Darkness, murk.
Light rustle of steps.
Friend, Enemy.
Time has closed the bolt
Into Blik, into the Light.
There is no more joy.
There is a moment
A thousand years long.
There is a World
Who is tired of the shackles.
There is a Feast
Gods who do not hear us.
When will it all end?
The blond youth leaned back in his chair and rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily. How long can you do this?! He glanced with hatred at the invitation letter on stamped paper. Cupid, aiming with a bow at exact copies of Lucius and Narcissa, smiling stupidly at each other, lowered the bow and winked cheerfully.
"Yes, you go!" Lucius could not resist and, crumpled up the invitation, sent it into the fireplace. The gaze settled on the clock. Midnight. August 31. Tomorrow at 11:00 he will be on platform 9 and ¾. How to wait for tomorrow and how to postpone this moment? Lucius himself didn't know what he wanted more. On the one hand, this idiotic turmoil around a wonderful event will end - his engagement, everyone will be left behind at least until Christmas. On the other hand, she will be there.
She would be there, so Lucius didn't want to appear on the platform. How do I tell her? What to say? An inner voice insisted that nothing would have to be reported. She already knows everything. For the past couple of weeks, everyone has been talking about this event. Two weeks of nightmare! And tomorrow the unknown will end. She would be there, so Lucius was dying to be on the platform as soon as possible.
Silly and illogical. He understood everything himself. What kind of logic could there be if there was only a youthful heart, which squeezed in anticipation of a meeting: either from joy, or from fear. They had not seen each other for two months, but it seemed to him that two years ... or two hundred years. How many more will they not see each other? Lucius Edgar Malfoy knew that everything was about to change. And although the engagement would take place only on Christmas, he already felt that the whole weight and responsibility of this event was pressing on him, pressing him to the ground, making it difficult to breathe. In theory, he could date anyone before Christmas. And after the engagement until the wedding, probably too. Hogwarts is full of pretty girls. Yes, in fact, only one. And spoiled by some sixth sense, Lucius Malfoy understood that she did not deserve the status of a girl for one night, even the status of a permanent mistress. Least of all is she. And in his heart he understood that he would never dare to offer her something like that. It would be another matter if the engagement had been kept secret ... Then there would have been a time until August. Eleven months. Narcissus could be persuaded. Almost a year to enjoy the taste of her lips, feel the warmth of her hands, drown in the green of her eyes. But no! Now, on this damn letterhead, he must print the name of her father with the note "We invite all members of your respected family ...". She will be already at school when the postal owl flies up to the ancient castle. But parents will not fail to share this news with their daughter. A purebred marriage is always an event.
The feather cracked and snapped in his hand. Lucius stared hatefully at a piece of faceless, innocent parchment. It seemed to him that if you look at him for a long, long time, he will disappear. And along with him, this whole stack of stupid invitations, and this room, and this castle. The young man sighed and, getting out from behind the table, stopped in front of the wide window of the library. If someone saw him from the side, he would be very surprised at such a gaze. Outside the window was impenetrable blackness, as if someone had tipped an inkwell onto a patterned glass. But Lucius continued to stare. Gradually, a sad smile appeared on his face. It doesn't matter what it is midnight and darkness. There was bright sunlight in front of his eyes, and he clearly heard the sound of the oncoming waves.
Laughing girl stands on the shore of the lake. The sun reflects off her delicate chocolate hair.
"You have eyes the color of Hope," he said then. The words clearly surprised and delighted her.
Pressing his forehead against the cold glass, Lucius whispered:
"Why?"
The emptiness did not answer. And he didn't expect an answer. The man who had brewed all this was now talking leisurely in the living room with the notorious Dark Lord. Lucius was not allowed to talk today. And he was glad of it. Recently, it was difficult for him to be in the company of his father. No, Lucius didn't blame Edwin. He picked up a brilliant game for him. The father is always right. Just ... Why Narcissa? Why is she worse? She is also from a purebred family. So what, what is studying in Ravenclaw. Not in Gryffindor, really! After a memorable and "meaningful" conversation with Narcissa, Lucius had a crazy thought: to ask Edwin to change his mind.
Having made up his mind, he quickly left his room and with a quick step went in search of his father. The elf he met said he was in the library. Lucius rushed over there and knocked bravely? Nothing of the sort. He crept up to the library and quietly opened the door.
"You must always remember that you are Malfoy. I'm sure you'll end up in Slytherin ... for your own good. And I hope you understand - I won't be happy to know that you are dealing with Mudbloods or Half-breeds. "
"Damn, she's eleven this year! Only that was not enough! If only she didn't say anything!" - the last thought he directed towards his sister, as if she knew how to hear thoughts. Naturally, Marisa didn't hear. And, naturally, she did not remain silent.
"Why can I only associate with purebred wizards? Are half-breeds contagious?" asked Marisa interestedly.
Lucius groaned inwardly. How dare she speak like that to her father, contradict him. Of course, she was brought up outside the home, but she must think something.
"I forgive your insolence this time. Go. "
Lucius quickly backed away from the door and hid behind the armor. His heart was beating fast. What a reptile! And her father didn't even punish her. Although, punishment is more a form of forgiveness. Here he always forgives Lucius. After the punishment, the reason for it is never remembered. The thought calmed the young man down a bit. He took a deep breath and went out into the corridor. Marisa was gone. Knocking on the door and waiting for a sharp "come in!", Lucius stepped towards fate.
My father sat at the table and looked annoyed.
"Little bitch," - thought Lucius and promised himself to arrange a fun life for her at Hogwarts, and also mentally prayed that she would get to Gryffindor, then you won't even have to try - her father himself will beat her.
"What did you want?" Edwin raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Lucius braced himself, looked his father in the eye and said:
"I wanted to ask ... Do you need to look after Marisa at school?"
For the first half hour after that conversation with his father, Lucius was angry at his ... cowardice? And then he reasoned that Marisa was to blame for everything, who angered her father. Her fault was that he could not tell the truth, that eleven years ago she announced to this house with a cry about her birth ... How he hated her!
And in the evening Narcissa arrived. They were obliged to sign invitations. When she walked into the living room, smiling a little, Lucius realized that she shares the palm with Marisa in terms of guilt. Why did she come? Why did they both appear in his house, his life ?!
How could he have known that Narcissa Black would now happily walk barefoot on hot coals than in shoes on that soft green carpet that led to the living room of the Malfoy house, and as it turned out later, straight to hell. But, despite the fact that all her thoughts were rushing to the blue-eyed boy, who just today quarreled with his parents and went to his friend James Potter, she did it step by step. And the fair-haired youth with cruel gray eyes grew closer with every heartbeat.
He offered to sign the invitations separately. "Proposed" is said loudly. After all, when offered, a choice is meant. Narcissa didn't get it. In an icy tone, she was informed that he himself would sign all the invitations and order them to be delivered to the Blacks' house. Then she will put her signature and take care of the delivery of mail to the addressees. She didn't argue. She wanted to leave quickly. But Edwin appeared and invited to dine with them ...
In the evening, in her bedroom, Narcissa crumpled linen sheets, trying to get comfortable and sleep, but nothing worked. The reason was simple. She had never been wronged at the Malfoy house yet, but she was ... scared. For some reason, she felt that something irreparable and, worst of all, inevitable was happening.
Lucius did not know about her feelings and did not want to know. He lived on the first of September, waited for it, was afraid, and it came.
He stood on platform 9 and ¾ next to his father. In honor of what he had volunteered to accompany him, Lucius did not understand. Probably because of Marisa, who stood a couple of meters from them and looked at the people around them with all her eyes - where she lived there was a rather narrow social circle. Narcissa stood next to Lucius, trying to keep a smile on her face.
"How did her cheekbones not get tired of smiling endlessly?" Lucius thought angrily. He did not understand why his father had brought them to the station together. The excuse that the Blackies are busy and won't be able to see their daughter out didn't work on Lucius. The house is full of servants and carriages - she could have made it herself. It was different. In what exactly, he will still be destined to understand.
In the meantime, he twisted his head furiously, looking for a familiar silhouette. The stomach did a somersault, and my heart pounded with a vengeance. Lucius hadn't seen it yet, but he already felt it.
"Miss Zabini!" he heard his father's voice and turned sharply.
She! The sounds died down, the commotion disappeared. There was nothing. Only she. From a joyful smile, a charming dimple appeared on her left cheek.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Malfoy! Lucius! " Frida smiled affably.
From her smile and voice on my heart, the stasis became warm and the tension that had been accumulating all these days, at once receded. Nonsense! They will definitely come up with something. If only to be alone with her as soon as possible. He will tell everything. He will explain everything.
"Let me introduce my son's fiancée, Narcissa Black, and Malfoy soon."
Ding! It was a smashed world, consisting only of her face and voice. The chaos of the surrounding world fell upon Lucius at once; he heard screams, laughter, saw dozens of people scurrying around. And meeting her gaze, Lucius understood ...
"You know, the human soul is like glass. She beats very easily, "said the dark-haired girl, carefully examining her reflection in the lake surface. She slapped her palm on the water, and the reflection rippled. "Like this."
Lucius realized what that sound was. She was right. The soul is like glass.
"Narcissa, nice to meet you," the outstretched hand hung in the air for a few moments.
"Frida. Mutually, "the hands met.
It was a simple formality, they knew each other very well. Both from purebred families communicating with each other, both students of the same school. And Lucius realized: Edwin Malfoy directed a wonderful performance. He played by his own rules. Now it was pointless to persuade Narcissa to shut up, winning at least a couple of days, until the owl knocked on the mail window of the Zabini family castle. It makes no sense to try to explain something to Frida, because he didn't have time. His dream had a strange name, but she loved him, it meant freedom. She was free, he was not. End of the show. As if sensing his thoughts, Frida slowly looked away from Narcissa, smiled politely at Edwin and left.
Just like that, without saying a word, without looking back ... She was free.
And at that moment he realized that on earth there was less by one close person and more by one hated one.
Lifting his head, he met his father's gaze.