Harry Potter and the Daughter of Black

Power Play

Druella lay in her bed, still in a haze of sleep, when Aunt Narcissa burst into the room like a storm. Her voice rang out, unrelenting: "GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE!"

Druella's eyes snapped open, squinting at the blinding light pouring through the windows. "Please leave," she begged, but Narcissa was undeterred, her smile stretching wider as she flung open the curtains with enthusiasm.

"Rise and shine, little one! It's a perfect day for an adventure!" Narcissa's voice was sugary sweet, but it grated against Druella's raw nerves. The sunlight was almost blinding, and Druella yelped, covering her eyes.

"Too bright!" she groaned, trying to curl into the blankets, but Narcissa was relentless. She grabbed the covers and yanked them off, her laugh echoing in Druella's ears.

"Wake up, Druella! Time to get up, sleepyhead!" Narcissa continued, shaking her gently as if she were still a toddler. The way she treated her, as though she were five years old again, made Druella's frustration grow.

"Go away," she muttered, but Narcissa simply ignored her.

"Come on, love. I've got big plans for us today!" Narcissa's voice was like honey, sweet but overpowering, as she handed Druella a piece of paper with her carefully planned activities.

Druella glared at the paper, then back at Narcissa. "I am not having a tea party with my stuffed animals," she growled.

Narcissa's hands fluttered around Druella as though she were some precious child. Her touch was gentle, but it felt suffocating. "Don't be like that, dear," she cooed, patting Druella's back as if to calm her. "You'll see, it'll be fun."

"I'm not a child," Druella muttered under her breath, standing up and trying to shake off the incessant care.

Narcissa, however, wasn't done. She gently guided Druella to the vanity mirror. The touch of Narcissa's hand on her wrist felt like a vice, but it was filled with care, as if trying to hold onto her forever.

Druella slumped in the chair, her exhaustion weighing heavily on her shoulders. "Just let me sleep," she begged, but Narcissa wouldn't hear it. She tilted Druella's head upward, her fingers caressing her face with an unsettling gentleness.

"Sit up, dear. We need to get you looking presentable," Narcissa insisted, her tone playful but firm.

Druella groaned, feeling every inch of her rebelliousness grow. "Stop," she muttered, wanting nothing more than to escape this relentless attention. But Narcissa simply smiled, her eyes twinkling as she began brushing Druella's tangled hair. Every tug on the brush made Druella wince, but she remained still as her aunt worked, despite her protests.

"You're not looking your best today, dear," Narcissa observed, her tone unbothered as she continued her task. "In a few years, you'll be coming of age, and you'll want to make a good impression, won't you?"

Druella felt a surge of frustration rising within her, but she was powerless to stop it. Narcissa had her firmly in her grip. She let out a soft, defeated sigh as Narcissa continued brushing her hair, pulling out the knots with a precision that was almost too caring.

"Please leave me alone," Druella muttered, her eyes half-lidded as exhaustion clawed at her, but Narcissa only patted her cheek.

"Don't worry, my Pureblood Princess," Narcissa said in that sickly sweet tone. "I'll take care of you."

Druella's frustration bubbled under the surface, her mind screaming for release, but Narcissa's presence was like a weight on her chest. There was no escape, not when Narcissa's attention was so unwavering, so suffocating.