Harry Potter and the Daughter of Azkaban's Embrace

Friendship Amidst Jealousy

Druella's pov

The morning was cold, the mist hanging in the air, and I could feel it seeping into my bones as Aunt Narcissa led me through the narrow, grimy streets. "Aunt Narcissa," I muttered, trying to match her brisk pace, "why do I have to come with you? It's to early in the morning. Why can't I just stay at the manor?"

Aunt Narcissa didn't even glance at me. Her stride was purposeful, and there was a hard edge to her voice as she replied, "Because I'm not there to watch over you, and I won't leave you alone with Bella and Draco gone."

I sighed deeply, rolling my eyes. "I can manage on my own," I grumbled, though I knew that was never going to be an option. Aunt Narcissa was predictable in the most irksome way.

"You're not leaving my side until you're safe with the Weasley's end of discussion." she insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.

I groaned in frustration. As usual, she was determined to keep me under her control. At home, she couldn't stand leaving me alone for even a moment—if she went to the kitchen, I had to be there. If she went to her study, I had to follow. It was exhausting, and even Morgana, my cat, seemed just as irritated as I was. Her eyes, one blue and one yellow glowed faintly as she walked by my side, but even she couldn't get out of this arrangement.

We turned a corner into a part of town that felt even worse. The air smelled thick with smoke and decay, and the buildings around us looked even more dilapidated than the last. It was a Muggle town, and it reeked of it. Everything was so ordinary, so beneath me.

I wrinkled my nose as a group of Muggle children ran past, their clothes threadbare, their hands filthy. "This place reeks of Muggle trash," I muttered under my breath. The chaos of their lives—so loud, so messy—was suffocating. "Do they even know what soap is?"

Aunt Narcissa smirked slightly. "Yes, Druella. Exactly. Never forget where you come from, darling."

I nodded, taking comfort in her words. I was better than these Muggles. We were born with magic, power, grace—everything they could never hope to have. I'm blessed to be where I am now. I know my place Purebloods, Half-Bloods, and Muggle Borns are superior. These people—these lesser beings—didn't deserve our attention.

Suddenly, Aunt Narcissa jerked me into an alleyway, pressing me against the rough stone wall. I blinked in surprise, looking around in confusion, but she was already heading toward a house ahead. She knocked sharply on the door, and moments later, it opened to reveal Professor Snape's stern face.

"You remember we had a meeting scheduled, Severus?" Aunt Narcissa said smoothly, her voice calm but carrying an edge of authority.

Professor Snape's eyes briefly flickered to me, and his lip curled slightly in disapproval. "And why is Miss Black here?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but Aunt Narcissa shot me a warning glance. "She's not to be left unattended," she explained with a hint of finality, "especially not now."

I clenched my jaw in frustration, but I wasn't given the chance to argue. Snape stepped aside to let us in, and Morgana padded silently behind us, her mismatched eyes flicking warily between the two of them.

We entered a dimly lit house, the walls and floors looking worn and unkempt. There was no warmth here, no comfort—just an overwhelming sense of coldness. The air was thick with the scent of old books and lingering potions.

Aunt Narcissa led me straight to the small library, which was lined with shelves of dark, foreboding books. I was immediately drawn to a book on the shelf, but before I could even touch it, Snape's sharp voice cut through the silence.