Chapter III
The White Pawn
I LOOKED AT my reflection in the vanity as I brushed some accents onto my face. Not like I needed it. Not that he would care. But it was expected.
For once, I was glad all the others had already left for breakfast, the village, or wherever else adolescent girls occupied their time with on a rainy Sunday morning. They took all the noise with them.
I wrapped the silence and lingering scent of flowery perfumes around me like some flimsy ragamuffin armour. It did not help with the nerves. Then again, I never expected it would. I still sought the silence out, and would a hundred times more, knowing full well it would not help the nerves settle. Why did I agree to this again?
His arrogant smirk swam out of memory and I groaned.
Steely grey eyes stared back at me as I raised one delicate eyebrow at my reflection. Really, Narcissa? Nerves do not suit you well.
I blew away an errant lock of hair. It fell into my face more often now that it was shorter. I did not mind, I quite liked it short like this. Maybe I should have thanked Bella after that cutting curse cleaved my braid off during our duelling practice. But then it would undermine all the hard work I put into shouting at her.
I tilted my head, this way and that, watching my hair swing.
I was procrastinating. Actually, now that I thought about it, I had been procrastinating since the moment I woke up. Good thing that it was almost time to go. I groaned again as I remembered the rain that splattered against the windows of the Great Hall at breakfast. Lovely weather for an outing. Welcome to Scotland, Miss Black. We have a nice castle with way too many stairs and entirely too much rain. We hope you will enjoy your stay.
I snapped the vanity shut, swivelled on the chair and went to search for my boots and coat. And an umbrella. And Lucius Malfoy, I added as an afterthought. I found him as I was crossing the courtyard, leaning against a wall and tapping his wand against his knee.
"You look beautiful, Miss Black," he said when he saw me. He kissed my knuckles with a bow. I tried to figure out how to return the compliment without complimenting anything.
"You truly do look like a proper heir, Mr Malfoy," I said as I flinched inside. I pondered what flowers I would want for my funeral. If I did not somehow end up dead by the end of today, I would probably ask Cara to finish the deed.
"Shall we?"
I took his arm and let myself be led out towards the carriages. His umbrella was as pretentious as the rest of him—an engraved silver handle that reminded me of that walking stick Lord Malfoy always carried. Then the wind blew sideways, and we both got a face full of rain anyway.
He sat opposite to me, and I watched as the rain painted little rivers down the window pane in silence. The carriage was draughty and he pulled his coat tighter around himself. I smiled slightly as I thought about all the warming and impervious enchantments I had woven into my coat. Maybe he should have spent his galleons on that instead of pretentious sticks.
"So, Miss Black, do you have anywhere you would wish to go in the village?"
"Hmm. I was hoping we could go to Honeydukes. I have been running awfully short on chocolates lately." I wondered if he would take the hint. A small part of me hoped he would. The rest said I would be disappointed.
"Of course, Miss Black," he said easily. "We can go there and then have lunch at the Three Broomsticks."
Statement, not a question. I nodded my acquiescence.
The carriage clambered to a stop on the outskirts of the main street. I looked at Malfoy's back as he went to exit the carriage.
Just try and have fun, Cissy. Maybe if you don't think so much, you'll have some fun.
Maybe she was right. Cara usually was.
He offered me his hand as I descended the slippery steps and I nodded gratefully. I breathed in the smooth, earthy air with relief. Despite all the expected grumbling everyone did, I thought that rain was quite nice. It made the colourful facades of the houses seem closer, more homely. Little safe havens to seek refuge in.
It was an hour later that we walked out of Honeydukes. It would not have taken us that long were it not so crowded. We had barely exchanged a dozen sentences and it was almost time for lunch. Thank Morgana for small mercies. And the chocolates.
"Would you like to head to the inn, Miss Black? It is a bit early, but the weather is not the best for walking."
Do you not want to come to another shop with me?
"As you wish, Mr Malfoy."
Am I really meant to be nothing more than a pretty flower in your bouquet, Mr Malfoy? It painted quite a bleak picture for my future.
Still, I was a Black. I was beautiful and smart and I knew it. I was not a pretty flower, and I refused to be plucked only to wilt away behind cold marble walls and insincere smiles.
The inn was as crowded as Honeydukes, but it did not worry me. The day Lucius Malfoy did not have a private table was the day I would see two dementors kiss. He probably would have bought the inn outright if that was what it took.
The thought of the creatures made my mind wander to the Defence Professor. Back then, I was too overwhelmed to think about all he had said. He had called them Reapers, and spoke of Death with that odd, familiar certainty.
Just where would you come to such knowledge, I wonder?
"Miss Black?"
"Yes?"
I looked up and saw Madam Rosmerta looking at me. Saw Malfoy's forehead crinkle in annoyance before it smoothed again.
"I just asked what it will be today, dear?"
"Oh, my apologies. I will just have the usual."
"Of course, dear. I'll have it over in a jiffy. Anything to drink?"
"Whatever wine pairs well, Madame," said Malfoy. Posh speak for 'most expensive'.
"Just water, please."
I watched the proprietress walk back towards the bar, whistling some tune and dodging overzealous third years on their first weekend out.
"Is anything bothering you, Miss Black?"
"Oh no, not at all, Mr Malfoy." Nothing you can fix, at least.
'I was simply wondering what made you ask me out, I never had the impression you were interested.' The words stuck, refusing to come out. I was not sure whether I wanted to hear the answer.
"I was simply wondering what we were going to do after lunch."
"I am afraid I have other, prior engagements," he said with an easy smile.
I quirked my eyebrow at him. "I was under the impression that I was your prior engagement, Mr Malfoy."
"You have my apologies, Miss Black. A most urgent matter came up. I hope you will not hold it against me."
"Of course, I understand, Mr Malfoy. Some things cannot be helped."
The food came. I tore a small piece of bread and watched the dough strain before it broke. Malfoy raised his glass.
"I do hope you will allow me to rectify this unfortunate matter the next time we come to the village."
"Is that your request for my company, Mr Malfoy?"
The glass froze on its way, half tilted, his eyes fixed on me.
"I would hope you would agree to accompany me in the future," he said with a hint of uncertainty.
"I am not something to be taken for granted, Mr Malfoy, I hope you are aware of that."
"Of course, Miss Black. I believe you leave me with no choice but to ask. Would you want to accompany me to Hogsmeade next month?"
No.
"Of course, Mr Malfoy."
The smile was back, and I hated every second of it. "Then I look forward to your company."
He put down his cutlery with a soft clink, gave me a nod, and left. I saw a glint of gold as he talked to Madam Rosmerta, and then he was gone.
I traced a finger around the top of my glass of water, lost in thought.
"Your date with Malfoy not gone well?" I heard Cara ask as the girls sat down at my table in a whirl of noise some time later. They all looked like they had a bucket poured over them.
"Her what?"
"Hush, Emmy."
"No, Cara, it was wonderful," I said with my tone laced with sarcasm. "He kept me thoroughly entertained with his most illustrious presence until he had to go because of some… Prior engagements."
The words left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"He sounds as much an ass as he looks," Marlene said with a grin.
"Well, he either swings the other way or he is blind," said Alice. "I can't imagine what boy would go hang out with Lestrange and Avery instead of spending time with you."
Lestrange and Avery? How touching.
"Did you see them?"
I wondered what they were doing. I hoped he was miserable.
"Yup. Saw them whispering in a side alley before we came here."
"Wonderful," I said with a sigh. "Anyway, what were you girls up to? I got you some chocolates." I saw Cara's eyes light up with mischief as I put the bag on the table.
···
"Lacero!"
The dummy's left arm fell off with a thud.
"Lacero!"
A deep gash appeared across its chest.
"Incendio!" I snarled and watched as the rest of the dummy slowly blackened under the flames.
It had been a week since Hogsmeade. Every time I thought of Lucius Malfoy, my mouth turned bitter.
"Confringo!"
Flecks of charred wood burst in all directions.
"Diffindo!" I shot out finally as I took a deep, calming breath.
I did not know what made me so angry. Was it his smirk, how he expected me to act all coy and meek because of some piece of paper, or that he did not even seem to care? The image of Lestrange and Avery flashed across my eyes.
I looked across the circular room, at the faint gashes in the walls; the scattered destruction, and half-crumbled training dummies. I watched as the charred marks slowly bled into the stone as if the castle was healing itself.
I was in my room. The room Bella taught me how to duel. How to 'play'. It was in a secluded part of the castle that few people bothered visiting. There were many parts of the castle that people did not visit often, but this one was mine. Just like my future should have been.
My wand grew hot in my hand.
"Confringo!"
The window blew outwards with a satisfying shatter and I took another deep breath. I watched as the glass slowly crawled back into place, the intricate piece of stone snaking around the regrown pane.
I shook my head clear of Malfoy and Bella and all the other distractions and unleashed a flurry of curses towards a new training dummy. It was sliced and blown apart in a flurry of half-translucent colours.
The door creaked open and I spun, my wand trained in reflex and thrumming with deadly intent.
Professor Potter stood in the doorway, eyes widening slightly as he looked down the length of my wand.
"I—I'm sorry," I managed to stammer out as I lowered my hand.
There was a spark of something in his eyes as he gave me a small smile.
"I see you have found the Room. It is a most marvellous piece of magic, is it not?" he said as he surveyed the destruction around me; the gashes in the floor and walls slowly creeping closed and the window panes slowly drawing their cracks into themselves.
"The Room, sir?"
"Do you know where you are, Miss Black?"
"Seventh floor corridor… Somewhere?" To be entirely truthful I did not quite know where in the castle I was. I knew how to get to the room: three flights of stairs, cross a small terrasse connecting two towers, then another four flights of turns and gently winding steps. I knew the window looked out over the Lake.
"This is the Room of Requirement, Miss Black," he gestured around. "Depending on who you ask, it is either the first or second most impressive room in the castle."
"My apologies, professor. I did not know. I…" I suddenly felt like I had tainted the room somehow. That it was far more than all the other half-forgotten places in the castle. I looked at the pristine window and the rolling green hills beyond. "I did not mean to—"
"Oh, no apologies needed, Miss Black. You required a room to practise, and the castle provided. There is no need to feel guilty about taking advantage of this marvellous creation."
"Oh, okay." I nudged a piece of charred wood with the tip of my shoe, and it flopped to the side, leaving a smudge of charcoal and the smell of burnt wood.
"What about the other one, professor?" I asked before I could stop myself. "The other impressive room, I mean."
"Oh, that'd be the Chamber of Secrets," he said nonchalantly as he waved his wand and the dummies vanished. As if it was just a regular Thursday.
"You know, that was some impressive magic you were throwing around. Not many have power enough to damage the Room. I would be interested to know where you learned."
I hesitated for a second. Most of the spells I had used were technically legal.
"I learned from my sister."
"Ah, one Bellatrix Black, I presume?" A small twitch flickered across his face. He ran his hand through his hair.
"Do you know her, professor?"
"I know of her. She is rather well-known, just as the rest of your family's reputation is. I suppose I should not be surprised that you would learn things." He cast a long look at a jagged purple gash in the wall next to me.
"I—"
"Oh, you needn't say anything, Miss Black, I won't report you to the Ministry," he said with distaste. "I would like to know, however, what motivated you to throw such magic around you. It's not exactly safe, as I'm sure you know."
"I know how to handle myself, professor," I said with an edge to my voice.
"Ah, I can see why you'd be Arcturus' favourite." The scars in the castle walls seeped inwards, almost shy in their glaring flaws.
He had a thoughtful look on his face as he looked out the window. As if he was trying to solve a particularly complex problem in arithmancy and the letters kept coming out wrong. Then he nodded to himself and turned to face me.
"Would you like some help with your training, Miss Black? I'm quite sure I could show you some rather interesting spells," he added quietly.
I stood there, slightly shocked at the offer. It was true that it was not the same practising alone, without Bella. Not that—
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the memories, the too-manic glint in her eyes as we fought. It had not been there once, when we started years ago. I had not even noticed it until her curses drew blood and it was gone and there was despair and worry. I traced my fingers down my throat, following the phantom line of pain under my ear.
"Why would you want to help me, professor?"
He twirled his ring around his pinky finger in small jerky movements, the black stone glinting dully in the light.
"Why, because I am your Defence professor," he said with a soft smile.
I raised an eyebrow, letting my hand drop down to my side.
"And because you have potential, Miss Black. I saw it when you cast the patronus, and I see it now. Bad things are coming, and you'll need to be able to defend yourself. And you are technically family, after all."
"Bad things?"
I remembered the stifling heat of summer. The scowl my father had each time he read the Prophet. The tension in the common room when the upper years gathered in circles and whispered.
"War, Miss Black. A dangerous war."
I closed my eyes as I thought about it. It made sense. Just like last time we talked, it felt like everything was hinting at something in the shadow, and he strode in and swept the curtains wide open. It was frustrating. But it made sense. I had no idea how he knew, but there was always a time for questions later. And it would be a very stupid idea to refuse an offer like that, regardless of whether something was coming.
I looked at him and nodded. "I would like that, professor."
He waved his hand around. "None of this stuffy 'professor' here, Miss Black. It makes me feel so very old. Merlin, at this rate I will grow a beard by the time I'm twenty and look like Dumbledore by mid-forty," he said with a wide grin. "When we are not in class, call me Harry."
"Then you should call me Narcissa, or it will feel awfully odd, no? And anyway, how old are you, exactly?" I asked, trying to puzzle out the man in front of me.
"Ah, now that'd be telling, no?"
"If you are planning on being so very forthcoming with all your answers, it might make cooperation somewhat difficult, prof—Harry."
He grinned at me, all white teeth and crinkled cheeks. The same expression that Bella had when in the middle of a duel. He flicked a pale, slender wand into his hand and sparks of gold flew as he caught it.
"So, Narcissa, how about you show me what you can do with that wand?"
···
"Did I miss something?" Emmy asked quietly as she joined us at our library table.
"No, but Cissy said she'd found a better spot for our studies. And we wouldn't even have to keep quiet, so don't even bother unpacking, we were just waiting for you."
"Oh, cool, what's the spot?"
"The Chamber of Secrets," I quipped and watched as Alice choked on her water. "Come along now." I stood and slung my bag on my shoulder.
Ever since Potter—Harry, I reminded myself—had told me what the Room was, I had been going up there to experiment. It was nothing short of incredible, easily outstripping the Great Hall with its sheer beauty alone, and that was before I started considering all the possibilities that a room that could become anything had presented.
Like not having to be stuck in the dusty library between dozens of half-whispered conversations and the librarian breathing down our necks, or trekking two flights of stairs from our study alcove when we needed a book to reference.
Now that I thought about it, what were the chances that if I wished hard enough for the Chamber to appear that it would? Or maybe there was some special room exclusion principle. This was Hogwarts, after all, and the chamber literally had 'secret' in its name. Or maybe it would just be what I would have imagined the Chamber to look like, since I had no idea how it would look?
Did Harry know what it looked like? I had my doubts, but he had this irritating ability to say the most ridiculous things while wearing a smile that said he knew more than you did.
Still, there was no way he had found the Chamber. If I asked, he would probably say its entrance was in that bathroom with the annoying ghost just to pull my nose.
There was no way…
Right?
"Are you telling me, Cissy, that the mighty Salazar Slytherin who put his house's common room below the Lake would put his super special secret chamber up this many flights of stairs?" Cara panted as we climbed up to the seventh floor.
"What, not used to climbing this much several times a day?" asked Marlene.
"No, I like our little dungeon, thank you very much."
"You know, it would make sense. I do not think the snakes would have liked the wet and the cold, and I am certain if the Chamber existed that Salazar would have had snakes there," I said as I thought back to Harry's snake.
No, not that. Stop that. Do not.
"But like, couldn't he just enchant the room or something? He was one of the Founders, y'know."
"Stop being a smart-ass, Alice. And anyway, here we are," I said as I gestured to a door framed in two snake effigies.
Maybe their expectations had warped my intent. Not that it mattered much. I pushed the door open and saw my familiar round room, only now it had a large table and chairs in the middle and there was a ridiculous amount of silver and green everywhere. Oh, and the chandelier was made of silver snakes.
"Y'know, I was kinda expecting something a bit… More?"
I closed the door behind us as the girls made their way into the room.
"I had imagined such a cosy little room but the four of you probably twisted it with all the snakes in your heads," I said, slightly put off with Alice's lack of enthusiasm.
"Twisted it?"
"Yes, Emmy. This," I gestured around us, "is the Room of Requirement. It can be any room you want it to be. It can even pull books out from somewhere, so you do not have to go through all the shelves and puzzle out scratched-out lettering."
I closed my eyes for focus, and imagined the snakes turning to gryffins and green curtains painted red and gold.
"Huh."
"Okay. I'll admit, that's pretty neat," said Alice as she looked around the room with a lot more excitement. "Can it get me chocolate cake, too?"
I distinctly heard Emmeline mutter something about Floubert's Treatise on the Conjuration of Sustenance as Alice's face fell.
"No cake," she said as she bumped her foot against one of the chairs.
"Cake at dinner," said Marlene as she sat down and pulled out her work. "Come on, I wanna get potions done before the sun sets, I get enough of the gloom when I'm brewing down in Sluggy's dungeon."
Ew, gross.
Maybe I would reconsider telling Cara that the two of them could stay after we were finished with school.
Then I remembered the image of little slugs slicking down Malfoy's hair in the morning and started pulling out my potions stuff with a grin tugging at my lip.