The Flight Of The Vulture

Chapter 5: Narcissa Malfoy

December 8th, 1994

Belle had never been busier with dress making, than she had this year. Of course the Hogwarts Supply list for fourth years and up had to include dress robes this year. Obviously Malkin's was overwhelmed and she had stopped taking clients months ago. This caused an influx of work for Belle. She'd been making dresses and dress robes since July. It was great for business of course, just exhausting. She considered that maybe in the future she may need to hire some help.

Minerva had warned her ahead of time, around June, confiding that the Triwizard Tournament was returning to Hogwarts and that there would be a ball come Christmas. She had a small suspicion when she'd been informed that Samantha would be very excited, not that she wasn't already.

Samantha had been assigned to be the Hogwarts Gazette's Editor-in-Chief. Something she was apparently taking very seriously. She'd been doing incredibly well with it. It had been some of Samantha's better work, she'd been given quite a bit of exclusive access to the tournament behind the scenes.

She knew Jack would find the tournament itself interesting. However, the ball part wouldn't be nearly as interesting, especially since they'd probably have to find dates. He had recently proclaimed that women his age were too immature for him, and that dating one would be quite unsuitable for his time.

Belle's thoughts trailed back to the dress robes she was working on currently. She'd finally found time to work on Sammy's. She wanted them to be like Samantha's personality. A deep garnet color with little golden stars that would individually sparkle with her every movement. It would have a synched waist and the sleeves would be off the shoulders. It was mature for Samantha.

She'd finished Jack's the night before. Simple ebony robes with crushed velvet. She'd wait to make him a tie till he got a date. She'd try to match his tie to his date's dress robes.

The bell to the store rang and for the first time Belle dreaded more customers. She'd finally felt slightly caught up.

She turned to see Narcissa Malfoy standing in the door way. Her blonde hair now had dark streaks beneath it and age had taken it's toll, but whenever Belle saw her, she just saw Cissy. She saw pain she'd suppressed for years, pain of heartbreak and betrayal. 

There was also the matter of Narcissa's extended family. Belle knew you couldn't judge people off of their families, but after what her sister and brother-in-laws did, it was hard to forgive her supposed ignorance. There was no way Narcissa wouldn't have known about what they had planned to do, she and Bellatrix were too close.

She and her husband both claimed that their work with You-Know-Who was while under the Imperious curse. Belle suspected, knowing both her and her husband decently well, that not a lot of influence could have gone into it.

"Hello Belle." Narcissa nodded uncomfortably. She was dressed in silver robes and had a black handbag. Her eyes darted around the room and her hands were clasped.

"Mrs. Malfoy." Belle greeted coldly. Narcissa had never entered her store before. She'd never even greeted her since Belle's return to the country.

"My son, Draco informed me that the dress robes I originally purchased are now too small." Narcissa said without any form of real emotion. "Malkin's is too busy to take my order apparently. I was informed you could possibly take my order."

"Do you have his current measurements?" Belle asked, trying not to feel the pain just being in the same room with her brought. She would be cordial and kind, at least in a professional sense.

Narcissa reached into her bag and pulled out a little parchment paper.

Belle took the paper from Narcissa. He was just a bit shorter than Jack. "It'll take me a couple of days, but I can have them before the ball."