Inferno | Draco Malfoy

Epilogue | Inferno

Sparks. A small bright particle that starts a fire, or the romantic feelings of love.

1st September
2015.

Adriana Clarissa Malfoy makes her way down the grand staircase, the polished steps gleaming under the soft glow of the brightness of daylight filtering through the windows.

Having finalised her preparations for today's significant occasion, she delicately adjusts her emerald-drop earrings. The gemstones catch in the light, resembling miniature stars, as she sweeps her long, dark, silken hair over her shoulder; the deep green hue of her formal attire complements her figure flawlessly, accentuating her poise and elegance.

As Adria reaches the bottom of the staircase, the rhythmic click of her heels resonates against the floor as she offers a cheerful greeting of "Good morning" to the three house-elves — Mippy, Weepy, and Libby — who begin to ascend the stairs, evidently prepared to attend to the tidying of the upper rooms. In return, they respond to Adria's greeting with warmth and courtesy, demonstrating their excellent manners and deep respect for their mistress.

Adria takes a brief pause to inhale the delightful and earthy aroma that wafts from the vase that holds the thirty-two lovely red roses (that her husband had gifted her), all of which are thornless except for one, positioned on a shelf adorned with an array of moving framed photographs. The roses, characterised by their velvety soft petals and rich colour, appear to radiate an inner luminosity, resisting the passage of time as they continue to flourish and remain in full bloom.

Yet, her moment of serenity is abruptly shattered by a sudden loud bang from the dining room; it's a noise that intrudes upon the stillness with startling force.

This auditory disturbance is coupled with a mixture of laughter and what seems to be an animated argument, underscored by the clattering of cutlery against plates, creating a chaotic yet captivating mental image that captures her interest. Intrigued and slightly apprehensive, she makes her way toward the dining room, drawn in by the energy.

However, before Adria can even reach for the door handle, it suddenly swings open, and in a flurry of motion, Lucien bursts through the doorway, his mind clearly elsewhere as he fails to notice her presence; he collides with Adria, the impact sending him to tumble to the floor in a heap of limbs.

The sound of his whines and the thud of his body hitting the ground echoes throughout, prompting Carina, who observes the scene from a few steps away to erupt in laughter. She watches with delight as her brother's face turns a vivid shade of red, a deep crimson hue that spreads across his cheeks further amplifying the hilarity of the moment.

"Ow!" Lucien cries out. "I've been hurt! I've been hurt!"

"Lucien Andrew Malfoy," Adriana's voice carries a tone of admonition and her eyebrows furrow as she folds her arms across her chest, presenting herself as a figure of authority. "What have I told you about running indoors?"

A trace of amusement flickers in Adria's eyes as she watches her son, still sitting on the floor, clad in his sky-blue pyjamas decorated with small moon crescents. Lucien looks up at her with an exaggerated expression of impending doom that elicits a smile from her, as she is well aware of his penchant for theatrics.

"Mum!" Carina interjects, stepping forward in her own pink pyjamas adorned with stars, eager to draw her mother's attention away from her brother's blunder. "Lucien said he could outrun me, and look, obviously that's not the case!" Her laughter bubbles up like a cauldron again, as she gestures dramatically toward her brother, who is still trying to gather himself off the floor.

Lucien casts a sharp look at Carina, his initial embarrassment transforming into a feigned sense of indignation. "I was just—" He begins, but his words trail off as he becomes acutely aware of how absurd he appears; the image of his sister laughing uncontrollably only heightens his irritation, yet he finds himself unable to suppress a smile, despite the circumstances.