TW: brief mention of an animal's death (nothing graphic or in detail) & mentions of emotional abuse
As always, thanks for reading!
Narcissa slowly blinked her eyes opened. Her entire body felt as though pins and needles were puncturing her at different times. Turning her head to the side, she realized her face was resting on white pebbles. Blinking twice more, she pushed herself up and dusted the debris off of her robes.
Robes, she thought, I wasn't wearing robes before.
Her surroundings allowed her a look of bewilderment. Behind her was a steel panel that extended many meters into the air. To her sides were a similar sight. In front of her, the pebble path continued, so she concluded this was the right way. As she took a step forward, she felt her leg shake for a few moments before returning to its original state. Putting a hand inside her robes, she withdrew her wand, holding it out in front of her as she rounded the narrow corner. It looked the same as it did previously but littered in random places were tiny, white daffodils popping up from the pebbles. Narcissa carefully sidestepped them as her brain sent her signals so strong, it felt as though head was about to explode.
This is my mind, she thought with an air of existential crisis, but how can I be in my mind if I am still thinking? This isn't what I see when I evade occlumency. Maybe this isn't my mind after all. This is some part of me, but what is it?
These thoughts zoomed about her mind like a devious fairy holding on to a treasured possession, fluttering about without giving any chance to be captured and procured. Glancing down, she saw a few droplets of red fall from her finger to bounce onto the pure stones below.
I need to quit doing that, she sighed as she flicked her wand to close the small wound she had begun to inflict. A bird sound overhead drew her attention to the sky, which she could only observe by tilting her head so that it was parallel to it. The sun was out and the amount of clouds were relatively low. The few that were in the sky were spread so thin, they may have been a figment of her imagination. The birds danced in front of the light, casting distorted shadows onto her face. She continued to watch the captivating display before catching sight of the orange, feathered belly. As though to confirm her inquiry, one of the birds descended, spreaded its blue wings, and perched atop the steel's thin peak. Grinning to herself, she recalled a time when her favorite uncle had returned from a trip to America. He had shown up unannounced, much to her mother's dismay, carrying a golden chain with a purple blanket attached to it.
She had flung herself onto him as his boisterous but smooth voice exclaimed, "Cissy, at least let me get a foot in the door." As she detached herself from him, he continued, "Where is the rest of the clan?"
"Bella and Andy are at school," a young Narcissa explained.
"This will be their loss then," he said, walking into the room designated for entertaining guests.
"I brought you back a gift from the States." He pulled back the blanket to reveal the same bird that Narcissa was presently grinning at, chirping excitedly.
"Uncle, he's beautiful," she exclaimed as she went to undo the cage's lock. The tiny bird crawled onto her finger, stabilizing itself, and cocked his head at her.
"She's looking at me," Narcissa giggled, being careful to not disturb the bird's perch. Deciding that Narcissa's hair was more interesting, the bird fluttered on top of her head, clenching its claws around several strands. She continued to giggle until her mother's cold voice scolded, "Narcissa, you are not an owl. Quit squawking about this instance." Ignoring her, Narcissa continued on as her uncle joined in.
"I must be off, but it was good seeing you, Cissy."
"Do you have to go so soon?"
"Yes," he said, glaring at Druella, "but I will come around soon, yeah?"
"Okay!" He stood up and walked out as Narcissa withdrew the bird from her hair and gently placed it on its wooden perch. As she closed the cage, Cygnus leisurely walked from behind until he was directly in front of her. Pointing his wand through the spirals of metal, he muttered something as a green flash hit the bird, causing its lifeless body to land with a thud at the bottom of the cage.
"Why did you do that?!' Narcissa shrieked.
"Don't you dare raise your voice with me, little girl! That bird is not acclimated to live where we live. It would have died within a week. It was better to put it out of its misery now than to extend its suffering."
"You don't know that!" Narcissa continued as tears streamed down her face and her small hands were balled into fists, "I would have done anything to keep her alive. And I suffer everyday, and you don't care!"
Cygnus shoved his wand into his jacket and grabbed a fistful of Narcissa's shirt, dragging her forward until she was mere centimeters from his face. "Narcissa, it's a bloody bird! You can go out to the back garden and get a dozen more. I will not have a daughter that is this emotional over something so trivial and so easily fixable. You will dispose of its body and when you come back inside, I do not want to see another tear or hear about this again. Do you understand me?" At first, Narcissa glared at him, her tears continuing to fall in protest, however, as the hold on her shirt became tighter and his pupils became more constricted until they resembled a snake, she replied, "Yes, father."
His grip on her was released, and she used the back of her hand to wipe away the dampness on her cheek. Cradling the bird's body, she rushed outside to the back garden, hidden from the prying eyes within the house, and sat on the ground, using her bare hands to dig a hole. When the time came, she pushed the dirt overtop of the corpse below.
"You're freer than me," she said, patting the dirt pouch and plucking a carnation from her mother's favorite plant. Standing up, she threw the flower on top of the mound, and said, "May Death have greeted you like a long lost friend, my fallen companion."
Narcissa's focus was restored to the present moment as she realized the bluebird had flown off to rejoin his friends. As her eyes shifted to look in front of her, the previous path to her left had acquired a large, steel panel while the pebbles had been diverted to her right.
How strange, she thought, the path almost certainly had continued to the left.
Shrugging it off, she followed the path to the right. Doing so, she arrived at a place that extended for what seemed eternally forward. A light mist had formed towards what appeared to be the end. Throwing a glance behind her, Narcissa realized the only way was forward. Gripping her wand for extra support, she started that direction. The sun had lowered in the sky. Light was still able to penetrate the labyrinth, but now it seemed to only illuminate the right side about 100 centimeters off the pebbled path. Maintaining her eye contact with the ground, she watched as the pebbles produced a dew that froze. Gazing up, she spotted three cloaked figures making their way towards her.
How did dementors make their way into my mind maze or whatever this is?
Moving her wand in a clockwise motion, she said, "Expecto patronum!" A silvery mist erupted from the tip of her wand and transformed into a fennec fox. Its paws were spread as it bared its teeth in an attempt to intimidate. Swiftly, the compact creature charged forward, snapping at the robes of the dementors, who cowered into the corners of the walls, floating away from the partonous. They dared to float upwards, but the fox floated with them, chasing them over the enormous walls. Once they were no longer in sight, Narcissa extinguished her happy memory and her misty friend disappeared.
This can't be my mind then. If I were to conjure a happy memory like I just did then the dementors should have already been gone before I even casted my patronus. I need to stop thinking about this and just keep moving forward.
She took comfort in narrating everything that was going on around her. It seemed perfectly rational and irrational. Sane and insane. For the time being though, all of those antitheses were irrelevant. It didn't matter if she was rational nor irrational nor sane nor insane. There was no one to be compared to, and so those terms lost all meaning. Her eyes averted to study her feet, taking care to not step on any of the flowers growing along the path. Conjuring up her patronus again, she knelt down to its level.
"Go to the center and come back." She flicked her wand to send it on its way, counting as her eyes scanned her narrow surroundings in the event of any other creature appearing. The fox returned almost immediately, initiating a bright smile from Narcissa as she practically rushed down the narrow path and turned right from where the fox had reappeared. She found herself in a rectangular clearing. It was furnished like an exact replica of her childhood bedroom. Her bedsheets a regal green with silver stripes. Her wooden desk with piles of parchment she used to scribble letters and notes to her friends and sisters during the summer holiday and school term respectively. Her snowy owl was perched on her window seat, eyes closed in deep slumber. Multiple dresses of different colors hung from a massive closet on the far wall. There was a wizarding chess set under her bed next to a broomstick and a box of notes from Lucius and many others. There was also a pile of books such as divination, ancient runes, and arithmancy shoved under there as her parents greatly disapproved of these subjects, deeming them as worthless and time wasting as muggle studies. Narcissa sat herself on the ground with her back propped up against the bed frame. Although no one besides herself was present, she heard the laughter of two other girls and two boys break out.
"Sirius, you're mad!" Bellatrix exclaimed in response to Sirius' claiming she was wrong and it was, in fact, possible to climb a trellis from Narcissa's third story room.
"No Bella's right. The wood's not sturdy enough. I've tried to sneak back into the house via Cissy's room and almost died. Course, it would've been better than mother and father catching me," Andy laughed.
"See," Bellatrix said, as Narcissa and Andromeda continued their game of chess while Regulus watched, eyes darting between the pairs.
"Disagree," Sirius said, holding up his index finger for additional emphasis.
"How can you disagree?! It's my experience," Andromeda said playfully.
"I'll prove it right now," he said, forcing the windows open. As he placed a single foot on the white wood, he heard it creak.
"On second thought, Cissy or Reggie should do it. I think it takes a certain gracefulness."
"No, you're just a coward," Bellatrix cackled.
"I could do it," Narcissa said, suddenly interested in the conversation, "I've done it loads of times before." Everyone except Regulus stared at her with their mouths agape.
"See," she made her way to the window and placed a foot on the wooden bar, "you have to get as close to where it is nailed as possible. That's the sturdiest." She climbed all the way down. Once her feet touched the ground, she waved back up to the rest of her group who was staring down at her.
"Now come back up," Sirius shouted as he motioned for her to come back up with Regulus cheering in the background. Just as Narcissa was about to push herself back through the window, she heard the door fling open. Ducking below the window's ledge she pressed herself up against the side of the house, holding onto the wooden bars for dear life and quieting her breathing
"Must you remind me that I have not a single child or nephew that is a proper pureblood?" came Druella's whining voice, "I hear you cheering and cackling like a common Mudblood. I will not be asking again. Keep the noise down or Narcissa, Andromeda, and Bellatrix, you'll have a tracking spell on you for the remainder of the holiday. Is that clear?"
"Crystal," Bellatrix smirked as Andromeda nodded. Closing the door, Narcissa popped her head up as Regulus made his way over to help her in, laughing from the chaos.
"Wow, dear Druella didn't even realize Narcissa wasn't in the room," Bellatrix cackled.
"Probably though that was her," Regulus giggled and motioned to Narcissa's owl who produced an appreciative screech from her place on the edge of Narcissa's bed.
"Well, I mean, let's be honest. What's more important, being a proper pureblood or Narcissa?" Sirius joined in, holding both hands out and eyebrows furrowed together in mock confusion.
"If you want mother's attention then a proper pureblood. If you want our attention then Narcissa," Andy grinned as Narcissa reclaimed her spot on the floor.
"Andy, no fair, you switched up the game board!"
"I would do no such thing."
"You did so. I was winning."
"Were not!"
"Were too!"
"See, it is possible to climb up the trellis," Sirius said to restart the argument with Bellatrix.
"But you didn't do it, now did you, you prat?" she said, throwing one of Narcissa's pillows at him. As he ducked, the pillow connected with Regulus' face, who stood there stupefied.
"Ah nice aim," Sirius said, picking up a throw pillow to defend him. Regulus had already thrown the pillow back at Bellatrix.
"If I could use magic, so help me, you'd be levitating up with the birds."
"I always dreamed of flying. Mostly by way of broom, but levitation works too," Sirius grinned as Bellatrix's eyes narrowed.
"I have an idea!" Regulus piped up.
"Don't want to hear it," Sirius said, equally narrowing his eyes as he and Bellatrix set up for a duel legally. While both had their wands, an insignificant cousin feud did not seem like the best way to get expelled from Hogwarts for underage use of magic.
"Uhg," Regulus groaned, rolling his eyes. He picked up the book about dark arts he had thrown on Narcissa's bed.
"Reading anything good?" Narcissa asked, clearing their chessboard to reset the game.
"Oh you know, just the dark arts. Nothing terribly exciting," he replied sarcastically.
"I hope the Whomping Willow clobbers you over the head," Narcissa retorted.
"So that I become a proper pureblood, eh?"
"No. So you get the pureblood snarkiness knocked out of you," she laughed.
"Then you need a round or two with it yourself, I reckon," he leaned against the wall. "Andy," he said moments later as Bellatrix and Sirius commenced their duel, "have you ever heard of Inferi?"
"Yeah, what about them?"
"Mum always told me that once someone dies, they die. They are never coming back. But doesn't an Inferi contradict that?"
"I mean I guess, but another witch or wizard has to want to bring you back," Andromeda explained, moving one of her bishops in an attack position on Narciss's pawn.
"Would you bring me back if I died?"
"No," Andromeda said as Narcissa stole one of her rooks.
"Cissy, you'd bring me back though, right?"
"Only for you to do my every wish and command," Narcissa smirked.
"No, but seriously," Sirius turned his head for a split second only to be smacked across the face, "why don't more people turn their loved ones into Inferi?"
"Did you read the whole passage, Reggie?" Andromeda asked, slightly annoyed.
"Yes!" Regulus said with an exasperated huff.
"Then clearly you need your reading skills tested. When an Inferi comes back, it doesn't come back as that person. Sure, it may be using their body, but it's not them. Not really. The mind of the body is controlled by whoever chose to bring it back. Your soul would be gone, but your body would be used as a host to carry out Merlin knows what. Does that sound ideal to you?"
"So I would be brainless essentially?"
"That's no different than what you are right now," Narcissa replied as one of her pawns got thrown off the board by Andromeda's bishop.
"Alright, alright," Regulus said, putting his hands up, "I can't ever ask an honest question without getting the stupidest response. I'm never talking to you guys about anything ever again."
"I've waited years for this moment," Andromeda said, making devious eye contact with Narcissa.
She giggled before saying, "Checkmate, Andy. I told you I was winning the previous game."
"Oh whatever," she said, rolling her eyes.
The memory faded as Narcissa felt her arms wrapped around her knees. Casting her eyes to the side, she spotted the familiar white pebbles and begrudgingly had to conclude that this was not the center. Using the bed frame to push herself up, she heard a faint humming. An glowing orb drifted down from the sky with light floating in ribbons like a whip anticipating being cracked.
You'll know it when you see it. It only arrived in your time of need. Slowly unclasping her hands around her knees, she observed how the sphere bobbed up and down in the air. She walked around all sides, trying to determine what it was and how it was being controlled. As she was making her way to her starting position, an angelic voice came from somewhere directly above the light.
You called upon the sphere of light
It's time to choose to flee or fight.
I didn't call upon anything, Narcissa thought with an air of confusion. "Expecto Patronum!" She waved her wand once more, sending her patronus once more to the center. It returned after nearly 30 seconds, indicating she was close, but at least two more turns. Giving the ball of light one more look, she turned her back to it and continued forward, leaving her room and happy memories behind. The next path had steel walls so close together, she had to side step in order to fit through. The light illuminating the path diminished until it extinguished all together. Looking to the sky, Narcissa saw an expansive void, the absence of stars did not get lost on her. Casting the Lumos charm, she noticed that the flowers had stopped growing and instead, browning vines had replaced them. She shifted her body to the nearest steel panel to catch her reflection, but noted a lack of her appearance although one was present earlier. Outstretching her hand, she gave a slight shove. To her horror and delight, the steel panel toppled over light a domino taking others with it in its wake. As the crashing echoed around her, she spun around to see where she came from remained standing while what lay ahead was barren and in ruins, but at least the center was visible. From somewhere in the abyss of darkness, she heard crying. Holding her wand up, she clambered over the fallen steel in that direction.
"Hello?" she called out. Her voice floated about, getting softer and softer until it ricocheted back to her in a booming tone. The temperature had dropped to an uncomfortable cold as she wrapped her robes tighter around herself, but maintained her tight grip on her wand. Looking down at her hand, she noticed that the moonstone remained black.
How long have I been here? Is Lucius worried about me? Who am I playing at, of course he's worried about me. I'm worried about him. I hope he thinks of watering my plants. He would. But I've also requested he not go in my study. I wouldn't mind if he does in this instance. I sincerely hope my Asphodelus doesn't die. Would I be happier if he didn't go in because I know he respected my wishes or would I be happier knowing he went out of his way to care for something that I care about?
Another cry tore her from her rambling thoughts. The closeness of the sound sent shivers down her spine, but she walked as though nothing had terrified her. She spotted a rock enclosure with black stone jutting in various directions, weaving a cell of their own. As she approached, she examined movement between the gaps.
"Hello?" she said again, but silence was her only response. As she tore her attention to find a way to remove the stones, she recognized the unmistakable glow of a pensive's watery blue glow.
"No," she thought with an almost dejected tone. Waving her wand, she attempted to levitate the stones into the air and stack them in a neat pile to the side. The stones remained as though they were an insolent child standing his ground. Eventually making her way to the pensive, she located beautiful cursive scrawled above the basin.
I'm crafted from the depths of the heart's design,
When joy and sorrow and anger intertwine,
Falling like rain, yet flowing like grace,
Embracing the trials that life may trace.
"Do these riddles ever end?" Narcissa wondered aloud, "I'm assuming since this is my…my something…the answer is not going to be incredibly happy. Oh right, it must be tears." Scrutinizing the area above the pensive, she discovered a tiny vial with a golden clasp. Beside it were the inscribed words "FILL ME". Uncasping the clasp, she pointed her wand into the vial and muttered an incantation for water use. As quickly as it filled, it evaporated into oblivion.
"You cannot be serious," Narcissa muttered. Shoving the tiny vial into her pocket, she reclaimed her spot to the side of the pensive. Bringing her wand to her temple, she pulled a black string of consciousness out of her mind and flick it into the pensive where it swirled around like the ghosts of the past closing in on her. Taking a deep breath, she stuck her head below the murky surface.
In the distance, she could hear her father and Bellatrix arguing over something. As usual, she was seated on the floor with an ear pressed to the door to make sure that Bellatrix wasn't being harmed. Not that she could do anything particularly effective as she was merely sixteen. Any magic use would result in her expulsion from the one place she could get away. But, she figured, two against one was better odds than one against one. She heard someone shatter glass. She assumed it was Bellatrix because a string of insults from her father followed. After the cursing finally subsided, she heard the heavy footfalls of Bellatrix making their way up the stairs. Receiving the confirmation she needed to make sure that Bellatrix was safe, she returned to her bed and picked up one of her herbology books she was enthralled in. Just as she was about to get to the section for all of the mandrake properties, her door flung open and slammed shut. Narcissa sprang up, tossing her book aside to grace her presence the furious face of her sister.
"Bella, are you okay?"
"Am I okay? Am I okay?" she heaved. Instinctively, Narcissa backed herself into a ball against the wall. Ever since Bellatrix had joined a new band of wizards, Narcissa had come to expect her shift in emotion. If one thing put her in a bad mood, anyone she came into contact with was bound to feel her rage. She was still learning what might set Bellatrix off in fits.
"Sorry I asked. Forget it," Narcissa muttered, going to grab her book before Bellatrix grabbed her wrist.
"Was there a reason you decided to tell Cygnus that I was infatuated with the Dark Lord?"
"What are you on about? I didn't tell him," Narcissa replied, trying to get her wrist out of her sister's light, but firm grasp.
"Right, so who told him then? Sirius? Andromeda? Don't make me laugh! You're the only person I told about this group and now Cygnus just happens to know."
"I didn't tell him, Bella, I swear!"
"He's threatened me, you know. Threatened to disown me if this raises a scandal and results in my engagement to Rodolphus being called off."
"What are you not comprehending? I didn't tell him!"
"I don't believe you!" Bellatrix's hair seemed to shoot out in every direction as though to mimic her fury. Each curl bounced up and down as her body shook from the anger.
"Legilimens!" Narcissa felt the force of her sister enter her mind, which she expertly deflected, instead sending her sister's prying inquiry to a section of her mind involving the latest gossip of the Slytherins before feeling the decompression of her mind that lasted mere seconds as Bellatrix threw Narcissa off of her bed.
"Let me in, you little sneak!"
"Bella, stop! You're hurting me," Narcissa said, wiggling underneath Bellatrix's weight and attempting to kick her knee caps.
"Stop moving! Legilimens!" Again, Narcissa felt a strong pressure in her mind, and instead sent Bellatrix to a section of her mind where she recalled every plant and their potion making properties. Feeling the release once again, Narcissa relaxed as she felt Bellatrix's weight shift slightly.
"Why are you hiding from me if you didn't tell him?!" she said in a venomously calm tone.
"Because, as I'm sure you're aware, privacy is a key factor in my life as it is yours. I don't need you flipping through every last memory and inevitably making fun of me or judging me harshly."
"I am just after one memory, Cissy. One incredibly small point of time. Let me in just this once. I promise you that is all I'm after," her voice changed candace several times as she tried to maintain a cool composure.
"No," Narcissa stated plainly, placing her hands on both of Bellatrix's biceps and shoving her backwards.
"Ha, no," Bellatrix whispered to herself as though she were the only person in the room, "she said no. That's unacceptable!" As Narcissa was sitting up on the floor, rubbing her wrist, she felt the impact from a spell before hearing the words she never imagined Bellatrix would use against her.
"Crucio!" For a third time, she felt the pressure on her brain as Bellatrix entered with no obstacle. Narcissa's body contorted in an attempt to alleviate the pain. Searching through her memories, Narcissa watched in horror as she flipped past intimate moments of her and Lucius. She started to panic when Bellatrix reached a period in time when Narcissa wrote a letter in confidence to Andy, but Bellatrix rushed right past that. Finally, she landed on the memory she was looking for that featured Cygnus. Narcissa was seated at the table in the kitchen eating a bowl of strawberries and blueberries while Cygnus raised his voice.
"Why did I receive an owl this morning from Rodolphus Lestrange about having reservations on following through with the engagement?"
"I'm not Bellatrix, father, so I would not have the faintest idea."
"Do not fall under the impression that your wit is in any tangible way a match for mine. I am aware you and Bellatrix are considerably closer than her and myself. What has she told you?"
"Nothing. She doesn't talk about that with me as she thinks I'm just as dim and daft as you do."
"Now Narcissa, I don't think you are either of those things. Out of my three daughters, you are by far the brightest. But please, I must know, what has Bellatrix told you?" Cygnus pushed, feigning kindness.
"She has told me that she is positively overjoyed to be marrying the absolute prize of a man that Rodolphus is. She will gladly submit to his every command and become the domestic wife she's been raised to be."
"You stupid girl! I am only trying to look out for what is best for the both of you. If you want your sister to be broken, unwed, and desolate, you are even more selfish than I had previously expected. Why is it that when anything that has any positive connotation happens to anyone else, but yourself, you find a way to sabotage them, hm? Your mother finally matches you up with Rabastan, easing her mind after years of worry, and you decline? That's why she has contracted dragon pox. You might as well have dug her grave with your bare hands after the constant stress and worry you put that woman under. And Bellatrix? She would finally have stability and direction in her life, but you could not be any less concerned. Pick her headstone out now, Narcissa, because you have just condemned her to an early death." He pushed up from the table and slammed his chair causing Narcissa to briefly flinch. She averted her eyes from his and continued picking at her bowl of berries. For the third, and, Narcissa hoped, the final time, she felt both the cruciatus curse and legilimency spell lift. She found herself gripping the air above her floorboards like the invisible molecules would help alleviate her pain.
"Cissy," Bellatrix collapsed on her knees next to Narcissa, carefully gripping her hand, but allowing room for Narcissa to pull away, "I am so sorry. I…I lost control. I never meant to hurt you. Please, please forgive me." She brought Narcissa's hand up to her cheek so she could feel Bellatrix's tears. She herself fixed her gaze to the black, wooden trim running along the bottom of her walls. Her own tears flowing freely. The present Narcissa unclasped the vial and caught her young self's tears. The vial started to overflow before she pulled it away to reseal it, watching the rest of the memory unfold.
"Cissy," Bellatrix whispered, dropping her hand to her side, "do you want me to get you a healing potion?" Narcissa stared forward like Bellatrix's voice was the wind that would rattle the trees but not her.
"Cissy, I'll do anything you want! Anything! For however long it takes you to forgive me."
"You are aware that my silence is the only thing standing between you and Azkaban?" she said as her back remained towards Bellatrix, "That I am going to return to Hogwarts and take my NEWTs. And when I do, I'm going to reach the question that asked to describe the effects of the cruciatus curse, and you know what then, Bellatrix?" she finally rolled over to meet her sister's eyes, "I can give a first hand account," her voice breaking as she finished her sentence and pushed herself up. "Answer me this one question, what would you have done if I had told father? Would you have tortured me into insanity? Or would you have added another unforgivable curse to your list? You had no problem using one against me, why not make it two? Good practice for when you go out with the rest of your diabolical degenerates."
Bellatrix remained silent, lifting her eyes to Narcissa with an intense pleading.
"Get out, please."
"Cissy…" Bellatrix's voice shook as well. Her eyes brimming with tears as her mouth contorted into a thousand different shapes and her knees planted firmly on the ground.
"Please, I am begging you. I need to be alone right now."
"Okay. Okay," Bellatrix replied, standing up and nodding, "but before you leave, find me alright. Talk to me before you go. I promise I will never do anything like that to you again. Just, talk to me alright."
She ducked out of Narcissa's room and sped down the hall. Narcissa heard her door slam shut as she quietly shut her own door. Writing a quick note to Lucius, she attached it to the leg of her owl, Dehlia and opened the window for her to take flight. Letting out a single screech, the snowy owl disappeared into the sky. Closing the window and collapsing onto her bed, Narcissa sobbed into her pillow until the sky transitioned from a bright orange to the deepest blue.
The memory blurred as Narcissa felt herself moving backwards, removing her head from the pensive. Taking in a regenerative supply of air, she poured the contents of the vial into its previous holder. As she did so, the rocks receded into the earth like they were being pulled by silver harnesses commanded by the Earth's core himself. The ground shook effectively knocking Narcissa off balance. Due to her previous recollection of the memory or the shaking or a combination of both, she collapsed to the ground, bowing her head until the world stopped moving. She felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. Her eyes remained on the pebbles, her lighted wand a few feet from her. When she had gathered up the courage, her eyes lifted to examine who she freed. A tiny girl with deep brown eyes and long, platinum blonde hair stared at her with a huge smile on her face.
"I knew you'd come back for me!" the sixteen year old Narcissa exclaimed, throwing her arms around the present one, "you'd never abandon me." As her arms tightened around Narcissa's neck, the light from her wand became brighter and brighter until Narcissa was blinded and had to hold up a hand to shield her eyes. Except, she couldn't move her hands nor, she realized, her torso. Her entire body, she realized, was rigid.