𝔾𝔸𝕃𝔸𝕏𝕀𝔼𝕊 (ℍ.ℙ𝕆𝕋𝕋𝔼ℝ)

- 4 -

The Manor is quiet these days, with her mother spending more and more time inside Lucius's study. She holds a 5 month old Scorpius in her arms, who looks fascinated with the surroundings as she walks back to the Manor.

Niffy, her house elf, meets her at the door hurries forward to take her coat. The old house elf patiently waits for Auryn to remove her shoes.

"Where is Mother?" She enquires and the house elf looks nervous.

"Mistress Narcissa has locked herself in Master Lucius's room. Niffy tried to get her out, but she didn't respond."

Auryn sighs, and thanks Niffy before dismissing her. Daphne and her parents went back home, with Theo accompanying them. She promised that she'd come by on weekends to see Scorpius, but Auryn's glad that she didn't insist on taking him home.

She shifts Scorpius in her arms, making her way up to the room her mother spent months decorating for Scorpius's arrival.

The weak evening light filters through the blinds as she enters, shadows dancing across the wall. The room, which looked bright and full of life a few weeks before, looks dreary and miserable, the vivid green now reduced to a moss green.

A rocking chair sits near the window, and she struggles not to think of Astoria cradling Scorpius in her arms, maybe even singing lullabies as Draco watches, a soft smile on his face.

She dismisses the daydream, and walks over to the crib she once occupied herself. She contemplates putting him down, before grabbing a blanket and making her way out of the room which would have been filled with happy memories once upon a time.

She kicks her door open with her foot and enters her room. Her room is shrouded in darkness, the curtains closed. She mutters a quick wand less spell and the candles light up, giving a soft atmosphere to the room. She lays her nephew down on her bed, surrounding him with pillows before she steps into the bathroom.

She can't even recognise herself; the Auryn in the mirror looks gaunt and lifeless, her short pale hair tucked behind her ears and dark circles under her eyes. Her skin looks grey and sallow as she undresses, removing the suit and pants until she's standing in her inner wear.

The dark mark stands out against her skin, a dull ugly red. It looks faded, and not the pitch black mark she remembers.Faded scars mar her chest and stomach from when Potter quite literally sliced her open back in her sixth year. Sometimes she feels like she sees handprints on her thighs, the dirt of fingertips permanently engraved onto her skin.

She hears Scorpius sniffle, and hurriedly tugs on a jumper and sweatpants before walking back into her room.

He's sniffling silently, his grey eyes wide as he takes in the unfamiliar room.

"Hey, Scorp." She sits down next to him on the bed before taking him into her arms. His chubby fists reach for her face and she allows him to explore, his fingers tracing her skin.

He starts to make suckling noises, and she knows he's hungry. Niffy appears, a warm bottle in her wrinkled hands as she offers it to Auryn. She gently balances Scorpius on one hand and touches the plastic nipple to his mouth. He starts suckling immediately, his hands stilling and coming to a rest on her jumper.

Niffy smiles at the sight, before carefully schooling her expression into one of obedience.

An hour later Scorpius is wailing, his face red as Auryn hurriedly tries to calm him down. She tried everything, like rocking him and holding him still, but he still screams.

He's got a powerful voice, she thinks, wincing.

She's positive her mother can hear his wails, and desperately hopes she'd come down and help her.