Notes: I know Narcissa in canon was born in 1955, but I wanted her to be closer in age to Sirius and Regulus. Everyone's birthdate got shifted, so Bellatrix would be born in 1955, Andromeda in 1957, and Lucius in 1958. Regulus and Sirius' birth years will not be changed
Wednesday arrived before Narcissa could comprehend. She wore a black pencil skirt that reached just above her knees, a cropped black jacket adorned with golden buttons and chains, and a pair of black stilettos that came to a point at the top. Her hair had been crafted into a perfect bun, allowing both her platinum blonde and dark brown to be visible. The final touch was minimal makeup. A small cat eye, a pale red lipstick, and a darkening spell for her eyebrows. As she was bustling about, collecting all of her paperwork she needed, Lucius tiptoed into the room, quietly sitting on their bed to avoid disturbing her concentrative state. Opening a drawer, she immediately slammed it and opened the one above it, likewise slamming it and letting out an exasperated sigh. Lucius cleared his throat and held up a piece of paper from the bedside table. She quickly snatched it from him and shoved it into her beige purse. Returning to her vanity, she applied her lipstick for the third time. Calming herself down, Lucius watched as she took several shallow breaths, allowing her normal breaths to return to a consistent rate.
"Good luck today," he said, standing up and making his way over to her.
"Thank you," she replied, embracing him before planting a kiss on his lips. Lucius attempted to deepen it, but she pulled back with a grin.
"I have had to fix my lipstick three times already. Don't make it a fourth."
"I wouldn't dare, Mrs. Malfoy," he smirked, "when should I expect you back?" Narcissa drew her brows together and moved her eyes to look at the ceiling.
"I'm not entirely sure."
"Would you do something for me then?"
"That depends," she answered only half jokingly.
"Can you wear this?" he said, revealing a red, velvet box. Confusingly glancing at him, she opened the box to reveal a ring with a translucent moonstone in the shape of a small oval. Curious, she slipped it onto her ring finger. Immediately, the prismatic stone shifted to a black.
"Why did it do that?" she asked, still staring at the ring.
"To show you're alive," Lucius said, holding up a black band on his own ring finger. He gently slipped her ring off and watched it transition back to moonstone. His band replicated her ring's color. "Whatever color you ring shifts to, mine will as well. Black means you're alive. Moonstone means the ring is off of your finger, but you are alive. Periwinkle moonstone means that the ring is off of your finger and you are dead. Complete white means…" his voice introduced a slight shake with each word. Narcissa grabbed the ring and replaced it on her finger.
"I understand. Thank you, Lucius. Where did you buy it?"
"Well," Lucius began, embarrassed, "I overheard that imbecile Arthur Weasley talking about something the muggles use called a mood ring. I am willing to bet galleons they stole that technology from us. Anyhow, I used the same premise to bewitch a ring I bought in France for you."
"I promise to not take it off," she embraced him, "I really must be going though. I don't want to make a bad first impression."
"Cissa, I think it is magically impossible for you to make a bad impression."
"Either way, I do have to go. I love you," she said, throwing floo powder into their marble fireplace to create emerald green flames.
"I love you too," he responded, watching her carefully. Throwing a second batch of powder into the flames, she stated in a cool, clear voice, "The Ministry of Magic". Giving Lucius a wave, the flames engulfed her and sent her spiraling through space and time before calmly landing on the black brick floor of the Ministry of Magic's floo system. Brushing off a few stray soot granules, she strutted to the lift, motioning for the lanky wizard to hold it for her.
"What floor Miss?"
"9 please," Narcissa responded, averting her eyes from his that, she knew, held a million unspoken questions. The lift went down to 9 where Narcissa stepped out, her stilettos clacking against the floor. At the end of the hallway, she spotted an exceptionally tall woman with her black hair and red streaks slicked back into a tight low ponytail. She stood almost rigidly with her hands tightly clasped behind her back, her feet pointed slightly outward, and her face wore a grimace.
"Narcissa Malfoy, I presume," her voice stated in a confident and smooth tone.
"Yes."
"Follow me." After she moved, Narcissa could see that there was a door with a large silver knob in the center. Breaking her focus, she followed the woman into a side room that was completely pitch black except for two tanks in the corner of the far wall that had jellyfish swimming up and down giving off their bioluminescence. In the center of the room was a table and two wooden chairs facing each other. A vial sat on the table top, and Narcissa immediately identified the substance. Not because she could see, but because it was what was expected. The woman picked up the vial and handed it to Narcissa.
"I am to inform you that you are not required to drink the veritaserum. In the event that you choose not to, your recommendation and application will be waived, and you will no longer be considered as a candidate for this position. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Narcissa nodded, taking the vial from her outstretched hand.
"Before you drink, I am also required to inform you that two dementors are posted outside of this door. In the event that you have an ulterior motive or you want to try something funny, they will be given permission to enter the room. Is that clear?"
"Yes."
"Two more things. The first is I must examine the jewelry you have on to make sure they are not bugged with recording devices or spells."
"Of course," Narcissa nodded, removing her earrings, golden bracelet, and moonstone ring. The women flicked each item into the air and casted a silent incantation around them. Their aura's all remained invisible. Giving another flourish of her wand, the jewelry landed back on the table where Narcissa retrieved them, and replaced them in their original position.
"Finally, I must request that you wand remain on the table until I give you permission to use it. Is that understood?"
"Yes," Narcissa answered, brandishing her wand from her purse and gently placing it on the table.
"Alright, let us get started." Unscrewing the cap, Narcissa tilted her head back as the bitter liquid slid down her throat.
"Please sit down." Narcissa did as she was told, feeling a cloudiness in her mind.
"State your name, birthdate, parents, siblings, and current family."
"Narcissa Black Malfoy. I was born on May 4th, 1959 to Druella Rosier Black and Cygnus Black III. I am the youngest sister of Andromeda Black Tonks and Bellatrix Black Lestrange. I am currently married to Lucius Malfoy and have a son named Draco," she repeated in a monotonous tone. The woman scrawled something on a piece of parchment as Narcissa attempted to keep her deadpan expression.
"In your opinion, which three subjects are your strongest?"
"Herbology, Potions, and Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Out of those three, which would be your strongest?"
"Potions."
"Why do you say that?"
"I scored nearly perfect on both my OWLs and NEWTs. I also create new potions in my free time."
"What kind of potions do you make in your free time?"
"Draught of the Living Dead, which is not my creation, but I also create calming potions for my husband and son."
"Do you test it on them?"
"Merlin, no!" Narcissa said, taken aback, "I test it on myself and document the effects and symptoms."
"Would you be opposed to testing potions and spells on other people?"
"As long as I have their consent, and I know that I will not kill them then no." The woman continued to scribble down notes.
"What would you say the biggest strength of your personality is?"
"My ability to find a solution even when all else fails." The woman raised an eyebrow.
"Could you provide an example?" Narcissa stared to the side a moment before answering.
"My parents were not the nicest people, but I don't expect any pureblood parents are. After my two sisters graduated from Hogwarts, my sister Andromeda married a muggleborn named Ted Tonks. My parents were furious and disowned her. My oldest sister, Bellatrix, refused to give in to their arranged marriage ideals, which further upset them. I no longer had anyone to turn to and was confined to a house with raging parents. I taught myself how to brew healing potions and fight off occlumency in order to survive. I had previously tried to appease them with an engagement to a proper pureblood, but they continuously ridiculed me. Nothing I seemed to do was right in their eyes. But I escaped. Many times I thought I was going to die, but I escaped," she said, her eyes watering over.
"I am very sorry. If you do not mind me asking, how old were you?"
"15. I was 17 when I left them for good."
"And do you hate your parents?" Narcissa thought about it for a second before the veritaserum answered for her.
"No." The woman nodded as though she knew the answer before Narcissa herself said it.
"On the other hand, what would you say your biggest weakness of your personality is?"
"I forgive easily," she quickly said, "You could have gathered that from my previous answer. People who hurt me, people who betray me. It is almost as though I expect them to do that as though I don't deserve loyalty, compassion, or respect. When it comes to my son or husband, I don't forgive. But when it comes to me, you can backstab me until my back is more metal than skin, and I will somehow forgive you. I wish it was different in a way that I could hold a grudge, but it is so exhausting to do so." The quill scratched away. By now the parchment had extended to about 80 centimeters.
"I have a department where your personality would be a good match, but I need to ask some questions for security purposes." Narcissa, again, nodded, her lips pursed together in an almost frown. She was briefly frustrated at herself for being this vulnerable, especially with someone she had just met, but she rationalized that this woman was not judging her, but interviewing her for a position. She would not use anything Narcissa said against her.
"Why do you think Dumbledore referred you to our open position?"
"I cannot say."
"Really. You have no idea why he might choose you over thousands of other aurors or students?"
"No."
"Well then, why do you, Narcissa Malfoy, want to work for the Department of Mysteries?"