Narcissa leaned heavily on Draco as they moved through Andromeda's house. Draco's mother was still weak from her brush with death two weeks ago, but she was still very alert and was being quickly charmed by little one Karl Krum.
Teddy Lupin had been "positively insistent", Andromeda had said, about having Draco show up to his five-year-old birthday party. Although Draco was mystified, he didn't want to turn down the invitation. His aunt had been so kind. Draco also didn't want to be the only Malfoy amongst a herd of Weasleys and Harry Potter, so he practically begged his mother to come along. Both of them hadn't much of a clue of what they were getting into. But both of them were beginning to enjoy themselves despite the awkwardness of several families clashing in the same place.
About fifty people were in Andromeda's house and yard, including Viktor, Arachne, and their little boy, Karl. Viktor was not much for crowds of people, but he was enjoying showing off little Karl to everybody who would listen. And who wouldn't listen to Viktor Krum? thought Draco to himself.
He gave his mother's shoulder a little pat. Affection was never Draco's strong suit, but he was so grateful to have his mother back. This reminded him of Arachne and he searched the crowd until he found her. She looked at him and he gave her a smile and a nod. Arachne smiled softly back at him.
Arachne had been the talk of the party. Being Viktor Krum's wife, she had become quite accustomed to pleasantries and people. Nearly everyone present told her that she was a perfect foil for Viktor.
Although Narcissa and Draco had never been part of the "light" contingent before, Arachne had felt it her duty to get to know everybody else her father had had cause to be around. Even Arthur and Molly Weasley said it was good to have a "Snape" around again. It appeared that Arachne not only mirrored Severus in hair color, but in observance of people, too. She rarely missed anything and had a strong aptitude for potions...which is a big reason why she appreciated her father having given her his old advanced potions textbook. She thought of that book as a friend.
Every time somebody told her that something she did or said reminded them of Severus Snape, she treasured it up in her heart. Arachne felt that each little piece of everything "that might have been" was just one more way of completing the puzzle of her life.
In the week before Narcissa finally awoke from her coma, Draco and Arachne had gotten to know each other quite well. It was during that time that Arachne had taken to carrying around the letter that her father had left her...
Dear Arachne,
When I found out your mother was pregnant with you, I was only eighteen years old. I was not ready to be a father and had far, far darker concerns on my mind at that time. One might even say I was in denial. She sent me a letter, I can only assume it was concerning you...a letter, which do this day, I have yet to open.
You see, I was in love with another woman. I will not make excuses for myself; that is something only the young and naive do.
Your birth mother, Narcissa Black, was told by her family to get rid of you at all costs and she feared for her life and yours if she did not.
Over the years, both she and I have come to know that family is not necessarily something to be feared or avoided. By way of her son, Draco, and her, and even Draco's father, I now realise that the bond between some families is so strong as to be unbreakable. In fact, I still had so much regard for your mother, that I took an Unbreakable Vow with her to save her son, Draco...your brother. I may only speak of it now because it has been fulfilled.
In so doing, I realised the true reason I wished so much to save Draco. It was because I had never saved you, Arachne. Your very name–Arachne–was in honour of myself and where I live. I live in a place called "Spinner's End." Do not try to come and find me, for the only reason this letter will have been sent is upon my death. The very reason I'm writing this now is because my time on this earth grows short, so I felt from within that I should write you this missive.
I will not tell you how I got all the Galleons you see before you. Suffice it to say that I earned every bit of them, one way or another.
Hopefully, one day, your birth mother will contact you. Until she does, this letter, this money, and this old potions manual will have to suffice. I know it's not enough, but they were all I possessed that were of any true value or meaning for me...
Dear Readers,
Sorry this fic came to an end so quickly, but I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! I have never–repeat, never–written so much in such a short amount of time and got such a stellar amount of hits. Thank you so much for sticking with me til the end...and thanks so much to those of you who gave me reviews! If you so desire, feel free to read the other stories on my profile page. Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Rae Carson ;)