January 4th, 1982
12:00 pm
The Daily Prophet
Narcissa focused her attention on the sound her heels made against the cobbled stone. Her head was held high, her back straight and a glimpse of disdain in her eyes. She could feel the stares on her back as she moved through the paths of Diagon Alley.
They should never have let her go.
I heard they had her locked in a cell. While she was pregnant! How awful.
The two categories of whispers travelling through the air. Of course, the Malfoy thought to herself, the Auror office couldn’t wait to lap the secret. Narcissa was used to whispers and stares during her trips but never had they been of pity (not since Andromeda left) or hatred (envy, yes, but never hate). Everybody moved out of her way like she was some kind of fragile doll about to break. As if they had never seen a pregnant woman before!
Narcissa finally reached her destination, stopping just inside the hall to take a breath and finally roll her eyes in annoyance at the behavior of those peasants.
“Mrs. Malfoy!” The receptionist jumped up in greeting. “Ms. Skeeter is waiting for you in her office.”
With a friendly thanks Narcissa headed to the office of Rita Skeeter. If she had had any doubts about talking about New Year’s Eve, those doubts were now firmly behind her. The Auror’s Office needed to be brought back down to earth. Nobody messes with a Malfoy – or a Black for that matter – and gets away with it.