanting to tells Master Lucius that Master Abraxas is being here, Sir. Should I be letting him in?"

I felt Narcissa grip my hand as I struggled for an answer.

-Special thankies to NimbusCentuar and ShadiwAbsol13 for their reviews!-