𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟹 - 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎

Narcissa Malfoy

Silence.

Silence was all I had left this year.

Silence was there when I was waking up, when I was boiling water for tea, when I was walking down the garden.

The first weeks, I used to say 'good morning' while stretching, and when I turned to Lucius' side, Silence was there. When I put music on, loud music found in my children's bedrooms, Silence was there. When I was screaming in despair, hoping my husband would come by the front door, back from his work, nothing happened, and Silence was there.

Silence never left me this year. I was dragging him everywhere I went. So much that he became a person, he became a shadow, he became a part of me.

I had nothing to do, no one to talk to. Nobody was there to hear my cries, only Silence was there to witness them. Nobody was there to comfort me after my incessant nightmares. I was all by myself. Bella couldn't come visit me that often. The Ministry was looking for her, and it was too dangerous to leave her Birmingham flat. I was all alone, with my thoughts, my fears, Silence and myself.

"Does Mistress Narcissa want another glass ?" A voice rang behind me. The only voice I had the chance to hear those past few months, our house elf.

"Yes, Mud, please."

The elf got me another glass of firewhiskey, my fifth one or sixth one. It was only 11 in the morning, and I already drunk the equivalent of two bottles. I was a disaster.

"Is Mistress feeling fine ? Mud is really worrying for Mistress."

My education has always considered inappropriate – not to say forbidden – communicating or sympathizing with other beings that aren't purebloods. House elves were not from our rank. They were domestic staff, the lowest creatures.

"I am perfectly fine," I lied, eyes deeply staring at my glass which I was turning around and around, making the ice cube collide with the recipient. Mud was a young elf, she started here a few years ago when Dobby was released. She was calm and accommodating, all we needed.

"If Mistress says so. Here is the mail of the day. Mud is going to the kitchen, but Mistress can ask for her help if Mistress needs it."

And so she left, leaving me with bills that I forgot to pay through the last months.

One envelope didn't look like a bill, it seemed to be a letter.

I took it and read the inscription.

Narcissa Cassiopeia Malfoy.

I recognized the handwriting as soon as I laid my eyes on it. It was a handwriting I have seen so many times, a handwriting that used to write me letters full of promises and plans for the future back when I was seventeen. A handwriting that signed its name near mine the day we said, 'yes I do'.

Lucius.

The very sight of this letter filled my heart with a feeling I was eager to feel for so many months. Relief. And for the first time since September, Silence left the house. Lucius didn't come home that day, but he was close. He was alive, and conscious enough to write to his wife.

I opened the envelope and read the paper.

Dear Narcissa,

Life hasn't spared me this year. I have met a terrible destiny that I hope and know, will soon end.

I have faith in our family and our talent to bring us out of this uncomfortable situation. I have faith in Hekate to do the right thing. She is a brilliant and cunning witch, she always finds a way to amaze me, she could never betray or break that eternal hope that emerges from the feeling I have for her. We raised a soon-to-be mighty and ambitious lady. She is the future of our family heritage, she knows what to do. Draco will, hopefully, help her in her tasks. He doesn't have any other choice, and he has to make the right one, for once. I am counting on you to remind him that he has a purpose in life, which is helping and serving our family, especially his sister.