The Light in the Blackest Night

[nxrcissam]

where: by the game booths when:  around 3:30 pm who: Narcissa Malfoy and Lucius Malfoy ( @lxcius​ )

For a charity event, Narcissa definitely thought it could have definitely been worse. While she herself would never try her hand with the games and on the rides, she could at least acknowledge that they weren’t utter dross. Especially not in the eyes of children. 

Draco’s own beautiful grey orbs were wide open as the Malfoys stolled through the booths. Eventually, a toy prize in the form of a gigantic stuffed toy caught little Draco’s eye. And if his tugging and utter refusal to continue walking were any indication, Narcissa knew that Draco absolutely has to have it if they wanted to be given the chance to continue walking around the carnival. “Well, Lucius, it looks like your son wants the toy,” Narcissa mused.

[nxrcissam]

where: near the auction area when: around 5 pm who: Narcissa Malfoy and Harper Greengrass ( @harpergreengrass​ )

With Draco gleefully joining his father to see the rides set up by the charity that were also fit for kids, Narcissa was left with some free time on her hands. Given that there was barely anything of interest for Narcissa in the event, she would have gladly followed her husband and her son. But she also knew that Lucius might want to know what kind of artifacts were up for bidding. Without waiting for Lucius to ask, Narcissa excused herself and ventured towards the auction tent.

On the way there, Narcissa saw Harper and decided to indulge herself with a brief conversation. “Should you even be taking a break from planning your wedding?”

[nxrcissam]

where: carnival grounds when: around 2:30 pm who: Narcissa Malfoy and Rodolphus Lestrange ( @rodolphos​ ) when: the afternoon 

Narcissa couldn’t help but think that the entire carnival affair was too pedestrian for the Malfoy family. It was another occasion where they get to rub elbows with lesser folk. Ultimately, Narcissa knew that they simply had to attend. Keeping up appearances in the public eye was important. And as much as she hated to admit it, she knew Draco would love the festivities too. She’ll just have to keep an eye out for the company they’ll be attracting. 

Walking around with her son in hand, Narcissa took in the colorful displays that the carnival has to offer. A familiar face came to view. Rodolphus Lestrange. Narcissa sighed in relief. Finally some decent company. With Draco in tow, she hurried over and offered a smile. “Good afternoon, Rodolphus. Draco, say hi to your uncle.” Draco obediently followed. “Is my sister skipping this year’s charity?” She looked around for her sister in the near vicinity. “I can’t say I blame her if she is.”

[nxrcissam]

Thea Carrow​:

Thea had to admit it was strange being in Malfoy Manor when where weren’t too many people around. She’d mostly been here for death eater meetings, and when the Malfoys held big functions. So to be around, when there was hardly anyone here was strange. She’d been here for the meeting, but that was other now. She still found the meetings in the day strange, but obviously she attended them. She liked the meetings. They always made her feel more determined than ever to win the war.

After this particular meeting, she actually had another meeting scheduled to run over a few things with Rodolphus back at WWN. It was a day of meetings, and she probably would be exhausted by the end of the day. She wasn’t usually one for meetings, finding herself not good at having to sit for a long time. She was just waiting for her boss to finish speaking to Lucius, and they’d be flooing back to WWN together.

She looked up as she heard the floo, and then saw Narcissa appear. “Oh. Hello Narcissa” This was a little awkward. She hadn’t expected to still be here really. “I’m just waiting for Rodolphus. We’re heading back to WWN together, but he just is chatting to your husband” Hence why she was hanging around. If he took any longer she was just going to head back herself though. Her time was precious after all. 

.

Rodolphus was still with Lucius? They must have more important matters to discuss on their own. Narcissa wondered if that meant that Bellatrix was still inside the manor too. “Is my sister still here as well?” she asked. It made sense that Thea would wait for Rodolphus. They did work together, after all. Surely, Bellatrix would wait for her husband too right?

Draco impatiently tugged on Narcissa’s skirt. After an afternoon of walking around, the little boy was tired and he was very much sore that his mum decided to talk with a friend when his room was just a few steps okay. “All right,” she told his son as she carried him in her arms. “Mummy will take you to your room.” She turned back to Thea and smiled apologetically. “Would you like some tea while you wait? I’ll just put little Draco here in something more comfortable.”

[nxrcissam]

Persephone Pembroke​:

“i also have scents like cinnamon, peppermint, vanilla, you know- the more basic scents,” she continued, unaware of whether or not naricssa was still listening to her. once persephone was on a roll it was hard for her to stop, not to mention, she just had a lot of candles. some would say she had too many candles, but that was just an utterly ridiculous notion. how could someone have too many candles? 

“oh excellent, i’m sure you’ll find something that you absolutely love! and if not, perhaps there will be something else that interests you!” she added, continuing her excited ramble as she led narcissa towards the main display of candles. “well this is most of them- but there are more around the store,” she explained, pausing briefly to look around at the store. “do you have any particular scent you might be interested in? i have this one that smells like your Amortentia,” she explained, though the more she thought about it- she wasn’t entirely sure she just hadn’t ordered a candle in the scent of what her own amortentia would smell like. “oh! try this one!” she exclaimed, as she reached for a sugarplum scented candle, gently unscrewing the cap as she extended it towards narcissa. 

Pembroke listed several more scents but they barely registered in Narcissa’s ears. Those options were better but still slightly too basic. She would never want any room in her house to smell something so pedestrian. 

Sensing that the woman wouldn’t mind, Narciss started looking at the labels to see any that would pique her interests. She didn’t dare to sniff the candles to figure them out. The shop she entered looked like the kind that would stock unnerving items too. Narcissa looked at the shop owner, confused. “Your candles are all scattered around the store?” She frowned in clear disapproval before continuing her search down the aisle. “No thank you.” Narcissa would rather not have her visitors smell their lovers in the rooms. “But would you have any lilac scented ones? Or gooseberries?” Narcissa stepped back as Persephone practically shoved a candle before her. Reluctantly, she gave it a whiff. “Ah... No thank you. I’m afraid it’s not for me.”

[nxrcissam]

where: the Malfoy Manor who: Narcissa Malfoy and Thea Carrow ( @theacarrow​ )

As the woman of the house, Narcissa made it her business to know everything that happens in the Malfoy Manor. Including the meetings the Death Eaters hold inside once in a while. Knowing her husbands rank amongst the Death Eaters, Narcissa knew that it was inevitable. Her only request was that she knows in advance so that Narcissa could position herself and Draco accordingly. If it happened in the day, she would simply take Draco and herself out. If it happened at night, Narcissa would stay in Draco’s room and watch him sleep. She wanted him as far away from the Death Eaters as he could be. 

She knew that there was going to be another meeting that day, so Narcissa went ahead and scheduled a lovely stroll with her little angel. They visited the shops and got Draco his favorite ice cream. By the time that Draco was getting tired and restless, the meeting shoould have already ended. Narcissa used a trusted establishment’s Floo station to get back home. She was expecting an empty living room but she was surprised to see Thea still standing there. “Thea!” she exclaimed. “What are you still doing here?”

[nxrcissam]

Andromeda Tonks​:

She’d messed up. She’d gotten lazy, which was so unlike her. But with Bellatrix grown and graduated, Andromeda had slipped into a false sense of security and been a bit more reckless with Ted. In her defense, they were only rumors, no one had more than that. Still, she’d had to endure a lecture from her mother over being seen with the right kind of people.

Even worse, Andromeda had to lie to her sister, a sin almost unforgivable in her eyes. And one that she’d been committing more and more often than she’d like to admit. There was a bitterness to this Christmas, a chill not even the warmest fire could banish from her bones. A sense of finality seeping from her marrow confirmed what she’d yet to admit to herself - this would be her last Christmas with her sisters.

“No, no - come in!” Andromeda closed the book she was lost in and moved over to make room on the bed for her little sister, “Don’t tell Bella I was doing homework on Christmas eve. Are you ok Cis?”

.

Narcissa gave her sister an odd look. While Narcissa wasn’t one to slack off, she would be the last to prioritize her studies when she wasn’t on school grounds. “Were you really doing homework on Christmas?” she asked incredulously as she walked towards her sister. Narcissa folded her nightgown beneath her as she sat on the foot of the bed. “Please tell me that you were reading a book for leisure at least.”

Without the ties and pins that kept her hair up during the day, Narcissa’s golden locks fell over her shoulders. She brought a hand up to tuck a stray lock behind her ear as she tried to scooch closer and see what it was that Andromeda was reading. “Yeah,” she shrugged, lithe and carefree. “I just couldn’t sleep. I was thinking how nice it was to be back. You know next year, I’m the only one who’s going to come back. Well, unless you finally find a man who’ll take you home with him,” Narcissa teased.

[nxrcissam]

Ted Tonks​:

He wasn’t sure what made him more uncomfortable – Narcissa’s words or her intense gaze. Both made his skin crawl. Her probing eyes, as if searching for his very soul. Her words, probably a warning and possibly a threat. Even if she didn’t carry the same reputation as the eldest Black sister, Ted knew better than to underestimate any of them. The House of Black was a cold and cruel place to grow up. That Andromeda became the woman he loved was a miracle.

Ted nostrils flared as inhaled. He nodded, taking a step back. His eyes were still on her. “You be careful as well,” he said, trying to convey the polite concern of a less fraught connection. “These are dangerous times.” He took another step back and, once far enough back from her, he turned his back to head on his way. He’d taken the dismissal and all but run with it.

Narcissa’s eyes tried to search for something that she would not be able to see. What did Andromeda see in this man that she wouldn’t be able to find in the suitors their mother could have arranged for her? Or was that precisely the point?

She pressed her lips into a thin line when he returned her message. “Of course.” Narcissa was careful. She has always been. “Dangerous indeed.” No one knew that better than Narcissa. Not when the Death Eaters meet at her very home every now and then with Lucius’ permission. She held her gaze as well as her frown of disapproval until the man finally turned around and left. When the man gets home to his wife, surely he’d recount this encounter to her. It would be the first time Andromeda would hear about her sister for quite some time now. Narcissa’s frown slowly turned into one of sadness.

END

[nxrcissam]

where: House of Black when: Christmas of 1971 who: Narcissa Black and Andromeda Black ( @andyinthestars​ )

Before the holiday break, Narcissa caught wind of a terrible rumor that she didn’t like surrounding her sister and a certain mudblood. The youngest Black sister, always keeping an eye out for her sisters despite her age, quickly found Andromeda to make sense of the matter. As expected, Andromeda told her that the rumors were baseless and nothing but folly. Narcissa didn’t expect anything less, but she can’t help but feel unsettled. Being the subject of a rumor involving a mudblood was serious and Andromeda was clearly not taking it seriously. At least they had the Christmas break to distance themselves from talk, Narcissa thought.

Back in their lovely home, the dust seemed to settle and everything felt like it was back to normal. Bellatrix was back home and the Black sisters have reunited once again. And yet, Narcissa had trouble falling asleep. During the night of Christmas Eve, young Narcissa found herself knocking at her sister’s door. Without waiting for Andromeda to reply, Narcissa entered the room. Dressed in her nightgown, she almost looked like a ghost in the dark. “Hey. You’re not about to sleep already, are you?” 

[nxrcissam]

Persephone Pembroke​:

persephone liked to think she was good with faces, and certainly the other blonde did look familiar- but that’s where her memory fell short. not only was she struggling to put a name to her face, she couldn’t figure out where she knew her. she’d figure it out eventually, hopefully before their conversation ended, but there was a strong chance it would come to her later. regardless, she managed to smile at narcissa- thankful the other was willing to give her the time of day. 

“yes! scented candles!” she confirmed with enthusiasm, nodding her head to further exercise her point. “i have so many scents- like lavender, freshly mowed grass, hogwarts pumpkin juice, the first snow of the season,” she began to list scents before abruptly falling quiet, “i have a lot really, it would probably be easier for you to look at them yourself! that way you can give them a sniff!”

From Persephone’s response, Narcissa assumed that she didn’t remember her. It’s either that or the woman just really wanted to make a sale. That’s not too unlikely in Narcissa’s opinion. Either way, no mention was made about their past years in Hogwarts. It’s for the best, she thought.

Narcissa considered the options and gave it a thought. None of them particularly struck her fancy. Especially not freshly mowed grass or pumpkin juice. She’d rather not have any room at her house smell like the gardener just finished work or a drink for children. She was curious about what other scents the shop would have. “I suppose I can take a look,” she mused before stepping inside the shop.

The Inner Eye was one of the very last shops people would expect Narcissa to be in, yet there she was, perusing the things on the shelf. The other products from the shop didn’t interest Narcissa so she went straight for the candles. “Are these all of them?”

[nxrcissam]

Celeste O’ Connor​:

Celeste wasn’t familiar with using Valerian in tea, but she was intrigued. As an avid tea drinker herself, she wondered what that would taste like, and the effects it could possibly have. It did make sense that it would help the other sleep, since it was used in sleeping potions. If you could put it in tea without brewing the actual potion itself, Celeste thought that might be wiser for those with less time. “That sounds brilliant, actually. Perhaps I should try… I don’t have trouble sleeping per say but there are those nights where my thoughts are particularly restless,” she joked, letting out a laugh.

“Well, I suppose if I had to brew it in a potion, it would be the draught of peace. But honestly I appreciate them on their own, as well.” It was fair, Celeste could agree to that. She asked a potential intrusive question, so it was only to be expected that the same might get tossed back. “Sensible. I don’t have any little ones, but I do have friends with them,” she smiled. “Maybe some day soon.”

.

Narcissa smiled politely at the other woman’s answer. It was already more information than she cared to know. Otherwise, it was still harmless, so Narcissa didn’t see the harm in continuing. “Perhaps I can tell you how it will go if we ever meet here again.”

“I see,” she replied as she mulled over the other woman’s answer. Was it just her paranoia causing Narcissa not to take the other's word immediately? Perhaps so. Either way, her business wasn’t one that Narcissa intended to pry on. “It sounds like you get stressed very often. Work-related, I take it?” Since she didn’t have her own children to stress about, any other answer would probably prompt Narcissa to end the conversation. Perhaps the woman would be better off talking with a friend. “Does that mean you have a husband then?”

[nxrcissam]

Ted Tonks​:

Does she really have to ask? he wondered. Ted doubted it. Bellatrix knew who he was on sight, knew his name like it was a curse. To their family, it probably was. But maybe that was the difference between their personalities – he was so far beneath her, she didn’t need to remember his name. But whether that meant she actually didn’t or didn’t want to acknowledge that she knew it, he wasn’t sure. And he wasn’t going to ask.

Instead, Ted nodded. “Most people just call me Ted, though.” What else should he say? It’s a pleasure to meet you? It wasn’t. How are you? Small talk didn’t sit right with him, not with the tension rumbling in his veins. So, he said, “Sorry for not noticing you there.” He didn’t like apologizing to her but being polite seemed like the best way not to cause a scene.

Andromeda’s betrayal had been hard for everyone in the House of Black. Narcissa definitely was not exempted. While the others cursed her as well as the mudblood that whisked her away, there were those who preferred to never speak of her again. Pretend that she was never a Black. According to the family tree in the House of Black, she might as well never have. Most of the time, that’s how Narcissa tried to be. It felt easier than condemning the sister that she loved. She tried not to think about her which was proving to be impossible, especially if she can see her sister’s husband loitering around.

Narcissa ignored the man’s correction. Never in her entire life would she ever call him as if he was familiar. On some days, she even catches herself wishing that she had never known the name of the man who took her sister away from them. Maybe then, Narcissa would have enjoyed her ignorance without suffering through such ugly thoughts and ill wishes for the man. Yet here she was now, talking to him. “Be careful next time,” she spoke as her eyes seemingly stared at his very soul. Rather than a threat, it was more like a warning. “For your own sake.” And my sister’s, Narcissa thought.

[nxrcissam]

Liza Rosier​:

There was a reaason why Liza usually chose to go dress shopping with Narcissa. She knew she could trust the older girl’s judgement. And she always wanted to make sure she looked her best. She knew she could trust Cissy to tell her if she was picking a dress that would make her look terrible. Liza tended to have a good sense of judgement when she picked a dress. She was hoping she’d be able to find a good one for the Christmas ball though. Her last dress had been pretty sensational, so it was going to be hard to top.

She smiled, starting to move to follow her cousin. She knew that Narcissa would pick a good shop for them to look at. It was the exact reason that she had chosen Narcissa as her shopping buddy. “I think the 21st or 22nd” She murmured with a nod. “I should ask my father” But it wasn’t too important. It was her favourite event of the Christmas season. She was looking forward to it. “Oh no. Not yet. But I anticipate I’ll be a bridesmaid, so probably won’t get much choice”

.

Narcissa let out a soft sigh as Liza admitted that she wasn’t sure. “I suppose it’s safe to say that you won’t be responsible for handing the invitations.” She was quite surprised that Liza hasn’t marked the date on her calendar yet, given how much she loved her family’s Yuletide Ball.

“You almost sound like you’re disappointed,” Narcissa noted.  Given how recent the engagement was, she really hasn’t had the chance to talk about it with her cousin yet. Was there more happening behind the scenes of the wedding that she didn’t know about? “Here I am thinking you’d be excited that your brother is getting married? Do you not like Harper for Evan? Is that it?”

[nxrcissam]

Thea Carrow​:

Did she write any of these articles? “Oh no….” She murmured, shaking her head. Not these articles anyway. She probably write an article about the night, but she wanted to talk to Rodolphus about it first. She wanted to see how the WWN planned on taking the articles. She knew Rodolphus trusted her, and her writing. But big things like this she always spoke to him about. There was only so much subtle pushing of their agenda that she could put into the articles until someone noticed. “I work for the Wizarding Wireless Network” She added as almost an explanation for why she didn’t write any of these.

“Depends who wrote the article and set the standards” Thea mused with a laugh. “I wouldn’t have put half of these into my list” Which she might have been writing herself. She did like doing trivial columns once in a while. “Yes…. it really is a shame….” She murmured with a sigh. “It’s good to know some of us still feel that way….”

.

Narcissa smiled, realizing her mistake. “Ah.. Of course.” Thankfully, Thea remained gracious. It wasn’t a huge stretch to ask whether she wrote pieces for the paper, was it? As far as she knew, other writers branched out and they could still do commissions for others. Narcissa will be the first to admit that her knowledge on the matter wasn’t vast. “Perhaps the paper would be better if you did.”

She simply frowned at the article. Unlike Thea, she couldn’t find the humor in the situation. A sigh escaped her. “But I suppose it couldn’t be helped.” Given the political climate nowadays, Narcissa knew that she couldn’t simply start spouting her beliefs. Especially if doing so puts you on the public eye, immediately deeming you as one of the Death Eaters. “Isn’t the WWN doing the same thing? With that show of that Johnson woman and all?”

[nxrcissam]

Alice Longbottom​:

Alice didn’t particuarly want to talk to Narcissa. She didn’t know her well, apart from that she was a few years older than her. She knew that the other woman probably looked down on her. Whilst Alice had been from a respectable pureblooded family, she’d married Frank, someone who was considered a blood traitor. Alice didn’t really care about that. She’d very firmly set herself against all the pureblood ideas, even before she had married Frank. Alice had been a blood traitor, before she’d even started a relationship with Frank.

“Alice” She murmured with a nod. She detested when people referred to her as as her surname. She was pretty certain that Narcissa wouldn’t want to be referred to as Malfoy, though it was a thought that she had thought about testing. But she really couldn’t be bothered to do that right now. She just rolled her eyes at the woman’s words.

“I’ll try to remember that” But she really didn’t care in the slightest. She was pretty sure she hadn’t been holding up the queue for that long. Narcissa would just have to deal with being patient for once, even if Alice had been the one to unintentioanlly hold up the queue.

.

Narcissa returned Alice’s correction with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. It almost sounded like she didn’t like being called Longbottom, although if Narcissa were her, she probably would have felt the same. But she wasn’t a Longbottom. After Narcissa’s marriage, she became a Malfoy and she would gladly bear her husband’s name. She has no intentions of referring to her as simply ‘Alice’ even behind her back. Narcissa can’t have people thinking that they were close now, can she? 

She was unfazed by the other woman rolling her eyes. How typical of blood traitors to be rude and uncouth. Narcissa, on the other hand, considered herself to be refined and maintained her grace. “I suppose that’s all I can ask. Now, excuse me. I have a son at home waiting for me and you’re keeping me from coming home to him.”

[nxrcissam]

Celeste O’ Connor​:

Celeste was fairly certain she knew of the woman standing before her. She refrained from saying so, however, in case she was wrong but also because she was certain the woman probably didn’t know who she was. While Celeste never felt ashamed of being Muggleborn, these days made it harder to wear that badge proudly without getting yourself hurt. There was no need to pick a fight right now, especially since she really hadn’t needed the sprigs, but was just curious. 

“Ooh, which one, if you don’t mind me asking?” It was a touchy subject. Some of the potions that required the ingredient were harmless, whereas others were a bit more questionable. Her tone remained relaxed and friendly, as to not omit suspicion in hopes that the other would give her more info. “Not professionally,” she joked, chuckling softly. “I know my way around a cauldron, though. What about you?”

.

Narcissa knows precisely why the woman was asking. Valerian Sprigs on its own is a harmless herb. But it can be used in very powerful concoctions. She might no longer try her hand in potions as often as she did back when she was in Hogwarts, but she does keep the cauldron bubbling every now and then. Granted, the potions she brews were no longer as complex as the ones she used to be graded for, but that Narcissa still likes to think she still has the knowledge she 

“Just for some special tea that I wanted to make. I wanted something that’ll help me sleep better at night.” Narcissa kept her smile. “And yours? What are you planning on using yours for?” She thought that it was perfectly reasonable to throw the question right back at her. She wasn’t the only one reaching for the ingredient after all. At the other woman’s next question, Narcissa shook her head. “I just brew the basics nowadays. Nothing a mother wouldn’t use.”

[nxrcissam]

Harper Greengrass​:

Narcissa’s house elf was odd.  A bit more awkward, and he was certainly more twitchy, than others she had met.  But he seemed appropriately apologetic as he took her things.  Harper offered him a distracted smile and turned back to Narcissa.

“I’m not going to make it to March if Evan’s mother and my mother have anything to say about it,” she lamented, mostly being purposefully dramatic, but her stress level was high.  “It feels like the pair of them have teamed up to send me to an early grave.”  She gestured to the bag that Dobby was dragging behind them.  “Flower samples and fabric samples and binders full of catering options and dresses.  I don’t even know where to start and your wedding was lovely…” she paused, smiling nervously.  “Help me?  Save the little bit of sanity that I have left?”

.

Now that Harper’s hands were free, Narcissa stepped forward and offered her a friendly hug, along with a kiss on the other woman’s cheek. Her admission made Narcissa crack a smile. Memories of her own wedding preparations and Druella acting as if she was the bride to be came flooding back. “I know the feeling, trust me. Please come in.” She looked at the bag Dobby was carrying and even she had to admit that it made the task in front of them look daunting. “Of course, my dear. I’d gladly help.”

She led her inside their living room that was nicely lit by the large windows. With everything that Harper brought carefully laid out on the coffee table, the house elf was free to take an order from Narcissa to get some drinks. “Flowers, fabric, catering and dresses,” she perfectly recalled from her memory. “Is that all? Tell me that my cousin offered to take some of the responsibility off your hands, at least. Venue? Invitations?” There was still a lot that Narcissa could have listed down, but she didn’t want to stress out Harper even more since she already looked quite overwhelmed with the things on her plate.