Apologies for the short chapter! This will be longer.
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Those thirteen days dragged on like thirteen years to Narcissa Malfoy. Scorpius's weekly package of candy was not owled off to him, nothing that needed to be done was done. For probably the first time in her life, dignified, disgraced Mrs. Malfoy was driven distracted.
On the fourth day, a letter from Scorpius arrived, asking about the whereabouts of his belated candy, and also if he could invite his three best friends over for hols. Narcissa wrote back, agreeing to add the other three troublemakers to her holiday, tied the letter to the candy bag, and sent her owl off to Hogwarts.
Three days later, Narcissa ran the gauntlet of stares again, getting Scorpius and his friends from Platform 9 3/4 and bundling them off home to the Manor, where they spent a cozy evening with hot chocolate and long stories.
The chief ringleader's name was Beatrix Klooster. She was an orphan, tough, energetic, sassy and unnervingly tall.
The other boy was Credence Langley. Dark-haired, skinny and looking rather like a beaten dog, Narcissa noted. She made a mental note to ask Scorpius why his friend appeared this way.
The real kicker was Andrella Sparks, the spitting image of a young Bellatrix Lestrange. Thankfully, this girl was quite personable and was the mother-character of the little group of friends.
The foursome made mischief and cheered "Scorp's Granmum" up considerably as she waited for the real highlight of her holiday.
December 14 rolled around after an interminable wait. Taking no notice of Narcissa's moodiness, Beatrix, Credence, Andrella, and Scorpius proceeded to make a grumpy attic ghoul's life a misery.
"Stop that now!" Narcissa shouted up the creaking attic stairs, as another loud howl resounded from the doorway above.
"He's lonely, Mrs. Malfoy!" A girl's voice laughed down.
"Well, come down here or you'll catch Spattergroit." I hope that threat didn't sound stupid, Narcissa thought. Her wish was answered as the foursome came bumping down the stairs, expressions of confusion and shock on their faces.
"What in the Wizarding World is Spattergroit?"
After due chastisement for her rambunctious guests, Narcissa shut herself up in her bedroom, feeling quite exhausted. The realization that she had been steeling herself for dawned upon her. Perhaps Lucius was never coming back.
She clutched at the sheets, feeling suddenly lost. What would she do if he did indeed never return?
There was a knock on the door.
Narcissa blanched.
Please, don't let this be another disappointment.