Hours of waiting. Hours of silence. Hours of nothing but sitting and listening to the nothingness, hoping for some good news.
The longer the waiting went on, the more Narcissa Malfoy was certain that something had gone wrong.
And then the bell rang, signaling that someone was at the gate, and confirming her worst fears. She answered the call, allowing Ministry officials to enter her foyer. Using sharp, concise sentences that were now a blur in her memory, they told Narcissa of her husband's arrest for breaking and entering the Ministry of Magic, for attempted theft of a prophecy in the possession of the Department of Mysteries, for fraternizing with wanted criminals, for the use of the Unforgivable Curses, and for aiding, abetting, and conspiring with the Dark Lord in an attempt to overthrow the Ministry of Magic. The officials then ordered her none-too-gently to accompany them to the Ministry, where they would commence with questioning regarding her involvement in this plot. Keeping a stony veneer, Narcissa agreed graciously to go with them, refusing to be herded around like a common criminal.
Of course they questioned her regarding this break-in, about which she claimed to know nothing. When it became clear from the witnesses' reports specifically which escaped Death Eaters had been present at the battle, Narcissa was interrogated regarding any knowledge of her sister and brother-in-law. Naturally, she denied knowing their whereabouts; indeed, she denied having any form of contact with them since their incarceration.
Fortunately for her, the Malfoys had enough sway with the right people in the Ministry to avoid the use of Veritaserum, for a certain price – and money was certainly no object.
When finally Narcissa was free to return to the manor, she found a warrant attached to the door and her home in a shambles. Clearly, the Ministry had searched their home for evidence against her husband. Furniture was overturned, Lucius's office was torn apart. Various relatives in the portraits were in an uproar, running around between the paintings, talking with each other. One of the family owls approached her with a letter from Draco – apparently, news traveled fast.
Narcissa took the letter and, without opening it, went to her bedroom. Tears now threatened to flow freely down her cheeks, and for some reason she did not want the portraits to see her cry. Once in the bedroom, she slammed the door behind her and threw herself down onto the bed. Sobs overtook her.
Perhaps she should have taken Divination more seriously in school, for she'd known that this mission would not end well.
Her well-deserved cry was interrupted suddenly by a voice coming from the fireplace. Hastily, Narcissa wiped her eyes and tried to quiet her sobs before sitting up and turning to the fireplace. Her sister's ghostly face was in the fire. "Cissy!" Bellatrix's voice sounded anxious and hurried. "Cissy, uncharm the floo, quickly!"
For a moment, Narcissa was inclined to leave the room and ignore her sister's orders. This was likely all Bella's fault. The urgency in her voice, however, led Narcissa to believe that Bella had some kind of important information to tell her, and so she got out her wand and relinquished the charm on the floo which prevented anyone from traveling through that chimney.
Almost immediately, Bellatrix stumbled out from the fireplace. Looking completely disheveled and wild-eyed, she advanced on her sister rapidly. "Cissy, the Dark Lord wishes to see you, now." Bella grabbed Cissa by the upper arm and pulled her toward the fireplace. When she resisted slightly, her older sister tightened her grip intensely, crushing her sister's arm.
Fear and dread clenched in Narcissa's stomach. "Why?" she croaked out, feeling slightly faint.
Bellatrix yanked her sister around to face her. "Do not question him," she growled, shaking her slightly. "Do not say anything foolish!"
Before Cissa could reply, Bellatrix tossed some floo powder into the fire, shoved her little sister in, and shouted a destination that Narcissa could not understand over the wind flying by her face.
She landed finally in a room she did not recognize, and took a few steps out of the fireplace. Biting her lip to keep from weeping, Narcissa looked around to find that she was alone in the room, save for the wizard standing not two meters away to her right. Her chest constricted with fear, and she tried to hide her intense fright by bowing deeply to him.
"I understand you had a long talk with the Ministry of Magic, Narcissa Malfoy." The Dark Lord's voice clearly betrayed his angry mood.
"Yes, my lord," she whispered, unable to use her voice.
"I suppose they informed you of your husband's utter failure."
Chills ran down her spine at his disdainful tone. She dared not contradict him, and so replied, "Yes, my lord."
"And I trust that you did not give them any information that would be detrimental to our cause..." Even though she knew she hadn't, Narcissa immediately panicked and thought back over everything she'd said. "No? ... Look at me."
Though every little bit of her screamed no, she forced her face to rise to meet her master's. His intense red glare was even more intimidating than usual, and as soon as she met his gaze, she felt him enter her mind, making certain that she wasn't lying. For a long moment, he sifted through her interrogation. Apparently satisfied, he wrenched his presence back out of her mind violently, making her fall forward onto her knees.
Without any warning, the word "Crucio!" rang out, and Cissa was wrapped in searing pain. It only lasted a few moments, and she weakly looked up at the Dark Lord when it stopped. "Dear Lucius has been extremely disappointing to me, Narcissa Malfoy. His failure has set back my plans significantly." Narcissa bowed her head, knowing what to expect. Sure enough, he cried "Crucio!" once more, tearing her apart from the inside out. The Dark Lord's anger was clearly great, for she'd never felt such agony in her life. When she next realized that the torture had ceased, she was in the fetal position on the floor. "It is perhaps fortunate for Lucius that he was captured by the Ministry." The threat was very real, and Narcissa felt her insides squirm. Would he kill her instead?
But nothing more came. She raised her head to look at the Dark Lord, and was a bit disturbed to find him merely watching her. Unable to bear the suspense of waiting for him to act first, Narcissa lowered her gaze and pushed herself up to her knees. Then, slowly, she rose to her feet, forcing herself not to faint or falter.
Rather than seeing this as defiance, the Dark Lord seemed intrigued. He stepped closer to her, seemingly examining her. A shiver ran through her body as he came closer.
Then her breath caught in her throat.
The Dark Lord ran a hand through her hair, tangling his fingers in the long blond strands. He pulled it just enough that her head turned awkwardly to the side. "You couldseek to earn my affections back," he hissed, bringing his face very close to her ear. Her heart began to pound madly in fear; icy chills ran through her. Her master's face traveled down the length of her neck, almost touching. He let his face hover at her neck, so that she could feel his breath on her skin. Narcissa bit her lip to keep from crying, screaming, or running away. Suddenly he was pulling her hair a bit harder. "But I have no use for a witch tainted with failure." He released her roughly, making sure it hurt.
Cissa staggered back, running into the table. Tears began rolling down her cheeks – she couldn't help it anymore.
The Dark Lord flicked his wand, and immediately she fell to the floor. "Get out of my sight," he snarled, turning his back on her and striding over to the window.
Shakily, Narcissa drew her wand and Disapparated. She landed outside the back gate of the Manor, and stepped right through the wrought iron, which was charmed so that the family could pass through. She headed straight into the house, and went to the first room she reached, which happened to be the downstairs parlor. Exhausted and despondent, she collapsed onto the love seat and broke down. Lucius... poor Lucius... All the horrible stories she'd heard about Azkaban rushed back to her; frightful images of Dementors, prisoners going mad and killing each other, the smell of death hanging heavily in the air... Her poor Lucius, trapped in that awful place... forever...
"What did he say?"
Narcissa lifted her head quickly, and saw Bellatrix coming through the parlor door. Cursing herself for forgetting about her sister, Cissa brushed the tears off her face.
Apparently she wasn't answering quickly enough, because Bella repeated the question. "Narcissa, what did he say?"
Cissa took a breath. "He only wanted to know that I hadn't told the Ministry anything important." She didn't mention the Dark Lord's strange and terrible suggestion that she might seek to regain his favor... ...especially not to Bellatrix.
"You didn't, did you?" Bella's eyes were wide.
"Of course I didn't! Do I really seem that idiotic?" She turned her head away from her sister, bursting into tears again.
Bellatrix paced across the room. "Pull yourself together, Cissy."
Anger flared up in Narcissa's chest. "Pull myself together!? Lucius is being sent to Azkaban, Bella!!"
Her sister turned to face her sharply. She was clearly on edge. "And did you cry like this when Iwas arrested?" Narcissa did not answer. "Of course you didn't. And Azkaban was actually something to be feared, then." Bellatrix stared down at her sister disdainfully. "The Dementors have left Azkaban; it is nothing like it once was. He is better off there than here."
Narcissa's eyes darkened. "Don't say that!"
Bellatrix raised her eyebrows. "Why? You know it is the truth. The Dark Lord would have killed him for letting the little brats break the prophecy."
"That hardly seems hisfault," Narcissa said accusingly.
"He led the mission, Cissy. Of course it's his fault."
"But that's not fair! If Potter was the only one who could retrieve the prophecy, there's no way he could have gotten it without letting Potter get it first! It sounds to me as though you blamed him, having no one else to pin it on!"
Bellatrix nearly hit her. "How dare you! I have nothing to do with it! The Dark Lord knows what really happened; I could never possibly conceal anything from him! And you had better watch your mouth – accusing the Dark Lord of dealing unfairly is traitorous at the very least."
"I don't care anymore," Narcissa growled. She was pushing Bellatrix over the edge and she knew it, but she didn't care.
"Cissy!" Her sister was incredulous. "You can't say things like that!"
"This is my home; I am not under your authority!"
"You are my little sister, Cissy, I have every right to -"
"Does that mean I must take orders from Andromeda, too?"
Bellatrix slapped her across the face, knocking her sideways onto the cushions. "DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT NAME IN MY PRESENCE!" she roared. "You deceitful little hussy! Say something like that again, and I'll curse you where you stand!"
Narcissa slowly broke into sobs, clutching a throw-pillow tightly against her. "I just need Lucius," she cried helplessly, squeezing the pillow. "I don't know what to do without him; I need him..."
Bella watched her sister cry for a few long moments, calming herself a bit. Then she moved closer and stroked her sister's hair lightly. "Poor Cissy," she said quietly. "Lost your pretty husband."
The younger sister pulled away from her touch, feeling the derision in her sister's pity. "Do not mock my pain," she said through clenched teeth.
"Never." Her full lips curved into a smile.
Narcissa sat up, still holding the pillow, and shoved her sister's hand away.
Bellatrix's smile waned slightly. "Oh, settle down, Cissy. You'll have Lucius back as soon as the Dark Lord wishes it."
She looked up at her sister, anguished. "And what if the Dark Lord never wants him back?"
"He will, eventually. It may not be until he is fully in power, but he will want his faithful followers back, someday." She turned away from Narcissa and walked toward the window, then walked back again, once more looking agitated. Bella's moods swung so rapidly that Cissa had a hard time keeping up. The older sister pushed up her left sleeve, looking at her Mark.
"What's the matter?" Narcissa asked.
Bellatrix pursed her lips before glancing up. "He hasn't summoned me. I thought he would call me back as soon as he'd spoken with you." She glanced down at her arm again, obviously concerned. "Perhaps he is dealing with the arrests, first." She looked up at Narcissa again, who nodded quickly – only to mollify her.
"That's probably what it is," Narcissa said, not believing a word of it.
A/N: Yay, a long one! Once again, the wait was long, but I hope it was worth it. ...I heart reviews, by the way. :D