An Unlikely Friendship
Narcissa had received the letter from her parents that morning at breakfast, thought had refused to open it. She knew what this was, it was the letter that held her entire future in it. She had been told for years that she would be in this year of school when she found out who she was going to marry, something her sister Bellatrix had warned her about when they were young girls. It was a custom among pure bloods, especially those who were part of The Sacred 28, to arrange marriages for their children. It was their way of keeping blood lines pure and money where it belonged, though it was more of a barbaric way for pure bloods to control their children.
She had stuffed the letter into her robes for the rest of breakfast, not letting the other nosy students around her ask about what it was or who it was from. She had kept the letter in her robes during the entire school day, the letter burning a hole in her pocket, her mind far away from her studies all day as she wondered who her parents had given her to like a prized stallion.
When her subjects for the day were over she returned to her dorm room and sat down her books, pulling the letter out and looking at it. The two other girls in the room were also from families who were part of The Sacred 28, and they knew exactly what that letter was-they had gotten theirs from their own parents at one point or another. They exchanged looks of pity between themselves before Narcissa left the room and ventured out of the castle, nervous making her way all the way down to Black Lake, the only place she thought she might truly get some privacy.
She sat down by the lake, back leaning against a tree as she stared at the envelope for a long while, eventually breaking the seal and unfolding the letter.
Dear Narcissa,
We are writing this letter to inform you that we have confirmed your betrothal to Abraxas Malfoy’s only son, Lucius. Your impending marriage will be announced at a formal gathering over the summer, your wedding to take place the following summer after you graduate from Hogwarts. You will come home for the Christmas holiday as usual and entertain the Malfoy family for the holidays, so as to make a good impression.
Mother and Father
Narcissa read the letter three times over, her eyes widening more and more each time she read it. Lucius Malfoy? Lucius FUCKING Malfoy?! That was who they gave her to? Lucius Malfoy was a pompous, arrogant, narcissistic and passionless boy that was three years older than her. She knew him well, having been forced to spend time with him as a child, among other children of pure blood wizards and witches that her father thought would make god company for her; or rather, their parents had connections and he used his children to gain favor like he did with everything in life. He had been the same at school as he was when they were children, full of himself and haughty, a nightmare of a boy.
She crumpled up the letter and screamed out of frustration, her knees coming up to her chest as she shouting. When she was done shouting there were tears in her eyes, ones that began to blur her vision. She felt tired from her screaming and the build up of emotions from it all, tossing the letter in front of her as she leaned her head back. She swallowed thickly and raised her head, the tears beginning to roll down her cheeks as she pulled her wand out of her sleeve and pointed it at the paper on the ground.
“ Incendio “ she said firmly, though no emotion in her voice. She watched the paper catch fire and watched in silent tears as it burned, her chest tight as she watched. This was a nightmare.
@corfortiium
